Date of Award
2026
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Psychology
Specialization
Clinical Psychology
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Justin Parent
Abstract
Background: Childhood obesity is a highly prevalent public health concern with significant consequences for health and development across the lifespan. Risk is disproportionately elevated among children from marginalized racial and ethnic groups and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, highlighting persistent disparities in long-term health outcomes. Epigenomic mechanisms, including DNA methylation (DNAm), have emerged as a promising approach for understanding the biological embedding of metabolic risk; however, prior research has largely emphasized deficit-based models, with limited attention to protective family-level factors. The present study examined whether participation in a positive parenting intervention was associated with epigenetic cardiometabolic risk among preschool-aged children. Methods: Participants included 74 children (n = 35 intervention; n = 39 services-as-usual), who were on average 36 months old, predominantly male (71.6%), and primarily Hispanic/Latino (71.1%). Using a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial, DNAm body mass index (BMI) and measured BMI were assessed at baseline and 12-month follow-up, and parenting practices were observed post-treatment. Results: Children in the intervention group demonstrated significantly lower DNAm BMI at 12 months relative to controls (b = -0.06, 95% CI [-0.12, -0.01], p = .02), an effect that remained robust after adjusting for child sex, race and/or ethnicity, and measured BMI. In contrast, no treatment effect was observed for measured BMI, and DNAm BMI was not associated with measured BMI at 12 months. Although the intervention was associated with improvements in parenting practices, these changes did not mediate the association between treatment and DNAm BMI. Conclusions: Findings suggest that positive parenting interventions may influence biological pathways related to cardiometabolic risk in early childhood, even in the absence of detectable changes in anthropometric measures, underscoring the potential of family-centered approaches to promote early metabolic health.
Recommended Citation
López, Adamari, "THE ROLE OF PARENTING IN MITIGATING EPIGENETIC CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK IN PREDOMINANTLY LATINO PRESCHOOLERS" (2026). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2696.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2696