Family dinner frequency and adolescents mental health development

• Main Authors: YANG, TZU-HAN, 楊子翰
• Other Authors: LIN, FU-GONG
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2018
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/6w86w3

碩士 === 國防醫學院 === 公共衛生學研究所 === 106 === Abstract Background: Family links are thought to have a protective effect on adolescents' substance abuse and emotional problems. When family members have dinner together, they can provide opportunities for exchange of social experiences and strengthen links with others. Nowadays, the frequency of family meals has declined. Therefore, we will be integrated into the family dinner frequency to explore and predict its impact on the mental health of adolescents in different periods in this study. Object: After controlling demographic variables, family environment variables, and school environment variables, observe the influence of family dinner frequency on the mental health of adolescents in different periods. Methods: This study is a longitudinal study, using data from the 2007, 2008, and 2011 “Taiwan Youth Project” to analysis with a comprehensive vision to observe the effects of adolescents’ growth environment on their mental health. Results: The study included 2,648 adolescents' samples and found that family dinner frequency of adolescents had a downward trend when they grow up. However, family dinner frequency had an independent and positive effect on their mental health. It is also found that achieving a certain frequency (for example, two days a week) has a stable and positive effect on mental health. Conclusions: Family dinner frequency has a significant correlation with the mental health of teenagers in different periods. The higher the frequency, the lower the psychological symptoms score especially in junior third and senior third. Key words: adolescent mental health, family dinner frequency, teens