Open AccessParenting With a Substance Abuse History: The Moderating Role of Parenting Behaviors on Obesity and Internalizing Symptoms in Adolescence
Author(s) -
H. Isabella Lanza,
Patricia S Pittman,
YihIng Hser
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
youth and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.969
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1552-8499
pISSN - 0044-118X
DOI - 10.1177/0044118x18815274
Subject(s) - moderation , psychology , psychosocial , obesity , parenting styles , clinical psychology , physical abuse , developmental psychology , intervention (counseling) , substance abuse , childhood obesity , poison control , suicide prevention , child abuse , overweight , psychiatry , medicine , social psychology , environmental health
Although numerous studies have shown that child obesity is associated with internalizing symptoms, relatively few studies have examined the role of parenting behaviors on this relationship. Youth meeting obesity status may be at higher risk of psychosocial maladjustment when exposed to more vulnerable parenting contexts. The current study interviewed mothers with a history of substance abuse to assess whether parenting behaviors moderated the relationship between obesity and internalizing symptoms among adolescents ( N = 160; 51% girls; M = 12.76 years). Hierarchical regression analyses identified physical discipline as a moderator; girls meeting obesity status displayed higher levels of internalizing symptoms when exposed to higher versus lower levels of physical discipline. Prevention/intervention efforts targeting mothers with substance abuse histories should aim to not only improve physical and emotional health but also highlight the connections between physical and emotional health and the influence of parenting behaviors on associations.