Health Education Research, Vol. 12, No. 1, 77-90, 1997
© 1997 Oxford University Press
research-article |
Perceived family members' influence on introducing healthy food into the family
Department of Psychology, Research Group Health and Behavior, University of Ghent Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000Ghent, Belgium
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the perceived reactions of the adolescent, mother, father and brother/sister on the introduction of healthy food into the family. Subjects were 328 adolescents between 12 and 22 years of age. Twenty classes were included in the study, five classes chosen randomly for each grade level. Four hypothetical situations were submitted to the adolescent representing a family member trying to introduce healthy food into the family. The findings provide support for the strategy of targeting families rather than individuals in nutrition intervention programs. Independent of age, adolescents attribute themselves not too much influence in changing the families eating habits. As reported by adolescents, mothers are seen to be more powerful than their children, but less influential than their husbands. Introduction of healthy food by the father results in positive reactions by the adolescent (mean 3·6) and the mother (mean 3·8). Introduction of healthy food by the mother results in comparable positive reactions by the adolescent (mean 3·7), but in less positive reactions by the father and other siblings (mean 3·1). The adolescent themselves gets less positive reactions, by the mother (mean 3·4), the father (mean 3·0) and siblings (mean 2·9). This argues against targeting the ‘gatekeeper’, in the hope
that nutrition education directed to the mother will generalize smoothly to all family members. The adolescent's perception of their father initiating change shows the major influence of fathers in decision making about food in the family. In nutrition programs, specific attention has to be paid to the sensitization of fathers. Health educators should not be satisfied with the participation of mothers and/or children only, which would result in less powerful changes in eating patterns.
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