title: Family Health Climate and Adolescents' Physical Activity and Healthy Eating: A Cross-Sectional Study with Mother-Father-Adolescent Triads.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The importance of the family environment for children's and adolescents' health behavior has been demonstrated, the underlying mechanisms of this influence remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between family environmental and individual determinants. It was hypothesized that the Family Health Climate (FHC) is associated with adolescents' physical activity and dietary behavior and that intrinsic motivation mediates this association.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data were collected from 198 families (mother, father, and child) using questionnaires. Perceptions of FHC of mothers, fathers, and their children were assessed using the FHC-scales for physical activity (FHC-PA) and nutrition (FHC-NU). The adolescents also rated their intrinsic motivation for exercise and healthy eating, their physical activity and consumption of healthful food. A structural equation model was analyzed and a bootstrapping procedure was used to test direct and indirect effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FHC-PA was related to the amount of weekly physical activity and the FHC-NU to the consumption of fruit, vegetables and salad. These effects were mediated by adolescents' intrinsic motivation; the indirect effects were significant for both behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results emphasize the importance of the FHC in shaping adolescents' physical activity and dietary behavior. Individual motivational factors are potential mediators of family and parental influences. Considering family-level variables and their interaction with individual factors contributes to the understanding of adolescents' health behavior.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina Y N
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Niermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Stef P J
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kremers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Psychological Assessment and Health Psychology, Konstanz, Germany.
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woll
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005220:Fathers; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires