밥 한 끼의 힘…부모와 식사 잦을수록 청소년 스트레스·우울감 낮아져

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.