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Can mothers influence their child's eating behavior?
R R Drucker1, L D Hammer, W S Agras
1Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, USA.
Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP
|April 29, 1999
Summary
Maternal eating prompts, not general parenting style, influence a child's eating speed and intake. Frequent prompts correlate with faster eating and higher caloric intake in young children.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Science
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Parenting styles and eating cues can shape children's eating behaviors.
- Understanding these dynamics is crucial for addressing childhood eating habits and potential obesity risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between maternal parenting style, specific eating cues, and a child's eating behavior.
- To determine if maternal prompts influence children's eating rate and caloric intake.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-seven 3.5-year-old children and their mothers participated in a laboratory meal.
- Maternal parenting style (control, support) and eating prompts (offers, encouragements, discouragements) were coded from videotaped meals.
- Child's eating rate, caloric intake, and meal duration were measured.
Main Results:
- Maternal eating prompts (offers, presentations, total prompts) significantly correlated with the child's rate of calorie intake.
- Children with faster eating rates had mothers who delivered eating prompts more frequently.
- General maternal parenting style (control, support) was not directly related to the child's eating behavior.
Conclusions:
- Maternal eating prompts, rather than overall parenting style, are linked to children's eating speed and intake.
- Frequent maternal prompts may lead to faster eating and increased caloric consumption in young children.
- These findings suggest potential implications for childhood obesity due to rapid eating and self-regulation development.