A model of goal directed vegetable parenting practices

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore factors underlying parents’ motivations to use vegetable parenting practices (VPP) using the Model of Goal Directed Vegetable Parenting Practices (MGDVPP) (an adaptation of the Model of Goal Directed Behavior) as the theoretical basis for qualitative interviews. In-depth interviews with parents of 3–5-year-old children were conducted over the telephone by trained interviewers following a script. MGDVPP constructs provided the theoretical framework guiding script development. Audio-recordings were transcribed and analyzed, with themes coded independently by two interviewers. Fifteen participants completed the study. Interviews elicited information about possible predictors of motivations as they related to VPP, and themes emerged related to each of the MGDVPP constructs (attitudes, positive anticipated emotions, negative anticipated emotions, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control). Parents believed child vegetable consumption was important and associated with child health and vitality. Parents described motivations to engage in specific VPP in terms of emotional responses, influential relationships, food preferences, resources, and food preparation skills. Parents discussed specific strategies to encourage child vegetable intake. Interview data suggested parents used diverse VPP to encourage child intake and that varied factors predicted their use. Understanding these factors could inform the design of interventions to increase parents’ use of parenting practices that promote long-term child consumption of vegetables.

Perceptions of How Parents of Early Adolescents Will Personally Benefit From Calcium-Rich Food and Beverage Parenting Practices

“…19 One study that did examine parental motivations was conducted with parents of younger children and focused on specific vegetable parenting practices. 20 Black, Hispanic, and white parents of 3-to 5-year-old children described motivations based on attitudes, emotions, norms, and perceived behavioral control. Attitudes included child health issues such as having energy, developing good eating habits, having a healthy weight, and increasing vitamin intake.…”

“…Attitudes included child health issues such as having energy, developing good eating habits, having a healthy weight, and increasing vitamin intake. 20 Emotions included positive or negative reactions to acceptance of new and familiar foods. The role of emotions in parenting practices was also explored by others who asked mothers with at least 2 children < 18 years of age at home to evaluate the personality of the food preparer when vegetables were served with an entr ee.…”

Food Parenting Measurement Issues: Working Group Consensus Report

“…Third, food parenting practices may be directly influenced or moderated by parents' beliefs, goals, and attitudes. Understanding a parent's motivation for using a particular food parenting practice is an essential step in developing effective interventions 53 ; these motivations are often complex and not easily captured by existing questionnaires. Fourth, feeding behaviors may be a domain of parenting strongly embedded in one's own childhood experiences, often laden with affect 54 ; emotions as inherent aspects of food parenting practices are poorly understood and not captured by existing questionnaires.…”

Learning to like vegetables during breastfeeding: a randomized clinical trial of lactating mothers and infants

“…At each visit, mothers and infants were weighed and measured, and weight-for-height z scores for the infants were calculated with the use of Anthro software (version 3.2.2; WHO), and infants were observed breastfeeding from their mothers. At the start of the study, mothers were asked about their motivations to promote vegetable consumption (30) to establish levels of motivations in the groups. No instructions were given regarding when to wean the infants or what foods to feed them.…”