Oral

For many health problems among children, researchers are beginning to focus more attention on the role of parents as a means to reduce risk and improve the overall health behaviors of youth. For instance, research has identified the importance of parental communication in adolescents' sexual behavior. Research has also shown that when parents monitor their children, foster a strong emotional bond and communicate openly with their children about sexuality, children delay sexual activity and use contraception more effectively when they become sexually active. However, few parent-child communication interventions have been sufficiently evaluated to indicate the best ways to help parents improve these behaviors. Similarly, in order to combat the childhood overweight epidemic, it is essential that effective dialogue occurs between health care providers and African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian parents. Providers usually focus their communication with mothers, but fathers have an underappreciated role. In some instances, parents’ behaviors may influence child behaviors and thus influence perceptions on generally health related quality of life issues. This session will discuss various aspects of the role of parenting in improving the health of children.

Session Objectives: At the end of the session, the participant will be able to: (1) Identify unique tools to measure varied parent peer education program activities; (2) Be able to describe strategies that encourage the fathers’ participation in specific interventions to promote healthy lifestyles for their children and prevent childhood overweight or obesity; (3) Discuss parent health behaviors and their association with child health behaviors.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing