Prior research indicates that the time mothers invest in cooking or in activities with their children reduces children's risk of overweight.10 Thus, the time entailed by maternal employment potentially increases the risk of obesity in children.17 In addition, parenting styles may predict the way that parents feed their children and their children's body size. Parenting styles, as characterized by Rhee et al,18 include authoritative (respect for child's opinions, but clear boundaries), authoritarian (strict disciplinarian), permissive (indulgent without discipline), and neglectful (emotionally uninvolved, without rules). In their study, children with parents who used authoritarian, permissive, or neglectful parenting were at greater risk for overweight as compared to those with more authoritative parents.18 Hubbs-Tait et al reported that restriction of some food and pressure to eat other food were practices used by parents classified as authoritarian, whereas modeling, monitoring food intake, and promoting children's responsibility for food selection were used by authoritative parents.19 Furthermore, parental criticism and worry about their children's health and eating habits adversely affect children and could encourage obesity.20 Impacts on children's eating also may result from parental perceptions that dinner represents an important family ritual.21 Work hour and work day flexibility benefits families, as these conditions often allow more parental involvement in children's activities and have positive health benefits.22 Orientations toward and conditions at work, such as work control or autonomy and the importance of work relative to other roles, affect children and family life in general.22 and 23
The purpose of this study is to determine whether parental work schedules and other attributes of work, parenting style, and perceptions of dinner as an important family ritual are related to children's use of and time spent in FS and FF restaurants.