Research article summary
Literature review summary
Summarizing the relevant research related to the interconnection between eating disorders and parenting styles, the authors point to the general scientific interest for connections between types of parent-child bonds and overall psychological and mental implications for the child. The authors state that the existing research on long-term psychological implications of parental bonding style is predominantly retrospective, while the body of research shows the connection between overprotective parenting (especially from mothers) with eating disorders and particularly anorexia, bulimia and drive for thinness (Lobera et al., 2011, p. 729).
At the same time, the reviewed research shows a positive association between low parental care and manifestation of pathological eating disorder symptoms such as weight phobia, body image problems, avoidance etc. The authors also summarize findings of the studies related to anorexia nervosa stating that this eating disorder is typically connected with low levels of parental (especially maternal) care and high levels of control. The overall tendency traced in the literature review is the interconnection between deviations from the ‘adequate’ parenting style and bonding, maladaptive coping strategies used by children and eating disorders.
Research findings summary
With the research methodology including multiple scales and inventories analyzing perceived parenting style and symptoms of eating disorders in adult participants, the findings are generally supportive of the tendencies delineated by the previous research. The key research question was aimed at examination of the parental bonding profile typical for patients with eating disorders with relation to perceived parenting style during their first 16 years and perceived current parenting style. Although the research includes a number of variables and criteria defining the impact of parenting on eating disorders, the key finding of the study is that low care-high control parenting style is more likely to lead to eating disorders (particularly, anorexia and bulimia nervosa) and concomitant issues such as body dissatisfaction, obsession with weight loss and control, drive towards thinness and binge eating. However, the finding which is of the greatest relevance for the present essay is that mothering style is even more influential than fathering style in relation to eating disorders among children.
Elements of the motherhood discourse
At first sight, the article seems rather neutral in presentation of typical myths of motherhood, yet the distinctive allusions to the contemporary motherhood discourse could be traced as one takes a closer look at the study’s argument and reported findings. Although it is overall parenting style that is mentioned in the title of the study, the role of mothering has been described as the more important one and the one producing a greater impact on the child’s eating behaviors and disorders.
Probably, the brightest instance of the motherhood discourse found in the article is that the researchers relate eating disorders and many other psychological, emotional and mental implications to the lack of care on the side of the mother, i.e., the ‘low care’ component in the most ‘dangerous’ mothering style.
At the same time, the stereotypical component of the contemporary motherhood discourse, i.e., intensive care for the child, is expressed in the reported tendency of negative coping strategies (for instance, avoidance) as a result of low maternal care in combination with high maternal control. In other words, the study perpetuates the discourse implying that it is ‘normal’ and healthy for mothers to be caring and devoted to their children.
Moreover, the authors summarize the research findings stating that perceived affectionless control style of mothering results in more frequent problem-focused disengagement and avoidance (Jáuregui Lobera et al., 2011). In other words, the authors promote the idea that mothers are expected to demonstrate their constant selfless care and affection for their children in order to raise them properly and facilitate their healthy development.
Another instance proving that mothers (in the contemporary discourse) are not expected to abandon or neglect their children (that is, be caring) appears as the authors outline the connection between the current mothering style (neglectful) and such negative coping strategy as social withdrawal (Jáuregui Lobera et al., 2011, p. 734). Finally, the reported association between high levels of control (paired with low care levels) and eating disorders hints at moderate disciplinary attitude which should be practiced by the mother. Similar findings promoting the contemporary motherhood discourse are found in the more recent study that shows that authoritative mothering style (in fact, the one involving the traits of a ‘perfect’ mother) is the most favorable and least likely to result in eating disorders and maladaptive weight control behaviors in adolescents (Zubatsky et al., 2015).
Challenging the discourse
Although there is ample scientific evidence supporting the claim that particular mothering styles are likely to increase the threat of eating disorder development in their children; the present article contributes to promotion of the motherhood discourse by overlooking other factors that can cause eating disorders.
As many other risk factors are not mentioned in the research – and in many other researches of parenting/mothering styles, violation of the current ‘perfect mothering standards’ could be perceived as the key risk factor and, thus, application of mothering style that differ in some traits from the one perpetuated by the discourse could be condemned and disapproved of even more.
Basically, there is a wide range of risk factors unrelated to mothering styles and it might include media influences, current beauty standards, genetic predisposition (in some cases), socioeconomic status (Striegel-Moore & Bulik, 2007). In fact, there is ample evidence of the impact produced by media and culture on eating behaviors, and preoccupation with thinness (which has been the major beauty standard in the recent years) is one of the key risk factors that might affect the child’s (or teenager’s) vulnerable psyche and body image (Holland & Fitch, 2011, p. 357).
Perpetuation of the dominant motherhood discourse
As the article under analysis does not take many environmental and biological factors increasing the risk of eating disorders, especially in adolescents (which are the target group of the study, too), the authors happen to perpetuate the dominant discourse of caring-selfless-sacrificial-affectionate motherhood.
The research describes a number of associations and tendencies that shift the focus to the role of mothering in the child’s eating behavior and, by this, make other very important risk factors simply fade away. In other words, mothers reading the research findings provided by these authors – with no other significant factors being mentioned – might not just internalize the ‘healthy’ and desirable mothering method but also blame themselves in case if their children happen to develop one of eating disorders.
If the summary of this research is given to a person unaware of current cultural and sociological tendencies, it might produce an undesirable impact by perpetuating the inflexible myth of motherhood. Therefore, for the article to be truly objective, the authors should have acknowledged the significant impact of other factors, especially that of cultural influences, on eating disorders in children and adolescents.
Reference List
Holland, M., & Fitch, S. K. (2011). Insights into Child Development, 8th edition. CAT Publishing.
Jáuregui Lobera, I., Bolaños Ríos, P., & Garrido Casals, O. (2011). Parenting styles and eating disorders. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 18(8), 728-735. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2850.2011.01723.x
Striegel-Moore, R. H., & Bulik, C. M. (2007). Risk factors for eating disorders. American Psychologist, 62(3), 181-198. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.62.3.181
Zubatsky, M., Berge, J., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2015). Longitudinal associations between parenting style and adolescent disordered eating behaviors. Eating and Weight Disorders : EWD, 20(2), 187.
