Family Stress Is Inversely Associated With Sugar Intake in Preschool-Aged Girls

Objective This study examines the associations between family stress and sugar (total, free and added) intake among preschool-aged children. Methods Data were collected from 210 families, 267 children (138 girls, 129 boys); mean age of 3.6 ± 1.2 years enrolled in the Guelph Family Health Study. Family stress was assessed using measures of household chaos and family dysfunction. Sugar intake was measured using an Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Assessment Tool. Linear regression models with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate associations between family stress and energy-adjusted sugar intakes (g/1,000 kcal). Results There was an inverse association between family dysfunction and girls’ intakes of total (β = −3.8, P = 0.03), free (β = −8.6, P = 0.005), and added (β = −7.6, P = 0.005) sugars, when controlling for age, ethnicity, and household income. No significant associations in boys were noted. Conclusions and Implications Results suggest that the association between family stress and sugar intake may differ by child sex.