Maternal sociodemographic factors differentially affect the risk of behavioral problems in Brazilian and Italian preterm toddlers

The main aim of the present study was to examine differences in behavioral problems in toddlers born very preterm in Brazil and Italy. The sample comprised 154 toddlers (18–24 months of age) born very preterm, including 76 toddlers from Brazil and 78 toddlers from Italy. The Child Behavior Checklist was used to assess behavioral problems. Specific sociodemographic factors (i.e., maternal age at childbirth and maternal education) and neonatal factors (i.e., gestational age, sex, and length of hospitalization) were tested as potential mediators of country-related differences in behavioral problems. Brazilian toddlers presented more internalizing, externalizing, and total behavioral problems compared with their Italian counterparts. The effect of country on the toddlers’ internalizing and total behavioral problems was mediated by maternal age at childbirth and education. Independent effects of country, maternal age at childbirth, and maternal education emerged for externalizing behavioral problems. No significant effect emerged for neonatal variables. These findings suggest that sociodemographic factors, in addition to country-related differences, should be considered when assessing the risk of behavioral problems in preterm toddlers.     

Not in Man's Image:

No abstract available for this article.     

The evaluation of behavioural problems in the first three years of life: Comparing parents and early childhood educators

The study investigates the degree of agreement between mothers, fathers and educators in the evaluation of early childhood behavioural problems, through the CBCL 1½–5. Data analysis indicates a good level of agreement between mothers and fathers, along with a significant divergence between parents and educators.     

One-year test–retest reliability of the Maryland Resource for the Behavioral Utilization of the Reinforcement of Negative Stimuli (MRBURNS)

The Maryland Resource for the Behavioral Utilization of the Reinforcement of Negative Stimuli (MRBURNS) is a novel behavioral task designed to measure individual differences in negative reinforcement-based risk taking propensity. Performance on the MRBURNS has been linked with alcohol-related problems and negative reinforcement-based drinking motives, as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression; however, it is unclear if performance on the task represents a stable measure of negative reinforcement-based risk taking over time. As such, the current study aimed to examine the test–retest reliability of the MRBURNS over a period of one year. Results indicate that the correlation between year 1 and year 2 risk behavior (average number of pumps) on the MRBURNS was .43 across all trials. With the one year test–retest reliability of the MRBURNS established, the MRBURNS may be a useful approach to measuring the relative contribution of negative reinforcement-based risk taking in the development of risky behaviors over time, and may be used to monitor the effects of novel interventions that aim to reduce negative reinforcement based risk taking in the real world.     

Effects of measurement aggregation on predicting externalizing problems from preschool behaviour

In long‐term studies of psychological development, the initial assessment of etiologically significant child behaviours is often carried out at a single point in time only. However, one‐time assessments of behaviour are likely to possess limited reliability, leading to attenuated longitudinal correlation coefficient magnitudes. How much this bias might have affected behavioural continuity estimates in longitudinal research is presently unknown. Using a data set from the Mauritius Child Health Project, we particularize the attenuating effects of single‐occasion behavioural assessments on consistency estimates of impulsive–aggressive behaviour over time. Specifically, two nursery teachers provided 15 consecutive weekly ratings of the aggressive behaviour of 99 four‐year‐old children. The same children were reassessed for the presence of externalizing behaviour problems at the ages of 8 and 10. There were substantial increases in both reliability and predictive correlation coefficient magnitudes when the preschool scores were aggregated across several weekly ratings. A further increase resulted after the two outcome assessments were combined into a composite score of school‐age externalizing symptoms. A generalized procedure, developed from the correction for attenuation formula, is introduced to describe the relation of aggregation to predictive validity in longitudinal research.     

5-HTTLPR基因多态性和早期养育压力对学前儿童问题行为的影响

本研究拟探讨5-HTTLPR基因多态性与母亲早期养育压力对中国汉族学前儿童问题行为的交互作用机制和性别差异。355名6个月婴儿及其父母参加了本研究。在婴儿6个月时，收集婴儿的口腔脱落细胞和母亲养育压力数据；在48个月时，再次邀请父母分别报告儿童的问题行为。结果发现：（1）当母亲养育压力较高时，s/s和s/l型男孩的外显问题行为显著高于l/l型男孩；但当母亲养育压力较低时，两组男孩没有显著差异；（2）当母亲养育压力较高时，l/l型女孩的内隐问题行为显著高于s/s和s/l型女孩；但当母亲养育压力较低时，两组女孩没有显著差异。研究结果表明，5-HTTLPR基因多态性与母亲养育压力在预测男孩外显问题行为和女孩内隐问题行为时的交互作用机制均支持素质-压力模型。     

Emotional and behavioural problems in children dealing with maternal breast cancer: a literature review

ABSTRACT

A significant number of breast cancer survivors are living with their minor children. In this review we investigated the impact of maternal breast cancer on children. A literature search conducted through PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and CINAHL yielded 26 relevant studies, which documented a variety of effects. Evidence has been presented that dealing with maternal breast cancer can cause uncertainty, anxiety and depression in children, but may also lead to enhanced social and academic performance. The risk of problems in these children is reported to be associated with both low parental affective responsiveness and excessive parental involvement. Internalising child problems were shown to be linked with maternal depression and family dysfunction, and externalising problems with family dysfunction and communication problems. Some of these problems may be modified by interventions for supporting these families, which should be designed to include both parents and children, and also the healthcare personnel.