Analysis of Food Intake Based on the Gender of Parents Living with Adolescents in Single-Parent Families: Using Data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey 2017~2019

This study aimed to analyze the differences in food intake based on the gender of single parents living with adolescents using data from the Youth Health Behavior Survey. Families of adolescents with single parents were classified into adolescents living with a single father and those living with a single mother. Adolescents living with their mothers consumed more fruit than those living with their fathers. Female adolescents with single mothers showed a high frequency of fruit consumption, while the frequency of soda consumption was low. Male adolescents living with their fathers were found to consume more carbonated drinks, sweet drinks, and fast foods than those living with their mothers. When the subjective economic level was high, the consumption of carbonated drinks and fast foods was higher among adolescents living with their fathers. When the subjective economic level was low, the frequency of fruit consumption was higher among adolescents living with their mothers, while the frequency of consumption of carbonated drinks, sweet drinks, and fast food was high among adolescents living with their fathers. The results of this study showed that there were differences in the dietary habits of adolescents according to their gender and the economic level of the cohabiting parent. Therefore, targeted nutritional education and counseling for adolescents should be provided based on their gender and the income level of the cohabiting parent.