As a consequence of the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) child care facilities all over the world were temporarily closed to minimize the spread of the virus. In Netherlands, the... Show moreAs a consequence of the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) child care facilities all over the world were temporarily closed to minimize the spread of the virus. In Netherlands, the first closure lasted for almost 2 months. The return to the child care center after this significant interruption was expected to be challenging, because earlier studies demonstrated that transitions into child care can be stressful for both children and their parents. The current paper retrospectively examined the distress of Dutch children (aged 0-4) and their parents during the first 2 weeks after the reopening of child care centers, and what factors accounted for individual differences in distress. In total, 694 parents filled out an online questionnaire about stress during closure and distress after the reopening of child care centers. Furthermore, questions regarding several demographic variables and child care characteristics were included, as well as questionnaires measuring child temperament, parental separation anxiety, and parental perception of the child care quality. Results showed that younger children and children with parents scoring higher on separation anxiety experienced more distress after the reopening, as reported by parents. Furthermore, children were more distressed upon return when they attended the child care center for less hours per week after the reopening, experienced less stress during closure, and grew up in a one-parent family. With regard to parental distress after the reopening, we found that parents scoring higher on separation anxiety and fear of COVID-19 experienced more distress. Moreover, parents experiencing less stress during closure and mothers were more distressed when the child returned to the child care center. Finally, concurrent child and parental distress after reopening were positively related. The results of the current study may help professional caregivers to identify which children and parents benefit from extra support when children return to the child care center after an interruption. Especially the role that parental separation anxiety played in predicting both child and parental distress deserves attention. More research is required in order to study the underlying mechanisms of these associations and to design appropriate interventions. Show less
Vliet, M.S. van; Mesman, J.; Schultink, J.M.; Vries, J.H.M. de; Vereijken, C.M.J.L.; Rippe, R.C.A.; Veek, S.M.C. van der 2021
Positive experiences with the introduction of solid food in infancy may lead to positive associations with feeding in both parent and infant. During this transitional period, parental feeding... Show morePositive experiences with the introduction of solid food in infancy may lead to positive associations with feeding in both parent and infant. During this transitional period, parental feeding behavior and infant eating behavior might mutually reinforce each other. A feeding style that is found to be associated with positive child eating behavior, is sensitive feeding. In the present study we tested bidirectional prospective relations between mother and infant behavior in a cross-lagged model using observations of two feeds on two consecutive days on which the first bites of solid food were offered. The sample consisted of 246 first-time mothers and their infants, whose feeding interactions were videotaped during two home visits. Maternal sensitive feeding behavior (consisting of responsiveness to child feeding cues, general sensitivity and non-intrusiveness) and maternal positive and negative affect were coded. In addition, infant vegetable intake was weighed and vegetable liking was reported by mother. Results showed at least some stability of maternal feeding behavior and infant vegetable intake and liking from the first to the second feed. In addition, during the second feed maternal sensitive feeding and positive affect were associated with infant vegetable intake (r=.34 and r=.14) and liking (r=.33 and r=.39). These associations were mostly absent during the first feed. Finally, infant vegetable liking during the first feed positively predicted maternal sensitive feeding behavior during the second feed (β=.25), suggesting that the infant's first response might influence maternal behavior. Taken together, mother and infant seem more attuned during the second feed than during the first feed. Future studies might include multiple observations over a longer time period, or micro-coding. Such insights can inform prevention programs focusing on optimizing feeding experiences during the weaning period. Show less
Schultink, J.M.; Vries, J.H.M. de; Wild, V.W.T. de; Vliet, M.S. van; Veek, S.M.C. van der; Martens, V.E.G; ... ; Jager, G. 2021
BACKGROUND\nOBJECTIVES\nMETHODS\nRESULTS\nCONCLUSION\nEating in the absence of hunger (EAH), the susceptibility to eat despite satiety, may increase overweight. While EAH has been established in... Show moreBACKGROUND\nOBJECTIVES\nMETHODS\nRESULTS\nCONCLUSION\nEating in the absence of hunger (EAH), the susceptibility to eat despite satiety, may increase overweight. While EAH has been established in school-aged children, less is known about it during toddlerhood.\nThis study assessed to what extent 18-month-old children eat in the absence of hunger, the stability of this behaviour at 24 months and the association of child eating behaviours with EAH.\nChildren were presented with four palatable finger foods (total 275 kcal) after dinner. Univariate GLM's assessed the association between EAH, child satiety and eating behaviours and energy intake of dinner at 18 and 24 months (n = 206 and 103, respectively). Another GLM was run to assess the association between EAH at both time points.\nMean (±SD) energy intakes from dinner and finger foods were 240 kcal (±117) and 40 kcal (±37), respectively. No association was found between energy intake of dinner and finger foods. Enjoyment of food was significantly related to intake of finger foods (P = .005). EAH at 18 months predicted EAH at 24 months.\nEighteen-month-old children ate in the absence of hunger, irrespective of satiety. Thus, preceding energy intake was not compensated for. Other factors, for example, enjoyment of food seem to determine finger food intake. Show less
Veek, S.M.C. van der; Graaf, C. de; Vries, J.H.M. de; Jager, G.; Vereijken, C.M.J.L.; Weenen, H.; ... ; Mesman, J. 2019
The effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy for paediatric functional abdominal pain leaves room for improvement. We studied which factors addressed in cognitive behaviour therapy relate most... Show moreThe effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy for paediatric functional abdominal pain leaves room for improvement. We studied which factors addressed in cognitive behaviour therapy relate most strongly to the physical and psychological functioning of children with functional abdominal pain and are thus most important to target. Questionnaires were filled out by 117 children with functional abdominal pain and their parents. Multiple regression analyses showed that children's passive coping and parental and children's positive cognitions relate to child functioning. Negative cognitions and parental solicitous behaviour were unrelated to child functioning. Cognitive behaviour therapy for functional abdominal pain may benefit most from changing children's passive coping and promoting positive cognitions. Show less
Camfferman, R.; Jansen, P.W.; Rippe, R.C.A.; Mesman, J.; Derks, I.P.M.; Tiemeier, H.; ... ; Veek, S.M.C. van der 2016
