Positive parenting practices support children at neurological risk during COVID-19: a call for accessible parenting interventions.

Children and youth with neurological and/or neurodevelopmental conditions were at high risk for behavioral and mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Positive and responsive parenting practices may be one way to prevent and manage potential difficulties in families. We aimed to identify whether positive parenting practices were associated with reduced behavioral concerns in children at neurological risk during the late stages and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we examined whether ongoing parental stress, anxiety, and depression impacted parenting practices during this time period. Families (N = 179) with children 4 to 15 years old (M = 7.11y, SD = 2.02) diagnosed with neurological (84.3%), neurodevelopmental (54.8%) or comorbid neurological and/or neurodevelopmental conditions (21.2%) were contacted to complete online questionnaires regarding demographics, parent stress, child behavior, COVID-19 conditions, and parenting practices. Multivariable linear regression (MLR) analyses examined the association between positive parenting practices and parenting competency measures with child behavioral outcomes, controlling for relevant covariates, including COVID-19 related stress. MLR were also run to determine whether parental mental health impacted parenting practices. More positive parenting practices predicted fewer child problem behaviors and lower intensity of problem behaviors. Similarly, a higher sense of satisfaction with parenting competence also predicted fewer child problem behaviors and lower intensity of problem behaviors. In addition, higher reported parental depression, anxiety, and stress significantly predicted fewer reported positive parenting practices. Findings points to the promising application of positive parenting interventions to support vulnerable families, as well as the need for parental mental health intervention to support parenting practices.

Prenatal fluoride exposure, offspring visual acuity and autonomic nervous system function in 6-month-old infants.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal fluoride exposure can have adverse effects on children's development; however, associations with visual and cardiac autonomic nervous system functioning are unknown. We examined associations between prenatal fluoride exposure and visual acuity and heart rate variability (HRV) in 6-month-old infants. METHODS: We used data from Canadian mother-infant pairs participating in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) cohort. We estimated prenatal fluoride exposure using: i) fluoride concentration in drinking water (mg/L), ii) maternal urinary fluoride adjusted for specific gravity (MUFSG; mg/L) and averaged across pregnancy, and iii) maternal fluoride intake (µg/kg/day) from consumption of water, tea, and coffee, adjusted for maternal body weight (kg). We used multivariable linear regression to examine associations between each measure of fluoride exposure and Teller Acuity Card visual acuity scores (n = 435) and assessed HRV (n = 400) using two measures: root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and the standard deviation of N-N intervals (SDNN) measured at 6-months of age. RESULTS: Median (IQR) values for water fluoride, MUFSG, and daily fluoride intake were 0.20 (IQR: 0.13-0.56) mg/L; 0.44 (0.28-0.70) mg/L and 4.82 (2.58-10.83) µg/kg/day, respectively. After adjustment for confounding variables, water fluoride concentration was associated with poorer infant visual acuity (B = -1.51; 95 % CI: -2.14,-0.88) and HRV as indicated by lower RMSSD (B = -1.60; 95 % CI: -2.74,-0.46) but not SDNN. Maternal fluoride intake was also associated with poorer visual acuity (B = -0.82; 95 % CI: -1.35,-0.29) and lower RMSSD (B = -1.22; 95 % CI: -2.15,-0.30). No significant associations were observed between MUFSG and visual acuity or HRV. CONCLUSION: Fluoride in drinking water was associated with reduced visual acuity and alterations in cardiac autonomic function in infancy, adding to the growing body of evidence suggesting fluoride's developmental neurotoxicity.

Dose dependence of prenatal fluoride exposure associations with cognitive performance at school age in three prospective studies.

BACKGROUND: Fluoride may be a developmental neurotoxicant at elevated exposures. We merged new data from a prospective Odense Child Cohort (OCC) with results from two previous birth cohort studies from Mexico and Canada to characterize the dose-effect relationship in greater detail. METHODS: The OCC contributed 837 mother-child pairs to the total of >1500. We measured creatinine-adjusted urine-fluoride concentrations in maternal urine samples obtained during late pregnancy. Child IQ was determined at age 7 years using an abbreviated version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children. Findings from the three cohorts were used to calculate the joint benchmark concentration (BMC) and the lower confidence limit (BMCL) after adjustment for covariables. RESULTS: In the OCC, urine-fluoride concentrations varied between 0.08 and 3.04 mg/l (median 0.52 mg/l) but were not significantly associated with full-scale IQ at age 7 years (ß = 0.08; 95% confidence interval -1.14 to 1.30 for a doubling in exposure). No difference was apparent between boys and girls. In the OCC, the BMC was 0.92 mg/l, with a BMCL of 0.30 mg/l. The joint analysis of all three cohorts showed a statistically significant association between urine-fluoride and IQ, with a BMC of 0.45 mg/l (BMCL, 0.28 mg/l), slightly higher than the BMC previously reported for the two North American cohorts alone. CONCLUSIONS: As the BMCL reflects an approximate threshold for developmental neurotoxicity, the results suggest that pregnant women and children may need protection against fluoride toxicity.

Sex difference of pre- and post-natal exposure to six developmental neurotoxicants on intellectual abilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of human studies.

BACKGROUND: Early life exposure to lead, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybromide diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), and phthalates have been associated with lowered IQ in children. In some studies, these neurotoxicants impact males and females differently. We aimed to examine the sex-specific effects of exposure to developmental neurotoxicants on intelligence (IQ) in a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHOD: We screened abstracts published in PsychINFO and PubMed before December 31st, 2021, for empirical studies of six neurotoxicants (lead, mercury, PCBs, PBDEs, OPPs, and phthalates) that (1) used an individualized biomarker; (2) measured exposure during the prenatal period or before age six; and (3) provided effect estimates on general, nonverbal, and/or verbal IQ by sex. We assessed each study for risk of bias and evaluated the certainty of the evidence using Navigation Guide. We performed separate random effect meta-analyses by sex and timing of exposure with subgroup analyses by neurotoxicant. RESULTS: Fifty-one studies were included in the systematic review and 20 in the meta-analysis. Prenatal exposure to developmental neurotoxicants was associated with decreased general and nonverbal IQ in males, especially for lead. No significant effects were found for verbal IQ, or postnatal lead exposure and general IQ. Due to the limited number of studies, we were unable to analyze postnatal effects of any of the other neurotoxicants. CONCLUSION: During fetal development, males may be more vulnerable than females to general and nonverbal intellectual deficits from neurotoxic exposures, especially from lead. More research is needed to examine the nuanced sex-specific effects found for postnatal exposure to toxic chemicals.

Prenatal exposure to legacy PFAS and neurodevelopment in preschool-aged Canadian children: The MIREC cohort.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been shown to be neurotoxic in experimental studies, but epidemiological evidence linking prenatal PFAS exposure to child neurodevelopment is equivocal and scarce. OBJECTIVE: To quantify associations between prenatal exposure to legacy PFAS and children's intelligence (IQ) and executive functioning (EF) in a Canadian pregnancy and birth cohort and to determine if these associations differ by child sex. METHODS: We measured first-trimester plasma concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study and assessed children's full-scale (n = 522), performance (n = 517), and verbal (n = 519) IQ using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III). Children's working memory (n = 513) and ability to plan and organize (n = 514) were assessed using a parent-reported questionnaire, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Preschool Version (BRIEF-P). We quantified associations between individual log2-transformed PFAS exposure and children's IQ and EF using multiple linear regression analyses and evaluated effect modification by child sex. We also used Repeated Holdout Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression models with effect modification by child sex to quantify the effect of combined exposure to all three PFAS chemicals on IQ and EF. All models were adjusted for key sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Geometric mean plasma concentrations (IQR) for PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS were 1.68 (1.10-2.50), 4.97 (3.20-6.20) and 1.09 (0.67-1.60) µg/L respectively. We found evidence of effect modification by child sex in all models examining performance IQ (p < .01). Specifically, every doubling of PFOA, PFOS, and or PFHxS was inversely associated with performance IQ, but only in males (PFOA: B = -2.80, 95% CI: -4.92, -0.68; PFOS: B = -2.64, 95% CI: -4.77, -0.52; PFHxS: B = -2.92, 95% CI: -4.72, -1.12). Similarly, every quartile increase in the WQS index was associated with poorer performance IQ in males (B = -3.16, 95% CI: -4.90, -1.43), with PFHxS contributing the largest weight to the index. In contrast, no significant association was found for females (B = 0.63, 95% CI: -0.99, 2.26). No significant associations were found for EF in either males or females. CONCLUSIONS: Higher prenatal PFAS exposure was associated with lower performance IQ in males, suggesting that this association may be sex- and domain-specific.

Fluoride exposure and hypothyroidism in a Canadian pregnancy cohort.

BACKGROUND: While fluoride can have thyroid-disrupting effects, associations between low-level fluoride exposure and thyroid conditions remain unclear, especially during pregnancy when insufficient thyroid hormones can adversely impact offspring development. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated associations between fluoride exposure and hypothyroidism in a Canadian pregnancy cohort. METHODS: We measured fluoride concentrations in drinking water and three dilution-corrected urine samples and estimated fluoride intake based on self-reported beverage consumption. We classified women enrolled in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals Study as euthyroid (n = 1301), subclinical hypothyroid (n = 100) or primary hypothyroid (n = 107) based on their thyroid hormone levels in trimester one. We used multinomial logistic regression to estimate the association between fluoride exposure and classification of either subclinical or primary hypothyroidism and considered maternal thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) status, a marker of autoimmune hypothyroidism, as an effect modifier. In a subsample of 466 mother-child pairs, we used linear regression to explore the association between maternal hypothyroidism and child Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) at ages 3-to-4 years and tested for effect modification by child sex. RESULTS: A 0.5 mg/L increase in drinking water fluoride concentration was associated with a 1.65 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.04, 2.60) increased odds of primary hypothyroidism. In contrast, we did not find a significant association between urinary fluoride (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.00; 95%CI: 0.73, 1.39) or fluoride intake (aOR: 1.25; 95%CI: 0.99, 1.57) and hypothyroidism. Among women with normal TPOAb levels, the risk of primary hypothyroidism increased with both increasing water fluoride and fluoride intake (aOR water fluoride concentration: 2.85; 95%CI: 1.25, 6.50; aOR fluoride intake: 1.75; 95%CI: 1.27, 2.41). Children born to women with primary hypothyroidism had lower FSIQ scores compared to children of euthyroid women, especially among boys (B coefficient: -8.42; 95 % CI: -15.33, -1.50). DISCUSSION: Fluoride in drinking water was associated with increased risk of hypothyroidism in pregnant women. Thyroid disruption may contribute to developmental neurotoxicity of fluoride.

Iodine Status Modifies the Association between Fluoride Exposure in Pregnancy and Preschool Boys' Intelligence.

In animal studies, the combination of in utero fluoride exposure and low iodine has greater negative effects on offspring learning and memory than either alone, but this has not been studied in children. We evaluated whether the maternal urinary iodine concentration (MUIC) modifies the association between maternal urinary fluoride (MUF) and boys' and girls' intelligence. We used data from 366 mother-child dyads in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals Study. We corrected trimester-specific MUF and MUIC for creatinine, and averaged them to yield our exposure variables (MUFCRE, mg/g; MUICCRE, µg/g). We assessed children's full-scale intelligence (FSIQ) at 3 to 4 years. Using multiple linear regression, we estimated a three-way interaction between MUFCRE, MUICCRE, and child sex on FSIQ, controlling for covariates. The MUICCRE by MUFCRE interaction was significant for boys (p = 0.042), but not girls (p = 0.190). For boys whose mothers had low iodine, a 0.5 mg/g increase in MUFCRE was associated with a 4.65-point lower FSIQ score (95% CI: -7.67, -1.62). For boys whose mothers had adequate iodine, a 0.5 mg/g increase in MUFCRE was associated with a 2.95-point lower FSIQ score (95% CI: -4.77, -1.13). These results suggest adequate iodine intake during pregnancy may minimize fluoride's neurotoxicity in boys.

Development and Validation of the Prevention of Toxic Chemicals in the Environment for Children Tool: A Questionnaire for Examining the Community's Knowledge of and Preferences Toward Toxic Chemicals and Children's Brain Development.

Early-life exposures to toxic chemicals can adversely impact brain development. Understanding people's knowledge of the impact of toxic chemicals on brain development is critical to reduce widespread exposure to chemicals. Yet it is unknown what people know about risks of toxic chemicals and how to reduce exposures. We developed and validated the questionnaire, PRevention of Toxic chemicals in the Environment for Children Tool (PRoTECT), to examine people's knowledge and attitudes about the influence of toxic chemicals on child development. We used best practices for developing and validating scales. First, we drafted items to assess knowledge of the impact of toxic chemicals on brain development, levels of concern regarding exposures, and preferences for prevention of neurodevelopmental disorders. Second, we received feedback on item clarity from five focus groups consisting of 46 community participants. In addition, 17 experts completed a content validity scale for each item and provided qualitative feedback. We administered the revised 18-item questionnaire to 190 participants of child-bearing age for scale development, and using exploratory factor analysis, we found evidence for a four-factor model of PRoTECT, RMSR = 0.05, of which 16 of the 18 items had adequate content validity with loadings >0.40 on a derived factor. We discuss future directions and applications of PRoTECT.

Domain-specific effects of prenatal fluoride exposure on child IQ at 4, 5, and 6-12 years in the ELEMENT cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Prenatal exposure to fluoride has been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, the neuropsychological profile of fluoride's developmental neurotoxicity at low levels and the stability of this relationship across childhood has not been characterized. We investigated the longitudinal and domain specific effect of prenatal fluoride exposure on IQ among children ages 4, 5, and 6-12 years in the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) cohort. METHODS: We measured the average of maternal urinary fluoride at each trimester of pregnancy adjusted for creatinine (MUFCRE). Children were administered the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities at ages 4 (N = 386) and 5 (N = 308), and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence at age 6-12 (N = 278). We used generalized estimating equation (GEE) models to estimate the population averaged effect of MUFCRE concentration on longitudinal General Cognitive Index (GCI)/Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ), Verbal IQ (VIQ), and Performance IQ (PIQ) scores (N = 348). We tested for possible interactions between MUFCRE and child sex as well as for MUFCRE and time point on children's IQ. All models controlled for relevant available covariates. RESULTS: The mean/median MUFCRE concentration was 0.90/0.83 mg/L (SD = 0.39; IQR, 0.64-1.11 mg/L). A 0.5 mg/L increase in MUFCRE predicted an average 2.12-point decrease in GCI/FSIQ (95% CI: -3.49, -0.75) and 2.63-point decrease in PIQ (95% CI: -3.87, -1.40). MUFCRE was marginally associated with VIQ across time (B = -1.29, 95% CI: -2.60, 0.01). No interactions between MUFCRE and child sex or MUFCRE and time were observed. CONCLUSION: The negative association between prenatal fluoride exposure and longitudinal IQ was driven by decrements in non-verbal intelligence (i.e. PIQ), suggesting that visual-spatial and perceptual reasoning abilities may be more impacted by prenatal fluoride exposure as compared to verbal abilities.

Planned Oocyte Cryopreservation: Outcomes, Motivations, and Involvement of Primary Health Care Providers.

Background: With improvements in oocyte cryopreservation and widespread delays in childbearing, planned oocyte cryopreservation (POC) has become an increasingly attractive option. This study aimed to (1) review POC cycle outcomes at an academic in vitro fertilization (IVF) center and (2) examine POC users' motivations for pursuing POC, fertility knowledge, and the involvement of their primary health care providers (PHP). Materials and Methods: POC cycle outcomes were collected from IVF records of the 224 women who underwent ≥1 cycle from 2012 to 2018. The 198 who were reachable by e-mail were invited to complete an online survey. The study was approved by the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board (No. 32951). Results: Mean age of the 224 women at first cycle was 36.4 (range: 25-42), with a significant decrease in anti-Müllerian hormone level (p = 0.001) and mean number of oocytes retrieved (p = 0.006) and cryopreserved per cycle (p = 0.042) with increasing age. From those invited for survey participation, 98 (49.5%) questionnaires were returned, with 86 evaluable. Majority of respondents were Caucasian (66%), single (93%), and earned a gross annual income of >$70,000 (74%). Strongest motivation for pursuing POC was concern about age-related fertility decline in the absence of a partner. Respondents' annual income was positively correlated with the number of completed cycles (p = 0.032). Half the respondents correctly identified age of onset of marked fertility decline as ≥35 years. In only 19% of cases was the conversation PHP initiated, and 29% never discussed POC with their PHP. Conclusions: More than 50% of women underwent POC at an age when fertility has begun to markedly decline. It is important for PHPs to identify and discuss POC with appropriate patients and offer accurate preliminary information and timely referrals for those interested in exploring this option.

Maternal fluoride exposure, fertility and birth outcomes: The MIREC cohort.

Objective: Fluoride exposure >1.5 mg/L from water has been associated with adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. Little is known, however, about the effect of fluoride at levels consistent with water fluoridation (i.e., 0.7 mg/L) on pregnancy and birth outcomes. We examined the relationship between maternal fluoride exposure, fertility, and birth outcomes in a Canadian pregnancy cohort living in areas where municipal drinking water fluoride concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 0.87 mg/L. Methods: Using data from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study, we estimated fluoride exposure during pregnancy using three different metrics: (1) maternal urinary fluoride concentrations standardized for specific gravity (MUFSG) and averaged across all three trimesters (N = 1566), (2) water fluoride concentration (N = 1370), and (3) fluoride intake based on self-reported consumption of water, coffee, and tea, adjusted for body weight (N = 1192). Data on fertility, birth weight, gestational age, preterm birth, and small-for-gestational age (SGA) were assessed. We used multiple linear regression to examine associations between fluoride exposure, birth weight and gestational age, and logistic regression to examine associations with fertility, preterm birth, and SGA, adjusted for relevant covariates. Results: Median (IQR) MUFSG was 0.50 (0.33-0.76) mg/L, median water fluoride was 0.52 (0.17-0.64) mg/L, and median fluoride intake was 0.008 (0.003-0.013) mg/kg/day. MUFSG, water fluoride concentrations, and fluoride intake were not significantly associated with fertility, birth weight, gestational age, preterm birth, or SGA. Fetal sex did not modify any of the associations. Conclusion: Fluoride exposure during pregnancy was not associated with fertility or birth outcomes in this Canadian cohort.

Assessing the quality of decision-making for planned oocyte cryopreservation.

PURPOSE: This survey study aims to examine the quality of planned oocyte cryopreservation (POC) decision-making in the domains of decision change, decision difficulty, decision regret and informed choice. METHODS: Of the 224 women who completed at least one POC cycle between 2012 and 2018 at a Canadian academic IVF centre, 198 were reachable by email for anonymous survey participation. RESULTS: Ninety-eight questionnaires were returned (response rate 49.5%). Of these, 86 fully completed questionnaires were analyzed for this study. Eighty-eight percent of respondents stated that it was a 'good decision' to cryopreserve oocytes, in retrospect. Despite this, 31% found the decision-making process to be 'difficult'. Three in five (61%) would have made 'exactly the same' decision without any change, yet slightly over a third (35%) would have made a 'similar' decision, but with option-related changes and process-related changes. A negative correlation between 'decision regret' and 'informed choice' was found (p < .005). Those who stated that they would have made exactly the 'same' POC decision were found to have a significantly higher 'informed choice' score compared to others who would have made a 'similar' or 'completely different' decision, in retrospect (p < .001). Respondents with lesser 'decision regret' were significantly more likely to appraise their decision as a well-informed choice (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that high-quality POC decision-making is accompanied by the perception of being able to make an informed choice, which can be achieved by providing patients with adequate information and individualized counselling to help patients set realistic expectations of cycle outcomes.

Parenthood desire, childbearing plans and oocyte utilization among women who previously underwent planned oocyte cryopreservation.

RESEARCH QUESTION: To examine the motivations, life circumstances and parenthood aspirations of a cohort of women who underwent planned oocyte cryopreservation (POC) at a Canadian academic IVF centre. DESIGN: A single-site, cross-sectional, anonymous quantitative study using a study-specific questionnaire administrated via SurveyMonkey®. Of the 224 women who completed at least one POC cycle between 2012 and 2018, 198 were reached by email and invited to participate. RESULTS: Of the 98 (49.5%) questionnaires returned, 86 were fully completed and were analysed. Mean age at first POC cycle was 35.7 ± 2.4 (range 27-43) and at survey was 37.7 ± 2.5 years. At POC, 77% were single and 97.7% childless. At survey, 96% had not attempted to use their cryopreserved oocytes, yet 26 (30%) had tried natural conception or fertility treatments. Of these, three conceived naturally and two by assisted reproduction. Eighty-five per cent expressed a strong motherhood desire and 67.1% indicated that usage of their cryopreserved oocytes was mostly contingent on relationship status. Many expressed a desire for shared genetic parenthood within a committed relationship. Forty-seven per cent did not want to carry a pregnancy beyond the age of 46. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study confirm the central role of age and relationship status in influencing women's POC decisions and oocyte utilization plans. The late age at POC could be explained by women using it toward the end of their peak reproductive years to leverage their remaining chances of genetic motherhood. Surveying women at later points following POC would help to gain a more comprehensive picture of their oocyte utilization and disposition plans.

Determinants of gestational surrogates' satisfaction in relation to the characteristics of surrogacy cases.

RESEARCH QUESTION: The study undertook an evaluation of the retrospective experiences of gestational surrogates within a Canadian context. DESIGN: Data were collected using an anonymous online survey from June 2016 to February 2017 with participants recruited from the Canadian surrogacy community and the internet. The characteristics of surrogacy arrangements carried out by the participants, factors influencing their surrogacy satisfaction, the impact of surrogacy on their family functioning, and their attitudes towards carrying a pregnancy for different types of intended parents were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 184 gestational surrogates (mean age at surrogacy 32 years, range 21-48 years) who were involved in 287 arrangements completed a study-specific survey. More than three-quarters of these cases involved an agency (225 cases, 78.4%). Most of the intended parents were heterosexual couples (158, 55.1%), followed by same-sex male couples (113, 39.4%). More than one-third of these cases were for non-residents from 15 different countries (n = 108, 37.6%). The two main determinants of surrogates' satisfaction were being a surrogate for domestic intended parents (P < 0.05) and having a viable pregnancy outcome (P < 0.005). Nine out of ten participants were comfortable with carrying a pregnancy for same-sex male couples (93.4%) and cancer survivors (89.6%), yet less than one-third (30.7%) were comfortable with being a surrogate for heterosexual couples at advanced ages of over 50 years. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that many intended parents, including same-sex male couples and non-residents, used Canadian surrogacy services to build their families. A better understanding of the fundamentals contributing to positive experiences would help clinicians develop better practice models to care for the well-being of surrogates.

Extracurricular participation among children with epilepsy in Canada.

INTRODUCTION: Participation in extracurricular activities creates opportunities for children to foster friendships, promote a sense of belonging, and improve physical and mental well-being. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship(s) of personal factors, seizure variables, and social supports with extracurricular participation in children with epilepsy (CWE). METHODS: Baseline analysis of the QUALITÉ longitudinal study cohort of children aged 8-14 years (N=426) was conducted. Variables hypothesized to be related to the participation of CWE were classified using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health according to body functions (presence of generalized tonic-clonic seizures in the past month, on/off AEDs, and seizure severity), environmental factors (perceived social support from parents and friends), and personal factors (sex, age, family structure, and family income). Analysis of variables related to extracurricular participation was conducted with regression modeling. RESULTS: Personal factors of age, gender, and family structure as well as body function variables of generalized tonic-clonic seizures and seizure severity were found to be the most important to extracurricular participation based on how frequently they were included in the final models (16/16 and 13/16 times, respectively). When parental support was found to be related to participation, the association was negative in 6 out of 16 models. DISCUSSION: The personal factors that are related to extracurricular participation among children with epilepsy mirror samples based on the general population, although seizures also play an important role. The relationship between perceived parental support and actual participation levels warrants further exploration.