Cypriot Children Research Articles

Children's physical activity, TV watching and obesity in Cyprus: the CYKIDS study

Even though there is a severe obesity problem in Cyprus, information about the contribution of predisposing lifestyle factors is limited. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour and various obesity indices [i.e. body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), percentage of body fat (BF%) and 'total & abdominal obesity' (TAO)]. A national cross-sectional study of 1140 children (mean age = 10.7 +/- 0.98 years) selected by multistage sampling in Cyprus was conducted during 2004-05. Children completed a 32-item, semi-quantitative PA questionnaire, which assessed organized and free-time PA and sedentary behaviours. Weight, height and WC were collected from a random sub-sample of 622 children and obesity was defined by IOTF criteria. Body fat percentage was calculated, and TAO status was computed based on obesity status and WC [i.e. (i) both BMI/WC, (ii) either BMI/WC abnormal and (iii) both BMI/WC abnormal]. Linear and logistic regression analyses with obesity indices as dependent variables were applied after adjusting for several potential confounders. Only variables describing sedentary behaviours were retained in the final regression models in both boys and girls. Girls who spent >or=4 h/day on TV and DVD watching were almost three times more likely to be overweight or obese [OR = 2.84 (95% CI 1.08-7.47)], three times more likely to have WC >or=75th percentile [OR = 3.25 (95% CI 1.06-9.98)] and 3.5 times more likely to have >or=30% body fat [OR = 3.63 (95% CI 1.01-12.98)], while in boys, even though the same variable was retained in almost all final models, it did not reach statistical significance. Sedentary behaviours such as TV watching may be more important predictors of children's various obesity indices than PA behaviours. Interventions targeting sedentary behaviours, such as TV watching, may help in the prevention and treatment of obesity among Cypriot children.

Foods E-KINDEX: A Dietary Index Associated with Reduced Blood Pressure Levels among Young Children: The CYKIDS Study

Dietary modification is, in general, the preferred method when attempting reductions in blood pressure (BP) among adults. In children, however, few studies, have examined the relationship between dietary patterns and levels of BP, and the reported results are conflicting. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between levels of Foods E-KINDEX score and levels of BP in children. Measurements included BP, height, weight, and waist circumference. Diet quality was assessed by the Foods E-KINDEX diet score. The index includes 13 components that assess consumption frequency of 11 major food groups or foods, as well as two cooking techniques (fried and grilled foods). Its score ranges between 0 and 37. A subsample of 622 Cypriot children (mean age=11.7±0.83 years) from the CYKIDS national cross-sectional study was used. Logistic regression analysis was performed in order to examine the relationship of systolic BP, diastolic BP, and BP with diet quality (as assessed by the Foods E-KINDEX score). The median systolic BP and diastolic BP were 110 mm Hg (interquartile range [IQR]=100 to 120 mm Hg) and 68 mm Hg (IQR=60 to 70 mm Hg) for boys and 110 mm Hg (IQR=100 to 120 mm Hg) and 63 mm Hg (IQR=60 to 70 mm Hg) for girls, respectively. Mean Foods E-KINDEX score was 23.4±4.9 in boys and 24.3±4.8 in girls ( P=0.487). Compared with children with a low diet score, those with at least an average Foods E-KINDEX score were 57% (odds ratio=0.43; 95% confidence interval: 0.19 to 0.98) less likely to have elevated systolic BP levels, regardless of various potential confounders. The Foods E-KINDEX score is independently associated with lower BP among healthy children. This finding might have implications in public health and should be further explored.

Urbanization influences dietary habits of Cypriot children: the CYKIDS study

Nutrition transition and urbanization have been linked to the adoption of a Western diet. An increasing number of Cypriot have abandoned their traditional eating habits and replaced them with a more westernized diet. Therefore, we aimed to examine the relationship between dietary habits of preadolescent children in Cyprus and their place of residence, with reference to nutrition transition. CYKIDS is a national, cross-sectional study, among 1140 children (10.7 +/- 0.98 years). Dietary assessment was based on a 154-item semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated by the KIDMED index. Logistic regression and bivariate analyses were used for data analysis. Differences between children from urban and rural areas were not major, but it was found that children from rural areas consumed more traditional foods, were less likely to eat fast food [OR = 0.66, 95% CI (0.49-0.88)] and more likely to have meals with the family [OR = 2.49, 95% CI (1.62-3.81)]. The minor differences relating the dietary patterns to the place of residence reflect the changes in eating habits and the abandonment of the traditional Mediterranean diet, which may be attributed to the nutrition transition and urbanization phenomena.

Utilizing sport to build trust – the case of Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus became an independent state in 1960. It has been de facto divided since 1974. Efforts over the past 30 years to solve the Cyprus problem and reunify the island have not yet been successful yet. Various attempts have been made at different levels from politicians, professionals and the United Nations to bring the two communities on the island together but again these attempts have been without success. Sport has never been utilized in these attempts. Sports carry specific rules, norms and values that are in many instances more flexible than the ones adapted in general in social settings.Sport has been perceived as being a great socialization agent. The code of ethics in sports allow participants to interact at a different level, thus developing trust that can be transferred to other areas of life.Thus, the organization of summer camps through the “Doves Olympic Movement” presents the first attempt on the island of Cyprus to utilize sport and related activities to build trust in Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot children. The purpose of the project was to enhance favourable development and relationships between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot youths from the two communities in conflict.This paper examines the impact that the summer camps had on the children and instructors who participated in the camps, and how this participation managed to change their perceptions in relation to specific issues.

Differences in physical activity by gender, weight status and travel mode to school in Cypriot children

Objective More information about children's physical activity during different periods of the day is needed. The purpose of this study was to describe children's physical activity during the segmented school day and examine potential differences during different periods of the day across gender, travel mode to school and weight status. Methods School children ( N = 247) wore pedometers for four consecutive school days and recorded their steps during the before school period, the 20-min school break, the whole school period, the after school period and for the whole day. Children also reported how they traveled to school. Data were collected in Cyprus, in January/February of 2007. Results T-tests indicated that boys took significantly higher steps than girls throughout all the segments of the day ( p < 0.001) and children who walked to school exhibited higher step counts during the before school period ( p < 0.001), the after school period ( p < 0.01), and the whole day ( p < 0.01) in comparison to children who used motorized transport. A three-way ANOVA revealed significant two-way interactions between weight status and travel mode to school. Conclusion Results suggest that there is a need to promote physical activity among children, especially among girls. Promoting active transport to school may further enhance the effectiveness of intervention programs.

Parental style and child bullying and victimization experiences at school

The aim of this study was to propose and test a theory-driven model describing the network of effects existing between parental style and child involvement in bullying incidents at school. The participants were 377 Greek Cypriot children (mean age 11.6) and their mothers. It was found that a line of influence exists between maternal responsiveness, over-protection and child victimization experiences at school. Also, responsiveness predicted low scores of child bullying behaviour. Permissive mothers (who by definition are high in responsiveness) had children with the highest mean score in victimization experience compared with mothers who function under the other three parental styles.

Rapid naming speed and reading across languages that vary in orthographic consistency

The objective of this study was to examine how rapid naming speed is related to reading ability across languages that vary in orthographic consistency. Forty English-speaking Canadian children, 40 Greek-speaking Cypriot children, and 40 Chinese-speaking Taiwanese children were administered RAN, reading accuracy, and reading fluency tasks in grade 4. The results revealed that across languages there were no statistically significant differences in the correlations between RAN and reading. However, a subsequent analysis of the RAN components—articulation and pause time—revealed that different RAN components may be responsible for the RAN-reading relationship across languages. Implications for existing theories relating RAN to reading are discussed.

Factors influencing Cypriot children's physical activity levels

The purpose of this paper is to present selected findings from a larger study, which set out to examine the physical activity levels of Cypriot primary school children and determinants of their activity. Twenty parents of children who obtained high and low activity scores based on pedometer counts and self-reports scores were interviewed. By comparing data obtained from parents of children with high activity scores with the data obtained from parents of children with low activity scores, conclusions were drawn regarding influences of physical activity. Factors considered by parents to influence their children's physical activity levels included experiences from sports club attendance, parental participation in physical activity with their child, time spent in sedentary pursuits, availability of friends of similar age in the neighbourhood, and availability of safe space in the neighbourhood. Results from this study may be used to inform intervention programmes for promoting children's physical activity levels.

Association of adipose tissue arachidonic acid content with BMI and overweight status in children from Cyprus and Crete.

The relationships between n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in subcutaneous fat, BMI and overweight status were investigated in eighty-eight children from Crete and Cyprus. Overweight status, BMI and serum lipid levels were similar in children at both locations, but Cretan children had higher levels of total MUFA than Cypriot children (62.2 (sd 2.8) v. 52.2 (sd 2.8) % area, respectively, P<0.001) and consequently Cypriot children had higher levels of total saturated, polyunsaturated, trans, n-3 and n-6 fatty acids. Cypriot children had also higher levels of individual n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, specifically linoleic, alpha-linolenic and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acids. The variance of BMI was better explained (38.2 %) by adipose tissue arachidonic acid content than any other n-3 and n-6 fatty acids. Mean levels of arachidonic acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were higher in overweight and obese subjects. All obese subjects fell in the 4th quartile of arachidonic acid levels, whereas 88.9 % of overweight subjects fell in the 3rd and 4th quartile of arachidonic acid. These results indicate positive associations between adipose tissue arachidonic acid and BMI and overweight status. Further research could clarify whether this association is causal.

Pedometer-Assessed Physical (Ambulatory) Activity in Cypriot Children

This study examined gender, seasonal and school versus after-school timedifferences in physical activity levels assessed by pedometer. Year 6 primary school children ( n= 256) wore pedometers for five days in winterand for the same period of time in the summer. Two-way analysis of varianceshowed that boys acquired significantly higher mean daily step counts than girls in winter (15,480 ± 4153 vs 11,160 ± 2694), and summer (17,624 ± 5035 vs 13,607 ± 4396). Children’s mean dailystep counts were significantly higher in summer than in winter. Children attained significantly higher mean step counts during after-school time than during school time. No significant differences could be found between activity levels on school days or on Sundays. Expected daily step counts are utilized to describe the physical activity levels of the children.

Images of 'the Other': 'The Turk' in Greek Cypriot children's imaginations

Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork with Greek Cypriot elementary school children, the author describes how national identity is constructed in the classroom through the use of an 'us' versus 'them' frame of reference, a process which essentialises identity and gives rise to an eternal and primordial enemy. Twenty-six years after the Turkish invasion and occupation of 37% of Cyprus's territory, how do stereotypes about the Turks-the primary 'other' against whom Greek Cypriot children construct their identities-become meaningful in their imaginations given the absence of any interaction between the two groups? Similarly, how do these children construct their identities meaningfully given the multiple, ambiguous, and often contradictory messages they receive about the Turks from both within and outside school? In this article, the author illustrates how children's stereotypical constructions of Turks are largely informed by their school learning but are also more complex constructions than the stereotypes themselves suggest.

Reference Growth Curves for Cypriot Children 6 to 17 Years of Age

The purpose of the study was to present smoothed percentiles for body weight and height, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) in Cypriot children and to compare their BMI 85th and 95th percentiles with those of children in other countries. The study was a cross-sectional study, including a representative sample of 2472 healthy children (49.1% boys) in Cyprus ages 6 to 17 years, who were evaluated during the 1999-2000 school year. Body weight and height and waist circumference were measured using standard procedures. BMI was calculated as weight in kilograms per height in square meters. Smoothed, sex-specific percentiles for these variables were calculated using polynomial regression models. Crude weight, height, waist, and BMI percentile values are presented in sex-specific tables and smoothed percentile curves are presented in charts. The 85th and 95th percentiles for BMI were compared with measurements from other countries, because of the concern of the upper limits of BMI in respect to the evaluation of obesity. The 85th and 95th BMI percentile values are higher in Cypriot boys than in Swedish and Iranian boys through all ages and in girls ages 6 to 15 years, whereas after the age of 15 years, both Swedish and Iranian girls' percentiles are equalized with their Cypriot peers. Weight, height, waist circumference, and BMI values and charts are presented for the first time for Cypriot children and adolescents. Much concern should be addressed to the observation that for the majority of the Cypriot sample, the upper BMI limits are higher than the peers of developing and developed countries.

Academic Achievement, Language Proficiency and Socialisation of Bilingual Children in a Monolingual Greek Cypriot-speaking School Environment

The present study (1) investigates the academic success of bilingual primary school children from various language backgrounds in a monolingual Greek Cypriot-speaking school environment and their mastery of Modern Greek by comparison with their monolingual counterparts and (2) examines whether these children face any problems of socialisation, adjustment and cultural identity. Thirty-nine bilingual primary school children and 210 monolingual Greek Cypriot children between the ages of 9 to 13 took part in this study. The bilingual children completed a questionnaire which examined such issues as socialisation, simultaneous acquisition of their languages, mastery and proficiency of their languages, code-switching and feelings of loyalty towards the language communities they belong to. Also, the teachers whose children took part in this study were asked to provide end-of-year class reports (that included final grades of academic achievement) of all their pupils (210 monolingual and 39 bilingual). The obtained results from several statistical tests (comparisons of responses, correlations and a chi-square) are in line with findings of recent studies which claim that bilingualism enhances childrens educational, social and intellectual achievements (Cummins, 1996).

Analytic styles of categorization and conservation abilities among greek cypriot children

Analytic styles of categorization and conservation abilities among greek cypriot children

Short Stature in Cypriot Thalassaemic Children

Studies were made on fasting growth hormone levels and iron load status. There were no significant differences· in mean fasting plasma· growth homone levels in 23 Cypriot children with homozygous ~ thalassaemia compared with 11 control Cypriot children of similar age .. There was no. association of fasting growth levels with transfused iron status or failure to achieve anticipated height. Stmited growth in thalassaemia is therefore unlikely to be due to a reduction in growth hormone availability and is probably secondary to gonadal dysgenesis.