Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention: Leveraging Chinese-American Parents’ Activation and Locus of Control

PurposeTo estimate the effect of the culturally-adapted Greenlight intervention on parent activation and locus of control (LOC) among Chinese-American immigrant parents.DesignProspective, quasi-experimental study.SettingA New York City-based federally-qualified health center with a large patient population of low-income, ethnically Chinese immigrant individuals and families.Sample444 Immigrant Chinese-American parents of infants (267 cross-sectionally enrolled historical controls and 177 Greenlight recipients followed prospectively).InterventionA culturally-adapted version of Greenlight, a health literacy- and communication-informed early childhood obesity prevention intervention in primary care which promotes certain healthy infant feeding practices at 12 months in the present sample.MeasuresParent activation and LOC were measured at 6, 12, 24, and 36 month well child visits.AnalysisGeneralized estimating equations were used to examine the effects of the Greenlight intervention on the outcome measures.ResultsCompared to historical controls, parents receiving Greenlight were more likely to strongly agree with the activation statements: "I know how to prevent my child from becoming overweight" (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 9.62 [4.70, 19.73]); "I have been able to help my child maintain recommended changes like eating right or exercising" (aOR: 6.42 [4.14, 9.97]); and "I am confident I can keep my child eating and exercising right, even when I am busy or stressed" (aOR: 8.44 [5.35, 13.31]). Greenlight recipients also demonstrated increased internal LOC (aOR: 2.02 [1.35, 3.03]) and decreased powerful others external LOC (aOR: 1.76 [1.23, 2.51]).ConclusionTo reduce disparities in child obesity, especially among immigrant families, interventions must also prioritize parent factors like parent activation and LOC to build upon their inherent assets and promote long-term change.