Teacher perceptions of current school-based food provision and children’s food behaviours according to school characteristics (n = 337)
| School type | Regionality | SEP | Size | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Gov | Non-gov | Major city | Regional city | Low | Medium | High | Small | Medium | Large | |
| Proportion of children who don’t bring lunch to school, n (%) | |||||||||||
| All/many | 13 (4.8) | 2 (3.3) | 13 (6.2) | 1 (1.0) | 5 (4.1) | 4 (4.0) | 4 (4.7) | 3 (3.9) | 1 (3.5) | 10 (4.6) | 15 (4.5) |
| Some | 52 (19.1) | 8 (13.1) | 30 (14.2) | 24 (24.5) | 33 (27.3) | 18 (17.8) | 3 (3.5) | 14 (18.2) | 8 (27.6) | 35 (16.2) | 62 (18.4) |
| Few/none | 208 (76.2) | 51 (83.6) | 168 (79.6) | 73 (74.5) | 83 (68.6) | 79 (78.2) | 78 (91.8) | 60 (77.9) | 20 (69.0) | 171 (79.2) | 260 (77.2) |
| Food provided to children without lunch, n (%) | |||||||||||
| Yes | 247 (90.5) | 54 (88.5) | 183 (86.7) | 95 (96.9) | 115 (95.0) | 90 (89.1) | 71 (83.5) | 75 (97.4) | 28 (96.6) | 186 (86.1) | 304 (90.2) |
| Unsure | 10 (3.7) | 5 (8.2) | 12 (5.7) | 1 (1.0) | 1 (0.8) | 4 (4.0) | 8 (9.4) | 1 (1.3) | 1 (3.4) | 13 (6.0) | 15 (4.5) |
| No | 16 (5.9) | 2 (3.3) | 16 (7.6) | 2 (2.0) | 5 (4.1) | 7 (6.9) | 6 (7.1) | 1 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) | 17 (7.9) | 18 (5.3) |
| Time available for lunch, mean (±SD) | |||||||||||
| Minutes | 13.8 (±8.9) | 13.0 (±7.4) | 13.0 (±4.3) | 12.2 (±6.0) | 12.6 (±5.5) | 12.4 (±3.6) | 13.3 (±5.2) | 11.7 (±4.5) | 12.2 (±2.5) | 13.6 (±6.9) | 13.8 (±9.0) |
| Presence of breakfast program, n (%) | |||||||||||
| Yes | 159 (58.2) | 8 (13.1) | 90(42.7) | 64 (65.3) | 77 (63.6) | 54 (53.5) | 22 (25.9) | 48 (62.3) | 16 (55.2) | 95 (44.0) | 169 (50.2) |
| Unsure | 2 (0.7) | 1 (1.6) | 2 (1.0) | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.0) | 2 (2.4) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.5) | 2 (1.0) | 3 (0.9) |
| No | 112 (41.0) | 52 (85.3) | 119 (56.4) | 33 (33.7) | 44 (36.4) | 46 (45.5) | 61 (71.8) | 29 (37.7) | 12 (41.4) | 119 (55.1) | 165 (49.0) |
| Presence of food policies, n (%) | |||||||||||
| Yes | 66 (24.2) | 13 (21.3) | 48 (22.8) | 22 (22.5) | 29 (24.0) | 20 (19.8) | 19 (22.4) | 20 (26.0) | 8 (27.6) | 47 (21.8) | 81 (24.0) |
| Unsure | 58 (21.3) | 12 (19.7) | 46 (21.8) | 18 (18.4) | 19 (15.7) | 23 (22.8) | 22 (25.9) | 15 (19.5) | 5 (17.2) | 47 (21.8) | 71 (21.1) |
| No | 149 (54.6) | 36 (59.0) | 117 (55.5) | 58 (59.2) | 73 (60.3) | 58 (57.4) | 44 (51.8) | 42 (54.6) | 16 (55.2) | 122 (56.5) | 185 (54.9) |
| The social environment at lunchtime at school is important, n (%) | |||||||||||
| Agree | 254 (93.0) | 57 (93.4) | 200 (94.8) | 89 (90.8) | 108 (89.3) | 96 (95.1) | 83 (97.7) | 72 (93.5) | 27 (93.1) | 201 (93.1) | 313 (92.9) |
| Neutral | 14 (5.1) | 3 (4.9) | 9 (4.3) | 5 (5.1) | 9 (7.4) | 3 (3.0) | 2 (2.4) | 4 (5.2) | 1 (3.5) | 12 (5.6) | 18 (5.3) |
| Disagree | 5 (1.8) | 1 (1.6) | 2 (1.0) | 4 (4.1) | 4 (3.3) | 2 (2.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.3) | 1 (3.5) | 3 (1.4) | 6 (1.8) |
| Children should not be made to finish their lunch, n (%) | |||||||||||
| Agree | 196 (72.1) | 44 (72.1) | 152 (72.0) | 70 (71.4) | 88 (72.7) | 72 (71.3) | 60 (70.6) | 47 (61.0) | 19 (65.5) | 166 (76.9) | 243 (72.3) |
| Neutral | 46 (16.9) | 11 (18.0) | 37 (17.5) | 17 (17.4) | 23 (19.0) | 17 (16.8) | 14 (16.5) | 19 (24.7) | 5 (17.2) | 31 (14.4) | 57 (17.0) |
| Disagree | 30 (11.0) | 6 (9.8) | 22 (10.4) | 11 (11.2) | 10 (8.3) | 12 (11.9) | 11 (12.9) | 11 (14.3) | 5 (17.2) | 19 (8.8) | 36 (10.7) |
| Most children in my class have to rush to finish their lunch at school, n (%) | |||||||||||
| Agree | 164 (60.3) | 40 (65.6) | 132 (62.6) | 58 (59.2) | 72 (59.5) | 66 (65.4) | 52 (61.2) | 42 (54.6) | 18 (62.1) | 136 (63.0) | 206 (61.3) |
| Neutral | 36 (13.2) | 6 (9.8) | 29 (13.7) | 7 (7.1) | 14 (11.6) | 12 (11.9) | 8 (9.4) | 12 (15.6) | 2 (6.9) | 27 (12.5) | 42 (12.5) |
| Disagree | 72 (26.5) | 15 (24.6) | 50 (23.7) | 33 (33.7) | 35 (28.9) | 23 (22.8) | 25 (29.4) | 23 (29.9) | 9 (31.0) | 53 (24.5) | 88 (26.2) |
| Most children in my class finish all their lunch in the allocated time, n (%) | |||||||||||
| Agree | 154 (56.6) | 32 (52.5) | 111 (52.6) | 60 (61.2) | 63 (52.1) | 58 (57.4) | 49 (57.7) | 50 (64.9) | 18 (62.1) | 111 (51.4) | 188 (56.0) |
| Neutral | 26 (9.6) | 7 (11.5) | 20 (9.5) | 9 (9.2) | 12 (9.9) | 9 (8.9) | 7 (8.2) | 7 (9.1) | 4 (13.8) | 19 (8.8) | 34 (10.1) |
| Disagree | 92 (33.8) | 22 (36.1) | 80 (37.9) | 29 (29.6) | 46 (38.0) | 34 (33.7) | 29 (34.1) | 20 (26.0) | 7 (24.1) | 86 (39.8) | 114 (33.9) |
| Enough time is provided for all children to eat their lunch, n (%) | |||||||||||
| Agree | 153 (56.3) | 33 (54.1) | 108 (51.2) | 61 (62.2) | 71 (58.7) | 53 (52.5) | 45 (52.9) | 49 (63.6) | 16 (55.2) | 112 (51.9) | 188 (56.0) |
| Neutral | 16 (5.9) | 3 (4.9) | 11 (5.2) | 7 (7.1) | 8 (6.6) | 7 (6.9) | 2 (2.4) | 5 (6.5) | 3 (10.3) | 10 (4.6) | 19 (5.6) |
| Disagree | 103 (37.9) | 25 (41.0) | 92 (43.6) | 30 (30.6) | 42 (34.7) | 41 (40.6) | 38 (44.7) | 23 (29.9) | 10 (34.5) | 94 (43.5) | 129 (38.4) |
| Most of the children in my class have a healthy lunchbox, n (%) | |||||||||||
| Agree | 137 (50.2) | 43 (70.5) | 117 (55.5) | 45 (45.9) | 49 (40.5) | 52 (51.5) | 60 (70.6) | 34 (44.2) | 13 (44.8) | 123 (56.9) | 183 (54.3) |
| Neutral | 22 (8.1) | 4 (6.6) | 20 (9.5) | 3 (3.1) | 6 (5.0) | 7 (6.9) | 9 (10.6) | 3 (3.9) | 2 (6.9) | 19 (8.8) | 26 (7.7) |
| Disagree | 114 (41.8) | 14 (23.0) | 74 (35.1) | 50 (51.0) | 66 (54.6) | 42 (41.6) | 16 (18.8) | 40 (52.0) | 14 (48.3) | 74 (34.5) | 128 (38.0) |
| Teachers should monitor what children eat at lunch, n (%) | |||||||||||
| Agree | 104 (38.1) | 22 (36.1) | 74 (35.1) | 41 (41.8) | 47 (38.8) | 39 (38.6) | 29 (34.1) | 29 (37.7) | 12 (41.4) | 78 (36.1) | 127 (37.7) |
| Neutral | 42 (15.4) | 9 (14.8) | 37 (17.5) | 7 (7.1) | 19 (15.7) | 14 (13.9) | 9 (10.6) | 7 (9.1) | 2 (6.9) | 39 (18.1) | 52 (15.4) |
| Disagree | 127 (46.5) | 30 (49.2) | 100 (47.4) | 50 (51.0) | 55 (45.5) | 48 (47.5) | 47 (55.3) | 41 (53.3) | 15 (51.7) | 99 (45.8) | 158 (46.9) |
| Teachers should eat their own lunch with their class, n (%) | |||||||||||
| Agree | 100 (36.8) | 18 (29.5) | 76 (36.0) | 29 (29.6) | 43 (35.5) | 34 (33.7) | 26 (30.6) | 27 (35.1) | 10 (34.5) | 75 (34.7) | 120 (35.7) |
| Neutral | 61 (22.4) | 13 (21.3) | 49 (23.2) | 18 (18.4) | 28 (23.1) | 18 (17.8) | 21 (24.7) | 13 (16.9) | 9 (31.0) | 49 (22.7) | 74 (22.0) |
| Disagree | 111 (40.8) | 30 (49.2) | 86 (40.8) | 51 (52.0) | 50 (41.3) | 49 (48.5) | 38 (44.7) | 37 (48.1) | 10 (34.5) | 92 (42.6) | 142 (42.3) |
| Lunchtime should be used to teach about food and nutrition, n (%) | |||||||||||
| Agree | 99 (36.3) | 18 (29.5) | 69 (32.7) | 37 (37.8) | 44 (36.4) | 35 (34.7) | 27 (31.8) | 29 (37.7) | 9 (31.0) | 72 (33.3) | 119 (35.3) |
| Neutral | 56 (20.5) | 10 (16.4) | 41 (19.4) | 16 (16.3) | 22 (18.2) | 17 (16.8) | 16 (18.8) | 12 (15.6) | 4 (13.8) | 47 (21.8) | 66 (19.6) |
| Disagree | 118 (43.2) | 33 (54.1) | 101 (47.9) | 45 (45.9) | 55 (45.5) | 49 (48.5) | 42 (49.4) | 36 (46.8) | 16 (55.2) | 97 (44.9) | 152 (45.1) |
| Children should be quiet during lunch time, n (%) | |||||||||||
| Agree | 63 (23.2) | 10 (16.4) | 47 (22.3) | 14 (14.4) | 25 (20.8) | 24 (23.8) | 12 (14.1) | 13 (16.9) | 7 (24.1) | 45 (20.9) | 74 (22.0) |
| Neutral | 51 (18.8) | 11 (18.0) | 39 (18.5) | 16 (16.5) | 19 (15.8) | 22 (21.8) | 14 (16.5) | 9 (11.7) | 4 (13.8) | 46 (21.4) | 62 (18.5) |
| Disagree | 158 (58.1) | 40 (65.6) | 125 (59.2) | 67 (69.1) | 76 (63.3) | 55 (54.5) | 59 (69.4) | 55 (71.4) | 18 (62.1) | 124 (57.7) | 200 (59.5) |
| School type | Regionality | SEP | Size | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Gov | Non-gov | Major city | Regional city | Low | Medium | High | Small | Medium | Large | |
| All/many | 13 (4.8) | 2 (3.3) | 13 (6.2) | 1 (1.0) | 5 (4.1) | 4 (4.0) | 4 (4.7) | 3 (3.9) | 1 (3.5) | 10 (4.6) | |
| Some | 52 (19.1) | 8 (13.1) | 30 (14.2) | 24 (24.5) | 33 (27.3) | 18 (17.8) | 3 (3.5) | 14 (18.2) | 8 (27.6) | 35 (16.2) | |
| Few/none | 208 (76.2) | 51 (83.6) | 168 (79.6) | 73 (74.5) | 83 (68.6) | 79 (78.2) | 78 (91.8) | 60 (77.9) | 20 (69.0) | 171 (79.2) | |
| Yes | 247 (90.5) | 54 (88.5) | 183 (86.7) | 95 (96.9) | 115 (95.0) | 90 (89.1) | 71 (83.5) | 75 (97.4) | 28 (96.6) | 186 (86.1) | |
| Unsure | 10 (3.7) | 5 (8.2) | 12 (5.7) | 1 (1.0) | 1 (0.8) | 4 (4.0) | 8 (9.4) | 1 (1.3) | 1 (3.4) | 13 (6.0) | |
| No | 16 (5.9) | 2 (3.3) | 16 (7.6) | 2 (2.0) | 5 (4.1) | 7 (6.9) | 6 (7.1) | 1 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) | 17 (7.9) | |
| Minutes | 13.8 (±8.9) | 13.0 (±7.4) | 13.0 (±4.3) | 12.2 (±6.0) | 12.6 (±5.5) | 12.4 (±3.6) | 13.3 (±5.2) | 11.7 (±4.5) | 12.2 (±2.5) | 13.6 (±6.9) | |
| Yes | 159 (58.2) | 8 (13.1) | 90(42.7) | 64 (65.3) | 77 (63.6) | 54 (53.5) | 22 (25.9) | 48 (62.3) | 16 (55.2) | 95 (44.0) | |
| Unsure | 2 (0.7) | 1 (1.6) | 2 (1.0) | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.0) | 2 (2.4) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.5) | 2 (1.0) | |
| No | 112 (41.0) | 52 (85.3) | 119 (56.4) | 33 (33.7) | 44 (36.4) | 46 (45.5) | 61 (71.8) | 29 (37.7) | 12 (41.4) | 119 (55.1) | |
| Yes | 66 (24.2) | 13 (21.3) | 48 (22.8) | 22 (22.5) | 29 (24.0) | 20 (19.8) | 19 (22.4) | 20 (26.0) | 8 (27.6) | 47 (21.8) | |
| Unsure | 58 (21.3) | 12 (19.7) | 46 (21.8) | 18 (18.4) | 19 (15.7) | 23 (22.8) | 22 (25.9) | 15 (19.5) | 5 (17.2) | 47 (21.8) | |
| No | 149 (54.6) | 36 (59.0) | 117 (55.5) | 58 (59.2) | 73 (60.3) | 58 (57.4) | 44 (51.8) | 42 (54.6) | 16 (55.2) | 122 (56.5) | |
| Agree | 254 (93.0) | 57 (93.4) | 200 (94.8) | 89 (90.8) | 108 (89.3) | 96 (95.1) | 83 (97.7) | 72 (93.5) | 27 (93.1) | 201 (93.1) | |
| Neutral | 14 (5.1) | 3 (4.9) | 9 (4.3) | 5 (5.1) | 9 (7.4) | 3 (3.0) | 2 (2.4) | 4 (5.2) | 1 (3.5) | 12 (5.6) | |
| Disagree | 5 (1.8) | 1 (1.6) | 2 (1.0) | 4 (4.1) | 4 (3.3) | 2 (2.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.3) | 1 (3.5) | 3 (1.4) | |
| Agree | 196 (72.1) | 44 (72.1) | 152 (72.0) | 70 (71.4) | 88 (72.7) | 72 (71.3) | 60 (70.6) | 47 (61.0) | 19 (65.5) | 166 (76.9) | |
| Neutral | 46 (16.9) | 11 (18.0) | 37 (17.5) | 17 (17.4) | 23 (19.0) | 17 (16.8) | 14 (16.5) | 19 (24.7) | 5 (17.2) | 31 (14.4) | |
| Disagree | 30 (11.0) | 6 (9.8) | 22 (10.4) | 11 (11.2) | 10 (8.3) | 12 (11.9) | 11 (12.9) | 11 (14.3) | 5 (17.2) | 19 (8.8) | |
| Agree | 164 (60.3) | 40 (65.6) | 132 (62.6) | 58 (59.2) | 72 (59.5) | 66 (65.4) | 52 (61.2) | 42 (54.6) | 18 (62.1) | 136 (63.0) | |
| Neutral | 36 (13.2) | 6 (9.8) | 29 (13.7) | 7 (7.1) | 14 (11.6) | 12 (11.9) | 8 (9.4) | 12 (15.6) | 2 (6.9) | 27 (12.5) | |
| Disagree | 72 (26.5) | 15 (24.6) | 50 (23.7) | 33 (33.7) | 35 (28.9) | 23 (22.8) | 25 (29.4) | 23 (29.9) | 9 (31.0) | 53 (24.5) | |
| Agree | 154 (56.6) | 32 (52.5) | 111 (52.6) | 60 (61.2) | 63 (52.1) | 58 (57.4) | 49 (57.7) | 50 (64.9) | 18 (62.1) | 111 (51.4) | |
| Neutral | 26 (9.6) | 7 (11.5) | 20 (9.5) | 9 (9.2) | 12 (9.9) | 9 (8.9) | 7 (8.2) | 7 (9.1) | 4 (13.8) | 19 (8.8) | |
| Disagree | 92 (33.8) | 22 (36.1) | 80 (37.9) | 29 (29.6) | 46 (38.0) | 34 (33.7) | 29 (34.1) | 20 (26.0) | 7 (24.1) | 86 (39.8) | |
| Agree | 153 (56.3) | 33 (54.1) | 108 (51.2) | 61 (62.2) | 71 (58.7) | 53 (52.5) | 45 (52.9) | 49 (63.6) | 16 (55.2) | 112 (51.9) | |
| Neutral | 16 (5.9) | 3 (4.9) | 11 (5.2) | 7 (7.1) | 8 (6.6) | 7 (6.9) | 2 (2.4) | 5 (6.5) | 3 (10.3) | 10 (4.6) | |
| Disagree | 103 (37.9) | 25 (41.0) | 92 (43.6) | 30 (30.6) | 42 (34.7) | 41 (40.6) | 38 (44.7) | 23 (29.9) | 10 (34.5) | 94 (43.5) | |
| Agree | 137 (50.2) | 43 (70.5) | 117 (55.5) | 45 (45.9) | 49 (40.5) | 52 (51.5) | 60 (70.6) | 34 (44.2) | 13 (44.8) | 123 (56.9) | |
| Neutral | 22 (8.1) | 4 (6.6) | 20 (9.5) | 3 (3.1) | 6 (5.0) | 7 (6.9) | 9 (10.6) | 3 (3.9) | 2 (6.9) | 19 (8.8) | |
| Disagree | 114 (41.8) | 14 (23.0) | 74 (35.1) | 50 (51.0) | 66 (54.6) | 42 (41.6) | 16 (18.8) | 40 (52.0) | 14 (48.3) | 74 (34.5) | |
| Agree | 104 (38.1) | 22 (36.1) | 74 (35.1) | 41 (41.8) | 47 (38.8) | 39 (38.6) | 29 (34.1) | 29 (37.7) | 12 (41.4) | 78 (36.1) | |
| Neutral | 42 (15.4) | 9 (14.8) | 37 (17.5) | 7 (7.1) | 19 (15.7) | 14 (13.9) | 9 (10.6) | 7 (9.1) | 2 (6.9) | 39 (18.1) | |
| Disagree | 127 (46.5) | 30 (49.2) | 100 (47.4) | 50 (51.0) | 55 (45.5) | 48 (47.5) | 47 (55.3) | 41 (53.3) | 15 (51.7) | 99 (45.8) | |
| Agree | 100 (36.8) | 18 (29.5) | 76 (36.0) | 29 (29.6) | 43 (35.5) | 34 (33.7) | 26 (30.6) | 27 (35.1) | 10 (34.5) | 75 (34.7) | |
| Neutral | 61 (22.4) | 13 (21.3) | 49 (23.2) | 18 (18.4) | 28 (23.1) | 18 (17.8) | 21 (24.7) | 13 (16.9) | 9 (31.0) | 49 (22.7) | |
| Disagree | 111 (40.8) | 30 (49.2) | 86 (40.8) | 51 (52.0) | 50 (41.3) | 49 (48.5) | 38 (44.7) | 37 (48.1) | 10 (34.5) | 92 (42.6) | |
| Agree | 99 (36.3) | 18 (29.5) | 69 (32.7) | 37 (37.8) | 44 (36.4) | 35 (34.7) | 27 (31.8) | 29 (37.7) | 9 (31.0) | 72 (33.3) | |
| Neutral | 56 (20.5) | 10 (16.4) | 41 (19.4) | 16 (16.3) | 22 (18.2) | 17 (16.8) | 16 (18.8) | 12 (15.6) | 4 (13.8) | 47 (21.8) | |
| Disagree | 118 (43.2) | 33 (54.1) | 101 (47.9) | 45 (45.9) | 55 (45.5) | 49 (48.5) | 42 (49.4) | 36 (46.8) | 16 (55.2) | 97 (44.9) | |
| Agree | 63 (23.2) | 10 (16.4) | 47 (22.3) | 14 (14.4) | 25 (20.8) | 24 (23.8) | 12 (14.1) | 13 (16.9) | 7 (24.1) | 45 (20.9) | |
| Neutral | 51 (18.8) | 11 (18.0) | 39 (18.5) | 16 (16.5) | 19 (15.8) | 22 (21.8) | 14 (16.5) | 9 (11.7) | 4 (13.8) | 46 (21.4) | |
| Disagree | 158 (58.1) | 40 (65.6) | 125 (59.2) | 67 (69.1) | 76 (63.3) | 55 (54.5) | 59 (69.4) | 55 (71.4) | 18 (62.1) | 124 (57.7) | |
Note(s): Gov = Government school
Non-gov = Non-government school
SEP = Socioeconomic position
Source(s): Authors’ own work
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