Young Children's Relationships Research Articles

Understanding the practice of self-management friendship relationships in young children with autism: a qualitative study in chinese public kindergartens

Understanding the practice of self-management friendship relationships in young children with autism: a qualitative study in chinese public kindergartens

Associations of Prenatal First-Trimester Metal Mixtures and Childhood Adipokines in the Project Viva Cohort

Background and Aim: The adipokines leptin and adiponectin, mainly produced in adipose tissue, are involved in energy homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. Lower adiponectin and higher leptin correlate with older childhood and adult adiposity, while the relationship in young children is less clear. Higher prenatal heavy metals and lower nonessential metals have been associated with childhood adiposity, but it is unclear if prenatal metals influence childhood adipokines. Methods: Six nonessential (As, Ba, Cd, Cs, Hg, Pb) and four essential (Mg, Mn, Se, Zn) metals were measured in first trimester red blood cells from pregnant participants in the Boston MA-area Project Viva cohort. Blood leptin and adiponectin were measured in early-childhood (N=527-526; mean 3.3 (SD 0.3) years), mid-childhood (N=426; 8.0 (0.8) years), and early-adolescence (N=477; 13.1 (0.9) years). Linear regression and quantile g-computation models estimated associations between individual and mixtures of metals and adipokines, adjusting for confounders. Results: Mean (SD) leptin was 1.9 (1.9) ng/ml in early-childhood, 5.6 (6.8) ng/ml in mid-childhood and 11.9 (14.7) ng/ml in early-adolescence. Mean (SD) adiponectin was 22.4 (5.5) μg/ml in early-childhood, 15.7 (8.5) μg/ml in mid-childhood and 6.4 (2.8) μg/ml in early-adolescence. A doubling in arsenic was associated with lower adiponectin at the early-childhood visit (β=-0.40 μg/ml, 95% CI: -0.73, -0.07), while cesium was associated with higher leptin at the early-adolescence visit (β=2.76 ng/mL, 95% CI: 0.22, 5.30). In mixture analyses, adjusting for metals not in the mixture, a quartile increase in nonessential metal mixture was associated with lower adiponectin (β=-0.18 μg/ml, 95% CI: -0.33, -0.03) at the mid-childhood visit. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that certain prenatal metals are associated with adipokines in childhood, which might influence cardiometabolic risk. Future work will evaluate if adipokines mediate associations of prenatal metals with adiposity and cardiometabolic risk. Keywords: Heavy metals, Mixtures analysis, Children's environmental health

The Prevailing Emphasis on the Quality of the Parent-Infant Relationship for Early Intervention

Attachment theory is the buzzword in parenting guides and professional publications, and risk to the child's attachment development is widely used as the threshold for early intervention. Given the severe impact of inaccurately diagnosed attachment disturbances on the child's wellbeing (Granqvist et al., 2017), the valid assessment of the quality of the early parent-infant relationship is crucial.This is particularly relevant during the ongoing pandemic which specifically burdens young families. Based on the psychoanalytic understanding of the parent-infant relationship and its crucial importance for the infant's emerging self, this paper gives an introduction into the early relational development in infancy.The relevance of a psychodynamic diagnosis of relational disturbance in the first year is described using the Parent-Infant Relational Assessment Tool (PIRAT) Global Scales (Broughton, Hommel, the Parent-Infant Project, 2016; Hommel, 2018). Conceptualized at theAnna Freud Centre in London, the PIRAT was developed and validated, by the author.The prevailing emphasis on the importance of early intervention, and the evidence of the effectiveness of parent-infant psychotherapy in improving both parental functioning and fostering secure attachment relationships in young children (Barlow et al., 2013), support the clinical need to detect very early risks for parents and babies (Sleed, 2013).

Association between malocclusion and articulation of phonemes in early childhood

To evaluate the relationship between dental malocclusion and speech to understand the etiology of speech sound disorders (SSD) in schoolchildren and to make a correct diagnosis and treatment plan. Articulation and dental occlusion, oromyofunctional evaluation with orofacial praxis and musculature, resting tongue position, and swallowing pattern were analyzed in 290 schoolchildren between the ages of 4 and 7 years. Statistical tests were considered significant for P < .05. A significant association between dental malocclusions (Angle Class II and III, anterior open bite, edge-to-edge bite, overjet and anterior crossbite) and phonetic alterations (P = .008) was observed. Sigmatisms and rhotacisms were the most frequent disorders. Malocclusions also showed a significant association with oral habits and with orofacial praxis and muscle activity. The presence of malocclusion can cause imbalances in the functions involved in the stomatognathic system. Awareness of this relationship in young children would help professionals to implement preventive measures for the optimum development of children's oral health.

Associations between respiratory and vascular function in early childhood.

The link between respiratory and vascular health is well documented in adult populations. Impaired lung function is consistently associated with thicker arteries and higher incidence of cardiovascular disease. However, there are limited data on this relationship in young children and the studies that exist have focussed on populations at high risk of cardiorespiratory morbidity. We determined if an association exists between respiratory and cardiovascular function in young children and, if so, whether it is confounded by known cardiorespiratory risk factors. Respiratory and vascular data from a prospective cohort study established to evaluate the health implications 3 years after coal mine fire smoke exposure in children aged 3-5 years were used. Respiratory function was measured using the forced oscillation technique and included resistance at 5Hz (R5 ), reactance at 5Hz (X5 ) and area under the reactance curve (AX). Vascular health was measured by carotid intima-media thickness (ultrasound) and pulse wave velocity (arterial tonometry). Regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between the respiratory Z-scores and cardiovascular measures. Subsequent analyses were adjusted for potential confounding by maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal education and exposure to fine particulate matter <2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5 ). Peripheral lung function (X5 and AX), but not respiratory system resistance (R5 ), was associated with vascular function. Adjustment for maternal smoking, maternal education and early life exposure to PM2.5 had minimal effect on these associations. These observations suggest that peripheral lung stiffness is associated with vascular stiffness and that this relationship is established early in life.

An Examination of the Glucose Management Indicator in Young Children with Type 1 Diabetes.

Previous studies utilizing glucose data from continuous glucose monitors (CGM) to estimate the Glucose Management Indicator (GMI) have not included young children or determined appropriate GMI formulas for young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). We extracted CGM data for 215 children with T1D (0-6 years) from a repository. We defined sampling periods ranging from the 3-27 days prior to an HbA1c measurement and compared a previously established GMI formula to a young child-specific GMI equation based on the sample's CGM data. We examined associations between HbA1c, GMI values, and other CGM metrics for each sampling period. The young child-specific GMI formula and the published GMI formula did not evidence significant differences when using 21-27 days of CGM data. The young child-specific GMI formula demonstrated higher correlations to laboratory HbA1c when using 18 or fewer days of CGM data. Overall, the GMI estimate and HbA1c values demonstrate a strong relationship in young children with T1D. Future research studies may consider utilizing the young child-specific GMI formula if the data collection period for CGM values is under 18 days. Further, researchers and clinicians may consider changing the default number of days of data used to calculate glycemic metrics in order to maximize validity of CGM-derived metrics.

Sleep, screen time and behaviour problems in preschool children: an actigraphy study.

Inadequate sleep and excessive exposure to media screens have both been linked to poorer mental health in youth. However, the ways in which these interact to predict behaviour problems have yet to be examined using objective sleep measurement. The lack of objective evidence for these relationships in young children has recently been defined by the World Health Organization (2019) as a gap in the field. We thus aimed to test the interacting effects of screen exposure and objectively measured sleep on behaviour problems in the preschool age. A total of 145 children aged 3-to-6-years participated in this cross-sectional study. Sleep was assessed objectively using actigraphy for 1-week, and subjectively using parent-reported daily sleep diaries. Parents reported the child's daily duration of screen exposure, and completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results showed that actigraphic sleep duration, timing and efficiency were associated with screen exposure. The link between screen time and behaviour problems was moderated by sleep duration, as it was significant only for children with sleep duration of 9.88h or less per night. Sleep duration also moderated the relation between screen time and externalizing-but not internalizing-problems. Hence, the combination of increased screen exposure and decreased sleep duration may be particularly adverse for child mental health. While these key relationships should be further examined in longitudinal and experimental investigations, our findings shed light on their complexity, underscoring the importance of the moderating role of sleep.

Examining peer relationships of young children in terms of teacher–child relationship

ABSTRACT The main purpose of the study is to examine the peer relationships of young children in terms of teacher–children relationship. The participants of this study were composed of 99 Turkish children (between the ages of five and six). Sociometry Technique Based on Peer Nomination and Student–Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS) were used. According to results, levels of teacher–child closeness predicted the levels of being liked by peers. Levels of teacher–child conflict and closeness, significantly predict levels of being disliked by peers. Levels of teacher–child conflict and dependency not predict levels of being liked by peers. Also, levels of teacher–child dependency not predict levels of being disliked by peers. In addition, the arithmetic means of children in this study for their social statuses differed based on closeness from teacher–child relationship variables. It was determined that the closeness mean scores of popular children with their teachers were higher than the rejected children.

유아의 기질 및 어머니의 언어통제 유형과 유아의 자아탄력성과의 관계

유아의 기질 및 어머니의 언어통제 유형과 유아의 자아탄력성과의 관계

The Relationship Between Gratitude and Happiness in Young Children

Over the past decades, much progress has been made in understanding the relationship between gratitude and well-being in adults, school-aged children, and adolescents (see Emmons and Mishra, in: Sheldon, Kashdan, Steger (eds) Designing positive psychology: taking stock and moving forward, Oxford University Press, New York, pp 248–262, 2011; Watkins in Gratitude and the good life: toward a psychology of appreciation, Springer, New York, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7253-3 ). However, relatively little is known about this relationship in young children (see Park and Peterson in J Happiness Stud 7(3):323–341, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-005-3648-6 ). The aim of the present study was to fill this gap by investigating the relationship between gratitude and happiness in young children. The general propensity for gratitude, domain-specific gratitude, and trait happiness were measured in a group of children (N = 80, Mage = 5.04 years). The results revealed that children’s domain-specific gratitude predicted children’s happiness above and beyond a general propensity for gratitude. These findings establish the presence of a relationship between gratitude and happiness in children by age 5 years, and reveal the type of gratitude, namely domain-specific, that is associated with happiness among young children.

Relationship between pulmonary artery acceleration time and pulmonary artery pressures in infants.

Pulmonary artery acceleration time measured by echocardiography inversely correlates with pulmonary artery pressures in adults and children older than 1year of age. There is a paucity of data investigating this relationship in young children, particularly among preterm infants. To characterize the relationship between pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAAT) and pulmonary artery pressures in infants. Patients ≤1year of age at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia between 2011 and 2017 were reviewed. Infants with congenital heart disease were excluded, except those with a patent ductus arteriosus(PDA), atrial septal defect(ASD), or ventricular septal defect(VSD). Linear regression analysis was used to assess the correlation between PAAT measured by echocardiography and systolic pulmonary artery pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and indexed pulmonary vascular resistance from cardiac catheterization. Fifty-seven infants were included, of which 61% were preterm and 49% had a diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The median postmenstrual age and weight at catheterization were 51.1weeks (IQR 35.8-67.9weeks) and 4400g (IQR 3100-6500g), respectively. Forty-four infants (77%) had a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). There was a weak inverse correlation between PAAT with mPAP (r=-0.35, P=0.01), sPAP (r=-0.29, P=0.03), and PVRi (r=-0.29, P=0.03). There is a weak inverse relationship between PAAT and pulmonary artery pressures. This relationship is less robust in our population of infants with a high incidence of PDAs compared to previous studies in older children. Thus, PAAT may be less clinically meaningful for diagnosing pulmonary arterial hypertension in infants, particularly those with PDAs.

Development and validity of the Burns-Child Adult Medical Procedure Interaction Scale (B-CAMPIS) for young children

BackgroundYoung children are at increased risk of burn injury and of procedural distress during the subsequent wound care. There are currently few observational measures validated for use with young children during medical procedures. The aim of this research was to adapt the Child–Adult Medical Procedure Interaction Scale-Revised (CAMPIS-R) to assess parent-young child interactions during burn wound care by including nonverbal behavioral coding. MethodEighty-seven families of children (1–6years old) were recruited at their first burn dressing change. Potential behaviors were identified through a literature review, consulting health professionals, and direct observation of parents and children during burn wound care. Nonverbal behaviors were coded live, and verbal behaviors were audio recorded for later assessment. ResultsInter-coder reliability was good to excellent for the Burns-CAMPIS (B-CAMPIS). The additional behaviors were correlated with the hypothesized coping, distress, coping-promoting and distress-promoting categories of the CAMPIS-R. Some behaviors differed in frequency across child age groups, with older children demonstrating more verbal behaviors. Convergent validity was demonstrated through correlations with previously validated observational parent–child behavior measures, and parent– and nurse– reported measures of child pain and anxiety. Univariate regression analyses demonstrated the child categories of the B-CAMPIS accounted for equal or more of the variance of parent– and nurse– reported child pain and anxiety, compared to the CAMPIS-R. ConclusionsThe B-CAMPIS is a reliable and valid measure, for assessing coping and distress relationships in young children and their families. Pending further validation, the B-CAMPIS assists researchers and clinicians to recognize and target important behaviors to improve young child coping during pediatric burn wound care.

유아의 스마트폰 과의존, 유아의 공격성, 어머니의 양육스트레스, 어머니의 스마트폰 중독경향성의 구조적 관계 분석

유아의 스마트폰 과의존, 유아의 공격성, 어머니의 양육스트레스, 어머니의 스마트폰 중독경향성의 구조적 관계 분석

Assessment of pulmonary structure-function relationships in young children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis by multivolume proton-MRI and CT.

Lung disease is the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and there is a shortage of sensitive biomarkers able to regionally monitor disease progression and to assess early responses to therapy. To determine the feasibility of noncontrast-enhanced multivolume MRI, which assesses intensity changes between expiratory and inspiratory breath-hold images, to detect and quantify regional ventilation abnormalities in CF lung disease, with a focus on the structure-function relationship. Retrospective. Twenty-nine subjects, including healthy young children (n = 9, 7-37 months), healthy adolescents (n = 4, 14-22 years), young children with CF lung disease (n = 10, 7-47 months), and adolescents with CF lung disease (n = 6, 8-18 years) were studied. 3D spoiled gradient-recalled sequence at 1.5T. Subjects were scanned during breath-hold at functional residual capacity (FRC) and total lung capacity (TLC) through noncontrast-enhanced MRI and CT. Expiratory-inspiratory differences in MR signal-intensity (Δ1 H-MRI) and CT-density (ΔHU) were computed to estimate regional ventilation. MR and CT images were also evaluated using a CF-specific scoring system. Quadratic regression, Spearman's correlation, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Δ1 H-MRI maps were sensitive to ventilation heterogeneity related to gravity dependence in healthy lung and to ventilation impairment in CF lung disease. A high correlation was found between MRI and CT ventilation maps (R2 = 0.79, P < 0.001). Globally, Δ1 H-MRI and ΔHU decrease with increasing morphological score (respectively, R2 = 0.56, P < 0.001 and R2 = 0.31, P < 0.001). Locally, Δ1 H-MRI was higher in healthy regions (median 15%) compared to regions with bronchiectasis, air trapping, consolidation, and to segments fed by airways with bronchial wall thickening (P < 0.001). Multivolume noncontrast-enhanced MRI, as a nonionizing imaging modality that can be used on nearly any MRI scanner without specialized equipment or gaseous tracers, may be particularly valuable in CF care, providing a new imaging biomarker to detect early alterations in regional lung structure-function. 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 3 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2018;48:531-542.

Is frequency of family meals associated with fruit and vegetable intake among preschoolers? A logistic regression analysis.

The present study aimed to examine the associations between frequency of family meals and low fruit and vegetable intake in preschool children. Promoting healthy nutrition early in life is recommended for combating childhood obesity. Frequency of family meals is associated with fruit and vegetable intake in school-age children and adolescents; the relationship in young children is less clear. We completed a secondary analysis using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort. Participants included children, born in the year 2001, to mothers who were >15 years old (n = 8 950). Data were extracted from structured parent interviews during the year prior to kindergarten. We used hierarchical logistic regression to describe the relationships between frequency of family meals and low fruit and vegetable intake. Frequency of family meals was associated with low fruit and vegetable intake. The odds of low fruit and vegetable intake were greater for preschoolers who shared less than three evening family meals per week (odds ratio = 1.5, β = 0.376, P < 0.001) than preschoolers who shared the evening meal with family every night. Fruit and vegetable intake is related to frequency of family meals in preschool-age children. Educating parents about the potential benefits of frequent shared meals may lead to a higher fruit and vegetable consumption among preschoolers. Future studies should address other factors that likely contribute to eating patterns during the preschool years.

Associations between physical activity and psychological health in Swiss preschool children

Background: Findings on the relationship of physiological stress measures and weight or behavioral problems in older children are controversial and data of young children is missing. The aim of the study was to investigate this relationship in young children.

The relationship of physiological stress measures, behavioral problems and body composition in preschool children

Background: Findings on the relationship of physiological stress measures and weight or behavioral problems in older children are controversial and data of young children is missing. The aim of the study was to investigate this relationship in young children.

Play-based Learning and Intentional Teaching: Forever Different?

PLAY-BASED LEARNING IS a cornerstone of early childhood education provision. Play provides opportunities for young children to explore ideas, experiment with materials and express new understandings. Play can be solitary, quiet and reflective. Play can also be social, active and engaging. While play is commonly understood as the basis for learning in early childhood education, this is not always the situation in all settings. Cultural variations in learning and play suggest that social interactions and observational learning also create powerful pedagogical learning environments for young children. International and national research highlights the value of sustained and reflective interactions between children and educators in promoting children's learning. Increasingly, the notion of quality in play-based pedagogy invites educators to integrate traditional beliefs about play with new insights into the role of social interactions, modelling and relationships in young children's learning.Overseas, the movement towards quality play-based pedagogy reflects debate and policy initiatives captured by the notion of intentional teaching. In Australia, the Early Years Learning Framework makes explicit reference to intentional teaching. Intentional teaching arguably engages educators and children in shared thinking and problem solving to build the learning outcomes of young children. However, the pedagogical relationship between play-based learning and intentional teaching remains difficult to conceptualise. This is because the value placed on the exploratory potential of play-based learning can appear to be at odds with the role of intentional teaching in promoting knowledge development. This paper reaches beyond binary constructs of play and intentional teaching, and invites consideration of a new Pedagogical Play-framework for inspiring pedagogical and curriculum innovation in the early years.This paper was a keynote address at the 2016 Early Childhood Australia National Conference addressing the theme Inspire-be inspired to reach beyond quality.

Current Nutritional Status does not Modify the Malaria-Anemia Relationship in Young Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in Five Sub-Saharan African Countries

Current Nutritional Status does not Modify the Malaria-Anemia Relationship in Young Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in Five Sub-Saharan African Countries

Brain metabolite levels and language abilities in preschool children

IntroductionLanguage acquisition occurs rapidly during early childhood and lays the foundation for future reading success. However, little is known about the brain–language relationships in young children. The goal of this study was to investigate relationships between brain metabolites and prereading language abilities in healthy preschool‐aged children.MethodsParticipants were 67 healthy children aged 3.0–5.4 years scanned on a 3T GE MR750w MRI scanner using short echo proton spectroscopy with a voxel placed in the anterior cingulate gyrus (n = 56) and/or near the left angular gyrus (n = 45). Children completed the NEPSY‐II Phonological Processing and Speeded Naming subtests at the same time as their MRI scan. We calculated glutamate, glutamine, creatine/phosphocreatine, choline, inositol, and NAA concentrations, and correlated these with language skills.ResultsIn the anterior cingulate, Phonological Processing Scaled Scores were significantly correlated with glutamate, creatine, and inositol concentrations. In the left angular gyrus, Speeded Naming Combined Scaled Scores showed trend correlations with choline and glutamine concentrations.ConclusionsFor the first time, we demonstrate relationships between brain metabolites and prereading language abilities in young children. Our results show relationships between language and inositol and glutamate that may reflect glial differences underlying language function, and a relationship of language with creatine. The trend between Speeded Naming and choline is consistent with previous research in older children and adults; however, larger sample sizes are needed to confirm whether this relationship is indeed significant in young children. These findings help understand the brain basis of language, and may ultimately lead to earlier and more effective interventions for reading disabilities.