Longitudinal associations between family dinner and adolescent perceptions of parent-child communication among racially diverse urban youth.
We examined changes in adolescent self-reported parent-child communication using growth curve models conditional on family meal frequency over a 3.5-year period among a population of racially diverse, low-income adolescents from an urban environment (n = 4,750). Results indicated that although both family dinner frequency and adolescent perceptions of parent-child communication scores were characterized by negative linear growth over time (both p < .001), family dinner frequency was positively associated with adolescent perceptions of parent-child communication scores over time (p < .001). Study findings suggest that families with teenagers may enhance parent-child communication and ultimately promote healthy adolescent development by making family dinner a priority. In addition, the communication benefits of family dinner at the beginning of sixth grade may be protective through eighth grade.
Fulkerson
Jayne A
JA
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, School of Nursing, 5-160 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. fulke001@umn.edu
Pasch
Keryn E
KE
Stigler
Melissa H
MH
Farbakhsh
Kian
K
Perry
Cheryl L
CL
Komro
Kelli A
KA
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D002641:Chicago; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology