Modeling of the Child's Body Mass Index Based on Maternal Body Mass index, Parental Stress and the Child's Screen Time with the Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation

Body mass index is determined by many factors including genetic predisposition, energy-related behaviors, social processes, and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to model the childchr('39')s body mass index based on maternal body mass index, parental stress, and child screen time with the mediating role of emotion regulation.

This study was a descriptive structural equation. The statistical population of the present study consisted of 7 to 10-year-old students in schools in 4 districts of Tehran in the 1397 academic year. Also, a sample of 460 people was selected using cluster sampling. In this study, the parenting stress questionnaire-short form (PSI-SF) tool of child and adolescent emotional regulation checklist (ERC) was used.

Based on the results of path analysis Based on the results of path analysis of maternal body mass index (β = 0.128, P <0.01), parental stress (β = 0.408, P <0.01), screen time Child (β = 0.220, P <0.01), emotional regulation (β = -0.116, P <0.01) as well as excitability (β = 0.137, P <0.01) as They directly predict the childchr('39')s body mass index. The results showed that maternal body mass index, parental stress, and child screen time also indirectly predict child body mass index. Indirect standard coefficients for maternal body mass index (β = 0.099, P <0.01), parental stress (β = 0.059, P <0.01) and child screen time (β = 0.043, 0.01) 0> P) is significant. Also, the results of the model showed that 72.9% of the variance of the childchr('39')s body mass index, 24% of the variance of emotional regulation, and 77.2% of the variance of excitability can be explained using the variables in the model.

Considering that people use overeating in stressful situations as an ineffective coping strategy to deal with stressors and regulate their emotions, the identification of these factors will increase the better understanding of behaviors and underlying causes of stress. Appropriate treatment partners can be provided in the field of prevention and treatment of obesity. In addition, by controlling the screen time, parents can prevent childhood obesity by planning active activities.