Oregon Parents’ Perceptions of the Supportiveness of the School Environment for Their Children's Health Behaviors

Abstract

ObjectiveTo describe Oregon parents’ perceptions of their children's school regarding health behaviors; examine how perceptions vary by parent, child, and community characteristics; and identify recommendations for improving school environments. MethodsOregon parents with an elementary school–aged child completed an electronic survey. ResultsOver 90% of parents (n = 814) described their child's school as supportive of healthy eating and physical activity. Parents who ate ≥5 fruits/vegetables per day more often perceived their children's school as unsupportive of healthy eating (P < 0.001) and physical activity (P < 0.05) relative to others. Parents of children eligible for free/reduced-price lunch more often perceived the school as unsupportive of physical activity (P < 0.05) relative to others. Parental recommendations included improving school meals and providing short physical activity breaks. Conclusions and ImplicationsParents’ suggested school improvements can inform school wellness committees’ and administrators’ quality-improvement efforts and, in turn, better support children's healthy behaviors.