Influencia de las prácticas educativas en los problemas alimentarios en preescolares

AbstractThe aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence of feeding problems during the preschool period and to explore the associations of feeding related behaviors with parenting practices. Participants were a large community sample of N=622 children longitudinally assessed yearly at ages 3, 4 and 5 years-old through diagnostic interview and questionnaires reported by parents. The prevalence of children who met DSM-IV criteria for feeding disorder during the follow-up was 1.6%, the amount of children who presented feeding disorder symptoms was 33.3%, those with clinical impairment due to these symptoms were 25.7% and 11.6% reported seek for professional help related to feeding problems. Logistic regressions adjusted to children’s sex and other DSM-IV diagnoses different to feeding disorder showed that the dimensions of parenting more strongly related to feeding related behaviors and impairment due to feeding problems were poor monitoring, inconsistence practices, corporal punishment, low norms and low autonomy. Although the prevalence of preschool children who met DSM-IV criteria for feeding disorder was relatively low, the presence of feeding related behaviors (symptoms, impairment and consultation) was common during this developmental period. Parenting practices are associated to the presence of these behaviors, and so they must be considered into the prevention and intervention programs.ResumenEl objetivo del estudio es estimar la prevalencia de problemas relacionados con la alimentación durante el período preescolar y explorar las asociaciones de conductas relacionadas con la alimentación con las prácticas. Se estudió una amplia muestra comunitaria de niños (N = 622), que fue evaluada anualmente de forma longitudinal a la edad de 3, 4 y 5 años, mediante entrevistas diagnósticas y cuestionarios contestados por sus padres. La prevalencia de niños que cumplió criterios diagnósticos DSM-IV para recibir un diagnóstico de Trastornos de la Alimentación durante el seguimiento furede 1.6%, la cantidad de niños que presentó síntomas del trastorno llegó al 33.3%, los que presentaron deterioro clínico debido a estos síntomas fueron el 25.7% y hasta un 11.6% de las familias buscó ayuda profesional relacionada con los problemas relacionados con la alimentación. Los datos, analizados mediante regresiones logísticas ajustadas por el sexo de los niños y la presencia de otros diagnósticos DSM-IV, mostraron que las dimensiones de estilo parental más estrechamente relacionadas con los problemas y el deterioro relacionados con la alimentación fueron la pobre supervisión, las prácticas educativas inconsistentes, el castigo corporal, la baja presencia de nomas y la escasa autonomía. Aunque la prevalencia de niños preescolares que cumplían criterios diagnósticos para el Trastorno de alimentación fue relativamente baja, la presencia de problemas relacionados con la alimentación (síntomas, deterioro funcional y consulta) resultó ser común durante esta etapa evolutiva. Las prácticas parentales están asociadas a la presencia de estos problemas, y por tanto deberían ser consideradas en los programas de prevención e intervenciónAbstractThe aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence of feeding problems during the preschool period and to explore the associations of feeding related behaviors with parenting practices. Participants were a large community sample of N=622 children longitudinally assessed yearly at ages 3, 4 and 5 years-old through diagnostic interview and questionnaires reported by parents. The prevalence of children who met DSM-IV criteria for feeding disorder during the follow-up was 1.6%, the amount of children who presented feeding disorder symptoms was 33.3%, those with clinical impairment due to these symptoms were 25.7% and 11.6% reported seek for professional help related to feeding problems. Logistic regressions adjusted to children’s sex and other DSM-IV diagnoses different to feeding disorder showed that the dimensions of parenting more strongly related to feeding related behaviors and impairment due to feeding problems were poor monitoring, inconsistence practices, corporal punishment, low norms and low autonomy. Although the prevalence of preschool children who met DSM-IV criteria for feeding disorder was relatively low, the presence of feeding related behaviors (symptoms, impairment and consultation) was common during this developmental period. Parenting practices are associated to the presence of these behaviors, and so they must be considered into the prevention and intervention programs