Parents Thoughts Regarding Their Normal-Weight Childrens Food and Physical Activity as Expressed During Health Conversations With the School Nurse : A Qualitative Analysis Informing Health-Promoting Practices

Parents are key to promoting childrens healthy growth and development. However, school nurses need knowledge about how to best support parents health-promoting activities. This study aimed to explore parents thoughts regarding their normal-weight 6-year-old childrens food and physical activity behaviors as expressed during health conversations with the school nurse. Qualitative content analysis of audio-recorded conversations (n = 30) showed that parents think of their childrens behaviors in terms of: (a) childrens personality in relation to food and physical activity; (b) recognizing childrens food and physical activity behaviors; (c) parenting in relation to food and physical activity; (d) interaction with children in situations around food and physical activity; and (e) contextual circumstances to promote childrens healthy food and physical activity behaviors. The study contributes with novel knowledge regarding clinical work in health promotion, with suggestions for how school nurses can engage parents in promoting and sustaining healthy food and physical activity behaviors.Funding Agencies|Familjen Kamprads Stiftelse; Kamprad Foundation; Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and WelfareSwedish Research CouncilSwedish Research Council for Health Working Life & Welfare (Forte)