Positive parenting by parents of children up to three years of age: development and validation of measurement scales

Interpersonal and Environmental Protective Factors and Their Associations With Children's Weight Status

Both external structure (ie, participating in extracurricular activities) and family factors (ie, parental emotional support) have separately been linked with children's physical health and well-being, however, their combined effects are less well known. The current study examined the longitudinal associations between participating in structured out-of-school activities and parent reports of warmth/emotional support with children's weight status (ie, zBMI) over time. Utilizing longitudinal data from the United States-based Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010 to 2011 (ECLS-K:2011), we employed a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and a latent variable cross-lagged path analysis to examine if emotional supportiveness and participation in structured activities predicted lower zBMI over the course of 1 year. The final sample included 18 135 participants. Mean age of the participants was 8.12 years (±0.38 years), and 51% of children were male. Mean zBMI was 0.54 (±1.12). Structure at baseline predicted increased zBMI in year 2 (β = .03, P = .02) but did not predict parent emotional supportiveness at year 2 (β = -.05, P = .09). Parent emotional supportiveness at baseline predicted greater zBMI at year 2 (β = .02, P = <.01) but did not predict structure at year 2 (β = .02, P = .39). zBMI at baseline did not predict structure (β = .02, P = .25) or parent emotional supportiveness at year 2 (β = -.01, P = .55). Our findings were inconsistent with our hypothesis with regard to directionality. Continued refinement about the role of internal structure (ie, family, and parenting practices) may inform public health prevention strategies to support the well-being of children and families.

DDAA and Maternal Reflective Functions

In this study, we propose to examine two types of Parent Training (PT) under DDAA —behavioral and reflective types of PT. The central idea of our work is that the development of parenting educational skills cannot ignore the development of reflective and regulatory functions, which promote pre-mentalization, social cognition, and empathic skills. Because of the lack of studies on the efficacy of behavioral PT addressed to the parents of subjects with DDAA, this work took place. This study included 90 families whose children were diagnosed with the disorder of dysregulated anger and aggression (DDAA) according to criteria of CD 0–5 (2016). The sample included pre-school children aged between 2 and 3 years old (age range 2–3 years), who were equally divided into two groups based on the type of PT administered to the parents or caregivers. Our results indicate that the PT intervention, which is focused on the improvement of parental reflexive functions, helps in obtaining greater results even in the reduction of the externalizing behavioral symptoms. Additionally, results show that the intervention of PT with a behavioral matrix does not improve parental reflexive functions even if it guarantees a slight reduction of children’s behavioral problems.

Role of nursing professionals for parenting development in early childhood: a systematic review of scope

OBJECTIVE

map available evidence regarding the role of nursing professionals in early childhood care through the development of parenting.

METHOD

systematic review of scope, with selection of studies about the role of nursing professionals for the development of parenting in the context of early childhood care, using a standardized data extraction tool and qualitative thematic analysis.

RESULTS

nineteen studies were included, showing the role of nursing professionals covers nine dimensions: promoter of parental role construction; guidance and support for the implementation of physical health care; guidance for promoting safe environment; application of theories, principles and methods of maternal and child programs; development of therapeutic relationships; implementation of maternal and child care management; promotion of access to support network; guidance for the life course of parental figures; and use of scientific evidence to guide practice.

CONCLUSION

nursing professionals offer important knowledge and significant practices for the development of parenting in early childhood care. These findings provide the basis for improving the clinical practice of these professionals, showing relevant areas of action and interventions to early childhood.

Maternal Eating and Physical Activity Strategies and their Relation with Children's Nutritional Status

Objectives

to describe the maternal eating and physical activity strategies (monitoring, discipline, control, limits and reinforcement) [MEES]; to determine the relation between MEES and the child's nutritional status [body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP)]; to verify whether the MEES differ according to the child's nutritional status.

Method

participants were 558 mothers and children (3 to 11 years of age) who studied at public schools. The Parental Strategies for Eating and Activity Scale (PEAS) was applied and the child's weight, height and BFP were measured. For analysis purposes, descriptive statistics were obtained, using multiple linear regression and the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results

the highest mean score was found for reinforcement (62.72) and the lowest for control (50.07). Discipline, control and limits explained 12% of the BMI, while discipline and control explained 6% of the BFP. Greater control is found for obese children (χ²=38.36, p=0.001) and greater reinforcement for underweight children (χ²=7.19, p<0.05).

Conclusions

the mothers exert greater control (pressure to eat) over obese children and greater recognition (congratulating due to healthy eating) in underweight children. Modifications in parental strategies are recommended with a view to strengthening healthy eating and physical activity habits.

The involvement of parents in the healthcare provided to hospitalzed children

OBJECTIVE

to analyze the answers of parents and health care professionals concerning the involvement of parents in the care provided to hospitalized children.

METHOD

exploratory study based on the conceptual framework of pediatric healthcare with qualitative data analysis.

RESULTS

three dimensions of involvement were highlighted: daily care provided to children, opinions concerning the involvement of parents, and continuity of care with aspects related to the presence and participation of parents, benefits to the child and family, information needs, responsibility, right to healthcare, hospital infrastructure, care delivery, communication between the parents and health services, shared learning, and follow-up after discharge.

CONCLUSION

the involvement of parents in the care provided to their children has many meanings for parents, nurses and doctors. Specific strategies need to be developed with and for parents in order to mobilize parental competencies and contribute to increasing their autonomy and decision-making concerning the care provided to children.