Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 16, 2026
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Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
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Direct and Indirect Parental Influences on Body Image Dissatisfaction in Adult Offspring
Yasmine Athaide1, Stephanie Miles1,2,3, Eric J Tan4,5,6
1Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
Early Intervention in Psychiatry
|October 2, 2025
Summary
Parental weight-related criticism significantly contributes to offspring body image dissatisfaction. Promoting positive weight-related behaviors at home can help reduce body image concerns in children.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Eating Disorders
Background:
- Body image dissatisfaction is a key risk factor for disordered eating.
- Parental influence, both direct (criticism) and indirect (expressed dissatisfaction/dieting), can impact offspring body image.
- Understanding parental contributions is crucial for developing interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the retrospective contribution of parental influence on adult offspring's body image dissatisfaction.
- To differentiate the impact of direct versus indirect parental influences.
Main Methods:
- A general community sample of 156 participants completed a survey.
- Participants reported on direct and indirect parental influences during adolescence.
- Current body image satisfaction was assessed.
Main Results:
- Parental influence significantly predicted offspring body image dissatisfaction, even when controlling for peer and media effects (p < 0.001).
- This effect was primarily driven by direct parental influence (e.g., weight-related criticism) (p < 0.001).
- Indirect parental influence (e.g., expressed dissatisfaction, dieting) was not a significant factor (p = 0.899).
Conclusions:
- Direct parental influence is a strong determinant of offspring body image dissatisfaction.
- Parents should focus on reinforcing positive weight-related behaviors to mitigate body image concerns in their children.
- Interventions targeting parental communication and attitudes may be beneficial.
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