We rarely consider the words we use to be an intervention strategy for adolescents at risk of psychological distress and disordered eating cognitions. Yet current research is finding that being more aware of the language parents use with adolescents around weight/shape/eating could be an area of interest. My oral would present on the following study. This abstract is from a paper submitted for publication. Adolescence is a time of rapid emotional and physical development when foundational self-concepts (including beliefs about one’s weight and shape) are established. Parents are key influencers of adolescent beliefs and behaviours. This study aimed to investigate associations between positive and negative parental comments on weight/shape and eating, with sons’ and daughters’ psychological distress and eating disorder cognitions (EDCs). A representative mixed-sex sample of 2204 Australian adolescents (11-19 years) from the EveryBODY Study completed an online survey exploring eating behaviours, psychological wellbeing and experiences of parental comments regarding weight, shape and eating behaviours. Correlation analyses revealed that adolescents’ reports of positive parental comments on shape/weight were significantly associated with lower psychological distress and EDCs only for daughters. All negative parental comments on shape/weight or eating were associated with greater psychological distress and EDCs for both sons and daughters. In the final model of the regression analysis only parental negative shape/weight and maternal negative eating comments, adolescent stage and sex were significantly associated with EDCs. When known contributors such as BMI percentile and psychological distress were included in the regression model, adolescent stage and negative paternal comments were no longer significantly associated with EDCs.
Overall, results show negative comments were associated with poorer adolescent mental health, both their specific EDCs and general distress. Findings highlight the importance of raising awareness of potential negative impacts of maternal comments around weight/shape and eating in these key formative years.