The use of parental support-related self-regulatory strategies, family environment, and children’s nutrition

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the perception of family environment, the use of self-regulatory strategy by children and adolescents, and their nutrition and body weight. We verified research models based on the assumption that the family environment variables ( including parental norms and atmosphere during common meals) was related to the use of parental support-related self-regulatory strategies, which in turn predict children’s and adolescents’ nutrition behavior. Methods: The questionnaires were completed by 1,709 children and adolescents aged 9 -16 (M =12.56; SD = 1.88). Findings: The results indicate that the modeling of healthy eating behaviors, parental norms referring to healthy and unhealthy foods and family atmosphere during common meals was associated with more frequent use of parental support-related self-regulatory strategies by children which, in turn, was related to healthier nutrition. Discussion: The findings show the importance of using of parental support-related self-regulatory strategies as the factor mediating between perception of family environment and children’s nutrition.