BackgroundA number of studies conducted with ethnically diverse, low-income samples have found that parents with indulgent feeding styles had children with a higher weight status. Indulgent parents are those who are responsive to their child's emotional states but have problems setting appropriate boundaries with their child. Because the processes through which styles impact child weight are poorly understood, the aim of this study was to observe differences in the emotional climate created by parents (including affect, tone of voice, and gestures) and behavioral feeding practices among those reporting different feeding styles on the Caregiver's Feeding Styles Questionnaire. A secondary aim was to examine differences on child weight status across the feeding styles.MethodsParticipants were 177 Head Start families from Houston, Texas (45% African-American; 55% Hispanic). Using an observational approach, the relationship between the observed emotional climate of the meal, behavioral feeding practices, and self-reported parent feeding styles were examined. Mean age of the children was 4.4 years (SD = 0.7) equally distributed across gender. Families were observed on 3 separate dinner occasions. Heights and weight were measured on the parents and children.ResultsParents with self-reported indulgent feeding styles made fewer demands on their children to eat during dinner and showed lower levels of negative affect and intrusiveness. Surprisingly, these parents also showed higher levels of emotional detachment with their children during dinner. Hispanic boys with indulgent parents had significantly higher BMI z scores compared to Hispanic boys in the other three feeding style groups. No other differences were found on child weight status.ConclusionsResults suggest that the emotional climate created by indulgent parents during dinner and their lack of demands on their children to eat may play an important role in how young children become overweight. Numerous observed emotional climate and behavioral differences were found between the other self-reported feeding styles as well. Results suggest that parents' self-reported feeding styles may be a proxy for the emotional climate of the dinner meal, which may in turn influence the child's eating behaviors and weight status.

In a videotaped free-play session with a parent, autistic children were compared with mental-age matched Developmental Language Delay (DLD) children and with normally developing (ND) 2-year-olds in the use of communicative acts by parent and child. Groups were matched for language level. Autistic children had more incidents of no responses, produced less affirming, turn-taking vocalization, and gesture, and were less likely to initiate communication than other children. Parent groups differed only in a greater amount of initiating and use of imperatives by parents of autistic children. Few relations between parent behaviors and child behaviors were found. Nonresponses by all children were concentrated subsequent to parent imperatives and questions, but no group differences were found in the distribution of nonresponses to various parent communicative acts. Results are interpreted to support the hypothesis that autistic children's language can serve a number of useful functions but that their pattern of language functions differs from that of nonautistic language-impaired children and much younger normal children of similar language level.

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Web 2.0, the current Internet evolution, can be described by several key features of an expanded Web that is more interactive; allows easy social interactions through participation and collaboration from a variety of human sectors; responds more immediately to users' queries and needs; is easier to search; and provides a faster, smoother, realistic and engaging user search capability, often with automatic updates to users. The purpose of this study is threefold. First, the primary goal is to propose a conceptual Web 2.0 framework that provides better understanding of the Web 2.0 concept by classifying current key components in a holistic manner. Second, using several selective key components from the conceptual framework, this study conducts case analyses of Web 2.0 applications to discuss how they have adopted the selective key features (i.e., participation, collaboration, rich user experience, social networking, semantics, and interactivity responsiveness) of the conceptual Web 2.0 framework. Finally, the study provides insightful discussion of some challenges and opportunities provided by Web 2.0 to education, business, and social life.

In this study we examined the influence of ethnicity on weight, body image, and self-esteem among adult women while controlling for socioeconomic status (SES). Fifty women of African American (AA), European American (EA), and Mexican American (MA) descent completed interviews and questionnaires related to body size and self-esteem, and were measured for weight and height. AA women were significantly heavier than EA women, but MA women did not differ materially from either grouping. Regardless of ethnic descent, all reported congruence between real and ideal body size. In addition no differences were found in self-esteem. This new comparative study calls into question variations previously attributed to race or ethnicity. It also provides a view of middle-class women missing from recent research. Based on the outcomes of our research, we suggest that socioeconomic differences could be more important than ethnic background. Health educators and providers may find these data helpful when designing prevention and intervention strategies for middle-class women regardless of their ethnic origin.