為瞭解雙親工作時間對學童體重過重及肥胖之影響,本研究利用兒童與青少年行為之長期發展研究計畫(簡稱CABLE)之2002年資料中,五年級學童及其家長的相關變項,進行次級資料分析。結果納入分析的樣本為1857個家庭的學童及其父母。結果發現,樣本學童體重過重的比率為11.5%(男生為11.8%,女生為10.5%);肥胖比率為3.4%(男生為4.0%,女生為2.8%)。在調整學校型態與性別後,台北市男性和女性學童的體重過重比率分別為13.2%與10.1%;肥胖比率分別為4.3%與2.9%。新竹縣男性和女性學童的體重過重比率分別為11.6%與11.1%;肥胖比率分別為5.6%與2.8%。雙親工作時間對學童體重過重及肥胖之影響採多變項分析後發現,僅「母親工作時間」達顯著水準。換句話說,相對於母親每週工作為40-42小時之學童,母親每週工作達50小時以上之學童其體重發生過重的可能性為2.46倍。此外,本研究亦發現,母親工作時間越長,其與家人互動及提供支持的可能性也越低。根據本研究結果提出以下建議:教育及衛生單位應重視及預防國小學童體重過重及肥胖的問題;社福單位及學校方面應協助或輔導需超時工作的學童母親,以加強其照顧子女的技能;未來針對母親超時工作影響子女體重過重的機制,可作更深入的探討。
This study was conducted to improve understanding of the influence parental working time has on overweight and obesity among school children. Secondary data analysis was performed on selected variables with respect to fifth graders and their parents from a database constructed in 2002 by a research project entitled “Child and Adolescent Behavior in Long-term Evolution—A School-based Health Lifestyle Study”(abbreviated as CABLE). The sample population consisted of school children and their parents from a total of 1,857 families. Findings from this study show that the proportion of overweight children in the sample was 11.5% (11.8% for boys and 10.5% for girls), and the proportion of obese children was 3.4% (4% for boys and 2.8% for girls). The standardized estimates of the proportions of overweight children based on the types of schools and the genders of the children were 13.2% and 10.1% for boys and girls respectively in Taipei City, and the corresponding estimates with respect to obesity were 4.3% and 2.9%. The standardized estimates of the proportions of overweight children were 11.6% and 11.1% for boys and girls respectively in Hsin-Chu County; the corresponding estimates with respect to obesity were 5.6% and 2.8%. Furthermore, in regard to the relationship between parental working time and children’s overweight and obesity, “maternal working time” was the only factor showing a substantial effect, with an influence on “children’s overweight.” Compared to children with mothers working for 40 to 42 hours a week, those with mothers working for 50 hours or longer a week had an odds ratio of 2.46 for being overweight. This study also found that the longer a mother worked, the less likely she was to interact with or provide support to family members. Based on these research findings, this study proposes the following suggestions. First, education and health agencies should pay increased attention to overweight and obesity among elementary school children, and take action to prevent such problems. Second, social welfare organizations and schools should provide assistance and education to school children’s mothers who have to work overtime so that their child care skills may be further developed. It is also worthwhile to more deeply explore the mechanism through which maternal status of working overtime influences children’s overweight.