Are controlling parental behaviors during feeding and play moderated by child weight?

Claire Farrow*, Laura Houldcroft, Jackie Blissett

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Published conference outputChapter

Abstract

Background. This research explores whether the relationships between maternal behaviors in feeding and non-feeding interactions are moderated by child weight. Method. Observations of 28 mothers feeding and playing with their 1 year olds were coded to assess intrusiveness and strong control. Children were weighed at ages 6 months and 1 year. Results. There was a significant interaction between child weight at 6 months and maternal intrusiveness during play at 1 year in predicting feeding intrusiveness at 1 year. Maternal intrusiveness in play and feeding observations were significantly correlated at 1 year for children who were relatively average or underweight. However, when children were relatively overweight, maternal intrusiveness in feeding and play interactions were not significantly related. Conclusions. Maternal intrusiveness appears to be a characteristic of a general parental style for relatively healthy or underweight children. Mothers of heavier infants were not observed to use consistent levels of intrusiveness between the contexts of feeding and play.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInfant Feeding
Subtitle of host publicationParental Perceptions, Behaviors, and Health Effects
EditorsJohn Worobey
PublisherNova Science Publishers Inc
Pages155-166
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)9781634841238
ISBN (Print)9781634841221
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Publication series

NamePediatrics - Laboratory and Clinical Research
PublisherNova Science

Keywords

  • Children
  • Control
  • Eating and feeding disorders
  • Parenting
  • Play
  • Weight

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