Maternal sensitivity in early childhood and body mass index in adolescence: A population-based study on the role of self-regulation as a mediator.

Maternal sensitivity has been implicated in various aspects of child health and development, including overweight. However, long-term effects, the role of paternal sensitivity and the explanatory pathways are unclear. This study examined whether maternal sensitivity in early childhood is prospectively associated with adolescent body mass index and whether children's self-regulation mediates this relation. Data from 540 children and their mothers were available from a large cohort study in the Netherlands. Maternal sensitivity was assessed at child ages 1, 3, and at 4 years paternal sensitivity was also included. Children's self-regulation skills were observed at age 3, eating behaviour was assessed at 10 years, and child BMI was measured at 13 years. Longitudinal structural equation modelling was applied. The cross-sectional association between maternal sensitivity and child self-regulation was significant, while lower levels of self-regulation and higher levels of food responsiveness and restrained eating predicted a higher child BMI at 13 years. Furthermore, a direct association of paternal sensitivity at 4 years with BMI at 13 years was found, but only in girls. Maternal sensitivity was not directly associated with child BMI after adjusting for covariates. Our findings showed the importance of self-regulation in the early years for subsequent weight development. Nevertheless, as self-regulation could not explain the relationship between parenting and child weight, research should focus on the contribution of other contextual factors, such as feeding styles and the social environment, to this relationship.

Attachment research and anti-racism: learning from Black and Brown scholars.

Preliminary evidence suggests that people and scholars of African and/or Latin American and Caribbean origin are often under-represented in mainstream attachment scholarship. In this commentary, we highlight the difficulty of conducting attachment theory research outside of the United States, particularly in Latin American countries. We reflect on the contributions by the authors of this special issue . We also identify (a) ways in which to center the experiences of Black and Brown people and scholars to push the field toward antiracism, and (b) the challenges of attachment theory and research in becoming anti-racist by considering the structural nature of racism.

Attachment goes to court: child protection and custody issues.

Attachment theory and research are drawn upon in many applied settings, including family courts, but misunderstandings are widespread and sometimes result in misapplications. The aim of this consensus statement is, therefore, to enhance understanding, counter misinformation, and steer family-court utilisation of attachment theory in a supportive, evidence-based direction, especially with regard to child protection and child custody decision-making. The article is divided into two parts. In the first, we address problems related to the use of attachment theory and research in family courts, and discuss reasons for these problems. To this end, we examine family court applications of attachment theory in the current context of the best-interest-of-the-child standard, discuss misunderstandings regarding attachment theory, and identify factors that have hindered accurate implementation. In the second part, we provide recommendations for the application of attachment theory and research. To this end, we set out three attachment principles: the child's need for familiar, non-abusive caregivers; the value of continuity of good-enough care; and the benefits of networks of attachment relationships. We also discuss the suitability of assessments of attachment quality and caregiving behaviour to inform family court decision-making. We conclude that assessments of caregiver behaviour should take center stage. Although there is dissensus among us regarding the use of assessments of attachment quality to inform child custody and child-protection decisions, such assessments are currently most suitable for targeting and directing supportive interventions. Finally, we provide directions to guide future interdisciplinary research collaboration.

Physical and psychosocial development of Mapuche and nonindigenous Chilean toddlers: A modest role of ethnicity.

Mapuche represents the largest indigenous group in Chile amounting to nearly 10% of the total population. In a longitudinal cohort of 12,398 children, we analyzed the role of ethnicity in physical and psychosocial development of Mapuche and nonindigenous Chilean toddlers (age 2.5 years), taking into account sociodemographic and caregiver characteristics. As indicated by our univariate analysis, the Mapuche developmental niche was characterized by lower income, lower maternal education, poorer quality of the home environment, longer breastfeeding, and higher parental stress. Physical development showed higher body mass index. Mapuche children showed less externalizing problems. We then analyzed the incremental contribution of ethnicity in a series of hierarchical regressions with the second wave of developmental measurements (age 4.5 years) as outcome variables, showing a significant but modest incremental contribution of ethnicity to the prediction of children's development between 2.5 and 4.5 years of age. Controlling for environmental variables, Mapuche showed less externalizing and internalizing, behavior problems. Socioeconomic status, quality of the home environment, and parenting stress were stronger predictors of socioemotional development than ethnicity per se.

Preschoolers' vocabulary acquisition in Chile: the roles of socioeconomic status and quality of home environment.

Preschoolers' vocabulary acquisition sets the stage for later reading ability and school achievement. This study examined the role of socioeconomic status (SES) and the quality of the home environment of seventy-seven Chilean majority and Mapuche minority families from low and lower-middle-class backgrounds in explaining individual differences in vocabulary acquisition of their three-and-a-half-year-old children. Additionally, we investigated whether the relation between SES and receptive and expressive vocabulary was mediated by the quality of the home environment as the Family Investment Model suggests. The quality of the home environment significantly predicted receptive and expressive vocabulary above and beyond ethnicity, SES, parental caregiver status, and quantity of daycare. Furthermore, the quality of the home environment mediated the relation between SES and expressive and receptive vocabulary acquisition.

How Dangerous? Substance Use Risk Perceptions in Chilean Preadolescents.

Early substance use initiation among children represents a significant risk to public health. Research suggests that early positive perceptions and cognitions of elementary students toward substance use may predict later use during adolescence. Studies among adolescent populations have shown an inverse relationship between substance use and risk perceptions. To gain insight into alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana risk perceptions prior to adolescence, we analyzed data from the Chilean Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey (ELPI). In a sample of 5,278 families (mean age of preadolescents 10.63 years, SD = .64; 50.5% males), our findings showed that an important proportion of Chilean 10 years old did not perceive occasional tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana use to be high-risk activities. However, the majority of respondents did consider daily substance use to be a high-risk activity, with some variation across substances. Overall, older preadolescents were more likely to consider substance use to be less risky compared to their slightly younger counterparts. Our analysis also demonstrated that past month substances use by caregivers were all found to be predictive of low-medium risk perceptions among preadolescents surveyed, while conversely, caregivers' negative reactions to finding out their child had used a substance decreased the likelihood of holding low-medium risk perceptions. Individuals from single-parent households were less likely to consider substance use as being high-risk compared to their peers. Preadolescents with caregivers reporting higher average incomes were also more likely to hold lower risk perceptions of occasional substance use. Implications for public policies to prevent substance use in the pre-adolescent population are discussed.

Maternal history of maltreatment and offspring's emotional and behavioral problems in adolescence: Do family factors contribute to the intergenerational risk transmission?

BACKGROUND: A history of childhood maltreatment often has a negative and long-lasting impact across different domains in life. A childhood maltreatment experience in parents may even affect the next generation. So far, the effects of family factors have been considered in the intergenerational transmission of adversity across the childhood years, but whether the effects remain until adolescence is less clear. OBJECTIVE: Using data from a large population-based study in the Netherlands, including both mother and child reports, we examined whether maternal childhood maltreatment history is associated with increased mental health problems in offspring and the role of family functioning and harsh parenting as a potential pathway. PARTICIPANTS: 4912 adolescents (aged 13 years) and their mothers were recruited in the Generation R study. METHODS: Mothers reported childhood maltreatment experiences using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and adolescents reported on their mental health using the Youth Self Report (YSR). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the association of maternal childhood maltreatment on mental health problems in offspring and family functioning and harsh parenting as mechanisms to explain this association. RESULTS: Adolescents of mothers with a history of maltreatment had greater internalizing (ß = 0.07, p < .01) and externalizing problems (ß = 0.08, p < .01). Moreover, we found an indirect effect via family functioning over time and harsh parenting at ages 3 and 8 years which mediated this association. CONCLUSION: We concluded an intergenerational effect of maternal childhood maltreatment on adolescents internalizing and externalizing problems. The findings might enable earlier intervention within the family context to mitigate the consequences of maternal childhood maltreatment.

Crossing boundaries: A pilot study of maternal attitudes about child maltreatment in nine countries.

BACKGROUND: Definitions of child maltreatment vary widely between studies, and even more so between different cultural contexts. OBJECTIVE: In this pilot study, we examine between-country variations in maternal notions about what constitutes child maltreatment. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The sample consisted of 466 mothers recruited in Chile, China, Greece, Iran, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, Turkey, and Uruguay. METHODS: All mothers completed a new Q-sort measure, ranking 90 parenting behaviors linked to subtypes of maltreatment (emotional neglect, emotional abuse, physical neglect, and physical abuse) from least to most detrimental to child development. RESULTS: Between-country agreement regarding the harmfulness of the parenting behaviors was high (r = .45), but there were different patterns of reported harmfulness of subtypes of maltreatment (although driven mostly by deviating patterns in the South African sample). Further, there were significant country effects on the number and type of behaviors labeled as maltreatment (pƞ2 = .15), and the number of items labeled as requiring intervention (pƞ2 = .19). CONCLUSIONS: Variations in conceptions of maltreatment need to be studied in larger more representative samples and taken into account in the assessment and treatment of child maltreatment across cultures.

Dataset on maternal attitudes about child maltreatment in nine countries using a Q-sort methodology.

Analyses of the present data are reported in the article "Crossing Boundaries: A Pilot Study of Maternal Attitudes about Child Maltreatment in Nine Countries" [8]. Data were collected during home visits using the Maltreatment Q-Sort (MQS). A total of 466 mothers from nine different countries gave their opinion about child maltreatment by sorting 90 cards with parenting behaviors taken from the literature that reflect four types of child maltreatment, into 9 evenly distributed stacks (with 10 cards each) from least to most harmful for the child. This data article provides an overview of the content of the 90 items, which type of maltreatment they reflect, and the source of the items. The percentage of mothers labelling each of the MQS items as maltreatment is also presented. In addition, instructions are included about the administration of the MQS as well as data-entry and analyses of Q-sort data, accompanied by example datasets and syntaxes. This can serve as a manual for researchers interested in using Q-sort data.

Impacto del padre en el desarrollo de la conducta prosocial de niños y niñas durante la primera infancia: una revisión sistemática

Los bebés exhiben una amplia gama de comportamientos prosociales, que incluyen ayudar, compartir, consolar y cooperar. En la infancia, estos comportamientos se vuelven más sofisticados y socialmente apropiados. El objetivo de esta investigación es identificar y revisar sistemáticamente la literatura que ha incorporado el estudio de la figura paterna y su impacto en el desarrollo de la conducta prosocial en los niños/as entre los 0 y 5 años. Método, utilizando la metodología PRISMA, se realiza una búsqueda y análisis de artículos científicos en las bases de datos Scopus y Web of Science, considerando criterios de inclusión y exclusión establecidos. Resultados, se seleccionaron 28 artículos y el análisis de sus resultados indica que el padre tiene un impacto en el desarrollo de la conducta prosocial de los niños entre los 0 y 5 años. El ejercicio del rol paterno y el apoyo entregado por el padre, favorece que el niño/a manifieste conductas prosociales desde la infancia temprana, en la relación con sus figuras significativas y con terceros, de forma directa e indirecta, en los distintos contextos de socialización.

Infants exhibit a wide range of prosocial behaviors, including helping, sharing, comforting, and cooperating. In infancy, these behaviors become more sophisticated and socially appropriate. The aim of this research is to systematically identify and review the literature that has incorporated the study of the father figure and its impact on the development of prosocial behavior in children aged 0-5 years. Method, using the PRISMA methodology, a search and analysis of scientific articles in the Scopus and Web of Science databases was carried out, considering established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results, 28 articles were selected and the analysis of their results indicates that fathers have an impact on the development of prosocial behavior in children between 0 and 5 years of age. The exercise of the paternal role and the support provided by the father, favors the child to manifest prosocial behaviors from early childhood, in the relationship with their significant figures and with third parties, directly and indirectly, in the different socialization contexts.

Apego en niños con asistencia temprana a salas cuna en la ciudad de Punta Arenas (Chile): un estudio piloto / Attachment of children who experience early entry to daycare in Punta Arenas, Chile: a pilot study / O apego em crianças com atenção precoce em creches na cidade de Punta Arenas, Chile: um estudo piloto

Resumen (analítico) Este estudio piloto tuvo por objetivo conocer los vínculos de apego en niños y niñas que asisten a salas cuna. Se aplicó la Escala de apego durante estrés (ADS) a 25 díadas madre-infante (cuyos niños y niñas tenían entre 10 y 14 meses de edad), que asistían a salas cuna en la ciudad de Punta Arenas. La muestra fue no probabilística intencional, mientras que el diseño no experimental, transversal, descriptivo. Los resultados indican que la distribución de los tipos de apego es similar al patrón universal; sin embargo, una prolongada estadía en salas cuna se asocia a un mayor riesgo de apego inseguro aun cuando los efectos de la edad de ingreso son controlados. Se discuten los alcances e implicancias para futuras investigaciones.

Abstract (analytical) This pilot study had the objective of determining the distribution of attachment among children who experience early entry to daycare centers. The Attachment During Stress scale was implemented with 25 baby-mother dyads whose children were aged between 10 and 14 months old and were attending daycare centers in the city of Punta Arenas. The study used a deliberate non-probabilistic sample and it is a non-experimental, descriptive study. The results show that the distribution of attachment was similar to the universal pattern. However, a long period of time attending a daycare center is associated with a higher risk of insecure attachment even the effects of early entry are controlled. Implications and possibilities for future studies are also discussed.

Resumo (analítico) Este estudo piloto teve com objetivo conhecer os vínculos de apego em crianças que frequentam creches. Foi aplicada a Escala de Apego durante Stress (ADS) a 25 duplas materno - infante, cujas crianças estavam na faixa etária entre 10 a 14 meses de idade que frequentavam creches na cidade de Punta Arenas. A amostra foi não probabilística intencional e o desenvolvimento não experimental, transversal, descritivo. Os resultados indicam que a distribuição dos tipos de apego são similares ao padrão universal; contudo, a permanência prolongada em creches pode estar associada a um risco maior de apego inseguro mesmo quando os efeitos da idade de ingresso na creche são controlados. São discutidos os alcances e implicâncias para pesquisas futuras.

From foundling homes to day care: a historical review of childcare in Chile.

This article discusses significant changes in childcare policy and practice in Chile. We distinguish four specific periods of childcare history: child abandonment and the creation of foundling homes in the 19th century; efforts to reduce infant mortality and the creation of the health care system in the first half of the 20th century; an increasing focus on inequality and poverty and the consequences for child development in the second half of the 20th century; and, finally, the current focus on children's social and emotional development. It is concluded that, although Chile has achieved infant mortality and malnutrition rates comparable to those of developed countries, the country bears the mark of a history of inequality and is still unable to fully guarantee the health of children from the poorest sectors of society. Recent initiatives seek to improve this situation and put a strong emphasis on the psychosocial condition of children and their families.

Evidencias de validez de constructo y de criterio de la Escala Massie-Campbell de Apego Durante Estrés (ADS) / Evidências de validade de constructo e de critério da Escala MassieCampbell de Apego durante o Stress (ADS) / Construct and criterion validity evidences of the Massie-Campbell Scale of Attachment During Stress (ADS)

Resumen La escala Massie-Campbell de Apego Durante Estrés (ADS; 1983), es una guía de observación de la interacción entre madres (o cuidadores) y sus hijos de 6 a 18 meses. Este estudio busca obtener evidencias de validez de constructo (convergente y divergente) y de criterio (sensibilidad, especificidad y valores predictivos) de dicho instrumento. Para ello, se evaluó el apego en 32 niños y niñas de ocho a diez meses de Lima, Perú, utilizando el ADS y el Attachment Q-set 3.0 (AQS), de Waters (1995), así como la sensibilidad de sus madres. Como resultado, se encontró que las clasificaciones del apego seguro e inseguro dadas a partir del ADS se encuentran relacionadas con los puntajes continuos de seguridad del apego del AQS (r = .41, p = .02) y con las clasificaciones dicotómicas (seguro vs. inseguro) obtenidas a partir del mismo [χ2 (1, N = 32) = 4.69, p = .03, d = .83]. Adicionalmente, no se hallaron diferencias significativas en la sensibilidad materna de las madres de los niños clasificados como seguros y la de los inseguros. Dado que la sensibilidad de la escala ADS no alcanzó niveles satisfactorios (33.3 %, IC 95 % = [15.48; 56.90]), de manera exploratoria se evaluó un punto de corte de cinco conductas seguras, el cual mejora su sensibilidad (47.6 %, IC 95 % = [26.4; 69.7]) y mantiene sus niveles satisfactorios de especificidad (90.9 %, IC 95 % = [57.1; 99.5]). En conclusión, el instrumento muestra adecuadas evidencias de validez de constructo convergente, pero no divergente; y, al ser considerado un instrumento de tamizaje, su sensibilidad, especificidad y valores predictivos necesitan seguir siendo estudiados con el fin de conseguir un punto de corte con mayor validez.

Resumo A Escala Massie-Campbell de Apego durante o Stress (ADS; 1983) é um guia de observação da interação entre mães (ou cuidadores) e seus filhos de 6 a 18 meses. Este estudo procura obter evidências de validade de constructo (convergente e divergente) e de critério (sensibilidade, especificidade e valores preditivos) desse instrumento. Para isso, foi avaliado o apego em 32 crianças de oito a dez meses, de Lima, Peru, utilizando o ADS e o Attachment Q-set 3.0 (AQS), de Waters (1995), bem como a sensibilidade de suas mães. Como resultados, constatou-se que as classificações do apego seguro e inseguro dadas a partir do ADS se encontram relacionadas com as pontuações contínuas de segurança do apego do AQS (r = .41, p = .02) e com as classificações dicotômicas (seguro versus inseguro) obtidas a partir deste [χ2 (1, N = 32) = 4.69, p = .03, d = .83]. Além disso, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas na sensibilidade materna das mães das crianças classificadas como seguras e a das inseguras. Tendo em vista que a sensibilidade da escala ADS não atingiu níveis satisfatórios (33.3 %, IC 95 % = [15.48; 56.90]), de maneira exploratória, foi avaliado um ponto de corte de cinco comportamentos seguros, o que melhora sua sensibilidade (47.6 %, IC 95 % = [26.4; 69.7]) e mantém seus níveis satisfatórios de especificidade (90.9 %, IC 95 % = [57.1; 99.5]). Em conclusão, o instrumento mostra adequadas evidências de validade de constructo convergente, mas não divergente; e, ao ser considerado um instrumento de rastreamento, sua sensibilidade, especificidade e valores preditivos precisam continuar sendo estudados a fim de conseguir um ponto de corte com maior validade.

Abstract The Massie-Campbell Attachment During Stress Scale (ADS, Massie & Campbell, 1983) is an observation guide of the interactions between mothers (or caretakers) and children from 6 to 18 months. This study sought the construct validity (convergent and discriminant) of ADS, as well as its criterion validity (sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values). To that end, child attachment was measured in a group of 32 children aged 8 to 10 months from Lima, Peru using ADS and Attachment Q-set 3.0 (AQS, Waters, 1995). Maternal sensitivity was assessed as well. It was found that ADS attachment classifications were related with AQS attachment security continuous scores (r = .41, p = .02) and with its dichotomous classifications [secure vs. insecure; χ2 (1, N = 32) = 4.69, p = 0.03, d = 0.83]. Additionally, no significant differences between the ADS's maternal sensitivity of mothers with children classified as secure and mothers with children classified as insecure were found. Since ADS´s sensitivity did not reach satisfactory levels (33.3 %, 95 % CI = [15.48, 56.90]), a cut-off point of 5 secure behaviors was used, which improved its sensitivity (47.6 %, 95 % CI = [26.4; 69.7]) while maintaining satisfactory levels of specificity (90.9 %, 95 % CI = [57.1; 99.5]). The instrument shows adequate convergent validity but lacks evidence of discriminant validity. Further exploration of ADS's sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values is recommended in order to obtain a cut-off point with greater validity, given that the instrument is considered a screening test.

Output capabilities of personal music players and assessment of preferred listening levels of test subjects: outlining recommendations for preventing music-induced hearing loss.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Our goal was to assess the impact of personal music players, earphones, and music styles on output, the subject's preferred listening levels, and outline recommendations for the prevention of music-induced hearing loss. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. Personal music players' output capabilities and volunteers' preferred output levels were assessed in different settings. Based on current noise-induced hearing loss exposure limits, recommendations were outlined. METHODS: On three different devices and earphone types and 10 music styles, free field equivalent sound pressure output levels were assessed by applying a microphone probe inside the auditory canal. Forty-five hearing-healthy volunteers were asked to select preferred listening levels in different background noise scenarios. RESULTS: Sound pressure output reached 126 dB. No difference was found between device types, whereas earbud and supra-aural earphones showed significantly lower outputs than in-ear earphones (P < .001). Three distinct music style groups were identified with as much as 14.4 dB difference between them. In silence, 17.8% of volunteers spontaneously selected a listening level above 85 dB. With 90 dB background noise, 40% selected a level above 94 dB. Earphone attenuation capability was found to correlate significantly with preferred level reductions (r = 0.585, P < .001). In-ear and especially supra-aural earphones reduced preferred listening levels the most. CONCLUSIONS: Safe-use recommendations were outlined, whereas selecting the lowest volume setting comfortable remained the main suggestion. High background noise attenuating earphones may help in reducing comfortable listening levels and should be preferred. A risk table was elaborated, presenting time limits before reaching a risky exposure.