Longitudinal associations between family dinner and adolescent perceptions of parent-child communication among racially diverse urban youth

J Fam Psychol. 2010 Jun;24(3):261-70. doi: 10.1037/a0019311.

Abstract

We examined changes in adolescent self-reported parent-child communication using growth curve models conditional on family meal frequency over a 3.5-year period among a population of racially diverse, low-income adolescents from an urban environment (n = 4,750). Results indicated that although both family dinner frequency and adolescent perceptions of parent-child communication scores were characterized by negative linear growth over time (both p < .001), family dinner frequency was positively associated with adolescent perceptions of parent-child communication scores over time (p < .001). Study findings suggest that families with teenagers may enhance parent-child communication and ultimately promote healthy adolescent development by making family dinner a priority. In addition, the communication benefits of family dinner at the beginning of sixth grade may be protective through eighth grade.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Black or African American / psychology
  • Chicago
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology*
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Time Factors
  • Urban Population*
  • White People / psychology