17 research outputs found
Οι αιτίες ετεροαπασχόλησης των αποφοίτων ανθρωπιστικών σπουδών και οι προσδοκίες τους για το μέλλον.
Στην Ελλάδα, όπου εμφανίζεται μια μαζικοποίηση στην τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες, γίνεται όλο και πιο συχνά λόγος για την ετεροαπασχόληση των αποφοίτων. Η τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση που αποτελεί ορόσημο στη ζωή των ατόμων, παρέχει στα άτομα γνώσεις και δεξιότητες στα πλαίσια των προπτυχιακών σπουδών, ικανές να επηρεάσουν τις μετέπειτα ακαδημαϊκές και εργασιακές διαδρομές τους και να καθορίσουν την πορεία τους. Εμφανής είναι η αναντιστοιχία του αντικειμένου σπουδών με την αγορά εργασίας, η οποία απεικονίζεται στα υψηλά ποσοστά ανεργίας των πτυχιούχων όπως επίσης και στα στοιχεία που προσδίδουν την ετεροαπασχόλησή τους. Η ετεροαπασχόληση, εννοούμενη ως αναντιστοιχία μεταξύ εκπαίδευσης και απασχόλησης, υποδηλώνει μια σειρά θεμάτων τα οποία εμπεριέχονται στη σχέση της ανώτατης εκπαίδευσης και της αγοράς εργασίας στη χώρα μας. Σκοπός της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι η διερεύνηση των αιτιών της ετεροαπασχόλησης, συγκεκριμένα, των αποφοίτων ανθρωπιστικών επιστημών, μέσα από την αποτύπωση και την ανάλυση των ακαδημαϊκών και εργασιακών διαδρομών τους. Οι απόφοιτοι ανθρωπιστικών επιστημών, λόγω της δυσκολίας εύρεσης εργασίας στο αντικείμενο του επιστημονικού τους ενδιαφέροντος και της ακαδημαϊκής τους κατάρτισης, αναζήτησαν εναλλακτικές πηγές απόκτησης εισοδήματος, καταλήγοντας έτσι ως ετεροαπασχολούμενοι. Στην παρούσα έρευνα, οι απόφοιτοι εξηγούν τις αιτίες ώθησής στους στην ετεροαπασχόληση, τα συναισθήματά τους για τη θέση αυτή, τις προσδοκίες τους για το επαγγελματικό τους μέλλον, καθώς επίσης προτείνουν και αρκετούς τρόπους για την ανάσχεση του φαινομένου αυτού.In Greece there has been observed a massification of higher education in recent decades. Thus, there is more and more discussion about the hetero-employment of university graduates. Higher or third-level education, which is considered a milestone in individuals’ lives, provides them with knowledge and skills during their undergraduate studies, capable of influencing their subsequent academic and career paths and determining their life course. On the contrary, it is evident that there is a mismatch between their field of study and their current job which is reflected in the high unemployment rates of the graduates as well as in the existing data about hetero-employment. The term “hetero-employment”, which describes exactly that phenomenon (the mismatch between education and employment), signifies a number of issues that follow the relationship between higher education and the labor market in Greece. The purpose of this research is to investigate the causes of hetero-employment, particularly among the graduates of the humanities, through the recording and analysis of their academic and career paths. Graduates of the humanities search alternative sources of income, due to the difficulty of finding a job in the field of their scientific interest and their academic training, thus ending up hetero-employed. In this research, such graduates explain the reasons why they ended up hetero-employed, their feelings about this situation, their expectations for their professional future and suggest several ways to stop or minimize this phenomenon
Family sociodemographic characteristics as correlates of children’s breakfast habits and weight status in eight European countries. The ENERGY (EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth) project
Assessment of the effects of Mediterranean diet, DASH diet and salt restriction on blood pressure levels and cardiometabolic risk factors on pre-hypertension and arterial hypertension stage 1 over 3 months
Introduction: Lifestyle interventions are recommended as the first-line treatment to control high-normal blood pressure (BP) and uncomplicated grade 1 hypertension, as well as cardiometabolic risk factors. However, studies directly comparing the effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) vs. the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on a salt restriction background are currently lacking. Aim: The aim of the DASH-MedDiet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension-Mediterranean Diet) randomized controlled clinical trial was to assess the BP and the cardiometabolic effects of a 3-month intensive dietary intervention implementing salt restriction either alone or in the context of the DASH, and the MedDiet compared to no/minimal intervention in never drug-treated adults with high-normal BP or grade 1 hypertension. Methods: After eligibility assessment, enrolled patients were randomized to one of the four study groups: the control group (CG), the salt restriction group (SRG), the DASH diet combined with salt restriction group (DDG) or the MedDiet combined with salt restriction group (MDG). After randomization, all patients were followed monthly for 3 months in individual sessions. Patients in the CG received general oral advice on dietary principles for BP control, while patients in the three intervention groups participated in an intensive 3-month dietary intervention. Patients in the SRG received an illustrated booklet and intensive counselling to be gradually trained to increase adherence to salt restriction and achieve the goal of 5g/day. Each patient in the DDG and the MDG received a more extensive illustrated booklet according to the assigned diet, an individualized dietary plan which incorporated the principles of the DASH or the MedDiet and intensive counselling to be gradually trained to increase adherence both to salt restriction and the assigned dietary pattern and achieve the recommended goals. All patients were assessed in respect of anthropometric indices, dietary adherence, physical activity level, and office BP at baseline and during the three follow-up visits. In addition, ABPM collection of fasting blood samples and 24-hour urine samples, and clinical diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome were conducted at baseline and the end of the study. The primary outcome of the DASH-MedDiet study was the attained mean office systolic BP difference among the randomized arms at the end of the 3-month dietary intervention. Results: A total of 240 patients were enrolled in the four study groups with a 1:1:1:1 allocation. After randomization, 11 patients were excluded for certain reasons and 25 patients were lost to follow-up, while 85% of the patients completed the study. According to the intention-to-treat analysis, compared to the CG, systolic and diastolic office BP and 24h ambulatory systolic and diastolic BP were reduced in all intervention groups. In addition, a greater reduction in the mean office systolic BP was observed in the MDG compared to both the SRG and the DDG (MDG vs. SRG: MD = -7.5 mmHg, 95% CI: -9,8, -5,3 and vs. DDG: MD = -3.2 mmHg, 95% CI: -5,4, -1,0). During the 3-month evaluation, the DDG and the MDG did not differ concerning the office diastolic BP and the 24h ambulatory systolic BP. However, both diets combined with salt restriction were more efficient in office BP-lowering compared to salt restriction alone. Moreover, compared to no/minimal intervention, the 3-month dietary intervention reduced total and LDL-cholesterol, fasting glucose, and HbA1c. Compared to the SRG, the DDG reduced HbA1c, while the MDG also reduced fasting glucose, total and LDL-cholesterol. At the end of the study, compared to the CG, the DDG and the MDG had 71% and 85%, respectively, lower odds of metabolic syndrome. However, compared to the SRG, only the MDG had 75% lower odds of metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: The 3-month dietary intervention of the DASH-MedDiet study had a meaningful effect on BP reduction and also improved patients’ cardiometabolic profile compared to no/ minimal intervention. The most important result of this study was that in this population the MedDiet was superior regarding office systolic BP reduction compared to the DASH diet. However, regarding office diastolic BP and 24h ambulatory systolic BP, as well as metabolic syndrome prevalence reduction, equal effectiveness was proved for the two diets. Therefore, dietary interventions including the adoption of a healthy, balanced diet combined with salt restriction are of great importance for public health, since they can be used as a realistic and effective alternative to drug treatment to manage increased blood pressure and improve cardiometabolic risk factors. Registration number: NCT05669404 clinicaltrials.gov/Εισαγωγή: Οι μη φαρμακευτικές παρεμβάσεις που περιλαμβάνουν την εφαρμογή των ενδεδειγμένων αλλαγών στον τρόπο ζωής αποτελούν τη θεραπεία «πρώτης γραμμής» για τη διαχείριση της υψηλής φυσιολογικής αρτηριακής πίεσης και της υπέρτασης σταδίου 1, που δε συνοδεύεται από επιπλοκές, αλλά και για τη βελτίωση των καρδιομεταβολικών παραγόντων κινδύνου. Ωστόσο, στη βιβλιογραφία δεν υπάρχουν μελέτες που να συγκρίνουν άμεσα τις επιδράσεις της δίαιτας DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) και της Μεσογειακής δίαιτας με παράλληλο περιορισμό του άλατος. Σκοπός: Σκοπός της τυχαιοποιημένης κλινικής μελέτης DASH-MedDiet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension-Mediterranean Diet) ήταν να αξιολογήσει σε σχέση με την καμία/ελάχιστη παρέμβαση τις επιδράσεις στην αρτηριακή πίεση και στους καρδιομεταβολικούς παράγοντες κινδύνου μιας 3μηνης διαιτολογικής παρέμβασης που περιελάμβανε περιορισμό του άλατος είτε ως μόνη παρέμβαση, είτε στο πλαίσιο της δίαιτας DASH και της Μεσογειακής δίαιτας σε ασθενείς με υψηλή φυσιολογική αρτηριακή πίεση ή υπέρταση σταδίου 1 που δε λάμβαναν αντιυπερτασική φαρμακευτική αγωγή. Μεθοδολογία: Μετά την πραγματοποίηση του ελέγχου καταλληλότητας, οι συμμετέχοντες ασθενείς τυχαιοποιήθηκαν σε μια από τις τέσσερις ομάδες της μελέτης: στην ομάδα ελέγχου, στην ομάδα περιορισμού του άλατος, στην ομάδα της δίαιτας DASH με περιορισμό του άλατος ή στην ομάδα της Μεσογειακής δίαιτας με περιορισμό του άλατος. Κατόπιν της τυχαιοποίησης, όλοι οι ασθενείς παρακολουθούνταν μια φορά τον μήνα για 3 μήνες σε ατομικές συνεδρίες. Οι ασθενείς στην ομάδα ελέγχου έλαβαν γενικές προφορικές συμβουλές σχετικά με τις διατροφικές αρχές που οφείλουν να εφαρμόζουν για τον έλεγχο της αρτηριακής τους πίεσης, ενώ στις τρεις ομάδες της παρέμβασης εφαρμόστηκε μια εντατική διαιτολογική παρέμβαση. Στην ομάδα περιορισμού του άλατος οι ασθενείς έλαβαν ένα αναλυτικό, εικονογραφημένο φυλλάδιο και εντατική εκπαίδευση για να αυξήσουν τη συμμόρφωσή τους με τον περιορισμό του άλατος στα 5 g/ημέρα. Οι ασθενείς στις ομάδες της δίαιτας DASH και της Μεσογειακής δίαιτας με παράλληλο περιορισμό του άλατος έλαβαν ένα πιο αναλυτικό, εικονογραφημένο φυλλάδιο, το οποίο ήταν αντίστοιχο με την ομάδα της δίαιτας στην οποία ανήκαν, ένα εξατομικευμένο διαιτολόγιο, στο οποίο είχαν ενσωματωθεί οι αρχές της δίαιτας DASH ή της Μεσογειακής δίαιτας και εντατική εκπαίδευση για να αυξήσουν τη συμμόρφωσή τους τόσο με τον περιορισμό του άλατος στα 5 g/ημέρα, όσο και με το καθορισμένο διατροφικό πρότυπο. Όλοι οι ασθενείς αξιολογήθηκαν ως προς τα ανθρωπομετρικά χαρακτηριστικά, τη συμμόρφωση με τη δίαιτα, το επίπεδο της σωματικής δραστηριότητας και την αρτηριακή πίεση ιατρείου στην αρχή της μελέτης και σε κάθε μια από τις επόμενες τρεις επισκέψεις επανελέγχου. Επιπλέον, 24ωρη περιπατητική καταγραφή της αρτηριακής πίεσης, αιμοληψία, συλλογή ούρων 24ώρου και η κλινική διάγνωση του μεταβολικού συνδρόμου πραγματοποιήθηκαν στην αρχή και στο τέλος της 3μηνης παρέμβασης. Το πρωτεύον καταληκτικό σημείο ήταν οι επιτευχθείσες διαφορές στη μέση συστολική αρτηριακή πίεση ιατρείου μεταξύ των ομάδων της μελέτης στο τέλος της 3μηνης διαιτολογικής παρέμβασης. Αποτελέσματα: Στη μελέτη τυχαιοποιήθηκαν 240 ασθενείς με κατανομή 1:1:1:1 στις τέσσερις ομάδες. Μετά την τυχαιοποίηση, 11 ασθενείς αποκλείστηκαν για συγκεκριμένους λόγους και 25 ασθενείς εγκατέλειψαν τη μελέτη. Συνολικά, τη μελέτη ολοκλήρωσε το 85% των ασθενών. Σύμφωνα με την ανάλυση της «πρόθεσης για θεραπεία» (intention to treat, ITT), η μέση συστολική και διαστολική αρτηριακή πίεση ιατρείου, καθώς και η 24ωρη περιπατητική συστολική και διαστολική αρτηριακή πίεση μειώθηκαν συγκριτικά με την ομάδα ελέγχου σε όλες τις ομάδες της παρέμβασης. Επιπλέον, η Μεσογειακή δίαιτα βρέθηκε ότι υπερείχε ως προς τη μείωση της συστολικής αρτηριακής πίεσης στο ιατρείο, σε σύγκριση τόσο με τον απλό περιορισμό του άλατος, όσο και με τη δίαιτα DASH (ομάδα Μεσογειακής δίαιτας με περιορισμό του άλατος vs. ομάδα περιορισμού του άλατος: ΜΔ = -7,5 mmHg, 95% ΔΕ: -9,8, -5,3 και vs. ομάδα δίαιτας DASH με περιορισμό του άλατος: ΜΔ = -3,2 mmHg, 95% ΔΕ: -5,4, -1,0). Στους 3 μήνες μετά την παρέμβαση η δίαιτα DASH και η Μεσογειακή δίαιτα δε διέφεραν στη διαστολική αρτηριακή πίεση στο ιατρείο, καθώς και στην 24ωρη περιπατητική συστολική αρτηριακή πίεση, αλλά και οι δύο δίαιτες σε συνδυασμό με περιορισμό του άλατος αποδείχθηκαν περισσότερο αποτελεσματικές για τη μείωση της αρτηριακής πίεσης ιατρείου, σε σχέση με τον απλό περιορισμό του άλατος. Επιπρόσθετα, η 3μηνη διαιτολογική παρέμβαση μείωσε σε σχέση με την καμία/ελάχιστη παρέμβαση την ολική και την LDL χοληστερόλη, τη γλυκόζη νηστείας και την HbA1c. Σε σύγκριση με τον απλό περιορισμό του άλατος, η δίαιτα DASH μείωσε την HbA1c, ενώ η Μεσογειακή δίαιτα μείωσε επιπλέον τη γλυκόζη νηστείας, την ολική και την LDL χοληστερόλη. Τέλος, σε σχέση με την ομάδα ελέγχου, οι ομάδες της δίαιτας DASH και της Μεσογειακής δίαιτας είχαν στο τέλος της μελέτης 71% και 85%, αντίστοιχα, μικρότερη πιθανότητα παρουσίας του μεταβολικού συνδρόμου. Ωστόσο, σε σχέση με την ομάδα περιορισμού του άλατος, μόνο η ομάδα της Μεσογειακής δίαιτας είχε 75% μικρότερη πιθανότητα παρουσίας του μεταβολικού συνδρόμου. Συμπεράσματα: Η διαιτολογική παρέμβαση διάρκειας 3 μηνών που εφαρμόστηκε στο πλαίσιο της μελέτης DASH-MedDiet είχε ως αποτέλεσμα τη σημαντική βελτίωση της αρτηριακής πίεσης και του καρδιομεταβολικού προφίλ των ασθενών σε σχέση με την καμία/ελάχιστη παρέμβαση. Το σημαντικό εύρημα της μελέτης μας ήταν ότι στον συγκεκριμένο πληθυσμό ασθενών η Μεσογειακή δίαιτα υπερείχε ως προς τη μείωση της συστολικής αρτηριακής πίεσης στο ιατρείο, σε σύγκριση με τη δίαιτα DASH. Ωστόσο, όσον αφορά στη μείωση της διαστολικής αρτηριακής πίεσης στο ιατρείο και της 24ωρης περιπατητικής συστολικής αρτηριακής πίεσης, καθώς και στη μείωση του επιπολασμού του μεταβολικού συνδρόμου, οι δύο δίαιτες αποδείχθηκαν ισάξιες. Επομένως, οι διαιτολογικές παρεμβάσεις που περιλαμβάνουν την υιοθέτηση μιας υγιεινής, ισορροπημένης δίαιτας σε συνδυασμό με περιορισμό του άλατος αναδεικνύονται ως μεγάλης σημασίας για τη δημόσια υγεία, καθώς μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν ως μια ρεαλιστική και αποτελεσματική εναλλακτική λύση αντί της φαρμακευτικής αγωγής για τη διαχείριση της αυξημένης αρτηριακής πίεσης και τη βελτίωση των καρδιομεταβολικών παραγόντων κινδύνου. Αριθμός εγγραφής: NCT05669404 clinicaltrials.gov
Schoolteachers’ Nutrition Knowledge, Beliefs, and Attitudes Before and After an E-Learning Program
Brain Natriuretic Peptide mediates the prognostic role of renal function toward 10-year cardiovascular mortality in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: the HHF study (2006–2016)
Background/Introduction: Risk stratification in chronic heart failure (HF) remains a challenge. Renal function and B-natriuretic peptide (BNP) might confer predictive value towards long-term mortality in HF patients after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: From May 2006 to March 2009, 1,000 consecutive patients who were hospitalized with ACS diagnosis were enrolled in the study. In 2016, the 10-year follow-up (2006 -2016) was performed in 745 participants. GFR was evaluated through the MDRD formula. HF phenotype was defined according to baseline ejection fraction (EF); HF with reduced EF (i.e. <40%) (HFrEF), preserved EF (i.e. ≥50%) (HFpEF) and mid-range EF (i.e. 40 –49%) (HFmrEF). Results: 10-year mortality was 21%. Deceased patients presented significantly lower GFR and higher BNP values at the baseline, compared with their alive counterparts (p < 0.001 for both). By multivariable logistic regression analysis, GFR independently predicted all-cause mortality (OR = 0.98, p = 0.04). After adjusting for baseline BNP, GFR lost its predictive role while BNP was independently associated with 10-year mortality (OR = 1.39 for a 2-fold increase, p = 0.001). A significant interaction was observed between EF and BNP levels on the tested outcome (p for interaction < 0.001). In stratified analysis, BNP predicted all cause death only in HFmrEF (OR=1.43, p = 0.04) and in HFpEF (OR=1.80, p = 0.01). Conclusion: BNP mediates the predictive role of GFR towards long-term mortality in ACS-induced HF patients with retained systolic performance of the left ventricle (HFmrEF and HFpEF). Keywords: Acute coronary syndrome, Prognosis, Heart failure, Renal functio
Family sociodemographic characteristics as correlates of children's breakfast habits and weight status in eight European countries: the ENERGY (EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth) project
Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the associations of family sociodemographic characteristics with children's weight status and whether these potential associations are mediated by children's breakfast habits.
Design: A school-based survey among 10-12-year-old children was conducted in eight European countries. Children's weight and height were measured and breakfast habits and family sociodemographic characteristics were self-reported by 5444 children and their parents. International Obesity Task Force cut-off points were used to categorize children as overweight/obese or normal weight. Mediation analyses were used to test the potential mediating effect of children's breakfast consumption on the associations between family sociodemographic characteristics and children's overweight/obesity.
Setting: Schools in eight European countries participating in the ENERGY (EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth) project.
Subjects: Children aged 10-12 years and their parents (n 5444).
Results: Children's reported daily breakfast consumption varied from 56 % in Slovenia to 92 % in Spain on weekdays and from 79 % in Greece to 93 % in Norway on weekends. Children of native parents, with both parents employed and with at least one parent having more than 14 years of education were more likely to consume breakfast daily and less likely to be overweight/obese. Finally, mediation analyses revealed that the association of parental nationality and parental educational status with children's overweight/obesity was partially mediated by children's daily breakfast consumption.
Conclusions: The study shows that the lower likelihood of being overweight/obese among 10-12-year-old children of native background and higher parental educational status was partially mediated by children's daily breakfast consumption
Social media recruitment for mental health research: A systematic review.
BackgroundSocial media holds exciting promise for advancing mental health research recruitment, however, the extent and efficacy to which these platforms are currently in use are underexplored.ObjectiveA systematic review was conducted to characterize the current use and efficacy of social media in recruiting participants for mental health research.MethodA literature review was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsychINFO. Only non-duplicative manuscripts written in the English language and published between 1/1/2004-3/31/2019 were selected for further screening. Data extracted included study type and design, participant inclusion criteria, social media platform, advertising strategy, final recruited sample size, recruitment location, year, monetary incentives, comparison to other recruitment methods if performed, and final cost per participant.ResultsA total of 176 unique studies that used social media for mental health research recruitment were reviewed. The majority of studies were cross-sectional (62.5%) in design and recruited adults. Facebook was overwhelmingly the recruitment platform of choice (92.6%), with the use of paid advertisements being the predominant strategy (60.8%). Of the reviewed studies, substance abuse (43.8%) and mood disorders (15.3%) were the primary subjects of investigation. In 68.3% of studies, social media recruitment performed as well as or better than traditional recruitment methods in the number and cost of final enrolled participants. The majority of studies used Facebook for recruitment at a median cost per final recruited study participant of $19.47. In 55.6% of the studies, social media recruitment was the more cost-effective recruitment method when compared to traditional methods (e.g., referrals, mailing).ConclusionSocial media appears to be an effective and economical recruitment tool for mental health research. The platform raises methodological and privacy concerns not covered in current research regulations that warrant additional consideration
Family sociodemographic characteristics as correlates of children's breakfast habits and weight status in eight European countries. The ENERGY (EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth) project
Abstract Objective The purpose of the present study was to investigate the associations of family sociodemographic characteristics with children's weight status and whether these potential associations are mediated by children's breakfast habits. Design A school-based survey among 10-12-year-old children was conducted in eight European countries. Children's weight and height were measured and breakfast habits and family sociodemographic characteristics were self-reported by 5444 children and their parents. International Obesity Task Force cut-off points were used to categorize children as overweight/obese or normal weight. Mediation analyses were used to test the potential mediating effect of children's breakfast consumption on the associations between family sociodemographic characteristics and children's overweight/obesity. Setting Schools in eight European countries participating in the ENERGY (EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth) project. Subjects Children aged 10-12 years and their parents (n 5444). Results Children's reported daily breakfast consumption varied from 56 % in Slovenia to 92 % in Spain on weekdays and from 79 % in Greece to 93 % in Norway on weekends. Children of native parents, with both parents employed and with at least one parent having more than 14 years of education were more likely to consume breakfast daily and less likely to be overweight/obese. Finally, mediation analyses revealed that the association of parental nationality and parental educational status with children's overweight/obesity was partially mediated by children's daily breakfast consumption. Conclusions The study shows that the lower likelihood of being overweight/obese among 10-12-year-old children of native background and higher parental educational status was partially mediated by children's daily breakfast consumptio
Schoolteachers’ Nutrition Knowledge, Beliefs, and Attitudes Before and After an E-Learning Program
Frequency of family meals and food consumption in families at high risk of type 2 diabetes : the Feel4Diabetes-study
A family meal is defined as a meal consumed together by the members of a family or by having> 1 parent present during a meal. The frequency of family meals has been associated with healthier food intake patterns in both children and parents. This study aimed to investigate in families at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes across Europe the association (i) between family meals' frequency and food consumption and diet quality among parents and (ii) between family meals' frequency and children's food consumption. Moreover, the study aimed to elucidate the mediating effect of parental diet quality on the association between family meals' frequency and children's food consumption. Food consumption frequency and anthropometric were collected cross-sectionally from a representative sample of 1964 families from the European Feel4Diabetes-study. Regression and mediation analyses were applied by gender of children. Positive and significant associations were found between the frequency of family meals and parental food consumption (beta = 0.84; 95% CI 0.57, 1.45) and diet quality (beta = 0.30; 95% CI 0.19, 0.42). For children, more frequent family meals were significantly associated with healthier food consumption (boys, beta = 0.172, p < 0.05; girls, beta = 0.114, p< 0.01). A partial mediation effect of the parental diet quality was shown on the association between the frequency of family meals and the consumption of some selected food items (i.e., milk products and salty snacks) among boys and girls. The strongest mediation effect of parental diet quality was found on the association between the frequency of family breakfast and the consumption of salty snacks and milk and milk products (62.5% and 37.5%, respectively) among girls.
Conclusions: The frequency of family meals is positively associated with improved food consumption patterns (i.e., higher intake of fruits and vegetables and reduced consumption of sweets) in both parents and children. However, the association in children is partially mediated by parents' diet quality. The promotion of consuming meals together in the family could be a potentially effective strategy for interventions aiming to establish and maintain healthy food consumption patterns among children