Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University, Miami.
Fam Community Health. 2023;46(1):28-38. doi: 10.1097/FCH.0000000000000342. Epub 2022 Sep 7.
Research has shown that fathers play an important role in children's mealtimes and dietary habits; yet, little is known about the factors that affect how fathers perceive this role, especially among Asian Indians. This study aimed to examine how Asian Indian fathers perceive their role during child mealtimes and the factors that are associated with fathers' mealtime perceptions. Eighty Asian Indian fathers of 6- to 11-year-old children completed an online survey including measures of demographics, acculturation, gender roles, nutrition knowledge, parental self-efficacy, perceived child weight, and the role of father at mealtime (ROFM). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression. Participants perceived a moderately high level of responsibility during child mealtimes. Regression analysis showed that fathers who had higher income, perceived child weight as being higher, and had higher self-efficacy in feeding children healthy food had higher ROFM. Higher father nutrition knowledge was correlated with lower perceived ROFM, indicating a lack of confidence in utilizing their nutrition knowledge during child mealtimes. The results indicate potential targets to improve Asian Indian fathers' involvement during child mealtimes. These results could be utilized to enhance their engagement in child mealtime healthy eating practices and for childhood obesity prevention.
研究表明，父亲在儿童的进餐时间和饮食习惯中扮演着重要的角色；然而，对于影响父亲如何看待这一角色的因素，人们知之甚少，尤其是在亚洲印第安人当中。本研究旨在探讨亚洲印第安父亲如何看待他们在儿童进餐时间的角色，以及与父亲的进餐时间观念相关的因素。80 名 6 至 11 岁儿童的亚洲印第安父亲完成了一项在线调查，其中包括人口统计学、文化适应、性别角色、营养知识、父母自我效能感、感知儿童体重以及父亲在进餐时间的角色（ROFM）等方面的测量。数据采用描述性统计和线性回归进行分析。参与者在儿童进餐时间感知到了中等水平的责任感。回归分析表明，收入较高、认为孩子体重较高、以及在喂养孩子健康食品方面自我效能感较高的父亲，其 ROFM 得分较高。较高的父亲营养知识与较低的感知 ROFM 相关，这表明他们在儿童进餐时间利用营养知识时缺乏信心。研究结果表明了一些潜在的目标，可以提高亚洲印第安父亲在儿童进餐时间的参与度。这些结果可以用来增强他们在儿童进餐时间健康饮食实践中的参与度，并预防儿童肥胖。
