Abstract
BackgroundEating habits formed in early childhood are influenced by parental feeding behaviors, warranting investigation of predictors and correlates of parent feeding. We aimed to describe relationships between parental feeding practices and parent and child characteristics in a sample of Brazilian preschoolers.MethodsFour hundred and two parents of preschoolers enrolled in private schools of São Paulo and Campinas, Brazil, completed a Brazilian version of the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire, as well as questions about parental attitudes, child food intake, other obesity-associated behaviors, and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. We ran bivariate logistic regression models examining associations between independent variables and each feeding practice. Next, we ran multiple logistic regression models predicting each parental feeding practice.ResultsGreater ‘Restriction for Weight Control’ and ‘Restriction for Health’ were associated with lower maternal education (OR = 2.42 (CI 95% 1.07–5.48) and 2.79 (CI 95% 1.25–6.22), respectively), and with higher concern about child overweight (OR = 2.46, CI 95% 1.64–3.69 for ‘Restriction for Weight Control’, only), while greater ‘Pressure’ was associated with greater concern about child underweight (OR = 2.30, CI 95% 1.53–3.47) and lower maternal BMI (OR = 0.94, CI 95% 0.88–1.00). Greater use of ‘Emotion Regulation/ Food as Reward’ was associated with lower maternal education (OR = 2.22, CI 95% 1.05–4.71). In analyses of positive feeding practices, lesser use of ‘Healthy Eating Guidance’ and ‘Monitoring’ was associated with greater intake of less healthy foods in children (OR = 1.53 (CI 95% 1.01–2.32) and OR = 1.94 (CI 95% 1.27–2.97), respectively), and greater use of screen devices (OR = 1.59 (CI 95% 1.04–2.44) and OR = 1.57 (CI 95% 1.03–2.39), respectively). Lesser use of ‘Healthy Eating Guidance’ was additionally associated with higher maternal BMI (OR = 1.09, CI 95% 1.03–1.16), and lesser use of ‘Monitoring’ with lesser perceived parent responsibility for child feeding (OR = 1.68, CI 95% 1.12–2.52).ConclusionsOur results demonstrate diverse socioeconomic, anthropometric and behavioral correlates of parent feeding in a large Brazilian sample of parents of preschoolers.
Highlights
Eating habits formed in early childhood are influenced by parental feeding behaviors, warranting investigation of predictors and correlates of parent feeding
In analyses of negative/non-nutritive feeding practices, both ‘Restriction for Weight Control’ and ‘Restriction for Health’ were associated with lower maternal education (RWC: OR = 2.42 (CI 95% 1.07–5.48, p = 0.034), RH: OR = 2.79 (CI 95% 1.25–6.22, p = 0.013)
This study of parental feeding practices in a large sample of Brazilian preschoolers revealed that a number of both positive and negative/non-nutritive feeding behaviors were significantly associated with selected parent and child characteristics, partially confirming our specified hypotheses
Summary
Eating habits formed in early childhood are influenced by parental feeding behaviors, warranting investigation of predictors and correlates of parent feeding. Eating habits formed in preschool years are likely to persist into later life such that early unhealthy food patterns could have implications for health throughout the life course [1, 2]. These habits are influenced by internal factors, e.g. the child’s own taste and food preferences, and by external factors, such as peers, media, and parents. Parental feeding practices are an attempt to maintain or modify children’s eating habits and weight status. Some of these efforts achieve the parent’s intended goals. Kröller & Warschburger (2008) found that mothers with higher education reported using more monitoring regarding children’s food intake [9]
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