Developmental and mental health characteristics of children exposed to psychosocial adversity and stressors at the age of 18-months: Findings from a population-based cohort study |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center, Mental Health Services, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark;2. Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark;3. Centre for Telepsychiatry, Mental Health Services, Region of Southern Denmark, Denmark;4. National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark;5. Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark;6. Centre for Integrated Register-based Research (CIRRAU), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark;7. National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark;8. Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark;9. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Research Unit, Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark;10. Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands;11. Department of Psychiatry and Psychology at Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands;12. King''s College London, King''s Health Partners, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, London, England, United Kingdom;13. Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark |
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| Abstract: | BackgroundPrior research on adverse experiences in early childhood has mainly focused on at-risk populations while studies of unselected populations are scarce. This topic therefore remains to be elucidated in broader child populations. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to examine if and to what extent children from a general population sample are exposed to psychosocial adversity and stressors in early childhood and whether the development and mental health of children with and without such exposure differ at the age of 18-months.MethodsA random sample of the Copenhagen Child Cohort (CCC2000) comprising 210 children and their parents participated in the study when the children were approximately 18-months. Information on exposures was obtained from a semi-structured interview including the Mannheim Parent Interview (MPI) and classified in agreement with the Multiaxial Classification of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Disorders (ICD-10), and the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC: 0-3). Child development was assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development – Second Edition (BSID-II), while mental health was measured using the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL 1½-5).ResultsAmong the 210 children, 91 (43%) had been exposed to psychosocial adversity and persistent stressors. The exposed children differed from the non-exposed children by poorer cognitive development and behavioral regulation, as well as more attention problems and anxious/depressed symptoms. The children exposed to adverse caregiving environments were specifically more likely to have delayed cognitive development than the rest of the sample.ConclusionsIn a general population sample of children aged 18-months, exposure to psychosocial adversity and stressors was associated with poorer development and mental health in cognitive and affective domains. These findings highlight an avenue for further research with potential implications for early preventative practices. |
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| Keywords: | Early childhood Development Mental health Adversity Adverse childhood experiences |
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