Adolescent-Reported Latino Fathers' Food Parenting Practices and Family Meal Frequency Are Associated with Better Adolescent Dietary Intake.

Aysegul Baltaci,Melissa N Laska,Ghaffar Ali Hurtado,Nicole Larson,Marla Reicks,Alejandro Omar Reyes Peralta,Silvia Alvarez De Davila

doi:10.3390/ijerph18158226

Abstract

Most studies of food-related parenting practices, parental meal involvement, and adolescent dietary intake have focused on maternal influences; studies of paternal influences, particularly among marginalized groups, are lacking. This study examined lower-income, Latino fathers’ food parenting practices and involvement in planning meals, buying/preparing foods, and family meal frequency, separately and in combination, to identify relationships with adolescent food intake. Baseline data were used from Latino adolescents (10–14 years, n = 191, 49% boys) participating with their fathers in a community-based overweight/obesity prevention intervention. Fathers reported sociodemographic characteristics. Adolescents reported frequency of fathers’ food parenting practices, fathers’ food/meal involvement, and family meals and participated in 24 h dietary recalls. The analysis included regression models using GLM (generalized linear mixed model) and PLM (post GLM processing) procedures. Most fathers were married, employed full-time, and had annual incomes below USD 50,000. Favorable fathers’ food parenting practices were associated with adolescent intake of more fruit and vegetables and fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets/salty snacks, and less fast food (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). No independent effects of family meal frequency or fathers’ food/meal involvement were observed on adolescent dietary outcomes. Additional analyses showed favorable food parenting practices in combination with frequent family meals were associated with adolescents having a higher intake of fruit (p = 0.011). Latino fathers can have an important positive influence on adolescent dietary intake.

Highlights

Latino family strengths that can positively influence health outcomes include protective cultural values and beliefs, such as familism [1,2]
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that separately or in combination, favorable Latino fathers’ food parenting practices, fathers’ food/meal involvement, and frequent family meals are associated with greater adolescent consumption of fruit and vegetables and lower consumption of sweets/salty snacks, sugary drinks, and fast food
The current findings showed that adolescent fast food intake was lower when adolescents perceived that their fathers set limits for fast food intake for them

Summary

Introduction

Latino family strengths that can positively influence health outcomes include protective cultural values and beliefs, such as familism [1,2]. Familism is the core belief in the centrality of the family, which underlies the concepts of family connectedness, family involvement, and support [3]. Other protective factors are community and social support, including resources that address food security and healthy eating. Protective family strengths can contribute to strong relationships between parents and children, supporting positive parental involvement in adolescent food choices. Studies have generally shown that poor eating habits were associated with excess weight gain and obesity among children and adolescents [4,5]. Mexican-American and other Hispanic children had lower fruit and vegetable intakes [6,7,8], and higher sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) [9], sweets/salty snacks [10], and fast food [11]

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