Vânia Sousa Lima

Prevalence and correlates of picky eating in preschool-aged children: A population-based study.

OBJECTIVE The present study, conducted with a population-based preschool children sample, aimed to examine the prevalence rates of picky eating according to the presence of the avoidance or restriction of food intake, searching for picky-eating correlates. METHODS 959 children from 1.5 to 6years old were evaluated by their parents and caregivers/teachers. Picky eating was assessed by CBCL 1.5-5 and C-TRF, following Cano et al.s (2015) procedure. RESULTS The prevalence of picky eating was 25.1%. The comparison of the picky-eating group and the non-picky-eating group indicated that picky eating was more common in older children and in children from lower-income families with younger parents. Significant associations were found between picky eating, pregnancy and birth delivery complications. Emotional and behavioral problems were also found to differentiate picky eaters and non-picky eaters using DSM-5-oriented subscales. The results of a binary logistic regression analysis revealed that children with somatic complaints and attention problems were more likely to be picky eaters. DISCUSSION Picky eating in preschool children should be considered together with sociodemographic features, pregnancy and delivery issues, and the presence of emotional and behavioral problems. Our results support the possibility that picky eating, as a specific eating pattern, could also be part of a broader pattern of behavioral problems in children.

Working Alliance Inventory for Children and Adolescents (WAI-CA)

The purpose of this study was to validate a version of the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) for children and adolescents (WAI-CA). The sample included 109 children/adolescents aged between 7 and 17 years, outpatients in a Clinical Psychology Unit (Portugal), who completed the WAI-CA between psychotherapy sessions 3 and 35. A subsample of 30 children/adolescents aged between 10 and 14 years filled out both the WAI-CA and the WAI within a one-to-two week’s interval. A subsample of 57 children/adolescents with ages between 7 and 17 years filled out the WAI-CA, and their accompanying parent the WAI. Results show high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha ranging from .71 to .89) and good external validity. Significant differences were found in the bond subscale according to age, gender, and diagnosis, with higher values in children compared to adolescents, in girls compared to boys, and in participants with internalizing and externalizing problems compared to participants with school problems. Moderate to strong significant correlations were found between children/adolescents’ WAI-CA and WAI scores and weak correlations between children/adolescents’ WAI-CA scores and parent’s WAI scores. Results suggest that the WAI-CA is a valid measure of working alliance to be used with children and adolescents.