Association between childhood feeding problems and maternal eating disorder: role of the family environment.
BACKGROUND
There is a strong relationship between feeding problems in childhood and eating disorder in the mother. The mechanisms responsible for this relationship are not understood.


OBJECTIVE
To elucidate family-environmental factors that could mediate this association.


METHODS
A general population sample of children with feeding problems (n=35), other problems (shyness, fears or behavioural problems; n=58), or no problems (n=23) was identified. The mental state of their mothers was evaluated, including an assessment of current and past eating disorder. Video recordings were made in the families' homes of a mealtime and of the mothers and children participating in a standardised exploratory task.


RESULTS
Two family-environmental variables significantly distinguished the children with feeding problems from the other two groups: 'mealtime disorganisation' and 'maternal strong control and disharmony'. Path analysis revealed the importance of these two environmental variables in mediating the association between child and maternal disturbance.


CONCLUSIONS
The degree of mealtime disorganisation and the level of maternal strong control and disharmony mediate the association between maternal eating disorder and child feeding disturbance.
Department of Psychology, University of Reading, UK. P.J.Cooper@reading.ac.uk
Peter J
PJ
Cooper
Elizabeth
E
Whelan
Matthew
M
Woolgar
Julian
J
Morrell
Lynne
L
Murray
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005192:Family Health; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic