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Providers' response to child eating behaviors: A direct observation study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Tovar, A; Vaughn, AE; Fallon, M; Hennessy, E; Burney, R; Østbye, T; Ward, DS
Published in: Appetite
October 1, 2016

Child care providers play an important role in feeding young children, yet little is known about children's influence on providers' feeding practices. This qualitative study examines provider and child (18 months -4 years) feeding interactions. Trained data collectors observed 200 eating occasions in 48 family child care homes and recorded providers' responses to children's meal and snack time behaviors. Child behaviors initiating provider feeding practices were identified and practices were coded according to higher order constructs identified in a recent feeding practices content map. Analysis examined the most common feeding practices providers used to respond to each child behavior. Providers were predominately female (100%), African-American (75%), and obese (77%) and a third of children were overweight/obese (33%). Commonly observed child behaviors were: verbal and non-verbal refusals, verbal and non-verbal acceptance, being "all done", attempts for praise/attention, and asking for seconds. Children's acceptance of food elicited more autonomy supportive practices vs. coercive controlling. Requests for seconds was the most common behavior, resulting in coercive controlling practices (e.g., insisting child eat certain food or clean plate). Future interventions should train providers on responding to children's behaviors and helping children become more aware of internal satiety and hunger cues.

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Published In

Appetite

DOI

EISSN

1095-8304

Publication Date

October 1, 2016

Volume

105

Start / End Page

534 / 541

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Satiation
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Overweight
  • Obesity
  • Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Male
  • Infant
  • Hunger
  • Humans
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Tovar, A., Vaughn, A. E., Fallon, M., Hennessy, E., Burney, R., Østbye, T., & Ward, D. S. (2016). Providers' response to child eating behaviors: A direct observation study. Appetite, 105, 534–541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.06.020
Tovar, Alison, Amber E. Vaughn, Megan Fallon, Erin Hennessy, Regan Burney, Truls Østbye, and Dianne S. Ward. “Providers' response to child eating behaviors: A direct observation study.Appetite 105 (October 1, 2016): 534–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.06.020.
Tovar A, Vaughn AE, Fallon M, Hennessy E, Burney R, Østbye T, et al. Providers' response to child eating behaviors: A direct observation study. Appetite. 2016 Oct 1;105:534–41.
Tovar, Alison, et al. “Providers' response to child eating behaviors: A direct observation study.Appetite, vol. 105, Oct. 2016, pp. 534–41. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.appet.2016.06.020.
Tovar A, Vaughn AE, Fallon M, Hennessy E, Burney R, Østbye T, Ward DS. Providers' response to child eating behaviors: A direct observation study. Appetite. 2016 Oct 1;105:534–541.
Journal cover image

Published In

Appetite

DOI

EISSN

1095-8304

Publication Date

October 1, 2016

Volume

105

Start / End Page

534 / 541

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Satiation
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Overweight
  • Obesity
  • Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Male
  • Infant
  • Hunger
  • Humans