Parental Role Models Research Articles

Perceived barriers and facilitators for healthy behaviours among parents of adolescents receiving mental health care in a public hospital in Cape Town, South Africa: A qualitative study

Objective: To explore the perceived barriers and facilitators for healthy behaviours among parents and caregivers of adolescents receiving mental health care in Cape Town, South Africa.Method: Thirty-five qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with parents and caregivers of adolescents receiving mental health treatment by six facilitators matched for language. The data was analysed using thematic analysis.Results: The participants were predominantly female (n = 28, 80%) and parents (n = 29, 83%) of the adolescents. Personal barriers to good health included unhealthy eating, substance use and physical inactivity. Environmental barriers were inherited medical conditions, the easy availability of unhealthy foods and the absence of recreational facilities in communities. Perceived facilitators to good health were parental role modelling, planning and preparing healthy meals, exercise opportunities providing by walking long distances to work, and doing physically demanding jobs and household chores.Conclusion: Parents and caregivers are essential to adolescents’ healthy development as they may influence adolescent health behaviours. It is likely that the promotion of positive health behaviours may be achieved though family-based interventions.

School Dropout in Rural Uganda: Stakeholder Perceptions on Contributing Factors and Solutions

This theory-based qualitative study reports perceptions on the contributing factors of school dropouts, and recommendations for action and areas of capacity building to reduce the high rate of school dropouts in Uganda. The study which interviewed 101 adolescents, family and community members from rural Budondo sub-county (Jinja district), was based on constructs of the social cognitive theory and analyzed by thematic analysis using Atlas-ti (version7.5.4). Contributing factors include: poor academic performance, failure to cope with school, lack of social skills to cope with life’s challenges, early employment, early pregnancy, lack of parental care and role models, child-headed families, media influence, and drug abuse, poor payment of teachers, poverty among parents, child labor, long distances to school, family gardening, and lack of school/personal effects. Recommendations are: training students in social skills, involvement of national and local leaders in motivating learners, sensitization of parents and community, accessible sexual and reproductive health services, use of school counselors, involvement of the resident of Uganda in discouraging school dropouts, enforcement of laws, compulsory handcraft skills training for high school students in lower classes, increased school budgets and teachers’ salaries, income generation skills, job creation for parents, provision of school meals, co-curricular activities, accessible schools, and provision of free sanitary towels. Areas for capacity building are: use of school counselors and trained learner-leaders to motivate learners, training community leaders to handle challenges of learner, reform of school curriculum for vocational training, use of school gardens for skilling and school food, and training learners/teachers in making sanitary towels. Parental/community support to students, introduction of co-curricular and vocational skills in schools may help reduce school dropouts.

Parent and household influences on calcium intake among early adolescents

BackgroundCalcium intake during early adolescence falls short of requirements for maximum bone accretion. Parents and the home food environment potentially influence children’s calcium intakes. This study aimed to quantify parental psychosocial factors (PSF) predicting calcium intakes of Asian, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white (NHW) early adolescent children from a parental perspective.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study involving the administration of a validated calcium-specific food frequency questionnaire to a convenience sample of children aged 10–13 years and the primary individual responsible for food acquisition in the child’s household. Based on Social Cognitive Theory, parental factors potentially associated with children’s calcium intake were also assessed via parent questionnaires. The total study sample consisted of 633 parent-child pairs (Asian = 110, Hispanic = 239, NHW = 284). Questionnaires were completed at community-based centers/sites. Outcome measures were the association between parent-child calcium (mg), milk (cups/day), and soda (cans/day) intakes and the predictive value of significant parental PSF towards calcium intakes of their children. Sex-adjusted linear regression and multivariate analyses were performed.ResultsCalcium intakes of parent-child pairs were positively associated among all ethnic groups (r = 0.296; P < 0.001). Soda intakes were positively associated among Hispanic parent-child pairs only (r = 0.343; P < 0.001). Home availability of calcium-rich foods (CRF), parental rules and expectations for their child’s intake of beverages, and parents’ calcium intake/role modeling were positively associated with children’s calcium intake and overwhelmed all other PSF in multivariate analyses. Significant cultural differences were observed. Parental role modeling was a significant factor among Hispanic dyads only. Multivariate models explained 19–21% of the variance in children’s calcium intakes.ConclusionsNutrition interventions to improve children’s calcium intakes should focus on parents and provide guidance on improving home availability of CRF and increasing rules and expectations for the consumption of CRF. Among Hispanic families, interventions promoting parental modeling of desired dietary behaviors may be most successful.

Parental drinking in Australia: Does the age of children in the home matter?

Parental role modelling of alcohol use is known to influence alcohol consumption in adolescence and in later life. This study aimed to assess relationships between parental status, child age and alcohol consumption, which have not been well documented. Data were sourced from the 2013 Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey. Analyses were conducted for 25-55 year olds (n = 11 591) by parental status, gender and age of youngest child in the household, controlling for socio-demographic factors. Parents were less likely than non-parents to exceed the alcohol guideline for increased lifetime risk (18.2% vs. 24.2%) and short-term risk: at least weekly (14.2% vs. 21.2%); and at least monthly (27.5% vs. 35.9%). Fathers were just as likely to exceed the guidelines for lifetime risk as other men, but those with children aged 0-2, were less likely to exceed the guideline for short-term risk. Women were least likely to exceed the guideline for lifetime risk if they had children aged 0-2, 6-11 or 15 years and over, or the guideline for short-term risk, if they had children aged 0-2, or 15 years and over in the household. Parents were more likely to report drinking in the home. Parents were less likely to exceed alcohol guidelines than non-parents, especially mothers whose youngest child was an infant or in high school or older. Consistent with population rates in men, fathers were more likely to exceed alcohol guidelines than mothers, and this excess consumption warrants public health attention.

Links Between Family Poverty and the Financial Behaviors of Adolescents: Parental Roles

The financial behaviors of adolescents, especially those from economically disadvantaged families, is critical and has long-term effects. This study tested and compared two conceptual models that connect a family’s material hardship to adolescents’ financial behaviors by using a convenience sample of adolescents in Hong Kong. The main purpose of this study was to offer effective entry points for parents and family practitioners to implement interventions for improving the financial behaviors of adolescents, particularly those from economically disadvantaged families. The model of financial socialization demonstrates that material hardship was associated with financial behaviors through financial self-beliefs, direct parental instruction, and the adoption of parental financial role models. The model of general poverty links material hardship to financial behaviors through parental investment, parental stress, financial literacy, and financial self-beliefs. Of the two models, the model of parental financial socialization offers more effective entry points for family practitioners to implement interventions.

Nurturing and Transferring Entrepreneurship in Thai Business Families

This research aims (1) to investigate patterns and phenomena of entrepreneurship formation in Thai business families; (2) to investigate practices of parent (the founders/predecessors of the business family) in nurturing and transferring entrepreneurship to their family members (successors); and (3) to build a model for nurturing and transferring entrepreneurship in Thai business families. The Semi-structured interview was used for collecting data from key informants who are potential successors of Thai business families. Eighteen potential family business successors participated in the interview. The study revealed that entrepreneurship in the Thai business families has been emerged since childhood developmental stages. The key practices of the Thai business families used for creating family entrepreneurship are: (1) Parental role modeling; (2) Parental family business practices; and (3) Parental support. However, the study disclosed and indicated that the founder or predecessor should build the family infrastructure before implementing any key practices. In this regard, the intellectual and mental factors were found as key elements. According to the findings, to be effective, these two factors must be created simultaneously.

What matters most - what parents model or what parents eat?

PurposeParents have a strong influence on their children's eating habits; however, researchers struggle to identify which food parenting practices to recommend. This study examined the influence of parents modeling of healthy eating (“parent role modeling”) and parents' actual food intake (“parent dietary intake”) on child diet quality, and explored whether these practices work together to influence children's diets. MethodsBaseline data from a larger intervention trial were used for this analysis. The sample included parents of preschool-age children from households with at least one overweight parent. The Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire was used to assess parent modeling of healthy eating (“healthy modeling”). Three days of dietary recalls were used to collect parents' report of their own intake and their children's intake (excluding food at child care). Associations between parent healthy modeling and parent intake of healthy and unhealthy foods were explored using Pearson correlations. Associations between parent healthy modeling and parent Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score on child HEI score were examined with linear regression. Additionally, the interaction between parent healthy modeling and HEI score on child HEI score was tested. ResultsParent healthy modeling was significantly correlated with parent intake of healthy foodsLinear regression showed a significant association between parent modeling and child HEI score, even after controlling for parent diet (β = 3.08, SE = 0.87, p < 0.001). Children whose parents had high parent healthy modeling scores had higher HEI scores (mean = 61.5 ± 10.4) regardless of parent HEI score. We did not find evidence that parent healthy modeling and diet quality interact to influence child diet quality. ConclusionsParents' healthy modeling is an important practice in influencing children's diet quality, possibly more so than the quality of parents' diets.

Gender Gaps in Math Performance, Perceived Mathematical Ability and College STEM Education: The Role of Parental Occupation

Employment opportunities in occupations related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, the so-called STEM fields, are predicted to continue growing through time. In addition, STEM occupations also enjoy higher wages on average. Despite these advantages, women remain under-represented in STEM college degree completion and occupations. Encouraging women into the STEM fields has become an important policy concern. We use longitudinal data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to study gender differences in math achievement and self-perceived math ability and how they may differ by parental occupation type, specifically science related versus non-science related parental occupations. We then study their role on subsequent decision of majoring in a science field in college. Our results corroborate significant gender differences in math test scores and perceived math ability during childhood. Having a parent working in a science related field is associated with a better performance in math but not necessarily higher levels of perceived math ability, given math performance. All three factors, math achievement, perceived math ability, and parental occupation in a science field, are found to be significant predictors of the probability of majoring in science in college. However, estimated effects of higher levels of math achievement are about double for boys than for girls. Estimates of perceived math ability are also slightly larger for boys. In contrast, most of the observed positive effects of having a parent in a science related occupation seem to be concentrated among females. These results suggest a loss in STEM enrollment by otherwise qualified young women and the potential importance that parental role modeling effects or specific human capital parental investments by parents in science occupations could have for encouraging women to major in science fields.

Childhood Obesity: How Engaging Parents of Children with Elevated Body Mass Index in Positive Dietary and Lifestyle Education in Pediatric Primary Care Improved Parental Role Modeling Practices within the Home

The purpose of the quality improvement (QI) project was to provide parents nutritional education of recommended feeding practices as a means of encouraging parents to incorporate healthy parental role modeling behavior at home and reduce pediatric body mass index (BMI). The plan-do-study-act was the chosen methodology applied to initiate a practice change within the current treatment of childhood obesity in the outpatient pediatric setting [1, 2]. There was a total of 9 parent/child dyad participants who completed the study. The inclusionary criteria for the study was the child was 2-5 years old, with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 85% according to the pediatric growth curve with accompanied parents/ guardians that was able to give consent. The study demonstrated that there was a statistically significant difference in the pre-survey scores (M=19.00, SD=5.39) and the post-survey scores (M=16.44, SD=3.32); t (8) =2.34, p =.048; clarifying that lower/decreased survey scores demonstrated an improvement in parental knowledge. There was not a significant difference be- tween the pre-educational BMI (M=18.27, SD=.75) and the post-educational BMI (M=18.39, SD=1.16) of study participants; t (8) =-.35, p=.734. This study used the Parental Role Model Assessment tool to compare the pre-interventional parental role modeling scores to the post-interventional role modeling scores within the pediatric home. The quality improvement (QI) team determined that the post interventional Parental Role Model Assessment scores decreased which suggested that the educational intervention delivered by the pediatric provider on positive parental role modeling was retained and modeled by the parents within the pediatric home over a 3 month period. The team concludes that enhancing standards of practice within the pediatric primary care setting to allow for improving parental nutritional/ lifestyle knowledge deficits and providing education to strengthen positive parental role modeling will act to enhance quality-health outcomes within the pediatric obese/overweight population.

Associations between parental support for physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among Chinese school children: A cross-sectional study

PurposeThe objective of this study was to examine the associations between parental support for physical activity (PA) and levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among Chinese school children. MethodsStudy participants were 81,857 school-aged children (aged 9–17 years; mean age = 13 years; 49.0% boys) and their parents or guardians who took part in the 2016 Physical Activity and Fitness in China—The Youth Study project. The independent variables included various forms of parental support for PA ascertained through a survey completed by parents or guardians. The dependent variable was the children's average MVPA in minutes per day by self-report. Structure equation modeling was used to examine the associations between parental support for PA and children's MVPA minutes. ResultsThe overall mean for MVPA participation time for the child participants was 48.82 ± 28.71 min/day. Significant associations between various forms of parental support and MVPA among children were found. Parental encouragement, accompanying, financial support, involvement, and role modeling for PA were positively associated with a high level of student MVPA participation. Parental PA knowledge-sharing was not associated with MVPA. The patterns of the associations were similar across sex, residence locale (i.e., urban and rural), and school grades (primary, junior middle, and junior high schools). ConclusionFindings from this study suggest that, among Chinese school children, parental support for PA is important in promoting and facilitating children's participation in MVPA.

Are the Intentions to Entrepreneurship of Men and Women Shaped Differently? The Impact of Entrepreneurial Role-Model Exposure and Entrepreneurship Education

AbstractHow the exposure to role models and entrepreneurship education shape perceptions and attitudes toward entrepreneurship differently in men and women is analyzed in the context of Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior. To this end, structural equation modeling is applied to data from a sample of 338 final-year undergraduates. The results show that external factors seem to be more critical in the case of women to generate entrepreneurial behavior. In particular, exposure to parental role models has a significantly more favorable influence on attitude toward entrepreneurship in women than men, and exposure to entrepreneurship education has a greater effect over their perceived entrepreneurial behavior control in women than in men.

The mediating role of the home environment in relation to parental educational level and preschool children\u2019s screen time: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundPrevious studies suggest that preschoolers from low socioeconomic backgrounds engage in more screen time. Still, the factors in the social and physical home environment driving these differences in preschool children’s screen time are poorly understood. This study examines potential home environment mediators in the associations between parental educational level and preschoolers’ screen time.MethodsA total of 864 children aged 3–6 years and their parents participated in a cross-sectional DAGIS study in 2015–2016. Parents recorded their children’s screen time in a diary (N = 823). For the analyses, the daily average screen time at home was calculated. Parental questionnaires (N = 808) assessed educational level and eight social and physical environment factors in the home (i.e., descriptive norm for children’s screen time, parental screen use in front of children, parental importance for limiting children’s screen time, parental attitude toward societal pressures for children’s screen time, access to screens at home, parental self-efficacy for limiting children’s screen time, satisfaction of children’s screen time, and rules for limiting children’s screen time). Parental education was grouped into low, middle, and high education. The associations were tested by conducting mediation analyses adjusted by season and children’s sex and age. The significant mediators in the single-mediator models were included in the final multiple-mediator models.ResultsOf the potential eight mediators, the following four had a significant indirect association: descriptive norm for children’s screen time, parental screen use in front of children, parental importance for limiting children’s screen time, and parental attitude toward societal pressures for children’s screen time. Parents with high education had lower descriptive norm and used fewer screens in front of children compared to parents with middle or low education, and in turn, these factors were associated with less screen time among children from parents with a higher education level. Parents with high education placed greater importance on limiting children’s screen time and felt less societal pressures about children’s screen time compared to parents with low education, and in turn, these factors were associated with less screen time among children from parents with a higher education level.ConclusionsOur study recognized multiple modifiable mediators in the associations between parental education and preschool children’s screen time. When aiming to diminish socioeconomic status differences in preschool children’s screen time, the focus should be on parental role models, attitudes, and norm related to children’s screen time.

Exposure to External Role Models as a Determinant of Entrepreneurial Culture in Southern Nigeria

Research shows that providing role models could aid in the promotion of positive attitudes towards entrepreneurship. However, while a lot of emphasis has been on parental role models, limited research has focused on the influence of other forms of role models on individuals entrepreneurial decisions with paucity of data on the influence of subjective experience of role models in influencing individuals towards entrepreneurship. Studies have suggested that more than parental influences need to be considered in future research. It is in this regard that this paper investigates the influence of external role models in determining the development of Entrepreneurial Culture in Southern Nigeria. Using a descriptive study, 197 respondents who experienced the use of external role models were examined and findings reveal that the use of external role models other than parental role models does aid in nurturing entrepreneurial culture. The findings contribute new knowledge to the entrepreneurship literature in terms of the use of external role models other than parental role models in stimulating business startups.

Time2bHealthy – An online childhood obesity prevention program for preschool-aged children: A randomised controlled trial protocol

BackgroundThe use of parent-focused internet-based programs for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity has shown promise but there is an acknowledged gap in parent-focused interventions which target the early childhood stage. MethodsThe aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of Time2bHealthy - an online healthy lifestyle program for parents of preschool-aged children. The program will be evaluated using a two-arm, parallel, randomised controlled design. The 11-week program is underpinned by Social Cognitive Theory and consists of interactive modules on healthy eating, physical activity, screen-time and sleep. The intervention also involves elements of social media, where participants share discuss ideas and experiences and they can interact and obtain information with experts. Time2bHealthy is being compared to a comparison condition. Outcomes include change in BMI (primary outcome), dietary intake, physical activity, sleep, child feeding, parental role-modelling and parent self-efficacy. Process evaluation data, such as adherence and engagement with the online forums, will also be collected. DiscussionTime2bHealthy is the first randomised controlled trial to our knowledge to assess the efficacy of an online parent-focussed healthy lifestyle program for preschool-aged children in changing body mass index. Early childhood is a crucial time for establishing healthy lifestyle behaviours and parents play an important role. This study therefore fills an important gap in the literature. If found to be efficacious, Time2bHealthy has potential for broad-reach access and translation into primary health care services. Trial RegistrationThe study is registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (12616000119493).

Factors impacting levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior among young children: A literature review

By reviewing current research, this study aimed to identify the features of effective intervention using a socio-ecological model to improve physical activity (PA) and reduce sedentary behavior (SB) in young children. The databases used for the study were PubMed and Medline, and the effectiveness of the study was assessed based on the levels of PA and SB determinants in the socio-ecological model (i.e., individual, family, social, and environmental factors). Among the studies conducted on children aged six or younger, and published within the last decade, 67 met our criteria. Some individual (gender, body mass index [BMI], age), family and home (parental role modeling, parents' BMI, parents' education), social (socioeconomic status), and built environment (rural/urban, weekday/weekend) variables were found to have an impact on both PA and SB. Results call for further research in non-Western countries as well as for improvement of PA and reduction of SB in young children. Furthermore, additional studies are needed to examine effective, socio-ecological model-based interventions for PA and SB in young children.

Parenting Practices and Children's Physical Activity: An Integrative Review.

The purpose of this integrative review was to analyze the state of science concerning the influence of parenting practices on children's physical activity (PA) levels. A total of 38 studies met the inclusion criteria after full-text review. The body of research is limited in experimental designs with only three studies measuring the influence of the intervention on parenting practices. Seven of the 30 quantitative studies (23.3%) found significant associations between parental role modeling of PA and children's PA levels. Seven of the eight (87.5%) qualitative studies identified parental role modeling of PA as important in promoting children's PA. Sixteen of the 30 (53.3%) quantitative studies found that parental support of PA was significantly associated with children's PA. Five of the eight (62.5%) qualitative studies identified logistic support as supporting PA in children. The science could be expanded by the development of randomized controlled trials aimed at this area.

Fathers' perspectives on the diets and physical activity behaviours of their young children.

BackgroundChildren’s learning about food and physical activity is considerable during their formative years, with parental influence pivotal. Research has focused predominantly on maternal influences with little known about the relationships between fathers’ and young children’s dietary and physical activity behaviours. A greater understanding of paternal beliefs regarding young children’s dietary and physical activity behaviours is important to inform the design and delivery of child-focussed health promotion interventions. This study aimed to describe fathers’ perceived roles in their children’s eating and physical activity behaviours. It also sought to document fathers’ views regarding how they could be best supported to promote healthy eating and physical activity behaviours in their young children.MethodsIn depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty fathers living in socio-economically diverse areas of metropolitan Melbourne, Australia who had at least one child aged five years or less. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.ResultsThematic analysis of the transcripts revealed eight broad themes about fathers’ beliefs, perceptions and attitudes towards the dietary and physical activity behaviours of their young children: (i) shared responsibility and consultation; (ii) family meal environment; (iii) parental role modelling; (iv) parental concerns around food; (v) food rewards; (vi) health education; (vii) limiting screen time; and (viii) parental knowledge. Analysis of themes according to paternal education/employment revealed no substantial differences in the views of fathers.ConclusionsThis exploratory study presents the views of a socio-economically diverse group of fathers regarding the dietary and physical activity behaviours of their young children and the insights into the underlying perceptions informing these views. The findings suggest that fathers believe healthy eating behaviours and being physically active are important for their young children. Fathers believe these behaviours can be promoted and supported in different ways including through the provision of appropriate meal and physical activity environments and parental role modelling of desired dietary and physical activity behaviours.

A Study on Fair Parental Role Model and Parental Satisfaction of Multicultural Couples and Korean Couples

A Study on Fair Parental Role Model and Parental Satisfaction of Multicultural Couples and Korean Couples

DietaryPatternsofEuropeanChildrenandTheir ParentsinAssociationwithFamilyFood Environment:ResultsfromtheI.FamilyStudy.

The aim of this study was to determine whether an association exists between children’s and parental dietary patterns (DP), and whether the number of shared meals or soft drink availability during meals strengthens this association. In 2013/2014 the I.Family study cross-sectionally assessed the dietary intakes of families from eight European countries using 24-h dietary recalls. Usual energy and food intakes from six- to 16-year-old children and their parents were estimated based on the NCI Method. A total of 1662 child–mother and 789 child–father dyads were included; DP were derived using cluster analysis. We investigated the association between children’s and parental DP and whether the number of shared meals or soft drink availability moderated this association using mixed effects logistic regression models. Three DP comparable in children and parents were obtained: Sweet & Fat, Refined Cereals, and Animal Products. Children were more likely to be allocated to the Sweet & Fat DP when their fathers were allocated to the Sweet & Fat DP and when they shared at least one meal per day (OR 3.18; 95% CI 1.84; 5.47). Being allocated to the Sweet & Fat DP increased when the mother or the father was allocated to the Sweet & Fat DP and when soft drinks were available (OR 2.78; 95% CI 1.80; 4.28 or OR 4.26; 95% CI 2.16; 8.41, respectively). Availability of soft drinks and negative parental role modeling are important predictors of children’s dietary patterns.

Relationship between the home environment and fruit and vegetable consumption in children aged 6-12 years: a systematic review.

As numerous factors in the home environment have been related to children's fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption as a component of a healthy diet, the purpose of the present systematic review was to examine these factors specifically for children aged 6-12 years. Relevant observational studies published in English between January 2007 and December 2015 were obtained through electronic database searches. Studies were included if the researchers reported on a potentially modifiable measure of the home physical, political and sociocultural environment related to child F&V consumption. Of the thirty-three articles reviewed, overall methodological quality was poor with twenty studies rated as weak, mainly due to cross-sectional design (majority of studies), selection bias, convenience sampling and voluntary participation. Half of the studies had strong-moderate ratings for using valid and/or reliable tools while for the other half, psychometric properties were either not reported or weak. The most consistent evidence for children's combined F&V consumption was found for availability and accessibility of F&V, parental role modelling of F&V and maternal intake of F&V. A vast array of home environment components and their influence on children's consumption of fruits and/or vegetables have been studied in recent years. Specific components of the home environment may have more influence than others, but more compelling evidence is needed to draw strong conclusions. Recommendations are made for future studies to be based upon conceptual/theoretical models to provide consistency in defining the home environment and investigation of potential moderators, such as personal or contextual factors.