egular bonding over meals may help prevent kids from using alcohol, cannabis, and e-cigarettes, but those with significant stress or trauma need additional support.
Seems like most of yall didn’t read it, but in summary, they concluded what you’ve probably already guessed:
“It’s not about the food, timing, or setting; it’s the parent-child relationship and interactions it helps cultivate that matter.”
Parents regularly connecting with their child is what reduces substance use risk. Routine family dinners just provide a straightforward framework for that connection.
Also note, they said:
Higher family dinner quality was associated with a 22% to 34% lower prevalence of substance use among adolescents who had either no or low to moderate levels of adverse childhood experiences.
Two takeaways here:
“Higher quality” implies a healthier relationship. Obviously you’re going to rate dinner with your family higher if you have a better relationship with them.
Family dinners alone aren’t enough to overcome “adverse childhood experiences”, i.e. trauma. It seems potentially protective, but it’s it going to heal deeper issues.
Seems like most of yall didn’t read it, but in summary, they concluded what you’ve probably already guessed:
Parents regularly connecting with their child is what reduces substance use risk. Routine family dinners just provide a straightforward framework for that connection.
Also note, they said:
Two takeaways here: