Maternal psychopathology and child risk factors in infantile anorexia

Abstract

This study examines a transactional and multirisk model for Infantile Anorexia (IA) and investigates the contributions of the parent, the child, and dyadic interactional variables related to this feeding disorder. The sample consisted of 371 mother-child pairs (children aged 6-36 months), of which 187 pairs of mothers and normally developing children (ND-group), and 184 mothers and IA children. All dyads were videotaped during feeding; mothers completed questionnaires assessing their psychological profiles and eating attitudes, as well as their children's temperament and emotional/ behavioral functioning. Analyses revealed that the IA-group showed higher scores in symptomatic characteristics both of the mother and of the child, and dysfunctional interactions during feeding as compared with the ND-group. Further analyses revealed that both child and maternal characteristics are significant predictors of dyadic interactional conflict. Results confirm that a multidimensional assessment is critical in the evaluation of IA.