Conceptualizing and Measuring Appetite Self-Regulation Phenotypes and Trajectories in Childhood: A Review of Person-Centered Strategies

Abstract

This review uses person-centered research and data analysis strategies to discuss the conceptualization and measurement of appetite self-regulation (ASR) phenotypes and trajectories in childhood (from infancy to about ages 6 or 7 years). Research that is person-centered provides strategies that increase the possibilities for investigating ASR phenotypes. We first examine the utility of examining underlying phenotypes using latent profile/class analysis drawing on cross-sectional data. The use of trajectory analysis to investigate developmental change is then discussed, with attention to phenotypes using trajectories of individual behaviors as well as phenotypes based on multi-trajectory modeling. Data analysis strategies and measurement approaches from recent examples of these person-centered approaches to the conceptualization and investigation of appetite self-regulation and its development in childhood are examined. Where relevant, examples from older children as well as developmental, clinical and educational psychology are drawn on to discuss when and how person-centered approaches can be used. We argue that there is scope to incorporate recent advances in biological and psychoneurological knowledge about appetite self-regulation as well as fundamental processes in the development of general self-regulation to enhance the examination of phenotypes and their trajectories across childhood (and beyond). The discussion and conclusion suggest directions for future research and highlight the potential of person-centered approaches to progress knowledge about the development of appetite self-regulation in childhood.

Children’s eating behaviours and related constructs: conceptual and theoretical foundations and their implications

“…In this approach, instead of treating eating behaviours as single constructs, researchers conceptualize eating behaviours in terms of phenotypes that include patterns or collections of behaviours related to differences in eating behaviours/phenotypes in sub-groups of children. This approach assumes that the person is an integrated totality whose behaviours are interwoven and interacting over time [ 192 , 193 ]. It is a data driven and exploratory approach [ 193 ].…”

“…This approach assumes that the person is an integrated totality whose behaviours are interwoven and interacting over time [ 192 , 193 ]. It is a data driven and exploratory approach [ 193 ]. Its contribution at present seems mainly to suggest the presence of different phenotypes that involve a combination or pattern of individual eating behaviours and eating behaviour trajectories.…”

“…For example, a phenotype of food avoidance trending towards low food approach in infancy, or a phenotype of high and continuing food approach in infancy [ 194 ] or a phenotype of dysregulated behaviour (low inhibitory control and high impulsivity) together with higher food approach and lower food avoidance in childhood [ 102 ]. The person-centred approach therefore moves the conceptualisation of eating behaviour from individual variables to integrated combinations of variables and trajectories [ 102 , 193 , 194 ]. It places an emphasis on the dynamic interplay between behaviours rather than on individual eating behaviours.…”

“…It places an emphasis on the dynamic interplay between behaviours rather than on individual eating behaviours. We have noted that the contribution of this approach to the conceptualisation of eating behaviour will be enhanced through the development and inclusion of a wider variety and number of individual behaviours included in person-centred analyses [ 193 ].…”

How psychosocial stress profile influences the subsequent occurrence of neuropsychiatric comorbidities: A longitudinal population-based cohort study

“…There are different approaches to quantifying the cumulating effects of multiple stressors: 1) adding up the number of stressors; 2) using a composite score to factor in both the number of exposures and the contribution of individual stressors in the overall measure (Slopen and Cuevas, 2021); 3) applying a person-centered approach, e.g., latent profile analysis (LPA), to discover naturally-occurring clusters of individuals with similar patterns of stress exposures and explore the differences across classes (Merians et al, 2019). Studies have shown that person-centered approaches could provide insights into how stressors might be organized and interrelated at an individual level and may help to better conceptualize and measure multiple stressors (Russell et al, 2021).…”