Young Chinese Children Research Articles

Adapting and validating a game-based testing instrument for measuring nature connectedness in children

This study aimed to adapt and validate a Canadian-developed instrument for measuring nature connectedness among young children in China. Nature connectedness, which encompasses emotional, cognitive, and experiential relationships with the natural environment, is linked to various positive outcomes in children, including well-being, eco-friendly behaviors, and academic success. However, existing instruments, which often rely on self-reports, face challenges when applied to young children due to dependence on introspective and expressive abilities and issues with cultural relevance across diverse settings. To address these limitations, this research adapted and validated a game-based instrument through three steps: adaptation for cultural relevance and linguistic accuracy, expert review for content validity, and empirical testing for construct validity. The initial adaptation was informed by a pilot study with 38 children in Hangzhou, which led to further modifications based on feedback. The adapted Chinese version was tested with 406 kindergartners from Hangzhou and Shanghai, demonstrating good reliability and validity in measuring nature connectedness in this population. Findings indicate that the adapted instrument effectively captures the dimensions of nature connectedness among young Chinese children, validating its feasibility of adapting for use in non-Western contexts. This research underscores the importance of culturally sensitive tools in environmental psychology and education, offering a valuable methodology for understanding and enhancing children's connections with nature across different cultural backgrounds. The study contributes to developing educational strategies and environmental policies to foster a deep, enduring relationship between children and the natural world.

Impact of decision‐making autonomy and social distance on young Chinese children's sharing behaviour

AbstractThis research explores how decision‐making autonomy and social distance impact young children's sharing behaviour. In Study 1, findings from 159 Chinese children (total N = 159, 72 boys, aged 3–6 years) revealed that children aged 5–6 exhibited significantly more sharing behaviours in the controlled condition, however 3–4 years‐olds showed no variance between the two conditions, indicating that the impact of decision‐making autonomy on sharing behaviour surfaces around the age of 5–6 years. Study 2 examined the effects of social distance and decision‐making autonomy on sharing behaviours among Chinese children aged 5–6 years (total N = 57, 29 boys). Results showed that irrespective of the decision‐making condition, children in this age group exhibited a greater tendency to share with close friends. Furthermore, the controlled condition intensified this effect. These findings suggest that the perceived sense of autonomy among Chinese children aged 5–6 when deciding to share may not be as stable as expected, with social distance playing a pivotal role in guiding their sharing decisions. This study enhances our comprehension of how decision‐making autonomy and social factors shape young children's prosocial behaviour, underscoring the significant role of social context in influencing sharing behaviours during childhood development.

Early Childhood Risk-Taking Behaviors in Chinese Parenting Environment: The Mediating Role of Parental Supervision

ABSTRACT Research Findings: Parental supervision, parental risk perception, and parental risk attitudes constitute an important parenting environment for the development of young children. To examine the mechanisms of Chinese parenting environment on young children’s risk-taking behaviors, this study first established a four-factor model and surveyed 497 parents of preschoolers. The results indicated that: (1) Chinese young children’s risk-taking was at moderately low level, and parental risk perceptions, parental attitudes and parental supervision were at moderately high level; (2) parental supervision completely mediated the relationship from parental risk perception to children’s risk-taking behavior (β = -0.139,95%CI [−0.267, −0.062], p < .001); (3) parental supervision partially mediated the relationship from parental risk attitudes to children’s risk-taking behavior (β = -0.068, 95%CI [−0.162, −0.027], p < .001); (4) this mediation model remained stable cross genders of children (∆χ 2 = 12.022, p = .799). Practice or Policy: The findings indicated that sufficient support and guidance for parenting should be provided to improve parental risk perceptions, attitudes and supervision which in turn create an environment safe and appropriate for risk-taking of Chinese young children.

Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of adjunctive Lacosamide therapy for focal seizures in young children aged ≥1 month to ≤4 years: A real-world study.

To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of adjunctive lacosamide therapy against focal seizures in young children (1 month - 4 years). This non-randomized, open-label, and self-controlled real-world study included 105 children (1 month-4 years) with focal seizures treated with adjunctive lacosamide therapy at Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. (1) The 50% response rates at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of follow-up were 58.1%, 61.0%, 57.1%, and 56.2%, while the seizure-free rates were 27.6%, 34.3%, 32.4%, and 37.1%, respectively. The 50% response rate of the first addition of lacosamide for focal seizures was much higher than the second and later added treatment at 3 months (p = 0.038). After 1 year of follow-up, these children showed an improvement in neurodevelopmental levels (p < 0.05). (2) Lacosamide retention rate was 72.7% (64/88) after 1 year of follow-up. Lack of efficacy and serious adverse events were independent risk factors for the lacosamide retention rate. (3) During adjunctive lacosamide therapy, 13 (12.4%) patients reported adverse events and five (4.7%) patients withdrew due to adverse events, including vomiting drowsiness, ataxia (0.94%), neck itching with eczema (0.94%), irritability (1.88%), and gastrointestinal discomfort (0.94%). Adjunctive lacosamide therapy was effective, safe, and well-tolerated in young Chinese children with focal seizures in this study.

A study on the development of happiness scale for Chinese young children.

This study was conducted to develop an assessment tool for measuring happiness among Chinese preschoolers, and to verify the reliability and validity of this tool. A total of 269 preschoolers aged 3 to 5 years from kindergartens and childcare centers in Hangzhou, China, were surveyed. The Preschooler Happiness Scale, constructed through literature review and interviews with preschoolers, underwent expert content validity verification and pilot testing to refine items. The validity and reliability of the scale were verified in this study, resulting in the development of the final Preschooler Happiness Scale comprising 6 sub-factors and 25 items. The reliability verification revealed a high overall reliability of 0.91 for the Preschooler Happiness Scale, confirming its trustworthiness as a tool. The academic significance of the findings and the practical utility of the Preschooler Happiness Scale in early childhood education settings in China were discussed based on the results of this study.

Association Between Young Chinese Children’s Early Writing Skills and the Chinese Preschool Classroom Writing Environment

ABSTRACT This study describes the early writing environments of 16 preschool classrooms in China and 155 Chinese preschoolers’ early writing skills as assessed through name writing, word dictation, and early composing tasks. The classroom early writing environment consists of children’s accessibility to writing materials, and teachers’ writing instruction. Preschool writing samples were coded for children’s ability to generate both oral (e.g. number of words and ideas) and written language (e.g. recognizable Chinese characters). Confirmatory factor analyses and hierarchical linear modeling were conducted to investigate the structure of Chinese preschoolers’ writing skill and to examine its association with classroom writing environment. Research Findings: Results showed that Chinese preschool children could independently generate a variety of writing samples without adult support. Early Chinese writing skills represent two factors, namely (a) the ability to transcribe recognizable characters (transcription skill), and (b) the ability to generate meaningful ideas (composing skill). Teachers’ writing instruction was significantly associated with children’s writing skill, although the frequency was low. Practice or Policy: The findings revealed the evident complexities of Chinese orthography, while suggesting a universal impact of teachers’ scaffolding to young children’s early writing. The study prepared an evidence base for future classroom-based early literacy intervention programs.

Efficacy and safety of adjunctive perampanel treatment in pediatric patients with epilepsy aged 4-12years: a real-world study.

To determine the efficacy and safety of perampanel (PER) as an adjunctive therapy in children aged 4-12years with epilepsy. We performed a non-randomized, open-label, placebo-uncontrolled, real-world self-controlled study that included 216 young children (aged 4-12years) with epilepsy who received PER as adjunctive therapy at the children's hospital affiliated with Chongqing Medical University from July 4, 2020, to September 20, 2023. (1) The efficacy rates of adjunctive PER therapy at 3, 6, 9, and 12months were 62.8%, 67.8%, 65.3%, and 61.2%, respectively. PER showed efficacy in alleviating focal seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, myoclonic seizures, and absence seizures. The efficacy rates for variants of self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) were 89.5% and 66.7%, respectively. (2) Focal non-motor onset seizures with or without impaired awareness, focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (FBTCS), LGS, variants of SeLECTS, the number of concomitant antiseizure medications (ASMs), a family history of epilepsy, and focal lesions on cranial magnetic resonance imaging were independent factors affecting efficacy. The order of PER addition did not affect efficacy. The retention rates at 3, 6, 9, and 12months were 90.7%, 84.7%, 74.7%, 64.9%, respectively. (3) Adverse reactions occurred in 45 patients (45/216, 20.8%), with irritability/aggressive behavior (18/216, 8.3%) and somnolence (14/216, 6.5%) being the most common. Twelve patients (12/216, 5.6%) withdrew from the study because of adverse reactions. In young Chinese children with epilepsy, PER is effective, safe, and well-tolerated as an adjunctive therapy, making it a viable option for use with broad-spectrum ASMs.

Revisiting associations between behavioral inhibition/shyness and social competence in young Chinese children: Sociohistorical imprint on three samples.

While negative associations between behavioral inhibition/shyness and social competence are well established for children from Western cultures, the directions of these associations have been inconsistent for Chinese children, partly due to the ongoing social-cultural changes in China. Drawing from three samples of young Chinese children (born between 2009 and 2019), we aim at examining how inhibition/shyness predicts cooperative behaviors and prosocial behaviors throughout early childhood. In Study 1 (N = 700, children aged between 36 and 72 months), mother-reported inhibition/shyness was negatively associated with mother-reported cooperative and prosocial behaviors during the preschool years. In Study 2 (N = 251, at 6, 15, 25, and 37 months of children's ages), mother-reported inhibition/shyness in infancy was negatively associated with mother-reported cooperative behaviors but was not related to observed cooperative behaviors at the early preschool age. Infancy inhibition/shyness was negatively associated with mother-reported and observed prosocial behaviors. In Study 3 (N = 95, at 14, 25, 38, and 60 months of children's ages), the inhibition/shyness trait, assessed by both observation and maternal report, did not predict any indicators of cooperative behaviors. Early childhood inhibition/shyness, however, still predicted fewer observed and mother-reported prosocial behaviors. On balance, our research supports a negative association between early inhibition/shyness and later prosocial behaviors. The mixed findings concerning cooperative behaviors are interpreted in light of sociopolitical changes in China during the past two decades. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Relationships between teacher–child relationships, resilience, and emotional competence: an empirical study of left-behind children in regional China

ABSTRACT This study aims to examine the relationships between teacher-child relationships, resilience, and emotional competence with an initial sample of 881 (filtered to 739) Chinese young children in a rural region in Guangdong Province, China. They were measured by using Student-Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS), Children’s emotional competence scale (CECS), and Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Preschoolers Second Edition (DECA-P2). The results indicated that: (1) teacher–child relationships positively predict resilience and emotional competence in children, including left-behind children; (2) emotional competence positively predict resilience in children, including left-behind children; (3) no different patterns found between left-behind children and other children on their psychological traits in the study. This study would enhance both parents and early childhood teachers’ understandings of the key factors that affect children’s wellbeing and social development, and thus implement appropriate strategies for supporting left-behind children.

Secular changes in eruption of primary teeth in Chinese infants and young children from three national cross-sectional surveys

The eruption of primary teeth is a basic event during physical development of children, which is affected by heredity and environment. This study aimed to analyze the changes in primary teeth eruption among Chinese children with social development. A total of 249,264 healthy children under 2 years were extracted from the 1995, 2005, and 2015 National Survey on the Physical Growth and Development of Children in Nine Cities of China. Their primary teeth were examined and percentiles of primary teeth eruption age were calculated by probit analysis. The median primary teeth eruption age were 6.8 months, 6.7 months, 6.6 months in 1995, 2005 and 2015. Primary teeth eruption age of boys was 0.2 months, 0.3 months, 0.3 months earlier than that of girls in 1995, 2005 and 2015. Primary teeth eruption age was the earliest in children from northern region and was the latest in children from southern region, and this regional difference did not change over time. These findings suggest that primary teeth eruption age slightly advanced with social development, and their gender difference and regional difference have always existed, which supplied some data for understanding the secular trend of primary teeth development in stomatology, pediatrics, anthropology, and other related fields.

Number sense predicts arithmetic competence in young Chinese children: the role of visual spatial skills and inhibitory control

ABSTRACT To examine the relationship between early number sense and later symbolic arithmetic competence and how they are connected in young Chinese children. The present study utilized a longitudinal sample of 115 Chinese children aged 3 to 6. Young children completed measures to assess number sense, visual spatial skills (in the fall of their second kindergarten year, K2), arithmetic competence (in the spring of their second kindergarten year, K3), working memory, verbal comprehension, and inhibitory control (in the fall of their first kindergarten year, K1). The results showed that number sense predicted arithmetic competence six months later. Meanwhile, visual spatial skills played a mediating role in this association, but it became non-significant when working memory, verbal comprehension, and inhibitory control were added as covariates. These longitudinal findings confirm the close association between number sense and arithmetic competence in young Chinese children.

A novel infant microbiome formula (SIM03) improved eczema severity and quality of life in preschool children

Altered gut microbiome composition has been reported in children with eczema and interventions that restore beneficial bacteria in the gut may improve eczema. This open-label pilot study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a novel infant microbiome formula (SIM03) in young children with eczema. Pre-school Chinese children aged 1–5 years old with eczema received SIM03 twice daily for three months. The novelty of SIM03 consists of both the use of a patented microencapsulation technology to protect the viability of unique Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium breve strains identified through big data analysis of large metagenomic datasets of young Chinese children. Paired stool samples at baseline and following SIM03 were analyzed by metagenomics sequencing. Generalized estimating equation was used to analyze changes in eczema severity, skin biophysical parameters, quality of life and stool microbiome. Twenty children aged 3.0 ± 1.6 years (10 with severe eczema) were recruited. Treatment compliance was ≥ 98%. SCORing Atopic Dermatitis score decreased significantly at two months (P = 0.008) and three months (P < 0.001), while quality of life improved significantly at 1, 2, and 3 months. The relative abundance of B. breve and microbial pathways on acetate and acetyl-CoA synthesis were enriched in stool samples at one month (P = 0.0014). Children who demonstrated increased B. bifidum after SIM03 showed improvement in sleep loss (P = 0.045). Relative abundance of B. breve correlated inversely with eczema extent (P = 0.023) and intensity (P = 0.019) only among patients with increased B. breve at Month 3. No serious adverse event was observed. In conclusion, SIM03 is well tolerated. This patented microbiome formula improves disease severity and quality of life in young eczematous children by enhancing the delivery of B. bifidum and B. breve in the gut. SIM03 is a potential treatment option for childhood eczema.

Associated factors of loneliness among primary school students

Loneliness is associated with various negative mental and physical health outcomes. Studies on factors associated with loneliness can inform its early screening and prevention. However, little is known about what factors are associated with loneliness among Chinese young children. The present study aimed to identify the various loneliness-associated factors (demographic, personal, school-related, and family-related) among primary school students in Hong Kong. A total of 258 students and their parents from six primary schools in Hong Kong completed an online anonymous survey from June to October 2020. Loneliness (i.e., UCLA Loneliness Scale 3 total score ≥ 3) was reported by 14% of the students. Multivariable mixed effects logistic regression suggested loneliness was positively associated with a lower happiness level at school, poorer independence skills, a lower level of satisfaction with parents, and lower child-rearing expenditure. There was no clustering effect of school on the associations. The current study found important demographic, personal, school-related, and family-related factors of loneliness among school-age children, with caution suggested in their interpretation considering the cross-sectional nature of this study. Future studies with a larger sample, preferably longitudinal ones, are needed to substantiate these associations and uncover their underlying mechanisms.

An explorative study of the Chinese Pictorial Version of Children's Dissociative Experiences Scale and Posttraumatic Symptom Inventory

IntroductionPsychometric tools for assessing or screening young children with complex trauma and dissociation based on their own subjective experience are very limited. The present study aimed to explore the applicability of the Chinese translated pictorial version of Children's Dissociative Experiences Scale and Posttraumatic Symptom Inventory (CDES/PTSI) for children aged 5 to 11. ObjectiveTo examine the psychometric properties of the newly developed Chinese Pictorial Version of Children's Dissociative Experiences Scale and Posttraumatic Symptom Inventory (CP-CDES/PTSI) in a group of Chinese young children. MethodThe CP-CDES/PTSI was administered to (N = 85) children aged from 5 to 11 for trial use. The Child Trauma Screen (CTS) and Child Dissociative Checklist (CDC) were selected as criterion scales to measure children's dissociative and post-traumatic stress symptoms, as reported by their caregivers. The scale reliability was measured by Cronbach's alpha, the Guttman split-half reliability and index of coefficient Omega. The validity was assessed by correlation, hierarchical regression and multimodal analyses. ANOVA was used to conduct subgroup analysis to investigate the applicability of the instrument on younger children. ResultsThe CP-CDES/PTSI presented with good internal reliability as well as established convergent and predictive validity to dissociative symptoms. The total score was significantly associated with dissociative symptoms in children as reported by their caregivers. A majority (78 %) of children aged between 60 and 71 months could comprehend and finish the test satisfactorily, while all children aged 72 months or above in the group could comprehend the test competently. ConclusionThe findings suggested that the CP-CDES/PTSI can be used with children with age as young as 5 in a Chinese population.

Correlation of early neurodevelopmental features of children with SYNGAP1 variants and their genotypes

To explore the early neurodevelopmental features of young children with SYNGAP1 variants and their genotype-phenotype correlation. Young children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) (< 5 years old) who were referred to the Children's Hospital Affiliated to the Capital Institute of Pediatrics between January 2019 and July 2022 were selected as the study subjects. All children had undergone whole-exome sequencing, comprehensive pediatric neuropsychological assessment, familial segregation analysis, and pathogenicity classification. Meanwhile, young Chinese NDD children (< 5 years old) with pathogenic/likely pathogenic SYNGAP1 variants were retrieved from the literature, with information including detailed clinical and genetic testing, neurodevelopmental quotient (DQ) of the Children Neuropsychological and Behavior Scale-Revision 2016 (CNBS-R2016). Children who did not have a detailed DQ but had their developmental status assessed by a medical professional were also included. The correlation between neurodevelopmental severity, comorbidity and SYNGAP1 variants were summarized. Four young NDD children carrying SYNGAP1 variants were recruited (1 male and 3 females, with a mean age of 34.0 ± 18.2 months), among whom one harboring a novel variant (c.437C>G, p.S146*). Combined with 19 similar cases retrieved from the literature, 23 Chinese NDD young children were included in our study (8 males and 10 females, 5 with unknown sex, with a mean age of 37.1 ± 14.2 months). A loss of function (LOF) variant was found in 19 (82.6%) children. All of the children had presented global developmental delay (GDD) before the age of two. In addition, 16 (69.6%) had seizure/epilepsy at the age of 27.0 ± 12.1 months, among whom 15 had occurred independent of the global developmental delay. Myoclonic and absence were common types of seizures. Compared with those with variants of exons 8 to 15, the severity of developmental delay was milder among children with variants in exons 1 to 5. The early neurodevelopment features of the SYNGAP1 variants for young children (< 5 years old) have included global developmental delay and seizure/epilepsy. All of the children may present GDD before the age of two. The severity of developmental delay may be related to the type and location of the SYNGAP1 variants.

Too much of a good thing? Linking overparenting and Chinese young children’s social preference

ABSTRACT Overparenting is an emerging topic in parenting research and has gained increasing attention in media. Most studies have focused on adolescents and young adults in Western countries, while it remains unclear whether overparenting is related to young children’s outcomes in non-Western contexts. The present study aimed to examine the mechanism by which overparenting was associated with Chinese young children’s social preference. The study surveyed 283 Chinese parents of children aged 36–83 months (mean age = 58.61) to examine parenting practices and child social preference. The results suggested that parents’ psychological control and parent–child relationship had serial mediating effects on the relationship between overparenting and young children’s social preference in terms of shyness and unsociability. The present study further raised the importance of parenting during early childhood and generated practical implications for parents in China and beyond, encouraging parents to reflect on how their beliefs and practices may influence child outcomes from the early years.

The double burden of malnutrition among young Chinese children: a hierarchical structure of socioeconomic inequality indicators

Extant studies have deployed variable-centered methods to examine predictors of children’s nutritional status, and few focus on the double burden of malnutrition among young Chinese children. This paper adopts a person-centered approach and leverages data from large samples of Chinese families (the China Health and Nutrition Survey, CHNS 2004–2015, and China Family Panel Studies, CFPS 2010–2018) to examine trends in the prevalence of stunting, overweight, and stuntingoverweight in early childhood. We developed a hierarchical structure of socioeconomic indicators, including region (Eastern-Central-Western), urbanicity (urban-rural), and family socioeconomic status gradient (four quartiles). We assessed relative risks for malnutrition for 24 subgroups of children from varying socioeconomic strata. Results indicate that the prevalence of stunting decreased consistently while the prevalence of being overweight increased first, followed by a decreasing trend. Moreover, a small group of stuntedoverweight children (4.7%) was identified. Data from the CHNS indicated that children from affluent families in the Central region were prone to being overweight. Data from the CFPS indicate that underprivileged groups (children from poor rural families living in Western China) were at higher risk for both undernutrition and overnutrition than their more advantaged peers. The findings suggest that children in poor, rural areas in Western China should be targeted for malnutrition alleviation.

The emerging techno-microsystem and its longitudinal influences on Chinese young children’s behavior problems

Screen products are becoming increasingly indispensable in modern family life, yet their effects on developmental outcomes have remained unclear. This study examined the specific ways in which the techno-microsystem, consisting of children’s screen use and digital-related parenting, influenced behavior problems. A socially diverse sample of Chinese caregivers of 2- to 6-year-olds completed online questionnaires three times during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using an autoregressive latent trajectory model with structured residuals and a cross-lagged panel model with multiverse analysis, we evaluated the within-person and between-person effects of the techno-microsystem on behavior problems, respectively. Our results revealed: (i) active mediation predicted fewer behavior problems over time; (ii) restrictive mediation was longitudinally related to reduction in children’s screen use; and (iii) caregivers’ and children’s screen use covaried but were not predictive of behavior problems. These findings contribute to emerging theories of the techno-microsystem and carry practical implications for devising guidelines on family screen use.

Chinese young children’s work education under the impact of the global pandemic and digitalization

ABSTRACT Work education constitutes a unique element of early childhood education for Chinese young children. The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated school closures have forced children to study online, making work education almost impossible. This study aimed to examine the status quo and the profiles of early work education done by Chinese parents. 1564 Chinese parents with young children (aged 3–6 years) completed an online survey. Nine parents were interviewed. Findings indicated that: (1) parents scored the highest on resilience education, followed by responsibility and creativity; (2) three profiles of work education emerged: the least level, the medium level, the highest level; (3) there were significant effects of regions, household income, and educational levels; (4) the pandemic and digitalization rendered work education more intelligent, while also reducing children’s work practice in the outdoor; and (5) parents raised concerns about early digital addiction. Implications for early childhood education are also discussed.

Shyness and Socio-Emotional Adjustment among Young Chinese Children: The Moderating Role of Screen Time.

The primary aim of the present study was to examine the potential moderating role of screen time in the links between shyness and indices of socio-emotional adjustment in young Chinese children. Participants were N = 211 children (112 boys, 99 girls) ages 43-66 months (M = 58.84 months, SD = 5.32) recruited from two public kindergartens in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Mothers completed assessments of children's shyness and screen time, and both mothers and teachers completed measures of indices of children's socio-emotional functioning (prosocial, internalizing problems, learning problems). Among the results, shyness was positively associated with internalizing problems and negatively associated with prosocial behavior, whereas screen time was positively associated with internalizing problems. However, several significant shyness × screen time interaction effects were observed. The pattern of these results consistently revealed that at higher levels of screen time, links between shyness and indices of socio-emotional difficulties were exacerbated. Results are discussed in terms of the implications of shyness and screen time in early childhood.