Background

Picky eating (PE) behavior is common in early childhood, but persistent PE is associated with unhealthy development and caregiver-child stress during feeding. Identifying modifiable feeding and parent-child relationship factors that impact PE is important for decreasing risks associated with PE.

Objective

This study examined associations between caregiver Feeding Responsiveness (FR) and child PE behaviors using caregiver reports and observations of family mealtimes. An additional aim examined whether children's attachment behavior moderates this association.

Methods

The analysis sample consisted of 110 families participating in a larger longitudinal study of nutrition and child health. Home observations were conducted when children were 18–24 months (52% females) to assess caregiver-child interactions. Caregivers were, on average, 30.9 years old and mostly White (73.6%). Family mealtimes were videotaped and coded for FR and child PE behaviors. Caregivers completed surveys regarding FR and PE behaviors.

Results

Caregiver-reported FR was significantly correlated with observed FR, r (107) = 0.26, p = 0.007; and caregiver-reported PE was associated with observed PE, r (107) = 0.21, p = 0.029. Caregiver-reported FR was inversely related to observed PE, but only when children were characterized by observers to have more positively toned and smooth interactions with caregivers. Using observational data, child attachment significantly moderated the relationship between FR and PE behaviors.

Conclusions

The quality of caregiver-child interactions may impact the degree to which FR is effective in reducing PE. Future longitudinal studies that include more diverse populations, multiple caregivers, and potential mechanisms accounting for these associations are needed.

中文翻译：

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儿童依恋行为对喂养反应与挑食行为关系的调节作用

背景

挑食 (PE) 行为在儿童早期很常见，但持续的 PE 与不健康的发育和喂养期间的照顾者-儿童压力有关。确定影响 PE 的可变喂养和亲子关系因素对于降低与 PE 相关的风险很重要。

客观的

本研究使用看护者的报告和对家庭用餐时间的观察，检查了看护者的喂养反应 (FR) 与儿童 PE 行为之间的关联。另一个目的是检查儿童的依恋行为是否缓和了这种联系。

方法

分析样本由 110 个家庭组成，这些家庭参与了一项更大规模的营养和儿童健康纵向研究。在儿童 18-24 个月（52% 为女性）时进行家庭观察，以评估照顾者与儿童的互动。看护者平均年龄为 30.9 岁，大部分是白人 (73.6%)。家庭用餐时间被录像并针对 FR 和儿童 PE 行为进行编码。护理人员完成了有关 FR 和 PE 行为的调查。

结果

看护者报告的 FR 与观察到的 FR 显着相关，r (107) = 0.26，p  = 0.007；护理人员报告的 PE 与观察到的 PE 相关，r (107) = 0.21，p  = 0.029。看护者报告的 FR 与观察到的 PE 呈负相关，但前提是观察者认为儿童与看护者的互动更积极、更顺畅。使用观察数据，儿童依恋显着调节了 FR 和 PE 行为之间的关系。

结论

照顾者与儿童互动的质量可能会影响 FR 在减少 PE 方面的有效程度。未来的纵向研究需要包括更多不同的人群、多个照顾者和解释这些关联的潜在机制。