Risk Factor For Behavioral Problems Research Articles

Predchádzanie rizikového a problémového správania žiakov v základných školách pohľadom učiteľov primárneho vzdelávania

Risk factors for problem behavior occur throughout a child's development, and children face new risks at each developmental period. Children's environments become more complex as they grow older, making early intervention more difficult. Some manifestations of risky behavior are repeated in children and may erupt in a more serious form at a later time. Reducing the occurrence of these risks has the possibility of preventing the occurrence of several problems. It's true that preventing problems takes time and some resources, but the alternative can be even more expensive. We know from practice that reacting to challenging student behavior with clear consequences, for example a visit to the principal's office or a reduced behavior grade, may seem like a simple solution, but it is not effective. In the article, we present the qualitative view of primary education teachers (n = 65) on the prevention of risky and problematic behavior of pupils in Slovak schools. Data collection was ensured through a questionnaire with open items, which allowed teachers to create their own meaningful answers. We evaluated these based on open coding and categorized them according to the relatedness of the answers. We believe that the varied spectrum of these answers and proposals will encourage schools to participate in the elimination of risky and problematic behavior among pupils.

Behavior problems of preschoolers with Developmental Language Disorder

Objective: Children with developmental language disorder (DLD) are prone to numerous adverse outcomes throughout their lives. The aim of the study was to investigate risk factors and behavior problems in children aged 1.5 to 5 years with DLD in a low/middle-income country. Material and Methods: This case-control study included 101 preschoolers (54 children with DLD and 47 children with typical development (TD)). A developmental pediatrician evaluated each child’s development using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire. Children Behavior Checklist and Beck Depression Inventory were completed by mothers. Socio-demographic information and screen parameters were obtained using a researcher-developed form. Results: Risk factors for DLD were identified as less frequent reading books with parents, consanguineous marriage, and having a family member with language disorders. Preschoolers with DLD had more behavior problems (except sleep and somatic problems) than preschoolers with TD (p<0.050). The risk factors for behavior problems of preschooler with DLD in the multivariable regression model included: ages of parents and children, paternal education, lack of having their own room, and maternal depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Consistent with the findings of this study, consanguineous marriage, family history of language disorders, and infrequent reading of books with parents were associated with the development of DLD. Attention should be given to behavioral problems in preschool children with DLD. Maternal depressive symptoms, lower paternal education, younger father, and lack of having their own room can be highlighted factors for behavior problems of children with DLD. Parents play a crucial role in shaping behavior and language development during the preschool period.

Práticas Parentais, Depressão Materna e Problemas Comportamentais: Associações, Predição e Moderação

Abstract There are gaps in the ways in which maternal depression, educational practices and children’s behavior problems are associated. The objective was to verify: (a) associations between maternal depression, parenting practices and behavior problems in this sample; (b) the isolated and combined predictive effect of maternal depression and both positive and negative parenting practices on behavior problems; and (c) the possible moderating effect of positive parenting practices in the relation between maternal depression and behavior problems. Participants were 101 biological mothers who responded to validated self-report instruments. Data were treated by univariate and multivariate regression analyses, and moderation analyses were conducted. Associations were found between negative parenting, current maternal depression and behavior problems. And the moderation of positive practices in reducing the negative impact of depression on children’s behaviors was identified. Teaching positive practices is suggested to minimize risk factors for behavioral problems.

Protective factors and risk factors in coping with the Covid-19 pandemic crisis by ado

Introduction: The environmental crisis, which was the period of the Covid-19 pandemic and the accompanying isolation, caused negative changes in the mental and social functioning of some adolescents. Previous studies have indicated severale consequences observed in young people: mental health disorders, attention deficits and in task efficiency, deterioration of peer relations, moods of sadness and depression (e.g. Bigaj, Dębski, 2020; Ghosh et al., 2020; Grzelak, 2020; Pyżalski, 2020a). However, negative symptoms do not affect the general student population. It is therefore important to identify the factors supporting adolescents in coping with the crisis and factors that increase the risk of a decline in mental condition.
 Method: In this context, a study was conducted to answer the question about the type and intensity of specific symptoms of mental crisis in adolescents examined during a pandemic. It was also checked whether the variation in the severity of symptoms was accompanied by differences in psychosocial factors important for coping with the crisis, while controlling the gender variable. The study covered a group of 1,514 students from 7th and 8th grades of primary schools and secondary schools. The Scale of the impact of COVID-19 and home isolation on children and adolescents by Mireia Orgilés, Alexander Morales and José Pedro Espada was used, as well as a survey to diagnose protective factors and risk factors for problem behaviors in adolescents.
 Results: Most young people do not notice changes in their physical and mental well-being after the period of home isolation and the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, a significant group of about one third of the respondents experienced a deterioration in their psychophysical condition. The factors that accompanied the different effects of the pandemic and differentiate young people with strong symptoms of a mental crisis from those who do not experience negative effects are: the quality of peer relations, the quality of the relationship with teachers and the tutors, the type of contact with parents, school and class climate.
 Conclusions: The Covid-19 pandemic and home isolation were accompanied by negative psychophysical changes in approximately one third of adolescents. The pandemic itself, however, is not a direct cause of these changes. What is important here is the contribution of psychosocial factors that make up the conditions in which young people functioned during the pandemic.

The impact of sleep-corrected social jetlag on mental health, behavioral problems, and daytime sleepiness in adolescents

Study objectivesThis study aimed to examine the effect of sleep-corrected social jetlag (SJLsc) on mental health, behavioral problems, and daytime sleepiness in adolescents. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study which included 4787 adolescents (Mean age: 14.83±1.6y, 56.0% girls) recruited from 15 secondary schools in Hong Kong. SJLsc was defined as the absolute difference between sleep-corrected midsleep on weekdays and weekends, at which the sleep debt has been considered. It was classified into three groups: low-level (“LSJLsc”, <1h), mid-level (“MSJLsc”, ≥1h and <2h), and high-level of SJLsc (“HSJLsc”, ≥2h). Adolescents’ mental health, behavioral problems and daytime sleepiness were measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS). Logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline regression (RCS) analysis were applied with consideration of confounders including age, gender, puberty and sleep problems. ResultsNearly half (46.9%) of adolescents had SJLsc for at least 1 h. Greater SJLsc was associated with more behavioral difficulties (MSJLsc: OR: 1.20, p = 0.03; HSJLsc: OR: 1.34, p = 0.02) when controlling for age, sex, puberty, chronotype, insomnia, and time in bed. There was a dose-response relationship in which higher SJLsc had an increased risk of conduct problems and hyperactivity, while only high-level SJLsc was associated with a peer relationship problem. In RCS analysis, SJLsc was associated with a higher likelihood of behavioral difficulties (p = 0.03) but not poor mental health or daytime sleepiness. ConclusionsSleep-corrected social jetlag was a unique risk factor for behavioral problems in adolescents. Our findings highlighted the need for interventions to promote healthy sleep-wake patterns in school adolescents.

Impact of Family-Based Secondary Prevention Programming on Risk, Resilience, and Delinquency: A 6-Month Follow Up within a Randomized Control Trial in Honduras

The present study examines the impact of Proponte Más, a family-based, multiple gated prevention program in Honduras. The primary goal of Proponte Más is to reduce the risk factors for problem behavior associated with youth in Honduras through family-based intervention services. At risk youth were randomly assigned to a treatment and control group. Data for the study were sourced primarily from the Behavior Measurement Instrument and FACES IV instrument given to study participants prior to and following programming. Our study finds that Proponte Más succeeded in improving family functioning and decreasing risk factors and increasing protective factors. Our findings pertaining to the impact of the program on delinquency, however, were mixed. Our findings suggest that RCTs and family-based interventions can be effectively carried out in the most violent and at-risk communities in the Western Hemisphere and can result in reduced risk and improved resiliency among at-risk youth.

A Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of EMDR and TF-CBT in Reducing Trauma Symptoms and Externalizing Behavior Problems in Adolescents.

This multi-level meta-analysis tested if evidence-based trauma treatment was effective in reducing trauma symptoms and externalizing behavior problems in adolescents. Based on eight independent samples and 75 effect sizes, results indicated that Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) had a large and significant overall effect (d = 0.909) on reducing trauma symptoms and externalizing behavior problems. Trauma treatment significantly decreased trauma symptoms (large effect) and externalizing behavior problems (medium effect). Age and type of control group moderated treatment effects. Treatment was more effective in older adolescents. Trauma treatment for adolescents with externalizing behavior problems had a larger effect compared to no treatment, but not compared to treatment as usual. It seems important to provide a broad treatment offer for adolescents with severe externalizing behavior problems, in which, besides trauma treatment, attention is paid to reducing relevant individual risk factors for behavior problems.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Spanking Have Similar Associations with Early Behavior Problems

To examine whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and physical punishment (ie, spanking) are unique risk factors for behavior problems in early childhood, and whether ACEs moderate the associations of spanking with child behavior problems. We conducted prospective, longitudinal analyses on 2380 families in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Mothers reported outcomes of externalizing and internalizing behavior problems at age 5 years; and the main predictors, ACEs and spanking, at age 3 years. ACEs included 9 items: physical abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, mother's exposure to intimate partner violence, parental mental health problem, parental substance use, parental incarceration, and parental death. Multilevel models examined the associations between ACEs, spanking, and behavior problems, and the moderating effect of ACEs in the associations of spanking with behavior problems. Analyses were adjusted for preexisting behavior problems, demographics, and neighborhood conditions. ACEs (β=0.028; P<.001) and spanking (β=0.041; P<.001) at 3years were unique risk factors for increased externalizing behavior problems at 5years, after controlling for covariates. The magnitude of the associations of ACEs and spanking with externalizing behavior were statistically indistinguishable. ACEs did not moderate the association between spanking and externalizing behavior. ACEs and spanking have similar associations in predicting child externalizing behavior. Results support calls to consider physical punishment as a form of ACE. Our findings also underscore the importance of assessing exposure to ACEs and physical punishment among young children and providing appropriate intervention to children at risk.

Early childhood screen time as a predictor of emotional and behavioral problems in children at 4\u2009years: a birth cohort study in China

BackgroundPrevious studies have suggested that screen time (ST) has a negative effect on children’s emotional and behavioral health, but there are few longitudinal studies that have been conducted with infants and toddlers. This study sought to examine the effect of ST in early childhood on emotional and behavioral problems in children aged 4 years, based on a birth cohort study in China.MethodsA total of 2492 children aged 4 years were enrolled in this study. The parents and guardians of each child completed a questionnaire that included items eliciting information on children’s birth information, socio-demographic information at baseline, and ST at each follow-up. Emotional and behavioral problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at 4 years of age. Multivariate logistic analysis was used to explore the effects of ST on emotional and behavioral problems.ResultsThe percentages of children with ST > 0 h/day at age 0.5 years, ST > 2 h/day at age 2.5 years, and ST > 2 h/day at age 4 years were 45.7, 55.5, and 34.5% respectively. The prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems was 10.8%. ST at 6 months was a risk factor for emotional symptoms and hyperactivity at the age of 4 years. ST at age 2.5 years was a risk factor for hyperactivity at the age of 4 years. However, ST at age 4 years was a risk factor for total difficulties, conduct problems, peer problems, hyperactivity, and prosocial behavior.ConclusionsHigher ST exposure at early childhood is associated with later emotional and behavioral problems. In particular, sustained high ST exposure is a risk factor for behavioral problems. These findings suggested the importance of controlling ST to prevent the occurrence of emotional and behavioral problems in the early years.

Testing the predictive and incremental validity of callous-unemotional traits versus the multidimensional psychopathy construct in preschool children

This study aimed to test the predictive and incremental value of psychopathic trait dimensions in early childhood. To this end, a callous-unemotional (CU)-based approach was compared to the multidimensional psychopathic personality approach in predicting future and stable conduct problems (CP) and aggression, whilst controlling for well-established risk factors for child CP. Prospective longitudinal data were collected from a community sample of 2247 children (48.6% girls) aged three to six (Mage = 4.25; SD = 0.91) at the initial assessment. Participants were followed annually for two years, with information provided by parents. Children were assigned to six mutually exclusive groups based on their baseline levels of psychopathic traits and conduct problems. Results showed that, after accounting for sociodemographic variables, temperamental features (e.g., fearlessness), and ADHD symptoms, children scoring high in all psychopathic traits and high in CP were at increased risk to display future and stable CP, reactive and proactive aggression, followed by the group of children high in CU traits and CP. Future research on child psychopathy may benefit from considering the constellation of co-occurring interpersonal, affective and behavioral psychopathic traits, and could inform developmental models aiming to explain heterogeneity in child CP.

Risk factors for feather-damaging behavior in companion parrots: A social media study

Studies on the etiology of behavioral problems often involve interference in the animal's routine or reliance on owners' self-reports like surveys. Gathering data from videos posted on social media, a technique coined ‘video mining’, offers novel opportunities to study the animal's behavior in their home environment remotely and with minimal disturbance. We use this technique on companion parrots, for whom inadequate captive environment and lack of social contact may cause various behavioral problems, with feather-damaging behavior as the most salient issue. Videos posted on YouTube were collected for feather-damaged (n = 36) and species-matched control parrots (n = 26). We scored plumage condition and recorded the parrot's characteristics: genus, sex, age, origin, and other behavioral problems. We also scored environmental characteristics: owner type, valence of human-animal interaction, presence of other parrots, presence of other companion animals, cage location and size, environmental enrichment with the provision of foraging, chewable and non-chewable devices, and type of feed. Finally, possible interventions against feather damage and their visible effects were recorded. The probability of feather damage was significantly influenced by several predictors (P = 0.001), with the presence of non-bird companion animals in the household and the provision of vegetables and fruits in the diet, foraging devices and chewable devices all reducing the risk of feather damage. Family-owned parrots were less likely to be feather-damaged, and women-owned parrots were more likely to be feather-damaged, although this finding could be biased by the type of person willing to share videos, to adopt a feather-damaged parrot, or other confounding variables. The various interventions attempted by owners (rehoming, conspecific, environmental enrichment, drug, collar, or combinations of these) resulted in plumage score improvement overtime (P = 0.04), with rehoming the parrot being the most common and effective, whereas parrots that received no intervention worsened overtime. These findings highlight the importance of the household environment, feed and foraging enrichment on feather-damaging behavior in companion parrots. Scientists should take advantage of the wealth of data available on video sharing websites, especially when interested in understanding the risk factors for behavioral problems in the home environment.

Behavioural outcome in twin–twin transfusion syndrome survivors treated with laser surgery

ObjectiveEvaluate the incidence of and risk factors for behavioural problems in twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) survivors treated with fetoscopic laser coagulation.DesignObservational cohort study.SettingNational referral center for fetal therapy, Leiden University...

Attention bias to reward predicts behavioral problems and moderates early risk to externalizing and attention problems.

The current study had three goals. First, we replicated recent evidence that suggests a concurrent relation between attention bias to reward and externalizing and attention problems at age 7. Second, we extended these findings by examining the relations between attention and behavioral measures of early exuberance (3 years), early effortful control (4 years), and concurrent effortful control (7 years), as well as later behavioral problems (9 years). Third, we evaluated the role of attention to reward in the longitudinal pathways between early exuberance and early effortful control to predict externalizing and attention problems. Results revealed that attention bias to reward was associated concurrently and longitudinally with behavioral problems. Moreover, greater reward bias was concurrently associated with lower levels of parent-reported effortful control. Finally, attention bias to reward moderated the longitudinal relations between early risk factors for behavioral problems (gender, exuberance, and effortful control) and later externalizing and attention problems, such that these early risk factors were most predictive of behavioral problems for males with a large attention bias to reward. These findings suggest that attention bias to reward may act as a moderator of early risk, aiding the identification of children at the highest risk for later behavioral problems.

Behavioral problems of preschool children with new-onset epilepsy and one-year follow-up — A prospective study

ObjectivesChildhood emotional/behavioral problems in children with epilepsy have been reported to be higher compared with those with typical development or with other nonneurologic health conditions. Increasing interest towards understanding these behavioral comorbidities is reflected in literature. However, longitudinal investigations regarding the course of behavioral problems in children with newly diagnosed epilepsy and normal development are rare, and majority of them involve school-aged children. We aimed to study the behavioral comorbidities of preschool children with newly diagnosed epilepsy and to explore the changes of behavioral problems after one year from the diagnosis in comparison with the healthy group and subsequently, to elucidate the potential developmental, neurologic, and social risk factors associated with these difficulties. MethodsParticipants were 83 patients, aged between 18 and 59 months, 43 of them were children with new-onset epilepsy, and 40 of them were healthy children as the comparison group. The Child Behavior Check List-1 1/2-5 (CBCL) was used to evaluate emotional/behavioral problems of the children. Maternal anxiety was analyzed by The State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The general development of children was evaluated by the Denver-II-Developmental Screening Test (D-II-DST). Sociodemographic characteristics were also collected for all participants. Each evaluation was repeated after one year from the diagnosis. ResultsInternalizing, externalizing, and total problem scores were higher in children with epilepsy than the control group at baseline, and despite some reduction in several scales, the differences continued across groups after one year. The analysis for the course revealed that behavior problem scores reduced in children with new-onset epilepsy over a year, but it did not change in healthy children. Among the possible factors related to behavior problem scores, in correlation analysis, the duration of screen viewing, socioeconomic status, and maternal education were associated with behavior problem scores. There was no significant association between epilepsy-related variables and the behavior problem scores and the course. Among all possible risk factors in the regression analyses, maternal trait anxiety level was found to be significantly related to the total problems, internalizing, and externalizing scores in the group with epilepsy. ConclusionBehavioral comorbidities of epilepsy are present very early and can be seen at the time of the diagnosis, however, they do not worsen over time in preschool children. Maternal anxiety should be considered as a risk factor for behavioral problems in preschool children with epilepsy. Assisting children and parents and ensuring necessary guidance and support should be a crucial part of epilepsy treatment initiated as soon as the time of diagnosis.

Sleep Characteristics and Behavioral Problems Among Children of Alcoholics and Controls.

Past research has indicated that both sleep difficulties and a parental history of alcoholism increase the risk of behavioral problems. But it is not known whether sleep difficulties differentially increase the risk of problem behaviors among children of alcoholics (COAs) and controls. We compared multiple measures of sleep and the relationships between sleep and behavioral problems in these 2 groups of children. One hundred and fifteen children aged 8 to 12 (67% COAs; 56% girls; Mage =10.85, SDage =1.51) participated in this study. Data presented here were taken from Time 1 of a larger prospective study designed to understand the relationship between sleep and alcohol use. All participants were naïve to alcohol and other illicit drugs. Participants were asked to wear an actigraph watch on their nondominant wrist for 1week. Parents completed the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire and the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist. Parents of COAs were more likely to rate their children as overtired compared with parents of non-COAs. Structural equation modeling analyses focusing on overall internalizing and externalizing problems did not reveal any group differences on the relationships between sleep measures and behavioral problems. Regression analyses focusing on specific behavioral problems showed that longer total sleep time, parental ratings of "sleep more" and "sleep less" than other children interacted with COA status to predict specific behavioral problems. Sleep difficulties and duration appear to be a general risk factor for behavioral problems in both COAs and non-COAs, yet the relationships between specific sleep parameters and behavioral problems appear to be different between the 2 groups.

Co-development of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems during early childhood among child welfare-involved children

Using parallel-process latent growth curve modeling, we examine developmental trajectories of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems and identify early risk factors for behavior problems among 329 child welfare-involved children followed from age 2years to 5 years. Data are drawn from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II. On average, internalizing behavior problems remained stable, while externalizing behavior problems decreased over time. Higher initial levels of internalizing behavior problems were associated with higher initial levels of externalizing behavior problems. Rates of change also had positive cross-domain relationships. Child neglect, exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), insecure caregiver-child attachment, and caregiver mental health problems were associated with higher initial levels of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Exposure to IPV, out-of-home care, and caregiver drug use predicted rates of change in behavior problems. Our findings highlight the importance of comprehensive assessment and treatment for co-occurring internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in young children involved in the child welfare system. Results also indicate the need for identifying and addressing early risk factors to prevent early onset and continued development of behavior problems in high-risk children.

Perinatal substance use, residential instability, and negative behavioral outcomes among adolescents: Lessons from the maternal lifestyle study.

Both housing instability and prenatal substance use are known risk factors for behavioral problems among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between residential instability (residential mobility and homelessness) and delinquent behaviors among adolescents enrolled in the maternal lifestyle study (MLS), a 16-year research study that explored short-term and long-term effects of in-utero exposure to cocaine and/or opiates (N=736). Logistic regression was used to measure the association between housing problems with youth crimes, school delinquency, and substance use at 11, 15, and 16years of age. Both high-frequency residential mobility and homelessness were associated with deviant behaviors across the entire sample of children born with in-utero cocaine/opiate exposure and those without. Psychiatric nursing care of youth should include a comprehensive assessment of residential instability to identify risk and target potential interventions.

Research Roundup

Risk factors for problem behaviors in preterm children: Maternal depression, gestational age, and socioeconomic challenges Many teens use cigarettes worldwide — and half of them want to quit FBI investigates maker of genetic tests for opioid addiction susceptibility

Pathways from Childhood Adversity to Problem Behaviors in Young Adulthood: The Mediating Role of Adolescents' Future Expectations.

Adverse childhood experiences and pessimistic future expectations about college attendance or mortality are established risk factors for problem behaviors among youth. Data were from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 14,800; 49 % female). Participants were 11-17-years-old at baseline and 24-32-years-old at outcome. Adolescents' college expectations and fatalistic expectations mediated the effect of childhood adversity on violent behavior in young adulthood. Neither college nor fatalistic expectations were significant mediators in models predicting substance use and nonviolent antisocial behaviors. Although observed mediational effect sizes were small, they survived models that included multiple controls designed to rule-out alternative explanations. Intervening on adversity-exposed adolescents' college and fatalistic expectations may reduce risk for violent behaviors.

Poverty and behavior problems during early childhood

Poverty is a well-established risk factor for behavior problems, yet our understanding of putative family mediators during early childhood (i.e., before age 5 years) is limited. The present study investigated whether the association between poverty and behavior problems during early childhood is mediated simultaneously by perceived parenting, family dysfunction and/or maternal depression symptoms. Outcomes measures were high trajectories of physical aggression and hyperactivity between 1.5 and 5 years. Poverty was defined as living 2–4 years below the low-income thresholds defined by Statistics Canada. Using data from the first five rounds of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, logistic regressions models showed that poverty was associated with a higher likelihood of being assigned to the high trajectory of physical aggression and hyperactivity. Overprotection and maternal depression symptoms mediated observed associations. Interventions targeting maternal depression, parenting, and poverty should help reducing children’s risk for early behavior problems.