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A population-based study of preschoolers' food neophobia and its associations with food preferences
journal contribution
posted on 2008-01-01, 00:00 authored by Georgie RussellGeorgie Russell, Tony WorsleyTony WorsleyObjective: This cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the relationships between food preferences, food neophobia, and children’s characteristics among a population-based sample of preschoolers.
Design: A parent-report questionnaire.
Setting: Child-care centers, kindergartens, playgroups, day nurseries, and swimming centers.
Subjects: 371 two- to five-year-old Australian children.
Outcome Measures: Associations between food neophobia and the food preferences and characteristics.
Analysis: Analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, Pearson product-moment correlations, and Fisher z test were used to estimate and compare the associations between these variables.
Results: Food neophobia was associated with reduced preferences for all food groups, but especially for vegetables (r = −0.60; P < .001). It was also associated with liking fewer food types (r = −0.55; P < .001), disliking more food types (r = 0.42; P < .001), the number of untried food types (r = 0.25; P < .001), a less varied range of food preferences (r = −0.59; P < .001), and less healthful food preferences overall (r = −0.55; P < .001). No significant relationships (P < .01) were observed between food neophobia and a child’s age, sex, or history of breast-feeding.
Conclusions: The study confirms and extends results obtained in experimental research and population-based intake studies of food neophobia to children’s everyday food preferences. The findings suggest that preschool children’s everyday food preferences are strongly associated with food neophobia but not with children’s age, sex, or history of breast-feeding. When aiming to influence children’s food preferences, the effects of food neophobia and strategies to reduce it should be considered.
Design: A parent-report questionnaire.
Setting: Child-care centers, kindergartens, playgroups, day nurseries, and swimming centers.
Subjects: 371 two- to five-year-old Australian children.
Outcome Measures: Associations between food neophobia and the food preferences and characteristics.
Analysis: Analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, Pearson product-moment correlations, and Fisher z test were used to estimate and compare the associations between these variables.
Results: Food neophobia was associated with reduced preferences for all food groups, but especially for vegetables (r = −0.60; P < .001). It was also associated with liking fewer food types (r = −0.55; P < .001), disliking more food types (r = 0.42; P < .001), the number of untried food types (r = 0.25; P < .001), a less varied range of food preferences (r = −0.59; P < .001), and less healthful food preferences overall (r = −0.55; P < .001). No significant relationships (P < .01) were observed between food neophobia and a child’s age, sex, or history of breast-feeding.
Conclusions: The study confirms and extends results obtained in experimental research and population-based intake studies of food neophobia to children’s everyday food preferences. The findings suggest that preschool children’s everyday food preferences are strongly associated with food neophobia but not with children’s age, sex, or history of breast-feeding. When aiming to influence children’s food preferences, the effects of food neophobia and strategies to reduce it should be considered.
History
Journal
Journal of nutrition education and behaviorVolume
40Issue
1Season
January-FebruaryPagination
11 - 19Publisher
DeckerLocation
Hamilton, Ont.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1499-4046eISSN
1878-2620Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2008, Society For Nutrition EducationUsage metrics
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Keywords
food likespreschoolchildrenAustraliafood neophobiafood preferencesSocial SciencesScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineEducation, Scientific DisciplinesNutrition & DieteticsEducation & Educational ResearchVEGETABLE CONSUMPTIONGENERAL NEOPHOBIASWEDISH FAMILIESPREDICTORSFRUITEXPOSUREADOLESCENTSHUMANSLIKINGEducation
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