Food selectivity and problem behavior in children with developmental disabilities. Analysis and intervention

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Applied Behavior Analysis

Background:

• Excessive food selectivity is common in children with developmental disabilities.
• Problem behaviors often accompany food selectivity, complicating interventions.
• Understanding controlling variables is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify variables controlling problem behavior during food selectivity.
• To examine the role of establishing operations in improving food selectivity.
• To assess the efficacy of a contingency-based intervention with and without prior access to preferred foods.

Main Methods:

• Functional analyses were conducted to understand behavior.
• Interventions varied based on access to preferred foods and reinforcement contingencies.
• Problem behavior and food consumption were systematically measured.

Main Results:

• Problem behavior was significantly higher when presented with nonpreferred foods.
• Consumption of nonpreferred foods occurred only when preferred food access was limited and reinforcement was provided.
• Functional analysis indicated negative reinforcement maintained problem behavior.
• Establishing operations enhanced the effectiveness of the reinforcement contingency.

Conclusions:

• Limiting access to preferred foods can serve as an establishing operation, increasing the effectiveness of reinforcement for consuming nonpreferred foods.
• Contingency-based interventions, when combined with appropriate establishing operations, can ameliorate food selectivity and associated problem behaviors in children with developmental disabilities.
• Findings have implications for community-based interventions and inform the comparison of stimulus fading versus escape extinction strategies.