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Impact of Disruptive Behavior in Childhood Feeding Difficulties

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Abstract

Pediatric feeding problems occur in 25–40% of all children and disproportionately affect children with health and/or developmental concerns. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at particularly high risk for feeding difficulties, though the connection between ASD and feeding problems is not well understood. As issues related to problematic feeding behavior frequently present to outpatient pediatric clinics, there is a need to understand the common factors that contribute to the development of both adaptive and maladaptive feeding behaviors. The current study examined predictors of problematic feeding behavior in children with and without ASD. Parents of children with ASD reported significantly greater child disruptive behavior, parenting stress, child feeding difficulties, and problematic parental feelings and strategies regarding feeding. Child disruptive behavior and parenting stress contributed the most variance in the prediction of child feeding difficulties and the relation between child disruptive behavior and feeding difficulties was partially mediated by parental strategies and feelings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama, 75 S University Blvd, UCOM 1000, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA

    J. Murphy, K. Zlomke & J. VanOrmer

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, Mobile, USA

    H. Swingle

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  1. J. Murphy
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  2. K. Zlomke
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  3. J. VanOrmer
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  4. H. Swingle
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Correspondence to K. Zlomke.

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Prior to recruitment and data collection, Intuitional Review Board Approval was obtained from the first author’s home institution and each data collection site provided administrative approval for the conduct of the current research project. Legal guardians were provided with study information and provided documented informed consent prior to completing any study measures.

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Murphy, J., Zlomke, K., VanOrmer, J. et al. Impact of Disruptive Behavior in Childhood Feeding Difficulties. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 27, 406–415 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-019-09646-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-019-09646-y

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