Abstract
Parental self-regulation comprises the intrapersonal capacities that enable parents’ adaptive responses to the multiple demands of parenting a child. In spite of the centrality of this construct in theory, there is scarce evidence documenting its role in the promotion of healthy daily activities for young children. We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine associations between parent self-regulation and healthy attachment, feeding, play, and sleeping activities. We further explored variability in the associative patterns and the potential contribution of child characteristics and satisfaction with the support received in health care services. Participants were 181 parents with children <36 months old attending 20 primary care centers. Each completed self-report measures on parental self-regulation, healthy activities, child health status, developmental adjustment, and satisfaction with the health care services. Cluster analyses identified three patterns of self-regulation and performance of healthy activities: Positive (n = 92), characterized by high self-sufficiency and self-management, moderate self-efficacy and parental agency, and high frequency of healthy activities in activities for all four domains (attachment, feeding, play, and sleeping); Mixed (n = 43), characterized by high self-efficacy and parental agency and low frequency of healthy play activities; and Negative (n = 46), characterized by overall low self-regulation, and low frequency of healthy attachment, feeding, and sleeping activities. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that a model comprising the child’s poor developmental adjustment coupled with less satisfaction and discontent with the service increased the likelihood of belonging to the Mixed or Negative cluster as compared to the Positive cluster. The implementation of effective support provision should aim to promote parental self-regulation and satisfaction with the service as promoters and co-responsible agents for the health and well-being of their children according to their developmental needs.
Highlights
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Parental self-regulation is an important notion comprising the intrapersonal capacities that enable an adaptive response to the child’s needs.
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Associations between self-regulation and healthy attachment, feeding, play, and sleeping activities were examined.
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The relation between self-regulation and healthy activities resulted in three different patterns of self-regulation and performance of healthy activities: positive, negative, and mixed.
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Child developmental adjustment and satisfaction with practitioners’ support at health care centers were key factors.
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Health care providers should support parent figures as health promoters and co-responsible agents of their child’s health.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful, for their interest in and promotion of this study, to the Canary Islands Health Service and the families who participated.
Funding
This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport [grant number FPU16/01039] and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Fund [grant number RTI2018-098149-B-I00].
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E.C. designed and executed the study, assisted with the data analyses, and wrote the paper. S.B. collaborated with the data analyses and revised the paper. M.J.R. Collaborated with the design of the study, with the data analyses, and wrote the paper.
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The study received the approval of the Ethical Committee of the University of La Laguna and was performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.
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Callejas, E., Byrne, S. & Rodrigo, M.J. Parental Self-regulation and the Promotion of Healthy Routines in Early Childhood. J Child Fam Stud 30, 1791–1802 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-01981-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-01981-9