Development of a measure of the relative reinforcing value of food versus parent-child interaction for young children

• Published in: Appetite 2020-10, Vol.153, p.104731-104731, Article 104731
• Main Authors: Savell, Malena, Eiden, Rina Das, Kong, Kai Ling, Tauriello, Sara, Epstein, Leonard, Fabiano, Gregory, Reardon, Kaley, Anzman-Frasca, Stephanie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative reward; Child development; Non-food reward; Parent-child interaction; Relative reinforcing value (RRV); Weight status
• ISSN: 0195-6663; 1095-8304
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2020.104731

The relative reinforcing value (RRV) of food captures individual differences in the motivation to eat and is associated with weight status among infants, children, and adults. Currently, there is no concurrent measure of the RRV of food versus a non-food alternative for 4-to-5-year-old children. The present study aimed to develop and validate a measure of the RRV of food versus time spent interacting with a parent in the context of reading among 4-to-5-year-old children. The first phase of the study involved an online survey. Parents of 4-to-5 year olds (n = 102) reported their children's consumption frequency and liking for thirty-six snack foods. A priori criteria were used to identify snacks that were well-liked and served at least sometimes for use in the subsequent laboratory study. Then, a validation study was conducted in the laboratory to examine the construct validity of the finalized RRV task. Thirty-one parent-child dyads completed a laboratory visit, in which children's RRV of food versus time spent reading with a parent was measured concurrently on a progressive ratio reward schedule. Linear regression was used to assess validity of the task. Children's RRV of food positively and significantly predicted BMI z-scores among children with complete data (B = 0.41, p