Parent-Daughter Relationships and Disordered Eating Among Emerging Adult Women From the Czech Republic

Abstract

Abstract:The associations between parent-daughter relationship characteristics and disordered eating behaviors among emerging adult women from the Czech Republic were examined. Participants (N = 798 women, M = 22.25 years old, SD = 1.42) reported on disordered eating behaviors (dieting and unhealthy weight-control behaviors; UWCB), their relationship characteristics with each parent (trust, communication, alienation and psychological control) and covariates (weight, height, frequency of communication with parents, living status and parental statuses). Overall, 41% of women were on a diet, and 33% engaged in at least one UWCB. Logistic regression analyses revealed that none of the parent-daughter relationship characteristics had any association with dieting. However, a low quality of mother-daughter relationship (low trust, high alienation and psychological control) had a significant association with UWCB. None of the fatherdaughter relationship characteristics had a significant association with UWCB. The results suggest that preventive interventions with the family should emphasize the quality of the motherdaughter relationship.