Moderating effects of demographic characteristics on the relationship between parenting practices and energy balance related behaviors of Chinese preschoolers
2024

Parenting Practices and Preschoolers' Energy Balance Behaviors

Sample size: 206 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Peng Zhou, Lau Patrick Wing-chung, Wen Li Ming

Primary Institution: Hong Kong Baptist University

Hypothesis

The relationship between parenting practices and preschoolers’ energy balance related behaviors (EBRBs) would be moderated by demographic characteristics.

Conclusion

The study found that the relationship between parenting practices and preschoolers’ EBRBs varied across different groups of children, particularly influenced by parental marital status and preschoolers' age.

Supporting Evidence

  • Married parents exhibited positive outcomes in the relationship between parenting practices and preschoolers’ EBRBs.
  • Divorced parents showed unfavorable results in this relationship.
  • The association between parents’ and preschoolers’ BMI varied depending on parents’ socioeconomic status.
  • The preschoolers’ age moderated the relationship between parents’ PA and preschoolers’ sedentary behaviors.

Takeaway

Parents can help their preschoolers be healthier by being active and setting good eating habits, but how well this works can depend on things like whether the parents are married or how old the kids are.

Methodology

The study used a baseline dataset from an electronic health intervention study, involving objective measurements of preschoolers' physical activity and sleep, along with parent-reported questionnaires.

Potential Biases

Potential report bias due to reliance on parent-reported questionnaires.

Limitations

The study relied on parent-reported data, which may introduce bias, and had an unequal distribution of preschoolers' age and gender.

Participant Demographics

{"preschoolers":{"gender":{"girl":101,"boy":136},"age":{"3":31,"4":78,"5":128},"weight_status":{"under_normal_weight":191,"overweight_obesity":46}},"parents":{"age":{"≤30":36,"31–35":120,"36–40":59,"≥41":22},"gender":{"mother":170,"father":66,"grandparent":1},"education_level":{"primary":16,"junior_high_school":3,"senior_high_school":30,"college":54,"bachelor":112,"master_or_above":22},"marital_status":{"married":226,"others":11}}}

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Confidence Interval

[0.184: 1.471]

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3389/fpubh.2024.1476733

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