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How parents cope with value tensions in their young child’s nutrition: An interview study informed by paradox theory
Parents often confront significant dilemmas when making nutritional choices for their children, especially within resource-limited settings. The conflict arises from the clash between their values and those they prioritize for their child’s health. This tension can lead to suboptimal dietary decisions. Specifically, prioritizing one value over another—often seen in trade-offs, such as favoring convenience over dietary health—may induce stress due to ongoing unsatisfactory outcomes.
Applying Paradox theory, this qualitative research investigates how parents navigate these nutritional conflicts. Paradox theory posits that individuals can address competing values effectively by employing ‘both/and’ strategies, which allow for simultaneous consideration of multiple values, in contrast to ‘either/or’ approaches that necessitate a single choice.
The study involved semi-structured interviews with 20 parents of children aged 0-5 residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Through abductive thematic analysis, the researchers categorized coping responses into two main types: ‘either/or’ strategies, which encompass value trade-offs, and ‘both/and‘ strategies, which focus on compromise and resolving paradoxes. Although trade-offs were more frequently reported, strategies aimed at achieving paradoxical resolution were less common during moments of nutritional decision-making stress.
Three primary themes of ‘both/and’ coping responses were identified: planning and preparing food, managing challenging child behaviors, and fostering children’s acceptance of healthy foods. The study highlights the importance of various facilitating factors that influence these coping mechanisms, including individual circumstances, interpersonal relationships, and community resources—such as time availability, social support, and healthy routines promoted by daycare programs.
Overall, the findings indicate that employing ‘both/and’ coping strategies that resonate with parents’ values and contextual realities can assist in overcoming food provisioning and feeding difficulties. However, successful implementation is contingent upon the presence of adequate facilitative elements. [NPID: Children, coping, distress, nutrition decisions, paradox theory, parenting]
Year: 2026
