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The aim of the study was to identify whether parent encouragement to diet as an adolescent predicts subsequent encouragement to diet from significant others/romantic partners as an adult and examine longitudinal associations between cumulative encouragement to diet from close relationships (i.e., parent and significant other) and later weight, weight-related, and psychosocial well-being outcomes in adulthood. Data from Project EAT I-IV, a 15-year longitudinal population-based study of socioeconomically and racially/ethnically diverse adolescents followed into adulthood (n = 1,116; mean age = 31.1 years; 61% female), were used for this study. Surveys and anthropometric measures were completed at school by adolescents in 1998–1999, and follow-up mailed and online surveys were completed at approximately 5-year intervals between 2003 and 2016. Adolescents who experienced encouragement to diet from their parents were more likely to have a significant other as an adult who also encouraged them to diet. In addition, there was a significant (p <.05) cumulative effect of encouragement to diet, such that experiencing more encouragement to diet from both a parent(s) and significant other was associated with higher weight status, more unhealthy weight-control behaviors (e.g., dieting, binge eating, and unhealthy weight control behaviors), and lower psychosocial well-being (e.g., lower body satisfaction and self-esteem and higher depressive symptoms) as a young adult. Encouragement to diet tracked from one close relationship to another and had a cumulative effect on adult weight, weight-related, and psychosocial well-being outcomes. Future interventions, clinical work, and research should be aware of these patterns and cumulative effects of encouragement to diet to target key relationships to reduce these harmful interpersonal patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe meal characteristics across breakfast, lunch, and dinner family meals in racially/ethnically diverse and immigrant/refugee households via ecological momentary assessment; identify real-time meal characteristics associated with family meal frequency; and identify qualitative themes regarding parents' perspectives about meal characteristics and meal types that influence family meal frequency. Cross-sectional study. In-home visits. Children aged 5–7 years (n = 150) and their families from diverse and low-income households. Mixed methods. Multiple linear regression and hybrid deductive and inductive content analysis. Quantitative results indicated several similar meal characteristics occurring across weekdays and weekend days and by meal type (eg, parent prepared the meal, food mostly homemade, meal eaten at table) and some significant negative associations (P <.05) between meal characteristics and family meal frequency (eg, fast food for family meals). Eight main qualitative themes with several subthemes supported and expanded the quantitative findings and added depth to interpretation of the findings. Results identified specific meal characteristics both quantitatively and qualitatively that may inform the development of interventions to increase the frequency of family meals so that more families can benefit from the protective nature of family meals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To describe a direct observational approach (ie, interactive family board game) to measure familyfunctioning and parenting behaviors of relevance to child weight and weight-related behaviors and to examine family functioning and parenting factors from multiple family dyads (eg, siblings, parent–child) and their associations with child weight and weight-related behaviors. Design Cross-sectional, mixed-methods study. Setting Two home visits were conducted with families 10days apart with a 7-day observational period between home visits. Participants Children (n = 150) aged 5–7years and their families from 1 of 6 racial and ethnic or immigrant and refugee groups, including African American, Hispanic, Hmong, Native American, Somali, and white, participated in the Family Matters study between 2014 and 2016. Main Outcome Measure Child weight status and weight-related behaviors (ie, diet quality, physical activity). Analysis Adjusted logistic and linear regression models with robust SEs were used in analysis. Results Higher family functioning scores across the majority of family dyads were significantly associated with lower child weight status (P <.05). In addition, some family functioning scores were associated with child diet and physical activity, but not consistently. Parenting behavior scores were inconsistently associated with child weight and weight-related outcomes. Conclusions and Implications Results suggest that the interactive family board game task is a direct observational approach that researchers can use with family members to measure family functioning and parenting behaviors related to childhood obesity. Future interventions may want to consider including multiple family members in both measurement and intervention development to target childhood obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To categorize the home food environment and dietary intake of young children (5-7 years old) from racially/ethnically diverse households using objectively collected data.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: In-home observations in Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA.Subjects: Families with 5-7-year-old children who identified as Black, White, Hmong, Latino, Native American or Somali.Results: There were many significant differences by race/ethnicity for child dietary intake and for the home food environment, with specific patterns emerging by race/ethnicity. For example, Somali children had high Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) scores, but low daily intakes of fruits and vegetables. Black children had low HEI-2010 scores and a pattern of low intake of healthful foods and high intake of unhealthful foods. White and Latino families had high levels of both healthful and unhealthful home food availability and children with high HEI-2010 scores.Conclusions: Results indicate that the home food environment of young children varies across racial/ethnic group. Study findings also provide new information regarding the home food environment of young children in previously understudied racial/ethnic groups and indicate that interventions working to improve the home food environment and dietary intake of children may want to consider race/ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this study was to describe parents' preference for how physicians should approach diet and weight-related advice for their child. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents (n = 40) of preschoolers, transcribed verbatim, and double-coded using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Parents identified recommendations for how physicians should approach conversations about weight. Themes included (1) Tone and Approach are Important, (2) Avoid Judgment, (3) Have Regard for Parental Expertise, (4) Consider the Timing of the Discussion with Parents, and (5) Equip Parents with Concrete and Individualized Recommendations. Future research should focus on developing brief, effective communication tools to guide discussions with parents about child nutrition and weight. Opportunities to learn about and practice the use of these brief interventions should be incorporated into medical education with the goal of providing clinicians the learning opportunities, skills/tools, and resources needed to adequately and respectfully discuss weight and diet with parents and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To determine the prevalence of reaching multiple Healthy People 2020 (HP 2020) objectives including nutrition and weight status, sleep health, physical activity, health-related quality of life, social determinants of health, and education among low-income, diverse children and adults.Methods: Children ages 5- to 7-years-old (n = 150; 47% female) and their parents (mean age = 35; 91% mothers) from 6 racial/ethnic and immigrant/refugee groups (n = 25 from each; African American, Native American, Hispanic, Hmong, Somali, White) participated in this cross-sectional mixed-methods study.Results: Overall, the majority of HP 2020 objectives were not being met across this low-income, racially/ethnically diverse, and immigrant/refugee sample of children and adults. In particular, African American children and parents consistently fell below the majority of the HP 2020 targets, with only 5 of the 24 HP 2020 objectives being met. Additionally, immigrant children and parents met less than 2/3 of the HP 2020 objectives.Discussion: Concerted public health efforts are needed to address the disparities in reaching the HP 2020 objectives and informing the development of the future HP 2030 objectives among low-income, racially/ethnically diverse, and immigrant children and parents. In order to achieve and assess the current and future HP objectives in these diverse populations, changes may be needed in both interventions and assessment tools. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study utilizes triadic data to examine the association between mother-father-adolescent concordance (agreement) and discordance (disagreement) on home environment factors (i.e., parental encouragement of dieting, family functioning) and adolescent unhealthy weight control behaviors and binge eating.Method: A subsample of adolescent-mother-father triads (n = 833; adolescents ages 10-22) from two coordinated population-based studies (EAT 2010 and F-EAT) were used. Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate the relative risks of each eating disordered behavior.Results: Triads were more concordant (range 9-42%) than discordant (range 4-24%). Triadic agreement that parents did not encourage dieting was associated with a lower risk of adolescent eating disordered behaviors in some triadic combinations. Additionally, triadic concordance on high family functioning was also associated with a lower risk of adolescent eating disordered behaviors among some triadic combinations.Discussion: Results suggest that triadic concordance on healthy home environment factors is associated with fewer adolescent disordered eating behaviors in some triads. Family based interventions may want to consider focusing on strategies to help move mother-father-adolescent triads closer on seeing the home environment more similarly. Future research is needed on triadic concordance/discordance and disordered eating behaviors to confirm study results and to inform the development of family based interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current measures of parent feeding practices are typically survey-based and assessed as static/unchanging characteristics, failing to account for fluctuations in these behaviors across time and context. The current study uses ecological momentary assessment to examine variability of, and predictors of, parent feeding practices within a low-income, racially/ethnically diverse, and immigrant sample.Methods: Children ages 5-7 years old and their parents (n = 150 dyads) from six racial/ethnic groups (n = 25 from each; Black/African American, Hispanic, Hmong, Native American, Somali, White) were recruited for this mixed-methods study through primary care clinics.Results: Among parents who used restriction (49%) and pressure-to-eat (69%) feeding practices, these feeding practices were utilized about every other day. Contextual factors at the meal associated with parent feeding practices included: number of people at the meal, who prepared the meal, types of food served at meals (e.g., pre-prepared, homemade, fast food), meal setting (e.g., kitchen table, front room), and meal emotional atmosphere (p < 0.05). Parents tended to restrict desserts, dairy, and vegetables and pressure children to eat fruits, vegetables, meat proteins, and refined grains (p < 0.05). There were some differences by race/ethnicity across findings (p < 0.01), with Hmong parents engaging in the highest levels of pressure-to-eat feeding practices.Conclusions: Parent feeding practices varied across the week, indicating feeding practices are more likely to be context-specific, or state-like than trait-like. There were some meal characteristics more strongly associated with engaging in restriction and pressure-to-eat feeding practices. Given that parent feeding practices appear to be state-like, future interventions and health care providers who work with parents and children may want to address contextual factors associated with parent feeding practices to decrease restriction and pressure-to-eat parent feeding practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of health-focused (healthy eating, physical activity) and weight-focused (weight, dieting) parent-child conversations, and to understand who is talking and who is listening, by exploring the associations these conversations have with parent and child characteristics. The study population included 546 parents (age 27-36 years) who participated in Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults)-IV (2015-2016) and had a child aged 2-17 years. Cross-sectional prevalence ratios were calculated to identify associations between parent and child characteristics and the parent-child conversations. Conversations about healthy eating (82%) and physical activity (75%) were more prevalent than those about the child's weight (30%), and dieting (25%). In adjusted models, parents meeting physical activity recommendations had a higher prevalence of health-focused conversations (healthy eating PR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.20; physical activity PR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.24); whereas, weight-focused conversations were more common among parents who had recently dieted and perceived their child to be overweight. Health-focused and weight-focused conversations were highly common among the oldest children aged 9-17 years (health-focused = 90-93% and weight-focused = 42-53%); though, a substantial prevalence of health- and weight-focused conversations (>50% and ≥10%, respectively) also occurred with the youngest children (2-4 years). Findings suggest that parent-child health- and weight-focused conversations are common and that characteristics, including child's age and parents' physical activity, dieting, and perceptions of child weight, may be useful to consider in public health messaging, interventions, and family education that address parent-child communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the extent to which parents divide responsibilities of feeding (what, when, where, how much, and whether) with their children and the factors that influence parents' approach to feeding. Design Individual interviews. Participants Parents (n = 40) of preschoolers. Phenomenon of Interest Division of feeding responsibilities; motivation for feeding approach; challenges to feeding. Analysis Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded using deductive and inductive content analysis. Results Parent's approaches to feeding varied widely. A few parents followed the Division of Responsibility approach closely. Instead, many parents gave their child more than the recommended amount of influence over what foods were served and offered children less than the recommended amount of autonomy over the whether and how much of eating. Meals and snacks were approached differently; parents exhibited less control over the timing of snacks as well as the types and amounts of foods eaten during snacks, compared with the control exhibited during meals. Conclusions and Implications These data support future research to understand the impact of this framework on child health outcomes when it is adhered to on all eating occasions, including snacks. Collaboration by researchers and clinicians to explore alternative frameworks that encourage parents to provide the structure and autonomy support may enhance positive outcomes in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the limitations of siloed weight-related intervention approaches, scholars have called for greater integration that is intentional, strategic, and thoughtful between researchers, health care clinicians, community members, and policy makers as a way to more effectively address weight and weight-related (e.g., obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer) public health problems. The Mastery Matrix for Integration Praxis was developed by the Healthy Eating and Activity across the Lifespan (HEAL) team in 2017 to advance the science and praxis of integration across the domains of research, clinical practice, community, and policy to address weight-related public health problems. Integrator functions were identified and developmental stages were created to generate a rubric for measuring mastery of integration. Creating a means to systematically define and evaluate integration praxis and expertise will allow for more individuals and teams to master integration in order to work towards promoting a culture of health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Numerous quantitative studies have examined the association between family meal frequency and child/adolescent weight and weight-related behaviors. However, limited qualitative research has been conducted to identify mealtime characteristics (e.g., child behavior during meals, rules/expectations, family dynamics) that occur during family meals that may explain why some families engage in frequent family meals and others do not. This is particularly important within racially/ethnically diverse households, as these demographic groups are at higher risk for weight-related problems. The current study aimed to identify similarities and differences in mealtime characteristics between households that have frequent and infrequent family meals within a low-income and minority population.Methods: This qualitative study included 118 parents who participated in Family Meals, LIVE!, a mixed-methods, cross-sectional study. Parents (90% female; mean age = 35) were racially/ethnically diverse (62% African American, 19% White, 4% Native American, 4% Asian, 11% Mixed/Other) and from low-income (73% < $35,000/yr.) households. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.Results: Results indicated some similar mealtime characteristics (i.e., picky eating, involving family members in meal preparation) between households having frequent and infrequent family meals. Additionally, several differences in mealtime characteristics were identified between households having frequent (i.e., importance of family meals, flexibility in the definition of family meals, family meal rules, no pressure-to-eat feeding practices) versus infrequent family meals (i.e., pressure-to-eat parent feeding practices, family meals are dinner meals only, and difficult meal time behaviors).Discussion: Study findings may be useful for developing intervention targets for low-income and racially/ethnically diverse households so more families can benefit from the protective nature of family meals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study examined longitudinal associations between four family meal patterns (i.e. never had regular family meals, started having regular family meals, stopped having regular family meals, maintained having regular family meals) and young adult parents' dietary intake, weight-related behaviours and psychosocial well-being. In addition, family meal patterns of parents were compared with those of non-parents.Design: Analysis of data from the longitudinal Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Adolescents and Young Adults) study. Linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between family meal patterns and parents' dietary intake, weight-related behaviours and psychosocial well-being.Setting: School and in-home settings.Subjects: At baseline (1998; EAT-I), adolescents (n 4746) from socio-economically and racially/ethnically diverse households completed a survey and anthropometric measurements at school. At follow-up (2015; EAT-IV), participants who were parents (n 726) and who were non-parents with significant others (n 618) completed an online survey.Results: Young adult parents who reported having regular family meals as an adolescent and as a parent ('maintainers'), or who started having regular family meals with their own families ('starters'), reported more healthful dietary, weight-related and psychosocial outcomes compared with young adults who never reported having regular family meals ('nevers'; P<0·05). In addition, parents were more likely to be family meal starters than non-parents.Conclusions: Results suggest that mental and physical health benefits of having regular family meals may be realized as a parent whether the routine of regular family meals is carried forward from adolescence into parenthood, or if the routine is started in parenthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Understanding parental health is an important part of understanding family health. Previous research suggests that family meals, familial relationship satisfaction, and family physical activity may separately be related to physical health. Method: The current study aims to combine these variables into a structural equation model to determine the collective relationship they have with adult health within a sample of parents (n = 1,435). Most parents were married, White, and highly educated. Results: The relationship between family meals and parental health was significant (β = -.07, t = -2.29, p< .05), with the full model having adequate fit and accounting for some of the overall variance in parental health. Familial relationship satisfaction and family physical activity were not found to be associated with parental health. Exploratory findings of the sample stratified by biological sex are described. Discussion: Findings from the current study were consistent with a systemic perspective in that parents may have health benefits when they participate in family-level behavior (e.g., family meals). Additional areas for research and limitations to the current study are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native scholars are advocating for decolonized research that integrates western methods with Indigenous worldviews and epistemologies. The study presented here was conducted in the Midwestern USA with six graduate students, four recent alumni, and three community Elders with experience in health research. Our goal was to learn from their experiences in scholarship so as to inform future teachers and trainees. An iterative thematic analysis revealed participants' unanimous emphasis on processes in trust-building. Said processes include gaining insights about personal biases, seeking preparatory and ongoing guidance from Elders and other experienced personnel, educating oneself about Native histories, and functioning as a humble learner. Learning about and enacting these behaviors and strategies can facilitate authentic collaborations. Lessons, suggestions, and resources shared by participants are informative toward creating guidelines for current and future educators in research methods, alongside the new students and professionals that they engage in instruction for such scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is common for adoptive families to have multiple adopted children with varying levels of birthfamily contact, research has not studied the effects of differing levels of contact status on the sibling dynamics within the adoptive family. This study examines the experiences of 58 non-biologically related adopted siblings (ages 13-18) who have varying levels of birthfamily contact. Deductive thematic analysis was conducted on interviews from adopted siblings and corresponding birthmothers. For adopted siblings in which both siblings had birthfamily contact, results indicated that it was common for siblings to cross over in contact with both birthfamilies, and to view the respective birthmothers as friends. These adopted adolescents also saw conversations about adoption as a vehicle for closeness with their adopted sibling. When one sibling had contact with his or her birthfamily and the other did not, results indicated that the adolescent with no contact looked forward to contact with his or her sibling's birthfamily, and viewed them as friends. It was also found that for the majority of these adopted adolescents, mixed levels of birthfamily contact within their adoptive family did not increase animosity between siblings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Background Method Results Conclusion Implications The objective of this study was to examine the variability of child health and psychosocial outcomes in the context of maternal role overload and maternal depression.Role overload, characterized as time‐based role stress, is commonly linked to depression in mothers. However, it remains uncertain whether maternal role overload poses a risk for negative child health and wellness. Although maternal depression is a known risk factor for poor child health and psychosocial outcomes, the outcomes themselves often reveal variability.This study aimed to investigate the heterogeneity of child health and psychosocial outcomes using latent profile analyses. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine differences in profile membership based on the child's experiences of maternal role overload and depression. Data were from 1,172 mother–child dyads from the Family Matters study.The analyses unveiled four distinct profiles (i.e., moderate health/psychosocial wellness, poor health/moderate psychosocial wellness, struggling health/poor psychosocial wellness, thriving health/psychosocial wellness), each associated with varying levels of health and psychosocial wellness. Both maternal role overload and depression were found to heighten the risk of poor health and psychosocial wellness in children.Children with struggling and poor health and psychosocial outcomes had higher odds of maternal depression and maternal role overload than children in the thriving profile. These findings suggest that maternal role overload is a potential risk to child health and psychosocial outcomes.These findings emphasize the importance of continuous depression screening in mothers and the implementation of solution‐focused interventions targeting maternal role overload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prospectively examine the bidirectional relationship between parental feeding practices (eg, instrumental feeding, encouragement to eat) and child eating behaviors (eg, food responsiveness, emotional eating) in low-income, ethnically diverse preschool children over a 3-year period. Parent/child (age 2-4 years at baseline) pairs (n = 222 non-Hispanics; n = 312 Hispanics) participated in NET-Works (Now Everybody Together for Amazing and Healthful Kids), a randomized controlled trial carried out in community and in-home settings in urban areas of Minnesota. Data were collected at baseline and 12, 24, and 36 months. The present study is a secondary data analysis using cross-lagged models to identify bidirectional associations between parental feeding practices and child eating behaviors. Three models showed significant cross-lagged effects (P <.05): model 1, parental instrumental feeding influencing later child food responsiveness; model 2, parental emotional feeding influencing later child food responsiveness; and model 3, parental emotional feeding influencing later child eating satiety. Model 1 showed significant bidirectional temporal paths, whereas models 2 and 3 showed significant unidirectional temporal paths from parental feeding practices to child eating behaviors. Parental instrumental and emotional feeding practices prospectively influence child food responsiveness and satiety. This study demonstrates causal temporality between parental feeding practices and child eating behaviors. Heath care providers may want to use findings regarding parent feeding practices as part of their anticipatory guidance during well-child visits with parents of preschoolers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]