The Maternal Factor: Associations Between Maternal Health Characteristics And Child And Family Health Habits.

Abstract

Childhood physical activity (PA) is important for adequate growth and development. Child PA is influenced by family health habits, such as encouragement and active involvement. Mothers are of central importance within the family unit, as their personal and supportive behaviors can alter the health-promoting home environment. To better understand the dynamics of family health behavior, maternal characteristics associated with child and family PA must be explored. PURPOSE: Determine associations between maternal health characteristics (anthropometrics and PA) with child and family health habits. METHODS: Mother-child dyads (children aged 5.0-7.9 years) were recruited. Mother and child height and weight were measured objectively and body mass index (BMI) was calculated (age- and sex-specific percentiles for children). Mothers completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form to evaluate maternal PA; MET hours PA/week were calculated. Child PA was measured using accelerometry-determined counts per minute. Mothers completed the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Questionnaire to evaluate family PA participation score, which was the sum of two survey items; higher scores indicate higher frequency of PA practices including family encouragement and involvement. The association between maternal PA and BMI with child PA and family PA participation was assessed using linear regression, and adjusted for maternal age, child hours away from home, household income, and child BMI percentile. RESULTS: Fifty-two mother-child dyads participated. On average, mothers were 82.7% Caucasian, 67.3% employed full-time, 46.2% normal weight, and obtained 44.8±48.4 MET hours PA/week. Children averaged 1159.8±262.8 CPM and mothers reported average family PA participation score of 6.2±7.4 (max. score 8). Maternal BMI was not related to child or family outcomes (p>0.05). Maternal PA was associated with more frequent family PA participation score (p=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, maternal characteristics were related to beneficial family health habits, rather than individual child PA. Mothers may influence the collective behavior more so than individual behavior. Future research should seek to study the mechanisms driving association between maternal and family PA.