Relationships of family history of disease and child weight status to child routines: Multi-mediating effect of parental feeding practices and perception of child's weight

Abstract

The present study is a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey conducted among 129 parents of preschoolers from northwest Florida, USA. It examined the multi-mediating effect of parental feeding practices and parents' perception of child's weight in the relationships of family history of disease and child's weight to child routines. Children's height and weight were measured, and body mass index was calculated. Path analyses were performed to test the mediation model using AMOS 25.0. The mediating analysis revealed that restriction mediates the relationship between family history of disease and child routines. Restriction and monitoring were significant mediators between child's weight and routines. Given the critical impact of parents on childhood obesity, understanding the mediating roles of parental feeding practices is imperative, as such practices might be susceptible to intervention. Health-care providers should assess parental feeding practices in their practice settings.