Maternal psychological control moderates the relations between appearance-related peer pressures, controlled regulation, and restrained eating

• In Event: Poster Session 01
  In Poster Session: PS 01 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Emerging adulthood, a developmental period between the ages 18-25 characterized by increased autonomy and decision-making, is a high-risk period for unhealthy eating behaviors (Nelson et al., 2008). Emerging adults are vulnerable to peer influence, and negative peer pressure can lead to higher engagement in risk behaviors (Keyzers et al., 2020). Sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, including appearance-related peer pressures (ARPP), are predictive of unhealthy eating habits in youth (Schaefer et al., 2017). ARPP can influence one’s motivation to regulate eating. For example, controlled regulation of eating behaviors (CREB) entails the motivation to regulate eating due to external factors (e.g. interactions with others about one’s eating or appearance) or an internalized sense of shame about eating behaviors (Pelletier et al., 2004). CREB is associated with unhealthy eating behaviors such as cognitive restraint (Mask & Blanchard, 2011), which involves an active effort to limit food intake (Stunkard & Messick, 1985). However, emerging adults are also influenced by their parents. For example, parental use of psychological control can make children more susceptible to peer pressure (Chan & Chan, 2013) and thus, can interact with ARPP to exacerbate its influence on CREB.
The purpose of the present study was to examine whether controlled regulation of eating behaviors (CREB) mediates the association between ARPP and cognitive restraint of food intake in emerging adults. In addition, the moderating roles of maternal versus paternal dependency-oriented (DPC) and achievement-oriented psychological control (APC) in the relation between ARPP and CREB were explored.
Participants included 263 emerging adults (72% Cis Female; 18-25-year-olds; Mage=20.18, SDage=1.69; 38% White, 34% Asian, 11% Black, 9% Latinx, 8% Other). Participants reported their ARPP (Schaefer et al., 2017), CREB (Pelletier et al., 2004), cognitive restraint (Stunkard, 1985), and perceived parental DPC and APC (Soenens et al., 2010).
After controlling for participants’ age, gender and body-mass-index, moderated mediation analysis indicated that ARPP was positively and indirectly associated with cognitive restraint through CREB (Figure 1). Further, this association was moderated by maternal DPC (Figure 2), but not by paternal DPC, maternal APC or paternal APC. Specifically, ARPP positively predicted CREB, which, in turn, positively predicted cognitive restraint at only mean (ab=1.05, 95% CI=[0.32, 2.02]) and higher levels of maternal DPC (ab=1.83, 95% CI=[0.80, 3.08]).
These results are in line with previous studies that found mothers’ psychological control showed greater influence on susceptibility to peer pressure than fathers’ control (Chan & Chan, 2013). Emerging adults with higher maternal DPC may be more likely to move towards their peers. When facing appearance-related peer pressures, emerging adults may be more likely to engage in controlled regulation because they want to obtain peer reassurance and/or to avoid an internalized sense of shame. Since APC is related to personal standards and achievements, emerging adults may engage in controlled regulation because they fail to meet their own standards and expectations of appearances but not due to pressures from their peers. Future interventions can aim to decrease maternal dependency-oriented psychological control to alleviate the risk of appearance-related peer pressures on emerging adults’ regulation of eating.

Authors

• Salih Barman, University of Maryland - Baltimore County
  Presenting Author

• Dymond Elliott, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  Non-Presenting Author

• Bumo Zhang, University of Maryland - Baltimore County
  Non-Presenting Author

• Charissa S. L. Cheah, University of Maryland - Baltimore County
  Non-Presenting Author