Cohort-sequential Study Research Articles

Heritability of children's Secure Base Script Knowledge in middle childhood: a twin study with the Attachment Script Assessment.

Are individual differences in attachment security inborn or shaped by the social environment? In infancy and early childhood, the evidence points to a substantial role of the environment, but a large twin study in early adolescence showed considerable heritability. Here we examined the twin heritability of attachment in middle childhood. We hypothesized that in middle childhood some heritability would emerge. Furthermore, we expected a role for cognitive and language abilities in explaining variance in attachment in middle childhood, partly related to the measurement of attachment, and we therefore examined associations with IQ. This pre-registered study included 415 same-sex twin pairs (52% girls, 58% monozygotic) between 8 and 11 years old (M = 9.59, SD = 0.79). Participants were recruited from an experimental cohort-sequential study including two age-overlapping longitudinal cohorts. Secure Base Script Knowledge was assessed with the Middle Childhood Attachment Script Assessment . Zygosity of the twins was determined using DNA samples. In the younger cohort, cognitive development was assessed with the Dutch version of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence . In the older cohort, the Dutch version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children was used . Significant additive heritability (38%) was found in the absence of a common environment component. This result diverges from findings in infancy and early childhood and aligns with the results in early adolescence. The gene-environment correlation hypothesis suggesting that older children more actively shape their experiences in social contexts may offer a plausible explanation for the heritability of attachment in middle childhood. In middle childhood this mechanism might tip the balance toward a larger role for additive genetics. Larger longitudinal twin studies are needed to replicate the heritability of attachment after preschool age.

Caregivers' physiological responses during toddler vaccinations: associations with psychological and behavioral responses.

This study investigated biological, psychological, and behavioral aspects of caregivers' responses to toddlers' pain-related distress by measuring caregivers' high-frequency heart rate variability (HRV) responses during toddler vaccination pain and examining associations with caregivers' behavioral responses and psychological stress. Participants included caregiver-toddler dyads (N = 194) from a longitudinal cohort-sequential study who were observed during toddlers' 12-, 18-, or 24-month routine vaccinations. Changes in caregiver HRV were analyzed using growth curve modeling. Conditional growth curve models examined associations between caregiver HRV and caregivers' concurrent behavior and psychological stress. The unconditional growth curve model indicated a slight linear decrease in caregiver HRV (i.e., vagal withdrawal) across the 3 min post-needle (unstandardized B = -0.06, p = .049). In conditional growth curve models, higher levels of parenting stress were associated with less vagal withdrawal during the post-needle period (standardized B = 0.47, unstandardized B = 0.02, p = .003). Caregivers' behavioral responses (i.e., use of soothing and distress-promoting behaviors), state anxiety, and general anxiety symptomology were not significantly associated with HRV responses. Caregiver parasympathetic nervous system activity levels changed minimally from baseline to post-needle and decreased slightly across the post-needle period. Caregivers' self-reported parenting stress was associated with their parasympathetic responses to the procedure. Findings support an improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying caregivers' responses to children's pain-related distress in a naturalistic setting.

Force Fluctuations During Role-Differentiated Bimanual Movements Reflect Cognitive Impairments in Older Adults: A Cohort Sequential Study.

During role-differentiated bimanual movements (RDBM), an object is typically stabilized with 1 hand and manipulated with the other. RDBM require coupling both hands for coordinated action (achieved through interhemispheric connections), but also inhibition of crosstalk to avoid involuntary movements in the stabilizing hand. We investigated how healthy cognitive aging and mild cognitive impairments (MCI) affect force stabilization during an RDBM in a cohort sequential study design with up to 4 measurement points over 32 months. In total, 132 older adults (>80 years) participated in this study, 77 were cognitively healthy individuals (CHI) and 55 presented with MCI. Participants performed a visuomotor bimanual force-tracking task. They either produced a constant force with both hands (bimanual constant) or a constant force with 1 and an alternating force with the other hand (role-differentiated). We investigated force fluctuations of constant force production using the coefficient of variation (CV), detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), and sample entropy (SEn). Results showed higher CV and less complex variability structure (higher DFA and lower SEn) during the role-differentiated compared to the bimanual constant task. Furthermore, CHI displayed a more complex variability structure during the bimanual constant, but a less complex structure during the role-differentiated task than MCI. Interestingly, this complexity reduction was more pronounced in CHI than MCI individuals, suggesting different changes in the control mechanisms. Although understanding these changes requires further research, potential causes might be structural deteriorations leading to less efficient (intra- and interhemispheric) networks because of MCI, or an inability to appropriately divert the focus of attention.

Today’s Adolescents Are More Satisfied With Being Single: Findings From a German Cohort-Sequential Study Among 14- to 40-Year-Olds

In Western societies, singlehood has become increasingly normative over historical time. But whether singles are more satisfied nowadays remains unclear. In this preregistered cohort-sequential study, we analyzed data from 2,936 German participants ( M = 21.01 years, SD = 7.60 years) from different birth cohorts. Singlehood satisfaction and life satisfaction were reported annually at two different time periods (2008-2011 and 2018-2021). This design allowed us to compare earlier-born and later-born singles during adolescence (14-20 years), emerging adulthood (24-30 years), and established adulthood (34-40 years). Results from multilevel growth-curve models indicated that adolescent singles born in 2001 to 2003 (vs. 1991-1993) were more often single and more satisfied with singlehood. No cohort-related differences emerged among emerging and established adults. Younger age and lower neuroticism predicted higher satisfaction, regardless of birth cohort. The results highlight the importance of considering both societal and individual factors to understand singles’ satisfaction.

A Measure of Caregivers' Distress-Promoting Behaviors During Toddler Vaccination: Validation of the OUCHIE-RV.

The current study discusses the development and preliminary validation of an observational measure of caregivers' distress-promoting behavior (OUCHIE-RV) in the context of toddler routine vaccination. Measure validation was based on a sample of caregiver-toddler dyads (N = 223) from a longitudinal cohort-sequential study who were observed during toddlers' 12-, 18-, or 24-month routine vaccinations. Validity was assessed using correlations and cross-lagged path analysis and associations were tested between OUCHIE-RV composite scores and toddlers' pain-related distress as well as caregivers' state anxiety, soothing behaviors, heart rate, and heart rate variability. Interrater reliability was examined using intraclass correlations (ICC) and kappa coefficients. Results of a cross-lagged path analysis indicated positive concurrent (β = .27 to β = .37) and cross-lagged predictive associations (β = .01 to β = .34) between OUCHIE-RV composite scores (reflecting the frequency and intensity of caregivers' distress-promoting behavior) and toddlers' pain-related distress. OUCHIE-RV composite scores were negatively associated with caregivers' concurrent use of physical comfort (r = -.34 to -.24) and rocking (r = -.36 to -.19) and showed minimal associations with caregivers' use of verbal reassurance (r = .06 to .12), state anxiety (r = -.02 to r = .09), heart rate (r = -.15 to r = .05), and heart rate variability (r = -.04 to r = .13). Interrater reliability was strong (Cohen's k = .86 to .97, ICC = .77 to .85). Findings provide support for the validity and reliability of the OUCHIE-RV as a research tool for measuring caregiver behaviors that promote toddlers' pain-related distress during routine vaccinations and contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of caregiver-toddler interaction in acute pain contexts.

Trajectories of Traumatic Stress Symptoms Among Siblings of Children With Cancer: The First Two Years Post-Diagnosis.

Identify and describe trajectories of cancer-related posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among siblings of children with cancer within two years of diagnosis. Siblings (aged 8-18; M = 11.2 years) across the United States, and for each, one caregiver, were recruited for a cohort sequential longitudinal study with three data collection points six months apart beginning at 6- or 12-months after cancer diagnosis. Siblings (N = 229; 42% of eligible/approached; 53% identifying as female; 68% identifying as non-Hispanic White) completed the Child Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale. Caregivers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) and growth mixture modeling (GMM) identified PTSS patterns across time. Fit statistics supported models with three to five PTSS trajectories. The three-class LCGA model included a large mild PTSS group (61%), a moderate PTSS group (35%), and a small (4%) stable severe PTSS group. The four-class LCGA and three- and four-class GMM included groups improving from moderate to mild PTSS (7-21%) and worsening to moderate PTSS across time (12-17%). Across models, siblings with mild PTSS had fewer caregiver-reported emotional and behavioral difficulties on the SDQ. A large group of siblings of children with cancer demonstrate resiliency, however, substantial subsets experience patterns of PTSS that include levels in the moderate-to-severe range during the first two years post-diagnosis. Future research should examine these patterns in more diverse/representative samples and identify factors associated with increasing and sustained severe PTSS to inform intervention targets and reduce cancer-related burden on families.

The association between cannabis use and risk of non-medical pain reliever misuse onset among young adults in a legal cannabis context

BackgroundLittle is known about the prospective relationship between cannabis use and pain reliever misuse. This study examined associations of non-medical and medical cannabis use with onset of non-medical pain reliever misuse among young adults in Washington State (WA), where non-medical cannabis is legal. MethodsData were from a cohort-sequential study of adults 18–25 residing in WA. Four annual surveys were used from cohorts recruited in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Participants who had not reported non-medical pain reliever misuse at baseline were included in discrete time survival analyses (N = 4,236). Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated for new onset of non-medical pain reliever misuse in any given follow-up year over the course of three years according to baseline non-medical and medical cannabis use. ResultsWhen included separately in models, non-medical and medical cannabis use at baseline were associated with increased risk of non-medical pain reliever misuse adjusting for demographic characteristics as well as past year cigarette use and alcohol use (non-medical OR = 5.27; 95 % CI: 3.28, 8.48; medical OR = 2.21; 95 % CI: 1.39, 3.52). Including both forms of use in the model, associations of non-medical and medical cannabis use with non-medical pain reliever misuse onset remained (non-medical OR = 4.64; 95 % CI: 2.88, 7.49; medical OR = 1.65; 95 % CI: 1.04, 2.62). ConclusionsDespite claims that cannabis use may reduce opioid use and related harms, findings suggest that cannabis use, including medical use, may not be protective, but instead may increase risk for non-medical pain reliever misuse.

Describing the Patient Population of a Pediatric Emergency Department Based on Visit Frequency.

A small number of children in the United States use a disproportionate share of emergency healthcare services. Our study objective was to examine characteristics associated with frequent pediatric emergency department (PED) utilization. A retrospective cohort-sequential study of patients seen in the PED of an urban children's hospital was conducted. Patients were categorized into 2 groups: infrequent users (<4 visits during index year 2017) and frequent users (≥4 visits in 2017). Frequent PED users were further divided into persistent frequent (≥4 visits in the year before and after 2017) and incidental frequent (≥4 visits in 2017). Patient- and visit-level characteristics were analyzed for associations with PED utilization. In 2017, there were 82,361 visits by 56,767 patients to our PED. Frequent users comprised 4% of the total patient volume but accounted for 13% of visits. Compared with infrequent users, frequent users were younger, more likely publicly insured, and English speaking. Frequent user visits were more likely to occur outside clinic hours, be triaged as emergent, and involve subspecialists. Compared with visits by incidental frequent users, visits by persistent frequent users were more likely to be emergent or urgent, and involve subspecialists, diagnostic imaging, laboratory testing, and medication administration. Although the percentage of frequent users to a PED in 2017 was low, they made up a disproportionate share of total visits. Differences between persistent and incidental frequent PED users suggest that these subgroups may benefit from tailored interventions to reduce frequent PED utilization.

Development of STEM Vocational Interests During Elementary and Middle School: A Cohort-Sequential Longitudinal Study

This study explains the development of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) interest among elementary and middle schoolchildren. The cohort longitudinal design was applied, starting with three cohorts of students—fourth (10 years), fifth (11 years), and sixth (12 years) grade—followed for three consecutive years. A total of 947 pupils responded to general and specific STEM interest measures. The results show that the level of STEM interest of children is generally low. Gender differences in STEM interest in favor of boys are apparent in all STEM areas, except science. The observed gender gaps in interest over time are constant, except for a small increase in gender difference of engineering interest. The average rate of change of STEM interest over time is mostly insignificant. Large interindividual variability of interests’ scores and slopes indicates that the level of STEM interest and its change over time are highly individualized phenomena.

The relationship between executive processing and computational growth among monolingual and english learners with and without math difficulties: Does it help to be bilingual?

Does the commonly reported math achievement gap among elementary school monolingual and English learners (ELs) with and without math difficulties reflect variations in executive processing? This cohort-sequential study (N = 841) explored the cognitive processes that underlie in elementary school children’s math computational growth who are monolingual (English-only) or English learners with Spanish as a first language. Three language subgroups (proficient ELs [relatively proficient in both English and Spanish vocabulary], less proficient ELs [more proficient in English when compared to Spanish vocabulary] and monolingual [English-only]) children with and without math difficulties (MD) were compared on measures of math computation and cognitive growth. As expected, children with MD identified at wave 1 underperformed children without MD in their rate of growth and their level of computational and working memory (WM) performance in the final testing wave. However, two additional findings occurred. First, executive processing measures (working memory and inhibition) were significantly related to computational growth even when measures of reading, fluid intelligence, STM, naming speed and SES were partialed in the analysis. Second, no statistical advantages in executive processing or computation emerged in favor of EL children relative to monolingual children. Taken together, the results support the notion that (a) growth in math computation is tied to growth in the executive system and (b) EL children relatively proficient in English and Spanish experience no growth advantages in WM or computation compared to monolingual children.

Codevelopment of Delinquency, Alcohol Use, and Aggression Toward Peers and Dates: Multitrajectory Patterns and Predictors.

We aimed to characterize developmental patterns of involvement in alcohol use, delinquency, and interpersonal aggression in a normative sample of adolescents by applying multitrajectory group-based modeling. Using seven waves of data from a cohort sequential study spanning the 6th to 12th grades (n=2,825; 50% girls), we identified four distinct trajectory groups: low risk (33%), declining peer aggressors (44%), peer and dating aggressors (13%), and multidomain high risk (10%). Across all comparisons, girls were more likely than boys to be members of the peer and dating aggressor group and less likely to be members of the multidomain high-risk group. Moreover, individual (self-control, negative emotionality), family (family violence, parental monitoring), and peer (substance use norms) distinguished class membership.

A cohort sequential study of adolescent emotion regulation and developmental psychopathology (4): An interaction between parental and peer emotion socialization and emotion regulation.

A cohort sequential study of adolescent emotion regulation and developmental psychopathology (4): An interaction between parental and peer emotion socialization and emotion regulation.

A cohort sequential study of adolescent emotion regulation and developmental psychopathology (2) − Age differences in parental reaction for children’s emotion expression −

A cohort sequential study of adolescent emotion regulation and developmental psychopathology (2) − Age differences in parental reaction for children’s emotion expression −

A cohort sequential study of adolescent emotion regulation and developmental psychopathology (3): An interaction between children’s emotionality and teacher’s emotional supports.

A cohort sequential study of adolescent emotion regulation and developmental psychopathology (3): An interaction between children’s emotionality and teacher’s emotional supports.

A cohort sequential study of adolescent emotion regulation and developmental psychopathology (1): Developmental mechanisms of depressive symptoms in the differential susceptibility perspective

A cohort sequential study of adolescent emotion regulation and developmental psychopathology (1): Developmental mechanisms of depressive symptoms in the differential susceptibility perspective

Sensor-based systems for early detection of dementia (SENDA): a study protocol for a prospective cohort sequential study

BackgroundDementia and cognitive decline are serious social and economic burdens. An increase in the population of older people, as well as longer lifespans mean that numbers of dementia cases are exponentially rising. Neuropathological changes associated with dementia are thought to appear before the clinical manifestation of cognitive symptoms, i.e., memory impairments. Further, some older adults (OA) experience cognitive decline before it can be objectively diagnosed. For optimal care of these patients, it is necessary to detect cognitive decline and dementia at an early stage. In this vein, motor, sensory, and neurophysiological declines could be promising factors if found to be present before the onset of cognitive impairment. Hence, the objective of the SENDA study is to develop a multi-dimensional sensor-based instrument that allows early detection of cognitive decline or dementia in OA with the help of cognitive, sensory, motor, and neurophysiological parameters before its clinical manifestation.Methods/designIn the cohort sequential study, participants are assigned to one of three study groups depending on their cognitive status: 1. cognitively healthy individuals (CHI), 2. subjectively cognitively impaired persons (SCI), or 3. (possible) mildly cognitively impaired persons (pMCI, MCI). All groups take part in the same cognitive (e.g., executive function tests), motor (e.g., gait analyses, balance tests), sensory (e.g., vibration perception threshold test, proprioception tests), and neurophysiological (e.g., electroencephalograms) measurements. Depending on the time at which participants are included into the study, all measurements are repeated up to four times in intervals of 8 months within 3 years to identify associations with cognitive changes over time.DiscussionThis study aims to detect possible motor, sensory, neurophysiological, and cognitive predictors to develop an early screening tool for dementia and its pre-stages in OA. Thus, affected persons could receive optimal health care at an earlier time point to maintain their health resources.Trial statusThe study is ongoing. The recruitment of participants will be continued until May 2020.

Growth in Math Computation among Monolingual and English Language Learners:Does the Executive System have a Role?

ABSTRACTThis cohort-sequential study explored the components of working memory that underlie math calculation in elementary school children who are monolingual (English) or English language learners (ELLs) whose first language is Spanish. To this end, children (N = 789) in grades 1, 2, and 3 at wave 1 were administered a battery of math, vocabulary, reading and cognitive (short-term memory [STM], working memory [WM], rapid naming, and inhibition) measures. The battery of tests was administered again one year and two years later to the same participants. Three important findings emerged. First, along with naming speed, the results suggest that growth in the executive component of WM was significantly related to growth in calculation performance. Second, performance on measures of reading, fluid intelligence, naming speed and executive processes in wave 1 were significantly related to wave 3 math calculation performance. Finally, the full latent growth model showed that monolingual and ELL children were statistically comparable in computation at wave 3. Thus, strong support was found for the notion that the executive component of WM was related to math computation but weak support for the notion ELL children experienced a math achievement gap.

Adolescent tolerance for deviance, cigarette smoking trajectories, and premature mortality: A longitudinal study

Cigarette smoking is a well-established cause of excess morbidity and mortality in the United States and globally. The current study builds on the existing literature by examining how smoking trajectories might be a mechanism through which adolescent tolerance for deviance predicts premature all-cause and tobacco-specific mortality. Participants were from a cohort-sequential study conducted in the Midwestern United States of the natural history of cigarette smoking from adolescence through midlife that collected nine waves of data from 1980 to 2011. For the current study, we selected participants who were measured at least once at age 18 or older and who did not die before age 24 (n = 7575). Participants' tolerance for deviance was assessed in adolescence, smoking trajectory group was based on self-reported smoking status during the first six waves of data collection, and cause of death for deceased participants (n = 222) was obtained from the National Death Index. Mediation analyses using the joint significance test were conducted separately for all-cause mortality and tobacco-specific mortality. Adolescent tolerance for deviance significantly predicted smoking trajectory group over and above the influence of covariates. Adolescents with higher tolerance for deviance were more likely to belong to any smoking trajectory group compared to abstainers, and membership in a smoking trajectory group characterized by early onset and heavy, persistent smoking was related to premature all-cause and tobacco-specific mortality. Finally, smoking trajectory group was a significant mediator of the relation between adolescent tolerance for deviance and all-cause mortality.

Autism-Related Variation in Reciprocal Social Behavior: A Longitudinal Study.

Deficits in reciprocal social behavior are a characterizing feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism‐related variation in reciprocal social behavior (AVR) in the general population is continuously distributed and highly heritable—a function of additive genetic influences that overlap substantially with those which engender clinical autistic syndromes. This is the first long‐term prospective study of the stability of AVR from childhood through early adulthood, conducted via serial ratings using the Social Responsiveness Scale, in a cohort‐sequential study involving children with ASD, other psychiatric conditions, and their siblings (N = 602, ages = 2.5–29). AVR exhibits marked stability throughout childhood in individuals with and without ASD.

Decision-Making Involvement and Prediction of Adherence in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes: A Cohort Sequential Study.

To assess developmental trajectories of decision-making involvement (DMI), defined as the ways in which parents and children engage each other in decision-making about illness management, in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and examine the effects of DMI on levels of and changes in adherence with age. Participants included 117 youth with T1D, enrolled at ages 8-16 years and assessed five times over 2 years. The cohort sequential design allowed for the approximation of the longitudinal curve from age 8 to 19 from overlapping cohort segments. Children and parents completed the Decision-Making Involvement Scale, which yields subscales for different aspects of DMI, and a self-report adherence questionnaire. Mixed-effects growth curve modeling was used for analysis, with longitudinal measures nested within participant and participants nested within cohort. Most aspects of DMI (Parent Express, Parent Seek, Child Express, and Joint) increased with child age; scores on some child report subscales (Parent Express, Child Seek, and Joint) decreased after age 12-14 years. After accounting for age, Child Seek, Child Express, and Joint were associated with overall higher levels of adherence in both child (estimates = 0.08-0.13, p < .001) and parent (estimates = 0.07- 0.13, p < .01) report models, but they did not predict changes in adherence with age. These data suggest that helping children to be more proactive in T1D discussions, by encouraging them to express their opinions, share information, and solicit guidance from parents, is a potential target for interventions to enhance effective self-management.