Karin Eli1, Kyndal Howell2, Philip A Fisher3, Paulina Nowicka4. 1. Unit for Biocultural Variation and Obesity, Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford, 51/53 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6PE, UK. Electronic address: karin.eli@anthro.ox.ac.uk. 2. Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA. Electronic address: kyndalh@uoregon.edu. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA. Electronic address: philf@uoregon.edu. 4. Division of Pediatrics, B62, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Uppsala University, 751 22 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: paulina.nowicka@ikv.uu.se.
Abstract
RATIONALE: Although one quarter of US and UK families rely on grandparents as the main providers of informal childcare, grandparental perspectives on the feeding and physical activity of young children remain understudied. OBJECTIVE: The study's aim was to elucidate parents' and grandparents' perspectives on young children's feeding and physical activity, and identify how they negotiate potential differences between these perspectives. METHODS: We interviewed 22 parents and 27 grandparents from 16 families of children aged 3-5 years in the Pacific Northwest, US. Using familial homeostasis as a novel theoretical framework, the interviews were analyzed to assess differences between parental and grandparental perspectives on feeding and physical activity. RESULTS: The analysis yielded six thematic categories: (1) disagreements about feeding stem from parents' and grandparents' differing definitions of healthy feeding; (2) differences between parents' and grandparents' feeding practices reflect differences in perceived caretaking roles; (3) parents and grandparents negotiate differences in feeding practices through grandparental compliance and parental compromise; (4) differences in preschoolers' physical activity are influenced by parents' and grandparents' own access to and engagement in physical activity; (5) parents and grandparents express few disagreements about preschoolers' screen-time; (6) parents and grandparents rarely discuss preschoolers' physical activity. The findings suggest that parental and grandparental decision-making about feeding and exercise is informed by ideas of what constitutes familial balance and a balanced lifestyle for a preschool aged child, rather than by the child's weight status. CONCLUSIONS: Parents and grandparents appear to engage in practices designed to preserve familial homeostasis, which may provide a compelling explanation for the persistent difficulties in implementing family-based childhood obesity interventions.
RATIONALE: Although one quarter of US and UK families rely on grandparents as the main providers of informal childcare, grandparental perspectives on the feeding and physical activity of young children remain understudied. OBJECTIVE: The study's aim was to elucidate parents' and grandparents' perspectives on young children's feeding and physical activity, and identify how they negotiate potential differences between these perspectives. METHODS: We interviewed 22 parents and 27 grandparents from 16 families of children aged 3-5 years in the Pacific Northwest, US. Using familial homeostasis as a novel theoretical framework, the interviews were analyzed to assess differences between parental and grandparental perspectives on feeding and physical activity. RESULTS: The analysis yielded six thematic categories: (1) disagreements about feeding stem from parents' and grandparents' differing definitions of healthy feeding; (2) differences between parents' and grandparents' feeding practices reflect differences in perceived caretaking roles; (3) parents and grandparents negotiate differences in feeding practices through grandparental compliance and parental compromise; (4) differences in preschoolers' physical activity are influenced by parents' and grandparents' own access to and engagement in physical activity; (5) parents and grandparents express few disagreements about preschoolers' screen-time; (6) parents and grandparents rarely discuss preschoolers' physical activity. The findings suggest that parental and grandparental decision-making about feeding and exercise is informed by ideas of what constitutes familial balance and a balanced lifestyle for a preschool aged child, rather than by the child's weight status. CONCLUSIONS: Parents and grandparents appear to engage in practices designed to preserve familial homeostasis, which may provide a compelling explanation for the persistent difficulties in implementing family-based childhood obesity interventions.
Authors: R J Kuczmarski; C L Ogden; L M Grummer-Strawn; K M Flegal; S S Guo; R Wei; Z Mei; L R Curtin; A F Roche; C L Johnson Journal: Adv Data Date: 2000-06-08
Authors: Nancy F Krebs; John H Himes; Dawn Jacobson; Theresa A Nicklas; Patricia Guilday; Dennis Styne Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2007-12 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: E De Decker; M De Craemer; I De Bourdeaudhuij; K Wijndaele; K Duvinage; B Koletzko; E Grammatikaki; V Iotova; N Usheva; J M Fernández-Alvira; K Zych; Y Manios; G Cardon Journal: Obes Rev Date: 2012-03 Impact factor: 9.213
Authors: Gülcan Bektas; Femke Boelsma; Meryem Gündüz; Eva N Klaassen; Jacob C Seidell; Carline L Wesdorp; S Coosje Dijkstra Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-07-16 Impact factor: 4.135
Authors: Kevin C Lu; Zelda T Dahl; Robert J Weyant; Daniel W McNeil; Betsy Foxman; Mary L Marazita; Jacqueline M Burgette Journal: J Acad Nutr Diet Date: 2022-04-05 Impact factor: 5.234
Authors: Michelle W Katzow; Mary Jo Messito; Alan L Mendelsohn; Marc A Scott; Rachel S Gross Journal: Acad Pediatr Date: 2021-05-28 Impact factor: 3.107
Authors: África Peral-Suárez; Esther Cuadrado-Soto; José Miguel Perea; Beatriz Navia; Ana M López-Sobaler; Rosa M Ortega Journal: BMC Pediatr Date: 2020-07-07 Impact factor: 2.125
Authors: Gülcan Bektas; Femke Boelsma; Carline L Wesdorp; Jacob C Seidell; Vivianne E Baur; S Coosje Dijkstra Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2021-06-18 Impact factor: 3.295