Contemporary Research on Parenting: Conceptual, Methodological, and Translational Issues

Abstract

Researchers over the last decade have documented the association between general parenting style and numerous factors related to childhood obesity (e.g., children's eating behaviors, physical activity, and weight status). Many recent childhood obesity prevention programs are family focused and designed to modify parenting behaviors thought to contribute to childhood obesity risk. This article presents a brief consideration of conceptual, methodological, and translational issues that can inform future research on the role of parenting in childhood obesity. They include: (1) General versus domain specific parenting styles and practices; (2) the role of ethnicity and culture; (3) assessing bidirectional influences; (4) broadening assessments beyond the immediate family; (5) novel approaches to parenting measurement; and (6) designing effective interventions. Numerous directions for future research are offered.

Parenting Dimensions and Styles: A Brief History and Recommendations for Future Research

“…One way to uncover additional parenting styles is to examine the results of studies where parents were rated on various dimensions and cluster analysis was used to assign parents to various parenting clusters (or in this case, parenting styles). In such person-centered studies, cluster analysis identifies groups of parents who show similar patterns of scores across multiple parenting dimensions-i.e., their profile across dimensions appears the same-see Power et al 51 for a more detailed description.…”

“…50 Whether these findings reflect differences in the validity of parenting assessments across ethnic groups or reflect the differential effects of authoritarian parenting in low-income environments is an issue that has yet to be resolved. 51 …”

Asociación de la percepción materna del peso del hijo y estilos maternos de alimentación infantil

“…Se encontró que predominó el estilo autoritario (alta exigencia/baja responsabilidad), las madres autoritarias se caracterizan por favorecer las medidas de castigo o de fuerza y están de acuerdo en mantener a los niños en un papel subordinado y en restringir su autonomía. En segundo lugar predominó el estilo indulgente (baja exigencia/alta responsabilidad), estas madres son excesivamente condescendientes con sus hijos, no establecen reglas o límites (8,29). Cabe señalar que la literatura ha identificado que el EMAI que se presenta con mayor frecuencia en madres afroamericanas, hispanas y de raza blanca es el indulgente, seguido del autoritario, identificando asociación entre el estilo indulgente y mayor IMC del hijo, hallazgo similar a lo reportado en otro estudio en el cual participaron madres inmigrantes a los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica procedentes de Brasil, Haití y de otros países Latinos (27).…”

“…Es necesario resaltar que el presente estudio es el primero que documenta el EMAI en madres mexicanas residentes en el noreste (Nuevo León) y sureste (Tabasco) de México y, a pesar de las diferencias geográficas, las puntuaciones promedio de las dimensiones de exigencia y responsabilidad no mostraron diferencias de acuerdo al estado de residencia; además, en el presente estudio un IMC del hijo más alto correspondió al EMAI no involucrado, seguido del indulgente, ambos estilos identificados como permisivos y relacionados con resultados negativos en el hijo (29).…”

Houston … We Have a Problem! Measurement of Parenting

“…42 The new measures must reflect a firm understanding of what has been attempted in the past, especially the limitations. 55 Developing the new measures will require qualitative research to identify new items and perhaps new levels of measurement. 56 The scales and items used to measure food related parenting are likely very different from those to measure physical activity 52 or sedentary behavior 53 parenting.…”