Family functioning and quality of parent-adolescent relationship: cross-sectional associations with adolescent weight-related behaviors and weight status

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known about how factors within the general family environment are associated with weight and related behaviors among adolescents/young adults.MethodsWe studied 3768 females and 2614 males, 14–24 years old in 2011, participating in the Growing Up Today Study 2. We used generalized mixed models to examine cross-sectional associations of family functioning and quality of mother- and father-adolescent relationship with adolescent/young adult weight status, disordered eating, intake of fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages, screen time, physical activity, and sleep duration. In all models, we included participant’s age and family structure.ResultsEighty percent of participants reported high family functioning and 60 % and 50 % of participants reported high-quality mother and father relationship, respectively. Among both males and females, high family functioning was associated with lower odds of disordered eating (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] females = 0.53; 95 % Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.45–0.63; AOR males = 0.48; CI = 0.39–0.60), insufficient physical activity, i.e., less than 1 h/day, (AOR females = 0.74; CI = 0.61–0.89; AOR males = 0.73; CI = 0.58–0.92), and insufficient sleep, i.e., less than 7 h/day, (AOR females = 0.56; CI = 0.45–0.68; AOR males = 0.65; CI 0.5–0.85). High family functioning was also associated with lower odds of being overweight/obese (AOR = 0.73; CI = 0.60–0.88) and eating fast food one or more times/week (AOR = 0.74; CI = 0.61–0.89) among females only. Among females, high-quality mother and father relationship were both associated with lower odds of being overweight/obese and disordered eating, eating fast food, and insufficient sleep and the magnitude of associations were similar for mother and father relationship quality (AOR range 0.61–0.84). Among males, high-quality mother and father relationship were both associated with lower odds of disordered eating, insufficient physical activity and insufficient sleep, but only father relationship quality was associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity.ConclusionsAdolescents/young adults reporting high family functioning and more positive relationships with their parents reported better weight-related behaviors. For weight status, females appear to be affected equally by the quality of their relationship with both parents, whereas males may be more affected by their relationship with fathers.

Unequal Distribution of Overweight Adolescents in Immigrant-Rich Areas: Analysis of Disparities among Public and Private School Students in Shanghai, China

“…It can be seen that parental care was both highly and positively associated with students’ maintain a healthy weight. This finding sustains Haines and colleagues’ argument (2016) that parents of students at different types of schools all paid great attention to their children’s growth and development [22]. …”

“…Parents’ education was classified into the following categories: (1) High school education or lower; (2) Associate degree; (3) Bachelor’s degree; (4) Master’s degree or above. Additionally, we included parents’ care for children with the question: “I am satisfied with the amount of time my parent and I spend together” [21,22], on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree).…”

Multicontextual correlates of adolescent sugar-sweetened beverage intake

“…For example, the parent-child relationship and social media use were not examined but may be important factors influencing SSB intake. [42,43] Finally, the cross-sectional nature of this study limits our understanding of the direction of relationships.…”

Youth weight status and family functioning in paediatric primary care

“…Zeller et al also assessed family functioning among adolescents in weight management and adolescents receiving bariatric surgery, where approximately 32% of families met criteria for impaired family functioning based on the clinical cutoff score. In population‐level data, adolescents with healthier family functioning, assessed by the FAD, had healthier diet and physical activity behaviours and weight status . Further, adolescent females with reports of higher family functioning had lower BMI z‐scores and rates of overweight/obesity, less sedentary behaviour, and consumed more fruits and vegetables .…”

“…Despite existing studies on family functioning, it is rarely assessed in paediatric primary care, and even less frequently in relation to the prevention and treatment of obesity in youth . Yet, the family emotional environment exerts great influence on both the development of youth obesity and how responsive the family is to treatment . To assess family functioning, previous researchers have utilized the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD) or the General Function Scale of the full measure, based on the McMaster Model of family functioning .…”