Kim JH, Bost KK. Self-regulation linking the quality of
early parent-child relationship to adolescents' obesity risk and food consumption.
Pediatr Obes 2023;
18:e12993. [PMID:
36479850 DOI:
10.1111/ijpo.12993]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The quality of parent-child relationships has been examined as a contributor to children's healthy behaviours and weight outcomes, but the mechanisms accounting for associations remain understudied.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined whether the quality of early parent-child relationship is associated with adolescent obesity risk and whether self-regulation and (un)healthful food consumption mediate these associations.
METHODS
Employing structural equation modelling, two theory-driven models were examined using a large sample (N = 1237) drawn from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Indicators of the quality of parent-child relationship included assessments of child attachment security and observational assessments of maternal sensitivity (15, 24, and 36 months). Self-regulation at 54 months was assessed using behavioural and computerized tasks and, at ages 11-12 and 15 years, using parental ratings of self-control. Food consumption was self-reported at age 11-12. Height and weight measures in early/middle childhood and adolescence were used to compute BMI z-scores.
RESULTS
No direct associations between the quality of parent-child relationship and adolescent obesity risk were found in either model. Instead, child self-regulation was found to mediate the associations between the quality of parent-child relationship and both unhealthy food consumption and higher adolescent BMI status.
CONCLUSION
The findings highlight how the nature of parent-child relationships impacts developing regulatory processes in children which, in turn, have implications for obesity-related behaviours and outcomes. Interventions to reduce childhood obesity should consider self-regulation skills across multiple domains, and early parenting practices that foster these capacities.
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