03 February 2023

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Maternal decision making about grandparents’ cariogenic dietary choices for children

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Background

Added sugar in children’s diets puts them at higher risk of developing caries. Researchers have reported that grandparents frequently give their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages with added sugars. As a result, disagreements between grandparents and parents can ensue over this issue. In this study, researchers aimed to examine factors that influence whether mothers address grandparents about giving their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages.

Methods

The research team conducted in-person interviews with 126 mothers of children aged three through five years from Pennsylvania and West Virginia from 2018 through 2020. Qualitative data for this study were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, imported into NVivo for coding, and analyzed using iterative theme development via a constant comparative process.

Results

In this study, 72% of mothers, or 91 of 126, indicated that grandparents gave their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages. Of those mothers, 51%, or 46 of 91, addressed the issue with grandparents. Mothers described that the following factors influenced whether they addressed grandparents on this issue: frequency of interaction between grandparents and children, mothers’ dependency on grandparents for childcare, quantity of cariogenic foods and beverages that grandparents provided and strength of mothers’ relationships with grandparents.

Conclusions

There is evidence that some mothers consider the frequency and quantity of cariogenic foods and beverages, as well as social factors, when deciding whether to engage with grandparents about the cariogenic foods and beverages they give to their grandchildren.

Practical Implications

Initiatives aimed to decrease childhood caries should consider how interpersonal family relationships may need to be addressed as part of successful sugar-reduction interventions.

Jacqueline M. Burgette et al. “Factors affecting maternal decision making about grandparents’ cariogenic dietary choices for children: a qualitative study.” JADA. November 23, 2022DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2022.10.003