Main findings of studies reviewed: A) Studies in which results differed between sexes; B) Studies in which sex was not specified.
| A) STUDY IN WHICH RESULTS DIFFERED BETWEEN SEXES | OUTCOMES MEASURED | MAIN FINDINGS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEMALES | MALES | ||
| Franko et al,15 2008 | Disordered eating behaviour, body image concern, and substance use | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and bulimia symptoms, body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and cigarette smoking FMF was not significantly associated with extreme weight-control behaviour nor with alcohol consumption | NA |
| Neumark-Sztainer et al,19 2004 | Disordered eating behaviour | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and extreme and less extreme weight-control behaviour and chronic dieting FMF was not significantly associated with binge eating | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and extreme and less extreme weight-control behaviour (this relationship with less extreme weight-control behaviour was only present after adjusting for BMI and sociodemographic factors) FMF was not significantly associated with binge eating nor with chronic dieting |
| Fisher et al,30 2007 | Substance use | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and alcohol initiation (ie, girls who ate a family meal every day were 50% less likely to initiate alcohol use than those who ate a family meal some days or never) | FMF was not significantly associated with alcohol initiation |
| Haines et al,32 2010 | Disordered eating behaviour | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and purging, binge eating, and chronic dieting | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and binge eating and FMF and chronic dieting FMF was not significantly associated with purging |
| Sen,34 2010 | Substance use and violent behaviour | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and smoking, marijuana use, alcohol use, and physical violence | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and smoking, marijuana use, alcohol use, and physical violence |
| Neumark-Sztainer et al,38 2008 | Disordered eating behaviour | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and extreme and less extreme weight-control behaviour, binge eating, and chronic dieting | FMF was not significantly associated with extreme weight-control behaviour, binge eating, or chronic dieting FMF was statistically significantly associated with an increased likelihood of less extreme weight-control behaviour (ie, skipping meals and eating very little food) |
| Eisenberg et al,36 2004 | Self-esteem, academic achievement, depressive symptoms or suicidality, and substance use | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and low self-esteem, a low grade point average, high depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, cigarette use, marijuana use, and alcohol use | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and a low grade point average, high depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, cigarette use, marijuana use, and alcohol use FMF was not significantly associated with low self-esteem |
| Neumark-Sztainer et al,39 2007 | Disordered eating behaviour | FMF was statistically significantly associated with extreme weight-control behaviour and binge eating | FMF was not significantly associated with extreme weight- control behaviour nor with binge eating |
| Eisenberg et al,40 2008 | Substance use | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and cigarette, marijuana, and alcohol use | FMF was not significantly associated with cigarette, marijuana, and alcohol use |
| B) STUDY IN WHICH SEX WAS NOT SPECIFIED | OUTCOMES MEASURED | MAIN FINDINGS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White and Halliwell,16 2010 | Substance use | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and tobacco smoking and alcohol use | |
| Fulkerson et al,18 2006 | Disordered eating behaviour, depressive symptoms or suicidality, self-esteem, academic achievement, substance use, and violent behaviour | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and purging, binge eating, depression or suicide risk, alcohol use, drug use, tobacco use, and violent behaviour FMF was statistically significantly positively associated with increased self-esteem and increased commitment to learning | |
| Woodruff and Hanning,35 2009 | Disordered eating behaviour, body image concern, and self-efficacy | No association was found between FMF and dieting There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and skipping meals (specifically breakfast) and with concern about high body weight FMF was statistically significantly positively associated with increased self-efficacy for healthy eating both at home with family and at social events with friends | |
| Fulkerson et al,33 2009 | Disordered eating behaviour, depressive symptoms, and substance use | There was a statistically significant inverse association between FMF and skipping a meal (specifically breakfast) and depressive symptoms FMF was not significantly associated with extreme and less extreme weight-control behaviour, nor with cigarette, marijuana, alcohol, or illicit drug use | |
| Sierra-Baigrie et al,37 2008 | Disordered eating behaviour | FMF was not significantly associated with binge eating | |
BMI—body mass index, FMF—family meal frequency, NA—not applicable.