Browsing by Subject "parents"
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Item African American Fathers? Perceptions of Childhood Overweight: An Exploratory Study(2012-02-14) Byrd, VanessaChildhood overweight/obesity (CHO) is a serious health concern for children and adolescents. Despite increased efforts to prevent CHO, prevalence rates have actually increased. Evidence suggests that parents are critical to successful interventions to reduce CHO among children. While research efforts aimed at parental inclusion have increased, limited research has been conducted to investigate fathers? perception of CHO, or their influences on their children?s health. The objective of this two-phase study was to answer three research questions: a) How does the extant literature operationalize African American parental perceptions of childhood overweight/obesity? b) What are African American fathers? perceptions of CHO? and c) How do African American fathers perceive CHO in relation to their own child?s weight status? Evidence-based studies reveal that fathers have the potential to play a significant role in CHO prevention. Phase one (literature review) revealed that published studies on parental perception of CHO either exclude fathers, include them only in data collection, and/or report no results specific to paternal perception. Thus, an exploratory qualitative study was needed to explore African American fathers? perceptions of CHO. In phase two (qualitative study), four fathers were interviewed about their perceptions of CHO and how they contextualize this problem. The results indicated fathers believe that weight categories are racially & culturally insensitive and do not account for individual health status or differences in body/bone structure, and that parents with overweight children are financially disadvantaged, irresponsible and overworked. Fathers also indicated that colloquial terms (e.g., chunky, husky, big-boned, thick) were commonly substituted medical definitions for overweight and that child/teen sports participation was motivated by health, as well as non-health related benefits (e.g., competitiveness, educational scholarships). Further, fathers? identification of CHO is subjective and includes visual means and parental assessment of health status (e.g., child mobility/activity levels). Implications of this study are that additional studies are needed to clarify fathers? roles in CHO and that future studies should consider complex familial structures, as well as reframe prevention efforts to focus on optimal child health as opposed to weight labeling and focusing on parents? accuracy in identifying weight categories.Item Internet use among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders(2009-03-11) Nona Fain; Carolyn A. Phillips, RN, PhD; Virginia Niebuhr, PhD; Mary Anne Hanley, RN, PhD; Mary Ann Best, PhD, RN; Elnora P. (\"Nonie\") Mendias, PhD, RNParents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are uniquely stressed by the difficult behaviors of their children which often result in isolation, depression and financial burden. The causes of ASD are not well-understood but are believed to result from a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. There is no standard treatment protocol for ASD. Since early intervention is associated with more favorable outcomes for the child, many parents search the Internet hoping to find effective therapies and treatments. This study employed Naturalistic Inquiry methodology, as described by Lincoln and Guba (1985), to explore how parents of children with ASD use the Internet, what kinds of information the parents were seeking and how they located, evaluated and chose to use ASD-related information. Twelve parents of children with ASD were interviewed for the study. Data consisted of bio-demographic information and transcribed interviews. Data was unitized and analyzed inductively; coded descriptively, topically and analytically (Morse & Richards, 2002) in a recursive manner using the constant comparative method (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). Rigor and data trustworthiness were enhanced by using data management and analysis strategies to ensure credibility, fittingness and auditability (Lincoln and Guba, 1985; Beck, 1993). Findings revealed that parents searched with intensity and urgency for information about causes, treatments, how to interpret symptoms of ASD and to confirm their child’s diagnosis. They searched in response to unsatisfactory experiences with the healthcare and educational systems. Parents reported that they would like more information online about strategies to handle difficult behaviors, respite care, encouragement for daily living and how to access direct services for their children.\r\n\r\n