| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺中教育大學 === 幼兒教育學系碩士班 === 102 === This research surveys the current state and the variation of dietary behavior and bowel habits of preschool children in central Taiwan. Additionally, analyses on the correlation and predictability of dietary behavior and bowel habits are performed. The survey titled “Dietary Behavior and Bowel Habits of preschool children in Central Taiwan Questionnaire” was created for the purpose of this research. Using stratified random sampling, the survey was sent to 1,145 children between the ages of 3 to 6 enrolled in registered private and public kindergartens in central Taiwan. One thousand and seventy-four survey samples were returned, and the effective sample size is 1,012. This research utilizes descriptive statistics, independent t test, single factor analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation, and stepwise multiple regression to analyze the data. The conclusions are as follows:
1. Current state of dietary behavior and bowel habits of children in central Taiwan.
（1）Of the three categories assessing children’s dietary behavior, survey respondents scored the highest in “Daily Junk Food Intake,” followed by “Six Major Food Group Intake,” and then “Food Preferences.” “Overall Dietary Behavior Score” is in the mid-upper range, signifying the overall dietary behavior in children in central Taiwan is positive.
（2）Survey assessment of Children’s bowel habits is positive.
2. This research investigates the following seven demographic variables that contribute to variation of children’s dietary behavior: child gender, age, birth order, location of residence, child size, relationship to the child’s primary caregiver, and age of the primary caregiver. It is found that birth order, location of residence, and age of the primary caregiver are statistically significant factors that affect a child’s dietary behavior. All other factors are insignificant.
3. There is a significant association between bowel habits and gender of children in central Taiwan. Specifically, bowel habits of boys are better than girls.
4. Bowel habits of children are positively correlated with “Six Major Food Group Intake,” “Food Preferences,” “Daily Junk Food Intake,” and “Overall Dietary Behavior Score.”
5. A child’s birth order, location of residence, and relationship to primary caregiver, can be used to predict “Overall Dietary Behavior Score.”
6. A child’s gender, “Overall Dietary Behavior Score,” “Food Preferences,” “Daily Junk Food Intake,” and “Overall Dietary Behavior Score” can be used to predict the child’s bowel habits.
This study concludes that encouraging children to have a balanced and healthy dietary behavior is helpful to establishing normal and regular bowel habits in preschool children.
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