Abstract
BackgroundParental self-efficacy (PSE) has been suggested as a key factor for enabling parents to support children in the development of healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors and to prevent childhood obesity. However, studies of intervention effects on PSE are lacking. The present study involved a secondary analysis of data on PSE collected in a previous primary prevention trial of childhood obesity called the PRIMROSE trial. The trial involved a family-based intervention using motivational interviewing and principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy within a social-cognitive theory framework.MethodsIn the PRIMROSE trial, parents and their children were randomly allocated to the intervention or usual care. In the present study, 928 mothers who responded to the Parental Self-Efficacy for Promoting Healthy Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviors in Children Scale (PSEPAD) at follow-up assessment were included. Data were analyzed using linear regression based on generalized estimating equations, with adjustment made for PSE at baseline.ResultsAt follow-up assessment, there was a statistically significant difference of 1.4 units, 95% CI [0.4, 2.4], p = 0.009, between the intervention and control conditions on the subscale of the PSEPAD concerning PSE for promoting healthy dietary behaviors in children. However, this difference was deemed as without clinical importance. On the total scale or other subscales of the PSEPAD there were no statistically significant differences in PSE between conditions.ConclusionsThere was a statistically significant, but not clinically meaningful, intervention effect on PSE. However, because previous research repeatedly has shown positive associations of PSE with dietary and physical activity behaviors in children and that self-efficacy mediates behaviors, the construct may be important for influencing dietary and physical behaviors in children. Therefore, more research is warranted evaluating the effects of interventions on PSE in the context of childhood obesity prevention.Trial registrationRetrospectively registered 9 October 2013 at ISRCTN (ISRCTN16991919).
Highlights
Parental self-efficacy (PSE) has been suggested as a key factor for enabling parents to support children in the development of healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors and to prevent childhood obesity
At follow-up assessment, there was a statistically significant difference of 1.4 units, 95% CI [0.4, 2.4], p = 0.009 between intervention and control conditions on the subscale of the PSEPAD concerning PSE for promoting healthy dietary behaviors in children
The present study involved a secondary analysis of data of the PRIMROSE trial, a previous primary prevention trial of childhood obesity [13]
Summary
Parental self-efficacy (PSE) has been suggested as a key factor for enabling parents to support children in the development of healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors and to prevent childhood obesity. PSE is related to the general construct of self-efficacy, which is central to social-cognitive theory [4]. This theory argues that behavior is the result of a dynamic interplay between interpersonal, behavioral, and environmental factors. Cross-sectional research has shown repeatedly that PSE is positively associated with children’s healthy dietary and PA behaviors (e.g., [7,8,9,10]). Social-cognitive theory is the most common theoretical framework in family-based childhood obesity prevention interventions [12], studies of intervention effects on PSE are lacking
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