title: Parental Involvement in a School-Based Child Physical Activity and Nutrition Program in Southeastern United States: A Qualitative Analysis of Parenting Capacities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parent involvement varies widely in school-based programs designed to promote physical activity and healthy nutrition, yet the underlying factors that may limit parent's participation and support of learned behaviors at home are not well understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a qualitative study that consisted of one focus group (n = 5) and 52 in-depth interviews among parents whose children participated in a school-based physical activity and nutrition (PAN) promotion program in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. We sought to identify factors that enabled or constrained parent's support of and involvement in children's programs and to understand the underlying factors that contribute to family success in making dietary and physical activity changes at home.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents identified their physical and mental health, self-confidence, time, and decision making as underlying "capacities" in the family health pattern. When strengthened, these capacities encourage healthful family behavior and support of school-based PAN programs. Families that succeeded in adopting lessons learned from school-based PAN programs identified four primary strategies for success: shared goals, meal planning, modeling of good behaviors, and collective activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions that aim to improve child nutrition and physical activity and the broader family health environment should consider underlying capacities of parents and the importance of joint goals and activities.
authors.affiliation: College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA sickes@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ickes
authors.affiliation: College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.affiliation: College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dolan
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015444:Exercise; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D014768:Virginia
keywords: nutrition; parental views; participation; qualitative methods