Stressed Out and Overcommitted! The Relationships Between Time Demands and Family Rules and Parents’ and Their Child’s Weight Status

Abstract

Objective. This study aimed to determine the relationship between parent time demands and presence and enforcement of family rules and parent/child dyad weight status. Method. In dyads of one child/parent per family ( N = 681 dyads) in Twin Cities, Minnesota, 2007-2008, height and weight were measured, and a survey of demographics, time demands, and family rules–related questions was taken. Parent/child dyads were classified into four healthy weight/overweight categories. Multivariate linear associations were analyzed with SAS, testing for interaction by work status and family composition ( p < .10). Results. In adjusted models, lack of family rules and difficulty with rule enforcement were statistically lower in dyads in which the parent or child was healthy weight compared with dyads in which the parent and child were both overweight (difference in family rules scores = 0.49, p = .03; difference in rule enforcement scores = 1.09, p ≤ .01). Of parents who worked full-time, healthy weight dyads reported lower time demands than other dyads (difference in time demands scores = 1.44, p = .01). Conclusions. Family experiences of time demands and use of family rules are related to the weight status of parents and children within families.