Related Experiment Videos
Treating chronic food refusal in young children: home-based parent training
M A Werle1, T B Murphy, K S Budd
1Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Behavioral parent training improved child feeding behaviors by teaching mothers to offer rejected foods and use positive reinforcement. This parent training program effectively increased children's acceptance of new foods during mealtimes.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Behavioral Therapy
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Picky eating is a common challenge for parents.
- Parental strategies significantly influence child feeding behaviors.
- Home-based interventions can be effective for feeding issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a behavioral parent training program's impact on parent and child feeding behaviors.
- To assess the effectiveness of training mothers to increase acceptance of nonpreferred foods.
- To examine the effects of parent training on in-home mealtime dynamics.
Main Methods:
- A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across three mother-child dyads was employed.
- Mothers received training on offering target foods and providing contingent attention.
- Intervention focused on increasing child acceptance of nonpreferred foods and self-eating.
Main Results:
- All mothers increased target food offerings and prompt use after training.
- Two mothers increased positive attention, leading to increased child acceptance.
- Children demonstrated increased acceptance of target foods and self-eating behaviors.
- Initial increases in food refusal were temporary and decreased with continued treatment.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral parent training is effective in modifying parent and child feeding behaviors at home.
- The home-based treatment model shows promise for addressing feeding challenges.
- Parental strategies, such as contingent attention, play a crucial role in improving mealtime behaviors.