title: Fundamental constructs in food parenting practices: a content map to guide future research.
abstract: Although research shows that "food parenting practices" can impact children's diet and eating habits, current understanding of the impact of specific practices has been limited by inconsistencies in terminology and definitions. This article represents a critical appraisal of food parenting practices, including clear terminology and definitions, by a working group of content experts. The result of this effort was the development of a content map for future research that presents 3 overarching, higher-order food parenting constructs--coercive control, structure, and autonomy support--as well as specific practice subconstructs. Coercive control includes restriction, pressure to eat, threats and bribes, and using food to control negative emotions. Structure includes rules and limits, limited/guided choices, monitoring, meal- and snacktime routines, modeling, food availability and accessibility, food preparation, and unstructured practices. Autonomy support includes nutrition education, child involvement, encouragement, praise, reasoning, and negotiation. Literature on each construct is reviewed, and directions for future research are offered. Clear terminology and definitions should facilitate cross-study comparisons and minimize conflicting findings resulting from previous discrepancies in construct operationalization.
authors.affiliation: A.E. Vaughn and D.S. Ward are with the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. D.S. Ward is with the Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. J.O. Fisher is with the Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. M.S. Faith is with the Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, Graduate School of Education, University of Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. S.O. Hughes and T.M. O'Connor are with the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. S.P.J. Kremers is with the Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. D.R. Musher-Eizenman is with the Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. H. Patrick is with LiveHealthier, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA. T.G. Power is with the Department of Human Development, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA. avaughn@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Amber E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Vaughn
authors.affiliation: A.E. Vaughn and D.S. Ward are with the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. D.S. Ward is with the Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. J.O. Fisher is with the Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. M.S. Faith is with the Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, Graduate School of Education, University of Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. S.O. Hughes and T.M. O'Connor are with the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. S.P.J. Kremers is with the Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. D.R. Musher-Eizenman is with the Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. H. Patrick is with LiveHealthier, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA. T.G. Power is with the Department of Human Development, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Dianne S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: A.E. Vaughn and D.S. Ward are with the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. D.S. Ward is with the Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. J.O. Fisher is with the Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. M.S. Faith is with the Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, Graduate School of Education, University of Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. S.O. Hughes and T.M. O'Connor are with the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. S.P.J. Kremers is with the Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. D.R. Musher-Eizenman is with the Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. H. Patrick is with LiveHealthier, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA. T.G. Power is with the Department of Human Development, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: A.E. Vaughn and D.S. Ward are with the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. D.S. Ward is with the Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. J.O. Fisher is with the Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. M.S. Faith is with the Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, Graduate School of Education, University of Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. S.O. Hughes and T.M. O'Connor are with the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. S.P.J. Kremers is with the Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. D.R. Musher-Eizenman is with the Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. H. Patrick is with LiveHealthier, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA. T.G. Power is with the Department of Human Development, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Myles S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Faith
authors.affiliation: A.E. Vaughn and D.S. Ward are with the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. D.S. Ward is with the Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. J.O. Fisher is with the Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. M.S. Faith is with the Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, Graduate School of Education, University of Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. S.O. Hughes and T.M. O'Connor are with the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. S.P.J. Kremers is with the Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. D.R. Musher-Eizenman is with the Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. H. Patrick is with LiveHealthier, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA. T.G. Power is with the Department of Human Development, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Sheryl O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: A.E. Vaughn and D.S. Ward are with the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. D.S. Ward is with the Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. J.O. Fisher is with the Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. M.S. Faith is with the Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, Graduate School of Education, University of Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. S.O. Hughes and T.M. O'Connor are with the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. S.P.J. Kremers is with the Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. D.R. Musher-Eizenman is with the Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. H. Patrick is with LiveHealthier, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA. T.G. Power is with the Department of Human Development, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Stef P J
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kremers
authors.affiliation: A.E. Vaughn and D.S. Ward are with the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. D.S. Ward is with the Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. J.O. Fisher is with the Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. M.S. Faith is with the Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, Graduate School of Education, University of Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. S.O. Hughes and T.M. O'Connor are with the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. S.P.J. Kremers is with the Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. D.R. Musher-Eizenman is with the Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. H. Patrick is with LiveHealthier, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA. T.G. Power is with the Department of Human Development, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Dara R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Musher-Eizenman
authors.affiliation: A.E. Vaughn and D.S. Ward are with the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. D.S. Ward is with the Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. J.O. Fisher is with the Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. M.S. Faith is with the Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, Graduate School of Education, University of Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. S.O. Hughes and T.M. O'Connor are with the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. S.P.J. Kremers is with the Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. D.R. Musher-Eizenman is with the Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. H. Patrick is with LiveHealthier, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA. T.G. Power is with the Department of Human Development, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Teresia M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: A.E. Vaughn and D.S. Ward are with the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. D.S. Ward is with the Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. J.O. Fisher is with the Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. M.S. Faith is with the Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, Graduate School of Education, University of Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. S.O. Hughes and T.M. O'Connor are with the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. S.P.J. Kremers is with the Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. D.R. Musher-Eizenman is with the Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. H. Patrick is with LiveHealthier, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA. T.G. Power is with the Department of Human Development, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.affiliation: A.E. Vaughn and D.S. Ward are with the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. D.S. Ward is with the Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. J.O. Fisher is with the Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. M.S. Faith is with the Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, Graduate School of Education, University of Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. S.O. Hughes and T.M. O'Connor are with the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. S.P.J. Kremers is with the Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. D.R. Musher-Eizenman is with the Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. H. Patrick is with LiveHealthier, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA. T.G. Power is with the Department of Human Development, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Power
mesh_terms: D003068:Coercion; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D026684:Personal Autonomy
keywords: children; eating behaviors; feeding practices; obesity.