Parental Feeding Styles Of Preschoolers In A Semi-Urban Setting In Kurunegala District

Abstract

Abstract: Parental feeding style influences the nutritional status, growth, development, health and survival of preschool children. The objective of this study was to describe the parental feeding styles in selected preschools in a semi-urban setting in Sri Lankan context. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 306 parent-preschooler pairs in selected preschools in Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretariat in Kurunegala district. Validated, interviewer administered, 27-item, Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire (PFSQ) on a five point Likert scale was used to assess four common feeding styles: Encouragement to Eat (EE), Control over Eating (CE), Emotional Feeding (EF) and Instrumental Feeding (IF). Mean scores were calculated for each scale which had a possible range between 1-5 with higher scores indicating a tendency for a particular feeding style. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. The mean age of the parents was 34.86 years (SD=4.93). The majority were mothers (N=250, 81.7%) educated up to Ordinary Level (N=117, 38.2%) with an average monthly income between Rs.30, 000-50,000 (N=133, 43.5%). The mean age was 58.06 months (SD=7.62). Majority were girls (N=164, 53.6%) with normal weight for height (50.0%, N=153). Mean scores for each feeding style were EE: 4.25 (SD=0.55), CE: 3.2 (SD=0.61), EF: 2.76 (SD=0.92) and IF: 2.35 (SD=0.78). Prominent parental feeding styles were Encouragement to Eat and Control over Eating. No gender differences were observed in parental feeding styles.