title: Food selectivity, mealtime behavior problems, spousal stress, and family food choices in children with and without autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: Mealtime behavior problems and family stress occur frequently among families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it is unknown whether food selectivity is an associated factor. The associations of high food selectivity with mealtime behavior problems, spousal stress, and influence on family members were assessed among 53 children with ASD and 58 typically developing (TD) children ages 3-11 years. Compared to TD children, children with ASD were more likely to have high food selectivity, and their parents reported more mealtime behavior problems, higher spousal stress, and influence on what other family members ate. High food selectivity was associated with mealtime behavior problems in both groups. Interventions to reduce food selectivity may lead to decreases in mealtime behavior problems.
authors.affiliation: Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 465 Medford Street, Suite 500, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA. carol.curtin@umassmed.edu.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Curtin
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Service, Western Regional Office, 90 Seventh Street Suite 10-100, San Francisco, CA, 94103, USA. kristie.hubbard@fns.usda.gov.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hubbard
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, 336 Cunz Hall, 1841 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. anderson.1767@osu.edu.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA. eric.mick@umassmed.edu.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mick
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health & Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, USA. aviva.must@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Must
authors.affiliation: Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 465 Medford Street, Suite 500, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA. linda.bandini@umassmed.edu.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Bandini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Food selectivity; Mealtime behaviors