title: Comparisons of parent cardiovascular knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors based on screening and perceived child risks.
abstract: Questionnaire reports and universal screening procedures from 244 children (kindergarten, 5th grade, and 9th grade) were used to explore differences in parent health knowledge and attitudes of cardiovascular risks among children and parental involvement in promoting healthy lifestyles relative to whether their children were identified as being overweight or at risk of being overweight. The knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the parents of children who were identified as being at risk or overweight were further examined based on their perceptions of their children's level of risk. Parents' reports demonstrated significantly greater parent encouragement and knowledge of issues related to eating healthier foods and ways to cut calories among parents of children who were identified as being at risk or already overweight. A significant portion of parents underestimated their children's weight risks. Differences in parents' appraisals of their children's overweight risks were associated with differences in their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. These findings illustrate the need to address inaccuracies in parents' assessments of their children's overweight risks to improve parent investment and involvement in children's health modification programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. lcottrell@hsc.wvu.edu
authors.forename: Lesley A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cottrell
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Minor
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Alyson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Eloise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Georgianna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tillis
authors.forename: Malinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Neal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D050177:Overweight; D010290:Parents; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012424:Rural Population; D014903:West Virginia