Parental feeding practices in Mexican American families: initial test of an expanded measure

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough obesity rates are high among Latino children, relatively few studies of parental feeding practices have examined Latino families as a separate group. Culturally-based approaches to measurement development can begin to identify parental feeding practices in specific cultural groups. This study used qualitative and quantitative methods to develop and test the Parental Feeding Practices (PFP) Questionnaire for use with Mexican American parents. Items reflected both parent’s use of control over child eating and child-centered feeding practices.MethodsIn the qualitative phase of the research, 35 Latino parents participated in focus groups. Items for the PFP were developed from focus group discussions, as well as adapted from existing parent feeding practice measures. Cognitive interviews were conducted with 37 adults to evaluate items. In the quantitative phase, mothers and fathers of 174 Mexican American children ages 8–10 completed the PFP and provided demographic information. Anthropometric measures were obtained on family members.ResultsConfirmatory factor analyses identified four parental feeding practice dimensions: positive involvement in child eating, pressure to eat, use of food to control behavior, and restriction of amount of food. Factorial invariance modeling suggested equivalent factor meaning and item response scaling across mothers and fathers. Mothers and fathers differed somewhat in their use of feeding practices. All four feeding practices were related to child body mass index (BMI) percentiles, for one or both parents. Mothers reporting more positive involvement had children with lower BMI percentiles. Parents using more pressure to eat had children with lower BMI percentiles, while parents using more restriction had children with higher BMI percentiles. Fathers using food to control behavior had children with lower BMI percentiles.ConclusionsResults indicate good initial validity and reliability for the PFP. It can be used to increase understanding of parental feeding practices, children’s eating, and obesity among Mexican Americans, a population at high risk of obesity.

Effects of children's self-regulation of eating on parental feeding practices and child weight

“…Further qualitative research into different racial/ethnic groups' conceptualizations of controlling feeding practices (e.g., Rodríguez-Oliveros et al, 2011) and further modification of existing self-report measures or development of culturally sensitive questionnaires (e.g., Tschann et al, 2013) may be necessary to account for racial/ethnic differences.…”

The development of the parental feeding behaviours questionnaire for Indonesian parents with toddlers: preliminary result

“…4 In terms of nutrition intake, parental feeding behavior plays an important role in creating children's eating experiences and how it would link to children's eating behavior and nutritional status. [5][6][7][8][9][10] Inappropriate parents' feeding behaviors will lead not only to underweight but also to overweight problems. [6][7][8]10 Additionally, children whose parents have poor feeding practice are likely more prone to some health problems.…”

“…[5][6][7][8][9][10] Inappropriate parents' feeding behaviors will lead not only to underweight but also to overweight problems. [6][7][8]10 Additionally, children whose parents have poor feeding practice are likely more prone to some health problems. [11][12][13] Parental feeding behaviors, which are the activities of parents in maintaining adequate food intake for their toddlers, involve more than just feeding activities.…”

The effects of parental feeding styles, children’s self-efficacy and social anxiety on adolescent obesity

“…This allows their children to make healthy food choices and reinforce their good eating habits. Children who follow their inner signals learn to eat properly according to their feelings of their hunger or fullness and can be said to have developed nutritional self-efficacy [17,18]. Studies of the relationship between obesity and self-efficacy have shown that people with higher levels of self-efficacy consume healthier foods [19,20], indicating a negative correlation between obesity and self-efficacy.…”