Correlated Factors with Nutritional Behaviors in Elementary School Students; A Case Study in West of Guilan Province

Aims: Pre-adolescence is an essential time for the formation and stability of behaviors. The aim of this study was to determine the correlated factors with nutritional behaviors in elementary school students. Instrument and Methods: In descriptive-analytic study, 300 fifth-grade elementary schools students of Talesh and Fouman cities of Guilan Province, Iran were selected using the random cluster method, in 2017. Data were collected by researcher-made questionnaire. The one way analysis of variance, two independent samples t-test, Spearman correlation coefficient, and SPSS 21 software were used. Findings: There was no significant relationship between demographic characteristics and nutritional behaviors (p>0.05) but father's education level had a significant reverse correlation with barriers (r=-0.147; p<0.05). The most important barriers of having breakfast during the week in school were lack of appetite and adequate time, and on vacation, was to be alone. Barriers were disliked milk, embarrassment of taking bread and cheese as a snack, and the lack of fruits and vegetables at home (p<0.05). The important cues to action were mothers (76.5%), fathers (44.5%) and then health workers and teachers, respectively. Conclusions: Barriers play an important role in nutritional behaviors. The most important barriers of having breakfast during the week in school are lack of appetite and adequate time, and on vacation, being alone.