Associations between Partnering and Parenting Transitions and Dietary Habits in Young Adults

Abstract Background Partnering and parenting are important life-stage transitions that often occur during young adulthood. Little is known about how these transitions affect two dietary behaviors linked to increased cardiometabolic disease risk: skipping breakfast and takeaway-food consumption. Obje...

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Published in:Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2017-08, Vol.117 (8), p.1210-1221
Main Authors: Smith, Kylie J., PhD, McNaughton, Sarah A., PhD, Gall, Seana L., PhD, Otahal, Petr, GDipSc, Dwyer, Terence, MBBS, MS, FAFPHM, Venn, Alison J., PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Australia
Breakfast
Child
Diet
Diet quality
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Food Quality
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Health Behavior
Humans
Internal Medicine
Life Change Events
Linear Models
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Marital Status
Marriage
Nutrition Assessment
Nutrition Policy
Parent
Parents
Sensitivity and Specificity
Skipping breakfast
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Takeaway food
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Background Partnering and parenting are important life-stage transitions that often occur during young adulthood. Little is known about how these transitions affect two dietary behaviors linked to increased cardiometabolic disease risk: skipping breakfast and takeaway-food consumption. Objective Our aim was to examine whether partnering and parenting transitions during a 5-year period were associated with change in diet quality, skipping breakfast, and takeaway-food consumption. Design We conducted a cohort study. Questionnaires were completed at baseline (2004 to 2006) and follow-up (2009 to 2011). Marital status and number of children were self-reported. Participants/setting Australian participants (n=1,402 [39% men]) aged 26 to 36 years were included. Main outcomes measures Diet quality was assessed using a Dietary Guideline Index. Breakfast skipping (not eating before 9 am the previous day) and frequent takeaway-food consumption (≥2 times/week) were reported. Statistical analysis Linear regression (mean differences in Dietary Guideline Index) and log binomial regression (relative risks for skipping breakfast and frequent takeaway-food consumption) were adjusted for age, education, follow-up duration, day of the week (skipping breakfast only), the other transition, and baseline behavior. Results During the 5-year follow-up, 101 men and 93 women became married/living as married, and 149 men and 155 women had their first child. Diet quality improved among all groups and was similar at follow-up between those who experienced the transitions and those who did not. Compared to having no children, having a first child was associated with a lower risk of skipping breakfast for men (relative risk 0.65; 95% CI 0.42 to 1.01) and women (relative risk 0.47; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.72). Men who became partnered also had a lower risk of skipping breakfast than those who remained single (relative risk 0.64; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.98). The transitions were not significantly associated with takeaway-food consumption. Conclusions Life-stage transitions were not associated with better diet quality. Participants who became partnered or parents were more likely to eat breakfast at follow-up than those who remained single or had no children.
ISSN:2212-2672
2212-2680
DOI:10.1016/j.jand.2016.12.008