Assessing children's mealtime problems with the mealtime behavior questionnaire

Authors

Kristoffer S. Berlin, The Warren Alpert Medical SchoolFollow
W. Hobart Davies, University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeFollow
Alan H. Silverman, Medical College of Wisconsin
Douglas W. Woods, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Elizabeth A. Fischer, Medical College of WisconsinFollow
Colin D. Rudolph, Medical College of Wisconsin

Abstract

A caregiver questionnaire that assesses mealtime problems in children aged 2 to 6 years old was developed. Community caregivers (n = 712) completed the Mealtime Behavior Questionnaire (MBQ) and measures of child behavior and family mealtime behaviors and environment. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed and validated the MBQ's 4 subscales (food refusal/avoidance; food manipulation; mealtime aggression/distress; and choking/, gagging/vomiting). Mealtime problems occurred from sometimes to always for 1% to 61% of the sample. The MBQ demonstrated excellent to fair internal consistencies, and preliminary evidence for validity was found. © 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Publication Title

Children's Health Care

Recommended Citation

Berlin, K., Davies, W., Silverman, A., Woods, D., Fischer, E., & Rudolph, C. (2010). Assessing children's mealtime problems with the mealtime behavior questionnaire. Children's Health Care, 39 (2), 142-156. https://doi.org/10.1080/02739611003679956