Year

2026

Season

Spring

Paper Type

Master's Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Science in Psychological Science (MSPS)

Department

Psychological and Brain Sciences

NACO controlled Corporate Body

University of North Florida. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences

Committee Chairperson

Dr. Anita Fuglestad

Second Advisor

Dr. Dan Richard

Rights Statement

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Department Chair

Dr. Elizabeth Brown

College Dean

Dr. Kaveri Subrahmanyam

Abstract

Self-regulation is the management of one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to adapt to a situation (Smith-Donald et al., 2007). During infancy and toddlerhood, parents foster self-regulation through co-regulation (e.g., sensitivity, responsiveness), helping children manage their emotions, behaviors, and thoughts (Butler & Randall, 2013). Parents who experience distress (e.g., depression, stress, anxiety) are more likely to use less responsive and harsher, controlling practices like coercive control. Coercive control with food is a practice where parents use food as threats or bribes to control their child’s emotions and behaviors (Vaughn et al., 2016). The present study examined the associations between parental distress, coercive control with food, and children's self-regulation. It was hypothesized that parental distress would be correlated with greater use of coercive control with food and poorer self-regulation. It was also hypothesized that coercive control with food would predict poor child self-regulation. Participants included 4–5-year-old children and their parents. Child self-regulation was measured using the Preschool Self-Regulation Assessment, a direct laboratory assessment of children’s self-regulation abilities (Smith-Donald et al., 2007). Parental distress was measured using questionnaires to assess depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; Andresen et al., 1994), stress (Perceived Stress Scale; Cohen et al., 1983), and anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory; Beck et al., 1988). Coercive control with food was measured via two parent-report questionnaires: Parent Feeding Style Questionnaire (Kidwell et al., 2020) and Comprehensive Feeding Style Questionnaire (Musher-Eizenman & Holub, 2007). A bivariate correlation indicated that the PSRA was positively associated with coercive control with food. More specifically, the PSRA compliance subscale was positively associated with coercive control with food. These findings suggest that parents may use coercive control practices to teach their children to comply rather than teaching them self-regulation abilities.

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