Does

Parenting Style Play a Role on a Child’s Eating Behavior?

Ruchi Shah, Dietetic Intern, University of Saint Joseph
INTRODUCTION OBJECTIVE DISCUSSION
The primary objective is to to determine whether parenting styles, authoritative versus authoritarian Given the small number of participants in the study it was not
• Parent-child interactions have a powerful influence on a child’s styles, and parent demographics play a role in a child’s eating behavior.
surprising to find a lack of significant results on the question at hand.
development for food preferences, intake patterns, diet quality,
Further research is warranted with a larger population to examine the
growth, and weight status.1
relationship between parenting style and a child’s eating behaviors.
• Authoritative Feeding Style - more responsive to the child’s eating This study showed:
cues and behaviors.1 RESULTS
• the number of children played a role in parenting style and child
• Authoritarian Feeding Style - greater restrictions on child’s eating Although the main objective of the study was to determine a significance between parenting eating behaviors
and use pressure and coercion to encourage feeding.1 style and child eating behaviors, among the 42 participants, no significant association with • lack of diet restrictions plays a role in a child’s eating behaviors
child eating behaviors were found .
On the other hand, specific demographics played a role in the type of parenting style and • age of parent played a role in the child’s eating behaviors where
METHODS child eating behaviors as shown below: parents
Parents with two children were significantly more likely to use authoritarian parenting style
• Survey and consent form provided to pediatric office in Bakersfield, (p<0.001)
CA Parents with two children were more likely to have children with bad child eating behaviors
(p=0.047). IMPLICATIONS
• 42 parents of patients between ages 2 and 5 participated
Parents with three children were more likely to have children with good child eating
• Consent forms were required for survey to be considered behaviors (p=0.047).
• Children ages two to five are strongly influenced by their home life,
• Survey consisted of 35 questions regarding demographics, parenting Parents with unrestricted diets were more likely to have children with good child eating
behaviors (p=0.042). where things they learn at this age tend to last a lifetime.1
style, and child eating behaviors
Parent aged between 35 – 39 years were associated with good child eating behaviors. • Their behaviors are created through the specific parenting styles,
• Office manager collected completed consent forms and surveys, the parent-child interactions, and the habits they pick up from
Parents age 30-34 years, were associated with bad child eating behaviors (p=0.006).
separated and scanned, and sent them to me their parents.1
• Without participants knowing, questions were categorized as one of All other results revealed a non-significant relationship among the tested variables for • Eating habits tend to be an influence behavior, picked up from a
the following: authoritarian parenting style, authoritative parenting parenting style and child eating behavior. young age. 1 Many disease states like obesity and diabetes are
style, good child eating habits, or bad child eating habits related to eating patterns that start from a young age. 3,4
• SPSS was used to perform Chi Square analysis My Child Loves Trying New Foods • Understanding why children have the eating habits they do and
14 determining what parenting styles are associated with unhealthy
SURVEY 12
eating habits will help future generations to follow certain
parenting styles to promote healthier eating habits in children.
Number of Participants

Please answer the following information regarding your background by circling 10 • Continuing research will enhance our understanding on optimizing
the answer that applies best to you:
8 the environment for a child’s dietary intake.
Age: 18 to 19 years 20 to 24 years 25 to 29 years 30 to 34 years 35 to
39 years 40 to 44 years 45 to 49 years 50 years & above. N/A Yes
6
Gender: male female other
Income: <$25,000 $25,000-$50,000 $50,000-$75,000 $75,000-$100,000 4
No REFERENCES
>$100,000 N/A
2 1. Savage JS, Fisher JO, Birch LL. Parental influence on eating behavior:
Highest level of education: some high school no diploma high school or Conception to adolescence. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics.
equivalent (GED) undergraduate degree. graduate degree or higher 2007;35(1):22-34.
0
education none of the above 25 – 29 30 – 34 35 – 39 40 – 44 45 – 49
Diet restrictions: vegan vegetarian pescatarian gluten-free lactose-free
other none
Age Group (Years) 2. Bergmeier HJ, Skouteris H, Haycraft E, Haines J, Hooley M. Reported
and observed controlling feeding practices predict child eating behavior
Number of children: one two three four five six or more after 12 months. J Nutr. 2015;145(6):1311-1316.
Please read each statement and circle yes or no If this represents you and your Answered Yes: My Child Eats More When I Feed Him/Her
child 3. Rollins BY, Loken E, Savage JS, Birch LL. Maternal controlling feeding
I encourage my children to explore new foods: Yes No 0%
practices and girls’ inhibitory control interact to predict changes in BMI
I like my child to make his/her own food choices: Yes No 10% and eating in the absence of hunger from 5 to 7 y. Am J Clin Nutr.
My child lets me know me when he/she is hungry: Yes No
2014;99(2):249-257.
32% one
I have a set routine for meals (i.e, meals are at a certain time): Yes No
4. Couch SC, Glanz K, Zhou C, Sallis JF, Saelens BE. Home food
I encourage my child to try something on his/her own before I help: Yes two environment in relation to children’s diet quality and weight status.
No three Journal of the Academy of Nutrition andtetics. 2014;114(10):1579. e1.
I try not to change the rules at home very often: Yes No
four
My child has 4-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day: Yes No
five
Half of my child’s plate is filled with fruits and vegetables: Yes No
I have a hard time enforcing rules with my child: Yes No 58%
My child eats a variety of foods: Yes No
My child understands that certain foods (i.e., cake) cannot be eaten all the
time: Yes No