Accuracy of Syrain Refugee Mothers' Perceptions of Newborn's Birth Size: Insights from a National Survey in Turkey

Maternal Perception and Childhood Overweight: Examining Parenting Styles and Eating Behaviors Among Preschoolers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Samsun, Türkiye

BACKGROUND

Accurate maternal perceptions of children's weight status are crucial for early childhood obesity prevention, with evidence suggesting that maternal misperception may delay timely interventions. This study investigated the accuracy of maternal perceptions of child weight and examined associations with parenting styles and children's eating behaviors and demographic factors among preschool-aged children in Samsun, Türkiye.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 318 mother-child pairs recruited from preschools in socio-economically diverse areas of Samsun. Maternal perceptions of child weight status were assessed using a visual scale, while children's anthropometric measurements (height, weight) were recorded to calculate BMI-for-age Z-scores. Parenting styles and children's eating behaviors were evaluated using the Parental Attitude Scale (PAS) and the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ), respectively. Data analysis involved chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression to explore associations between maternal perception accuracy, parenting styles, and children's eating behaviors.

RESULTS

Among 318 mother-child pairs, 59.7% underestimated their child's weight status, with this figure being 84.9% among overweight children. Authoritative parenting was the most common style (78%); no significant association was found between parenting style and maternal perception accuracy. Accurate estimators showed significantly higher scores for food responsiveness (median: 9 (7-12), p = 0.028) and the enjoyment of food (mean: 16.3 ± 4.8, p = 0.003), whereas underestimators scored higher for satiety responsiveness (mean: 23.2 ± 5.7, p = 0.042) and slowness in eating (mean: 11.2 ± 4.2, p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal underestimations of child weight are prevalent, particularly for overweight children, are associated with children's specific eating behaviors. Targeted educational interventions focusing on improving maternal awareness and promoting responsive feeding practices are essential to combat childhood obesity.

Mother-child pairs' eating and feeding behaviours in two different nutritional status from two distinct provinces

Nutrition plays a crucial role for the bio-psycho-social growth and development of children. Mother-child pairs' eating-feeding problems can be hypothesized to relate to the child's nutritional status and living area. Our focus was to assess maternal attitudes and children's eating habits in thin and normal-weight children across two cities characterized by distinct socioeconomic and demographic profiles: Ankara and Şanlıurfa. This double case-control study included the mothers whose children are aged between 2 and 7 years old in both cities. Figure Rating Scale, Child Feeding Questionnaire and Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale were filled by mothers of children. The mothers of thin children were concerned more about the weight of their children, felt more responsible for feeding their children, and use of pressured them to eat more frequently compared to normal-weight children's mothers in both cities. In Ankara, the duration of breastfeeding is longer, using formula is rarer and starting complementary food on time is more common, mother had higher scores on perceived responsibility, perceived child weight, and concern about child weight subscales; lower score on the restriction subscale compared to Şanlıurfa. Mothers of both thin and normal weight children in Şanlıurfa rated their children as weaker compared to those in Ankara. In conclusion, child eating behaviors and parental feeding practices were associated with the weight of children depending on demographic and sociocultural differences. Implementing customized, location-specific preventive educational initiatives on child feeding will not only foster behavioral changes but also yield valuable insights for shaping future interventions.