Parental use of structure-based and autonomy support feeding practices with children with avid eating behaviour: an Ecological Momentary Assessment study
Abstract Background Avid eating is an eating profile which confers greater risk for childhood obesity and can be challenging for parents to manage. Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), we have previously shown that parental mood, feeding goals, and eating context determine parents’ use of co...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01768-x |
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| author | Katie L. Edwards Abigail Pickard Claire Farrow Emma Haycraft Moritz Herle Clare Llewellyn Helen Croker Alice Kininmonth Jacqueline Blissett |
| author_facet | Katie L. Edwards Abigail Pickard Claire Farrow Emma Haycraft Moritz Herle Clare Llewellyn Helen Croker Alice Kininmonth Jacqueline Blissett |
| author_sort | Katie L. Edwards |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Avid eating is an eating profile which confers greater risk for childhood obesity and can be challenging for parents to manage. Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), we have previously shown that parental mood, feeding goals, and eating context determine parents’ use of coercive and indulgent feeding practices. Parents have also reported using specific noncoercive practices which provide structure (e.g., modelling) or autonomy support (e.g., nutrition education) when feeding children with avid eating behaviour more effectively. However, research is yet to examine the momentary predictors of these adaptive feeding practices. Method This EMA study aimed to examine parental mood, goals, and context as momentary predictors of parents’ use of noncoercive feeding practices during daily feeding interactions with preschool children (3–5-years-old) with an avid eating profile. Parents (N = 109; females n = 85) completed a 10-day EMA period which assessed momentary mood, feeding goals, feeding practices, and contextual factors. Results Parents were more likely to use structure-based feeding practices when feeding goals were health-related, the atmosphere was positive or neutral, or when parents initiated eating occasions. Parents were also more likely to use autonomy support feeding practices when their feeding goals were health-related or when parents initiated eating occasions. Encouraging children to eat or negotiating with children about how much or what food to eat was significantly associated with a negative atmosphere during eating occasions. Conclusions Together, our findings show that parental mood, feeding goals and context are momentary predictors of parents’ use of noncoercive feeding practices to manage children’s avid eating behaviour. Further work is needed to examine whether supporting parents to prioritise health-related goals at mealtimes increases the use of adaptive, noncoercive feeding practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6c5a8236fcf247b682b7bba472b3626e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj-art-6c5a8236fcf247b682b7bba472b3626e2025-08-20T03:16:31ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682025-05-0122111310.1186/s12966-025-01768-xParental use of structure-based and autonomy support feeding practices with children with avid eating behaviour: an Ecological Momentary Assessment studyKatie L. Edwards0Abigail Pickard1Claire Farrow2Emma Haycraft3Moritz Herle4Clare Llewellyn5Helen Croker6Alice Kininmonth7Jacqueline Blissett8School of Psychology and Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment, Aston UniversitySchool of Psychology and Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment, Aston UniversitySchool of Psychology and Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment, Aston UniversitySchool of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough UniversitySocial, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College LondonResearch Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College LondonWorld Cancer Research Fund InternationalSchool of Food Science and Nutrition, University of LeedsSchool of Psychology and Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment, Aston UniversityAbstract Background Avid eating is an eating profile which confers greater risk for childhood obesity and can be challenging for parents to manage. Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), we have previously shown that parental mood, feeding goals, and eating context determine parents’ use of coercive and indulgent feeding practices. Parents have also reported using specific noncoercive practices which provide structure (e.g., modelling) or autonomy support (e.g., nutrition education) when feeding children with avid eating behaviour more effectively. However, research is yet to examine the momentary predictors of these adaptive feeding practices. Method This EMA study aimed to examine parental mood, goals, and context as momentary predictors of parents’ use of noncoercive feeding practices during daily feeding interactions with preschool children (3–5-years-old) with an avid eating profile. Parents (N = 109; females n = 85) completed a 10-day EMA period which assessed momentary mood, feeding goals, feeding practices, and contextual factors. Results Parents were more likely to use structure-based feeding practices when feeding goals were health-related, the atmosphere was positive or neutral, or when parents initiated eating occasions. Parents were also more likely to use autonomy support feeding practices when their feeding goals were health-related or when parents initiated eating occasions. Encouraging children to eat or negotiating with children about how much or what food to eat was significantly associated with a negative atmosphere during eating occasions. Conclusions Together, our findings show that parental mood, feeding goals and context are momentary predictors of parents’ use of noncoercive feeding practices to manage children’s avid eating behaviour. Further work is needed to examine whether supporting parents to prioritise health-related goals at mealtimes increases the use of adaptive, noncoercive feeding practices.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01768-xFood parenting practicesPreschool childrenAvid eatingHealth-related goalsEating occasionsEcological momentary assessment |
| spellingShingle | Katie L. Edwards Abigail Pickard Claire Farrow Emma Haycraft Moritz Herle Clare Llewellyn Helen Croker Alice Kininmonth Jacqueline Blissett Parental use of structure-based and autonomy support feeding practices with children with avid eating behaviour: an Ecological Momentary Assessment study International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Food parenting practices Preschool children Avid eating Health-related goals Eating occasions Ecological momentary assessment |
| title | Parental use of structure-based and autonomy support feeding practices with children with avid eating behaviour: an Ecological Momentary Assessment study |
| title_full | Parental use of structure-based and autonomy support feeding practices with children with avid eating behaviour: an Ecological Momentary Assessment study |
| title_fullStr | Parental use of structure-based and autonomy support feeding practices with children with avid eating behaviour: an Ecological Momentary Assessment study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parental use of structure-based and autonomy support feeding practices with children with avid eating behaviour: an Ecological Momentary Assessment study |
| title_short | Parental use of structure-based and autonomy support feeding practices with children with avid eating behaviour: an Ecological Momentary Assessment study |
| title_sort | parental use of structure based and autonomy support feeding practices with children with avid eating behaviour an ecological momentary assessment study |
| topic | Food parenting practices Preschool children Avid eating Health-related goals Eating occasions Ecological momentary assessment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01768-x |
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