A recent study says that regular family meals are good for teens' mental health.
The researchers studied the data from about 26,000 youngsters, aged 11 to 15, who took part in a 2010 study on health behaviors in school-aged children in Canada
"More frequent family dinners related to fewer emotional and behavioral problems, greater emotional well-being, more trusting and helpful behaviors towards others and higher life satisfaction," study co-author Frank Elgar, of McGill University in Montreal, said in a university news release.
The good signs of family mealtime were the same regardless of gender, age or family income, according to the study in the April issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.
"We were surprised to find such consistent effects on every outcome we studied," Elgar said. "From having no dinners together to eating together seven nights a week, each additional dinner related to significantly better mental health."
The researchers explained that the family mealtimes are opportunities for conversation, and allow parents to teach children about positive coping and health behaviors, and youngsters to tell their parents about the problems and feel valued. All this helps to promote good mental health.
