TY - JOUR
T1 - Association between childhood feeding problems and maternal eating disorder
T2 - Role of the family environment
AU - Cooper, Peter J.
AU - Whelan, Elizabeth
AU - Woolgar, Matthew
AU - Morrell, Julian
AU - Murray, Lynne
PY - 2004/3/1
Y1 - 2004/3/1
N2 - 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. Aims: To elucidate family-environmental factors that could mediate this association. Method: 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.
AB - 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. Aims: To elucidate family-environmental factors that could mediate this association. Method: 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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1542721568&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1192/bjp.184.3.210
DO - 10.1192/bjp.184.3.210
M3 - Article
C2 - 14990518
AN - SCOPUS:1542721568
SN - 0007-1250
VL - 184
SP - 210
EP - 215
JO - British Journal of Psychiatry
JF - British Journal of Psychiatry
IS - MAR.
ER -
