It Takes a Village: Promoting Parent and Family Education on Healthy Lifestyles for Minnesota Secondary Students

BACKGROUND: This study examines school strategies to educate parents over time about physical activity and nutrition and how those strategies are related to adolescent health behaviors. METHODS: Data from the Minnesota School Health Profiles Lead Health Education Teacher survey (2008-2012) and the Minnesota Student Survey (MSS, 2013) included provisions for parent education about physical activity and nutrition and student physical activity and dietary intake behaviors. Analyses were performed using SAS, version 9.3. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to examine changes over time in school policies. Adjusted linear regression models examined cross-sectional association between school policies (2012) and school-level mean student outcomes (2013). RESULTS: Parent education about physical activity and nutrition was constant over time, with the exception of a decrease in physical activity education in schools with low minority enrollment. There was a positive relationship between schools offering physical activity education for parents and the number of days a student meets physical activity and water consumption recommendations. There was no relationship between strategies for nutrition education and dietary intake. CONCLUSIONS: School providing strategies for parent engagement around student physical activity and nutrition may increase parent engagement overall and improve adolescent and school-related outcomes.