Effects of emotion socialization and parenting style on eating disorder symptomology

Abstract

The prevalence of eating disorders has been increasing across the last few decades (Hoek and van Hoeken, 2003), yet the reason behind this increase is not clear. Previous research has examined the influences of family dynamics on eating related behavior and it has been suggested that authoritative parenting practices may be related to lower incidences of disordered eating patterns (Berge, Wall, Loth, & Neumark-Sztainer, 2010; Enten & Golan, 2009; Haycraft & Blisset, 2010). However, there are likely other family dynamic variables that may influence the development of eating disorders. One other variable that may potentially influence disordered eating patterns is the type of emotion socialization strategies parents utilize with their children. The purpose of the present study was to examine parenting style and emotion socialization variables in relationship to eating disorder symptomology in a sample of 170 adult participants categorized into a clinical or non-clinical group. These participants completed inventories assessing their perceptions of their caregivers' parenting style and emotion socialization strategies as they were growing up and assessing their current eating behaviors. Results suggested initial evidence for a relationship between an authoritative parenting style and lower eating disorder symptomology as well as a relationship between reward emotion socialization strategies and lower eating disorder symptomology. Additionally, negative emotion socialization strategies such as punishing, neglecting, and magnifying, were related to higher levels of disordered eating symptomology. Also, when comparing the clinical and non-clinical groups, the clinical group reported higher levels of authoritarian parenting practices as well as higher levels of punishing and neglecting emotion socialization strategies than the non-clinical group. This study adds to the literature regarding potential family dynamic variables that may influence the development of eating disorders among adolescents and young adults. Implications of the research findings include developing family therapy strategies for the prevention and treatment of eating-related behaviors and emotion regulation among children and adolescents.