Abstract

Parental stress is associated with increased obesogenic family lifestyle behaviors contributing to childhood obesity. Novel interventions are needed to reduce parental stress and improve healthy lifestyle behaviors for preschool-age children and families. The primary study aim was to analyze preliminary effects of a digitally enhanced evidence-based cognitive- behavior skill-building (CBSB) intervention on parental stress and healthy lifestyle behaviors (diet and physical activity) among parents of preschool-age children. A secondary aim was to evaluate feasibility/acceptability of this school-based virtual intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 12-week intervention involved text messaging and three pre-recorded CBSB educational video presentations accessed by parents of preschool-age children (n=21) from a password-protected website. The Healthy Child Healthy Family Behavior Checklist (HCHF) measured lifestyle behaviors. Parent stress was measured using the self-reported Parental Stress Scale (PSS) and parents' hair cortisol concentration (HCC) levels. Paired t-tests/Wilcoxon signed rank tests determined pre/post-intervention differences among healthy family lifestyle behaviors and parental stress. Pearson/Spearman Rho correlations determined if significant relationships existed between parent stress and healthy family lifestyle behaviors. Both parent stress measures were significantly reduced post-intervention (p< .05). A modest increase in HCHF from baseline (M=60.38; SD=6.48) to post-intervention (M=61.43; SD=6.85); [t(20)= -0.695, p=0.487)] was non-significant. No significant correlations were found among the parental stress and HCHF variables. All parental responses about text messaging were positive and most (86%) reported that messages motivated healthy behavior changes. Digitally enhanced CBSB virtually delivered interventions with parents in a school-based setting are feasible/acceptable and may potentially improve parental stress and family lifestyle behaviors.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2023

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Quelly, Susan

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Nursing

Department

Nursing

Degree Program

Nursing

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0009607; DP0027632

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0027632

Language

English

Release Date

May 2023

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

Location

UCF Online

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