Poster #148 - Stressed Out and Fed Up: Stress and Maternal Feeding Behaviors

• In Event: 3-206 - Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: PS 13 Section - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Integrative Statement

Parents play an integral role in the development of eating behaviors in early childhood such that eating behaviors in childhood influence eating behaviors in adulthood (Birch & Fisher, 1998; Chong, et al., 2017). Furthermore, stress affects parenting behaviors (El-Behadli et al., 2015) and eating behaviors (Stone & Brownell, 1994; Yau & Potenza, 2013). While correlational studies have found that maternal stress is related to insensitive feeding practices (Tovar et al., 2012; Mitchell et al., 2009; Francis et al., 2001), to date, no study has demonstrated this in an experimental context. Executive functioning (EF) is a protective factor of stress as it has been associated with self-regulation and self-control (Hofmann, Schmeichel, & Baddely, 2012). EF moderates stress reactivity (Critchley, 2005), is associated with maternal sensitivity (Gonzalez, Jenkins, Steiner, & Fleming, 2012), and regulates eating behaviors (Fagundo et al., 2012; Kelly, Bulik, & Mazzeo, 2013).

The current study investigated the effects of stress on maternal feeding behaviors in an experimental setting, and examined the protective role of maternal executive functioning. Participants were 79 dyads of mothers (Mage=32.973 years, SDage=5.652) and children (Mage=42.543 months, SDage=5.619). We had 42 girls and 37 boys. Of the 79 mothers, 45.5% identified themselves as Hispanic/Latina. Mothers were randomly assigned to the experimental or control condition of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) to induce a high or low stress level respectively. While they were preparing for the speech task of the TSST, a plate of snacks, with unhealthy and healthy options was offered. Mother-child interactions during this period were videotaped, and observationally coded with a coding scheme developed for this study. Mothers also completed the CBS trials, a set of 12 computerized tasks that measures EF. We found a significant difference in pre-TSST scores (M=6.286, SD=2.07) and post-TSST scores (M=7.455, SD=3.019) for negative affect , t(76)= -3.64, p =0.001, indicating that the TSST effectively induced stress in our participants. Results showed a significant main effect of stress on controlling maternal feeding behaviors after controlling for child age, F(1,72)=5.162, p=.026. The mean of controlling feeding behaviors in the low stress condition was 2.814 (SE=0.708), while the mean of controlling feeding behaviors in the high stress condition was 5.109 (SE=0.713). Maternal executive functioning moderated these effects: the effect of stress was only significant at low EF levels, b=.299 (SE = .100), p <.005, 29.89% CI [.10, .500]. The effect of stress on controlling feeding behaviors did not hold at medium and high levels of EF.

This study is the first to causally investigate the effect of maternal stress on feeding behaviors. Mothers in the high stress condition exhibited more controlling feeding behaviors than mothers in the low stress condition; this relationship was moderated by executive functioning. When maternal executive functioning is low, mothers in the high stress condition exhibit significantly more controlling feeding behaviors, however, the relationship between stress and controlling feeding behaviors is non-existent when maternal executive functioning is high. These findings suggest potential factors that can be taken into account in the treatment of diet-related illnesses.

Authors

• Shruthi Venkatesh, Claremont McKenna College
  Presenting Author

• Isabel Mendiola, Claremont McKenna College
  Non-Presenting Author

• Patricia A Smiley, Pomona Colege
  Non-Presenting Author

• Stacey N Doan, Claremont Mckenna College
  Non-Presenting Author