EFFECTS OF PARENTING BEHAVIOURS ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF TODDLERS WITH CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

Abstract

Aim To evaluate the effects of parenting behaviours on physical activity of toddlers after total repair of septal heart defects.Methods 80 patients who underwent total repair of CHD in the infancy were recruited in the study. The mean age at the interviewing and medical examination was 33.5±4.28 months (boys – 32 (46.0%), girls – 48 (60.0%). The functional status of the cardiovascular system was estimated using the exercise stress testing (10 squats per 20 seconds). Parenting behaviours were evaluated using the Varga-Stolin questionnaire.Results Adverse response to the exercise stress testing prevailed among toddlers with CHD. Recovery time did not exceed 5 minutes in both groups. None complaints in the study and control groups were recorded. Most parents of children with CHD followed authoritarian hypersocialization pattern (p = 0.046) demanding unconditional obedience and discipline as compared to parents of healthy children. More than a third of the families in the study group (38.1%) followed this behavior pattern and only six families in the control group (14.8%). Five families (18%) in the control group followed democratic behavior pattern given independence to their children. Physically inactive toddlers were more commonly found in the families with authoritarian behavior pattern.Conclusion Authoritarian hypersocialization pattern prevailed among parents of toddlers who suffered from septal heart defects. This type of parenting behaviour affected physical activity of toddlers.