Maternal Communication Strategies That Promote Body Image in Daughters

Abstract

This research examined the relationships between perceived maternal communication behaviors and daughters’ body image by borrowing from the tenets of three commonly used body image prevention approaches. The sample consisted of 532 adult women who completed an online survey asking them to recall perceptions of their mothers’ communication behaviors as well as perceptions of their own attitudes, behaviors, and body image. Results from structural equation modeling revealed that (a) in accordance with the Social Cognitive Approach, daughters’ recall of mothers modeling healthy behaviors was associated with higher levels of daughters’ adaptive weight-related behaviors, which was in turn associated with daughters’ body image; (b) in accordance with the Non-Specific Vulnerability-Stressor Model, a close mother-daughter relationship was associated with higher levels of daughters’ social competence, which was in turn associated with daughters’ body image; and (c) in accordance with the Feminist-Empowerment-Relational Model, consciousness-raising discussions between mothers and daughters were associated with higher levels of daughters’ feminist ideology, which was in turn associated with daughters’ body image. In addition, (d) when evaluating the three approaches simultaneously, the Social Cognitive Approach was the only model that significantly predicted daughters’ body image.

Can Parental Body Dissatisfaction Predict That of Children? A Study on Body Dissatisfaction, Body Mass Index, and Desire to Diet in Children Aged 9–11 and Their Families

“…Examples of direct influence are parents’ comments about the body shape and/or the need for weight control by children ( Francis and Birch, 2005 ), while an example of indirect influence is the parents’ behaviors toward their own body ( Cooley et al, 2008 ; Rodgers et al, 2009 ). Both types of influence may convey several factors, including the importance of the functionality of the body; care through a healthy, active, and shared lifestyle in the family; messages of affection and respect ( Carbonneau et al, 2020 ) or, in contrast, body dissatisfaction ( Arroyo et al, 2018 ).…”

The Mother-Daughter Relationship and Daughter's Positive Body Image: A Systematic Review

“…In the Non-Specific Vulnerability-Stressor Model, when women reported a close mother-daughter relationship, daughters had a higher level of social competence which is also linked to daughters' body image. For the final preventative approach of the Feminist-Empowerment-Relational Model, found consciousraising discussions with mothers resulted in daughters having a more positive feminist ideology and was also associated with body image (Arroyo et al, 2020) Mothers may shift their focus on behaviors and healthy ways of living rather than on weight, and they should talk less about the body. Carbonneau et al (2020) included 191 mother daughter dyads from Canada between ages 19 to 40.…”

“…Maor and Cwikel (2016) identified mothers reinforcing the close relationship with their daughters through repeated physical touch. Arroyo et al (2020) identified a daughter's perception of her close relationship to her mother, fortified through consistency and trust, was positively related to the daughter's social competence, and positively associated with her body appreciation and satisfaction.…”

From dieting to delight: Parenting strategies to promote children’s positive body image and healthy relationship with food.

“…To date, studies have largely concentrated on parents’ contribution to children’s concerns about body shape, weight, and eating, yet a growing body of research is exploring how parents can also protect their children from those concerns (e.g., Arroyo et al, 2020; Maor & Cwikel, 2016; McBride et al, 2017). By focusing on practices that support positive body image and eating behaviors, we aimed to highlight how parents can contribute to children’s resilience against diet culture and be allies in the fight against societal body-related pressures.…”

“…Children and adolescents are likely to observe and model how their parents cope with these body-related pressures (Choate, 2005). When children notice that their parents resist such pressures and reject idealized beauty standards, they learn that they have the agency to challenge social norms about appearance (Arroyo et al, 2020; Maor & Cwikel, 2016).…”