Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access originally published online on March 20, 2008
Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2008 33(8):885-893; doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsn026
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Differences in Family Mealtime Interactions between Young Children with Type 1 Diabetes and Controls: Implications for Behavioral Intervention
1University of Michigan/C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and 2Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
All correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Susana R. Patton, PhD, Division of Child Behavioral Health, University of Michigan, 1924 Taubman Center, SPC#5318, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5318, USA. E-mail: susanap{at}med.umich.edu
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Objective We examine clinically relevant differences in family mealtime behaviors for young children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and matched controls. Methods One hundred and eighteen families (46% boys; M age = 5.0, SD = 1.5 years) had at least three home meals videotaped and coded for family behaviors. Analyses had adequate statistical power to detect medium effects. Results Parents of children with TIDM offered a higher rate and frequency of commands to eat than controls. As the meal progressed, all parents worked harder at controlling mealtimes, while children ate less. Behaviors associated with lower dietary adherence and poorer glycemic control occurred on average 9 min of a typical 19 min meal for children with TIDM. Conclusions When differences in family mealtime behaviors have been found in other pediatric groups (e.g., cystic fibrosis), the results have directly informed the development of effective interventions. The clinically relevant results of this study can be used to inform interventions for young children with TIDM.
Key words: behavioral control; child rearing; chronic disease; nutrition; child, preschool.
Received March 12, 2007; revision received February 29, 2008; accepted March 3, 2008