Parental Feeding Practices in the United States and in France: Relationships with Child's Characteristics and Parent's Eating Behavior

Abstract

word count: 226Text word count: 1866 words plus abstract (226 words) and references (536 words) Abstract Given the role of parental feeding practices in establishing children's eating habits, understanding sources of individual differences in feeding practices is important. This study examined the role of several psychological variables (i.e., parental perceived responsibility for child's eating, parental perceptions of the child's weight, and parents' own eating patterns) in individual differences in a variety of feeding practices. Parents of preschool age children completed surveys in a cross-sectional study. Two cultural contexts (i.e., US, n = 97 parents;and France, n = 122 parents) were included to assess the cross-cultural generalizability of the findings. Monitoring was associated with parental perceived responsibility for child's eating, parental restrained eating and parents' desire for their child to be thinner, especially in France.Restriction for weight reasons was more prevalent in the US and was associated with parents' perceived responsibility for child's eating, perception of child's body weight and parental restrained eating. Parental use of foods for non-nutritive purposes was more prevalent in the US and was associated with parental uncontrolled or emotional eating. Finally, parents' perceived responsibility for child's eating was strongly related to child control over feeding, teaching about nutrition, encouragement of balance and variety and modeling.These associations between psychological variables and parental feeding practices shed light on the sources of individual differences in feeding practices and suggest possible opportunities for intervention when feeding practices are sub-optimal.

Child Feeding and Parenting Style Outcomes and Composite Score Measurement in the ‘Feeding Healthy Food to Kids Randomised Controlled Trial’

“…Based on existing literature responsibility [13,14] and monitoring [6,13,14,15] were positively weighted, with pressure to eat [7,8,9,10,11] and restriction [18] negatively weighted by adding one to maximum scores, and then subtracting the domain score. For example, a PTE score of 4 would have become (6 − 4) = 2.…”

“…Parental responsibility for child dietary intake [13,14] and monitoring of consumption, particularly in relation to discretionary foods [6,13,14,15] have been consistently associated with healthy eating behaviours and weight status in children. However, the measurement of some child feeding practices can be challenging due to the complexity of concepts.…”

Self-control and parental control mediate the relationship between negative emotions and emotional eating among adolescents

“…Previous studies have found that emotional eating in adolescents is affected by family environment, including parental eating habits as well as parenting and feeding practices (de Lauzon-Guillain, Musher-Eizenman, Leporc, Holub, & Charles, 2009;Faith, Scanlon, Birch, Francis, & Sherry, 2004;Topham et al, 2011) and personal factors, including stress level, stress coping styles, and personality (Elfhag & Morey, 2008;Larsen, van Strien, Eisenga, & Engels, 2006;Wallis & Hetherington, 2004). Few studies have examined possible mediators of the relationship between negative emotions and emotional eating.…”

The effects of parental feeding styles, children’s self-efficacy and social anxiety on adolescent obesity

“…This study determined that emotional feeding is the third most influential factor in female adolescent obesity. In the literature, parents with emotional feeding habits give more food to their children when they or their children are under stress [14,36,37]. It has been argued that this also increases junk food consumption [37,14].…”

“…In the literature, parents with emotional feeding habits give more food to their children when they or their children are under stress [14,36,37]. It has been argued that this also increases junk food consumption [37,14]. On the other hand, parents with the tendency to eat less when they are under emotional stress may give less food to their children when they or their children are under stress [35].…”