title: Do Maternal Caregiver Perceptions of Childhood Obesity Risk Factors and Obesity Complications Predict Support for Prevention Initiatives Among African Americans?
abstract: Objectives African American maternal caregiver support for prevention of childhood obesity may be a factor in implementing, monitoring, and sustaining children's positive health behaviors. However, little is known about how perceptions of childhood obesity risk factors and health complications influence caregivers' support of childhood obesity prevention strategies. The objective of this study was to determine if childhood obesity risk factors and health complications were associated with maternal caregivers' support for prevention initiatives. Methods A convenience sample of maternal caregivers (N = 129, ages 22-65 years) completed the childhood obesity perceptions (COP) survey. A linear regression was conducted to determine whether perceptions about childhood obesity risk factors and subsequent health complications influenced caregivers' support for prevention strategies. Results Caregivers' perceptions of childhood obesity risk factors were moderate (M = 3.4; SD = 0.64), as were their perceptions of obesity-related health complications (M = 3.3; SD = 0.75); however, they perceived a high level of support for prevention strategies (M = 4.2; SD = 0.74). In the regression model, only health complications were significantly associated with caregiver support (β = 0.348; p < 0.004). Conclusions Childhood obesity prevention efforts should emphasize health complications by providing education and strategies that promote self-efficacy and outcome expectations among maternal caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, One University Heights, CPO #2125, Asheville, NC, 28804, USA. dsalexander@unc.edu.|Department of Community Health Behavior & Education, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA. dsalexander@unc.edu.
authors.forename: Dayna S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4590-9560
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Behavior & Education, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA.
authors.forename: Moya L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Alfonso
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Measurement and Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA.
authors.forename: Chunhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Behavior & Education, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA.
authors.forename: Alesha R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D012424:Rural Population
keywords: African Americans; Childhood obesity; Maternal caregivers; Obesity prevention; Rural health