Autistic traits and eating behaviors in Chinese preschoolers: Role of sensory profiles and home environment

Xiaocui Chen; Lifang Lin; Huiyun Xia; Shuo Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2024.107406

Autistic traits and eating behaviors in Chinese preschoolers: Role of sensory profiles and home environment

Appetite. 2024 May 10:199:107406. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107406. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xiaocui Chen¹, Lifang Lin², Huiyun Xia³, Shuo Zhao⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, 3688 Nanhai Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China. Electronic address: 2210481025@email.szu.edu.cn.
² School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, 3688 Nanhai Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China. Electronic address: 2210481038@email.szu.edu.cn.
³ Shenzhen Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, 56 Yulu Road, Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China. Electronic address: 541528286@qq.com.
⁴ School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, 3688 Nanhai Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China. Electronic address: zhaoshuo09@gmail.com.

PMID: 38735308
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107406

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to 1) explore the association between autistic traits and eating behaviors in Chinese preschoolers; 2) explore the mediating role of sensory processing patterns on the relation of autistic traits and eating-related behaviors; and 3) examine home nurturing environment as a moderator between autistic traits and eating-related behaviors. We hypothesize that there is a significant association between autistic traits and eating behaviors, which is mediated by sensory processing patterns and moderated by the home nurturing environment.

Method: 509 children aged 3-4 years participated in this cross-sectional research. They were assessed using the Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2) for autistic traits, the Chinese Preschoolers' Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CPEBQ) for eating-related behaviors, the Short Sensory Profile-Second Edition (SSP-2) for sensory processing patterns, and the Children Home Nurture Environment Questionnaire (CHNEQ) for home nurturing environment. Mediation regression analyses were used to examine the role of sensory processing patterns, while moderation analyses to examine the role of home nurturing environment.

Results: We observed a positive association between autistic traits and eating behavior problems among typically developed children. Sensory processing patterns significantly mediated the impact of autistic traits on children's eating-related behaviors and home nurturing environment also moderated this relationship.

Discussion: Our research suggests that Chinese preschoolers with higher autistic traits may face more eating challenges when they possess more heightened sensory processing patterns, while living in supportive home environments helps to improve their eating behaviors. These findings contribute to the understanding of how and to what extent eating problems are influenced by autistic traits, and they offer insight into the alleviation of eating problems from the perspectives of sensory patterns and family nurturing environments.

Keywords: Autistic traits; Eating problems; Home nurturing environment; Sensory processing patterns.