Associations Between Personality Traits, Self-Efficacy and Complementary Feeding Behavior Among Infant Caregivers in
Xinru Zhou1, Yiran Tian1, Zhengjie Cai1
1Department of Health Behavior and Social Medicine, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Maternal & Child Nutrition
|March 13, 2025
Summary
Caregiver extraversion and self-efficacy significantly impact infant feeding practices. Enhancing caregiver self-efficacy is key for improving complementary feeding behavior and Infant and Child Feeding Index qualification.
Area of Science:
- Child Nutrition
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Psychological factors influence complementary feeding, but underlying mechanisms are unclear.
- Understanding caregiver personality traits and self-efficacy is crucial for effective infant feeding interventions.
- Existing research has not fully elucidated the interplay between personality, self-efficacy, and feeding behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between caregiver personality traits, self-efficacy, and complementary feeding behavior.
- To explore the direct and indirect pathways influencing the Infant and Child Feeding Index (ICFI).
- To identify psychological factors that can be targeted for interventions to improve infant feeding.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study utilizing multi-stage cluster sampling in rural China.
- Inclusion of 787 caregiver-child dyads.
- Statistical analyses included multiple logistic regression and Bayesian network structures (BNs).
Main Results:
- Higher caregiver extraversion and self-efficacy were directly associated with improved ICFI scores.
- Caregiver openness indirectly influenced ICFI through enhanced self-efficacy.
- Medium or high extraversion and high self-efficacy significantly increased the likelihood of ICFI qualification.
Conclusions:
- Caregiver personality traits and self-efficacy are significant predictors of complementary feeding behavior.
- Interventions should prioritize enhancing caregiver self-efficacy for better infant feeding outcomes.
- Understanding individual psychological differences is vital for tailored public health strategies in child nutrition.
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