Body size attitudes and body image perception among preschool children and their parents: a preliminary study

Abstract

SummaryObjective: The objectives of our study were two fold: (1) to assess body attitudes among children and their parents, and (2) to analyze the predictors of body attitudes in both groups. Method:The research sample consisted of 37 children, aged between 3 and 7, and 37 parents. We used the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4, the Child Figure Arrays, and the Contour Drawing Rating Scale.Results: Twenty-eight children (75.68%) chose the thin and average silhouettes as the ideal body shapes. The most undesirable silhouette was that indicating obesity (62.16%). We found that a relationship between body dissatisfaction and thin ideal internalization (r = 0.627, p < 0.001), muscular ideal internalization (r = 0.369, p < 0.05), family pressure (r = 0.351, p < 0.05), media pressure (r = 0.702, p < 0.001) and peer pressure (r = 0.428, p < 0.05) made parents wish to change their children's body shape. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression revealed that media pressure among children and body dissatisfaction among their parents were predictors of ideal silhouette in children. In addition, mediation analysis showed that media pressure had mediated the relationship between parents' body dissatisfaction and children's ideal silhouette. Conclusions:Both children and their parents preferred a slim silhouette. Body dissatisfaction was related to internalization of a socially acceptable silhouette and to pressure to change body shape among parents. There is a high risk that parents can model negative attitudes towards the body in their children. This should be considered in psychoeducational prevention programs. preschool children, parents, body attitudes, body dissatisfaction, body image perception

Can Parental Body Dissatisfaction Predict That of Children? A Study on Body Dissatisfaction, Body Mass Index, and Desire to Diet in Children Aged 9–11 and Their Families

“…Some studies highlight an increase in mean body dissatisfaction scores in men ( Holland and Tiggemann, 2016 ; Karazsia et al, 2017 ). This increase could be reflected by the prediction of children’s body dissatisfaction ( Kościcka et al, 2016 ). However, in part, this was not verified in this study.…”

“…As such, many studies have focused on linking eating behaviors and parental physical activity to the risk of being overweight in children ( Matthews-Ewald et al, 2015 ). The authors found that, in a sample of children aged 3–7 years, parental dissatisfaction as assessed by a silhouette scale correlated with child dissatisfaction ( Kościcka et al, 2016 ). Similarly, Webb and Haycraft (2019) highlight the link between body dissatisfaction and disadaptative eating habits of parents and the body dissatisfaction of children aged 6–9 years.…”

“…Despite the rise in body dissatisfaction among boys, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies analyzing mother–son dyads. Although the father’s role is crucial in the healthy development of children ( Hitti et al, 2020 ), studies about paternal body dissatisfaction and its relationship with those of the children are scarce ( Matthews-Ewald et al, 2015 ; Chng and Fassnacht, 2016 ; Kościcka et al, 2016 ; Wansink et al, 2017 ; Webb and Haycraft, 2019 ; Biolcati et al, 2020 ).…”

Advertising at the point of sale: influence on children´s body image

“…In this way, the parents of the children can more easily relate the similar styles of each season in the clothes of children and adults. This observation carries with it a danger already pointed out in the bibliographic review: the fact that parents do not contribute to reversing the possible negative influences on their children produced by the thin advertising stereotype (Kościcka, Czepczor & Brytek-Matera, 2016). If, as has been observed, this point-of-sale advertising is also directed at parents, they must possess a strong critical capacity to consciously reject such models and foster a healthy attitude towards their children.…”

Imagem corporal, uma perspetiva lifespan: Breve revisão narrativa

“…Imagem Corporal numa perspetiva lifespan © de si (Kościcka et al, 2016), podem influenciar a forma como as crianças desenvolvem a sua imagem corporal. Por exemplo, quando os membros da família demostram uma postura negativista perante a obesidade, as crianças tendem a partilhar as mesmas opiniões (Duarte et al, 2018).…”