New research found that children with positive, early interactions with their care givers - characterized by warmth, responsiveness, and a stimulating home environment -were at reduced risk of childhood obesity.
“A lot of the discussion around childhood obesity and other health risks focuses on identifying and studying the exposure to risk,” said Professor Brandi Rollins. ”We took a strength-based approach in our analysis. We found that a supportive family and environment early in a child’s life may outweigh some of the cumulative (累计的)risk factors that children can face. ”
The study recently appeared in the journal Pediatrics. In the article, Rollins analyzed data from over 1,000 mother-child pairs and found that children’s early exposures to family psychosocial assets (有价值的 事物)- including a quality home environment, emotional warmth from the mother, and a child’s ability to self-regulate - reduced the risk of developing childhood obesity.
“Research on parenting has shown that these types of family assets influence children’s behavior, academic success, career, and-not surprisingly - health,” Rollins said. “It’s inspiring to know that, by providing a loving, safe environment, we can reduce the risk that children will develop obesity.”
This work is based on research in parenting and child development. Responsive parenting, one of the family assets measured in the study, involves responding to children in a timely, sensitive, and age-appropriate manner based on the child’s presenting needs. This study focused on childhood obesity, but the researchers said that parents may improve many outcomes for their children by learning responsive-parenting skills. Knowledge of responsive-parenting skills, however, may not lead directly to implementing those skills in the home.
“No one can read a pamphlet (小册子) about cars and suddenly expect to drive,” said Rollins. “Driving is a skill that requires education and practice. The same is true of responsive parenting. Public health professionals, clinicians, and researchers must collaborate to help families develop psychosocial assets, including responsive parenting and a structured home environment. This could improve childhood obesity rates and other important quality-of-life outcomes,” she continued.
12. What was the focus of the new research?
A.The potential psychosocial causes of childhood obesity. |
B.Contributing factors to children’s reduced risk of obesity. |
C.The link between childhood obesity and other health risks. |
D.The harmful impacts of obesity on kids’ psychosocial health. |
13. According to the text, kids _______ are less likely to develop obesity.
A.living in a loving home environment | B.leading a high quality life |
C.good at expressing their emotions | D.having a balanced diet |
14. Why does the author mention driving in the last paragraph?
A.To show reading instructions isn’t a good way to learn driving. |
B.To indicate not everyone can acquire driving skills without training. |
C.To illustrate responsive-parenting skills require education and practice. |
D.To stress it’s necessary to learn knowledge of responsive-parenting skills. |
15. Which of the following would Professor Rollins agree with?
A.Kids’ early exposures to family psychosocial assets are hard to measure. |
B.Kids’ academic success largely depends on family psychosocial assets. |
C.Responsive parenting is the most important family psychosocial asset. |
D.Developing psychosocial assets is a joint effort of experts and families. |