Parent-Child Joint Decision Making on Food Choices and Children's Fruits and Vegetable Consumption

• Published in: Health behavior and policy review Vol. 4; no. 6; pp. 521 - 530
• Main Authors: Amuta, Ann O., Jacobs, Wura, Mkuu, Rahma S., Espinoza, Luis Enrique, Barry, Adam E., McKyer, Lisako J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd 01.11.2017
• Subjects: Decision Making; Fruits And Vegetable Consumption; Parenting Styles; Rural-Low Income
• ISSN: 2326-4403; 2326-4403
• DOI: 10.14485/HBPR.4.6.2

Objective: We examined the influence of parent-child joint decision-making behaviors on children's fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption. Methods: We analyzed data of parents of students from rural southeast Texas (N = 298). Results: Children who 'always decide together' with parents ate significantly more vegetables (M = 5.45, S. D. = 1.88) than children who "decide alone" (M = 4.00, SD = 2.42, p < .05). "Always decide together" (M = 4.83, SD= 2.24, p < .05) consumed significantly more fruits than "parent decides alone" (Mean = 3.77, SD = 2.03). After controlling for demographic variables "Always decide together" influenced vegetables (PR= .75, p = .003) and fruit consumption (PR = .861, p = .08). Conclusion: Parents play a vital role in the food choices and can positively influence F&V consumption by including children in the decision-making process.