Mothers' negative affectivity during pregnancy and food choices for their infants.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to analyze whether maternal negative affectivity assessed in pregnancy is related with subsequent infant food choices.


METHODS
The study design was a cohort study.


METHODS
The subjects were mothers (N=37 919) and their infants participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.


METHODS
Maternal negative affectivity assessed prepartum (Hopkins Symptom Checklist 5 (SCL-5) at weeks 17 and 30 of pregnancy), introduction of solid foods by month 3 and feeding of sweet drinks by month 6 (by the reports of the mothers) were analyzed.


RESULTS
Mothers with higher negative affectivity were 64% more likely (95% confidence interval 1.5-1.8) to feed sweet drinks by month 6, and 79% more likely (95% confidence interval 1.6-2.0) to introduce solid foods by month 3. These odds decreased to 41 and 30%, respectively, after adjusting for mother's age, body mass index (BMI) and education.


CONCLUSIONS
The maternal trait of negative affectivity is an independent predictor of infant feeding practices that may be related with childhood weight gain, overweight and obesity.
Hampson
S E
SE
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR, USA [2] Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo, Blindern, Oslo, Norway. sarah@ori.org
Tonstad
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Irgens
L M
LM
Meltzer
H M
HM
Vollrath
M E
ME
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology; D002253:Carbonated Beverages; D002755:Choice Behavior; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004041:Dietary Fats