There is an increasing interest in studying the transmission of eating attitudes and behaviors within families, a process whereby children share and internalize values, attitudes, and beliefs held by their parents, specifically their mothers (Baker, Whisman, & Brownell, 2000). Furthermore, parenting in regards to food and weight, may significantly differ for mothers who experience body dissatisfaction and engage in aberrant eating patterns compared to mothers who do not. The current study aimed to explore the intergenerational transmission of eating disorders as well as to determine if parenting plans differ for females with and without disordered eating symptomology.

Eighty-seven undergraduate students from the University of Hartford were sampled. Results showed that females who endorsed more symptoms associated with disorder eating reported their female caregiver as having greater symptoms as well. One measure supported the hypothesis that participants who report greater body dissatisfaction will perceive their female caregivers as more dissatisfied with their bodies. Females who reported more perfectionistic tendencies reported that their female caregivers had greater tendencies towards setting high, unobtainable goals for themselves and engaging in self-criticism when expectations were not met. Interestingly, females who were more dissatisfied with their bodies and endorsed more disordered eating symptoms reported quite different planned parenting practices in regards to food and weight management compared to those who were satisfied with their bodies and endorsed fewer disordered eating symptoms. The findings have important clinical implications as future mothers should be viewed as the key players in the prevention of weight-related problems.