Work

The Association Between Breakfast Skipping and Positive and Negative Emotional Wellbeing Outcomes for Children and Adolescents in South Australia

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background/Objectives: The prevalence of child and adolescent breakfast skipping is concerning, and limited existing evidence suggests an association between skipping breakfast and negative emotional wellbeing outcomes. However, positive emotional wellbeing outcomes have been neglected from research in this space. Methods: This study explored child and adolescent breakfast skipping and associations with both positive and negative emotional wellbeing outcomes. We utilised existing population-level data (n = 80,610, aged 8–18 years) collected in 2023 via a statewide census among children and adolescents in South Australian schools, the Wellbeing and Engagement Collection. Results: Adjusted linear regression analyses indicated lower scores on positive wellbeing outcomes for students who skipped breakfast every day compared to students who never skipped breakfast, ranging from β = −0.19 for happiness (95% CI = −0.21, −0.17) to β = −0.23 for optimism (95% CI = −0.25, −0.21). Results also highlighted higher scores on negative wellbeing indicators, sadness (β = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.10, 0.15), and worries (β = 0.05 95% CI = 0.03, 0.08) among students who always skipped relative to those who never skipped breakfast. Conclusions: Findings support the potential for child and adolescent emotional wellbeing to be fostered through interventions designed to promote daily breakfast consumption. Future research focused on gaining a deeper understanding of the circumstances surrounding child and adolescent breakfast consumption behaviours is needed to inform the development of effective interventions to increase breakfast consumption.

Source: Nutrients

DOI: 10.3390/nu17081304

Authors: Sophie Burnell, Mary E. Brushe, Neida Sechague Monroy, Tess Gregory, Alanna Sincovich

Institutions: The University of Adelaide, The Kids Research Institute Australia, The University of Western Australia

Language: English

Topic: Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior

Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics

Field: Nursing

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499