Energy balance-related parenting and child-care practices: The importance of meso-system consistency

Background
Our knowledge of the role of parental and child-care staff behavior in the development and prevention of obesity is rapidly increasing. Potential interaction between both settings in so-called meso-systems, as hypothesized by the ecological systems perspective, is however often ignored. Specifically, inconsistency between home and child-care is hypothesized to have negative effects on child outcomes.
Methods
Participants were recruited through 23 child-care centers in the Netherlands. Data regarding 161 child-parent-child-care staff triads were available. Parenting and child care practices were assessed using validated questionnaires for parents (Child Feeding Practices Questionnaire, Preschooler Physical Activity Parenting Practices instrument) and child-care staff (Child-care Food and Activity Practices Questionnaire), using similar items in both settings. Absolute difference scores between parents and child-care staff were calculated for each triad as a measure of meso-system consistency. Child outcomes were physical activity (as assessed by accelerometry), dietary intake (from the parental questionnaire), and measured BMI z-scores. Paired t-tests were used to examine consistency between practices in both settings. Linear regression analyses were used to explore the association of parenting practices, child-care practices and difference scores on the one hand, and child outcomes on the other.
Results
Significant differences between settings were found for almost all practices, and in most cases child-care staff scores more favorable on the practices than parents. Inconsistencies were mostly associated with unhealthy dietary intake and lower physical activity levels, but not with BMI.
Conclusion
The current study showed that inconsistencies in parenting and child-care practices exist, and that these inconsistencies seem to be associated with unhealthy behavior in children. The results underline the importance of studying meso-system influences on behavior in general, and children’s energy balance-related behavior specifically.