Mother-Daughter Perceptions of Health Discussion Frequency: The Influence of Weight Goals

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association Vol. 111; no. 9; p. A108
• Main Authors: Coccia, C.C, Darling, C.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago Elsevier Inc 01.09.2011; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Daughters; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Internal Medicine; Mothers; Perceptions; Weight control
• ISSN: 0002-8223; 2212-2672; 1878-3570; 2212-2680
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2011.06.405

An abstract of a study by Coccia and Darling examining the relationship between mother-daughter perceptions of health discussion frequency (HDF), as well as, the relationship of mother-daughter weight related goals on HDF is presented. Results show that mothers and daughters had different perceptions of HDF's (t=-7.46, p= .000). Daughters trying to lose weight reported higher HDF (M=11.65, SD=3.66) than daughters who wanted to stay the same weight (M=12.93, SD=4.03, F=7.21, p=.008). No difference was found for HDF for mothers based on daughters' weight goals. Further analysis indicated that daughters who wore trying to lose weight perceived that they had more conversations with their mothers about eating behaviors and weight issues than those who were trying to maintain their weight with mothers indicating having more conversations about weight but no differences in other topics. When mothers and daughters both had the same weight goals, daughters perceived that they had higher HDFs (M=11.66, SD=3.46) than when they had different weight goals (M=12.67, SD=4.07, F=5.99, p=.015).