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Background <p>Nutrition-related health problems among children are on the rise worldwide; the majority of them can be prevented. We believe that parents play a key role in determining children’s nutritional status through their feeding practices. This study aimed to determine the role of parenting styles, feeding practices, and their relationship to the nutritional status of the children (5–14 years).</p> Methods <p>A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in all Paediatric wards, Teaching Hospital, Jaffna, among 431 children aged 5–14 years admitted for minor ailments and their parents. Data was collected using two self-administered questionnaires: the Parenting Style Questionnaire and the Child Feeding Questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were done using standard protocols. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Jaffna Ethical Review Committee (Ref: J/ERC/24/161/NDR/0324). Anthropometric measurements were taken, and the WHO Anthro Plus Survey Analyzer was used to determine the nutritional status. Data was analyzed using SPSS 25.0, and path analysis was conducted using SPSS AMOS 26.0.</p> Results <p>Among 431 participants, the mean age was 8.86 ± 2.65 years, and 53.8% were males and 46.2% were females. The majority of parents (87.9%) practiced authoritative parenting. The structural equation model showed χ² (180) = 308.6, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001; Comparative Fit Index &gt; 0.95 (good fit); Tucker-Lewis Index &gt; 0.9 (acceptable fit); Root Mean Square of Approximation &lt; 0.05 (good fit). Authoritative parenting showed a significant positive correlation (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) with Child feeding factors, including perceived responsibility, concern about child weight, pressure to eat, and monitoring. It showed a weak positive association with child nutritional status (<i>r</i> = 0.103, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). The children were categorized into five groups: normal, underweight, overweight, obese, and stunted, with percentages of 57.5%, 18.5%, 13.7%, 10.2%, and 15.8%, respectively.</p> Conclusions <p>Authoritative parenting is weakly associated with nutritional outcomes in children. Appropriate feeding practices also show a positive association with growth and development. These findings suggest the potential value of promoting positive parenting and educating caregivers on healthy feeding behaviors.</p>

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Associations between parenting styles, feeding practices, and nutritional status in children aged 5–14 years admitted to a tertiary centre in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月24日

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  • Manoji Gitanjali Sathiadas,
  • Kinthuja Nagaraja,
  • Yadhury Senthan,
  • Vijitha Manitheepan

摘要

Background

Nutrition-related health problems among children are on the rise worldwide; the majority of them can be prevented. We believe that parents play a key role in determining children’s nutritional status through their feeding practices. This study aimed to determine the role of parenting styles, feeding practices, and their relationship to the nutritional status of the children (5–14 years).

Methods

A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in all Paediatric wards, Teaching Hospital, Jaffna, among 431 children aged 5–14 years admitted for minor ailments and their parents. Data was collected using two self-administered questionnaires: the Parenting Style Questionnaire and the Child Feeding Questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were done using standard protocols. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Jaffna Ethical Review Committee (Ref: J/ERC/24/161/NDR/0324). Anthropometric measurements were taken, and the WHO Anthro Plus Survey Analyzer was used to determine the nutritional status. Data was analyzed using SPSS 25.0, and path analysis was conducted using SPSS AMOS 26.0.

Results

Among 431 participants, the mean age was 8.86 ± 2.65 years, and 53.8% were males and 46.2% were females. The majority of parents (87.9%) practiced authoritative parenting. The structural equation model showed χ² (180) = 308.6, p < 0.001; Comparative Fit Index > 0.95 (good fit); Tucker-Lewis Index > 0.9 (acceptable fit); Root Mean Square of Approximation < 0.05 (good fit). Authoritative parenting showed a significant positive correlation (p < 0.001) with Child feeding factors, including perceived responsibility, concern about child weight, pressure to eat, and monitoring. It showed a weak positive association with child nutritional status (r = 0.103, p < 0.05). The children were categorized into five groups: normal, underweight, overweight, obese, and stunted, with percentages of 57.5%, 18.5%, 13.7%, 10.2%, and 15.8%, respectively.

Conclusions

Authoritative parenting is weakly associated with nutritional outcomes in children. Appropriate feeding practices also show a positive association with growth and development. These findings suggest the potential value of promoting positive parenting and educating caregivers on healthy feeding behaviors.