ARS | Publication request: Cross-country differences in professionals' perceptions of effective parenting practices to promote fruit and vegetable consumption in preschool children

Submitted to: International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 1, 2009
Publication Date: June 1, 2009
Citation: Watson, K., O'Connor, T., Beltran, A., Campbell, K., Juvinya-Canal, D., Jago, R., Perez-Lizaur, A.B., Zacarias, I. 2009. Cross-country differences in professionals' perceptions of effective parenting practices to promote fruit and vegetable consumption in preschool children [abstract]. In: The International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Abstract Book, June 17-20, 2009, Lisbon, Portugal. p. 292.

Technical Abstract: Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake may reduce the risk of some chronic diseases and obesity. Parents are considered an important influence on children's FV intake. However, the effectiveness of FV parenting practices (PP) are unknown, and differences may exist between countries. We compared health and nutrition professionals' perceptions regarding the effectiveness of PP to promote FV consumption in preschool children across countries. An internet survey was distributed to health and nutrition organizations within the USA and 5 additional countries (Australia, Chile, Mexico, Spain, and the UK). Participants rated how effective 39 PP were in promoting FV consumption in preschool children. Responses were analyzed using Item Response Modeling and Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analyses. Some 889 participants (55.0% USA, 22.6% Mexico, 10.9% Australia, 4.4% Spain, 3.3% Chile, 2.2% UK, 1.6% other) completed the survey. Twenty-five of the practices were perceived as effective with 3 dimensions: responsiveness (5 items), structure (16 items), and nondirective control (4 items). There were between-country differences in perceived effectiveness in all dimensions. USA and Australia had the fewest differences, while Mexico and Australia had the greatest. Health and nutrition professionals from several countries perceived FV-PP that provide structure, non-directive control and were responsive to the child as effective in getting children to consume FV. Perceived effectiveness of items within each dimension varied by country, suggesting that which parenting practices should be targeted to promote FV consumption in children may vary by country.