Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 20, 2025

The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs
08:59

The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs

Published on: October 13, 2017

17.7K

The relationship of parenting style and eating behavior in preschool children

Anaëlle L Leuba1,2, Andrea H Meyer3,4, Tanja H Kakebeeke5,6

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Rue P.A. de Faucigny 2, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.

BMC Psychology
|November 24, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Negative parenting styles, such as inconsistent discipline, are linked to children's eating behaviors. Positive parenting showed no consistent association. These findings highlight the importance of addressing negative parenting in interventions for childhood eating problems.

Area of Science:

  • Child psychology
  • Developmental nutrition
  • Parenting studies

Background:

  • Eating behaviors are individual traits influencing food intake regulation, developing early in life.
  • Parenting styles may significantly impact a child's developing eating behaviors.
  • This study focuses on the critical early developmental period for childhood eating patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between various dimensions of positive and negative parenting styles and children's eating behavior.
  • To understand how different parenting approaches influence appetitive traits in preschool-aged children.
  • To identify specific parenting dimensions associated with problematic eating behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Children Eating Behavior Questionnaire and the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire.
  • Surveyed parents of 511 preschool children aged 2-6 years.
  • Correlated parenting style dimensions with child eating behavior metrics.

Main Results:

  • Negative parenting dimensions consistently associated with child eating behavior.
  • Inconsistent parenting linked to emotional eating, food responsiveness, fussiness, satiety responsiveness, and enjoyment of food.
  • Corporal punishment, powerful implementation, and low monitoring were associated with specific eating behaviors like overeating and reduced satiety responsiveness.

Conclusions:

  • Negative parenting styles correlate with eating behaviors potentially leading to long-term weight issues.
  • Positive parenting styles did not demonstrate a consistent relationship with child eating behavior in this study.
  • Interventions for childhood eating behavior problems should prioritize addressing negative parenting strategies.
Abstract

Keywords:
Eating behaviorParenting stylePreschoolSPLASHY

More Related Videos

A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity04:23

A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity

Published on: August 21, 2015

11.6K
Palatable Western-style Cafeteria Diet as a Reliable Method for Modeling Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents09:10

Palatable Western-style Cafeteria Diet as a Reliable Method for Modeling Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents

Published on: November 1, 2019

10.9K

Related Concept Videos

Parenting Styles01:27

Parenting Styles

Diana Baumrind's four parenting styles — authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful, and permissive — each influence children's socio-emotional development differently.
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
107
Self-Schemas02:16

Self-Schemas

In general, a schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts (Bartlett, 1932). There are many different types of schemata, and they all have one thing in common: schemata are a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.
31.4K
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development01:30

Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development

Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
64
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Anal01:26

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Anal

Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development describes the anal stage as occurring between 18 months and three years of age. During this period, children derive pleasure from controlling and releasing their bowel movements. However, they quickly learn that societal expectations impose restrictions on when and where this can happen. This stage marks a critical point where children begin to develop a sense of control and mastery over their bodily functions, as well as their broader...
1.5K
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships. 
43.8K
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
90