Food Parenting Practices and Children’s Eating Behaviors: Comparing Mothers and Fathers

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Food parenting practices (FPPs) can influence children's eating behaviors, but published research has mainly focused on mothers. The objective of this study was to evaluate associations between maternal and paternal FPPs and children's eating behaviors. Methods A Canadian sample of 565 parents (53% fathers) of 5–12 year old children completed a food parenting practices item bank and the Children's Eating Behaviors Questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate associations between FPPs and children's eating behaviors (food fussiness, emotional overeating, food and satiety responsiveness). Models were run separately for mothers and fathers. Results Both paternal and maternal use of permissive practices were associated with greater food fussiness (fathers β = 0.33, P = 0.004; mothers β = 0.24, P = 0.002), while providing more vegetable opportunities was associated with lower food fussiness (fathers β = −0.20, P = 0.008; mothers β = −0.28, P = 0.003). Both fathers’ and mothers’ use of restriction for weight practices were associated with more emotional overeating (fathers β = 0.35; mothers β = 0.50, both P < 0.001) and food responsiveness (fathers β = 0.19, P = 0.008; mothers β = 0.40, P < 0.001). Paternal use of coercive control (β = 0.31, P = 0.001) and maternal use of permissive practices (β = 0.25, P < 0.001) were associated with higher emotional overeating among children. Paternal use of permissive practices (β = 0.25, P < 0.01) and a covert control of the food environment (β = 0.20, P < 0.01) were associated with greater food responsiveness. Mothers’ use of nondirective support was associated with higher satiety responsiveness (β = 0.26, P = 0.001) whereas fathers’ use of restriction for weight (β = 0.21 P < 0.006) and permissive practices (β = 0.26, P = 0.001) were associated with higher satiety responsiveness. Conclusions FPPs predictive of emotional overeating and food fussiness are generally similar for mothers and fathers. However, fathers differ from mothers in some FPPs associated with food and satiety responsiveness. Future research should explore the bidirectional effects of mothers’ and fathers’ FPPs and children's eating behaviours. Funding Sources Canadian Institutes of Health research, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center.