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Influence of Parenting Style on Body Mass Index, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Time

Corey A Selland1, Emily C Huber-Johnson2, Mary Bowne3

  • 1Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato, MN, USA.

Global Pediatric Health
|September 16, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Authoritative parenting did not influence children's physical activity or sedentary time. However, it was linked to lower body mass index (BMI) percentile in girls, indicating a nuanced relationship between parenting style and child health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Child Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Parenting styles significantly impact child development and health behaviors.
  • Understanding the relationship between parenting and child body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA), and sedentary time (ST) is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of parenting style on BMI percentile, PA, and ST in fifth-grade children.
  • To determine if authoritative parenting is associated with healthier weight and activity levels.

Main Methods:

  • 152 fifth-grade children's PA and ST were objectively measured using accelerometers.
  • Parenting style was assessed via child self-report and categorized as authoritative or non-authoritative.
  • Multiple linear regression analyses identified predictors of BMI percentile, PA, and ST.

Main Results:

  • Parenting style did not predict ST or any intensity of PA.
  • BMI percentile and gender significantly predicted moderate-intensity PA, vigorous-intensity PA, and moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (P < .01).
  • Authoritative parenting predicted lower BMI percentile in female participants (P < .01).

Conclusions:

  • Authoritative parenting style did not predict objectively measured PA or ST in early adolescents.
  • Authoritative parenting style was associated with a lower BMI percentile specifically in female participants.
  • Findings suggest a gender-specific association between authoritative parenting and BMI percentile, independent of PA and ST.

Keywords:
body mass indexparenting stylepediatric obesityphysical activitysedentary time

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