Mealtime behaviour problems and its association with behavioural problems in preschool and elementary children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)‎

Abstract EN

Mealtime behaviour problems are one of the most prominent concerns associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children.

Few researchers have described mealtime behaviours and feeding issues, and their relationship with the diagnosis of ASD, its symptoms, and the surrounding environment has rarely been examined.

Objective: To explore Saudi parental reports of common mealtime behaviour problems in children with ASD with the help of an established tool for measuring mealtime behaviour problems in children with ASD.

Method: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study that utilized the Brief Autism Mealtime Behaviour Inventory (BAMBI) and the Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) to collect data.

Results: The study included 57 parents of children with ASD aged 4–12 years.

The findings revealed that children with ASD in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) do not generally display excessive behaviour problems, and there is no significant association between mealtime behaviour problems and general behaviour problems in children with autism in KSA.

Conclusion: Feeding behavioural problems do exist in children with ASD.

Understanding these behaviours could be the first step to designing suitable interventions to inform and educate children and their parents about healthier mealtime habits which could decrease parental distress.