Influence of Parents' Parenting Efficacy on Health Promotion Behavior in Early Childhood

Jeong, Nam Ok

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of study was to identify the influence of parenting efficacy on health promotion behavior during early childhood and to provide baseline data for developing health promotion programs.
METHODS
This study was a cross-sectional survey research study. The participants were 202 parents of children in early childhood selected by convenience sampling. From October 1 to October 8, 2008 data were collected using structured and self-report questionnaires.
RESULTS
The mean score for parenting efficacy for these parents was 3.54, and health promotion behavior had a mean score of 3.21. The health promotion behavior was statistically different according to the child's health status, fathers' smoking habits, and mothers' eating habits. Parenting efficacy (17%) was the best predictor, followed by child's health status in early childhood (2%), and mothers' eating habits (1%) which together explained 20% of the variance in health promotion behavior during early childhood.
CONCLUSION
The findings indicate that parenting efficacy of parents is an important factor for enhancing health promotion behavior in early childhood. Therefore, health professionals must establish strategies to improve the parenting efficacy of parents in order to promote health promotion behavior for children in early childhood.