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Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2003

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Nutrition, Food Science, and Hospitality

First Advisor

Georgia W. Crews

Abstract

The objective of this research was to determine if any relationship exists between preschool aged children's BMI and their father's BMI, father-child activity, parenting style, and child feeding style. A final correlation was performed to determine if any relationship exits between the father's parenting style and child feeding style. This cross-sectional study used a convenience sample. Forty-nine fathers and their 3 to 5 year old children were enrolled in the study via their childcare providers. The child's height and weight were measured to determine their body mass index. The child was required to be enrolled in a childcare setting for at least 25 hours per week. The biological father living with the biological mother completed the Father-Child Activity Scale, the Child Feeding Questionnaire, and Parenting Styles & Dimensions Questionnaire. The fathers reported their heights and weights to determine their body mass index. Results showed that the child's body mass index was positively related to their father's body mass index (p<.0001), the father's perception of their own past and current weight (p<.01) , the father's concern about their child's weight (p<.1), the father's perception of their child's past and current weight (p<.001), the father's authoritative parenting style (p<.01), and the gross household income (p<.05). An inverse relationship was observed between the child's body mass index and the father's pressure on the child to eat (p<.005), the number of hours worked per week by the father (p<.1), and the father’s educational level (p<.01). The father’s authoritative parenting style was positively correlated to their monitoring of what their child eats (p<.001) and their perceived responsibility of feeding their child (p<.01). The multiple regression model developed to predict the child’s body mass index included the father’s body mass index, perception by the father of their chi Id's past and current weight, the father's pressure on the child to eat, the authoritative parenting style, the father's educational level, the number of hours worked per week by the father, and the gross household income (p<.0001). In dual earning families that utilize childcare, the father's parenting style, feeding styles, and BMI does have a relationship to their child's BMI.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Body composition
Father and child
Parental influences
Preschool children -- Anthropometry

Format

application/pdf

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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