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Exploring Relationships Among Maternal BMI, Family Factors, and Concern for Child's Weight
Author(s) -
Payas Nydjie,
Budd Geraldine M.,
Polansky Marcia
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.331
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1744-6171
pISSN - 1073-6077
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6171.2010.00248.x
Subject(s) - body mass index , obesity , childhood obesity , psychological intervention , perception , developmental psychology , psychology , medicine , cross sectional study , association (psychology) , demography , gerontology , overweight , psychiatry , pathology , neuroscience , sociology , psychotherapist
PROBLEM: In an effort to better understand child obesity, this study examined the association between family living location, family function, mother's body mass index (BMI), and mothers' attitudes and behaviors concerning child feeding. Recent research on obesity has shown there is limited information on family influence and parental perceptions and attitudes. METHODS: A cross‐sectional analysis was performed on data from 47 mothers of school‐aged children. FINDINGS: Urban African‐American mothers had higher BMIs and were significantly more concerned about their child's weight status than rural white mothers. Additionally, maternal BMI was associated with the total number of individuals in the household. CONCLUSION: Results suggest the importance in understanding the family and community and its influence on childhood obesity. Armed with knowledge about family factors and parents' beliefs and perceptions, nurses can develop interventions that can assist families and communities to focus on healthy children feeding and weight management.