Effects of Parenting Style and Parent-Related Weight and Diet on Adolescent Weight Status

Abstract

Objective This study examined the interaction between parental limit setting of sedentary behaviors and health factors (weight status, physical activity [PA], fruit and vegetable [FV] intake) on standardized body mass index (zBMI) in African American adolescents. Methods Data were from 67 parent-adolescent dyads. Parental limit setting, PA and FV intake were assessed via self-report, and objective height and weight measurements were collected. Results Regressions examined the interaction between parental limit setting and BMI, PA, FV intake on adolescent zBMI. The model for parent BMI and FV intake accounted for 31% of the variance in adolescent zBMI. A significant interaction for parent BMI by limit setting showed that as parental BMI increased, higher (vs. lower) limit setting was associated with lower adolescent zBMI. Higher parent FV consumption was associated with lower adolescent zBMI. Conclusion Future interventions should integrate parent limit setting and target parent fruit and vegetable intake for obesity prevention in underserved adolescents.

Associations of social and environmental supports with sedentary behavior, light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in obese underserved adolescents

“…At the environmental level, key factors in understanding youth MVPA have included home and neighborhood characteristics such availability of resources, safety, and neighborhood social support [12,13]. However, this study expands on previous research by hypothesizing that parenting variables including parent support [14], monitoring and limit-setting [15-17], and parental nurturance [18] will be important determinants of SB and PA in youth beyond environmental factors.…”

Feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes From a Pilot Study of an Integrated Health-Mental Health Promotion Program in School Mental Health Services

“…The observed relationships in self-efficacy across the physical health and mental health domains are consistent with recent reviews that suggest self-efficacy as a link between physical and mental health outcomes as it might generalize across domains. 54 Demonstrating improvements in adolescents’ fruit and vegetable servings consumption and mental health difficul-ties over the course of the program is also notable, as the goal of the integrated promotion program is to improve both physical health and mental health for youth. Simultaneously, addressing youth's complex health needs and seeing progress in multiple domains of health can help alleviate not only negative social and emotional consequences that youth with mental health difficulties often face but address their increased risk for obesity.…”

“…14,52,53 Moreover, the role of self-efficacy in mediating connections between health behavior and mental health, such as depression, has been shown in recent studies addressing multiple health outcomes. 54-56 Thus, evidence suggests that essential elements for an integrated health-mental health promotion program for adolescents include a family-focused approach that supports adolescent skill-building for self-regulation and self-efficacy to change obesity-related health behavior and improve mental health.…”

The Associations of Parenting Factors with Adolescent Body Mass Index in an Underserved Population

“…This research project was undertaken as part of two studies examining family health (see [25–27] for related studies) with the goal of obtaining a sample with variation in adolescent weight status and sex, as well as ethnic minorities given the increased risk observed among underserved populations for obesity. Families were recruited from two small southeastern communities in South Carolina through community partners, radio, and newspaper advertisements.…”