Poor conceptual knowledge in the food domain and food rejection dispositions in 3- to 7-year-old children

Abigail Pickard, Jean-Pierre Thibaut, Kaat Philippe, Jérémie Lafraire

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Previous research established that children with poorer taxonomic knowledge in the food domain display increased levels of food rejection. However, the food domain heavily lends itself to script and thematic conceptual knowledge (e.g., pancakes at breakfast), to which young children already attend. This series of studies investigated the development of conceptual knowledge, specifically in the food domain, and the link with food rejection. Study 1 used a nonconflicting triad task testing children's knowledge of four subtypes of script and thematic associations (food-food pairs, food-utensil pairs, event scripts, and meal scripts) with children aged 3-6 years living in the United States (18 males and 14 females). Study 2 employed the same design along with a measure of food rejection in 3- to 6-year-olds living in France (67 males and 62 females). There was significant conceptual development in both groups, but thematic food concepts are acquired earlier than meal script concepts. Study 3 investigated the link between thematic and script cross-classification and food rejection in 39 females and 33 males living in France (4- to 7-year-olds). Results demonstrate that children as young as 3 years old are already attending to thematic and script structures to inform food-based decision making. Even more critically, Study 3 showed that increased food rejection tendencies are negatively related to script and thematic understanding in the food domain. Such seminal studies illustrate the importance of conceptual knowledge in children's interpretation and acceptance of food, highlighting promising avenues for knowledge-based interventions to foster dietary variety. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.]
Original languageEnglish
Article number105546
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Experimental Child Psychology
Volume226
Early online date10 Sept 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2023

Bibliographical note

© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Keywords

  • Food categorization
  • Script categories
  • Preschoolers
  • Thematic understanding
  • Food rejection
  • Food neophobia

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