The relationship between frequency of family dinner and adolescent problem behaviors after adjusting for other family characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between frequency of family dinners (FFD) and selected problem behaviors for adolescents after adjusting for family connectedness, parental awareness, other family activities, and other potentially confounding factors.


METHODS
Data are drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997. The primary variable of interest is self-reported FFD in a typical week. Problem behaviors studied are substance-use, physical violence, property-destruction, stealing, running away from home, andgang membership. Multivariate logistic models are estimated for each behaviors. Linear regression models are estimated for behavior-frequency for the sub-samples engaging in them. Analysis is done separately by gender.


RESULTS
FFD is negatively associated with substance-use and running away for females; drinking, physical violence, property-destruction, stealing and running away for males.


CONCLUSIONS
Family meals are negatively associated to certain problem behaviors for adolescents even after controlling rigorously for potentially confounding factors. Thus, programs that promote family meals are beneficial.
Sen
Bisakha
B
Department of Healthcare Organization & Policy, University of Alabama, RPHB 330, 1665 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States. bsen@uab.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D012419:Runaway Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*