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Food and Non-Food-Related Behavior across Settings in Children with Prader-Willi Syndrome

Marie G Gantz1, Sara M Andrews1, Anne C Wheeler1

  • 1RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.

Genes
|February 22, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Parents and teachers report similar general and non-food behaviors in children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). However, parents report more food-related issues, especially when mothers have less education, highlighting setting-specific challenges.

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Science
  • Pediatrics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder affecting multiple systems.
  • Behavioral challenges, including food-related issues, are common in PWS.
  • Understanding behavior variations across settings is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe and compare food- and non-food-related behaviors of children with PWS in home and school settings.
  • To examine parent and teacher perceptions of these behaviors.
  • To identify factors influencing behavioral reporting differences.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Global Assessment of Individual's Behavior (GAIB) with 7 subscales.
  • Collected data from 86 parents and 63 teachers of children aged 3-18 with PWS.
  • Analyzed differences in reported behaviors based on setting and socio-demographic factors.

Main Results:

  • General Behavior Problem, Non-Food-Related Behavior Problem, and Non-Food-Related Obsessive Speech and Compulsive Behavior (OS/CB) scores showed no significant differences between parent and teacher reports.
  • Parents reported higher Food-Related Behavior Problem scores than teachers, particularly when mothers had less than a college education.
  • Parents reported higher Food-Related OS/CB scores than teachers; however, teachers rated overall OS/CB as more interfering with daily activities.

Conclusions:

  • Parent and teacher reports on PWS behaviors vary, especially concerning food-related issues and their impact.
  • Maternal education level may influence the reporting of food-related behavior problems.
  • Tailored interventions considering setting-specific behaviors and socio-demographic factors are needed to improve outcomes for children with PWS.

Keywords:
Prader–Willi syndromechildhoodfood-related behavior

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