Study finds negative words from mums, not dads, have worst impact on self image

SINGAPORE — Negative comments made by Singaporean mothers have a greater impact on their children’s self-image than comments made by Singaporean fathers, which have no such impact, a study found.

The study comes at a time when the number of young Singaporeans with eating disorders is rising, with figures on par with those in the United Kingdom, say researchers. And parents need to be educated about how their remarks may influence their children’s eating behaviour.

The research, partly funded by the Singapore Children’s Society, interviewed 383 Singaporeans aged 18 to 25.

The results were in contrast to trends in the West, where comments made by mothers were likelier to influence daughters and those made by fathers had more impact on sons.

The study, published online in the March 2016 issue of the Body Image journal, was conducted between March 2012 and January 2013, a joint effort by the University of Exeter Medical School, James Cook University Singapore, and the Australian National University.

The subjects were asked about their parents’ comments about their body shape, weight and eating habits, and also gave their own views on body satisfaction and eating behaviour.

From the study’s results, researchers concluded that positive comments made by parents did not influence body dissatisfaction and disordered eating for both genders. However, they found evidence that linked “especially negative maternal comments” to “greater body dissatisfaction”, which was then linked to “greater disordered eating”.

Disordered eating refers to abnormal and unhealthy eating patterns, such as severe fasting, eating extremely small amounts of food, or severely overeating. Both disordered eating and body dissatisfaction are precursors to eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia, which is a disturbing preoccupation with dieting, exercise and self-image, often involving abuses of the body such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercising or the use of laxatives.

At the Singapore General Hospital, new cases of eating disorders jumped from 130 in 2011 to 180 in 2013, previously reported statistics show. This trend has also been observed at the National University Hospital (NUH).

Dr Rajeev Ramachandran, a consultant at the Division of General Ambulatory Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in NUH, has seen a 20-per-cent increase in the number of patients suffering from eating disorders every year since 2011. Many cases are triggered by negative comments made by various people, including mothers, he said.

However, he stressed that it was difficult to pinpoint an exact reason for the condition, because there was often more than one. “(The increase could) also be because parents and teachers are more aware of eating disorders and are able to recognise the symptoms of the condition better,” he said, adding that children as young as 11 have recently been diagnosed with anorexia.

EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT

With the latest study findings, researchers suggest that current treatment methods be properly examined. Dr Daniel Fassnacht of the Australian National University, the study’s co-author, said: “This is not to say that they are not effective, but maybe some things could be tweaked to improve treatment in the Singaporean context.”

The study’s lead author, Samuel Chng, agreed: “Cultural family values are very different between Asia and the West, yet countries like Singapore have adopted Western strategies to (solve) this growing problem.”

Right now, NUH offers patients the option of family-based treatment, where parents and family members monitor the child’s diet and exercise regimen. This method was developed in the United Kingdom in the 1970s and has proven effective, but was only recently introduced in NUH.

Dr Rajeev said: “Before we embark on such a treatment, we ensure that parents fully understand eating disorders and are able to manage the condition.” Patients may also opt for cognitive-behavioural therapy to help them understand the thoughts and feelings that influence their behaviour, or art therapy.”

Researchers also recommend that parents be aware of the weight of their words.

Dr Fassnacht said: “What parents say can have a very big impact ... Instead of saying ‘You’re too fat, you need to lose weight’, encourage your children to adopt a healthier lifestyle by saying, ‘Why not head out for a game of badminton with your friends?’.” Such comments help children to make healthier choices while also improving their self-esteem, he said.