Early Childhood Behavior Research Articles

어머니의 통제적 양육행동과 아동의 집행기능곤란, 문제행동의 변화궤적에 따른 잠재집단 간 종단적 이행양상 분석

Objectives The purposes of this study were to identify latent classes according to the trajectory of changes in mothers' controlling controlling child-rearing behavior in infancy, executive function difficulties in early school age, and internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors in school age, and to identify the transition patterns between latent classes for finding interventions to prevent and reduce problem behaviors.
 Methods 860 mothers and children's data taken from Panel Study on Korean Children's 4th to 12th years were analyzed. For the analyses of this study, SPSS Statistics 23.0 and Mplus 8.7 were used, and latent growth model(LGM), growth mixture model(GMM), sequential-process growth mixture model(SP-GMM) were used as statistical analysis models.
 Results First, as a result of GMM, 3 latent classes for the mother's controlling child-rearing behavior, 5 latent classes for the executive function difficulties in children's early school age were found. Also, 4 latent classes for the internalizing problems in the school age of children and 3 latent classes for the externalizing problems in the school age of children were found. Second, result of SP-GMM showed that, there were high probability of transition from the latent class for high level of mother's controlling child-rearing behavior with child in infancy to the latent class for high level of executive function difficulties in children's early school age through the latent classes for high level of internalizing/externalizing problems in children's the school age.
 Conclusions In order to prevent internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors in school-age children, it is necessary to reduce and prevent executive function difficulties in early school-age children, and for prevention the executive function difficulties, interventions that reduce the mother's controlling child-rearing behavior in infancy can be helpful. In addition, this study suggests that it is more effective to implement different interventions for each latent class than to do the same intervention for all childten in order to reduce children's executive function difficulties and prevent internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors.

How Empathy Influences Aggressive Behaviors in Early Childhood

Studies have shown that empathy is a kind of emotional sharing and understanding ability, which is a kind of social ability, which stems from the complex interaction between unconscious neurocognitive, autonomic and neuroendocrine processes. A person who is empathic has the feeling to perceive and be sensitive to the emotions of others as well as the motivation to care for their wellbeing. In this essay, the different perspectives of empathy and how they influence aggressive behaviors in early childhood have been viewed. The study has found that the different forms of empathy influence behavior differently. In the normal sense and understanding, empathy tends to increase the chances for positive behavior and decrease aggression. In addition, in early childhood, emotional resonance is based on emotional inconsistency, which leads to empathic pain. This emotion is a self-directed response. At the same time, empathy pain becomes personal pain and needs comfort from others. Because the alternative emotional response may be out of control and may become disgusted at the same time.

Setting the stage: Biopsychosocial predictors of early childhood externalizing behaviors.

Research has indicated that biological (self-regulation), psychological (temperament), and social (maternal parenting behaviors) factors predict childhood externalizing behaviors. Few studies, however, have evaluated psychological, biological, and social factors in conjunction as predictors of childhood externalizing behaviors. Further, limited research has examined whether these biopsychosocial predictors during infancy and toddlerhood predict the onset of externalizing behaviors in early childhood. The present study aimed to examine the longitudinal relations between biopsychosocial predictors of child externalizing behaviors. Children and their mothers (n=410) participated when children were 5, 24, and 36months old. Child self-regulation was assessed via baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) at age 5 months, and child psychology was measured via maternal report of effortful control at age 24months. Additionally, maternal intrusiveness was assessed during a mother-child interaction at age 5months. At 36months, mothers reported on child externalizing behaviors. Longitudinal path modeling was used to examine the direct and indirect effects of maternal intrusiveness and child effortful control on child externalizing behavior, as well as whether these effects were conditional upon child baseline RSA. Results showed a significant indirect effect of maternal intrusiveness on externalizing behavior through effortful control, and this pathway was moderated by baseline RSA after controlling for orienting regulation at age 5months. These results suggest that early childhood externalizing behaviors are jointly affected by biological, psychological, and social factors during toddlerhood.

Longitudinal stability and cross-relations of prosocial behavior and the moral self-concept in early childhood

Children act prosocially very early in life by helping, comforting, or sharing with others. Recent research showed that preschool children differ in their representation of their other-oriented preferences (i.e., moral self-concept [MSC]). How stable are such behaviors and how stable is the MSC? And how does the MSC relate to prosocial behavior? In a longitudinal study, we investigated the stability and cross-relations between the MSC and prosocial behavior. We invited four- to six-year-old children to three measurement points (N = 127, 62 female). Children were mostly White and came from middle class families living in Germany. We assessed children’s helping, sharing, and comforting with established behavioral paradigms and the MSC with a puppet-interview. Results showed moderate stability of all behaviors and the MSC across the measurements, with strongest long-term stability for helping behavior and comforting MSC. Moreover, MSC at measurement two predicted prosocial behavior at measurement three even when taking earlier prosocial behavior into account. This effect was driven by the sharing dimension. Overall, the study points to stability of individual differences in the MSC and prosocial behaviors in early childhood. Moreover, it provides first empirical evidence for a developmental effect of the MSC on prosocial behavior.

Maternal weight, gut microbiota, and the association with early childhood behavior: the PREOBE follow-up study

Background and aimMaternal overweight and breastfeeding seem to have a significant impact on the gut microbiota colonization process, which co-occurs simultaneously with brain development and the establishment of the “microbiota-gut-brain axis”, which potentially may affect behavior later in life. This study aimed to examine the influence of maternal overweight, obesity and/or gestational diabetes on the offspring behavior at 3.5 years of age and its association with the gut microbiota already established at 18 months of life.Methods156 children born to overweight (OV, n = 45), obese (OB, n = 40) and normoweight (NW, n = 71) pregnant women participating in the PREOBE study were included in the current analysis. Stool samples were collected at 18 months of life and gut microbiome was obtained by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Behavioral problems were evaluated at 3.5 years by using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). ANOVA, Chi-Square Test, ANCOVA, Spearman’s correlation, logistic regression model and generalized linear model (GLM) were performed.ResultsAt 3.5 years of age, Children born to OV/OB mothers showed higher scores in behavioral problems than those born to NW mothers. Additionally, offspring born to OB mothers who developed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) presented higher scores in attention/deficit hyperactivity and externalizing problems than those born to GDM OV/NW mothers. Fusicatenibacter abundance found at 18 months of age was associated to lower scores in total, internalizing and pervasive developmental problems, while an unidentified genus within Clostridiales and Flavonifractor families abundance showed a positive correlation with anxiety/depression and somatic complaints, respectively. On the other hand, children born to mothers with higher BMI who were breastfed presented elevated anxiety, internalizing problems, externalizing problems and total problems scores; likewise, their gut microbiota composition at 18 months of age showed positive correlation with behavioral problems at 3.5 years: Actinobacteria abundance and somatic complaints and between Fusobacteria abundance and withdrawn behavior and pervasive developmental problems.ConclusionsOur findings suggests that OV/OB and/or GDM during pregnancy is associated with higher behavioral problems scores in children at 3.5 years old. Additionally, associations between early life gut microbiota composition and later mental health in children was also found.

Dampak Negatif Gadget pada Perilaku Agresif Anak Usia Dini

Technology that is currently developing has an influence on aggressive behavior in children, so there needs to be prevention efforts in this deviant behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of gadgets and the factors that cause aggressive behavior, forms of aggressive behavior, the impact of aggressive behavior, and efforts to handle aggressive behavior in early childhood. The method used in this research is a case study which is presented with a qualitative descriptive research type by presenting the data in a narrative manner, as well as data obtained through observation. In this study, the subject is one girl who behaves aggressively aged 5-6 years because of the influence of unlimited gadgets. The results of the research obtained are the influence of the use of gadgets that are not restricted and supervised. This causes aggressive behavior in children who find it difficult to control their desire to convey messages, such as shouting, crying, and making physical contact when someone interferes with playing gadgets. The influence of gadgets on aggressive behavior in children requires serious efforts for parents or adults who are around children so that they do not have a negative impact on children's development in the future.

The effectiveness of child-centered group play therapy and narrative therapy on preschoolers’ separation anxiety disorder and social-emotional behaviours

ABSTRACT This study examined the effectiveness of child-centered group play therapy (CCGPT) and narrative therapy in reducing separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and boosting social-emotional behaviours in early childhood (2.5-4-year-olds). An 8-week-randomized controlled trial design with three intervention groups, i.e. CCGPT, narrative therapy, and a combination of both interventions (i.e. combined group), and one control group that provided data at a pre-test and post-test, was adopted. A total of 48 children who showed signs of SAD participated in the study. Results showed that compared to the control group, CCGPT and combined group interventions showed a lower separation anxiety level. Children in all three intervention groups showed lower behavioural problems and higher prosocial behaviours than the control group. The findings suggest that the three interventions could be effective selective psychotherapy methods to promote social-emotional competencies. The CCGPT and combined group, particularly, were effective psychotherapy methods for reducing SAD in early childhood.

Collaborative support for child abuse prevention: Perspectives of public health nurses and midwives regarding pregnant and postpartum women of concern.

Child abuse is a globally prevalent problem, and its numbers have continuously increased in Japan over the past 30 years. Prevention of child abuse depends on the support available to pregnant and postpartum women from the time of pregnancy. Public health nurses and midwives are expected to provide preventive support in cooperation, as they can support pregnant and postpartum women from close proximity and recognize their health problems and potential signs of child abuse. This study aimed to deduce the characteristics of pregnant and postpartum women of concern, as observed by public health nurses and midwives, from the perspective of child abuse prevention. The participants comprised ten public health nurses and ten midwives with five or more years of experience working at the Okayama Prefecture municipal health centers and obstetric medical institutions. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview survey and analyzed qualitatively and descriptively using an inductive approach. The characteristics of pregnant and postpartum women, as confirmed by public health nurses, included four main categories: having "difficulties in daily life;" "a sense of discomfort of not feeling like a normal pregnant woman;" "difficulty in child-rearing behavior;" and "multiple risk factors checked by objective indicators using an assessment tool." The characteristics observed by midwives were grouped into four main categories: "mental and physical safety of the mother is in jeopardy;" have "difficulty in child-rearing behavior;" "difficulties in maintaining relationships with the surrounding people;" and "multiple risk factors recognized by an assessment tool." Public health nurses evaluated pregnant and postpartum women's daily life factors, while midwives evaluated the mothers' health conditions, their feelings toward the fetus, and stable child-rearing skills. To prevent child abuse, they utilized their respective specialties to observe those pregnant and postpartum women of concern with multiple risk factors.

Discipline Strategies: Parent’s Experiences for Early Childhood Development in North Eastern, Thailand

Parent’s positive discipline strategies are very important to promote child development. However, the use of corporal punishment, psychological, physical, and sexual violence to child in the Southern Thailand is quite high. This study aimed to explore phenomenon of interest in the contextual relationship between parents’ discipline strategies and early childhood development and behaviors. This study employed a qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Sampling method using a purposive sampling strategy, potential participants who met the initial criteria were the primary caregivers, closely live with the children, and regarded to have had adequate experience with child rearing. The principle of data saturation was used to recruit 8 study informants. Thematic statements were identified from narrative data. Pattern of themes were interpreted by using a qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Trustworthiness of data was established following Lincoln and Guba’s criteria. This study found 4 themes included: 1) Parents’ positive discipline strategies, 2) Ineffective methods in disciplined the child, 3) Low self-discipline children lacked of self-control and poor emotional regulation, and 4) Disciplined children were full of self-regulation. Strengthen self-control and self-regulation should be done for training children to become disciplined. Parents should be trained positive discipline techniques for improving children’s behaviors

Prosocial behavior in toddlerhood and early childhood: Consistency across subtypes and over time.

Young children show their capacity for compassion and their desire to enhance the welfare of others in multiple ways. The present study sought to address gaps in knowledge regarding prosociality in the early years. Specifically, the study examined whether different subtypes of prosociality are interrelated, whether they are consistent over time, as well as the meaning of young children's spontaneous versus cued prosocial behavior. In a longitudinal sample (N = 151), three subtypes of prosocial behavior-instrumental helping, compassionate helping (comforting), and sharing-were assessed using behavioral tasks in toddlerhood (18 months) and early childhood (36 months). Consistent with hypothesis, partial convergence was found between the different prosociality subtypes at each age. There was also modest continuity over time, both within and across prosocial subtypes. Moreover, at both ages, when children helped or shared spontaneously, they also provided more assistance in the task. Children's tendency to assist spontaneously was partially consistent across situations by early childhood. The findings indicate that a moderately stable disposition toward prosociality is already evident during early ontogeny. Moreover, different subtypes of prosocial behavior are distinct yet interrelated in the early years, suggesting they have both common and unique underlying mechanisms. Lastly, young children's spontaneous (versus cued) prosocial action appears to reflect both motivational and cognitive processes.

Effectiveness of Group Parent-Child Interaction Therapy on Problem Behaviors in Chinese Kindergartners.

Problem behaviors in early childhood may put young children at risk for negative behavioral and psychosocial problems. This study examined the effectiveness of group PCIT on Chinese young children's externalizing and internalizing problems. The participants were 58 mothers with their children aged 2-3 years (M = 2.95 years, SD = 0.22), assigned to an immediate treatment (n = 26) group or to a waitlist (n = 32) control group. The program involved comprehensive group intervention and featured weekly 60-90-min sessions, totaling ten sessions over three months. Results indicate that group PCIT not only significantly improved teacher-reported problem behaviors in children, but also improved observed maternal parenting behavior. These findings support the use of group PCIT in Chinese children and provide mothers with an evidence-based tool to address problem behaviors in a non-clinical population.

Absence of Association between Child Temperament and Early Childhood Caries: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a worldwide public health problem. The biological and behavioural determinants that are directly involved in ECC have been well documented; however, evidence on the effects of some psychosocial factors remains conflicting. This study aimed to assess the association between child temperament and ECC in Chilean preschoolers. Prior approval of the protocol was obtained from the ethics committee of Universidad de La Frontera (Folio N° 020_17), and all of those involved in the study provided signed informed consent forms. The cross-sectional study was conducted with 172 children aged 3 to 5 years attending preschools in Temuco, Chile. Each child's temperament was assessed based on parents' responses to the Early Childhood Behaviour Questionnaire. The outcomes assessed were caries prevalence and caries experience (dmft scores). The covariates included were socioeconomic position, cariogenic diet, prolonged breastfeeding, presence of dental plaque and hypoplasia. Logistic regression models were used to predict caries prevalence and negative binomial regression for caries experience. The prevalence of ECC was 29.1%, and the most frequent child temperament was 'effortful control'. Regression model analyses, adjusting for covariates, showed no evidence of an association between any domain of children's temperament (surgency, negative affect and effortful control) with the prevalence of caries or caries experience. This cross-sectional study found no association between childhood temperament and ECC in preschool children for this population. However, due to the specificity of this population, the association cannot be entirely ruled out. Further studies are needed to help understand the association between temperament and oral health, including the influences of family environment factors and culture.

Implementasi Program Baca Tulis Qur’an Melalui Metode Iqra dalam Meningkatkan Kemampuan Baca Tulis Qur’an Peserta Didik di RA Alhamidiyah

The introduction of learning to read and write the Al-Qur’an is one of the musts that must be given to early childhood as part of the Muslim community. Al-Qur’an as the holy book of Muslims acts as a source of law, the basis of knowledge and as a benchmark in the formation of early childhood behaviour, trough learning the basics of the Al-Qur’an such as reading and writing it, the child gets to know the good values contained in the Al-Qur’an. The formation of religious characters is through learning the Qur’an, one the wich is being able to read and write. The Qur’ani religious and personal character are needed in forming a civilized nation. The research was conducted the aim of knowing how to learn to read and write the Al-Qur’an properly and it should be for early childhood. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative with a literature study appoarch. Data collection techniques in this study were carried out by collecting and analizyng primary data sources from books, articles and research results that have been conducted by previous researchers. The data analized is relevant to research on learning to read and write Al-Qur’an for early childhood. The findings from several references ilustrare how the implementation of learning to read and write Al-Qur’an for early childhood.

Early Childhood Behavior Patterns in Merpati Hamlet, Naru Village

Education is a place to form a good image in humans so that they develop their full potential. SISDIKNAS Law No. 20 of 2003 education is a conscious and planned effort to create a learning atmosphere and learning process so that students actively develop their potential to have religious spiritual strength, self-control, personality, intelligence, noble character, and the skills needed by themselves and society. Formal education is education that can be obtained by participating in activities or educational programs that are structured and planned by government agencies, for example through schools or universities, while non-formal education is education that can be obtained through activities of daily life that are not bound by institutions formed by the government, for example learning through experience, self-study through books and learning through others. The purpose of this writing is to find out the problems of early childhood in Merpati Hamlet, Naru Village and as an assignment for the Early Childhood Cognitive Development course.

Strategies to Promote Positive Mealtime Behavior in Early Childhood

Picky eating and problem behavior during meals are commonly reported issues among young children, particularly toddlers (Manikam & Perman, 2000). It is estimated that up to 50% of children under the age of 5 experience difficulties during mealtimes (Benjasuwantep et al., 2013). These difficulties may include tantrums when nonpreferred foods are presented, turning their head away from bites, pushing food away, crying, spitting out bites of nonpreferred food, and holding bites in the mouth. Over time, these behaviors can lead to significant limitations in the variety and amount of foods that children consume, thus compromising their growth and development. While there are a variety of reasons a child may engage in these problem behaviors, the food refusal or selectivity often persists after other contributing factors have been resolved (Dobbelsteyn et al., 2005). A behavior analytic approach can be used to address mealtime problem behavior. These interventions are focused on changing aspects of the child’s environment and caregiver response in order to change the child’s behavior during meals. This approach has been well-evaluated in the literature, and many regard it to be the most effective intervention for treating children’s problem behavior during meals (Kerwin, 1999). The scope of this paper was to provide evidence-based behavior analytic recommendations to caregivers, teachers, and other early childhood therapeutic providers. Recommendations provided in this article are applicable to a variety of feeding difficulties that may present in early childhood. While recommendations discussed in this paper have been supported in the literature, research lacks a comprehensive instructional guide of best practices that can be used by providers with limited expertise or experience in feeding concerns.

Hubungan Pola Asuh Autoritarian Terhadap Perilaku Makan Anak

Eating behavior in children and all of its problems can be influenced by many factors, one of which is parenting. Of all the parenting styles that have developed in general, the authoritarian parenting style that still dominates parents in Asia, including Indonesia, is capable of causing eating behavior problems in children. This study aims to determine the relationship between authoritarian parenting adopted by parents on eating behavior in early childhood. The participants of this study were 124 parents with children aged 0-5 years. The research method used is quantitative research with a survey using the PSDQ and CEBQ instruments. Data will be analyzed through descriptive test and Pearson correlation test with the help of the Jamovi 2.2.5 program for Windows. The results of this study indicate that authoritarian parenting style has a significant positive relationship with responsiveness to food, emotional overeating , responsiveness to satiety, emotional undereating, and picky eating (p<0.005).

Methods and Values of Prophet Ibrahim’s Child Education in The Qur’an Surah aṣ-Ṣāffāt Verses 85-113

The impact of globalization causes various kinds of negative behavior and actions in early childhood, causing a degradation of morality and religiosity. The research objective was to determine the concept of Islamic education and the methods and values developed by the Prophet Ibrahim in the education of children in QS aṣ-Ṣāffāt verses 85-113. This study uses a linguistic (philological/semantic) approach regarding the verses of the al-Qur'an Surah Aṣ-Ṣāffāt Verses 85-113, with the type of library research. The primary source in this research is the al-Qur'an surah aṣ-Ṣāffāt verses 85-113, and the secondary sources include the interpretation books, such as: "Tafsir Al-Azhār", Buya Hamka, Tafsir Al-Mishbāh, Quraish Shihab, Al-Qur’an and its Tafseer, and others. The data collection technique uses a library research technique. With the data collection method using documentation method using content analysis (content analysis).The results of the research show that the methods used by Prophet Ibrahim in surah ash-Shaffat verses 85-113 in children education include the tazkiyah method (purification), the method of choosing the environment, the method of having a vision, mission and goals, communication methods, methods of building a spirit of sacrifice to obtain pleasure, love and help of Allah Most High and methods of giving gifts (reward). The values developed by Prophet Ibrahim in surah ash-Shaffat verses 85-113 in children's education include the value of faith, the value of praying, the value of democratic attitudes, the value of patience, the value of tawakal (surrender) and the value of humanization. The concept of Islamic education as a process of a series of activities to humanize humans (humanization), or efforts to help humans to be able to manifest themselves according to their human dignity, based on divine messages with an attitude and personality totality surrendering to Him in all aspects of life to seek pleasure his.

The Role of Autonomic System Coordination in Relations Between Peer Factors and Aggressive Behavior in Early Childhood.

This study tested biological sensitivity to context theory in the peer context. Respiratory sinus arrythmia (RSA-R) and skin conductance level (SCL-R) reactivity to a peer stressor were collected for participants (N = 86; M age = 45.99months old; 70.2% White) in the summer (Time 1). Children's peer risk (i.e., physical and relational victimization) and protective (i.e., received prosocial behavior) factors were examined in the fall (T2) and relational and physical aggression were measured at T2 and in the spring (T3). Interactions were tested in regression analyses. Interactions emerged between relational victimization, RSA-R, and SCL-R in the prediction of T3 relational aggression and between received prosocial behavior, RSA-R, and SCL-R in the prediction of T3 relational and physical aggression, respectively. There was a positive relation between T2 relational victimization and T3 relational aggression for children with a coactivation pattern (i.e., increased RSA and SCL activity to a bullying stressor) but no relation for any other physiological pattern. Conversely, there was a negative relation between T2 received prosocial behavior and both forms of aggression at T3 for children with a reciprocal pattern (i.e., increased RSA and decreased SCL or decreased RSA and increased SCL activity) but no protective benefit of received prosocial behavior on subsequent aggression for children with a coactivation pattern. For children with a coinhibition pattern (i.e., decreased RSA and SCL activity), received prosocial behavior was negatively related to subsequent physical but not relational aggression. In sum, a coactivation pattern in response to stress may represent a vulnerability factor.

Breastfeeding duration and eating behavior in early childhood: a systematic review

Resumo Objetivos: analisar a influência da duração do aleitamento materno no comportamento alimentar em crianças de dois a seis anos. Métodos: esta revisão foi conduzida de acordo com as diretrizes PRISMA. As bases de dados SciELO, Lilacs, Embase e PubMed foram pesquisadas usando uma sintaxe específica, para estudos publicados de 2000 a 2020. O Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal checklist foi utilizado para avaliar o risco de viés do estudo. Resultados: foram identificados 26.211 artigos, dos quais sete foram incluídos no estudo. Os resultados mostraram associação significativa em quatro estudos. Todos os autores usaram seus próprios questionários para avaliar a exposição à amamentação; não havia uma classificação padrão de duração do aleitamento materno exclusivo e total. A duração do aleitamento materno foi associada à redução da neofobia alimentar, menores escores na subescala de responsividade alimentar e menor comportamento alimentar exigente. Instrumentos validados foram usados predominantemente para avaliar o resultado do comportamento alimentar, no entanto, essa avaliação não foi semelhante entre os estudos. Conclusão: observou-se associação significativa entre a duração da amamentação e o comportamento alimentar em crianças de dois a seis anos. Mais pesquisas devem ser realizadas para descrever os mecanismos envolvidos nesta associação.

Emotion regulation and Social reticence among Emerging Adults

Emotion regulation is the ability to exert control over one’s own emotional state. It may involve behaviors such as rethinking a challenging situation to reduce anger or anxiety, hiding visible signs of sadness or fear, or focusing on reasons to feel happy or calm. Social reticence is expressed as shy, anxiously avoidant behavior in early childhood. With development, overt signs of social reticence may diminish but could still manifest themselves in neural responses to peers. The purpose of the study was to analyse the relationship between Emotion regulation and Social reticence among emerging adults . The sample consisted of 60 college students of age range 18-25, out of which 30 were Males and 30 were Females. The tools used were Emotion regulations questionnaire (ERQ) and Social reticence scale (SRS). The statistical analysis was done using SPSS software. The major findings from the study is emotion regulation and social reticence are negatively correlated.