THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MEAL REGULARITY AND MENTAL HEALTH IN NOVA SCOTIAN CHILDREN

Abstract

Background: Few studies have examined the association between childhood meal regularity and mental health.

Objectives: To determine whether a cross-sectional relationship exists between meal regularity and both self-esteem and mental health-related physician visits in Nova Scotian children.

Methods: Data from the CLASS-II study (4,009 grade five children, Nova Scotia, 2011) and HDNS were used to examine whether meal regularity predicts both self-esteem and mental health related physician visits. Mixed effects logistic regression and zero-inflated Poisson regression were used to predict odds of lower self-esteem and risk of mental health-related physician visits, respectively.

Results: Supper alone, supper in front of the television, breakfast skipping (boys) and family supper were significantly associated with lower self-esteem. Supper in front of the television (boys) and skipping lunch (girls) were associated with increased mental health-related physician visits.

Conclusion: Some aspects of meal regularity are associated with childhood self-esteem and mental health-related physician visits.