Childhood To Early Adolescence Research Articles

Longitudinal relationships between perceived social support and social behaviors in preadolescence and early adolescence: the mediating role of social self-concept

The transition to adolescence is a critical phase for shaping child behavior. Previous studies have revealed the correlation between perceived social support and children’s social behaviors. However, the longitudinal causal relationship between perceived social support and social behavior remains unclear. This study aimed to reveal the longitudinal, bidirectional relationship between perceived social support (from parents, peers, and teachers) and social behaviors (i.e., prosocial behavior, aggressive behavior, and social withdrawal) and the potential mediating role of social self-concept. 577 Chinese children in preadolescence and early adolescence participated in the study at three time points. Results indicated that prosocial and aggressive behavior predicted subsequent perceived social support from peers and teachers. Social withdrawal negatively predicted subsequent perceived social support from parents, peers, and teachers. In turn, only perceived peer support marginally and negatively predicted subsequent aggressive behavior. Social self-concept mediated the effect of social behaviors on perceived social support, the effect of perceived parent support on social behaviors, and the effect of perceived peer support on negative social behaviors. No significant difference was found in the above associations between children in preadolescence and early adolescence. The study highlights the significance of children’s self-evaluation and self-cognition in promoting their perceived social support and adjusting their social behaviors, which provides implications for family- and school-based education and interventions.

The role of antioxidant intake in weight status of children in early adolescence

The role of antioxidant intake in weight status of children in early adolescence

Assessing the Factors Affecting Recruitment to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Programs.

The objective of this pilot study was to sample early career child and adolescent psychiatrists (EC CAP), Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) fellows, adult residents, and medical students to identify factors affecting recruitment to CAP fellowship. A 25-item questionnaire was sent to all adult psychiatry, CAP fellowship, triple-board residency program directors, and coordinators in the US to disseminate to their trainees. Questionnaires also were disseminated via professional groups on social media, and through psychiatry student interest groups to medical students. A total of 369 people responded, of which 315 questionnaires were evaluable. Approximately half of the respondents were CAP fellows or EC CAP. Most decided to pursue a career in child psychiatry during medical school. Forty-three percent owed more than $200,000 in educational debt. The top reasons for pursuing a career in child and adolescent psychiatry included working with children, finding it to be a rewarding career, and finding it intellectually stimulating. A switch to a 1-year fellowship and higher income potential were noted to be factors that may increase consideration for CAP fellowship among those who chose not to pursue it. The majority of early career child and adolescent psychiatrists were recruited during medical school, motivated by altruistic reasons. Early child psychiatry exposure, a means of addressing physician debt, providing additional incentives in geographically undesirable locations, and improving compensation, is needed to improve recruitment to this specialty.

Nocturnal enuresis in early adolescence and neurodevelopmental delay in infancy: A population‐based study

AbstractAimThe neurodevelopmental delay hypothesis may explain the mechanism of nocturnal enuresis (NE), but whether the hypothesis holds in early adolescence remains unknown, considering NE frequency. Therefore, we aimed to identify whether neurodevelopmental delays in infancy were associated with the frequency of NE in early adolescence.MethodsData were extracted from the Tokyo Early Adolescence Survey, in which 4478 children (mean age: 10.2 years) and their parents participated. Twelve developmental delays (eight motor, four verbal) were extracted from the Maternal and Child Health Handbook. The NE frequency was obtained from a parent‐answered questionnaire, which divided children into three categories according to DSM‐5 criteria (none, infrequent [<1 time a week], and frequent [≥2 times a week]). Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether delayed developmental milestones in infancy were predictive of frequent/infrequent NE in early adolescence.ResultsDevelopmental delays, particularly those related to motor development but not verbal, such as holding their head up (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 2.1 [1.1–4.2]), crawling (2.1 [1.0–4.4]), walking with support (4.0 [1.9–8.4]), walking independently (5.8 [2.2–15.4]), and drawing a circle (5.0 [2.0–12.3]), were significantly associated with an increased risk of frequent NE in early adolescence (all ps < 0.05). However, an association with infrequent NE was not found.ConclusionThis population‐based epidemiological study revealed that motor developmental delays increased the risk of frequent NE in early adolescence, but not of infrequent NE. This finding reinforces the neurodevelopmental delay hypothesis, which provides a biological explanation for the involuntary nature of enuresis. All children in early adolescence with frequent NE should be evaluated and treated by a medical expert.

Intergenerational transmission and the reinforcement of the political engagement gap: Identifying how university‐educated parents enable their children to become more politically interested during early adolescence

AbstractResearch consistently shows that parents' educational attainment is associated with their children's level of political interest. The life stage when this relationship is established and grows has been identified to be between the ages of 10 and 16. This paper identifies the social class‐based practices that drive the influence of parental education on the development of political interest among early adolescents and explains why the social gap grows at this point. The paper draws on two panel surveys, the Citizenship Education Longitudinal Study and the Understanding Society Youth Survey, and applies latent growth curve modelling and path analysis. The findings show that university‐educated parents influence the change in political interest of their children in early adolescence by raising their educational aspirations, enabling their access to political activities in school, choosing the school for their children, taking their children to museums and art galleries and influencing their children's friendship groups.

Mother-child dyadic responses to children facing challenges: An examination across ethnicities.

The current study (a) examined ethnic differences in mothers' and children's responses to children's performance in a challenging task, (b) tested the associations among children's desire for assistance, maternal control, and children's emotional responses to the challenge, and (c) explored whether these associations held across three ethnicities-Asian Americans (AA), Latinx Americans (LA), and European Americans (EA). Results showed that children's emotional arousal significantly increased and emotional valence became significantly less positive over the course of children experiencing repeated challenges in front of their mothers. In terms of ethnic differences, LA mothers exhibited more control than EA mothers, but LA children responded less negatively to the challenging task than EA children. AA dyads did not significantly differ from LA or EA dyads on any maternal or child responses. However, regardless of ethnicity, stronger child desire for assistance was associated with greater maternal control and greater maternal control was associated with less emotional arousal and more positive child emotional valence. These findings suggest that, in a challenging context, maternal control is likely experienced by children as guidance that mitigates decreases in positive emotion. Our work has implications for interventions to encourage more emotionally responsive parental involvement with children in late childhood and early adolescence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Early Adolescent Online Sexual Risks on Smartphones and Social Media: Parental Awareness and Protective Practices

Early adolescent children communicate on smartphones and social media, resulting in online sexual risks and potential adverse health outcomes. This study investigated parents’ awareness of early adolescent engagement in online sexual risks on smartphones and social media and the protective practices used to mitigate these risks. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 English-speaking parents of early adolescent children 11–14 years old in North and South Carolina. Data were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach and thematic analysis. Parents expressed awareness of online sexual risks on smartphones and social media and engaged in protective practices to mitigate online risks, including communication and restrictions tailored to accessed content and social connections with unknown individuals online. Professionals can support parents through education targeted to risks and protective measures associated with these online devices and platforms.

초기청소년기 자녀를 둔 취업모의 일-가정 양립이 주관적 행복감에 미치는 영향에서 사회적 지지의 조절효과

Objectives The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of work-family compatibility advantages and conflicts on subjective happiness of working mothers with children in early adolescence, and to find out the moderating effect of social support, so that work and family can be improved at the point of family change when children enter adolescence. The purpose of this study is to propose a plan to increase the subjective happiness of working mothers who need to be compatible.
 Methods For this purpose, data from the 13th year of the Korean Children's Panel of the Child Care Policy Research Institute were used, and 738 mothers who participated in the survey were the subjects of the study. The SPSS 23.0 statistical program was used for data analysis, and a moderating regression analysis was conducted to verify the moderating effect of social support.
 Results The results of this study are as follows. First, work-family compatibility was found to have a significant positive effect on subjective happiness. Second, work-family compatibility conflict was found to have a significant negative effect on subjective happiness. Third, social support did not play a moderating role in the effect of work-family compatibility on subjective happiness. Fourth, it was found that social support played a moderating role in the effect of work-family balance conflict on subjective happiness.
 Conclusions Through this study, the relationship between the benefits and conflicts of work-family compatibility and subjective happiness of working mothers with children in early adolescence was investigated, and the influence of the interaction between work-family compatibility benefits and conflicts and social support was investigated. In the relationship between subjective happiness, it was verified that the level of subjective happiness could vary according to the level of social support. This study is meaningful in that it suggested social support measures to reduce work-family balance conflicts and increase subjective happiness of working mothers in early adolescence and provided data for follow-up research. Finally, the limitations of the study and the need for follow-up studies were presented.

Changes in Attitudes Toward Anemia Prevention Through Counseling Based on Health Belief Model Theory in Early Adolescent Children at Junior high school Nurul Islam Jember

Background: Based on the results of the anemia control program by the Jember District Health Office in 2018, anemia among adolescents was 41.6%, data from the preliminary study results, most students considered that adolescents were not at risk of anemia and considered that anemia did not affect their academic achievement, how the easiest way to prevent anemia is by taking blood-boosting tablets that have been programmed by the government. One such phenomenon is a negative attitude towards anemia prevention. The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in attitudes towards preventing anemia through counseling based on the HBM (Health Belief Model) theory for adolescents.
 Methods: The research design used a pre-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest study design. The number of respondents in this study were 152 female students who were taken based on inclusion and exclusion criteria by means of stratified random sampling from class VII-IX Junior high school Nurul Islam Jember.
 Results: With the Mc Nemar test, the results obtained α value <0.05, namely 0.000, it can be concluded that there is a change in attitude before and after being given counseling about preventing anemia in early adolescents at Junior high school Nurul Islam Jember.
 Conclusion: Health education about anemia prevention with interesting material and media as well as the HBM (Health Belief Model) method is proven to be able to improve adolescent attitudes because it emphasizes one's belief that young women are very at risk of developing anemia and has an impact on decreased school achievement and disrupted growth. This treatment needs to be done repeatedly in order to give a deep impression.

How mothers manage and make sense of their early adolescent’s interactive screen use: an IPA study in the UK

ABSTRACT Interactive screen use (ISU) for leisure is becoming increasingly popular amongst early adolescents in western societies. ISU adds complexity to family relationships as mothers are required to navigate positive relationships and caregiving in a technological landscape which balances risk-management with the promotion of autonomy. This is made more difficult as early adolescents tend to be less open to their mother’s guidance during this developmental period. There is currently no existing literature which explores mother’s lived experience of navigating and making sense of their early adolescent’s ISU and this paper offers an original contribution to knowledge in this area. Qualitative data were collected from individual, semi-structured interviews with seven mothers of early adolescent children and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Three master themes were identified: (1) Mother’s concerns around the impact ISU on their children, (2) ISU impacting on the mother–child relationship and (3) the changing role of the mother when parenting their early adolescent children in a digital world. The paper concludes with a discussion of the findings of this study and suggestions for future research directions.

Mother and father depression symptoms and child emotional difficulties: a network model.

Mother and father depression symptoms often co-occur, and together can have a substantial impact on child emotional well-being. Little is understood about symptom-level mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of depression symptoms within families. The objective was to use network analysis to examine depression symptoms in mothers and fathers after having a baby, and emotional symptoms in children in early adolescence. We examined data from 4492 mother-father-child trios taken from a prospective, population-based cohort in the UK. Symptoms were examined using two unregularised partial correlation network models. The initial model was used to examine the pattern of associations, i.e. the overall network structure, for mother and father depression symptoms, and then to identify bridge symptoms that reinforce depression symptoms between parents during offspring infancy. The second model examined associations between the parent symptom network, including bridge symptoms, with later child emotional difficulties. The study included 4492 mother-father-child trios; 2204 (49.1%) children were female. Bridge symptoms reinforcing mother and father depression symptoms were feeling guilty and self-harm ideation. For mothers, the bridge symptom of feeling guilty, and symptoms of anhedonia, panic and sadness were highly connected with child emotional difficulties. For fathers, the symptom of feeling overwhelmed associated with child emotional difficulties. Guilt and anhedonia in fathers appeared to indirectly associate with child emotional difficulties through the same symptom in mothers. Our findings suggest that specific symptom cascades are central for co-occurring depression in parents and increased vulnerability in children, providing potential therapeutic targets.

Perception of Tobacco Use among School-Going Early Adolescent Children in Udupi District: A Cross-sectional Study.

Tobacco use among school-going children is a significant public health concern worldwide. Studies on perception and knowledge about harmful effects of tobacco use among early adolescent children are limited. To assess the knowledge, attitude, and perception of tobacco use among rural and urban school-going early adolescent children. A cross-sectional study design was used. Using mixed method multi-stage sampling, a sample of 218 eighth grade students were selected randomly using the simple random technique from two government schools (rural and urban schools were chosen purposively), Udupi district, Karnataka. Data were collected using the questionnaire method. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey was used for the data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to express the data and Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare the categorical variables. More than one-third (39%) of middle school children have used tobacco in the past. About 44% of boys felt guilty about their tobacco use. About two percent tried using other forms of tobacco products. Less than 1% of them had used tobacco more than once in the past 30 days. Urban children had significantly more knowledge about the harmful effects of tobacco use (p = .001), quitting tobacco (χ2 = 11.6, p = .008), and reasons for quitting tobacco use was, noticing anti-tobacco messages. More urban children think using tobacco makes boys more attractive (χ2 = 9.07, p = .01) and girls more attractive (χ2 = 10.80, p = .004). The prevalence of tobacco use was 1.5% among middle-school children in the last month. Urban school children have significantly more knowledge and awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use than rural students.

Character Strength and Mental Health Problems among Children from Low-Income Families in South Korea.

This study was conducted to understand the association between character strength and mental health problems among children in early adolescence from low-income families in South Korea. This study used a cross-sectional and descriptive study design with 214 fifth- and sixth-grade elementary school children from low-income families enrolled in 20 community centers and receiving government financial assistance. A bivariate probit model was used to examine the association between character strength and mental health problems in the children. We found that character strength lowers the likelihood of developing hyperactivity–inattention and emotional symptoms among children from low-income families. Additionally, adverse life events were associated with increased mental health problems, whereas adverse life events were not significantly correlated with character strength in the current study. Specific interventions should be developed to cultivate character strength among children in early adolescence from low-income families who are at a high risk of mental health problems under cumulative adverse life events.

Adverse childhood experiences and behavioral problems in early adolescence: An empirical study of chinese children.

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between ACEs and behavioral problems of children in their early adolescence in Chinese society. Results from bivariate analyses of 2,910 Chinese children in early adolescence indicated that children begin to exhibit behavioral problems being related to the exposure of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Compared to those with 0 ACEs, children with 4 or more ACEs were 4.45 times (p < 0.001), 4.44 times (p < 0.001), 7.80 times (p < 0.001), 4.49 times (p < 0.001), and 6.63 times (p < 0.001) more likely to demonstrate hyperactivity, peer communication problems, pro-social problems, emotional problems and conduct problems, respectively. Rural children, children of mothers with low education, and boys were particularly likely to have been exposed to multiple categories of ACE. This study evidenced that there was a strong association between exposure to ACEs and behavioral problems in early adolescence in China.

The effect of mobile phone use at night on the sleep of pre-adolescent (8-11 year), early adolescent (12-14 year) and late adolescent (15-18 year) children: A study of 252,195 Australian children

ObjectivesTo examine whether the association previously reported between mobile phone use at night and poor sleep in adolescents also generalizes to pre-adolescent children. DesignCross sectional. SettingDatabase provided by Resilient Youth Australia Pty Ltd. ParticipantsSurvey completed by 84,915 pre-adolescent (8-11 years), 99,680 early adolescent (12-14 years) and 67,600 late adolescent Australian children (15-18 years). MeasurementChildren were asked how frequently they obtained 8 hours of sleep on most nights and if they used their mobile phone at night to send and receive messages between 10 PM and 6 AM. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between mobile phone use at night and sleeping 8h or more on most nights with gender, socioeconomic status and year of study (2014-2018) as covariates. ResultsFor all age cohorts including pre-adolescent children, mobile phone use at night was associated with lower odds of obtaining 8 hours of sleep on most nights. ConclusionThe present findings confirm that the association between mobile phone use at night and poor sleep previously reported in adolescent children also generalises to pre-adolescent children. Given the increased uptake of smartphone devices in ever younger children the findings point to the need to provide parents, schools and communities with resources to promote child sleep hygiene and media use at bedtime.

Implementation of a non-randomized controlled trial of yoga-based intervention to reduce behavioural issues in early adolescent school-going children in Sri Lanka

BackgroundAdolescence can be difficult to navigate and the post-conflict environment in Jaffna Province, Sri Lanka compounds existing issues for adolescents. Conduct problems, hyperactivity along with emotional problems are challenges faced by adolescents, particularly in fragile, post-conflict settings. This study was a non-randomized controlled trial carried out in 4 educational zones over 6 months. The study implemented a yoga-based intervention package: two types of slow breathing for 5-6 min, Surya-namaskaram for 6-8 min, and mindfulness meditation for 5-6 min. Pre/post quantitative assessments were conducted with intervention and control groups. A focus group was conducted with the intervention group. The aim was to evaluate. Effectiveness of implementing a yoga-based intervention package in grade 8 school children (early adolescents) to address behavioural problems.ResultsPaired t-test and independent t-tests were completed for both arms using statistical product and service solutions (SPSS21). Parents’ assessments of emotional issues reduced for the intervention group (n = 584) [t(584) = 11.41, p = 0.001] along with reduction of the total difficulty score [t(584) = 28.12, p = 0.001]. Teachers’ assessments indicated prosocial scores improved in the intervention group [t(584) = − 28.5, p = 0.001]. Students’ self-assessments in the intervention group indicate a reduction in emotional problems [t(584) = 6.4, p = 0.001], and reduction in problems with peers [t(584) = 14.4, p = 0.001]. Within the control group (n = 499), teachers’ assessments indicated emotional problems increased [t(499) = − 9.5, p = 0.001] and prosocial scores reduced [t(499) = 13.5, p = 0.001]. Students’ self-assessments in the control group indicated emotional problems increased [t(499) = − 27.1, p = 0.001]. A comparison of post-test scores revealed a statistically significant difference between groups. Focus group results indicate students felt the intervention had an overall positive effect on school achievements, family dynamics and individual health.ConclusionsThis yoga-based intervention package appeared to be effective in reducing both externalizing and internalizing symptoms in adolescents. Practicing Surya-namaskaram, breathing control techniques and mindfulness meditation significantly reduced both externalizing symptoms (conduct problems and hyperactivity) as well as internalizing symptom (emotional problem and peer problems). It is recommended this intervention be scaled up across Sri Lanka and other similar post-conflict regions.

Measuring Mothers’ Warmth: Naïve Observers, Trained Coders, and Self-Reports

SYNOPSIS Objective. The current research evaluated whether thin slicing, which involves brief observations of others’ behaviors, is useful in understanding maternal warmth in the context of mother-child interaction. Design. The extent to which naïve observers’ ratings based on brief observations correspond to other reports of maternal warmth as well as the predictive validity of such ratings were evaluated in 158 pairs of European American mothers and their early adolescent children engaged in a set of problem-solving activities in the laboratory. Naïve (untrained) observers provided ratings of mothers’ warmth based on the first 5 min of the dyadic interaction. Trained coders rated mothers’ behaviors based on the first 5 min as well as the full 15 min video using a behavioral coding system. Mothers and children reported on mothers’ warmth using surveys. Results. Naïve observers’ ratings were associated with trained coders’ ratings, but not with child or mother reports. Child reports of mothers’ warmth were associated with both subjective and objective measures of their academic functioning. Naïve observers’ ratings of mothers’ warmth were associated with an objective measure of children’s academic functioning. Conclusions. The correspondence between naïve observers’ and trained coders’ reports of mothers’ warmth warrants further investigation into the conditions under which less time- and labor-intensive methods, such as thin slicing, can be applied to assess parents’ expressive behaviors.

The Proportion and Type of Carbohydrates in the Diets of Children in Early Adolescence.

Background:Carbohydrates are mainly substrates for energy metabolism and can affect satiety, blood glucose levels, insulin secretion, and fat metabolism. Their amount and type in the diet affect metabolic responses. High-carbohydrate diets, particularly high sugar consumption, are considered particularly harmful because of their specific characteristics related to postprandial metabolism, effects on hunger and satiety, and thus on caloric intake and energy balance. The European Food Safety Authority has suggested that the reference intake for carbohydrates should be between 45 and 60% of total energy requirements and less than 10% should be added sugars, especially for children.Objective:Investigate the proportion and type of carbohydrates in the diets of children in early adolescence in two territorially distinct areas, the continental and the Mediterranean.Methods:The study was conducted as part of a longitudinal cohort study. The survey was conducted in elementary schools in two regions: continental and Mediterranean. The School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey was used for research purposes. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were applied for data analysis.Results:A total of 1,411 respondents of both sexes aged 12-15 years, 729 boys and 678 girls, participated in the study. The intake of carbohydrates in the total sample is represented in the daily intake of 59%. The proportion of natural sugar in the diet of boys is statistically significantly higher in the continental compared to the Mediterranean region at the age of 12-13 years (p = 0.002), 13-14 years (p = 0.049), and 14-15 years (p = 0.002). Added sugars in total carbohydrate intake are statistically significantly higher in girls in the Mediterranean region compared to the continental region at ages 12-13 years (p = 0.048), 13-14 years (p = 0.001), and 14-15 years (p = 0.001).Conclusion:The high intake of added sugars in children in the Mediterranean region is of concern, although the intake in the continental area is well above current recommendations. Therefore, one of the public health goals is to promote proper nutrition as well as the availability of healthy foods in schools, especially during early adolescence when proper eating habits are adopted.

Moral reasoning among children in India: The intersection of culture, development, and social class

The study included 144 Indian children in middle childhood and early adolescence of high and low SES. Based on the cultural-developmental approach, the aims were to test hypotheses about use of the three Ethics of Autonomy, Community and Divinity, and to gain qualitative insights into the children’s indigenous moral concepts. Three findings stood out: 1) Older children employed a rich set of indigenous duty concepts, thereby also using the Ethic of Community more than younger children. 2) Younger children already reasoned in terms of the Ethic of Divinity. 3) High-SES children used the Ethic of Autonomy more than low-SES children and conceptualized the individual in independent and psychological terms; whereas low-SES children’s view of autonomy invoked fear of physical punishment. The cultural-developmental theory and methodology revealed sides of children’s moral reasoning that are largely missing in Western studies, and point to new research directions in moral development and socialization.

An investigation of vitamin D nutritional status in children after outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019.

To investigate vitamin D nutritional status in children after outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as well as the effect of strict epidemic prevention and control measures for the COVID-19 epidemic on vitamin D nutritional status in children. A total of 7 460 children who underwent routine physical examinations from February to August, 2020 and had normal results were retrospectively enrolled as the observation group, and 10 102 children who underwent routine physical examinations from February to August, 2019 (no epidemic of COVID-19) and had normal results were enrolled as the control group. The serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] was compared between the two groups. The children in the observation and control groups who underwent physical examinations in March and April were selected as the epidemic prevention subgroup (n=1 710) and non-epidemic subgroup (n=2 877) respectively. The subjects were divided into five age groups (infancy, early childhood, preschool, school age and adolescence), and serum 25(OH)D levels of children of all ages were compared between the epidemic prevention and non-epidemic subgroups. The observation group had a lower serum level of 25(OH)D than the control group in March and April (P<0.001). The epidemic prevention subgroup had a lower serum level of 25(OH)D than the non-epidemic subgroup in all age groups (P<0.001). The vitamin D sufficiency rate in early childhood, preschool, school and adolescent children from the epidemic prevention subgroup was lower than the non-epidemic subgroup (P<0.001), with a reduction of 10.71%, 18.76%, 59.63% and 56.29% respectively. Strict prevention and control measures for the COVID-19 epidemic may lead to a significant reduction in vitamin D level in children, especially school-aged and adolescent children. It is recommended to timely monitor vitamin D level in children, take vitamin D supplements, and increase the time of outdoor sunshine as far as possible under the premise of adherence to epidemic prevention regulations.