Family mealtimes are important for parents and kids to talk, be together, and make strong bonds.
But when parents are busy with work, it can be hard to find time for these meals.
A new study looked at how parents' work stress affects whether they can have family meals and how that affects kids' feelings and behavior.
How was it conducted?
The study involved over 1,400 families where both parents worked, and they had kids.
They looked at how kids grew up and how their parents felt about work.
The specialists found that kids whose parents were very stressed from work when the kids were 2 years old had a harder time with their feelings and how they acted when they were 4 or 5 years old.
Moms and dads had different effects. Moms who were unhappy with their jobs didn't miss family meals more often, but their kids had a harder time with their feelings.
Dads who were unhappy with work and money were less likely to eat with their families, and this made their kids have a harder time with their feelings too.
Even if moms tried to make up for dads not being there, it didn't work the same way.
Kids need both parents to be there. The study shows that old ideas about moms always being the main caregivers can cause problems.
Why it's important
The study brings together ideas from different fields like psychology, sociology, and economics. It shows that family routines are important for kids, and it's not just about individual choices.
Work and money problems can make it hard for families to have meals together.
So, it suggests that policies and support from the community can help families have more time for important meals together.
