This study examined the relationships among weight status (BMI), health perceptions, and psychosocial characteristics in children, parents, and parent-child dyads. A convenient sample of 114 parent-child dyads participated. All children were overweight or obese. Parents and children completed questionnaires by self-report or interview. Questionnaires included the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI), the Parents' Stage of Change (SOC) Questionnaire, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Child's mean age was 10.34 years (s.d. = 1.87), mean BMI was 28.13 kg/m(2) (s.d. = 5.46), and mean BMI z-score was 2.17 (s.d. = 0.38). Parent mean age was 37.28 years (s.d. = 12.66) and mean BMI was 34.07 kg/m(2) (s.d. = 8.18). Most parents (68.5%) reported that they and their children (70.7%) were African American and many (44.3%) reported that they and their children were Hispanic. Significant correlations included: child health perceptions and child BMI (r = 0.309, P < 0.001) and parent perception of weight and parent BMI (r = 0.691, P < 0.001). For parent-child dyads, one correlation approached significance (child health perceptions and parent stage of change (r = -0.269, P < 0.01). Findings suggest that characteristics of parent-child dyads may be important considerations in the management of childhood obesity.
Adult African Americans