Poster Presentation Australian & New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2013

A comparison of maternal and paternal parenting practices and their influence on children’s physical activity, screen-time, diet and adiposity (#207)

Adam B Lloyd 1 2 , David R Lubans 1 2 , Ron C Plotnikoff 1 2 , Clare E Collins 2 3 , Philip J Morgan 1 2
  1. School of Education, Faculty of Education & Arts, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
  2. Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
  3. School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

Background: Children’s lifestyle behaviours and weight status are influenced by parenting practices, yet most studies report data from mothers only.

Aim: The aims of this study were to examine (i) if there was a difference between maternal and paternal physical activity- and dietary-related parenting practices, and (ii) a range of potential biological, behavioural and maternal/paternal correlates of objectively measured physical activity, screen-time, diet, and adiposity, in a sample of primary school-aged children.

Method: Cross-sectional analysis in a sample of 70 families with children (59% boys, mean age 8.4 (2.4) years, 42% overweight/obese). Parenting practices was measured using the Parenting Strategies for Eating and Activity Scale. Children’s behaviours and outcomes included: physical activity, screen-time, percent energy from core-foods and BMI z-score. Differences between mothers’ and fathers’ parenting practices were investigated using paired sample t-tests and multiple regression models were generated to examine the associations between maternal and paternal parenting practices and childrens’ variables.

Results: Mothers’ control was significantly lower (p<0.001) and limit setting (p<0.01) and monitoring (p<0.001) were significantly higher than fathers. When examining couples within a family, some consistency between partners was demonstrated from some parenting practices with moderate correlations for control and monitoring (r = 0.31, 0.54 respectively). In the regression analyses, fathers’ reinforcement (p<0.01) was significantly associated with child physical activity. For screen-time, mothers’ monitoring (p<0.001) and child characteristics [age (p=0.01), sex (p=0.01), BMI z-score (p=0.03)] were significant predictors. Mothers’ parenting practices [limit setting (p=0.01), reinforcement (p=0.02)] and child screen-time (p=0.02) were significantly associated with core-foods. Fathers’ BMI (p<0.01) and mothers’ control (p<0.001) were significantly associated with child weight status.

Conclusion: Despite some similarities within couples, fathers and mothers differ in their use of specific physical activity- and diet-related parenting practices. Mothers and fathers have different biological, behavioural and parental influences on their childrens lifestyle behaviours and weight status.