%0 Journal Article
%T Assessing Challenges in Low
%A Dianne Ward
%A Jessica Carda-Auten
%A Maihan Vu
%A Nivedita Bhushan
%A Randall Teal
%A Temitope Erinosho
%J Health Promotion Practice
%@ 1552-6372
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/1524839917746118
%X Background. This article describes the formative research undertaken to explore challenges of low-income parents of 3-to 5-year-olds to inform a parent-focused life skills¨Cbased intervention to prevent obesity in preschool-aged children. Method. A total of 40 parents completed surveys, 30 parents participated in focus groups, and 5 community stakeholders participated in individual interviews. In each data mode, participants were asked to prioritize a list of challenges centered on parenting, family care, and self-care. Survey data were analyzed descriptively using SAS, while focus groups and interviews were analyzed for emerging themes using ATLAS.ti. Results. Parents reported needing strategies for managing children¡¯s behavior around picky eating, limits/boundaries, tantrums, and routines. Challenges with child behavior management were compounded by parents¡¯ inability to find affordable fun family activities outside the home and difficulties in communicating childrearing expectations to coparents/relatives who assisted with child care. Added to these were other competing priorities (e.g., financial) that led to the neglect of self, including the inability to find ¡°me¡± time, build relationships, and care for one¡¯s health. Conclusions. Interventions that address parenting, family care and self-care challenges of low-income parents may enhance resilience and support positive changes that can promote healthy development in children, including obesity prevention
%K low-income
%K preschool-aged children
%K childhood obesity
%K parenting
%K family
%K self-care
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1524839917746118