“Social Eating Behavior vs Family Meals: Impact on Mental Well-Being in Adolescents”

A recent study published in Clinical Nutrition reveals that social eating behavior is strongly associated with reduced anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms in adolescents. The study, which evaluated the impact of family meals and social eating behavior on mental health, found that social eating behavior, or enjoying meals with friends or chosen company, had a greater impact on reducing mental disorders than family meals. Adolescence is a vulnerable period when mental health problems can manifest. Therefore, the study emphasizes the importance of promoting social eating behaviors to enhance psychosocial and well-being benefits in children and adolescents. The findings also suggest that social interactions and communication with peers and family can positively impact an individual’s eating behavior and mental health.