Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Objective Body weight dissatisfaction (BWD) is associated with restrained eating, but most previous research has focused on individual-level processes. This cross-sectional study examined within-person and cross-dyad associations between BWD and restrained eating, as well as indirect associations through social appearance anxiety (SAA), in Chinese mother–adolescent dyads. Method Participants were 351 Chinese mother–adolescent dyads, including 180 mother–son dyads and 171 mother–daughter dyads. Mothers and adolescents completed self-report measures of BWD, SAA, and restrained eating. Actor–Partner Interdependence Models and Actor–Partner Interdependence Mediation Models were estimated separately for mother–son and mother–daughter dyads, adjusting for mothers’ and adolescents’ age and body mass index, as well as family subjective social status. Results In both dyad types, higher BWD was associated with greater restrained eating within mothers (β = .44) and adolescents (sons: β = .58; daughters: β = .66). Maternal BWD was also positively associated with adolescents’ restrained eating (sons: β = .40; daughters: β = .31), whereas adolescents’ BWD was not significantly associated with mothers’ restrained eating (sons: β = .05, p = .477; daughters: β = .10, p = .243). Significant actor indirect associations through individuals’ own SAA were observed for mothers and adolescents in both dyad types. In mother–daughter dyads, maternal BWD showed a positive total indirect association with daughters’ restrained eating through SAA (B = .095, 95% CI [.036, .208]); the corresponding total indirect association was not supported in mother–son dyads (B = − .026, 95% CI [− .098, .037]). A specific daughter-to-mother indirect association through maternal SAA was statistically supported (B = .073, 95% CI [.009, .182]), although the total daughter-to-mother indirect association was not supported. Conclusions BWD and SAA were associated with restrained eating both within individuals and across mother–adolescent dyads. Findings highlight individual and dyadic associations that may be relevant to future research and intervention development.</p>