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Associations between parental criticism and dysregulated eating in adolescents with and without loss of control: findings from ecological momentary assessment
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Associations between parental criticism and dysregulated eating in adolescents with and without loss of control: findings from ecological momentary assessment

Claire M. Trainor
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00001694
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Abstract

Overweight children--Psychology Parent and child--Psychological aspects Parenting--Attitudes Eating disorders--Psychological aspects
Adolescents with overweight/obesity and binge spectrum eating disorders often experience dysregulated eating behaviors such as overeating, loss of control eating (LOC), and dietary restraint. Understanding maintaining mechanisms, particularly family factors, of these behaviors is essential. Parental criticism has been linked to eating pathology in adolescents, but its momentary association with dysregulated eating behaviors has not been studied. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between momentary criticism and dysregulated eating behaviors in adolescents with overweight and obesity. Thirty-seven adolescents (aged 14-18) with overweight and obesity (BMI% >85.0) and their parents participated in this study, completing seven days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Participants responded to seven surveys a day throughout the EMA period, assessing overeating, LOC, dietary restraint, and criticism. Results revealed relatively low levels of criticism within the sample and low within-subjects concordance between parents and adolescents regarding perception of criticism. Adolescents who reported LOC at any point in the EMA time period were more likely to endorse overeating, restraint, and both adolescent- and caregiver-reported criticism than those without LOC. Additionally, adolescent overeating at one time point, but not LOC or dietary restraint, was associated with elevated likelihood of parental criticism at subsequent timepoints, which was moderated by EMA LOC status; individuals with LOC were more likely to report parental criticism, while individuals without LOC were less likely to report parental criticism. Furthermore, adolescent-reported criticism was linked to increased likelihood of engaging in dietary restraint at subsequent timepoints. No other significant findings emerged. This study is the first to examine momentary associations between parental criticism and eating behaviors in adolescents with overweight and obesity. This study highlights the importance of understanding momentary criticism and its relationship with dysregulated eating behaviors in adolescents with overweight and obesity. The findings suggest that adolescent overeating is associated with subsequent parental criticism, particularly for those with LOC. Moreover, parental criticism is associated with subsequent restraint. However, more research is needed to fully understand the role of momentary criticism in dysregulated eating behaviors, and future directions for this research are discussed.

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