Child and Parent Stress Association with Obesity and Media Use

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the association between child stress, parent stress, media use, and overweight and obesity in children in the United States ages 10-17 years. METHODS: 2011-12 National Survey of Children’s Health (n=33,683; 13.5 ± 0.03 years; 51.1% male) was analyzed. Predictor variables included Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and parenting stress (“usually “ or “ always” response to: 1) the child being harder to care for than most children; 2) does things that really bother parent a lot; 3) felt angry with child). Outcome variables included >1hr/day TV viewing, >1hr/day electronic device use, and classification of overweight and obesity based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention percentiles. RESULTS: 10.5% of parents reported one or more “usually” or “always” responses to the three questions. Mean (SE) ACEs was 1.1 ± 0.02 out of possible nine. 28.2% of children had at least 2 ACEs. Parenting stress was positively associated with ACEs score representing child stress (β=0.60, SE 0.07, p1hr/day TV in fully adjusted models. Child stress (OR=1.13, 95% CI 1.08, 1.19) and parenting stress (OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.02, 1.57) were associated with >1hr/day electronic device use. Parenting stress was not associated with overweight and obesity. Child stress was associated with overweight and obesity (OR=1.07, 95% CI 1.02, 1.13), even when adjusting for high media use. High TV viewing time was associated with higher odds of overweight and obesity (OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.11, 1.44), however high electronic device use was not (OR=1.06, 95% CI 0.93, 1.21). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings illuminate the role of stress on obesity and child coping behaviors. Child and parent stress were associated with high use of electronic devices, but not with high TV viewing. Only child stress was associated with overweight and obesity. High TV viewing time was associated with greater likelihood of overweight and obesity although high electronic device use was not.