The role of parenting styles in childhood obesity

La obesidad infantil constituye un importante problema de salud pública de nuestro tiempo, debido a las consecuencias físicas y psicológicas negativas que acarrea, así como su elevado coste socioeconómico. La importancia de los factores ambientales en su etiología y el hecho de que los patrones de comportamiento de alimentación del niño surgen y evolucionan dentro del contexto familiar, muestra la importancia de los estilos de crianza en el desarrollo y mantenimiento de la obesidad. En este artículo se discuten los problemas físicos y psicológicos asociados a la obesidad infantil, su epidemiología descriptiva y los principales factores de riesgo y predictores para el desarrollo de sobrepeso y obesidad infantil. A partir de una revisión de la literatura se describe el papel del contexto familiar y estilos de crianza en los patrones de comportamiento de alimentación de los niños y la aparición de la obesidad infantil. Se discuten las implicaciones para el diseño de programas de intervención.Childhood obesity constitutes a major public health issue, due to its negative physical and neg- ative outcomes, as well as its high socioeconomic cost. The importance of environmental factors in its etiology and the fact that the child’s eating behavior patterns emerge and evolve within the fam- ily context shows the relevance of parenting styles in the development and maintenance of obesity. In this paper, we will discuss the physical and psychological problems associated with childhood obesity, its descriptive epidemiology and the main predictors and risk factors for the development of overweight and child obesity. Literature review, we will describe the role of family context and par- enting styles in childhood obesity. Implications for the design of intervention programs will be discussed.A epidemia global da obesidade infantil constitui um dos problemas de saúde pública mais rele- vantes da actualidade, devido às numerosas consequências físicas e psicológicas negativas que acarreta e ao seu elevado custo sócio-económico. A importância dos factores ambientais na sua etiologia e o facto dos padrões de comportamento alimentar da criança surgirem e evoluírem den- tro da família remetem para a importância dos estilos parentais no desenvolvimento e manutenção da obesidade. No presente trabalho abordaremos os problemas físicos e psicológicos que lhe estão associados, a epidemiologia descritiva do sobrepeso/obesidade infantil e os principais factores de risco e preditores para o desenvolvimento do sobrepeso e da obesidade infantil. A partir duma revi- são da literatura, será descrito o papel do contexto familiar e dos estilos parentais nos padrões de comportamento alimentar da criança e no surgimento da obesidade infantil. Serão discutidas as implicações para o desenho de programas de intervençã

The role of parenting styles in childhood obesity

La obesidad infantil constituye un importante problema de salud pública de nuestro tiempo, debido a las consecuencias físicas y psicológicas negativas que acarrea, así como su elevado coste socioeconómico. La importancia de los factores ambientales en su etiología y el hecho de que los patrones de comportamiento de alimentación del niño surgen y evolucionan dentro del contexto familiar, muestra la importancia de los estilos de crianza en el desarrollo y mantenimiento de la obesidad. En este artículo se discuten los problemas físicos y psicológicos asociados a la obesidad infantil, su epidemiología descriptiva y los principales factores de riesgo y predictores para el desarrollo de sobrepeso y obesidad infantil. A partir de una revisión de la literatura se describe el papel del contexto familiar y estilos de crianza en los patrones de comportamiento de alimentación de los niños y la aparición de la obesidad infantil. Se discuten las implicaciones para el diseño de programas de intervención.Childhood obesity constitutes a major public health issue, due to its negative physical and neg- ative outcomes, as well as its high socioeconomic cost. The importance of environmental factors in its etiology and the fact that the child’s eating behavior patterns emerge and evolve within the fam- ily context shows the relevance of parenting styles in the development and maintenance of obesity. In this paper, we will discuss the physical and psychological problems associated with childhood obesity, its descriptive epidemiology and the main predictors and risk factors for the development of overweight and child obesity. Literature review, we will describe the role of family context and par- enting styles in childhood obesity. Implications for the design of intervention programs will be discussed.A epidemia global da obesidade infantil constitui um dos problemas de saúde pública mais rele- vantes da actualidade, devido às numerosas consequências físicas e psicológicas negativas que acarreta e ao seu elevado custo sócio-económico. A importância dos factores ambientais na sua etiologia e o facto dos padrões de comportamento alimentar da criança surgirem e evoluírem den- tro da família remetem para a importância dos estilos parentais no desenvolvimento e manutenção da obesidade. No presente trabalho abordaremos os problemas físicos e psicológicos que lhe estão associados, a epidemiologia descritiva do sobrepeso/obesidade infantil e os principais factores de risco e preditores para o desenvolvimento do sobrepeso e da obesidade infantil. A partir duma revi- são da literatura, será descrito o papel do contexto familiar e dos estilos parentais nos padrões de comportamento alimentar da criança e no surgimento da obesidade infantil. Serão discutidas as implicações para o desenho de programas de intervençã

Famílias em risco psicossocial : desafios para a avaliação e intervenção

Revista de Psicologia da Criança e do Adolescente. - ISSN 1647-4120. - V. 6, n. 1 (2015). - p. 95-107.As famílias em risco psicossocial enfrentam graves problemas, vivem em contextos carentes de recursos e acumulam múltiplos acontecimentos de vida stressantes. Estas circunstâncias pessoais e contextuais dificultam ou limitam as suas competências parentais, comprometendo a sua capacidade para exercer uma parentalidade adequada e o desenvolvimento dos seus filhos. Neste estudo foram analisadas as características de 209 famílias em situação de risco psicossocial no Algarve. Utilizámos a entrevista estruturada de Apoio Social de Arizona, a escala de Apoio Social para Situações Vitais Estressantes, a Escala de Competências Parentais Percebidas, o Inventário de Situações Estressantes e de Risco e um questionário de dados sociodemográficos. Observámos uma elevada precariedade económica e laboral e um nível educativo muito baixo. Os participantes sofreram nos últimos três anos um número importante de acontecimentos de vida estressantes com elevado impacto emocional. Quanto à rede de apoio social, relataram maiores necessidades emocionais do que tangíveis ou informativas. Os profissionais das instituições foram mencionados como fontes de apoio em raras ocasiões. No entanto, devem destacar-se alguns pontos fortes que podemos considerar características protetoras, tais como um sentimento moderado de eficácia e satisfação com o papel parental, o tamanho da rede social de apoio, a estrutura, estabilidade e tamanho médio das famílias

The enrich marital satisfaction scale: adaptation and psychometric properties among at-risk and community Portuguese parents

Marital satisfaction is a multidimensional construct that encompasses the satisfaction with marital interactions and with the emotional and the practical aspects of marriage. Marital satisfaction has a great impact on personal well-being and affects the family as a whole; low marital satisfaction has been associated with unhappiness and with higher divorce rates. Furthermore, marital satisfaction is related with family functioning and is an indicator of the quality of the parenting relationship. The Enrich Marital Satisfaction (EMS) scale is a two-factor and 15-items self-report measure that assesses satisfaction with the marital relationship. This study analysed the psychometric properties of the EMS among two samples: at-risk (N = 273, M = 37.05 years, 82.05% women) and community (N = 205, M = 38.38 years, 52.2% women) Portuguese parents. Participants completed the EMS and measures of parenting sense of competence, parenting stress, and parenting alliance. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the revised two-factor model obtained the best fit, after removing a few items. Measurement invariance across the two samples was demonstrated. The EMS showed good psychometric properties, namely internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity. The EMS is a time-efficient tool for both researchers and practitioners who need to assess marital satisfaction, a relevant dimension for family functioning and parenting.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Parenting stress predictors in mothers of families at psychosocial risk

In this study we analyzed the associations between parenting stress, parental sense of competence and the contribution of socio-demographical and psychological factors to the explanation of parenting stress. Participants were 80 Portuguese mothers, recipients of the child protection services. Results showed high levels of parenting stress, especially in unemployed mothers with adolescent children, and significant associations between parenting stress and perceived parental competences. Maternal role satisfaction and employment were the most robust factors on the explanation of parenting stress, predicting 37% of the variance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Análisis confirmatorio de la versión reducida del Cuestionario de Dimensiones y Estilos Parentales (PSDQ) en una muestra portuguesa

An important research field in family studies relates to the role parenting practices can have on several domains of children's development. Regarding to parenting styles, it was Baumrind's conceptualization that was responsible for a relevant research boost in this area. She proposed a model contemplating three different styles: authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive. The aim of our study was to examine the factor structure, internal consistency and others psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ). The participants were 424 parents (mainly mothers, 81.2%) from Algarve (South of Portugal), that answered to PSDQ and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The instrument comprises 32 items: 12 questions regarding the authoritative style, 15 questions regarding the authoritarian style, and 5 questions regarding the permissive style. Several competing models (i.e., one and three-factorial, and another where latent variables were organized in a 1st and 2nd order factors) were tested in regards to PSDQ factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis. A fourth model, contemplating inter-correlations between item 7 and 8 was also proposed, which showed adequate fit and internal consistency. These findings support the PSDQ original structure. Implications concerning the use and contributes to social and emotional child' adjustment are discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (EMS) Scale: a psychometric study in a sample of Portuguese parents

Marital satisfaction is a key construct in the assessment of a couple’s relationship, and it encompasses aspects such as the feelings of affection, trust, and companionship that arise from the exchanges between spouses. The ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (EMS) Scale has been widely used as a reliable measure to assess marital satisfaction. In the present study, we aimed to analyze the psychometric properties and the factor structure of the EMS Scale in a sample of Portuguese parents. A total of 205 mothers and fathers participated; 107 were women (52%), and 98 were men (48%), and the mean age was 38.39 years (SD = 5.85). The majority were two-parent families (89.3%), with children between the ages of 1 and 13 years (M = 6.90), 53% of whom were boys. The participants completed the EMS Scale together with the Parenting Stress Index Short Form and the Parenting Alliance Inventory. The results from a confirmatory factor analysis corroborate the two-dimensional structure of the instrument, with internal validity and reliability values that were suitable for application in the Portuguese population. The EMS Scale can be an important resource, with good psychometric quality, for professionals and researchers, which can be used in assessment and intervention programs, both at the individual and couple levels.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Brief COPE: Measurement invariance and psychometric properties among community and at-risk portuguese parents

Parenting generally brings about high internal and external demands, which can be perceived as stressful when they exceed families’ resources. When faced with such stressors, parents need to deploy several adaptive strategies to successfully overcome these challenges. One of such strategies is coping, an important cognitive and behavioural skill. In this study, we intended to examine the psychometric properties of Carver’s (1997) Brief COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced), extending its cross-cultural validity among a Portuguese sample of community and at-risk parents. The sample comprised community (n = 153) and at-risk (n = 116) parents who completed the brief COPE, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales and the Parenting Stress Index—Short Form. Confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, cross sample invariance, convergent and discriminant validity were analysed. Data from the confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the 14-factor model obtained the best fit. The results provided evidence that the Brief COPE is a psychometrically sound instrument that shows measurement invariance across samples and good reliability. Our findings demonstrated that the Portuguese version of brief COPE is a useful, time-efficient tool for both practitioners and researchers who need to assess coping strategies, a relevant construct in family context.UID/PSI/04345/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Family feedback in Child Welfare Services: A systematic review of measures

Background: Assessing family feedback in Child Welfare Services is embedded in family-centered practice, and the availability of validated, reliable instruments to perform this evaluation is essential for front-line practitioners, managers, and policymakers. Nonetheless, to date, no study has systematically identified and analyzed the measures in this field. Objectives: A systematic review of the literature following the PRISMA guidelines was conducted to identify, describe and conceptually and psychometrically assess all of the published measures of family feedback in Child Welfare Services. Method: A search of the measures published in peer-reviewed scientific journals in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French from 1980 to October 2013 was performed. Ten electronic databases and reference lists of relevant studies were consulted. In total, 13 studies including eight instruments were identified and analyzed. Results: Most studies omitted information regarding the descriptive characteristics of the instruments and made no reference to a conceptual model. In most cases, the development and validation processes of the instruments and their psychometric characteristics were insufficiently reported. Additionally, some relevant elements of family-centered practice were frequently omitted in the dimensions of the questionnaires. Conclusions: The scarcity of validated measures to evaluate family feedback in Child Welfare Services demands further research to develop new instruments that overcome these limitations. Recommendations for designing and validating future instruments are provided

Psychometric properties of an adapted version of the parental sense of competence (PSOC) scale for Portuguese at-risk parents

Parental sense of competence is one of the central dimensions targeted on psychosocial interventions aimed at supporting at-risk families. Researchers and practitioners need reliable instruments to assess the parental role adapted for these families. Although the Parental Sense of Competence (PSOC) scale has been frequently used to assess this construct, there is still no adapted version for Portuguese parents. In this study, the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the PSOC scale is examined with a clinical sample of 146 mothers from at-risk families receiving psychosocial interventions for family preservation from Child Protective Services. Results show that the Portuguese version of the PSOC measures three distinct constructs with acceptable psychometric properties: Efficacy, dissatisfaction, and controllability. As expected, the obtained factors were significantly and positively related to parenting alliance and family cohesion, and negatively associated with parenting stress. In sum, the proposed Portuguese version shows reliability and validity evidences to measure three relevant dimensions of parental self-evaluation, and it constitutes a cost- and time-effective instrument suited for at-risk mothers.Junta de Andalucí