Parents' Retrospectively Recalled Structured Feeding Practices Are Associated With Lower Current Disordered Eating and Mental Health Concerns in Their Young Adult Children: Findings in Parent-Child Dyads

Abstract

Abstract: Parental feeding practices are linked to child disordered eating. Less research has examined these associations in young adult children, particularly college-aged, and studies examining relationships between parent feeding practices and mental health concerns are also limited. Examining these relationships in college students is important because higher education represents a period of marked development and maintenance of maladaptive eating behaviors and mental health concerns. A cross-sectional study with the inclusion of 64 parent-child (i.e., young adult) dyads examined relationships between retrospective parental feeding practices and current disordered eating and mental health concerns in their young adult children. Higher retrospective parental structured feeding practices were associated with lower young adult current disordered eating and mental health concerns. Collegiate health-promotion programs may consider college students' early food environments, particularly structured food environments, as factors that may be associated with adaptive eating behaviors and better mental health outcomes.