Abstract/Details

Parental beliefs about childhood obesity

Walpole, Beverly.   University of Guelph (Canada) ProQuest Dissertations Publishing,  2009. MR47840.

Abstract (summary)

Introduction. Childhood obesity has quadrupled during the past 25 years. Parents play a crucial role in the perpetuation of the obesity epidemic as they control availability and accessibility of foods, meal structure, food socialization practices and physical activity levels. As such, there is increasing interest in understanding how parents' beliefs about how children become overweight and obese might be placing their children at a higher risk for unhealthy weight outcomes. Although it is evident that family influences on children's weight and activity levels are extensive and quite varied, few studies have sought to take a broad focus and examine many of these potential influences simultaneously. The aims for the present study were therefore to: (1) develop a reliable questionnaire to measure parental beliefs about childhood obesity and (2) compare a clinic group and a control group to determine whether parents of children who are at-risk for becoming overweight posses more faulty beliefs and misperceptions about what factors contribute to childhood obesity. Methods. the 'Parents' Beliefs about Childhood Obesity' questionnaire was developed and initial reliability of the measure was tested. Parents of average weight children (control sample) and parents of overweight children (clinic sample) completed the questionnaire and their responses were compared. Results. Results revealed strong reliability within 8 of the original 9 sub scales in the questionnaire. Group differences between the clinic 'providing concern/feedback to children about their weight'. Implications suggest a possible link between faulty beliefs and a higher occurrence of overweight in the clinic sample. Conclusions. Development of a reliable questionnaire that will identify parents' faulty belief patterns related to child health and weight outcomes is necessary in order to prevent the childhood obesity epidemic from perpetuating.

Indexing (details)


Subject
Public health;
Clinical psychology
Classification
0573: Public health
0622: Clinical psychology
Identifier / keyword
Health and environmental sciences; Psychology
Title
Parental beliefs about childhood obesity
Author
Walpole, Beverly
Number of pages
42
Degree date
2009
School code
0081
Source
MAI 47/05M, Masters Abstracts International
Place of publication
Ann Arbor
Country of publication
United States
ISBN
978-0-494-47840-0
University/institution
University of Guelph (Canada)
University location
Canada -- Ontario, CA
Degree
M.A.
Source type
Dissertation or Thesis
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation/Thesis
Dissertation/thesis number
MR47840
ProQuest document ID
304890091
Copyright
Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works.
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/docview/304890091/abstract