Associations Between Technology Use, Responsive Feeding, and Child Temperament Among Prior Prenatal Intervention Participants

Objectives:The primary objective was to examine associations between mothers' television and mobile device (TV/MD) use and responsive feeding during an observed mother-toddler mealtime interaction. The secondary objective was to assess whether dimensions of child temperament were associated with mothers' TV/MD use.Methods:Participants from a prenatal lifestyle intervention trial to prevent excess gestational weight gain among women with overweight and obesity (N = 77) were observed during a dinner-time meal when their children were aged 19.4 +/- 0.9 months. Trained video coders used the Responsiveness to Child Feeding Cues Scale to rate child strength of early/subtle, positive active, and negative active satiation cues and maternal responsiveness to these cues. Coders also recorded mothers' use of TV/MD. Child temperament was reported by mothers through the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised Very Short Form.Results:Twelve percent (n = 9) of mothers used TV/MD during the mealtime interaction. Children whose mothers used TV/MD exhibited stronger early/subtle cues (4.1 +/- 0.4) compared with children whose mothers did not use TV/MD (3.4 +/- 0.2; p = 0.04). Mothers who used TV/MD exhibited significantly lower responsiveness to child satiation cues (2.0 +/- 0.4) than those who did not use TV/MD (3.4 +/- 0.2; p = 0.001). Greater child temperamental negative affectivity was associated with a greater likelihood of maternal TV/MD use (OR = 4.80, 95% CI = 1.21, 19.03).Conclusion:Mothers' TV/MD use was associated with greater child temperamental negative affectivity and lower responsiveness to child cues.

Automated summary

The study aimed to explore the association between mothers' TV and mobile device use and responsive feeding during mealtime interaction with their toddlers. The results showed that mothers who used TV and mobile devices during feeding exhibited lower responsiveness to child cues and their children exhibited stronger negative affectivity. Additionally, greater child negative affectivity was associated with a higher likelihood of maternal TV and mobile device use.