title: Body size and parenting in eating disorders: a comparative study of the attitudes of mothers towards their children.
abstract: The present study aimed to redress the paucity of available information on the effects of eating disorders on patients' parenting capabilities and their children's development. Ten previous and/or current eating-disordered mothers and their children and 10 normal mothers and their offspring completed several rating scales and participated in a semistructured interview. The results indicated that both groups and their children displayed similar levels of satisfaction with their body sizes and perceived their current weights and shape with a similar degree of accuracy. These groups were, however, found to differ on the types of feeding employed during their children's infancy with the eating-disordered mothers choosing to schedule feed their babies, whereas the control mothers fed on demand. At least half the children of eating-disordered mothers were also described as suffering from emotional difficulties. Recommendations are made for increased availability of supportive and instructive facilities for these mothers, particularly during their nursing period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: le Grange
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001824:Body Constitution; D001828:Body Image; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000523:psychology; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment