Examining fathers’ feeding practices with their children

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dc.availability.bitstreamcontrolled
dc.check.date2025-09-30
dc.contributor.advisorMulcahy, Helenen
dc.contributor.advisorLeahy-Warren, Patriciaen
dc.contributor.authorO'Connor, Simone
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-26T10:08:18Z
dc.date.available2022-05-26T10:08:18Z
dc.date.issued2021-12-21
dc.date.submitted2021-12-21
dc.description.abstractBackground: The prevalence of obesity is increasing globally at a rapid rate resulting in a significant threat to public health. Only thirty-seven percent of the Irish population have a normal Body Mass Index (BMI), while 25% of children in Ireland are overweight or obese (Department of Health 2016). Gregory (2015) identified that fathers wish to be more involved in the care of their children than what they currently are. Fathers remain underrepresented in the literature relating to their children’s health outcomes. Aim: The aim of this research is to examine fathers’ feeding practices with their children. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative research design was utilized. A convenience sample of fathers (n=129) in Ireland who had children 18 years or younger prior to the commencement of the study were recruited through various online platforms. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (Musher-Eizenman & Holub 2007). A cross-sectional quantitative research design was utilized. A convenience sample of fathers (n=129) in Ireland who had children 18 years or younger prior to the commencement of the study were recruited through various online platforms. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (Musher-Eizenman & Holub 2007). Once data collection was completed the data were coded using the guidelines from Musher-Eizenman & Holub (2007). The response options utilized a 5-point response scale. A Microsoft Excel Sheet was prepared, and data were entered into it. SPSS version 25 was used for analysis. The mean and standard deviation per subscale of the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (Musher-Eizenman & Holub 2007) were calculated, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (p value) was used to examine the relationship between age of child and each subscale of the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (Musher-Eizenman & Holub 2007) and the Mann–Whitney U test was used to exam the relationship between child gender and each subscale of the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire. Results: Of 129 respondents, almost half were in the 35-44 age range, only 5.4% were between the ages of 18-25 years. The majority identified as white and had achieved third level qualifications. Most responses were based on children ages 2 to 10 years old, and forty-five percent answered in relation to male children. Ninety-three percent of respondents were not concerned about their child’s weight, while 89% categorised their child’s weight as ‘average’. The feeding practices used most frequently by respondents were Encourage Balance and Variety (M 4.66(SD 0.5)), Modelling (M 4.3(SD 0.8)) and Monitoring (M 4.01(SD 0.91)). Fathers’ feeding practices were found to be the similar regardless of gender. Conclusion: Fathers have become more involved in the routine tasks of childcare which were once seen as the mother’s role (Taylor et al., 2013). Despite this the Mixed Methods Systematic Review (MMSR) showed that fathers were underrepresented in the literature. The MMSR found that fathers did have concerns regarding their children maintaining a healthy weight. In the current study most respondents were not concerned about their child’s weight. Fathers’ feeding practices were found to be similar regardless of gender, while they varied with child age. The majority of respondents (93.8%) were not concerned about their child’s weight. Fathers’ feeding practices were found to be similar across both genders. Findings of this study should be used to inform healthcare professionals’ interventions with fathers with regard to their feeding practices and ensure that they are included in all parenting interventions. Based on these findings it is recommended that future studies using the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (Musher-Eizenman & Holub 2007) with a larger probability sample would further inform the application of appropriate clinical and parenting interventions. Implications for clinical practice: Healthcare Professionals should provide education to both fathers and mothers involved in relation to their children’s health. If both parents attend their child’s healthcare visits, healthcare professionals should focus advice, information, and questions equally towards both parents.en
dc.description.statusNot peer revieweden
dc.description.versionAccepted Versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationO'Connor, S. 2021. Examining fathers’ feeding practices with their children. MSc Thesis, University College Cork.en
dc.identifier.endpage132en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/13258
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherUniversity College Corken
dc.rights© 2021, Simone O'Connor.en
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en
dc.subjectFathersen
dc.subjectChildrenen
dc.subjectObesityen
dc.subjectFeeding practicesen
dc.titleExamining fathers’ feeding practices with their childrenen
dc.typeMasters thesis (Research)en
dc.type.qualificationlevelMastersen
dc.type.qualificationnameMSc - Master of Scienceen
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