Barbara J. Tinsley

Parental socialization of child and adolescent physical activity: a meta-analysis.

Meta-analysis was used to integrate research on the relations between parental socialization behavior and child and adolescent physical activity (PA) levels. Four major databases were examined: PubMED, ERIC, Web of Science, and PsychLit (1960 -2005). Thirty studies met the following inclusion criteria: (a) child age (2-18 years) and (b) statistical information permitting calculation of an effect size between parent socialization behavior and child PA. Mean age of participants across studies ranged from 2.54 to 15.5 years. The unweighted mean and median effect sizes (as indexed by r) were .17 and .13, respectively, indicating that a moderate positive relation exists between parental support and modeling behavior and child and adolescent PA levels. The moderating effect of type of parental socialization behavior, population characteristics, and methodological factors were investigated. Theoretical and methodological implications concern the inclusion of mediated models of parental influence and the use of longitudinal investigations in determining causal direction. From an applied viewpoint, these results are useful for the design of future, more effective childhood obesity prevention programs by suggesting child-age-appropriate parental influences.

Childhood Competence and Behavior Problems

This study examined the relationship between objective measures of childhood competence and behavior problems. Daily class work measured the academic competence of 474 children, Grades 2-6, and peer ratings measured social competence. Median splits formed four groups, with competent children highest and incompetent children lowest on the relatively independent dimensions of academic and social competence. Competent children excelled on attitudinal measures of a competent lifestyle, and on the Harter Competence (HC) scales. Teacher ratings on the Quay-Peterson Behavior Problem Checklist (BPC) attributed fewest problems to competent children. Conversely, incompetent children achieved the lowest HC and the highest BPC scores. Children high on social competence and low on academic competence were distinguished by BPC conduct problems and nervousness. Peer nominations of depression on the Lefkowitz and Tesiny scale characterized all children low on social competence.

Personality, puberty, and preadolescent girls’ risky behaviors: Examining the predictive value of the Five-Factor Model of personality☆

Few studies have considered the importance of personality characteristics in influencing young girls tendency to participate in health-compromising behaviors. The present study examined relations between 60 fifth grade girls (mean age ¼ 10:72 years) self-reports and maternal reports of the Five-Factor Model of personality (FFM), pubertal development, and girls participation in risky behaviors one year later (mean age ¼ 11:74 years). Results indicated that unconscientious and disagreeable girls were susceptible to participation in risky behaviors. These relations remained significant even after controlling for assessments of girls pubertal development. An interaction between girls openness to experience and pubertal development was found; girls who were open and who developed early were at risk for engaging in health-compromising behaviors. Findings are discussed in terms of their potential for helping health promotion efforts identify girls most at risk for adopting unhealthy behaviors.

Children’s Behavioral Manifestations of the Five-Factor Model of Personality

The present study examined relations between ratings of children’s personalities using the Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality and behaviors exhibited by children during an interaction with their parents. Ninety-four children (M age = 10.87 years) and their parents participated in a videotaped interaction; children were coded on 64 different social behaviors using a revised version of the Riverside Behavioral Q-Sort. Mothers completed ratings of their children’s personalities using the NEO-Five-Factor Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI). Results indicate an intuitive and predictable pattern of relations between children’s personalities and their behaviors. Findings suggest that four of the five factors included in the FFM provide an appropriate framework for describing children’s personalities. These findings are discussed in terms of their relevance for helping researchers understand children’s personalities.

Applying the interpersonal circumplex to children's behavior: parent-child interactions and risk behaviors

This article examined the applicability of the interpersonal circumplex (IC) to the observable social behaviors of children during parent-child interactions. In Study 1, the observational ratings of behaviors of 117 children (mean age = 9.88 years) were examined. Randomization tests of hypothesized order relations found that these behaviors tended to occur in the circular pattern predicted by the IC. To illustrate the applicability of the IC to children’s behavior, Study 2 (n = 94) used the circular structure of children’s behavior to longitudinally examine children’s participation in two risk behaviors, smoking cigarettes and consuming alcohol. Results indicated that children who behaved in an arrogant-calculating manner were at risk for smoking cigarettes and children who behaved in an assured-dominate manner were at risk for drinking alcohol 1 year later. Implications of these results are discussed in terms of their relevance for helping researchers better understand and categorize children’s interpersonal behaviors.

The significance of women's pregnancy-related locus of control beliefs for adherence to recommended prenatal health regimens and pregnancy outcomes

Abstract This study examined the relationships among womens pregnancy-related health beliefs, compliance with prenatal health guidelines, and perinatal outcomes. The principal measures in this study were the Pregnancy Belief Scales which explore three factors: (1) pregnant womens degree of perceived control or internality wit h respect to their pregnancy and birth outcomes, (2) the extent to which pregnant women believe that ‘chance’ or (3) ‘powerful others’ affects their pregnancy and birth outcomes. Sixty-two (62) pregnant African-American and Caucasian lower- and middleclass women participated in this study. Measures of compliance with recommended prenatal health guidelines, and pregnancy and perinatal outcomes were also obtained. Results indicated that womens perceptions of their control of their pregnancy and perinatal outcomes was related to compliance with prenatal health regimens during pregnancy, which in turn, was related to actual pregnancy and birth outcomes. The implications of these findi...

Economic Hardship and Adaptation Among Asian American Families

Asian American families are often portrayed as affluent, having achieved a high level of education and occupational prestige. Despite this model-minority image, many Asian Americans suffer from economic hardship. Using a sample of 95 Asian Americans, this study examines the effect of perceived economic hardship on coping behavior, family relations, family roles, and psychological well-being among members of this understudied minority population. Findings indicate that family roles and psychological well-being of Asian Americans are directly influenced by their perception of economic distress. However, coping behaviors do not necessarily mediate these relationships. These findings are discussed in light of a conceptual model, and future directions for research are suggested.

Patterns of parental socialization of the preventive health behavior of young Mexican origin children

Thirty-eight (38) Mexican origin preschool children and their mothers (and 44 Euro-American mothers and their preschool children) residing in the southwestern U.S. were participants in a study of patterns of maternal socialization of childrens preventive health behaviors. Mothers reported their parenting practices by completing questionnaires about their health beliefs, parenting beliefs, and parenting practices. Childrens handwashing, healthy food selection, and danger avoidance were independently reported by the childrens preschool teachers. Patterns of parent beliefs and parenting practices that contributed to childrens autonomous performance of healthy and safe behavior, as reported independently by the childrens teachers, were identified. Moreover, these patterns were unique and not similarly associated with the successful maternal health socialization of the Euro-American preschoolers. In addition, the findings demonstrated some domain specificity of Mexican origin maternal socialization practices whereby specific parenting strategies were differentially related to three different healthy and safe behaviors. Theoretically, the findings of this study provide information about unique family processes associated with ethnicity that impact on the parenting behavior of Mexican origin parents and that serve to socialize young childrens health and safety. These findings can additionally inform culturally appropriate interventions designed to improve childrens health outcomes.

Impoverished women's health locus of control and utilization of prenatal services

The relationship between maternal health locus of control and utilization of prenatal health services in a sample of impoverished mothers was examined. Assessments of maternal health locus of control, as well as a variety of sociodemographic and attitudinal variables, were collected from 228 Latino and Euro-American women in a United States county hospital maternity ward. Regression analyses revealed the importance of transportation, parity, perceived importance of prenatal care, and maternal health locus of control (internal and powerful others dimensions) to number of prenatal visits. «Internals» were less likely and «externals» were more likely to receive adequate care, a result contrary to prior results found with middle-class samples. The results underscore the importance of specifying the demographic characteristics of the sample in order to determine the relationships between health beliefs and health behavior, in addition to providing information on how the utilization of prenatal health services may be increased through intervention

School Nurses’ Knowledge and Beliefs About the Management of Children With ADD*

The purpose of this study was to examine school nurses’ knowledge and beliefs about the management of children with attention deficit disorder (ADD). Seven hundred eighty-six school nurses responded to mailed surveys regarding their attitudes and knowledge about the management of children with attention deficit disorder. Surveys were mailed to school nurses randomly selected from the membership of the National Association of School Nurses. School nurses’ knowledge of school management of ADD and their attitudes about physicians’ participation as part of a team effort in this care were explored. School nurses responded that physicians should increase their efforts to educate children and parents about ADD. Recommendations for school nurses in the management of children with ADD are offered.