title: Relationships between feeding problems, behavioral characteristics and nutritional quality in children with ASD.
abstract: Many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have co-occurring feeding problems. However, there is limited knowledge about how these feeding habits are related to other behavioral characteristics ubiqitious in ASD. In a relatively large sample of 256 children with ASD, ages 2-11, we examined the relationships between feeding and mealtime behaviors and social, communication, and cognitive levels as well repetitive and ritualistic behaviors, sensory behaviors, and externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Finally, we examined whether feeding habits were predictive of nutritional adequacy. In this sample, we found strong associations between parent reported feeding habits and (1) repetitive and ritualistic behaviors, (2) sensory features, and (3) externalizing and internalizing behavior. There was a lack of association between feeding behaviors and the social and communication deficits of ASD and cognitive levels. Increases in the degree of problematic feeding behaviors predicted decrements in nutritional adequacy.
authors.affiliation: Autism Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3420 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA, Cynthia.johnson@chp.edu.
authors.forename: Cynthia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Kylan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Brianne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shui
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Macklin
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Patty
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manning Courtney
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hyman
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status