The study “Parenting styles and eating disorder pathology” was conducted by R.S. Enten and M. Golan and published in 2009. The purpose of their study was to find out whether there is a relationship between parenting styles and symptoms of eating disorders in their offspring. The parenting styles they distinguished were permissive, authoritarian and authoritative, terms coined by Baumrind (1966). Parents with a permissive parenting style tend to have a laissez faire attitude, they do not set rules but give the child a lot of freedom and are responsive. In contrast to this, parents who have an authoritarian parenting style want their child to obey and are less responsive for the needs of the child. The authoritative parenting style is characterized by valuing both “autonomous self-will and disciplined conformity” (Baumrind, 1966, p. 891).That is, authoritative parents set clear rules and are responsive to the child at the same time. It is seen as the most adaptive parenting style as it was associated with “positive outcomes in child development across gender, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds (Davis, as cited in Enten & Golan, 2009, p.784). The participants of the study at hand were recruited from an Isreali treatment center for eating disorders. Parents were asked to fill out the Parental Authority Questionnaire investigating if they belong to the authoritative, authoritarian or permissive parenting style. Their children had to fill out the Eating Disorder Inventory and the Eating Attitude Test. In addition it was recorded whether the patients recovered from their symptoms for at least one year. Enten and Golan (2009) found that high scores on the authoritative parenting style correlated with low scores on body dissatisfacti... ... middle of paper ... ...), 887-907. Blissett, J. J., Meyer, C. C., & Haycraft, E. E. (2011). The role of parenting in the relationship between childhood eating problems and broader behaviour problems. Child: Care, Health And Development, 37(5), 642-648. Davis, C. L., Delamater, A. M., Shaw, K. H., La Greca, A. M., Eidson, M. S., Perez-Rodriguez, J. E., & Nemery, R. (2001). Parenting styles, regimen adherence, and glycemic control in 4- to 10-year-old children with diabetes. Journal Of Pediatric Psychology, 26(2), 123-129. Enten, R. S., & Golan, M. (2009). Parenting styles and eating disorder pathology. Appetite, 52(3), 784-787. Haycraft, E., & Blissett, J. (2010). Eating disorder symptoms and parenting styles. Appetite, 54(1), 221-224. Lobera, I., Ríos, P., & Casals, O. (2011). Parenting styles and eating disorders. Journal Of Psychiatric And Mental Health Nursing, 18(8), 728-735.
Parenting styles have been widely defined by Baumrind into three categories, authoritative, authoritarian and permissive. Parenting styles can be defined as a pattern of attitudes in how parents choose to express and communicate with their children. These styles are categorized based on the level of nurturance, parental control and level of responsiveness (Dwairy, 2004). Authoritative style exhibits high levels of demand, responsiveness and nurturance; authoritarian style exhibits high levels of demand but low levels of responsiveness, permissive style exhibits low levels of demand but high in responsiveness and nurturance (Dwairy, 2004). These parenting styles have been proposed to have a significant impact on a child’s development as well as academic achievement and psychological well-being. Children reared by authoritative parents are stated to have the highest levels of academic achievement, self-esteem, emotional adjustment and well-being according to Baumrind’s category of styles (Dwairy, 2004). However, these three categories are based on Western samples and have been said to describe parenting styles mainly in the West and question its limitations in describing parenting across cultures, as each style’s defining patterns may have different meanings across cultures.
Individuals are pieces of a whole, called the family. The family has an undeniable influential role on each of the members of the unit, and conversely the individuals’ influence on the family unit. With this undeniable understanding of the family, it is important to look at the relationship between those with eating disorders and birth order. Is there a correlation between birth order and the development of either anorexia nervosa or bulimia? However, birth order only scratches the surface of the relationship between eating disorders and the family unit. Looking past potential relationships between birth order and eating disorders, is there the possibility of a relationship between eating disorders and the family dynamic? Perhaps the dynamic of the shared relationship between family members, beyond sibling relationships, plays an important role in the development of either anorexia nervosa or bulimia.
Steiger, Howard. (1996). Familial eating concerns and psychopathological traits. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 19, 147-157.
Shapiro, C. M. (2012). Eating disorders: Causes, diagnosis, and treatments [Ebrary version]. Retrieved from http://libproxy.utdallas.edu/login?url=http://site.ebrary.com/lib/utdallas/Doc?id=10683384&ppg=3
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Eating Disorders are on a rapid rise in the United States today, they sweep the halls of Junior High School, High Schools, College Campuses and even Elementary Schools. These disorders are often referred to by professionals as the “Deadly Diet,” however you may know them as Anorexia or Bulimia. Eating disorder effect more than 20% of young females and males in today’s society. Ranging in age from thirteen to forty. It is very rare for a child of a young age to not know someone who is suffering from an eating disorder or symptoms that are associated with one. Statistically it has been proven that one out of every five young woman suffer from serious issues dealing with eating and or weight. (Bruch, 25)
Minuchin, Salvador, et al. Psychosomatic Families: Anorexia Nervosa in Context. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1978.
There are many more reasons to developing an eating disorder other than the media. After looking at the affects of media and how researchers explore the concept of development: we will now focus on the other key opponents to the development. Ultimately, if a person’s life situation, environment, and/or genetics leave them open to an Eating ...
Loth, Katie A, Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, and Jillian K. Croll. "Informing family approaches to eating disorder prevention: Perspectives of those who have been there." International Journal of Eating Disorders Vol. 42.Issue 2 (2009): p146-152. Academic Search Premier. Web. 18 Feb. 2010.
Understanding the etiology of an eating disorder is perhaps the most complicated issue surrounding the disease, as teasing apart cause and consequence can be extremely difficult. This problem becomes immediately apparent when examining family factors associated with eating disorders. Research over the past decade has focused largely on identifying family factors that potentially contribute to the development of an eating disorder in an individual, and further refining these characteristics into prototypes for the “anorexic family” or the “bulimic family.” Identifying a pattern of specific family risk factors would be an extremely useful tool in recognizing those vulnerable for developing an eating disorder. While the research has been unable to paint an entirely complete picture of family characteristics, certain traits surface as typical to the eating disordered family. Unfortunately, much of the existing literature on family factors and eating disorders relies upon correlational data, as controlled studies are difficult to conduct within a family setting. Caution must therefore be applied to such findings, as one cannot assume causality; based on strictly correlational studies alone, it cannot be determined whether the family environment caused the eating disorder, or whether the eating disorder led to family dysfunction. Nevertheless, it remains useful to examine any significant factors that emerge from the literature in order to increase understanding about each potential factor influencing the development of eating disorders.
To begin with, of the four Baumrind’s parenting styles, authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and disengaged, I chose authoritative. Authoritative parenting has a high level of demandingness while at the same time exerts the same amount of responsiveness leading to a child who is independent, creative, well-balanced, and leads a relatively social lifestyle. I feel that laying down rules and expectations for a child gives them the guidance they need at a young age or they will be left to guide themselves blindly leading to irresponsibility, impulsiveness, and a tendency to engage in substance use. Equally important is a parent needs to warm, attentive, and not only say they love their children but express through actions and understanding as well (Arnett, 2016).
Minuchin suggested that overt families are not rigid with their children or with things that relate to eating habits. In contrast, families who are more focused on eating habits and have strict rules, they are more concerned and over-protective (Minuchin, 1978). Adolescents who live in enmeshed families may face some difficulties to develop a separate identity from their parents. They want to take control and have a sense of self-determinism, so they take control of something related to their bodies through excessive or inadequate eating habits (mental health help,
With over three hundred million Americans and over six billion people worldwide parenting skills are essential to maintain a healthy society. Parenting involves many aspects and requires many skills. It is a time to nurture, instruct, and correct to develop fundamental skills children will need to be mature, responsible, and contributing adults to a society. There are four commonly identified parenting styles; authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved parenting. Of the four parenting styles, two remain on opposite ends of the parenting spectrum. These two styles; authoritarian, and permissive both have deleterious results that are often visible throughout different developmental stages, such as rebellious behavior. As well each style has its own advantages such as; acceptance by peers with commonality. Child rearing for most parents is an evolving set of skills. It could be said that, with any style of parenting, there is no explicit set of rules for every situation, and what works for one child may not be effective for another.