PARENTAL FEEDING PRACTICES, CHILD EATING BEHAVIORS, AND FOOD NEOPHOBIA IN PAKISTANI PRESCHOOLERS: A MEDIATED MODEL

Abstract

Food neophobia, which is a reluctance to consume something new that is new food, is a major obstacle in dietary diversity during childhood, with placing consequential impacts on various aspects of nutrition and long term health effects. The present study examines the relationships between parental feeding practices, eating behaviours in children and food neophobia in a sample of preschool-aged children living in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Employing a quantitative, cross- sectional research design data were gathered from 380 mothers, using a set of instruments that have been proven to be valid, namely the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ), the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) as well as the Child Food Neophobia Scale (CFNS). Findings show that comprehensive feeding practices have a strong predictive influence on food neophobia (v was found to be 0.822, p < 0.001) as well as on child eating behaviours (v was found to be 0.590, p < 0.001). Moreover, child eating behaviour mediates to some extent between parental feeding practices and food neophobia. Cultural, socioeconomic and demographic variables were seen to modify these relationships, hence reinforcing the need for culturally sensitive intervention strategies that stimulate responsive feeding practices that protect autonomy. The outcomes highlight the reciprocal property of parent - child interaction regarding the development of food-related attitudes and behaviours.