EFFECTS OF SUGAR INGESTION EXPECTANCIES ON MOTHER-CHILD INTERACTIONS

This study tested the hypothesis that commonly reported negative effec ts of sugar on children's behavior may be due to parental expectancies . A challenge study design was employed, in which thirty-five 5- to 7- year-old boys reported by their mothers to be behaviorally ''sugar sen sitive,'' and their mothers, were randomly assigned to experimental an d control groups. In the experimental group, mothers were told their c hildren had received a large dose of sugar, whereas in the control con dition mothers were told their sons received a placebo; all children a ctually received the placebo (aspartame). Mothers and sons were videot aped while interacting together and each mother was then questioned ab out the interaction. Mothers in the sugar expectancy condition rated t heir children as significantly more hyperactive. Behavioral observatio ns revealed these mothers exercised more control by maintaining physic al closeness, as well as showing trends to criticize, look at, and tal k to their sons more than did control mothers. For several variables, the expectancy effect was stronger for cognitively rigid mothers.