Childhood Psychosocial Factors Research Articles

Pathways between oral health conditions and bullying on adolescents: A 10-year cohort study.

To assess the pathways in which oral health conditions, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors in childhood can lead to the occurrence of bullying in adolescence. This is a 10-year cohort study conducted with a sample of 639 children in southern Brazil. Oral health conditions (dental caries, dental trauma and malocclusion), sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics were obtained at baseline (T1) and at follow-up (T2). General and dental bullying were assessed at T2 using the Bullying Olweus questionnaire and through a question contained in the Child Perception Questionnaire 11-14. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the pathways between oral health measures and bullying episodes over time. A total of 429 students were evaluated at follow-up. Untreated dental caries were direct and indirectly related with the occurrence of dental bullying at follow-up and indirectly associated with general bullying at T2. Low socioeconomic status, low sense of coherence and dental bullying presented a direct impact on the occurrence of general bullying at T2. Untreated dental caries are presented as the main oral health predictor of the occurrence of bullying episodes in adolescence.

P884 Association between psychosocial factors experienced in childhood or adolescence and occurrence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in adulthood: a case-control study in Quebec, Canada

Abstract Background The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been steadily increasing worldwide and its etiology remains poorly understood. This study aims to estimate the associations between exposure to psychosocial factors in childhood or adolescence and the development of IBD in adulthood, separately for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Methods A case-control study nested in a population-based birth cohort was carried out. A total of 993 cases of Crohn's disease, 489 cases of ulcerative colitis and 914 controls born between 1970 and 1974 in Quebec, Canada, were analyzed. Sociodemographic and medical information were extracted from administrative databases. Participants filled out a questionnaire including a section on selected psychosocial factors experienced over their life course. Odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (95% CI) for the associations between psychosocial factors in childhood (0-9 years), adolescence (10-17 years) or over the full pediatric period (0-17 years), and IBD in adulthood were estimated by unconditional logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounding factors. For each association, a model including tailored covariates selected with a directed acyclic graph was estimated. The number of psychosocial factors experienced over the pediatric period was also analyzed in relation to the risk of IBD in adulthood. Results Some factors were associated with the risk of Crohn’s disease, such as sexual abuse in childhood (OR=1.58; 95% CI: 1.08-2.30) or over the full pediatric period (OR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.04-1.84). Likewise, the following factors occurring during adolescence were associated with increased odds of Crohn’s disease: parental neglect (OR=1.64; 95% CI: 1.01-2.66), the death of a loved one (OR=1.37; 95% CI: 1.02-1.85), and anxiety disorders (OR=1.66; 95% CI: 1.02-2.70). An association was identified between the experience of anxiety disorders from 0 to 17 years and ulcerative colitis in adulthood (OR=1.67; 95% CI: 1.05-2.67). Finally, exposure to three or more (vs. none) psychosocial factors from 0 to 17 years old was associated with the occurrence of Crohn's disease (OR=1.63; 95% CI: 1.13-2.36), but not ulcerative colitis (OR=0.98; 95% CI: 0.60-1.60) in adulthood. Conclusion In this study, the occurrence of sexual violence, parental neglect, the death of a loved one or anxiety disorders during childhood and/or adolescence was associated with the development of IBD in adulthood. Our results bring new light to the etiological puzzle of IBD by focusing on psychosocial factors and their accumulation during periods of vulnerability. Further studies taking into account resilience and assessing microbiota changes will be needed to confirm these results.

The associations of childhood psychosocial factors with cognitive function in midlife-The young finns study.

An adverse psychosocial environment in childhood may harm cognitive development, but the associations for adulthood cognitive function remain obscure. We tested the hypothesis that adverse childhood psychosocial factors associate with poor cognitive function in midlife by leveraging the prospective data from the Young Finns Study. At the age of 3-18 years, the participants' psychosocial factors (socioeconomic and emotional environment, parental health behaviors, stressful events, child's self-regulatory behavior, and social adjustment) were collected. In addition to the separate psychosocial factors, a score indicating their clustering was created. Cognitive function was measured at the age of 34-49 years with a computerized test addressing learning and memory (N = 1,011), working memory (N = 1,091), sustained attention and information processing (N = 1,071), and reaction and movement time (N = 999). We observed an inverse association between the accumulation of unfavorable childhood psychosocial factors and poorer learning and memory in midlife (age, sex, education, adulthood smoking, alcohol drinking, and physical activity adjusted β = -0.032, SE = 0.01, p = .009). This association corresponded approximately to the effect of 7 months aging. Specifically, poor self-regulatory behavior (β = -0.074, SE = 0.03, p = .032) and social adjustment in childhood (β = -0.111, SE = 0.03, p = .001) associated with poorer learning ability and memory 30 years later. No associations were found for other cognitive domains. The findings suggest an association of childhood psychosocial factors with midlife learning ability and memory. If these links are causal, the results highlight the importance of a child's self-regulation and social adjustment as plausible determinants for adulthood cognitive health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Supplemental Material for The Associations of Childhood Psychosocial Factors With Cognitive Function in Midlife—The Young Finns Study

Supplemental Material for The Associations of Childhood Psychosocial Factors With Cognitive Function in Midlife—The Young Finns Study

Predicting sexual problems in young adults with an anorectal malformation or Hirschsprung disease

AimThe aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and distress and to assess whether sexual functioning could be predicted by psychosocial factors in childhood and adolescence in patients with an anorectal malformation or Hirschsprung disease. Material and methodsIn 1998 patients completed a psychosocial questionnaire: The Self-Perception profile. To assess the prevalence of sexual distress and sexual functioning in adulthood (2015) the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), The Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS) and the International Index of Erectile Functioning (IIEF) were used. ResultsIn total 74 patients returned the questionnaires (26.2%). 36.8% of women reported sexual dysfunction and 45% experienced sexual distress. In our male sample 8.8% reported mild to moderate erectile dysfunction. In females perceived self-competence in adolescence was associated with sexual distress (p<.01). In male adolescents associations were found between perceived self-competence in romantic relations (p<.01) and in close friendships (p<.05) and sexual desire in adulthood. ConclusionPediatric surgeons should be more aware of sexual problems patients may face at older age as a result of their congenital disease and treatment. More standardized care and follow-up are needed.Prognosis study–Level II.

Positive Psychosocial Factors in Childhood Predicting Lower Risk for Adult Type 2 Diabetes: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, 1980–2012

Type 2 diabetes is a public health concern, but psychosocial factors that may protect against the disease are unknown. This study examines whether a positive psychosocial environment in childhood is associated with lower risk for Type 2 diabetes in adulthood or healthier glucose trajectories over the life course, and whether BMI mediates the associations. A cohort of 3,596 Finnish children was followed into adulthood over 32 years. An overall positive psychosocial score, consisting of six subdomains, was measured at study baseline (1980). Relative risk ratios and multilevel growth curve modeling were used to examine associations of the psychosocial score with Type 2 diabetes (2012) and glucose trajectories (1986-2012). The mediating effect by BMI was examined using mediation analysis. The analyses were conducted between June 2015 and January 2016. There was a 21% decrease in the rate of Type 2 diabetes (relative risk ratio, 0.79; 95% CI=0.66, 0.94) for each 1-SD increase in the positive psychosocial score after adjustment for childhood cardiovascular risk factors and dietary behaviors. Adult BMI mediated 52% and weight gain mediated 25% of the association. The growth curve model showed healthier glucose trajectories (age X psychosocial score interaction, b= -0.01; p=0.010) for participants with higher versus lower positive psychosocial score in childhood. Positive psychosocial environment in childhood seems to have beneficial influences on the risk for Type 2 diabetes over the life span. RCTs will be required to see if interventions directed at early-life circumstances are warranted.

Psychosocial environment in childhood and body mass index growth over 32years.

The psychosocial environment and especially various psychosocial risks in childhood have been shown to predict later negative health behavior and health problems. In this study, we examined whether various psychosocial factor domains in childhood and adolescence: socioeconomic status, the emotional family environment (parental nurturance, life-satisfaction), parental lifestyle, life-events, the child's self-regulatory behavior and the child's social adaptation were associated with body mass index (BMI) trajectories individually by domain and as a cumulative score across domains. The participants were a nationally representative sample of 2016 men and women from the Young Finns study aged 3-18years at study entry in 1980. Their BMI was measured at six study phases from 1980 to 2012. Their parents reported all the factors related to their psychosocial environment in 1980. The participants responded to questions on adulthood socioeconomic status in 2007. The accumulation of psychosocial factors in childhood was the main exposure variable. The findings from repeated measures multilevel modeling showed that parental lifestyle and life-events and the more positive cumulative psychosocial factors score were associated with a slower increase in BMI during follow-up (regression coefficient range from -0.06 to -0.50). In conclusion, the psychosocial environment in childhood and adolescence, particularly parental lifestyle and lack of stressful life-events, are associated with a lower increase of BMI.

Childhood Psychosocial Factors and Coronary Artery Calcification in Adulthood: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

There is increasing evidence supporting the importance of psychosocial factors in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic disease. They have been shown to be associated with the population attributable risk for myocardial infarction. To determine if a score of favorable childhood psychosocial factors would be associated with decreased coronary artery calcification in adulthood. The analyses were performed in 2015 using data gathered in 1980 and 2008 within the longitudinal Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. The data source consisted of 311 individuals who had psychosocial factors measured at ages 12 years to 18 years and coronary artery calcification measured 28 years later in adulthood. The summary measure of psychosocial factors in childhood comprised measures of socioeconomic factors, emotional factors, parental health behaviors, stressful events, self-regulation of the child, and social adjustment of the child. Coronary artery calcification at ages 40 years to 46 years. Of the 311 participants, 48.2% were men. Of the participants, 55 (17.7%) had some calcium observed in their coronary arteries. A 1-SD increase in a favorable summary score of childhood psychological factors was associated with an adulthood coronary artery calcification probability of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.76-0.95) (P = .006). This inverse relationship remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, and conventional childhood risk factors (0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.97; P = .02) or for age, sex, adulthood conventional cardiovascular risk factors, socioeconomic status, social support, and depressive symptoms (0.83; 95% CI, 0.71-0.97; P = .02). In this longitudinal study, we observed an independent association between childhood psychosocial well-being and reduced coronary artery calcification in adulthood. A positive childhood psychosocial environment may decrease cardiovascular risk in adulthood and may represent a potentially modifiable risk determinant.

Childhood Psychosocial Determinants of Cardiovascular Health

Understanding risk and protective factors that impact cardiovascular health is of utmost importance. There is ample evidence that cardiovascular health begins in childhood, tracks over time, and is subject to adverse social influences. This paper reviews key studies examining the relations of psychosocial factors in childhood to cardiovascular health in adulthood. The existing literature provides evidence for both individual and cumulative effects of childhood psychosocial factors on adult cardiovascular health across the population, although the specific mechanisms underlying these relationships are not yet fully understood. This paper also includes a discussion of evidence-based strategies for prevention and treatment of childhood psychosocial problems. The extent to which these programs lead to improved cardiovascular health in high-risk groups or across the population by impacting psychosocial factors has not yet been studied, but is a clear future direction for research and policy.

A Prospective Study of Positive Early-Life Psychosocial Factors and Favorable Cardiovascular Risk in Adulthood

The American Heart Association's national goals for cardiovascular health promotion emphasize that cardiovascular risk originates early in life, but little is known about childhood factors that may increase the likelihood of having a favorable cardiovascular risk (FCR) in adulthood. We examined the prospective association between positive childhood factors and the likelihood of midlife FCR. We also considered pathways through which childhood factors may influence FCR. We studied 415 adults (mean age=42.2 years) of the Collaborative Perinatal Project, a national cohort initiated in 1959 to 1966. We examined 3 positive childhood factors assessed at age 7 years: attention regulation (ability to stay focused), cognitive ability, and positive home environment. Of these adults, 10.6% had FCR in midlife. Adjusting for demographics and childhood cardiovascular health, a 1-unit increase in childhood attention regulation, cognitive ability, and positive home environment was associated with 2.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.1-4.7), 1.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.9), and 1.3 (95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.6) higher respective odds of having midlife FCR. The association with childhood attention regulation was maintained when accounting for adulthood factors; education and diet in part explained the associations with childhood cognitive ability and home environment. The effect of each attribute was additive as those with high levels of each childhood factor had 4.3 higher odds (95% confidence interval, 1.01-18.2) of midlife FCR in comparison with those low in all factors. Positive childhood psychosocial factors may promote healthy adult cardiovascular functioning. Primordial prevention efforts aimed at preventing the development of cardiovascular risk should consider building on childhood psychosocial resources.

Association between childhood psychosocial factors and induced abortion

To examine the predictive associations between psychosocial risk factors in childhood and having an abortion in adolescence or young adulthood. This study is based on a nationwide cohort consisting of 2867 girls born in Finland in 1981. The baseline assessment was conducted at age eight by three informants, and it included information on psychiatric symptoms, school performance and family related risk factors. Register-based follow-up data on abortions were collected until the end of the year when the participants turned 28 years. They were available for 2694 participants. Cox proportional hazards model and logistic regression model were used for statistical analysis. Altogether 357 women (13.3%) had had an abortion for other than medical reasons during the follow-up. Of the childhood factors, a high level of conduct problems, poor school performance, family structure other than two biological parents, and mother with a low level of education were independently associated with having an abortion. Comparison of the strength of associations between childhood risk factors and first abortion under the age of 20 versus first abortion at a later age, showed no significant differences. Neither did the comparison between one and more abortions. At age eight there are already psychosocial factors which predict later abortion. This finding needs to be considered when targeting preventive interventions and developing sexual health services.

Psychosocial factors associated with becoming a young father in Finland: a nationwide longitudinal study

BackgroundLittle is known about the characteristics of boys who become fathers at young age. Some studies have suggested that antisocial adolescents are more likely to be young fathers. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of psychosocial factors in childhood with becoming a young father, and to assess if they are independent of criminal behavior in adolescence.MethodsThe baseline assessment in 1989 included 2,946 boys born in 1981. Information about psychiatric symptoms at age eight was collected with Rutter questionnaires from parents and teachers and with the Child Depression Inventory from the children themselves. Data on criminal offenses at age 16–20 was collected from a police register. Register-based follow-up data on becoming a father under the age of 22 was available for 2,721 boys.ResultsThe factors measured at age eight, which were associated with becoming a young father independently of adolescent criminality, were conduct problems, being born to a young father and having a mother with a low educational level. Having repeatedly committed criminal offences in adolescence was associated with becoming a young father independently of psychosocial factors in childhood.ConclusionsAntisocial tendencies both in childhood and adolescence are associated with becoming a young father. They should be taken into consideration when designing preventive or supportive interventions.

Psychosocial problems in childhood and later alcohol consumption: A life course approach with historical information

Childhood psychosocial problems have been associated with poor alcohol habits in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to investigate further the association in men by using information from historical health records. As part of the epidemiological FinDrink Study, we examined the association between childhood psychosocial problems and total ethanol consumption, binge drinking, and abstinence in later life among Finnish men. The participants were a sample from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD), a population-based cohort study in eastern Finland. The data on childhood psychosocial factors were collected from health records (n = 952, 35.5% of the entire study sample), mainly from the 1930s to the 1950s. Questionnaire data on alcohol consumption were obtained from the baseline examinations of the KIHD cohort in 1984-1989. Controlling for age and examination year, the men who had been considered psychosocially disadvantaged by elementary school nurses had a 2.72-fold (95% confidence interval 1.30-5.65) risk of bingeing on fortified wine in later life. After adjustment for adulthood behavioural and socioeconomic factors the association (odds ratio 3.71, 95% confidence interval 1.56-8.84) appeared even stronger. Childhood psychosocial problems also contributed to abstinence, but did not appear to increase the total amount of ethanol consumed. Psychosocial problems observed in boys seem to contribute to different alcohol habits in later life. However, the factors eventually involved in the manifestation of problematic drinking patterns through the life course still require further research.

Childhood socio-economic position and adult smoking: are childhood psychosocial factors important? Evidence from a British birth cohort

Childhood socio-economic position (SEP) is associated with adult smoking status. Previous studies have investigated mediation by educational attainment. The aim of this study is to examine whether childhood psychosocial factors (cognitive ability, psychosocial adjustment and parental involvement) are important in the association between childhood SEP and adult smoking status over and above educational attainment in a large prospective birth cohort study. Data on 7709 participants from the National Child Development Study birth cohort from Great Britain were used in this study. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the associations of childhood SEP and childhood psychosocial factors with adult smoking status, both bivariate and mutually adjusted, and then additionally adjusted for confounders and participant's educational attainment. Analyses were conducted separately for men and women. Childhood SEP is an important determinant of adult smoking status, even after adjustment for childhood psychosocial factors and educational attainment. Parental involvement, cognitive ability and psychosocial adjustment were all associated with adult smoking status for both men and women. Also parental involvement for men, and both parental involvement and psychosocial adjustment for women, remain important determinants of adult smoking status over and above childhood SEP, other childhood psychosocial factors and educational attainment. These findings add to the evidence base that childhood disadvantage is associated with adult smoking behaviours and highlights the importance of the early childhood social environment for the development of these.

Impact of early psychosocial factors (childhood socioeconomic factors and adversities) on future risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic disturbances and obesity: a systematic review

BackgroundPsychological factors and socioeconomic status (SES) have a notable impact on health disparities, including type 2 diabetes risk. However, the link between childhood psychosocial factors, such as childhood adversities or parental SES, and metabolic disturbances is less well established. In addition, the lifetime perspective including adult socioeconomic factors remains of further interest.We carried out a systematic review with the main question if there is evidence in population- or community-based studies that childhood adversities (like neglect, traumata and deprivation) have considerable impact on type 2 diabetes incidence and other metabolic disturbances. Also, parental SES was included in the search as risk factor for both, diabetes and adverse childhood experiences. Finally, we assumed that obesity might be a mediator for the association of childhood adversities with diabetes incidence. Therefore, we carried out a second review on obesity, applying a similar search strategy.MethodsTwo systematic reviews were carried out. Longitudinal, population- or community-based studies were included if they contained data on psychosocial factors in childhood and either diabetes incidence or obesity risk.ResultsWe included ten studies comprising a total of 200,381 individuals. Eight out of ten studies indicated that low parental status was associated with type 2 diabetes incidence or the development of metabolic abnormalities. Adjustment for adult SES and obesity tended to attenuate the childhood SES-attributable risk but the association remained. For obesity, eleven studies were included with a total sample size of 70,420 participants. Four out of eleven studies observed an independent association of low childhood SES on the risk for overweight and obesity later in life.ConclusionsTaken together, there is evidence that childhood SES is associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity in later life. The database on the role of psychological factors such as traumata and childhood adversities for the future risk of type 2 diabetes or obesity is too small to draw conclusions. Thus, more population-based longitudinal studies and international standards to assess psychosocial factors are needed to clarify the mechanisms leading to the observed health disparities.

The relation between an adverse psychological and social environment in childhood and the development of adult obesity: a systematic literature review

The prevalence of obesity is on a global-wide increase, but still the aetiology of adult obesity is poorly understood. It has been shown that overweight children suffer from adverse psychological events, but less is known about the potential effects of adverse psychological factors among normal weight children for later development of obesity. The purpose of this study was to systematically review current literature on associations between psychological factors in childhood and development of obesity in adulthood. A systematic search was conducted in three electronic databases MEDLINE (silverplatter 1977-2008), PsycINFO (1972-2008) and PsycINFO Weekly (week 1 January 2007-week 3 July 2008) to identify studies of interest. Six prospective and two retrospective studies were identified. Psychosocial factors related to adult obesity were lack of childhood care, abuse and childhood anxiety disorders. In addition, depression in adolescence tended to be related to adult obesity but among young girls only. Learning difficulties and scholastic proficiencies below average were also risk factors. The current literature suggests that specific psychosocial factors in childhood may act as determinants for developing obesity in adulthood.

A life‐course approach to assess psychosocial factors and periodontal disease

Several models have been used to suggest the role of psychosocial factors in periodontal disease. None have adopted the life-course approach, which emphasizes the importance of exposures over time and at critical points of a person's life. To investigate the relationship between psychosocial factors at two periods of life and periodontal diseases in Brazilian adult females. The study design was a cross-sectional survey of 330 women randomly selected from a larger sample of mothers whose children participated in a study on chronic oral disease using a life-course framework. Each woman was clinically assessed for the presence of periodontal disease. An interview collected information on socioeconomic, behavioural and family-related factors at two periods of the participant's life (childhood and adulthood). The main outcome variable was loss of periodontal attachment. Data analysis used logistic regression. High levels of periodontal disease were predicted by <4 years of education, past and present smoking, high levels of paternal discipline in childhood and low levels of emotional support in adulthood. The influence of childhood factors was not attenuated by adulthood circumstances. Psychosocial factors in childhood and adulthood were associated with high levels of periodontal disease in adulthood.

Chapter 7. Sickness absence and psychiatric disorders

There is limited scientific evidence that women have a higher frequency and incidence of sickness absence due to psychiatric diagnoses. Because of conflicting findings, there is insufficient evidence on gender differences in the duration of sickness absence. Because of conflicting findings, there is also insufficient evidence on the association between age and sickness absence with psychiatric diagnoses. There is insufficient evidence on the association of sickness absence due to psychiatric diagnoses with work-related factors, factors related to family and social networks outside of the job, and psychosocial factors in childhood and adolescence since none of the individual factors were investigated in more than a single study. The results were conflicting (insufficient evidence) in five studies that investigated whether individuals with psychiatric disorders were at greater risk for sickness absence and disability pension, irrespective of the diagnosis on the sickness certificate. The four studies that used alcohol diagnoses to identify alcohol problems found increased sickness absence irrespective of the diagnosis on the certificate (expressed as more sick-leave days or an increased risk for prolonged sickness absence in individuals with alcohol problems). Furthermore, two of the studies found an increased risk for disability pension in women diagnosed with alcohol problems. There is insufficient evidence because of too few studies. The results are conflicting with regard to the association between high alcohol consumption and sickness absence, irrespective of the diagnosis on the certificate (insufficient evidence).

Prognostic factors in major depression: A long-term follow-up study of 323 patients

Background: Optimal long-term treatment of major depression should assess the background factors affecting remission and recurrent episodes. The duration and number of previous depressive episodes has been shown to be important for recurrence. This long-term prospective study of patients with major depression assessed the prognostic effect of variables related to childhood, social life and occupation. Methods: The study examined 323 patients in two follow-up examinations 12–25 years from the initial examination to the second follow-up. Stepwise logistic regression was used to evaluate the prognostic effect for depression at the second follow-up. Results: The risk of depression at the second follow-up was associated with several psychosocial factors in childhood, female gender, social isolation and a negative attitude towards one’s own occupation. Limitations: The patient group was selected from the practice of only one psychiatrist. Conclusions: Several psychosocial factors in childhood, female gender, social isolation and a negative attitude towards one’s own occupation have previously been shown to be associated with the risk of depression. The results in this study suggest that these factors are also important in predicting the outcome of a major depressive episode and the risk of recurrent episodes.

Relation between headache in childhood and physical and psychiatric symptoms in adulthood: national birth cohort study

Objective: To elucidate the associations between frequent headache and psychosocial factors in childhood and to determine whether such children are at an increased risk of headache, multiple physical symptoms, and...