Background: This study aimed to explore the mechanisms of prioritizing risk factors of coffee consumption in kindergarten children based on parental perceived changeability and importance. It was conducted in a local Chinese kindergarten, with study participants involving 40 parents. Methods: Qualitative data were generated by conducting semi-structured interviews and analyzed employing a thematic inductive analysis approach. Results: Multiple risk factors related to high doses of coffee consumption in children were identified. Notably, children’s mobile phone use and sleep behavior were considered relatively more changeable and more important risk factors, which should be addressed in intervention development. Moreover, other identified risk factors, including later diner times, physical activity participation, parental coffee consumption before sleep, and parental perceived benefits and barriers of coffee consumption, require further contextual investigation. Conclusion: Future intervention development should target parental influences on children’s coffee consumption and sleep health. The aim should be to promote awareness of sleep hygiene behaviors in both children and parents as a starting point. The intervention development process could be an iterative and back casting approach, necessitating extensive information gathering and in-depth consideration of critically revisiting the existing data to enhance the potential success and effectiveness of the intervention.

Keywords:

Child , Sleep , Parent , Coffee consumption , Intervention planning