The mother–daughter Shared Agency in Weight Management Scale (SAWMS): development, validation, and implications for body dissatisfaction

Abstract

Plain English summary The current study described the procedure of developing a new measurement—the mother–daughter Shared Agency in Weight Management Scale (SAWMS). This scale aims to measure the different ways in which mothers work with their cisgender daughters in weight management. Based on self-reported survey data from cisgender female college students, we identified two ways whereby mothers work with their daughters in weight management—maternal control and maternal autonomy support. To better understand these mother–daughter dynamics, we also examined their relations with daughter’s body dissatisfaction. We found that daughters whose mothers were more controlling when it comes to weight management reported higher levels of body dissatisfaction. On the other hand, daughters whose mothers were more autonomy-supportive in weight management reported lower levels of body dissatisfaction. Our results have important implications for understanding how mother–daughter relationship dynamics in weight management may contribute to the development of body image and perceptions among young women.

Keywords

• Maternal control
• Maternal autonomy support
• Mother–daughter relationship
• Shared agency
• Body dissatisfaction
• Weight management