Children's Behavior Research Articles

Does “Kamishibai” (Picture-story show) improve children's behaviors and learning in pre-primary education?: Evidence from Madagascar

While universal quality pre-primary education is a global agenda, the shortage of qualified teachers and teaching materials is a major challenge in low-income countries. In Madagascar, the proportion of teachers with minimum required qualification in pre-primary education is less than half. To improve the quality of pre-primary education, the Ministry of Education in Madagascar piloted a set of interventions, including teacher training and the distribution of Kamishibai, a simple picture-story show for children. This study investigated whether Kamishibai changed children's behaviors and learning using a randomized controlled trial. The experiment targeted senior-class pupils (five to six years old) in 14 public pre-primary activity centers. The results of the experiment showed that Kamishibai improved children's behaviors of hygiene, understanding of security, responsibility, and autonomy. Kamishibai also enhanced their foundational literacy and numeracy. The results of this study suggest that it is possible to improve the quality of pre-primary education with simple teaching materials in the challenging context of a low-income country.

Развитие компетенций и личностных качеств педагогов – психологов начального образования для реализации программ внеурочной деятельности в условиях ФГОС НОО

The article considers the elements of the content of training future teachers-psychologists of primary education for the implementation of extracurricular activities: the theoretical and methodological basis for planning and designing extracurricular activities, the basic values, principles and functions of extracurricular activities, organizational models of extracurricular activities, the structure and content of extracurricular activities. The psychological support of the educational process, diagnosis, correction and development of the mental sphere and behavior of children, as well as counseling and support for teachers and parents, which can be carried out by a teacher – psychologist of primary education in extracurricular activities, is substantiated. The personal qualities of a specialist corresponding to the essence of extracurricular activities, its specifics, as well as ways of their formation in the process of professional training are studied.

A Family-Based Intervention for Early Elementary Students With Reading and Behavioral Difficulties: A Pilot Study.

We created and tested a family-based intervention with families of children in Grades 1 and 2 with reading and behavioral difficulties to investigate its impact on text comprehension. Developed with input from parents, reading experts, and behavior specialists, Family-RISE (Reading Intervention with Supports for Engagement) integrates evidence-based practices for enhancing students' knowledge of narrative texts with effective behavioral supports to maximize student engagement and minimize disruptive behaviors to help parents engage successfully in shared storybook reading. We assessed the effects of Family-RISE on children's narrative text comprehension using a multiple-baseline design. A functional relation was established between Family-RISE and narrative text comprehension, indicating Family-RISE substantially improved narrative text comprehension. Furthermore, nonoverlap of all pairs, Tau-U, and standard mean difference effect sizes were all considered large in favor of the intervention. Family members reported that the intervention was highly usable, feasible to implement, and socially valid. These findings underscore the promise of the Family-RISE intervention and the value of developing interventions that simultaneously support reading and behavior for children with co-occurring difficulties in these areas.

Penggunaan Media Audio Visual terhadap Peningkatan Pengetahuan tentang Perilaku Hidup Bersih dan Sehat pada Anak Usia Sekolah

This research aims to determine the effect of using audio-visual media on increasing knowledge about clean and healthy living behavior in school-aged children. The method used is a quantitative research method with an experimental research type of one-group prepost design. The research sample consisted of 59 respondents using purposive sampling technique. The results of this study show that knowledge is in the good category after being given the intervention with an n value of 30, which means that 30 respondents experienced an increase in knowledge. And the sufficient value is n 2, which means there are 2 respondents with insufficient knowledge even though they have been given the intervention, and there are 27 respondents whose knowledge remains good or sufficient after being given the intervention. Based on the statistical output test, a significant value of 0.000 was obtained. This means that H0 is rejected because the significant value is <0.05 and Ha is accepted. The conclusion of this research is that there is an influence of the use of audio-visual media in increasing knowledge about clean and healthy living behavior in school-aged children Keywords: School age children, audio visuals, clean and healthy living behavior

Sensory processing associated with subcategories of restricted and repetitive behaviors in Japanese children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Sensory processing associated with subcategories of restricted and repetitive behaviors in Japanese children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Food Neophobia Scores at 8 Years and Associations with Nutrition-related Behaviors at Home in Early Life: Findings from a New Zealand Contemporary Birth Cohort.

Food neophobia (FN) reduces nutritional adequacy and variety which poses a significant concern for children's health and well-being We described the FN scores among 8-year-olds and examined its associations with nutrition-related behaviors at 45 months within the Growing Up in New Zealand cohort (n=4,621). FN was estimated using the Food Neophobia Scale (FNS). Mean FNS scores between variable categories were compared using t-tests for independent samples and ANOVA. Associations between FNS scores at 8 years and nutrition-related behaviors at 45-months were examined using multivariate linear regression. The mean (standard deviation) FN score was 46.2 (15.2) with statistically significant differences by sex (boys=47.6 (15.7), girls=43.8 (14.2), p=<0.001). For all children, in models adjusted by breastfeeding duration and sociodemographic characteristics: children who sometimes and never/almost never the same foods as their parents, scored, on average, 5.8 and 11 points higher in the FNS (versus those who did always/almost always); children who occasionally/never found mealtimes enjoyable scored on average 3.6 points lower in the FNS (versus mostly/quite often); children who always/almost always had the television on during mealtimes scored on average 2.7 higher in the FNS (versus never/almost never). In comparison to children who mostly/quite often had time to talk to others during mealtimes, those who never/occasionally did it scored on average higher points in the FNS overall (1.46 points higher) and within girls (1.73 points higher). These findings support the eating behavior statements in the National Children's Food and Nutrition Guidelines, which emphasize early exposure to food variety, limiting mealtime distractions, and acknowledge that parental role modeling shapes children's nutrition-related behaviors. Early adoption of preventative interventions for reducing FN in early and middle childhood are needed.

Relationship of nutritional behaviors and parent–child interactions with developmental domains of Iranian toddlers: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundHealth service providers closely monitor the developmental state of toddlers to identify the factors affecting this process because any defect during this period will cause irreversible damage. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship of nutritional behaviors and parent–child interactions with the developmental domains of Iranian toddlers.MethodsThis cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 341 toddlers aged 12–36 months covered by comprehensive health centers in the south of Tehran in 2021–2022. The participants were selected through single-stage cluster sampling. To this end, 16 comprehensive health centers were randomly selected, and then some of the clients from each center were randomly selected as the sample. The required data were collected through the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), the Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ), the Child-Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS), and a demographics form. They were then analyzed statistically using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS-21, considering a significance level of p < 0.05.ResultsThe results showed that most participants were normal in all developmental domains (communication, gross motor, fine motor, personal-social, and problem-solving), with a mean developmental delay ranging from 1.8 to 7%. The most serious problem of participants requiring medical referral was related to gross motor (7%) with a mean of 54.35 ± 7.28 followed by communication (6.5%) with a mean of 49.41 ± 9.67. The mean nutritional behavior of participants was 77.9 ± 21.7. A significant relationship was found between the nutritional behaviors of participants and the problem-solving domain of development (p = 0.018). The results also indicated a mean parent-child interaction score of 94.26 ± 12.63. There was a significant relationship between parent-child interactions and the communication area of development (p = 0.04).ConclusionSince some areas of toddler development are influenced by children’s nutritional behavior and parent-child interactions, it is necessary to train families to identify, monitor, and correct the factors affecting the development of their children. Health system officials and planners are also recommended to develop interventions to improve the nutritional behaviors of children and parent-child interactions.

Toothbrushing Behavior and The Incidence of Dental Caries In Children

One of the most common children's dental health problems is dental caries. Childhood is the beginning of behavior formation, therefore it is hoped that parents can educate their children to behave correctly in maintaining healthy teeth and mouth.This research used descriptive survey research methods. The design of this research is cross sectional. The research was conducted at MIS Cempaka Putih and MIS Sungai Baru, South Kalimantan. The population in this study was all students in grades 4-6 at MIS Cempaka Putih and MIS Sungai Baru, there are 41 people. The sampling technique in this research used the total sampling method. The variables in this study are children's dental health behavior and the DMF-T index. The data that has been collected will be processed through editing, coding, tabulation and descriptive data analysis. This research was conducted at MIS Cempaka Putih and MIS Sungai Baru Banjarmasin in February 2022. Respondents were 10-12 years old. The dental health behavior of children in the good category was 14 people (34.15%), 15 people (36.58%), and 12 people less (29.27%). DMF-T index in the very high category was 3 people (7.32%), high was 4 people (9.76%), medium was 18 people (43.90%), low was 13 people (31.70%), and very low 3 people (7.32%). Based on the research results, it can be concluded that the dental health behavior of children in grades 4-6 at MIS Cempaka Putih and MIS Sungai Baru is mostly adequate for 15 people (36.58%). The class 4-6 DMF-T index in MIS Cempaka Putih and Sungai Baru has an average value of 3.5, including the medium category.

The Relationship of Bullying Behavior and Social Interaction in School-Age Children at SDN 22 Jambi City

The problem that is currently widespread in education circles is bullying. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) stated that Indonesia is ranked first in the position of bullying cases in ASEAN with 84% confirmed in 2023, and according to data from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) Bullying cases are quite a worrying issue in the school environment. Data records that there will be at least 1,478 cases of bullying reported in 2023. Bullying makes it difficult for children to interact well in their social environment and this can hinder the child's development process. This research was conducted to identify the relationship between bullying behavior and social interactions in school-age children at SDN 22, Jambi City. The research method used was quantitative research using a cross sectional approach. The research population was students of SDN 22 Jambi City grades IV, V, VI, totaling 103 samples taken using total sampling techniques. This research uses a questionnaire instrument. The analytical test used is Spearman Rho. The results of the research show that generally the bullying behavior data is in the low category of 96 respondents (93.2%) and most social interactions are in the good category of 80 respondents (77.7%). The test results obtained were (p 0.01&lt;0.05). The conclusion is that there is a relationship between bullying behavior and social interaction in school-age children at SDN 22 Jambi City. It is hoped that the results of the research will be used as material for consideration by schools in providing guidance and counseling support services, so that students can understand the limits of social interaction.

Comparative study on emotional behavior and parental job stress of only-child and non-only-child preschool children.

Studies have revealed that Children's psychological, behavioral, and emotional problems are easily influenced by the family environment. In recent years, the family structure in China has undergone significant changes, with more families having two or three children. To explore the relationship between emotional behavior and parental job stress in only preschool and non-only preschool children. Children aged 3-6 in kindergartens in four main urban areas of Shijiazhuang were selected by stratified sampling for a questionnaire and divided into only and non-only child groups. Their emotional behaviors and parental pressure were compared. Only and non-only children were paired in a 1:1 ratio by class and age (difference less than or equal to 6 months), and the matched data were compared. The relationship between children's emotional behavior and parents' job stress before and after matching was analyzed. Before matching, the mother's occupation, children's personality characteristics, and children's rearing patterns differed between the groups (P < 0.05). After matching 550 pairs, differences in the children's parenting styles remained. There were significant differences in children's gender and parents' attitudes toward children between the two groups. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores of children in the only child group and the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) scores of parents were significantly lower than those in the non-only child group (P < 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that after matching, there was a positive correlation between children's parenting style and parents' attitudes toward their children (r = 0.096, P < 0.01), and the PSI-SF score was positively correlated with children's gender, parents' attitudes toward their children, and SDQ scores (r = 0.077, 0.193, 0.172, 0.222). Preschool children's emotional behavior and parental pressure were significantly higher in multi-child families. Parental pressure in differently structured families was associated with many factors, and preschool children's emotional behavior was positively correlated with parental pressure.

Psychometric Properties of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for Ages 6-18 to Identify Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in a Turkish Parent Sample.

The Child Behavior Checklist for ages 6-18 (CBCL/6-18) is broadly used for psycho-educational assessment in identifying children's behavior problems in special education and psychology. However, the usefulness of the CBCL/6-18 in a Turkish sample still needs to be investigated. The current study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the measures of the CBCL/6-18 within a sample of Turkish parents. The psychometric evaluation includes item calibration using the Partial Credit Model (PCM). We analyzed data from 548 parents who have children with autism spectrum disorder. According to the PCM calibration, the results suggested that the Internalizing, Externalizing, and Total Problem subscales were unidimensional and showed local independence successfully. All subscales demonstrated adequate reliability, indicating that the scale distinguishes between children with different behavior problems. The subscales had varying item step ordering, meaning that transitions from one category to second by parent ratings are relatively straightforward. Some items with easy-to-define behavior problems, for example, Item 42 (constipated), were more likely to be endorsed by parents. Consequently, the CBCL/6-18 has adequate psychometric properties for accurately assessing problem behaviors in children based on parent ratings.

The correlations on psychopathology in children self-rating, psychopathology in children as related by their parents and psychopathology in parents self-rating in a Kenyan school setting: towards an inclusive family-centered approach

Several studies have reported on the association between parental and childhood psychopathologies. Despite this, little is known about the psychopathologies between parents and children in a non-clinical population. We present such a study, the first in a Kenyan setting in an attempt to fill this gap. The objective of this study was to determine the association between self-rating psychopathology in children, parent-rating psychopathology in their children and self-rating psychopathology in parents in a non-clinical population of children attending schools in Kenya. We identified 113 participants, comprising children and their parents in 10 randomly sampled primary schools in South East Kenya. The children completed the Youth Self-Report (YSR) scale and parents completed the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL) on their children and the Adult Self-Reports (ASR) on themselves. These instruments are part of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA), developed in the USA for a comprehensive approach to assessing adaptation and maladaptive behavior in children and adolescents. There was back and forth translation of the instruments from English to Swahili and the local dialect, Kamba. Every revision of the English translation was sent to the instrument author who sent back comments until the revised version was in sync with the version developed by the author. We used the ASEBA in-built algorithm for scoring to determine cut-off points for problematic and non-problematic behavior. Correlations, linear regression and independent sample t-test were used to explore these associations. The mean age of the children was 12.7. While there was no significant association between child problems as measured by YSR (self-reported) and parent problems as measured by ASR and CBCL in the overall correlations, there was a significant association when examining specific groups (clinical range vs. non-clinical). Moreover, significant association existed between total problems on YSR and ASR internalizing problems (t=-2.3,p = 0.023), with clinical range having a higher mean than the normal range. In addition, a significant relationship (p < 0.05) was found between psychopathology in children as reported by both parents (CBCL) and psychopathology in parents as self-reported (ASR).Mothers were more likely to report lower syndrome scores of their children as compared to fathers. Our findings indicate discrepancies between children self-rating and parent ratings, suggesting that one cannot manage psychopathology in children without reference to psychopathology in their parents. We suggest broad-based psycho-education to include children and parents to enhance shared awareness of psychopathology and uptake of treatment.

Pengaruh Mengintegrasikan Gadget dalam Praktik Parenting Modern Perspektif Al-Qur’an

Considering the development of very sophisticated technology, there are many tasks for parents in implementing parenting patterns for children. One of the problems in the current digital era is children's use of gadgets which affects their growth and development. Parents need to monitor and guide children in their use of digital devices to ensure that this does not interfere with their overall development. Children's problems are not new problems, but digital developments (information and communication technology) are believed to have a big influence on children's problems, including children's behavior. The digital era has an impact on easy access to information for children, including their curiosity about current technology. Children's problems are identified in a generation that is familiar with technological developments in the form of gadgets. The use of gadgets by children has positive and negative consequences. So this article aims to examine the positive and negative impacts of integrating gadgets in parenting, as well as solutions for parental supervision of children. The research uses the library research method, which is an approach to collecting data by reading books, magazines, journals, quoting the opinions of various tafsir scholars and other sources of information available in the library. Researchers used qualitative methods to collect existing data until finally it was discovered that integrating gadgets had a lot of influence on the continuity of parenting. In this case, the parenting process must also balance its practice with world and religious concepts. The Al-Qur'an itself provides many instructions regarding parenting patterns in the family. Therefore, integrating gadgets in parenting without being guided by the Koran will cause harm to parents. Islam illustrates that whether good or bad really depends on the parents' efforts in educating their children. Integrating gadgets in parenting practices can help parents provide modern education, but it also has bad effects if they are implemented incorrectly, therefore it requires effective supervision of children in today's digital era.

Effects of Medical Cannabis Treatment for Autistic Children on Anxiety and Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors and Interests: An Open-Label Study.

Background: The literature supports the benefits of medical cannabis for core and comorbid symptoms in autistic individuals and anxiety-related symptoms in individuals without autism. However, no study has specifically investigated how cannabidiol (CBD)-rich cannabis affects anxiety subtypes in autistic children or its relationship with restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBI). Understanding the effects of CBD-rich cannabis treatment on anxiety subtypes and RRBI could offer more precise treatment approaches to managing anxiety symptoms and reducing RRBI frequency in autistic children. Objectives: To examine (1) the impact of CBD-rich cannabis treatment on autistic children's (1a) anxiety levels and subtypes and (1 b) RRBI and subtypes and (2) whether changes in anxiety explain changes in RRBI following cannabis treatment. Method: In this open-label study, we analyzed data from 65 autistic children (5-12 years) who had participated in research on the effects of CBD-rich cannabis on children with autism. Their parents completed the Repetitive Behavior Scale-revised to assess the frequency and severity of six subgroups of their children's recurrent behaviors and the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders for symptoms related to five types of anxiety disorders. They completed these assessments at three time points: (T1) before treatment, (T2) after 3 months, and (T3) after 6 months of treatment. Results: The results indicated reduced RRBI and symptoms related to various anxiety subtypes in autistic children following 6 months of CBD-rich cannabis treatment. Specifically, we observed significant differences in the autistic children's overall anxiety and in some anxiety subtypes (i.e., general, social, panic, and separation anxieties). Significant improvements were observed in RRBI, including the total score, and specifically in compulsive, ritualistic, and sameness behaviors. Our findings revealed that reduced anxiety, particularly within the panic- and separation-related subtypes, predicted a subsequent decrease in RRBI, specifically sameness behaviors, following cannabis treatment. Conclusions: The findings of the cannabis treatment's potential benefits for alleviating anxiety symptoms, leading to reduced RRBI, may provide evidence for the meaningful relationship between these variables and for the potential benefits of cannabis treatment for autistic children. We strongly recommend further double-blind, placebo-controlled studies using standardized assessments to validate these findings.

Socio-structural determinants of physical activity behavior in children and adolescents: The importance of social support

The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of socio-structural determinants of physical activity (PA) behavior in children and adolescents. We expected that socioeconomic status, social support, and physical environment influence PA directly while socioeconomic status also has an indirect influence via social support and physical environment. Cross-sectional data from the German Motorik-Modul study (MoMo) were used (Wave 2, 2014–2017). The sample consisted of N = 2134 children and adolescents aged 6–17 years. Socioeconomic status, social support, and physical environment were measured by questionnaires. To measure PA, children and adolescents were instructed to wear accelerometers for seven consecutive days. Moderate-to-vigorous activity periods were considered. Path analyses were used to analyze the direct and indirect effects. We calculated two models, one for children (6–10 years) and one for adolescents (11–17 years). Among children (model 1), only social support had a direct effect on PA behavior. In addition, social support influenced the perceived physical environment. Socioeconomic status had an indirect effect on PA via social support. For adolescents (model 2), all assumed relations were significant and in line with the directions expected. Social support had the strongest direct influence on PA behavior. Socioeconomic status had a direct and indirect effect on PA via the physical environment and social support. The study results emphasize the relevance of close, social networks of families and friends as well as social capital, as a source of social support, for PA levels among young age groups.

Diet and physical activity modification: impact on adaptive behavior and biochemical measures of children with Down syndrome

Objectives Obesity in children with Down syndrome (DS) has negative implications for behavior. The aim was to assess the influence of weight reduction by diet modification with and without physical therapy sessions on adaptive behavior and some biochemical measures in children with DS with obesity. Methods The study included 100 children with DS (56 males, 44 females; age range: 6–9 (8.5 ± 1.7) years. They were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, and the Vineland adaptive behavior scale. They were randomly divided into two groups: Group I underwent nutritional modification, and Group II was subjected to an added exercise program. The biochemical measures were estimated using the automated chemistry analyzer for blood chemistry (lipids), or ELISA. Results An elevation of behavioral adaptive scores was noticed after the weight reduction, together with a reduction in the levels of triglycerides and an elevation of high-density lipoprotein-C levels. Levels of interleukin I, interleukin 6, and leptin were reduced in both groups. However, the improvement regarding the estimated measures was greater in Group II (p < 0.05). Conclusions Weight reduction in children with DS was beneficial for their adaptive behavior and for adjusting dyslipidemia, along with some measures of inflammation. Combining physical activity with nutritional modification would help in the better advancement of the health and adaptive behavior of children with DS associated with obesity compared with isolated nutritional modification.

Determinant Factors of Children's Blood Lead Levels in Java, Indonesia

IntroductionLead poisoning contributes to a significant burden of disease as a toxic substance found in air, soil, and water. In Indonesia, the risk of exposure is high due to the inappropriate recycling of used lead batteries. The objective was to investigate the factors that influence lead levels in children's blood. MethodsThis cross-sectional study assessed blood lead levels (BLLs) in children aged 12–59 months in four communities exposed to used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) recycling activities, comparing them to a control area. The study employed a threshold level of 20 μg/dL to identify high BLLs and utilized a sample size of 324 children from exposed sites and 240 from control sites. Questionnaires, blood lead tests and a home-based assessment for environmental exposures were applied. ResultsThe study participants comprised 295 boys and 269 girls, with an average age of 35 months. Significant disparities in soil lead concentrations median: Q1-Q3 were found between exposed (6581.7 : 2432.6–16647.1) ppm and control areas (253.5 : 158.8–417.1) ppm. Children in exposed areas had 3.9 times higher odds of BLL ≥20 μg/dL. Fathers with BLL ≥20 μg/dL had children with similarly elevated BLLs. Multivariate analysis identified socioeconomic status, study areas, environmental factors (cookware, food ware, spices, house cleaning), and children's behavior (breastfeeding duration) as determinants of elevated BLLs. Reported environmental factors had notable impact on BLLs, with aluminum cookware (aOR = 1.4, 95%CI [1.2–1.6]), food ware materials (aOR = 1.15, 95%CI [1.0–1.3]), type of spices (aOR = 2.7, 95%CI [1.7–48.0]), and house cleaning method (aOR = 2.9, 95%CI [1.2–7.1]). ConclusionThis study highlighted key risk factors affecting children's blood lead levels (BLL) and emphasized the urgency of employing effective strategies to remediate lead-contaminated soils in exposed regions. The findings underscore the need for prompt medical intervention and monitoring for children in these areas, with additional research essential to fully understand lead poisoning pathways in the environment.

“Tan's Dent-Card Qr Model Website Based” as an Effort to Improve Teeth Brushing Behavior and Dental Hygiene Status Primary School Children

Background: Children aged 10-12 years have a very high rate of tooth decay at 57.6% with a mean (DMF-T) of 4.8. This is caused by one of the influencing factors, namely the low level of behavior in maintaining dental hygiene, as evidenced by the results of the 2019 Semarang City health data, that 86.7% of elementary school children do not have good tooth brushing behavior. The achievement of the new joint tooth brushing program is 47.8%, so innovation is needed in changing tooth brushing behavior, namely through the "Tan's Dent-Card QR Website Based Model" which is expected to improve tooth brushing behavior and the dental hygiene status of elementary school children. Research purposes:Producing a "Website Based Tan's Dent-Card QR Model" that is effective and feasible to implement to improve tooth brushing behavior and the dental hygiene status of elementary school children. Method : The method used in this research is Research and Development (R&amp;D) with 5 research stages, namely needs identification, design and build, expert validation, feasibility test 1, and feasibility test 2. This research uses a pre-experimental design with a one- group pre-post- test. The sampling technique was purposive sampling consisting of 30 elementary school children aged 10-12 years who were given intervention for 14 days. Results: The validity results of the "Tan's Dent-Card QR Website-Based Model" show a value of p=0.000, which means this model is suitable for use to improve the behavior and dental hygiene status of elementary school children. “Tan's Dent-Card QR Website-Based Model” was also effective in enhancing tooth brushing behavior and dental hygiene status (p=0.000). In feasibility test 2, the result was p=0.000, which means the model is suitable for independent use by elementary school children aged 10-12 years. Conclusion: "Tan's Dent- Card QR Website-Based Model" is effective and ideal for use as an effort to improve tooth brushing behavior and the dental hygiene status of elementary school children.

Examining Caregiver- and Family-Level Psychosocial Influences on Child Oral Health Behavioral Outcomes in Racially and Economically Minoritized Urban Families.

Understanding the pathways linking caregiver- and family-level psychosocial factors and child oral health behaviors is critical for addressing oral health disparities. The current study examined the associations between caregiver psychosocial functioning and family chaos and child toothbrushing behaviors in children at high risk for poor oral health outcomes. Data were drawn from the baseline wave of the CO-OP Chicago Cohort Study (U01DE030067), a longitudinal study on child/caregiver dyads exploring oral health behaviors and caries development in young children (N = 296 dyads; child mean age = 5.36, SD = 1.03; caregiver mean age = 33.8 years, SD = 6.70; caregiver race = 43% Black; caregiver ethnicity = 55% Latinx). The oral health behavioral outcomes included child toothbrushing frequency, child plaque levels, and caregiver assistance with child toothbrushing. The data included demographics; caregiver depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, social functioning, social support, and resilience; and family-level household chaos. Multiple regression models indicated that greater household chaos was significantly related to lower caregiver assistance with child toothbrushing (p = 0.0075). Additionally, caregiver anxiety and PTSD symptoms as well as number of children in the home significantly predicted higher levels of household chaos (p < 0.01). Notably, 18% of caregivers reported clinically significant PTSD. The relationships between caregiver-level psychosocial factors and child oral health behaviors were not significant. The results suggest household chaos may play an important role in child oral health behaviors and highlight the importance of investigating family-level factors for understanding and addressing child oral health risk.

Exploring the Usefulness of a Multi-Sensory Environment on Sensory Behaviors in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurological development with social and communication deficits and sensory abnormalities. Sensory problems have a significant impact on daily life. Multisensory environments (MSEs), such as Snoezelen® rooms, offer controlled sensory stimulation. This study aims to evaluate the effect of MSE intervention with self-controlled sensory interactions on adaptive developmental skills and sensory responses in preschool ASD children. Methods: This pilot study was single-blind, randomized, controlled, and adhered to the CONSORT guidelines. Twenty participants were recruited and randomized into two groups: the control group (CG) underwent treatment as usual (TAU) with individual rehabilitation sessions of psychomotor therapy. The experimental group (EG) underwent TAU integrated with the use of an MSE. Developmental abilities and severity levels were assessed, pre-post, with the Psychoeducational Profile, Third Edition (PEP-3) and the Second Edition Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS-2). Results: A significant difference in taste, smell, and tactile behaviors according to the CARS-2, as well as in gross motor skills according to the PEP-3, was observed in the EG. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that MSE-integrated intervention may be a valid strategy to improve self-management of the sensory profile in autistic individuals. Further studies are needed to better identify the intervention methodology and effectiveness.