PARENTAL INFLUENCE ON ADOLESCENTS’ DIETARY PATTERNS IN ALIMOSHO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

                                             INTRODUCTION  

• Background to the Study

Lifestyle  of  adolescents, especially their food pattern encounters dramatic changes,  mainly  due  to  their  higher  freedom  in decision  making,  including selection  and purchasing of foods (Daniel, 2002). The assessment of food consumption pattern of this highly vulnerable age group is important in enhancing health status of next generations. So, recognizing  food consumption pattern and method of adolescents is one  of  the  most  important  research priorities in designing  appropriate  programs  and  applying effective approaches toward improving the health status of future adults.There is a greater need to look into the dietary patterns of adolescents but unfortunately, precise estimates of their dietary intake, dietary practices have been the least explored area. The current direction in nutrition education reinforces the notion that parental involvement might be necessary for substantial dietary change in children and adolescents. However, research on family determinants of food patterns is limited.

Involvement of the parents is a mixture of obligation and active contribution to the adolescent child. Adolescents’ initial experiences with eating and food are strongly shaped by the parents. Parental involvement talks about forces and conditions in the home which lure the child physically, intellectually and emotionally.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) adolescence is a period between the ages of 10-19 years (WHO, 2016). Adolescents represent approximately 20 % of the world’s population and most (84 %) are living in developing or emerging countries (Ghai, Gupta & Paul, 2006).The prevalence of adolescents’ obesity is rapidly growing worldwide (WHO, 2013). This trend is of concern due to the negative health effects associated with increased body mass. Many studies reported that parents, particularly mothers, have a considerable influence on their children’s eating and dieting patterns, because of their presumed central role in acting out the nature and importance of thinness and the gender-stereotyped nature of dieting itself (Rafiroiu, Sargent, &Thompson, 2003).Community  beliefs  and  family  dietary practices  have  also  been  identified  as  important predisposing factor to malnutrition (Abubakar, Holding, Mwangome, & Maitland, 2011; Wong,  2014).

The eating habits of adolescents are of concern for public health, as there is a direct association between inadequate diet during this phase and the occurrence of obesity and other chronic diseases in adulthood (McNaughton, Ball, Mishra, & Crawford, 2008). Worsening this scenario, the prevalence of obesity and related diseases has significantly increased worldwide. (Gupta, Goel, Shah, &Misra, 2012; Robinson, Geier, Rizzolo, & Sedrak, 2011).

Adequate intake of foods and nutrients contribute significantly to the growth and development during the adolescence period particularly among the girls, who are the future mothers. A balanced diet during childhood and adolescence is crucial not only for the well-being and growth of the child, but also for the establishment of sound dietary habits that will persist in later life (Westenhoefer, 2002). An optimal diet during adolescence is important to support normal growth and development. (Vereecken, Inchley, & Subramanian, 2005). Dietary habits developed in adolescence may contribute to form adult dietary habits. Adolescent eating behaviour is a function of individual and environmental influences. Individual influences are psychological as well as biological, whereas, environmental influences include immediate social environments such as family, friend, and peer networks and other factors such as school meals and fast food outlets. In addition, another important factor is social system or macro system which includes mass media, marketing and advertising, social and cultural norms of the society (Story, Neumark-Sztainer, & French, 2002). Mishra, Ball, Arbuckle and Crawford, 2002 carried out a study in which education, occupation, income and employment were considered simultaneously,  it was  indicated  that  education  and occupation are usually the strongest determinants of socio-economic  status, however, education and  the  parent’s  occupation  have  had more  effects  on  food  intake.

Mikkila, Rasanen, Raitakari, Pietinen and Viikari (2005) advanced that just limited researches have studied adolescents’ dietary patterns alongside environmental and social factors which could have effect on them through their life period. These studies on dietary patterns of young adults were grounded on small populations such as school classes.

Maria, June, Lily, Rachel, Judith, and Margaret (2011) established that the availability of foods in the home is likely to be related to consumption. We know of no studies that have reported this association in African-American participants, and few studies have examined home food availability using objective methods.

Arabshahi, Pourmoghim, Pouraram, Aminpour, Kalantari, Golestan, & Abtahi, 2003 addressed the relations of socioeconomic factors and the anthropometric indicators of adolescents. It was shown that  it had more effects  on  factors  like education  and occupation  of  parents  and  the family  size  on  food  intake  and  anthropometric indicators  of  this  age  group.  In spite  of  these findings,  it  is  difficult  to  say  how  much  of  the seen  differences  is  the  result  of  each  indicator.

Accordingly, knowledge about actual nutritional intake and diet behaviour among children and adolescents is essential. Information on dietary patterns reflect the overall nutritional behaviour better than information on single foods or nutrients (Hu, 2002). Therefore, the analysis of dietary patterns gives a more comprehensive impression of the food consumption habits within a population.It is common for adolescents to substitute main meals with high-calorie snacks or to skip important meals such as breakfast. In addition, they consume many foods with a high content of sugar, refined carbohydrates and saturated fats, and do not consume enough fruit and vegetables; they are also prone to adopting monotonous diets or food fads (Slattery, 2008).

• Statement of the Problem

Adolescents eating patterns should be encouraged in adolescents and especially in females. This could assist in preventing the development of diseases associated with an inadequate intake of nutritious food (Ogunkunle & Oludele, 2013). It was established that understanding the overall dietary patterns of a population is an important and key step in initiating appropriate nutritional interventions and policies. Studies characterising the dietarypatterns of Nigerian mothers and children are lacking (Nwaru, Onyeka, Ndiokwelu, Esangbedo, Nguw & Okolo, 2015). Few studies have compared parent–child dietary intake among adolescents who are overweight or obese which is a nutritional problem. Helping parents improve their diet may promote improvements in their adolescent’s diet and is a potential target for interventions designed to increase healthy eating among adolescents (Allison, Louise, Susan, Chris & Rhona, 2014).

The diets of children and adolescents are of public health concern due to evidence relating poor nutrition in childhood to subsequent obesity and elevated risks for type 2 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome and CVD (Canete, Gil-Campos, Aguilera & Gil, 2007)  all of which are increasing in prevalence (WHO, 2004). Research indicates that parents play an important rolein influencing the eating behaviors of adolescents (Rasmussen, Krolner & Klepp (2006), Pearson, Biddle & Gorely, 2008). However, relatively few healthy eating programs have utilized parents as potential avenues for intervening with adolescents. (Pearson, Atkin & Biddle, 2010). Parents influence the availability of food within the home but can also exert their influence through their attitudes and beliefs regarding eating, by exposing their adolescents to certain foods or by actively encouraging or controlling certain eating behaviors (Pearson, Biddle & Gorely, 2008; Brug, Tak & Velde, 2008). Less research has examined report of parenting practices and their associations with adolescent dietary intakes (Pearson, Biddle & Gorely, 2008).

However, parental report might be a more valid measure than adolescent report; for example, parents may be able to more accurately report their own attitudes, beliefs and behaviors and may have a better sense than adolescents of the home availability of specific foods, given that parents primarily control which foods are purchased for and served in the home (Hanson, Neumark-Sztainer, & Eisenberg, 2005). It is believed that almost one third of children in developing countries are malnourished (FAO, 2015). Identifying factors that influence the dietary patterns of adolescents may assist in targeting at risk groups and developing strategies to improve dietary intakes. Many studies have been done concerning involvement of parents in the dietary patterns of children most especially. However, there could be a dearth in research about the involvement of the parents in dietary patterns of adolescents or young adults especially in the proposed study of location.

• Objective of the Study

The general objective of this study is to assess parental influence, and factors associated with the dietary patterns of adolescents in the study area. The specific objectives are to:

1. determine the relationship between socio demographic characteristics of parents’ and adolescents’ and individual beliefs to their dietary patterns;

1. identify the main dietary patterns among adolescents;

3. identify level of parental involvement influencing dietary patterns of adolescents;
4. assess associated factors influencing adolescent’s dietary patterns;
5. examine the relationship between accessibility and availability of food products and dietary patterns of adolescents at the household level;
6. assess the difference between dietary patterns of adolescents across parents’ socioeconomic status and
7. examine the relationship between parents’ education and socioeconomic status associated with dietary patterns of the adolescents.
   • Research Questions
8. Is there a relationship between socio demographic characteristics of parents’ and adolescents’ and individual beliefs to their dietary patterns?
9. What are the main dietary patterns among adolescents?
10. In what way would parental involvement influence dietary patterns of adolescents?
11. Which of the associated factors influence adolescent’s dietary patterns?
12. What is the relationship between accessibility and availability of food products and dietary patterns of adolescents at the household level?
13. What is the difference between dietary patterns of adolescents across parents’ socioeconomic status?
14. What is the relationship between parents’ education and socioeconomic status associated with dietary patterns of the adolescents?
    • Significance of the Study

At the end of this study, the findings would provide a better understanding of parents’ involvement in the dietary patterns of adolescents and also the associated factors. The study would provide information on the need of parents to be more involved in adolescents’ dietary patterns. The findings may also provide useful information for parents to become more involved in their young adults’ food intake in order to enhance good health by taking the necessary measures. Also, this study would benefit the community, academic institution and the nation at large by making them informed and providing solutions to dietary issues of adolescents.

Dietary habits among adolescents represent an important public health issue because of the long-term effects on health and health behaviour.  Knowledge of this age group and their dietary habits may provide a good basis for future health promotion initiatives and would also help public health workers to be able to tease out other areas where they can be involved in solving dietary issues.

• Justification forthe Study

The focus of the study is on the involvement of parent and associated factors in dietary patterns of adolescents’. Past research in this field points out that there is a weak relationship between parents and their adolescents’. Studies carried out in Ireland, suggest that it is necessary to include a parent component in which it may influence dietary patterns of adolescents’ (Amanda, Caroline, Elizabeth & Colette, 2010).

A study conducted by (Miller, Hering, Cothran, Croteau, and Dunlap, 2012), suggests that only a few studies have examined the effect of parental supervision on diet quality of older children and adolescents.Studies also revealed that parents do not usually get involved in dietary patterns of adolescents, unlike how they do with toddlers and children.Dietaryintakeduringadolescencecontributes to lifelong eating habits and the development of early risk factors for disease in adulthood. Few studies have examined the dietary patterns of adolescents and the social and environmental factors that may affect them during this life stage. (Gina, Wendy, Monique, Therese, Beth, Nick, Sven, Stephen, Garth, Fiona & Lawrence, 2008).Since there is very little information about dietary intakes and the relationship with parental influence of adolescent population an attempt would be made to find the relationship between dietary intakes and parental influence.

Research indicates that parents play an important role in influencing the eating behaviors of adolescents. (Rasmussen,Krolner& Klepp (2006), Pearson, Biddle&Gorely, 2008). However, relatively few healthy eating programs have utilized the home environment or parents as potential avenues for intervening with adolescents. (Pearson, Atkin & Biddle, 2010). Parents influence the availability of food within the home but can also exert their influence through their attitudes and beliefs regarding eating, by exposing their adolescents to certain foods or by actively encouraging or controlling certain eating behaviors. (Pearson, Biddle&Gorely, 2008; Brug,Tak& Velde, 2008). Most of the research examining parental influences on adolescent fruit consumption has examined adolescent perceptions (Pearson, Biddle&Gorely, 2008) less research has examined parent report of parenting practices and their associations with adolescent dietary intakes. However, parental report might be a more valid measure than adolescent report; for example, parents may be able to more accurately report their own attitudes, beliefs and behaviors and may have a better sense than adolescents of the home availability of specific foods, given that parents primarily control which foods are purchased for and served in the home (Hanson,Neumark-Sztainer,& Eisenberg, 2005).

Many of the studies that have been conducted are not conceptually and logically grounded in behavioral theories to identify some salient factors associated with parental involvement in the dietary patterns among adolescents. This study is therefore designed appropriately in such a way that, it is guided by an ecological model that will enable the salient factors associated with parental involvement of dietary patterns of adolescents in the area of study. Findings showed that no study was found conducted in Alimosho Local Government of Lagos state, Nigeria that addresses the involvement of parents in dietary patterns of adolescents. This study seeks to bridge this gap.

• Operational Definition of Terms

Parental involvement: This is a combination of commitment and active participation on the part of the parent to the adolescent.

Dietary patterns: This is referred to as quantities, proportions, variety or combination of different foods, drinks, and. nutrients in diets, and the frequency with which they are habitually consumed.

Adolescents: They are young people between the ages of 10 and 19 years who are often thought of as a healthy group. Nevertheless, many adolescents do die prematurely due to accidents, suicide, violence, pregnancy related complications and other illnesses that are either preventable or treatable. Many more suffer chronic ill-health and disability.  In addition, many serious diseases in adulthood have their roots in adolescence.

Associated Factors: They are factors that needs to be recognised and they have a relationship with the dependent variable.

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