Abstract
Background and aims: Lower maternal education is positively associated with more unfavorable 'snacking’ patterns in young children. While there is strong evidence for the role of maternal education, it is likely to interact with other social factors. Our aim was to examine the interaction between maternal education and other socio-economic (SES) factors on the snacking pattern score at age 5.
Methods: Dietary patterns were derived using Principal Component Analysis, based on 2 782 validated Food Frequency Questionnaires filled in by mothers of children (5.7±0.5y) in the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development cohort. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to assess the interaction between maternal education (low, middle, high; based on the highest education completed) and paternal education (low, middle, high; based on the highest education completed), household finance (lower/higher) and neigbourhood SES (composite score calculated on the basis of postal code) on the snacking pattern score. Analyses were adjusted for age (y), gender and ethnicity (Dutch, Surinamese, Turkish, Moroccan, other ethnicities).
Results: We found no evidence for interaction between maternal education and other SES factors on the snacking pattern score. Low paternal education (B 0.359, CI 0.198;0.519), lower household finance (B 0.182 CI 0.109;0.256) and neighbourhood SES (B -0.085 CI -0.113;-0.057) were significantly related to snacking pattern scores (p=0.00) but did not affect the strong effect of low maternal education (B 0.946, CI 0.829;1.064, p=0.00).
Conclusions: While a number of SES factors play a role in the dietary patterns of young children, maternal education has the strongest influence implying that intervention strategies should primarily focus on mothers.
Methods: Dietary patterns were derived using Principal Component Analysis, based on 2 782 validated Food Frequency Questionnaires filled in by mothers of children (5.7±0.5y) in the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development cohort. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to assess the interaction between maternal education (low, middle, high; based on the highest education completed) and paternal education (low, middle, high; based on the highest education completed), household finance (lower/higher) and neigbourhood SES (composite score calculated on the basis of postal code) on the snacking pattern score. Analyses were adjusted for age (y), gender and ethnicity (Dutch, Surinamese, Turkish, Moroccan, other ethnicities).
Results: We found no evidence for interaction between maternal education and other SES factors on the snacking pattern score. Low paternal education (B 0.359, CI 0.198;0.519), lower household finance (B 0.182 CI 0.109;0.256) and neighbourhood SES (B -0.085 CI -0.113;-0.057) were significantly related to snacking pattern scores (p=0.00) but did not affect the strong effect of low maternal education (B 0.946, CI 0.829;1.064, p=0.00).
Conclusions: While a number of SES factors play a role in the dietary patterns of young children, maternal education has the strongest influence implying that intervention strategies should primarily focus on mothers.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - 2018 |