Socio-economic disparities in Australian adolescents’ eating behaviours

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 2753-2758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippa Niven ◽  
Maree Scully ◽  
Belinda Morley ◽  
David Crawford ◽  
Louise A Baur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
School Students ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Economic Disparities ◽  
Sweetened Beverages

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the association between socio-economic position (SEP) and poor eating behaviours in a large representative sample of Australian secondary-school students.DesignCross-sectional survey of students’ vegetable, fruit, sugar-sweetened beverage and fast-food consumption assessed using validated instruments and collected via a web-based self-report format.SettingSecondary schools across all Australian states and territories.SubjectsSecondary-school students (n 12 188; response rate: 54 %) aged 12–17 years participating in the 2009–10 National Secondary Students’ Diet and Activity (NaSSDA) survey.ResultsOverall, 25 % of students reported consuming ≤1 serving of vegetables/d and 29 % reported eating ≤1 serving of fruit/d. Fourteen per cent of students reported drinking at least 1–2 cups of sugar-sweetened beverages/d while 9 % reported eating fast food ≥3 times/week. After adjusting for other demographic factors, students of lower-SEP areas were more likely to report low intake of vegetables (F(4, 231) = 3·61, P = 0·007) and high frequency of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (F(4, 231) = 8·41, P < 0·001) and fast food (F(4, 231) = 4·59, P = 0·001) compared with students of high-SEP neighbourhoods. A positive SEP association was found for fruit consumption among female students only (F(4, 231) = 4·20, P = 0·003). Those from lower-SEP areas were also more likely to engage in multiple poor eating behaviours (F(4, 231)=5·80, P < 0·001).ConclusionsResults suggest that socio-economic disparities in Australian adolescents’ eating behaviours do exist, with students residing in lower-SEP neighbourhoods faring less well than those from high-SEP neighbourhoods. Reducing social inequalities in eating behaviours among young people should be a key consideration of future preventive strategies.

Factors associated with frequent consumption of fast food among Australian secondary school students

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1340-1349
Author(s):  
Maree Scully ◽  
Belinda Morley ◽  
Philippa Niven ◽  
David Crawford ◽  
Iain S Pratt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Snack Food ◽  
School Students ◽  
Fast Food Consumption ◽  
Frequent Consumption

AbstractObjective:To examine demographic and behavioural correlates of frequent consumption of fast food among Australian secondary school students and explore the associations between fast food consumption and social/environmental factors.Design:Cross-sectional survey using a web-based self-report questionnaire.Setting:Secondary schools across all Australian states and territories.Participants:Students aged 12–17 years participating in the 2012–2013 National Secondary Students’ Diet and Activity survey (n 8392).Results:Overall, 38 % of students surveyed reported consuming fast food at least weekly. Being male, residing in lower socio-economic areas and metropolitan locations, having more weekly spending money and working at a fast food outlet were all independently associated with consuming fast food once a week or more, as were several unhealthy eating (low vegetable intake and high sugary drink and snack food intake) and leisure (low physical activity and higher commercial television viewing) behaviours and short sleep duration. Frequent fast food consumption and measured weight status were unrelated. Students who agreed they go to fast food outlets with their family and friends were more likely to report consuming fast food at least weekly, as were those who usually ‘upsize’ their fast food meals and believe fast food is good value for money.Conclusions:These results suggest that frequent fast food consumption clusters with other unhealthy behaviours. Policy and educational interventions that reach identified at-risk groups are needed to reduce adolescent fast food consumption at the population level. Policies placing restrictions on the portion sizes of fast food may also help adolescents limit their intake.

scholarly journals “My Life during the Lockdown”: Emotional Experiences of European Adolescents during the COVID-19 Crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7638
Author(s):  
Alberto Forte ◽  
Massimiliano Orri ◽  
Martina Brandizzi ◽  
Cecilia Iannaco ◽  
Paola Venturini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Point Scale ◽  
School Students ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Public Health Strategies ◽  
Web Platform

This study investigates, using an online self-report questionnaire, adolescents’ emotional reactions during the lockdown in a sample of 2105 secondary school students (aged 14–19) in Italy, Romania, and Croatia. We used a self-reported online questionnaire (answers on a 5-point scale or binary), composed of 73 questions investigating the opinions, feelings, and emotions of teenagers, along with sociodemographic information and measures of the exposure to lockdown. The survey was conducted online through a web platform in Italy (between 27 April and 15 June 2020), Romania, and Croatia (3 June and 2 July 2020). Students aged >14 years, living in a small flat, and not spending time outside were more likely to report anger, sadness, boredom/emptiness, and anxiety. Boys were significantly less likely than girls to report all measured emotional reactions. Those who lost someone from COVID-19 were more than twice as likely to experience anger compared to those who did not. Our findings may help identifying adolescents more likely to report negative emotional reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic and inform public health strategies for improving mental health among adolescents during/after the COVID-19 crisis.

Another Look at Secondary School Students' Attitudes toward Reading

1980 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramon Lewis ◽  
William H. Teale
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Individual Development ◽  
Attitudes Toward Reading ◽  
School Students ◽  
Peer Ratings ◽  
Validity Data ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Students Attitudes

Argues that secondary school students' attitudes toward reading may be conceptualized multi-dimensionally as consisting of Individual Development, Utilitarian, and Enjoyment factors. Describes the development of self-report scales designed to measure each of these dimensions of reading attitude. Factor analyses showed the dimensions to be distinguishable empirically one from the other. The three scales were found to be internally consistent (α = .69-.92) and stable (α = .72-.90). Concurrent validity data based on peer ratings are also provided. Implications for pedagogical and research issues arising from this conceptualization of attitude toward reading are also discussed.

scholarly journals What factors are associated with frequent unhealthy snack-food consumption among Australian secondary-school students?

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 2153-2160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippa Niven ◽  
Maree Scully ◽  
Belinda Morley ◽  
Louise Baur ◽  
David Crawford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Snack Food ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
School Students ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Snack Foods ◽  
Unhealthy Snack

AbstractObjectiveTo examine demographic and behavioural correlates of unhealthy snack-food consumption among Australian secondary-school students and the association between their perceptions of availability, convenience and intake with consumption.DesignCross-sectional survey of students’ eating, physical activity and sedentary behaviours using validated instruments administered via an online questionnaire.SettingAustralian secondary schools across all states/territories.SubjectsSecondary-school students aged 12–17 years participating in the 2009–10 National Secondary Students’ Diet and Activity (NaSSDA) survey (n 12 188).ResultsApproximately one in five students (21 %) reported consuming unhealthy snack foods ≥14 times/week (‘frequent snackers’). After adjusting for all covariates, older students and those with a BMI of ≥25 kg/m2 were less likely to be frequent snackers, while students who reported high fast-food and high sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and those who watched television for >2 h/d were more likely to snack frequently. Furthermore, after adjusting for all covariates and demographic factors, students who agreed that snack foods are usually available at home, convenient to buy and that they eat too many snack foods were more likely to be snacking frequently. Conversely, students who agreed that fruit is a convenient snack were less likely to be frequent snackers.ConclusionsFrequent unhealthy snack-food consumption appears to cluster with other poor health behaviours. Perceptions of availability and convenience are factors most readily amenable to change, and findings suggest interventions should focus on decreasing the availability of unhealthy snack foods in the home and promoting healthier options such as fruit as convenient snacks.

scholarly journals Eating habits and food literacy: Study involving a sample of Portuguese adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 286-295
Author(s):  
Manuela Ferreira ◽  
Raquel P. F. Guiné ◽  
Ana Lúcia Leitão ◽  
João Duarte ◽  
Joana Andrade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
School Students ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Eating Pattern ◽  
Food Literacy

Abstract Adolescents tend to neglect food and their eating pattern is influenced by several factors. Adolescents’ health literacy substantiates their ability to respond to the growing demands of health, being linked to health promotion in several areas, including food. The goal of this work was to analyze the relationship between sociodemographic and contextual variables with secondary school students’ food literacy. A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study was carried out with a sample of 181 nonprobabilistic secondary school students, aged between 16 and 21 years (mean = 18.09 years ± 1.45), mostly female (58.0%), from 11th grade (35.4%), who are part of a secondary school in central Portugal. As a tool for data collection, the questionnaire of the project “Your PEL – Promote and Empower for Health Literacy in the young population” was used, aggregating three areas: eating behaviors, harmful consumptions and sexuality. The results showed that 58.6% of young people eat 4–5 meals a day, consume fast food weekly (79%) and eat soup (82.3%). Additionally, they eat fruit and vegetables on a daily basis (94.5 and 83.4%, respectively). The results further showed that 10th grade students have higher levels of health and food literacy. It was observed that both girls and boys are interested in receiving information regarding food, transmitted through social networks and by a communication application (84.5 and 73.5%, respectively), with significant differences (χ 2 = 4.768; p = 0.028). Adolescents face unique health challenges and a critical level of health literacy compromises their understanding of information about diet and future health. The results indicate that educational plans to empower adolescents in these areas, which integrate gender and age differences and sources of information as important variables to be considered, are pivotal for increasing levels of health and food literacy.

scholarly journals Relationship between Academic Emotions, Self-efficacy and mathematics achievement of secondary school students in Central Division, Machakos County, Kenya

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-57
Author(s):  
Elizabeth N. Mutisya ◽  
Theresia K Kinai ◽  
Jotham N. Dinga ◽  
Samuel M. Mutweleli
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Mathematics Achievement ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Self Report ◽  
School Students ◽  
Academic Emotions ◽  
Central Division ◽  
And Mathematics

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between academic emotions and self- efficacy in predicting mathematics achievement of secondary school students. A random sample of 300 form three students (150 males, 150 females) was selected from public secondary schools in Central Division, Machakos County, Kenya. Correlation research design was adopted and data collected using a self report questionnaire. Analysis of examination records was done to obtain data on mathematics achievement. Relationships were determined using Pearson product-moment correlation method while t-test for independent samples was used to determine gender differences between students’ academic emotions, self-efficacy and mathematics achievement. Results revealed a significant relationship between students academic emotions, self-efficacy and mathematics achievement. Significant gender differences were found in students’ academic emotions and self-efficacy. The findings are useful in helping students to develop control over the process of learning mathematics and attach high value to the subject, which lead to development of positive emotions which have a positive correlation to academic achievement.

scholarly journals A STUDY OF THE ATTITUDE OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TOWARDS SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 372-377
Author(s):  
Joy A. Ajanigo ◽  
◽  
Sunday Aboritoli ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Process Skills ◽  
School Students ◽  
Science Process Skills ◽  
Senior Secondary School ◽  
Pedagogical Competence ◽  
Senior Secondary

Science process skill (SPS)is an essential skillrequired in studying science and achieving the reform in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Nigeria. Science process skills areinseparable from scientific processes, such as observing, experimenting, and analyzing events. The current studys primary purpose is to assess the attitude of senior secondary school students towards science process skills. Also, to determine the teachers pedagogical competence (TCP) inattitude towards science process skills. One hundred and sixteen senior secondary school students drawn from public and private secondary schools in Kogi State participated in the study. The participants completed self-report measures on attitude towards science process skills and perceived teachers pedagogical competence. The findings revealed that 65.5% of the respondents expressed a negative attitude towards science process skills. Also, it was found that teachers pedagogical competence influenced attitude towards science process skills. The findings and practical implications of the study are discussed.

scholarly journals Are closed campus policies associated with youth eating behaviours?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen A Patte ◽  
Adam Cole ◽  
Wei Qian ◽  
Megan Magier ◽  
Michelle Vine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fast Food ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
School Nutrition ◽  
School Administrator ◽  
School Level ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Vending Machines ◽  
Sweetened Beverages

Abstract Purpose The effectiveness of school nutrition regulations may be undermined by the food environment surrounding schools, particularly among adolescents, as they are less likely to eat lunch at school and have their own spending money. Given challenges in regulating the external food retail, policies where students are unable to leave the school property during the day have been suggested to improve student nutrition. The aim of this study was to examine whether closed campus policies (CCP) are associated with student eating behaviours. Methods The current study used student- and school-administrator survey data from 60,610 grade 9-12 students and 134 Canadian secondary schools participating in year 7 (2018/2019) of the COMPASS study. Multiple ordinal regression models tested school CCP as a predictor of weekday dietary behaviours (0-5 days), controlling for student- (grade, gender, spending money, ethnicity) and school-level (urbanicity, province, area median household income, school vending machines) covariates. Results A total of 16 schools reported CCP. Students who attended schools with CCP reported eating lunch purchased from fast food places or restaurants on fewer weekdays, but consumed sugar sweetened beverages (sodas/sports drinks or sweetened coffee/tea drinks) and snacks purchased from school vending machines on more weekdays, relative to students at schools with open campus policies. No significant differences in student reports of eating lunch brought from home, eating lunch purchased from the school cafeteria, or snacks purchased off-school campus were observed between schools with open and CCP. Conclusion CCP may help improve youth eating behaviour by reducing sugar sweetened beverages and lunch time fast food consumption on weekdays; however, students already purchasing food may shift from off-campus to within school options, highlighting the importance of ensuring healthy school food environments and encouraging students to bring home-prepared lunches. Future studies using experimental longitudinal designs are needed to determine the effect of school CCP on various health behaviours and outcomes.

scholarly journals A qualitative study investigating food choices and perceived psychosocial influences on eating behaviours in secondary school students

2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 1027-1039
Author(s):  
Sian Calvert ◽  
Robert C. Dempsey ◽  
Rachel Povey
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
School Students ◽  
Content Type

PurposeChildhood obesity is a major global health concern. Understanding children's and adolescent’s eating behaviours and promoting healthier behaviours is key for reducing the negative health outcomes associated with obesity. The current study explored the perceptions of healthy eating behaviours and the influences on eating behaviours amongst 11-to-13-year-old secondary school students.Design/methodology/approachNine semi-structured same-sex focus group discussions were conducted in schools located in deprived areas of England, with the discussions subjected to a thematic framework analysis.FindingsThree main constructs were identified in the analysis as follows: (1) eating patterns and lifestyle, (2) social influences and (3) environmental influences. Participants understood what healthy eating behaviours are and the benefits of eating healthy; yet, they reported irregular mealtimes and consuming unhealthy snacks. Students reported that their parents and fellow student peers were strong influences on their own eating behaviours, with girls subjected to being teased by male students for attempting to eat healthily. Finally, students perceived that unhealthy foods were cheaper, tasted better and were readily available in their social environments compared to healthier options, making healthier behaviours less likely to occur.Originality/valueFindings indicate that students had a good understanding of healthy eating behaviours but did not always practise them and are seemingly influenced by their social and environmental context. The promotion of healthier eating in this age group needs to challenge the misperceptions associated with the accessibility and social acceptability of unhealthy food items.

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