Chen Xiaocui, Lin Lifang, Xia Huiyun, Zhao Shuo
School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, 3688 Nanhai Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China.
Shenzhen Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, 56 Yulu Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China.
Appetite. 2024 Aug 1;199:107406. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107406. Epub 2024 May 10.
This study aims to 1) explore the association between autistic traits and eating behaviors in Chinese preschoolers; 2) explore the mediating role of sensory processing patterns on the relation of autistic traits and eating-related behaviors; and 3) examine home nurturing environment as a moderator between autistic traits and eating-related behaviors. We hypothesize that there is a significant association between autistic traits and eating behaviors, which is mediated by sensory processing patterns and moderated by the home nurturing environment.
509 children aged 3-4 years participated in this cross-sectional research. They were assessed using the Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2) for autistic traits, the Chinese Preschoolers' Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CPEBQ) for eating-related behaviors, the Short Sensory Profile-Second Edition (SSP-2) for sensory processing patterns, and the Children Home Nurture Environment Questionnaire (CHNEQ) for home nurturing environment. Mediation regression analyses were used to examine the role of sensory processing patterns, while moderation analyses to examine the role of home nurturing environment.
We observed a positive association between autistic traits and eating behavior problems among typically developed children. Sensory processing patterns significantly mediated the impact of autistic traits on children's eating-related behaviors and home nurturing environment also moderated this relationship.
Our research suggests that Chinese preschoolers with higher autistic traits may face more eating challenges when they possess more heightened sensory processing patterns, while living in supportive home environments helps to improve their eating behaviors. These findings contribute to the understanding of how and to what extent eating problems are influenced by autistic traits, and they offer insight into the alleviation of eating problems from the perspectives of sensory patterns and family nurturing environments.
本研究旨在1）探讨中国学龄前儿童自闭症特质与饮食行为之间的关联；2）探讨感觉加工模式在自闭症特质与饮食相关行为关系中的中介作用；3）检验家庭养育环境作为自闭症特质与饮食相关行为之间的调节因素。我们假设自闭症特质与饮食行为之间存在显著关联，这种关联由感觉加工模式介导，并受家庭养育环境调节。
509名3至4岁的儿童参与了这项横断面研究。使用社会反应量表第二版（SRS - 2）评估自闭症特质，使用中国学龄前儿童饮食行为问卷（CPEBQ）评估饮食相关行为，使用简短感觉概况第二版（SSP - 2）评估感觉加工模式，使用儿童家庭养育环境问卷（CHNEQ）评估家庭养育环境。采用中介回归分析检验感觉加工模式的作用，采用调节分析检验家庭养育环境的作用。
我们观察到在发育正常的儿童中，自闭症特质与饮食行为问题之间存在正相关。感觉加工模式显著介导了自闭症特质对儿童饮食相关行为的影响，家庭养育环境也调节了这种关系。
我们的研究表明，自闭症特质较高的中国学龄前儿童在感觉加工模式更为敏感时可能面临更多饮食挑战，而生活在支持性的家庭环境中有助于改善他们的饮食行为。这些发现有助于理解饮食问题如何以及在多大程度上受到自闭症特质的影响，并从感觉模式和家庭养育环境的角度为缓解饮食问题提供了见解。
