Parentage Research Articles

Protective factors against parental burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively influenced families across the world and contributed to the likelihood of increased parental burnout and decreased parental psychological well-being. However, not all parents experienced parental burnout during the pandemic. In the current study, we focused on protective factors that buffered the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents and supported parents’ quality of life. Based on previous literature, we hypothesized optimism, humor, and resilience will be associated with lower levels of parental burnout. Two hundred and eighty-one Israeli parents participated in the study, completing questionnaires during the government-mandated lockdown. Questionnaires examined information pertaining to both participants’ personal characteristics (optimism and pessimism, self-enhancing humor, resilience, parental stress, and perceptions of the youngest child’s functioning) and background characteristics (parental age, gender, health condition, socioeconomic status, employment status, and youngest child’s age) to examine the relationship between these variables and parental burnout. Findings indicate that resilience, optimism, and humor facilitated reduced parental burnout and enhanced parental well-being during the pandemic. However, these variables were not associated with parents’ stress perception. This study sheds light on the importance of having an optimistic perspective, positive sense of humor, and resilience at times of prolonged stress. Implications for interventions targeting optimistic attitudes and humor are suggested.

Flexible working and well-being: evidence from the UK

Abstract Recent technological advancements have facilitated alternative work arrangements. This paper investigates how flextime and working from home (WfH) relate to workers’ well-being using longitudinal data drawn from the Understanding Society study for the UK. It accounts for individual, job, and family characteristics while controlling for individual fixed effects. Additionally, it employs the Oster test to examine the potential influence of unobserved variables. Results show that men experience improved job satisfaction and mental health with flextime arrangements, while women predominantly benefit in terms of job satisfaction. Additionally, women adopting remote work report heightened satisfaction with job and life, and better mental health, whereas men primarily report greater job satisfaction. Interestingly, flextime effects are stronger for men, while WfH is more beneficial for women. Some heterogeneous effects are also found by parental status, age, and income groups.

Parent-Child Communication Intentions and Adolescents’ Dating Behaviour in the Assin South District, Ghana

<i>Background</i>: Most parents conceive that discussion sexual related matters are a bad practice and does not need to occur. This study investigates the parent-child communication intentions and adolescents’ dating behaviour in the Assin South District, Ghana. <i>Methods</i>: A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed with 400 participants which comprised parents age 30-59 and older adolescents age 15-19 years. Data were analysed using frequency distribution, Pearson’s chi-squared test of independence and binary logistic regression. <i>Results</i>: Parent-child dyad communication easiness was statistically significant related to adolescents’ dating behaviour at p<0.05, (OR=2.504, 95%CI ([1.063-5.896]). Parent-child dyad do not discuss sexual health matters was statistically significant at P<0.05, (OR=0.429, 95%CI [0.187-0.985]). Parent-child dyad engage in talks for adolescents’ positive social conduct was statistically significant at P<0.05, (OR=0.211, 95%CI [0.046-0.972]). Parent-child dyad engage in communication for adolescents’ appropriate nurturing was also observed as statistically significant to adolescents’ dating behaviour at p<0.05, (OR=0.223, 95%CI [0.051-0.978]). Parent-child dyad engage in communication to share thoughts, feelings and ensure stable relations during adulthood among adolescents was also observed as statistically significant to adolescents’ dating behaviour at p<0.05, (OR=5.988, 95%CI [1.192-30.088]). <i>Conclusion</i>: Parents in Assin South District could guide adolescents to make informed decisions about dating if they (adolescents) choose to engage in or are already dating.

Grandpaternal Aging and the Risk of Primary Pediatric Brain Tumors in Grandchildren

Background and Aims: Previous research shows inconclusive evidence of a relationship between grandpaternal and parental aging and the risk of childhood brain tumors. This study aims to estimate the impact of advanced paternal and grandpaternal aging on the incidence of childhood brain tumors in Jordan. Materials and Methods: This case-control study included pediatric primary brain tumor patients and controls, matched by age and gender, ascertained from the Jordanian Cancer Registry (JCR). Collected data included patients’ diagnoses and birthdate, along with the ages of parents and paternal grandparents. Results: The study included 183 pediatric brain tumor patients and 127 controls, matched by age and gender (p>0.05). Advanced grandpaternal age, defined as age at fathers' birth greater than 40 years, was present in 31.7% and 17.3% of cases and controls, respectively. Advanced grandpaternal age was associated with a 1.956-fold higher risk of developing all brain tumors (p=.012 (OR=1.956)). In participants with a grandpaternal age older than 30, advanced paternal age had a 6.56-fold increased risk of developing brain tumors (p=0.000, (OR=6.56)), an 8.4-fold increased risk of developing gliomas (p=.000, (OR=8.40)), a 4.1-fold increased risk of developing medulloblastomas (p=.045, (OR=4.1)). Grandpaternal age and advanced grandpaternal age were independent predictors for the incidence of all brain tumors, gliomas and medulloblastomas. Conclusions : Advanced grandpaternal age or a combination of advanced grandpaternal and paternal age, when combined with other risk factors, may help prevent, screen, and aid in early detection of brain tumors in the pediatric population.

Parental rules and child age as moderators in the relationship between screen time and perceived sleep problems in children aged 6–18

ABSTRACT Objective Child sleep problems are commonly reported by parents of children aged 6–18 years, with a growing body of evidence describing the link between children’s screen time and parental perceived child sleep problems. Using cross-sectional data, representative of the Victorian population, this study explored whether the relationship between screen time and parental perceived sleep problems differed across child age groups. It also examined whether parental rules moderated this relationship differentially between primary school-aged children and adolescents. Method Participants were 1699 parents living in Victoria with children aged 6 to 18 years who were recruited to complete a computer assisted personal communication through random dialling of mobile and landline numbers. Results Results indicated that more screen time was associated with more parental perceived sleep problems, with parental rules moderating this relationship for primary school-aged children but not for adolescents. Contrary to expectations, the relationship between screen time and parental perceived sleep problems did not differ across child age groups. Conclusions Results suggest that parental rules on media device use may be an instrumental factor in the development of successful intervention programmes for primary school-aged children. Further implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Analysis of Factors That Influence Bullying Behavior in Adolescents in Public Middle School in East Jakarta Region

Bullying is intentional aggressive behavior by a stronger individual or group of peers against a weaker individual or group of peers, whether physically, verbally, or psychologically. This behavior occurs repeatedly and has a negative impact on the victim. The discussion in this research that will be examined are the factors that influence bullying behavior, including: age, gender, parents' educational background, parents' parenting patterns, and peer factors. This research was conducted to determine the factors that influence bullying behavior among teenagers at State Middle Schools in the East Jakarta Region. This type of research is quantitative correlation research with a cross sectional approach and the sampling technique in the research was carried out using non-random sampling with a purposive sampling technique. The sample size in this study was 115 respondents and was analyzed using the chi square test for bivariate and univariate analysis. Based on the results of the analysis, there is a relationship between parental parenting factors and bullying behavior (p value 0.014), and peer factors (p value 0.006) and bullying behavior. Based on the research results from the data presentation and discussion as described in the previous chapter, the results of this research explain based on the characteristics of the respondents (age, gender, and educational background of parents) which are of particular concern regarding internal factors that can be formed in the family to pay attention to each age stage of their child's development.

Associations between gestational exposure to neighbourhood socioeconomic deprivation and early childhood weight status.

This study aimed to examine associations between prenatal neighbourhood socioeconomic deprivation (NSD) with early offspring weight status and to assess potential modification by race and ethnicity. We used data from the Newborn Epigenetics STudy (NEST) cohort. Gestational NSD was assessed as neighbourhood deprivation index (NDI) tertiles. Offspring height and weight were assessed at 6 months (N = 1023), 1 year (N = 1268), 2 years (N = 1033) and 3 years (N = 1038). Multilevel logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the relationship of NDI with overweight or obesity and rapid infant weight gain, adjusting for gestational parent age, race/ethnicity, marital status and educational attainment. Models were estimated in the total sample and also stratified by race and ethnicity. Children exposed to NDI in the highest (compared to the lowest) tertile had increased odds of having overweight/obesity at 1 year (OR = 1.53, 95%CI = 1.09-2.15). In stratified models, children of NH Black gestational parents residing in the highest tertile of NDI (compared to the lowest) had increased odds of having overweight/obesity at 1 year (OR = 1.67, 95%CI = 1.00-2.77). This findings suggest that higher gestational exposure to NSD may play a role in early childhood weight status, which has important implications for later development and health.

Feeding Practices Used by Australian Parents of Young Children Living With Food Insecurity and Household Chaos.

Responsive feeding practices are crucial for developing healthy eating behaviours in children. However, chaotic households and financial stress may disrupt these practices. This cross-sectional study aimed to characterise feeding practices among Australian parents experiencing financial hardship. Parents of children aged 5-35 months, who identified as experiencing financial hardship, completed an online questionnaire from October 2021 to June 2022. Validated tools gathered data on feeding practices, mealtime structure and environment, household chaos (HC), household food insecurity (HFI) and sociodemographic characteristics. Bivariate correlations and hierarchical regression assessed relationships between these variables, adjusted for parent age, education and number of children. Data from 213 parent-child dyads were analysed (97% mothers, median age = 31 years, IQR 28-36; 50% boys, median age = 12 months, IQR 8-17). Median HC score was 4 (IQR 2-7). Seventy-six percent of families reported experiencing HFI (median = 6, IQR 3-9). Over 80% of parents often or always ate meals as a family and never or rarely engaged in 'parent-led' feeding (median = 1.75, IQR 1.00-2.50), or used '(non)-food as reward' (median = 1.33, IQR 1.00-2.00). '(Non)-food as reward' was positively correlated with HC (p = 0.016), and 'food to calm' was positively associated with HC (p = 0.004). 'Feeding on demand' was negatively associated with HC and HFI (p = 0.002). 'Persuasive feeding' was not associated with either. Findings suggest that HC had more influence than HFI on some nonresponsive feeding practices. Increasing levels of HC and HFI may result in less structured mealtimes. Interventions must consider how financial hardship, HFI and HC can impact parents' ability to engage in responsive feeding practices. This cross-sectional study examined feeding practices among Australian parents facing financial hardship. Over 75% were food insecure. While the meal environment supported responsive feeding, increasing household chaos and food insecurity led to fewer structured mealtimes and household chaos increased coercive practices such as using (non)-food rewards and food to calm.

Older mothers produce smaller eggs without compromising offspring quality: a study of a thelytokous mite predator (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract Negative relationships between the parental age and offspring life history traits have been widely observed across diverse animal taxa. However, there is a lack of studies examining the influence of parental age on offspring performance using mites, particularly phytoseiid predators as subjects. This study explored the influence of maternal age on offspring life history traits in Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant) (Acari: Mesostigmata), a phytoseiid predatory mite reproducing through thelytokous parthenogenesis. We hypothesised that increased maternal age negatively impacts offspring traits, including developmental duration, body size, fecundity and lifespan. Amblyseius herbicolus was reared under controlled laboratory conditions, and the life history traits of offspring from mothers of varying ages were analysed using linear mixed-effect models. Our results showed that the increase in maternal age significantly reduced individual egg volume, but did not significantly affect offspring developmental duration, body size, fecundity or lifespan. These findings indicate that while older A. herbicolus females produced smaller eggs, the subsequent performance (i.e. body size, fecundity and lifespan) of offspring remained largely unaffected, suggesting possible compensatory mechanisms in the offspring or alternative maternal provisioning strategies. The results of this study offer useful insights into the reproductive strategies of phytoseiid predators and asexually reproducing species, enhancing our understanding of how maternal age affects offspring fitness. Further studies can examine how offspring of A. herbicolus from mothers of different ages perform under adverse environmental conditions.

Parents' demographic characteristics and their involvement in student retention in Kwimba District, Tanzania

Students whose parents are actively involved in their education are more likely to develop a positive attitude toward schooling and to persist in their studies. A significant challenge affecting student retention in schools is the lack of parental involvement in their children's education. This study explores the relationship between the demographic characteristics of parents and their participation in promoting student retention in secondary schools within Kwimba District. Data were gathered using a questionnaire administered to 126 respondents, selected through simple random sampling. To analyze the data, the Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal-Wallis Test were employed to assess the relationships among various demographic factors of the respondents, including gender, age, education level, marital status, and employment status. The results revealed that there was no significant correlation found between home-based parental involvement for student retention in secondary schools and the parent's age, gender, or marital status. The findings indicate a significant correlation between parents' work status and their children's educational attainment. These results underscore the importance of parental involvement in enhancing student retention, highlighting the necessity for targeted interventions to promote such engagement. Increased parental participation, particularly in home-based educational activities, has the potential to substantially decrease dropout rates and improve attendance, ultimately leading to better educational outcomes. The study suggests that parents, regardless of their educational backgrounds or employment statuses, should be encouraged to actively support and motivate their children in academic pursuits to enhance their retention in school.

Adolescents’ posttraumatic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic: The links between differentiation of self, parents’ posttraumatic growth, and adolescents’ gender

The COVID-19 outbreak produced a threatening and chaotic environment for adolescents, potentially affecting adolescent developmental tasks such as differentiation of self. Yet positive psychological changes such as posttraumatic growth (PTG) may also occur when adolescents struggle with such challenging circumstances. In this study, we focused on 134 parent–child pairs comprising Israeli adolescents (ages 11–17) and one of their parents (ages 30–59), two years after the initial COVID-19 outbreak. Participants were recruited using snowball and convenience sampling methods and completed online self-report questionnaires, which included background data, the post-traumatic growth inventory, and the differentiation of self inventory. We explored a moderated mediation model where parents’ PTG served as a mediator in the association between adolescents’ differentiation of self and adolescents’ PTG, with adolescents’ gender moderating this mediation. Results revealed a positive association between adolescents’ PTG and parents’ PTG, and negative associations between adolescents’ differentiation of self and adolescents’ PTG/parents’ PTG. Further, results confirmed the moderated mediation model for the association between parents’ and adolescents’ PTG, but not for the association between adolescents’ differentiation of self and adolescents’ PTG. Adolescents’ higher differentiation of self was associated with parents’ lower PTG, which in turn was associated with adolescents’ lower PTG, among male adolescents only. Overall, the study results shed light on the importance of tailoring crisis interventions to the family system as a whole, given that at traumatic times in particular the mutual effect of parent–child distress may foster a positive outcome such as PTG. In addition, clinicians might wish to consider how to utilize adolescents’ differentiation of self in family therapy, as it was found in this study to be a resource facilitating recovery after negative life events and may thus enhance well-being.

Development of a novel parent-report measure of food allergy impact.

The aim of this study was to develop an outcome measure for caregivers of children with food allergy. A community-informed measure development process was utilised to generate a novel parent-reported outcome tool for caregivers of children with food allergy. We conducted focus groups with parents and caregivers of food-allergic (n = 18) children, following which a team of coders identified themes and generated an initial set of candidate items. These items were reviewed by content-area experts (n = 10) using content validity indices. We then conducted a series of cognitive interviews with parents of children with food allergy (n = 12) validating the instrument draft. We describe the results of these development steps as well as future steps to produce the final, validated form of the measure. The resultant 91-item measure is intended for parents of children ages two to 12 years. This measure fills a unique need in the field by leveraging key stakeholders' perspectives to develop and subsequently validate a novel parent-reported measure of parent and family food allergy impacts of children ages two to 12 years old.

Evolution of Population Structure, Reproductive Performance, Inbreeding, and Genetic Diversity in Ecuadorian Charolais Cattle.

The objective was to evaluate the evolution of the population structure, reproductive performance, inbreeding, and genetic diversity in Charolais cattle. Official genealogical information from the Ecuadorian Charolais Association was divided into five populations: (a) historical (total), (b) 2008-2012 (natural mating period), (c) 2013-2017 (natural mating + artificial insemination period), (d) 2018-2022 (artificial insemination + embryo transfer period), and (e) the reference (known sires and dams) from which the population structure was evaluated using pedigree completeness and the generation interval (GI). Meanwhile, for genetic diversity (GD), inbreeding (F), average relatedness (AR), and the effective population size (Ne) were estimated. The gene origin probability (number of founders, effective number of founders/ancestors, and number of founder genomes) explaining genetic variability, reproductive efficiency, the number of offspring per sire and dam, and the average ages of parents at the birth of their offspring were determined. The database was analyzed using the ENDOG, POPREP, and CFC software programs. The results indicate that pedigree completeness and the GI decreased over time among populations, although the first generation showed higher values. The sire gametic pathway was greater in all populations. F increased over time, although not markedly. Although Ne variations were observed, the levels remained above the recommended limit value. The GD loss increased progressively over time although the most recent population was not significantly affected. Finally, the female reproductive efficiency increased over time as well. In conclusion, the Charolais cattle GI should be reduced. After 2012, the use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies and breeding schemes raised the GD loss. Finally, the F increased over time although it could be reduced using foreign genetic resources in the current Ecuadorian Charolais population.

Culturally Tailored Messages and Trial Registry Enrollment

Marginalized populations have lower levels of clinical trial representation than other populations. Tailoring recruitment materials and providing incentives may improve representation. To determine whether culturally tailored video improves parents' decision to enroll (DTE) Black children in a research registry. A randomized clinical trial, using mixed methods and consecutive sampling, was conducted in an urban primary care pediatric clinic. A post hoc study assessed the association of a monetary incentive with DTE. Ninety-three parents were recruited before their child's scheduled clinic visit. Participants completed a survey during which they were randomly assigned to review a paragraph (control group), generic video, or tailored video and received a gift card. Video watchers completed questions about its effectiveness. All participants were invited to join the registry. In the post hoc study, consenting participants followed the control group protocol and the coordinator promised them an ink pen for participating. The study was conducted between November 15, 2022, and August 29, 2023. A survey regarding the importance of being included in research studies was administered after participants watched a culturally tailored video. The primary outcome was DTE. Covariates were message effectiveness, clinical trial knowledge, and trust. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed. A total of 125 individuals were included. All groups had similar mean (SD) parent age (overall, 32.6 [7.35] years), gender (110 [88.0%] women), and race (116 [92.8%] Black or African American). There was no significant difference in the odds of DTE between the appeal video and control (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; 95% CI, 0.38-3.72) or between the generic video and control (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 0.54-6.71). However, DTE was higher for all 3 gift card groups vs the ink pen incentive group (eg, control vs ink pen incentive: OR, 5.01; 95% CI, 1.68-14.95). After adjusting for trust, monetary incentives were associated with higher odds of DTE (adjusted OR, 5.92; 95% CI, 2.44-14.39). In this randomized clinical trial, targeted messaging was not associated with a higher decision to enroll in a pediatric clinical trial registry. There may be a role for combining holistic messaging with monetary incentives to improve enrollment. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06138145.

Characterizing the rates and patterns of de novo germline mutations in the aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis).

Given the many levels of biological variation in mutation rates observed to date in primates - spanning from species to individuals to genomic regions - future steps in our understanding of mutation rate evolution will be aided by both a greater breadth of species coverage across the primate clade, but also by a greater depth as afforded by an evaluation of multiple trios within individual species. In order to help bridge these gaps, we here present an analysis of a species representing one of the most basal splits on the primate tree (aye-ayes), combining whole-genome sequencing of seven parent-offspring trios from a three-generation pedigree with a novel computational pipeline that takes advantage of recently developed pan-genome graphs, thereby circumventing the application of (highly subjective) quality metrics that has previously been shown to result in notable differences in the detection of de novo mutations, and ultimately estimates of mutation rates. This deep sampling has enabled both a detailed picture of parental age effects as well as sex dependency in mutation rates which we here compare with previously studied primates, but has also provided unique insights into the nature of genetic variation in one of the most endangered primates on the planet.

Parental mental disorders and ages of onset of severe mental disorders in offspring: A nationwide family-link study

ObjectiveThe current study used a retrospective study design to investigate the association between age of onset of severe mental disorders in offspring and the likelihood of diagnoses of parental mental disorder. MethodWe enrolled 212,333 people with severe mental disorder, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BD), or major depressive disorder (MDD) and 2,123,329 controls matched for age, sex, and demographics from the National Health Insurance Database of Taiwan. Poisson regression models were used to examine the likelihood of diagnoses of five mental disorders in their parents compared to the parents of the controls (reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval), including schizophrenia, BD, MDD, alcohol use disorder (AUD), and substance use disorder (SUD). The study cohort was classified into child-onset, adolescent-onset, and adult-onset groups according to the onset of severe mental disorders in the offspring. ResultThe parents of people with child-, adolescent-, and adult-onset schizophrenia (OR range: 1.73–9.08, all p < 0.05) or BD (OR range: 1.97–8.17, all p < 0.05) were more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, BD, MDD, AUD, and substance use disorder (SUD) than controls except for AUD in the child-onset group. However, the parents of people with child-, adolescent-, and adult-onset depressive disorder were more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, BD, MDD, AUD, and SUD (OR range: 1.82–4.76, all p < 0.05) than controls. Sub-analyses stratified by sex showed different patterns of associations between parental mental disorders and offspring mental disorders. ConclusionNo matter when the severe mental disorder of the offsprings occurred at different onset stages, their parents had a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with schizophrenia, BD, MDD, AUD, and SUD.

Understanding Parental Decision-Making and Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccination for Children in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey.

In Vietnam, COVID-19 vaccination campaigns for children have encountered numerous challenges due to acceptance issues among parents. This study aimed to assess parental decision-making and identify factors influencing their decision to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. This was a cross-sectional online survey conducted between April and May 2023 among parents of children aged 6-17 years enrolled in urban and rural schools in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam. Data on parental and child demographics, vaccination decision-making, COVID-19 experiences, and health beliefs based on the Health Belief Model were collected and analyzed, using univariate and multivariable multinomial regression analyses. Among 4235 respondents (median age 41 years, 80.4% female), 81.3% had accepted all vaccine doses for their children, 9.7% had accepted some doses, 4.6% had rejected all doses, and 4.5% had not vaccinated their children for reasons unrelated to vaccine acceptance. Factors influencing parental decision-making included parental age, educational status, area of residence, health beliefs, prior experience with COVID-19 vaccination, and their child's age and health status. We found overall high levels of parental acceptance for COVID-19 vaccination for children in Thai Nguyen province. To enhance COVID-19 vaccination acceptance, targeted communication strategies should focus on younger parents, those living in urban areas, parents with higher educational levels, and those with children who are younger or have underlying medical conditions. Trusted sources such as healthcare workers, teachers, and official health websites are essential for disseminating accurate information and fostering trust in vaccination programs.

Effect modifications of parents’ age at childbirth on association between ambient particulate matter and children obesity

BackgroundThere is limited evidence regarding the modifying effects of parents’ age at childbirth on the relationship between air pollution and obesity in plateau areas. This study aimed to explore the association between particulate matter (PM) and child obesity, specifically investigating whether parents’ age at childbirth could modify this relationship in the Tibetan plateau, China.MethodsSatellite-based random forest models were used to estimate the concentrations of PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 2.5 μm), PMc (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters between 2.5 μm and 10 μm), and PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 10 μm). Linear and logistic regression models were employed to assess associations between PM exposure and obesity indicators, and effect estimates of PM across different particle sizes were compared.ResultsThe study comprised 2,015 children under five years old. Postnatal exposure to PM was positively associated with overweight and obesity (OWO), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI). Among these pollutants, PM10 exhibited the strongest association with BMI and OWO, whereas PMc showed the strongest association with WHR. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 (5.67 µg/m3), PMc (5.25 µg/m3), and PM10 (11.06 µg/m3) was positively associated with OWO (odd ratio [OR] for PM2.5 = 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] for PM2.5 = 1.24 to 1.85; OR for PMc = 1.50, 95% CI for PMc = 1.19 to 1.88; OR for PM10 = 1.56, 95% CI for PM10 = 1.25 to 1.96), respectively. Stratified analysis by parents’ age at childbirth indicated that the effects of PM on obesity indicators were more pronounced in the advanced age group.ConclusionsLong-term exposure to PM was positively associated with OWO, WHR, and BMI. Our findings also underscore the importance of examining the effects of ambient PM exposure on OWO, particularly in parents of advanced age at childbirth.

Autism, intelligence, language, and adaptive behavior, disentangling a complex relationship.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a range of intellectual and language abilities. Its heterogeneity is acknowledged in modern diagnostics, complicating research and necessitating precision medicine and a multidimensional approach for individualized treatment and accurate assessment. Intellectual and language functioning influence adaptive skills and symptomatology. Thus, assessing adaptive functioning in a multidimensional and multi-informant manner is crucial, highlighting the importance of comprehensive evaluations. This study explores the interplay between autistic traits, demographic variables, IQ, adaptive functioning, and the applicability of ICD-11 classifications. We analyzed data from the initial global evaluation of 60 diverse autistic children (aged 35 to 120 months; IQ range 16 to 118). Parent-reports using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS-II) were compared with standardized assessments from the PsychoEducational Profile (PEP-3). Children's intellectual levels were assessed using Griffiths Scales of Child Development (Griffiths III) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) was used for autistic traits. They were further classified according to the ICD-11 diagnostic system, functional language, and intellectual functioning levels. Correlations among variables, group comparisons, and multivariate analyses were performed. The analysis indicates a linear effect of IQ on all adaptive scales and the impact of autistic traits on directly measured adaptive functioning. A factorial effect was observed due to changes concerning specific age, intellectual, and linguistic levels, which do not completely align with ICD-11 categorization. Additionally, a negative correlation between intelligence and measured autistic traits was found. Parental age, education level, and age at childbirth were also found to affect various adaptive scales. The study questions the ICD-11's proposed distinctions in IQ and language functioning for ASD, advocating for more refined categorization and developmental considerations. It underscores the intricate relationship between autistic traits, IQ, and communication skills, casting doubt on the precision of diagnostic tools across the spectrum. Parental reports and direct assessments are essential for comprehensive evaluation, with parental education and age influencing children's behaviors and skills. The study calls for a nuanced approach to ASD assessment, integrating various metrics and sources of information for a detailed phenotyping necessary for personalized interventions and biological research.

Parental axial lengths and prenatal conditions related to child axial length: the TMM BirThree Cohort Study

PurposeWe investigated the association between actual parental axial length, prenatal conditions, and the axial length in preschool children. DesignCohort study MethodsThis study included 1,819 children (mean age: 4.2 ± 0.4 years, 50.1% girls) and their parents enrolled in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study in Japan. Axial length was measured using OA-1000 Optical Biometer. A marginal model with generalized estimating equations was used for association analysis. Variables included the child's age, sex, height at the second wave, prenatal conditions (large for gestational age [LGA], resuscitation, acidosis, small placenta at birth, multiple pregnancies, maternal hypertensive disorders of pregnancy), parental age, and the mean axial length of both parents’ eyes at the second wave. Path analysis was performed to investigate the relationships among the variables. ResultsAxial length was shorter in girls than in boys (regression coefficient (β) [95% confidence interval] -0.52 [-0.57, -0.47]). Age and height were associated with longer axial lengths (0.10 [0.022, 0.18] and 0.025 [0.019, 0.031], respectively). Parental axial lengths were positively associated with children's axial lengths (0.12 [0.10, 0.14] for fathers and 0.12 [0.094, 0.14] for mothers). LGA was associated with longer axial lengths (0.12 [0.033, 0.20]), whereas small placenta and multiple pregnancies were associated with shorter axial lengths (-0.11 [-0.17, -0.045] and -0.21 [-0.33, -0.091], respectively). The path coefficient for both parents’ axial lengths in relation to their children's axial lengths was 0.23. ConclusionParental axial lengths and prenatal conditions may determine axial length during early life.