National Longitudinal Survey Of Children And Youth Research Articles

The “Long-arm” of chronic conditions in childhood: Evidence from Canada using linked survey-administrative data

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between health conditions in childhood (ages 4–11), and health and socioeconomic outcomes in adulthood (ages 21–33). This study takes advantage of a new linkage between the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) and administrative tax data from the T1 Family File (T1FF) from Statistics Canada. The NLSCY includes rich longitudinal information on child development, while the T1FF includes administrative tax information on each child in adulthood (e.g., income, social assistance). The primary measures of child health relate to the diagnosis of a chronic condition, affecting the child’s physical or mental/developmental health. The results suggest that mental/developmental health conditions in childhood more negatively influence adult health and socioeconomic conditions, compared to physical health conditions. Interaction models reveal modest heterogenous effects; for example, there is some evidence of a cushioning effect from higher household income in childhood, as well as an exacerbating negative effect from lower birth weight for mental/developmental health conditions. Using a covariate decomposition approach to explore underlying pathways, the results reveal that associations between health in early life and outcomes in adulthood are partially explained by differences in cognitive skills (i.e., mathematics test scores) in adolescence (ages 16–17). Results may encourage policy investments to mitigate the occurrence of health conditions in childhood and to ensure timely access to educational supports and health services for children with chronic conditions.

Do Childhood Conduct Problems Predict Negative Outcomes in Adolescence? A Longitudinal Analysis

The primary purpose of this study was to conduct a prospective ­­­examination of the relationship between childhood conduct problems and five outcomes in adolescence– namely, Physically violent offenses; Non-violent offenses; Deviant lifestyle; Consumption of tobacco, cannabis, or alcohol; and Meeting the symptom count diagnostic criteria for Conduct Disorder (CD) – while controlling for a series of sociodemographic factors, family characteristics and adolescent experiences. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine if childhood conduct problems in the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) Cycle 1 contributed to negative outcomes in adolescence in NLSCY Cycle 4. This was a prospective, population-based study of 3,725 adolescents (12-15 years old) in the NLSCY Cycle 4 (2000-2001) who were 6-9 years old in NLSCY Cycle 1 (1994-95). Childhood conduct problems were found to be associated with Non-violent offenses and Consumption of tobacco, cannabis, or alcohol in adolescence, but they were not found to be associated with Physically violent offenses or Deviant lifestyle in adolescence. Furthermore, children with conduct problems before the age of 10 were more likely to meet the symptom count diagnostic criteria for CD in adolescence.

The effect of gestational diabetes mellitus on the risk of asthma in offspring

PurposeTo examine the effect of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus on the risk of asthma in the offspring. MethodsThis cohort study used data from 19,933 children in the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), 1994/1995–2008/2009, Canada. Children were followed until the first-time report of having health professional-diagnosed asthma (hereafter incident asthma), loss to follow-up, or end of the NLSCY follow-up, whichever occurred first. As a surrogate for Cox proportional hazards regression, pooled logistic regression models, crude and adjusted for potential confounders, were fitted to estimate the effect of gestational diabetes mellitus on the risk of asthma in the offspring. ResultsAmong the 19,933 children, 1,178 (5.9%) had mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus. The median duration of follow-up was 4 (interquartile range: 4) years. A total of 1639 children in the cohort had reported incident asthma during the follow-up, and 119 of them had mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus. The adjusted hazard ratio for the association between gestational diabetes mellitus and incident asthma in offspring was 1.25 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03, 1.51). ConclusionsOur findings suggest that gestational diabetes mellitus increases the risk of asthma in the offspring.

Divorce, Remarriage and Child Cognitive Outcomes: Evidence from Canadian Longitudinal Data of Children

ABSTRACT This study investigates the role of divorce and remarriage on cognitive outcomes of children. Using the rich panel data information from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), collected biennially since 1994, we investigate the association between children’s math and reading performance and divorce and remarriage relative to intact families. We find that children who stay-in or move-to non-intact families have lower reading scores than those who stay in intact families. Although initial findings indicate that family structure has an overall small effect on children’s math performance, we find a differential impact of family structure on Math performance across gender and cultural heritage.

Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in Canadian Children: Prevalence Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Children and Youth

Abstract Aim Using population surveys of chronic health conditions, the present study aimed to examine changing trends in the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) with age and determine population-based estimates of prevalence and census-based estimates of absolute numbers of affected children. Methods We analyzed data from three cycles (1994–1999) of Canada's National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) (Statistics Canada Survey). Results Cross-sectional prevalence rates for chronic NDD in children from birth to 15 years across cycle 1 to 3 of the NLSCY show an increasing trend over the years from 1994 to 1999. Population-based estimates were also calculated from census data. Weighted prevalence rates for four conditions in children aged birth to 15 years increased across the three cycles, except for cerebral palsy. Prevalence estimates in cycle 3 were: epilepsy 5.26/1,000 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.01, 5.52), cerebral palsy 2.81/1,000 (95% CI: 2.62, 2.99), intellectual disability 4.77/1,000 (95% CI: 4.53, 5.02), and learning disability 57.06/1,000 (95% CI, 56.36, 57.76). A male gender preponderance was noted for each NDD using logistic regression. Interpretation Prevalence rates of NDD in Canadian children show an incremental trend across three cycles in four conditions covered in the survey. The changing trends over the three cycles are discussed.

Stability and Change in Trait Emotional Intelligence in Emerging Adulthood: A Four-Year Population-Based Study

Trait Emotional Intelligence (EI)-related competencies are in growing demand in educational and vocational settings. The present study assesses the developmental dynamics of trait EI in emerging adulthood by capitalizing on the inclusion of a measure of trait EI in the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) called the Emotional Quotient Inventory: Mini (EQ-i: Mini). A sample of 1064 young adults (50% female) from ages 20–21 to 24–25 years was used to assess 4-year rank-order stability and mean-level change of trait EI, as well as whether the EQ-i: Mini functions equivalently over time (longitudinal measurement invariance). Results revealed full configural, partial metric, and scalar invariance of the construct for this time period. The Stress Management subscale achieved invariance at the residual level. After controlling for partial non-invariance, moderate levels of rank-order stability coefficients were found, suggesting malleability of the construct during emerging adulthood. Consistent with the maturity principle, there was a moderate increase in trait EI (specifically in the Interpersonal and Adaptability subscales). The malleability of trait EI suggests opportunities for enhancing socioemotional competencies in emerging adults, such as through formal and continuing education programing, on-the-job training, and targeted employment interventions.

Exposure to maternal depressive symptoms in childhood and adolescent suicide-related thoughts and attempts: mediation by child psychiatric symptoms.

The nature of the association between child psychiatric symptoms and adolescent suicide-related thoughts (SRT) and attempts (SA) remains unclear. Our objective was to assess whether child psychiatric symptoms from 6 to 10 years of age mediate the association between exposure to maternal depressive symptoms in childhood and offspring SRT and SA in adolescence. A population-based cohort study was constructed by linking all eight cycles from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), a nationally representative Canadian panel survey conducted from 1994 to 2009. Self-reported maternal depressive symptoms were measured when offspring were between 0 and 5 years. Maternal-reported child psychiatric symptoms and psychiatric comorbid symptoms were measured from 6 to 10 years, and offspring self-reported SRT and SA were measured between 11 and 19 years. Indirect effects, the effect proportion mediated and their corresponding bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Hyperactivity and inattention significantly mediated the association between maternal depressive symptoms in childhood and risk of both SRT and SA from 11 to 19 years, where approximately 60% (SRT 95% CI 23-94%; SA 95% CI 27-95%) of this association was explained by hyperactivity and inattention. Psychiatric comorbid symptoms also significantly mediated this relationship and accounted for 50% (95% CI 18-81%) of this association with SA. Targeting hyperactivity and inattention, and co-occurring psychiatric symptoms in offspring of depressed mothers could reduce risk of SRT, eventual SA and halt progression towards suicide. However, further understanding of comorbid psychiatric symptoms in childhood that most strongly predict adolescent SA is needed.

Relationship between leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and symptoms of depression and anxiety: evidence from a population-based sample of Canadian adolescents

BackgroundPhysical and sedentary activities have been identified as potentially modifiable risk factors for many diseases, including mental illness, and may be effective targets for public health policy and intervention. However,...

Using the ages and stages questionnaire in the general population as a measure for identifying children not at risk of a neurodevelopmental disorder

BackgroundEarly detection of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) enables access to early interventions for children. We assess the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)’s ability to identify children with a NDD in population data.MethodChildren 4 to 5 years old in the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) from cycles 5 to 8 were included. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated for the ASQ at 24, 27, 30, 33, 36 and 42 months. Fixed effects regression analyses assessed longitudinal associations between domain scores and child age.ResultsSpecificity for the ASQ was high with 1SD or 2SD cutoffs, indicating good accuracy in detecting children who will not develop a NDD, however the sensitivity varied over time points and cut-offs. Sensitivity for the 1 SD cutoff at 24 months was above the recommended value of 70% for screening. Differences in ASQ domains scores between children with and without NDD increases with age.ConclusionsThe high specificity and negative predictive values of the ASQ support its use in identifying children who are not at the risk of developing a NDD. The capacity of the ASQ to identify children with a NDD in the general population is limited except for the ASQ-24 months with 1SD and can be used to identify children at risk of NDD.

Early life predictors of adolescent suicidal thoughts and adverse outcomes in two population-based cohort studies.

BackgroundUnderstanding suicidality has proven challenging given the complex aetiology in early childhood. Being able to accurately predict groups at increased risk of developing suicidal thoughts may aid in the development of targeted prevention programs that mitigate increased vulnerability. Further, the predictors of suicidal thoughts may be shared with other outcomes in adolescence. Previous research has linked many factors to suicidality, so the objective of this study was to consider how these factors may act together to increase risk of suicidal thoughts and other non-mental health outcomes.MethodsTwo longitudinal datasets were used in this analysis: the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) and the Avon Longitudinal Survey of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). A Classification and Regression Tree model comprised of 75 factors describing early childhood was constructed to identify subgroups of adolescents at high risk of suicidal thoughts in the NLSCY and was validated in ALSPAC. These subgroups were investigated to see if they also had elevated rates of antisocial behaviour, substance misuse, poor physical health, poor mental health, risky health behaviours, and/or poor academic performance.ResultsThe sensitivity was calculated to be 22·7%, specificity was 89·2%, positive predictive value 17·8%, and negative predictive value 91·8% and had similar accuracy in the validation dataset. The models were better at predicting other adverse outcomes compared to suicidal thoughts.ConclusionThere are groups of risk factors present in early life that can predict higher risk of suicidality in adolescence. Notably, these factors were also predictive of a range of adverse outcomes in adolescence.

Epilepsy, birth weight and academic school readiness in Canadian children: Data from the national longitudinal study of children and youth

PurposeBirth weight is an important indicator of prenatal/in-utero environment. Variations in birth weight have been reportedly associated with risks for cognitive problems. The National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) dataset was explored to examine relationships between birth weight, academic school readiness and epilepsy. MethodsA population based sample of 32,900 children of the NLSCY were analyzed to examine associations between birth weight, and school readiness scores in 4–5-year-old children. Logistic and Linear regression was used to examine associations between having epilepsy and these outcomes. Gestation data was available on 19,867 children, full-term children represented 89.67% (gestation >259days), while 10.33% of children were premature (gestation <258days). There were 20 children with reported epilepsy in the sample. Effects of confounding variables (diabetes in pregnancy, smoking in pregnancy, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and gender of the infant) on birth weight and epilepsy were controlled using a separate structural equation model. ResultsLogistic regression analysis identified an association between epilepsy and lower birth weights, as well as an association between lower birth weight, having epilepsy and lower PPVT-R Scores. Model results show the relationship between low birth weight and epilepsy remains statistically significant even when controlling for the influence of afore mentioned confounding variables. ConclusionLow birth weight appears to be associated with both epilepsy and academic school readiness. The data suggest that an abnormal prenatal environment can influence both childhood onset of epilepsy and cognition. Additional studies with larger sample sizes are needed to verify this relationship in detail.

Adolescents’ Relationship between Physical Education and Longitudinal Physical Activity Trends

With physical education (PE) being an avenue to be physically active and learn about health and wellbeing, it is important to understand enrollment trends and physical activity (PA) behaviors among adolescents. The purpose of this study is to examine adolescents’ health profiles and gain an understanding of adolescents’ perspective of PE. The current study used mixed methodology to examine adolescents’ health profiles and gain understanding of their perspectives of PE. Part 1 identified relationships over a two-year period between: PE rating, physical activity (PA), and health variables using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY). Part 2 examined adolescents’ perspectives of PE through four focus groups.Overall, PE was preferred over other subjects by 78% of participants; and preferring PE predicted higher frequencies of PA, lower BMI, and higher self-esteem. Enrollment in high school PE was influenced by the environment, gender, course conflicts, and teacher influence. In summary, the majority of adolescents prefer PE; it has an influence on health, and is an avenue for PA. Continued efforts need to be made to increase PE enrollment and participation to ensure the health of young people.

Predictors of Suicidal Behaviors in Canadian Adolescents with No Recent History of Depression

We examined risk factors for suicidal behaviors (i.e., suicidal ideation and suicide attempts) in the absence of depression during adolescence. Using 6,788 adolescents from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), we identified participants with “no recent history of depression.” We then tested the effects of risk factors at age 14–15 on suicidal behaviors at age 16–17. Absence of recent depression history negatively predicted both suicidal ideation and suicide attempt. However, among those with no history of depression, substance use and the presence of a chronic illness both increased the risk of suicidal behaviors. Suicidal behavior in adolescents in the absence of depression history may be explained by factors such as substance use and chronic illness.

Young in class: Implications for inattentive/hyperactive behaviour of Canadian boys and girls

AbstractUsing data from the Statistics Canada National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), this paper investigates the impact of school entry age on inattentive/hyperactive behaviours. We employ both an across‐provinces and time difference‐in‐differences approach and a within‐province regression discontinuity design. We find that being young in class causes greater inattentive/hyperactive behaviour, exacerbating any inattentive/hyperactive behaviour exhibited prior to school entry. These results also hold in sibling fixed effect models. We do not find gender differences in the effects, although since boys are more likely to be inattentive/hyperactive at school entry, they are more affected. These effects persist into early adolescence.

Trajectories of BMI and internalizing symptoms: Associations across adolescence

The present study examined the longitudinal relations between body mass index (BMI) and internalizing symptoms among youth ages 10–17. Adolescents were selected from Statistics Canada's National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY). Latent growth curve modeling was used to investigate: 1) whether initial level (at age 10) or change in BMI were associated with changes in internalizing symptoms; and, 2) whether initial level or change in internalizing symptoms were associated with changes in BMI across adolescence. Associations between trajectories differed for boys and girls. Boys who started out with higher BMI experienced more internalizing symptoms across early- to mid-adolescence, but not more depressive symptoms at ages 16 and 17. For girls, there was a bidirectional relation between BMI and internalizing symptoms which persisted into later adolescence. Results suggest the bidirectional relation between BMI and internalizing symptoms is more salient for girls than for boys.

Inter-generational effects of disability benefits: evidence from Canadian social assistance programs

Individuals with disabilities face greater challenges in the labor market than able-bodied individuals, and a growing body of research is finding that their children also tend to have more developmental problems than the children of able-bodied parents. Can transfer payments help reduce this gap? In this paper, we present the first evidence on how parental disability benefits affect the well-being of children. Using changes in real benefits under ten disability benefit programs in Canada as an identification strategy and Statistics Canada’s National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) as the data source on child outcomes, we find strong evidence that higher benefits lead to improvements in children’s cognitive and non-cognitive development, as measured by math scores in standardized tests, hyperactive symptoms, and emotional anxiety behavior. The effect is larger on children with a disabled mother than on those with a disabled father.

Parenting style and obesity risk in children

BackgroundParents play a critical role in their children's lifestyle habits. The objective was to assess the effect of parenting style on the risk of childhood obesity, and to determine whether poverty was a moderator of the association. MethodsParticipants were from the 1994–2008 cross-sectional samples of the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), a nationally representative survey of Canadian youth. Factor and cluster analyses identified four parenting styles consistent with Baumrind's parenting style prototypes. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the risk of obesity based on parenting style after adjusting for covariates. Analyses were stratified by age (preschool: 2–5years of age, n=19,026; school-age: 6–11years of age, n=18,551) and the moderating effect of poverty (household income<low income cut-offs adjusted for household size and geographic region) was assessed. Analyses used sampling and bootstrap weights. ResultsIn multivariable analyses, compared to authoritative parenting, preschool- and school-age children with authoritarian parents were 35% (95% CI: 1.2–1.5) and 41% (CI: 1.1–1.8) more likely to be obese, respectively. In preschool children, poverty moderated this association: authoritarian and negligent parenting was associated with 44% (CI: 1.3–1.7) and 26% (CI: 1.1–1.4) increased likelihood of obesity, respectively, but only among the children not living in poverty. In school-age children, poverty was not a moderator. ConclusionsParenting style is associated with childhood obesity, but may be moderated by poverty. Successful strategies to combat childhood obesity should reflect the independent and interactive associations of sociodemographic and social–familial influences on health especially in early childhood.

Predicting Substance Use from Childhood Aggression and Prosocial Behaviour

This research uses a longitudinal design to examine aggression and prosocial behaviour as early predictors of substance use behaviours in emerging adulthood. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), self- and maternal reports of early engagement in relationally and physically aggressive behaviours and prosocial behaviours are examined as predictors of cigarette smoking, marijuana use, and alcohol use in emerging adulthood. Using multinomial regression analyses we found that maternal reports of relational aggression significantly predicted daily smoking whereas self-reports did not. Maternal reports of relational and physical aggression did not predict alcohol use and marijuana use; however, self-reports of relational aggression and prosocial behaviour predicted weekly marijuana use in this representative Canadian sample.

Is all bullying the same?

BackgroundWe ask whether verbal abuse, threats of violence and physical assault among Canadian youth have the same determinants and whether these determinants are the same for boys and girls. If these are different, the catch-all term “bullying” may mis-specify analysis of what are really different types of behavior.MethodsWe analyze five cohorts of Canadian youth aged 12-15 from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY). There are 11475 observations in total. Pearson’s correlation coefficients and six different multivariate strategies are used.ResultsThere are many faces to bullying, in terms of its form and relative frequencies for boys versus girls. Although some characteristics of an adolescent are strong predictors of being subject to more than one type of bullying, some other characteristics are only correlated with specific types of bullying.ConclusionsThe many faces of bullying, and their correlation with different factors, imply different policy interventions may be needed to address each issue effectively.

The Prince and the Pauper: Movement of Children up and down the Canadian Income Distribution

This paper uses longitudinal microdata from the Statistics Canada National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) to study the family income dynamics of Canadian children from the time they are 4 or 5 until they are 14 or 15. Dynamics of family income have been studied less often than dynamics of child poverty. Yet we argue that from the perspective of equity, it is important to know the extent to which some children are always affluent while other children are always poor. Also, since our social safety net is designed to shelter Canadians, including children, from both economic hardship and economic loss, it is also important, from the perspective of policy, to assess risk factors for persistent low income as well as correlates of major economic loss.