Exploring the Food Parenting Practices Among Black Immigrant Mothers in Metro Atlanta, GA

Phoebe TchouaFollow

Authors' Affiliations

Phoebe Tchoua, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Dr. Deborah Slawson, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Dr. Hadii Mamudu, Department of Health Services Management and Policy, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson, City, TN. Dr. Joel Hillhouse, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson, City, TN.

Location

Culp Center Ballroom

Start Date

4-25-2023 9:00 AM

End Date

4-25-2023 11:00 AM

Poster Number

10

Faculty Sponsor’s Department

Community & Behavioral Health

Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor

Deborah Slawson

Additional Sponsors

Dr. Hadii Mamudu, Dr. Joel Hillhouse

Classification of First Author

Graduate Student-Doctoral

Competition Type

Competitive

Type

Poster Presentation

Project's Category

Public Health

Abstract or Artist's Statement

Introduction: According to a national survey, 10-17 years old with any parent born outside the US have a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) than children with parent(s) born in the US. Therefore, children of Black immigrant parents living in the US are at elevated risk of being overweight or obese, thus increasing their risks of morbidity and mortality as they age. Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children's nutrition through their food parenting practices, defined as behaviors or actions that affect the child's dietary habits. The aim of this study was to examine food parenting practices among a sample of Black immigrant mothers living in Metro Atlanta using a modified Comprehensive Home Environment Survey (CHES).

Methods: Black immigrant mothers with children 2-19 years old were primarily recruited via social media, and 103 of them completed the 44-questions CHES. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and linear regression analyses were used to analyze the survey data in SPSS statistical analysis software.

Results: Based on survey findings, mothers used all three food parenting practices, coercive control, structure, and autonomy support or promotion. However, they used structure the most, in feeding their children, which directly influence mothers’ reports of their children’s dietary behavior and habits. Furthermore, education, income, age of migration, mother’s concern for child’s weight, and child’s sex were significantly associated with the participants’ food parenting practices. Specifically, mothers with more income, more education, or who migrated before age 14 were more likely to have better meals and snack routines and healthy food available and accessible. Also, female children were more likely to be involved in meal planning compared to male children, and mothers who migrated at age 14 or older were more likely to model unhealthy food behaviors.

Conclusion: The results of this study provide a baseline for the food parenting practices of Black immigrant mothers in the US and important factors (i.e., income, education, and age of migration) that influence their children’s dietary behavior. These findings can help inform diet-related disease prevention efforts in children like this Black immigrant population.

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Apr 25th, 9:00 AM Apr 25th, 11:00 AM

Exploring the Food Parenting Practices Among Black Immigrant Mothers in Metro Atlanta, GA

Culp Center Ballroom

Introduction: According to a national survey, 10-17 years old with any parent born outside the US have a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) than children with parent(s) born in the US. Therefore, children of Black immigrant parents living in the US are at elevated risk of being overweight or obese, thus increasing their risks of morbidity and mortality as they age. Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children's nutrition through their food parenting practices, defined as behaviors or actions that affect the child's dietary habits. The aim of this study was to examine food parenting practices among a sample of Black immigrant mothers living in Metro Atlanta using a modified Comprehensive Home Environment Survey (CHES).

Methods: Black immigrant mothers with children 2-19 years old were primarily recruited via social media, and 103 of them completed the 44-questions CHES. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and linear regression analyses were used to analyze the survey data in SPSS statistical analysis software.

Results: Based on survey findings, mothers used all three food parenting practices, coercive control, structure, and autonomy support or promotion. However, they used structure the most, in feeding their children, which directly influence mothers’ reports of their children’s dietary behavior and habits. Furthermore, education, income, age of migration, mother’s concern for child’s weight, and child’s sex were significantly associated with the participants’ food parenting practices. Specifically, mothers with more income, more education, or who migrated before age 14 were more likely to have better meals and snack routines and healthy food available and accessible. Also, female children were more likely to be involved in meal planning compared to male children, and mothers who migrated at age 14 or older were more likely to model unhealthy food behaviors.

Conclusion: The results of this study provide a baseline for the food parenting practices of Black immigrant mothers in the US and important factors (i.e., income, education, and age of migration) that influence their children’s dietary behavior. These findings can help inform diet-related disease prevention efforts in children like this Black immigrant population.