The Relationship between Positive Parenting Attitude and Children’s BMI Z-score: Focusing on the Mediating Effect of Exercise Time and Number of Breakfasts Consumed of Children

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of children’s exercise time and breakfast in the relationship between parents’ positive parenting attitude and middle school children’s BMI-Z score. Methods: Data were obtained from Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey 2018, including 2,432 first-year middle school students and their parents. SPSS 27.0 version was used to analyze the data, and AMOS 27.0 program was used to verify the fit of the research model. Results: The results showed a significant direct relationship between parents’ positive parenting attitude and their children’s BMI Z-score (B = -0.01, <i>p</i> < 0.05). The mediation indirect effects of children’s exercise time and breakfast were also significant (B = -0.01, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Conclusions: A positive parenting attitude correlated with increased breakfast and exercise time, leading to lower adolescent’s BMI Z-scores for more breakfast and higher adolescent’s BMI Z-scores for more exercise time.