Open AccessSocial and health behavioural determinants of maternal child‐feeding patterns in preschool‐aged children
Author(s) -
Moreira Isabel,
Severo Milton,
Oliveira Andreia,
Durão Catarina,
Moreira Pedro,
Barros Henrique,
Lopes Carla
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
maternal and child nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1740-8709
pISSN - 1740-8695
DOI - 10.1111/mcn.12132
Subject(s) - medicine , socioeconomic status , demography , offspring , body mass index , social support , cohort , developmental psychology , environmental health , pregnancy , psychology , population , psychotherapist , sociology , pathology , biology , genetics
Parental child‐feeding attitudes and practices may compromise the development of healthy eating habits and adequate weight status in children. This study aimed to identify maternal child‐feeding patterns in preschool‐aged children and to evaluate their association with maternal social and health behavioural characteristics. Trained interviewers evaluated 4724 dyads of mothers and their 4–5‐year‐old child from the G eneration XXI cohort. Maternal child‐feeding attitudes and practices were assessed through the C hild F eeding Q uestionnaire and the O vert/ C overt C ontrol scale. Associations were estimated using linear regression [adjusted for maternal education, body mass index ( BMI ), fruit and vegetables ( F & V ) intake and child's BMI z ‐score]. Principal component analysis defined a three‐factor structure explaining 58% of the total variance of maternal child‐feeding patterns: perceived monitoring – representing mothers with higher levels of monitoring, perceived responsibility and overt control; restriction – characterizing mothers with higher covert control, restriction and concerns about child's weight; pressure to eat – identifying mothers with higher levels of pressure to eat and overt control. Lower socioeconomic status, better health perception, higher F & V intake and offspring cohabitation were associated with more ‘perceived monitoring’ mothers. Higher maternal F & V intake and depression were associated with more ‘restrictive’ mothers. Younger mothers, less educated, with poorer health perception and offspring cohabiting, were associated with higher use of ‘pressure to eat’. Maternal socioeconomic indicators and family environment were more associated with perceived monitoring and pressure to eat, whereas maternal health behavioural characteristics were mainly associated with restriction. These findings will be helpful in future research and public health programmes on child‐feeding patterns.