Relationships between temperament and eating behaviours in young children

This study examined the associations between eating behaviours and temperament in a sample of young children. Mothers (N = 241) of children aged 3–8 years completed measures of their childrenʹs eating behaviours and temperament and reported their childʹs height and weight. Children with more emotional temperaments were reported to display more food avoidant eating behaviours. Shyness, sociability and activity were not related to childrenʹs eating behaviours. Higher child BMI was related to more food approach eating behaviours but BMI was unrelated to child temperament. Future research should explore more specifically how emotional temperaments might influence child eating behaviour.