title: Parental depression, family functioning and obesity among African American children.
abstract: Obesity has reached an epidemic level in America (National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS] 1999), and this epidemic is more acute for African Americans than for other groups of Americans. In this study, 44 parent-child dyads completed measurements of height, depression, and body fat composition. In addition, parents completed a demographic questionnaire, and instruments, which measured family functioning, parental psychopathology, child behavior, and cardiovascular risks. Several models emerged for predicting childhood and parental body mass index, parental depression, and child behavioral problems. Findings indicated a role for parental depression in childhood obesity. These findings are discussed in light of Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, and the family's role in childhood obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217-0350, USA. melvin.davis@jsums.edu
authors.forename: Melvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: LaShun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Sheila P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moll
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000208:ethnology*; D005192:Family Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology