Exploring the role of family communication time in the association between family dinner frequency and adolescent psychological distress

Wong, R. S., Tung, K. T.S., Chow, K. H.T., Law, A. R.M., Ho, F. K.W., Chan, K. L. and Ip, P. (2023) Exploring the role of family communication time in the association between family dinner frequency and adolescent psychological distress. Current Psychology, 42, pp. 13868-13876. (doi: 10.1007/s12144-021-02639-x)

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Abstract

Although research shows that family dinner is associated with adolescent psychological well-being, it is unclear whether this association still exists when parent-adolescent communication is limited particularly in today’s high-tech society where frequent family meals may not necessarily co-exist with frequent family communication. We therefore examined the relationships among adolescent psychological distress, parent-adolescent dinner frequency, and parent-adolescent communication time using data from 826 parent-adolescent dyads. Adolescents self-reported symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress in the preceding month using the validated Chinese version of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21 (DASS-21). Their parents reported the frequency of breakfasts and dinners, duration of daily communication with the adolescent, and other family sociodemographic characteristics. Moderated regression analysis was used to examine associations of adolescent psychological distress with parent-adolescent dinner frequency and parent-adolescent non-conflictual communication time. We found that parent-adolescent non-conflictual communication time was independently and significantly associated with adolescent DASS Depression (β = -1.31, p < 0.001), Anxiety (β = -0.84, p < 0.001), and Stress (β = -1.00, p < 0.001) scores, but parent-adolescent dinner frequency was not. Furthermore, adolescents reported lower levels of depression and stress only when they concurrently engaged in both everyday dinner and regular non-conflictual communication with parents. Findings emphasize the importance of regular dinner and non-conflictual communication with parents for adolescent psychological well-being.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:Funding: The study was supported by the research grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. 17606318).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Ho, Dr Frederick
Authors: Wong, R. S., Tung, K. T.S., Chow, K. H.T., Law, A. R.M., Ho, F. K.W., Chan, K. L., and Ip, P.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
Journal Name:Current Psychology
Publisher:Springer
ISSN:1046-1310
ISSN (Online):1936-4733
Published Online:20 January 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
First Published:First published in Current Psychology 42:13868–13876
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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