Parenting practices of Latina mothers and their perspectives on obesity in children

Childhood obesity is a significant problem in America today. While there has been considerable research on the causes of this topic, less is known about the knowledge and attitudes of Latina parents regarding obesity in children. Using quantitative survey research methodology, this study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and parenting styles of 55 Latina mothers from a Latina socialization group in Southern California. Contrary to previous research, Latinas in this study tended to be more authoritative in their parenting style. The study also found that mothers with higher levels of education showed significantly more knowledge about childhood obesity which concurs with prior research. Mothers indicated that they did not have enough culturally-specific information about this problem and desired more information. These findings illustrate the need for more culturally targeted programs to prevent childhood obesity within the Latino community. Implications for social work practice will also be discussed