Psychological Development Of Children Research Articles

Inter‐parental conflict and children's academic attainment: a longitudinal analysis

Previous research suggests a link between inter-parental conflict and children's psychological development. Most studies, however, have tended to focus on two broad indices of children's psychological adaptation (internalizing symptoms and externalizing problems) in considering the effects of inter-parental conflict on children's development. The present longitudinal study extends this body of research by considering the impact of inter-parental conflict on children's low academic attainment among a sample of 230 schoolchildren (age 11-13 years) living in the United Kingdom. Controlling for teacher reports of children's initial levels of aggression (Time 1), the proposed theoretical model linked parent and child reports of inter-parental conflict at Time 1 (1999) to children's perceptions of negative parent-child relations, appraisals of self-blame for marital conflict and teacher reports of children's aggressive behavior at Time 2 (2000), which in turn were linked to children's performance on standardized academic tests (English, Math, Science) at Time 3 (2001). Structural equation modeling was used to test all hypothesized relations in the proposed theoretical model. Support was found for the role of children's self-blaming attributions for parents' marital arguments, not negative parenting behavior, as a mechanism through which variation in their academic attainment is explained. Contrary to the focus emphasized in most current family and school-based intervention programs, findings suggest that the attributional processes engendered in children who live in households marked by high levels of inter-parental conflict and hostility have important implications for their long-term academic success.

The importance of carbohydrate counting in the treatment of children with diabetes

Carbohydrate (Carb) counting is a meal planning approach for patients with diabetes mellitus that focuses on carbohydrate as the primary nutrient affecting postprandial glycemic response. The concept of carb counting is not new. In the early 1990's the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) used carb counting as one of its education tools. More recently, short acting insulin analogues and insulin pumps have made the role of carb counting important and popular. Carb counting can be used in conjunction with a meal plan to set carbohydrate targets at each meal and snack. It is also used, perhaps more commonly, to estimate carbohydrate intake and adjust insulin around mixed meals and snacks using insulin to carbohydrate ratio. This effectively addresses the variable eating habits of most children and adolescents. The method may be adapted for patients who use a conventional insulin regimen and may meet the needs of patients who use multiple daily injections (MDI) or an insulin pump. Carb counting can make food planning flexible and enjoyable for patients, and the meal planning approach is very important for the physical growth and psychological development of children with diabetes. This paper describes the importance of carb counting for childhood diabetes as well as some of the special aspects associated with it.

Social functioning and peer relationships of adolescents with juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome

To assess peer relationships of adolescents with juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome (JPFS) compared with matched classroom comparison peers (MCCPs) without a chronic illness. JPFS is characterized by chronic musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and difficulty with daily functioning. Adolescents with JPFS often report problems with school and participating in peer activities, placing them at risk for social isolation from their peers and psychosocial adjustment problems. Participants were 55 adolescents with JPFS (ages 12-18 years) from a pediatric outpatient rheumatology clinic and 55 MCCPs. Data on peer reputation and peer acceptance were collected from teachers, peers, and self report in a classroom setting with no focus on JPFS. Adolescents with JPFS were perceived (by peer and self reports) as being more isolated and withdrawn and less popular. Adolescents with JPFS were less well liked, were selected less often as a best friend, and had fewer reciprocated friendships. Our findings suggest that adolescents with JPFS are experiencing problems with peer relationships. Given the central role that peer relationships play in psychological development of children, and because peer rejection and isolation have been associated with subsequent adjustment problems, these findings are concerning. Longitudinal studies of adolescents with JPFS are needed to ascertain whether these patients are at long-term risk and will provide a foundation for the need for early interventions. Results are discussed within the context of earlier findings for other adolescents with chronic illness and rheumatic conditions, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, who demonstrated no social problems.

O humor na literatura infantil

This article discusses humor in children’s literature by presenting some studies on this topic and especially on the ways it is expressed in children’s stories. The paper talks briefly some experiences related to this topic in the hope that other authors will do the same. It also shows strategies used by authors who, when writing books for children by using humor and laughter, stimulate children’s creativity and learning. It presents the importance of humor in the process of story-telling for the psychological development of children. It concludes that the different ways of telling stories (such as the exploration of the visual art that joins text and image) influence the way the narratives are interpreted and provoke humor. Key words: humor, children’s literature.

The psychological and social impact of disfigurement to the hand in children and adolescents

Hand disfigurement creates potential problems for the developing child. Parental adjustment to the hand is of prime importance in the child's ability to accept and integrate the disfigurement. Self-consciousness follows a developmental path because of internal and external factors in the child’s development. This paper presents a research study carried out in order to examine the decision-making process in toe-to-hand transfers. 34 families were assessed of whom 27 decided to proceed with surgery following the decision-making process. Factors which influenced that decision included the way the surgeon communicated information. Those who decided against surgery tended to have more positive beliefs about the role of the disfigured hand in the child's psychological development. The process of decision-making allowed families and the older children to engage in a therapeutic approach.

Psychological assessment of mothers and their assisted reproduction triplets at age 3 years

The aim of this study was to examine the psychological well-being of mothers and the psychological development of their 3-year-old triplet children conceived by in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Comparisons were carried out between a sample of 10 families with IVF/ICSI triplets and matched groups of 15 families with IVF/ICSI twins and 30 families with IVF/ICSI singletons. The families were recruited from Follow-Up, a national organization in France that was established to study children conceived by assisted reproduction. Standardized measures of the mother's emotional well-being and of the children's psychological development were administered. Mothers with a multiple birth were found to experience greater difficulties in parenting than mothers of singletons, with no differences between mothers of triplets and mothers of twins. Regarding the children, there were no differences in emotional or behavioural problems between triplets, twins and singletons. However, the triplets and twins showed a delay in some aspects of language development in comparison with the singleton children.

Human health risk assessment of lead in drinking water: a case study from Port-au-Prince, Haiti

In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), human intoxication to lead is considered as an important public health issue. In Port-au-Prince, concentrations of lead ranging from 40 ?g/L to 90 ?g/L, greater than the threshold value (10 ?g/L) for drinking water, were measured in groundwater and drinking water. This study aims to assess human health risks generated by exposure to lead in the Port-au-Prince water supply. Two sampling campaigns were performed between April 2004 and December 2004 on different structures of the public water supply. A significant lead concentration of 250 ?g/L, greater than the threshold value, had been detected in a water tank. Risk of deterioration of the psychological development of children exposed to these waters was calculated. These results require monitoring in order to control the human health risk by lead in Port-au-Prince's drinking water.

Parental control, parental warmth, and psychosocial adjustment in a sample of substance-abusing mothers and their school-aged and adolescent children

Parenting interventions for substance-abusing adults have been broadly based on two approaches, one emphasizing parental control as a means to managing children's behavior and the second emphasizing parental warmth and sensitivity as means to fostering children's psychological development. In this investigation, we examined associations of parental control and parental warmth, respectively, with children's behavioral and psychological adjustment in a sample of 98 women enrolled in methadone maintenance and their school-aged and adolescent children. Using collateral data collected during the baseline phase of a randomized clinical trial (Luthar, S. S., Suchman, N. E., & Altomare, M. [in press]. Relational Psychotherapy Mothers Group: A randomized clinical trial for substance abusing mothers [in preparation]), we tested predictions that (a) parental control would be more strongly associated with children's behavioral adjustment and (b) parental warmth would be more strongly associated with children's psychological adjustment. Both predictions were generally confirmed, although some crossover among parenting and child dimensions was also evident. Results support the theoretical stance that parental limit setting and autonomy support, as well as nurturance and involvement, are important factors, respectively, in children's behavioral and psychological adjustment.

Innocents and Epicures: The Child, the Fairy Tale and Avant‐garde Debate in fin‐de‐siècle Little Magazines

Innocents and Epicures: The Child, the Fairy Tale and Avant‐garde Debate in fin‐de‐siècle Little Magazines

Perceptions of child labour among working children in Ibadan, Nigeria

The adverse effects of child labour on the children's psychological development continue to raise concerns about this public health problem worldwide. Several views have been presented by child health authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies. Few studies have focused on the children themselves. This study sought to determine working children's perspective of child labour, its benefits and disadvantages and the working children's perceptions of themselves, and their aspirations for the future. A cross-sectional study was carried out among working children in a large market in Ibadan, south-west Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to all consenting children. A total of 225 children, 132 females and 93 males, participated in the survey. Their age range was 8-17 years. A total of 103 respondents (46%) were currently in school while 117 (52%) were out of school. Five respondents (2%) had never attended school. A total of 104 (46%) thought that children should not work. However, when asked about the benefits of working, 81 working children (36%) felt that work provided a source of income for them, 52 (23%) indicated that it was a way of helping their parents and 39 (17%) thought it was part of their training to be responsible adults. Bad company, ill health and road traffic accidents were the perceived ill effects of child labour. The majority of the children interviewed were aspiring towards artisan trades and very few towards professional or office jobs. A total of 106 (47%) children perceived themselves as less fortunate than their peers. Fifty-five children (24%) thought that child labour was a sign of deprivation. The perception that child labour is a sign of deprivation was more prevalent among child workers whose highest educational attainment was primary school, child workers who had worked for more than 6 months and those whose earnings were small. We recommend that school education for children should be a priority even when the harsh economic realities in their families force parents to send them to work outside the home.

Wechselwirkung Krankheit Familie

Multiple sclerosis confronts patients, partners and their children with a wide array of challenges. In addition to physical symptoms, multiple sclerosis may result in cognitive dysfunction, depression or personality changes. Changes in family roles, loss of work, income and social status and caregiver burnout are common in these families. Thus multiple sclerosis represents a disease condition that has the potential to affect partner and children in a number of ways. Based on studies of 70 families and 110 of their offspring by means of semi-structured psychiatric interviews, questionnaires and psychological tests, we evaluated the coping process of the ill, the healthy parent and their children. We analysed disease variables, parental factors and family situations favouring the coping process of children or aggravating their burden, resulting in serious consequences for their psychosocial development. The results with respect to the coping of all family members show the mutual influences between the parental couple as well as between the parents and their children. The better patient or partner are able to cope with the disease, the higher are the values of the coping capacity of the partner and the patient respectively. Children's coping abilities are influenced by their parents' coping behaviour, and even stronger by the coping competence of the healthy parent. With regard to disease variables there are significant correlations between the severity of the disease, cognitive impairment and the degree of depression. Additional cognitive dysfunction of the patient is associated with depressive symptoms in his or her partner. Psychological distress affects not only the chronically ill patient but also the caregiver. A severe parental disease is considered as a potential risk factor for psychological trauma in children. If multiple psychosocial distress factors come together, the impact on the child's psychological development may be traumatising. Main factors aggravating children's burden and impeding their coping process are: parental depression, single parenthood and social isolation of the family, parental communication incapacity and unresolved traumatic experience in the parents' own past history. The latter may be associated with the parent's feelings of victimisation and a tendency to focus his or her life around the disease. Such an attitude interferes with his or her capacity to perceive and be available to the child's developmental and affective needs, leading eventually to her or his emotional or in rare cases physical abuse. In this context, social isolation may operate as a more or less important factor.

Conflito conjugal: impacto no desenvolvimento psicológico da criança e do adolescente

The investigations about family relations indicate an association between marital conflict and the presence of adversity in the family context with consequences on the psychological development of children and adolescents. The purpose of this article is to review some of the theoretical contributions on the subject, including some results of researches on the impact of marital conflict on the psychological development of children and adolescents. Also, the contributions of the cognitive-contextual model and the emotional-security model for the comprehension of family relations and marital conflict are discussed. Finally, theoretical and practical consequences for research in the psychological field are discussed.

Sex education in Indian schools through baazee.com

Lack of sex education in Indian schools affects mental/ psychological development of children negatively -- This view is being expressed emphatically nowadays by external experts. The irony of the situation is that Indian experts are agreeing to this without so much of giving it a thought. As Dr. Srivastava a psychology faculty in an Indian university opines if we consider this advice in context of Indian culture... we can conclude that possibly ... our country at least does not need it (sex education). Reportedly many teachers are opposed to the idea while simultaneously others are strongly advocating it. In view of the controversy pertaining to the subject it is important that various issues pertaining to sex education are clarified. Firstly it is important to know the aims and objectives of introducing the subject of sex education in school curricula. Very often people advocate sex education saying that it will help in controlling AIDS and in reducing adolescent pregnancies and the incidents of sexual assaults on women. Such statements are misleading and are based on false assumptions. These false promises (and premises) may lead to frustration in future. Because if it had been so there would have been no such problem in western countries which have an elaborate system of sex education in schools. We all know that sexual promiscuity and homosexuality is widely prevalent in countries like USA where family as an institution is broken and many experimental family systems exhorting free sex have been tried. Even AIDS originated from there. Thus sex education is not a proven guarantee against spread of AIDS and should not be promoted with such an aim. (excerpt)

Ideas maternas sobre la crianza y educación de hijos e hijas

This article analyzes the importance of the family in the psychological development of children. Within the family, values, a particular vision of the world, and a system of beliefsand rules are formed; all of this within a determined cultural pattern. The convenience of studying the ideas and beliefs that couples have about raising and educating children is emphasized, given that these beliefs determine the practices of upbringing children. The beliefs on upbringing and the education given to kids are analyzed on pregnant women from Seville in their third trimester of pregnancy. The parent’s ideas survey was used to find out that most of the interviewees had information about raising children. However, there was a variation in the attributes of children’s conduct, which is discussed in terms of the influence of the culture, education level, age, etc. of the mothers.

Child care and child development: results from the NICHD study of early child care and youth development

Alexander, Foreword. Part I: Overview. Nonmaternal Care and Family Factors in Early Development: An Overview of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care. Part II: Child Care Use and Quality. Child Care in the First Year of Life. Characteristics of Infant Child Care: Factors Contributing to Positive Caregiving. Booth, Kelly, Child Care Characteristics of Infants with and without Special Needs: Comparisons and Concerns. A New Guide for Evaluating Child Care Quality. Characteristics and Quality of Child Care for Toddlers and Preschoolers. Part III: Why Consider Family Effects in a Study of Child Care? Familial Factors Associated with the Characteristics of Nonmaternal Care of Infants. Before Head Start: Income and Ethnicity, Family Characteristics, Child Care Experiences, and Child Development. Dearing, McCartney, Taylor, Change in Family Income-to-Needs Matters More for Children with Less. Chronicity of Maternal Depressive Symptoms, Maternal Sensitivity, and Child Functioning at 36 Months. The Interaction of Child Care and Family Risk in Relation to Child Development at 24 and 36 Months. Part IV: Child Care and Health. Child Care and Common Communicable Illnesses. Child Care and Common Communicable Illnesses in Children Ages 37-54 Months. Part V: Child Care and Mother-child Relations. The Effects of Infant Child Care on Infant-Mother Attachment Security. Child Care and Family Predictors of Preschool Attachment and Stability from Infancy. Owen, Ware, Barfoot, Caregiver-Mother Partnership Behavior and the Quality of Caregiver-Child and Mother-Child Interactions. Child Care and Mother-Child Interaction in the First 3 Years of Life. Early Child Care and Mother-Child Interaction from 36 Months through First Grade. Part VI: Child Care and Psychological Development. Early Child Care and Self-Control, Compliance, and Problem Behavior at 24 and 36 Months. Early Child Care and Children's Peer Interaction at 24 and 36 Months. Does Amount of Time Spent in Child Care Predict Socioemotional Adjustment during the Transition to Kindergarten? The Relation of Child Care to Cognitive and Language Development. Does Quality of Child Care Affect Child Outcomes at Age 41/2? NICHD Early Child Care Research Network, Child Outcomes When Child Care Center Classes Meet Recommended Standards for Quality. NICHD Early Child Care Research Network, Child Care Structure --> Process --> Outcome: Direct and Indirect Effects of Child Care Quality on Young Children's Development. Early Child Care and Children's Development Prior to School Entry. Part VII: Effects of Families on the Development of Children Who Are in Child Care. Factors Associated with Fathers' Caregiving Activities and Sensitivity with Young Children. Relations between Family Predictors and Child Outcomes: Are They Weaker for Children with Child Care? Families Matter - Even for Kids in Child Care. Part VIII: Commentary. Contributions of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care, Ramey, Human Developmental Science Serving Children and Families.

Aromatherapy and massage for antenatal anxiety: Its effect on the fetus

Antenatal anxiety has been linked to maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis changes which can affect fetal development and may have lasting effects on the child's psychological development. Treatments for anxiety have hitherto focused on psychotherapy techniques or antidepressant drugs but these do not always effect long term improvement. Aromatherapy and massage have successfully been used to produce significantly greater improvement in reduction of anxiety. Midwives may highlight anxiety in some of the mothers in their care and can incorporate the holistic approach of aromatherapy and massage into their practice. However, further research is required to establish the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of aromatherapy and massage in the antenatal period.

Effects of babyhood sensory integration training on children's psychological development

目的 探讨早期感觉统合训练对正常儿童和有高危因素儿童心理发育的影响作用.方法将6～18个月的260名正常儿童和3～6个月的121名高危儿童分别分为实验组和对照组,采用自行编制的训练课程对实验组儿童进行训练,并评定其训练对心理行为的影响作用.结果正常儿童和高危儿童的实验组和对照组在CDCC的两项指标MDI和PDI差异均有显著性[MDI为(123.60±14.62)分vs(108.13±63.28)分,P＜0.05];[PDI(120.49±18.27)分vs(110.36±22.15)分,P＜0.01],高危儿童的实验组和对照组在CBCL多项阳性因子的百分率除第3项睡眠问题外,其他各项差异都有显著性(P＜0.01).结论早期感觉统合训练对儿童智能发育有明显的促进作用,对不良行为具有防治作用。

Behavioral and cognitive development as well as family functioning of twins conceived by assisted reproduction: findings from a large population study

To establish the nature and extent of difficulties in parenting and child development in families with twins conceived by assisted reproduction. Comparisons were carried out between a representative sample of 344 families with 2- to 5-year-old twins conceived by IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and a matched comparison group of 344 families with singletons from IVF/ICSI. One twin was randomly selected for data analysis to avoid the bias associated with nonindependence of measures. A general population sample of IVF/ICSI families. Mothers and children. Mothers completed a questionnaire booklet. Standardized measures of the mother's psychological well-being (parenting stress, depression, and quality of marriage) and standardized measures of the child's psychological development (emotional/behavioral problems and cognitive development). Mothers of twins showed significantly higher levels of parenting stress and depression than mothers of singletons and were significantly more likely to find parenting difficult and significantly less likely to obtain pleasure from their child. Regarding the children, there was no difference in the level of emotional or behavioral problems between twins and singletons. However, twins showed significantly lower levels of cognitive functioning. Greater difficulties in parenting and child development were experienced by IVF/ICSI families with twins than by IVF/ICSI families with singletons.

Normal development in middle childhood

Middle childhood (6–12 years of age) is marked by gradual change in terms of physical growth, but significant change in terms of psychological growth and development. This contribution reviews recent research highlighting dimensions of children's normal psychological development as well as noting some factors operating in middle childhood that are linked to later mental health problems.

The relationship between expressive language level and psychological development in children with autism 5 years of age

The age of detection of autism varies and may be linked to differences in the severity of disturbance and any associated retardation. Symptom intensity, overall language level, age of recognition of first disturbances and level of psychological development were examined in 222 children with pervasive developmental disorder with a mean age of 5 years. Results showed a positive correlation between language level and psychological development as well as between language level and intensity of symptoms. The central position of language in psychological development is discussed.