Body size and parenting in eating disorders: A comparative study of the attitudes of mothers towards their children

✍ Scribed by Evans, Justine ;Grange, Daniel Le

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 711 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0276-3478
• DOI: 10.1002/1098-108x(199507)18:1<39::aid-eat2260180105>3.0.co;2-i

✦ Synopsis

The present study aimed to redress the paucity of available information on the effects of eating disorders on patients' parenting capabilities and their children's development. Ten previous andlor current eating-disordered mothers and their children and 10 normal mothers and their offspring completed several rating scales and participated in a semistructured interview. The results indicated that both groups and their children displayed similar levels of satisfaction with their body sizes and perceived their current weights and shape with a similar degree of accuracy. These groups were, however, found to differ on the types of feeding employed during their children's infancy with the eating-disordered mothers choosing to schedule feed their babies, whereas the control mothers fed on demand. At least half the children of eating-disordered mothers were also described as suffering from emotional difficulties. Recommendations are made for increased availability of supportive and instructive facilities for these mothers, particularly during their nursing period. 0 7995 by john Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Empirical investigations in the field of eating disorders have to date mainly focused their efforts on ascertaining the etiology, prevalence, and impact of these disorders as they pertain to adolescent sufferers and their family of origin (Woodside & Shekter-Wolfson, 1990). Current research has begun to investigate the life-long effects of eating pathology, noting its influence on sexuality, marriage, fertility, and, in particular, pregnancy. Studies investigating pregnancy in women with active eating pathologies have noted that the majority of cases manage to acquire recommended weight gain and temporarily change eating habits with renewed commitment to eating healthily (