Factors associated with health behaviors in middle childhood

Factors Affecting Health-Related Behaviors in Younger School-Age Korean Children

PURPOSE

Although many studies have reported factors influencing school-age children's health behaviors, most focus on later childhood and early adolescence. It is important to understand children's own perspectives on their health-related behaviors to promote child health. This study identified factors affecting health-related behaviors among younger school-age children via self-report assessments.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Participants (N = 636) were children aged 8 to 9 years (second and third grade) at six elementary schools in South Korea. The variables examined were child characteristics, health locus of control, perceived parental attention, peer support, school environment, and health-related behaviors. A hierarchical linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors predicting younger school-age children's health-related behaviors.

RESULTS

Socioeconomic status (family affluence score) had the strongest impact on health-related behaviors, followed by health locus of control, parental attention, and peer support. Living with both parents also had a positive effect. The present results suggest that children within aged 8 to 9 years have the ability to consciously choose and implement health-related behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these findings, recommendations are as follows: 1) collaboration between parents and health professionals, which, given the importance of parental attention, represents the best approach for guiding children's health-related behaviors; and 2) attention paid to children from low-income backgrounds (at both the school and community levels) can help prevent health inequalities arising from socioeconomic status.

Family socioeconomic status, parental attention, and health behaviors in middle childhood: A cross-sectional study

This study examined the relationships among family socioeconomic status, parental attention, and health behaviors in children during middle childhood. For this descriptive cross-sectional study, six elementary schools in a metropolitan city in South Korea were selected for recruitment. We surveyed 857 elementary school students aged 8 to 10 years by using self-report questionnaires. A hierarchical multilinear regression analysis found that family socioeconomic status positively related to children's health behaviors and that parental attention had a moderating effect on this relationship. These results suggest that family socioeconomic status influences health behaviors from the child's perspective. The influence of family socioeconomic status on children's health behaviors might be weakened by parental attention. Healthcare providers should be aware of children's health behaviors and focus interventions on families with low socioeconomic status. Nurses should emphasize to parents that parental supervision and monitoring might benefit their children and improve their health behaviors.

The Family Meal Model: Influences on Family Mealtime Participation

The family meal affords benefits such as positive nutritional habits, trust building, connecting, parent modeling, and teaching. During the school-aged years, families can support children's development of health behaviors and family routines. This interdisciplinary study examined families' experiences of mealtimes and the factors that support or hinder mealtime participation. Grounded theory methods guided data collection and analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 families with at least one school-aged child (n = 68). Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Researchers coded and categorized data, identified themes, and generated a model. Families defined family mealtime as all family members being together at the kitchen or dining room table eating a meal. Families enjoyed being together, conversing, and connecting through family mealtime participation. The Family Meal Model proposes relationships between factors that support or hinder a family's mealtime participation. Discussion includes support for a broadened role of occupational therapy in promoting family occupation through family meals.

Clustering of Risk Behaviors and their Social Determinants among Primary School Learners in Beijing, China: A Cross-sectional Study

Background:

Studies in developed countries reveal that poor lifestyle choices triggering diseases typically cluster among children. However, there is insufficient evidence on the clustering of risk behaviors among children in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the clustering of risk behaviors and their social determinants among 4^th-and 5^th -grade learners in Beijing, China.

Methods:

The sample comprised of 967 learners from six primary schools enrolled migrant and resident learners by two-stage stratified cluster sampling. Prevalence denoted the risk behaviors and their clustering. A log-linear model was used to explore the clustering patterns. Ordinal logistic regression determined the influence of demographic characteristics, school environment, and family context on behavioral clustering.

Results:

The prevalence of none, one, two, and three or more risk factors was 61.2%, 20.0%, 10.8%, and 8.1% for infectious diseases and 46.0%, 30.6%, 15.4%, and 8.0% for chronic diseases, respectively. Some behaviors appeared dependent and were more likely to be observed together. The three most influential factors for infectious diseases were school type (odds ratio [OR] =4.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.00–6.66), school located in an inner suburb (OR = 0.27, 95% CI 0.18–0.38), and gender (OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.42–0.74). Regarding risk behaviors for chronic diseases, clustering was not associated with household registration status and number of appliances, but was significantly associated with school type (OR = 5.36, 95% CI 3.72–7.73), school located in an inner suburb (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.43–0.81), and gender (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.47–0.78). School environment variables were the most significant contributor to the number of risk behaviors.

Conclusions:

The characteristics of schools enrolling migrants and residents influenced the number of risk behaviors. Therefore, improved school conditions and integrated behavioral interventions are particularly recommended for health promotion.

Predictors of adolescents' health-promoting behaviors guided by primary socialization theory

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of parents and peers on adolescents' health-promoting behaviors, framed by primary socialization theory.

DESIGN AND METHOD

Longitudinal data collected annually from 1,081 rural youth (mean age = 17 ± 0.7; 43.5% males; 44% Hispanic) and once from their parents were analyzed using generalized linear models.

RESULTS

Parental monitoring and adolescent's religious commitment significantly predicted all health-promoting behaviors (nutrition, physical activity, safety, health practices awareness, and stress management). Other statistically significant predictors were parent's responsiveness and health-promoting behaviors. Peer influence predicted safety and stress management.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Nurses may facilitate adolescents' development of health-promoting behaviors through family-focused interventions.