Background Obesity is a growing problem even in very young childhood, resulting in high costs for individuals and society. As a response, numerous obesity prevention and intervention programs have been developed. Previous research has shown that early intervention programs are more effective when parents are involved, but the effectiveness of specific aspects of programs with parental involvement has not been investigated. This meta‐analysis aims to investigate the features related to the effectiveness of different types of obesity intervention programs involving parents and targeting young children (0–6‐year‐olds). Methods The Web of Science, PubMed, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and ERIC databases were searched for childhood obesity prevention and intervention programs involving parents. Data were analyzed using the Comprehensive Meta‐analysis (CMA) software. Results Fifty studies with effect sizes measured at short‐term follow‐up (within 3 months from the end of the intervention) and 26 studies with effect sizes measured at long‐term follow‐up (all reported in a total of 49 publications) were identified. The combined effect size of interventions was small but significant at short‐term follow‐up (d = .08, p < .01). The results suggested the presence of a potential publication bias in studies providing results at long‐term follow‐up, with a nonsignificant adjusted effect size (d = .02), which indicated that obesity interventions were not effective at long‐term follow‐up. Multivariate meta‐regression analyses showed that interventions were more effective when including either interactive sessions or educational materials as opposed to those including both interactive sessions and noninteractive educational materials. No other moderators regarding sample characteristics, study design, or methodological quality were significant. Conclusion Interventions targeting young children that require parental involvement are effective at short‐term follow‐up, specifically when interventions include one mode of intervention rather than two. However, results were not retained in the long run.

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Our findings revealed that support received from both families and friends is an important source for alleviating the depressive feelings of caregivers and, in return, their burden in the caregiving. In Turkey, high support from family members is expected and is important for psychological well-being, yet the current study showed that the support received from friends also has unique contribution to the well-being of the caregivers of persons with SCI. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of supportive relationships between family as well as friends for the caregivers who may have to provide lifetime care for their family member with special needs.

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Maternal control is a major dimension of parenting and has different meanings, practices, and potential consequences across cultures. The present study aimed to identify and compare mothers' conceptualizations of parenting control across four cultures to reveal a more nuanced understanding regarding the meaning and practices of control: European American, Chinese immigrant, Korean immigrant, and Turkish. Using a semi-structured open-ended interview, 100 European American, 102 U.S. Chinese immigrant, 103 U.S. Korean immigrant, and 109 Turkish mothers of preschool-aged children reported the ratings of importance, specific reasons, and strategies for exerting control over their children in daily life. Results revealed both shared and unique conceptualizations of maternal control across four cultures. Specifically, all mothers reported that it is important to express maternal control over their children in order to set behavioral norms/standards, maintain child safety, support social relations and respect for others, provide guidance, and guide moral development. Moreover, mothers discussed utilizing nonphysical punishment, setting and maintaining rules, reasoning/negotiating, consistency, physical punishment and verbal control, showing parents' serious/stern attitude, correction, and psychological control forms of control. However, the levels at which mothers emphasize the different reasons and strategies varied across cultures, reflecting culturally-emphasized values. The findings of the present study further enrich our understanding of the complexities of maternal control across cultures.