Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2025
Concept Development and Use of an Automated Food Intake and Eating Behavior Assessment Method
Published on: February 19, 2021
Understanding Caregivers' Influence on Preschoolers' Eating Behaviors: An Integrative Review Guided by the Theory of
Qutaibah Oudat1, Elaine L Miller1, Sarah C Couch2
1Department of Population Health, College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
Background/Objectives:
Primary caregivers of children play a significant role in developing their dietary behaviors. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this integrative review aimed to synthesize studies examining how personal and household characteristics, caregivers' dietary beliefs, intentions, and feeding practices influence the eating behaviors of preschool-aged children (2-5 years).
Methods:
PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2014 and September 2024. The expanded PRISMA 2020 checklist was used to guide the literature search and report the results. The Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) was also used to evaluate the quality of the selected articles.
Results:
A total of 10 studies were included in the final analysis. The studies revealed that preschoolers' eating behaviors were significantly influenced by personal characteristics (e.g., caregivers' BMI, and weight perceptions) and household factors (e.g., food availability). Additionally, caregivers' feeding practices, such as restriction, modeling, and permissiveness, played a pivotal role in shaping children's eating habits. Although caregivers expressed intentions to provide a healthy diet, they often faced barriers, including conflicting work schedules, financial constraints, and logistical challenges, which impeded their ability to consistently promote healthy eating behaviors.
Conclusions:
Caregivers' beliefs, intentions, and feeding practices are pivotal in shaping preschoolers' eating behaviors. However, the limited available literature and the underexplored mechanisms linking these factors make it challenging to draw solid conclusions. Future research should address these gaps and consider integrating caregiver-focused factors into tailored interventions to promote healthier eating habits in preschool-aged children. This can aid healthcare professionals in designing culturally and contextually sensitive strategies for improving childhood nutrition.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Behaviorism
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
01:30Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
02:16Self-Schemas
01:23Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
01:25Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention I
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...