'I know it's wrong, but . . .': a qualitative investigation of low-income parents' feelings of guilt about their child-feeding practices.
Summary of "'I know it's wrong, but . . .': a qualitative investigation of low-income parents' feelings of guilt about their child-feeding practices."
In the developed world, child overweight and obesity rates are highest among the disadvantaged. This has resulted in calls for more research with low socio-economic families to better understand their experiences with disadvantage and how they might lead to poorer weight outcomes. The present study, conducted in Australia, adopted a qualitative approach to investigate the factors affecting low socio-economic parents' child-feeding practices. Methods used to collect data were introspections, interviews and focus groups. In total, 37 parents of overweight or obese children aged between 5 and 9 years took part in the 6-month study. Guilt emerged as an emotion that parents regularly experienced when allowing their children to consume too much food or foods high in fat, salt and/or sugar. Parents attributed their guilt-inducing child-feeding practices to both external and internal factors. Time scarcity and cost were factors that were primarily characterized by an external locus of control. The factors characterized by an internal locus of control were fear of their children experiencing hunger, the perceived need to secure their children's affection through the provision of treat foods, perceptions of their ability to balance their children's diets across eating situations and perceived laziness. Recommendations are provided for addressing guilt-inducing child-feeding practices.
Affiliation
School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Maternal & child nutrition
ISSN: 1740-8709
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22708589
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8709.2012.00425.x
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Transference (psychology)
The unconscious transfer to others (including psychotherapists) of feelings and attitudes which were originally associated with important figures (parents, siblings, etc.) in one's early life.
Parents
Persons functioning as natural, adoptive, or substitute parents. The heading includes the concept of parenthood as well as preparation for becoming a parent.
Child Of Impaired Parents
Child with one or more parents afflicted by a physical or mental disorder.
Qualitative Research
Research that derives data from observation, interviews, or verbal interactions and focuses on the meanings and interpretations of the participants (From Holloway and Wheeler, "Ethical issues in qualitative nursing research," Nursing Ethics, 1995 Sep; 2(3): 223-232).
Genetics, Medical
A subdiscipline of human genetics which entails the reliable prediction of certain human disorders as a function of the lineage and/or genetic makeup of an individual or of any two parents or potential parents.
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