Each Indicator of Socioeconomic Status (Education, Occupation, Income, and Household Size) Is Differently Associated with Children’s Diets: Results from a Cross-Sectional CroCOSI Study
Saved in:
| Title: | Each Indicator of Socioeconomic Status (Education, Occupation, Income, and Household Size) Is Differently Associated with Children’s Diets: Results from a Cross-Sectional CroCOSI Study |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Jasmina Hasanović, Helena Križan, Zvonimir Šatalić, Sanja Musić Milanović |
| Source: | Nutrients |
| Publisher Information: | MDPI AG, 2025. |
| Publication Year: | 2025 |
| Subject Terms: | Parents, Male, household income, Croatia, Article, socioeconomic status, children, Surveys and Questionnaires, Vegetables, Humans, Occupations, Child, dietary habits, education, Family Characteristics, Feeding Behavior, Diet, Cross-Sectional Studies, Social Class, Socioeconomic Factors, Diet / statistics & numerical data, employment, Income, Educational Status, Female, COSI, household size, diet |
| Description: | Background: There has yet to be an agreement on which specific socioeconomic status (SES) indicator most effectively reflects disparities in children’s diets. However, children from lower SES backgrounds are particularly vulnerable, as research in other countries indicates that their diets contain fewer fruits and vegetables and more sweetened beverages. This paper aims to evaluate the associations between dietary habits and various SES indicators (education, occupation, income, and household size) among a representative sample of children in Croatia aged 7–10. Methods: Parents of children were asked to complete a questionnaire that contained indicators of their children’s dietary habits and socioeconomic status (n = 5608). Associations between SES and children’s dietary habits were assessed using logistic regression models. Results: The mother and father’s educational attainment were strongly positively associated with breakfast consumption. Children of parents with a lower educational level consumed sweetened beverages, sweet snacks, and fast food slightly more often than children in families with a higher educational background. The mother’s education was inversely associated with vegetable and cereal consumption, while the father’s education was inversely associated with fruit and bakery product consumption. Meanwhile, household income per unit had a significant influence on the consumption of soft drinks and bakery products. Household size had a significant influence solely on sweet snack consumption. Conclusions: Each SES indicator showed an independent association with at least one particular dietary habit, except for the parent’s employment status. |
| Document Type: | Article Other literature type |
| File Description: | application/pdf |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 2072-6643 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/nu17040657 |
| Access URL: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40004985 https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/4/657/pdf https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17040657 https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:105:181772 https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17040657 |
| Rights: | CC BY |
| Accession Number: | edsair.doi.dedup.....83f8d7e1fe46bea3f9b09fc4e8cbb3e5 |
| Database: | OpenAIRE |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Background: There has yet to be an agreement on which specific socioeconomic status (SES) indicator most effectively reflects disparities in children’s diets. However, children from lower SES backgrounds are particularly vulnerable, as research in other countries indicates that their diets contain fewer fruits and vegetables and more sweetened beverages. This paper aims to evaluate the associations between dietary habits and various SES indicators (education, occupation, income, and household size) among a representative sample of children in Croatia aged 7–10. Methods: Parents of children were asked to complete a questionnaire that contained indicators of their children’s dietary habits and socioeconomic status (n = 5608). Associations between SES and children’s dietary habits were assessed using logistic regression models. Results: The mother and father’s educational attainment were strongly positively associated with breakfast consumption. Children of parents with a lower educational level consumed sweetened beverages, sweet snacks, and fast food slightly more often than children in families with a higher educational background. The mother’s education was inversely associated with vegetable and cereal consumption, while the father’s education was inversely associated with fruit and bakery product consumption. Meanwhile, household income per unit had a significant influence on the consumption of soft drinks and bakery products. Household size had a significant influence solely on sweet snack consumption. Conclusions: Each SES indicator showed an independent association with at least one particular dietary habit, except for the parent’s employment status. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 20726643 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/nu17040657 |