Dads at Mealtimes: Associations between Food Security, Household and Work Chaos, and Paternal Feeding Practices among Australian Fathers Living with Disadvantage
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Procedure and Sample
2.2. Measures
2.2.1. Sociodemographic Data
2.2.2. Involvement
2.2.3. Early Child Feeding and Paternal Feeding Practices
2.2.4. Food Security Status
2.2.5. Household and Work Chaos
2.3. Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Participants’ Characteristics
3.2. Paternal Involvement in Child Eating
3.3. Food Security Status and Household and Work Chaos
3.3.1. Food Security Status
3.3.2. Associations with Household and Work Chaos
3.4. Paternal Feeding Practices and Their Associations with Food Security and Household and Work Chaos
3.4.1. Paternal Feeding Practices
3.4.2. Family Meal Setting and Food Security and Household and Work Chaos
3.4.3. Multivariable Regression Predicting Feeding Practices
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Demographics | Total Sample (n = 264) | Younger Child Group (<2 Years) (n = 105) | Older Child Group (2–5 Years) (n = 159) | Missing Total, n (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Father | ||||
Age in years, Median (IQR) | 34.0 (30–37) | 32.0 (29–35) | 35.0 (30–38) | 2 (0.8) |
BMI 1 category, n (%) | 3 (1) | |||
<25 | 72 (27) | 30 (29) | 42 (26) | |
≥25 | 189 (72) | 73 (70) | 116(73) | |
Highest level of education, n (%) | 0 | |||
Non-university education | 166 (63) | 63 (60) | 103 (65) | |
University education | 96 (36) | 41 (39) | 55 (35) | |
Prefer not to say | 2 (1) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | |
Marital status, n (%) | 0 | |||
Married/De facto | 221 (84) | 99 (94) | 122 (77) | |
Divorced/Separated | 25 (10) | 1 (1) | 24 (15) | |
Other | 15 (6) | 5 (5) | 10 (6) | |
Prefer not to say | 3 (1) | 0 | 3 (2) | |
Employment or education, n (%) | 1 (1) | |||
Working full-time (≥35 h/week) | 175 (66) | 71 (68) | 104 (65) | |
Working part-time (<35 h/week) | 41 (16) | 13 (12) | 28 (18) | |
Others (self-employed/casual) | 5 (2) | 4 (4) | 10 (0.6) | |
Unpaid work/parental duties | 7 (3) | 5 (5) | 2 (1) | |
Unemployed/unable to work | 24 (9) | 10 (10) | 14 (9) | |
Apprenticeship/student | 11 (4) | 1 (1) | 10 (6) | |
Ethnicity, n (%) | 0 | |||
Australian | 214 (81) | 84 (80) | 130 (82) | |
Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander | 9 (3) | 6 (6) | 3 (2) | |
New Zealander | 22 (8) | 10 (10) | 12 (8) | |
Born in Australia, n (%) | 211 (80) | 87 (83) | 124 (78) | 0 |
Equivalized household income 2 (AUD), n (%) | 5 (2) | |||
AUD 0–AUD 24,400 | 64 (24) | 21 (20) | 43 (27) | |
AUD 24,401–AUD 37,100 | 31 (12) | 11 (11) | 20 (13) | |
AUD 37,101–AUD 60,000 | 109 (41) | 50 (48) | 59 (37) | |
AUD 60,001+ | 55 (21) | 21 (20) | 34 (21) | |
Source of income, n (%) | 0 | |||
Salary or wages | 235 (89) | 93 (89) | 142 (89) | |
Government support/pension | 26 (10) | 9 (9) | 17 (11) | |
Other | 3 (1) | 3 (2) | 0 | |
Have a healthcare card, n (%) | 79 (30) | 28 (27) | 51 (32) | 1 (0.4) |
State or Territory, n (%) | ||||
Queensland | 135 (51) | 49 (47) | 86 (54) | 3 (1) |
New South Wales | 43 (16) | 18 (17) | 25 (16) | |
Victoria | 39 (15) | 18 (17) | 21 (13) | |
Other (SA, WA, TAS, NT) | 35 (13) | 13 (12) | 22 (14) | |
Prefer not to say | 9 (3) | 5 (5) | 4 (30) | |
SEIFA ISRD decile category 3, n (%) | 14 (5) | |||
Low (1–3) | 58 (22) | 23 (22) | 35 (22) | |
Medium (4–6) | 78 (30) | 31 (30) | 47 (30) | |
High (7–10) | 114 (43) | 43 (41) | 71 (45) | |
Housing types, n (%) | 5 (2) | |||
House/townhouse | 226(86) | 90 (86) | 136 (86) | |
Apartment/flat | 26 (10) | 11 (11) | 15 (9) | |
Other | 4 (2) | 3 (3) | 1 (1) | |
Frequency of moving residence in past 12 months | 1 (1) | |||
None | 176 (67) | 62 (59) | 114 (72) | |
One or more | 87 (33) | 42 (40) | 45 (28) | |
Parental stress, n (%) | 44 (17) | |||
Unmanaged stress | 146 (55) | 60 (57) | 86 (54) | |
Well-managed stress | 74 (28) | 27 (26) | 47 (30) | |
Number of adults | 0 | |||
One | 43 (16) | 12 (11) | 31 (20) | |
Two | 203 (77) | 90 (86) | 113 (71) | |
Three or more | 18 (7) | 3 (3) | 15 (9) | |
Number of children (0–14 years) | 0 | |||
One | 104 (39) | 68 (65) | 36 (23) | |
Two | 106 (40) | 24 (23) | 82 (52) | |
Three or more | 54 (21) | 13 (12) | 41 (26) | |
Number of children (15–17 years) | 0 | |||
None | 260 (98.5) | 104 (99) | 156 (98) | |
One or more | 4 (1.5) | 1 (1) | 3 (2) | |
Index child | ||||
Age (months), median (IQR) | 28.5 (15.3–47.6) | 13.2 (9.2–18.3) | 42.1 (33.5–53.6) | 1 (1) |
Child gender, n (%) | 2 (0.8) | |||
Boy | 154 (58) | 65 (62) | 89 (56) | |
Girl | 104 (39) | 36 (34) | 68 (43) | |
Relationship to child, n (%) | 0 | |||
Biological father | 262 (99) | 104 (99) | 158 (99) | |
Stepfather | 1 (0.5) | 0 | 1 (1) | |
Great grandfather | 1 (0.5) | 1 (1) | 0 | |
Days living with child per fortnight | 1 (1) | |||
14 (full-time) | 231 (88) | 103 (98) | 128 (81) | |
7–13 (>50% of time) | 11 (4) | 0 | 11 (7) | |
2–6 (<50% of time) | 21 (8) | 2 (2) | 19 (12) | |
Attending childcare, n (%) | 163 (62) | 52 (50) | 111 (70) | 1 (1) |
Total (n = 264) | Younger Child Group (<2 Years) (n = 105) | Older Child Group (2–5 Years) (n = 159) | |
---|---|---|---|
Breastfeeding, n (%) | |||
Breastfeeding/ever breastfed | 230 (87) | 92 (88) | 138 (87) |
Never been breastfed | 32 (12) | 12 (11) | 20 (13) |
Missing | 2 (1) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) |
Influence on child’s nutrition, n (%) | |||
No influence | 3 (1) | 3 (3) | 0 |
Some influence | 109 (41) | 45 (43) | 64 (40) |
A great deal of influence | 150 (57) | 55 (52) | 94 (59) |
Missing | 2 (1) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) |
Preparing meals, n (%) | |||
Not at all | 4 (2) | 4 (4) | 0 |
Rarely | 5 (2) | 4 (4) | 1 (1) |
A few times a month | 11 (4) | 4 (4) | 7 (4) |
A few times a week | 67 (25) | 26 (25) | 41 (26) |
At least once a day | 84 (32) | 26 (25) | 51 (32) |
More than once a day | 91 (35) | 33 (31) | 58 (37) |
Missing | 2 (1) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) |
Assisting child with eating, n (%) | |||
Not at all | 5 (2) | 1 (1) | 4 (3) |
Rarely | 10 (4) | 0 | 10 (6) |
A few times a month | 10 (4) | 3 (3) | 7 (4) |
A few times a week | 53 (20) | 14 (13) | 39 (25) |
At least once a day | 104 (39) | 41 (39) | 63 (40) |
More than once a day | 79 (30) | 44 (42) | 35 (22) |
Missing | 3 (1) | 2 (2) | 1 (1) |
Prevalence of Household Food Insecurity, n (%), (n = 222) 1 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Food secure | Food insecure | |||
NHS–1 item 2 | 141 (63) | 81 (37) | ||
HFSSM (dichotomized) 3 | 52 (23) | 170 (77) | ||
HFSSM (categories) | High food security | Marginal food security | Low food security | Very low food security |
Household level 4 | 22 (10) | 30 (14) | 72 (32) | 98 (44) |
Among adults 5 | 27 (12) | 37 (17) | 49 (22) | 109 (49) |
High and marginal food security | Low food security | Very low food security | ||
Among children 6 | 115 (52) | 103 (46) | 4 (2) |
Severity of Food Insecurity | Test Statistics (p-Value) 2 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High Food Security | Marginal Food Security | Low Food Security | Very Low Food Security | |||
CHAOS score 1, M ± SD | Total (n = 220) | 14.38 ± 3.93 | 14.97 ± 4.68 | 15.69 ± 4.15 | 16.95 ± 4.56 | 3.13 (0.03 *) |
Younger child group 3 (n = 87) | 15.00 ± 3.78 | 15.18 ± 4.09 | 15.60 ± 4.85 | 15.84 ± 4.39 | 0.12 (0.95) | |
Older child group 3 (n = 133) | 13.92 ± 0.69 | 14.83 ± 5.11 | 15.76 ± 3.62 | 17.62 ± 4.57 | 4.01 (0.01 *) | |
Work chaos score 1, M ± SD | Total (n = 214) | 1.10 ± 1.04 | 1.21 ± 1.32 | 1.21 ± 1.24 | 1.37 ± 1.39 | 0.39 (0.76) |
Younger child group 3 (n = 85) | 1.11 ± 1.17 | 1.55 ± 1.21 | 1.28 ± 1.36 | 1.25 ± 1.38 | 0.20 (0.90) | |
Older child group 3 (n = 133) | 1.08 ± 0.10 | 1.00 ± 1.37 | 1.14 ± 1.16 | 1.38 ± 1.40 | 0.57 (0.64) |
Final Regression Model | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Feeding Practices | Independent Variables | B | 95%CI | p-Value | Adjusted R2 | ANOVA | |
Younger child group (<2 years) 1 | |||||||
Coercive control | Using food to calm (n = 81) | Food insecure 2 | 0.122 | −0.275, 0.519 | 0.542 | 0.156 | 0.003 ** |
Household chaos | 0.068 | 0.03, 0.105 | <0.001 *** | ||||
Work chaos | −0.018 | −0.145, 0.109 | 0.780 | ||||
Child’s sex (boy) 3 | 0.308 | −0.04, 0.656 | 0.082 | ||||
Equivalized household income | 0.000 | 0.000, 0.000 | 0.186 | ||||
Persuasive feeding (n = 83) | Food insecure 2 | 0.552 | 0.106, 0.998 | 0.016 * | 0.142 | 0.005 ** | |
Household chaos | 0.056 | 0.011, 0.100 | 0.014 * | ||||
Work chaos | −0.008 | −0.155, 0.139 | 0.917 | ||||
Child’s age (months) | 0.026 | −0.008, 0.061 | 0.134 | ||||
Father’s age | 0.022 | −0.008, 0.053 | 0.148 | ||||
Parent-led feeding (n = 85) | Food insecure 2 | 0.472 | 0.048, 0.897 | 0.030 * | 0.066 | 0.063 | |
Household chaos | 0.033 | −0.009, 0.074 | 0.119 | ||||
Work chaos | 0.022 | −0.012, 0.164 | 0.761 | ||||
Education 4 | 0.471 | 0.096, 0.845 | 0.014 * | ||||
Unmanaged stress 5 | −0.228 | −0.641, −0.186 | 0.277 | ||||
Structure | Family meal environment (n = 48) | Food insecure 2 | −0.064 | −0.628, 0.499 | 0.819 | 0.077 | 0.138 |
Household chaos | −0.044 | −0.1, 0.012 | 0.118 | ||||
Work chaos | −0.082 | −0.267, 0.102 | 0.373 | ||||
Child’s sex (boy) 3 | −0.570 | −1.12, −0.19 | 0.043 * | ||||
Equivalized household income | −0.000 | 0.000, 0.000 | 0.100 | ||||
Older child group (2–5 years) 1 | |||||||
Coercive Control | Reward for behavior (n = 132) | Food insecure 2 | 0.102 | −0.217, 0.421 | 0.527 | 0.141 | <0.001 *** |
Household chaos | 0.035 | 0.004, 0.066 | 0.025* | ||||
Work chaos | 0.075 | −0.028, 0.178 | 0.152 | ||||
Unmanaged stress 5 | 0.195 | −0.088, 0.478 | 0.175 | ||||
Father’s age | −0.034 | −0.059, −0.01 | 0.006 ** | ||||
Child’s age (months) | 0.009 | −0.001, 0.02 | 0.065 | ||||
Reward for eating (n = 132) | Food insecure 2 | −0.069 | −0.437, 0.298 | 0.710 | 0.15 | <0.001 *** | |
Household chaos | 0.038 | 0.003, 0.073 | 0.033 * | ||||
Work chaos | −0.001 | −0.012, 0.118 | 0.988 | ||||
Residential move (≥1) 6 | 0.443 | 0.108, 0.778 | 0.010 * | ||||
Child’s age (months) | 0.019 | 0.007, 0.031 | 0.002 ** | ||||
Father’s age | −0.023 | −0.051, 0.005 | 0.107 | ||||
Persuasive feeding (n = 131) | Food insecure 2 | 0.227 | −0.014, 0.469 | 0.065 | 0.14 | <0.001 *** | |
Household chaos | 0.015 | −0.008, 0.037 | 0.198 | ||||
Work chaos | 0.012 | −0.066, 0.089 | 0.762 | ||||
Residential move (≥1) 6 | 0.309 | 0.094, 0.524 | 0.005 ** | ||||
Father’s age | −0.019 | −0.001, −0.194 | 0.043 * | ||||
Education 4 | 0.257 | 0.049, 0.464 | 0.016 * | ||||
Overt restriction (n = 133) | Food insecure 2 | −0.175 | −0.524, 0.175 | 0.324 | 0.09 | <0.004 ** | |
Household chaos | 0.048 | 0.014, 0.081 | 0.005 ** | ||||
Work chaos | 0.035 | −0.078, −0.147 | 0.541 | ||||
BMI ≥ 25 7 | −0.428 | −0.752, −0.105 | 0.01 * | ||||
Residential move (≥1) 6 | 0.274 | −0.044, 0.592 | 0.091 | ||||
Structure | Covert restriction (n = 133) | Food insecure 2 | 0.095 | −0.279, 0.470 | 0.615 | −0.011 | 0.666 |
Household chaos | −0.021 | −0.056, 0.014 | 0.242 | ||||
Work chaos | 0.001 | −0.133, 0.108 | 0.837 | ||||
Structured meal setting (n = 133) | Food insecure 2 | −0.123 | −0.486, 0.239 | 0.502 | −0.005 | 0.500 | |
Household chaos | −0.021 | −0.055, 0.014 | 0.236 | ||||
Work chaos | 0.001 | −0.116, 0.117 | 0.987 | ||||
Autonomy Support | Offer new foods (n = 132) | Food insecure 2 | −0.096 | −0.359, 0.167 | 0.471 | 0.062 | 0.016 * |
Household chaos | −0.026 | −0.051, −0.001 | 0.039 * | ||||
Work chaos | −0.036 | −0.12, 0.048 | 0.401 | ||||
Education 4 | −0.287 | −0.515, −0.058 | 0.014 * | ||||
Exploration of new foods (n = 132) | Food insecure 2 | −0.146 | −0.511, 0.219 | 0.430 | 0.053 | 0.035 * | |
Household chaos | −0.013 | −0.048, 0.021 | 0.442 | ||||
Work chaos | −0.028 | −0.145, 0.088 | 0.632 | ||||
Education 4 | −0.418 | −0.739, −0.098 | 0.011 * | ||||
Child’s age | −0.014 | −0.025, −0.002 | 0.021 * | ||||
Repeated presentation of new foods (n = 132) | Food insecure 2 | −0.116 | −0.429, 0.198 | 0.466 | 0.086 | 0.006 ** | |
Household chaos | −0.038 | −0.067, −0.008 | 0.013 * | ||||
Work chaos | 0.024 | −0.076, 0.124 | 0.636 | ||||
Education 4 | −0.287 | −0.562, −0.012 | 0.041 * | ||||
Child’s age | −0.012 | −0.022, −0.002 | 0.017 * |
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So, J.T.H.; Nambiar, S.; Byrne, R.; Gallegos, D.; Baxter, K.A. Dads at Mealtimes: Associations between Food Security, Household and Work Chaos, and Paternal Feeding Practices among Australian Fathers Living with Disadvantage. Nutrients 2024, 16, 205. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16020205
So JTH, Nambiar S, Byrne R, Gallegos D, Baxter KA. Dads at Mealtimes: Associations between Food Security, Household and Work Chaos, and Paternal Feeding Practices among Australian Fathers Living with Disadvantage. Nutrients. 2024; 16(2):205. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16020205
Chicago/Turabian StyleSo, Jeffrey T. H., Smita Nambiar, Rebecca Byrne, Danielle Gallegos, and Kimberley A. Baxter. 2024. "Dads at Mealtimes: Associations between Food Security, Household and Work Chaos, and Paternal Feeding Practices among Australian Fathers Living with Disadvantage" Nutrients 16, no. 2: 205. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16020205