Hispanic maternal influences on daughters' unhealthy weight control behaviors: The role of maternal acculturation, adiposity, and body image disturbances.
This study examined whether maternal adiposity, acculturation, and perceived-ideal body size discrepancy for daughters were associated with daughters' engagement in unhealthy weight control behaviors. A total of 97 Hispanic mother-daughter dyads completed surveys, rated a figure scale, and had their height, weight, and adiposity assessed. Mothers (Mage=39.00, SD=6.20 years) selected larger ideal body sizes for their daughters (Mage=11.12, SD=1.53 years) than their daughters selected for themselves. Mothers had a smaller difference between their perception of their daughters' body size and ideal body size compared to the difference between their daughters' selection of their perceived and ideal body size. More acculturated mothers and those mothers with larger waist-to-hip ratios were more likely to have daughters who engaged in unhealthy weight control behaviors. These findings highlight the relevant role that maternal acculturation and adiposity may have in influencing daughters' unhealthy weight control behaviors.
Department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5029, United States. Electronic address: nolvera@central.uh.edu.
Norma
N
Olvera
2M Research Services, LLC, Arlington, TX 76010, United States. Electronic address: mmatthewsewald@gmail.com.
Molly R
MR
Matthews-Ewald
Department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5029, United States. Electronic address: kendall.mccarley@gmail.com.
Kendall
K
McCarley
Department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5029, United States. Electronic address: SchererR@uhd.edu.
Rhonda
R
Scherer
Department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5029, United States. Electronic address: amheysquierdo@uh.edu.
Alexandria
A
Posada
D000069:Acculturation; D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*
Body image; Early adolescents; Hispanic; Obesity; Unhealthy weight control practices