It Takes a Village: Promoting Parent and Family Education on Healthy Lifestyles for Minnesota Secondary Students
Journal of School Health / The Journal of School Health
Published online on December 04, 2016
Abstract
BACKGROUND
This study examines school strategies to educate parents over time about physical activity and nutrition and how those strategies are related to adolescent health behaviors.
METHODS
Data from the Minnesota School Health Profiles Lead Health Education Teacher survey (2008‐2012) and the Minnesota Student Survey (MSS, 2013) included provisions for parent education about physical activity and nutrition and student physical activity and dietary intake behaviors. Analyses were performed using SAS, version 9.3. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to examine changes over time in school policies. Adjusted linear regression models examined cross‐sectional association between school policies (2012) and school‐level mean student outcomes (2013).
RESULTS
Parent education about physical activity and nutrition was constant over time, with the exception of a decrease in physical activity education in schools with low minority enrollment. There was a positive relationship between schools offering physical activity education for parents and the number of days a student meets physical activity and water consumption recommendations. There was no relationship between strategies for nutrition education and dietary intake.
CONCLUSIONS
School providing strategies for parent engagement around student physical activity and nutrition may increase parent engagement overall and improve adolescent and school‐related outcomes.