Forms and functions of family mealtimes: Multidisciplinary perspectives

Larson, Reed; Branscomb, Kathryn R.; Wiley, Angela

doi:10.1002/cd.152

Cited by 94 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Pearson (1989: 289) noted that '"controlling'' speech acts or directives occur profusely in situations where people are set on accomplishing tasks'. For families with young children, the mealtime encounter represents a key site for the socialization of children into culturally and morally appropriate patterns of behaviour (Larson et al, 2006;Paugh, 2005). Family mealtimes are occasions when a lot of practical things need to happen in a short space of time (serving, eating, discussing future events) and attention is also paid to correcting manners and actions deemed socially unacceptable.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compliance, resistance and incipient compliance when responding to directives

Kent

2012

Discourse Studies

121

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How does a parent get a child to do something? And, indeed, how might the child avoid complying or seem to comply without actually having done so? This article uses conversation analysis to identify the interactionally preferred and dispreferred response to directives (compliance and resistance respectively). It then focuses on one alternative response option that has both verbal and embodied elements. The first part involves an embodied display of incipient compliance. That is, actions that are preparatory steps towards compliance and signal that it may be forthcoming, but which do not in themselves constitute compliance. Incipient compliance creates sequential space for a verbal turn that reformulates the ongoing action as autonomous, self-motivated behaviour on the recipient's part, rather than subject to the will of the directive speaker. This enables the recipient to maintain autonomy over their own conduct without provoking the conflict or repeat directives associated with outright resistance.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compliance, resistance and incipient compliance when responding to directives

Kent

2012

Discourse Studies

121

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“…These consequences can sometimes be positive. For instance, family meals may provide opportunities for parents to model, coach, and monitor their youth and, as well, may offer opportunities for youngsters to review and reinforce their out-of-home experiences, and provide opportunities for child development and socialization (Larson, Branscomb, & Wiley, 2006). Youth who regularly eat dinners with their families are less likely to engage in risk behaviors, have low self esteem, manifest lower depression (Compan, Moreno, Ruiz, & Pascual, 2002;Eisenberg, Olson, Neumark-Sztainer, Story, & Bearinger, 2004;Theokes, & Lerner, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Out-of-School Time Activity Participation, School Engagement and Positive Youth Development: Findings from the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development

Bebiroglu

Phelps

et al. 2008

JYD

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Abstract:The relations in early adolescence among out-of-school-time activities and indicators of youth development were assessed through the use of 8th grade data from the longitudinal, 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development. Hierarchical multiple linear regressions indicated that "hanging out" with friends without set plans and excessive media use were associated with lower behavioral engagement with school, lower academic achievement, and higher rates of risk behaviors. Youth who ate dinner with their family reported higher levels of emotional engagement, lower depression and risk behaviors, and better grades. Engagement in civic activities was associated with higher levels of emotional engagement. Behavioral and emotional engagement were both associated with better grades and lower depression. Emotional school engagement was also associated with lower rates of risk behaviors. Implications of the findings for evaluating the role of out-ofschool-time activities and behavioral and/or emotional school engagement in academic achievement and youth development are discussed.

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“…Feise, Foley, and Spagnola (2006, p. 77) gloss family meals as 'densely packed events' where 'lots has to happen in approximately twenty minutes: food needs to be served and consumed, roles assigned, past events reviewed, and plans made'. In addition to the practical tasks involved in holding a family meal, researchers have identified the dinner table as a crucial site for the performance of key family functions such as the socialisation and social control of children (Charles & Kerr, 1985;DeVault, 1984;Larson, Branscomb, & Wiley, 2006;Nock, 1987). Given the time constraints and highly task-oriented nature of the mealtime interaction, parental directives such as 'Sit up straight' or 'Finish your fish' where they tell children to do something are, not surprisingly, common occurrences (Vine, 2009).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Responding to Directives: What can Children do when a Parent Tells them what to do?

Kent¹

2012

Sociological Studies of Children and Youth

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Purpose -This chapter examines children's options for responding to parental attempts to get them to do something (directives).Methodology/approach -The data for the study are video recordings of everyday family mealtime interactions. The study uses conversation analysis and discursive psychology to conduct a microanalysis of sequences of everyday family mealtimes interactions in which a parent issues a directive and a child responds.Findings -It is very difficult for children to resist parental directives without initiating a dispute. Immediate embodied compliance was the interactionally preferred response option to a directive. Outright resistance was typically met with an upgraded and more forceful directive. Legitimate objections to compliance could be treated seriously but were not always taken as grounds for non-compliance.Research implications -The results have implications for our understandings of the notions of compliance and authority. Children's status in interaction is also discussed in light of their ability to choose whether to ratify a parent's control attempt or not.Originality/value of paper -The chapter represents original work on the interactional structures and practices involved in responding to control attempts by a co-present participant. It offers a data-driven framework for conceptualising compliance and authority in interaction that is based on the orientations of participants rather than cultural or analytical assumptions of the researcher.

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Forms and functions of family mealtimes: Multidisciplinary perspectives

Abstract: This introduction to the volume examines the evolution of contemporary family mealtime practices and how they have changed, and it synthesizes theory and research from across disciplines regarding the opportunities that mealtimes provide for child and adolescent development.

Cited by 94 publications

References 22 publications

Compliance, resistance and incipient compliance when responding to directives

Compliance, resistance and incipient compliance when responding to directives

Out-of-School Time Activity Participation, School Engagement and Positive Youth Development: Findings from the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development

Responding to Directives: What can Children do when a Parent Tells them what to do?

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