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Title: Stability in the feeding practices and styles of low-income mothers: Questionnaire and observational analyses

Author
item SILVA GARCIA, KARINA - Washington State University
item POWER, THOMAS - Washington State University
item BECK, ASHLEY - Washington State University
item FISHER, JENNIFER - Temple University
item GOODELL, LORI - North Carolina State University
item JOHNSON, SUSAN - University Of Colorado
item O'CONNOR, TERESIA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item HUGHES, SHERYL - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/23/2018
Publication Date: 3/23/2018
Citation: Silva Garcia, K., Power, T.G., Beck, A.D., Fisher, J.O., Goodell, L.S., Johnson, S.L., O'Connor, T.M., Hughes, S.O. 2018. Stability in the feeding practices and styles of low-income mothers: Questionnaire and observational analyses. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 15(1):28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-018-0656-6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-018-0656-6

Interpretive Summary: The role of maternal feeding behaviors, food parenting practices, and feeding styles in the development of obesity in young children has been examined extensively. However, the stability of maternal feeding behaviors across time and settings has not been examined sufficiently. This study aimed to address this gap by analyzing data from observations of mealtimes at the home of low-income, African American and Latina families across eighteen months. Specifically, this study examined the consistency of observed maternal feeding behavior across eating occasions and the consistency of observed and self-reported maternal feeding behavior. Overall, feeding behavior was significantly different across situations, with both observed and self-reported feeding practices and styles showing moderate levels of stability over time and across meals. Also, self-reports of feeding behaviors were found to be more stable over time than observations of feeding behaviors. The lack of high stability of feeding behaviors suggests that factors specific to situations may play a major role in influencing maternal behavior. Thus, increasing parents' sensitivity to situational factors that affect their approach to feeding their children should be included in childhood obesity programs.

Technical Abstract: During the last two decades, researchers have devoted considerable attention to the role of maternal feeding behaviors, practices, and styles in the development of obesity in young children. Little is known, however, about the consistency of maternal feeding across settings and time. The purpose of this paper was to provide data on this issue by examining the consistency of observed maternal feeding behavior across multiple eating occasions, as well as examine the consistency of observed and self-reported maternal feeding behavior across 18 months. Videotapes from two studies of low-income mothers and their preschool children were coded for feeding practices, dimensions, and styles: a study of 137 low-income, African American and Latina mothers and their children observed during three meals in their homes over a two to three week period, and a study of 138 low-income, Latina mothers observed during a buffet meal in a laboratory setting on two separate occasions 18 months apart. Videotapes from both studies were coded for a wide range of maternal feeding behaviors and strategies. Mothers in the second study also completed three validated, self-report questionnaires on their feeding practices and styles. Overall, both observed and self-reported feeding practices and styles showed only moderate levels of stability across meals and over time. Maternal attempts to regulate children's eating showed more stability across meals and over time than the content of general mealtime conversation. Also, greater stability was found in what mothers were trying to get their children to do during the meals than in the strategies they used to influence child behavior. Self-reports of feeding showed greater stability over time than observational measures. Across meals and across 18 months, the stability of general feeding styles was between 40% and 50%. The findings demonstrate that maternal feeding behavior was only moderately stable across meals and over time-that is, feeding behavior varied considerably across situations. The lack of high levels of consistency in feeding behavior suggests that situational factors may play a major role in influencing maternal behavior as well. Family-focused childhood obesity programs should focus not only on helping parents change their feeding practices and styles, but also focus on increasing parents' sensitivity to situational factors that affect their approach to feeding their children.