Family characteristics predicting favourable changes in 10 and 11-year-old children’s lifestyle-related health behaviours during an 18-month follow-up

Lifestyle-related health behaviours such as screen time, physical activity, sleep duration, and food intake tend to change into non-favourable directions when children become young adolescents. Cross-sectional studies show that family characteristics are important determinants for children’s health behaviours. This study examined whether family characteristics such as parenting practices at meals and family involvement predict a more favourable change in children’s lifestyle-related health behaviours during an 18-month follow-up. 745 children in school grades 4 and 5 (response rate 65%) filled in a baseline questionnaire in the autumn of 2006. A follow-up was conducted in the spring of 2008 (91%). Several health behaviours had changed in a non-favourable direction. Baseline parenting practices at meals and family involvement predicted some of the changes in the lifestyle-related health behaviours in 2008. Parenting practices at meals predicted a smaller increase in TV, DVD viewing time, and a smaller decrease in fruit intake. Amongst family involvement determinants, less time alone at home after school predicted a smaller increase in screen time, a smaller decrease in sleep duration, and a smaller increase in soft drink intake. For conclusion several family characteristics predicted favourable changes in children’s lifestyle-related health behaviours.

► Overall schoolchildren’s health behaviours changed non-favourably during 18 months.
► Family characteristics predicted children’s life-style related health behaviours.
► Parenting practices at meals predicted a smaller increase in TV time.
► Less time alone after school predicted a smaller decrease in sleep duration.
► Less time alone after school predicted a smaller increase in soft drink intake.