White, Hannah J., Haycraft, Emma, Madden, Sloane, Rhodes, Paul (Lecturer in clinical psychology), Miskovic-Wheatley, Jane, Wallis, Andrew (Family therapist), Kohn, Michael (Michael R.) and Meyer, Caroline (2015) How do parents of adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa interact with their child at mealtimes? : a study of parental strategies used in the family meal session of family-based-treatment. International Journal of Eating Disorders, Volume 48 (Number 1). pp. 72-80. doi:10.1002/eat.22328

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Abstract

Objective:
To examine the range and frequency of parental mealtime strategies used during the family meal session of Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for adolescent anorexia nervosa, and to explore the relationships between parental mealtime strategies, mealtime emotional tone and parental 'success' at encouraging adolescent food consumption.

Method:
Participants were 21 families with a child aged between 12 and 18 years receiving FBT for adolescent anorexia nervosa. Video recordings of the family meal session (FBT session two) were coded using the Family Mealtime Coding System adapted in this study for use with adolescents (FMCS-A) to identify frequency of parental strategies, emotional tone of the meal (measured by adolescent positive and negative vocalisations) and frequency of prompted mouthfuls consumed by the adolescent (measured by the number of mouthfuls consumed by the adolescent immediately following parental interactions).

Results:
A range of parental mealtime strategies were in use. Those used repeatedly included direct eating prompts, non-direct eating prompts, physical prompts, and providing information or food-related choices. Several parental mealtime strategies (direct and non-direct eating prompts) were found to be consistently associated with the tone of adolescents' vocalisations and the number of mouthfuls consumed in response to a parental prompt.

Discussion:
Despite associations with negativity from the adolescent, the use of food-related prompts (both verbal and physical) seems to be associated with increased eating. This indicates the potentially important role of parental control of eating. Following replication, these findings might provide a focus for therapists when supporting and coaching parents during the family meal session.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Engineering > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Anorexia nervosa, Anorexia in adolescence, Child rearing, Anorexia nervosa -- Patients -- Family relationships, Family psychotherapy
Journal or Publication Title:	International Journal of Eating Disorders
Publisher:	John Wiley & Sons
ISSN:	0276-3478
Official Date:	23 January 2015
Dates:	Date Event 23 January 2015 Published 26 June 2014 Available 14 June 2014 Accepted 12 March 2014 Submitted
Volume:	Volume 48
Number:	Number 1
Number of Pages:	9
Page Range:	pp. 72-80
DOI:	10.1002/eat.22328
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia) (NHMRC)
Grant number:	457235 (NHMRC), ACTRN012607000009415

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