Using parent-child dyad design to explore the health-related beliefs and behaviors among overweight and obesity students

• Main Authors: Fan,Feng-Chin, 范鳳琴
• Other Authors: Guo Jong-Long
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/23ayqp

碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 健康促進與衛生教育學系 === 103 === ABSTRACT This study aims to determine the health-related beliefs and behaviors of children of fifth- and sixth-grades of elementary school regarding overweight and obesity. Purposive sampling was used to invite 18 overweight and obese schoolchildren and their parents (n = 35) to be the study participants. The Health Belief Model was used in designing nine questions for performing individual interviews. The interviews were supplemented with a behavior checklist regarding healthy body weight for the parents and schoolchildren. The interview data of the parents and schoolchildren were compared using dyadic analysis. Finally, following further analysis and discussion, the interview content was organized and categorized. The results are summarized as follows: The health-related beliefs and behaviors of the overweight and obese schoolchildren indicated the following: The schoolchildren’s awareness of their body image was mostly influenced by their parents, and the children believed that the causes of them becoming obese were related to heredity and environmental factors related to family life, dietary behaviors, and the parents’ child-rearing attitudes. Commonalities were discovered between the dietary behaviors and life habits of the children and any obese family members. Generally, the girls cared more about other people’s perceptions and comments regarding their bodies, and they expressed the hope of having good-looking figures and wearing beautiful clothes. Consequently, when adopting weight control behaviors, the girls were more active in intention and performance than the boys. The diet problems of the overweight and obese schoolchildren included eating large quantities, eating quickly, unbalanced diets, irregular meal times, and eating before bedtime. During leisure time after school, most of them preferred to stay at home and watch television, use the computer, or play video games. The more obese the schoolchildren were, the more they disliked being active. Reduced physical activity and a dislike of exercise are two factors that cause overweight and obesity in schoolchildren. The health beliefs, life habits, and dietary behavior of the overweight and obese schoolchildren were considerably influenced by the parents and family members. Appropriate parental supervision was sufficient for introducing regularity to the schoolchildren’s lives and quality of sleep. The schoolchildren typically lacked self-control and persistence. However, the parents could stimulate the children to act through methods such as regulating dietary habits, encouraging the children and accompanying them in exercise, reducing sedentary activities, providing a supportive environment, increasing the children’s competency at controlling body weight, and providing timely encouragement. The results of the schoolchildren and parent interview and checklist as well as the parent–child dyadic analysis indicated the following: The children’s body types were more influenced by the fathers (70.6%) than by the mothers (38.8%). Most of the schoolchildren slept 8 hours each night (83%), whereas most of the parents did not (63%). Half of the schoolchildren got their five a day (50%), whereas most of the parents did not (57%). Most of the schoolchildren used a computer, television, gaming console, and telephone for less than 2 hours every day (61%), whereas most of the parents did not manage this (63%). Nearly half of the schoolchildren exercised 30 minutes every day (45%), whereas most of the parents did not (66%). Nearly half of the schoolchildren drank plain drinking water every day (44%), whereas only a minority of the parents did (2%). The results of this study can serve as a reference and provide suggestions for establishing healthy body-weight plans and strategies. In the future, parents and children can be adopted as study participants for drawing up family intervention programs, thus improving the results of managing healthy body weights.