Abstract
BackgroundThe ecological perspective holds that human behavior depends on the interaction of different environmental factors and personal characteristics, but it lacks validation and operationalization. In the current paper, an ecological view was adopted to examine the interactive impact of several ecological systems on children’s dietary intake and physical activity at childcare or similar facilities. The ecological view was operationalized into three types of interaction: 1) interaction between types of childcare environment (physical, social, political, economic); 2) interaction between micro-systems (the childcare and home environment) in meso-systems; and 3) interaction between childcare environment and child characteristics. The predictive value of each of these interactions was tested based on a systematic review of the literature.DiscussionSeveral studies support the hypothesis that the influence of the childcare environment on children’s physical activity and diet is moderated by child characteristics (age, gender), but interaction between environmental types as well as between micro-systems is hardly examined in the field of behavioral nutrition and physical activity. Qualitative studies and general child development research provide some valuable insights, but we advocate quantitative research adopting an ecological perspective on environmental influences.SummaryEmpirical studies operationalizing a true ecological view on diet and physical activity are scarce. Theorizing and assessment of interaction is advocated to become common practice rather than an exception in behavioral nutrition and physical activity research, in order to move the field forward.
Highlights
The ecological perspective holds that human behavior depends on the interaction of different environmental factors and personal characteristics, but it lacks validation and operationalization
In an attempt to further contribute to the debate on the usefulness of theories in the field of energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs), the current paper aims to operationalize and validate a true ecological perspective
Summary and conclusion The current paper examined the validity of the ecological view of environmental influences on human behavior, for EBRBs in the childcare setting [6,7]
Summary
The ecological perspective holds that human behavior depends on the interaction of different environmental factors and personal characteristics, but it lacks validation and operationalization. Brug et al [1] stated that ‘what we really need are not studies that highlight the importance of individual factors, social factors or physical environmental factors in shaping nutrition and PA behaviors. One of the propositions of this chaotic view is that the elements of a complex system interact in a nonlinear fashion in explaining behavior [3]. The implications of this view for health promotion practice are, considered limited [4], perhaps because the view is difficult to operationalize in determinants studies and interventions
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