A pilot survey of socio-economic differences in child-feeding behaviours among parents of primary-school children.
OBJECTIVE
Parents food choices and weight, but little is known about the social class distribution of parent self-reported child-feeding behaviours in two socio-economically contrasting areas.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey using the Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire. Mean scores were calculated for five child-feeding behaviours: control over eating, emotional feeding, encouragement/prompting, instrumental feeding and restriction. Parents behaviours that might be used to directly influence children's food intake and weight.


CONCLUSIONS
Child-feeding behaviours differ between areas within a single city and within a largely white population, and this distribution is related to socio-economic and educational factors. Experimental and longitudinal studies are needed to further investigate the potential role of child-feeding behaviours in childhood overweight and obesity.
Clark
Heather R
HR
Public Health Section, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK. heatherclark22@hotmail.com
Goyder
Elizabeth
E
Bissell
Paul
P
Blank
Lindsay
L
Walters
Stephen J
SJ
Peters
Jean
J
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires