The Influence of Child Attachment Security on the Relationship Between Feeding Responsiveness and Picky Eating Behavior

Iwinski, Samantha

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/100004 Copy

Description

Title

The Influence of Child Attachment Security on the Relationship Between Feeding Responsiveness and Picky Eating Behavior

Author(s)

Iwinski, Samantha

Contributor(s)

• Bost, Kelly
• Saltzman, Jaci

Issue Date

2018-04

Keyword(s)

• Psychology
• picky eating
• child attachment
• parent feeding responsiveness
• fussy eating
• responsive feeding

Abstract

Objective At a young age, the caregiver and child create bonds that may influence how responsive they are to each other. The types of feeding practices can be categorized by different levels of responsiveness. Responsiveness may influence if the child interacts with the caregivers and at mealtime. This study aims to assess if attachment moderates the relationship between feeding responsiveness and picky eating behavior. Methods A subsample of participants (n = 110) were examined. Participants received questionnaires when the child was 6 weeks and 18-24 months. At 18-24 months, the families participated in a home visit to videotape a mealtime. Parent feeding responsiveness was coded from the videotaped mealtimes. Child attachment security was assessed using Attachment Behavior Q-Set. Picky eating was assessed with two validated questionnaires, one modeling the variable as dichotomous and one as continuous. Results Multiple regression models were used to assess the relationship between the variables. Using picky eating as a dichotomous and continuous variable, feeding responsiveness and child attachment were both independently associated with picky eating. The higher picky eating scores were associated with lower feeding responsiveness and lower attachment levels. There was also no significant association involving the interaction with all three variables. Conclusions This research shows that picky eating is predicted by parent feeding responsiveness and child attachment. Strategies to reduce picky eating behaviors in early childhood may help childhood development. Attachment with the caregiver is important for picky eating and may affect parents’ responses to children’s satiety cues during the mealtime.

Type of Resource

image

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/100004

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

• National Dairy Council
• The Gerber Foundation
• The Christopher Family Foundation
• The U. S. Department of Agriculture
• The National Institutes of Health; DK107561
• The Illinois Association for Infant Mental Health Norton Award
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture for funding provided to the Illinois Transdisciplinary Obesity Prevention Program

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2018 Samantha Iwinski

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