Associations between structural characteristics of the school setting and irregular lunch consumption – are there gender differences?

Abstract
Purpose: The association between characteristics of the school setting and regularity of lunch consumption among schoolchildren is under-investigated. The purpose was to 1) investigate associations between structural school characteristics and irregular lunch consumption among schoolchildren, and 2) examine whether gender modified these associations.
Methods: Danish data from the international cross-sectional study ‘Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children in 2010 were used. Data were collected among schoolchildren aged 11, 13 and 15 years from a random sample of 75 schools. The schoolchildren (N=4922) completed a self-administered questionnaire at school (response rate=86.3%). School principals (N=69) completed the school setting questionnaire (response rate=92 %). Associations between school level variables and irregular lunch consumption were estimated by multilevel logistic regression, adjusting for individual level socio-demographic factors.
Results: Having access to canteen/school stall was associated with a higher risk of irregular lunch consumption, OR=1.26 (1.04-1.52). No adult present in lunch breaks was associated with a higher risk of irregular lunch consumption, OR=1.52 (1.26-1.82). At the individual level, irregular lunch consumption was associated with being a boy, attending 7th grade, medium and low family social class, migration status, and living in a single and reconstructed family structure. Analyses stratified by gender showed similar results but among girls the results indicated no association between access to canteen/school stall, migration status and lunch consumption.
Conclusion: The findings indicated that availability of a canteen/school stall did not promote regular lunch consumption among boys while the presence of an adult in lunch breaks promoted regular lunch consumption among both boys and girls.