Increased Health and Wellbeing in Preschools (DAGIS) Study—Differences in Children’s Energy Balance-Related Behaviors (EBRBs) and in Long-Term Stress by Parental Educational Level

Elviira Lehto, Carola Ray, Henna Vepsäläinen, Liisa Korkalo, Reetta Lehto, Riikka Kaukonen, Eira Suhonen, Mari Nislin, Kaija Nissinen, Essi Skaffari, Leena Koivusilta, Nina Sajaniemi, Maijaliisa Erkkola and Eva Roos
Additional contact information
Elviira Lehto: Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland
Carola Ray: Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland
Henna Vepsäläinen: Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Liisa Korkalo: Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Reetta Lehto: Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland
Riikka Kaukonen: Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland
Eira Suhonen: Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Mari Nislin: Department of Early Childhood Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, New Territories, Hong Kong
Kaija Nissinen: School of Food and Agriculture, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 412, 60320 Seinäjoki, Finland
Essi Skaffari: Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Leena Koivusilta: Department of Social Research, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, Assistentinkatu 7, 20500 Turku, Finland
Nina Sajaniemi: Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Maijaliisa Erkkola: Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Eva Roos: Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: This paper describes the Increased Health and Wellbeing in Preschools (DAGIS) survey process and socioeconomic status (SES) differences in children’s energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs), meaning physical activity, sedentary and dietary behaviors, and long-term stress that serve as the basis for the intervention development. A cross-sectional survey was conducted during 2015–2016 in 66 Finnish preschools in eight municipalities involving 864 children (3–6 years old). Parents, preschool personnel, and principals assessed environmental factors at home and preschool with questionnaires. Measurement of children’s EBRBs involved three-day food records, food frequency questionnaires (FFQ), seven-day accelerometer data, and seven-day sedentary behavior diaries. Children’s long-term stress was measured by hair cortisol concentration. Parental educational level (PEL) served as an indicator of SES. Children with low PEL had more screen time, more frequent consumption of sugary beverages and lower consumption of vegetables, fruit, and berries (VFB) than those with high PEL. Children with middle PEL had a higher risk of consuming sugary everyday foods than children with high PEL. No PEL differences were found in children’s physical activity, sedentary time, or long-term stress. The DAGIS intervention, aiming to diminish SES differences in preschool children’s EBRBs, needs to have a special focus on screen time and consumption of sugary foods and beverages, and VFB.

Keywords: energy balance-related behaviors; preschool; children; socioeconomic differences; needs assessment; long-term stress; cortisol; screen time; sugary foods and beverages; fruit and vegetables (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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