Robert W. O'Brien

PARENTAL AND PEER INFLUENCES ON FOOD CONSUMPTION OF PRESCHOOL AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN

Sources of social influence on urban African-American preschool childrens food consumption were coded from videotapes of noontime and evening meals of 42 children. The frequency of eating prompts was associated with the age of the child, the source (mothers, fathers, age mates, other adults, and day-care staff), and socioeconomic status. The success of the prompt in changing the childs eating behavior was dependent on the type of prompt.

Comparison of dietary intake methods with young children.

To select a valid method for obtaining dietary intake of preschool children, food intake of 17 children (8 in daycare programs and 9 in home care) was measured for three days. Each day, home caregivers and daycare staff were asked to recall what the child had eaten during the previous 24 hours. After the third day, the Willett Food Frequency Questionnaire was administered to assess intake during the preceding seven days, which included the three days of measured foods. There were no significant differences between means from measured and recalled intake. Although the childrens gender and care status (daycare versus home care) made no difference in measured intake, there were significant differences in recalled intake for energy and percent of calories from saturated fat. In this study the questionnaire did not provide an accurate assessment of measured intake and could not replace the dietary recall.

Obesity, Self-Esteem, and Health Locus of Control in Black Youths during Transition to Adolescence

A three-year longitudinal study of 1,003 urban black children, ages nine through 12, explored the relationship between obesity, health locus of control, and self-esteem. Subjects were classified as obese or not-obese at two times, approximately two years apart. From Time 1 to Time 2, subjects were categorized as remaining the same, or either changing from obese to non-obese or non-obese to obese. Measures included the Childrens Health Locus of Control scale (CHLC), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale (SE), and ponderosity (weight relative to height). SE and CHLC improved across the entire sample. Multiple regression analyses indicated that baseline self-esteem was associated with decreased ponderosity only for subjects who changed from obese to non-obese. Group differences imply that building self-esteem and acknowledging individual differences may facilitate treatment of adolescent obesity. Continued research is recommended.

Early adolescents' substance use and life stress: concurrent and prospective relationships

Life stress during early adolescence has been linked to substance use. Few studies have investigated whether the amount of control the child has over stress moderates this relationship even though the role of personal control is of increasing theoretical importance. Relationships between controllable and uncontrollable life stress and substance use were investigated in 303 urban, African-American fourth and fifth graders (152 males, 151 females). Controllable life stress contributed to six regression equations predicting childrens substance use both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, even when selected demographic and personal variables were controlled. Evidence supporting a similar role for uncontrollable life stress was not found.