260834 Parental Knowledge, Beliefs and Attitudes toward School Wellness Policy and School Health Environment

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Wenhua Lu , Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Leina Zhu , Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Mary Odum(Dixon) , Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
E. Lisako J. McKyer, PhD, MPH , Department of Health & Kinesiology, Transdisciplinary Center for Health Equity Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Christine Tisone, PhD, MPH , Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Sharon McWhinney, PhD, RD , Department of Agriculture, Nutrition & Human Ecology, Prairie Vie A&M University, Prairie View, TX
Corliss Outley , Child & Adolescent Health Research Lab, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Andrea McDonald, MS , Department of Agriculture, Nutrition & Human Ecology, Prairie Vie A&M University, Prairie View, TX
Background: In 2004, Congress passed an act and required that all school districts establish a School Wellness Policy (SWP). However, little research is available about how parents perceive the policy. This study examined parental knowledge of, and beliefs about the SWP implemented in their child's school as well as parental attitudes toward school health environment. Methods: Parents (N=298) of 4th graders from 7 schools in rural mid-south Texas with predominantly Hispanic enrollment completed a 197-item questionnaire. Items assessed included factors associated with, and barriers to reducing childhood obesity. Questionnaire subscales specific to school health policies and school health environment were analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Results: Among the 298 participants, 208 (69.8%) had no knowledge (i.e., never seen nor heard) about federal requirements for school districts to establish SWP; 228 (76.5%) had not read their child's school district's SWP; 277 (97%) believed having a nutrition/wellness policy in their child's school is important. Regarding school health environment, although many parents were satisfied with their child's food options (n=168, 56.4%) and physical activity opportunities (n=202, 67.8%) available at school, the majority (n=272, 91.3%) indicated that schools should do more to promote students' healthy eating and physical activity. Conclusions: Despite the implementation of the SWP in their child's school, few parents knew about it. Schools should raise parents' awareness of the policy and increase parental involvement in the implementation of the policy. Moreover, schools should listen to opinions from parents and collaborate with parents to facilitate students' healthy eating and physical activity.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1.describe parental knowledge of and beliefs about the federally mandated School Wellness Policy implemented in their child's chool. 2.describe parental attitudes toward school environment related to child nutrition and physical activity.

Keywords: Child Health Promotion, School Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As a junior researcher in the field of health education with a focus on child health, I have been actively participating in the data collection and data analysis phases of the study, and I have found valuable information that I want to share with other researchers. With a MS in Science Journalism and previous experience presenting at conferences (e.g., AAHB), I have confidence that I can be a good presenter.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.