“I’m not eating that!”: Assessing Parent-Child Interactions During Mealtime Conflicts

• In Event: Poster Session 11
  In Poster Session: PS 11 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Family meals are associated with positive child outcomes physically, socially, and emotionally (Fiese & Marjinsky, 1999). While structural characteristics play a role in fostering these outcomes (Hammons & Fiese, 2011), the quality of interactions at the meal do too (Fiese & Schwartz, 2008; Neumark-Sztainer et al., 2004).
One interactional process drawn from attachment theory is goal-corrected partnerships (GCP; Bowlby, 1982). In early childhood, children become more autonomous and self-assert across scenarios. Caregivers’ responses may include remaining sensitive to children’s goals, while limit-setting as necessary. As dyads negotiate a balance between the needs of children and caregivers simultaneously, GCP emerge (Ainsworth, 1985; Kobak et al., 1993).
Family meals provide an opportunity to observe social exchanges (Fiese et al., 2006), including negotiation of conflicting goals, navigation of emotional challenges, and resolution of interpersonal conflicts. During family meals, caregivers’ goals (e.g., having child finish meal) and children’s desire to assert autonomy (e.g., types and amount of food eaten) may clash (Fiese et al., 2006; Harding et al., 2013). Caregivers provide direction to children during mealtimes when their goals are inappropriate or risky (Nucci et al., 1996), a key component to successful GCP (Dwyer, 2005).
While family mealtimes have been studied in the context of health-related outcomes, no studies have assessed the presence of GCP. The current aim was to examine parent-child interactions during family mealtime to code aspects of GCP. A coding scheme developed to assess GCP (Mudrick, 2016) was adapted for the mealtime context. Characteristics of children’s self-asserting (i.e., attempting to meet goal), parental limit-setting (i.e., attempts to limit or restrict), and the presence and qualities of give and take negotiations (i.e., a back-and-forth exchange about the resolution) were examined.
A subsample of 24 families was drawn from a larger study (n=100) on family mealtime interactions of 3- to 5-year-old children (M=4.33). Parents video recorded their home dinners for one week. One dinner for each family was randomly selected for GCP coding. Mealtime interactions for the remaining 76 families will be coded.
Preliminary analyses (Table 1) showed that almost all children (n=23) self-asserted during the meal. In turn, mothers and fathers set limits on children’s goal attainment, often using authoritarian practices (e.g., well-regulated strictness), and less often through authoritative practices (e.g., focusing on the thoughts and feelings of the child). Mother-child give and take interactions occurred more often (M= 1.50, SD = 1.54, Range = 0-6) than father-child interactions (M=0.74, SD= .99, Range = 0-3). Sustained back-and-forth interactions characteristic of advanced GCP similarly occurred more often with mothers (M= 0.77, SD= 1.02) than fathers (M= 0.32, SD= 0.48; see Table 2 for characteristics).
Initial results indicate mealtime interactions involve children asserting autonomy and parents placing limits. However, negotiation occurred less frequently, particularly with fathers. Results provide an understanding of how parents and young children interact around conflicting goals during meals. Evidence of negotiation and conflict resolution processes influences our knowledge about parent-child interaction during social situations, potentially improving understandings of how children will respond in other situations requiring negotiation.

Authors

• Hannah Mudrick, Penn State Harrisburg
  Presenting Author

• Molly Pylypciw, University of New Mexico
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jackie A Nelson, University of Texas at Dallas
  Non-Presenting Author

• Shayla C Holub, University of Texas at Dallas
  Non-Presenting Author