The relationship between mothers’ eating restraint and their children’s attitudes and behaviors

Abstract

Dieting practices and beliefs of fourth-grade children and their mothers were studied. The children’s self-esteem, locus of control, and eating restraint were also assessed. Fifty children and their mothers were administered an eating restraint scale. The children were also administered self-esteem and locus of control scales. Although the children’s eating restraint, self-esteem, and locus of control were not related, the mothers’ eating restraint was found to be positively related to their daughters’ eating restraint and internality scores. No relationship was found between the mothers’ eating restraint and their sons’ eating restraint and internality scores. The results are discussed in terms of same-sex identification processes. © 1993, Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.