Parental Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skills Correlate with Child Sweetened Beverage Consumption

Goodell, L. Suzanne; Pierce, Michelle B.; Amico, K. Rivet; Ferris, Ann M.

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2010.07.012

« Previous Next »Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume 44, Issue 3 , Pages 240-245, May 2012

Parental Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skills Correlate with Child Sweetened Beverage Consumption

L. Suzanne Goodell, PhD, RD
- Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Michelle B. Pierce, PhD, RD
- Department of Medicine, Division of Public Health and Population Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, East Hartford, CT
K. Rivet Amico, PhD
- Center for Health, Intervention and Prevention, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Ann M. Ferris, PhD, RD
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center and the Center for Public Health and Health Policy, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
- Address for correspondence: Ann M. Ferris, PhD, RD, Center for Public Health and Health Policy, University of Connecticut Health Center, 99 Ash St, MC 7160, East Hartford, CT 06108; Phone: (860) 208-2257; Fax: (860) 679-1349

published online 02 June 2011.

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate fit of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model applied to sweetened beverage (SB) consumption in children.

Design

Cross-sectional. Parents completed a home beverage inventory and IMB survey regarding SB consumption.

Setting

Health fairs, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children clinics.

Participants

Convenience sample of 198 parents of low socioeconomic status.

Main Outcome Measures

Independent variables included scores from 3 indices calculated from the IMB survey, information, motivation, and behavioral skills. The dependent variable was average child daily caloric consumption from SB consumption calculated from the home beverage inventory.

Analysis

Structural equation modeling.

Results

Parental information had direct and indirect negative relationships with SB consumption. Parental motivation was only indirectly associated with SB consumption mediated through behavioral skills. Parental behavioral skills had a negative correlation with SB consumption.

Conclusions and Implications

In applying the IMB model to SB consumption, the authors found preliminary support for relationships between parental information, motivation, behavioral skills, and child SB consumption. Application of this model shows promise in identifying the complex interactions between factors influencing consumption behaviors. As nutrition educators frequently desire to alter behaviors, use of the IMB model may help with both targeting and assessment efforts.

Key Words: poverty, beverages, parents, preschool, Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB)