Confectionery consumption in childhood and adult violence.
Diet has been associated with behavioural problems, including aggression, but the long-term effects of childhood diet on adult violence have not been studied. We tested the hypothesis that excessive consumption of confectionery at age 10 years predicts convictions for violence in adulthood (age 34 years). Data from age 5, 10 and 34 years were used. Children who ate confectionery daily at age 10 years were significantly more likely to have been convicted for violence at age 34 years, a relationship that was robust when controlling for ecological and individual factors.
Violence and Society Research Group, Applied Clinical Research and Public Health, School of Dentistry, University of Cardiff, Cardiff CF14 4XY, UK. mooresc2@cardiff.ac.uk
Simon C
SC
Moore
Lisa M
LM
Carter
Stephanie
S
van Goozen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002182:Candy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*