Does Intergenerational Care Increase Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption of Schoolchildren? Evidence from CEPS Data in China

TL;DR

This study finds that intergenerational care in China is linked to higher sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among schoolchildren, especially in only-child families.

Contribution

The study provides novel evidence on how intergenerational care influences children's dietary behaviors, particularly sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in China.

Findings

Schoolchildren from only-child families report greater sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.

Intergenerational care is associated with more digital media exposure and less parental supervision.

The effect is stronger among boys and children from families with higher parental education.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Intergenerational care plays a significant role in shaping household dietary quality and human capital development in China. Influenced by the legacy of the one-child policy, the care provided in these families often prioritizes child-focused practices. This study examines how intergenerational care influences schoolchildren’s sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption. Methods: This study utilizes data from the 2014–2015 China Education Panel Survey (CEPS) to investigate the impact of intergenerational care on schoolchildren’s dietary behaviors, with a focus on sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption. We apply both ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and the ordered logit model to estimate the impacts, and we use the instrumental variables approach to address potential endogeneity. Results: Schoolchildren from only-child families report greater SSB consumption, while those from multi-child families consume less. Intergenerational care is linked to more digital media exposure, more pocket money, and less parental supervision. These findings withstand rigorous validation through multiple robustness checks, including sample restriction strategies and propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. The effect is especially pronounced among boys, schoolchildren from families with higher parental education levels, and schoolchildren attending schools without formal nutrition education programs. Conclusions: The result indicates that intergenerational care significantly increases SSB consumption among schoolchildren from only-child families. Community nutrition and school health education programs can reduce schoolchildren’s SSB consumption, thereby lowering risks of obesity and other public health concerns.