Parental Bias Research Articles

The role of truth and bias in parents’ judgments of children’s science interests

Parents’ judgments about their children’s level of interest in different science topics may affect the science-learning opportunities they provide their children. However, little is known about how parents judge these interests. We used the truth and bias model of judgment of West and Kenny (Psychological Review [2011], Vol. 118, pp. 357–378) to examine factors that may affect parents’ judgments of their children’s science interests such as the truth (children’s self-reported interest) and potential sources of parental bias. We also investigated whether several individual difference measures moderated the effect of truth or bias on judgments. Children (N = 139, ages 7–11 years) rated their level of interest in five science and five non-science topics. Separately, parents (N = 139) judged their children’s interest in the same topics. Overall, parents accurately judged their children’s science interests, but we also found evidence of some forms of bias, namely that parents generally under-estimated their children’s science interests. In addition, parents’ personal science attitudes were related to judgments of science interests, such that parents more favorable of science tended to rate their children’s interest in science topics higher than parents with a less favorable view. We did not find evidence that individual differences among parents moderated the effect of truth or bias on judgments; however, parents were more accurate at judging the non-science interests of older children than younger children. Parents should be aware that they may be under-estimating their children’s interest in science topics and that their personal attitudes about science may be influencing their judgments of their children’s science interests.

The effect of parental bias on the reliability of children’s event reports and children’s memory for suggestive parental questioning.

The effect of parental bias on the reliability of children’s event reports and children’s memory for suggestive parental questioning.

Share the Love: Parental Bias, Women Empowerment and Intergenerational Mobility

Share the Love: Parental Bias, Women Empowerment and Intergenerational Mobility

What really matters for global intergenerational mobility?

This study investigates the genuine impacts of education expansion, education inequality, and parental dependency on intergenerational mobility. It utilizes data from the Global Database on Intergenerational Mobility for 153 countries and cohorts born between the 1940s and 1980s. By employing a causal machine learning approach to address confounding problems, this research reveals that education expansion can promote intergenerational mobility to a certain extent. However, its effectiveness is partially diminished by education inequality and may be ineffective if parental dependency exists at a high level. Furthermore, this study also indicates that while gender inequality in intergenerational mobility still exists, its degree has been significantly reduced across generations. When compared to parental dependency, gender effects are far less important. Therefore, there is a need to reassess the roles of parental dependency and gender bias in intergenerational mobility, especially when parental dependency is currently underestimated, and gender bias is overemphasized.

Barriers Faced by Akha and Khmu Ethnic Minority Students in Rural Primary Schools in Lao PDR

The main purpose of the study was to examine the major barriers faced by Akha and Khmu ethnic minority children in attending rural primary schools in Samphan District, Phongsaly Province, and Lao PDR. The convergent parallel mixed method design was employed for an in-depth investigation. The primary data was collected by combining a questionnaire and a focus group interview with parents, teachers, education staff, and community leaders. Samples were selected through non-probability and purposive sampling techniques. The present study found that family poverty, child labour, parental divorce, parental deaths, a lack of learning materials, the language of instruction, a water shortage, parental gender bias, and parental devaluation of education were identified as major barriers to Akha and Khmu ethnic minority children attending rural primary schools.

Reassessment of weak parent-of-origin expression bias shows it rarely exists outside of known imprinted regions.

In mouse and human, genes subjected to genomic imprinting have been shown to function in development, behavior, and post-natal adaptations. Failure to correctly imprint genes in human is associated with developmental syndromes, adaptive, and metabolic disorders during life as well as numerous forms of cancer. In recent years researchers have turned to RNA-seq technologies applied to reciprocal hybrid strains of mice to identify novel imprinted genes, causing a threefold increase in genes reported as having a parental origin-specific expression bias. The functional relevance of parental origin-specific expression bias is not fully appreciated especially since many are reported with only minimal parental bias (e.g. 51:49). Here, we present an in-depth meta-analysis of previously generated RNA-seq data and show that the methods used to generate and analyze libraries greatly influence the calling of allele-specific expression. Validation experiments show that most novel genes called with parental-origin-specific allelic bias are artefactual, with the mouse strain contributing a larger effect on expression biases than parental origin. Of the weak novel genes that do validate, most are located at the periphery of known imprinted domains, suggesting they may be affected by local allele- and tissue-specific conformation. Together these findings highlight the need for robust tools, definitions, and validation of putative imprinted genes to provide meaningful information within imprinting databases and to understand the functional and mechanistic implications of the process.

Supplemental Material for The Effect of Parental Bias on the Reliability of Children’s Event Reports and Children’s Memory for Suggestive Parental Questioning

Supplemental Material for The Effect of Parental Bias on the Reliability of Children’s Event Reports and Children’s Memory for Suggestive Parental Questioning

Parental recall bias in observational studies: Child dental service use.

Parents are frequently used to recall events of exposure and disease as a proxy for their children in observational health research. To assess the validity of parental recall of children's utilisation of dental services. Parents in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) were asked to recall their children's overall dental service use in the previous year and whether the study child had received fillings or extractions due to decay in the previous 2 years. True positives were identified through parents who correctly recalled child dental service utilisation with actual dental treatment received in a linked dataset. Of the 10 090 participants from the LSAC, 1290 study children had linked dental treatment data eligible for inclusion in this study. The absolute true-positive rate for parental recall of dental service use in the previous year was 82% (n=1263). Overall true-positive percentages were lower for recall of fillings (40%) and extractions (7%) in the previous 2 years. Increasing number of recall days was associated with the rate of true-positive recall adjusted for other factors in all three models. Accuracy of parental recall for tooth fillings and extractions was low. The use of parental recall for specific dental treatment over a time span of 2 years in further research is not recommended.

Generation of blastoids from human parthenogenetic stem cells

Abstract Parthenogenetic embryos derive their genomes entirely from the maternal genome and lack paternal imprint patterns. Many achievements have been made in the study of genomic imprinting using human parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells (hPg-ESCs). However, due to developmental defects and ethical limits, a comprehensive understanding of parthenogenetic embryonic development is still lacking. Here, we generated parthenogenetic blastoids (hPg-EPSCs blastoids) from hPg-ESC-derived extended pluripotent stem cells (hPg-EPSCs) using our previously published two-step induction protocol. Morphology, specific marker expression and single-cell transcriptome analysis showed that hPg-EPSCs blastoids contain crucial cell lineages similar to blastoids (hBp-EPSCs blastoids) generated from human biparental EPSCs (hBp-EPSCs). Single-cell RNA-seq compared the expression of genes related to imprinting and X chromosome inactivation in hPg-EPSCs blastoids and hBp-EPSCs blastoids. In conclusion, we generated parthenogenetic blastoids, which will potentially promote the study of genomic imprinting in embryonic development and uncover the influence of parental origin bias on human development and pathological mechanisms.

Medical experts and trusted confidants: parent perceptions of the clinician-parent relationship in childhood cancer

A childhood cancer diagnosis threatens the health, safety, and security of the child and whole family unit. A strong relationship between the healthcare team and family is integral to provision of holistic support during this time of crisis. Family-centered care necessitates a fluid, therapeutic relationship between parents and the child's healthcare team. This study investigated bereaved parents' perspectives on their relationship with their child's care team and the impact of these relationships on their coping across the cancer trajectory and into bereavement. Thirty-one parents whose child died from cancer between 1 and 6 years prior to study enrollment participated in semi-structured interviews about their relationships and interactions with their child's healthcare team across the illness course and into bereavement. We audio-recorded interviews, transcribed them verbatim, and utilized a codebook thematic analysis approach to analyze interview transcripts. Four themes emerged across interviews with parents describing their perceptions of the parent-clinician relationship: (1) a collaborative approach improves perceptions of care, (2) professional trust is core to the relationship, (3) parental personal preference and bias can limit relationship-building, and (4) meaningful connections form on an emotional, individualized level. These themes highlight relational patterns between parents and clinicians that can promote or erode alliance and collaboration. Bereaved parents recognize key attributes that influence the parent-clinician relationship. Educating clinicians about parent-identified positive modifiable behaviors (e.g., communication deficits) and awareness of non-modifiable care factors (e.g., individual personality preferences) may enable clinicians to strengthen relationships with parents and ultimately improve quality of care.

Lost radiance: Negative influence of parental gender bias on women's workplace performance

Lost radiance: Negative influence of parental gender bias on women's workplace performance

Parents’ perspective in the evaluation of a parental report inventory for the assessment of child communication development

Parents? reports are accepted in practice and can be a valid and reliable source of information in research on children?s communicative development and any delays in this. Nevertheless, parents? reports may have important limitations that need to be considered: parental positive bias; parents? understanding of the child language comprehension; and parents? education and limited linguistic knowledge. In this paper, we take the stance that parents are most interested in an adequate assessment, and obtaining reliable input from them is certainly important. We amplify the voice of parents by synthesizing their experiences with a parental report inventory as a method based on the usage of the adapted version of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory. With that aim, we conducted a qualitative inductive thematic analysis of focus group discussions and additional open-ended validation questions. Six emerging themes and sub-themes were identified and presented with illustrative quotations. Results revealed that the adaptation of original CDIs to languages with radically different morpho-syntactic structures may produce items that are hard to recognize and understand without a context. We bring to light parent-specific difficulties in performing this task and provide a critical understanding of parents? reports as a method of language development assessment. We discuss potential solutions to parents? dilemmas that inevitably arise when reporting on their child?s communication, as well as answers to researchers?/practitioners? dilemmas regarding the validity and reliability of parental reporting.

The mutational dynamics of short tandem repeats in large, multigenerational families

BackgroundShort tandem repeats (STRs) compose approximately 3% of the genome, and mutations at STR loci have been linked to dozens of human diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Friedreich ataxia, Huntington disease, and fragile X syndrome. Improving our understanding of these mutations would increase our knowledge of the mutational dynamics of the genome and may uncover additional loci that contribute to disease. To estimate the genome-wide pattern of mutations at STR loci, we analyze blood-derived whole-genome sequencing data for 544 individuals from 29 three-generation CEPH pedigrees. These pedigrees contain both sets of grandparents, the parents, and an average of 9 grandchildren per family.ResultsWe use HipSTR to identify de novo STR mutations in the 2nd generation of these pedigrees and require transmission to the third generation for validation. Analyzing approximately 1.6 million STR loci, we estimate the empirical de novo STR mutation rate to be 5.24 × 10−5 mutations per locus per generation. Perfect repeats mutate about 2 × more often than imperfect repeats. De novo STRs are significantly enriched in Alu elements.ConclusionsApproximately 30% of new STR mutations occur within Alu elements, which compose only 11% of the genome, but only 10% are found in LINE-1 insertions, which compose 17% of the genome. Phasing these mutations to the parent of origin shows that parental transmission biases vary among families. We estimate the average number of de novo genome-wide STR mutations per individual to be approximately 85, which is similar to the average number of observed de novo single nucleotide variants.

Contribution bias of parental genomes to the hybrid lineages of black Amur bream and topmouth culter revealed by low-coverage whole-genome sequencing

Interspecific hybridization has the potential to increase animal genetic diversity, enable the introgression of advantageous genetic variation, and even create hybrid lineages. Using the low-coverage whole-genome sequencing data of black Amur bream (Megalobrama terminalis [SJ]), topmouth culter (Culter alburnus [QZ]), and their hybrid progeny, we focused on the sequence variation and contribution bias to the genomic composition of the hybrid lineages of SJ♀ × QZ♂ [ZJ] and QZ♀ × SJ♂ [FJ]. Both mash-based genetic distance analysis and variant analysis based on various reference genomes revealed that the hybrid lineages' genomes are more prone to QZ composition. Furthermore, we assess the degree of subgenomic intermixing between parents QZ and SJ in the FJ and ZJ hybrid lineages. In the Jaccard index-zero genomic area, 89.41% of the genomic region in ZJ and 90.23% in FJ are entirely from one of the parental genomes. This genomic area is primarily from QZ, regardless of FJ or ZJ. In FJ, the proportion is 55.70%; in ZJ, the proportion is 54.60%. Using the reference-free variant discovery tool, we identified two InDel markers (Both were SSR-type InDel markers) and one (T/A)-type SNP marker that displayed differences in agarose electrophoresis. Our current findings suggest that parental genomic contribution bias leads to an imbalance in the genomic composition of hybrid lineages. The genomic composition bias is connected to species but not maternal effects, giving insights into the development of vertebrate genomes shortly after hybridization.

Allele-specific expression and chromatin accessibility contribute to heterosis in tea plants (Camellia sinensis).

Heterosis is extensively used to improve crop productivity, yet its allelic and chromatin regulation remains unclear. Based on our resolved genomes of the maternal TGY and paternal HD, we analyzed the contribution of allele-specific expression (ASE) and chromatin accessibility of JGY and HGY, the artificial hybrids of oolong tea with the largest cultivated area in China. The ASE genes (ASEGs) of tea hybrids with maternal-biased were mainly related to the energy and terpenoid metabolism pathways, whereas the ASEGs with paternal-biased tend to be enriched in glutathione metabolism, and these parental bias of hybrids may coordinate and lead to the acquisition of heterosis in more biological pathways. ATAC-seq results showed that hybrids have significantly higher accessible chromatin regions (ACRs) compared with their parents, which may confer broader and stronger transcriptional activity of genes in hybrids. The number of ACRs with significantly increased accessibility in hybrids was much greater than decreased, and the associated alleles were also affected by differential ACRs across different parents, suggesting enhanced positive chromatin regulation and potential genetic effects in hybrids. Core ASEGs of terpene and purine alkaloid metabolism pathways with significant positive heterosis have greater chromatin accessibility in hybrids, and were potentially regulated by several members of the MYB, DOF and TRB families. The binding motif of CsMYB85 in the promoter ACR of the rate-limiting enzyme CsDXS was verified by DAP-seq. These results suggest that higher numbers and more accessible ACRs in hybrids contribute to the regulation of ASEGs, thereby affecting the formation of heterotic metabolites.

Parent ratings of executive functioning in pediatric survivors of medulloblastoma and pilocytic astrocytoma

The present study compared parent-rated executive functioning in pediatric medulloblastoma (MB) and pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) survivors. Although standard care for both includes surgical resection, children with MB additionally receive chemotherapy and craniospinal irradiation. Given well-documented neurocognitive late effects associated with the latter, we anticipated poor parent-reported executive functioning in MB survivors. Parents/guardians of 36 MB survivors and 20 PA survivors completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF). PA survivors were younger at diagnosis (t[51.97] = 3.07, p < .001, d = 0.86) and demonstrated higher IQ (t[54] = −3.51, p < .001, d = 0.95). However, relative to the MB group, the PA group was rated as having significantly more problems on all BRIEF scales (all p ≤ .05; d = 0.30 − 1.10), except the Shift scale. Additionally, all mean BRIEF scores for MB survivors were within normal limits, whereas for PA survivors, all mean BRIEF scores except for Organization of Materials were significantly discrepant from normative means. Overall, PA survivors were rated as demonstrating poorer executive function than MB survivors. Five theories are discussed as possible explanations for these surprising findings: two related to group differences, two related to potential sources of parental bias, and one related to the nature of questionnaire-based assessment. All these theories represent directions for future research. Parent questionnaires such as the BRIEF may have real-world implications for pediatric brain tumor survivors. Future research should explore factors affecting parent ratings of executive functioning in these populations, along with comparison to performance-based measures.

Computerized working memory training in males with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A single case experimental design study

ABSTRACT Learning disabilities (LDs) and working memory problems (WM) are common brain-related comorbidities in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Despite growing evidence on the efficacy of computerized WM training in children with LDs, research in DMD is lacking. This exploratory study assessed whether training (1) improves dystrophin-associated WM problems in DMD, (2) effects are present at post-intervention, 3 and 8 months follow-up, and (3) improves problems that arise from their LDs. A single case non-concurrent multiple baseline across patients design evaluated the target behaviour i.e. parental reports of WM problems of four DMD participants with LDs. Additionally, participants completed cognitive tests of verbal and visual WM, academics, attention, processing speed and fluid reasoning. Parents and teachers completed behavioural questionnaires. Testing and questionnaires were administered at baseline, post-intervention (T2), 3 (T3) and 8 (T4) months follow-up. Positive effects on target behaviour were found for three of four participants, but parental bias cannot be ruled out. Short and long-term, near-and far transfer effects were found for verbal and visual WM (T2:n = 2, T3&T4:n = 1), reading (T2:n = 4,T3:n = 3,T4:n = 2), arithmetic (all T:n = 1), processing speed (all T:n = 4) and fluid reasoning (T2:n = 1,T3&T4:n = 2). Behavioural questionnaires displayed minimal changes (T2:n = 1,T3&T4:n = 2). Promising WM training results are shown in DMD that merit further research.

Genome-wide detection of imprinted differentially methylated regions using nanopore sequencing.

Imprinting is a critical part of normal embryonic development in mammals, controlled by defined parent-of-origin (PofO) differentially methylated regions (DMRs) known as imprinting control regions. Direct nanopore sequencing of DNA provides a means to detect allelic methylation and to overcome the drawbacks of methylation array and short-read technologies. Here, we used publicly available nanopore sequencing data for 12 standard B-lymphocyte cell lines to acquire the genome-wide mapping of imprinted intervals in humans. Using the sequencing data, we were able to phase 95% of the human methylome and detect 94% of the previously well-characterized, imprinted DMRs. In addition, we found 42 novel imprinted DMRs (16 germline and 26 somatic), which were confirmed using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) data. Analysis of WGBS data in mouse (Mus musculus), rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta), and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) suggested that 17 of these imprinted DMRs are conserved. Some of the novel imprinted intervals are within or close to imprinted genes without a known DMR. We also detected subtle parental methylation bias, spanning several kilobases at seven known imprinted clusters. At these blocks, hypermethylation occurs at the gene body of expressed allele(s) with mutually exclusive H3K36me3 and H3K27me3 allelic histone marks. These results expand upon our current knowledge of imprinting and the potential of nanopore sequencing to identify imprinting regions using only parent-offspring trios, as opposed to the large multi-generational pedigrees that have previously been required.

Parental Health Literacy and NICU Provider Bias

The purpose was to explore the perceptions of bias and transition readiness for parents of Black preterm newborns before NICU discharge within the construct of parental health literacy (PHL). Preterm birth is the leading cause of mortality for Black infants in the United States. The readiness of parents to transition to providing care at home after NICU discharge must be prioritized. PHL is the degree to which parents can access, understand, and apply information related to the care of their newborn. Implicit bias is an unconscious negative association or judgment about an individual or group based on personal characteristics. Parental perceptions of bias toward them by NICU providers negatively affect the establishment of trusting relationships. Optimal transfer of information pertinent to the care of the newborn after NICU discharge requires trust, potentially facilitating continuation of disparate Black infant morbidity and mortality outcomes.

Discrepancies between mother and father ratings of child behavior after early mild traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACT Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) are highly prevalent during early childhood and can lead to behavioral difficulties. Parent report questionnaires are widely used to assess children’s behavior, but they are subject to parental bias. The aim of this study was to investigate parental discrepancies in internalized and externalized behavior ratings of children who sustain mTBI in early childhood (i.e., between 18 and 60 months) and to determine if parenting stress or family burden related to the injury contribute to parental discrepancies. Mothers and fathers of 85 children with mTBI, 58 orthopedic injured (OI), and 82 typically developing children (TDC) completed the Child Behavior Checklist 6 months after the injury. The primary caregiver completed the Parental Distress subscale of the Parenting Stress Index and the Family Burden of Injury Interview. Mothers reported more internalized and externalized behavior problems than fathers in the mTBI group. No group difference was found in the OI or TDC groups. Neither parenting stress nor family burden related to the injury predicted discrepancies in behavior ratings. Mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of behavior after their young child sustains mTBI appear to differ, suggesting that both parents’ views are useful in understanding outcome. This difference was not found in either of the comparison groups indicating that factors related to mTBI may underlie the rating discrepancies.