Mothers’ restrictive eating and food neophobia and fathers’ dietary quality are associated with breast-feeding duration and introduction of solid foods

The STEPS study

Bibliographic Data

ID15095112
AuthorsJenni Vaarno (University of Turku, corresponding author), Harri Niinikoski (0000-0002-7071-918X, University of Turku), Anne Kaljonen (University of Turku), Minna Aromaa (0000-0001-5476-7395, Turku City Hospital), Hanna Lagström (0000-0002-5069-6582, University of Turku)
Year2015
Volume18
Issue11
Pages1991-2000
Publication date2015-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980014002663
PMID25472592
OpenAlexW2114969317
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited54

Objective The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between parental eating behaviours and dietary patterns and feeding practices of infants and young children. Design Data on infant-feeding practices were collected from each infant’s birth via parentally self-administered follow-up diaries. Three questionnaires, the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, the Food Neophobia Scale and the Index of Diet Quality, were administered when the children were aged 4 and 13 months. Setting South-western Finland. Subjects Families participating in the STEPS longitudinal cohort study ( n 1797). Results Mean duration of exclusive breast-feeding was 2·4 months and total duration of breast-feeding averaged 8·1 months. The first solid food was introduced into children’s diets at the age of 3·9 months, on average. Mothers with highly restrictive eating were more likely to introduce solid foods sooner than mothers who ranked lower in these behaviours (3·8 months v. 4·0 months, P =0·012). Neophobic mothers breast-fed exclusively (2·0 v . 2·6 months, P =0·038) and in total (7·2 v . 8·5 months, P =0·039) for shorter times than average mothers, even after adjusting for various demographic characteristics. Fathers’ diet quality was associated with total breast-feeding duration and with introduction of complementary foods in unadjusted analyses and with total breast-feeding duration also after adjusting for confounding factors. Conclusions Mothers’ and fathers’ eating patterns and practices are associated with the feeding practices of infants and young children. Health promotion interventions seeking to improve parents’ eating patterns might lead to more favourable feeding practices for infants and young children

Breast feeding · Confounding · Neophobia · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues · Demography · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics

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