Parenting style as a predictor of dietary score change in children from 4 to 14 years of age. Findings from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children.

objectiveTo examine associations between parenting style and changes in dietary quality score across childhood.

designThis longitudinal analysis included the child's frequency of consumption for twelve food and drink items reported by mothers of children (aged 4-8 years) and children (aged 10-14 years) during face-to-face interviews biennially. These items were combined into dietary scores based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Parenting styles were classified at baseline as authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and disengaged. Multilevel modelling was used to examine changes in diet quality score over time by maternal parenting styles.

settingThe Longitudinal Study of Australian Children.

participantsA total of 4282 children aged 4 to 14 years.

resultsChildren's diet quality score declined over time between 4 and 14 years of age (β = -0·10, 95 % CI (-0·11, -0·08)). There was strong evidence to suggest that change in diet quality differed dependent on baseline maternal parenting style, although diet quality declined for all groups. Children with authoritative mothers had the greatest decline in diet quality score over time (β = -0·13; 95 % CI (-0·18, -0·08)), while children with disengaged mothers had the lowest decline (β = -0·03; 95 % CI (-0·07, 0·01)). However, it is important to note that children with authoritative mothers had a better dietary quality score than children of permissive or disengaged mothers for most of their childhood.

conclusionThese findings question the previous assumptions that early exposure to an authoritative parenting style has lasting positive effects on the dietary intake of children.