Parental Perspective and Feeding Practices Effects on Food Neophobia in Elementary-Age School Children

<p>The Food neophobia (FN) behaviors in children are developed during childhood and can be influenced by parental FN and feeding behaviors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between FN and fruit and vegetable neophobia (FVN) among parents, the parents-reports on child's behavior and child self-reports. The effect of parental feeding practices and demographic variables on children’s FN and FVN were evaluated. Sixty-eight parents paired with their elementary school children (aged 7-12 years) in San Luis Coastal Unified School District participated in this study. Results indicated that parents reported their children more neophobic than children self-reported neophobia; however, there was a significant association between parents-reported child FN and child self-reported FN (r=0.62, <em>p</em><0.05). FVN behaviors were positively and consistently correlated with FN in both parents and children. Parents with the highest income levels used less restriction for weight and child control strategies to feed their children (<em>p</em><0.05). More pressure to eat was applied significantly for younger children, which increased their levels of food and FVN as reported by parents.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS in Agriculture - Food Science and Nutrition

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Food Science and Nutrition

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Ayoughi, Farnoosh

Contributors dc:contributor

• Amy Lammert

• Food neophobia
• fruit and vegetable neophobia
• parental feeding practices
• elementary-age school children
• parents
• Food Science

Identifier

10.15368/theses.2018.133

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:theses-3322