The relationship between adult attachment orientation and child self-regulation in eating: The mediating role of persuasive-controlling feeding practices. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Powell, Elisabeth M.; Frankel, Leslie A.; Umemura, Tomo; Hazen, Nancy
• Is Part Of: Eating behaviors. Volume 26(2017)
• Page Start: 121
• Page End: 128
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: Adult attachment orientation -- Parent child relations -- Feeding practices -- Controlling feeding -- Child eating behavior -- Appetite regulation; Eating disorders -- Periodicals; Compulsive eating -- Periodicals; Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.8526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2017.02.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-0153

Abstract

Abstract: The present study examines the hypothesis that adult attachment orientation, specifically anxious attachment, is related to children's diminished ability to self-regulate their food intake, and that this relationship is mediated by parents' persuasive-controlling feeding practices. Two hundred and sixty five mothers and fathers of preschool children completed online questionnaires that included measures of Adult Attachment Orientation, Parental Persuasive-Controlling Feeding Practices, and Child Self-Regulation of Eating. Structural equation modeling revealed a significant relationship between parental anxious attachment and child self-regulatory abilities, which was fully mediated by parental persuasive-controlling feeding. Also as predicted, parents' avoidant attachment was found to be unrelated to persuasive-controlling feeding and child self-regulated eating. Findings suggest that parents with an anxious attachment orientation may be more likely than other parents to try to use persuasive techniques to control their children's food intake, which may impair children's ability to regulate their food intake, increasing their obesity risk. Implications for intervention are discussed. Highlights: Parent attachment orientation impacts feeding practices and child eating. Parent attachment anxiety is related to lower child self-regulation in eating. That relationship is fully mediated by use of persuasive-controlling feeding practices. Anxiously attached parents use persuasive-controlling feeding practices.