Comparison of Children's Body Weights and Eating Habits by Maternal Parenting Attitudes Perceived by Children

Choe, Yun Jung; Min, Hyesun

Abstract

Effective parenting attitudes have been known to be associated with children's health practices including dietary intake and physical activity. The objective of this study is to compare children's body weights and eating habits by maternal parenting attitudes. Data were collected at school (N = 396; 4th and 5th grade students) using self-administered questionnaires on maternal parenting attitudes, eating habits and physical activity. Parenting attitudes were categorized as 1 of 4 parenting attitudes (overprotective, authoritarian, democratic, and neglectful) using affection and control median cut points. Children's body weights, frequency of breakfast, eating out and fastfood, and physical activity were compared by maternal parenting attitudes. Children's body weights were related with mother's employment status (p < 0.05) and parenting attitudes (p < 0.01). Children of unemployed mothers were more likely to be overweight. Children of neglectful mothers (p < 0.01) were more likely to be underweight, compared with children of mothers with other parenting attitudes. Since, unfortunately, the number of children of neglectful mothers was very limited in this study, we could hardly assess eating habits of children of neglectful mothers. Children of authoritarian mothers ate breakfast more regularly (p < 0.05), but ate snacks less regularly (p < 0.01). Children of democratic mothers ate fastfood less frequently (p < 0.01) and ate snacks more regularly (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, children of overprotective mothers ate breakfast less regularly (p < 0.05) and ate out less frequently (p < 0.01). However, maternal parenting attitudes were not related to children's physical activities. In conclusion, the maternal democratic parenting attitude was associated with healthy eating habits including regular snack time and less fastfood. On the other hand, the maternal neglectful parenting attitude was associated with high risk of children's underweight. Understanding the mechanism through which parenting attitude is related with underweight risk and healthy eating habits may lead to the development of better interventions.