Factors associated with feeding behaviors among mothers of obese infants: a cross-sectional study

Background

Infant obesity is a risk factor for diseases in childhood and even in adulthood. Maternal feeding behaviors are strongly associated with infant obesity, hence factors relevant to mother's perception, socioeconomic status, and social support that influence the feeding behaviors need to be explored. Therefore, this study aimed to examine associated factors of feeding behaviors among mothers with obese infants.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the pediatric wards of a tertiary hospital in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Participants (n=134) were mothers of infant with obesity aged 6-12 months. Data were collected by structured questionnaires. Maternal feeding characteristics and the relationship between mothers' age, monthly personal income, parental self-efficacy, social support, benefits of maternal feeding behaviors, barriers to maternal feeding behaviors and feeding behaviors were examined. The Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis.

Results

Most of the infants (84.3%) was in the 98^th-100^th percentile. Nearly half of the mothers were 30-39 years old and unemployed (46.3%). One-third (61.40%) were multiparous mothers and 73.1% cared for their infants for more than 6 hours per day. Monthly personal income, parenting self-efficacy and social support together explained 28% of variance on feeding behaviors (P<0.05). Parenting self-efficacy (β=0.309, P<0.05) and social support (β=0.224, P<0.05) had significantly positive influence on feeding behaviors. Maternal personal income (β=-0.196, P<0.05) had a significantly negative influence on feeding behaviors among mothers having infants with obesity.

Conclusions

Nursing interventions should be focused on enhancing parenting self-efficacy and promoting social support for the feeding behaviors of mothers.

Differences in physical activity and perceived benefits and barriers to physical activity between LGBTQ + and non-LGBTQ + college students

ObjectiveTo compare physical activity (PA) behaviors and perceived benefits and barriers among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) and non-LGBTQ + college students. Participants: Participants were 406 college students. Methods: Surveys assessed PA behaviors and perceptions of PA among college students. Multivariate ANOVA assessed differences in PA behaviors and perceptions of PA. Results: LGBTQ + students (n = 71) engaged in 17% less aerobic PA and 42% less resistance training than their counterparts (n = 335; both p < .05). LGBTQ + students reported 6.5% lower total Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale scores and 13.3% higher Barriers Scale scores (both p < .05). Conclusions: LGBTQ + college students are at higher risk of not meeting PA guidelines than non-LGBTQ + students. More perceived barriers and fewer perceived benefits to PA may contribute to this disparity. Identification of LGBTQ+-specific barriers to PA among college students is needed to inform programming to increase PA among this at-risk community.

Health Benefits and Participation Barriers of Different Level Horseback Riders Age-Wise

Although horseback riding is not specifically mentioned in the recommendations for different age groups regarding the level of physical activity necessary for good health, its practice continues to grow in popularity throughout the world. Despite being a minority discipline, it has some characteristics that make it an opportunity for its participants to be active people, so it is important to understand what are the perceived health benefits and barriers to participation. The aim of the study is to describe and analyze the perceived health benefits and barriers in horseback riding among riders categorized by level and age, in order to promote physical activity through these benefits and to overcome the barriers. An online version of the EBBS (Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale) was used to analyze benefits and barriers. The sample consisted of 2,651 participants (95.9% women and 4.1% men) in an equestrian event, distributed in four age groups (79.4% up to 25 years, 11.5% between 26 and 35, 7.9% between 36 and 50, and 1.2 older than 50 years). Perceived benefits and participation barriers to horseback riding were analyzed. The factor analysis identified and confirmed five benefit factors and four barrier factors. Benefit factors were significantly correlated among them but barriers were less interrelated. Higher ages were associated to larger benefits and less barrier effects. Benefit and barrier differences were larger between amateur and professional riders, compared to gender differences.

Effects of a weight control intervention based on the transtheoretical model on physical activity and psychological variables in middle-aged obese women

The study examined the effect of a weight control intervention on BMI, physical activity levels, and psychological variables toward physical activity. Thirty-three middle-aged obese women participated in the 16-week weight control intervention. Results indicated that the participants' BMI significantly decreased and physical activity levels significantly increased over the intervention. Moreover, exercise self-efficacy and perceived benefits toward physical activity significantly increased, but perceived barriers of physical activity gradually decreased over the intervention. The study suggests that it is important to consider not only physical activity itself, but also the various psychological variables when planning and implementing the weight control program.

Nothing Else Matters! Trade-Offs Between Perceived Benefits and Barriers of AAL Technology Usage

Ambient assisted living (AAL) technologies present one approach to counter the challenges of demographic change in terms of an aging population, rising care needs, and lacking care personnel by supporting (older) people in need of care and enabling a longer and more independent staying at own home. Although the number of studies focusing on AAL users' acceptance and perception has increased in the last years, trade-off decisions-the weighing of perceived benefits and barriers of technology usage-have not been studied so far. Nevertheless, this is of high relevance: A realistic evaluation of adoption behaviors in different stakeholders (patients, care personnel) requires an understanding of exactly the weighing process of benefits against the barriers in line with the decision of the final willingness to use AAL technology. The current study applied a conjoint analysis approach and investigates people's decision behavior to use an AAL system for a family member in need of care. Study participants (n = 140) had to decide between realistic care scenarios consisting of different options of two benefits (increase in safety, relief of caring burden of relatives) and two barriers (access to personal data and data handling) of technology usage. Results revealed data access and privacy to be most relevant for the decision to use AAL technology at home. However, care experience essentially influenced the decision patterns. For the care experienced group, data access should be limited to most trusted persons and close relatives, rather than to medical professionals. The most important reasons to use AAL are the emotional relief and the felt safety for the person in care. For care novices, in contrast, data access should be in the exclusive responsibility of medical professionals. The reasons that militate in favor of using AAL technology are the increase in process efficiency and medical safety. The results are useful to develop user-tailored technology concepts and derive user-specific communication guidelines within and across clinical and home care contexts.