The influential role of parents' socioeconomic status and diet quality on their children's dietary behavior: results from the LIPOKAP study among the Iranian population

PurposeThere is a paucity of evidence regarding the influential factors on Iranian children's diet quality. To assess this issue, we explore the relationship between parental diet quality, socioeconomic status (SES), and nutritional knowledge with their children's diet quality using a cross-sectional sample of the Iranian population.MethodsIn this study, paired parents along with one of their children (aged 6-18 years old) who lived with them were included. Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and diet quality was determined using an Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI). Nutritional knowledge and SES were also explored using validated questionnaires. Multiple linear regression analysis was used and beta (beta) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported.ResultsAfter controlling for potential confounders, the parents' AHEI was significantly associated with their children's diet quality (beta = 12.34, 95% CI: 10.75, 13.93; P < 0.001). The nutritional knowledge of parents was significantly associated with children's AHEI after controlling for potential confounders (beta = 1.63, 95% CI: 0.14, 3.11; P = 0.032). Moreover, the parents' SES was inversely associated with the AHEI of children (beta=-3.76, 95% CI: -5.40, -2.11; P < 0.001); however, further adjustment for confounders attenuated this relationship (Model 3: beta = 0.87, 95% CI: -0.76, 2.34; P = 0.269).ConclusionsWe found that the children's diet quality could be influenced by their parents' SES, nutritional knowledge, and diet quality. Our findings suggest that improving the nutritional knowledge of parents not only may improve the healthy eating pattern of parents but also could influence their children's diet quality.

Automated summary

This study finds that the diet quality of Iranian children is influenced by their parents' diet quality, socioeconomic status, and nutritional knowledge. The parents' diet quality is closely associated with their children's diet quality, and the parents' nutritional knowledge is also related to their children's diet quality. Additionally, the parents' socioeconomic status is negatively associated with their children's diet quality. Therefore, improving parents' nutritional knowledge can not only improve their own healthy eating patterns but also influence their children's diet quality.