Stress is Associated with Adiposity in Parents of Young Children

Abstract

Objective This study investigated associations between stress (general stress, parenting distress, and household chaos) and adiposity among parents of young children. Methods The sample consisted of 49 mothers and 61 fathers from 70 families with young children living in Ontario, Canada. Linear regression using generalized estimating equations was used to investigate associations between stress measures and BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist to height ratio (WHtR), and percent fat mass. Results General stress was significantly associated with BMI (trueβ^ = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.04‐1.03) and WC (trueβ^ = 1.44; 95% CI: 0.10‐2.77). Parenting distress was significantly associated with BMI (trueβ^ = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.02‐0.31), WC (trueβ^ = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.04‐0.75), and WHtR (trueβ^ = 0.003; 95% CI: 0.001‐0.005). Household chaos was significantly associated with all adiposity measures (BMI: trueβ^ = 0.20 [95% CI: 0.08‐0.33]; WC: trueβ^ = 0.48 [95% CI: 0.21‐0.75]; WHtR: trueβ^ = 0.003 [95% CI: 0.001‐0.005]; percent fat mass: trueβ^ = 0.29 [95% CI: 0.08‐0.49]). Conclusions General stress, parenting distress, and household chaos are associated with adiposity among parents of young children. Future research should elucidate mechanisms by which this occurs and elucidate how this risk may be mitigated.

Household chaos, maternal stress, and maternal health behaviors in the United States during the COVID-19 outbreak

“…Mothers were asked to rank their current stress and stress during the last year (January–December 2019) on a scale of 1–10 in separate questions. 17 Mothers were also asked about barriers they faced keeping routine and order within the home at this time, including 10 options (e.g. changing job schedule and lack of childcare).…”

The Impact of COVID-19 on Health Behavior, Stress, Financial and Food Security among Middle to High Income Canadian Families with Young Children

“…A national survey among Canadians observed a significant decrease in mental health indices when compared to pre-COVID-19 benchmarks with 80% of respondents reporting the pandemic negatively impacting their mental health [8]. Knowing the impact that family-level stress can have on the health behaviors and outcomes of parents [9,10] and their children [11,12], it is important to understand how COVID-19 has impacted stress and financial concerns among families with young children. This information will guide efforts to support families in managing stress while simultaneously promoting healthy behaviors during this unprecedented time.…”

Associations between Family-Based Stress and Dietary Inflammatory Potential among Families with Preschool-Aged Children

“…In this sample, the primary parents were predominantly mothers. Although some past work indicates similar family-based stress perception among mothers and fathers of young children [ 20 ], there is the potential for different family members to report family functioning differently [ 54 ]. This bias towards mothers’ perspectives is pervasive in the family health literature [ 55 ].…”

“…Abundant evidence shows that perceived stress promotes the consumption of sugary and fatty foods [ 16 , 17 ], often displacing more healthful options such as fruits, vegetables, and other foods rich in dietary fibre [ 18 ]. Research has shown that family stress is positively associated with parents’ dietary fat intake [ 19 ] and indices of adiposity [ 20 ], and negatively associated with family meal preparation and meal healthfulness [ 21 , 22 ]. As a modifiable source of inflammation, further research is needed to better understand how dietary patterns and food-related behaviours can be used to protect the health of stress-vulnerable individuals.…”