Role of feeding coparenting in children's healthy food intake and parents' positive feeding practices, mediated by feeding self-efficacy: A cross-sectional study of Japanese mothers and fathers of preschoolers

Better feeding coparenting is a factor of positive feeding practices and children's healthy eating. However, these associations have not been investigated among Japanese families, and the underlying psychological mechanism is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate (1) the association of feeding coparenting with positive feeding practices and children's intake of well-balanced meals among Japanese families and (2) whether feeding self-efficacy mediates these associations. A total of 184 mothers and 153 fathers of preschool children completed a cross-sectional survey. The participants completed the following measures: feeding coparenting scale, feeding practices guiding healthy eating for children, child's intake of meals that include staple, main, and side dishes (SMS meals; which are well-balanced meals recommended in Japanese dietary guidelines), and feeding self-efficacy. In the present study, healthy eating guidance was evaluated as a positive feeding practice. SMS meal was assessed as well-balanced meal consumption. Mothers' shared views scores were significantly associated with only healthy eating guidance scores. Mothers' active engagement scores were significantly associated with healthy eating guidance scores and children's SMS meal intake. Fathers' shared views scores and active engagement scores were significantly associated with healthy eating guidance scores. These associations were mediated by feeding self-efficacy scores. Our findings highlight the importance of feeding coparenting to support mothers' and fathers' positive feeding practices and children's healthy food intake among Japanese families.