Megan H Pesch1, Kristoffer S Berlin2, Robert J Cesaro3, Tiffany M Rybak4, Alison L Miller5, Katherine L Rosenblum6, Julie C Lumeng7. 1. Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, 300 N. Ingalls Street, 1109 SE, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5456, USA. Electronic address: pesch@umich.edu. 2. Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, and Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 50 N. Dunlap, Rm 461R, Memphis, TN 38103, USA. Electronic address: ksberlin@memphis.edu. 3. University of Michigan Medical School, M4101 Medical Science Building I - C Wing, 1301 Catherine Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5624, USA. Electronic address: rcesaro@med.umich.edu. 4. Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, 400 Innovation Dr #202, Memphis, TN 38152, USA. Electronic address: tmrybak@memphis.edu. 5. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, and Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan. 3718 SPH Building I, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA. Electronic address: alimill@umich.edu. 6. Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Michigan, and Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan. 4250 Plymouth Road, Rachel Upjohn Building, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. Electronic address: katier@umich.edu. 7. Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, and Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 300 N. Ingalls Street, 10th Floor, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5406, USA. Electronic address: jlumeng@umich.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Family mealtimes are often marked by parent-child conflict, which may arise when children's eating behaviors do not match parental expectations. Little is known about how children respond to parents' comments to discourage eating. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the likelihood of a child taking a bite following a maternal statement to discourage child intake. METHODS: 50 mother-child dyads (mean child age 71.8 months) participated in a laboratory eating task with cupcakes. Video recordings were reliably coded for maternal statements to discourage child intake (varying by domains of affective valence and directness) and child bites. Multilevel sequential analysis was performed to determine differences in pairs' antecedent statement to discourage child intake and a child's discouraged bite. RESULTS: Children were significantly more likely to be non-compliant by taking a bite following negative (vs. positive), indirect (vs. direct) and negative direct (vs. positive direct) statements to discourage child intake (that is, a "discouraged bite"). There were no differences in children taking discouraged bites following a negative indirect vs. positive indirect statement to discourage child intake. CONCLUSIONS: Children may be more apt to comply with their mother's mealtime commands if they are delivered with a direct approach and a positive affective valence. Future work should examine the longitudinal effects of using positive direct mealtime commands on children's food intake, weight gain and emotional health.
BACKGROUND: Family mealtimes are often marked by parent-child conflict, which may arise when children's eating behaviors do not match parental expectations. Little is known about how children respond to parents' comments to discourage eating. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the likelihood of a child taking a bite following a maternal statement to discourage child intake. METHODS: 50 mother-child dyads (mean child age 71.8 months) participated in a laboratory eating task with cupcakes. Video recordings were reliably coded for maternal statements to discourage child intake (varying by domains of affective valence and directness) and child bites. Multilevel sequential analysis was performed to determine differences in pairs' antecedent statement to discourage child intake and a child's discouraged bite. RESULTS:Children were significantly more likely to be non-compliant by taking a bite following negative (vs. positive), indirect (vs. direct) and negative direct (vs. positive direct) statements to discourage child intake (that is, a "discouraged bite"). There were no differences in children taking discouraged bites following a negative indirect vs. positive indirect statement to discourage child intake. CONCLUSIONS:Children may be more apt to comply with their mother's mealtime commands if they are delivered with a direct approach and a positive affective valence. Future work should examine the longitudinal effects of using positive direct mealtime commands on children's food intake, weight gain and emotional health.
Authors: L J Stark; E Jelalian; S W Powers; M M Mulvihill; L C Opipari; A Bowen; I Harwood; M A Passero; A Lapey; M Light; M F Hovell Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2000-02 Impact factor: 4.406
Authors: Alison N Goulding; Julie C Lumeng; Katherine L Rosenblum; Yu-Pu Chen; Niko Kaciroti; Alison L Miller Journal: J Nutr Educ Behav Date: 2015-05-21 Impact factor: 3.045
Authors: Megan H Pesch; Danielle P Appugliese; Niko Kaciroti; Katherine L Rosenblum; Alison L Miller; Julie C Lumeng Journal: Appetite Date: 2016-02-26 Impact factor: 3.868
Authors: Kyung E Rhee; Kerri N Boutelle; Elissa Jelalian; Richard Barnes; Susan Dickstein; Rena R Wing Journal: Eat Weight Disord Date: 2014-11-05 Impact factor: 4.652
Authors: Megan H Pesch; Alison L Miller; Danielle P Appugliese; Katherine L Rosenblum; Julie C Lumeng Journal: Appetite Date: 2016-04-14 Impact factor: 3.868
Authors: Megan H Pesch; Danielle P Appugliese; Alison L Miller; Katherine L Rosenblum; Julie C Lumeng; Katherine W Bauer Journal: Eat Behav Date: 2018-08-23