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Child attachment behavior as a moderator of the relation between feeding responsiveness and picky eating behavior

Samantha Iwinski1, Natasha Chong Cole2, Jaclyn A Saltzman3

  • 1Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States of America.

Eating Behaviors
|December 14, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Caregiver feeding responsiveness (FR) can reduce picky eating (PE) in toddlers, especially when children have positive interactions. Child attachment also influences this relationship, highlighting the importance of caregiver-child dynamics.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Family Studies

Background:

  • Persistent picky eating (PE) in early childhood is linked to poor development and caregiver stress.
  • Identifying feeding and parent-child factors influencing PE is crucial for mitigating associated risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between caregiver Feeding Responsiveness (FR) and child PE behaviors.
  • To determine if children's attachment behaviors moderate the FR-PE relationship.

Main Methods:

  • 110 families with toddlers (18-24 months) were observed during mealtimes.
  • Caregiver-child interactions, FR, and PE behaviors were coded from videotaped observations.
  • Caregiver surveys assessed FR and PE, complementing observational data.

Main Results:

  • Caregiver reports of FR and PE correlated with observed behaviors.
  • Caregiver FR was inversely related to observed PE, particularly in children with positive caregiver interactions.
  • Child attachment significantly moderated the link between FR and PE behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • The quality of caregiver-child interactions influences the effectiveness of FR in reducing PE.
  • Future research should explore diverse populations and multiple caregivers in longitudinal studies.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child attachment securityEating behaviorsFeeding responsivenessParent-child interactionsPicky eating

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