title: Mother's Self-Efficacy Mediates the Relationship Between Household Food Insecurity and Maternal Infant Feeding Styles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to examine the association between household food insecurity, self-efficacy and infant feeding styles in mothers with children under 2 years old in Varamin, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 423 mothers aged 17-40 years from different areas of Varamin were selected by a multistage sampling methods from October 2013 to February 2014. The questionnaires consisted of three valid instruments, including: Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire and Mother's Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, t tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations and multiple linear regressions. Structural equation modeling was also used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mild and moderate-severe food insecurity was observed in 39.5 and 12.8 % of the households respectively. Mean score of mother's self-efficacy in food secure households was 32.5 ± 3.7; while in mild food insecure and moderate-severe food insecure households were 31.9 ± 3.1 and 28.4 ± 4.0, respectively (P = 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between household food insecurity and mother's self-efficacy (r = -0.297, P < 0.01). Significant correlation was seen between mother's self-efficacy and the maternal infant feeding styles. Household food insecurity and mother's self-efficacy had significant relationship with mother-infant feeding styles: control of home food access [β (SE)] = [-0.015(0.004), P = 0.001]; restriction for weight control [β = 0.038(0.013), P = 0.003]; restriction for health [β = 0.019(0.008), P = 0.027] and encouragement [=0.018(0.006), P = 0.001]. The model had sufficient fitness with data of the research (CFI = 0.927, RMSEA = 0.076).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that performing interventions in order to enhance mother's self-efficacy in food insecure households can lead to improve positive maternal feeding behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition Policy and Planning Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. nahidsalarkia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salarkia
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 46, West Arghavan St., Farahzadi Blv. Shahrak-E-Qods, POBOX 19395-4741, Tehran, 1981619573, Iran. nomidvar@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Omidvar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Fzayeri@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 46, West Arghavan St., Farahzadi Blv. Shahrak-E-Qods, POBOX 19395-4741, Tehran, 1981619573, Iran. hassan.eini@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hassan Eeini
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Zeinab
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. neytr@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tirang R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Neyestani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Feeding behaviors; Household food insecurity; Infants; Mothers; Self-efficacy