ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5113-1110
Year
2020
Season
Summer
Paper Type
Doctoral Dissertation
College
Brooks College of Health
Degree Name
Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN)
Department
Nutrition & Dietetics
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. Department of Nutrition & Dietetics
Committee Chairperson
Dr. Andrea Arikawa
Second Advisor
Dr. Lauri Wright
Rights Statement
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Third Advisor
Dr. Jenifer Ross
Department Chair
Dr. Lauri Wright
College Dean
Dr. Curt Lox
Abstract
American children’s diets are commonly recorded as deficient in nutrient rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Such diets often exceed amounts of unhealthy items such as added sugars and sweetened beverages. In addition, 23% of children are considered overweight or obese. Mindfulness techniques in parents have been correlated with improved dietary outcomes in children and a healthier family eating environment.
The primary aim of this study was to develop and validate an instrument that reflects the theoretical framework drawn from current models of mindful eating, mindful parenting and mindful food parenting. The instrument is a practical tool that seeks to measure mindful food parenting. The tool is closely related to parental actions that can create an internal and external environment conducive to mindful eating in children ages 4 to 8 years old. The final version of the mindful food parenting instrument (MFPI) includes three components: bringing mindful awareness to eating experience; creating awareness of the hunger and fullness experience; and cultivating awareness of parent and child emotions and reactivity to emotions.
Validation of the instrument consisted of a series of steps and included experts and parents review of questions for clarity and understanding. Content validity and reliability tests involved two sets of parents. Additionally, the current study explored the relationship between the components of the mindful food parenting model and young children’s dietary outcomes. Results showed a good content validity and reliability for the instrument. Furthermore, results showed a correlation between mindful food parenting and children’s dietary outcomes. In conclusion, results from this study suggest that the MFPI is an adequate tool to measure mindful food parenting. Additionally this tool has the potential to measure mindful food parenting interventions.
Suggested Citation
Escobar, Su-Nui, "Development and validation of a mindful food parenting instrument to assess the relationship between parent food practices and children’s dietary outcomes" (2020). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 964.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/964
Included in
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons
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