The Effects of Family Structure on Consumption and Exercise Patterns for Adolescent Youth

Purpose: Approximately 22 million children, under 5, are overweight and at an increased risk of developing health risk problems, such as obesity, throughout childhood and adulthood. Children often mimic their parents’ eating times, taste likes and dislikes, and quality and quantity of food. Much like eating behaviors, children who engage in high levels of physical activity often have parents who engage in high levels of physical activity. Arguably, a direct link between physical activity level and obesity exists, indicating that less active children have an increased risk for a higher BMI. Research indicates children from single-parent families have an increased likelihood for a body mass index (BMI) above normal compared to children from two-parent families. The purpose of this study is to examine whether family structure influences eating and exercise patterns of adolescent youth.

Methods: The current study employed a secondary data analysis utilizing data from the Human Behavior in School-aged Children Survey (N = 6,733). Nearly 50% of the sample identified as female with an approximate mean age of 14. Approximately 42% identified as White, 15% identified as African American, and 26% identified as Hispanic. The predictor variable, family structure, included four mutually exclusive categories created from data about the main home living situation: two-parent, single parent, stepparent, and multi-generational. The consumption patterns variable, created using seven dichotomous items regarding eating or drinking habits, indicated the number (0-7) of healthy consumption patterns engaged in by participants (MeanX₁=3.76). The exercise patterns variable, created using a mean computation technique, identified three levels of exercise (none, moderate, or high) based loosely on the recommended level of physical activity (MeanX₂ = 2.38).

Results: The linear regression analysis indicated a significant relationship between family structure and consumption patterns, with youth from single parent families, stepparent families and multigenerational families having fewer healthy consumption patterns (-.256, -.142, and -.164, respectively) compared to youth from two-parent families. Race was also a significant factor, as Hispanic (-.382) and African American (-.607) youth indicated fewer healthy consumption compared to White youth. Interestingly, BMI, thought to influence eating behaviors, was not a significant predictor of healthy consumption patterns in this model. The ordinal regression analysis indicated that Hispanic and African American youth have a decreased odds of high levels of physical activity (.60 and .52, respectively) compared to White youth. Additionally, as BMI increased level of physical activity decreased (.96), indicating that BMI is a factor in physical activity level. Interestingly, family structure did not influence the level of physical activity, even though the literature suggests a relationship between parents physical activity level exists.

Implications for practice: Future research needs to examine the relationship between family structure and child wellbeing. For example, healthy eating initiatives need to target both parents and children, as a relationship between consumption patterns and family structure exists. Additionally, future research needs to examine initiatives targeted at promoting physical activity, particularly among overweight and obese youth, as these youth are going to be less likely to engage in physical activity.