Associations Between Parenting Stress, Feeding Practices, and Child Eating Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

OBJECTIVES: The pandemic provides an opportunity to explore how parenting stress during times of crisis may predict parent-child interactions, especially during mealtimes. The objective of the present study was to explore whether parents’ perceived increases in and overall levels of parenting stress during the pandemic were associated with feeding practices and perceptions of child eating behaviors. METHODS: Parents (n = 284) of children 4–6 years completed a cross-sectional online survey between March and April 2020. Perceived changes in parenting stress during the onset of the pandemic, levels of parenting stress during the pandemic, child feeding practices, and children's eating behaviors were assessed. We used ordinal linear regression to examine whether changes in and levels of parenting stress predicted use of controlling or responsive feeding practices and perceptions of child eating behaviors. RESULTS: The majority (63.7%, n = 181) of parents indicated their family was moderately or extremely emotionally affected by the pandemic and 56.7% (n = 161) indicated pandemic-related precautions had been moderately or extremely challenging. Perceived increases in parenting stress during the onset of the pandemic were associated with more frequent use of food as a reward (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.04–1.26) and for emotional regulation (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.04–1.23), as well as greater child food responsiveness (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.84–0.99) and slow eating (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.84–1.00). Higher overall levels of parenting stress were associated with more frequent use of food as a reward (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02–1.08) and for emotional regulation (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03–1.08) but also with use of pressuring feeding practices (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01–1.06) and encouraging a balanced diet (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01–1.06). Higher overall levels of parenting stress were associated with greater child food fussiness (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02–1.08), enjoyment of food (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02–1.07), and satiety responsiveness (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.93–0.98). CONCLUSIONS: During the pandemic, parenting stress predicted parents’ use of food for emotional and behavioral regulation and various domains of children's eating behaviors. Results highlight the need for targeted efforts to support families during times of crisis. FUNDING SOURCES: None.