W4003: Parental practices supporting positive eating behaviors during independent eating occasions among early adolescent children

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

Project Menu

SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[05/11/2020] [12/06/2021] [08/29/2022] [05/24/2023] [06/05/2024]

Date of Annual Report: 05/11/2020

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 03/11/2020 - 03/14/2020
Period the Report Covers: 04/01/2019 - 03/14/2020

Participants

1. Anderson, Alex (fianko@uga.edu), University of Georgia
2. Ballejos, Miriam (miriam.s.ballejos.civ@mail.mil), University of Washington
3. Banna, Jinan (jcbanna@hawaii.edu), University of Hawaii @ Manoa
4. Gunther, Carolyn (gunther.22@osu.edu), Ohio State University
5. Jones, Blake (blake.jones@byu.edu), Brigham Young University
6. Lora, Karina R (klora@email.gwu.edu), George Washington University
7. Monroe-Lord, Lillie (lmonroelord@udc.edu), University of the District of Columbia
8. Reicks, Marla (mreicks@umn.edu), University of Minnesota
9. Richards, Rickelle (Rickelle_richards@byu.edu), Brigham Young University
10. Topham, Glade (gtopham@ksu.edu), Kansas State University
11. Wong Siew Sun (Siewsun.wong@oregonstate.edu), Oregon State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

The 2019-2020 W4003 annual meeting was held from 03/11/2020 to 03/12/2020 at University of Hawaii, which was the home university to Jinan Banna.

Attendees included:

Anderson, Alex (fianko@uga.edu), University of Georgia¹

Ballejos, Miriam (miriam.s.ballejos.civ@mail.mil), Washington State

Banna, Jinan (jcbanna@hawaii.edu), University of Hawaii @ Manoa

Gunther, Carolyn (gunther.22@osu.edu), Ohio State University

Jones, Blake (blake.jones@byu.edu), Brigham Young University

Lora, Karina R (klora@email.gwu.edu), George Washington University²

Monroe-Lord, Lillie (lmonroelord@udc.edu), University of the District of Columbia³

Reicks, Marla (mreicks@umn.edu), University of Minnesota

Richards, Rickelle (Rickelle_richards@byu.edu), Brigham Young University

Topham, Glade (gtopham@ksu.edu), Kansas State University⁴

Wong Siew Sun (Siewsun.wong@oregonstate.edu), Oregon State University

¹2019-20 Chair-Elect, ²2019-20 Chair, ³2019-2020 Secretary, ⁴Past Chair

Annual Meeting Accomplishments:

We discussed the Qualtrics pilot study conducted with 40 parent-child dyads in fall 2019. The pilot study provided information on ease/difficult in responding to the questions, and test time.

We made final plans and scheduled the Qualtrics survey, originally scheduled for Spring-Summer 2020, to Fall 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

We discussed and agreed on submitting an application for the Experimental Station Section Award for Excellence in Multistate Research for the best multistate project in March 2021.

We discussed submitting a proposal for external funding for the Digital Communications to support the group research endeavors.

We discussed Objective 1 papers. Out of the eight papers proposed, three were published. The group agreed to work on submitting three papers for publication.

We proposed 5 papers with data from the Qualtrics survey to be conducted in fall 2020 (Objective 2).

We decided on Washington DC as location for the 2021 annual meeting.

Members nominated Alex K. Anderson (Chair), and Lillie Monroe-Lord (Chair-Elect), and Miriam Ballejos (Secretary) to serve in leadership positions for the 2020-21 term. Karina Lora will serve as Past Chair. The next annual meeting is scheduled at the U of the District of Columbia-George Washington University March 17-19, 2021. Lillie Monroe-Lord and Karina Lora will serve as meeting hosts and Alex K. Anderson will chair the 2021 meeting.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments for 2019-2020   Background Information is limited regarding the frequency of independent eating occasions (iEOs) among early adolescents, how food choices made during these occasions affect overall diet quality and weight status, and how food parenting practices influence early adolescent food choices during iEOs. Several studies have shown that more frequent iEOs have a negative association with dietary intake and weight status among adolescents. For example, in a nationwide sample of U.S. adolescents (12-17 years) based on the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health and Eating (FLASHE) Study data, eating alone was associated with greater intake of junk food and sugary beverages, lower home availability of fruits and vegetables, lower perceived parent support, and overweight/obesity (Reicks et al., 2019). A Japanese study reported that eating dinner alone was associated with overweight in adolescent girls but not boys (Shirasawa et al., 2018). These studies did not specifically address low-income, multiethnic parents and early adolescents. In addition, food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are commonly used in survey studies to assess usual overall dietary intake over a specified period. However, tested FFQs to assess dietary intake for specific types of eating occasions, such as iEOs do not exist. Accomplishment of the objectives for W-4003 will provide a better understanding of the relationships between food parenting practices and dietary intake of low-income, multiethnic early adolescents during iEOs and inform the development of interventions to promote positive parenting practices that may assist in obesity prevention.   Project Objectives <ol> <li>Examine the association between key parenting practices and positive eating behaviors during iEOs among low-income, multi-ethnic early adolescents.</li> <li>Develop digital communications for parents and/or early adolescents such as mobile apps, virtual parent coaching/supervision, virtual cooking experiences, and online planning tools that promote parenting practices that support healthy food choices during independent eating occasions among early adolescents (11-14 years).</li> <li>Implement and evaluate a pilot intervention for parents and early adolescents (11-14 years) to promote positive parenting practices during independent eating occasions and to improve early adolescent dietary intake during these occasions based on digital communications developed in Objective 2.</li> <li>Prepare a grant proposal to revise and implement a full-scale intervention and disseminate findings to health professionals.</li> </ol>   Main Accomplishments The main accomplishment of the 2019-2020 project year of the W4003 group were: <ol> <li>We conducted pre-pilot testing of the parent and adolescent questionnaires for collection of quantitative data as part of Objective 1 of the project with a small convenience sample of parent-teen dyads (n=11) from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. The focus of the questionnaires was how caregivers and youth approach iEOs. Findings indicated that the average completion time was 30 minutes. Eight children reported it very easy to complete, one said it was not easy, and two said it was somewhat easy. Ten children said the length was just about right and one child said it was too long. As for parents, seven one said it was very easy to complete, one said it was easy, one said somewhat easy, and one said somewhat difficult. As for length, eight parents said just about right and two said extremely long.</li> <li>After pre-pilot testing, we pilot tested the questionnaires with 206 parent/adolescent dyads recruited from a Qualtrics Panelist Database. We used exploratory factor analysis to identify 6 parallel scales for parents and youth with acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The scales included parenting practices that could influence food choices during adolescents’ independent eating occasions based on teaching, modeling, making foods/beverages available, monitoring and setting expectations for intake. We will use the scales to examine the relationships between parenting practices and adolescent-reported intake during independent eating occasions and overall dietary intake from 400 parent-adolescent dyads as part of W3003 Objective 2 (currently W-4003 Objective 1).</li> <li>To examine relationships between parenting practices and adolescent intake during independent eating occasions, we revised and tested the 27 food frequency questions (FFQ) used in the Family Life, Activity, Sun, and Healthy Eating (FLASHE) Study by adolescents (12-17 years). Following the original FLASHE FFQ, we tested the following questions to determine frequency of each food/beverage item during iEOs: During the past 7 days, how many times did you eat fruit like apples, bananas or melon, etc.?, during the past 7 days, how many times did you eat fruit when your main caregiver was around? And during the past 7 days, how many times did you eat fruit when your main caregiver was not around? We used cognitive interviewing methods to test the FFQ with a sample of 9 multicultural youth (6 males, 3 females) during Summer and Fall 2019. On average youth had 1-2 iEO per day, adolescents indicated the questions were easy to answer. Responses to the overall FFQ and the follow up questions about when the main caregiver was around and was not around were consistent based on the types of foods and beverages consumed, times when the main caregiver was around and not around, and by occasion.</li> <li>We published 3 papers describing previous and current work.</li> </ol>   Progress throughout the year was facilitated through monthly web conferences with the full group and additional subgroup meetings as necessary.

Publications

<ol> <li>Banna J, Richards R, Jones B, Anderson AK, Reicks M, Cluskey M, Gunther C, Hongu NK, Lora K, Misner S, Monroe-Lord L, Topham G, Wong SS, Lim E. Describing Independent Eating Occasions among Low-Income Adolescents. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Feb 5;17(3).</li> <li>Reicks M, Banna J, Anderson AK, Da Silva V, Gunther C, Hongu NK, Jones B, Lora K, Monroe-Lord L, Richards R, Topham G, Wong SS. Development of Parent and Adolescent Questionnaires to Assess Food Parenting Practices That Address Adolescent Consumption During Independent Eating Occasions. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2020 Mar;52(3):307-313.</li> <li>Gunther C, Reicks M, Banna J, Suzuki A, Topham G, Richards R, Jones B, Lora K, Anderson AK, da Silva V, Penicka C, Hopkins LC, Cluskey M, Hongu N, Monroe-Lord L, Wong SS. Food Parenting Practices That Influence Early Adolescents' Food Choices During Independent Eating Occasions. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2019 Sep;51(8):993-1002.</li> </ol>

Impact Statements

We identified the most common practices used to influence iEOs among low-income parents (n = 49) and early adolescent children (aged 10-13 years; n = 44) from 10 US states and the District of Columbia. Parents reported setting rules and expectations and managing availability or accessibility as commonly used practices. Other practices included teaching, pressuring to eat, monitoring, and modeling. Children reported that their parents had rules about what they could or could not eat during iEOs and that they used specific strategies (eg, call or text) to monitor their iEOs.

Date of Annual Report: 12/06/2021

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/27/2021 - 10/30/2021
Period the Report Covers: 04/01/2020 - 10/31/2021

Participants

1. Anderson, Alex (fianko@uga.edu), University of Georgia
2. Ballejos, Miriam (Miriam.s.ballejos.civ@mail.mil), University of Washington
3. Banna, Jinan (jcbanna@hawaii.edu), University of Hawaii @ Manoa
4. Gunther, Carolyn (Gunther.22@osu.edu), Ohio State University
5. Jones, Blake (blake.jones@byu.edu), Brigham Young University
6. Lora, Karina (Klora@email.gwu.edu), George Washington University
7. Monroe-Lord, Lillie (lmonroelord@udc.edu), University of the District of Columbia
8. Reicks, Marla (mreicks@umn.edu), University of Minnesota
9. Richards, Rickelle (Rickelle_richards@byu.edu), Brigham Young University
10. Topham, Glade (gtopham@ksu.edu), Kansas State University
11. Wong Siew Sun (Siewsun.wong@oregonstate.edu), Oregon State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

Brief Summary of Minutes of the Annual Meeting

The 2020-2021 W4003 annual meeting was held from 10/27/2021 to 10/29/2021 virtually via Zoom online conferencing. Originally, the annual meeting was to be held on the campus of the University of the District of Columbia, but we had to switch to virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on university campuses.

Attendees included:

Anderson, Alex (fianko@uga.edu), University of Georgia

Ballejos, Miriam (Miriam.s.ballejos.civ@mail.mil), University of Washington

Banna, Jinan (jcbanna@hawaii.edu), University of Hawaii @ Manoa

Gunther, Carolyn (Gunther.22@osu.edu), Ohio State University

Jones, Blake (blake.jones@byu.edu), Brigham Young University

Lora, Karina (Klora@email.gwu.edu), George Washington University

Monroe-Lord, Lillie (lmonroelord@udc.edu), University of the District of Columbia

Reicks, Marla (mreicks@umn.edu), University of Minnesota

Richards, Rickelle (Rickelle_richards@byu.edu), Brigham Young University

Topham, Glade (gtopham@ksu.edu), Kansas State University

Wong Siew Sun (Siewsun.wong@oregonstate.edu), Oregon State University

2021-2022 Chair-Elect (Marla Reicks), 2021-2022 Chair (Lillie Monroe-Lords), 2021-2022 Secretary (Laura Hopkins), Past Chair (Alex Anderson)

Annual Meeting Accomplishments

We discussed progress on a qualitative study of parent-adolescent dyads regarding COVID-19 pandemic-related changes in food habits and parenting practices employed during adolescent independent eating occasions (iEOs). We reviewed the coding and analytical plan for the qualitative data. We also discussed ideas and writing assignments for a publication from the study.

We discussed preliminary themes from the adolescent and parent interviews of the COVID-19 related qualitative study.

We discussed the logistics and reviewed changes made for the Objective 1 Qualtrics survey and preparation to launch.

We discussed how we were going to measure dietary quality since this happens to be at the center of most of the papers we anticipate to publish from the Objective 1 data.

We discussed Objective 1 papers as we were ready to launch the Qualtrics survey. Leads were identified for each of the 6 papers discussed for the data to be generated from the survey.

We started preliminary discussion on possible grant funding (and potential sources of funding) to develop digital communications and intervention targeted to caregivers of preadolescents to improve iEOs.

Members nominated Lillie Monroe-Lord (Chair), Marla Reicks (Chair-Elect), and Laura Hopkins (Secretary) to serve in leadership positions for 2021-2022 term. Alex Kojo Anderson will serve as Past Chair. There is discussion to hold the next annual meeting in the Fall to align with completion of the Qualtrics survey and writing papers. This time is believed will allow adequate time to develop materials, and also work on the technology portion (Objective 2) into the project. There was great interest for the next annual meeting to be held at Oregon State University. It is scheduled for March 8-11, 2023. Siew Sun Wong will serve as the meeting host with Lillie Monroe-Lord as the chair. We have also scheduled a business meeting via Zoom video conferencing for July 20-21, 2023 for project updates and proposal development for extramural funding to support our work.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments for 2020-2021 Background. Current literature shows that the home environment influences and shapes the eating and dietary habits of children. This has been ascribed to the food environment in the home and parental practices (Zeinstra et al., 2010; Yee et al., 2017; Loth et al., 2018). However, most of the research in this area have focused on early childhood with limited information among adolescents, especially during independent eating occasions (iEOs). Studies have demonstrated that iEOs have negative association with the healthfulness of dietary intake and weight status. Data from these studies show eating alone to be associated with intake of high energy density foods including snacks and with overweight/obesity (Reicks et al., 2019). Another study by Shirasawa et al (2018) also found a positive association between eating dinner alone with overweight in adolescent girls. There is knowledge gap about parenting practices and dietary intake of early adolescents during iEOs  among low-income, multiethnic populations. Accomplishment of the objectives for W-4003 will provide a better understanding of the relationships between food parenting practices and dietary intake of low-income, multiethnic early adolescents during iEOs and inform the development of interventions to promote positive parenting practices that may assist in obesity prevention.  Project Objectives. <ol> <li>Examine the association between key parenting practices and positive eating behaviors during iEOs among low-income, multi-ethnic early adolescents.</li> <li>Develop digital communications for parents and/or early adolescents such as mobile apps, virtual parent coaching/supervision, virtual cooking experiences, and online planning tools that promote parenting practices that support healthy food choices during iEOs among early adolescents (11-14 years).</li> <li>Implement and evaluate a pilot intervention for parents and early adolescents (11-14 years) to promote positive parenting practices during independent eating occasions and to improve early adolescent dietary intake during these occasions based on digital communications developed in Objective 2.</li> <li>Prepare a grant proposal to revise and implement a full-scale intervention and disseminate findings to health professionals.</li> </ol>  Main Accomplishments Our work in the year under review was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the nationwide lockdown and school shutdowns, we had to suspend the launch of our data collection to accomplish Objective 1. Even though the year under review had been a difficult one, the W4003 group managed to stay active and productive in the midst of the challenges brought about as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The main accomplishments of the W4003 group during the 2020-2021 project year of were: <ol> <li>Small groups were set-up to review and develop the survey for Objective 1. The launch of the survey was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.</li> <li>We conducted a small COVID-related qualitative study with parent-adolescent dyads to gain an understanding of the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parent-adolescent interaction around food and independent eating occasions. We designed and developed interview guides, and recruited a convenience sample of 12 parent-adolescent dyads of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds from our participating states. The goal of the in-depth interview was to understand the experiences of primary-caregivers and adolescent children during the pandemic, and the potential impact of the pandemic on diet quality and independent eating occasions. The data from this qualitative study is still in the process of being formally analyzed. We anticipate to have at least 1 publication from this study in a high impact journal.</li> <li>We revised and re-formatted the Qualtrics survey for Objective 1, based on the COVID study. The modified main survey has been launched since November 1, 2021. We are making progress with the data collection.</li> <li>We have 1 paper currently under review and another in preparation.</li> <li>We continued to have our monthly video-conferencing with the entire group alongside subgroup meetings, as necessary.</li> </ol>

Publications

Monroe-Lord L, Jones BL, Richards R, Reicks M, Gunther C, Banna J, Topham G, Anderson A, Lora K, Wong SS, Ballejos M, Hopkins L, Ardakani A. Parenting practices and adolescent eating behaviors in African American families. Int J Env Res Public Health, submitted 10-30-21, resubmitted 11-24-21   Banna J, Richards R, Jones B, Anderson A, Reicks M, Cluskey M, Gunther C, Hongu NK, Lora K, Misner S, Monroe-Lord L, Topham G, Wong S, Lim E. Describing independent eating occasions among low-income adolescents. Int J Env Res Public Health 2020;17:981. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17030981.   Reicks M, Banna J, Anderson A, Gunther C, Hongu N, Jones B, Lora K, Monroe-Lord L, Richards R, Topham G, Wong S. Development and testing of a questionnaire to assess frequency of food parenting practices to influence adolescent intake during independent eating occasions. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2020;52(3):307-313. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.10.018   Suzuki, A. Anderson, A. Cluskey, M. Gunther, C. Hongu, N. Jones, B. Lora, K. Misner, S. Monroe-Lord, L. Novotny, R. Reicks, M. Richards, R. Topham, G. L., Wong, S. Banna, J. Parental practices influencing eating behavior during independent eating occasions of early adolescents in Hawaiʻi. Annual meeting International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Summer 2021. Virtual presentation.   Monroe-Lord L, Jones B, Richards R, Reicks M, Gunther C, Banna J, Topham G, Anderson A, Lora K, Wong SS. Parenting practices and early adolescent eating behaviors in African American families. Food and Nutrition Conference & Expo, FNCE 2021, Virtual Event, October 16-19, 2021.

Impact Statements

We launched the main Qualtrics survey to identify associations among food-related parenting practices and dietary quality of adolescent iEOs. We expect results will be used scientist from nine states and the District of Columbia with diverse expertise and backgrounds (who are part of W-4003 multistate project) to develop interventions to address frequency of parenting practices that could improve adolescent dietary quality overall and during iEOs.

Date of Annual Report: 08/29/2022

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 07/20/2022 - 07/20/2022
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2021 - 07/20/2022

Participants

1. Anderson, Alex (fianko@uga.edu), University of Georgia
2. Ballejos, Miriam (Miriam.s.ballejos.civ@mail.mil), Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA
3. Banna, Jinan (jcbanna@hawaii.edu), University of Hawaii @ Manoa
4. Gunther, Carolyn (Gunther.22@osu.edu), Ohio State University
5. Hopkins, Laura (lhopkins@bw.edu), Baldwin Wallace University
6. Jones, Blake (blake.jones@byu.edu), Brigham Young University
7. Lora, Karina (Klora@email.gwu.edu), George Washington University
8. Monroe-Lord, Lillie (lmonroelord@udc.edu), University of the District of Columbia
9. Reicks, Marla (mreicks@umn.edu), University of Minnesota
10. Richards, Rickelle (Rickelle_richards@byu.edu), Brigham Young University
11. Shearrer, Grace (gshearre@uwyo.edu), University of Wyoming
12. Topham, Glade (gtopham@ksu.edu), Kansas State University
13. Wong, Siew Sun (Siewsun.wong@oregonstate.edu), Oregon State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

Brief summary of minutes of annual meeting:

The 2021-2022 W4003 annual meeting was held on 7/20/2022 virtually via Zoom online conferencing.

Attendees included:

Banna, Jinan (jcbanna@hawaii.edu), University of Hawaii @ Manoa

Gunther, Carolyn (Gunther.22@osu.edu), Ohio State University

Hopkins, Laura (lhopkins@bw.edu), Baldwin Wallace University

Jones, Blake (blake.jones@byu.edu), Brigham Young University

Lora, Karina (Klora@email.gwu.edu), George Washington University

Monroe-Lord, Lillie (lmonroelord@udc.edu), University of the District of Columbia

Reicks, Marla (mreicks@umn.edu), University of Minnesota

Richards, Rickelle (Rickelle_richards@byu.edu), Brigham Young University

Wong, Siew Sun (Siewsun.wong@oregonstate.edu), Oregon State University

2022-2023 Chair (Marla Reicks), 2022-2023 Chair-Elect (Laura Hopkins), 2022-2023 Secretary (Grace Shearrer), Past Chair (Lillie Monroe-Lord)

Siew Sun Wong reported on her attendance at an awards presentation of the Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors meeting June 29, 2022 to accept an Award of Excellence in Multistate Research on behalf of all members.

Membership Directory: We updated our membership directory on our Google Drive to include active members with updated contact information.

Bylaws: Members were asked to review group bylaws on our Google Drive for discussion at a later monthly meeting.

Publications: Lead authors reported on papers under review or in preparation. A qualitative report on changes in independent eating occasion (iEOs) parenting practices during the COVID-19 pandemic is under review by the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. A quantitative paper on associations among parenting practices and adolescent iEO dietary intake is under review by the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Four additional publications based on Objective 1 Survey data are in preparation.

Digital communications: Leads reviewed potential plans and progress on types of digital communication components proposed to meet Objective 2 (mobile app, virtual parent coaching component, snack calendar and cooking courses). Members discussed use of an intervention mapping protocol to identify program and behavioral performance objectives and personal determinants based on survey results. This protocol will also be used to identify theory-based methods and strategies to operationalize theory. The intervention map will be based on survey results, supportive literature and theory, and include study design and timeline for identifying digital communication components, their development and testing.

Grant funding: Members decided to complete the intervention mapping procedures, and develop and test digital communication components to provide preliminary data in preparation for the development of possible grant proposals.

Members nominated Marla Reicks (Chair), Laura Hopkins (Chair-Elect), and Grace Shearrer (Secretary) to serve in leadership positions for 2022-2023 term. Lillie Monroe-Lord will serve as Past Chair. We discussed holding the next annual meeting in April 2023 in-person or virtually for project and manuscript updates, proposal development for extramural funding to support our work, and initial planning for a Multistate proposal to continue the work proposed in the W4003 project.

Annual meeting dates and locations for 2023: Members agreed to express preferences via a poll, followed by planning for the annual meeting based on preferred location and dates.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments for 2021-2022: Background: Current literature shows that the home food environment including food-related parenting practices influence and shape the dietary habits of adolescents (Zeinstra et al., 2010; Yee et al., 2017; Zeigler et al., 2021). Most of this research has focused on dietary habits involving meals with family members under the supervision of adult caregivers. Less is known about how caregivers influence adolescent dietary intake during independent eating occasions (iEOs) when adolescents are not supervised by caregivers. Studies have demonstrated associations between eating alone among adolescents and intake of high energy density foods including snacks and with overweight/obesity (Reicks et al., 2019; Shirasawa et al. 2018). Our group used pictorial and interview data from low-income, multiethnic adolescents and parents to describe iEOs as primarily snacks characterized by fruit, sweets and dairy product consumption based on preferences and availability (Banna et al., 2020). Our survey study identified associations between parenting practices and adolescent healthy and unhealthy iEO dietary intake among a sample of low-income, multiethnic families (under review).   Banna J, Richards R, Jones B, et al. Describing independent eating occasions among low-income adolescents. Int J Env Res Public Health. 2020;17(3):981. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17030981.   Reicks M, Davey C, Anderson AK, et al. Frequency of eating alone is associated with adolescent dietary intake, perceived food-related parenting practices and weight status: Cross-sectional FLASHE Study Results. Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(9):1555-1566. doi: 10.1017/S1368980019000107.   Shirasawa T, Ochiai H, Yoshimoto T, et al. Effects of eating dinner alone on overweight in Japanese adolescents: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Pediatr. 2018;18:36.   Yee AZH, Lwin MO, Ho SS. The influence of parental practices on child promotive and preventive food consumption behaviors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017;14(1):47.   Ziegler AM, Kasprzak CM, Mansouri TH, et al. An ecological perspective of food choice and eating autonomy among adolescents. Front Psychol. 2021;12:654139. Zeinstra GG, Koelen MA, Kok FJ, et al. Parental child-feeding strategies in relation to Dutch children’s fruit and vegetable intake. Public Health Nutr. 2010;13(6):787-796.   Project Objectives: <ol> <li>Examine the association between key parenting practices and positive eating behaviors during iEOs among low-income, multi-ethnic early adolescents.</li> <li>Develop digital communications for parents and/or early adolescents such as mobile apps, virtual parent coaching/supervision, virtual cooking experiences, and online planning tools that promote parenting practices that support healthy food choices during iEOs among early adolescents (11-14 years).</li> <li>Implement and evaluate a pilot intervention for parents and early adolescents (11-14 years) to promote positive parenting practices during independent eating occasions and to improve early adolescent dietary intake during these occasions based on digital communications developed in Objective 2.</li> <li>Prepare a grant proposal to revise and implement a full-scale intervention and disseminate findings to health professionals.</li> </ol>   Instructions for the report: Please indicate significant evidence of linkages both internal to the project/committee and to external peer groups, stakeholders, clientele, and other multistate activities. The report should also reflect on the items that stakeholders want to know, or want to see. The committee should describe plans for the coming year in no more than one or two short paragraphs.   Short-term Outcomes: Over the past year, we completed analysis of interview data with low-income, multi-ethnic adolescents and parents about how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced food-related parenting practices around adolescent iEOs. We submitted a manuscript for publication to report findings. Overall, results from parents suggested that adolescent iEO frequency increased during COVID-19 with the potential for increased intake of unhealthy snacks, yet the parenting practices used to influence iEOs remained stable. Families experienced having more time and family meals together. Some families experienced changes in their food environment, which negatively affected eating habits.   Over the past year, we also completed survey data collection from 622 low-income, multi-ethnic adolescent/parent dyads across the US. Adolescents and parents reported frequency of parenting practices and adolescents reported food and beverage intake during iEOs. We completed data analysis, and submitted a research brief for publication to report findings. Structural and autonomy support parenting practices were positively associated with both healthy and unhealthy food intake by adolescents during iEOs. Interventions to improve dietary intake of adolescents during iEOs could promote practices positively associated with intake of healthy foods.   Outcomes of these projects will be shared with nutrition and health professionals via publications and presentations to inform the development of interventions to improve parenting practices, which in turn, can positively influence eating habits of adolescents during iEOs to meet dietary recommendations and promote healthy weight.   Outputs: Outputs delivered by our research project include a questionnaire to assess parenting practices with acceptable psychometric characteristics, survey results from 622 adolescent/parent dyads based on the questionnaire, and a presentation and publications for nutrition and public health professionals centered on food-related parenting practices that influence dietary intake during adolescent iEOs.   Activities: Activities include interview and survey data collection, analysis and reporting regarding parenting practices and adolescent dietary intake during iEOs. Lead authors and writing team members have analyzed interview and survey data from parent/adolescent dyads to determine how 1) the COVID-19 pandemic affected the home food environment and adolescent dietary intake during iEOs, 2) parenting practices were associated with healthy and unhealthy food intake during adolescent iEOs, and 3) demographic characteristics affected the frequency of iEOs and foods/beverages consumed by adolescents during iEOs.   Future activities will involve development and testing of digital communication intervention components to promote parenting practices that support healthy food choices among adolescents during iEOS. Project members have previously developed and tested digital communications that can be adapted to modify adolescent dietary intake during iEOs via promotion of positive parenting practices including a snack planning calendar tool and cooking courses.   We will use an intervention mapping protocol to identify program and behavioral performance objectives and personal determinants based on survey results. We will determine whether digital communications will target specific parenting practices and adolescent eating behaviors or food groups based on survey results and which behavior change theory should be operationalized. Digital communications which best address the identified objectives and outcomes will be developed. Pilot interventions will be implemented and tested for feasibility and preliminary effectiveness. The resulting preliminary data will be used to prepare grant proposals to obtain funding for larger implementation and testing.   Milestones (2019-2024): To develop and test a questionnaire with acceptable psychometric properties by fall 2021.   To implement the main survey by fall 2021.   To analyze survey data; evaluate results; determine parenting practices exhibiting most impact on early adolescents’ iEO intakes and behaviors, and develop manuscripts by spring 2022.   To plan and develop digital communications intervention components based survey data such as parent and adolescent apps that serve as an organizing framework for virtual parent coaching/supervising, preparing snacks, and planning snacks by fall 2023.   To design, implement and evaluate a pilot intervention based on the digital communications developed by fall 2023.   To report results via manuscripts, develop draft grant proposals to implement the intervention among a broad range of participants by fall 2023.

Publications

Publications: Peer reviewed manuscripts Submitted Gunther C, Richards R, Banna J, Reicks M, Wong SS, Ballejos M, Lora KR, Topham G, Jones B, Catherine, Schier H, Monroe-Lord L, Anderson A, Hopkins L. Adolescent independent eating occasions (iEOs), dietary intake, and parenting practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study of parents and adolescents from low-income households. J Nutr Educ Behav, submitted 7-18-22.   Reicks M, Lora K, Jun, Y, Monroe-Lord L, Topham G, Jones B, Kojo Anderson A, Gunther C, Hopkins L, Richards R, Wong SS. Associations among independent eating occasion-specific parenting practices and adolescent dietary intake during these occasions. J Acad Nutr Diet, submitted 8-5-22.   Published Monroe-Lord L, Anderson A, Jones BL, Richards R, Reicks M, Gunther C, Banna J, Topham GL, Lora KR, Wong SS, Ballejos M, Hopkins L, Arkakani A. Relationship between family racial/ethnic backgrounds, parenting practices and styles, and adolescent eating behaviors. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022;19:7388. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127388">https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127388</a>      Monroe-Lord L, Jones BL, Richards R, Reicks M, Gunther C, Banna J, Topham G, Anderson A, Lora K, Wong SS, Ballejos M, Hopkins L, Ardakani A. Parenting practices and adolescent eating behaviors in African American families. Int J Env Res Public Health 2022;19:110. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010110">https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010110</a>   Presentations Reicks M, Anderson AK, Ballejos M, Banna J, Jones BL, Gunther C, Hopkins L, Lora K, Monroe-Lord L, Richards R, Topham G, Wong SS. Adolescent independent eating occasions and dietary intake during independent eating occasions by personal and household characteristics. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2022;54(7S):S29.

Impact Statements

Intended improvement in eating behaviors during independent eating occasions among adolescents including reductions in intake of junk food, convenience/fast food, sugar-sweetened beverages, sugary foods and increases in intake of fruits and vegetables and beneficial foods (based on the FLASHE Study defined food groups) (NCI, 2017).

Date of Annual Report: 05/24/2023

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 04/26/2023 - 04/29/2023
Period the Report Covers: 07/20/2022 - 04/28/2023

Participants

Anderson, Alex (fianko@uga.edu), University of Georgia
Banna, Jinan (jcbanna@hawaii.edu), University of Hawaii @ Manoa
Gunther, Carolyn (Gunther.22@osu.edu), Ohio State University
Hopkins, Laura (lhopkins@bw.edu), Baldwin Wallace University
Jones, Blake (blake.jones@byu.edu), Brigham Young University
Lora, Karina (Klora@email.gwu.edu), George Washington University
Monroe-Lord, Lillie (lmonroelord@udc.edu), University of the District of Columbia
Pratt, Keeley (pratt@osu.edu), Ohio State University
Reicks, Marla (mreicks@umn.edu), University of Minnesota
Richards, Rickelle (Rickelle_richards@byu.edu), Brigham Young University
Shearrer, Grace (gshearre@uwyo.edu), University of Wyoming
Topham, Glade (gtopham@ksu.edu), Kansas State University
Wong, Siew Sun (Siewsun.wong@oregonstate.edu), Oregon State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

Brief summary of minutes of annual meeting:

The 2022-2023 W4003 annual meeting was held 04/27/2023 to 04/28/2023 in-person for six participants at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT and virtually via Zoom online conferencing for seven participants.

Attendees included:

Anderson, Alex (fianko@uga.edu), University of Georgia

Banna, Jinan (jcbanna@hawaii.edu), University of Hawaii @ Manoa

Gunther, Carolyn (Gunther.22@osu.edu), Ohio State University

Hopkins, Laura (lhopkins@bw.edu), Baldwin Wallace University

Jones, Blake (blake.jones@byu.edu), Brigham Young University

Lora, Karina (Klora@email.gwu.edu), George Washington University

Monroe-Lord, Lillie (lmonroelord@udc.edu), University of the District of Columbia

Pratt, Keeley (pratt@osu.edu), Ohio State University

Reicks, Marla (mreicks@umn.edu), University of Minnesota

Richards, Rickelle (Rickelle_richards@byu.edu), Brigham Young University

Shearrer, Grace (gshearre@uwyo.edu), University of Wyoming

Topham, Glade (gtopham@ksu.edu), Kansas State University

Wong, Siew Sun (Siewsun.wong@oregonstate.edu), Oregon State University

2023-2024 Chair (Laura Hopkins), 2023-2024 Chair-Elect (Grace Shearrer), 2023-2024 Secretary (Blake Jones), Past Chair (Marla Reicks)

Membership Directory

Our Membership Directory had been updated on our Google Drive to include active members with updated contact information during the past project year.

Bylaws

Bylaws were updated on our Google Drive based on review and discussion during the past project year.

Project Administrator Update

Dr. Brett Hess, Executive Director of the Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors business operations provided an update on NIFA funding for research initiatives and facilities, leadership changes, AFRI program priorities and impact reporting. He also provided information regarding the new project proposal process with a due date of January 15, 2024.

Completion of Objective 1: Publications to report on work completed

Lead authors reported on papers under review or in preparation that address Objective 1: Examine associations between parenting practices and adolescent iEO eating behaviors. A qualitative report on changes in independent eating occasion (iEOs) parenting practices during the COVID-19 pandemic was accepted for publication by the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. A quantitative paper on associations among parenting practices and adolescent iEO dietary intake has been accepted for publication by the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Additional manuscripts based on Objective 1 are in preparation based on the development of a Master data file and codebook:

Anderson et al. Demographic factors influencing frequency and intake during adolescent independent eating occasions

Lora et al. Parent gender does not mediate relationships between adolescent food intake during independent eating occasions and food parenting practices. For Public Health Nutrition

Jones et al. Anxiety, sleep, and inhibition control and food parenting practices influencing adolescent independent eating occasions.

Topham et al. Relationships between general parenting and food parenting practices that influence adolescent independent eating occasions

Work on Objective 2: Develop digital communications for parents and adolescents that promote parenting practices supporting healthy food choices during adolescent iEOs

During the past year, a work group has been meeting to complete an intervention mapping process. Based on our previous interview and survey data and the broader literature, the process led us to focus our intervention on improving the availability of healthy foods (fruits and vegetables – FV) during adolescent iEOs. A focus on availability parenting practices at the level of both parent and adolescent is expected to increase adolescent iEO FV intakes leading to improved diet quality and weight status. Next steps include the identification of proximal program objectives (increased frequency of FV intake and improved adolescent diet quality), alignment with the socioecological framework, study design and timeline for developing and testing digital communication components. We will continue the intervention mapping process during the next project year. During the mapping process, we are also planning to review existing digital communication resources. During the meeting, two project team members described digital communication resources they had developed including a web-based meal/snack planning calendar for 5-8 year-old children and parents and a family-based cooking course for preschool children and caregivers. In addition, the group decided to conduct a systematic review of existing mobile app resources that address meal planning, shopping/transportation, cooking and food consumption. A draft review protocol was developed based on similar reviews reported in the literature. The protocol is based on work group assignments made to 1) further refine and test the search protocol/procedures, 2) develop and test training protocols for those involved in the review process, 3) conduct the search/review, and 4) prepare a manuscript to report the results. Dr. David Wingate, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Brigham Young University met with the group to describe ways that artificial intelligence deep learning models (e.g., Chat GPT) could be used to assist in the mobile app review process.

Grant funding

Members decided to complete the intervention mapping process, and identify and test digital communication components, such as mobile apps, to provide preliminary data in preparation for the development of possible grant proposals. In the meantime, we identified potential funding for a pilot study to test digital communications with families in the next project year.

W-5003 Multistate proposal development

Members developed a set of objectives for the next proposal based on a realistic timeline for completing W-4003 Objectives 2-4 during the next project year. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the timeline for conducting the survey needed to complete W-4003 Objective 1, which informed the work to complete Objective 2. Writing team members were assigned sections of the new proposal to complete (May to December 2023).

Leadership

Members nominated Laura Hopkins (Chair), Grace Shearrer (Chair-Elect), and Blake Jones (Secretary) to serve in leadership positions for 2023-2024 term. Marla Reicks will serve as Past Chair. We discussed holding the next annual meeting in April 2022 in-person and virtually to work on project objectives and manuscripts, and proposal development for extramural funding to support our work.

Annual meeting dates and locations for 2024

Members agreed to express preferences via a poll, followed by planning for the annual meeting based on preferred location and dates.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments for 2022-2023: Background: Current literature shows that the home food environment, including food parenting practices, influence and shape the dietary habits of adolescents (Vaughn et al., 2016; Yee et al., 2017; Zeigler et al., 2021). Most studies has focused on dietary habits involving meals with family members under the supervision of adult caregivers. Less is known about how caregivers influence adolescent dietary intake during independent eating occasions (iEOs) when adult caregivers are not present. Several studies have identified associations between eating alone among adolescents, intake of high energy density foods including snacks, and overweight/obesity (Reicks et al., 2019; Shirasawa et al. 2018). Our group used pictorial and interview data from 51 low-income, multiethnic adolescents and parents to describe iEOs as primarily snacks (65%) characterized by fruit, sweets and dairy product consumption based on preferences and availability (Banna et al., 2020). Parent interview results indicated that setting expectations/rules and managing availability were the most common food parenting practices used to support healthy adolescent iEO intake (Gunther et al., 2019). Based on interviews we conducted with parents during the COVID-19 pandemic, about half reported greater adolescent iEO frequency and changes in foods available during iEOs, but most parents reported little change in parenting practices used to influence adolescent iEO intake (Gunther et al., in press). Our survey study identified associations between parenting practices and adolescent healthy and unhealthy iEO dietary intake among a sample of low-income, multiethnic parent/adolescent dyads (n = 622) (Reicks et al., in press). Structural (monitoring, indulgence, expectations) and autonomy support parenting practices were positively associated with both healthy and unhealthy iEO food intake by adolescents. Results indicate that interventions to improve adolescent iEO intake could promote positive practices associated with healthy food consumption such as FV intake.   References Banna J, Richards R, Jones B, et al. Describing independent eating occasions among low-income adolescents. Int J Env Res Public Health. 2020;17(3):981. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17030981. Gunther C, Reicks M, Banna J, et al. Food parenting practices that influence early adolescents’ food choices during independent eating occasions. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2019;51(8):993-1002. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.05.597 Gunther C, Richards R, Banna J, et al. Adolescent independent eating occasions, dietary intake, and parenting practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study of parents and adolescents from low-income households. J Nutr Educ Behav. In press 5-1-23 Reicks M, Davey C, Anderson AK, et al. Frequency of eating alone is associated with adolescent dietary intake, perceived food-related parenting practices and weight status: Cross-sectional FLASHE Study Results. Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(9):1555-1566. doi: 10.1017/S1368980019000107. Reicks M, Lora K, Jin, Y, et al. Associations among independent eating occasion-specific parenting practices and adolescent dietary intake during these occasions. J Acad Nutr Diet, in press 5-10-23 Shirasawa T, Ochiai H, Yoshimoto T, et al. Effects of eating dinner alone on overweight in Japanese adolescents: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Pediatr. 2018;18:36. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-018-1041-y">10.1186/s12887-018-1041-y</a> Vaughn AE, Ward DS, Fisher JO, et al. Fundamental constructs in food parenting practices: a content map to guide future research. Nutr Rev. 2016;74(2):98-117. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuv061 Yee AZH, Lwin MO, Ho SS. The influence of parental practices on child promotive and preventive food consumption behaviors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017;14(1):47. Ziegler AM, Kasprzak CM, Mansouri TH, et al. An ecological perspective of food choice and eating autonomy among adolescents. Front Psychol. 2021;12:654139. Zeinstra GG, Koelen MA, Kok FJ, et al. Parental child-feeding strategies in relation to Dutch children’s fruit and vegetable intake. Public Health Nutr. 2010;13(6):787-796.   Project Objectives: <ol> <li>Examine the association between key parenting practices and positive eating behaviors during iEOs among low-income, multi-ethnic early adolescents.</li> <li>Develop digital communications for parents and/or early adolescents such as mobile apps, virtual parent coaching/supervision, virtual cooking experiences, and online planning tools that promote parenting practices that support healthy food choices during iEOs among early adolescents (11-14 years).</li> <li>Implement and evaluate a pilot intervention for parents and early adolescents (11-14 years) to promote positive parenting practices during independent eating occasions and to improve early adolescent dietary intake during these occasions based on digital communications developed in Objective 2.</li> <li>Prepare a grant proposal to revise and implement a full-scale intervention and disseminate findings to health professionals.</li> </ol>   Instructions for the report: Please indicate significant evidence of linkages both internal to the project/committee and to external peer groups, stakeholders, clientele, and other multistate activities. The report should also reflect on the items that stakeholders want to know, or want to see. The committee should describe plans for the coming year in no more than one or two short paragraphs.   Short-term Outcomes: Individual interviews with parents and adolescents regarding food parenting practices during COVID-19: Over the past year, we wrote and submitted a manuscript for publication to report findings regarding the analysis of interview data with low-income, multi-ethnic adolescents and parents about how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced food-related parenting practices around adolescent iEOs. Overall, results from parents suggested that adolescent iEO frequency increased during COVID-19 with the potential for increased intake of unhealthy snacks, yet the parenting practices used to influence iEOs remained stable. Families experienced having more time and family meals together. Some families experienced changes in their food environment, which negatively affected eating habits. The manuscript has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.   Survey data from parents and adolescents regarding food parenting practices and adolescent iEO intake: 1) Over the past year, we also completed survey data analysis and reporting regarding data from 622 low-income, multi-ethnic adolescent/parent dyads across the US. Adolescents and parents reported frequency of parenting practices and adolescents reported food and beverage intake during iEOs. Structural and autonomy support parenting practices were positively associated with both healthy and unhealthy adolescent iEO food and beverage intakes. We submitted a research brief to the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to report findings, which has been accepted for publication.   2) We conducted regression analysis to examine the influence of parent and adolescent sociodemographic factors on adolescent iEO food intake. Findings indicated that adolescent gender, age, ethnicity, mode of school attendance, and weight status were associated with specific adolescent iEO food and beverage intakes indicating that interventions for families could be tailored based on selected sociodemographic characteristics. A manuscript is currently under preparation for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.   3) Based on other research suggesting that food parenting practices in general may be affected by parent or child gender, additional analyses were completed to examine relationships between parent and child gender and adolescent iEO food and beverage intakes. A draft manuscript is under preparation for submission to the journal Public Health Nutrition.   Intervention mapping: Over the past year, a work group has been engaged in applying an intervention mapping protocol to identify program and behavioral performance objectives and personal determinants based on our survey results. We have determined that future digital communications will target the food parenting practice of managing availability to improve adolescent iEO fruit and vegetable intakes. The mapping protocol will be used over the next year to further identify proximal objectives and methods for intervention development and testing of digital communications.   Outputs: Outputs delivered by our research project include survey results from 622 adolescent/parent dyads regarding food parenting practices and adolescent iEO food and beverage intakes, and publications for nutrition and public health professionals centered on food parenting practices during COVID-19 and overall that influence dietary intake during adolescent iEOs.   Activities: Activities included interview and survey data analysis and reporting regarding food parenting practices and adolescent iEO dietary intake. A lead author and writing team members have published a paper to report on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the home food environment and adolescent dietary intake during iEOs. Lead authors and writing team members have conducted survey data analyses from parent/adolescent dyads regarding associations between food parenting practices and healthy and unhealthy adolescent iEO food intakes overall (accepted for publication) and by parent and adolescent gender, and between parent/adolescent sociodemographic characteristics and adolescent iEO food and beverage intakes.   An intervention mapping protocol was used to identify behavioral target objectives and mediators of behavior change for parents and adolescents. Work is planned to further apply the mapping protocol to identify specific proximal program objectives and their use in the intervention development and testing process.   During the annual meeting, we developed initial plans and work group assignments to conduct a systematic review to identify and assess mobile apps related meal planning, shopping/transportation, meal prep/cooking, and food consumption that address desired parent and adolescent behaviors that lead to healthy adolescent iEO food choices. We identified three work groups that would 1) refine a preliminary review protocol, refine search and review criteria, modify an existing mobile app rating scale to evaluate app quality and content, and develop a Qualtrics data entry form, 2) develop and test a training protocol for the project team and student reviewers, and 3) conduct the app search/review using the tested protocol. We plan to write a manuscript reporting the procedure and results. Upon identification of several mobile apps that are applicable to our project objectives, we will determine the feasibility of existing commercially available apps for supporting the food parenting practice of managing availability of foods that lead to healthy adolescent iEO food choices among multi-ethnic, low-income, families with adolescents with obesity. If possible, we may explore the ability to modify a promising app as needed and further test app utility, acceptability and engagement. Milestones (2019-2024): To develop and test a questionnaire with acceptable psychometric properties by fall 2021 (Completed spring 2020).   To implement the main survey by fall 2021 (Completed December 2021, based on a delay in implementation because of the COVID-19 pandemic).   To analyze survey data; evaluate results; determine parenting practices exhibiting most impact on early adolescents’ iEO intakes and behaviors, and develop manuscripts by spring 2022 (Data were analyzed and results reported in a paper in press 5-10-2023).   To plan and develop digital communications intervention components based survey data such as parent and adolescent apps that serve as an organizing framework for virtual parent coaching/supervising, preparing snacks, and planning snacks by fall 2023 (Intervention mapping protocol underway 2022-2023 with targeted completion date fall 2023).   To design, implement and evaluate a pilot intervention based on the digital communications developed by fall 2023 (Review of existing mobile apps underway with an expected completion date of summer 2024 prior to selecting several apps for testing. This milestone will likely be completed as part of a continuation proposal (W-5003) beginning Oct 2024).   To report results via manuscripts, develop draft grant proposals to implement the intervention among a broad range of participants by fall 2023 (This milestone will likely be completed as part of a continuation proposal (W-5003) beginning Oct 2024).

Publications

Publications: Peer reviewed manuscripts (in press) Gunther C, Banna J, Jones BL, Park C, Reicks M, Richards R, Schier H, Topham G, Wong SS, Anderson AK, Ballejos M, Hopkins L, Lora KR, Monroe-Lord L. Adolescent independent eating occasions (iEOs), dietary intake, and parenting practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study of parents and adolescents from low-income households. J Nutr Educ Behav, in press 5-1-23.   Reicks M, Lora K, Jin, Y, Monroe-Lord L, Topham G, Jones B, Kojo Anderson A, Gunther C, Hopkins L, Richards R, Wong SS. Associations among independent eating occasion-specific parenting practices and adolescent dietary intake during these occasions. J Acad Nutr Diet, in press 5-10-23.   Presentations Reicks M, Anderson AK, Ballejos M, Banna J, Jones BL, Gunther C, Hopkins L, Lora K, Monroe-Lord L, Richards R, Topham G, Wong SS. Adolescent independent eating occasions and dietary intake during independent eating occasions by personal and household characteristics. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2022;54(7S):S29.

Impact Statements

• Outcomes will be shared with nutrition and health professionals via publications and presentations to inform the development of interventions to improve parenting practices, which in turn, can positively influence eating habits of adolescents during iEOs to meet dietary recommendations and promote healthy weight.

Date of Annual Report: 06/05/2024

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/12/2024 - 05/14/2024
Period the Report Covers: 10/02/2023 - 09/30/2024

Participants

1. Anderson, Alex (fianko@uga.edu), University of Georgia
2. Banna, Jinan (jcbanna@hawaii.edu), University of Hawaii @ Manoa
3. Gunther, Carolyn (Gunther.22@osu.edu), Ohio State University
4. Hopkins, Laura (lhopkins@bw.edu), Baldwin Wallace University
5. Jones, Blake (blake.jones@byu.edu), Brigham Young University
6. Lora, Karina (Klora@email.gwu.edu), George Washington University
7. Monroe-Lord, Lillie (lmonroelord@udc.edu), University of the District of Columbia
8. Pratt, Keeley (pratt@osu.edu), Ohio State University
9. Reicks, Marla (mreicks@umn.edu), University of Minnesota
10. Richards, Rickelle (Rickelle_richards@byu.edu), Brigham Young University
11. Shearrer, Grace (gshearre@uwyo.edu), University of Wyoming
12. Topham, Glade (gtopham@ksu.edu), Kansas State University
13. Wong, Siew Sun (Siewsun.wong@oregonstate.edu), Oregon State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

The 2023-2024 W4003 annual meeting was held 05/13/2024 to 05/14/2024 in-person for three participants at Oregon State University in Corvalis, OR and virtually via Zoom online conferencing for eight participants.

Attendees included:

Anderson, Alex (fianko@uga.edu), University of Georgia

Banna, Jinan (jcbanna@hawaii.edu), University of Hawaii @ Manoa

Gunther, Carolyn (Gunther.22@osu.edu), Ohio State University represented by Kyra Foster

Hopkins, Laura (lhopkins@bw.edu), Baldwin Wallace University

Jones, Blake (blake.jones@byu.edu), Brigham Young University

Lora, Karina (Klora@email.gwu.edu), George Washington University

Monroe-Lord, Lillie (lmonroelord@udc.edu), University of the District of Columbia

Richards, Rickelle (Rickelle_richards@byu.edu), Brigham Young University

Shearrer, Grace (gshearre@uwyo.edu), University of Wyoming

Topham, Glade (gtopham@ksu.edu), Kansas State University

Wong, Siew Sun (Siewsun.wong@oregonstate.edu), Oregon State University

2024-2025 Chair (Grace Shearrer), 2024-2025 Chair-Elect (Blake Jones), 2024-2025 Secretary (Rickelle Richards), Past Chair (Laura Hopkins)

Membership Directory & W-5003 Appendix E reviewed

Our Membership Directory is updated on Google Drive to include active members with updated contact information. W-5003 Appendix E was reviewed. Jinan Banna is still having issues submitting Appendix E.

Bylaws

Bylaws were reviewed. Policies undergoing revision or being added included the Active Member Policy, Leave of Absence Policy, and Authorship Policy. These will be drafted and reviewed at the June monthly meeting.

Project Administrator Update

Dr. Bret Hess, Executive Director of the Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors business operations provided an update on NIFA funding for research initiatives and facilities, AFRI program priorities and impact reporting. He also discussed our W-5003 proposal and provided recommendations.

App Review Process

Protocol and procedures for Rounds 1, 2, and 3 of the App Review were presented and discussed. Present team members broke out into small working groups to test the procedures and the team reconvened to compare experience, findings, and recommendations for protocol and procedure changes.

Addition of Digitech Expertise to W-5003

Per the recommendations from Dr. Bret Hess, the team discussed potential members with Digitech expertise to invite to the W-5003 team.

Intervention Mapping Discussion

The status of the intervention mapping procedures was discussed. The intervention mapping working group will reconvene and we will dedicate time during our summer monthly meetings to progress intervention mapping procedures.

Virtual Nutrition Education Process

App Review protocols, procedures, and surveys were replicated and updated to reflect Virtual Nutrition Education. The team broke out into subgroups and tested Rounds 1 and 2 and Round 3 surveys, respectively. The team reconvened and discussed the Virtual Nutrition Education Process. We refined the definition of Virtual Nutrition Education, discussed the use of AI to identify available Virtual Nutrition Education resources, and debated limiting to Extension sponsored programming.

Leadership

Members nominated Grace Shearrer (Chair), Blake Jones (Chair-Elect), and Rickelle Richards (Secretary) to serve in leadership positions for 2024-2025 term. Laura Hopkins will serve as the Past Chair. We discussed holding the next annual meeting in May or June 2025 in-person and virtually to work on project objectives and manuscripts, and proposal development for extramural funding to support our work.

Annual meeting dates and locations for 2025

Members agreed to express preferences via a poll, followed by planning for the annual meeting based on preferred location and dates.

Accomplishments

Background: Current literature shows that the home food environment, including food parenting practices, influence and shape the dietary habits of adolescents (Vaughn et al., 2016; Yee et al., 2017; Zeigler et al., 2021). Most studies focused on dietary habits involving meals with family members under the supervision of adult caregivers. Less is known about how caregivers influence adolescent dietary intake during independent eating occasions (iEOs) when adult caregivers are not present. Several studies have identified associations between eating alone among adolescents, intake of high energy density foods including snacks, and overweight/obesity (Reicks et al., 2019; Shirasawa et al. 2018). Our group used pictorial and interview data from 51 low-income, multiethnic adolescents and parents to describe iEOs as primarily snacks (65%) characterized by fruit, sweets and dairy product consumption based on preferences and availability (Banna et al., 2020). Parent interview results indicated that setting expectations/rules and managing availability were the most common food parenting practices used to support healthy adolescent iEO intake (Gunther et al., 2019). Based on interviews we conducted with parents during the COVID-19 pandemic, about half reported greater adolescent iEO frequency and changes in foods available during iEOs, but most parents reported little change in parenting practices used to influence adolescent iEO intake (Gunther et al., in press). Our survey study identified associations between parenting practices and adolescent healthy and unhealthy iEO dietary intake among a sample of low-income, multiethnic parent/adolescent dyads (n = 622) (Reicks et al., in press). Structural (monitoring, indulgence, expectations) and autonomy support parenting practices were positively associated with both healthy and unhealthy iEO food intake by adolescents. Results indicate that interventions to improve adolescent iEO intake could promote positive practices associated with healthy food consumption such as FV intake.   References Banna J, Richards R, Jones B, et al. Describing independent eating occasions among low-income adolescents. Int J Env Res Public Health. 2020;17(3):981. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17030981. Gunther C, Reicks M, Banna J, et al. Food parenting practices that influence early adolescents’ food choices during independent eating occasions. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2019;51(8):993-1002. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.05.597 Gunther C, Richards R, Banna J, et al. Adolescent independent eating occasions, dietary intake, and parenting practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study of parents and adolescents from low-income households. J Nutr Educ Behav. In press 5-1-23 Reicks M, Davey C, Anderson AK, et al. Frequency of eating alone is associated with adolescent dietary intake, perceived food-related parenting practices and weight status: Cross-sectional FLASHE Study Results. Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(9):1555-1566. doi: 10.1017/S1368980019000107. Reicks M, Lora K, Jin, Y, et al. Associations among independent eating occasion-specific parenting practices and adolescent dietary intake during these occasions. J Acad Nutr Diet, in press 5-10-23 Shirasawa T, Ochiai H, Yoshimoto T, et al. Effects of eating dinner alone on overweight in Japanese adolescents: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Pediatr. 2018;18:36. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-018-1041-y">10.1186/s12887-018-1041-y</a> Vaughn AE, Ward DS, Fisher JO, et al. Fundamental constructs in food parenting practices: a content map to guide future research. Nutr Rev. 2016;74(2):98-117. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuv061 Yee AZH, Lwin MO, Ho SS. The influence of parental practices on child promotive and preventive food consumption behaviors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017;14(1):47. Ziegler AM, Kasprzak CM, Mansouri TH, et al. An ecological perspective of food choice and eating autonomy among adolescents. Front Psychol. 2021;12:654139. Zeinstra GG, Koelen MA, Kok FJ, et al. Parental child-feeding strategies in relation to Dutch children’s fruit and vegetable intake. Public Health Nutr. 2010;13(6):787-796.   Short-term Outcomes  App Review Protocol: Over the past year, we wrote a protocol and procedures for the App Review process. The procedures were modified from the Mauch et al (2018) and validated AQEL tool (DiFilippo et al, 2017) and aligned with our project objectives. Three rounds of review surveys were generated, pilot tested by students, and pilot tested by team members. DiFilippo KN, Huang W-HD, Chapman-Novakofski KM. Mobile apps for the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH): App Quality Evaluation. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2018;50:620-625. Mauch CE, Wycherley TP, Laws RA, et al. Mobile apps to support healthy family food provision: systemic assessment of popular commercially available apps. JMIR Mhealth and Uhealth 2018;6:e11867. Survey data from parents and adolescents regarding food parenting practices and adolescent iEO intake: Over the past year, we continued with survey data analysis and reporting regarding data from 622 low-income, multi-ethnic adolescent/parent dyads across the US. Detailed below are the statuses of several manuscripts from our team. <ol> <li>We conducted a descriptive analysis to examine associations between caregiver and adolescent sociodemographic factors and intake of SSBs, sugary foods, junk foods, and fruits and vegetables among a national sample of adolescents during IEOs. Findings suggest increased odds of SSB intake by Whites versus their Asian counterparts. Overweight/obese adolescents have increased odds, while older adolescents have decreased odds of sugary food intake compared to normal weight and younger adolescents, respectively. The manuscript titled "Associations between Sociodemographic Factors and Adolescent Food Consumption during Independent Eating Occasions" is under consideration for publication in the Ecology of Food and Nutrition.</li> </ol> <ol start="2"> <li>We determined whether associations between parental sex and adolescents’ dietary intake during independent eating occasions (junk foods, sugary foods, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and fruits and vegetables) were mediated by food parenting practices. Findings indicate that parent monitoring mediated the association between parental sex and SSB intake and parental sex and fruit/vegetable intake. Indulgence mediated the association between parental sex and SSB intake and between parental sex and fruit and vegetable intake. A manuscript is under review in Public Health Nutrition.</li> </ol> <ol start="3"> <li>We are examining the association between general parenting and food parenting and the association of both domains of parenting to child diet quality in independent eating occasions. Drafts of the introduction and methods have been developed and data are currently being analyzed</li> </ol> <ol start="4"> <li>We are aiming to evaluate parenting practices during independent eating occasions by food security classification. We are currently working on formalizing the research hypotheses and then will conduct data analysis and manuscript writing. </li> </ol> <ol start="5"> <li>We are examining whether sleep differences are related to mental health outcomes (e.g., anxiety, inhibitory control) in a sample of adolescents. Mental health factors such as these have been linked to eating behaviors in previous research and we are assessing whether sleep might be related to those risk factors. We are currently working on preparing to conduct the analyses and are working on the literature review.</li> </ol> Intervention mapping: We started preliminary work on the design of the intervention by employing the Intervention Mapping Protocol. First, we formulated proximal program objectives: <ol> <li>Improve the dietary quality of foods available in the home by significantly increasing the number of healthy foods and decreasing the number of less healthy foods available in the home over the past 7 days; p<0.05 (Santigo-Torres et al 2014);</li> </ol> <ol> <li>Improve child diet quality during iEOs by significantly increasing Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores and daily servings of fruits/vegetables to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations (5/d) and significantly decreasing daily servings of sugar-sweetened beverages; p<0.05. (Department of Health and Human Services, 2020)</li> </ol> These program objectives developed/selected based on the current evidence demonstrating that ‘making healthy foods available’ is the most widely used food parenting practice by caregivers of early adolescents during iEOs, and it has exclusively positive effects on dietary choices during iEOs (i.e., greater fruit/vegetable intake) – as reported by both parents and adolescents – the target behavior of the intervention was selected to be: availability. Additional rationale for selecting availability include the relevance of availability vs other parenting practices (e.g., modeling) in the context of iEOs when parents are not with their child. The following program objectives were formulated based on the evidence linking availability of foods in the home with child diet quality during iEOs and overall. The aforementioned Intervention Mapping Protocol work positions us to progress the intervention design in the year ahead. Specifically, we will create matrices containing the behavioral performance objectives relating to each of the program objectives (1 and 2 above) for each level of intervention: individual (child) and interpersonal (caregiver). After formulation of performance objectives, a list of personal determinants for each performance objective will be generated based on the theoretical foundation of this research (Social Cognitive Theory, SCT). We will then select personal determinants for children at the individual level and caregivers at the interpersonal level based on importance (i.e., strength of the association of the determinant with the behavior) and changeability (i.e., likelihood that the intervention may impact the determinant). We will then couple the performance objectives with the selected determinants, resulting in matrices of change objectives. The change objectives will state precisely what needs to change in the determinants’ behavioral outcomes in order to accomplish the performance objectives. They will be developed using action words and followed by a statement of what is expected to result from the intervention. Because two target groups are selected, two different matrices of change will be developed under each program objective. Next, we will select theory-based methods to influence change in the determinants at the individual (child) and interpersonal (caregiver) level based on the theoretical framework of the intervention (Social Cognitive Theory) and in reference to methods described by Bartholomew et al. (1998, 2011). A list of all change objectives linked with a specific determinant will be made, and the theoretical methods will then be matched with the corresponding determinant. Finally, practical strategies will be designed to put the theoretical methods into practice.  W-5003 Proposal: During the past year, our team prepared and submitted a W-5003 proposal. This proposal was a continuation of the W-4003 objectives with additional components, specifically including the integration of AI and digitech intervention procedures. The proposal was accepted without revision. Milestones (2019-2024): To develop and test a questionnaire with acceptable psychometric properties by fall 2021 (Completed spring 2020). To implement the main survey by fall 2021 (Completed December 2021, based on a delay in implementation because of the COVID-19 pandemic). To analyze survey data; evaluate results; determine parenting practices exhibiting most impact on early adolescents’ iEO intakes and behaviors, and develop manuscripts by spring 2022 (Data were analyzed and results reported in a paper in press 5-10-23). To plan and develop digital communications intervention components based survey data such as parent and adolescent apps that serve as an organizing framework for virtual parent coaching/supervising, preparing snacks, and planning snacks by fall 2023 (Intervention mapping protocol underway 2022-2023 and progress is detailed above). To design, implement, and evaluate a pilot intervention based on the digital communications developed by fall 2023 (Review of existing mobile apps underway with an expected completion date of summer 2024 prior to selecting several apps for testing. This milestone will likely be completed as part of a continuation proposal (W-5003) beginning Oct 2024). To report results via manuscripts, develop draft grant proposals to implement the intervention among a broad range of participants by fall 2023 (This milestone will likely be completed as part of a continuation proposal (W-5003) beginning Oct 2024).

Publications

2023-2024 Publications: Peer-reviewed manuscripts now published or under review Gunther C, Banna J, Jones BL, Park C, Reicks M, Richards R, Schier H, Topham GL, Wong SS, Anderson AK, Ballejos M, Hopkins LC, Lora KR, Monroe-Lord L. Adolescent Independent Eating Occasions, Dietary Intake, and Parenting Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study of Parents and Adolescents From Households With Low Income. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2023 Sep;55(9):634-643. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2023.05.001. Epub 2023 Jul 8. PMID: 37422758. Reicks M, Lora KR, Jin Y, Anderson AK, Monroe-Lord L, Jones BL, Topham GL, Banna J, Gunther C, Hopkins LC, Richards R, Wong SS. Parenting Practices Are Associated With Adolescent Food Choices During Independent Eating Occasions. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2023 Oct;123(10):1479-1487.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2023.05.016. Epub 2023 May 23. PMID: 37196979. Karina R. Lora, Grace Shearrer, Marla Reicks, Siew Sun Wong, Laura Hopkins Alex K. Anderson, Jinan Banna, Carolyn Gunther, Blake Jones, Lillie Monroe-Lord, Rickelle Richards, Glade Topham. Food parenting practices mediate relationships between parent sex and adolescent food intake during independent eating occasions. Under Review (May 2024) Pub Health Nut Anderson AK Gunther C, Jones B, Lora K, Reicks M, Richards R, Shearrer G, Wong SS, Banna J, Hopkins L, Monroe-Lord L, Topham G. Associations between Sociodemographic Factors and Adolescent Food Consumption during Independent Eating Occasions. Under Review (April 2024) in Ecol Food Nutr.   Presentations Karina R. Lora, Grace Shearrer, Marla Reicks, Siew Sun Wong, Laura Hopkins Alex K. Anderson, Jinan Banna, Carolyn Gunther, Blake Jones, Lillie Monroe-Lord, Rickelle Richards, Glade Topham. Food parenting practices mediate relationships between parent sex and adolescent food intake during independent eating occasions. American Society for Nutrition. Nutrition 2024 meeting, Chicago, IL.

Impact Statements

Supportive parenting practices were identified as a focus of interventions for parents and adolescents to improve adolescent iEO intake based on survey results. A manuscript reporting these results is in press for the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the academy’s premier source of research results regarding food, nutrition, and dietetics intended for healthcare professionals. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics registry statistics estimates that there are 110,154 registered dietitians in the US who are potential readers of the journal, many of whom are involved in providing diet and health information to parents of children and adolescents. We expect that practitioners will use the results to determine how to address and improve adolescent iEO healthy food choices.
Over the next year, we intend to finalize the mobile app and virtual nutrition education review, as well as the intervention mapping procedures to develop an intervention to promote availability parenting practices that improve adolescent iEO fruit and vegetable intakes.
Outcomes will be shared with nutrition and health professionals via publications and presentations to inform the development of interventions to improve parenting practices, Cooperative Extension staff in the form of bulletins, etc., which in turn, can positively influence eating habits of adolescents during iEOs to meet dietary recommendations and promote healthy weight.