Influences on food decisions across the family life cycle.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of the family life cycle on factors that influence food habits. Three hundred thirty-six married couples representing our four family life cycle were randomly selected and interviewed. Each partner was asked how important 14 different sources of influence were on his/her food decisions. Sources of influence included media, classes, government information, significant others, and financial and health concerns. These sources had their greatest impact on young families who were establishing family food habits. Impact of these influences changed only moderately for other life cycle stages, indicating more stabilized food habits for these marriage partners. Wives were more influenced than husbands in each life cycle stage. Health concerns, cost, and nuclear family members were the most important sources of influence. Information from the media, government, food classes, and extension had little to moderate influence.