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Effect of parental mental health status on adolescents' dietary behaviors.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Su, LJ; Story, M; Su, SS
Published in: J Adolesc Health
June 1997

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore whether adolescents of substance-abusing and depressed parents were more likely to have poor dietary behaviors than those in the health comparison families. METHODS: The sample consisted of 841 adolescents in families of substance-abusing parents, depressed parents, and parents without a diagnosable psychiatric disorder. All adolescents were given a food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: Adolescents whose parents had substance abuse disorder had lower intakes of fruits and higher intakes of high fat foods, and also ate more frequently at fast-food restaurants and purchased more snacks. Adolescents whose parents were depressed had lower intakes of all food groups. Mother's mental health status impacted more on adolescents' dietary behaviors than did the father's mental health status. CONCLUSION: This research suggests that at-risk behaviors among youth of psychiatrically impaired parents may extend to food behaviors.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Adolesc Health

DOI

ISSN

1054-139X

Publication Date

June 1997

Volume

20

Issue

6

Start / End Page

426 / 433

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Public Health
  • Prospective Studies
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Mother-Child Relations
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Feeding Behavior
 

Citation

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Su, L. J., Story, M., & Su, S. S. (1997). Effect of parental mental health status on adolescents' dietary behaviors. J Adolesc Health, 20(6), 426–433. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(96)00308-4
Su, L. J., M. Story, and S. S. Su. “Effect of parental mental health status on adolescents' dietary behaviors.J Adolesc Health 20, no. 6 (June 1997): 426–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(96)00308-4.
Su LJ, Story M, Su SS. Effect of parental mental health status on adolescents' dietary behaviors. J Adolesc Health. 1997 Jun;20(6):426–33.
Su, L. J., et al. “Effect of parental mental health status on adolescents' dietary behaviors.J Adolesc Health, vol. 20, no. 6, June 1997, pp. 426–33. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/S1054-139X(96)00308-4.
Su LJ, Story M, Su SS. Effect of parental mental health status on adolescents' dietary behaviors. J Adolesc Health. 1997 Jun;20(6):426–433.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Adolesc Health

DOI

ISSN

1054-139X

Publication Date

June 1997

Volume

20

Issue

6

Start / End Page

426 / 433

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Public Health
  • Prospective Studies
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Mother-Child Relations
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Feeding Behavior