Measures In Children Research Articles

WITHDRAWN: Evaluating the statistical model for socioeconomic status and child development

The child's mental development can be described as how a child transforms over time and integrates physical, intellectual, and language development and emotional and social development. Child mental development involves the vision, observation, recollection, creativity, reflection, solution of problems, and intellect and expression. Socioeconomic status (SES) affects young children's academic, linguistic, psychological, physical, and emotional growth. The connections between lower SES and learning disorders or other negative psychological effects affecting university achievements are supported by increasing evidence. Hence in this paper, a Statistical method-based psychological analysis model (SM-PAM) has been proposed to evaluate the children's psychological measures to improve children's mental health. Without communicating with the computation support mechanism, the proposed statistical models explain the patterns of children's neural behaviours. The experimental results show that SM-PAM achieves a 62.45% mean in overall child development. Subsequently, SM-PAM improves children's cognitive development and enhances socioeconomic status compared to other methods.

Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts’ (SALT) transcribing method and Narrative Assessment Protocol (NAP) online coding method: are they interchangeable?

Purpose: A narrative is a reliable tool for assessing the child’s oral language. There are various narrative assessment tools. Most of them follow the Language Sample Analysis method such as Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT) which is time-consuming and needs extensive training. The Narrative Assessment Protocol (NAP) offers a free and faster method of assessment to administer. The current study compared the NAP online and offline coding methods. Methods: Fifty-two kindergarteners (40–66 months old) were voice-recorded while generating a story. A transcriber coded the samples using both online and offline methods. Then, relative and absolute reliabilities were measured. Results: The results indicate a high correlation between the NAP offline and online scoring methods. Aside from a few items, both methods showed good correlations with each other. Conclusions: The NAP online coding method can be used as an alternative to an offline transcription to obtain a quick picture of a child's microstructure measures in narration.

How Many Times Should We Test Kids?: Balancing Measure Fatigue Vs Reliability in Pediatric Patient-reported Outcomes Measures for Children with Craniofacial Diagnoses

How Many Times Should We Test Kids?: Balancing Measure Fatigue Vs Reliability in Pediatric Patient-reported Outcomes Measures for Children with Craniofacial Diagnoses

Objective Behavioral Measures in Children before, during, and after the COVID-19 Lockdown in Israel.

Studies using questionnaires report that COVID-19 restrictions resulted in children spending significantly less time outdoors. This study used objective measures to assess the impact of pandemic-related restrictions on children’s behavior. A total of 19 healthy 8–12-year-old boys were observed before and during social restriction periods. Of these, 11 boys were reassessed after restrictions were lifted. For each session, Actiwatches were dispensed for measures of time outdoors, activity, and sleep. Changes overall and by school status were assessed using signed-rank test and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. During restrictions, children spent significantly less time outdoors (p = 0.001), were less active (p = 0.001), and spent less time engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (p = 0.004). Sleep duration was not significantly different between sessions (p > 0.99), but bedtime and wake time shifted to a later time during restrictions (p < 0.05 for both). Time outdoors and activity returned close to pre-pandemic levels after restrictions were lifted (p > 0.05 for both). Children’s behaviors significantly changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reduction in outdoor light exposure is of importance due to the role of light in the etiology of myopia and vitamin D production. The reduction in physical activity may have negative health effects in terms of obesity and depression, although further research is required to ascertain the long-term effects.

Psychometric Evaluation of Social Cognition and Behavior Measures in Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are often described as socially engaged; however, challenges with social cognition, expressive language, and social interaction are also common in DS and are prospective outcomes of interest for clinical trials. The current study evaluates the psychometric properties of standardized measurements of social cognition and social behavior for potential use as outcome measures for children and adolescents with DS. Seventy-three youth ages 6 to 17 years old (M = 12.67, SD = 3.16) with DS were assessed on social cognition subtests of a neuropsychological assessment at two time points. Caregivers also completed a parent-report measure of social behavior. Measures were evaluated for feasibility, test-retest reliability, practice effects, convergent validity, and associations with broader developmental domains (i.e., age, cognition, and language). All social cognition and behavior measures met criteria for a portion of the psychometric indices evaluated, yet feasibility limitations were identified for the Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment, Second Edition (NEPSY-II) Affect Recognition subtest, and the NEPSY-II Theory of Mind subtest had problematic floor effects for percentile ranks. The Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2; T-scores) had high feasibility, moderate to excellent test-retest reliability, and no practice effects, suggesting this measure could be appropriate for use in clinical trials involving youth with DS.

A Benchmark Dose Analysis for Maternal Pregnancy Urine-Fluoride and IQ in Children.

As a guide to establishing a safe exposure level for fluoride exposure in pregnancy, we applied benchmark dose modeling to data from two prospective birth cohort studies. We included mother-child pairs from the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) cohort in Mexico and the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) cohort in Canada. Maternal urinary fluoride concentrations (U-F, in mg/L, creatinine-adjusted) were measured in urine samples obtained during pregnancy. Children were assessed for intelligence quotient (IQ) at age 4 (n = 211) and between six and 12 years (n = 287) in the ELEMENT cohort, and three to four years (n = 407) in the MIREC cohort. We calculated covariate-adjusted regression coefficients and their standard errors to assess the association of maternal U-F concentrations with children's IQ measures. Assuming a benchmark response of 1 IQ point, we derived benchmark concentrations (BMCs) and benchmark concentration levels (BMCLs). No deviation from linearity was detected in the dose-response relationships, but boys showed lower BMC values than girls. Using a linear slope for the joint cohort data, the BMC for maternal U-F associated with a 1-point decrease in IQ scores was 0.31 mg/L (BMCL, 0.19 mg/L) for the youngest boys and girls in the two cohorts, and 0.33 mg/L (BMCL, 0.20 mg/L) for the MIREC cohort and the older ELEMENT children. Thus, the joint data show a BMCL in terms of the adjusted U-F concentrations in the pregnant women of approximately 0.2 mg/L. These results can be used to guide decisions on preventing excess fluoride exposure in pregnant women.

教室の学びにおける児童の「きく」力尺度の作成

教室の学びにおける児童の「きく」力尺度の作成

The Children's Forgiveness Card Set: Development of a Brief Pictorial Card-Sorting Measure of Children's Emotional Forgiveness.

Friendships have important influences on children's well-being and future adjustment, and interpersonal forgiveness has been suggested as a crucial means for children to maintain friendships. However, existing measures of preadolescent children's forgiveness are restricted by developmental limitations to reporting emotional responses via questionnaire and inconsistent interpretations of the term “forgive.” This paper describes development and testing of concurrent and discriminant validity of a pictorial measure of children's emotional forgiveness, the Children's Forgiveness Card Set (CFCS). In Study 1, 148 Australian children aged 8–13 years (M = 10.54, SD = 1.35) responded to a hypothetical transgression in which apology was manipulated and completed the CFCS and extant measures of forgiveness and socially desirable responding. Following an exploratory factor analysis to clarify the structure of the CFCS, the CFCS correlated moderately with other forgiveness measures and did not correlate with socially desirable responding. Apology predicted CFCS responding among older children. In Study 2 an exploratory factor analysis broadly replicated the structure of the CFCS among a sample of N = 198 North American children aged 5–14 years (M = 9.39 years, SD = 1.67). We also fitted an exploratory bi-factor model to the Study 2 data which clarified which cards best measured general forgiveness, or positive or hostile aspects of responding to transgressions. Apology once again predicted the CFCS, this time regardless of age. The CFCS appears a potentially valid measure of children's emotional forgiveness. Potential applications and differences between explicit and latent forgiveness in children are discussed.

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Telephone-Based Intervention for Hispanic Children to Promote Treatment Adherence After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study.

To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a telephone-based education and navigation program for Hispanic parents of children hospitalized with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Level I trauma hospital and pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit in the Northwestern United States. Fourteen Hispanic parent-child dyads. Parents were 85% female, with a mean age of 35 years. Children were 58% male, with a mean age of 9.7 years, and had been hospitalized for complicated mild/moderate (n = 5) or severe (n = 9) TBI. Pilot prospective cohort design. Feasibility measures include recruitment, retention, and intervention adherence rates. Acceptability of intervention was measured by parents' use of educational materials and satisfaction with navigation program. We also evaluated study processes, including completion of baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months functional assessments of the child; assessment of parental health literacy and self-efficacy; and adherence to follow-up rehabilitation appointments. Eighty-two percent of approached potential participants were recruited into the study. One hundred percent of participants completed the intervention, and 85% had 1-year follow-up. Intervention acceptability was high: 90% reported satisfaction with navigator, and 92% used the educational manual. Assessments demonstrated significant improvement in parents' TBI caregiving and community self-efficacy; 92% attendance to follow-up rehabilitation appointments; and improvement in the child's functional measures, except communication skills. Findings support feasibility and acceptability of a culturally relevant program to facilitate transitions of care for Hispanic children with TBI. A future randomized trial is warranted to determine the efficacy of the intervention on long-term treatment adherence and the child's post-TBI function.

Validity and Reliability of Executive Function Measures in Children With Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: Correspondence Between Multiple Raters and Laboratory Measures.

Rating scales are designed to complement traditional performance-based measures, and both can provide useful information about the functioning of youth with histories of prenatal alcohol exposure. Few studies, however, have compared ratings from multiple informants or the relationship between these subjective rating scale scores and the objective results from laboratory performance-based scales. The current study addressed both of these questions in 3 study groups: children with histories of prenatal alcohol exposure (n = 47), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; n=41), and typically developing controls (CON; n=73). All subjects completed a standardized neuropsychological test battery, including laboratory measures of executive functioning and a self-report measure of executive function behaviors. Parents and teachers completed corresponding rating scales of executive function behaviors for each subject. This study assessed the relationship between these behavior rating scales and corresponding neuropsychological tests, and interrater agreement among the multiple informants. Weak correlations were found between the rating scales and laboratory measures, indicating poor convergent validity for the behavior rating scale. Interrater reliability was found but it differed by group. Agreement was found between parent and teacher ratings for children with prenatal alcohol exposure, whereas teacher-child agreement was found for those with ADHD. Findings from this study indicate that behavior ratings can be used to supplement laboratory measures but may not be measuring cognitive abilities regardless of whether a clinical diagnosis is present. A multimethod approach should be used when measuring skills in this domain. This was one of the first studies to examine cross-informant agreement in a sample of children with prenatal alcohol exposure. Further research is necessary to understand why interrater agreement differed for children with prenatal alcohol exposure and those with ADHD.

The Relationship Between Auditory-Perceptual Rating Scales and Objective Voice Measures in Children With Voice Disorders.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine concurrent validity of the Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, and Strain (GRBAS) and Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) auditory-perceptual scales in children with voice disorders. A secondary purpose was to determine correlation between the GRBAS, CAPE-V, and objective voice measures. Method GRBAS and CAPE-V ratings and acoustic and aerodynamic measures were collected from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Voice and Swallow Outcomes Database. Correlations between CAPE-V and GRBAS ratings were calculated for overall severity of dysphonia, roughness, breathiness, and strain. Correlations between auditory-perceptual voice ratings and objective voice measures were also examined. Results One hundred thirty GRBAS and CAPE-V auditory-perceptual ratings were significantly correlated for overall severity, roughness, breathiness, and strain. r 2 values were highest for overall severity of dysphonia (r 2 = .75) and lowest for strain (r 2 = .54). CAPE-V and GRBAS ratings were largely associated with similar acoustic and aerodynamic measures. The highest correlations were observed for auditory-perceptual ratings of breathiness and jitter% (CAPE-V r 2 = .44, GRBAS r 2 = .44), shimmer% (CAPE-V r 2 = .45, GRBAS r 2 = .45), noise-to-harmonic ratio (CAPE-V r 2 = .42, GRBAS r 2 = .40), fundamental frequency (CAPE-V r 2 = .47, GRBAS r 2 = .44), and maximum phonation time (CAPE-V r 2 = .56, GRBAS r 2 = .51). Akaike information criterion values indicated that CAPE-V ratings were more strongly correlated with objective voice measures than GRBAS ratings. Conclusions CAPE-V and GRBAS scales have concurrent validity in children with voice disorders. CAPE-V ratings are more strongly correlated with acoustic and aerodynamic voice measures.

Socioeconomic status and medication adherence among youth with asthma: the mediating role of frequency of children’s daily routines

Objective The current research aims to examine a potential explanation for SES disparities in youth medication adherence: the frequency of children’s daily routines. Design In a cross-sectional sample of 194 youth with asthma (112 boys and 82 girls; average age = 12.8 years old) and their primary caregivers primarily from the Detroit metropolitan area, caregivers reported their SES and the frequency of their children’s daily routines during the first laboratory visit. At a follow-up visit, caregivers and their children completed the Family Asthma Management System Scale (FAMSS), a well-validated, semi-structured interview that assess children’s degree of adherence to prescribed medications. Main Outcome Measures Children’s daily routines were measured with the Child Routines Inventory while children’s medication adherence was measured with the FAMSS. Results Mediation analyses revealed that the association between subjective (but not objective) SES and medication adherence was partially mediated by the frequency of children’s daily routines. Conclusion These results suggest that the frequency of children’s daily routines is an important factor linking SES and medication adherence, a finding with important implications for improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities between low SES children and their high SES counterparts.

Could Lumbar Lordosis Angle Be A Predictor of Functionality in Children with Spina Bifida? A Cross-Section Study

ABSTRACT Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between lumbar lordosis angle (LLA) and trunk functions, sitting balance, functional independence, and lesion level in children with spina bifida (SB). Methods: Thirty children with SB were included. LLA was measured with a flexible ruler. The Pediatric Functional Reach Test (PRT), Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM), and International Myelodysplasia Study Group Criteria were used to evaluate sitting balance, trunk functions, functional independence, and motor lesion level respectively. The correlations were performed by using Spearman’s correlation test. Results: There were significant correlations between the LLA and PRT, TIS, and WeeFIM results. Also, a significant correlation was found between the LLA and lesion level (p < .05). Conclusions: The development of the LLA in the normal range should be supported in rehabilitation approaches aiming to increase sitting balance, functional independence, and trunk functions in children with SB.Abbreviations: SB: Spina Bifida; LLA: Lumbar Lordosis Angle; MMS: Meningomyelocele; WeeFIM: Functional Independence Measure for Children; TIS: Trunk Impairment Scale; PRT: Pediatric Functional Reach Test

Supplemental Material for A Brief Version of the DIPSI Maladaptive Trait Measure for Children and Adolescents

Supplemental Material for A Brief Version of the DIPSI Maladaptive Trait Measure for Children and Adolescents

Effectiveness of a task-oriented training on occupational performance, functional independence, and fatigue in children with childhood cancer: a randomized-controlled trial

Abstract Objective The objective of the study is to explore the effectiveness of task-oriented training (TOT) on occupational performance, functional independence, and fatigue of children with cancer. Method Two hundred and thirteen children (101 females, 112 males) with cancer were randomized to experimental (n = 112; 9.53±2.23 years) or control (n = 101; 7.93±1.98 years) groups. The experimental group received a TOT together with a conventional occupational therapy (COT), while the control group received only a COT. Both groups received 20 sessions of therapy. The outcomes regarding occupational performance via the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, functional independence via the Functional Independence Measure for Children and fatigue via the Visual Analog Scale were evaluated by the blind evaluators before and after the interventions in the hospital setting. Results The occupational performance and satisfaction (p&lt;0.001) scores showed statistically significant differences in the experimental group compared to the control group (p&lt;0.01). A statistically significant improvement was determined in functional independence for both groups (p&lt; 0.001). The experimental group indicated a significant reduction in fatigue (p values for fatigue before, during, after activity, morning and evening: p&lt; 0.001) and in the control group (P values for fatigue all situation: p&lt; 0.05). Conclusion The TOT seems to ensure more beneficial effects in increasing occupational performance, improving functional independence in daily activities, and decreasing fatigue at the early phases of inpatient treatment of childhood cancer.

Participation Patterns of Adolescents with and without Executive Function Deficits: Parents’ Perspectives

ABSTRACT This study examines parents’ perspectives of the participation patterns (frequency, involvement, and parental desire for change) in their adolescent children’s everyday functioning with and without executive function deficit profiles. Parents of 81 adolescents (10–14) years) with executive function deficits (n = 41) and a matched group of parents of adolescents with typical development (n = 40) completed the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY) questionnaire. The questionnaire includes the adolescents’ participation frequency and involvement in common everyday functions in three environments (home, school, and community) and parental desire for change. Parents of adolescents with executive function deficits reported that their children participated significantly less (in frequency and involvement) in many activities within each environment than parents of typically developing adolescents reported. Additional significant group differences were evident, particularly when comparing parental desires to change their adolescent children’s participation. Each environment’s characteristics regarding the structure level and different activity demands are discussed as a possible reason for these differences in participation. The challenges and complexity of raising a child with everyday functioning difficulties might be one reason for the differences in parents’ desire for change.

The Relationship Between Complementary Feeding and Stunting Eventsin 2 to 5 Years of Age

Background : Lack of complementary feeding for children, from the age of 6 months complementary feeding begins to be necessary. Food that not good enough in both quality and quantity would affect stunted growth. &#x0D; Purpose : This research was to determine the relationship of complementary feeding with the stunting in 2 to 5 years of age&#x0D; Method : of this research is a retrospective approach. This research is carrying on March 4 2020. The population of this research is one of the parents and children aged 2-5 years as many as 22 people. Sampling retrieval using total sampling, totaling 22 parents and children. The independent variable of complementary feeding data collection with the questionnaire and the dependent variable stunting event data collection by the child's height measurement. Data analysis using spearman rank with α = 0.05.&#x0D; Results show that out of 22 respondents, nearly half of which were 10 respondents (45.5%) provide less complementary feeding in the category of less and children aged 2-5 years the majority of 16 respondents (72.7%) having heights in the short category. Correlation test results show p-value = 0.002 α = 0.05, so Ha is accepted.&#x0D; Conclusion : There is a relationship between complementary feeding with stunting in children aged 2-5 years, and r = 0.627 so the level of closeness is strong. In this research the becomes a strong predictor in caused the stunting, but was expected to further research can add various other variables to the stunting event.

Epistaxis among children in Lower Egypt: frequency and risk factors

Abstract:Background: Epistaxis or nosebleeds is a common complaint especially in young children. Most of the risk factors causing epistaxis are preventable or modifiable, so identification of these risk factors decreases complications that may be happening with epistaxis. Objectives: To determine the related risk factors of epistaxis among children aged 6-12 years old in Lower Egypt and its frequency.Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted on 758 children. By multistage sampling technique, Sharkia and Menoufia governorates were selected to represent Lower Egypt, Zagazig and Shebin El-Kom health districts were selected, then four family health facilities were chosen to represent urban and rural areas. Data on participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, characters of the epistaxis attack and many related risk factors were collected via a semi-structured questionnaire.Results: The study revealed a high frequency of epistaxis (35.4%) among children aged 6-12 years old. About (53.3%) of them were of low socioeconomic standard. The attacks were more frequent in winter (43.7%) and most of them were of a little amount of bleeding. the risk was more evident with head and face trauma, cigarette smoke exposure, children suffering from a chronic cough or nasal allergy or using steroid-containing drugs.Conclusion: there is a high frequency of epistaxis among young children. Most of the related risk factors are easily modifiable to prevent the recurrence of the attacks. Health education regarding children's safety measures with increasing awareness about red flags is still needed.Keywords: allergic rhinitis, frequency, Lower Egypt, nosebleed, trauma.

Using kisspeptin to predict pubertal outcomes for youth with pubertal delay

CONTEXT The management of youth with delayed puberty is hampered by difficulty in predicting who will eventually progress through puberty and who will fail to attain adult reproductive endocrine function. The neuropeptide kisspeptin, which stimulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release, can be used to probe the integrity of the reproductive endocrine axis. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine whether responses to kisspeptin can predict outcomes for individuals with pubertal delay. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We conducted a longitudinal cohort study in an academic medical center of 16 children (3 girls and 13 boys) with delayed or stalled puberty. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME MEASURES Children who had undergone kisspeptin- and GnRH-stimulation tests were followed every 6 months for clinical evidence of progression through puberty. Inhibin B was measured in boys. A subset of participants underwent exome sequencing. RESULTS All participants who had responded to kisspeptin with a rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) of 0.8 mIU/mL or greater subsequently progressed through puberty (n = 8). In contrast, all participants who had exhibited LH responses to kisspeptin ≤ 0.4 mIU/mL reached age 18 years without developing physical signs of puberty (n = 8). Thus, responses to kisspeptin accurately predicted later pubertal outcomes (P = .0002). Moreover, the kisspeptin-stimulation test outperformed GnRH-stimulated LH, inhibin B, and genetic testing in predicting pubertal outcomes. CONCLUSION The kisspeptin-stimulation can assess future reproductive endocrine potential in prepubertal children and is a promising novel tool for predicting pubertal outcomes for children with delayed puberty.

Association of the Built Environment With Childhood Psychosocial Stress

Emerging research suggests that factors associated with the built environment, including artificial light, air pollution, and noise, may adversely affect children's mental health, while living near green space may reduce stress. Little is known about the combined roles of these factors on children's stress. To investigate associations between components of the built environment with personal and home characteristics in a large cohort of children who were assessed for perceived stress. In this cohort study, a total of 2290 Southern California Children's Health Study participants residing in 8 densely populated urban communities responded to detailed questionnaires. Exposures of artificial light at night (ALAN) derived from satellite observations, near-roadway air pollution (NRP) determined from a dispersion model, noise estimated from the US Traffic Noise Model, and green space from satellite observations of the enhanced vegetation index were linked to each participant's geocoded residence. Children's stress was assessed at ages 13 to 14 years and 15 to 16 years using the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), scaled from 0 to 16, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress. Measurements were conducted in 2010 and 2012, and data were analyzed from February 6 to August 24, 2019. Multivariate mixed-effects models were used to examine multiple exposures; modification and mediation analyses were also conducted. Among the 2290 children in this study, 1149 were girls (50%); mean (SD) age was 13.5 (0.6) years. Girls had significantly higher perceived stress measured by PSS-4 (mean [SD] score, 5.7 [3.4]) than boys (4.9 [3.2]). With increasing age (from 13.5 [0.6] to 15.3 [0.6] years), the mean PSS-4 score rose from 5.6 (3.3) to 6.0 (3.4) in girls but decreased for boys from 5.0 (3.2) to 4.7 (3.1). Multivariate mixed-effects models examining multiple exposures indicated that exposure to secondhand smoke in the home was associated with a 0.85 (95% CI, 0.46-1.24) increase in the PSS-4 score. Of the factors related to the physical environment, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in ALAN was associated with a 0.57 (95% CI, 0.05-1.09) unit increase in the PSS-4 score together with a 0.16 score increase per IQR increase of near-roadway air pollution (95% CI, 0.02-0.30) and a -0.24 score decrease per IQR increase of the enhanced vegetation index (95% CI, -0.45 to -0.04). Income modified the ALAN effect size estimate; participants in households earning less than $48 000 per year had significantly greater stress per IQR increase in ALAN. Sleep duration partially mediated the associations between stress and both enhanced vegetation index (17%) and ALAN (18%). In this cohort study, children's exposure to smoke at home in addition to residential exposure to ALAN and near-roadway air pollution were associated with increased perceived stress among young adolescent children. These associations appeared to be partially mitigated by more residential green space. The findings may support the promotion of increased residential green spaces to reduce pollution associated with the built environment, with possible mental health benefits for children.