Padres Preparados, Jóvenes Saludables: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Test Effects of a Community-Based Intervention on Latino Father's Parenting Practices.

Parenting practices have been associated with adolescent lifestyle behaviors and weight status. Evidence is limited regarding the efficacy of interventions to address father influences on adolescent lifestyle behaviors through availability and modeling practices. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in father parenting practices after Latino families with adolescents participated in the Padres Preparados Jóvenes Saludables (Padres) program. Time-1 (baseline) and Time-2 (post-intervention) data were used from Latino father/adolescent (10-14 years) dyads enrolled in the Padres two-arm (intervention vs. delayed-treatment control group) randomized controlled trial in four community locations. The program had eight weekly, 2.5-h experiential learning sessions on food preparation, parenting practices, nutrition, and physical activity. Two types of parenting practices (role modeling and home food availability) were assessed by father report via questionnaire for each of 7 lifestyle behaviors, for a total of 14 parenting practices. Linear regression mixed models were used to evaluate the intervention effects. A total of 94 father/adolescent dyads completed both Time-1 and Time-2 evaluations. Significant positive intervention effects were found for frequencies of fruit modeling (p = 0.002) and screen time modeling (p = 0.039). Non-significant results were found for the other 12 father parenting practices.

Adolescent-Reported Latino Fathers' Food Parenting Practices and Family Meal Frequency Are Associated with Better Adolescent Dietary Intake.

Most studies of food-related parenting practices, parental meal involvement, and adolescent dietary intake have focused on maternal influences; studies of paternal influences, particularly among marginalized groups, are lacking. This study examined lower-income, Latino fathers' food parenting practices and involvement in planning meals, buying/preparing foods, and family meal frequency, separately and in combination, to identify relationships with adolescent food intake. Baseline data were used from Latino adolescents (10-14 years, n = 191, 49% boys) participating with their fathers in a community-based overweight/obesity prevention intervention. Fathers reported sociodemographic characteristics. Adolescents reported frequency of fathers' food parenting practices, fathers' food/meal involvement, and family meals and participated in 24 h dietary recalls. The analysis included regression models using GLM (generalized linear mixed model) and PLM (post GLM processing) procedures. Most fathers were married, employed full-time, and had annual incomes below USD 50,000. Favorable fathers' food parenting practices were associated with adolescent intake of more fruit and vegetables and fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets/salty snacks, and less fast food (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). No independent effects of family meal frequency or fathers' food/meal involvement were observed on adolescent dietary outcomes. Additional analyses showed favorable food parenting practices in combination with frequent family meals were associated with adolescents having a higher intake of fruit (p = 0.011). Latino fathers can have an important positive influence on adolescent dietary intake.

Development of a Survey to Assess Latino Fathers' Parenting Practices Regarding Energy Balance-Related Behaviors of Early Adolescents.

Latino adolescents face challenges to performing energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs) to prevent childhood obesity, including healthy dietary intake, adequate physical activity, and limited screen time. Fathers are underrepresented in family-based obesity interventions but could be influential in shaping the EBRBs of Latino children. Three types of parenting practices (setting expectations/limits, role modeling, managing availability and accessibility) have shown relatively consistent positive relationships with children's EBRBs in studies that have mostly involved mothers. The purpose of this study was to develop measures to assess Latino fathers' parenting practices based on existing measurement instruments, focus groups and cognitive testing. Criterion validity of the measures (40 items) was examined with Latino fathers and their early adolescents (10-14 years old, n = 96 dyads) who were predominantly from low-income, two-parent households. Criterion validity was indicated by significantly higher intakes of fruit and vegetables; lower intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets/salty snacks and fast foods; more weekly physical activity hours; and fewer daily screen time hours among adolescents who reported high versus low levels/frequencies of supportive parenting practices. In addition, nearly all scales of adolescent-reported paternal behavioral modeling and availability/accessibility practices were significantly correlated with adolescents' corresponding EBRBs (r = 0.22 to 0.54). However, poor validity and agreement with early adolescents' reports were found for most father-reported parenting practices. Overall, this study indicated that the measures were acceptable for assessing adolescents' report of Latino fathers' parenting practices around EBRBs. The findings also indicate the importance of including early adolescents' reports in measuring paternal parenting practices.