Parental feeding style on eating behavior of children living in rural areas of chang zhi city

Childhood nutrition and eating behaviors have become increasingly significant topics of concern due to their profound impact on long-term health and well-being. In the context of this concern, this study delved into the influence of parental feeding style on the eating behaviors of children residing in the rural areas of Changzhi City, situated in the Shanxi Province of China, exploring the dynamic interplay between parental practices and children's dietary habits to shed light on a crucial aspect of childhood nutrition. This correlation research study investigated the relationship between parental feeding style and children's eating behaviors using a correlational research design and involving a sample of 200 parents. The study specifically sought to explore potential associations between various parental feeding styles and specific eating behaviors exhibited by children.Data was collected through structured surveys administered to parents of children aged 3–12 years. The survey assessed parental feeding styles and their correlation with children's eating behaviors, including lack of appetite, picky eating, poor eating habits, parents' inappropriate expectations, fear of eating, and potential illness. The results of the analysis indicate that there is no significant correlation between parental feeding style and children's eating behaviors for all categories studied. The Pearson's χ² values for lack of appetite (0.50, p = 0.92), picky eating (0.72, p = 0.88), poor eating habits (2.08, p = 0.57), parents' inappropriate expectations (0.76, p = 0.86), fear of eating (0.95, p = 0.81), and potential illness (1.91, p = 0.65) all yielded p-values that are not statistically significant. These findings suggest that in this sample of 200 parents, there is no strong evidence to support a significant relationship between parental feeding style and the identified eating behaviors in children. The results emphasize the need for further research to explore additional factors that may contribute to children's eating behaviors, beyond the scope of parental feeding style.