Family stress and BMI in young children

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate if family stress and parental attachment style are associated with body mass index (BMI) in young children, and identify possible explanations. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey with a two‐stage design was used. Parents of 873 children participated. They completed a demographic questionnaire, the Swedish Parenthood Stress Questionnaire (SPSQ), the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) and reported their children’s television‐viewing habits (as a marker of physical activity). Children’s height, weight and BMI were obtained from a general population‐based register, BASTA. Associations with over‐ and underweight in children were assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Family stress indicated by SPSQ‐score was associated with suboptimal BMI. Maternal, but not paternal, SPSQ‐stress score was statistically significantly associated with overweight and underweight, with adjusted odds ratios (and 95% confidence interval) of 4.61 (3.11–6.84; p