Childhood Trajectories Research Articles

Infant feeding and growth trajectories in early childhood: the application and comparison of two longitudinal modelling approaches.

The role of infant feeding practices in longitudinal growth trajectories in children remains equivocal. This study utilised two longitudinal approaches to examine the associations of infant feeding mode (breastfeeding, mixed feeding, formula feeding), breastfeeding duration, and the timing of solid foods introduction with body mass index (BMI) z-score in early childhood. Secondary analyses of data from the Healthy Beginnings Trial were conducted. Infant feeding practices were reported by mothers at 6, 12, and 24 months of child age. Child weight and length were measured at birth, 12, 24, 42, and 60 months. Two longitudinal approaches: linear spline multilevel model (LSMM) and group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM) were used to describe BMI z-score trajectories and assess its associations with infant feeding practices. The LSMM approach demonstrated that the breastfeeding group showed lower BMI z-scores from ages 12 to 60 months than the mixed feeding and formula feeding groups. Children who were breastfed for ≥ 6 versus < 6 months exhibited a lower BMI z-score trajectory from ages 12 to 60 months. Results from the GBTM approach revealed that the mixed feeding (OR: 1.83, 95%CI 1.04, 3.21) and the formula feeding group (OR: 2.00, 95%CI 0.67, 5.92) showed a tendency for higher odds of following the "High BMIz" trajectory than the breastfeeding group. Breastfeeding duration ≥6 versus < 6 months was linked with lower odds of following the "High BMIz" trajectory (OR 0.65, 95%CI 0.43, 0.98). Both approaches revealed no evidence of an association between the timing of solid foods introduction and BMI z-score trajectory. The two longitudinal approaches revealed similar findings that infant feeding mode and breastfeeding duration, but not the timing of solid foods introduction, were associated with BMI z-score trajectory in early childhood. The findings provide robust longitudinal evidence to encourage and support extended breastfeeding for childhood obesity prevention.

Association between early child development trajectories and adult cognitive function in a 50-year longitudinal study in Guatemala

ObjectivesFew studies have used longitudinal data to study the development of cognition over the life course in low-income and middle-income countries. The objectives of this study were to assess predictors...

Towards a better understanding of adolescent obsessive-compulsive personality traits and obsessive-compulsive symptoms from growth trajectories of perfectionism.

Although there is increasing attention for the interrelationship between obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), their shared characteristics in terms of childhood trait antecedents remain understudied. Perfectionism may be a viable candidate trait antecedent, given its role in the clinical manifestation of both OCPD and OCD in adulthood, and the evidence that perfectionism reflects a dispositional tendency observable from childhood onwards. However, little is known about childhood trajectories of perfectionism with prospective links to later OCPD versus OCD. Using latent growth curve modeling, this study explored the baseline and growth of childhood perfectionism in 485 community and referred children (55.5% girls, 7.17-14.78 years old, Mage = 10.74, SD = 1.50) across three waves. Adolescent OCPD traits and OCD symptoms were measured in Wave 4. An overall decreasing trend of perfectionism from childhood through adolescence appeared, without inter-individual differences in growth. Individual differences in baseline levels of childhood perfectionism were significant, and equally predicting adolescent OCPD and OCD outcomes. At a more specific level, childhood perfectionism predicted most strongly the rigid perfectionism component of OCPD, and the orderliness/cleanliness/perfectionism and obsession domain of OCD. This demonstrates the value of childhood perfectionism for understanding differential outcomes of adolescent OCPD traits and OCD symptoms.

Identifying distinct trajectories of acute otitis media in children: A prospective cohort study

ObjectivesTo identify possibly distinct acute otitis media (AOM) trajectories in childhood and identify determinants associated with specific AOM trajectories. To explore which child will become prone to recurrent AOM episodes and which will not.DesignPopulation‐based prospective cohort study among 7863 children from birth until 10 years and their mothers.MethodsThis study was embedded in the Generation R Study: a population‐based prospective cohort study. Data on AOM and determinants were collected by repeated parental questionnaires. Distinct AOM trajectories within the population were identified with latent‐class analyses. Next, using multivariate analysis we checked whether specific determinants were associated with specific trajectories.ResultsThree distinct trajectories were identified; that is, non–otitis prone, early AOM—that is children who suffered AOM episodes until 3 years of age but not beyond, and persistent AOM—that is children who remained otitis‐prone. Male gender (OR: 1.26, CI: 1.11‐1.43) and day‐care attendance (OR: 1.31, CI: 1.06‐1.60) were associated with increased odds of early AOM. Breastfeeding was beneficial for children in both the early‐AOM and persistent‐AOM trajectories (OR: 0.78 and 0.77, respectively). Birth in the summer or autumn as compared with birth in the spring decreased odds of AOM only in the persistent‐AOM trajectory. Half of all AOM‐prone children recovered after the age of 3 years.ConclusionSpecific determinants are associated with different AOM trajectories. Future research is needed to better predict which child will remain otitis‐prone and which recovers after the age of 3 years to better tailor treatment towards the needs of the individual child.

Body Mass Index Trajectories in the First 5 Years and Associated Antenatal Factors.

Background: The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is an important public health issue and the development of obesity in early life and associated risk factors need to be better understood. The aim of this study was to identify distinct body mass index trajectories in the first 5 years of life and to examine their associations with factors identified in pregnancy, including metabolic parameters.Methods: BMI measurements from 2,172 children in Ireland enrolled in the BASELINE cohort study with BMI assessments at birth, 2, 6, and 12 months, and 2 and 5 years were analyzed. Growth mixture modeling was used to identify distinct BMI trajectories, and multivariate multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between these trajectories and antenatal factors.Results: Three distinct BMI trajectories were identified: normal (89.6%); rapid gain in the first 6 months (7.8%); and rapid BMI after 12 months (2.6%). Male sex and higher maternal age increased the likelihood of belonging to the rapid gain in the first 6 months trajectory. Raised maternal BMI at 15 weeks of pregnancy and lower cord blood IGF-2 were associated with rapid gain after 1 year.Conclusion: Sex, maternal age and BMI, and IGF-2 levels were found to be associated with BMI trajectories in early childhood departing from normal growth. Further research and extended follow-up to examine the effects of childhood growth patterns are required to understand their relationship with health outcomes.

Linear Growth Trajectories in Early Childhood and Adult Cognitive and Socioemotional Functioning in a Guatemalan Cohort

BackgroundGrowth faltering in early childhood is associated with poor human capital attainment, but associations of linear growth in childhood with executive and socioemotional functioning in adulthood are understudied. ObjectivesIn a Guatemalan cohort, we identified distinct trajectories of linear growth in early childhood, assessed their predictors, and examined associations between growth trajectories and neurodevelopmental outcomes in adulthood. We also assessed the mediating role of schooling on the association of growth trajectories with adult cognitive outcomes. MethodsIn 2017–2019, we prospectively followed 1499 Guatemalan adults who participated in a food supplementation trial in early childhood (1969–1977). We derived height-for-age sex-specific growth trajectories from birth to 84 mo using latent class growth analysis. ResultsWe identified 3 growth trajectories (low, intermediate, high) with parallel slopes and intercepts already differentiated at birth in both sexes. Children of taller mothers were more likely to belong to the high and intermediate trajectories [relative risk ratio (RRR): 1.21; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.26, and RRR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.15, per 1-cm increase in height, respectively] compared with the low trajectory. Children in the wealthiest compared with the poorest socioeconomic tertile were more likely to belong to the high trajectory compared with the low trajectory (RRR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.29, 3.88). In males, membership in the high compared with low trajectory was positively associated with nonverbal fluid intelligence, working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility at ages 40–57 y. Sex-adjusted results showed that membership in the high compared with low trajectory was positively associated with meaning and purpose scores at ages 40–57 y. Associations of intermediate compared with low growth trajectories with study outcomes were also positive but of lesser magnitude. Schooling partially mediated the associations between high and intermediate growth trajectories and measures of cognitive ability in adulthood. ConclusionsModifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors predicted growth throughout childhood. Membership in the high and intermediate growth trajectories was positively associated with adult cognitive and socioemotional functioning.

Nighttime sleep duration trajectories were associated with body mass index trajectories in early childhood.

The respective contribution of total, daytime and nighttime sleep duration in childhood obesity remains unclear. To assess the longitudinal association between developmental trajectories of sleep duration and BMI z-score in early childhood. Data were from the Melbourne INFANT program, a prospective cohort with 4-month-old infants being followed-up until age 60 months (n=528). Sleep duration (total, daytime, nighttime) and BMI z-score were measured using questionnaire at ages 4, 9, 18, 43 and 60 months. Group-based trajectory modelling was used to describe longitudinal trajectories from ages 4 to 60 months. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to assess the association between sleep duration and BMI z-score trajectories. Three nighttime sleep duration trajectory groups were identified: "Long stable" (10.5 to 11.0hours, 61%), "catchup long" (8.0 to 11.5hours, 23%) and "short stable" (8.7 to 9.8hours, 16%) nighttime sleepers. BMI z-score trajectory groups were classified as "low-BMIz" (-1.5 to -0.5 unit, 21%), "mid-BMIz" (-0.5 to 0.5 unit, 58%) and "high-BMIz" (0.8 to 1.4 unit, 21%). With adjustment for child and maternal covariates, both "catchup long" (OR 3.69 95%CI 1.74, 7.92) and "long stable" nighttime sleepers (OR 4.27 95%CI 2.21, 8.25) revealed higher odds of being in the "mid-BMIz" than the "high-BMIz" group. By contrast, total or daytime sleep duration trajectories were not associated with BMI z-score trajectories. Longer nighttime, but not total or daytime, sleep duration was associated with lower BMI z-score trajectories in early childhood. Our findings reinforce the importance of nighttime sleep for healthy body-weight development in early childhood.

Trajectories of early-onset rhinitis in the Singapore GUSTO mother-offspring cohort.

The natural history of childhood rhinitis is not well described. This study aimed to identify different rhinitis trajectories in early childhood and their predictors and allergic associations. Rhinitis symptoms were ascertained prospectively from birth until 6years using standardized questionnaires in 772 participants. Rhinitis was defined as one or more episodes of sneezing, runny and/or blocked nose >2weeks duration. Latent trajectories were identified using group-based modelling, and their predictive risk factors and allergic associations were examined. Three rhinitis trajectory groups were identified: 7.6% (n=59) were termed early transient rhinitis, 8.6% (n=66) late transient rhinitis, and 6.6% (n=51) persistent rhinitis. The remaining 77.2% (n=596) were classified as non-rhinitis/reference group. Early transient rhinitis subjects were more likely of Indian ethnicity, had siblings, reported childcare attendance, early wheezing and eczema in the first 3years of life. Late transient rhinitis was associated with antenatal exposure to smoking, higher maternal education levels, andwheezing at age 36-72months. Persistent rhinitis was associated with male gender, paternal and maternal history of atopy, eczema, and house dust mite sensitization. Risk factors for early transient rhinitis involve a combination of genetic and early environmental exposures, whereas late transient rhinitis may relate to maternal factors and early respiratory infections independent of atopy. In contrast, persistent rhinitis is strongly associated with atopic risk and likely represents the typical trajectory associated with allergic disorders. Allergic rhinitis symptoms may commence as early as the first year of life and may inform development of early interventive strategies.

Spatial working memory in young adolescents with different childhood trajectories of internalizing, conduct and hyperactivity/inattention problems.

In children, internalizing and externalizing problems impact on learning. However, there is limited research on the specific impact of such problems on spatial working memory (SWM), strongly related to cognitive ability and children's learning. We explored distinct trajectories of internalizing problems and externalizing problems (conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention) in a large general-population sample of children followed from age 3 to age 11years. We then assessed their role in SWM performance at age 11years. Data were drawn from the UK's Millennium Cohort Study. Our analytic sample was children with data on SWM at age 11years (N=12,589). There were two stages of data analysis. Trajectory group membership was firstly estimated by group-based trajectory modelling for internalizing problems, conduct problems, and hyperactivity/inattention at ages 3-11years. Multiple regression then assessed the relationship between SWM at age 11years and trajectory group membership after accounting for confounders. Trajectories of internalizing, conduct, and hyperactivity/inattention symptoms across ages 3 to 11years were related to SWM at age 11years, even after controlling for confounding variables. For each of the three symptom domains, poor SWM was most consistently found in children with chronically high levels of symptoms. In general, atypical patterns of internalizing problems, conduct problems, and hyperactivity/inattention in childhood were related to poorer SWM in early adolescence.

Prenatal Substance Exposure and Developmental Trajectories of Internalizing Symptoms: Toddlerhood to Preadolescence

BackgroundLittle is known about how prenatal exposure to substances (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and cocaine) may contribute to heterogeneous childhood trajectories of internalizing symptoms (i.e., depression, withdrawal, anxiety). The present study aimed to identify developmental trajectories of internalizing symptoms in children using gender-separate analyses and to examine whether trajectories differ by prenatal substance exposure (PSE) and other environmental and biological correlates. MethodsData from two large community-based birth cohorts with PSE were integrated (N = 1,651, 848 boys, 803 girls): the Cleveland cohort and the Maternal Lifestyle Study (MLS). Internalizing symptoms were assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist at ages 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in the Cleveland study and at ages 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 in the MLS. ResultsGender-separate group-based trajectory modeling yielded five distinctive developmental trajectories of internalizing symptoms from ages 2 to 13 in both boys and girls: low-risk group (14.4% girls, 28.8% boys); normative-decreasing group (35.3% girls, 33.1% boys); increasing risk group (14.4% girls, 13.0% boys); early-high group (22.3% girls, 17.9% boys); and chronic group (13.8% girls, 7.2% boys). Prenatal tobacco exposure, maternal psychological distress, and postnatal maternal alcohol use differentiated the longitudinal courses of internalizing symptoms. Boys were more likely to follow the low-risk trajectory, whereas girls were more likely to follow the chronic trajectory. ConclusionsPrenatal tobacco exposure was associated with suboptimal developmental trajectories of internalizing symptoms in the context of prenatal poly-drug exposure, highlighting a need for continued and increased effort toward prevention of prenatal tobacco use.

Body shape trajectories and risk of breast cancer: results from the SUN ('Seguimiento Universidad De Navarra') Project.

The aim of this study was to assess body shape trajectories in childhood and midlife in relation to subsequent risk of breast cancer (BC) in a Mediterranean cohort. The 'Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra' (SUN) Project is a dynamic prospective cohort study of university graduates initiated in 1999. With a group-based modelling approach, we assessed body shape trajectories from age 5 to 40 years. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for BC after the age of 40 years according to the body shape trajectory. City of Pamplona, in the North of Spain. 6498 women with a mean age of 40 years (sd 9). We identified four distinct body shape trajectories ('childhood lean-midlife increase' (19·9 %), 'childhood medium-midlife stable' (53 %), 'childhood heavy-midlife stable' (21 %) and 'childhood heavy-midlife increase' (6·1 %)). Among 54 978 women-years of follow-up, we confirmed eighty-two incident cases of BC. Women in the 'childhood lean-midlife increase' group showed a higher risk of BC (HR = 1·84, 95 % CI 1·11, 3·04) compared with women in the 'childhood medium-midlife stable' category. This association was stronger for postmenopausal BC (HR = 2·42, 95 % CI 1·07, 5·48). Our results suggest a role for lifetime adiposity in breast carcinogenesis.

Postnatal exposure to PM2.5 and growth in early childhood

Background: Evidence has linked pre and postnatal air pollution exposure with children’s weight; however, studies assessing the effects on children’s growth trajectories are lacking and not consistent. We investigated the role of time-varying postnatal 90 days average spatio-temporal fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as an effect modifier on sex-specific growth trajectories in early childhood and the magnitude of the impact at different ages. Methods: We included children recruited to the Boston-based Children’s HealthWatch cohort from 2009 through 2014 (0 to 6 years old). Weight values were obtained from electronic health records at each hospital visit, (number of boys=1859, girls=1601). We applied generalized additive mixed models adjusting for individual and maternal confounders. We examined effect modification by 1) comparing weight trajectories with factor-smooth interaction between age and PM2.5 quartiles, and 2) using varying-coefficient models allowing for smooth non-linear interaction between age and PM2.5. Additionally, we stratified by birthweight status.Results: We found no differences in growth trajectories by different levels of PM2.5. Using varying-coefficient models, we found that PM2.5 characterized as a continuous exposure significantly modified the association between growth trajectories and weight in boys, with a positive association between PM2.5 and weight in children less than 3 years and a negative association afterwards. In boys, for each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 we found a 2.6% increase (95% CI: 0.8, 4.6) in weight at 1 year of age and a -0.6% (95% CI: -3.9, 2.9) at 5 years. We found similar but smaller changes in girls. Stratification by birthweight status suggests that most of the effects were in low birthweight children.Conclusions: The study shows that in young children the non-linear effect of continuous postnatal PM2.5 modify weight trajectories. Birthweight status is an effect modifier of the air pollution-weight relationship.

Associations between body mass index trajectories in childhood and cardiovascular risk factors in adulthood

Background and aimsChildren with a growth trajectory of overweight have higher levels of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors than children with a normal-weight trajectory. However, less is known about how trajectories of body mass index (BMI) across the rest of the BMI spectrum relate to CVD risk factors and whether adult BMI affects these associations. Our aim was to examine associations between childhood BMI trajectories and adult CVD risk factors. MethodsWe included 2466 individuals with childhood weights and heights (ages 6–14) from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register and adult CVD risk factors (ages 20–81) from the Copenhagen City Heart Study. Associations between childhood BMI trajectories identified by latent class modelling and CVD risk factors were examined using generalized linear regression analyses with and without adjustment for adult BMI. Normal-weight and overweight were defined by growth references from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ResultsWe identified four childhood trajectories within the normal-weight spectrum and one trajectory of overweight. Compared to the trajectory with the lowest BMI level, several higher BMI trajectories were associated with worse circumference, HDL and glucose homeostasis in adulthood. The highest trajectory was additionally associated with higher total cholesterol and triglycerides. When adjusting for adult BMI, the higher BMI trajectories had lower waist circumference, blood pressure and triglycerides. ConclusionsTrajectories of BMI within the normal-weight range and in the overweight range are associated with a worse CVD risk profile than in the lowest BMI trajectory, and these associations are modifiable by growth after childhood.

Size at birth, growth trajectory in early life, and cardiovascular and metabolic risks in early adulthood: EPICure study

ObjectiveTo investigate whether size at birth and growth trajectories in infancy and childhood are associated with determinants of cardiovascular and metabolic risks in young adults born extremely preterm (EP, <26...

Developmental profiles of childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and irritability: association with adolescent mental health, functional impairment, and suicidal outcomes.

Irritability is frequently comorbid with ADHD. Although irritability alone has been linked to deleterious mental health and adaptive issues, the joint developmental course of ADHD and irritability symptoms during childhood as well as its association with later mental health and suicidal outcomes is not fully understood. We aimed to describe the developmental trajectories of childhood ADHD and irritability symptoms and to quantify their association with adolescent mental health and suicidal outcomes. The Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD) included 1407 participants from the general population followed up from age 5months to 17years. We used a multitrajectory approach to identify developmental trajectories of childhood (6-12years) ADHD and irritability symptoms. Outcome measures were adolescent (13-17years) mental health (psychiatric symptoms/functional impairment) and suicidal outcomes. We identified distinct developmental profiles: combined absent or very low ADHD and absent or very low irritability (940 [66.8%]; reference group), moderately high irritability and low ADHD (158 [11.2%]), moderately high ADHD and low irritability (198 [14.1%]), and combined high ADHD and high irritability (111 [7.9%]). Multivariate modeling showed that, compared to children in the reference group, those in the combined high ADHD and high irritability profile showed higher levels of ADHD continuity (d ranges=0.40-0.50), externalizing (d ranges=0.25-0.59), internalizing (d ranges=0.20-0.29), and functional impairments (d ranges=0.17-0.48) and suicidal behaviors (odds ratio (OR)=2.12, confidence interval (CI)=1.47-3.06) in adolescence. The presence of persistently high levels of irritability along with ADHD symptoms during childhood significantly predicts adolescent ADHD continuity, externalizing, internalizing, and suicidal outcomes. Systematic consideration of irritability when assessing and treating ADHD may improve long-term mental health outcomes.

Relations among Maternal Employment, Depressive Symptoms, Breastfeeding Duration, and Body Mass Index Trajectories in Early Childhood

Purpose: The present study aimed to examine the longitudinal associations among maternal employment, breastfeeding duration, and body mass index (BMI) trajectories in early childhood. Drawing from the process model of the determinants of parenting, this study particularly focused on the mediating role of depressive symptoms in these links.Methods: This study analyzed the data of 2,059 mothers and their children from the panel study on Korean children. A latent growth curve analysis was conducted to investigate the paths linking maternal employment to BMI trajectories during the preschool years.Results: Maternal employment was associated with low levels of depressive symptoms, which in turn predicted a longer duration of breastfeeding. Second, maternal employment had direct adverse effects on the breastfeeding duration. We also found that longer duration of breastfeeding contributed to the low levels of BMI in early childhood.Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of maternal mental health and breastfeeding duration to prevent obesity in early childhood. Moreover, the results suggest that a distinct approach for working and stay-at-home mothers needs to be considered for the promotion of breastfeeding.

Aggressive-Depressive Trajectories in Childhood and Their Associations with Drinking Behaviors and Problems in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood.

Research indicates that externalizing and internalizing pathways emanated in childhood are connected to later drinking behaviors; however, no study has investigated the contemporaneous effects of the two pathways using a person-centered approach that categorizes individuals based on their various developmental patterns. This study examined the distinct patterns of concurrent development of aggression and depressive symptoms in childhood and their associations with later drinking behaviors using data from a 15-year Taiwanese cohort since age 8 (N = 2854, 49% females). Group-based multi-trajectory modeling identified four aggressive-depressive trajectory groups: Moderate, Aggressive, Depressive, and Comorbid, which manifested a sequential risk gradient in alcohol use. Comorbid group, characterized by persistently high levels of aggression and depressive symptoms, has the highest levels of alcohol use and drinking problems and the earliest onset of drinking. Aggressive and Depressive groups have higher levels of alcohol use and earlier onset of drinking than Moderate group. These findings imply the importance of monitoring aggression and depressive symptoms simultaneously and continually in childhood to prevent later drinking.

Prenatal Ambient Particulate Matter Exposure and Longitudinal Weight Growth Trajectories in Early Childhood.

Air pollution exposure during pregnancy has been associated with impaired fetal growth and postnatal weight gain, but few studies have examined the effect on weight growth trajectories. We examine the association between validated 1 km2 resolution particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations, averaged over pregnancy, and sex-specific growth trajectories from birth to age six of participants in the Boston-based Children’s HealthWatch cohort (4797 participants, 84,283 measures). We compared weight trajectories, predicted using polynomial splines in mixed models, between prenatal PM2.5 above or below the median (9.5 µg/m3), and examined birth weight as an effect modifier. Females exposed to average prenatal PM2.5 ≥ 9.5 µg/m3 had higher weights compared to females exposed to < 9.5 µg/m3 throughout the study period (0.16 kg at 24 months, 0.61 kg at 60 months). In males, higher prenatal PM2.5 exposure was associated with significantly lower weights after 24 months of age, with differences increasing with time (−0.17 at 24 months, −0.72 kg at 60 months). Associations were more pronounced among low birth weight (<2500 g) females, but did not differ by birth weight status in males. Our findings demonstrate the complex association between air pollution exposures and childhood weight trajectories and emphasize the importance of sex-stratified analyses.

High separation anxiety trajectory in early childhood is a risk factor for sleep bruxism at age 7.

The evolution of sleep bruxism manifestations and their co-occurrence with separation anxiety in early childhood remain unclear. Our threefold aim was to: (1) describe developmental sleep bruxism trajectories in early childhood, (2) investigate co-occurrences between trajectories of sleep bruxism and separation anxiety, and (3) determine whether distinct trajectories of separation anxiety increase the risk of presenting sleep bruxism during the first year of elementary school. This study is part of the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development. Sleep bruxism scores were assessed from age 1.5 to 7 years with the Self-Administered Questionnaire for Mother (n = 1946). Separation anxiety scores were measured from age 1.5 to 6 years with the Interviewer-Completed Computerized Questionnaire (n = 2045). We identified four sleep bruxism trajectories from age 1.5 to 6 years: High-Increasing sleep bruxism at age 1.5 (14.1%), High-Increasing sleep bruxism at age 4 (18.3%), Low-Persistent sleep bruxism (12.1%), and Never-Persistent sleep bruxism (55.5%); and four separation anxiety trajectories from age 1.5 to 6 years: Low-Persistent separation anxiety (60.2%), High-Increasing separation anxiety (6.9%), High-Decreasing separation anxiety (10.8%), and Low-Increasing separation anxiety (22.1%). Sleep bruxism and separation anxiety trajectories were weakly associated (X2 = 37.84, p < 0.001). Compared with preschoolers belonging to the Low-Persistent separation anxiety trajectory, preschoolers in the High-Increasing separation anxiety trajectory had almost double the risk of presenting sleep bruxism at age 7 (95% CI = 1.25-3.22, p = 0.04). When separation anxiety issues are detected in early childhood, it would be useful to target sleep bruxism during the first year of elementary school.

Association between infant sleep disordered breathing and externalizing behavioral trajectories in early childhood

Association between infant sleep disordered breathing and externalizing behavioral trajectories in early childhood