Environmental and cognitive correlates of adolescent breakfast consumption.

Abstract

This study aimed to identify cognitive and environmental correlates of daily adolescent breakfast consumption. Adolescents (n=1089) aged 12-15 years in schools in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, completed a questionnaire measuring daily breakfast consumption, individual cognitions, and home environmental factors during the 2005-2006 school year. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between the environmental variables, cognitions and everyday breakfast consumption. Additionally, mediation of the effect of the environmental variables through the individual cognitions on breakfast consumption was explored. Attitude, perceived behavioral control, modeling by friends and parents, and intention were associated with daily breakfast consumption. Political (breakfast rules), physical (available breakfast products), and socio-cultural (having breakfast with a parent, having the evening meal with a parent, eating the evening meal in front of the TV) environments were also associated with daily breakfast consumption. Associations of the environmental factors were partly mediated by the individual cognitions. Individual cognitions and a supportive home environment are associated with adolescent breakfast consumption. Since parents primarily shape the home environment, interventions aimed at improving adolescent breakfast consumption should target the parent as well as the adolescent.