Analysis of childhood habits influence on consumption behavior in adulthood

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore the link between habits and pattern of consumer behaviour in childhood and consumption behaviour in adulthood. We investigate the influence of practices in food consumption in childhood age on food consumption behaviour in early adulthood years. Food preferences play an important role in food choices and food consumption both in adults and children. Hence, it is needed to understand the evolution of food preferences and the factors influencing this development in food consumption. A positive relationship was found in our research, indicating that preferences, eating habits and food consumption behaviour in adult years depend on pattern applied in childhood years. Our results demonstrate that children-feeding strategies used by parents can influence children´s food preferences and practices also in their adult years.