Examining Influences of Parenting Styles and Practices on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors in Latino Children in the United States: Integrative Review (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Research indicates that parents influence their children’s physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors (SB) through their parenting styles and practices. OBJECTIVE The objectives of this paper were to evaluate existing research examining the associations between parenting styles, parenting practices, and PA and SB among Latino children aged between 2 and 12 years, highlight limitations of the existing research, and generate suggestions for future research. METHODS The method of this integrative review was informed by methods developed by Whittemore and Knafl, which allow for the inclusion of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews Meta-Analyses guidelines, five electronic academic databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, and CINAHL) were searched for peer-reviewed, full-text papers published in English. Of the 641 unique citations identified, 67 full-text papers were retrieved, and 16 were selected for review. RESULTS The majority of the 16 reviewed studies were conducted with predominantly Mexican American or Mexican immigrant samples, and only 1 study examined the association between parenting styles and Latino children’s PA and SB. Most (n=15) reviewed studies assessed the influence of parenting practices on children’s PA and SB, and they provide good evidence that parenting practices such as offering verbal encouragement, prompting the child to be physically active, providing logistic support, engaging and being involved in PA, monitoring, and offering reinforcement and rewards encourage, facilitate, or increase children’s PA. The examined studies also provide evidence that parenting practices, such as setting rules and implementing PA restrictions due to safety concerns, weather, and using psychological control discourage, hinder, or decrease children’s PA. CONCLUSIONS Because this review found a very small number of studies examining the relationship between parenting styles and Latino children’s PA and SB, additional research is needed. Given that the majority of reviewed studies were conducted with predominantly Mexican American or Mexican immigrant samples, additional research examining parenting styles, parenting practices, and PA and SB among multiethnic Latino groups is needed to design interventions tailored to the needs of this ethnically diverse population group.

Generational Status, Language Use, Parental Limit Setting, and Screen Time in US Latinx Children

“…According to a 2018 review examining the influence of parenting styles and practices on physical activity and sedentary behaviors in Latinx children, setting limits on screen time has been associated with decreased child sedentary behavior. 14 Our findings corroborate this existing literature, demonstrating the potential positive role of parental limit setting in reducing schoolaged Latinx children's screen time. There is evidence that Latinx parents employ authoritarian and indulgent/permissive parenting styles, with parenting practices that often reflect high control (eg, limits on outdoor play) and permissiveness (eg, lack of screen time limits).…”

“…There is evidence that Latinx parents employ authoritarian and indulgent/permissive parenting styles, with parenting practices that often reflect high control (eg, limits on outdoor play) and permissiveness (eg, lack of screen time limits). 14 However, evidence is mixed as to whether this translates to child engagement in more sedentary behaviors and may depend on the age of the child. 14,[34][35][36][37] As such, future research should continue to investigate the role of parental limit setting as a protective factor for excessive screen time in Latinx children and how to best equip parents and children to decrease screen time behaviors.…”

“…14 However, evidence is mixed as to whether this translates to child engagement in more sedentary behaviors and may depend on the age of the child. 14,[34][35][36][37] As such, future research should continue to investigate the role of parental limit setting as a protective factor for excessive screen time in Latinx children and how to best equip parents and children to decrease screen time behaviors.…”

“…11 Parental limit setting is one possible avenue to curb excessive screen time, 12 as there is evidence to suggest that limit setting is a positive parenting practice to reduce sedentary behavior. 13,14 In a study with 160 Latinx parent-adolescent dyads, setting limits on screen time was significantly associated with fewer hours of screen time for adolescents. 15 Qualitative studies with Latinx parents have reported that they limit or recommend limiting their children's TV viewing in order to improve health, restrict content, and promote other activities.…”