Abstract:BackgroundLittle is known about preschool parents’ cognitions, barriers, supports and modeling of key obesogenic behaviors, including breakfast, fruit and vegetable consumption, sugary beverage intake, feeding practices, portion sizes, active playtime, reduced screen-time, sleep and selection of child-care centers with characteristics that promote healthy behaviors.MethodsThus, the purpose of this study was to examine these factors via survey and focus groups among 139 parents of 2- to 5-year-old children. Sta… Show more
“…knowledge deficits, lack of meal planning, mealtime disruptions, family food preferences), which were consistent with those cited in previous literature among a population of parents with preschoolers [15]. Participants cited prior nutrition knowledge or deficits in knowledge as influencers of their ability to improve the HFE.…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 87%
“…Self-assessment techniques represent a convenient and effective method for addressing problems with common assessment practices, which include lack of the time, money, and knowledge needed to use them properly [13,14,15]. Recent studies have relied on self-monitoring methods to address interpersonal dietary behavior and improve the HFE [16,17,18].…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The strengths of the self-assessment components were increased self-empowerment and reduced self-stigmatization, which led to increased nutritional knowledge and perceived responsibility [11,12,14]. Through the self-awareness gained from self-assessment, barriers to an improved HFE can be identified, as can facilitators, and this can lead to potentially beneficial goal setting and an increase in healthy behaviors [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”
This paper explores a methodology of photo-texting to assess and improve upon the home food environment (HFE); a method which aims to engage participants with nutrition and food security among households. Various approaches to assessing and intervening within the HFE have demonstrated the efficacy of strengthening household food practices, improving food security, and dietary behaviors. However, public health practitioners face barriers in assessing the HFE. These include the intimate nature of the home setting, as well as the significant time, labor, and costs required to complete a comprehensive HFE assessment. Photo elicitation, though, provides a flexible strategy, while also empowering participants and conserving the resources of practitioners. This technique permits the collection of reflective self-assessments and provides a platform for goal setting. In this paper, we describe the step-by-step method of a photo elicitation technique that was developed to overcome the challenges with HFE research techniques. Furthermore, the described method may be beneficial as a practice tool to coach participants to self-assess their nutrition environment and to recognize behavioral factors within their homes and families. A pilot study of the photo-texting technique was implemented to identify lessons learned and illustrate feasibility. Results from the pilot study reveal participant engagement in all photo assignment, food and nutrition trends within the HFE, and effective goal setting techniques. Furthermore, participants reported favorable attitudes toward this technique of community-participatory research. There are many opportunities to facilitate effective HFE changes by utilizing the photo-texting technique and applying it to public health practice and research settings.
“…knowledge deficits, lack of meal planning, mealtime disruptions, family food preferences), which were consistent with those cited in previous literature among a population of parents with preschoolers [15]. Participants cited prior nutrition knowledge or deficits in knowledge as influencers of their ability to improve the HFE.…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 87%
“…Self-assessment techniques represent a convenient and effective method for addressing problems with common assessment practices, which include lack of the time, money, and knowledge needed to use them properly [13,14,15]. Recent studies have relied on self-monitoring methods to address interpersonal dietary behavior and improve the HFE [16,17,18].…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The strengths of the self-assessment components were increased self-empowerment and reduced self-stigmatization, which led to increased nutritional knowledge and perceived responsibility [11,12,14]. Through the self-awareness gained from self-assessment, barriers to an improved HFE can be identified, as can facilitators, and this can lead to potentially beneficial goal setting and an increase in healthy behaviors [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”
This paper explores a methodology of photo-texting to assess and improve upon the home food environment (HFE); a method which aims to engage participants with nutrition and food security among households. Various approaches to assessing and intervening within the HFE have demonstrated the efficacy of strengthening household food practices, improving food security, and dietary behaviors. However, public health practitioners face barriers in assessing the HFE. These include the intimate nature of the home setting, as well as the significant time, labor, and costs required to complete a comprehensive HFE assessment. Photo elicitation, though, provides a flexible strategy, while also empowering participants and conserving the resources of practitioners. This technique permits the collection of reflective self-assessments and provides a platform for goal setting. In this paper, we describe the step-by-step method of a photo elicitation technique that was developed to overcome the challenges with HFE research techniques. Furthermore, the described method may be beneficial as a practice tool to coach participants to self-assess their nutrition environment and to recognize behavioral factors within their homes and families. A pilot study of the photo-texting technique was implemented to identify lessons learned and illustrate feasibility. Results from the pilot study reveal participant engagement in all photo assignment, food and nutrition trends within the HFE, and effective goal setting techniques. Furthermore, participants reported favorable attitudes toward this technique of community-participatory research. There are many opportunities to facilitate effective HFE changes by utilizing the photo-texting technique and applying it to public health practice and research settings.
“…This theme encompasses parents' (and care providers' ) widely expressed belief that children require a certain amount of daily downtime. Importantly, not all sedentary time was perceived to be equal, with reading and time spent sitting devoted to academic and development activities deemed to be essential , even if this was in front of a screen. Sometimes to calm her down we sit at the table and I'll teach her something … putting puzzles together, stuff like that … well is sitting and colouring really a sedentary behavior?…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Related to this, a physically active child was often also deemed to have the potential to cause trouble : limiting physical activity was reported as one way to punish naughty behaviour , with children themselves mentioning that bad behaviour meant they were prevented from being active . Yeah, they [the children who are too active] are not controlled by the parents.…”
SummaryPositive activity behaviours (i.e. higher physical activity [PA]/lower sedentary behaviour [SB]) are beneficial from infancy, yet evidence suggests that young children (0‐ to 6‐year‐olds) are relatively inactive. To better understand the perceived influences on these behaviours and to aid intervention development, this paper systematically synthesizes the extensive qualitative literature regarding perceived barriers and facilitators to PA and SB in young children (0–6 years old). A search of eight electronic databases (July 2016) identified 43 papers for inclusion. Data extraction and evidence synthesis were conducted using thematic content analysis, underpinned by the socio‐ecological model (i.e. individual, interpersonal, community, organizational and policy levels). Parents, childcare providers and children perceived seven broad themes to be important for PA and SB, including the child; the home; out‐of‐home childcare; parent–childcare provider interactions; environmental factors; safety; and weather. Each theme mapped onto between one and five levels of the socio‐ecological model; barriers and facilitators at the interpersonal level (e.g. parents, care providers and family) were most frequently cited, reflecting the important (perceived) role adults/peers play in shaping young children's behaviours. We provide an overarching framework to explain PA and SB in early childhood. We also highlight where gaps in the current literature exist (e.g. from male carers; in developing countries; and barriers and facilitators in the environmental and policy domains) and where future quantitative work may focus to provide novel insights about children's activity behaviours (e.g. safety and weather).
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