Author
LEDOUX, TRACEY - University Of Houston | |
ROBINSON, JESSICA - University Of Houston | |
BARANOWSKI, TOM - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC) | |
O'CONNOR, DANIEL - University Of Houston |
Submitted to: Health Education and Behavior
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2017 Publication Date: 6/1/2017 Citation: Ledoux, T., Robinson, J., Baranowski, T., O'Connor, D.P. 2017. Teaching parents about responsive feeding through a vicarious learning video: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Health Education and Behavior. doi:10.1177/1090198117712332. Interpretive Summary: Responsive feeding (RF) is a type of food parenting practice that has been shown to help young children eat healthier meals. A video was developed to show how a parent could perform RF with their young child. Fifty parents were randomly assigned and either invited to view the video, or not, and answer questions about it a week before, and right after, seeing the video. Parents who saw the RF video were more likely to demonstrate increased RF knowledge and lower unresponsive feeding practices after seeing the video. Parents who reported higher engagement in the video were more likely to report increased knowledge and lower unresponsive feeding practices. Thus, the video can be used as a part of interventions targeting RF by parents among preschoolers. Technical Abstract: The American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health Organization recommend responsive feeding (RF) to promote healthy eating behaviors in early childhood. This project developed and tested a vicarious learning video to teach parents RF practices. A RF vicarious learning video was developed using community-based participatory research methods. Fifty parents of preschoolers were randomly assigned to watch Happier Meals or a control video about education. Knowledge and beliefs about RF practices were measured 1 week before and immediately after intervention. Experimental group participants also completed measures of narrative engagement and video acceptability. Seventy-four percent of the sample was White, 90% had at least a college degree, 96% were married, and 88% made >$50,000/year. RF knowledge increased (p=.03) and positive beliefs about some unresponsive feeding practices decreased (ps<.05) more among experimental than control parents. Knowledge and belief changes were associated with video engagement (ps<.05). Parents perceived Happier Meals as highly relevant, applicable, and informative. Community-based participatory research methods were instrumental in developing this vicarious learning video, with preliminary evidence of effectiveness in teaching parents about RF. Happier Meals is freely available for parents or community health workers to use when working with families to promote healthy eating behaviors in early childhood. |