Preschool Executive Control, Temperament, and Adolescent Dietary Behaviors

Katherine M Kidwell; Tiffany D James; Rebecca L Brock; Amy Lazarus Yaroch; Jennie L Hill; Jennifer Mize Nelson; W Alex Mason; Kimberly Andrews Espy; Timothy D Nelson

doi:10.1093/abm/kaac052

Preschool Executive Control, Temperament, and Adolescent Dietary Behaviors

Ann Behav Med. 2023 Apr 5;57(3):260-268. doi: 10.1093/abm/kaac052.

Authors

Katherine M Kidwell¹, Tiffany D James², Rebecca L Brock³, Amy Lazarus Yaroch⁴, Jennie L Hill⁵, Jennifer Mize Nelson², W Alex Mason⁶, Kimberly Andrews Espy^{7

8}, Timothy D Nelson³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
² Office of Research and Economic Development, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.
⁴ Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, NE, USA.
⁵ Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
⁶ Department of Preventive Medicine, Tennessee Health Science Center, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN, USA.
⁷ Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
⁸ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, UT Health San Antonio, Long School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA.

Abstract

Background: Child temperament styles characterized by increased emotionality or pleasure seeking may increase risk for less healthful eating patterns, while strong executive control (EC) may be protective. The interaction of these characteristics with longitudinal outcomes has not yet been examined.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the association of preschool temperament and EC, as well as their interaction with adolescent eating.

Methods: Preschoolers (N = 313) were recruited into a longitudinal study, with behavioral measurement of EC at age 5.25 years, temperament assessed multiple times across preschool, and eating outcomes assessed in adolescence (mean age = 15.34 years).

Results: Separate latent moderated structural equation models demonstrated that weaker EC was associated with eating less healthful foods, including high sugar foods, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and convenience foods (p < .05). In the moderation models, negative affectivity temperament was correlated with eating less healthful foods, high sugar foods, and SSBs (p < .05). Children lower in surgency/extraversion temperament were more likely to drink SSBs. There was an interaction between temperament and EC, such that children high in negative affectivity with weaker EC were particularly more likely to consume less healthful foods, high sugar foods, and SSBs (p < .05). There was no interaction of surgency with EC and food consumption.

Conclusions: Child characteristics measured early in development were associated with later adolescent eating behaviors. Adequate EC could be necessary to counteract the drive toward eating associated with temperaments high in negative affectivity.

Keywords: Adolescence; Diet; Executive control; Preschool; Temperament.

Plain language summary

A preschool temperament style called Negative Affectivity, characterized by high levels of reactivity and negative emotion, predicted eating patterns a decade later. These children were more likely to eat less healthful foods and drink sugary drinks as adolescents. Strong executive function skills were important for redirecting toward healthful eating in children with Negative Affectivity.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Diet
Executive Function*
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Sugars
Temperament*

Substances

Sugars

Abstract

Plain language summary

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding