Parent-child Relationships in the Context of the Childhood Obesity Epidemic in Rural America
Parent-child Relationships in the Context of the Childhood Obesity Epidemic in Rural America By:Erin Hennessy Published on 2013 by The dynamics of the parent-child relationship are complex and few studies have examined parental behaviors and children's obesity-related behaviors in ethnically and socio-economically diverse populations. This study investigated the association among parenting style, feeding style, and parenting practices (feeding and activity-related); evaluated their relationship with child diet, physical activity, and weight status; and determined whether style moderated the parent practice-child outcome relationship. In the spring of 2007, we collected cross-sectional data from 99 parent-child dyads (29% White, 49% Black, and 22% Hispanic) living in four poor rural areas of the US (Mississippi River Delta, Southeast, Appalachia, and Central Valley). Parents self- reported their parenting behaviors. Height and weight were measured for each dyad. Child diet was captu...