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Assessment of Parent Orientation towards Autonomy vs. Control in Promoting Children's Healthy Eating and Exercise
Evelyn S Chiang1, Miguel A Padilla1
1University of North Carolina at Asheville, USAOld Dominion University, USA.
Applied Psychology. Health and Well-Being
|August 20, 2015
Summary
Parents' autonomy support influences children's health behaviors. A new scale shows parent autonomy orientation relates to child diet and weight, offering insights for health interventions.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Health Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Self-determination theory explains health behaviors via personal agency.
- Autonomy-supportive or controlling environments impact engagement.
- Parental autonomy orientation in health contexts remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate the Parent Orientations to Health scale.
- To assess parent orientation to autonomy and control regarding child health behaviors.
- To examine associations between parent autonomy orientation and child health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Developed the Parent Orientations to Health scale.
- Recruited 143 parents of elementary school-aged children.
- Administered the scale to assess parent autonomy and control orientations.
Main Results:
- The scale reliably measured parent autonomy orientation in health contexts.
- Parent autonomy orientation differed based on child weight status.
- Parent autonomy orientation correlated with the child's diet healthiness.
Conclusions:
- The Parent Orientations to Health scale effectively evaluates parental autonomy orientation.
- Parental autonomy orientation is linked to children's diet quality.
- Parental autonomy orientation is associated with children's body mass index.
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