ARS | Publication request: The impact of food parenting

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 1, 2008
Publication Date: May 22, 2008
Citation: Hughes, S.O., Qu, H., Nicklas, T.A., Shewchuk, R.M. 2008. The impact of food parenting [abstract]. 7th Annual Conference of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity. P.34.

Technical Abstract: PFood parenting directives have been hypothesized to be important determinants of child dietary intake and weight status. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of parenting directives on children’s dietary behavior and weight status in White (W), Black (B), and Hispanic (H) children. Parenting directives to promote children’s intake of healthy foods were elicited from parents using nominal group techniques and operationally organized using card sort exercises in a survey format to rate their use. Data were collected from 764 W, B, and H parents and analyzed using multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. Five parenting directive constructs were derived teachable moments, practical methods, firm discipline, restriction of junk food, and enhanced availability and weighted in terms of the proportion used by parents. The moderating influence of ethnicity on the relationship between directive constructs and child fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) and weight status (WS) was modeled. For B, teachable moments and enhanced availability were positively related to child FVI, and practical methods and restriction of junk food were negatively related to child WS. For H, firm discipline, restriction of junk food, and enhanced availability were positively related to child FVI but none were related to child WS. For W, teachable moments, restriction of junk food, and enhanced availability were positively related to child FVI but none were related to child WS. Interventions should take into account the moderating effects of ethnicity on the relationship between parenting directives and child dietary intake and weight status.