Authoritarian Feeding Styles Research Articles

Parental Feeding Style, Parenting Stress, and Child Mealtime Behaviors in Cystic Fibrosis.

Nutrition and weight gain significantly contribute to overall health outcomes in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Strong emphasis is placed on these entities by the CF team, which can cause stress for parents and impact parent and child mealtime behaviors. The current study sought to investigate the relationship between parental feeding style, parenting stress, and parent and child mealtime behaviors in families of children with CF. Forty-five parents of a child with CF between the ages of 2 and 10 years were recruited during a CF clinic appointment. They completed surveys assessing child mealtime behaviors, parental feeding style, and parental stress. Medical data including body mass index (BMI) were collected from the medical record. There was a significant difference in behavioral feeding scores based on feeding style (F3,41 = 13.48, p<.001), with authoritarian parents reporting significantly greater mealtime behavior problems than all other parents. There was also a significant difference in parenting stress based on parental feeding style (F3,41=4.11, p<.05), with authoritarian parents showing more stress than authoritative parents (Mdiff=23.70, p<.05). Correlation analyses showed a positive relationship between behavioral feeding problems and parent stress, r(45)=0.403; p<.01. Data suggest parents using an authoritarian feeding style experience more stress and behavioral feeding problems than other parents. More feeding problems were also associated with more stress. Findings help determine how pediatric psychologists can intervene to support positive parenting behaviors that reduce children's mealtime behavior problems and parental stress, thus improving health outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Nonresponsive Parenting Feeding Styles and Practices and Risk of Overweight and Obesity among Chinese Children Living Outside Mainland China: An Integrative Review of the Literature.

Chinese immigrants are a fast-growing population group in many parts of the world. Childhood obesity is increasingly a public health problem among Chinese living outside mainland China. Evidence suggests that parenting feeding styles and practices critically influence children's eating behaviors and risk of being overweight or obese. Therefore, the objectives of this review were to identify and synthesize the evidence from studies examining the associations between parenting feeding styles, feeding practices, and risk of overweight and obesity among children of Chinese parents outside mainland China. A systematic search of four electronic databases (CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, and PubMed) was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies published in English between January 2000 and March 2022. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Findings of some of the reviewed studies showed that parenting feeding styles and practices varied according to children's age, gender, weight, and parents' acculturation levels. The two most identified parenting feeding styles were indulgent and authoritarian. Parents classified as having indulgent and/or authoritarian feeding styles reported using several feeding practices with unintended detrimental effects, such as pressuring children to eat and restricting or controlling child food intake (type and amount). Some of these feeding practices were associated with an increased risk of child overweight. The findings of this review provide important information that can inform the design interventions to address modifiable nonresponisve parental feeding practices such as pressuring, restricting, and controlling that meet the specific needs of Chinese parents and children outside mainland China.

Differences in food parenting at home versus restaurants among parents of 3-to-8-year-old children

Indulgent parent feeding styles have been linked to less healthful eating behaviors and higher BMI among children. Restaurants are becoming a frequent eating environment for children. Frequent intake of food from restaurants has been associated with increased weight status, making restaurants a target for childhood obesity prevention efforts. Currently, little research has considered parent feeding styles in restaurants and how they might differ from the home setting. Given the increased frequency of children's restaurant consumption, examining parent feeding styles in restaurants may contribute to future research in this area. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine parent feeding styles at home and in restaurants. Parents whose 3-to-8-year-old children dined out regularly completed a one-time, online survey in February/March 2022. The Caregiver's Feeding Style Questionnaire assessed parent feeding styles at home and in restaurants. Differences in feeding styles were examined across settings. Indulgent feeding styles were most common overall. Parents (n = 117; 92% mothers; 85% white; 61% reported household income > $75,000/year) reported higher demandingness at home (M = 2.6 ± 0.5) compared to restaurants (M = 2.4 ± 0.5; t(116) = 6.7, P < 0.001). Parents were more likely to use indulgent feeding styles (X2 = 11.6, P < 0.001) and less likely to use authoritarian feeding styles (X2 = 4.6, P < 0.05) in restaurants compared to the home, suggesting parent feeding styles are less structured in restaurants. Results may have implications for future healthy eating interventions in away-from-home contexts.

Maternal Feeding Styles and Child Appetitive Traits: Direction of Effects in Hispanic Families With Low Incomes

Feeding styles of parents have been associated with dietary quality/intake and weight outcomes; however, much of the research to date has been cross sectional and the direction of influence unclear. This prospective longitudinal study evaluated the direction of effects between feeding styles and child appetitive traits over time in a sample of 129 Hispanic parent/child dyads that participated in a larger study. Data analyzed for the current study were collected when the children were 4–5 years old and again at ages 7–9 years. Parents (all mothers) reported on their feeding styles and children's appetitive traits using well-established questionnaires. Cross-lagged panel analyses were used to examine the direction of effects. Fully adjusted models revealed that a number of children's appetitive traits at baseline predicted later feeding styles. A bi-directional relationship was found between authoritarian feeding and satiety responsiveness such that higher satiety responsiveness was associated with authoritarian feeding and vice versa. Lower satiety responsiveness was associated with indulgent feeding, whereas higher food responsiveness was associated with authoritarian feeding. Results show preliminary evidence that children's appetitive traits may shape mothers' approach to child feeding. There is also preliminary support for the protective role of an authoritarian feeding style in the self-regulatory processes around child appetitive traits among this population of Hispanic families with low-income levels. These results warrant continued research given that other studies have shown beneficial outcomes for authoritarian feeding among ethnically diverse families with low incomes.

Vegetable parenting practices vary by feeding styles among middle class mothers of young children

The optimal approach to feeding preschool children balances expectation setting (demandingness) with responsivity to the child (responsiveness), and ideal feeding practices use environmental structuring and covert, non-directive control strategies while maintaining responsiveness. However, research has not examined the extent to which demandingness and responsiveness in feeding style is concordant with structure, responsiveness and control (directive and non-directive) in feeding practices. We classified the feeding style of 122 parents of preschoolers as authoritative (high demandingness/high responsiveness), authoritarian (high demandingness/low responsiveness), indulgent (low demandingness/high responsiveness), or uninvolved (low demandingness/low responsiveness). Parents reported on their frequency of use of 31 vegetable parenting practices (VPPs), that were classified into the domains of structure, control and responsiveness, and subcategorized as effective (likely to obtain the desired change without increasing child obesity risk) or ineffective (unlikely or increases risk) by expert consensus. We hypothesized that parents with an authoritative feeding style would have the highest effective structure, responsiveness and control VPPs, and the authoritarian style would differ with less responsiveness VPPs. We also hypothesized that the indulgent feeding style would have low levels of structure and control VPPs and high ineffective responsiveness VPPs. As expected, we found that parents with an authoritative feeding style reported using more effective structure and responsiveness VPPs. Surprisingly, parents with an authoritarian feeding style did not have VPPs which differed from those with an authoritative feeding style, and parents with an indulgent feeding style had surprisingly high effective control VPPs. Further research into the similarities and differences between parents’ overall approach to feeding and their use of feeding practices related to specific foods is warranted, which may help inform the design of more effective interventions aimed at improving child dietary quality.

Feeding difficulties in Asian children with autism spectrum disorder

To characterize the nature and severity of feeding difficulties in Asian young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and identify potential predictors of poorer feeding outcomes. Cross sectional study of children aged 1-7 years with ASD. Parents completed the following: demographic information, brief autism mealtime behavior inventory, aberrant behavior checklist (ABC), behavioral pediatrics feeding assessment scale (BPFAS) and caregiver feeding style questionnaire. Additional information (medical data, cognitive and developmental assessment results, e.g., Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Second Edition, Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised, Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales, etc.) were subsequently obtained from electronic medical records retrospectively by one of the study team members. Of the 67 children, 28.4% had feeding difficulties (high BPFAS total frequency score). Caregiver feeding styles were authoritarian (34.8%) or indulgent (39.4%). Child characteristics did not significantly predict for the severity of feeding difficulties. Univariate analysis revealed that authoritarian feeding style (p=0.001) and ABC hyperactivity score (p=0.006) were significantly associated with BPFAS severity score. Multivariate analysis revealed that ABC hyperactivity score remained significantly associated with BPFAS severity score after controlling for all other ABC subscale scores. A final regression model including all child characteristics and ABC scores did not reveal any significant predictors of BPFAS total frequency score (R2=0.557). Our findings suggest an association between hyperactivity, authoritarian feeding style and feeding difficulties. Children with ASD who have significant hyperactivity behaviors in the context of parents with an authoritarian feeding style should be actively screened for problematic feeding behaviors.

Parenting Stress, Maternal Feeding Styles and Preschooler’s Body Mass Index

ObjectivesTo analyze the relationship between parenting stress and maternal child feeding styles with preschooler’s body mass index. MethodsA total of 344 mother-child dyads from ten public kindergartens from Monterrey Nuevo Leon, Mexico; participated in the study. Mothers answered 1) The Parental Stress Scale to identified parenting stress, and) The Caregiver Feeding Style Questionnaire was used to identify the mother’s feeding style. Child’s weight and height were measured. Body Mass Index was obtained and classify according to World Health Organization. Results51.7 (n = 178) mothers reported high parenting stress. The authoritarian feeding style was more frequent in mothers with high parenting stress 33.1 (n = 59), while mothers with low parenting stress presented an indulgent feeding style (38.6%, n = 64). Mothers with an indulgent style had children with a high BMI. Maternal factors such as styles and preschool BMI were identified as predictors of parenting stress, variance explained 7.3%. ConclusionsHigh maternal parenting stress is related to authoritarian feeding style. A style has been considered a predictor of childhood overweight-obesity. It is recommended to continue studying those maternal factors that potentiate the risk of overweight-obesity in childhood, as well as interventions aimed at reducing parenting stress and the use of healthier feeding styles. Funding Sources….

Child weight status and accuracy of perceived child weight status as predictors of Latina mothers’ feeding practices and styles

This study focused on the relationship between low-income Latina mothers' perceptions of their preschool children's weight status and maternal feeding practices and styles, also considering the effects of actual child weight status and maternal concern about child weight. A total of 186 low-income Latina mother-child dyads participated. The vast majority of mothers underestimated the weight status of their child, but this varied by child weight status. Although only 30% of mothers of healthy weight children underestimated their child's weight status, 97% of mothers of overweight or obese children did so. No mother overestimated her child's weight status. Contrary to our hypotheses, in most cases, maternal perceptions of child's body weight were not related to maternal feeding styles, nor were many feeding practices predicted by concern about child weight. Instead, children's actual weight status was the strongest predictor of maternal feeding practices and feeding styles. Mothers of children with higher BMI z-scores reported higher levels of healthy eating guidance and responsiveness during feeding and lower levels of pressure to eat, food as reward, and using food to regulate the child's emotions. These mothers were more likely to show an indulgent and less likely to show an authoritarian feeding style. Concern about child weight did not account for any of these significant correlations. Maternal perceptions only mattered for restriction for weight purposes where there were independent effects of both perceived and actual weight status. Implications for understanding the development of child obesity in low-income, Latino populations are considered, along with recommendations for future research and for childhood obesity prevention programs.

Authoritative parent feeding style is associated with better child dietary quality at dinner among low-income minority families

BackgroundParent feeding styles have been linked to child weight status across multiple studies. However, to our knowledge, the link between feeding styles and children's dietary quality, a more proximal outcome, has not been investigated.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to examine the relation between parent feeding styles and dietary quality of Head Start preschoolers’ dinner meals.DesignThe amount of food served and consumed by children was measured by using a standardized digital photography method during 3 in-home dinner observations of low-income minority families in Houston, Texas. Trained dietitians entered food served and consumed into the Nutrient Data System for Research 2009 for nutrient analysis. Overall dietary quality of the food served and consumed at dinner was evaluated by using the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010). Parent feeding style was assessed with the use of the Caregiver's Feeding Style Questionnaire (CFSQ). On the basis of a parent's level of demandingness and responsiveness to his or her child during feeding, the CFSQ categorizes parent feeding into 4 styles: authoritative (high demandingness and high responsiveness), authoritarian (high demandingness and low responsiveness), indulgent (low demandingness and high responsiveness), or uninvolved (low demandingness and low responsiveness).ResultsFor the overall sample, the mean ± SD HEI score for dinner served was 44.2 ± 8.4, and the mean ± SD HEI score for dinner consumed was 43.4 ± 7.0. In the fully adjusted model, ANCOVA indicated that the authoritative parent feeding style was associated with significantly higher child dietary quality compared with the authoritarian feeding style (mean ± SEE HEI consumed—authoritative 45.5 ± 0.9; authoritarian: 41.9 ± 0.7; P = 0.001).ConclusionsParent feeding style contributes to the overall dietary quality of children, and among low-income minority preschoolers an authoritative feeding style was associated with the highest dietary quality of the 4 feeding styles. Interventions to promote feeding practices that contribute to authoritative feeding are needed to improve the dietary quality of preschool children at dinner. This trial was registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02696278.

Caregiver feeding styles and their effect on behaviour and activity of a cohort of preschool children in 4 selected schools in the Colombo District of Sri Lanka

Background: Parental feeding styles (authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent and uninvolved) are varied. Some styles may have adverse effects on child behaviour. In Sri Lanka, we do not have information on parental feeding patterns. Objectives: To describe caregiver feeding styles in 4 selected schools in the Colombo District of Sri Lanka and to investigate the relationship between caregiver feeding styles and child behaviour. Method: This was a cross sectional survey based on validated questionnaires (Child behaviour questionnaire and Caregiver's feeding styles questionnaire). Main caregivers of preschool children between 3-5 years were recruited. Results: Most (82%) caregivers employ authoritarian feeding styles with more rules and control but less responsive to child’s needs. Authoritative behavior exhibit better child behavior compared to other types of feeding styles. Conclusions: In this study in 4 selected schools, 82% caregivers employed authoritarian feeding styles with less response to child’s needs. Further, parents with authoritative feeding style exhibited better child behaviour compared to other feeding styles. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health , 2018; 47 : 215-218

A pilot study of low-income mothers and fathers of preschool age children to determine the relationship of food security and nutrition assistance on feeding style and child body weight

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to investigate the association of household food security status and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation with parental feeding style and child body mass index (BMI) in low-income households. Mother/father dyads (n = 52) with preschool aged children were interviewed and BMI measured. Food security status was not associated with feeding style but mothers’ food insecurity was associated with lower children’s BMI z-scores (β = −.31, p = 0.03). Fathers participating in SNAP had lower odds of an authoritarian feeding style (odds ratio = 0.17, p = 0.05). The relationship of food security or SNAP participation with childhood obesity needs further investigation between mothers and fathers.

Feeding style of adolescent mothers and complementary feeding practice of their infants

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate feeding styles of adolescent mothers and complementary feeding practices of their infants. Methods A cross-sectional study comparing a group of dyads of 50 adolescent mothers (ages 15 to 19) with 62 adult mothers (ages 24 to 44) and their infants (9 to 24 months) was performed. All mothers and infants were assisted by three basic health family units in the city of Recife, Brazil. Data were collected through a structured interview on socioeconomic conditions, maternal styles of feeding the child, and evaluation of infant feeding practices. The food styles were classified as responsive, authoritative, and passive, according to the adapted form of Carvalhaes, Perosa and Silveira of 2009. The frequency of food intake was calculated for six food groups (1. Bread and cereals; 2. Fruits and vegetables; 3. Meat, eggs, and beans; 4. Milk and dairy products; 5. Sugars, sweets, and fats; 6. Industrialized food). Children’s anthropometry and body mass index by age were classified into Z-score according to the World Health Organization Standard Curves, 2006. Results Adolescent mothers began complementary feeding more frequently before the seventh month (.=0,02), presented less responsive (.=0.04) and more authoritarian feeding styles (.=0.01), and their children received more foods with sugars, oils, and fats (.=0.02), and less meat, eggs, and beans (.=0.06) than the children of adult mothers. Conclusion Adolescent mothers adopt less responsive eating styles and offer more inadequate complementary feeding for their infants.

Predicting weight status in Chinese pre-school children: independent and interactive effects of caregiver types and feeding styles.

To investigate caregiver type as a potential moderating effect in the relationship between feeding style and weight status among Chinese pre-school children. Cross-sectional data collected with the Caregiver's Feeding Style Questionnaire (CFSQ), anthropometric data, childcare and sociodemographic information. Shenyang, China. Caregiver-child dyads (n 857). After controlling for confounders, authoritarian feeding style was associated with a 0·30 lower BMI Z-score. Fathers as primary caregivers were related to lower BMI Z-score (β=-0·66), while grandparents as main caregivers were associated with higher BMI Z-score (β=0·66) after adjusting for covariates. Mothers buffered the relationship between authoritarian (β=0·50, 95 % CI 0·04, 0·95) or indulgent (β=-0·60, 95 % CI -1·06, -0·14) feeding styles and BMI Z-score. Grandparents strengthened the trend that indulgent feeding style was related to higher BMI Z-score (β=0·54, 95 % CI 0·01, 1·08). The results of independent and interactive effects of specific feeding styles and caregiver types had different influences on child BMI Z-scores. Longitudinal investigations are needed to evaluate the effect of fathers' and grandparents' feeding on their children's nutrition and weight status.

Do Parents with the Authoritative Feeding Style have Better Food Parenting Practices?

The authoritative feeding style has been proposed to be the most desirable feeding style; however, few studies investigate how these parents may differ in their feeding behaviors compared to parents with other feeding styles. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between parental feeding styles and food parenting practices. Parents of children aged 3 to 7 years of age (n=148) completed surveys to measure feeding style (Child Feeding Questionnaire) and food parenting practices (Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire). Linear regressions were used to test the study aim with the authoritative feeding style serving as the reference and parent race, ethnicity, and income as covariates. It was found that parents with the authoritarian (B = −.23, p = .05; B = .42, p = .05) and uninvolved feeding style (B = −.27, p = .05; B = −.51, p = .05) encouraged balance and variety and provided healthy foods in the home significantly less than parents with authoritative feeding style. Additionally, authoritarian feeding style (B = .74, p = .02) used food as a reward significantly more than parents with the authoritative feeding style. These results indicate that while parents with the authoritative feeding style reported better food parenting practices compared to parents with authoritarian or involved feeding styles, there were no differences in other important feeding behaviors, such as modeling, restriction, or pressure. Therefore, all parents, regardless of feeding style, may benefit from interventions aimed at improving feeding behaviors.Support or Funding InformationThis project was funded by Illinois State University's College of Applied Science and Technology University Research Grant.

Is Nutrition Assistance Program Participation or Food Security Status Associated with Parental Feeding Style or Child Body Mass Index

This pilot study including parents of 3‐5 year old children investigated 1) the association of household food security status with parental feeding style, 2) the association of nutrition assistance program participation with parental feeding style and, 3) the association of nutrition assistance program participation and/or food security status with child body mass index (BMI). Low income parent dyads (n=52) participated in individual interviews including the United States Department of Agriculture's Household Food Security Questionnaire, Caregiver Feeding Style, and a demographic questionnaire. Height and weight were measured and BMI z‐scores (child) were calculated. Linear and multinomial logistic regressions were conducted. Food security scores of mothers and fathers were not associated with parental feeding style. Father's participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was associated with an increased likelihood of having an uninvolved feeding style (B=.90, OR=6.0, p=0.05). While participation in nutrition assistance or education programs was not directly associated with child weight, mothers' authoritarian feeding style and participation in SNAP (β=.44, p=0.03) was positively associated with children's BMI z‐score. These data suggest that the associations among food security status, parental feeding style, and participation in nutrition assistance programs are complex but potentially associated with childhood obesity risk.

Predictors of Head Start and Child-Care Providers' Healthful and Controlling Feeding Practices with Children Aged 2 to 5 Years

Few child-care providers meet the national recommendations for healthful feeding practices. Effective strategies are needed to address this disparity, but research examining influences on child-care providers' feeding practices is limited. The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of child-care providers' healthful and controlling feeding practices for children aged 2 to 5 years. In this cross-sectional study, child-care providers (n=118) from 24 center-based programs (six Head Start [HS], 11 Child and Adult Care Food Program [CACFP] funded, and seven non-CACFP) completed self-administered surveys during 2011-2012. Multilevel multivariate linear regression models were used to predict seven feeding practices. Working in an HS center predicted teaching children about nutrition and modeling healthy eating; that may be attributed to the HS performance standards that require HS providers to practice healthful feeding. Providers who reported being concerned about children's weight, being responsible for feeding children, and had an authoritarian feeding style were more likely to pressure children to eat, restrict intake, and control food intake to decrease or maintain children's weight. Providers with nonwhite race, who were trying to lose weight, who perceived nutrition as important in their own diet, and who had a greater number of nutrition training opportunities were more likely to use restrictive feeding practices. These findings suggest that individual- and child-care–level factors, particularly provider race, education, training, feeding attitudes and styles, and the child-care context may influence providers' feeding practices with young children. Considering these factors when developing interventions for providers to meet feeding practice recommendations may add to the efficacy of childhood obesity prevention programs.

Abstract P257: Feeding Styles and Childhood Obesity in Rural Appalachia

Researching mechanisms for treating childhood obesity is necessary for preventing associated health risks. One mechanism of change may be parental feeding styles, which may promote overweight in children. Permissive feeding style (high responsiveness, low demands) may result in child’s eating behaviors of eating quickly or being a picky eater. Authoritarian feeding style (high demands, low responsiveness) may result in children having control issues around food. Authoritative feeding styles (high demands and responsiveness) are characterized by appropriate eating behaviors. The goal of this study is to explore health outcomes of parenting styles. Procedure Data was collected via questionnaire from 2008-2010 CARDIAC Kindergarten, 2nd, 5th and 8th grade parents after participating in a statewide school-based health screening.1252 parents participated out of 8135 (15.4%) eligible parents. Parenting style questions resulted in 4 parenting styles: disengaged (6.8%), permissive (32.7%), authoritarian (4.2%), and authoritative (56.2%). Parent and Child Nutrition items were developed from USDA guidelines that include daily intake of fruits and vegetable subgroups of dark green, orange, legumes, and other vegetables. CDC epi info software calculated age and gender adjusted Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles. Results 50.6% of the students were female, 93.8% Caucasian, 30.3% overweight or obese. Parenting style was associated with parent (p = .003), and child nutrition (p = .002); Figure 1. Specifically, authoritative differed from disengaged (p = .02 for parent, p = .01 for child) and permissive styles (p = .06 for parent, p = 0.01 for child). There was an effect of mean rank for BMI percentile across parenting styles (p = .047); children with permissive parents tended to be heavier than those with authoritative (p = .043). Discussion Improved outcomes among authoritative parents compared to permissive parents may suggest a venue for intervening on changeable parental behaviors in order to improve child health outcomes.

External influences on children’s self-served portions at meals

Large portions promote intake among children, but little is known about the external influences of the eating environment on children's self-selected portion sizes. This research experimentally tested effects of the amount of entree available and serving spoon size on children's self-served entree portions and intakes at dinner meals. A secondary objective was to identify child and family predictors of self-served entree portion sizes. A 2 × 2 within-subjects design was used, in which the amount of a pasta entree available for self-serving (275 vs 550 g) and the serving spoon size (teaspoon vs tablespoon) were systematically varied. The serving bowl size and portion sizes of all other foods offered were held constant across conditions. Conditions were spaced 1 week apart and randomly assigned. Weighed self-served entree portions and food intakes as well as demographics, maternal feeding styles and child/maternal anthropometrics were measured. Participants were 60 ethnically diverse children aged 4-6 years and their mothers. Mixed models revealed that children served themselves 40% more entree when the amount available was doubled (P<0.0001) and 13% more when the serving spoon size was tripled (P<0.05). Serving spoon size and the amount of entree available indirectly influenced children's intake, with larger self-served portion sizes related to greater entree intakes (P<0.0001). Greater self-served portions and energy intakes at the meal were seen among those children whose mothers reported indulgent or authoritarian feeding styles (P<0.001). Children's self-served portion sizes at meals are influenced by size-related facets of the eating environment and reflect maternal feeding styles.

Revisiting a neglected construct: parenting styles in a child-feeding context

The extent to which general parenting represents feeding styles in ethnically diverse populations is not well documented. Existing measures of child feeding have focused almost exclusively on specific behaviors of European-American parents. A valid and reliable instrument was developed to identify feeding styles in parents of low-income minority preschoolers. Two hundred thirty-one parents (130 Hispanic; 101 African-American) completed questionnaires on feeding practices and parenting styles. Based on self-reported feeding behavior, parents were assigned to four feeding styles (authoritarian, n=84; authoritative, n=34; indulgent, n=80; and uninvolved, n=33). Convergent validity was evaluated by relating feeding styles to independent measures of general parenting and authoritarian feeding practices. Authoritarian feeding styles were associated with higher levels of general parental control and authoritarian feeding practices. Alternatively, authoritative feeding styles were associated with higher levels of general parental responsiveness. Among the two permissive feeding styles, Hispanic parents were more likely to be indulgent, whereas African-American parents were more likely to be uninvolved. Further, differences were found among the feeding styles on an independent measure of child's body mass index.

The differential effects of authoritative and authoritarian feeding styles on eating behaviors

The differential effects of authoritative and authoritarian feeding styles on eating behaviors