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. 2022 Mar 24;10(1):43.
doi: 10.1186/s40337-022-00561-6.

Exploring associations between positive and negative valanced parental comments about adolescents' bodies and eating and eating problems: a community study

Lucy M Dahill  1   2   3 , Natalie M V Morrison  4   5   6 , Haider Mannan  4   5 , Deborah Mitchison  4   5   6   7 , Stephen Touyz  8 , Kay Bussey  7 , Nora Trompeter  7 , Phillipa Hay  4   5   6   9
Affiliations

Exploring associations between positive and negative valanced parental comments about adolescents' bodies and eating and eating problems: a community study

Lucy M Dahill et al. J Eat Disord. .

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a time of rapid emotional and physical development when foundational self-concepts (including beliefs about one's weight and shape) are established. Parents are key influencers of adolescent beliefs and behaviours. This study aimed to investigate associations between perceived positive and negative parental comments on weight/shape and eating, with sons' and daughters' psychological distress and eating disorder cognitions (EDCs).

Methods: A representative mixed-sex sample of 2204 Australian adolescents (12-19 years) from the EveryBODY Study completed an online survey exploring eating behaviours, psychological wellbeing and experiences of parental comments regarding weight, shape and eating behaviours.

Results: Correlation analyses revealed that adolescents' reports of perceived positive parental comments on shape/weight were significantly associated with lower psychological distress and EDCs only for daughters. All perceived negative parental comments on shape/weight or eating were associated with greater psychological distress and EDCs for both sons and daughters. In the final model of the regression analysis, only perceived parental negative shape/weight and maternal negative eating comments, adolescent stage and biological sex were significantly associated with EDCs. When known contributors such as BMI percentile and psychological distress were included in the regression model, adolescent stage and perceived negative paternal comments were no longer significantly associated with EDCs.

Conclusions: Overall, results show perceived negative comments were associated with poorer adolescent mental health, both their specific EDCs and general distress. Findings highlight the importance of raising awareness of potential negative impacts within family systems of comments around weight/shape and eating in these key formative years. Trial Registration The study was approved by the Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC 5201600312) and the New South Wales Department of Education.

Keywords: Body image concerns; Eating disorder; Family; Mental health; Psychological distress; Teasing; Teenagers; Weight-related behaviours.

Plain language summary

Adolescence is a time of rapid emotional and physical development when beliefs about one’s weight and shape are established. Parents are key influencers of adolescent beliefs and behaviours. This study aimed to consider associations between perceived positive and negative parental comments on weight/shape and eating, with sons’ and daughters’ psychological distress and behaviours associated with eating disorders. We found all perceived negative comments from either parent were associated with poorer adolescent mental health, both specific to behaviours associated with eating disorders and general distress. When we considered the strength of the relationship between parental comments and different influences such as biological sex, developmental stage, BMI percentile and psychological distress, we expected to find that BMI percentile and psychological distress would influenced the findings, and they did. When we considered the relationship with them included, perceived maternal negative comments continued to have a negative influence on behaviours related to eating disorders. Therefore, our findings highlight the importance of raising awareness of potential negative impacts within family systems of comments around weight/shape and eating in these key formative years.

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Conflict of interest statement

Professor Hay receives/has received sessional fees and lecture fees from the Australian Medical Council, Therapeutic Guidelines publication, and HETI (formerly New South Wales Institute of Psychiatry) and royalties/honoraria from Hogrefe and Huber, McGraw Hill Education, and Blackwell Scientific Publications, Biomed Central and PlosMedicine and she has received research grants from the NHMRC and ARC. She is Chair of the National Eating Disorders Collaboration Steering Committee in Australia (2019–) and was a Member of the ICD-11 Working Group for Eating Disorders (2012–2018) and was Chair Clinical Practice Guidelines Project Working Group (Eating Disorders) of RANZCP (2012–2015). She has consulted for and prepared a report under contract for Takeda (formerly Shire) Pharmaceuticals in regards to Binge Eating Disorder (July 2017) and is a consultant to Takeda Pharmaceuticals. All views in this paper are her own. Stephen Touyz has received royalties from Hogrefe and Huber, Mc Graw Hill Education and Routledge for the publication of books/chapters. He is the Chair of the Shire (Australian) BED Advisory Committee and has received travel grants, research grants and honoraria from Shire for commissioned reports. ST is a member of the Editorial Board of this journal. He is a consultant to Weight Watchers. Dr Mitchison is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship (Grant No. 1158276). PH, ST are Editors in Chief and DM Associate Editor of the Journal of Eating Disorders Editorial Board. All other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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