title: Maternal Attitudes, Normative Beliefs, and Subjective Norms of Mothers of 2- and 3-Year-Old Children.
abstract: This exploratory study examined maternal attitudes, normative beliefs, subjective norms, and meal selection behaviors of mothers of 2- and 3-year-old children.
  
  
  
  Guided by the Theory of Reasoned Action, we had mothers complete three surveys, two interviews, and a feeding simulation exercise. Data were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate statistics and multivariate linear regression.
  
  
  
  A total of 31 mothers (50% Latino, 34% Black, 46.9% ≤ high school education, 31.3% poor health literacy) of 32 children (37.5% overweight/obese) participated in this study. Maternal normative beliefs (knowledge of U.S. Department of Agriculture recommendations) did not reflect actual U.S. Department of Agriculture recommendations. Collectively, regression models explained 13% (dairy) to 51% (vegetables) of the variance in behavioral intent, with normative belief an independent predictor in all models except grain and dairy.
  
  
  
  Meal selection behaviors, on average, were predicted by poor knowledge of U.S. Department of Agriculture recommendations. Dietary guidance appropriate to health literacy level should be incorporated into well-child visits.
authors.forename: Angela A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Northrup
authors.forename: Arlene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smaldone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Childhood obesity; USDA dietary recommendations; feeding practices; health literacy; maternal attitudes; theory of reasoned action