Sample Age Range Research Articles

Reference Values For Standing Broad Jump In Colombian Schoolchildren

PURPOSE: Muscular power refers to the ability to perform high-intensity exercise for a fraction of a second to several minutes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop age-and sex-specific normative reference values for lower-body muscular power assessed by the standing broad jump (SBJ) in Colombian schoolchildren. METHODS: A total of 7244 children and adolescents (55.7% girls, with a sample age range of 9-17.9 years) completed the SBJ test (median age, in years = 12.8 (SD 2.3); 25th-75th percentile: 11.0-15.0. The distance between takeoff and the heel of the closest foot at landing was recorded in centimeters, and participants were allowed one more try if they landed with their hands behind their feet. Smoothed percentile curves and tables for the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 97th percentiles were calculated using Cole’s LMS method. RESULTS: The one-way ANOVA tests showed that maximum SBJ (cm) was higher in boys than in girls (p<0.01). Post hoc analyses within sexes showed yearly increases in SBJ scores in all ages. In boys, the maximum SBJ scores 50th percentile ranged from 110 to 165 cm. In girls, the 50th percentile ranged from SBJ scores was 96 to 120. Both linear and quadratic age terms were statistically significant predictors of SBJ trends across age. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide reference standards for sex- and age-specific SBJ scores in Colombian schoolchildren aged 9-17.9 years for the first time. The proposed reference values can be used to interpret SBJ scores in Colombian schoolchildren. Funding COLCIENCIAS (Contract N° 671-2014 Code 122265743978).

Establishing Normative Reference Values For The 20-meter Shuttle-run Test Among Schoolchildren In Bogota, Colombia

PURPOSE: There is increasing evidence that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an important health marker in youth. CRF values for children and adolescents from different countries have been published, but there is a scarcity of reference values for Latin American children and adolescents using recommended CRF estimation field tests such as the 20-m shuttle-run test as evidence of CRF in Colombian schoolchildren. In addition to presenting normative reference values, we also aim to establish the proportion of subjects whose aerobic capacity is indicative of future cardiovascular risk. METHODS: A total of 7244 children and adolescents (55.7% girls, with a sample age range of 9-17.9 years) completed the 20 m shuttle-run test (median age, in years = 12.8 (SD 2.3); 25th-75th percentile: 11.0-15.0. We expressed performance as the number of shuttle-runs completed and the estimated peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak). Smoothed percentile curves and tables for the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 97th percentiles were calculated using Cole’s LMS method. In addition, we calculated the number of participants who fell below proposed cut-offs for low CRF based on either completed shuttle-runs or by VO2peak. RESULTS: In general CRF levels increased with age. Among boys CRF, where higher between the ages of 14 and 17 and in girls between the ages of 12 and 14, but this increase was more modest. Shuttles and VO2peak were higher in boys than in girls in all age-specific groups. The proportion of subjects with a CRF indicative of future cardiovascular risk was 11.5%. By sex, 9.65% of boys and 13.1% of girls (X2 p < .001) displayed an unhealthy aerobic capacity in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide reference standards for sex- and age-specific twenty- meter shuttle-run test scores and VO2peak values in Colombian schoolchildren aged 9-17.9 years for the first time. These values are particularly important in public health and educational settings, and future research should establish a cut-off value for test performance that can predict present or future ill health. Funding COLCIENCIAS (Contract N° 671-2014 Code 122265743978).

Developing a novel peer support intervention to promote resilience after stroke.

Stroke can lead to physical, mental and social long‐term consequences, with the incidence of stroke increasing with age. However, there is a lack of evidence of how to improve long‐term outcomes for people with stroke. Resilience, the ability to ‘bounce back’, flourish or thrive in the face of adversity improves mental health and quality of life in older adults. However, the role of resilience in adjustment after stroke has been little investigated. The purpose of this study is to report on the development and preliminary evaluation of a novel intervention to promote resilience after stroke. We applied the first two phases of the revised UK Medical Research Council (UKMRC) framework for the development and evaluation of complex interventions: intervention development (phase 1) and feasibility testing (phase 2). Methods involved reviewing existing evidence and theory, interviews with 22 older stroke survivors and 5 carers, and focus groups and interviews with 38 professionals to investigate their understandings of resilience and its role in adjustment after stroke. We used stakeholder consultation to co‐design the intervention and returned to the literature to develop its theoretical foundations. We developed a 6‐week group‐based peer support intervention to promote resilience after stroke. Theoretical mechanisms of peer support targeted were social learning, meaning‐making, helping others and social comparison. Preliminary evaluation with 11 older stroke survivors in a local community setting found that it was feasible to deliver the intervention, and acceptable to stroke survivors, peer facilitators, and professionals in stroke care and research. This study demonstrates the application of the revised UKMRC framework to systematically develop an empirically and theoretically robust intervention to promote resilience after stroke. A future randomised feasibility study is needed to determine whether a full trial is feasible with a larger sample and wider age range of people with stroke.

Autism spectrum quotient, coping with stress and quality of life in a non-clinical sample - an exploratory report.

BackgroundIt has been shown that autistic traits may be observed both in individuals with autism spectrum disorders and to a lesser extent in the general population. Since these traits are closely associated with limitations in social functioning, they make development of interpersonal relations difficult, and therefore may have a negative impact on an individual’s quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to explore these links, including the mediating effects of coping styles.MethodsA sample of 154 adults aged 19–38 years completed three questionnaires: Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations and World Health Organization Quality of Life—BREF. Pearson’s r correlation coefficients were analysed, followed by path analysis.ResultsAll domains of QoL (Physical health, Psychological, Relationships and Environmental) were negatively correlated with AQ. The correlations were low or moderate (from −0.36 to −. 42). AQ was also correlated with two coping styles: positively with Emotion-oriented coping and negatively with Social diversion. Path analysis models showed the mediating effect of coping styles with respect to the relationships between autistic traits and QoL domains. Autistic traits and coping styles explained the greatest level of variance for the Psychological domain (41 %).ConclusionsThe results confirmed the relationship between autistic traits and QoL, mediated by two coping styles. Due to the small sample and narrow age range of participants, our findings should be treated as a preliminary report.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES

The real wealth of any nation and any region lies in the wellbeing of its people. The three main problems in the world, are known as three-P-Population, Poverty, and Pollution. Pollution is the main problem of the modern world. The technological inventions and progress has over powered nature, it has also resulted in the thoughtless exploitation of nature. Awareness by educating everyone, to value the nature and maintain the natural environment are important need. A study was conducted a 50 private and govt. female school students to measure the environmental values. Environmental Value Test (Shrivastav&amp; Dubey, 1995) was used to assess the environmental value of the sample age range varied from 16-17 yrs. Findings of the study reveal that there is degree of high environmental value among both urban groups. Eco-club, Vanmahotsava, Exhibitions are popular means of creating awareness about environment. The need of the hour is to discuss environmental issues as our environmental issues, at global level as a sense of duty. To protect the environment from the adverse effects of pollution, many nations worldwide have enacted legislation to regulate various types of pollution to mitigate their harmful effects.

Prevalence of Emotional Disturbance in Children with Hearing Impairment and Intellectual Disability

Present study aims to investigate the prevalence of emotional disturbance among children with hearing impairment and intellectually disabled. Sample of 67 children was collected from different rehabilitation centers of Karachi, Pakistan. Intellectually disabled were 35 and with hearing impairment were 32 children. Sample age range was 12 to 18 years with mean age of 14.98 years. One to one session was conducted with parents in order to get history of presenting problem of the child. After getting demographic information, proper instructions were given to a child and then Human Figure Drawing Test (HFD, Koppitz) was administered individually. Data was scored according to manual and was statistically analyzed. Findings reported the prevalence of emotional disturbance was found statistically significant in both intellectually disabled and children with hearing impairment. Further protocols showed various indications of psychiatric disorders i.e. poor integration of personality, intense anxieties, feeling of insecurity and hopelessness, aggression, impulsivity and poor self-image. It is concluded that intellectually disabled and children with hearing impairment are at high risk of emotional disturbance that is valid indication of psychiatric disorders.

Age related changes in metabolite concentrations in the normal spinal cord.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies have previously described metabolite changes associated with aging of the healthy brain and provided insights into normal brain aging that can assist us in differentiating age-related changes from those associated with neurological disease. The present study investigates whether age-related changes in metabolite concentrations occur in the healthy cervical spinal cord. 25 healthy volunteers, aged 23–65 years, underwent conventional imaging and single-voxel MRS of the upper cervical cord using an optimised point resolved spectroscopy sequence on a 3T Achieva system. Metabolite concentrations normalised to unsuppressed water were quantified using LCModel and associations between age and spinal cord metabolite concentrations were examined using multiple regressions. A linear decline in total N-Acetyl-aspartate concentration (0.049 mmol/L lower per additional year of age, p = 0.010) and Glutamate-Glutamine concentration (0.054 mmol/L lower per additional year of age, p = 0.002) was seen within our sample age range, starting in the early twenties. The findings suggest that neuroaxonal loss and/or metabolic neuronal dysfunction, and decline in glutamate-glutamine neurotransmitter pool progress with aging.

From Failure to Flourishing: The Roles of Acceptance and Goal Reengagement

Two studies were conducted to examine the relationship between a proposed adaptive response to failure and subsequent flourishing. The cognitive/emotional level of the proposed adaptive response to failure, acceptance of negative emotions, is characterized by allowing negative emotions to surface without trying to control them. The behavioral level of response, goal reengagement, is characterized by reengaging with new, intrinsically meaningful goals. Study 1 (N = 50) was based on a community sample (age range 32–90 years) and consisted of semi-structured interviews coded for participants’ response to the biggest job-related failure ever experienced and current psychological flourishing. Study 2 (N = 101), an online study based on a different community sample (age range 18–73 years), further tested the proposed adaptive response to failure by using questionnaires to assess participants’ response to the biggest job-related failure ever experienced and current flourishing. Findings across both studies indicated that responding to failure by accepting negative emotions and reengaging with new, intrinsically meaningful goals was associated with greater subsequent flourishing, including more happiness and fewer depressive symptoms.

Heritability of metabolic syndrome traits in a large population-based sample

Heritability estimates of metabolic syndrome traits vary widely across studies. Some studies have suggested that the contribution of genes may vary with age or sex. We estimated the heritability of 11 metabolic syndrome-related traits and height as a function of age and sex in a large population-based sample of twin families (N = 2,792-27,021, for different traits). A moderate-to-high heritability was found for all traits [from H(2) = 0.47 (insulin) to H(2) = 0.78 (BMI)]. The broad-sense heritability (H(2)) showed little variation between age groups in women; it differed somewhat more in men (e.g., for glucose, H(2) = 0.61 in young females, H(2) = 0.56 in older females, H(2) = 0.64 in young males, and H(2)= 0.27 in older males). While nonadditive genetic effects explained little variation in the younger subjects, nonadditive genetic effects became more important at a greater age. Our findings show that in an unselected sample (age range, ~18-98 years), the genetic contribution to individual differences in metabolic syndrome traits is moderate to large in both sexes and across age. Although the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome has greatly increased in the past decades due to lifestyle changes, our study indicates that most of the variation in metabolic syndrome traits between individuals is due to genetic differences.

A systematic review of validity procedures used in neuropsychological batteries.

study presents a systematic review of validity evidence for neuropsychological batteries. Studies published in international databases between 2005 and 2012 were examined. Considering the specificity of neuropsychological batteries, the aim of the study was to review the statistical analyses and procedures that have been used to validate these instruments. A total of 1,218 abstracts were read, of which 147 involved studies of neuropsychological batteries or tests that evaluated at least three cognitive processes. The full text of each article was analyzed according to publication year, focal instrument of the study, sample type, sample age range, characterization of the participants, and procedures and analyses used to provide evidence of validity. The results showed that the studies primarily analyzed patterns of convergence and divergence by correlating the instruments with other tests. Measures of reliability, such as internal consistency and test-retest reliability, were also frequently employed. To provide evidence of relationships between test scores and external criteria, the most common procedures were evaluations of sensitivity and specificity, and comparisons were made between contrasting groups. The statistical analyses frequently used were Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis, Pearson correlation, and Cronbach's alpha. We discuss the necessity of incorporating both classic and modern psychometric procedures and presenting a broader scope of validity evidence, which would represent progress in this field. Finally, we hope our findings will help researchers better plan the validation process for new neuropsychological instruments and batteries. Keywords: neuropsychological assessment, validity, reliability, systematic review.

Prevalence of Child Mental Health Problems in Sub-Saharan Africa

To assess the prevalence of child mental health problems in community settings in sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsychInfo, supplemented by tracking of references from identified articles and personal communications with local researchers. Only community-based studies in sub-Saharan Africa that assessed the general psychopathology of children aged 0 to 16 years were included. For each eligible study, the following information was extracted: year of publication, country, population sampled, area type (rural or urban), sampling method and sample size (percentage boys), age range, assessment instrument, informant, diagnostic criteria, and prevalence rates of general psychopathology. Pooled prevalence rate of psychopathology in children, identified by questionnaire and, specifically, by clinical diagnostic instruments. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria, 10 of which were included in the meta-analysis. The 10 studies provided data for 9713 children from 6 countries, with substantial variation in assessment methods. Overall, 14.3% (95% CI, 13.6%-15.0%) of children were identified as having psychopathology. Studies using screening questionnaires reported higher prevalence rates (19.8%; 95% CI, 18.8%-20.7%) than did studies using clinical diagnostic instruments (9.5%; 8.4%-10.5%). Evidence suggests that considerable levels of mental health problems exist among children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. One in 7 children and adolescents have significant difficulties, with 1 in 10 (9.5%) having a specific psychiatric disorder. There are clear sociodemographic correlates of psychopathology that may place children in areas of greatest deprivation at greatest risk.

Sex Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence from a Large Sample of Children and Adolescents

Sex differences have been found amongst toddlers and young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We investigated the presence and stability of these ASD sex differences throughout childhood and adolescence. Participants (N = 325, 52 females; aged 3-18 years) consecutively received an ASD diagnosis at a clinic for assessing high-functioning ASD (mean verbal IQ = 92.6). There were no IQ sex differences. By parent report and direct observation, females had less repetitive stereotyped behaviour (RSB), with male-equivalent levels of social and communication impairment. Teachers reported males with ASD as having greater externalising and social problems than females. The female phenotype we describe was stable across our sample's age range. Their milder RSBs and less severe difficulties at school may lead to under-recognition of ASD in females.

Response to the comments of Professors Anderson &amp; Holford

The following are my responses to the comments of Professors Anderson & Holford (henceforth mentioned as A & H in the text) on my manuscript entitled: ‘Evaluation of a morphine maturation model for the prediction of morphine clearance in children’[1].

Normative Data for Elderly Adults: The Maine-Syracuse Study

The primary objective of this study was to provide supplementary normative data on aging and cognition from an ongoing community-based study. This dementia- and stroke-free sample (age range = 70–89; mean = 77.5) consisted of 228 women and 155 men participating in the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study at waves 6 to 7 (2001–2009). The authors employed a battery of 23 widely utilized clinical cognitive tests. In this cross-sectional study, the authors focus on subjects 70 to 79 (n = 248) and 80 to 89 (n = 135) years old, and provide preliminary data for a smaller number of subjects aged 90 to 98 years old (n = 14). More highly educated and younger participants exhibited better performance on cognitive tests. Education was not significantly associated with every cognitive outcome, nor was age cohort membership. The addition of cardiovascular disease (CVD)/health variables to a model including age, education, and gender main effects provided statistically significant increases in R² (range = .021–.084) of performance on some tests. Results are discussed in relation to this study's value with respect to determining cognitive impairment in individuals free from probable dementia or stroke.

Age-Related Changes in Executive Function: A Normative Study with the Dutch Version of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)

This study examined age-related change in executive function by using a Dutch translation of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF; Gioia et al., 2000) that was applied to a normative sample (age range 5–18 years). In addition, we examined the reliability and factorial structures of the Dutch BRIEF. Results with respect to age revealed a decrease in reported executive function problems with increasing age. On the Behavior Regulation Index (BRI), 5- to 8-year-olds showed significantly more executive function problems than 9- to 11-year-olds, as did the 12- to 14-year-olds compared to 15- to 18-year-olds (except on the Shift subscale). On the Metacognition Index, we found that 9- to 11-year-olds differed significantly from 5- to 8-year-olds on the Working Memory subscale. In addition, the current study showed that the internal consistency of the Dutch BRIEF is very high, and that this version of the BRIEF has a high test-retest stability. Item factor analysis confirmed the expected eight common factor model, and factor analysis of the eight test scores confirmed the two-factor model, as proposed by Gioia et al., in the Dutch data.

Collective self-esteem and the onset of chronic conditions and reduced activity in a longitudinal study of aging

Collective self-esteem (CSE) is an individual's self-evaluation as a member of social groups. It is thought to promote health and well-being in later life by moderating the harmful effects of losing personal control over these experiences. In this study of 144 community-dwelling older adults in Manitoba, Canada, among those with lower health-related perceived control, respondents with higher CSE at baseline developed significantly fewer chronic conditions over the next 6 years. An expected negative relationship between age and activity level, which respondents higher in CSE showed, was not observed among respondents with lower CSE, whose activity level in the sample age range (78–98 years) was already very low. Higher CSE thus appeared to delay the decline of activity and chronic health that would otherwise accompany age and the absence of perceived control.

Molecular Characteristics and Epidemiology of Meningococcal Carriage, Burkina Faso, 2003

To describe Neisseria meningitidis strains in the African meningitis belt in 2003, we obtained 2,389 oropharyngeal swabs at 5 monthly visits a representative population sample (age range 4-29 years) in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. A total of 152 carriage isolates were grouped, serotyped, and genotyped. Most isolates were NG:NT:NST sequence type (ST) 192 (63% of all N. meningitidis), followed by W135:2a:P1.5,2 of ST-11 (16%) and NG:15:P1.6 of ST-198 (12%). We also found ST-2881 (W135:NT:P1.5,2), ST-751 (X:NT:P1.5), and ST-4375 (Y:14:P1.5,2) but not serogroups A or C. Estimated average duration of carriage was 30 days (95% confidence interval 24-36 days). In the context of endemic group W135 and meningococcal A disease, we found substantial diversity in strains carried, including all strains currently involved in meningitis in this population, except for serogroup A. These findings show the need for large samples and a longitudinal design for N. meningitidis serogroup A carriage studies.

Cognitive Performance and Age: Norms from the Maine-Syracuse Study

The primary objective of this study was to provide contemporary normative data on aging and cognition from an ongoing community-based study. This dementia and stroke-free sample (age range = 20–79; mean = 53) consisted of 623 women and 322 men participating in the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study at waves 4 to 6 (1993 to 2003). We employed a battery of 22 widely utilized cognitive tests. A 5 (age) × 3 (education) × 2 (gender) analysis of variance indicated that, in general, higher educated and younger participants exhibited better performance on cognitive tests. We found education group to be the strongest, and gender to be the weakest, predictor of cognitive performance. However, education cohort was not significantly associated with every cognitive outcome, nor was age cohort membership. The addition of cardiovascular disease health variables to a model including age, education, and gender groupings provided statistically significant, but modest, increases in prediction of performance on some tests. Results are discussed in relation to findings for previous studies presenting normative data on cognitive ability as a function of age, education, and gender.

Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression, and Self- and Other-Assessments of Social Competence: A Developmental Study

This study examined whether others (i.e., teachers and parents) and self-appraisals of social competence mediated the relationship between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and depression. To determine whether age moderated the effects of the mediation, the total sample was divided into younger (under 9) and older (at or above 9 years) age levels. The total sample (age range 6.6 to 11.7 years) was primarily male (194 boys and 52 females) and consisted of 148 children diagnosed with ADHD and 98 community controls. Three central findings were derived from this study. First, there was a strong relationship between ADHD (with and without comorbid ODD/CD) and depression in both younger and older aged children. Among younger children with ADHD, there was no differential influence on the level of depression depending on whether or not ADHD was comorbid with ODD/CD; in contrast, with older children, comorbid ODD/CD had higher levels of depression than was the case for children with ADHD that did not display such comorbidity. Second, with younger children approximately half of the relationship between ADHD (with and without comorbid ODD/CD) and depression was exclusively mediated by others appraisal of social competence. Third, a more complex relationship between ADHD and depression emerged during the later part of the childhood years. As such, the relationship between ADHD, others appraisals of social competence, and depression was further mediated by self-appraisals of social competence. Findings are discussed in terms of developmental theory and theoretical models of childhood depression.

Prevalence of tattooing and body piercing in Germany and perception of health, mental disorders, and sensation seeking among tattooed and body-pierced individuals

Objective The objective of this study was to obtain data on the incidence and relationship of psychological factors to tattooing and body piercing from a large and representative sample of German citizens ( N=2043). Methodology Representative data (sample age range=14–93 years) were evaluated with respect to health-related quality of life (SF-36), mental health (General Health Questionnaire), mental disorders (Patient Health Questionnaire), and sensation seeking (Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking). Results The prevalence of tattooing and that of body piercing in the general German population are 8.5% and 6.5%, respectively. Individuals aged between 14 and 24 years display the highest rate of body piercings or tattoos (females, 41%; males, 27%). Within the group of individuals aged between 14 and 44 years, unemployment and nonaffiliation to a church are positively correlated, tattooing is significantly correlated with the perception of reduced mental health, and both tattooing and body piercing are correlated with significantly increased sensation-seeking behavior. Conclusions Next to being motivated by fashion and the urge to fit in with one's peers, the major reasons for body modification practices in the German population appear to be negatively perceived conditions of life, reduced social integration, and increased sensation-seeking behavior.