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Education Level Influences Weight‐Related Cognitions and Behaviors of Parents with Preschoolers
Author(s) -
Eck Kaitlyn,
Quick Virginia,
MartinBiggers Jennifer,
Delaney Colleen,
ByrdBredbenner Carol
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.642.3
Subject(s) - calorie , bachelor , nutrition education , psychology , medicine , demography , health education , obesity , gerontology , public health , nursing , archaeology , sociology , endocrinology , history
Education level has been linked to weight‐related health outcomes where those of lower education often have greater weight‐related health risks. This study examined the effects of parents' education level on weight‐related cognitions and behaviors. Parents of preschoolers (N=655) completed an online survey assessing weight‐related cognitions and behaviors. Participants were 32.6±5.7SD years, mostly white (60%), and had varying education levels (i.e., Low [high school or less (n=95)]; Middle [some post‐secondary education (n=245)]; High [bachelor's degree or higher (n=315)]). ANOVA and post‐hoc tests revealed that low‐education and middle‐education level parents had significantly (p<0.05) higher BMIs than high‐education level parents (30.22±7.33SD, 29.88±7.58SD vs. 26.44±6.15SD), and their children had significantly higher BMI‐for‐age z‐scores (1.48±2.30SD low‐education vs. 0.53±1.42SD high‐education). High‐education parents had significantly greater household food security (F=25.6, p<0.001), ate healthier diets (i.e., lower percent calories from fat [36.17±6.20SD vs. 38.39±6.94SD; 37.45±5.71SD], fewer calories from sugar‐sweetened beverages/day [77.7±104.3SD vs. 151.7±148.2SD; 113.44±115.88SD]), and likely modeled healthy dietary behaviors as their children also consumed significantly fewer calories from sugar‐sweetened beverages/day (27.7±45.1SD vs. 48±50.5SD; 44.37±50.46SD) than both low‐education and mid‐education parents. High‐education parents also were significantly more likely to plan family meals compared to low‐education parents; however, low‐education and mid‐education parents were more willing to invest time, energy, and effort in preparing family meals than high‐education parents. Low‐education and mid‐education parents were significantly more likely to overtly control their child's food intake and timing of when they ate, and low‐education parents allowed more child screentime minutes/day (660±939SD vs. 427±758SD) than high‐education parents. Findings indicate important differences in weight‐related cognitions and behaviors suggesting childhood obesity prevention outreach interventions need to consider weight‐related practices may differ by parent education level and tailor interventions based on education level. Support or Funding Information USDA NIFA #2011‐68001‐30170