The Power of A Meal…The More Teens Eat With Their Parents, The Lower Their Stress And Depression Levels 청소년들이 부모와 함께 식사를 자주 할수록 스트레스와 우울감이 낮아진다는 연구 결과가 나왔다. A recent study has found that adolescents who frequently eat meals with their parents experience lower levels of stress and depression. 미국 건강의학 웹진 헬스데이(HealthDay)는 31일(현지시간) 미국심리학회(American Psychological Association)가 발행하는 저널을 인용해 이같이 보도했다. According to a report on HealthDay, a health and medical web journal, on the 31st, a study published in a journal issued by the American Psychological Association found this correlation. 연구진은 12세에서 17세에 해당하는 1천300명의 청소년을 상대로 조사한 결과, 부모와 함께 식사를 자주 한 청소년들은 스트레스가 낮고, 우울감도 적은 것으로 나타났다고 밝혔다. The researchers found that out of 1,300 adolescents aged 12 to 17, those who frequently ate with their parents had lower stress levels and less depression. 특히 부모와 함께 식사를 자주 한 청소년들은 식사를 자주 하지 않은 청소년들보다 스트레스가 35% 낮고, 우울감은 34% 낮은 것으로 조사됐다. In particular, adolescents who frequently ate with their parents had 35% lower stress levels and 34% lower depression levels than those who did not eat with their parents often. 연구진은 "부모와 함께 식사하는 것은 청소년들의 스트레스와 우울증을 낮추는데 중요한 역할을 한다"며 "부모와 함께 식사하는 시간을 늘리는 것이 청소년들의 마음을 건강하게 하는데 도움이 된다"고 강조했다. The researchers emphasized that "eating with parents plays an important role in reducing stress and depression in adolescents," and that "increasing the time spent eating with parents can help keep adolescents' minds healthy."

Recent research reveals that young people who eat with their parents more often experience lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. However, one in eight teenagers reports eating with their parents only four times a week. This finding is part of a report titled "Initial Parental Companionship with Meals and Mental Health Outcomes in Late Adolescence," which utilized data from the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Youth Health Panel Survey (2019-2023).

The study, which tracked the health behaviors of 5,051 elementary school students from 2019 to 2028, examined data from 3,986 participants who took part in the survey over five years.

The study found that teenagers who ate with their parents fewer than four times a week had a 20% higher likelihood of experiencing severe stress across various aspects of life, including academics, family, friends, finances, appearance, and future prospects. Additionally, those who rarely ate with their parents came from higher-income and more affluent households, and reported lower levels of family harmony.

Children who ate with their parents more frequently were found to have better mental health indicators in their later teenage years. For every additional meal per week spent with their parents during the initial adolescent years (ages 6-12), the likelihood of experiencing severe stress decreased by 12%, while depression dropped by 9% and severe anxiety decreased by 8%.

The researchers concluded that family meals and the quality of discussions shared around the table serve as important emotional buffers during the teenage years. However, they emphasized that parental companionship with meals should not be solely attributed to individual family choices and responsibilities. Instead, they urged policymakers to consider the practical realities of family time and the broader social conditions necessary for families to share meals together.