Abstract
Objective
Explore the nature and dimensions of restrictive feeding with mothers of 6-year-olds.
Design
Semistructured interviews with mothers. Conversations were audio-recorded and transcribed
verbatim.
Setting
Brisbane and Adelaide, Australia.
Participants
Twenty-nine mothers of 6-year-olds.
Phenomenon of Interest
Mothers’ restrictive feeding practices.
Analysis
Qualitative thematic analysis.
Results
This study revealed 6 key themes relating to the restrictive feeding phenomenon: restriction
of specific foods and drinks; restrictive feeding practices; mothers’ motivation;
mothers’ preferences for restricted foods; patterns over time; and relationships with
other controlling feeding practices. Parents’ restrictive feeding practices are likely
to be inherently inconsistent, with mothers reportedly varying their practices across
different restricted foods, contexts, day to day, and as children age. Mothers intended
to either totally restrict or restrict a food/drink in moderation, and these intentions
presented qualitatively distinct characteristics across themes. Mothers commonly referred
to foods/drinks restricted in moderation as treats, and their liking for these restricted
foods/drinks was related to higher child access.
Conclusions and Implications
This study provides insights into the nature and dimensions of restrictive feeding.
Further research is proposed to clarify these findings and examine the effects of
child access, types of restrictive feeding practices, and parent communication on
child preferences for restricted foods and drinks across a range of cultural groups.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 10, 2021
Accepted:
April 24,
2021
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors have not stated any conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
