Parental behaviour in choosing snacks for children aged six to ten: the role of mothers' nutritional awareness
ISSN: 0007-070X
Article publication date: 26 April 2022
Issue publication date: 16 January 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study is to investigate the role of mothers in administering afternoon snacks to children aged between 6 and 10. Through an exploratory analysis, this study aims at identifying how sociodemographic characteristics of mothers and children and objective and subjective nutritional awareness of the parent influences healthy or unhealthy food choices for the children.
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey was submitted to 242 mothers of children attending primary school. Non-parametric correlation using Spearman's coefficient was adopted as an exploratory analysis tool.
Findings
The analysis shows that the mothers' level of education and income influence the purchase of snack products. More permissive parents tend to be less well-off, have more than one child and also purchase sweet treats, salty snacks, and sugary drinks more frequently. Furthermore, the results show that parents' perceived subjective awareness is actually lower than their objective awareness, but also that both types of knowledge positively influence the purchase of healthy snacks.
Originality/value
There is extensive research documenting the importance of parents in reducing the risk of obesity; however, their influence on snack intake has not been widely discussed. Furthermore, the association between the occurrence of obesity and parents' behaviour regarding their children's snacking remains unclear. To bridge this gap, this study focuses on a meal which is often linked to poor eating habits: the afternoon snack.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors state that no founds were used to conduct this study.
Citation
De Cianni, R., Pippinato, L., Zanchini, R., Brun, F., Di Vita, G. and Mancuso, T. (2023), "Parental behaviour in choosing snacks for children aged six to ten: the role of mothers' nutritional awareness", British Food Journal, Vol. 125 No. 2, pp. 713-730. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-09-2021-1010
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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