PARENTING FEEDING STYLES, FEEDING CONTROL PRACTICES IN RELATION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AMONG MIDDLE AGED CHILDREN

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between parental feeding styles, feeding control, and psychopathology in middle-aged children with diagnosed psychopathologies. Using a correlational research design, data were collected from 80 parents of children aged 6-12 years from special education institutes in Lahore, employing purposive sampling. Three primary assessment tools were utilized: the Parenting Feeding Style Questionnaire (PFQ), the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) each demonstrating high reliability. The analysis revealed significant correlations between parental feeding styles and both feeding control and psychopathology. Instrumental feeding was positively related to feeding control and psychopathology. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that demographic variables explained (11.5%) of the variance in psychopathology, with parental feeding styles adding an additional (20.5%). Instrumental and encouragement feeding styles were significant predictors, though feeding control did not significantly improve the model. Mediation analysis revealed that feeding control partially mediates the relationship between instrumental and encouragement feeding styles and psychopathology, suggesting that feeding control significantly contributes to the observed psychopathological outcomes. The findings highlight the complex interplay between parental feeding practices and child psychopathology, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions that address feeding styles and control mechanisms to potentially mitigate psychopathological symptoms in children.