Associations among parental feeding styles and children's food intake in families with limited incomes

Background  

Although general parenting styles and restrictive parental feeding practices have been associated with children's weight status, few studies have examined the association between feeding styles and proximal outcomes such as children's food intake, especially in multi-ethnic families with limited incomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of parental feeding styles and young children's evening food intake in a multiethnic sample of families in Head Start.     

Parental feeding practices predict authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting styles

BACKGROUND: Our goal was to identify how parental feeding practices from the nutrition literature link to general parenting styles from the child development literature to understand how to target parenting practices to increase effectiveness of interventions. Stand-alone parental feeding practices could be targeted independently. However, parental feeding practices linked to parenting styles require interventions treating underlying family dynamics as a whole. OBJECTIVE: To predict parenting styles from feeding practices and to test three hypotheses: restriction and pressure to eat are positively related whereas responsibility, monitoring, modeling, and encouraging are negatively related to an authoritarian parenting style; responsibility, monitoring, modeling, and encouraging are positively related whereas restriction and pressure to eat are negatively related to an authoritative parenting style; a permissive parenting style is negatively linked with all six feeding practices. DESIGN: Baseline data of a randomized-controlled intervention study. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Two hundred thirty-nine parents (93.5% mothers) of first-grade children (134 boys, 105 girls) enrolled in rural public schools. MEASURES: Parental responses to encouraging and modeling questionnaires and the Child Feeding Questionnaire, as well as parenting styles measured by the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Correlation and regression analyses. RESULTS: Feeding practices explained 21%, 15%, and 8% of the variance in authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting, respectively. Restriction, pressure to eat, and monitoring (negative) significantly predicted an authoritarian style (Hypothesis 1); responsibility, restriction (negative), monitoring, and modeling predicted an authoritative style (Hypothesis 2); and modeling (negative) and restriction significantly predicted a permissive style (Hypothesis 3). CONCLUSIONS: Parental feeding practices with young children predict general parenting styles. Interventions that fail to address underlying parenting styles are not likely to be successful.     

Theory of mind at home: linking authoritative and authoritarian parenting styles to children's social understanding

Building on Vinden's pioneering research [(2001 Vinden, P. G. (2001). Parenting attitudes and children's understanding of mind: A comparison of Korean American and Anglo-American families. Cognitive Development, 16, 793–809.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Parenting attitudes and children's understanding of mind: A comparison of Korean American and Anglo-American families. Cognitive Development, 16, 793–809], we examined how parents’ use of authoritative versus authoritarian styles of discipline related to their children's development of theory of mind (ToM). ToM was assessed using standard false belief tests and a developmental ToM Scale [Wellman, H. M., &; Liu, D. (2004 Wellman, H. M., &; Liu, D. (2004). Scaling of theory-of-mind tasks. Child Development, 75(2), 523–541.[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Scaling of theory-of-mind tasks. Child Development, 75(2), 523–541] comprising five reliably sequential steps of ToM understanding from awareness of others’ desires through false belief to the recognition of hidden emotion that even 8-year-olds often have difficulty with. In contrast to previous largely null results, our results from a sample of 30 Anglo-Australian children aged 5–12 years and their 30 parents showed, for the first time, that there are significant negative links of child ToM with parental authoritarianism and significant positive links, independent of child age and language skill, between ToM understanding and authoritative parenting. These results contribute to a growing body of research on how family processes interconnect with children's social understanding and social adjustment.     

Associations between children's television advertising exposure and their food consumption patterns: a household diary-survey study

In a diary-survey study in 234 households with children aged 4-12 years, we investigated the associations between children's exposure to food advertising and their consumption of (a) advertised food brands, (b) advertised energy-dense food product categories, and (c) food products overall. Relations were examined using multiple hierarchical regression analysis, while controlling for various child (i.e., age, sex, television viewing time) and family variables (i.e., family income and consumption-related communication styles). Results showed that children's exposure to food advertising was significantly related to their consumption of advertised brands (beta=.21) and energy-dense product categories (beta=.19). The relation between advertising exposure and overall food consumption only held in lower-income families (beta=.19). In addition, consumption-related family communication was an important moderator of the relations between advertising and the food consumption variables. Socio-oriented family communication (i.e., striving for harmony and conformity) was particularly successful in reducing these relations. In conclusion, consistent with communication theories predicting spill-over effects of advertising, the impact of television food advertising exceeded the advertised brand and generalized to more generic unhealthy consumption patterns. Theoretical and societal consequences, as well as the important role of the family are discussed.     

Relationships between parenting style, feeding style and feeding practices and fruit and vegetable consumption in early childhood

Despite substantial evidence suggesting that a diet high in fruit and vegetables (FV) is associated with reduced risk of cancer, only 21% of children in the UK consume the recommended 5 portions of fruit or vegetables a day. This review examines the role of parenting style, feeding style and feeding practices in FV consumption in early childhood. Whilst inconsistencies in concepts and terminology cloud this literature, overall the evidence suggests that the context of an authoritative parenting and feeding style is associated with better FV consumption in the childhood years. This context is typified by emotional warmth but high expectations for children's dietary adequacy and behaviour, accompanied by specific feeding practices such as modeling consumption of FV, making FV available within the home, covertly restricting unhealthy alternative snack foods, and encouraging children to try FV. Further longitudinal and intervention studies are required to determine the efficacy of modification of parenting style and feeding practice on children's FV intake.     

Malnutrition and food consumption patterns in Malaysia

In a rapidly developing country like Malaysia problems related to nutrition present themselves with contrasting features. While health indicators such as the toddler mortality rate, incidence of low birth weight and food balance sheet data suggest an improving nutritional situation, direct nutrition assessment indicates that chronic protein energy malnutrition is still common amongst children in rural areas and urban slums. Initial surveys of the adult urban population indicate about 10% prevalence of chronic energy deficiency in both sexes. Food consumption data revealed an average energy intake below the recommended daily intake for Malaysia in most age groups. Although death due to malnutrition is rare in Malaysia, it is known to cause considerable ill-health, impaired mental performance in children, loss of productivity in adults and an overall decline in quality of life. This paper reports the prevalence of malnutrition in the last two decades, the possible contributing factors and recommendations for alleviating the problems in Malaysia.     

Mother-daughter communication about sex: the influence of authoritative parenting style

Parent-child communication about sex has been shown to delay sexual activity and increase contraceptive and condom use. The influence of authoritative parenting style and mothers' perception of daughters' risk on communication about sex was examined in this study. Mothers in a random sample (n=283) with daughters aged 9-15 years were mailed surveys asking about communication with their daughters regarding 11 sex-related topics. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the influence of authoritative parenting style and mothers' perceptions of risk on the number of topics communicated about and age of the daughter at time of communication for a variety of sexual health communication topics. Authoritative parenting style was related to the number of topics communicated about and was a predictor of age of daughter at the time of communication about sexual intercourse, menstruation, dating/relationships, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV/AIDS, alcohol, contraceptives, and abstinence, while perceptions of risk were not significant influencers of age at the time of communication for any topics. This research points to the importance of parenting style in determining the timing of parent-child communication about sexual and other risk behaviors.     

The food consumption patterns and perceptions of dietary advice of older people

Background Prevention policies do not have an upper age limit, and as the overwhelming majority of older people continue to reside in the community there is a growing role for community dietetics and primary care team members in the promotion of healthy eating.
Method The multi-method project ascertained the dietary beliefs and practices of older people residing in high-income, low-income and rural localities of Scotland. One hundred and fifty-two people aged 75 years and over were interviewed using a semistructured interview schedule and 24-h food recall questionnaire.
Results An analysis of the food recall questionnaire demonstrated that the diets of the elderly appear to differ little from the Scottish population as a whole. In all groups there was an under consumption of fruits and vegetables reported. Findings from the interviews demonstrated that dietary beliefs were found to be firmly rooted in childhood and lifetime experiences. Participants defined healthy eating as 'proper meals', 'proper foods', and a variety of foods eaten in moderation. These definitions were based upon the consumption of fresh foods which would be considered healthy. Changing and conflicting advice on health and nutrition was contrasted with personal experiences. Few knew of the role of the dietitian or community dietitian.
Conclusions This study demonstrates a contrast between stated beliefs and actual consumption patterns. Access to food, and the cost and quality of foods impacted upon food practices. The role of the community dietitian should be promoted. Advice on healthy eating must work with contemporary practices and beliefs building upon positive aspects of diet and eating and involving the food industry, retail sector and health services.     

The benefits of fish consumption

In 2004, The UK government advice stated that consumers should increase fish consumption to two portions a week, one of which should be oil‐rich fish. However, survey data show that this advice has not been acted upon by most members of the public. In addition, limited data on consumer attitudes highlight barriers to increased fish consumption, such as concerns about buying and cooking fish, perceptions that fish is expensive, and worries that fish meals may not be eaten by all family members. The ‘two‐a‐week’ message is underpinned by strong scientific evidence for heart health, while weaker emerging evidence associates certain nutrients found in fish with a lower risk of immune dysfunction, normal brain development in infants, insulin sensitivity and maintenance of cognitive function in later life. Clearly, further refinement of the two‐a‐week message is needed to ensure that greater numbers of people respond. Ideas include determining appropriate portion sizes for babies and children, increasing awareness of the broad range of fish and shellfish species, highlighting sustainable sources of fish, and reassuring consumers that frozen and prepared fish products count towards the two‐a‐week target. Further work is also needed to address barriers to consumption, particularly among teenagers and younger adults, who have the lowest intakes.     

The 'wonderfulness' of children's feeding programs

When people involved in children's feeding programs were asked to describe them, without exception they were described using phrases that reflected the perception of 'wonderfulness'. This paper critically analyses the 'wonderfulness' of children's feeding programs by examining the language used to describe these programs, and the features of a 'wonderful' program through an analysis of a multi-site, qualitative case study of nine diverse programs in Atlantic Canada. When participants justified their comments about the 'wonderfulness' of children's feeding programs, they did so based upon five perceptions of program strengths: enhanced family coping; providing good food and nutrition; socializing and making friends; behaving well in school; and volunteerism. We suggest that programs can be designed to be innately 'wonderful' if they are community- and charity-based, support a noble cause such as the elimination of child hunger, engage good people as donors and volunteers, and provide a direct service to children apart from their families. We challenge health promoters to beware of the 'wonderful' program; its 'wonderfulness' may actually be masking unintended negative impacts upon its participants.     

Cluster analysis of food consumption patterns of older Americans

This study uses data from the 1977-78 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (NFCS) to develop a classification scheme for differentiating individuals into groups that have similar patterns of food consumption. The article examines the nutritional adequacy of those food patterns and identifies the socioeconomic factors associated with each pattern. Cluster analysis is used to identify the food consumption patterns of a nationally representative sample of persons aged 65 through 74 years. The results indicate that the food patterns of older persons can be well categorized as light eaters, heavy eaters, or consumers of large amounts of alcoholic beverages, salty snack products, animal fat products, legumes, or sweets and desserts. Following those different food patterns leads to noteworthy differences in nutrient intakes. Ethnic group membership and residence status are found to be the most important socioeconomic factors associated with differences in the food patterns followed.     

The relation between the lack of control attributional style for indulgent food consumption and bulimic symptoms

Objective

The study examined the potential link between the lack of control attributional style for indulgent food consumption and bulimic symptoms.

Method

One hundred and 77 undergraduates (145 female; mean age = 19 years-2 months) were administered the Eating Attributional Style Questionnaire and the Sterling Eating Disorder Scales across a five-month period.

Results

SEM analyses confirmed that: (1) uncontrollability attributions for indulgent food consumption were concurrently associated with bulimic symptoms, and (2) external locus of control and uncontrollability attributions for indulgent food consumption predicted changes in bulimic symptoms.

Conclusions

The findings yielded support for the conclusion that the lack of control attributional style for indulgent food consumption is a probable cause of bulimic symptoms.     

Eleven-year follow-up of changes in individuals' food consumption patterns

In 101 healthy middle-aged persons of both sexes, changes in dietary were followed up for 11 years 1974 to 1984. As dietary indicators, the food consumption pattern, 8 factors obtained by factor analysis, was used. The factors were evaluated for changes with age in each person and each sex. Changes with age were observed for the food consumption patterns: There was a general tendency in the group for the staple food factor to change in the direction of a Westernized food the same time, the group generally changed in the direction of less intake of sweets and of animal fats. From the standpoint of nutrients, the changes over this period were a decrease in the energy intake, in the percentage of energy from carbohydrate, of energy from alcohol, which caused a slight increase in the percentage of energy from protein and fat. The main factors in the changes was physiological changes that accompany the process of aging, changes in the consciousness of health, and changes in the food environment.