Determinants of Children's Use of and Time Spent in Fast-food and Full-service Restaurants

ObjectiveIdentify parental and children's determinants of children's use of and time spent in fast-food (FF) and full-service (FS) restaurants.DesignAnalysis of cross-sectional data.SettingParents were interviewed by phone; children were interviewed in their homes.ParticipantsParents and children ages 9-11 or 13-15 from 312 families were obtained via random-digit dialing.Main Outcome MeasuresDependent variables were the use of and the time spent in FF and FS restaurants by children. Determinants included parental work schedules, parenting style, and family meal ritual perceptions.AnalysisLogistic regression was used for multivariate analysis of use of restaurants. Least squares regression was used for multivariate analysis of time spent in restaurants. Significance set at P < .05.ResultsFactors related to use of and time spent in FF and FS restaurants included parental work schedules, fathers' use of such restaurants, and children's time spent in the family automobile.Conclusions and ImplicationsParenting style, parental work, parental eating habits and perceptions of family meals, and children's other uses of their time influence children's use of and time spent in FF and FS restaurants.