Maternal responses to difficult food request scenarios: Relationships with feeding style and child unhealthy snack intake.

Abstract

This study sought to identify parent-feeding behaviours in real-life difficult feeding situations through the use of a set of scenarios. These were then used to examine links between parent feeding and child snack intake. Mothers of children aged 2-7 years ( n = 611) completed an online survey containing five snack food request scenarios, two commonly used parent-feeding scales (Restriction and Covert Control), and reported on their child's snack intake. Results showed that parent-feeding styles (restrictive or covert) translated into specific behaviours in response to the scenarios. These parent behaviours predicted children's intake of unhealthy snack food over and above the feeding style.