Conflict and Negotiation With Preschoolers During Family Meals

• Published in: Journal of family psychology 2023-10, Vol.37 (7), p.984-992
• Main Authors: Mudrick, Hannah B., Nelson, Jackie A., Pylypciw, Molly, Holub, Shayla C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absent fathers; Children & youth; Childrens health; Conflict; Emotions; Families & family life; Family; Family Conflict; Family meals; Family relations; Fathers; Female; Human; Male; Meals; Mealtimes; Mothers; Negotiation; Parents; Parents & parenting; Preschool children; Preschool Students; Sensitivity (Personality)
• ISSN: 0893-3200; 1939-1293
• DOI: 10.1037/fam0001072

Family meals provide opportunities to observe a variety of social exchanges. This study examined the occurrence of conflict and negotiation during the understudied context of family meals, examining both mother-child and father-child interactions with children aged 3-5 (n = 65). We investigated differences in parents' sensitivity and children's affect based on the occurrence of conflict and negotiation. Results indicated conflict was common with both parents, but particularly with mothers. Negotiation occurred less often: half of the time with mothers and a third of the time with fathers. Mothers were less sensitive and children more negative when mother-child conflict occurred; mothers were more sensitive when father-child conflict occurred. Fathers were more responsive when father-child conflict occurred, but more intrusive when both mother-child and father-child conflict occurred. Mother-child negotiation was associated with responsive mothers; mothers were less negative when mother-child negotiation occurred in the absence of father-child negotiation. Findings provide a deeper understanding of family interactions between young children and parents during family meals. These interactional processes may be an essential ingredient to better understand how family meals affect young children's health and well-being.