Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 46, Issue 4 , Pages 331-338, April 2010

Parenting Style as a Predictor of Adolescent Weight and Weight-Related Behaviors

  • Jerica M. Berge, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: Jerica M. Berge, Ph.D., L.M.F.T., Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Phillips Wangensteen Building, 516 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455.
    • ,
  • Melanie Wall, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
    • ,
  • Katie Loth, M.P.H.

      Affiliations

    • Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
    • ,
  • Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, Ph.D., M.P.H.

      Affiliations

    • Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Received 30 April 2009; accepted 12 August 2009. published online 16 October 2009.

Abstract 

Purpose

Current research indicates that specific parenting styles are associated with adolescent overweight, dietary intake, and physical activity; but most of the research has been cross-sectional, making it difficult to determine the temporal order of these associations. The current study adds to the previous research by examining 5-year longitudinal associations between parenting style and adolescent weight and weight-related behaviors.

Methods

Data from Project EAT, a population-based study with adolescents from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, were used. Adolescents (N = 2,516) from 31 Minnesota schools completed in-class assessments in 1999 (Time 1) and mailed surveys in 2004 (Time 2). Multiple linear regression models were used to predict mean levels of adolescent outcomes at Time 2 from parenting style at Time 1.

Results

Time 1 maternal authoritative parenting style predicted lower body mass index in adolescent sons and daughters at Time 2. Time 1 paternal permissive parenting style predicted more fruits and vegetables intake in daughters at Time 2. Significant associations were not found between parenting style and adolescent physical activity.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that authoritative parenting style may play a protective role related to adolescent overweight and that the dimension of warmth and/or caring in the parent–adolescent relationship may be important in relation to female adolescent healthy dietary intake. Further exploration of opposite sex parent–adolescent dyad patterns related to parenting style and adolescent weight and weight-related behaviors is warranted.

Keywords: Parenting style, Adolescent, Overweight, Obesity

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 The content of the manuscript is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Maternal and Child Health Program, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or the National Institutes of Health.

PII: S1054-139X(09)00331-0

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.08.004

Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 46, Issue 4 , Pages 331-338, April 2010

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