Sibling Rank Research Articles

Attachment Anxiety, Marital Adjustment and Psycho-Social Support of Love and Arranged Marriages Among Meranao Women

This study aims to explore the level of attachment anxiety, marital adjustment, pyscho-social support of love and arranged marriages among Meranao women specifically, it sought to answer the following questions: 1.What is the demographic profile of the respondents in love marriage and arranged marriages in terms of present age, age at the time of marriage, family monthly income, number of children and sibling rank? 2. What is the level of attachment related anxiety, the marital adjustment of the respondents in love and arranged marriages among the following aspects psychological, social, emotional and spiritual? 3. What are the marital adjustment of the respondents in love and arranged marriages when classified as social, physical, financial and spiritual? 4. What is the level of marital quality of the respondents in love and arranged marriages on the following aspects; commitment, trust and mutual interaction? 5. What are the forms of marital support of the respondents in love and arrange marriages receive in terms of psychological, confidant, affective and social support? 6. How do love marriages differ from arranged marriages along the following along the following aspects; level of attachment anxiety, marital adjustment, level of marital quality and marital support? 7. What marriage counseling program has been developed on the basis of the findings of the study. This study was conducted at Tuca, Pindolonan and Dawayan, Marawi City with the total number of 327 married Meranao women, with a breakdown of 132 for love marriage and 195 for arranged marriage. The researcher utilized the descriptive–correlation design. Part of study was done through describing the demographic profile of the respondents and personal profile in terms of age, gender, socio economic status, educational attainment, monthly income and occupation. Their perceptions on their marriage particularly on attachment anxiety, marital adjustment, marital quality and marital support were also given descriptions. On the other hand, these two important variables were then correlated so as to establish a conclusion that a wife’s profile can affect her perception on her marriage life.

Investigation of the effect of psychological birthorder on perceived parental attitudes and early maladaptive schemas in adults

Aims: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of psychological birth order on perceived parental attitudes and early maladaptive schemas. Methods: In this study, the Psychological Birth Order Inventory, Perceived Parental Attitudes Scale-Child Form, and Young’s Schema Scale were used. The sample consisted of 189 women and 102 men. Relational and predictive analyses were conducted regarding birth order, psychological birth order, perceived parental attitudes, and schema domains. Results: There was a moderate positive relationship between the sibling rank of the women who participated in the study and the emotional deprivation schema area. For female participants, being the middle child was found to have a moderately positive relationship with emotional deprivation, dependence, pessimism, and defectiveness schemas. A weak positive relationship was found between being the middle child and emotional warmth maternal attitude, overprotective mother/father attitude, and rejecting father attitude scores. Conclusion: The study concluded that there is a significant relationship between psychological birth.order and perceived parental attitudes as well as early maladaptive schemas.

Nutritional Status And Quality Of Food In Childeen Under Five Years Of Age In Benin

Background Malnutrition is a public health problem in developing countries. The aim of our work is to assess the nutritional status and dietary quality of children under 5 years of age.
 Objective This study focused on children seen in the pediatric department of the Saint Martin de Papanè Hospital during the period from April 6 to July 6, 2021. It is a descriptive and analytical survey by questionnaire on 208 children aged 0 to 59 months.
 Results The evaluation of the nutritional status of these children under 5 years of age is predominantly male (sex ratio 1.2) and the analysis of the answers to the questions asked of their respective mothers has made it possible to better appreciate the nutritional situation of the children in this study area and to identify the determinants associated with this malnutrition. The study revealed that 74.88% of children are stunted, 90.34% suffer from global acute malnutrition and 79.43% are underweight. Exclusive breastfeeding is very rare, with only 11% of children between the ages of 0 and 6 months receiving only breast milk. The evaluation of dietary diversity reveals that 76.92% of children have a low dietary diversity. In fact, 86% of the children surveyed receive an inadequate complementary diet based on cereals and 67.31% are subjected to the family dish that is poor in nutrients. 59% of the homes in which the children live are more than 5 km from the health centers, 56.73% of the children's mothers have no education and 25% have a low level of education.
 Conclusion According to our results, poor weaning practices, diseases, sibling rank and low level of education of mothers are the associated determinants of malnutrition observed in the study population in this area of northeast Benin.

Screening for Depression Among Recent Nigerian Graduates.

In recent times, Nigerian media have carried multiple reports of violent and traumatic social vices. These are well-known trigger factors for fear, worries, and anxiety for corp members and their families. Core member's presentations at the NYSC primary care clinic are commonly triggered by change in environmental, biological, and psychosocial factors which invariably affect their social and occupational functioning. The objective of the study was to screen for depression symptoms among young recent Nigerian graduates with the view of further evaluating those positive on screening test with subsequent diagnostic tests. The survey was conducted on 327 participants of the April 2017 batch of graduates during the Delta State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp period in Issele-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria. They were requested to complete a self-administered questionnaire comprising of 2 sections (i) Socio-demographic profile and (ii) Patient-Health Questionnaire -9 (PHQ-9) - a Depression screening tool. The prevalence of depression symptoms in the study was found to be 57.2%. Family size (P < 0.001) and sibling rank (P < 0.001) were the socio-demographic factors found to be related to depression. Independent predictors of depression were family size and sibling ranking. The study found the prevalence of depression symptoms among young adults to be 57.2% which is quite high. Family size and sibling rank were found to be independent risk factors.

Sibling rank and sibling number in relation to cardiovascular disease and mortality risk: a nationwide cohort study

BackgroundThe number and rank order of siblings could be of importance for risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Previous studies have used only fatal events for risk prediction. We, therefore,...

How fitness consequences of early‐life conditions vary with age in a long‐lived seabird: A Bayesian multivariate analysis of age‐specific reproductive values

Evolutionary theory suggests that individuals can benefit from deferring the fitness cost of developing under poor conditions to later in life. Although empirical evidence for delayed fitness costs of poor developmental conditions is abundant, individuals that die prematurely have not often been incorporated when estimating fitness, such that age-specific fitness costs, and therefore the relative importance of delayed fitness costs are actually unknown. We developed a Bayesian statistical framework to estimate age-specific reproductive values in relation to developmental conditions. We applied it to data obtained from a long-term longitudinal study of common terns Sterna hirundo, using sibling rank to describe variation in developmental conditions. Common terns have a maximum of three chicks, and later hatching chicks acquire less food, grow more slowly and have a lower fledging probability than their earlier hatched siblings. We estimated fitness costs in adulthood to constitute c. 45% and 70% of the total fitness costs of hatching third and second, respectively, compared to hatching first. This was due to third-ranked hatchlings experiencing especially high pre-fledging mortality, while second-ranked hatchlings had lower reproductive success in adulthood. Both groups had slightly lower adult survival. There was, however, no evidence for sibling rank-specific rates of senescence. We additionally found years with low fledgling production to be associated with particularly strong pre-fledging selection on sibling rank, and with increased adult survival to the next breeding season. This suggests that adults reduce parental allocation to reproduction in poor years, which disproportionately impacts low-ranked offspring. Interpreting these results, we suggest that selection at the level of the individual offspring for delaying fitness costs is counteracted by selection for parental reduction in brood size when resources are limiting.

Homemakers and heights. Intra-household resource allocation and male stature in the Netherlands, 1860–1930

In this article we test the hypothesis that the secular increase in heights in the course of the second half of the nineteenth century was associated with the rise of the breadwinner-homemaker household. In these ‘modern’ households, women raised the living standards (quality and quantity of food, hygiene and care) for all members, especially the children. We model the assumed contributions to the family budget by age and gender of household members, and find that a strong imbalance between consumers and producers in the household put severe strains on effective resource allocation, leading to lower net nutrition and lower young adult heights. We suggest a carefully calibrated consumer/producer ratio as an indicator to capture these effects. The ratio is not meant to replace others, and we show that sibling rank order as well as gender preferences also played a role in intra-household resource allocation. For our research, we have used a database with reconstructed life histories (including co-residence) of 3003 Dutch army recruits. Our results indicate that the consumer/producer ratio as experienced by recruits in their early life indeed had a strong impact (-1,8 cm) on their heights. However, this effect differed by social class, which can be explained by differences in acceptance of the income pooling model.

Analysis of Primary School Students’ Critical Thinking Skills through Various Variables

"Bu araştırmada öğrencilerin eleştirel düşünme becerilerinin analiz, çıkarım ve değerlendirme alt boyutlarının cinsiyet, kreşe gitme durumu, kardeş sayısı, kardeş sırası ve sınıf ortamı değişkenleri açısından incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Nicel araştırma yönteminin kullanıldı çalışma tarama modelindedir. Araştırmanın örneklemini 2016-2017 eğitim öğretim yılında Gaziantep’te eğitim vermekte olan 12 ilkokulun dördüncü sınıfında öğrenim gören 617 öğrenci oluşturmaktadır. Veri toplama aracı olarak Doğanay ve Sarı (2012) tarafından geliştirilen Düşünme Dostu Sınıf Ölçeği ile Demir (2006) tarafından geliştirilen Eleştirel Düşünme Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde t –testi, tek yönlü varyans analizi (ANOVA) ve korelasyon analizi uygulanmıştır.&amp;nbsp;Araştırmanın sonucunda; eleştirel düşünme becerisinin analiz alt boyutunda cinsiyete göre kız öğrenciler lehine, kreşe gitme durumuna göre ise kreşe gidenler lehine anlamlı bir fark tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca kardeş sırası incelendiğinde, sıralamada sonda olan kardeşler lehine farkın arttığı belirlenmiştir. Eleştirel düşünme becerisinin çıkarım alt boyutunda ise kreşe gidenler ve kardeş sayısı çok olanlar lehine anlamlı bir fark olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Eleştirel düşünmenin değerlendirme alt boyutunda ise kreşe gidenler lehine anlamlı bir fark olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Araştırmada ayrıca sınıf ortamının düşünmeyi engelleyici öğrenci davranışları bileşeni ile eleştirel düşünme becerisi arasındaki olumsuz yöndeki ilişkinin, sınıf ortamının diğer bileşenleri olan düşünmeyi destekleyici öğretmen ve öğrenci davranışları ile eleştirel düşünme arasındaki olumlu ilişkiden daha yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir.

Pain coping strategies in children with cerebral palsy

To describe coping strategies in children and adolescents with CP, and determine the effect of age on choice of strategy. Patients were recruited from two pediatric rehabilitation centers in France. The Pediatric Pain and Coping Inventory - French (PPCI-F) and Structured Pain questionnaire (SPQ) were completed by an experienced professional with each child. In total, 142 patients were included (median age: 12, 5–19 years; 57% boys). Comparison of the means from the 4 factorial scales showed that children with CP generally used fewer coping strategies than TD children (seeking social support: 12.47 versus 12.85; cognitive self-instruction: 9.28 vs. 10.90; distraction: 4.89 vs. 7.00; seeking effectiveness: 4.43 vs. 5.19). Some coping strategies used by the children with CP depended on age (decrease in seeking social support and increase in cognitive self-instruction with age), while others did not (seeking effectiveness and distraction). The strategies were also influenced by GMFCS level ( P = 0.01), history of surgery ( P < 0.01), sibling rank ( P < 0.05), and pain reported in the SPQ ( P < 0.05). Children with CP generally use fewer coping strategies than TD children although similarly to TD children, they mostly look for social support to cope with pain. Even if past experiences of pain suggest that coping strategies need to be changed, active coping strategies were only used in older children and remained less used than by TD children of the same age.

Pain coping strategies in children with cerebral palsy

To describe coping strategies in children and adolescents with CP, and determine the effect of age on choice of strategy. Patients were recruited from two pediatric rehabilitation centers in France. The Pediatric pain and coping inventory - French (PPCI-F) and structured pain questionnaire (SPQ) were completed by an experienced professional with each child. One hundred and forty-two patients were included (median age: 12, 5–19 years; 57% boys). Comparison of the means from the 4 factorial scales showed that children with CP generally used fewer coping strategies than TD children (seeking social support: 12.47 versus 12.85; cognitive self-instruction: 9.28 vs. 10.90; distraction: 4.89 vs. 7.00; seeking effectiveness: 4.43 vs. 5.19). Some coping strategies used by the children with CP depended on age (decrease in seeking social support and increase in cognitive self-instruction with age), while others did not (seeking effectiveness and distraction). The strategies were also influenced by GMFCS level ( P = 0.01), history of surgery ( P < 0.01), sibling rank ( P < 0.05), and pain reported in the SPQ ( P < 0.05). Children with CP generally use fewer coping strategies than TD children although similarly to TD children, they mostly look for social support to cope with pain. Even if past experiences of pain suggest that coping strategies need to be changed, active coping strategies were only used in older children and remained less used than by TD children of the same age.

Who is more likely to be obese or overweight among siblings? A nationally representative study in rural China.

BackgroundThe aims of this study were to determine the association between sibling rank and childhood obesity among children ≤ 5 years of age in rural China, and to investigate the effect of child gender and the obesity status of other siblings on this association.MethodsData from the China Family Panel Studies, a nationally representative survey, was used for the analysis. Sibling rank was defined as the birth order of all children with the same biological mother. A total of 1116 children ≤ 5 years of age were divided into four groups: children without siblings, first-born children, second-born children, and third-born or younger children. For each child, the body mass index and standard deviation (BMI z score) was calculated according to WHO standards; children with BMI z scores > 2 were classified as obese or overweight (ObOw). Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between sibling rank and ObOw status, and the possible influence of gender and ObOw status among other siblings.ResultsThe second and third-born or younger children had a significantly higher risk of becoming ObOw than children without siblings (odds ratio [OR]: 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.63 and OR:1.38, 95% CI: 1.17–1.63, respectively). Specifically, female second-born children and male third-born or younger children had a significantly higher risk of ObOw (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.11–2.01 and OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.07–2.32, respectively). Having an ObOw sibling increased the probability of being ObOw and the magnitude of the effect was larger if siblings were younger.ConclusionsSibling rank was shown to be associated with ObOw status among children 0–5 years of age in rural China. Our findings can help healthcare practitioners and authorities to identify children at risk of obesity. Future studies should focus on the mechanisms of this association.

Evaluation of anxiety in children with acute leukemia: A prospective study of 20 cases

IntroductionThe occurrence of acute leukemia (AL) in childhood causes a profound upheaval in the child itself and also within his family. Exposure to this test could contribute to the emergence of anxiety.ObjectiveOur work aims to describe the characteristics of anxiety in this population during the management of the AL.Patients and methodsOur study, still in progress, is prospective and conducted among 20 children hospitalised in hematology department of UMC Hedi Chaker Sfax (Tunisia) during the year 2015–2016. It is performed in two times. The anxiety was assessed using the STAI scale.Preliminary resultsThe average age of our population is 7 years (minimum age = 4 years, maximum age = 11 years). The majority of our patients come from urban areas (76.9% of cases). About their sibling rank, they are mostly the youngest in 53.8% of cases, the oldest in 30.8% of cases and juniors in 7.7% of cases. The most common diagnosis is the lymphoblastic B AL (46.2% of cases).Referring to the STAI scale, 30% of our patients were anxious and had high scores during the first evaluation. Then, the anxiety level attenuates gradually during management period and only 15% were anxious at the 2nd evaluation time.ConclusionSeveral factors such as hospitalisation, diagnosis announcement and cancer treatment contribute to the triggering and maintaining of anxiety. Early detection of anxiety and the good listening between the care team and the parents could appease the high level of anxiety and ensure better management.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Intrapersonal and Stress Management Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence as Determinants of Mathematics Performance

Students' success in mathematics instruction is determined by some school and personal measures and most likely, quality emotions and feelings that could also help students. The descriptive-correlational research ascertained the students' level of emotional intelligence and its association to mathematics performance. Using Sta. Maria's (2007) Emotional Intelligence Inventory, data were gathered from the 222 college students of Capiz State University, Philippines selected through simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using the mean, Pearson's Product Moment of Correlation and ANOVA. The results of the study showed that college students had an average level of emotional intelligence. The students' mathematics performance was good. The study also revealed that sibling rank shows significant relationship with emotional intelligence. Intrapersonal and stress management measures were strongly associated with students' performance in the mathematics. Class size and time of class significantly influenced the mathematics performance of students. The need to stress management on emotional intelligence is, therefore, vital to promote classroom learning.

간호 대학생의 스트레스와 건강통제위

Purpose: This study was to identify the relations between stress and health locus of control in nursing college students. Methods: A total of 243 subjects aged between 17 and 27 were selected through convenient sampling. Data were collected with a self reported questionnaire from March 2 to 25, 2013. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS/PC Win 15.0. Results: Differences in stress and health locus of control according to general characteristics were as follows. Stress were significantly different according to gender (t=-2.51, p<.05), grade (F=5.40, p<.01), school record (F=5.72, p<.01), stress solving methods (F=2.62, p<.05). Internal health locus of control was significantly different according to gender (t=2.30, p<.05), grade (F=14.73, p<.001), religion (F=4.63, p<.01), school record (F=5.29, p<.01), economic state (F=5.50, p<.001) and smoking (F=4.17, p<.05). Chance health locus of control was significantly different according to sibling rank (F=2.86, p<.05). Except chance health locus of control, internal heath locus of control and dependence health locus of control have a negative correlation with stress. 15.6% of variance in stress was explained by dependence health locus of control, chance health locus of control, and grade. Conclusion: The findings of this study may be useful in understanding the stress expression of nursing college students and developing more specific programs on personality and self-control.

Clinical features and viral serologies in children with multiple sclerosis: a multinational observational study

The full spectrum of clinical manifestations and outcome, and the potential importance of regional or demographic features or viral triggers in paediatric multiple sclerosis (MS), has yet to be fully characterised. Our aim was to determine some of these characteristics in children with MS. 137 children with MS and 96 control participants matched by age and geographical region were recruited in a multinational study. They underwent structured clinical-demographic interviews, review of academic performance, physical examination, disability assessment (MS patients only), and standardised assays for IgG antibodies directed against Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19, varicella zoster virus, and herpes simplex virus. MS was relapsing-remitting at diagnosis in 136 (99%) children. The first MS attack resembled acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in 22 (16%) of the children, most under 10 years old (mean age 7.4 [SD 4.2] years). Children with ADEM-like presentations were significantly younger than were children with polyfocal (11.2 [4.5] years; p<0.0001) or monofocal (12.0 [3.8] years; p=0.0005) presentations. Permanent physical disability (EDSS>or=4.0) developed within 5 years in 15 (13%) of the 120 children for whom EDSS score was available. 23 (17%) had impaired academic performance, which was associated with increasing disease duration (p=0.02). Over 108 (86%) of the children with MS, irrespective of geographical residence, were seropositive for remote EBV infection, compared with only 61 (64%) of matched controls (p=0.025, adjusted for multiple comparisons). Children with MS did not differ from controls in seroprevalence of the other childhood viruses studied, nor with respect to month of birth, sibling number, sibling rank, or exposure to young siblings. Paediatric MS is a relapsing-remitting disease, with presenting features that vary by age at onset. MS in children might be associated with exposure to EBV, suggesting a possible role for EBV in MS pathobiology.

Nutrition and Health Survey of Taiwan Elementary School Children 2001-2002: research design, methods and scope.

The "Nutrition and Health Survey of Taiwan's Elementary School Children (2001-2002)" was to investigate the nutritional status, influential dietary and non-dietary factors, health and development, and school performance, as well as the inter-relationships among these factors. The survey adopted a two-staged stratified, clustered probability sampling scheme. Towns and districts in Taiwan with particular ethnic and geographical characteristics were designated into 13 strata including Hakka areas, mountain areas, eastern Taiwan, the Penghu Islands, 3 northern regions, 3 central regions and 3 southern regions. Eight schools were selected from each stratum using the probabilities proportional to sizes method. Twenty-four pupils were randomly selected within each school. The survey included face-to-face interviews and health examinations. Taking seasonal effects into consideration, the face-to-face interviews were evenly allocated into each of the two semesters. A total of 2,419 face-to-face interviews and 2,475 health examinations were completed. Interview data included household information, socio-demographics, 24-hour dietary recall, food frequency, dietary and nutritional knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, physical activity, medical history, oral health, pubertal development, and bone health. Health exam data included anthropometry, blood pressure, physical fitness, bone density, dental health, and blood and urine collection. SUDAAN was used to adjust sampling design effect. There were no significant differences in sibling rank and parental characteristics between respondents and non-respondents, which indicates that our survey is representative and unbiased. The results of this survey will increase our understanding on the nutrition and health status of schoolchildren and can be used to shape public health policy in Taiwan.

Long-term Breeding Success of the Cattle Egret in Texas

A 28-year (1974-2002) study of the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) was conducted on Bird Island and Telfair Island at Cedar Creek Reservoir in northeast Texas to determine trends and dynamics of clutch/brood sizes, hatching success, chick mortality, and nest-site vegetation. For the breeding colonies on these islands, annual mean clutch size ranged from 2.71-3.73 (overall mean = 2.98) and from 2.56-4.18 (overall mean = 3.33); annual mean brood sizes ranged from 2.20-3.08 (overall mean = 2.60) and from 2.38-3.67 (overall mean = 2.87). Annual mean hatching success on the islands was high throughout the study (78%-94% [overall mean = 88%] and 71%-96% [overall mean = 86%]). Annual mean chick mortality was low (0.5%-13% [overall mean = 4.5%] and 0%-10% [overall mean = 2.1%]). Among marked broods on both islands, only 6.5% lost chicks, for which the mean loss was 1.16 chicks/brood. Generally, within these broods, there was higher mortality of the younger chicks. In broods of more than two chicks, the mortality ratio between 1st- and 2nd-hatched chicks was lower than other combinations of sibling rank. Decline of nest density coincided with the cumulative adverse effects of guanotrophication on nest-site vegetation. The original native nest-site vegetation was replaced by Chinaberry (Melia azedarach), an exotic tree that provided optimal nest sites until it too became intolerant to guanotrophy, which resulted in a continued decline in nest-site vegetation. During the time of declining availability of nest-site vegetation, the egrets began ground nesting; by 2002, 48% of nests were on the ground.

Transitions in infant feeding during the first year of life.

To document ages at which transitions in infant feeding occur, to compare these transitions to literature reports from the 1970s and 80s, and to identify maternal characteristics related to the age of the infant when solid food was first introduced.Ninety-eight mother/infant pairs (middle and upper socioeconomic status) participated in the longitudinal study. Using a randomized, incomplete block design, in-home interviews were conducted by trained personnel when infants were 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 months of age; each mother/infant pair was seen four or five times. Information on food intake, including breast milk/formula, was collected at each interview. Means +/− SD and frequencies were calculated, and least squares analysis of variance was used to develop a predictive model related to the introduction of cereal.Most mothers decided on the initial feeding mode (breastfeeding or formula) prior to pregnancy; 83% breastfed initially although most (76%) totally discontinued breastfeeding by 6 months. Infants' ages varied greatly when each of the seven categories of food was introduced, cereal was added to the infants' diets at a mean age of 3.8 +/− 1.4 (SD) months, juice 4.7 +/− 2.2, fruit 4.9 +/− 1.6, vegetables 5.2 +/− 1.3, mixed foods 7.8 +/− 2.1, table foods 8.2 +/− 2.1, and meat 8.2 +/− 2.1. The multivariate model explained 59% of the variability in ages of infants when cereal (generally the first solid food) was added. Significant variables (p < or = 0.05) were feeding mode, recommendation by the physician, and the interaction between feeding mode and education of the mother. Mother's employment and sibling rank of the infant contributed to the model (p = 0.06 and p = 0.09, respectively). Infants' age when cereal was added was not related to the variables of gender or birth weight.The finding that the mothers' decision whether or not to breastfeed was made prior to conception supports the importance of population-based education aimed at women in the child-bearing years as well as patient instruction early in the pregnancy. However, the duration of breastfeeding was shorter than was reported in the 1980s. Infants varied greatly in ages when the seven categories of complementary foods were added to their diets. Although recommendations for delaying introduction of solid foods until the infant is 4 to 6 months of age have been in place for more than a decade, about half the mothers in this study did so earlier. Characteristics of mothers who introduced cereal earliest (i.e., mean age of infants < 4 months) were more likely to be formula feeding when cereal was added, to feed cereal via the bottle, to be primiparous, to be employed outside the home, and/or not to cite the physician as a source for guiding the infant's transition to supplemental food.

Individual differences in temperament of domestic dairy goats: constancy and change

Change is an essential property of development, yet some element of stability or consistency is necessary for the maintenance of individual distinctiveness. The issues of constancy and change were addressed in a study of individual differences in temperament of domestic dairy goats, Capra hircus. Within-individual stability was assessed on an absolute basis by evaluating changes in mean scores on five behavioural measures monitored in goat-human encounters at 14, 22 and 30 weeks of age. Between-individual stability was examined by comparing rank orders of individuals across successive ages and situations. Human-reared goats consistently expressed low levels of timidity. Behaviour of dam-reared goats increasingly resembled that of human-reared goats, while relative individual differences remained stable. Individual differences in timidity scores, derived from five interrelated behaviour measures, reliably predicted differences in pituitary-adrenal responsiveness at 14–30 weeks and behavioural outcomes in five different situations at 55 weeks. Timidity scores of all dam-reared goats exceeded scores of human-reared goats. Among seven pairs of fraternal twins, a goat's rank within the dam-reared group predicted its sibling's rank within the human-reared group. An individual's genotype and its early postnatal environment both contributed to processes underlying the development of stable individual differences in temperament of domestic dairy goats.

Comparison of chemically dependent and nondependent nurses on familial, personal and professional characteristics.

The characteristics associated with professional impairment due to chemical dependency in nurses are examined. A sample of 139 recovering chemically dependent nurses was compared with a random sample of 384 registered nurses not identified as chemically dependent on familial, personal and professional characteristics. Respondents completed an extensive mailed questionnaire requesting information on demographic variables, family history (past and present), education, employment, medical history, lifestyle characteristics and alcohol- and drug-related behaviors. Significant differences between the two groups were found in gender, familial alcoholism and depression, sexual trauma and functioning, sexual preference, parenthood status, marital history, physical health, depressive illness and alcoholism in spouse. No differences were found in sibling rank, basic nursing education, nursing school class rank, highest educational degree held, academic achievement and length of nursing experience. Recommendations for future study include improved methodology, study of recovery variables and longitudinal follow-up of recovering nurses.