Latino fathers' feeding-related parenting strategies on children's eating

Abstract

This study examined father and child sociodemographic characteristics in relation to fathers' feeding-related parenting strategies and whether their parenting strategies were associated with children's reported fruit and vegetable (FV), weekly fast-food, and daily sugar-sweetened beverage intake among 81 Latino father-child pairs. Father's employment status, acculturation, number of children in the home, and child's age and weight status were associated with the use of different parenting strategies. More control was associated with less FV intake, but more reinforcement was associated with more FV intake by children. Fathers play a role in their children's diet and should be considered in future interventions.

Keywords: Fast food; Hispanic/Latino; fathers; fruits and vegetables; parenting strategies; sugar-sweetened beverages.

Figures

Figure 1

The moderating role of child’s gender on reinforcing parenting strategies and child’s weekly fast food consumption. Model was adjusted for father’s employment status, acculturation, number of children in the home, and child’s age and weight status.