The association of food parenting practices with adolescents' dietary behaviors differ by youth gender, but not by parent gender

Authors: DESLIPPE, ALYSHA - University Of British Columbia; O'CONNOR, TERESIA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); BRUSSONI, MARIANA - University Of British Columbia; MÂSSE, LOUISE - University Of British Columbia

Submitted to: Appetite
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/2021
Publication Date: 2/1/2022
Citation: Deslippe, A.L., O'Connor, T.M., Brussoni, M., Masse, L.C. 2022. The association of food parenting practices with adolescents' dietary behaviors differ by youth gender, but not by parent gender. Appetite. 169. Article 105846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105846.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105846

Interpretive Summary: Parents' use of food parenting practices can influence their adolescent's eating behaviors, either directly or through the youth's attitudes, such as their self-efficacy, internal motivation or external motivation. It is believed that mothers and fathers may have different influences on their adolescent's behaviors and attitudes, and that parental influences may differ by the gender of the adolescent, however little data is available in this area. This study investigated the direct and indirect associations between mother's or father's food parenting practices with their adolescent's dietary behaviors (fruits/vegetables and sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) intake) and whether these associations differed by the adolescent's or parent's gender. To address this, we analyzed data from the 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating Study established by the National Cancer Institute. There were no differences found for the influence of mothers versus fathers. However, the associations between food parenting practices and adolescents' dietary intake differed by adolescents' gender. Direct associations were found for boys and girls for parental use of structured food parenting practices and adolescent self-efficacy with their dietary behaviors; controlling food parenting practices with SSB intake; as well as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation with fruit/vegetable intake. For boys only, there was a direct associations between autonomy supportive food parenting practices and fruit/vegetable intake and intrinsic motivations and SSB consumption. Additional analyses supported these trends. Adolescent boys and girls appear to be affected differently by some food parenting practices and accounting for these differences may contribute to more effective dietary interventions.

Technical Abstract: Parents affect their adolescents' dietary behaviors through food parenting practices both directly and indirectly through adolescents' cognitive factors (self-efficacy, intrinsic or extrinsic motivation). However, it is not known if mothers and fathers use of different food parenting practices similarly influences boys' and girls' dietary behaviors. This study investigated the direct and indirect associations between food parenting practices and adolescents' dietary behaviors (fruits/vegetables and sugar sweetened beverage (SSB)) and whether these associations differed by adolescents' or parents’ gender.Data were obtained from the 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating Study. A sample of 1633 American adolescent-parent dyads (73.7% mothers; 50.4% girls) completed the self-reported tools. Models were stratified by adolescents’ gender and differences by parent gender were explored as a moderator.Differences did not emerge based on gender of parents. However, associations between food parenting practices and adolescents' dietary behaviors differed by adolescents' gender. Direct associations between autonomy supportive food parenting practices and fruit/vegetable intake (Beta=0.18, p<.05) and intrinsic motivations and SSB consumption (Beta=-0.13, p<.05) were detected only among boys. Direct associations, regardless of gender, were also found including structured food parenting practices and adolescent self-efficacy with their dietary behaviors; controlling food parenting practices with SSB intake; as well as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation with fruit/vegetable intake. Findings from the mediation analyses supported these trends with structured parenting practices displaying similar associations on boys' and girls' dietary behaviors were controlling and autonomy supportive parenting practices have significant indirect associations on boys' dietary behaviors through motivation pathways, but not girls. Adolescent boys and girls appear to be affected differently by food parenting practices and accounting for these differences may contribute to more effective dietary interventions.