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Father`s role in infantile anorexia
Gonca Özyurt1, Yeliz Çağan-Appak2, Miray Karakoyun2
1Departments of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, İzmir Katip Çelebi University Medical Faculty, İzmir, Turkey.
The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
|April 11, 2019
Summary
Paternal involvement is key in treating infantile anorexia (IA), a feeding disorder often linked to mother-child relationship issues. Engaging fathers can improve infant feeding and parental dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Early feeding disorders are primarily non-organic, with mother-child relationship dynamics playing a central role.
- Infantile anorexia (IA) typically emerges between 9-18 months, coinciding with developmental milestones like spoon-feeding and autonomy.
- Organic causes for feeding disorders are less common, necessitating focus on psychosocial factors.
Observation:
- A case study of an 8-month-old girl diagnosed with IA after excluding organic conditions like allergies, reflux, malrotation, and neurological issues.
- The infant's IA was treated through parental relational regulation and active father participation.
- The study observed that mother-child relational disturbances and conflicts correlated with decreased dyadic reciprocity and inappropriate feeding affect.
Findings:
- Mother-child relational disturbances and conflicts are associated with infantile anorexia.
- Decreased dyadic reciprocity and non-appropriate affects during feeding are linked to IA.
- Paternal involvement in infant caregiving can be an effective component of IA treatment.
Implications:
- Effective treatment for non-organic feeding disorders requires attention to maternal mental health.
- Integrating fathers into infant caregiving and treatment processes is crucial for managing IA.
- Understanding and addressing the relational dynamics between parents and infants can improve feeding outcomes.