Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 2(1), pp. 1 - 9
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2014.020101
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Perceived Parental Support and Self-efficacy for Avoiding Sedentary Behaviors and Overweight Status among School Children

Melvena N. Wilson ¹, Saleh M.M. Rahman ^2,*, Ivette A. Lopez ³, Gabre E. Kiros ³, Delores C.S. James ⁴, Mark B. Dignan ^5
1 Center for Advocacy and Research on Health Equity, Tallahassee, FL 32301
² Institute of Public Health Florida A & M University, and College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32307
³ Institute of Public Health Florida A & M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307
⁴ College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
⁵ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40504

ABSTRACT

Overweight in childhood is a serious public health concern. Approximately 31% of 6-19-year-old children in the United States are obese, overweight or at risk of overweight. The sample (N=721) consisted of students between the ages of 9-14 years of age enrolled in grades 4th-8th in Leon and Gadsden Counties, Florida. Using a multinomial regression model, analyses revealed that students with increased perceived self-efficacy were approximately 1.4 times more likely to be overweight than their counterparts, and those who lived in Gadsden County were 1.7 times more likely to be overweight. Those enrolled in the free/reduced lunch program were 7% less likely to be overweight than their counterparts. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of weight with sedentary behavior, self-efficacy in sedentary behavior avoidance, perceived parental support and socio-environmental factors among African American children. The study findings contradict much of the literature in terms of perceptions about the relationship of perceived self-efficacy and behavior and underscore the need for additional research to better understand possible differences between African American and White children.

KEYWORDS
Childhood Obesity, Self-efficacy, Sedentary Behavior, School children, Health Disparities, Parental Support, Florida

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Melvena N. Wilson , Saleh M.M. Rahman , Ivette A. Lopez , Gabre E. Kiros , Delores C.S. James , Mark B. Dignan , "Perceived Parental Support and Self-efficacy for Avoiding Sedentary Behaviors and Overweight Status among School Children," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 1 - 9, 2014. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2014.020101.

(b). APA Format:
Melvena N. Wilson , Saleh M.M. Rahman , Ivette A. Lopez , Gabre E. Kiros , Delores C.S. James , Mark B. Dignan (2014). Perceived Parental Support and Self-efficacy for Avoiding Sedentary Behaviors and Overweight Status among School Children. Universal Journal of Public Health, 2(1), 1 - 9. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2014.020101.