Associations between feeding coparenting and food parenting practices: An observational study

Sabrina Douglas; Kathryn Walton; Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan; Serena Tam; Jess Haines

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2023.107088

Associations between feeding coparenting and food parenting practices: An observational study

Appetite. 2023 Oct 18:191:107088. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.107088. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Sabrina Douglas¹, Kathryn Walton², Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan³, Serena Tam⁴, Jess Haines⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario, N1G2W1, Canada. Electronic address: sdougl02@uoguelph.ca.
² Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario, N1G2W1, Canada. Electronic address: kwalton@uoguelph.ca.
³ Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 281 W Lane Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. Electronic address: schoppe-sullivan.1@osu.edu.
⁴ Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario, N1G2W1, Canada. Electronic address: tam.serena00@gmail.com.
⁵ Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario, N1G2W1, Canada. Electronic address: jhaines@uoguelph.ca.

PMID: 37858762
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.107088

Abstract

Feeding coparenting, defined as the way that parents work together and support each other in food parenting, is an emerging area of research. Understanding how feeding coparenting may influence the practices parents use when feeding children can help to inform strategies to support positive food parenting. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between observed feeding coparenting and observed food parenting practices among 68 families with children 18 months to 5 years of age. Videos of mealtimes were used to assess observed feeding coparenting and food parenting practices. Observed feeding coparenting was coded using the Observed Feeding Coparenting Tool and observed food parenting practices were coded using the Family Mealtime Coding System. Linear regressions were used to examine associations between observed feeding coparenting and observed food parenting practices. Higher total feeding coparenting scores were associated with less frequent verbal restriction from mothers, more positive comments about food from fathers, and better mealtime tone. Higher supportive feeding was associated with less frequent verbal restrictions from mothers, more frequent physical pressure to eat from fathers, and more positive comments from fathers about food. Higher meal enjoyment among fathers was associated with better mealtime tone. Results of this study highlight the importance of assessing feeding coparenting in studies exploring food parenting and family meals, and the potential value of developing interventions that aim to support parents in working together at mealtime and in feeding.

Keywords: Family; Feeding coparenting; Feeding practices; Mealtime; Observation.