Development of a Survey to Assess Latino Fathers’ Parenting Practices Regarding Energy Balance–Related Behaviors of Early Adolescents

Abstract

Latino adolescents face challenges to performing energy balance–related behaviors (EBRBs) to prevent childhood obesity, including healthy dietary intake, adequate physical activity, and limited screen time. Fathers are underrepresented in family-based obesity interventions but could be influential in shaping the EBRBs of Latino children. Three types of parenting practices (setting expectations/limits, role modeling, managing availability and accessibility) have shown relatively consistent positive relationships with children’s EBRBs in studies that have mostly involved mothers. The purpose of this study was to develop measures to assess Latino fathers’ parenting practices based on existing measurement instruments, focus groups and cognitive testing. Criterion validity of the measures (40 items) was examined with Latino fathers and their early adolescents (10-14 years old, n = 96 dyads) who were predominantly from low-income, two-parent households. Criterion validity was indicated by significantly higher intakes of fruit and vegetables; lower intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets/salty snacks and fast foods; more weekly physical activity hours; and fewer daily screen time hours among adolescents who reported high versus low levels/frequencies of supportive parenting practices. In addition, nearly all scales of adolescent-reported paternal behavioral modeling and availability/accessibility practices were significantly correlated with adolescents’ corresponding EBRBs (r = 0.22 to 0.54). However, poor validity and agreement with early adolescents’ reports were found for most father-reported parenting practices. Overall, this study indicated that the measures were acceptable for assessing adolescents’ report of Latino fathers’ parenting practices around EBRBs. The findings also indicate the importance of including early adolescents’ reports in measuring paternal parenting practices.

Factors Associated with Food Insecurity Following Hurricane Harvey in Texas

“…Participants were asked to report how often [often true, sometimes true, never true] since Hurricane Harvey the following two statements were true for their family: "we have worried whether our food would run out before we got money to buy more" and "the food we bought just didn't last and we didn't have money to get more." Consistent with other studies of food insecurity [75][76][77][78], respondents indicating "often true" or "sometimes true" for either measure were categorized as at-risk for food insecurity while respondents indicating "never true" for either question were categorized as food secure.…”

Latino adolescent-father discrepancies in reporting activity parenting practices and associations with adolescents’ physical activity and screen time

“…However, the study used unmatched measures to compare adolescent perceptions about supports for physical activity from their families with reports of supports provided by one of their parents [9]. The present study addressed this limitation by designing parallel items for each parenting construct and ensuring content validity through cognitive testing [24]. Nevertheless, informant discrepancy still persisted in the current study.…”

“…A similar set of items was used to assess adolescents' perceptions of paternal parenting practices involving screen time: allowing ST, behavioral modeling and providing opportunities for ST. These survey items were developed based on existing instruments and focus group findings, and demonstrated acceptable criterion validity against adolescents' MVPA and ST [24]. Parallel questions were designed to assess paternal reports of these parenting practices.…”

Differences in reporting food insecurity and factors associated with differences among Latino fathers and mothers

“…The current study used cross-sectional baseline data from a community-based intervention program to improve paternal parenting practices and youth energy balance-related behaviors (Padres Preparados, Jóvenes Saludables) [ 29 ]. Latino fathers or male caregivers (hereafter referred to as fathers) and early adolescents (10–14 years) were the primary research participants, however mothers or female caregivers (hereafter referred to as mothers) were also invited to attend educational sessions and complete evaluation data collection procedures as part of the intervention.…”