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Are parents' anxiety and depression related to child fussy eating?

Lisanne M de Barse1,2, Sebastian Cardona Cano3, Pauline W Jansen4,5

  • 1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|February 27, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Parental anxiety and depression symptoms are linked to picky eating in children. Healthcare providers should recognize these parental mental health factors as potential risks for fussy eating behaviors in preschoolers.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Health
  • Parental Mental Health

Background:

  • Childhood picky eating, characterized by consistent rejection of foods, is a common concern for parents.
  • Parental mental health, including anxiety and depression, may influence child eating behaviors.
  • Understanding these associations is crucial for early intervention and support.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prospective association between parental anxiety and depression and fussy eating in 4-year-old children.
  • To determine if parental internalizing problems during pregnancy and the preschool years predict child food fussiness.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study of 4746 children and their parents from the Generation R study in the Netherlands.
  • Parental internalizing problems were assessed using the Brief Symptoms Inventory during pregnancy and child's preschool years.
  • Child fussy eating was measured using the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire's food fussiness scale.

Main Results:

  • Maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms during pregnancy and the preschool period were significantly associated with higher child food fussiness scores.
  • Similar associations were observed between fathers' internalizing problems and child fussy eating.
  • Paternal antenatal anxiety, however, did not show a significant association with child fussy eating.

Conclusions:

  • Parental internalizing problems, including non-clinical anxiety and depression, are prospectively associated with fussy eating in preschoolers.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering parental mental health in addressing child eating behaviors.
  • Healthcare practitioners should be aware of parental anxiety and depression as risk factors for childhood picky eating.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child PsychologyEpidemiologyNutrition

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