The Effects of Parental Food Education on Children's Food Literacy: The Mediating Role of Parent-Child Relationship and Learning Motivation

Parental food education has been recognized among the important factors influencing children's food literacy; however, the intrinsic mechanisms through which this influence occurs are unclear. In this study, a mediation model was constructed to explore this issue, using the parent-child relationship and learning motivation as mediating variables. In total, 204 children, aged 9-14 years old, responded to questionnaires on parental food education, children's food literacy, the parent-child relationship, and learning motivation, which were used to measure the variables of interest. The results showed that parental food education was significantly and positively related to the parent-child relationship, learning motivation, and children's food literacy; the parent-child relationship was significantly and positively related to learning motivation; and learning motivation was significantly and positively related to children's food literacy. Parental food education influenced children's food literacy in the following two main ways: the mediating role of learning motivation and the chain-mediating roles of the parent-child relationship and learning motivation. In addition, we attempt to explore the moderating role of the teaching stage between parental food education and the parent-child relationship, learning motivation, and children's food literacy. In this paper, we discuss possible guidelines for family food education and children's health based on the findings of the current study.