Representations of Eating Habits: Differences between pre-adolescents and their parents

  • Bárbara de Los Angeles Pérez Pedraza Autonomous University of Nuevo León
  • Javier Álvarez Bermúdez Autonomous University of Nuevo León

Abstract

In order to differentiate representations about the eating habits of preadolescents and their parents, a mixed- method study was conducted, involving 248 pairs of pre-adolescents and their parents. The Questionnaire on Physical Activity and Food intake Habits was used to collect the data, which includes an open response questionnaire regarding the representations of eating habits, a quantitative food consumption questionnaire and a dichotomous question about the representation of their food practices. Content analysis of the representations of eating habits of the preadolescents and the parents was carried out. From the emerged categories, chi-squared analyzes were performed to differentiate the representations of preadolescents and their parents regarding food consumption practices and representations of whether they have a good diet. Representations of preadolescents and their parents were similar when referring to eating habits as good nutrition, related to health and traditions. Both scored in a deficient consumption of healthy foods and exceeded the consumption of junk foods, however, more parents referred it than children. Finally, most of them represent their diet as good. The representations of eating habits are given by the culture, which highlights that interventions must be directed to these more than to the knowledge of how health works.

Author Biographies

Bárbara de Los Angeles Pérez Pedraza, Autonomous University of Nuevo León

BÁRBARA DE LOS ANGELES PÉREZ PEDRAZA. The interest of the researcher is the influence of family in health issues like overweight, eating habits and eating psychosocial factors. She is a psychology professor at Laureate International Universities and a doctoral candidate at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León. E-mail: barbaraperezp@hotmail.com

Javier Álvarez Bermúdez, Autonomous University of Nuevo León

JAVIER ÁLVAREZ BERMÚDEZ. The interest of the researcher are the social representations in health psychology issues like lifestyle and social violence. Doctor in Social Psychology by the Basque Country University, he is a full-time research professor at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León. E-mail: jabnl@hotmail.com

Published
2018-12-11
Section
Free standing papers