Maternal anxiety and diet quality among mothers and toddlers from low-income households

Abstract

We evaluated the association between maternal anxiety score and diet quality over time among mothers and toddlers in low-income families. Longitudinal data were collected from 267 mother–toddler dyads in an obesity prevention trial. Participants were recruited from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children and paediatric clinics between 2007 and 2010. Dyads were assessed at study enrolment (Time 1), 6-month (Time 2), and 12-month follow-up (Time 3). On the basis of a 1-day 24-hr dietary recall, we estimated maternal and toddler diet quality using the Healthy Eating Index 2015. Anxiety, a time-varying variable, was assessed via the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Associations between maternal anxiety score and maternal and toddler diet quality over time were assessed in adjusted mixed models. Maternal and toddler diet quality were positively correlated (r =.48, p