ArticleBMC public health2026
The forgotten voice of fathers in supporting children with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder: a scoping review.
Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAvoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in children causes emotional, psychosocial, and nutritional impairments that significantly affect families. While there is some evidence exploring parental experiences of ARFID, the perspectives of fathers remain underrepresented. Understanding the distinct roles and challenges faced by fathers is essential for to better understand what support may be required to ensuring a holistic, family-centred approach to care. The aim of this scoping review was to explore fathers’ experiences and role when supporting a child with ARFID in mealtimes and feeding.
methodsFollowing the PRISMA-ScR framework, a comprehensive search strategy was developed with an information specialist. Relevant qualitative and quantitative studies were identified, screened, and charted. Data were synthesised using content analysis to capture recurring themes. Of 174 records identified, 146 were screened, seven full texts reviewed, and five studies included.
resultsThree overarching themes were identified: (i) the psychological and emotional impact of ARFID (ii) societal expectations and (iii) communication and connection.
conclusionsThis scoping review highlights that fathers play an active role in mealtimes and care for children with ARFID, yet their experiences remain underexplored. Evidence indicates high levels of stress and depression among fathers, whose voices are often unheard despite the positive impact of their involvement on patient outcomes. Traditional qualitative approaches may be insufficient to capture paternal perspectives, underscoring the need for more creative and inclusive research methods to ensure fathers are recognised as integral partners in the care of children with ARFID.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.