The impact of parenting practices and family economy on psychological wellbeing and learning patterns in higher education students

BACKGROUND

There is a large literature on the significant impact of rearing factors in the psychological development of different child's learning patterns and wellbeing in elementary and secondary schools, but there is a scarcity of studies on to what extent those influences remain stable up to higher education.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, parenting practices and family status were analyzed as predictors of the different learning styles, psychological difficulties, mental health factors, and academic performance, comprising the psychosocial diversity in learning (DinL) at the university classroom.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional design, a questionnaire was administered to a sample of 2522 students at the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain). It included a DinL scale measuring five psychological learning dimensions (coping with difficulties, effort, autonomy, Social/Physical Context, and understanding/career interest), plus several items on retrospective parenting practices, family, and sociodemographic variables. Multiple regressions and analyses of variance were conducted with the family factors as independent variables and the learning factors as dependent variables.

RESULTS

Results showed parenting variables, parents' education, and family economy as having a significant impact on psychological learning dimensions, academic performance, and especially on the students' wellbeing and mental health status, being an important contributors to explain the DinL in the university classroom.

CONCLUSION

The results bring interesting conclusions for developmental and health psychologists when working with parents aimed at fostering wellbeing and learning strategies related to academic inclusion and achievement.

Fathers' use of social media for social comparison is associated with their food parenting practices

Over 85% of parents use social media; however, limited research has investigated the associations between parental social media use and food parenting practices. The objectives of this study were to: 1) describe how mothers and fathers use social media focused on topics related to child feeding and family meals; and 2) examine associations between parental social media use focused on child feeding and family meals and mothers' and fathers' food parenting practices. Data were obtained from 179 mothers and 116 fathers of children aged 3-8 years enrolled in a family-based obesity prevention intervention. We used descriptive statistics to describe parents' social media use in relation to child feeding and family meals and linear regressions with generalized estimating equations to explore associations between parents' social media use and food parenting practices. Models were stratified by parent gender and adjusted for household income, parent ethnicity, parent age, child sex, and intervention status. A higher percent of mothers than fathers reported using social media to seek information related to child feeding and family meals (64.8% mothers; 25.0% fathers) and to share and compare family meals and food choices (41.9% mothers; 19.8% fathers). While social media use was not associated with food parenting practices in mothers, fathers' social media use to share and compare family meals and food choices was associated with negative food parenting practices, i.e., greater use of food for emotional regulation (β = 0.37, p = 0.02) and greater use of food for reward (β = 0.34, p = 0.02). Study results can inform strategies to promote healthy social media use among parents of young children.

The role of adverse childhood experiences in predicting child abuse perpetration among married mothers in Alexandria, Egypt: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are receiving increased amounts of attention as a critical public health issue. ACEs have a massive impact on future violence victimization and perpetration. They are also associated with lifelong mental and physical health consequences as well as premature mortality. The present study aimed to investigate the role of different ACEs among married mothers in predicting the risk of child abuse perpetration in offspring.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 mothers of children aged 2-12 years attending family health centres in Alexandria. The mothers completed a predesigned interview questionnaire on sociodemographic data and data related to ACEs, spousal violence, and child abuse perpetration. Suitable bivariate and multivariate statistical tests were used to analyse the collected data using version 20.0 of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).

RESULTS

Two-thirds of mothers (66.3%) reported ever having been exposed to any ACE, and 18.6% of them had experienced 3 or more ACEs. Psychological abuse (46%) and witnessing domestic violence (17%) were the most common. Psychological aggression (95.4%), minor physical assault (79%), and neglect (52%) were the most common forms of child abuse perpetrated by the mothers. The number of ACEs experienced by mothers showed a moderate positive significant correlation with the 5 forms of child abuse examined. Different ACEs, mother's age, socioeconomic status, and current exposure to spousal violence were found to be independent predictors of different forms of child abuse (psychological aggression, neglect, minor physical assault, and severe physical assault).

CONCLUSION

Different practices of family violence are strongly connected throughout different stages of an individual's life and across generations. Further understanding of the interconnections among forms of violence and addressing them should be prioritized. Additionally, concerted national strategies across all levels and sectors are needed to address this complex problem.

young adolescents: A longitudinal panel analysis, 2013-2018

PURPOSE

This study examined prospective association of parenting practices related to tobacco use with adolescent e-cigarette use and the moderating role of mental health among U.S. young adolescents.

METHODS

We study used multi-wave longitudinal data (2013-2018) drawn from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. A total of 5114 young adolescents (12-14 years) who were not lost to follow-ups across four waves (Wave 1-4) comprised the study sample. Weighted logistic regression models along with generalized linear mixed modeling assessed the within-subject associations of parenting practices related to tobacco use (tobacco availability at parent/guardian's home, past-year parent talk about tobacco use, and rules about non-combustible tobacco use at home) with adolescent current e-cigarette use.

RESULTS

Prevalence of having home rules about non-combustible tobacco use increased (74.5%-80.2%) and that of parent talk about tobacco use decreased (52.0%-33.9%) over time while tobacco availability at home did not show a specific trend. Tobacco availability at home was associated with increased odds of adolescent e-cigarette use (adjusted odd ratio[OR] = 2.25, 95% confidence interval[CI] = 1.72-2.95), and having home rules about non-combustible tobacco use was linked to decreased likelihood of e-cigarette use (adjusted OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.55-0.92). The magnitude of negative association between having rules about non-combustible tobacco and adolescent e-cigarette use was stronger among adolescents with internalizing problems but weaker among those with externalizing problems.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the important role of home-based interventions in discouraging young adolescents from e-cigarette use. Parents/guardians should consider adolescents' mental health to provide more efficient home- and/or clinical-based e-cigarette use prevention.

Feel4Diabetes-study

OBJECTIVES

Halting the rise in childhood obesity is an ongoing challenge in Europe. Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) and artificially sweetened beverage (ASB) consumption has become common practice at home and during family meals. The objective of this study was to investigate associations of parenting practices and home digital media availability with beverage intake in European schoolchildren of different weight groups.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data were derived from six countries taking part in the multicentered Feel4Diabetes-study. Anthropometric data were measured for 12 030 schoolchildren (n = 6097 girls; median age = 8.1 y). Details on sociodemographic characteristics, beverage intake, food parenting practices, and home availability of digital media were collated from questionnaires. The outcomes, daily SSB and ASB intakes, were included as dependent variables in multivariable regression models that provided odds ratios reflecting their association with parenting practices and digital media (exposures), after stratifying for children's weight status (underweight or normal versus overweight or obese).

RESULTS

After controlling for children's sex, region, maternal body mass index, and education, the multivariate model found that in both body mass index groups, permissive parenting practices, such as rewarding and allowing consumption of unhealthy foods "very often or often," as compared with "rarely or never," were associated with a high daily intake of SSBs and ASBs in children, while parents "watching television together with their child," rewarding with screen time, and availability of television in children's rooms increased the likelihood of both beverages in the underweight or normal-weight group.

CONCLUSIONS

Modification of permissive parenting practices and removal of television from children's rooms could effectively reduce SSB intake and curb the ongoing threat of child obesity in Europe.

Parenting practices, bullying perpetration, and conduct problems among Ukrainian children

BACKGROUND

Positive and consistent parenting practices are associated with the positive mental health of children. However, little is understood about the implications of the Russian military invasion on family dynamics in Ukraine.

OBJECTIVE

This research aims to estimate the prevalence of childhood conduct disorder (CD) and bullying perpetration and their association with parenting practices among Ukrainian children living in proximity to the war.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The sample included 2763 Ukrainian children ranging in age from 10 to 17 years (M = 12.6, SD = 1.23), 56.23 % girls. Children attended public secondary schools in Eastern Ukraine, mostly in Kharkiv and Kharkiv oblasts (regions).

METHODS

Children reported on sociodemographic characteristics, parenting practices, CD, and bullying perpetration using smartphones, computers, or tablets, at home or in school IT classrooms. Data were collected on a secure online platform.

RESULTS

Children reported teasing (23.68 %), spreading rumors (24.51 %), helping to harass (17.31 %), threatening to hurt or hit (21.65 %) other students, breaking rules (28.13 %), getting in fights (17.13 %), cheating (43.16 %), and being spanked by parents (30 %). Also, 1.83 % of girls and 3.43 % of boys met a borderline cutoff for CD. Lack of parent involvement was associated with increased CD and bullying risks. Poor parent monitoring, inconsistent discipline, and corporal punishment were associated with increasaed CD but not with bullying. CD mediated the association of poor monitoring, inconsistent discipline, and corporal punishment with bullying.

CONCLUSION

Parental involvement, monitoring, consistent discipline, and avoidance of physical punishments are important practices that can reduce disruptive behavior and aggressive tendencies among Ukrainian children affected by the Russian war.

Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder-Short Version (PSCD-SV): Psychometric Properties, Concurrent Correlates and Parenting Predictors

The present study aims to further examine the four-factor model of psychopathy in adolescence with a new alternate model for the assessment of psychopathic traits and conduct disorder (CD): The Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder-Short version (PSCD-SV). Data were collected in a sample of 414 adolescents (49.2% females) aged 12-15 at the first assessment who were then followed-up 2 years later. Results supported the usefulness of the PSCD-SV to assess the broader construct of psychopathy showing good psychometric properties, including adequate reliability and validity, while accounting for all its dimensions. In addition, the study showed close associations between psychopathic traits and adolescent behavioral, emotional and psychosocial maladjustment. Finally, the findings elucidated the PSCD's connection to parental support and psychological control, and reinforced the potential role of parenting practices as predictors that can act as mechanisms of change in the development of psychopathy. Overall, current findings shed light on conceptual and developmental models of psychopathy that may have implications for assessment, diagnostic classification, prevention, and intervention.

Parenting Practices Are Associated With Adolescent Food Choices During Independent Eating Occasions

BACKGROUND

Frequency of independent eating occasions (iEOs) has been linked to intake of unhealthy foods and overweight or obesity among adolescents. Parenting practices involving modeling healthy food intake and making healthy foods available have been associated with healthy food intake among adolescents; however, little is known about these associations during iEOs.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether parenting practices involving structure (monitoring, availability, modeling, and expectations), lack of structure (indulgence), and autonomy support reported by adolescents or parents were associated with adolescent iEO intake of junk foods, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), sugary foods, and fruit and vegetables.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study measuring parenting practices and adolescent iEO food choices via an online survey and adapted food frequency questionnaire.

PARTICIPANTS/SETTING

Parent/adolescent dyads (n = 622) completed surveys (November-December 2021) using a national Qualtrics panel database. Adolescents were 11 to 14 years of age and had iEOs at least weekly.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary measures included parent- and adolescent-reported frequency of food parenting practices and adolescent-reported iEO intake of junk foods, sugary foods, SSBs, and fruits and vegetables.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED

Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine associations between parenting practices and iEO intake of foods/beverages, adjusting for adolescent's age, sex, race and ethnicity, iEO frequency, parent's education and marital status, and household food security status. Bonferroni multiple comparison corrections were conducted.

RESULTS

More than half of parents were female (66%) and 35 to 64 years of age (58%). Adolescents/parents identified as White/Caucasian (44%/42%), Black/African American (28%/27%), Asian (21%/23%), and Hispanic ethnicity (42%/42%). Positive associations were observed among adolescent-reported and parent-reported autonomy support, monitoring, indulgence and expectations parenting practices, and adolescent-reported daily iEO intake frequencies of junk foods, sugary foods, and fruits and vegetables (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Structural and autonomy support parenting practices were positively associated with both healthy and unhealthy iEO food intake by adolescents. Interventions to improve adolescent iEO intake could promote positive practices associated with healthy food consumption.

Cultural and neighborhood characteristics associated with activity-specific parenting practices in Hispanic/Latino youth: a secondary analysis of the Hispanic Community Children's health study/study of Latino youth

Hispanic/Latino youth are less physically active than non-Hispanic/Latino youth. We assessed whether activity-specific parenting practices relate to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior among Hispanic/Latino youth, and whether cultural (acculturation) and neighborhood characteristics (perceived barriers to activity) relate to the use of parenting practice patterns. Using the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth, n = 976 8-16-year-olds), we modeled linear regression associations between parenting practices and mean daily MVPA and sedentary behavior. Parenting practice patterns were then developed using k-means cluster analysis, and regressed on parental acculturation and neighborhood characteristics. Discipline predicted higher MVPA in females (β 1.89 [95% CI 0.11-3.67]), while Monitoring/Reinforcement predicted higher MVPA in males (β 4.71 [95% CI 0.68-8.74]). Three patterns were then identified: Negative Reinforcement (high Limit Setting and Discipline use), Positive Reinforcement (high Limit Setting and Monitoring/Reinforcement use), and Permissive Parenting (low parenting practice use). Higher acculturation predicted use of Positive Reinforcement. Activity-specific parenting practices are associated with activity in sex-specific ways among Hispanic/Latino youth, and cultural factors predict the use of parenting practices.

The longitudinal effects of maternal parenting practices on children's body mass index z-scores are lagged and differential

BACKGROUND

The longitudinal relation between parenting practices and styles with children's body mass index z-scores (zBMI) is poorly understood. Previous studies suggest the relationship may be complex, but small samples and short follow-ups diminish the strength of the evidence. The objectives of this study were to investigate whether the relationship is bidirectional, time-varying, and lagged using data from a large, representative birth cohort of Quebec children.

METHODS

Data were from the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD), a prospective birth cohort (n = 1,602). The mothers' interactions with their children (at ages 6, 8, 10, and 12 years) were utilized in factor analysis to identify three latent parenting practices (disciplinarian, lenient, and responsive). The parenting practices were analyzed with K-means clustering to identify the parenting styles. The temporal and bidirectional relationships were assessed in a cross-lagged path analysis using a structural equation modelling framework. Mixed models controlling for age, sex, income, mother's education, and whether the participant was first-born were estimated. Missing data were handled with full information maximum likelihood.

RESULTS

From the linear mixed models, greater lenient and responsive parenting practices were associated with higher zBMI (B = 0.03, p < 0.05) two years later. However, there was no evidence that the relationship was bidirectional nor that parenting style was predictive of children's zBMI.

CONCLUSION

While mothers' parenting practices were unaffected by their children's zBMI, parental practices were predictive of future zBMI among their prepubertal children. More in-depth exploration of parenting practices and their potential impact on pediatric weight is needed.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health, early childhood development, and parental practices: a global scoping review

BACKGROUND

In March 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), generating stark economic and social repercussions that directly or indirectly affected families' wellbeing and health status.

AIMS

This review aims at mapping the existing evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health, early childhood development, and parental practices, worldwide, to identify evidence gaps and better inform future delivery of care and health policy measures.

METHODS

Following the protocol defined by PRISMA-ScR, this scoping review has searched for relevant studies published between January 2020 and June 2021, selecting evidence sources based on pre-established criteria. From a total of 2,308 articles, data were extracted from 537 publications from 35 countries on all three health domains.

RESULTS

The combined stressors brought forth by the pandemic have exerted a heavy burden on the mental health of mothers and the development of young children, partly mediated by its impact on parental practices.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite remaining gaps, we have identified sufficient evidence pointing to an urgent need for more concerted global research efforts and rapid policy responses to timely address severe and pervasive negative impacts to the mental health of mothers and children at a key developmental stage.

Evaluation of a cluster-randomized controlled trial: Communities for Healthy Living, family-centered obesity prevention program for Head Start parents and children

BACKGROUND

This study reports the outcomes of Communities for Healthy Living (CHL), a cluster randomized obesity prevention trial implemented in partnership with Head Start, a federally-funded preschool program for low-income families.

METHODS

Using a stepped wedge design, Head Start programs (n = 16; Boston, MA, USA) were randomly assigned to one of three intervention start times. CHL involved a media campaign and enhanced nutrition support. Parents were invited to join Parents Connect for Healthy Living (PConnect), a 10-week wellness program. At the beginning and end of each school year (2017-2019), data were collected on the primary outcome of child Body Mass Index z-score (BMIz) and modified BMIz, and secondary outcomes of child weight-related behaviors (diet, physical activity, sleep, media use) and parents' weight-related parenting practices and empowerment. Data from 2 years, rather than three, were utilized to evaluate CHL due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We used mixed effects linear regression to compare relative differences during intervention vs. control periods (n = 1274 vs. 2476 children) in (1) mean change in child BMIz and modified BMIz, (2) the odds of meeting child health behavior recommendations, (3) mean change in parenting practices, and (4) mean change in parent empowerment. We also compared outcomes among parents who chose post-randomization to participate in PConnect vs. not (n = 55 vs. 443).

RESULTS

During intervention periods (vs. control), children experienced greater increases in BMIz and modified BMIz (b = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.02,0.10; b = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.03, 0.12), yet were more likely to meet recommendations related to three of eight measured behaviors: sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (i.e., rarely consume; Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.2,2.3), water consumption (i.e., multiple times per day; OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.2,2.3), and screen time (i.e., ≤1 hour/day; OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.0,1.8). No statistically significant differences for intervention (vs. control) periods were observed in parent empowerment or parenting practices. However, parents who enrolled in PConnect (vs. not) demonstrated greater increases in empowerment (b = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.04,0.31).

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions that emphasize parent engagement may increase parental empowerment. Intervention exposure was associated with statistically, but not clinically, significant increases in BMIz and increased odds of meeting recommendations for three child behaviors; premature trial suspension may explain mixed results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03334669 , Registered October 2017.

Parenting practices during early childhood: validity evidence of a Brazilian scale

OBJECTIVE

The present study aims to analyze the validity of evidence and internal consistency of an inventory for assessing parenting practices during early childhood.

METHOD

Participants were 857 mothers of one-to-42-months children recruited in three cities in the Southeast region and one city in the Midwest region of Brazil. The participants answered a sociodemographic questionnaire with maternal and child data, and the Parenting Styles Inventory for Mothers of Babies (IEPMB). The IEPMB includes 25 questions about positive and negative parenting practices that mothers use to raise their children. An exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using the following criteria to indicate adequate model fit: root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) < .08; standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) < .09; comparative fit index (CFI) > 0.90. For the hypothesis-testing method, a comparison between groups using a student's t-test based on the child's age (infants vs. toddlers) and mother's age (adolescents vs. adults) was carried out.

RESULTS

The final 11 items model of the measure revealed an adequate overall model fit (RMSEA = 0.04; SRMR = 0.04; CFI = 0.94). The items were grouped into three constructs: Aggressiveness and Emotional Dysregulation, Relaxed Discipline, and Positive Monitoring. Adolescent mothers reported less positive monitoring than adult mothers (p < 0.001). Mothers of toddlers reported more aggressiveness/emotional dysregulation (p < 0.001) and relaxed discipline (p = 0.05) than mothers of infants.

CONCLUSIONS

The instrument named from this study as the Parenting Practices Inventory for Mothers of Babies showed evidence for measuring mothers' parenting practices in early childhood and allows the identification of parents who need support.

Identification of positive parenting practices among parents of young children living in low-income and racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse households

Using the positive deviance approach, the purpose of this study was to identify parent feeding practices that might be protective against early childhood obesity among children with lower weight status (BMI percentile ≥5th-<85th) relative to higher weight status (BMI percentile ≥85th). Qualitative interviews were conducted with 71 parents of children aged 2-5 years old (48% girls) enrolled in the Minnesota Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC). Children were identified as having lower weight status (defined as 'positive deviants') (n = 36) or 'higher weight status' (n = 35), and were African American [n = 22], Hispanic [n = 23], or Hmong [n = 26]). Parents were asked about approaches to child feeding and health- and weight-related practices. Findings indicated that relative to caregivers of children with higher weight status, parents of children identified as positive deviant were more likely to report having a consistent routine for providing meals, using a guided choices approach, serving small portions of food during mealtimes, and trusting their child hunger and satiety cues. Moreover, parents of children identified as positive deviant were more likely to promote healthful eating and physical activity engagement and implement clear rules and limits for screen time than parents of children with higher weight status. Results suggest specific parent feeding behaviors and health-related practices that may influence child weight status among children living in low-income and racialized households. The findings of this study also provide research evidence and support the tenets of the Satter Division of Responsibility in Feeding framework. Parenting practices and strategies among parents of children identified as positive deviant are expected to be feasible and should be explored and communicated in future interventions to support age- and sex-recommended weight and health-related outcomes among young children to promote health equity.

Contribution of home availability, parental child-feeding practices and health beliefs on children's sweets and salty snacks consumption in Europe: Feel4Diabetes-Study

Adoption of healthy dietary and snacking habits could support optimum physical and mental development in children as they define health in adulthood. This study assessed parameters associated with children's snacking such as food home availability, parenting practices, and parents' health beliefs. In this cross-sectional study 12 039 children, 49·4% boys 5-12 years, participating in the European Feel4Diabetes-Study were included. Children's weekly consumption of sweets and salty snacks, home availability of snacks, food parenting practices, and health beliefs were assessed via questionnaires. Logistic regression was applied to explore associations of a) home availability of snacks, b) food parenting practices (permissiveness and rewarding with snacks) and c) parent's opinions on deterministic health beliefs with children's consumption of sweets and salty snacks. Results showed that home availability (sweets: OR_adj: 4·76, 95 % CI: 4·32, 5·23; salty snacks: OR_adj: 6·56, 95 % CI: 5·64, 7·61), allowing to consume (sweets: OR_adj: 3·29, 95 % CI: 2·95, 3·67; salty snacks: OR_adj: 3·41, 95 % CI: 2·98, 3·90) and rewarding with sweets/salty snacks (sweets: OR_adj: 2·69, 95 % CI: 2·23, 3·24; salty snacks: OR_adj: 4·34, 95 % CI: 3·57, 5·28) 'sometimes/or less frequently' compared to 'always/or often' were associated with lower weekly consumption of sweets and snacks. Parents' disagreement compared to agreement with deterministic health beliefs and inattentive eating were associated with lower consumption of salty snacks and sweets in children. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that attempts to promote healthy snacking habits in children should aim to improve parental dietary habits, food parenting practices, health beliefs, and reducing home availability of unhealthy foods and snacks.

The effect of ECD program on the caregiver's parenting knowledge, attitudes, and practices: based on a cluster-randomized controlled trial in economically vulnerable areas of China

BACKGROUND

The first three years of life are the critical and sensitive periods for the formation of individual abilities. However, existing data indicates that early childhood development (ECD) in economically vulnerable areas of China is lagging, which is closely related to the lack of parenting knowledge and poor parenting practices.

METHODS

We conducted a non-masked cluster-randomized controlled trial in a former nationally designated poverty county of China. All 6-36-month-old children and their caregivers living in 18 communities/clusters (10 towns and 8 districts of the county seat) were enrolled in a 9-month parenting training program. In the treatment-group communities, ECD centers were installed where community workers provided parenting training sessions. If caregivers were unable to visit the center, home-based parenting training was offered. No intervention was provided to the control group. Furthermore, we assigned half of the treatment group to receive monthly developmental feedback in addition to the parenting training. Based on the baseline and follow-up data, we investigated the treatment effects on parenting knowledge, attitudes, and practices through Intention-to-Treat (ITT) and Treatment-on-the-Treated (TOT) analyses.

RESULTS

We found no effects on the parenting knowledge and attitudes of the caregivers but significant effects on the parenting practices. The effects were heterogeneous among families with different characteristics. Specifically, on average, the program had the largest effect on internally oriented caregivers, mothers with higher education, and mothers who are primary caregivers. We want to emphasize that, although the ITT effect on parenting practices (the average treatment effect) were stronger for mothers with higher education, the TOT effect on parenting practices (the local average treatment effect, LATE) were stronger for mothers with less education. That is, even though on average the program helped mothers with higher education, but among complier families, the program benefited mothers with less education.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate that, at least in the short run, the program can directly change caregivers' parenting practices without changing their knowledge and attitudes. Future studies are needed to investigate whether parenting knowledge and attitudes can change in the long run.

Parenting practices, stressors and parental concerns during COVID-19 in Pakistan

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 is a global crisis that has added fear, uncertainty, and stress to parents. Parents are going through several challenges related to school closure, financial insecurity and working remotely. These stressors are affecting the mental health of parents.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to observe major stressors along with the impact of COVID-19 on parental concerns and practices during lockdown.

PARTICIPANTS

Sample (N = 923) was selected through purposive sampling from parents attending Out Patients Departments of hospitals in three provincial capital cities of Pakistan having a high burden of COVID-19, i.e. Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar. Parents having at least one child younger than 18 years were included in the study.

METHODS

A quantitative design was used using a COVID-19 Parenting Response Scale (α = 0.74). It was used as a self-administered tool for parents who knew how to read and write Urdu/English language, however it was conducted as a structured interview for those who could not read/write. Data was analyzed by applying descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, percentage), independent sample t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation.

RESULTS

Findings of the current study showed several stressful factors for parents during COVID-19 pandemic, mainly financial burden, children's education, uncertainty of the situation, and many others. The study also suggests an association of parental concerns during COVID-19 with parenting practices.

CONCLUSION

COVID-19 pandemic presents a global crisis not only of the health of the people but also on family relations and mental well-being. Findings of this research indicate the need for targeted and accessible interventions for mental health of parents especially during these challenging circumstances so that they can cope with the challenges in an effective way and be able to take care of their children better.

Parent-perceived neighbourhood environment, parenting practices and preschool-aged children physical activity and screen time: a cross-sectional study of two culturally and geographically diverse cities

BACKGROUND

Preschool-aged children's physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) are important health-related behaviours likely influenced by PA opportunities, parental perceptions of neighbourhood safety and parenting practices pertaining to PA and ST. How these factors interact to impact on young children's PA and ST, and whether their effects are generalisable across cultures and geographical location is not known. This study addressed these knowledge gaps by conducting pooled analyses of comparable data from two culturally and geographically diverse samples - Chinese parent-child dyads from an ultra-dense city (Hong Kong, China) and Latino parent-child dyads from a low-density city (Houston, USA).

METHODS

The analytical sample consisted of 164 Hong Kong Chinese and 84 US Latino parent-child dyads with data on socio-demographic characteristics, parent-perceived neighbourhood destinations and facilities for children's PA, physical and social safety-related neighbourhood attributes, PA-related parenting practices and child's ST and accelerometer-assessed PA. Generalised linear models with robust standard errors accounting for neighbourhood-level clustering were used to estimate associations and interaction effects.

RESULTS

Hong Kong Chinese children accumulated less PA than US Latino children, although the latter had more ST. Hong Kong Chinese parents reported more parenting practices promoting inactivity. Neighbourhood PA opportunities were positively related to children's PA only if parental perceptions of neighbourhood safety were favourable, and the associations of physical neighbourhood environment characteristics with children's PA and ST depended on PA-related parenting practices. Community cohesion was positively related to children's PA and negatively related to ST, while parental promotion of ST was positively associated with children's ST. Correlates of children's PA and ST did not differ by city.

CONCLUSIONS

The substantial differences in activity patterns between Hong Kong Chinese and US Latino preschool-aged children observed in this study are likely due to a combination of cultural and built environmental factors. However, the fact that no between-city differences in correlates of PA and ST were detected indicates that both populations of children are equally affected by parent-perceived neighbourhood environmental characteristics and parenting practices. Overall, this study highlights the importance of considering how various individual-, home- and neighbourhood physical and social factors interact to influence young children's health-promoting activity levels.

Exploring a theory of change: Are increases in parental empowerment associated with healthier weight-related parenting practices?

INTRODUCTION

Parent health-related empowerment is defined as the process by which parents realize control over their life situation and take action to promote a healthier lifestyle. For decades, researchers have described the theoretical potential of empowerment in health promotion efforts, though few have empirically examined this hypothesized relationship. This study is one of the first to examine the relationship between parental empowerment and healthy weight parenting practices (i.e., food, physical activity, sleep, and media parenting), as a mechanism for early childhood health promotion in community settings.

METHODS

Low-income parents of preschool-aged children attending Head Start in Greater Boston between fall 2017 and spring 2019 were invited to complete a survey in the fall and spring of each academic school year (n = 578 with two surveys and n = 45 with four). Parental empowerment and healthy weight parenting practices were assessed using validated surveys. We used a multilevel difference-in-difference approach to estimate changes in healthy weight parenting practices score by changes in parental empowerment score.

RESULTS

Out of a possible score of four, the unadjusted mean (SD) score in fall was 3.20 (0.40) for empowerment and 3.01 (0.40) for parenting. An increase in parental empowerment was associated with an increase in healthier parenting practices (b = 0.14; 95% CI = 0.08, 0.20; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Parent empowerment may be an important target in interventions to prevent obesity in low-income children.

Don't take the context out of the picture: Contextually shaped parents' and children's obesogenic behaviors in a marginalized area of Mexico City

Santa Fe Gully zone is a marginalized area of Mexico City where nearly 39% of children live with either overweight or obesity. Despite the extensive research on obesogenic behaviors, studies frequently overlook the contexts where such behaviors occur. This qualitative study described individual and familial obesogenic behaviors among children with obesity from Santa Fe Gully, and explained how these behaviors might be contextually shaped. We used a grounded theory approach to investigate the process of development/maintenance of obesity in our sample. Fifteen participants (seven 10-year-olds with overweight or obesity and their parents) participated in nine art-based focus groups, and parents completed individual semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using a structured thematic content analysis. Results showed children's weight status was part of their identity, providing children with a familial 'fitting' sense while increasing psychosocial difficulties, leading to emotional overeating as a coping strategy. Parents' use of controlling and low-structured parenting practices reinforced children's emotional overeating and failed to regulate children's dietary and physical activity behaviors. Some low-structured parenting practices were guilt-motivated or fostered by socioeconomic and cultural factors (e.g., limited food access, unhealthy food exposure, community unsafety). Future interventions in Santa Fe Gully aimed at modifying obesogenic behaviors should incorporate systemic and ecological approaches to help participants navigate through contextual obstacles, as their behaviors should be analized considering the context where they occur.

Longitudinal Associations between Parental Support and Parental Knowledge on Behavioral and Emotional Problems in Adolescents

When testing longitudinal effects of parenting practices on adolescent adjustment, an integrated consideration of externalizing and internalizing behaviors is a gap in research. This study analyzed how parental support and parental knowledge directly and indirectly influence both antisocial behavior and emotional problems. The sample had 642 adolescents aged 12-15 (mean age = 12.49; 45.4% females) from Spain, who participated in a three-year long study. The results showed longitudinal bidirectional associations between parental support and parental knowledge. Only parental knowledge, however, directly predicted antisocial behavior and emotional problems. Parental support had an indirect effect on outcomes through the mediating effect of parental knowledge. This study has practical implications by indicating that increasing parental knowledge should be the target of educational-prevention programs.

Selection and use of vegetable parenting practices did not vary by parent feeding styles: Mixed methods investigation

Parents influence their child's vegetable intake through their feeding style, i.e. the emotional tone established around feeding, and vegetable parenting practices (VPPs), i.e. the specific behaviors employed to influence their child's vegetable intake. A model of precision food parenting proposes that child healthy dietary intake could be optimized by the selection and implementation of effective food parenting practices. Parents use and learn from these complex interactions with their child, which are reflective of feeding style. Intervention research has targeted VPPs in general without a delineation of which practices were selected, which were used, or why they were selected. It is not clear how these users were influenced by feeding style, nor what the parent learned from the interaction. The current study used mixed methods wherein middle socioeconomic status parents of 3-5 year old children were categorized within feeding style groups (n = 122), asked to select two VPPs, implemented them for a week (n = 63), and qualitatively interviewed about their experience. Responsiveness VPPs were most commonly selected, primarily due to their perceived ease of implementation. Parents believed there would be long term positive outcomes, e.g. more vegetable intake from using the practices selected. Frequency of use depended in part on opportunity, e.g. food purchase parenting practices could only be employed during intermittent shopping events. Few differences were detected by parent feeding styles in the types of VPPs selected, frequency of use, or effectiveness. Food parenting interventions can encourage selection of specific VPPs to employ and do not appear to have to tailor the types of VPPs offered to parent feeding style. Research is needed with larger, socioeconomically diverse samples to assess optimal categorization into feeding styles and confirm the present results.

Influence of paternal general parenting on Latino early adolescents' energy balance-related behaviours and interactions with behaviour-specific parenting practices

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of general parenting dimensions on adolescents' energy balance-related behaviours (EBRB) and its interactions with behaviour-specific parenting practices based on Darling and Steinberg's contextual model of parenting style.

DESIGN

Multiple linear regression analyses and the Hayes PROCESS procedure to analyse self-reported cross-sectional survey data.

SETTING

In-person survey.

PARTICIPANTS

Latino early adolescents and their fathers (n 225 dyads) recruited using convenience sampling from metropolitan areas of north-central USA.

RESULTS

Both paternal parenting dimensions of warmth and autonomy granting were positively associated with adolescents' fruit intake, vegetable intake and physical activity. Coercive control was positively associated with adolescents' sugary drink intake and sweets/salty snack intake. These associations were predominantly mediated by the parenting practices of setting expectations/allowances, role modelling, and managing availability and accessibility for corresponding EBRB. After adjusting for parenting practices, paternal warmth was inversely associated with adolescents' screen time, paternal autonomy was positively associated with sugary drink intake, and both paternal warmth and autonomy granting were positively associated with adolescents' fast food intake. In addition, positive associations between fathers' parenting practices and adolescents' sugary drink intake were significantly stronger among those who perceived high v. low levels of paternal warmth and autonomy granting.

CONCLUSIONS

Paternal warmth and autonomy granting showed mixed effects on adolescents' EBRB, and coercive control showed undesirable relationships with adolescents' dietary intake via interactions with behaviour-specific parenting practices. Lifestyle intervention programmes for Latino adolescents need to consider incorporating paternal parenting education components.

Patterns of physical activity parenting practices among parent-adolescent dyads who participated in a cross-sectional internet-based study

Background

While research exploring relationships between individual parenting practices and child physical activity (PA) exists, little is known about simultaneous use of practices. Hence, study objectives were to determine patterns of PA parenting practices and their associations with demographic, anthropometric, and PA measures in a large sample of parents and their adolescent children (12–17 years).

Methods

Dyadic survey data from Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE), a cross-sectional, internet-based study, conducted in 2014 were analyzed using latent class analysis on 5 PA parenting practices – pressuring, guided choice, expectations, facilitation, and modeling. Self-report model covariates included adolescent age and parent and adolescent sex, body mass index category (based on height and weight), legitimacy of parental authority regarding PA (PA-LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA).

Results

Based on 1166 parent-adolescent dyads, four latent classes were identified representing a continuum of practice use (high to low) – Complete Influencers (26%), Facilitating-Modeling Influencers (23%), Pressuring-Expecting Influencers (25%), and Indifferent Influencers (27%). Compared to dyads with parent underweight/healthy weight, dyads with parent overweight/obesity had 84% higher odds of belonging to Indifferent Influencers. Compared to dyads with adolescent underweight/healthy weight, dyads with adolescent overweight/obesity had 50 and 46% lower odds of belonging to Facilitating-Modeling and Indifferent Influencers. Odds of belonging to Pressuring-Expecting and Indifferent Influencers were less than 1% lower for every 1 min/day increase in parent MVPA and 2 and 4% lower for every 1 min/day increase in adolescent MVPA. Compared to dyads with high parental and adolescent agreement with PA-LPA, dyads with low agreement had between 3 and 21 times the odds of belonging to Facilitating-Modeling, Pressuring-Expecting, or Indifferent Influencers.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that parents utilize distinct patterns of PA practices ranging from use of many, use of some, to low use of any practice and these patterns are differentially associated with parent and adolescent PA. When planning PA interventions, a counseling or intervening approach with parents to use combinations of practices, like facilitation and modeling, to positively influence their adolescents’ and possibly their own participation in PA may prove more efficacious than parental pressuring or lack of practice use.

Social Determinants of Health: the Impact of Racism on Early Childhood Mental Health

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Despite increased literature on the impact of racism in the past decades, relatively few studies have focused on the effects of racism on younger children. This article reviews research from the past 5 years focusing on the impact of racism on infant and early childhood mental health and socioemotional development.

RECENT FINDINGS

Longitudinal studies provide evidence that very young children are highly influenced by exposure to multiple and interconnecting levels of racism and discrimination. These forms of exposure (structural and personally mediated, which can be further divided into direct and indirect exposure) are particularly nefarious to young children's socioemotional development and have implications for adolescent and adult mental health with lasting sequelae. Furthermore, the effects of racism on parenting practices and maternal/caregiver mental health appear to indicate mechanisms through which racism affects young children. Although more studies are needed in this area, recent literature indicates that racism is a social determinant of health that adversely impacts infant and early childhood socioemotional, and behavioral development. Future studies should focus on understanding the mechanisms through which racism impacts early childhood development and health, and interventions to prevent and mitigate the effects of racism.

Do parenting practices moderate the association between the physical neighbourhood environment and changes in children's time spent at various physical activity levels? An exploratory longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

As many children do not meet the recommended daily physical activity (PA) levels, more research is needed towards environmental determinants of children's PA levels. The aims of this longitudinal study were to investigate whether the physical environment and parenting practices have an impact on changes in children's weekday time spent at various PA levels and whether associations between physical neighbourhood environment and changes in children's PA are moderated by parenting practices.

METHODS

We performed a secondary data analysis of longitudinal data collected at three timepoints (baseline, 6, and 18 months) from 10 control schools of the Active Living study, a quasi-experimental study, which took place in South Limburg, the Netherlands. In total, 240 children aged 8-12 years were included in the analyses. PA levels were measured using accelerometry (ActiGraph GT3X+). The physical environment was assessed at baseline through neighbourhood audits of the school environment, and PA parenting practices were measured at baseline via validated parental questionnaires. Multivariate multilevel regression analyses were conducted to determine the main effects of the physical environment and parenting practices on changes in children's time spent in sedentary behaviour (SB), light PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) over 18 months. Additionally, moderation of the association between the physical environment and children's PA levels by parenting practices was examined by adding interacting terms to the regression equations.

RESULTS

Walkability of the physical environmental was associated with a decrease in SB at 18 months (B = -5.45, p < .05). In addition, the parenting practice logistic support was associated with an increase in MVPA (at all time points, B = .68, B = .73 and B = 1.02, respectively, all p < .05) and a decrease in SB (at 18 months, B = -1.71, p < .05). Stratified analyses (based on significant interaction terms) showed that the effect of specific physical environmental features (e.g., sports facilities) on children's improvements in PA levels were strengthened by favourable parenting practices.

DISCUSSION

Besides the main effects of walkability and logistic support, there were indications that several parenting practices moderate the association between the physical environment and changes in children's time in various PA levels. The current findings are exploratory, and need to be confirmed in further research.

Changes in self-reported and observed parenting following a randomized control trial of parent-child interaction therapy for the treatment of preschool depression

BACKGROUND

Parenting in early childhood exerts substantial influence over children's emotional health and development. Using data from a randomized controlled trial of a novel treatment for early childhood depression, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Emotion Development (PCIT-ED), we explored two broad dimensions of parenting (behavior and affect) to determine whether any changes could be detected following treatment when compared to those in a waitlist control condition.

METHOD

229 caregiver-child dyads, 114 randomly assigned to PCIT-ED for preschool-onset depression, and 115 assigned to a waitlist completed two structured interaction tasks at baseline and post-treatment. Interactions were later coded by observer's blind to diagnostic and treatment status.

RESULTS

Greater reductions were found in self-reported negative parenting behaviors and observed negative affect and greater increases in self-reported positive parenting behaviors and observed positive affect among the caregivers in the treatment group. Increases in the overall positivity of the observed interactional style of caregivers, but no observed parenting behavior change was found following treatment. Discrepancies between self-reported and observed parenting were greater among caregivers on the waitlist.

CONCLUSIONS

Following PCIT-ED treatment, caregivers self-reported improvements in parenting practices and declines in punitive practices along with observed increases in positive affect and decreases in negative affect when interacting with their child. Moreover, coherence between self-reported and observed parenting was higher in the treatment group. These findings highlight the efficacy of PCIT-ED in improving parenting behaviors and the need to use multiple methods to assess parenting in treatment studies.

Relationship Between Parenting Practices and Children's Screen Time During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey

PURPOSE

This study investigates the relationship between parenting practices and children's screen time following the COVID-19 outbreak.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The population of the present cross-sectional study was the parents of children studying in three randomly-selected schools in the western, eastern and central regions of Turkey. The study data were collected between May 15 and 31, 2020, using a descriptive questionnaire form and the Parenting Practices Scale applied to 1115 parents of children between 6 and 13 years of age. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 21.0 software package, and with descriptive, correlation and multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS

It was noted that 68% of the mothers did not work, and 40.2% of the fathers had shifted to a flexible work arrangement as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study revealed that 89.6% of the families had established ground rules related to screen time, and that the screen time of the children of 71.7% of the families had seen an increase, amounting to 6.42 ± 3.07 h/day. Gender, age, household income, mother's employment status, family's rules about screen time, and inconsistent parenting practices were defined as significant predictors in the children's screen time model created for the study.

CONCLUSIONS

A vast majority of the participants stated that their children's screen time had increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Screen time should be monitored, the necessary support should be provided to children, and parents should set ground rules for their children's screen times.

Maternal depression and breastfeeding in home visitation

BACKGROUND

Home visitation is a popular mechanism for supporting parents and their young children. Breastfeeding is often promoted by home visitors due to its health benefits. However, maternal depression may interfere with breastfeeding. Thus, home visitors may be attempting to encourage health-promoting behaviors like breastfeeding, but maternal depression may interfere with engagement in those behaviors.

METHOD

The data for this study were provided by the Des Moines Healthy Start and the Empowerment Family Support Project (DMHSP). We analyzed the relation between depression and breastfeeding for 364 women.

RESULTS

First, rates of elevated depression scores in this sample of women (8.7%-21.4% of women) were lower than rates of elevated depression scores reported in other studies of women enrolled in home visitation (30%-50% of women). Second, rates of breastfeeding at 3 months postpartum in this sample (56% of women) were higher than rates of breastfeeding reported in the general population (51% of women). Third, Non-Hispanic White women were significantly less likely to breastfeed compared to other racial groups. Fourth, average Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores during the first 3 months postpartum, but not during pregnancy, were predictive of likelihood to breastfeed at 3 months postpartum, even after accounting for demographic characteristics.

CONCLUSION

Addressing maternal depression during the early postpartum period may increase the likelihood of engaging in breastfeeding.

Modifiable parental factors in adolescent sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sleep problems are prevalent during adolescence, but parents may be able to support adolescents to sleep better. A systematic search of records from six databases from inception up to November 2019, identified 103 peer-reviewed publications that examined behaviourally and cognitively modifiable parental factors associated with sleep in adolescents aged 12-18 years. Although included studies were largely cross-sectional and heterogeneous, with heavy reliance on self-reported measures, associations with sound, convergent levels of evidence were found for: 1) parental rule-setting for bedtimes and parent sleep behaviours with longer sleep duration in adolescents; 2) healthy parent sleep and family functioning with better adolescent sleep quality; and 3) parental warmth with better adolescent daytime functioning. Effect sizes were in the small to moderate range. The identified parental factors are recommended targets for inclusion in parenting programs to support adolescent sleep, however, would require validation in intervention studies. Opportunities for research are outlined for the identified parental factors, sleep domains with limited evidence, and better understanding the mechanisms or possible moderators in the associations between parental factors and sleep outcomes.

What parenting practices do US and Canadian parents use to encourage or discourage healthy eating among their 5-12 year-old children?

This study explored the parenting practices that parents of 5-12 year-old children report using to encourage or discourage children's healthy eating and examined sex differences in parent's responses. A stratified sample of 135 parents in the US and Canada completed a semi-qualitative online survey (Jan-Feb 2014) (stratified by parents' sex, income, and ethnicity of each country). Parents provided short answers to questions regarding the strategies they or other parents used to encourage or discourage their children's healthy eating (5-12 year-old). The 2389 parent responses were coded by two coders with discrepancies triangulated. Data was qualitatively reviewed and log-linear analysis assessed whether responses varied by types of encouragement (encourage, discourage), sex of parent (male, female), and six dimensions of parenting practices (autonomy promotion, structure of the food environment, behavioral and educational, control, responsiveness, and consistency of the food environment). Parenting practices that were controlling or promoted structure were predominantly mentioned as a way to regulate children's eating behavior. Strategies that support children's self-regulatory processes, such as autonomy promotion and responsiveness, were infrequently mentioned. Sex differences in parenting practices emerged. Mothers mentioned autonomy promoting practices more often than fathers did. Fathers mentioned controlling practices more often than mothers did as a practice that discouraged healthy eating among children. The findings highlighted that parents need to gain a greater understanding of the practices that nurture healthy eating in children, such as autonomy supportive and responsive parenting practices, to better support children as they grow.

Behavioral problems and their relationship to maternal depression, marital relationships, social skills and parenting

Behavioral problems have been associated with multiple variables; however, studies simultaneously investigating parenting practices, marital relationships in bi-parental families, maternal depression, and child behavior remain a gap in the literature. The objective was to verify associations between positive and negative parenting practices, marital relationships, social skills, and behavioral problems among children from bi-parental families with and those without maternal depression; to identify the predictive effect of positive and negative parenting practices, marital relationships, children’s social skills, and maternal depression, for internalizing, externalizing behavior problems and internalizing and externalizing comorbidities. A case-control study with a cross-sectional design was adopted to ensure the groups were homogeneous in regard to the children’s, mothers’, and families’ sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 35 mothers currently with depression and 35 without depression indicators participated in the study, while the children were 25 preschoolers and 23 school-aged children. The mothers responded to instruments addressing depression, child behavior, parenting practices, and marital relationships. The results reveal maternal depression associated with marital relationships, positive parenting, and context variables. Maternal depression and marital relationship were found to influence externalizing problems; maternal depression, child-rearing practices, marital relationships, and the children’s behavioral repertoires influence internalizing and externalizing comorbidities; and none of the independent variables influenced the occurrence of internalizing problems.

Patterns of food parenting practices regarding junk food and sugary drinks among parent-child dyads

Background

Children’s food preference and intake patterns are affected by parental child feeding practices. The objective was to determine patterns of food parenting practices regarding junk food and sugary drinks (JS) and investigate their associations with demographic characteristics and dietary intake in a large cohort of parents and their children (12–17 years).

Methods

Dyadic survey data from the cross-sectional, internet-based Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating Study, conducted in 2014, were analyzed using latent class analysis to identify patterns of use for six JS parenting practices – negative emotions, restriction, monitoring, availability, modeling, and child involvement – based on parent and child report. Model covariates included self-reported parent and child sex, age (child only), body mass index category (based on height and weight), added sugars intake, and legitimacy of parental authority.

Results

Based on 1657 parent-child dyads, five parenting practice patterns were identified representing different levels of practice use – Complete Influencers (28%; reference class), Indifferent Influencers (21%), Negative Influencers (20%), Minimal Influencers (18%), and Disagreeing Influencers (13%). Compared to older child dyads, younger child dyads were less likely to belong to Indifferent and Minimal Influencers (79 and 63% lower odds, respectively). Greater parent added sugars intake increased the odds of belonging to Indifferent and Negative Influencers (4 and 5% higher for every teaspoon increase, respectively) while greater child added sugars intake decreased the odds of belonging to Minimal Influencers (6% lower for every teaspoon increase). Compared to dyads with high scores, dyads with low child scores for legitimacy of parental authority regarding JS were 18 times as likely to belong to Disagreeing Influencers.

Conclusions

The study findings suggest that parents utilize distinct patterns of feeding practices regarding JS ranging from use of many practices, use of some practices, to low use of any practice, with differential associations with parent and child intakes of added sugars. Counseling or intervening with parents to use a mix of structure practices, such as availability and modeling, to positively influence their child’s and possibly their own intake of sugary snacks and drinks may prove more efficacious than use of coercive control practices, such as negative emotions.

Intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment: A systematic review of the parenting practices of adult survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, and violence

A history of maltreatment in childhood may influence adults' parenting practices, potentially affecting their children. This systematic review examines 97 studies investigating associations of parental childhood victimization with a range of parenting behaviors that may contribute to the intergenerational effects of abuse: abusive parenting, problematic parenting, positive parenting, and positive parental affect. Key findings include: (1) parents who report experiencing physical abuse or witnessing violence in the home during childhood are at increased risk for reporting that they engage in abusive or neglectful parenting; (2) a cumulative effect of maltreatment experiences, such that adults who report experiencing multiple types or repeated instances of victimization are at greatest risk for perpetrating child abuse; (3) associations between reported childhood maltreatment experiences and parents' problematic role reversal with, rejection of, and withdrawal from their children; (4) indirect effects between reported childhood maltreatment and abusive parenting via adult intimate partner violence; and (5) indirect effects between reported childhood maltreatment and lower levels of positive parenting behaviors and affect via mothers' mental health. Thus, childhood experiences of maltreatment may alter parents' ability to avoid negative and utilize positive parenting practices. Limitations of this body of literature include few prospective studies, an overreliance on adults' self-report of their childhood victimization and current parenting, and little examination of potentially differential associations for mothers and fathers.

Effectiveness of Facebook Groups to Boost Participation in a Parenting Intervention

Although family-based prevention programs have been shown to be effective at reducing adolescent substance use, it is often difficult and costly to recruit and retain parents in programs administered in person. The current study tested whether program engagement and parenting practices could be improved by offering parents in a self-directed family program access to a private Facebook group. Parents of middle school children (N = 103) were recruited through paid Facebook ads to a 5-week self-directed teen substance use prevention program to be completed at home together by parents and their children. Two thirds of parents (N = 72) were randomly assigned to a moderated private Facebook group that provided a forum for parents in the study to interact with each other, and one third (N = 31) were randomized to use the intervention materials without additional support. Relatively few parents participated in the Facebook group and most did not find the experience useful. However, satisfaction with the program assessed 3 months after program completion was high among all parents and most parents engaged with the materials, irrespective of Facebook group assignment. Overall, parents reported significantly lower conflict and more household rules 6 months post-intervention compared to baseline. Parenting practices did not change more among those assigned to the Facebook group than among parents who used the materials on their own. The current findings suggest that providing opportunities for parents to interact online while participating in a self-directed family intervention may not help to increase engagement or improvements in parenting practices, particularly when few parents engage with each other.

Development of a consensus statement on the role of the family in the physical activity, sedentary, and sleep behaviours of children and youth

BACKGROUND

Children and youth who meet the physical activity, sedentary, and sleep behaviour recommendations in the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines are more likely to have desirable physical and psychosocial health outcomes. Yet, few children and youth actually meet the recommendations. The family is a key source of influence that can affect lifestyle behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to describe the process used to develop the Consensus Statement on the Role of the Family in the Physical Activity, Sedentary, and Sleep Behaviours of Children and Youth (0-17 years) and present, explain, substantiate, and discuss the final Consensus Statement.

METHODS

The development of the Consensus Statement included the establishment of a multidisciplinary Expert Panel, completion of six reviews (three literature, two scoping, one systematic review of reviews), custom data analyses of Statistics Canada's Canadian Health Measures Survey, integration of related research identified by Expert Panel members, a stakeholder consultation, establishment of consensus, and the development of a media, public relations, communications and launch plan.

RESULTS

Evidence from the literature reviews provided substantial support for the importance of family on children's movement behaviours and highlighted the importance of inclusion of the entire family system as a source of influence and promotion of healthy child and youth movement behaviours. The Expert Panel incorporated the collective evidence from all reviews, the custom analyses, other related research identified, and stakeholder survey feedback, to develop a conceptual model and arrive at the Consensus Statement: Families can support children and youth in achieving healthy physical activity, sedentary and sleep behaviours by encouraging, facilitating, modelling, setting expectations and engaging in healthy movement behaviours with them. Other sources of influence are important (e.g., child care, school, health care, community, governments) and can support families in this pursuit.

CONCLUSION

Family is important for the support and promotion of healthy movement behaviours of children and youth. This Consensus Statement serves as a comprehensive, credible, and current synopsis of related evidence, recommendations, and resources for multiple stakeholders.

The association of parenting practices with toddlers' dietary intake and BMI, and the moderating role of general parenting and child temperament

Objective:

The objective was to examine the association between parenting practices, toddler’s dietary intake and BMI. In addition, potential moderation of these associations by general parenting and child temperament was examined.

Design:

The current cross-sectional study assessed parenting practices using the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire, general parenting using the Comprehensive General Parenting Questionnaire, child temperament using the Child Behavior Check List, and children’s dietary intake through parental questionnaires. Children’s weight and length were objectively measured to determine BMI z-scores. Associations were examined using multiple linear regression analyses. Moderation was examined using interaction terms.

Setting:

Home setting.

Participants:

393 Dutch toddlers (age 1–3 years) and their parents recruited through fifty childcare centres and preschools in the Netherlands.

Results:

Various practices were related to children’s diet and BMI. For instance, the availability of healthy foods is the most important predictor of healthy dietary intake (e.g. β = –0·35 for sweets; β = 0·18 for fruit). The association of availability with a healthier diet was strongest when parents scored low on the positive parenting style dimensions, including nurturance, structure and/or behavioural control. In addition, it seemed that a high availability of healthy foods and low availability of unhealthy foods is especially beneficial for children showing withdrawal/depressive, anxious or overactive behaviour, while encouraging balance and variety is not beneficial for these children. All other practices were related to children’s diet and/or BMI as well.

Conclusions:

The findings underline the importance of viewing the impact of parenting practices in the context of general parenting and child temperament.

Strong families: a new family skills training programme for challenged and humanitarian settings: a single-arm intervention tested in Afghanistan

BACKGROUND

Children living in challenged humanitarian settings (including those in rural/underserved areas, the displaced, refugees, in conflict/post conflict situations) are at greater risk of mental health difficulties or behavioural problems, with caregivers acting as their main protective factors. While many family skills programmes exist, very few were developed for, or piloted in, low resource settings (settings with limited infrastructure, typical of humanitarian settings). We therefore designed a brief and light programme; the Strong Families (SF) programme, consisting of 5 h contact time over 3 weeks. We conducted a pilot study with the aim to test the feasibility of implementation, and a preliminary look at the effectiveness of SF, in improving child behaviour and family functioning in families living in Afghanistan.

METHODS

We recruited female caregivers and children aged 8-12 years through schools and drug treatment centres in Afghanistan and enrolled them in the SF programme. Demographic data, emotional and behavioural difficulties of children and parental skills and family adjustment measures were collected from caregivers before, 2 and 6 weeks after the intervention. Outcome was assessed through the SDQ (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), assessing children's behavioural, emotional, and social issues, and PAFAS (Parenting and Family Adjustment Scales), measuring parenting practices and family functioning.

RESULTS

We enrolled 72 families in the programme with a 93.1% retention rate (n = 67) for data collection 6 weeks post intervention. Mean age of caregivers was 36.1 years, they had 3.8 children on average and 91.7% of them had experienced war/armed conflict in their past. The average total difficulty score of the SDQ (ranging from 0 to 40, with scores above 16 being indicative of high problems) of the 72 children reduced significantly, from 17.8 at pre-test to 12.9 at post-test and 10.6 at second follow-up, with no difference in gender and most noticeably amongst those with the highest scores at baseline. Likewise, PAFAS scores decreased significantly after the programme, again with caregivers with the highest scores at baseline improving most.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of a brief family skills programme was seemingly effective and feasible in a resource-limited setting and positively improved child mental health and parenting practices and family adjustment skills. These results suggest the value of such a programme and call for further validation through other methods of impact assessment and outcome evaluation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN76509384. Retrospectively registered on March 9, 2020.

Using mixed methods to understand women's parenting practices related to their child's outdoor play and physical activity among families living in diverse neighborhood environments

A convergent parallel mixed methods design was used to understand parenting practices for outdoor play, their influence on adolescent's physical activity and outdoor play and the role of the neighborhood and child's sex. Adolescents (n = 263) and their parents completed questionnaires and wore accelerometers. Parents (n = 30) participated in in-depth interviews. Parenting practices were examined by neighborhood disadvantage and child's sex in quantitative (Chi-square and T-tests) and qualitative (comparative thematic analysis) samples. Multi-level linear mixed models examined the associations between parenting practices and two adolescent outcomes: physical activity and outdoor play. Parents in high disadvantage neighborhoods and of female adolescents imposed more restrictions on outdoor play. Restrictive parenting practices were negatively associated with outdoor play, but not physical activity. Policy and environment change that improves neighborhood conditions may be necessary to reduce parents' fear and lessen restrictions on outdoor play.

Parenting practices during middle adolescence and high school dropout

INTRODUCTION

Despite inconclusive findings, educational researchers have long considered adequate parenting practices instrumental in preventing high school dropout among adolescents. The present short-term retrospective study focuses on parenting practices during middle adolescence when dropout typically occurs.

METHODS

The culturally diverse, high-risk sample of Canadian adolescents (N = 108; M_age = 16.0 years) from low-income neighborhoods included very recent dropouts and matched still-in-school students. A global score reflecting the quality of parenting practices during the period preceding dropout (or comparable period) was derived from adolescents' answers to a well-established structured interview protocol. Transcripts of interviews were also used to identify the potentially disruptive challenges (e.g., parental incarceration) that families faced.

RESULTS

Results show a robust relationship between current parenting practices and dropout that was not moderated by challenging family circumstances or immigration history. Descriptive findings indicate that extreme and relatively rare cases of parental neglect were associated with a high dropout risk, but that most dropouts lived in families where communication and supervision, although not entirely absent, were minimal.

CONCLUSION

Offering systematic support to parents of middle adolescents could help to prevent dropout in high-risk communities.

Preschool children's preferences for sedentary activity relates to parent's restrictive rules around active outdoor play

Background

With prevalence estimates indicating that young Australian children are increasingly sedentary, it is important to identify the relevant attributes that are shaping this lack of activity. Literature has identified safety concerns of parents as a consistent barrier to physical activity participation of young children. Despite safety being a plausible determinant of young children’s activity preferences, the impact of restrictive parenting practices has rarely been examined through quantitative research. The current study investigates the link between controlling and supportive physical activity parenting practices and preschool children’s physical activity knowledge, preferences and parent-reported behaviour.

Methods

The current cross-sectional study included 138 parent-child dyads and involved two components of data collection including a child and a parent questionnaire. Results of the parent and child questionnaires were matched to determine correlations between physical activity parenting practices and preschool children’s physical activity knowledge, preference and parent-reported behaviour.

Results

Children’s preferences for physical activity correlated with a number of demographic characteristics and physical activity parenting practices, with the most influential variables being parental age, parental rules around active play outdoors and parental use of screen-time to reward/control child behaviour. Based on parental-reporting, children who preferred to be physically active were more likely to engage in physical activity and were less likely to engage in screen-time on the weekend.

Conclusions

This study identified that parenting practices are not only associated with children’s active and sedentary behaviours (parent-reported), but also with how children prefer to play (parent-reported). Future research should seek to clarify the relationship between children’s activity preferences and parent’s use of screen-time to reward and control their child’s behaviour, given the developmental and behavioural health risks associated with excessive media/screen exposure in early childhood. Further research should investigate whether competing societal values of the importance of encouraging children’s risky play and the need to prevent children from being injured, coupled with parent’s busy schedules are contributing to parental ambivalence regarding how to promote active play for their children. Finally, research should be conducted to establish the relationship between physical activity parenting practices and children’s objectively-measured activity level.

Associations of Socio-demographic, Family, and Neighborhood Factors with Physical Activity-Related Parenting Practices Among Hong Kong Preschoolers' Parents

Objectives Regular engagement in physical activity (PA) has numerous health benefits in young children. Young children's parents can influence their children's PA behavior through different PA-related parenting practices. This cross-sectional study examined the independent contributions of socio-demographic, family/home and parent-perceived neighborhood environmental characteristics explaining PA-related parenting practices encouraging or discouraging PA among Hong Kong preschool-aged children (3-5 years-old). Methods Hong Kong Chinese preschoolers' parents were recruited from pre-selected kindergartens and Maternal and Child Health Centers located in areas stratified by residential density and socio-economic status. They self-completed socio-demographic, family/home and perceived neighborhood characteristics and PA-related parenting practices questionnaires. Generalized linear models were used to examine associations of socio-demographic, family/home and neighborhood variables with PA-related parenting practices. Results Socio-demographic and family/home characteristics were significantly correlated with parenting practices encouraging and discouraging PA. Parent-perceived neighborhood characteristics were significantly correlated with parenting practices discouraging PA only. Conclusions for Practice This study identified correlates of PA-related parenting practices among parents of Hong Kong Chinese preschoolers. The findings suggest future PA-promoting interventions among Chinese preschoolers via the promotion of parenting practices encouraging children's PA should consider multiple factors, including family relationships and childcare sharing, promotion of PA and its benefits among parents, and neighborhood social cohesion, traffic safety and safety from crime.

Parenting perspective on the psychosocial correlates of adolescent sexual and reproductive health behavior among high school adolescents in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

While parents are a crucial part of the social environment in which adolescents live, learn and earn, they could play important roles in efforts to prevent adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) risk behaviors and promote healthy development. Involving parents in prevention programs to risky SRH practices in adolescents requires understanding of the effect of different parenting practices and styles on these behaviors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between various aspects of perceived parenting and self-reported engagement in sexual risk behavior among adolescents.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was employed among 406 randomly selected 14-19 years old high school adolescents in Legehida district, Northeast Ethiopia from 15 February to 15 March/ 2016. Structured and pre-tested self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance questionnaire was used for the data collection. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis with odds ratio along with the confidence interval of 95% were used. P-value < 0.05 were considered for statistical significance.

RESULTS

About two-third (64.5%) of the participants reported that they had ever had sex. Nearly half (48.6%) of the participants who were currently sexually active reported that they engaged in at least one type of risky sexual behavior. Specifically, 42.7% reported starting sexual life earlier, 32.2% having more sexual partners in the past 12 months and 23.8% never used condom during the most recent sexual intercourse. High quality parent─adolescent relationships (AOR = 0.53; 95% CI (0.45-0.63) and authoritative form of parenting (AOR = 0.74; 95% CI (0.61-0.92) were associated with lower odds of engaging in risky sexual behaviors in adolescents. The odds of risky sexual behaviors were about three-fold higher in adolescents who perceived parental knowledge as poor (AOR = 2.97; 95% CI (1.51-4.25) and to some extent (AOR = 3.00; 95% CI (1.43-5.55) toward SRH than those whose parents were very knowledgeable. Adolescents with poor behavioral beliefs on SRH issues had a 37% increased odds of engaging in risky sexual behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, to engage the parents within preventive interventions design to support healthy SRH behaviors among adolescents, the role of authoritative parenting style, and improved quality of parent-adolescent relationship, as well as improving adolescents' behavioral beliefs and parental knowledge towards SRH are essential.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Their Relation to Parenting Stress and Parenting Practices

The objective of this study was to understand the relationship between the early adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of parents and their later parenting stress and practices. At the baseline visit of an 8-week course of cognitive behavioral therapy, parenting women completed the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) and the Positive Parenting Practices (PPP) scale. Linear regression procedures were used to assess the relationship between a parent's own early experience of ACEs and current parenting stress and practices, including if there was a dose-response relationship. For the PSI-SF, significant dose-response relationships were observed between ACEs and the PSI Total Stress score (p < 0.05) and the difficult child subscale (p < 0.05). Additionally, a relationship was suggested with the parental distress subscale (p < 0.10). No significant relationships were found between ACEs and the parent-child dysfunctional interaction subscale of the PSI-SF or the PPP scale. Given the association observed between ACEs and parenting stress, it is important that future psychosocial interventions and policy initiatives preventing ACEs are developed.

Mother-infant interactions with firstborns and secondborns: A within-family study of European Americans

Given the large numbers of families with more than one child, understanding similarities and differences in siblings' behaviors and in parents' interactions with their sibling infants is an important goal for advancing more representative developmental science. This study employed a within-family design to examine mean-level consistency and individual-order agreement in 5-month-old sibling behaviors and maternal parenting practices with their firstborns and secondborns (ns = 61 mothers and 122 infants). Each infant was seen independently with mother. Firstborn infants were more social with their mothers and engaged in more exploration with objects than secondborn infants; firstborn and secondborn infants' behaviors were correlated for smiling, distress communication, and efficiency of exploration. Mothers engaged in more physical encouragement, social exchange, didactic interaction, material provisioning, and language with their firstborns than with their secondborns. Notably, only maternal nurturing (e.g., feeding, holding) did not differ in mean level when mothers were with their two infants. However, mean differences in mothers' social exchange and material provisioning with their two children attenuated to nonsignificance when controlling for differences in siblings' behaviors. Individual-order agreement of mothers' behaviors with firstborn and secondborn infants (across an average of almost 3 years) was only moderate. These findings suggest that mother-firstborn interactions may differ from mother-secondborn interactions. Future research should move beyond studying mother-firstborn dyads to understand broader family and developmental processes.

Application of latent profile analysis to define subgroups of parenting styles and food parenting practices

Food parenting practices and parenting styles are associated with child weight status, dietary intake, and eating behaviors. Although parents maintain a parenting style while also engaging in food parenting practices day-to-day, most studies have examined the separate impact of these two constructs on child outcomes. An examination of both practices and styles will facilitate the identification of how they mutually co-exist and influence child weight and weight-related outcomes. The current study examined the clustering of food parenting practices and parenting styles and evaluated the relationship between these parenting characteristics and child weight status, diet quality and eating behaviors. Children aged 5-7 and their parents (N = 150) from six racial/ethnic groups were recruited through primary care clinics. Latent class analysis classified subgroups based on parenting practices and styles. Regression analyses examined relationships between subgroups and child outcomes. The best-fitting model was two subgroups. Parents in subgroup 1 (n = 37) were more likely to restrict foods, pressure children to eat and less likely to engage in food modeling compared to subgroup 2 (n = 112). Parents in subgroup 1 were more likely to report authoritarian and permissive parenting styles and less likely to report an authoritative parenting style, compared to subgroup 2. Parents in subgroup 1 were more likely to report children who ate to obtain pleasure and who lacked internal cues for hunger than those in subgroup 2. There were no association between subgroups and child weight status, diet quality and other eating behaviors. Future research and interventions should take into consideration how parenting styles and practices mutually influence child weight and weight-related outcomes.

Mothers' and fathers' media parenting practices associated with young children's screen-time: a cross-sectional study

Background

A major contributor to the growing obesity crisis is screen based sedentary behaviour among young children. Media parenting practices may be an important determinant of children’s screen time, however published research exploring the influence of parenting practices on children’s screen time has mainly focused on children’s television use and the parenting practices of the mother. This study examined children’s use of mobile media devices (as well as television use) and included the role of fathers in media parenting, allowing a fuller understanding of the role mothers’ and fathers’ media parenting practices play on children’s screen time in the current media environment.

Methods

Secondary data analysis was conducted using data from 62 children between 1.5 and 5 years of age and their parents (39 mothers, 25 fathers), who were part of the Guelph Family Health Study - phase 2 pilot. Linear regression using generalized estimating equations was used to examine associations between media parenting practices and children’s weekday and weekend screen-time.

Results

Mothers’ screen-time modeling, mealtime screen use, and use of screens to control behaviour were positively associated with children’s weekday screen-time. Mothers’ practices of monitoring screen-time and limiting screen-time were inversely associated with children’s weekday screen-time. Fathers’ mealtime screen use was positively associated with children’s weekday screen-time; whereas fathers’ monitoring screen-time and limiting setting were inversely associated with children’s weekday screen-time. Fathers’ modeling and use of screens to control behaviour was not significantly associated with children’s weekday screen time. While most associations were similar for weekend day screen time there were a few differences: Fathers’ use of screens to control behaviour was positively associated with children’s weekend screen-time. Mothers’ and fathers’ modeling and mealtime screen use were not significantly associated with children’s weekend screen time.

Conclusion

Mothers’ and fathers’ media parenting practices were associated with children’s screen-time. Interventions aimed at reducing children’s screen-time should address both mothers’ and fathers’ media parenting practices.

Emotional Intelligence Profiles in College Students and Their Fathers' and Mothers' Parenting Practices

The present study has two objectives: first, to analyze whether the dimensions that make up emotional intelligence (attention, clarity, and repair) give rise to different profiles of university students, and secondly, to determine whether these different profiles are differentially associated with the parenting practices that students report with regard to their fathers and mothers. Results obtained indicate the existence of different profiles of college students. The profile that corresponds to adequate emotional skills presents a lower score in attention, but higher scores in clarity, and especially in mood repair. The other two profiles are inadequate, in the first case because a higher score in emotional attention is accompanied by low scores in mood repair, and in the second case because low scores are presented in all three dimensions. Likewise, we verified the existence of significant differences in the educational practices of parents, the adequate profile is characterized by greater use of parenting dimensions considered to be positive, and at the same time, lower scores on dimensions considered to be negative. One of the dysfunctional profiles is associated with higher scores in positive practices, and is also associated with higher scores in practices considered to produce a negative effect. The second dysfunctional profile is associated with higher scores on the dimensions considered to be negative and lower scores on positive dimensions.

Growth during the first year in infants affected by neonatal abstinence syndrome

Background

Infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) initially experience neurologic excitability, poor feeding, and/or hyperphagia in the setting of increased metabolic demand. Because the longitudinal effects of these early symptoms and behaviors on weight trends are unknown, we sought to contrast weight gain patterns through age 1 year for infants diagnosed with NAS with matched controls.

Methods

Retrospective cohort of 70 singletons with a gestational age of ≥37 weeks and an ICD-9 or ICD-10 diagnosis of NAS made ≤7 days after birth with institutional follow-up matched to patients without NAS. Infants were matched on gestational age (±2 weeks), birth weight (±20 g), sex (exact), and insurance type (exact). Quantile regression methods were used to estimate 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles of weight over time.

Results

The mean gestational age for an infant with NAS was 38.8 weeks (standard deviation [SD], 1.3). The mean birth weight was 3.141 kg (SD, 0.510). NAS patients had a median of 24 weights recorded between birth and 400 days (inter-quartile range [IQR], 16–32 weights). Patients without NAS had a median of 12 weights recorded (IQR, 10–16). Growth curves were similar over the first 400 days of life. Patients with NAS had non-significantly higher and lower estimated weights for the 90th and 10th percentiles, respectively.

Conclusion

Infants with a diagnosis of NAS grew similarly to controls during their first year. Given the frequently-encountered NAS symptoms of hyperphagia and irritability, future studies may evaluate whether early differences in caregiver feeding exist and whether they have longer-term impacts on growth.

Picky eating in Swedish preschoolers of different weight status: application of two new screening cut-offs

Background

Characteristics of picky eaters of different weight status have not been sufficiently investigated. We used two newly developed screening cut-offs for picky eating in the Food fussiness (FF) subscale of the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of picky eaters in preschool-aged children with thinness, normal weight, overweight or obesity.

Methods

Data for 1272 preschoolers (mean age 4.9 years) were analyzed. The parent-reported FF subscale ranges from 1 to 5, and two screening cut-offs were applied to classify children as picky eaters (3.0 and 3.33). Structural Equation Modeling was used to study associations with other factors in the CEBQ, the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) and the Lifestyle Behavior Checklist (LBC). Scores were compared separately for each weight status group.

Results

Nearly half of the children were classified as moderate or severe picky eaters (cut-off 3.0) and 30% as severe (cut-off 3.33). For both cut-offs, prevalence was significantly lower in the obesity group. Still, one-third of children with obesity met the cut-off of 3.0 and 17% met the cut-off of 3.33. While picky eaters displayed similar patterns across weight status groups, some differences emerged. Food responsiveness was lower for picky eaters, but the difference was significant only among children with obesity. Slowness in eating was not as pronounced among picky eaters in the obesity group. In the overweight and obesity groups, parents of picky eaters did not report as high pressure to eat, as compared to the thinness or normal weight groups; in the obesity group, parents of picky eaters also perceived their children’s weight as lower. In all weight status groups, parents of picky eaters were more likely to report their children had too much screen time, complained about physical activity, and expressed negative affect toward food.

Conclusions

Picky eating was less common but still prevalent among children with obesity. Future studies should investigate the potential influence of picky eating on childhood overweight and obesity. Moreover, as children with picky eating display higher emotional sensitivity, further research is needed to understand how to create positive eating environments particularly for children with picky eating and obesity.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12966-018-0706-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.