Good nutrition positively affects social development, Penn research shows

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-05/uop-gnp051016.php

Public Release: 10-May-2016
Good nutrition positively affects social development, Penn research shows
University of Pennsylvania

Proper nutrition during childhood can positively affect a child's social behaviors and development.

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It's a unique take on a field that often focuses on how poor diet negatively influences early childhood development.

"What people are not doing is looking at positive effects of good nutrition, in particular on social behavior," said Raine, a Penn Integrates Knowledge professor with appointments in the School of Arts & Sciences and Medicine. "We link nutrition to physical health but also social health and positive social behavior."

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Physical health factors included anemia expressed by low hemoglobin levels, reflecting iron deficiency; angular stomatitis revealed by cracked lips and a lack of vitamin B2 and niacin; and insufficient protein intake indicated by thin or sparse hair and hair discoloration. On Mauritius, where the majority of children have black hair, that fourth factor shows up as an orange or red tint to the hair.

The researchers considered a child with just one of the quartet as "suffering from nutritional deficits." However, children with more malnutrition indicators showed more impaired social behavior.

Social interactions studied included friendliness, extent of verbalization, active social play and exploratory behavior. A research assistant observed every child's success and rated these factors on a specified scale. The observer knew that the research concentrated on child development and behavior but was unaware of the nutrition-related hypothesis.

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