The role of parenting styles and socio-economic status in parents’ knowledge of child development

Early childhood development (ECD) has been recognised to be the most important contributor to long-term social and emotional development. Therefore, positive parenting is paramount to foster quality parent–child interaction. Previous research shows that for parents to adopt a positive parenting style, some degree of parental knowledge is required. The aim of this study was to compare the relationship between knowledge of child development and parenting styles in low and high socio-economic groups of parents in ECD centres. A crosssectional study was conducted using a correlation-comparative research design. The sample consisted of N = 140 parents with children between two and five years old from low and high socio-economic groups. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation were used to analyse the data. The findings also show that there is no correlation between knowledge of child development and authoritative parenting styles. However, correlations do exist between the other variables

Street children in Mafikeng, North-West Province: A qualitative study of social experiences

The general perception, on the part of South African society, is that street children are a major social menace. Yet the reality is that, street children are a vulnerable group that suffer both psychological and physical violence including sexual abuse. This qualitative study investigated the social experiences of street children in Mafikeng, North-West Province in South Africa. Data were collected using focus group discussions made up of a total of 20 participants aged 10-19 years, and selected using convenience sampling. Three themes were extracted using the consensual qualitative method and constant comparison to establish credibility and  trustworthiness. The results of the study revealed three major themes (i.e. reasons for abandoning home; life in the streets, and the desire to go  back home), and three sub-themes (risks and challenges encountered, regrets, and the desire for rehabilitation and schooling). Recommendations included the need for psychological interventions among this group, the need further for research, and the need to use probability sampling techniques in future studies, as this might provide a more comprehensive picture of the situation.Keywords: Street children, social experiences, Mafikeng, Africa, vulnerable, psychological interventio

Proximal and Distal Environmental Correlates of Adolescent Obesity

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine how proximal (home) and distal (neighborhood) environmental characteristics interact to influence obesity in early and middle adolescents. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study using the 2007 National Survey of Children\u27s Health (NCSH). Participants were 39,542 children ages 11 to 17 years. Logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship between adolescent obesity and environmental factors, the relative strength of these factors, and the influence of age and gender. Results: Proximal environmental factors were stronger correlates of adolescent obesity than distal environmental factors. Sedentary behavior related to TV watching time at home was the strongest correlate of adolescent obesity overall (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.11-1.15). Parks and playgrounds (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.08-0.92), as well as recreation centers (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.97) were significant distal environmental factor correlates. Girls and middle adolescents were at less risk for obesity than boys and early adolescents (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.68-0.82; OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68-0.96). Conclusion: The results of this study reveal the importance of proximal environmental characteristics on adolescent obesity relative to distal environmental characteristics. Obesity intervention strategies for adolescents should target sedentary behavior and opportunities for physical activity with a focus on early adolescents and boys

Proximal and Distal Environmental Correlates of Adolescent Obesity

PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: To determine how proximal (home) and distal (neighborhood) environmental characteristics interact to influence obesity in early and middle adolescents, ages 11-17. NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: 39,542 children aged 11-17 from households identified from 2.8 million randomly generated landline telephone numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u27s (CDC) National Immunization Survey (NIS) sampling frame. MATERIALS/METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study design using data extracted from the 2007 National Survey of Children\u27s Health (NCSH). Univariate logistic regression models and multiple logistic regression were used to examine the relationship between adolescent obesity and environmental factors, the relative strength of the direct and indirect association with adolescent obesity, and the influence of age and gender. RESULTS: Proximal environmental factors were stronger correlates of adolescent obesity than distal environmental factors. The influence of TV watching time on obesity for middle adolescents was stronger than for early adolescents (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.94-1.0). The effect of TV watching time on obesity for boys was stronger than for girls (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.10). Sedentary behavior related to TV watching time was the strongest correlate of adolescent obesity overall. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this US population-based study reveal the importance of proximal environmental characteristics on adolescent obesity relative to distal environmental characteristics, and the overall consistency of the influences of proximal and distal environmental factors on obesity across age groups and gender. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this US population-based study begin to fill the gap in adolescent obesity research with an improved understanding of the relatedness and relative importance of home and neighborhood environmental correlates of adolescent obesity. Home, family, and community influences on adolescent obesity highlight the multidimensional nature of interactions with the environment during this stage of development. Insight into the influence of proximal and distal environmental attributes can inform theory for adolescent obesity intervention planning. Our findings suggest that obesity intervention strategies for adolescents should target sedentary behavior as well as opportunities for physical activity with a focus on the groups at a higher risk for obesity-early adolescents and boys

Proximal and Distal Environmental Correlates of Adolescent Obesity

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine how proximal (home) and distal (neighborhood) environmental characteristics interact to influence obesity in early and middle adolescents. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study using the 2007 National Survey of Children\u27s Health (NCSH). Participants were 39,542 children ages 11 to 17 years. Logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship between adolescent obesity and environmental factors, the relative strength of these factors, and the influence of age and gender. Results: Proximal environmental factors were stronger correlates of adolescent obesity than distal environmental factors. Sedentary behavior related to TV watching time at home was the strongest correlate of adolescent obesity overall (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.11-1.15). Parks and playgrounds (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.08-0.92), as well as recreation centers (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.97) were significant distal environmental factor correlates. Girls and middle adolescents were at less risk for obesity than boys and early adolescents (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.68-0.82; OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68-0.96). Conclusion: The results of this study reveal the importance of proximal environmental characteristics on adolescent obesity relative to distal environmental characteristics. Obesity intervention strategies for adolescents should target sedentary behavior and opportunities for physical activity with a focus on early adolescents and boys

Proximal and Distal Environmental Correlates of Adolescent Obesity

PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: To determine how proximal (home) and distal (neighborhood) environmental characteristics interact to influence obesity in early and middle adolescents, ages 11-17. NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: 39,542 children aged 11-17 from households identified from 2.8 million randomly generated landline telephone numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u27s (CDC) National Immunization Survey (NIS) sampling frame. MATERIALS/METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study design using data extracted from the 2007 National Survey of Children\u27s Health (NCSH). Univariate logistic regression models and multiple logistic regression were used to examine the relationship between adolescent obesity and environmental factors, the relative strength of the direct and indirect association with adolescent obesity, and the influence of age and gender. RESULTS: Proximal environmental factors were stronger correlates of adolescent obesity than distal environmental factors. The influence of TV watching time on obesity for middle adolescents was stronger than for early adolescents (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.94-1.0). The effect of TV watching time on obesity for boys was stronger than for girls (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.10). Sedentary behavior related to TV watching time was the strongest correlate of adolescent obesity overall. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this US population-based study reveal the importance of proximal environmental characteristics on adolescent obesity relative to distal environmental characteristics, and the overall consistency of the influences of proximal and distal environmental factors on obesity across age groups and gender. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this US population-based study begin to fill the gap in adolescent obesity research with an improved understanding of the relatedness and relative importance of home and neighborhood environmental correlates of adolescent obesity. Home, family, and community influences on adolescent obesity highlight the multidimensional nature of interactions with the environment during this stage of development. Insight into the influence of proximal and distal environmental attributes can inform theory for adolescent obesity intervention planning. Our findings suggest that obesity intervention strategies for adolescents should target sedentary behavior as well as opportunities for physical activity with a focus on the groups at a higher risk for obesity-early adolescents and boys