The role of food selectivity in the association between child autistic traits and constipation

Holly A. Harris; Nadia Micali; Henriette A. Moll; Ina van Berckelaer-Onnes; Manon Hillegers; Pauline W. Jansen

doi:10.1002/eat.23485

The role of food selectivity in the association between child autistic traits and constipation

Holly A. Harris
, Nadia Micali
, Henriette A. Moll
, Ina van Berckelaer-Onnes
, Manon Hillegers
, Pauline W. Jansen^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

University of Geneva Medical School
Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
Leiden University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

29 Citations (Scopus)

91 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the association between child autistic traits and constipation symptoms, and explores whether this association is mediated by food selectivity.

METHOD: The sample included participants (N = 2,818) from the population-based birth cohort, Generation R (Rotterdam, the Netherlands). Parents reported their child's autistic traits at 6 years (using the Social Responsiveness Scale), food selectivity at 10 years (using the Stanford Feeding Questionnaire) and the frequency and severity of constipation symptoms they experienced at 10 years (using the ROME III functional constipation diagnostic criteria). Mediation analyses tested mediation through food selectivity in the association of autistic traits and the number of constipation symptoms, adjusting for covariates.

RESULTS: There was a positive association between parent-reported child autistic traits and constipation symptoms (r = 0.08, p < .001). We identified a significant indirect effect of autistic traits on constipation symptoms through food selectivity (β = 0.008, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.002, 0.014).

DISCUSSION: This study provides empirical support for the mediating role of food selectivity in the association between autistic traits and constipation. Behavioral interventions aimed to target food selectivity and support families of children with autistic traits may bolster conventional medical and nutritional treatments to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms like constipation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	981-985
Number of pages	5
Journal	International Journal of Eating Disorders
Volume	54
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23485
Publication status	Published - 17 Feb 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The general design of Generation R Study is made possible by financial support from the Erasmus Medical Center and the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW), the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Ministry of Youth and Families. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sk?odowska-Curie grant agreement (No. 707404 to H.A.H.). The opinions expressed in this document reflect only the author's view. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. The current study was also made possible by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (Mental Health Care Research Program, Fellowship 636320005 to P.W.J.).

Funding Information:
The general design of Generation R Study is made possible by financial support from the Erasmus Medical Center and the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW), the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Ministry of Youth and Families. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska‐Curie grant agreement (No. 707404 to H.A.H.). The opinions expressed in this document reflect only the author's view. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. The current study was also made possible by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (Mental Health Care Research Program, Fellowship 636320005 to P.W.J.).

Funding Information:
Erasmus Medisch Centrum; Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam; H2020 Marie Skłodowska‐Curie Actions, Grant/Award Number: 707404; Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, Mental Health Care Research Program, Grant/Award Number: Fellowship 63; the (Netherlands) Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport; the (Netherlands) Ministry of Youth and Families; the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research Funding information

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. International Journal of Eating Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

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Cite this

@article{ebe64a1ee80e478b879cecf2c808a094,

title = "The role of food selectivity in the association between child autistic traits and constipation",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: This study examines the association between child autistic traits and constipation symptoms, and explores whether this association is mediated by food selectivity.METHOD: The sample included participants (N = 2,818) from the population-based birth cohort, Generation R (Rotterdam, the Netherlands). Parents reported their child's autistic traits at 6 years (using the Social Responsiveness Scale), food selectivity at 10 years (using the Stanford Feeding Questionnaire) and the frequency and severity of constipation symptoms they experienced at 10 years (using the ROME III functional constipation diagnostic criteria). Mediation analyses tested mediation through food selectivity in the association of autistic traits and the number of constipation symptoms, adjusting for covariates.RESULTS: There was a positive association between parent-reported child autistic traits and constipation symptoms (r = 0.08, p < .001). We identified a significant indirect effect of autistic traits on constipation symptoms through food selectivity (β = 0.008, 95\% Confidence Interval: 0.002, 0.014).DISCUSSION: This study provides empirical support for the mediating role of food selectivity in the association between autistic traits and constipation. Behavioral interventions aimed to target food selectivity and support families of children with autistic traits may bolster conventional medical and nutritional treatments to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms like constipation.",

author = "Harris, \{Holly A.\} and Nadia Micali and Moll, \{Henriette A.\} and \{van Berckelaer-Onnes\}, Ina and Manon Hillegers and Jansen, \{Pauline W.\}",

note = "Funding Information: The general design of Generation R Study is made possible by financial support from the Erasmus Medical Center and the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW), the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Ministry of Youth and Families. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sk?odowska-Curie grant agreement (No. 707404 to H.A.H.). The opinions expressed in this document reflect only the author's view. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. The current study was also made possible by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (Mental Health Care Research Program, Fellowship 636320005 to P.W.J.). Funding Information: The general design of Generation R Study is made possible by financial support from the Erasmus Medical Center and the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW), the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Ministry of Youth and Families. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sk{\l}odowska‐Curie grant agreement (No. 707404 to H.A.H.). The opinions expressed in this document reflect only the author's view. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. The current study was also made possible by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (Mental Health Care Research Program, Fellowship 636320005 to P.W.J.). Funding Information: Erasmus Medisch Centrum; Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam; H2020 Marie Sk{\l}odowska‐Curie Actions, Grant/Award Number: 707404; Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, Mental Health Care Research Program, Grant/Award Number: Fellowship 63; the (Netherlands) Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport; the (Netherlands) Ministry of Youth and Families; the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research Funding information Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors. International Journal of Eating Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.",

year = "2021",

month = feb,

day = "17",

doi = "10.1002/eat.23485",

language = "English",

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T1 - The role of food selectivity in the association between child autistic traits and constipation

AU - Harris, Holly A.

AU - Micali, Nadia

AU - Moll, Henriette A.

AU - van Berckelaer-Onnes, Ina

AU - Hillegers, Manon

AU - Jansen, Pauline W.

N1 - Funding Information: The general design of Generation R Study is made possible by financial support from the Erasmus Medical Center and the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW), the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Ministry of Youth and Families. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sk?odowska-Curie grant agreement (No. 707404 to H.A.H.). The opinions expressed in this document reflect only the author's view. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. The current study was also made possible by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (Mental Health Care Research Program, Fellowship 636320005 to P.W.J.). Funding Information: The general design of Generation R Study is made possible by financial support from the Erasmus Medical Center and the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW), the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Ministry of Youth and Families. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska‐Curie grant agreement (No. 707404 to H.A.H.). The opinions expressed in this document reflect only the author's view. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. The current study was also made possible by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (Mental Health Care Research Program, Fellowship 636320005 to P.W.J.). Funding Information: Erasmus Medisch Centrum; Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam; H2020 Marie Skłodowska‐Curie Actions, Grant/Award Number: 707404; Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, Mental Health Care Research Program, Grant/Award Number: Fellowship 63; the (Netherlands) Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport; the (Netherlands) Ministry of Youth and Families; the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research Funding information Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. International Journal of Eating Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

PY - 2021/2/17

Y1 - 2021/2/17

N2 - OBJECTIVE: This study examines the association between child autistic traits and constipation symptoms, and explores whether this association is mediated by food selectivity.METHOD: The sample included participants (N = 2,818) from the population-based birth cohort, Generation R (Rotterdam, the Netherlands). Parents reported their child's autistic traits at 6 years (using the Social Responsiveness Scale), food selectivity at 10 years (using the Stanford Feeding Questionnaire) and the frequency and severity of constipation symptoms they experienced at 10 years (using the ROME III functional constipation diagnostic criteria). Mediation analyses tested mediation through food selectivity in the association of autistic traits and the number of constipation symptoms, adjusting for covariates.RESULTS: There was a positive association between parent-reported child autistic traits and constipation symptoms (r = 0.08, p < .001). We identified a significant indirect effect of autistic traits on constipation symptoms through food selectivity (β = 0.008, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.002, 0.014).DISCUSSION: This study provides empirical support for the mediating role of food selectivity in the association between autistic traits and constipation. Behavioral interventions aimed to target food selectivity and support families of children with autistic traits may bolster conventional medical and nutritional treatments to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms like constipation.

AB - OBJECTIVE: This study examines the association between child autistic traits and constipation symptoms, and explores whether this association is mediated by food selectivity.METHOD: The sample included participants (N = 2,818) from the population-based birth cohort, Generation R (Rotterdam, the Netherlands). Parents reported their child's autistic traits at 6 years (using the Social Responsiveness Scale), food selectivity at 10 years (using the Stanford Feeding Questionnaire) and the frequency and severity of constipation symptoms they experienced at 10 years (using the ROME III functional constipation diagnostic criteria). Mediation analyses tested mediation through food selectivity in the association of autistic traits and the number of constipation symptoms, adjusting for covariates.RESULTS: There was a positive association between parent-reported child autistic traits and constipation symptoms (r = 0.08, p < .001). We identified a significant indirect effect of autistic traits on constipation symptoms through food selectivity (β = 0.008, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.002, 0.014).DISCUSSION: This study provides empirical support for the mediating role of food selectivity in the association between autistic traits and constipation. Behavioral interventions aimed to target food selectivity and support families of children with autistic traits may bolster conventional medical and nutritional treatments to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms like constipation.

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JO - International Journal of Eating Disorders

JF - International Journal of Eating Disorders

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The role of food selectivity in the association between child autistic traits and constipation

Abstract

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