The role of family meals in shaping adolescent health beliefs and cardiovascular behaviors

Healthy lifestyle behaviors established during adolescence are often linked to cardiovascular diseases diagnosed in adulthood. However, uncertainties remain regarding the effects of adolescents’ attitudes and behaviors towards family meals on their healthy lifestyle beliefs and cardiovascular health behaviors. This study is a descriptive and cross-sectional study based on participants' self-reports. This study was conducted with 406 adolescents in Türkiye. The data collection tools included the “Participant Information Form”, “Family Meals Scale for Adolescents (FMSA)”, “Healthy Lifestyle Belief Scale for Adolescents (HLBSA)”, and “Cardiovascular Health Behavior Scale for Children (CHBSC)”. Scale scores were compared using t-test, ANOVA, Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis tests, with Bonferroni or Tamhane applied for post-hoc analysis and linear regression analysis was subsequently performed to identify the predictors of scale scores. The study identified significant predictors for adolescent health behaviors. The total Family Meals Scale score was influenced by healthy lifestyle beliefs, family meal frequency, screen time, sugary drink consumption, meal duration, and daily meal count (R2 = 0.29, p < 0.001). Screen time and cardiovascular health behaviors also predicted healthy lifestyle beliefs (R2 = 0.18, p < 0.001). Similarly, healthy lifestyle beliefs, sugary drink consumption, screen time, and water intake significantly predicted cardiovascular health behaviors (R2 = 0.17, p < 0.001). Adolescent participation in family meals has emerged as an important factor supporting healthy lifestyle beliefs and positively influencing cardiovascular health behaviors. Promoting family meals may be a practical strategy to enhance adolescents’ healthy lifestyle beliefs and cardiovascular health attitudes, contributing to better long-term health outcomes.