Functional Assessment and Treatment of Mealtime Behavior Problems

This study utilized descriptive assessment methods to develop hypotheses regarding the function of mealtime behavior problems for three typically developing children. Functional treatment was evaluated in the natural setting with caregivers as change agents. Overall, results of the descriptive asses...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of positive behavior interventions Vol. 3; no. 4; pp. 211 - 224
Main Authors Galensky, Tami L., Miltenberger, Raymond G., Stricker, Jason M., Garlinghouse, Matthew A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Thousand Oaks, CA Sage Publications 01.10.2001
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
Subjects
Behavior modification
Behavior Problems
Caregivers
Children & youth
Developmental disabilities
Extinction
Food
Functional Behavioral Assessment
Hypotheses
Positive Reinforcement
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:This study utilized descriptive assessment methods to develop hypotheses regarding the function of mealtime behavior problems for three typically developing children. Functional treatment was evaluated in the natural setting with caregivers as change agents. Overall, results of the descriptive assessment suggested that each child's problem behavior was maintained by escape and, to a lesser extent, attention. In addition, this study suggested that direct observation was more reliable than a behavioral interview or questionnaire in acquiring the information necessary to develop hypotheses on factors maintaining a child's mealtime behavior problems. Finally, a functional treatment package consisting of extinction, stimulus fading, and reinforcement of appropriate eating behaviors implemented by the caregivers was effective in decreasing the mealtime behavior problems for two of the children who continued in the study, thus providing support for the hypotheses developed from the assessment.
ISSN:1098-3007
1538-4772
DOI:10.1177/109830070100300403