Emotional expressiveness of 5-6 month-old infants born very premature versus full-term at initial exposure to weaning foods.
Facial expressions of 5-6 month-old infants born preterm and at term were compared while tasting for the first time solid foods (two fruit and two vegetable purées) given by the mother. Videotapes of facial reactions to these foods were objectively coded during the first six successive spoons of each test food using Baby FACS and subjectively rated by naïve judges. Infant temperament was also assessed by the parents using the Infant Behaviour Questionnaire. Contrary to our expectations, infants born preterm expressed fewer negative emotions than infants born full-term. Naïve judges rated infants born preterm as displaying more liking than their full-term counterparts when tasting the novel foods. The analysis of facial expressions during the six spoonfuls of four successive meals (at 1-week intervals) suggested a familiarization effect with the frequency of negative expressions decreasing after tasting the second spoon, regardless of infant age, type of food and order of presentation. Finally, positive and negative dimensions of temperament reported by the parents were related with objective and subjective coding of affective reactions toward foods in infants born preterm or full-term. Our research indicates that premature infants are more accepting of novel foods than term infants and this could be used for supporting the development of healthy eating patterns in premature infants. Further research is needed to clarify whether reduced negativity by infants born prematurely to the exposure to novel solid foods reflects a reduction of an adaptive avoidant behaviour during the introduction of novel foods.
Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition and Emotion (EA 4700), University of Normandy, Rouen, France.
Laetitia
L
Longfier
Centre for Smell, Taste, and Food Science, CNRS (UMR 6265), University of Burgundy-Inra, Dijon, France.
Robert
R
Soussignan
Department of Psychology, University of Durham, Durham, UK.
Nadja
N
Reissland
Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition and Emotion (EA 4700), University of Normandy, Rouen, France.
Mathilde
M
Leconte
Neonatal Pediatric Service - Reanimation and Neuropediatrics, University Hospital and IRIB (INSERM ERI28) and Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Normandy, Rouen, France.
Stéphane
S
Marret
Centre for Smell, Taste, and Food Science, CNRS (UMR 6265), University of Burgundy-Inra, Dijon, France.
Benoist
B
Schaal
Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition and Emotion (EA 4700), University of Normandy, Rouen, France. Electronic address: Daniel.Mellier@univ-rouen.fr.
Daniel
D
Mellier
D004644:Emotions; D005149:Facial Expression; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D007225:Infant Food; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013649:Taste; D013694:Temperament; D047929:Term Birth; D014886:Weaning
Emotion; Facial expression; Food diversification; Premature infants; Temperament; Weaning