The prevalence and factors associated with food neophobia in preschool children: a cross-sectional study in Jiangsu Province, China

Abstract

objective

To understand the prevalence of food neophobia in preschool children and the factors that influence it.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study based on attribution theory with 575 parents of preschool children aged 3 to 6 years in two public kindergarten in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province from December 2021 to January 2022. Parents completed the General Information Questionnaire, the Child Food Neophobia Scale, the Parent Temperament Questionnaire, and the Caregiver Feeding Style Questionnaire.

Results

The results of our study showed that the prevalence of severe food neophobia in preschool children was 20.69%. Childhood food allergy was a positive predictor of food neophobia; parents’ own willingness to consume new foods was a negative predictor of childhood food neophobia. Authoritarian feeding style (compared to uninvolved parenting style), and easy temperament are protective factors for severe food neophobia in children. Difficult, slow to warm up temperament are risk factors for severe food neophobia in children.

Conclusions

Parental feeding style, child temperament, parents’ own willingness to try new foods and food preparation, and children’s history of food allergies are important factors influencing food neophobia. The results of the study can be used in the future to explore more variables related to food neophobia in children and to seek effective targets for intervention.