Honors Theses
Advisor
Jackson Goodnight, Ph.D.
Department
Psychology
Publication Date
4-23-2025
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
The present study examines the potential psychological and behavioral impacts Almond Moms have on their college-aged children. Previous studies examining how parents influence disordered eating habits found that parental attitudes, specifically maternal attitudes, towards appearance, weight, and dieting are correlated with their children’s likelihood of engaging in disordered eating behaviors. It was hypothesized that college-aged students who report more experiences growing up with an Almond Mom will demonstrate more disordered eating habits and less positive body image. Impulsivity, socioeconomic status, and attachment were predicted to moderate the link between parental experiences and eating habits. Participants were recruited from introductory psychology courses at the University of Dayton during the fall 2024 semester and completed questionnaires measuring their parents’ behaviors and cognitions towards food, nutritional attitudes and choices, eating disorder symptomatology, exposure to the “Almond Mom” concept and nutrition-related content on social media. The study found that Almond Mom experiences have a significant effect on eating difficulties, and that relationship was mediated by nutrition-related social media consumption.
Permission Statement
This item is protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and may only be used for noncommercial, educational, and scholarly purposes.
Keywords
Undergraduate research
eCommons Citation
Sutton, Rebecca E., "“Almond Moms” and Their Influence on College-Aged Emerging Adults: An Investigation on Eating Cognitions, Behaviors, and Psychological Wellness" (2025). Honors Theses. 488.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/uhp_theses/488
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