Abstract:
Infant obesity is a global public health problem, also it is a risk factor for many diseases in childhood and even in adulthood. Maternal feeding behavior is strongly associated with infant obesity. Cluster random sampling was used to recruit 134 mothers with obesity infants in the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. Research instruments included demographic record form, Perceived Benefits of Maternal Feeding Behaviors Questionnaire, The Perceived Barriers of Maternal Feeding Behaviors Questionnaire, The Parenting Self-efficacy, Social Support Rating Scale, Parental Feeding Behaviors Questionnaire. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. The results of this study showed that the mean score of the feeding behavior of the mothers with obesity infants was 145.19 (SD = 21.78), the age of the mothers were 19-44 years old (mean=30.03, SD = 4.81). Monthly personal income (β = -.196, p < .05), parenting self-efficacy (β = .309, p < .05)and social support (β = .224, p < .05) together significantly explained 28% of variance in feeding behaviors (F(6, 127) = 9.613, p<.05). The findings can provide a theoretical basis for developing feeding behavior among mothers with obesity, in order to change the traditional concept, and reduce the occurrence of infant obesity.