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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #290695
Title: Exploring the effects of maternal eating patterns on maternal feeding and child eating

Author
item MORRISON, HALLEY - Washington State University
item POWER, THOMAS - Washington State University
item NICKLAS, THERESA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item HUGHES, SHERYL - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Appetite
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/26/2012
Publication Date: 1/2/2013
Citation: Morrison, H., Power, T.G., Nicklas, T.A., Hughes, S.O. 2013. Exploring the effects of maternal eating patterns on maternal feeding and child eating. Appetite. 63:77-83.

Interpretive Summary: Recent research has demonstrated the importance of maternal feeding practices and children’s eating behavior in the development of childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to examine the relations between maternal and child eating patterns, and to examine the degree to which these relationships were mediated through maternal feeding practices. Maternal external eating (eating in response to outside stimuli, not internal hunger/thirst cues) was positively correlated with two child eating scores: picky eating and desire to eat. Analyses showed that external eating in mothers was related to picky eating in children through high maternal control in feeding; the relationship between mothers’ external eating and desire to eat in children was not mediated through maternal control. Picky eating and desire to eat in children were related to emotional eating in mothers as well. By better understanding the complex relationships between maternal eating patterns, feeding practices, and child eating patterns, we can better know how to educate and create positive feeding/eating environments that may potentially reduce rates of overweight and obesity among children.

Technical Abstract: Recent research has demonstrated the importance of maternal feeding practices and children’s eating behavior in the development of childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to examine the relations between maternal and child eating patterns, and to examine the degree to which these relationships were mediated through maternal feeding practices. Two hundred and twenty-two low-income mothers and their preschool children participated. About half of the families were African American and half were Latino. Mothers completed questionnaires assessing maternal eating patterns, maternal feeding practices, and children’s eating patterns. Maternal external eating (eating in response to outside stimuli, not internal hunger/thirst cues) was positively correlated with two child eating scores: picky eating and desire to eat. Mediational analyses showed that external eating in mothers was related to picky eating in children through high maternal control in feeding; the relationship between mothers’external eating and desire to eat in children was not mediated through maternal control. Picky eating and desire to eat in children were related to emotional eating in mothers as well. The implications of these results for understanding the development of childhood obesity are considered.