Author

Chandni Patel

Date of Award

Summer 2019

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Ron Prinz

Abstract

Integrating mental health and healthcare services increases the reach of healthcare while reducing costs and stigma associated with seeking mental health services. To provide such services for preschool aged children we must first understand how behaviors related to healthy lifestyle and mental/behavioral health overlap. This study examined the relationship between behavior problems, sleep duration, screen time, and eating patterns and assessed the frequency of co-occurring problems in these areas. Because of the importance of parenting across these domains, the association between parent disciplinary strategies and the co-occurrence of behaviors in the different problem areas was assessed. MANOVAs revealed that there was a relationship between several problem areas. Elevated screen time was associated with a higher intensity of behavior problems, lower sleep duration, and less healthy eating patterns. A high intensity of behavior problems was associated with higher screen time use. Lower sleep was associated with higher screen time use and less healthy diet. High intensity behavior problems and elevated screen time use were also related to less effective parenting styles. And lax parenting styles predicted more co-occurring problems. Findings suggest support for addressing these problem areas using an integrative health care approach.

Rights

© 2019, Chandni Patel

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