Parental Self-regulation and the Promotion of Healthy Routines in Early Childhood

Parental self-regulation comprises the intrapersonal capacities that enable parents’ adaptive responses to the multiple demands of parenting a child. In spite of the centrality of this construct in theory, there is scarce evidence documenting its role in the promotion of healthy daily activities for young children. We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine associations between parent self-regulation and healthy attachment, feeding, play, and sleeping activities. We further explored variability in the associative patterns and the potential contribution of child characteristics and satisfaction with the support received in health care services. Participants were 181 parents with children <36 months old attending 20 primary care centers. Each completed self-report measures on parental self-regulation, healthy activities, child health status, developmental adjustment, and satisfaction with the health care services. Cluster analyses identified three patterns of self-regulation and performance of healthy activities: Positive (n = 92), characterized by high self-sufficiency and self-management, moderate self-efficacy and parental agency, and high frequency of healthy activities in activities for all four domains (attachment, feeding, play, and sleeping); Mixed (n = 43), characterized by high self-efficacy and parental agency and low frequency of healthy play activities; and Negative (n = 46), characterized by overall low self-regulation, and low frequency of healthy attachment, feeding, and sleeping activities. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that a model comprising the child’s poor developmental adjustment coupled with less satisfaction and discontent with the service increased the likelihood of belonging to the Mixed or Negative cluster as compared to the Positive cluster. The implementation of effective support provision should aim to promote parental self-regulation and satisfaction with the service as promoters and co-responsible agents for the health and well-being of their children according to their developmental needs.