Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Volume 36, Issue 4, 2012, Pages 317-324

Aspects of parenting and family functioning associated with obesity in adolescent refugees and migrants from African backgrounds living in Australia (Article)

Mellor D.* , Renzaho A. , Swinburn B. , Green J. , Richardson B.
  • a School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
  • b Monash University, Centre for International Health, Burnet Institute, VIC, Australia
  • c WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention and Related Research and Training, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, VIC, Australia
  • d Parenting Research Centre, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  • e School of Psychology, Deakin University, VIC, Australia

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between parenting style and family functioning, and BMI, among adolescent migrants and refugees from African countries. Method: A total of 104 parents and their adolescent offspring completed questionnaires assessing the variables of interest, and anthropometric data were collected from them. Results: Parents reported higher maternal involvement, lower levels of paternal involvement, higher levels of positive parenting, greater use of 'other' (non-corporal) discipline styles, greater satisfaction and better communication than did their offspring. Parents also reported greater family cohesion and flexibility than adolescents, and saw their families as more enmeshed and more rigid. Parenting style and family functioning were not strong predictors of BMI according to either report. For adolescents, inconsistent discipline and lack of parental supervision accounted for significant variance in BMI. Conclusions: Inconsistent discipline and lack of parental supervision may be related to adolescent BMI. Further studies with larger samples are required to confirm these relationships with the view to informing obesity prevention programs for this target population. Implications: Prevention or intervention programs aimed at reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity need to consider parenting style in their design. © 2012 The Authors.

Author Keywords

African Obesity Parenting style Immigrant Adolescent Family functioning

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84864566601&doi=10.1111%2fj.1753-6405.2012.00894.x&partnerID=40&md5=f49743304c0269d2798b9fcae018b6bb
DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2012.00894.x
ISSN: 13260200
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English