Mother-Daughter Weight-talk Mediates Relationship between Mother’s Efficacy and Daughter’s Body Appreciation

• In Event: Poster Session 05
  In Poster Session: PS 05 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Problem

Positive body image predicts adaptive outcomes, including less drive for thinness and lower eating disorder symptomatology (Andrew, Tiggemann, & Clark, 2015). Although body image is multiply determined, mothers in particular impact daughters’ body esteem, via role-modeling and direct feedback to daughters concerning weight and shape (Cooley et al., 2008). To date, however, no study has examined mothers’ perceived efficacy to inculcate positive body image in their daughters. Given that general parenting efficacy predicts broad dimensions of parenting and child outcomes (Sanders & Woolley, 2005), mothers’ efficacy for positive body image socialization might predict mother-daughter interactions concerning weight, as well as daughter body esteem. In this study, we examined whether the expected positive relation between maternal efficacy and daughter positive body image was mediated by a dyadic behavior, mother-daughter weight talk.

Procedure

Sixty-six mothers and their daughters (M age = 11.91 years, SD age = 0.854) were recruited from the community to complete questionnaires. Mothers reported their efficacy to help daughters with body image (e.g., “I am confident I can guide my daughter towards a positive body image.”) and mother-daughter weight-related conversations (e.g., “How often do you discuss your daughter’s weight with her?”). Daughters reported their positive body image utilizing the Body Appreciation Scale (Avalos, Tylka, & Wood-Barcalow, 2005).

Results

All variables were significantly correlated at p < .05, including maternal efficacy and daughter positive body image (r = .29; see Table 1). Our first model included a direct effect of mother’s efficacy on daughter’s positive body image as well as the indirect effect involving the mediator variable “mother-daughter weight talk.” The direct effect was not significant once the mediator was included, so this path was removed, giving us the final model (see Figure 1; χ2 = 2.727, df = 1, p = .10). The indirect path was significant (95% CI = [.02, .23], p = .03). As depicted, mother’s efficacy significantly predicted mother-daughter weight talk, which in turn significantly predicted daughter’s positive body image.

Conclusions/Implications

Model testing indicated support for a mediated pattern of relations. The research literature tends to focus on mothers’ potential negative influences, but this study connects a positive mother variable with a positive daughter outcome. These results indicate that interventions related to mothers’ efficacy could help improve positive body image in their daughters. In addition, future research could examine promotive mediators, specifically what behaviors efficacious mothers engage in beyond weight talk.

Authors

• Jessica Hocking, University of Notre Dame
  Presenting Author

• Dawn M. Gondoli, University of Notre Dame
  Non-Presenting Author

• Erin E. Hillard, University of Notre Dame
  Non-Presenting Author