Is maternal age associated with the quality mother-child feeding interactions? An explorative study

This study investigates the possible associations between maternal age and psychological well-being and mother-child feeding interactions. A sample of 134 mothers, stratified into young (20–30 years), middle-aged (31–36 years), and older (>36 years) groups, completed the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) to assess psychological distress, while feeding interactions were evaluated through video-recorded sessions analysed using the SVIA observational scale. Results revealed that older mothers reported significantly higher psychological distress and poorer feeding interactions compared to younger and middle-aged mothers (p < 0.001). Path analyses confirmed that psychological distress mediated the association between maternal age and feeding quality, with older mothers experiencing heightened distress that negatively influenced interaction quality (β = .69, p < .05). In contrast, middle-aged mothers’ feeding quality was indirectly influenced by lower distress levels, and younger mothers’ feeding outcomes were primarily shaped by high energy and responsiveness. These findings underscore the nuanced role of maternal age, with younger mothers benefiting from physical vitality but needing support for emotional readiness, while older mothers require interventions addressing distress and fatigue. The results emphasize the importance of tailored maternal support to optimize caregiving across age groups, contributing to improved child developmental outcomes.