Helicopter parents are putting their children at risk of eating disorders, new study suggests
‘Momager’ Kris Jenner is overly involved in her children’s lives. She admitted in an Instagram video: ‘I’m an old-fashioned helicopter mom’
Children of overbearing and controlling parents are more likely to have body dysmorphia than others, a new study has shown.
The mental health problem involves obsessing over perceived flaws in appearance and is a major risk factor for eating disorders.
The findings published in The Journal of Affective Disorders show that overinvolved parents – often called ‘helicopter parenting’ – are associated with unhealthy behaviors in children, such as compulsive skin picking and an extreme focus on their appearance.
Perhaps one of the most famous examples of over-involved parenting comes from reality star “momager” Kris Jenner. The mother of six admitted in an Instagram video: “I’m an old-fashioned helicopter mom.”
An online survey was conducted among more than 700 Italian men and women aged 18 to 77.
Various questionnaires were used to assess body dysmorphia, how overcontrolling parents were, and exposure to different types of childhood trauma.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition in which an individual is obsessed with a perceived flaw in appearance. More than 200,000 cases of BDD are diagnosed in America each year.
Research shows that up to 38 percent of people with BDD also have an eating disorder or are at risk of developing one.
Parental overcontrol was linked to more severe dysmorphic symptoms, the researchers confirmed using statistical analyses.
Research has found that intrusion into a child’s life – often called “helicopter parenting” – is linked to unhealthy behaviors in children, such as an extreme focus on perceived flaws in their appearance
This appeared to be independent of other factors, such as traumatic experiences, alcohol and tobacco use.
The study’s authors, from the European University of Rome, Italy, said: ‘Parents’ attitudes to replace the child in managing his or her own life can create a sense of inadequacy, vulnerability and inadequacy, and can perception of the world as demanding, threatening, (and) judgmental.
‘By involving body image, these altered internal representations could explain dysmorphic concerns due to shame, anxiety and the expectation of social rejection.’
Controlling parents can cause their child to develop feelings of weakness and inadequacy, which can manifest as shame and/or fear of their body.
The researchers also said that “parental intrusiveness” “could undermine the child’s ability to manage internal states, leading to dysfunctional coping strategies, including restrictive eating.”
Previous research has linked parental overcontrol to eating disorders. A 2020 study found that multiple studies revealed a dysfunctional parental bond characterized by excessive overcontrol in people with eating disorders.