Early Adolescent Group Research Articles

Prevalence of overweight and obesity, and associations with socio-demographic and etiological factors

Background: Adolescent obesity and overweight (OW) prevalence are rising quickly. The present study was done to assess the prevalence of OW and obesity and its association with demographic and etiological factors. Methods: An observational study including 386 adolescents aged 10-19 years was conducted using a pre-designed questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements of weight (kg) and height (cm) were taken and body mass index (BMI) calculated by weight (kg)/height2(m2). The weight status was classified as underweight (UW) <5th percentile, healthy weight (HW) between the 5th and <85th percentile, OW between >85th and <95th percentile, and obese (OB) equal to or >95th percentile using the CDC percentile ranking for BMI-for-age. Statistical data analysis was done by SPSS software version 20. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age of adolescents in early, mid, and late adolescent age groups were 11.52 (1.13), 15.01 (0.82), and 17.72 (0.77) years respectively. The overall mean age of adolescents was 14.19 (2.63) years. The mean weight, height, and BMI of adolescents were 44.84 (11.35) kg, 1.54 (0.12) meters, and 18.91 (3.89) kg/m2 respectively. The prevalence of OW and obesity was 11.7%, and 5.4% respectively. A significant association was found between OW and obesity with upper socioeconomic status (p<0.0001), daily junk food intake (p<0.0001), screen time of more than 2 hours per day (p<0.0001), and no or decreased physical activity (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Adolescent obesity is a prevalent issue that requires early primordial and primary intervention through coordinated policy activities made by policymakers and medical professionals.

Typical Development of the Secondary Ossification Centers of the Acetabulum and Their Effects on Acetabular Coverage of the Femoral Head.

We investigated the normal development of the secondary ossification centers of the acetabulum, focusing on their location and the amount of acetabular coverage increased by them. We enrolled 132 patients who were 7 to 16 years of age and had no pelvic deformity but did have ≥1 os ischium, os ilium, and/or os pubis on abdominal or pelvic computed tomographic (CT) scans. The locations of the ossification centers were evaluated by adopting an orientation using 0° for the superior acetabulum, 90° for the anterior acetabulum, 180° for the inferior acetabulum, and 270° for the posterior acetabulum, on a reconstructed 3-dimensional (3D) CT image. The acetabular coverage increase by the os ischium, os ilium, or os pubis was defined as the difference in the posterior acetabular sector angle (ΔPASA), posterosuperior acetabular sector angle (ΔPSASA), superior acetabular sector angle (ΔSASA), anterosuperior acetabular sector angle (ΔASASA), or anterior acetabular sector angle (ΔAASA) measured with and without each secondary ossification center. Patients were grouped into 3 age ranges: late childhood, preadolescence, and early adolescence. The location of each ossification center and the increase in acetabular coverage were compared between these groups. In the late-childhood group, the median start-to-end positions in right hips were 269° to 316° for the os ischium, 345° to 356° for the os ilium, and 81° to 99° for the os pubis. These positions tended to be wider in the early-adolescence group at 252° to 328° for the os ischium (p < 0.001), 338° to 39° for the os ilium (p = 0.005), and 73° to 107° for the os pubis (p = 0.049) in right hips. In right hips in the late-childhood group, the median values were 8.1° for ΔPASA, 14.0° for ΔPSASA, 9.9° for ΔSASA, 11.1° for ΔASASA, and 3.9° for ΔAASA; and in the early-adolescence group, the median values in right hips were 10.7° for ΔPASA, 12.9° for ΔPSASA, 8.4° for ΔSASA, 7.4° for ΔASASA, and 5.6° for ΔAASA. Only the median ΔPASA was larger in the early-adolescence group than in the late-childhood group (p = 0.026). Similar results were observed in left hips. In early adolescence, the secondary ossification centers appeared at more extended areas along the acetabular rim, and the increase in acetabular coverage by the secondary ossification centers tended to be larger in the posterior area but not in the anterior or superior area. Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Depression, stress, and anxiety versus internet addiction in early and middle adolescent groups: the mediating roles of family and school environments

BackgroundFamily and school environment play a crucial role across the different developmental stages of adolescence. This paper investigates the potential mediating role of family and school environments in the relationship between the three psychosocial predictors of depression, anxiety, stress, and Internet addiction (IA). Specifically, it focuses on the two stages of early and middle adolescence.MethodsThe study involved a survey of 407 adolescents from Qatar, comprising 250 early adolescents and 157 middle adolescents. Inclusion criteria for the study included adolescents between the ages of 10 to 17 years old, residents of Qatar and studying in a Qatar-based school. To assess the constructs of the three psychosocial predictors, IA, family environment, the study utilized the Depression, Stress, and Anxiety Scale (DASS), the Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire (IADQ), and the Brief Family Relationship Scale, respectively. School environment was measured using questions from the “Health Behavior in School-aged Children: WHO Collaborative Cross-National survey/study (HBSC) 2013–2014. The study applied standard mediation analysis between the DASS components and IA with family and school environment as the mediators.ResultsResults from the mediation analysis reveal insights into the relationships between psychosocial predictors and IA. The findings indicate that family and school environments partially mediated the relationship with regards to depression, stress, and anxiety in early adolescents. In middle adolescents, family environment partially mediated the relationship with depression and stress and fully mediating the relationship with anxiety. Meanwhile, school environment only exhibited partial mediation in the relationship with anxiety in middle adolescence.ConclusionsThese results highlight the crucial role parents and schools play in addressing problematic technology usage that develops as a response to depression, anxiety, and stress among adolescents. Moreover, the study reveals nuances in the mediating role of family and school environment in early and middle adolescence. This highlights the evolving nature of these influences across the different stages of development. Notably, this study contributes to the literature by moving beyond the conventional focus on the so-called WEIRD population, and offering valuable insights from a region that is underrepresented in current research.

The development of reading comprehension ability of Chinese Heritage Language (CHL) learners in Indonesia

This study investigates the evolution of reading comprehension abilities in Indonesian learners of the Chinese Heritage Language (CHL), by comparing their scores on the Chinese Proficiency Test, a test specifically designed for CHL learners. A total of 275 candidates, divided into early adolescent (Mage = 13.56), late adolescent (Mage = 15.78), and adult (Mage = 22.83) groups, were evaluated on four dimensions of reading comprehension: orthographic knowledge, vocabulary knowledge, syntactic awareness, and discourse comprehension. A detailed cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of these four dimensions was conducted across the three groups. The results indicate that horizontally, the order of the four dimensions is orthographic knowledge > vocabulary knowledge > syntactic awareness > discourse comprehension, with significant differences observed in all dimensions. During adolescence, orthographic knowledge is significantly higher than vocabulary knowledge, while in adulthood, vocabulary knowledge is significantly higher than syntactic awareness, and syntactic awareness is significantly higher than discourse comprehension. Longitudinally, reading comprehension abilities appear to stall across adolescence in three dimensions (vocabulary knowledge, syntactic awareness, and discourse comprehension), with a decline in one dimension (orthographic knowledge) occurring in late adolescence. However, the adult group shows improvement in all four dimensions compared to the late adolescence group. Considering both longitudinal and cross-sectional results, the developmental order of reading skills in Indonesian CHL learners is orthographic knowledge, vocabulary knowledge, syntactic awareness, and discourse comprehension. The main developmental peak for orthographic knowledge to vocabulary knowledge occurs in adolescence, while the major developmental peak for vocabulary knowledge to syntactic awareness and for syntactic awareness to discourse comprehension occurs in adulthood. The results suggest that reading comprehension improves significantly upon reaching adulthood in Indonesian. By understanding the trajectory of reading comprehension abilities in Indonesian CHL learners, this study can provide effective suggestions for Indonesian CHL learners and educators, and may also serve as a reference for other heritage languages.

BIRTH STATISTICS OF ADOLESCENT PREGNANCİES; EVALUATION OF MATERNAL AND FETAL OUTCOMES

Aim This study aims to evaluate the maternal and fetal outcomes of adolescent pregnant women who gave birth in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic of Ağrı Training and Research Hospital. Materials and Methods The study was conducted as a retrospective study. The automation system of Ağrı Training and Research Hospital was used to conduct the study, and the data of 1560 patients who gave birth between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022, were examined retrospectively. 263 patients were excluded from the study due to missing data. The patients were divided into two groups: early adolescence and late adolescence. 84 patients in the early adolescence group and 1213 patients in the late adolescence group were included. Results A statistical difference was detected between the groups regarding age, gravida, and parity (p

Maturation of the Female Pharyngeal Airway from Adolescence to Adulthood.

The present study aimed to investigate developmental changes in the female pharyngeal airway from adolescence to adulthood, considering variations in the anatomical structures related to the airway dimensions. Lateral cephalograms of 214 females were analyzed and categorized into five developmental stages: early adolescence (10-13 years), middle adolescence (14-17 years), late adolescence (18-21 years), early adulthood (22-30 years), and middle adulthood (31-50 years). The focus of the analysis included the point A-Nasion-point B (ANB) angle, tongue pharyngeal airway space (TPS), epiglottis pharyngeal airway space (EPS), soft palate airway space (SPS), and the horizontal and vertical positions of the hyoid bone. The ANB angle exhibited significant variation across groups, being significantly larger in the early-adolescence group (4.22°) compared to the middle-adolescence, late-adolescence, and early-adulthood groups. The TPS and EPS were significantly shorter in the early-adolescence group. Negative correlations were observed between the ANB angle and the lengths of the pharyngeal airway spaces (SPS, TPS, and EPS). The horizontal and vertical positions of the hyoid bone remained stable after middle adolescence. The maturation of the ANB angle and pharyngeal airway in females seems nearly completed during middle adolescence (14-17 years). Additionally, a significant and negative correlation was identified between the ANB angle and the lengths of various pharyngeal airway spaces (SPS, TPS, and EPS). The horizontal and vertical positions of the hyoid bone showed stability after middle adolescence.

Myopia Prevalence and its Correlation with Demographic Characteristics Before the COVID-19 Pandemic among Acehnese School Children (6-19 years) in Indonesia

The prevalence of myopia in school-age children has increased dramatically year by year. Myopia is an impact on academic achievement, and blindness, and increases the economic burden. The research objective was to analyze the prevalence of myopia and its relationship with demographic characteristics (age and gender) in school-age children. This study was a cross-sectional design. The respondents were male (M), female (F), and school-age children (aged 6-19 years). The total subjects were 1171 school students, Elementary Schools (n=661; M=326, F=335), Junior High Schools (n=307; M=138, F=169), and High Schools (n=203; M=84, F=119). Data analysis was descriptive and chi-square tests (p&lt;0.05). We found that the prevalence of myopia in school-age children was 14.61%. The highest rate of myopia is at the age of 19 years, girls (15.73%) more than boys (13.32%), in the late adolescent group (23.53%) more than the early adolescent group (18.75%), and childhood age (9.32%). Myopia in high school-age children (23.15%) was more than in junior high school students (20.85%), and elementary school students (9.07%). There was a relationship between age (p&lt;0.001*), age group (p&lt;0.001*), and school level (p&lt;0.001*), but otherwise, there was no association between gender (p=0.24) with myopia in school-age children. In conclusion: myopia prevalence is highest at the age of 19 years, a group of late teens, high school, and females more than males. Myopia is associated with age among Acehnese school children (6-19 years) in Indonesian, so that’s why we recommend performing visual acuity tests routinely.

Risk Decision Making and Executive Function among Adolescents and Young Adults.

The dual theory establishes that the decision-making process relies on two different systems, the affective system and the executive function (EF), developed during adolescence. This study analyzes the relationship between the decision-making and EF processes in a group of early adolescents (mean age = 12.51 years, SD = 0.61), where more affective impulse processes are developed, and in young adults (mean age = 19.38 years, SD = 1.97), where cognitive control processes have already matured. For this purpose, 140 participants in Spain completed the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) to measure their risky decisions and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST) to measure their EF. Performance on the IGT improves over blocks; however, adolescents received lower mean scores than young adults. However, controlling for age, perseverative errors were negatively associated with the mean net score on the risky blocks of IGT; thus, those who committed more perseverative errors in the WCST were more likely to take cards from the disadvantageous decks on the last blocks of the IGT. The current study shows that adolescents and adults solve ambiguous decisions by trial and error; however, adolescents are more likely to make risky decisions without attending to the long-term consequences. Following the dual theory hypothesis, the maturation of EF with age partly accounts for this difference in risky decision-making between adolescents and adults.

Isfahan Twin Cohort: A Ten-Year Longitudinal Prospective Study Based on A Twin Registry.

The Isfahan Twin Cohort (ITC) aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between genetics and environment in the development of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). As a type of specialized epidemiological investigation, twin studies are designed to quantify the contribution of genetics to a particular phenotype when confronted with environmental factors. In this context, the present study aims to present a detailed overview of the ITC methodology. The ITC is a prospective longitudinal study started in 2020. Data collection, including the demographics, socioeconomic status, health-related habits, medical history, and zygosity of the participants, was performed using validated questionnaires. Moreover, anthropometric measurements and blood pressure assessments were performed by a trained nurse. Also, fasting blood and morning urine samples were collected during a morning visit, and biochemical investigations were conducted at the central laboratory of the Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute. The participants underwent follow-up telephone interviews biannually, in which brief questionnaires were filled out on the changes in the lifestyle factors of the participants, such as diet, physical activity, psychological factors, and smoking habits. The second and final follow-up visit will include complete assessments, including blood and biological sample collections, similar to the baseline assessment. The ITR has registered a total of 112 (n=224) monozygotic and 291 (n=582) dizygotic twin pairs during two years. The age range of the participants is 1 month to 56 years. Until November 2020 / 2021, the registered twins were categorized by age and included 48 pairs (n=96) in the infant group (monozygotic: 7 pairs, dizygotic: 41 pairs); 283 pairs (n=566) in the early childhood, late childhood, and adolescent groups (monozygotic: 74 pairs, dizygotic: 209 pairs); and 72 pairs (n=144) in the adult group (monozygotic: 31 pairs, dizygotic: 41 pairs). The cohort is being prospectively followed with plans to investigate the clinical utility of the newly developed biomarkers and gene-environmental interactions in the future.

Significant age by childhood trauma interactions on grey matter volumes: A whole brain VBM analysis.

Childhood trauma is deleterious to long term brain development. The changes are variable, and depend on gender, age and the nature of the trauma. In this exploratory analysis, we investigated the effects of exposure to emotional trauma on grey matter (GM) volumes in adolescent females. We explored GM volumes in non-clinical females aged 12-17 years who had been exposed to either higher (HET; N=75) or minimal (MET; N=127) emotional trauma. High-resolution T1-weighted structural images were analysed with an optimised FSL-VBM protocol. The General Linear Model was run on HET versus MET with continuous age as an interaction. Mean GM volumes were extracted from significant corrected age interaction statistical maps and scrutinised with SPSS®. We observed greater HET*age than MET*age interactions (corrected p-value=0.0002), in 4 separate bilateral cortical regions associated with mood disorders. Scrutiny of these regions showed significant GM volume enlargements in the early adolescent HET group (p=0.017) and reductions in the late adolescent HET group (p < 0.0001). Notably, there were no differences in middle adolescence (p > 0.05). Causality cannot be inferred from this cross-sectional study and the onset of trauma cannot be determined using retrospective measures. Whilst GM volumes diminish from early adolescence onwards, our results show that HET impacts this brain development, perhaps first via unstable adaptative mechanisms, followed by maladaptive processes in late adolescence. This suggests that compromises of emotional and cognitive self-regulation in mood disorders may underpin the structural abnormalities observed across multiple brain regions in these teenage girls.

ALTERAÇÕES NA DENSIDADE ÓSSEA DOS MEMBROS INFERIORES EM JOVENS PRATICANTES DE SALTO

ABSTRACT Introduction The research on the exercise effect on the human bone density and skeletal muscle content mainly focuses on the middle-aged and elderly population. However, few studies on different sports’ effects upon bone and muscle density in college students and adolescents. Objective Study the effect of physical training on bone density and lower limb jumping ability in young people. Methods The relationship between bone mineral density and lower limb jumping ability was analyzed by mathematical statistics. Male individuals aged 10-20 years were divided into the early adolescence group (n=26) and late adolescence group (n=37). According to training status, they were divided into preadolescent athletic group (n=11), non-athletic group (n=15); puberty athletic group (n=11) and non-athletic group (n=15). The following indicators were used: bone density, vertical jump test, continuous vertical jump test, RDJ index. Results Athletes’ bone mineral density (BMD) is related to their muscle strength. These results suggest a certain internal connection between the (BMD) of bone tissue and the development of muscle strength. Therefore, there is evidence of differences in lower limb bone mineral density and jumping ability between the two groups. Conclusion Bone mineral density in the lower limbs of adolescents is correlated with jumping ability. Exercise can help improve bone density in adolescents. Evidence level II; Therapeutic Studies - Investigating the results.

Extracurricular activities and bullying perpetration and victimisation in early and middle adolescence

The present study examined the association between adolescents’ extracurricular activities and bullying perpetration and victimisation. The sample was drawn from the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health dataset. Analyses included descriptive statistics and logistic regression for the early adolescent and middle adolescent groups. Among early adolescents, sports were negatively associated with victimisation. Participation in clubs/organisations, organised activities or lessons, and community services were negatively associated, while employment was positively related to bullying perpetration. Among middle adolescents, all extracurricular activities were negatively related to victimisation. As for bullying perpetration, organised activities or lessons and community services were negatively associated with bullying. The study highlights the potential for sport and extracurricular involvement as ways to possibly deter bullying perpetration and victimisation. Future research should consider these associations longitudinally.

Relational support from teachers and peers matters: Links with different profiles of relational support and academic engagement

The present study examined whether there were discrete groups of early adolescents who experienced different levels of relational support from teachers and peers and how distinct profiles of relational support were associated with different dimensions of academic engagement in the classroom. Data on nine different indicators of teacher and peer relational support were collected from 714 fifth- (n = 394) and sixth-grade (n = 320) students from South Korea, along with their concurrent and subsequent academic engagement. Latent profile analyses revealed that there were four distinct relational support profiles: (1) Low Support, (2) Moderate Support, (3) Peer-Oriented, and (4) High Support. These patterns of relational support were associated with different levels of self- and teacher-reported academic engagement. The findings indicated that relational support from both teachers and peers was important, but that teachers played a more significant role in fostering early adolescents academic engagement.

The Effect of Perceived Fathers Involvement on Subjective Well-being: Study On Early Adolescent Groups Who Live Without Mother In Karawang

Adolescence will be even more difficult when they experience a crisis phase due to the loss of a parent, such as amother who dies, divorces, or mother as a migrant worker. This condition often occurs in Karawang and makesteenagers forced to live with their fathers who are usually perceived as less involved in their lives. In fact, thefather’s involvement is very important for adolescent’s subjective well-being, so that they can rise from thesenegative experiences. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perceived father’s involvement onthe subjective well-being of adolescents who live only with their father. Research respondents obtained usingconvenience sampling technique as many as 56 early adolescents (12-15 years). The researcher used aquestionnaire that containing the measuring tools of The Satisfaction with Life Scale, Positive and Negative AffectSchedule, Nurturant Fathering Scale and The Father Involvement Scale; and multiple regression for data analysis.The results showed that adolescent’s life satisfaction was influenced by father nurturance, t(53) = 2.095, p &lt; .05,adolescent’s positive affect was partially influenced by father nurturance, t(53) = 3.088 p &lt; .05, as well assimultaneously with father involvement, F(2, 53) = 6.657, p &lt; .05, R2 = .201, and adolescent’s negative affect wassimultaneously influenced by father nurturance and father involvement. Thus, we hope that fathers can increasetheir role as single parents because the greater father’s involvement can affect adolescent’s higher life satisfaction,the higher positive affect and the lower negative affect, making it easier for adolescents to face the crisis phase

Estimation of the Intercanine Width, Intermolar Width, Arch Length, and Arch Perimeter and Its Comparison in 12-17-year-old Children of Faridabad.

ContextDental arch morphology is an important consideration in the orthodontic treatment of dentofacial deformities. The size and shape of the arches have considerable implications in treatment planning, affecting space available, dental esthetics, and stability of dentition. The data provided by this study will be of considerable importance and relevance for practicing orthodontists and pedodontists in the region of FaridabadAim and objectiveThis study aims to determine and compare the intercanine width, intermolar width, arch length, and arch perimeter in the early adolescent group (12–14 years) and middle adolescent group (15–17 years) of Faridabad.Materials and methodsMaxillary and mandibular impressions were made, study casts were prepared then the measurement of the individual intercanine widths, intermolar widths, arch length of maxillary and mandibular casts with the digital caliper, and arch perimeter with the help of brass wire was taken, obtained values were calculated, hence the results were evaluated.Statistical analysisData were entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. It was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Graphs were prepared using Microsoft Excel. Data were normally distributed as tested using the Shapiro-Wilk W test (p value was <0.05). Inferential statistics were performed using independent Student's t-test. The level of significance was set at 0.05.ResultsIn the present study, all the parameters measured were increased in males in both the age-groups, i.e., the early adolescent group (12–14 years) and the mid adolescent group (15–17 years), and a significant increase was seen in the intercanine and intermolar widths in males.How to cite this articleSingh S, Saraf BG, Indushekhar KR, et al. Estimation of the Intercanine Width, Intermolar Width, Arch Length, and Arch Perimeter and Its Comparison in 12–17-year-old Children of Faridabad. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(3):369–375.

DENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AMONG SANTRI AT ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOLS IN MEDAN, NORTH SUMATERA

Dental health remains a public health problem with increased the prevalence of dental problems from 2007 to 2013. The problem is highest in the early adolescent age group. A dental problem occurs due to lack of behavior on the routine toothbrush (2.8%). The purpose of this study was to describe dental problems in Islamic boarding schools in Medan. This study used a cross sectional design in seven Islamic boarding schools in Medan with a total sample of 436 students in the 5.319 total population. System random sampling was applied in this study and the questionnaire was distributed to sample. The data analysis used was descriptive frequency. The results showed that the behavior of brushing teeth based on age group was highest in the early adolescent group in the category of brushing teeth in the morning (78%) and afternoon (92%). Based on gender, both men and women showed the highest tooth brushing behavior in the morning (37.8%; 40.4%) and afternoon (45.9%; 46.6%). Dental health problems by age group were included in the category of healthy teeth (49.1%). Based on gender also showed dental problems for both men and women (25.9%; 24.1%) in the category of healthy teeth. Dental health among female students is still found to have dental health problems caused by the behavior of brushing teeth that is not in accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, namely after breakfast and before going to bed at night.

Trajectories of Substance Use and Well-being in Early and Middle Adolescence Shaped by Social Connectedness.

Increasing substance use and decreasing well-being are typical in adolescence, yet how social contexts shape disparate development during this time is less well-understood. A latent growth class analysis was conducted that identified groups of early (N = 706; Agem = 12.20) and middle (N = 666; Agem = 14.38) adolescents distinguished by rates of substance use and well-being over three years. In both cohorts, the largest group reported low substance use and high well-being, with a smaller group exhibiting maladaptive trajectories for both substance use and well-being. Two additional groups were identified during middle adolescence characterized by either low well-being or high substance use. Family connectedness was a protective factor, while high peer connectedness was a risk factor for substance-use groups and low peer connectedness for languishing.

A Systematic Review of Reading Engagement Research: What Do We Mean, What Do We Know, and Where Do We Need to Go?

Motivation and engagement play a crucial role in literacy development and achievement. However, the construct of reading engagement has become blurred and ambiguous, both in research and in discussions of practice. In order to guide future research and to extend our existing understanding of reading engagement into classroom practice, this study presents an extensive survey and systematic analysis of prior studies of reading engagement. Selection criteria resulted in the identification of 60 data-based articles published in 12 peer-reviewed journals through 2019. Over the period examined, there was a steady increase in the number of studies reported, especially since 2011. The early adolescent group was studied the most frequently, and the most popular technique involved observations and interviews. In terms of the definition of reading engagement, only 42% of the studies explicitly defined the term. Many studies have focused on the behavioral dimensions and antecedents for reading engagement, while others explored reading engagement as an aptitude. Although this review did not support a single interpretation of reading engagement as either an aptitude or an event, the resulting discussion broadens perspectives for reading engagement research.

Biomechanical maturation of foot joints in typically developing boys: Novel insight in mechanics and energetics from a cross-sectional study

BackgroundA growing body of quantitative evidence has been provided regarding age-related differences in plantar foot loading, multi-segment foot kinematics and muscle activity. Fundamental insight into the joint mechanics and energetics of the maturing foot has yet to be provided. Research question/HypothesisIt was hypothesized that so-called ‘biomechancial maturation’ joint kinetics would be observed in children underneath the age of eight and that older age-groups would not differ from each other in these parameters. MethodsFourty-three typically developing boys were recruited and allocated to three different age groups: 1) an early childhood group, 2) a middle childhood group, and 3) an early and late adolescence group. Multi-segment joint kinematics and kinetics of the Ankle-, Chopart-, Lisfranc- and Hallux joint were collected during barefoot walking. One-way Analysis of Covariance was conducted to examine differences among the outcome measures with group as a fixed factor and walking cadence as covariate. ResultsThe youngest group differed significantly from the other two age groups with respect to their ankle and chopart joint peak plantarflexion moment (p < 0.05). Ankle and chopart joint peak power generation as well as the lisfranc peak plantarflexion moment was found to be significantly lower in the youngest age group compared to the oldest group (p < 0.05). At the lisfranc joint, the youngest age group demonstrated a significantly higher peak plantarflexion velocity compared to the two older age groups (p < 0.05). SignificanceThis study provides novel insight into the biomechanical maturation of the developing foot which may guide clinical interventions in paediatric cohorts.

Executive and Social Functioning Across Development in Children and Adolescents With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure.

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is linked to a variety of neurodevelopmental challenges, including social functioning (SF) and executive functioning (EF) deficits. These deficits present differently across developmental stages from preschool age to adolescence. The post hoc analyses described here were conducted on data from 83 preschool-age children with PAE (early childhood group; ages 2.5 to 5.0) and 95 adolescents (49 with PAE, 46 controls; ages 8 to 16). Each child completed EF tasks as part of several prior studies. Parents completed social and communication inventories about their child's abilities. Thirty-three participants from the early childhood group returned for a 4-year follow-up and completed both SF and EF measures. Both the early childhood and adolescent groups with PAE showed deficits in SF and EF. There was a relationship between SF and EF within the adolescent PAE group that was not present in the adolescent control group or the early childhood PAE group. However, at the 4-year follow-up (Mage =8.45), participants originally in the early childhood PAE group also demonstrated this relationship. These findings support previous research on EF/SF deficits in adolescents with PAE while also addressing a gap in the literature concerning early childhood research on this topic. Additionally, these findings suggest that the relationship between EF and SF deficits may strengthen throughout development. This line of research highlights potential sensitive periods for SF and EF training in children with PAE and suggests that fetal alcohol spectrum disorders programs consider targeting EF training as a component of social skill interventions.