Family mealtime emotions and food parenting practices among mothers of young children: Development of the Mealtime Emotions Measure for Parents (MEM‐P)

Abstract

Family mealtimes can be important for supporting children's healthy development, yet the emotional context of mealtimes can vary considerably, likely impacting their overall success and enjoyment. Yet, despite having an important role, little is known about how parents emotionally experience mealtimes with their family. The first aim of the current study was to assess the factor structure of a novel self‐report measure to assess parents’ emotional responses experienced during family mealtimes (Mealtime Emotions Measure for Parents; MEM‐P). The second aim was to examine relationships between maternal mealtime emotions and their food parenting practices. Mothers of children aged between 1.5 and 6 years participated in this study. Mothers were invited to complete an online questionnaire measuring family mealtime emotions, anxiety, depression and food parenting practices. Exploratory factor analysis produced a three‐factor solution comprising both positive and negative emotion subscales: MEM‐P Efficacy; MEM‐P Anxiety; MEM‐P Stress and Anger. Mothers' positive mealtime emotions (mealtime efficacy) were related to greater use of practices promoting autonomy, providing a healthy home food environment, and modelling healthy eating. Higher anxiety about mealtimes was related to greater reports of child control over eating, and mealtime stress and anger was associated with greater use of food to regulate emotions. These findings highlight novel relationships between how mothers emotionally experience family mealtimes and the food parenting practices they use with their children. It is important to develop resources to help promote positive maternal experiences of family mealtimes and food‐based interactions.

Parents’ Perception Of The School-Based Feeding Program: Its Relation To Home-Meal-Related Practices

“…Cooking at home is the best way to make and pass down family traditions. White (2022) claimed that mothers' perceptions of their capability to implement what they view as successful mealtimes might be related to their behavior. This implies that implementing strategies for parenting that target healthy family food and mealtime practices is essential because Watts (2018) believes that children's parenting behavior has an opportunity for long-term effects.…”

Changes in Eating Behaviors Following Taste Education Intervention: Focusing on Children with and without Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Their Families: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…There are many variations on the definition of problematic eating behaviors, including food neophobia (rejecting novel or unknown foods) [ 1 , 2 ], fussy or picky eating (the rejection of a large proportion of novel and familiar foods), being grumpy at mealtimes, and displaying oppositional behaviors or throwing tantrums [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Problematic eating behaviors may result in adverse health-related outcomes, and a low-variety diet in the long-term [ 1 , 6 , 7 ], including poorer nutrition profiles [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ], obesity [ 12 , 13 , 14 ], and parental concern or stress [ 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

“…Family mealtime routines, family meals, and food-related parenting practices are increasingly being appreciated as important aspects in the development of children’s eating habits [ 15 , 17 , 23 , 47 , 48 ]. Family dinners have been associated with a lowered risk for eating unhealthy foods [ 49 , 50 ], lower rates of obesity [ 51 ], better academic performance [ 52 ], and fewer behavioral problems in children [ 53 ], among other benefits.…”

“…Researchers have increasingly called for new methods to deal with children’s problematic eating behaviors, including aiming for positive experiences around mealtimes [ 1 , 17 , 35 , 78 ]. Previously, food-based intervention studies with parental components, such as education on nutrition, and well-implemented reward-based systems, have provided promising results in dealing with some aspects of problematic eating behaviors, in both TD children and children with ND [ 16 , 67 , 72 , 73 , 79 ].…”