Relationship between Executive Function, Mood, and Eating Behavior in Preschoolers

Abstract

Decreased executive function has been linked to unhealthy eating behaviors and obesity in older children and adults, however little is known about this relationship in young children. The purpose of this research was to first determine this relationship, and second, to explore whether mood and emotional reactivity are related to executive function and/or eating behaviors. We conducted a pilot study in a research‐based preschool at the University of California‐ Davis with 30 three to five year‐old children. Executive function was measured via four tasks: flanker, task‐switching, delay of gratification, and the Children's Gambling Task. An eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) task was used to determine nonhomeostatic eating behavior, and parents filled out the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Mood and emotional reactivity ratings were determined via parental reports on the Children's Behavior Questionnaire as well as direct measures of the children's mood and emotional reactivity with a visual analog scale, salivary cortisol and alpha‐amylase, and skin conductivity. Children who scored higher on the Children's Gambling Task ate significantly fewer calories from cookies in the EAH task. Higher scores on the task switching task, however, were associated with significantly more total calories consumed in the EAH task. No measures of mood or emotional reactivity were significantly related to calories consumed in the EAH task. Childrensˈ reports of mood prior to the Children's Gambling task were inversely related to performance on the task, such that a more negative mood was associated with riskier behaviors. Further studies are necessary to determine whether early interventions to improve executive function may also have the benefit of improving eating behaviors and decreasing risk of obesity in the long run.Grant Funding Source: USDA‐WHNRC, UC Davis Jastro Graduate Student Research Award