Temperament profiles are associated with dietary behavior from childhood to adulthood.

Jari Lipsanen, Marko Elovainio, Christian Hakulinen, Mark S Tremblay, Suvi Rovio, Hanna Lagström, Johanna M Jaakkola, Antti Jula, Tapani Rönnemaa, Jorma Viikari, Harri Niinikoski, Olli Simell, Olli T Raitakari, Katja Pahkala, Laura Pulkki-Råback

Journal: Appetite 2021;151():104681

PMID: 32251766

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Temperament may be associated with eating behaviors over the lifespan. This study examined the association of toddlerhood temperament with dietary behavior and dietary intervention outcomes across 18 years.

METHODS

The study comprised 660 children (52% boys) from The Special Turku Intervention Project (STRIP), which is a longitudinal randomized controlled trial from the age of 7 months until the age of 20 years (1990-2010). Temperament was assessed using Carey temperament scales when the participants were 2 years of age. Latent profile analysis yielded three temperament groups, which were called negative/low regulation (19% of the children), neutral/average regulation (52%) and positive/high regulation (28%). Dietary behavior was examined from 2 to 20 years of age using food records, which were converted into a diet score (mean = 15.7, SD 4.6). Mixed random-intercept growth curve analysis was the main analytic method.

RESULTS

Dietary behavior showed a significant quadratic U-shaped curve over time (B for quadratic association = 0.39, P<.001; B for linear association = 0.09, P = 0.58). Children in the negative/low regulation temperament group had a lower diet score (less healthy diet) across the 18 years compared to children in the neutral/average or in the positive/high regulation group. Temperament was not associated with the rate of change in diet over time. Temperament did not have any interactive effects with the intervention (F [2, 627], P = 0.72).

CONCLUSION

Children with a temperament profile characterized by high negative mood, high irregularity and high intensity in emotion expression constitute a risk group for less healthy eating over the lifespan.

Address: Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.; Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland.; Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, CHEO Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada.; Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.; Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland.; Department of Medicine, University of Turku and Division of Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Finland.; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Department of Pediatrics and AdolescentMedicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.; Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland; Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Finland.; Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Finland; Paavo Nurmi Centre, Sports & Exercise Medicine Unit, Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Turku, Finland.; Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland; Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2020.104681

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MeSH Terms: Adolescent, Child, Diet, Diet, Healthy, Feeding Behavior, Female, Humans, Male, Risk Factors, Temperament, Young Adult