The accuracy of maternal perception toward their children’s weights and health behaviors

• Main Authors: Chung, Cheng-Jung, 鍾承融
• Other Authors: Huang, Yueh-Guey
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/37489188540624562869

博士 === 臺北市立大學 === 競技運動訓練研究所 === 103 === Purpose: To explored those factors which related to the accuracy of maternal perception of children’s weight status and the relationships between the accuracy of maternal perception of children’s weight and children health behaviors. Methods: A national representative sample of 3-11 year-old children and their mothers from 2005 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey were examined. The demographic characteristics of children and mothers, children’s body mass index (BMI), mothers’ perceptions of child’s weight status and child health behavior, such as dietary patterns, weight management behaviors, and spending time on sedentary activities were collected by a questionnaire. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to analyze the different of characteristics among each weight status, the relationships of the accuracy of maternal weight perception, and child health behaviors. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationships of the accuracy of maternal perception and each predictor. Results: Nearly 45% of 3-11 year-old children’s BMI were abnormal, and 24.4% of them were overweight and obesity. In maternal perception of children’s weight, 35% of them were misperceived. Child age, mother’s age, mother’s ethnicity and monthly household income were related to the accuracy of maternal perception of children’s weight. Mothers with younger children, younger mothers, aboriginal mothers and monthly household income less than NT$30,000 have higher risk in misperceiving their children’s weight. The relationships between the accuracy of maternal perception and child health behaviors was statistical significant. The aboriginal BMI children of mothers with accuracy perception would engage in correct weight control direction. Besides, mothers with accuracy perception of their children’s weight and children spending less time on watching TV and computer/video game playing, could have more consumption in vegetable and fruits intake. Conclusion: The accuracy of maternal perception of children’s weight was related to children’s health behaviors such as correct weight control direction, spending less hours on sedentary activities and more healthy dietary intake. Given the accuracy of maternal perception of children’s weight related to the demographic characteristics of mother and children, its mechanism needs to be clarified in the future. To prevent children suffering from abnormal weight status.