Mealtime Behaviour Problems and its Association with Behavioural Problems in Preschool and Elementary Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant professor- Department of Special Education- College of Educational Graduate Studies- King Abdulaziz University – Jeddah - Saudi Arabia

Abstract

 Mealtime behaviour problems are one of the most prominent concerns associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. Few researchers have described mealtime behaviours and feeding issues, and their relationship with the diagnosis of ASD, its symptoms, and the surrounding environment has rarely been examined. Objective: To explore Saudi parental reports of common mealtime behaviour problems in children with ASD with the help of an established tool for measuring mealtime behaviour problems in children with ASD. Method: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study that utilized the Brief Autism Mealtime Behaviour Inventory (BAMBI) and the Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) to collect data. Results: The study included 57 parents of children with ASD aged 4–12 years. The findings revealed that children with ASD in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) do not generally display excessive behaviour problems, and there is no significant association between mealtime behaviour problems and general behaviour problems in children with autism in KSA. Conclusion: Feeding behavioural problems do exist in children with ASD. Understanding these behaviours could be the first step to designing suitable interventions to inform and educate children and their parents about healthier mealtime habits which could decrease parental distress.

Keywords

References

  1.  

    1. Ahearn, W. H., Castine, T., Nault, K., & Green, G. (2001, October). An assessment of food acceptance in children with autism or pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31(5), 505–511. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1012221026124
    2. Al-Farsi, Y. M., Waly, M. I., Al-Sharbati, M. M., Al-Shafaee, M. A., Al-Farsi, O. A., Al-Khaduri, M. M., Gupta, I., Ouhtit, A., Al-Adawi, S., Al-Said, M. F., & Deth, R. C. (2013, February 1). Levels of Heavy Metals and Essential Minerals in Hair Samples of Children with Autism in Oman: a Case–Control Study. Biological Trace Element Research, 151(2), 181–186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9553-z
    3. Al-Kindi, N., Al-Farsi, Y., Waly, M., Al-Shafaee, M., Bakheit, C., Al-Sharbati, M., & AlAdawi, S. (2016, June 30). Comparative Assessment of Eating Behavior among Children with Autism to Typically Developing Children in Oman. Canadian Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 4, 51–64. https://doi.org/10.14206/canad.j.clin.nutr.2016.02.05
    4. Almaqrami, M. H., & Shuwail, A. Y. (2004, May). Validity of the self-report version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire in Yemen. Saudi Medical Journal, 25(5), 592–601.
    5. Alyahri, A., & Goodman, R. (2006). Validation of the Arabic Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Development and Well-Being Assessment. East Mediterranean Health Journal, 12(2), S138–146.
    6. Aponte, C. A., & Romanczyk, R. G. (2016, January 1). Assessment of feeding problems in children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 21, 61–72. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2015.09.007

     

    1. Attlee, A., Kassem, H., Hashim, M., & Obaid, R. S. (2015, August). Physical Status and Feeding Behavior of Children with Autism. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 82(8), 682–687. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-015-1696-4
    2. Bandini, L. G., Anderson, S. E., Curtin, C., Cermak, S., Evans, E. W., Scampini, R., Maslin, M., & Must, A. (2010). Food Selectivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Typically Developing Children. The Journal of Pediatrics, 157(2), 259–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.02.013
    3. Blaurock-Busch, E., Amin, O. R., & Rabah, T. (2011). Heavy metals and trace elements in hair and urine of a sample of arab children with autistic spectrum disorder. Maedica (Bucharest), 6(4), 247–257. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22879836
    4. Castro, K., Faccioli, L. S., Baronio, D., Gottfried, C., Perry, I. S., & Riesgo, R. (2016). Feeding behavior and dietary intake of male children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A case-control study. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 53(1), 68–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2016.07.003
    5. Cornish, E. (1998). A balanced approach towards healthy eating in autism. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 11(6), 501–509. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-277X.1998.00132.x
    6. Dfy, C., Ccw, Y., Hk, S., Chan, S., & Tsang, N. (2016, January 1). Mealtime Behavioral Problems in Hong Kong Chinese Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Psychological Abnormalities, 5. https://doi.org/10.4172/2471-9900.S1-004
    7. Evans, E. W., Must, A., Anderson, S. E., Curtin, C., Scampini, R., Maslin, M., & Bandini, L. (2012, January 1). Dietary patterns and body mass index in children with autism and typically developing children. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6(1), 399–405. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2011.06.014
    8. Geraghty, M. E., Bates-Wall, J., Ratliff-Schaub, K., & Lane, A. E. (2010). Nutritional Interventions and Therapies in Autism:A Spectrum of What We Know: Part 2. ICAN: Infant, Child, and Adolescent Nutrition, 2(2), 120–133. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941406410366848
    9. Goodman, R. (1997, July). The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: a research note. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38(5), 581–586.
    10. Goodman, R. (2001a, November). Psychometric properties of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40(11), 1337–1345. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200111000-00015
    11. Goodman, R. (2001b, November). Psychometric properties of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40(11), 1337–1345. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200111000-00015
    12. Gray, H. L., & Chiang, H.-M. (2017, March 1). Brief Report: Mealtime Behaviors of Chinese American Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(3), 892–897. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2993-0
    13. Greer, A. J., Gulotta, C. S., Masler, E. A., & Laud, R. B. (2007). Caregiver Stress and Outcomes of Children with Pediatric Feeding Disorders Treated in an Intensive Interdisciplinary Program. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 33(6), 612–620. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsm116
    14. Johnson, C. R., Handen, B. L., Mayer-Costa, M., & Sacco, K. (2008, October 1). Eating Habits and Dietary Status in Young Children with Autism. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 20(5), 437-448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-008-9111-y

     

    1. Koskelainen, M., Sourander, A., & Vauras, M. (2001, September). Self-reported strengths and difficulties in a community sample of Finnish adolescents. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 10(3), 180–185.
    2. Lecavalier, L., Leone, S., & Wiltz, J. (2006). The impact of behaviour problems on caregiver stress in young people with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50(3), 172–183. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00732.x
    3. Ledford, J. R., & Gast, D. L. (2006). Feeding Problems in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 21(3), 153–166. https://doi.org/10.1177/10883576060210030401
    4. Lukens, C. T., & Linscheid, T. R. (2008, February). Development and validation of an inventory to assess mealtime behavior problems in children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(2), 342–352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0401-5
    5. Muris, P., Meesters, C., & van den Berg, F. (2003, February 1). The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 12(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-003-0298-2
    6. Nadon, G., Feldman, D. E., Dunn, W., & Gisel, E. (2011). Association of sensory processing and eating problems in children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism Research and Treatment, 2011, 541926. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/541926
    7. Oommen, A., & AlOmar, R. S. (2020). Role of nutritional deficiency in the development of autism spectrum disorders. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 8(5), 1968–1972.

     

    1. Raiten, D. J., & Massaro, T. (1986, June 1). Perspectives on the nutritional ecology of autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 16(2), 133–143. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531725
    2. Ronning, J. A., Handegaard, B. H., Sourander, A., & Morch, W. T. (2004, April). The Strengths and Difficulties Self-Report Questionnaire as a screening instrument in Norwegian community samples. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 13(2), 73–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-004-0356-4
    3. Schreck, K. A., & Williams, K. (2006, July 1). Food preferences and factors influencing food selectivity for children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 27(4), 353–363. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2005.03.005
    4. Schreck, K. A., Williams, K., & Smith, A. F. (2004, August 1). A Comparison of Eating Behaviors Between Children with and Without Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34(4), 433–438. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JADD.0000037419.78531.86
    5. Sharp, W. G., Berry, R. C., McCracken, C., Nuhu, N. N., Marvel, E., Saulnier, C. A., Klin, A., Jones, W., & Jaquess, D. L. (2013, September 1). Feeding Problems and Nutrient Intake in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Meta-analysis and Comprehensive Review of the Literature. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(9), 2159–2173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1771-5
    6. Shmaya, Y., Eilat-Adar, S., Leitner, Y., Reif, S., & Gabis, L. (2015, March 1). Nutritional deficiencies and overweight prevalence among children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 38, 1–6. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2014.11.020
    7. Smedje, H., Broman, J. E., Hetta, J., & von Knorring, A. L. (1999, June). Psychometric properties of a Swedish version of the "Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire". European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 8(2), 63–70.
    8. Vissoker, R. E., Latzer, Y., & Gal, E. (2015, April 1). Eating and feeding problems and gastrointestinal dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 12, 10–21. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2014.12.010
    9. Viviers, M. (2018, August 9). Parent-reported feeding and swallowing difficulties of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (aged 3 to 5 years) compared to typically developing peers: A South African study. African Health Sciences, 20(1).
    10. Whiteley, P., Rodgers, J., & Shattock, P. (2000, June 1). Feeding Patterns in Autism. Autism, 4(2), 207–211. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361300004002008
    11. Williams, P. G., Dalrymple, N., & Neal, J. (2000). Eating habits of children with autism. Pediatric Nursing, 26(3), 259.
    12. Zimmer, M. H., Hart, L. C., Manning-Courtney, P., Murray, D. S., Bing, N. M., & Summer, S. (2012, April 1). Food Variety as a Predictor of Nutritional Status Among Children with Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(4), 549–556. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1268-z

    Zobel-Lachiusa, J., Andrianopoulos, M. V., Mailloux, Z., & Cermak, S. A. (2015). Sensory Differences and Mealtime Behavior in Children with Autism. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(5), 6905185050p6905185051–6905185050p6905185058. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2015.016790

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics