Disinhibition In Children Research Articles

How Do Parents Influence Child Disruptive Behavior After Acquired Brain Injury? Evidence From a Mediation Model and Path Analysis.

Children with acquired brain injury (ABI) can present with disruptive behavior, which is often a consequence of injury and parent factors. Parent factors are associated with child disruptive behavior. Furthermore, disinhibition in the child also leads to disruptive behavior. However, it is unclear how these factors interact. We investigated whether parental factors influence child disruptive behavior following ABI and how these factors interact. Parents of 77 children with ABI participated in the study. Parent factors (executive dysfunction, trait-anxiety), potential intervention targets (dysfunctional parenting practices, parental stress, child disinhibition), and child disruptive behavior were assessed. A hypothetical model based on the literature was tested using mediation and path analysis. Mediation analysis revealed that child disinhibition and dysfunctional parenting practices mediated the association of parent factors and child disruptive behavior. Parents' executive dysfunction mediated the association of dysfunctional parenting practices, parental stress and parent trait-anxiety. Parenting practices mediated the association of executive dysfunction and child disruptive behavior. Path analysis indices indicated good model adjustment. Comparative and Tucker-Lewis Index were >0.95, and the root mean square error of approximation was 0.059, with a chi-square of 0.25. A low level of parental trait-anxiety may be required to reduce dysfunctional parenting practices and child disinhibition. Impairments in child disinhibition can be exacerbated when parents present with high trait-anxiety. Child disinhibition is the major contributor of disruptive behavior reported by parents and teachers. The current study provides evidence of parent anxiety and child disinhibition as possible modifiable intervention targets for reducing child disruptive behavior. (JINS, 2019, 25, 237-248).

Disinhibition in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Changes in [oxy-Hb] on near-infrared spectroscopy during “rock, paper, scissors” task

ObjectiveAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is a common developmental disorder. Many reports have suggested that symptoms of AD/HD are related to frontal lobe dysfunctions, particularly disinhibition. However, measuring neurological findings with biomarkers during frontal functional tasks has sometimes been difficult in children with AD/HD. This study aimed to investigate frontal inhibitory function objectively in children with AD/HD during “rock, paper, scissors” (RPS) tasks, as a familiar game for Japanese children, using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Subjects and methodsEighteen children with AD/HD were compared with 27 typically developing children (TDC). Children from each group were divided into two age groups: younger, 6–10years; and older, 11–16years. Changes in oxygenated hemoglobin [oxy-Hb] were measured in the prefrontal region using NIRS during a ‘to lose’ RPS task, in which subjects were asked to present the RPS signal that would lose in response to one of the three signals displayed randomly on a computer screen every 2.0s. ResultsThe rate of correct performance with both TDC and AD/HD increased with age. Only in the older group, the rate of correct performance was significantly higher with TDC than with AD/HD. However, children with AD/HD in both age groups showed significantly lower [oxy-Hb] activity in the prefrontal region during the ‘to lose’ RPS task, particularly in the dorsolateral area. ConclusionsOur results suggest that prefrontal region activation during the ‘to lose’ RPS task could offer a biomarker for diagnosing AD/HD, and may help in the early treatment of AD/HD.

Neurological soft signs in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Their relationship to executive function and parental neurological soft signs

The correlations between neurological soft signs (NSS) in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their executive function, symptoms of inattention, and hyperactivity–impulsivity and the NSS of their parents remain unclear. This study aimed to examine: (1) the prevalence of NSS in children with ADHD and their parents; (2) the correlation between the NSS of children with ADHD and the NSS of their parents; and (3) the correlation between the NSS of children with ADHD and their executive function and symptoms. NSS were assessed with the Cambridge Neurological Inventory (CNI) in 57 children with ADHD (and 80 parents) and 60 healthy children (and 75 parents). Executive function was measured with the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Children with ADHD and their parents had significantly higher NSS than normal children and their parents, respectively, and the NSS of children with ADHD were correlated more strongly with the NSS of their fathers than their mothers. No correlation was found between NSS and BRIEF executive function, but Disinhibition in children with ADHD was significantly correlated with hyperactivity–impulsivity symptoms. Paternal and maternal NSS provided different predictions for child NSS. It may be that NSS are more likely to be genetically transmitted by fathers.

Child Disinhibition, Parent Restriction, and Child Body Mass Index in Low-income Preschool Families

To examine both unique and interactive effects of parent restrictive feeding and child disinhibited eating behavior on child body mass index (BMI) in low-income Latino and African American preschoolers. The sample included 229 parent-child pairs, the majority of whom were low-income and Latino (57%) or African American (25%). Parents completed self-report measures, and researchers collected anthropometric data. Multiple regression analysis indicated a restriction-disinhibition interaction; high restriction/high disinhibition predicted higher BMI, and high restriction/low disinhibition predicted lower BMI. Although limited by the observational, cross-sectional design, results indicate that parent and child behaviors interact to produce maladaptive weight outcomes, and practitioners should consider both when counseling families.

The direct effects of television food commercials on children’s actual food intake

Two studies experimentally tested the effects of television food commercials on concurrent snack food intake while watching television in young children (8–12 years old). In the first study, children (N = 120) watched a movie interrupted by two commercial breaks, that contained either child-targeted food commercials or neutral commercials. While watching, the children could freely eat palatable food. An interaction effect was found between commercial type and sex of the child. Food intake in boys was higher when they watched the food commercials than when they watched the neutral commercials, whereas food intake in girls was slightly lower when they watched the food commercials than when they watched the neutral commercials. The results suggest that boys are susceptible to food cues in commercials. The second study (N = 121) tested the effects of adult-targeted food commercials (energy-dense and light food products), using the exact same design. Furthermore, the moderating role of maternal behaviors was investigated. The commercial breaks contained commercials promoting either energy-dense foods, low energy versions of the same energy-dense foods (light food commercials), or neutral commercials. Children who perceived maternal encouragement to be thin ate slightly more when exposed to energy-dense food commercials and especially when exposed to light food commercials than when exposed to neutral commercials. This was not found for children who perceived no maternal encouragement to be thin. These findings might suggest that exposure to adult-targeted light food cues induced disinhibition in children who experienced maternal encouragement to be thin.

Maternal encouragement to be thin moderates the effect of commercials on children's snack food intake

The present study experimentally tested the effects of adult targeted food commercials (energy-dense and light food products) on actual snack food intake in young children while watching television. Furthermore, the moderating role of maternal behaviors was investigated. The children (N=121, aged between 8 and 12 years) were exposed to a neutral movie that was interrupted by two commercial breaks. These breaks contained commercials promoting either energy-dense foods, low energy versions of the same energy-dense foods (light food commercials), or neutral commercials aimed at adults. Snack food intake during watching television was measured. Children filled out questionnaires and were weighed and measured afterwards. Children who perceived maternal encouragement to be thin ate slightly more when exposed to energy-dense food commercials and especially when exposed to light food commercials than when exposed to neutral commercials. In contrast, children who perceived no maternal encouragement to be thin ate more when exposed to neutral commercials than when exposed to either energy-dense food commercials or light food commercials. These findings suggest that exposure to adult targeted light food cues produced disinhibition in children who experienced maternal encouragement to be thin, resulting in elevated snack food intake.

Early life stress, MAOA, and gene-environment interactions predict behavioral disinhibition in children.

Several, but not all, studies have shown that the monoamine oxidase A functional promoter polymorphism (MAOA-LPR) interacts with childhood adversity to predict adolescent and adult antisocial behavior. However, it is not known whether MAOA-LPR interacts with early life (pre-birth-3 years) stressors to influence behavior in prepubertal children. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, UK, is a community-representative cohort study of children followed from pre-birth onwards. The impact of family adversity from pre-birth to age 3 years and stressful life events from 6 months to 7 years on behavioral disinhibition was determined in 7500 girls and boys. Behavioral disinhibition measures were: mother-reported hyperactivity and conduct disturbances (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) at ages 4 and 7 years. In both sexes, exposure to family adversity and stressful life events in the first 3 years of life predicted behavioral disinhibition at age 4, persisting until age 7. In girls, MAOA-LPR interacted with stressful life events experienced from 6 months to 3.5 years to influence hyperactivity at ages 4 and 7. In boys, the interaction of MAOA-LPR with stressful life events between 1.5 and 2.5 years predicted hyperactivity at age 7 years. The low activity MAOA-LPR variant was associated with increased hyperactivity in girls and boys exposed to high stress. In contrast, there was no MAOA-LPR interaction with family adversity. In a general population sample of prepubertal children, exposure to common stressors from pre-birth to 3 years predicted behavioral disinhibition, and MAOA-LPR- stressful life event interactions specifically predicted hyperactivity.

Assertive toddler, self-efficacious adult: Child temperament predicts personality over forty years

The study deals with the prediction of adult personality from behaviors observed in the nursling and toddler stages. The sample consisted of 83 participants (35 men and 48 women aged from 38 to 44 years) who had taken part in the longitudinal research of children and agreed to participate in the follow-up study of adults. For description of child behavior the set of 34 rating scales was used during each testing session. Factor analysis with mean scores of rating scales for the age of 12–30 months yielded three factors: positive affectivity, negative affectivity, and disinhibition. Only child disinhibition showed to be significant predictor of adult personality characteristics: disinhibition is connected to extraversion and generalized self-efficacy. We suggest that a modest connection between child temperament and adult personality characteristics is due to the fact that personality formation is largely influenced by social factors. The finding that the child disinhibition holds – as the only one – a certain connection with personality traits in adulthood we explain by the fact that this dimension is most purely temperamental trait, activity being its substantial component.

Multilevel somatosensory system disinhibition in children with migraine

Although migraine is characterised by an abnormal cortical excitability level, whether the central nervous system is hyper- or hypo-excitable in migraine still remains an unsolved problem. The aim of our study was to compare the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) recovery cycle, a marker of the somatosensory system's excitability, in a group of 15 children suffering from migraine without aura (MO) (mean age 11.7±1.6 years, five males, 10 females) and 10 control age-matched subjects (CS) (mean age 10.9±2.1 years, six males, four females). We calculated the SEP's latency and amplitude modifications after paired electrical stimuli at 5, 20 and 40 ms interstimulus intervals (ISIs), comparing it with a single stimulus condition assumed as the baseline. In MO patients, the amplitudes of the cervical N13 and of the cortical N20, P24 and N30 responses at 20 and 40 ms ISIs showed a higher recovery than in CS (two-way ANOVA, P<0.05). Since, the SEP recovery cycle depends on the inhibitory interneuron function, our findings suggest that a somatosensory system disinhibition takes place in migraine. This is a generalized phenomenon, not limited to the cerebral cortex, but concerning also the cervical grey matter. The SEP recovery cycle reflects the intracellular concentration of Na +, therefore, the shortened recovery cycle in our MO patients suggests a high level of intracellular Na + and a consequent depolarized resting membrane potential, possibly due to an impaired Na +–K + ATPase function in migraine.

Sex Differences in Cortisol Level and Neurobehavioral Disinhibition in Children of Substance Abusers

SUMMARY This investigation determined the extent to which cortisol level, an index of HPA axis activity, covaries with neurobehavioral disinhibition. The sample consisted of 369 boys and 91 girls who were assigned to either a high average risk (HAR) group or a low average risk (LAR) group based on the presence or absence of paternal substance use disorder (SUD). Neurobehavioral disinhibition was assessed using a combination of questionnaires and neuropsychological tests. Saliva was collected for cortisol determination during a mild stressor and again 35 minutes after the task. The results indicated that disinhibition was higher and cortisol level lower in boys compared to girls. Cortisol level was negatively correlated with severity of neurobehavioral disinhibition in girls, accounting for 24% of the variance. A similar trend was observed in the boys; however, the correlation did not attain statistical significance. Based on these findings, it is tentatively concluded that boys and girls differ with respect to biochemical indicators of stress reactivity underlying neurobehavioral disinhibition, a putative phenotype associated with the liability for SUD.