Abstract
Objective:
The aim of the present study was to examine to what extent parental psychological characteristics and parental behavior are related to psychological problems in obese youngsters.
Research methods:
Data were collected from 196 families having an overweight youngster (range 10–16 years old) (mean body mass index (BMI)=31.2; s.d.=5.3) seeking weight-loss treatment and compared with data from normal weight samples. Behavior problems were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist; the Child version of the Eating Disorder Examination was used to assess eating disorder psychopathology. Parental psychopathology was measured using the Symptom Checklist-90; parenting behavior was assessed with the Ghent Parental Behavior Scale.
Results:
Parental psychopathology was prevalent in 59.6% of mothers and 35.7% of fathers. Youngsters exceeding the cutoff for problem behavior ranged between 41.4 and 53.1%. Children's problem behavior was most associated with psychopathology in the mother (r=0.40 for Internalizing and r=0.37 for Externalizing; both P<0.01). The research findings further revealed that the effects of maternal psychopathology were partly mediated by a specific form of parenting behavior, namely Inconsistent discipline, although the effect was stronger for Externalizing behavior (explained variance: 10%) than for Internalizing behavior (explained variance: 4%). No evidence was found for a mediator effect from parenting behavior on the eating disorder symptoms of the obese youngsters. However, several direct relations emerged, suggesting a negative association between a child's eating disorder symptoms and Positive parenting behavior by the mother (r=−0.20 for Eating concern; r=−0.18 for Restraint eating; r=−0.16 for Shape concern; all P<0.05) as well as by the father (r=−0.25 for Eating concern; r=−0.25 for Weight concern; both P<0.01; r=−0.21 for Shape concern; P<0.05).
Discussion:
Parental characteristics were associated with psychological problems in obese youngsters, not only in a direct way but also indirectly. The effects were partly mediated by a particular ineffective parenting style, namely inconsistent discipline on the part of the mother. Pediatric obesity treatments should focus more on parenting behaviors and parental characteristics.
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Acknowledgements
This study was funded by a doctoral fellowship awarded to the first author by the Special Research Fund, Ghent University and by a doctoral fellowship awarded to the fourth author by the fund for Scientific Research – Flanders (Belgium). We thank the Medical Pediatric Center ‘Zeepreventorium’ staff for participating in this study.
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Decaluwé, V., Braet, C., Moens, E. et al. The association of parental characteristics and psychological problems in obese youngsters. Int J Obes 30, 1766–1774 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803336
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803336
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