Table 1.
Differences in Median Parenting Practices by Characteristics of the Sample Population (n=301)a
| Parenting practices, median (IQR)b | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variable | n (%) | Monitoring | Discipline | Limit setting soda/snacks | Limit setting screen media | Pressure to eat | Reinforcement |
| Parent characteristics | |||||||
| Age (years)a | |||||||
| 20–29 | 49 (16.4) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.7) | 3.8 (2.8, 4.5) | 4.5 (3.5, 5.0)** | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0)‡ | 2.8 (2.3, 3.5)** | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| 30–39 | 149 (50.0) | 3.8 (3.2, 4.5) | 3.5 (2.5, 4.5) | 4.3 (3.3, 5.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.8) | 2.7 (2.0, 3.2) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| 40–49 | 81 (27.2) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.5) | 3.0 (2.5, 4.3) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.5) | 3.3 (2.5, 4.3) | 2.2 (1.7, 2.7) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| ≥50 | 19 (6.4) | 3.8 (2.3, 4.3) | 3.0 (1.0, 4.0) | 3.5 (2.5, 4.5) | 3.5 (2.0, 4.5) | 2.7 (1.7, 3.5) | 4.0 (2.0, 5.0) |
| Parent gender | |||||||
| Female | 278 (92.4) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.7) | 3.5 (2.5, 4.5)** | 4.3 (3.3, 5.0)* | 3.8 (3.0, 4.8) | 2.5 (2.0, 3.2) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Male | 23 (7.6) | 3.7 (2.7, 4.3) | 3.0 (1.0, 3.8) | 3.8 (2.8, 4.5) | 3.5 (2.5, 4.5) | 2.8 (2.0, 3.7) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.5) |
| Parent weight category (BMI; kg/m2)c | |||||||
| Normal weight (≤25.0) | 25.0 (8.4) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.5) | 3.0 (2.5, 4.0) | 4.0 (3.5, 4.8) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) | 2.8 (2.3, 3.8) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Overweight (25.0–29.9) | 87 (29.1) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.5) | 3.3 (2.8, 4.5) | 4.3 (3.3, 5.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) | 2.5 (2.0, 3.2) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Obese I (30.0–34.9) | 101 (33.8) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.5) | 3.5 (2.0, 4.8) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) | 3.5 (2.8, 4.8) | 2.5 (1.7, 3.2) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| ≥Obese II (≥35.0) | 86 (28.8) | 3.9 (3.2, 4.7) | 3.5 (2.5, 4.5) | 4.0 (3.3, 4.8) | 3.6 (3.0, 4.3) | 2.5 (2.0, 3.2) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Parent race/ethnicity | |||||||
| Hispanic/Latino | 223 (74.1) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.5) | 3.5 (2.5, 4.5) | 4.0 (3.3, 5.0) | 3.8 (3.0, 5.0) | 2.5 (1.8, 3.3) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Non-Hispanic black | 54 (17.9) | 4.0 (3.2, 4.7) | 3.1 (2.3, 4.0) | 4.3 (3.5, 4.8) | 3.5 (2.5, 4.3) | 2.5 (2.0, 3.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Otherd | 24 (8.0) | 3.9 (3.0, 4.8) | 3.1 (2.4, 4.3) | 3.9 (3.0, 4.5) | 4.0 (3.5, 4.3) | 2.8 (2.1, 3.4) | 4.3 (3.3, 5.0) |
| Parent education | |||||||
| Less than high school | 146 (48.5) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.3) | 3.5 (2.5, 4.5) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.8) | 2.8 (2.0, 3.5)** | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| High school or GED | 76 (25.3) | 4.0 (3.2, 4.7) | 3.4 (2.8, 5.0) | 4.5 (3.5, 4.8) | 3.5 (2.9, 4.4) | 2.5 (2.2, 3.2) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Postsecondary educatione | 79 (26.3) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.7) | 3.0 (2.3, 4.0) | 4.3 (3.3, 5.0) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.5) | 2.2 (1.7, 2.8) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Parent employment | |||||||
| Homemaker | 143 (47.5) | 3.8 (3.2, 4.7) | 3.8 (2.5, 4.5) | 4.3 (3.3, 5.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) | 2.8 (2.0, 3.3)* | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Employed FT or PT | 110 (36.5) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.5) | 3.3 (2.5, 4.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) | 3.5 (3.0, 4.5) | 2.3 (1.8, 3.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Unemployed or retired | 48 (16.0) | 3.8 (2.8, 4.4) | 3.3 (2.1, 3.3) | 4.1 (3.1, 4.9) | 3.9 (2.9, 4.3) | 2.5 (2.0, 3.1) | 3.8 (2.8, 5.0) |
| Household income | |||||||
| $0–$9,999 | 118 (39.2) | 3.8 (3.2, 4.3) | 3.5 (2.8, 5.0) | 4.3 (3.5, 5.0)‡ | 3.5 (3.0, 4.5) | 2.5 (1.8, 3.5) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0)‡ |
| ≥$10,000.00 | 130 (43.2) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.7) | 3.3 (2.3, 4.3) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.8) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.5) | 2.5 (2.0, 3.0) | 3.5 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Don't Know | 53 (17.6) | 4.2 (2.8, 4.7) | 3.8 (2.3, 4.5) | 4.3 (3.0, 5.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.8) | 2.7 (2.2, 3.2) | 4.5 (4.0, 5.0) |
| Parent country of birth | |||||||
| United Statesf | 63 (20.9) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.7) | 3.0 (2.0, 4.3) | 4.5 (3.3, 5.0) | 3.0 (2.5, 4.0)* | 2.5 (1.7, 2.8)* | 4.5 (3.5, 5.0) |
| Mexico | 112 (37.2) | 3.8 (3.3, 4.5) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.5) | 4.1 (3.3, 5.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) | 2.8 (2.2, 3.5) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Puerto Rico | 18 (6.0) | 3.7 (3.0, 4.0) | 3.9 (2.5, 5.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.0) | 3.8 (2.5, 4.8) | 2.1 (1.7, 3.5) | 3.8 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Dominican Republic | 35 (11.6) | 3.5 (3.0, 4.3) | 3.0 (2.3, 4.8) | 4.3 (3.3, 5.0) | 3.0 (2.0, 4.5) | 2.3 (1.7, 3.3) | 3.0 (2.0, 5.0) |
| Jamaica | 22 (7.3) | 3.8 (2.8, 4.7) | 3.3 (2.3, 4.0) | 4.5 (3.5, 5.0) | 4.0 (3.3, 4.5) | 2.4 (2.2, 2.8) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Otherg | 51 (16.9) | 4.2 (3.2, 4.7) | 3.5 (2.8, 4.5) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.5) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) | 2.7 (2.0, 3.2) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Parent years living in the United States | |||||||
| 0–14 | 124 (41.2) | 3.9 (3.2, 4.7) | 3.8 (2.8, 4.9)* | 4.3 (3.4, 5.0)‡ | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0)* | 2.8 (2.2, 3.4)** | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0)‡ |
| ≥15 | 114 (37.9) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.3) | 3.3 (2.5, 4.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.5) | 3.8 (2.5, 4.8) | 2.3 (1.8, 3.2) | 3.5 (2.5, 5.0) |
| US born | 63 (20.9) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.7) | 3.0 (2.0, 4.3) | 4.5 (3.3, 5.0) | 3.0 (2.5, 4.0) | 2.5 (1.7, 2.8) | 4.5 (3.5, 5.0) |
| Child characteristics | |||||||
| Age (years) | |||||||
| 7–9 | 155 (51.5) | 4.0 (3.2, 4.7)‡ | 3.8 (2.5, 4.8) | 4.3 (3.3, 5.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0)* | 2.7 (2.2, 3.5)** | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| 10–12 | 146 (48.5) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.3) | 3.0 (2.3, 4.0) | 4.0 (3.3, 4.8) | 3.5 (2.5, 4.5) | 2.3 (1.7, 3.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Gender | |||||||
| Female | 162 (53.8) | 3.8 (3.2, 4.7) | 3.5 (2.5, 4.5) | 4.3 (3.3, 5.0) | 3.5 (3.0, 4.5)‡ | 2.5 (1.8, 3.0)* | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0)* |
| Male | 139 (46.2) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.3) | 3.3 (2.5, 4.5) | 4.0 (3.3, 4.8) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) | 2.7 (2.0, 3.5) | 4.0 (2.5, 5.0) |
| Weight category (BMI; %)h | |||||||
| Overweight (85–94.9) | 71 (23.6) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.7) | 3.3 (2.5, 4.5) | 4.3 (3.3, 5.0) | 4.0 (2.5, 5.0) | 2.7 (2.0, 3.2) | 4.0 (2.5, 5.0) |
| Obese (95.0–97.0) | 164 (54.5) | 3.8 (3.0, 4.5) | 3.3 (2.3, 4.5) | 4.0 (3.3, 5.0) | 4.0 (3.0, 4.8) | 2.5 (2.0, 3.3) | 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) |
| Severely obese (≥97.0) | 66 (21.9) | 3.9 (3.0, 4.3) | 3.5 (2.8, 4.5) | 4.3 (3.3, 4.5) | 3.5 (2.8, 4.5) | 2.3 (1.7, 3.0) | 4.5 (3.0, 5.0) |
Significant differences (p<0.05) are in bold: **significant at p<0.01; *significant at p<0.05. Differences that approach significance (p<0.10) are indicated with ‡.
Total sample, n=301 parents/caregivers; for parent age, n=298 parents/caregivers (3 parents/caregivers did not report birth dates).
Possible scores ranged from 1 (low engagement in parenting practice) to 5 (high engagement in parenting practice).
Categorized in accord with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's clinical guidelines.29
Other race includes participant's self-reports of non-Hispanic white (n=5), Asian/South Asian (n=12), Mid-Eastern (n=2), European (n=1) Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (n=1), Caribbean (n=2), and not specified (n=1).
Postsecondary education includes some college but not receiving a diploma (n=29), receiving a technical school certificate (n=12), associate's degree (n=13), bachelor's degree (n=23), and graduate or professional school (n=2).
Does not include Puerto Rico.
Includes other Caribbean, Africa, Central America, South America, Europe, and South Asia.
Categorized in accord with the 2000 CDC Growth Charts.29
GED, General Educational Development; FT, full time; PT, part time; IQR, interquartile range; limit setting SS, limit setting of soda and snacks; limit setting SB, limit setting of sedentary behavior; US, United States.