Abstract
Data from a pilot study on the dietary intake, health behaviors, and the presence of coronary heart disease risk factors among 14-and 15-year old Texas adolescents was used in the analyses of this thesis. Adolescent participants underwent venipuncture (to obtain a blood sample), and completed a step test, anthropometric measurements exam, 24-hour diet and activity recalls, and 2-day diet and activity records. Parents of the adolescent participants responded to a set of questions regarding parents' work commitment, importance, autonomy, history, schedule irregularity, hours/week, and occupational prestige. Pearson's product moment analysis and linear regression analysis were used to examine relationships between parental labor force participation variables and adolescent variables related to cardiovascular health. Daughters' biceps, triceps, subscapular skinfolds, and percent bodyfat were predicted by mothers' work preoccupation and the degree of importance fathers placed on their work. Daughters' waist-to-hip ratios were predicted by fathers'job importance, fathers' work history, and mothers' occupational energy intake, fat intake, saturated fat intake, and carbohydrate intake were predicted by mothers' work schedule irregularity and commitment. Sons' monounsaturated fat intake was predicted by mothers' work history and fathers' work autonomy. Daughters' intake of vitamin B 12 was predicted by mothers' work history and mothers' work preoccupation. More research is needed examining the relationships between different aspects of mothers' and fathers' labor force participation and adolescents' physical health, including dietary intake and risks to cardiovascular health.
Godwin, Anne Louise (1997). The relationship between parental labor force participation and adolescents' dietary intake and risks to cardiovascular health. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1997 -THESIS -G63.