Examining Constructs of Parental Reflective Motivation towards Reducing Unhealthy Food Provision to Young Children

Parents are an ideal target to reduce children&rsquo
s unhealthy food intake. Motivation is one component of behavior change
however, there is a paucity of research exploring parental motivation in unhealthy food provision. This study aimed to understand the relationships between, and relative importance of, constructs of parents&rsquo
reflective motivation and children&rsquo
s intake of unhealthy foods. An online survey captured parent-rated reflective motivation constructs based on the health action process approach (HAPA) model, and children&rsquo
s intake of unhealthy food using the short food survey. The HAPA model includes constructs of self-efficacy, risk perception, outcome expectancies, intention, and planning. Structural equation modelling was used to examine relationships between constructs and the HAPA model in its structural form. Four-hundred and ninety-five parents of three to seven-year olds completed the study. Model fit statistics (X2 = 210.03, df = 83, p &lt
0.001
Comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.96
Tucker Lewis index (TLI) = 0.94) supported suitability of the HAPA model. The HAPA model explained 9.2% of the variance in children&rsquo
s unhealthy food intake. Constructs of self-efficacy (action to maintenance &beta
= 0.69
maintenance to recovery &beta
= 0.70
maintenance to planning &beta
= 0.82) were found to be the most important constructs for reducing children&rsquo
s unhealthy food intake, followed by planning (to unhealthy food intake &beta
= &minus
0.32) and intention (to planning &beta
= 0.21). This study provides an initial insight into parental motivation and identifies primary intervention targets to enhance parental motivation to reduce unhealthy food provision, and subsequently children&rsquo
s unhealthy food intake.