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The association of parental characteristics and psychological problems in obese youngsters

International Journal of Obesity volume 30, pages 1766–1774 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

The aim of the present study was to examine to what extent parental psychological characteristics and parental behavior are related to psychological problems in obese youngsters.

Research methods:

Data were collected from 196 families having an overweight youngster (range 10–16 years old) (mean body mass index (BMI)=31.2; s.d.=5.3) seeking weight-loss treatment and compared with data from normal weight samples. Behavior problems were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist; the Child version of the Eating Disorder Examination was used to assess eating disorder psychopathology. Parental psychopathology was measured using the Symptom Checklist-90; parenting behavior was assessed with the Ghent Parental Behavior Scale.

Results:

Parental psychopathology was prevalent in 59.6% of mothers and 35.7% of fathers. Youngsters exceeding the cutoff for problem behavior ranged between 41.4 and 53.1%. Children's problem behavior was most associated with psychopathology in the mother (r=0.40 for Internalizing and r=0.37 for Externalizing; both P<0.01). The research findings further revealed that the effects of maternal psychopathology were partly mediated by a specific form of parenting behavior, namely Inconsistent discipline, although the effect was stronger for Externalizing behavior (explained variance: 10%) than for Internalizing behavior (explained variance: 4%). No evidence was found for a mediator effect from parenting behavior on the eating disorder symptoms of the obese youngsters. However, several direct relations emerged, suggesting a negative association between a child's eating disorder symptoms and Positive parenting behavior by the mother (r=−0.20 for Eating concern; r=−0.18 for Restraint eating; r=−0.16 for Shape concern; all P<0.05) as well as by the father (r=−0.25 for Eating concern; r=−0.25 for Weight concern; both P<0.01; r=−0.21 for Shape concern; P<0.05).

Discussion:

Parental characteristics were associated with psychological problems in obese youngsters, not only in a direct way but also indirectly. The effects were partly mediated by a particular ineffective parenting style, namely inconsistent discipline on the part of the mother. Pediatric obesity treatments should focus more on parenting behaviors and parental characteristics.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a doctoral fellowship awarded to the first author by the Special Research Fund, Ghent University and by a doctoral fellowship awarded to the fourth author by the fund for Scientific Research – Flanders (Belgium). We thank the Medical Pediatric Center ‘Zeepreventorium’ staff for participating in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    V Decaluwé, C Braet, E Moens & L Van Vlierberghe

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  1. V Decaluwé
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  2. C Braet
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  3. E Moens
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  4. L Van Vlierberghe
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Correspondence to C Braet.

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Decaluwé, V., Braet, C., Moens, E. et al. The association of parental characteristics and psychological problems in obese youngsters. Int J Obes 30, 1766–1774 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803336

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