Parenting styles are associated with overall child dietary quality within low-income and food-insecure households

To examine the association between parenting styles and overall child dietary quality within households that are low-income and food-insecure. Child dietary intake was measured via a 24 h dietary recall. Dietary quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005). Parenting styles were measured and scored using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire. Linear regressions were used to test main and interaction associations between HEI-2005 scores and parenting styles. Non-probability sample of low-income and food-insecure households in South Carolina, USA. Parent–child dyads (n 171). Parents were ≥18 years old and children were 9–15 years old. We found a significant interaction between authoritative and authoritarian parenting style scores. For those with a mean authoritarian score, each unit increase in authoritative score was associated with a higher HEI-2005 score (b = 3·36, P 0·05). Permissive parenting style scores were negatively associated with child dietary quality (b = −2·79, P < 0·05). Parenting styles should be considered an important variable that is associated with overall dietary quality in children living within low-income and food-insecure households.