Food Rejection and Eating Behaviors in Preschool Children: Relationship with Parental Food Neophobia and Feeding Style

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to examine the relationship between parental food neophobia, parenting style, dietary diversity, and children’s eating behaviors and food refusal in preschool children. Individuals and Method: The study included 97 children and their parents. Parents completed the Food Neophobia Scale and the Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire, while children’s eating behaviors were assessed using the Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire and the Child Food Rejection Scale. A 24-hour dietary recall was collected from the parents to calculate the dietary diversity score. Results: It was reported that 62.9% of the children exhibited picky eating behavior. The mean score of the parents on the Food Neophobia Scale was 39.71±10.07, the mean Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire score was 82.51±12.85, and the mean Dietary Diversity Score was 6.00±2.00. The mean Child Food Rejection Scale score was 35.55±7.74, while the total Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire score was 102.20±12.30. The analyses revealed a weak but significant positive correlation between parental food neophobia and child food rejection (r=0.149; p=0.034). In addition, a weak positive significant relationship was found between parental feeding style and both child food rejection and children’s eating behaviors (respectively r=0.317, r=0.360, p

Keywords

• Eating Behaviours

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References

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Cite this publication

@article{yalcinpehlivan2026food,
  author = {Yal{\c{c}}{\i}n Pehlivan, Ece and Karaca, Melike and Taylan, {\"O}zge},
  title = {{Food Rejection and Eating Behaviors in Preschool Children: Relationship with Parental Food Neophobia and Feeding Style}},
  journal = {Current Research in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics Journal},
  volume = {1},
  number = {2},
  pages = {55--65},
  publisher = {Hacettepe {\"U}niversitesi},
  year = {2026},
  month = {5},
  url = {https://hacettepe.hbtech.com.tr/en/publication/food-rejection-and-eating-behaviors-in-preschool-children-relationship-with-parental-food-neophobia-and-feeding-style},
  language = {en},
  keywords = {Eating Behaviours},
  abstract = {Aim: This study aimed to examine the relationship between parental food neophobia, parenting style, dietary diversity, and children's eating behaviors and food refusal in preschool children. Individuals and Method: The study included 97 children and their parents. Parents completed the Food Neophobia Scale and the Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire, while children's eating behaviors were assessed using the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire and the Child Food Rejection Scale. A 24-hour dietary recall was collected from the parents to calculate the dietary diversity score. Results: It was reported that 62.9\% of the children exhibited picky eating behavior. The mean score of the parents on the Food Neophobia Scale was 39.71±10.07, the mean Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire score was 82.51±12.85, and the mean Dietary Diversity Score was 6.00±2.00. The mean Child Food Rejection Scale score was 35.55±7.74, while the total Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire score was 102.20±12.30. The analyses revealed a weak but significant positive correlation between parental food neophobia and child food rejection (r=0.149; p=0.034). In addition, a weak positive significant relationship was found between parental feeding style and both child food rejection and children's eating behaviors (respectively r=0.317, r=0.360, p},
  affiliation = {ERZINCAN UNIVERSITY and HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY and HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY}
}

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Yalçın Pehlivan, Ece
AU  - Karaca, Melike
AU  - Taylan, Özge
TI  - Food Rejection and Eating Behaviors in Preschool Children: Relationship with Parental Food Neophobia and Feeding Style
T2  - Current Research in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics Journal
VL  - 1
IS  - 2
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/25/
SP  - 55
EP  - 65
PB  - Hacettepe Üniversitesi
UR  - https://hacettepe.hbtech.com.tr/en/publication/food-rejection-and-eating-behaviors-in-preschool-children-relationship-with-parental-food-neophobia-and-feeding-style
AB  - Aim: This study aimed to examine the relationship between parental food neophobia, parenting style, dietary diversity, and children’s eating behaviors and food refusal in preschool children. Individuals and Method: The study included 97 children and their parents. Parents completed the Food Neophobia Scale and the Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire, while children’s eating behaviors were assessed using the Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire and the Child Food Rejection Scale. A 24-hour dietary recall was collected from the parents to calculate the dietary diversity score. Results: It was reported that 62.9% of the children exhibited picky eating behavior. The mean score of the parents on the Food Neophobia Scale was 39.71±10.07, the mean Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire score was 82.51±12.85, and the mean Dietary Diversity Score was 6.00±2.00. The mean Child Food Rejection Scale score was 35.55±7.74, while the total Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire score was 102.20±12.30. The analyses revealed a weak but significant positive correlation between parental food neophobia and child food rejection (r=0.149; p=0.034). In addition, a weak positive significant relationship was found between parental feeding style and both child food rejection and children’s eating behaviors (respectively r=0.317, r=0.360, p
KW  - Eating Behaviours
LA  - en
AD  - ERZINCAN UNIVERSITY
AD  - HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY
AD  - HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY
ER  -