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. 2023 Jan 9;17(3):541–552. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2023.17.3.541

Table 3. Parents’ health beliefs on the eating behaviors of preschool children (n = 248).

Health beliefs Total (n = 248) Education levels of parents Monthly income (won)
Mean ± SD High school College or university Graduate school F-value (P-value) ≤ 2,999,999 3,000,000–3,999,999 4,000,000–4,999,999 ≥ 5,000,000 F-value (P-value)
Perceived severity (PSE)1) 3.85 ± 0.68 3.86 ± 0.70 3.84 ± 0.67 3.93 ± 0.74 0.176 (0.839) 3.67 ± 0.70 3.80 ± 0.74 3.89 ± 0.67 3.93 ± 0.64 1.469 (0.224)
PSE 1 3.96 ± 0.77 3.95 ± 0.62 3.96 ± 0.79 3.96 ± 0.76 0.003 (0.997) 3.71 ± 0.83 3.96 ± 0.81 3.96 ± 0.78 4.06 ± 0.71 1.654 (0.178)
PSE 2 3.69 ± 0.84 3.63 ± 0.90 3.67 ± 0.83 3.85 ± 0.91 0.582 (0.559) 3.49 ± 0.89 3.64 ± 0.90 3.69 ± 0.83 3.80 ± 0.79 1.260 (0.289)
PSE 3 3.91 ± 0.81 4.00 ± 0.82 3.90 ± 0.79 3.96 ± 0.90 0.206 (0.814) 3.80 ± 0.87 3.79 ± 0.89 4.01 ± 0.77 3.94 ± 0.76 1.048 (0.372)
Perceived benefit (PBE)2) 4.37 ± 0.56 4.21 ± 0.50 4.37 ± 0.58 4.46 ± 0.47 1.090 (0.338) 4.24 ± 0.57a 4.23 ± 0.51a 4.52 ± 0.58b 4.38 ± 0.54ab 3.522 (0.016)*
PBE 1 4.35 ± 0.63 4.26 ± 0.45 4.36 ± 0.63 4.37 ± 0.69 0.222 (0.801) 4.20 ± 0.68a 4.21 ± 0.50a 4.50 ± 0.69b 4.38 ± 0.60ab 3.161 (0.025)*
PBE 2 4.39 ± 0.63 4.16 ± 0.69 4.40 ± 0.64 4.48 ± 0.51 1.575 (0.209) 4.29 ± 0.67 4.28 ± 0.60 4.51 ± 0.60 4.38 ± 0.65 1.781 (0.151)
PBE 3 4.37 ± 0.65 4.21 ± 0.71 4.36 ± 0.66 4.52 ± 0.58 1.279 (0.280) 4.23 ± 0.69a 4.21 ± 0.66a 4.54 ± 0.69b 4.37 ± 0.58ab 3.410 (0.018)*
Perceived barrier (PBA)3) 3.15 ± 0.99 3.44 ± 0.92 3.15 ± 1.00 2.98 ± 0.95 1.218 (0.298) 3.12 ± 0.95 3.01 ± 1.05 3.33 ± 0.92 3.10 ± 1.03 1.258 (0.290)
PBA 1 3.21 ± 1.08 3.53 ± 1.02 3.20 ± 1.11 3.07 ± 0.87 1.033 (0.357) 3.00 ± 0.97 3.02 ± 1.12 3.38 ± 1.11 3.28 ± 1.06 1.728 (0.162)
PBA 2 3.01 ± 1.15 3.37 ± 1.07 3.01 ± 1.16 2.78 ± 1.12 1.486 (0.228) 3.31 ± 1.11 2.94 ± 1.17 3.09 ± 1.11 2.86 ± 1.17 1.511 (0.212)
PBA 3 3.24 ± 1.14 3.42 ± 1.12 3.24 ± 1.15 3.07 ± 1.14 0.520 (0.595) 3.06 ± 1.19 3.08 ± 1.14 3.53 ± 1.02 3.16 ± 1.20 2.388 (0.070)
Self-efficacy (SEF)4) 3.81 ± 0.63 3.75 ± 0.56 3.80 ± 0.64 3.93 ± 0.62 0.538 (0.585) 3.66 ± 0.59 3.79 ± 0.61 3.78 ± 0.69 3.91 ± 0.61 1.538 (0.205)
SEF 1 3.74 ± 0.71 3.68 ± 0.58 3.72 ± 0.72 3.93 ± 0.68 1.052 (0.351) 3.54 ± 0.56a 3.68 ± 0.67ab 3.69 ± 0.81ab 3.91 ± 0.66b 2.824 (0.039)*
SEF 2 3.77 ± 0.66 3.74 ± 0.56 3.76 ± 0.67 3.93 ± 0.62 0.810 (0.446) 3.69 ± 0.68 3.72 ± 0.69 3.80 ± 0.64 3.83 ± 0.65 0.545 (0.652)
SEF 3 3.79 ± 0.73 3.79 ± 0.79 3.78 ± 0.73 3.85 ± 0.72 0.108 (0.898) 3.57 ± 0.70 3.81 ± 0.74 3.76 ± 0.76 3.90 ± 0.70 1.731 (0.161)

All measurement items were scored on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). Values are presented as mean ± SD.

1) PSE 1: I feel guilty if my child does not eat the right diet and develops an illness; PSE 2: I am afraid that if my child does not eat the right diet, they will get sick; PSE 3: I am worried that if my child does not eat the right diet, growth retardation or advanced puberty may occur.

2)PBE 1: I think that a proper diet will help my child’s physical health; PBE 2: I think that a proper diet will help improve the immunity of my child; PBE 3: I think that eating right will help my child grow.

3)PBA 1: I am burdened by the time it takes to provide my children with regular, healthy meals; PBA 2: I provide healthy meals to my children, but the cost is burdensome; PBA 3: The process of providing regular, healthy meals to my children is tiring.

4)SEF 1: I can consistently provide my child with a well-balanced diet and snacks; SEF 2: I can continue to practice the right diet for the growth of my children; SEF 3: I know how to eat right and can continue to help my child’s healthy growth and development.