Urban Chinese Children Research Articles

Impact of spectacles wear on uncorrected visual acuity among urban migrant primary school children in China: a cluster-randomised clinical trial

ObjectiveTo estimate the effect of providing free spectacles on uncorrected visual acuity (VA) among urban migrant Chinese school children.DesignExploratory analysis from a parallel cluster-randomised clinical trial.MethodsAfter baseline survey and VA...

Child Maltreatment and Quality of Life Among Urban Chinese Children.

Child maltreatment is an international public health problem. The aftermath can appear in multiple aspects of individual health and development, including decreased physical and emotional function, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicide attempts. However, there is lack of evidence regarding the quality of life of maltreated children. This study aims to examine the association between children's maltreatment experience and their quality of life. This study employed a cross-sectional design and surveyed 1,093 primary school children (including migrant children and nonmigrant children) in Shanghai, China. The Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale (CTSPC) and Pediatrics Quality of Life Inventory were used to measure children's experiences of child maltreatment and their quality of life. Corporal punishment (89.47%) was the most prevalent form of child maltreatment, followed by physical assault (80.21%), psychological abuse (65.00%), and neglect (52.26%). Children's migration status was not associated with their quality of life; however, social capital factors were all associated with increased levels of quality of life. Children's victimization experience, including severe to very severe physical assault (β = -3.34/-3.80, p < .001), psychological assault (β = -3.74, p < .001), corporal punishment (β = -2.46, p < .01), and neglect (β = -4.31, p < .001), was associated with their decreased quality of life. The results show that child maltreatment threatens the quality of life of children. There is a need for developing effective interventions to prevent child maltreatment and reduce the adverse outcomes among children with maltreatment experiences.

Developmental characteristics on body composition in Chinese urban children and adolescents aged 3-17 years old

Objective: To describe the body composition related developmental characteristics in Chinese children and adolescents aged 3-17 years. Methods: Data were obtained from the 'China Child and Adolescent Cardiovascular Health (CCACH) cross-sectional survey' in 2015, which including seven cities. Questionnaire survey, anthropometric measurements were carried out with body composition also measured, using the Hologic Discovery Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scanner. BMI, fat mass percentage (FMP), fat mass index (FMI) and fat free mass index (FFMI) were calculated. SAS 9.4 and SPSS 20.0 softwares were used for data analysis. Results: A total of 10 867 participants aged 3-17 years were involved in this study, including 5 512 boys (50.7%). FMP in boys decreased obviously between 10-15 years old[β=-1.811 (95%CI: -1.987 - -1.635)]. FMP in girls decreased between 3-7 years old[β=-0.896 (95%CI: -1.100 - -0.691)] and increased obviously between 12-15 years old [β=0.989 (95%CI: 0.753-1.224)]. In general, FMP in girls were higher than that in boys in every age group, except for the 9 and 10 years old groups ( all P<0.05). FFMI of boys was higher than that in girls at all ages. Differences on FFMI were getting bigger between boys and girls in the 11 years old group and above. FMI increased with age [boys: β=0.033 (95%CI: 0.018-0.048); girls: β=0.192 (95%CI: 0.181-0.204)] and intersected between genders. Adiposity rebound age was earlier in the obese group than that in both overweight and normal weight groups. FMI in normal weight boys decreased with age and remained lower than 5 kg/m(2), while FMI in overweight [β=0.114 (95%CI: 0.091-0.136)] and obese [β=0.211 (95%CI: 0.176-0.245)] boys increased with age. FMP in boys decreased with age from 10 years old in all weight status groups [normal weight: β=-0.836 (95%CI: -0.924 - -0.748); overweight: β=-1.090 (95%CI: -1.269 - -0.910); obese: β=-1.144 (95%CI: -1.321- -0.967)]. BMI, FFMI, FMI in girls changed with age similarly in all weight status groups and increased from 8 years old[normal weight: β=0.174 (95%CI: 0.165- 0.182); overweight: β=0.325 (95%CI: 0.304-0.346); obesity: β=0.447 (95%CI: 0.406-0.488)]. Changes in FMP in girls increased significantly with age after 12 years old [normal weight: β=0.963 (95%CI: 0.851-1.074); overweight: β=0.910 (95%CI: 0.695-1.125); obesity: β=0.895 (95%CI: 0.569-1.221)]. In total, correlation indexes of BMI and FMI were strong (boys: r=0.767; girls: r=0.873) and were different in various weight status groups. Conclusions: The growth chart of BMI presented inconsistently with the different developmental characteristics of body fat, and gender. Measurement on body composition needs to be developed for children and adolescents to give more precisely assessment on growth and development of children.

Generational Difference of Axial Length and Its Risk Factors in Urban and Rural China.

Purpose To compare the axial length difference (ALD) and the estimated generational axial length shift (ALS) from parents to their children and its risk factors in urban and rural China. Methods Participants were enrolled from two longitudinal cohort studies, the Beijing Myopia Progression Study (BMPS) and the Handan Offspring Myopia Study (HOMS). Ocular biometry was performed in both parents and their children. ALD was defined as the difference between the children's axial length and the corresponding parental axial length. Generational ALS was estimated according to a binominal prediction model at 18 years of age. Results 237 and 380 urban and rural Chinese children (6–17 years) and their parents from the BMPS and HOMS, respectively, were enrolled. Children's axial length was estimated to be closest to the parental axial length at 11 and 9 years of age in the urban and rural areas, respectively; the estimated generational ALS would be 1.53 and 0.57 mm, respectively. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that older children (urban β = 0.26, p < 0.001; rural β = 0.11, p < 0.001) and males had larger ALD (urban β = 0.55, p < 0.001; rural β = 0.52, p < 0.001) in both areas. Furthermore, urban children with more educated parents (fathers: β = −0.30, p=0.002; mothers: β = −0.29, p=0.004) and more outdoor activity (β = −0.23, p=0.006) had a less ALD. Conclusions The urban generational axial length shift was estimated to be approximately 1 mm longer than that of the rural area. These results suggest different environmental effects on the ocular development in these two populations of Chinese children.

Abnormal Metabolic Phenotypes Among Urban Chinese Children: Epidemiology and the Impact of DXA-Measured Body Composition.

This study aimed to describe the prevalence rates of abnormal metabolic phenotypes among urban Chinese children and to explore the impact of body composition as measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) on metabolic disorders. A total of 7,926 children aged 6 to 17years from seven cities across China were involved. Metabolically unhealthy was defined as having ≥2 risk factors (elevated blood pressure, high triglyceride levels, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and impaired fasting glucose [IFG]). Abnormal metabolic phenotypes were defined as metabolically unhealthy with normal weight (MUNW) and metabolically healthy with overweight or obesity (MHO). Overall prevalence rates of MUNW and MHO were 10.6% and 15.3%, respectively. The prevalence of MUNW increased with age in boys, whereas the prevalence in girls was statistically higher in 11- to 15-year-olds than in other age groups. The prevalence of MHO decreased with age in both genders. Among children with normal weight, the levels of body composition indices were positively correlated with metabolically unhealthy phenotype. Fat-free mass had a protective effect on IFG in children with normal weight. Among children with overweight or obesity, body composition was related to elevated blood pressure and dyslipidemia but not to IFG. The prevalence rates of abnormal metabolic phenotypes differed between genders and ages. Body composition could partly explain the different metabolic phenotypes at the same BMI status among children.

Child nutrition to new stage in China: evidence from a series of national surveys, 1985\u20132015

BackgroundBoth child under- and over-nutrition are major global public health challenges. We aimed to examine thirty-year trends in physical growth, under- and over-nutrition in Chinese urban and suburban children between 1985 and 2015, and discuss implications for child health programmes.MethodsA total of 610,785 urban and suburban children from birth to 7 years of age were collected from a series of large-scale national surveys in China. Height, weight and body mass index (BMI) Z-scores and prevalence of stunting, underweight, wasted and possible risk of overweight, overweight and obesity were calculated according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 growth standards. The trends in the prevalence were tested across different survey years by Cochran-Armitage trend test.ResultsRapid secular growth trend was observed in China over the past 30 years, but the trend showed a slowing sign in urban children in recent 10 years. The growth level of Chinese urban and suburban children surpassed the WHO 2006 growth standards in 2015. Between 1985 and 2015 the stunting, underweight and wasted prevalence decreased from 12.21, 4.44, 1.68 to 0.97%, 0.59, 0.87% for children under 5 years and from 12.69, 10.02, 3.41 to 0.42%, 0.67, 2.17% for children aged 5- < 7 respectively; the possible risk of overweight prevalence increased from 6.51 to 12.57%, overweight from 0.70 to 3.48% and obesity from 0.17 to 0.86% for children aged 2- < 7 and the increasing rates of overweight and obesity prevalence in suburban children first outnumbered urban children in recent 10 years. The overweight prevalence overtook the wasted or underweight in children aged 2- < 7 in 2005 and onward.ConclusionSlowing secular height trend and overweight prevalence overtaking the wasted or underweight suggested child nutrition and health strategies should adjust swiftly and deliberately from primarily reducing under-nutrition prevalence to controlling rapid weight gain and promoting integrated early development.

Cardiovascular health in urban Chinese children and adolescents

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death and disease burden in China and worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the status of cardiovascular health among urban Chinese children and adolescents.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study comprising 12,618 children and adolescents aged 6–18 years, who were recruited from Chinese urban areas during 2013–2015. The poor, intermediate, and ideal levels of 7 cardiovascular health metrics, including smoking, body mass index, dietary intake, physical activity, blood pressure, blood glucose, and total cholesterol were defined according to revised American Heart Association criteria.Results: Ideal smoking status was the most prevalent health component (overall, 90.7%; males, 86.3% and females, 95.4%), whereas ideal health diet score (overall, 8.7%; males, 9.1% and females, 8.3%) was the least prevalent among urban Chinese children and adolescents. The majority (overall, 84.9%; males, 82.6% and females, 87.4%) of participants had 3–5 ideal metrics. The overall prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health (i.e. meeting all 7 ideal components) was extremely low (overall, 0.5%; males, 0.5% and females, 0.4%).Conclusions: The prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health in urban Chinese children and adolescents is extremely low, particularly for physical activity and healthy dietary intake. Effective public health interventions are required to improve cardiovascular health in children and adolescents to reduce future cardiovascular risk.Key messagesIdeal health diet score was the least prevalent health component among urban Chinese children and adolescentsThe prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health in urban Chinese children and adolescents was extremely lowEffective public health interventions are required to improve cardiovascular health in children and adolescents to reduce future cardiovascular risk

Issue Information

The September issue of PsyCh Journal features four Original Articles, beginning with an assessment of factors promoting proenvironmental behaviors in urban Chinese children, which finds environmental sensitivity and personal norms as two critical factors. This is followed by a verification of the Greek version of the Family Assessment Device (FAD), using correlations with the already validated Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES‐III). A third contribution explored the mediating role of social support and hope in the linkage of extraversion with happiness in a sample of undergraduates at a Malaysian university, finding a serial mediating effect, through social support and then hope, of extraversion in the enhancement of happiness, in addition to two stronger indirect effects. The fourth article examined the heritability of spatial working memory (SWM) and set‐shifting abilities, both consistently observed as impaired in individuals with schizophrenia and thus considered potential endophenotypes of this illness, finding moderate heritability for SWM but no significant heritability for set‐shifting ability in a healthy Chinese twin sample.These are followed by two Short Communications, the first reporting the use of quantitative semantics to find clusters of words in LinkedIn users' self‐descriptions to an employer or a friend. The second examined relationships among proactive personality, job crafting, and mental health in a survey of full‐time Chinese employees, finding that job crafting mediated a positive relationship between proactive personality and mental health.A final contribution presents reflections from within China on how crucial problems encountered in the development of new artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms (such as understanding the semantic structure of images) can promote better understandings of the human mind itself, leading in turn to more powerful AI capabilities. image

Social sensitivity and social, school, and psychological adjustment among children across contexts.

This study examined relations of social sensitivity to social, school, and psychological adjustment in rural Chinese, urban Chinese, and Canadian children. Participants were 4th to 6th grade students (Mage = 11 years) in China (n = 593 and 443 for the rural and urban samples) and Canada (n = 325). A self-report measure of social sensitivity was developed for the study. In addition to data on social sensitivity, information on adjustment was obtained from multiple sources. The analyses revealed that social sensitivity was associated with positive adjustment in rural Chinese children but with adjustment problems in Canadian children. The relations were largely mixed and nonsignificant in urban Chinese children. These results indicate the role of context in defining the functional meaning of children's social sensitivity. (PsycINFO Database Record

Trends in the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Chinese School-Age Children and Adolescents from 2010 to 2015.

In China, recent rapid economic growth has been associated with increasing prevalence of childhood obesity. This study aimed to provide the most updated prevalence and trends in overweight and obesity among school-age children and adolescents in Shanghai, China, in 2010-2015. Annual physical examination data were collected from 66,410, 43,812, 104,887, 113,667, 119,401, and 109,068 school children and adolescents aged 6-17 in Minhang District, Shanghai, in 2010-2015. The outcome of interest was the prevalence of overweight and obesity based on the body mass index (BMI) criteria from the International Obesity Task Force. In 2010-2015, the age-adjusted prevalence of overweight and obesity among boys increased from 21.2% to 31.7% and from 10.6% to 16.9% among girls. In 2015, the prevalence of obesity among boys was 9.3% higher than among girls (3.5%). The prevalence for boys was consistently higher than that for girls at each age and across years. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was highest at 11 years: 37.3% for boys and 19.8% for girls. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Chinese urban children and adolescents is comparable to that in developed countries and was still increasing in 2010-2015. The prevalence among boys was alarmingly high. The findings highlight the need to develop public intervention strategies targeting urban children to stop the increasing trend in childhood obesity in China.

Study on vitamin A nutritional status of 6- to 17-year-old urban children and adolescents between 2010 and 2012 in China

Objective: To investigate the vitamin A nutritional status of 6- to 17-year-old urban children and adolescents by analyzing serum retinol level, between 2010 and 2012 in China. Methods: Data were obtained from the China Nutrition and Health Survey in 2010-2012. Using multi-stage stratified sampling and the population proportional stratified random sampling method, 6 617 children aged 6-17 years from 32 metropolis and 41 middle-sized and small cities of China were selected. The questionnaire survey was used to collect demographic information. Blood samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography to determine serum retinol concentration, and the World Health Organization guidelines were used to evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin A. Vitamin A levels, vitamin A deficiency, and marginal vitamin A deficiency in children with different characteristics were compared. Results: A total of 3 785 cases with valid samples were obtained. The overall mean serum retinol concentration level was (1.49±0.71) μmol/L; the mean serum retinol concentration was (1.55±0.69) μmol/L for metropolis and (1.49±0.75) μmol/L for middle-sized and small cities (P>0.05). The mean serum retinol concentration was (1.52±0.78) μmol/L for boys and (1.47±0.68) μmol/L for girls (P>0.05). The mean serum retinol concentration level was (1.46±0.70) μmol/L for 6- to 11-year-old children and (1.54±0.65) μmol/L for 12- to 17-year-old children (P<0.05). The total vitamin A deficiency rate and marginal vitamin A deficiency rate was 7.69% (291/3 785) and 18.57% (703/3 785), respectively. The vitamin A deficiency rate was 8.00% (36/450) for metropolis and 7.64% (65/3 335) for middle-sized and small cities; 8.12% (155/1 908) for boys and 7.25% (136/1 877) for girls; and 8.04% (171/2 115) for 6- to 11-year-old children and 7.18% (120/1 670) for 12- to 17-year-old children. No significant differences were observed for region, sex, or age (P>0.05). The marginal vitamin A deficiency rate was 19.11% (86/450) for metropolis and 18.50% (617/3 335) for middle-sized and small cities; 18.19% (347/1 908) for boys and 18.97% (356/1 877) for girls, with no significant differences observed (P>0.05). The marginal vitamin A deficiency rate was 16.54% (350/2 115) for 6- to 11-year-old children and 21.13% (353/1 670) for 12- to 17-year-old children (P<0.05). Conclusion: The vitamin A nutritional status of 6- to 17-year-old Chinese urban children and adolescents between 2010 and 2012 has improved, and the gap between cities is narrowing. However, vitamin A deficiency overall remains high, especially in younger children, and requires specific attention.

Secular Trends in Growth and Nutritional Outcomes of Children under Five Years Old in Xiamen, China.

The purpose of this study was to examine secular changes in growth and nutritional outcomes of Chinese urban children under five years old, in 2009, 2012, and 2015. Cluster random sampling methods were used to select children under five years old in Xiamen, one of five special economic zones in China. Subjects (N = 71,229) under five years old (39,413 boys, 31,816 girls) were examined at three different times (22,576 in 2009, 24,816 in 2012, and 23,837 in 2015). Significant differences in the boys’ height and weight (p < 0.05) were found across the three time points; subjects in the 2015 sample were the heaviest and tallest, and they had the highest BMI (2009 < 2015; 2012 < 2015). Among the girls, those in the 2015 sample were similar to the boys (2009 < 2012; 2012 < 2015). In general, similar patterns were observed when mean values were analyzed by age. An increasing trend was found in the prevalence of overweight and obesity and a decreasing trend for stunting, underweight, and wasting. The results revealed that the burden of childhood under- and over-nutrition might constitute a public health concern in modern China.

Development of the theory-based Chinese primary school children physical activity and dietary behaviour changes intervention (CHIRPY DRAGON): development of a cluster-randomised controlled trial

BackgroundThe rate of increase in prevalence of childhood obesity in mainland China exceeds the trends observed in other countries. Effective, culturally appropriate prevention interventions are urgently needed to control the epidemic. However, previous programmes lacked rigorous development and evaluation. Using the framework set out by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC), we developed a complex childhood obesity prevention intervention for Chinese primary school children. MethodsSeveral different methodologies were employed and iteratively combined in the development process. The theoretical and modelling phases (2009–12) included a mixed-methods study that integrated focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders (n=99) to explore perceived causes of childhood obesity and perceptions of effective and feasible intervention ideas as well as delivery preferences, and a cross-sectional study (n=497) that identified several modifiable environmental risk factors. This phase resulted in six potential intervention targets that were evidenced in both studies. A further qualitative study (2012–14, n=148) gathered key stakeholders' opinions on the potential interventions with a focus on contextual barriers and facilitators. A systematic review of international and Chinese literature in modifiable risk factors for obesity in Chinese children was also conducted. These investigations led to the development of an initial programme that was then tested for feasibility in three Chinese primary schools in 2015. The feasibility trial justified an evaluation of the programme in a definitive trial and helped to optimise the implementation and acceptability of the programme. Ethical approval was obtained from the Life and Health Sciences Ethical Review Committee at the University of Birmingham (ERN_14-1440) and the Ethical Committee of Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The feasibility and randomised control trials were registered with ISRCTN, numbers ISRCTN13619480 (feasibility) and ISRCTN11867516 (randomised controlled trial). FindingsThe finalised programme consists of four components: 1) improving health knowledge and behaviours among grandparents/parents and children through interactive learning activities; 2) improving the nutritional quality of school meals through regular supportive evaluation and feedback; 3) increasing the level of physical activity outside campus through family friendly games and challenges; and 4) improving the implementation of the national requirement for “one-hour physical activity on campus each day” through joint monthly goal settings, evaluation, and feedback. InterpretationOur study is the first demonstration of application of the MRC framework to develop and evaluate obesity prevention interventions in a Chinese setting. The rigorous and phased development process resulted in a culturally relevant prevention programme for urban Chinese children. The programme is ready for effectiveness and cost effectiveness evaluations through a definitive trial. We also generated contextual knowledge that could support implementation of similar intervention activities in other settings. FundingUniversity of Birmingham, Zhejiang Yong Ning Pharmaceutical.

Mother–child Attachment and Social Withdrawal in Urban Chinese Children

We examined the association between mother–child attachment and social withdrawal in Chinese urban children. Participants in the 1.5-year longitudinal study were 142 Chinese children (74 boys, 68 girls), who were initially aged between 6 and 10 years. Self-reported mother–child attachment style was measured at Time 1 and Time 2. Two subtypes of social withdrawal (i.e., shyness and unsociability) were measured by self-rating and peer nomination at Time 2. Regression analysis showed that attachment style predicted a different subtype of social withdrawal. Early secure and ambivalent attachment were associated negatively and positively, respectively, with self-reported shyness. Current (Time 2) avoidant attachment was positively associated with both self-reported and peer-rated unsociability, whereas current ambivalent attachment was negatively associated with self-reported unsociability. The findings underscore a specific connection between attachment style and social withdrawal subtype.

The Rise of the “Priceless” Child in China

This article explores how the meaning of the child and parent-child relationships have changed in urban China undergoing rapid modernization. It draws on life history interviews with Beijing post-1990s (jiulinghou) youth in their last secondary school year, their parents, and their grandparents. Chinese urban children have become extremely “precious” to parents. There is much continuity between the two older generations’ parent-child relationships. However, with the birth of the only-child generation and other socioeconomic changes in post-Mao China, the rise of the Chinese “priceless child” occurred. This generational change supports previous theorizing about modernization of parent-child relationships based on Western countries. But both the rise, and the preciousness, of the priceless child in China have been intensified by the dramatic post-Mao social transformation, including the only-child policy. Understanding what it means to be the Chinese “priceless child” adds local contextual nuance to analysi...

Association of Vitamin A Status with Overnutrition in Children and Adolescents.

This study was conducted to examine the possible association between vitamin A status and overnutrition in Chinese urban children and adolescents. Weight, height and serum retinol were assessed in total 3457 children (7–9.9 years of age) and adolescents (10–17 years of age), using urban region data from the China National Nutrition and Health Survey 2010–2013 (CHNNS2010-2013) which is a nationally representative cross-sectional study. Prevalence of low serum concentration of retinol was 26.8% and 12.24% for overweight. Retinol inadequacy was significantly higher in children (32.13%) than in adolescents (24.48%). The average of retinol was significantly higher in overnutrified 42.32 μg/dL versus non-overnutrified 41.05 μg/dL (p = 0.00) children and adolescents. Overnutrified children and adolescents presented a greater chance of an increase in serum concentration of retinol (odds ratio 1.34, 95% confidence interval 1.10–1.63, and 1.48, 95% confidence interval (1.26–1.74) when compared with non-overnutrified children. An important correspondence between vitamin A deficiency and overnutrition was found. Non-overnutrified children and adolescents may have a greater chance of presenting low concentrations of retinol. Future public health strategies focused on the overnutrified population and vitamin A supplements should consider the effect of retinol on urban children and adolescents in China.

Association between sleep duration and obesity is age- and gender-dependent in Chinese urban children aged 6-18 years: a cross-sectional study.

BackgroundInformation on the relationship between sleep duration and obesity among children in urban Guangzhou, China is limited. This study aims to examine the relationship between sleep duration and obesity in children aged 6–18 years.MethodsThe sample consisted of 11,830 children aged 6–18 years. The children were randomly selected from 13 schools in three urban districts of Guangzhou. The study was conducted from September to November 2013. The height and weight of the children were measured. Adiposity status was estimated using body mass index and according to the cut point in China criteria. In the structured questionnaire, children reported daily sleep hours (less than 7 h, 7–9 h and more than 9 h), weekly food intake amount (including vegetables, fruit, sugar beverages and meat), physical activity and sedentary time. A caretaker would answer the questionnaire on behalf of a child aged below nine.ResultsA total of 8,760 children (49.0 % boys) completed the study. The prevalence of obesity was 8.4 % (9.8 % in boys and 5.7 % in girls). Adjusted for age, diet and physical activity/sedentary behaviour, the odds ratio (OR) for obesity comparing sleeping <7 h (short sleep duration, SSD) with ≥9 h (long sleep duration, LSD) was 0.70 (95 % CI: 0.69–0.72) among boys and 1.73 (95 % CI: 1.71–1.74) among girls. Stratified by age, OR for boys aged 6–12 years comparing SSD with LSD was 0.60 (95 % CI: 0.55–0.66); by contrast, OR was 1.33 (95 % CI: 1.30–1.37) for boys aged 13–18 years.ConclusionShort sleep duration is associated with increased chances of obesity among girls and 13- to 18-year-old boys, but the chances of obesity are decreased among 6- to 12-year-old boys. Age and gender should be regarded as specific characteristics for the effects of short sleep on obesity.

Shyness-Sensitivity and Social, School, and Psychological Adjustment in Urban Chinese Children: A Four-Wave Longitudinal Study.

This study examined reciprocal contributions between shyness-sensitivity and social, school, and psychological adjustment in urban Chinese children. Longitudinal data were collected once a year from Grade 3 to Grade 6 (ages 9-12 years) for 1,171 children from multiple sources. Shyness-sensitivity positively contributed to social, school, and psychological difficulties over time, with the most consistent effects on peer preference and loneliness. Social and school adjustment negatively contributed to the development of shyness-sensitivity. The initial levels of shyness-sensitivity and social and school adjustment moderated the growth of each other, mainly as a resource-potentiating factor. The results indicate the significance of shyness-sensitivity for adjustment and the role of adjustment in the development of shyness-sensitivity in today's urban Chinese society.

Sleep duration, schedule and quality among urban Chinese children and adolescents: associations with routine after-school activities.

BackgroundWith rapid urbanization accompanied by lifestyle changes, children and adolescents living in metropolitan areas are faced with many time use choices that compete with sleep. This study reports on the sleep hygiene of urban Chinese school students, and investigates the relationship between habitual after-school activities and sleep duration, schedule and quality on a regular school day.MethodsCross-sectional, school-based survey of school children (Grades 4–8) living in Shanghai, China, conducted in 2011. Self-reported data were collected on students’ sleep duration and timing, sleep quality, habitual after-school activities (i.e. homework, leisure-time physical activity, recreational screen time and school commuting time), and potential correlates.ResultsMean sleep duration of this sample (mean age: 11.5-years; 48.6% girls) was 9 hours. Nearly 30% of students reported daytime tiredness. On school nights, girls slept less (p<0.001) and went to bed later (p<0.001), a sex difference that was more pronounced in older students. Age by sex interactions were observed for both sleep duration (p=0.005) and bedtime (p=0.002). Prolonged time spent on homework and mobile phone playing was related to shorter sleep duration and later bedtime. Adjusting for all other factors, with each additional hour of mobile phone playing, the odds of daytime tiredness and having difficulty maintaining sleep increased by 30% and 27% among secondary students, respectively.ConclusionThere are sex differences in sleep duration, schedule and quality. Habitual activities had small but significant associations with sleep hygiene outcomes especially among secondary school students. Intervention strategies such as limiting children’s use of electronic screen devices after school are implicated.

Psychometric Analysis on Neurotransmitter Deficiency of Internet Addicted Urban Left-behind Children

Aim: In the study, a questionnaire survey was proposed-for neurotransmitter deficiency of internet-addicted urban left-behind children, trying to provide psychometric bases for exploration on neurophysiological mechanism of internet addiction. Method: First, 199 internet-addicted urban left-behind children were selected from 1895 Chinese urban leftbehind children by use of Adolescent Pathological Internet Use Scale (APIUS), and then a test in Symptom Scale of Neurotransmitter Deficiency(SSND) was conducted. Results: The neurotransmitter deficiency extent of internet-addicted urban left-behind children was higher than moderate grade; that of boys was higher than that of girls; that of parents-leaving group was higher than that of single-parent-leaving group. The neurotransmitter deficiency extent of internet-addicted urban left-behind children was higher than that of non-internet-addicted urban left-behind children.