Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale: Psychometric Evaluation in Portuguese Preschoolers.

Objective: to contribute to the validation of the Early Childhood Oral Impact Scale (ECOHIS) by studying its psychometric properties when applied to a Portuguese preschool population. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted with children aged between three and five-years-old. The non-probabilistic sample included two preschools in the municipality of Lisbon. Children who agreed to participate and whose guardians signed the informed consent were included. Data collection included a questionnaire, administered to the parents, and an intraoral examination of the children. The questionnaire included the Portuguese version of ECOHIS. The intraoral examination included the caries diagnosis according to the World Health Organization criteria. Discriminant validity compared the ECOHIS score between children with and without caries experience (Mann-Whitney U-test). Cohen's d was calculated to estimate the magnitude of the difference. Reliability analysis included Cronbach's α and test-retest. Construct validity was analyzed by the correlation between the ECOHIS score and dmft (Spearman's correlation). A significance level of 5% was used. Results: The sample included 104 children (mean age 4.1 years). ECOHIS values were significantly different between children with and without caries (p=0.004). The Cohen's d was 0.84. The Cronbach's was 0.78, with no significant increase in value when eliminating any of the items. The test-retest showed significant correlation (r=0.76; p=0.01). There was a significant correlation between the ECOHIS score and caries experience (r=0.28; p=0.004). Conclusion: The Portuguese version of the ECOHIS showed good psychometric properties, indicating that it is a reliable and valid tool to measure the impact of oral health in preschool children.

The association between parents phubbing and prosocial behavior among Chinese preschool children: a moderated mediation model.

Introduction: The popularization and widespread use of smartphones and other electronic devices have led to the occurrence of "parents phubbing", which may have a negative impact on child-parent relationship and preschoolers' prosocial behavior. Methods: To clarify this process, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 3,834 parents from 20 kindergartens in Zhuhai, China. This study examined the relationship between between parents phubbing, closeness child-parent relationship, authoritative parenting style and children's prosocial behavior. Results: According to the study, we found a significant negative correlation between parents phubbing and preschoolers' prosocial behavior. Closeness child-parent relationship mediated between parents phubbing and preschoolers' prosocial behavior through mediation effects analysis. In other words, parent phubbing was negatively associated with closeness child-parent relationship, which in turn predicted less child prosocial behavior. In addition, authoritative parenting styles have a moderating effect. As the level of authoritative parenting style increases, the negative impact of parent phubbing on the prosocial behavior of preschool children is attenuated. Discussion: This study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between parents phubbing and prosocial behaviors of preschool children, as well as the internal mechanisms at work. Practically, the study suggests that parents should reduce the incidence of phubbing in their contact with their children and, at the same time, work to improve the child-parent relationship and promote the development of prosocial behaviors in children.

An assessment tool for the international healthy eating report card for preschool-aged children: a cross-cultural validation across Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a globally applicable assessment tool of the 43-item International Healthy Eating Report Card Scale (IHERCS) which was designed to assess preschool-aged children's eating behaviours and family home food environments (FHFEs) across different cultural settings. In particular, we examined the factor structure, internal consistency and measurement invariance of the IHERCS across four cultural samples, including Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the US. Convergent and discriminant validity were then conducted. Methods: In this cross-cultural study, a total of 2059 parent-child dyads from these four regions were recruited, and the parents were asked to complete the IHERCS. An exploratory structural equational modelling approach was employed to examine two higher-order factor models of children's eating behaviours and FHFEs in the IHERCS and its cross-cultural measurement invariance. Results: The findings demonstrated robust factor structures of the scales of children's eating behaviours and FHFEs in the IHERCS (i.e., CFI and TLI > 0.90; RMSEA and SRMR < 0.08) and an acceptable level of internal consistency (i.e., Cronbach's α = 0.55-0.84). Full configural invariance and metric invariance were established across the four cultural contexts, but full scalar invariance was not achieved. Partial scalar invariance was found only in the scale of FHFEs. The convergent validity and discriminant validity were supported. Conclusion: Overall, the current findings provided preliminary support for the construct validity and measurement invariance of the IHERCS. It provides a reliable, valid and comprehensive assessment of eating behaviours and FHFEs among children in different cultural settings.

Longitudinal tracking of intrabreath respiratory impedance in preschool children.

BACKGROUND: Longitudinal measurements of intrabreath respiratory impedance (Zrs) in preschool-aged children may be able to distinguish abnormal lung function trajectories in children with a history of wheezing compared to healthy ones. METHODS: Children from a prospective, longitudinal community-based cohort performed annual intrabreath oscillometry (IB-OSC) measurements from age 3- to 7-years. IB-OSC was performed using a single 10 Hz sinusoid while clinically asymptomatic. Linear mixed-effects models were developed to explore the effects of wheezing phenotypes, growth, and sex on seven IB-OSC outcome variables over time: resistance at end-expiration (ReE), resistance at end-inspiration (ReI), the tidal change in resistance (∆R=ReE-ReI), reactance at end-expiration (XeE), reactance at end-inspiration (XeI), the tidal change in reactance (∆X=XeE-XeI), and ∆X normalized by tidal volume (∆X/VT). RESULTS: Eighty-five children produced 374 acceptable IB-OSC measurements. Subjects were classified into one of three wheeze groups: never (n = 36), transient (n = 34), or persistent (n = 15). After adjusting for height, children with persistent wheezing, compared to those who never wheezed, had +0.814 hPa s L-1 ReE (95% confidence interval [CI] +0.178 to +1.451, p = 0.015), -0.792 hPa s L-1 XeE (95% CI -1.203 to -0.381, p = 0.003), -0.538 hPa s L-1 ∆X (95% CI -0.834 to -0.242, p = 0.007) and -1.672 hPa s L-2 ∆X/VT (95% CI -2.567 to -0.777, p < 0.001). Increasing height had a significant effect on all IB-OSC resistance and reactance variables when adjusted for the effect of preschool wheezing. CONCLUSIONS: IB-OSC is feasible for tracking lung function growth in preschool-aged children and may allow abnormal lung function to be identified early in asymptomatic preschoolers with a history of persistent wheezing.

'You just eyeball it': Parent and nursery staff perceptions and influences on child portion size: A reflexive thematic analysis.

Background: Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health epidemics of the 21st century. Observational studies report that increases in portion size (PS) have occurred in parallel with levels of obesity. Increased PSs of high-energy-dense foods can promote overeating, and without compensatory behaviours, can contribute to childhood obesity. Caregivers make decisions about PSs for children in the home and nursery environment, thus are gatekeepers to child food intake. Understanding caregiver PS decisions can aid in the best practice of PS provision to young children. The aim of this study was to explore parent and nursery staff influences on child PS selection and their suggestions for useful tools/strategies in PS decisions. Methods: A qualitative design was employed using focus group discussions (FGDs) with parents and nursery staff of children aged 3-5 years. FGDs were employed given their ability to generate rich data, as well as permit the exploration of collective perceptions, attitudes, behaviours and experiences. Data were analysed using an inductive, semantic approach to reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four FGDs were conducted: two with parents (n = 13), two with nursery staff (n = 17). Four overarching themes were derived: (i) awareness of PS guidelines; (ii) control over PS; (iii) social influences on children's eating behaviours; (iv) child-specific, social and external factors influencing parent and nursery staff PS decisions. Additionally, participants discussed tools/strategies they believe would be useful in PS decisions. Conclusion: Data from the themes suggest that caregiver control, social, child-specific and external factors are more influential than PS guidelines in both parent and nursery staff PS decisions for young children aged 3-5 years. These findings can inform future childhood obesity prevention initiatives focussed on improving parent and nursery staff provision/use of age-appropriate PSs.

Child behaviour is a main concern for parents of 3-year-olds.

AIM: The aim of this study was to describe parental concerns about child health and behaviour and their sociodemographic predictors in 3-year-olds, in relation to the national guidelines of well-baby clinics. METHODS: The study included parents of 33 526 children in Stockholm who had completed a questionnaire prior to a routine visit to a well-baby clinic at age 3 years. Multivariate regression was used to analyse predictors for concerns. RESULTS: Child behaviour problems, defined as defiance and problem with adherence to daily routines, were the most common parental concerns (36.4%), with poor social skills and relations being second (21.8%). Regarding development, 9.6% had concerns about speech and 4.7% about motor development. Screen use (9.5%) and being underweight (6.3%) were other common parental concerns, while lifestyle concerns regarding physical activity and overweight were rare. Parents raised about twice as many concerns for first-born children compared with younger siblings. Child behaviour and developmental concerns were more frequent in families where the mother had primary education only and attended a well-baby clinic with a high Care Need Index. CONCLUSION: Parents' concerns reflected the national guidelines about child development and behaviour, but not its emphasis on a healthy lifestyle.

Enhancing IEP Goal Development for Preschoolers with Autism: A Preliminary Study on ChatGPT Integration.

PURPOSE: The impact of well-crafted IEP goals on student outcomes is well-documented, but creating high-quality goals can be a challenging task for many special education teachers. This study aims to investigate potential effectiveness of using ChatGPT, an AI technology, in supporting development of high-quality, individualized IEP goals for preschool children with autism. METHODS: Thirty special education teachers working with preschool children with autism were randomly assigned to either the ChatGPT or control groups. Both groups received written guidelines on how to write SMART IEP goals, but only the ChatGPT group was given handout on how to use ChatGPT during IEP goal writing process. Quality of IEP goals written by the two groups was compared using a two-sample t-test, and categorization of goals by developmental domains was reported using frequency counts. RESULTS: Results indicate that using ChatGPT significantly improved the quality of IEP goals developed by special education teachers compared to those who did not use the technology. Teachers in the ChatGPT group had a higher proportion of goals targeting communication, social skills, motor/sensory, and self-care skills, while teachers in the control group had a higher proportion of goals targeting preacademic skills and behaviors. CONCLUSION: The potential of ChatGPT as an effective tool for supporting special education teachers in developing high-quality IEP goals suggests promising implications for improving outcomes for preschool children with autism. Its integration may offer valuable assistance in tailoring individualized goals to meet the diverse needs of students in special education settings.

Eating Habits and Lifestyle Factors Related to Childhood Obesity Among Children Aged 5-6 Years: Cluster Analysis of Panel Survey Data in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity has emerged as a major health issue due to the rapid growth in the prevalence of obesity among young children worldwide. Establishing healthy eating habits and lifestyles in early childhood may help children gain appropriate weight and further improve their health outcomes later in life. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to classify clusters of young children according to their eating habits and identify the features of each cluster as they relate to childhood obesity. METHODS: A total of 1280 children were selected from the Panel Study on Korean Children. Data on their eating habits (eating speed, mealtime regularity, consistency of food amount, and balanced eating), sleep hours per day, outdoor activity hours per day, and BMI were obtained. We performed a cluster analysis on the children's eating habits using k-means methods. We conducted ANOVA and chi-square analyses to identify differences in the children's BMI, sleep hours, physical activity, and the characteristics of their parents and family by cluster. RESULTS: At both ages (ages 5 and 6 years), we identified 4 clusters based on the children's eating habits. Cluster 1 was characterized by a fast eating speed (fast eaters); cluster 2 by a slow eating speed (slow eaters); cluster 3 by irregular eating habits (poor eaters); and cluster 4 by a balanced diet, regular mealtimes, and consistent food amounts (healthy eaters). Slow eaters tended to have the lowest BMI (P<.001), and a low proportion had overweight and obesity at the age of 5 years (P=.03) and 1 year later (P=.005). There was a significant difference in sleep time (P=.01) and mother's education level (P=.03) at the age of 5 years. Moreover, there was a significant difference in sleep time (P=.03) and the father's education level (P=.02) at the age of 6 years. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to establish healthy eating habits in early childhood may contribute to the prevention of obesity in children. Specifically, providing dietary guidance on a child's eating speed can help prevent childhood obesity. This research suggests that lifestyle modification could be a viable target to decrease the risk of childhood obesity and promote the development of healthy children. Additionally, we propose that future studies examine long-term changes in obesity resulting from lifestyle modifications in children from families with low educational levels.

Examining the Biological Impacts of Parent-Child Relationship Dynamics on Preschool-Aged Children who have Experienced Adversity.

Parent-child relationship dynamics have been shown to predict socioemotional and behavioral outcomes for children, but little is known about how they may affect biological development. The aim of this study was to test if observational assessments of parent-child relationship dynamics (cohesion, enmeshment, and disengagement) were associated with three biological indices of early life adversity and downstream health risk: (1) methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1), (2) telomere attrition, and (3) mitochondrial biogenesis, indexed by mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), all of which were measured in children's saliva. We tested hypotheses using a sample of 254 preschool-aged children (M age = 51.04 months) with and without child welfare-substantiated maltreatment (52% with documented case of moderate-severe maltreatment) who were racially and ethnically diverse (17% Black, 40% White, 23% biracial, and 20% other races; 45% Hispanic) and from primarily low-income backgrounds (91% qualified for public assistance). Results of path analyses revealed that: (1) higher parent-child cohesion was associated with lower levels of methylation of NR3C1 exon 1D and longer telomeres, and (2) higher parent-child disengagement was associated with higher levels of methylation of NR3C1 exon 1D and shorter telomeres. Results suggest that parent-child relationship dynamics may have distinct biological effects on children.

Evaluation of Parents' Use of a Child Health Care Information App and Their Health Literacy: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Recently, digital media, including internet websites and smartphone apps, have become popular resources for parents in searching for child health care information. Higher health literacy among parents in obtaining adequate health care information and making proper decisions may lead to improved child health outcomes and a reduction in the burden on health care professionals. However, few studies have examined the association between the provision of child health care information apps and parents' health literacy. Objective: This study aims to evaluate whether parents' use of an app that provides child health care information is associated with their health care knowledge, their health literacy, and emergency room visits for their children. Methods: Participants were recruited during checkups for their 1.5-year-old children at health centers within Saku City in 2022. Parents who agreed to participate were included in this study; individuals were excluded if they were not the mother or father of the child or did not have a smartphone. Participants were asked if they had used the Oshiete-Doctor app, which was distributed by Saku City free of charge to improve the home nursing skills of parents and guardians. Sociodemographic data of parents and children, data on health care knowledge about children, data on the frequency of emergency room visits in the past 6 months, and health literacy scores (HLSs) of parents (measured with the HLS-EU-Q47 [European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire]) were collected from participants in this cross-sectional survey. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to examine the associations of app use with health care knowledge, health literacy, and emergency room visits. Results: In total, 251 respondents completed the survey (response rate: 251/267, 94%). Although the proportion of health care workers was significantly higher among app users than among non-app users (P=.005), no other participant attributes were significantly associated with the use of the app. The proportions of participants with higher health care knowledge and participants with higher total HLSs were significantly higher among app users than among non-app users (P=.001 and P=.003, respectively). After adjusting for potentially confounding covariates, these proportions were still significantly higher among app users than among non-app users (P=.02 and P=.007, respectively). Emergency room visits were significantly more frequent among app users than among non-app users (P=.007) in the univariable analysis, but the association was not significant (P=.07) after adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Conclusions: This study showed a significant association between parents' use of a child health care information app and higher child health care knowledge and health literacy. The use of the app may lead to more appropriate health decisions and behaviors in children's health care. Future studies are needed to evaluate the association between app use and emergency room visits.

Relationship between 24-h activity behavior and body fat percentage in preschool children: based on compositional data and isotemporal substitution analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to elucidate the dose‒response relationship between 24-h activity behaviors and body fat percentage (BFP) in Chinese preschool children using a compositional isotemporal substitution model (ISM). METHODS: In a cross-sectional design, 881 children aged 3-6 from urban and rural areas of Jiangxi Province were sampled. Activity behaviors, including sedentary behavior (SB), low-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate- to high-intensity physical activity (MVPA), were measured using accelerometers. Sleep patterns were assessed through questionnaires, and BFP was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The study employed compositional data analysis (CoDA) and ISM to estimate the impact of reallocating durations of different activity behaviors on BFP. RESULTS: Higher BFP was found in urban vs. rural children, decreasing with age. Overweight and obesity rates were 10.6% and 7.6%, respectively, above national averages. MVPA and LPA were negatively correlated with BFP, while SB was positively correlated. A 30-min MVPA reduction significantly increased zBFR, particularly in overweight children. Gender-specific nuances revealed that boys' MVPA negatively influenced zBFP (ß = -0.155), P < 0.05), while girls' SB positively impacted zBFP (ß = 0.636, P < 0.01). Isotemporal simulations emphasized amplified effects in overweight children, with boys' zBFR rising rapidly when MVPA was substituted and girls displaying a notable substitution effect between SB and LPA. CONCLUSION: BFP is closely linked to 24-h activity behaviors, notably in overweight and obese preschoolers. ISM identified MVPA as a critical influencer, with a 30-min reduction substantially increasing BFP. Gender disparities were evident, implicating MVPA in boys and LPA and SB in girls.

Editorial: Are government early years learning and development frameworks evidence-based? A scientist's perspective.

Not all young children attend nurseries, childminders or other group settings before they start school, but many do. It is common for countries to set out a framework to guide practice for early years providers (such as nurseries) to follow. The conundrum regarding these frameworks for young children is that proving evidence of a causal link between early environments and later outcomes is very challenging scientifically. So how do governments choose what learning and development practices and goals to make mandatory for childcare providers? And is it realistic to expect early years providers to meet the legal requirements that these frameworks impose? We do not know which learning and development practices impact positively on later outcomes, and we certainly do not know if there is a one-size-fits-all approach for an early years framework that is guaranteed to work.

The impact of maternal anxiety during pregnancy on children's eczema and allergic rhinitis: The Ma'anshan birth cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between maternal exposure to anxiety during pregnancy and the susceptibility of offspring to eczema and allergic rhinitis and the possibility of sensitivity periods and cumulative effects. METHODS: The study's sample consisted of 3160 mother-child pairs from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort Study. Maternal anxiety was repeatedly measured in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy using the Chinese version of the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Scale. Information regarding children's eczema and allergic rhinitis diagnoses was collected through parental reports at 12, 24, 36 and 48 months of age. Binary logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis and corrected for multiple comparisons using the false discovery rate (FDR) method. RESULTS: Children whose mothers experienced anxiety throughout pregnancy had the highest odds of developing total eczema (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.02-2.07) and total allergic rhinitis (aOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.17-2.37) between the ages of 6 and 48 months. The higher the trajectory of the maternal anxiety scores throughout pregnancy, the higher the odds of total eczema (aOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.14-2.40) and allergic rhinitis (aOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.28-2.66) in their offspring. The association between maternal anxiety and children's eczema was mainly concentrated in the first 24 months, whereas the association with allergic rhinitis was mainly concentrated in the 36-48 months. CONCLUSION: Maternal anxiety during any trimester of pregnancy, especially with a consistently high trajectory of anxiety scores, was associated with higher odds of children's eczema and allergic rhinitis.

Correlation between autistic traits and brain functional connectivity in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder: a resting state MEG study.

BACKGROUND: Neurophysiological studies recognized that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with altered patterns of over- and under-connectivity. However, little is known about network organization in children with ASD in the early phases of development and its correlation with the severity of core autistic features. METHODS: The present study aimed at investigating the association between brain connectivity derived from MEG signals and severity of ASD traits measured with different diagnostic clinical scales, in a sample of 16 children with ASD aged 2 to 6 years. RESULTS: A significant correlation emerged between connectivity strength in cortical brain areas implicated in several resting state networks (Default mode, Central executive, Salience, Visual and Sensorimotor) and the severity of communication anomalies, social interaction problems, social affect problems, and repetitive behaviors. Seed analysis revealed that this pattern of correlation was mainly caused by global rather than local effects. CONCLUSIONS: The present evidence suggests that altered connectivity strength in several resting state networks is related to clinical features and may contribute to neurofunctional correlates of ASD. Future studies implementing the same method on a wider and stratified sample may further support functional connectivity as a possible biomarker of the condition.

Parents' perceptions of factors influencing sleep in pediatric intensive care units: A qualitative study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore factors influencing sleep in pediatric intensive care units as perceived by parents of critically ill children. DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive qualitative study used individual semistructured interviews. Parents were recruited through purposive sampling from two pediatric intensive care units at two locations in one university hospital in Norway. Ten parents were interviewed. The interviews were analyzed using a six-phase reflexive thematic analysis. FINDINGS: The analysis produced 17 subthemes under four main themes: environmental factors in the pediatric intensive care unit disturb children's sleep, children need trust and safety to sleep, nurses' cooperation with parents influences children's sleep, and nurses' structuring of their practices is fundamental to sleep promotion. CONCLUSION: The parents found that the environment disturbed their children's sleep, and environmental factors were easier to control in single rooms than in multibed rooms. Children slept better when they felt safe and trusted the nurses, and parents desired more cooperation in promoting sleep for their children, which may be an essential and overlooked part of sleep promotion. Nurses varied considerably in how they prioritized sleep and structured their practices to promote sleep. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses should take parents' experiences into account to better promote sleep for patients. By limiting environmental disturbances, building relationships with children to make them feel safe, including parents in sleep promotion, and prioritizing sleep in their practices, nurses could improve sleep quality and limit the consequences of sleep disturbance.

A comparative analysis of movement and physical activity in early childhood teacher education policy in five Nordic countries.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to investigate the integration of movement and physical activity (MoPA) within Early Childhood Teacher Education (ECTE) policies across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. This knowledge can inform the development of ECTE policies and practices that promote MoPA in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in Nordic countries and other countries worldwide. Methods: In this study, a Nordic cross-national network of researchers collaborated in investigating policy documents at the national and university levels, which govern the education of ECEC teachers. This study was inspired by the Non-affirmative Theory of Education, which provides a framework for understanding the various influences on curricular development in higher education. Based on this, a four-step comparative analytical process of national and university documents across the Nordic countries was conducted. It included keyword search for MoPA related courses and a qualitative description of MoPA in ECTE. Thus, a combination of investigations of policy documents at the national and university level and expert knowledge set a solid foundation for international comparison. Results: The comparative analysis of MoPA in ECTE reveals diverse approaches influenced by national and university policies. A central theme is the variability in MoPA integration across these nations. Finland and Norway prioritize MoPA with independent mandatory courses. In Iceland, compulsory MoPA courses exist at one of two universities, and in Sweden at three out of 19. All university colleges in Denmark offer an elective course. Furthermore, learning objectives related to MoPA are, to varying degrees, part of the internships in the countries, with Sweden being an exception. In the participating countries, the teachers decide the content of the MoPA courses with little guidance, support, and agreement on essential MoPA content within and across the ECTE's. Norway has established guidelines, and in Finland, there is a network of ECTE Physical Education (PE) educators, which, to some degree, increases the consistency and quality of MoPA in education. Discussion: The Nordic countries present diverse MoPA integration approaches rooted in national policies and educational traditions. The findings emphasize the necessity of independent and mandatory MoPA courses, integration of MoPA into internships and promoting networks across the educational and academic sectors to equip future early childhood educators with competencies for fostering physical activity, motor development and children's well-being.

Does childhood maltreatment influence Chinese preschool education college students' depression and anxiety? Evidence from a latent class analysis.

Introduction: Preschool teachers' mental health may be a critical factor in their job performance, which in turn can influence the quality of early childhood education. However, little is known about its development. Childhood maltreatment, as a chronic form of childhood stress, may influence later mental health development. Although large, comprehensive research has been undertaken on childhood maltreatment and mental health, the associations between these two variables need further exploration. This study aims to describe childhood maltreatment based on person-centered approaches in Chinese preschool education college students, and to examine the differences in depression and anxiety within subgroups of childhood maltreatment. Methods: A total of 1,218 Chinese preschool education college students participated in this study, and the data analysis was based on unconditional and conditional latent class analysis. Results: The results showed that the participants were divided into 5 profiles: a non-maltreatment profile; a profile of emotional abuse and emotional and physical neglect; a profile of physical neglect; a profile of emotional neglect; and a profile of physical and emotional neglect. Students with multiple subtypes of maltreatment had the highest levels of depression and anxiety. Discussion: Universities should consider both childhood maltreatment and profiles of childhood maltreatment when training preschool education college students.

Effects of a Teacher-Facilitated Peer-Mediated Intervention on Social Play of Preschoolers with Autism.

Children with autism often display differences in functional and symbolic play and may experience barriers to social inclusion with peers in preschool settings. Therefore, interventions supporting social play between children with autism and their peers that can be feasibly implemented by teachers in inclusive settings are needed. A teacher-implemented peer-mediated Stay Play Talk (SPT; Goldstein et al. in Top Lang Disord 27(2):182-199, 2007) intervention package targeting the type of play children with autism engage in with peers was implemented using a concurrent multiple baseline design across four participant/peer dyads. Using a cascading coaching model with behavioral skills training, a teacher was trained in intervention strategies and then taught and supported four peers to implement the intervention. In addition to visual analysis, to statistically analyze effects, we calculated effect sizes using the parametric measure standardized mean difference. A functional relation between the intervention and increases in interactive play and initiations and decreases in solitary play was demonstrated across all dyads. Results generalized to novel settings and maintained following withdrawal of teacher support. Results suggest that SPT can be effectively implemented by a teacher to support interactive play between children with and without autism in an inclusive classroom. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

Relationship between Neonatal Cerebral Fuels and Neurosensory Outcomes at 3 Years in Well Babies: Follow-Up of the Glucose in Well Babies (GLOW) Study.

INTRODUCTION: We sought to investigate if the availability of cerebral fuels soon after birth in healthy term babies was associated with developmental progress at 3 years of age. METHODS: Healthy term babies had plasma glucose, lactate, and beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations measured over the first 5 days. At 3 years, parents completed Ages and Stages (ASQ-3) questionnaires between December 2018 and August 2022. Developmental progress, analysed using structural equation modelling, was compared between children whose median fuel concentrations were above and below the mean neonatal concentrations of glucose (3.3 mmol/L) and total ATP-equivalents (140 mmol/L) in the first 48 h and over the first 5 days. RESULTS: Sixty-four (96%) families returned completed questionnaires. We found no differences between developmental progress in children who had median neonatal plasma glucose concentrations <3.3 or ≥3.3 mmol/L in the first 48 h (estimated mean difference in ASQ scores -1.0, 95% confidence interval: -5.8, 3.7, p = 0.66) or 120 h (-3.7, -12.0, 4.6, p = 0.39]). There were also no differences for any other measures of cerebral fuels including total ATP above and below the median over 48 and 120 h, any plasma or interstitial glucose concentration <2.6 mmol/L, or cumulative duration of interstitial glucose concentration <2.6 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: There was no detectable relationship between plasma concentrations of glucose, lactate, and beta-hydroxybutyrate soon after birth in healthy term babies and developmental progress at 3 years of age.

Is autonomic functioning distinctly associated with anxiety and unsociability in preschoolers?

There are many benefits of peer interactions for children's social, emotional, and cognitive development, and isolation from peers may have negative consequences for children. Although biological processes may underlie social withdrawal broadly, distinct patterns may be associated with withdrawal behaviors depending on their underlying motivation (e.g., shy versus disinterested). This study investigated the role of autonomic nervous system activity, as assessed via skin conductance level (SCL) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) in predicting changes in unsociability (e.g., lack of interest in peers) and anxious-fearfulness (e.g., discomfort among peers). Data were collected using a community sample of 92 US preschool children (45.7% female; Mage = 45.51 months, SDage = 3.81 months) at two time points one year apart. Gender differences were also explored. Baseline physiology was assessed while viewing a neutral video clip, and reactivity was assessed while viewing social exclusion and post-aggression discussion videos. For all children, coinhibition (i.e., SCL inhibition accompanied by RSA inhibition) to the post-aggression discussion video and blunted SCL activation to the exclusion video were prospectively associated with higher levels of anxious-fearfulness one year later. For boys only, baseline reciprocal sympathetic activation (i.e., SCL activation and RSA inhibition) was prospectively related to higher levels of unsociability one year later. For girls only, RSA inhibition in response to the post-aggression discussion video was prospectively related to higher levels of unsociability one year later. Findings contribute to a growing literature on autonomic reactivity in preschoolers' adjustment and suggest possible differences in the physiological processes underlying unsociability and anxious-fearfulness.