Family Meal Quality Linked to Lower Substance Use in Some Teens

Recent research has examined how the quality and frequency of family meals relate to substance use among U.S. adolescents. Findings highlight patterns connecting supportive family environments at mealtimes to lower reported use of alcohol, cannabis, and e-cigarettes in certain groups of young people.

A study published in the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma surveyed 2,090 adolescents aged 12 to 17 and their parents about their family meal experiences and substance use over the previous six months. The research focused on aspects such as communication, enjoyment, digital distractions, and logistical challenges during family meals.

Results indicated that adolescents who experienced higher-quality family meals—marked by supportive conversation, enjoyment, and fewer digital interruptions—showed a 22% to 34% lower prevalence of alcohol, cannabis, and e-cigarette use. This association was observed among those with low to moderate levels of childhood adversity.

The study did not find the same protective association for adolescents who had experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences. This suggests that the benefits of family meals may not extend equally to all groups, particularly those with higher levels of adversity in their backgrounds.

What the numbers show

• 2,090 U.S. adolescents aged 12–17 and their parents participated in the 2026 study
• Adolescents with higher-quality family meals had 22%–34% lower substance use prevalence
• Protective effects were not observed in teens with four or more adverse experiences

Other research has also explored the relationship between family meals and adolescent substance use. A 2025 study in Family Process reported that more frequent family meals were linked to lower substance use and less frequent alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use among female adolescents, but not among males.

Long-term findings from a 2008 Journal of Adolescent Health study showed that regular family meals at the start of the study were associated with lower odds of cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use five years later among female adolescents. This pattern was not observed in male adolescents, according to the published results.

Additional analyses, such as those from Project EAT, found that more frequent family meals were connected to reduced levels of cigarette smoking, alcohol, and marijuana use among adolescents, especially females, even after accounting for family connectedness. The Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health (2013) also reported links between frequent family meals and improved family relationships, higher well-being, lower depression, and fewer risk-taking behaviors in adolescents.

Margie Skeer, chair of public health and community medicine at Tufts University, stated that regular family meals may promote open communication and parental involvement, which are practical and accessible ways to reduce adolescent substance use risk. The cross-sectional nature of the main study limits the ability to determine causation between family meal quality and reduced substance use, according to published reports.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.