With PQDT Open, you can read the full text of open access dissertations and theses free of charge.
About PQDT Open
Search
Parent income and educational attainment (EA) influence children’s eating behaviors (EB). Psychological distress and socioeconomic disadvantage can trigger maladaptive EB that cause obesity (Hemmingson, 2014). Associations between Latino and African American (AA) parents’ income and EA with the child’s EB and psychological distress were explored. Baseline data for 79 AA and Latina 8-11 year old girls were collected via self-report surveys and 24-hour recalls; parent data was derived from demographic forms. T-tests, one-way independent ANOVA, and correlations assessed relationships. Children’s total fat intake differed by EA (p=.001) and income ( p=.022). Total sugar intake (p=.011) differed by income. Fruit intake differed by income level F(2, 47)=4.93, p=.011. Number of fruit servings was inversely correlated with children’s depressive symptoms (DS; p=.009) and trait anxiety (TA; p=.018). Emotional eating (EE) was positively related to DS ( p<.001), TA (p< .001), and perceived stress (PS; p<.001). Findings indicate that higher parent EA and income are associated with higher fat intake in children; higher income was associated with higher sugar intake. Fruit consumption seems to decrease with lower income, and higher DS and TA. Further, increased DS, TA, and PS are related to increased EE. Findings are contrary to expectations that poverty and low-education are associated with poor eating habits.
Advisor: | Nguyen-Rodriguez, Selena |
Commitee: | Frank, Gail C., Gatdula, Natalia |
School: | California State University, Long Beach |
Department: | Health Science |
School Location: | United States -- California |
Source: | MAI 56/02M(E), Masters Abstracts International |
Source Type: | DISSERTATION |
Subjects: | African American Studies, Behavioral psychology, Health sciences, Nutrition, Hispanic American studies |
Keywords: | African American, Childhood obesity, Eating behaviors, Latino, Psychological distress, Socioeconomic status |
Publication Number: | 10239833 |
ISBN: | 978-1-369-39362-0 |