title: Correspondence between maternal determination of child fullness and young children's self-determined fullness level: results from a standardized laboratory protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined maternal understanding and acceptance of young children's ability to self-assess fullness using a mixed-methods approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty low-income mothers of 5- to 7-year-olds participated in this semistructured laboratory study. After consumption of a buffet dinner meal, mothers were asked to indicate their perception of their child's fullness level, and children were also asked to self-assess their fullness level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five of the 20 mothers in the study were initially correct in their assessment of their child's level of fullness. Half of the incorrect mothers were willing to change their rating when informed that the child's fullness rating was different than her own.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Semistructured interview results provide suggestive evidence that some mothers believe they understand their child's fullness level better than their children. Given that mothers have the potential to override children's ability to self-regulate eating behavior, teaching mothers to understand and appreciate young children's ability to self-regulate eating is an important area for intervention.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Educational Psychology, Univeristy of Houston , Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Frankel
authors.forename: Debbe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: Sheryl O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology*; D012527:Satiation / Q000502:physiology*