Significant Predictors Of Children Research Articles

Influence of physical activity home environment on fundamental movement skills development in Chinese preschoolers: mediating role of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

Research on how the physical activity home environment affects fundamental movement skills (FMS) in preschool children in China is limited. However, the role of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in this relationship is still unclear. This study aims to analyze gender differences in FMS, explore associations between the physical activity home environment, MVPA, and FMS, and investigate MVPA's mediating role in these relationships. We recruited 169 preschool children (95 boys, 74 girls; mean age 4.9 years) from four kindergartens in Hengyang, China. The Family Environment Scale on Motor Development for Preschool Urban Children (FESMPD) assessed physical activity home environment. Objective measurement of MVPA used ActiGraph wGT3-BT accelerometers. The Test of Gross Motor Development-3 (TGMD-3) evaluated FMS. Statistical analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro in SPSS, with sociodemographic variables as controls. Boys exhibited significantly higher levels of MVPA, parenting style, locomotor skills, and object control skills compared to girls (P < 0.05). MVPA, parenting style, and FMS showed positive correlations (R = 0.355-0.568, P < 0.05). Similarly, MVPA was positively correlated with the physical activity home environment (β = 0.237-0.568, P < 0.05). Parenting style emerged as a significant predictor of children's MVPA levels (β = 0.956, P < 0.001), and MVPA was a predictor of the development ofFMS and its subdomains (β = 0.097-0.207, P < 0.05). Furthermore, MVPA partially mediated the relationship between parenting style and the development of FMS in preschool children. The physical environment was also a significant predictor of children's MVPA (β = 0.637, P < 0.05), and in turn, MVPA predicted the development of FMS and its subdomains (β = 0.188-0.343, P < 0.01). Notably, MVPA fully mediated the relationship between the physical environment and the development of FMS. Overall, this study highlights the important roles of physical activity home environments and individual levels of MVPA in developing FMS in preschool children, noting significant gender differences. Parenting style greatly affects both MVPA and FMS development, while the physical environment fully mediates this relationship. Collaborative efforts among kindergartens, families, and communities are essential to support MVPA and improve FMS development.

The role of noise as part of neighborhood quality and its impact on well-being in German preschoolers: Results from the Equal-Life project

Current research confirms the significant role of environmental quality in children´s well-being and mental health. Respective studies targeting young children focused on characteristics of the families´ immediate housing situation, e.g., household chaos. In the framework of the Equal-Life project, we investigated the relationships between neighborhood quality and mental health in preschoolers (N=111). Data were acquired through parent questionnaires. Stepwise regression analysis identified noise and air pollution as the most important predictors of overall neighborhood quality ratings. As expected, different components of neighborhood quality were significantly correlated, confirming a gap between favorable and unfavorable conditions in children´s environments. All components of neighborhood quality were significantly associated with children´s well-being (KIDSCREEN-10), but stepwise regression analyses identified noise and air pollution as the most important predictors. In contrast, children´s mental health problems (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire) were unrelated to all components of neighborhood quality. Furthermore, lower neighborhood quality was associated with higher parental stress, which in turn was a significant predictor of children´s mental health problems and well-being. These findings underline the interdependencies of psychosocial and physical exposures, and thereby the necessity to adopt an holistic (exposome) approach in order to design environments that foster children´s mental health.

Cross-sectional study of child malnutrition and associated risk factors among children aged under five in West Bengal, India

Using a cross-sectional study of 485 sample households in 2013, the present paper examines the prevalence and risk factors of child malnutrition among children under the age of five in West Bengal, India. As a part of this investigation, children&amp;rsquo;s underweight status, wasting, and stunting were examined in order to determine child nutritional status using the WHO growth standard. We performed bivariate analyses in order to elucidate differentials in nutritional indices and fitted multinomial logistic regression models to examine the net effect of different socio-economic factors on the likelihood of child malnutri-tion. Analysis results revealed stunting (51%) as the most common form of malnutrition among children aged under five, followed by underweight status (41%), and wasting (22%).Gender discrimination among children increases with age, whereby girls are more deprived (as measured by nutritional indic-es) compared to boys later in childhood relative to younger ages. Results from multinomial analyses re-veal age, religion, caste, and birth-order of the child as significant predictors of child&amp;rsquo;s nutritional status.

Associations between sleep problems in children with ADHD and parental insomnia and ADHD symptoms.

Sleep problems are common in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children's sleep problem may influence, and be influenced by, parents' sleep problems as well as parents' ADHD symptoms. In the current study we examined the associations of parent-rated sleep quality and sleep timing of pre-adolescent children with parental insomnia symptoms, parental ADHD symptoms and dysfunctional attitudes and beliefs about sleep in a convenience sample recruited by advertisement (N = 120). Childhood sleep problems were common in the sample, with 82% of children exceeding the threshold for the presence of a paediatric sleep disorder. Children's sleep quality showed minimal association with their sleep timing and chronotype. Parental insomnia symptoms, ADHD symptoms and dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep all associated with their children's sleep quality, and with the sleep subdomains of sleep anxiety and parasomnias. In multiple regression analysis only parental insomnia score was a significant predictor of children's sleep quality. Children's bedtimes, wake times, sleep duration, chronotype or social jetlag did not associate with parents' ADHD or insomnia symptoms. Sleep quality was significantly poorer in children whose parents scored as both consistent for adult ADHD and probable for insomnia disorder compared to parents who scored as either ADHD consistent or insomnia probable, or those who parents scored as neither. We discuss the putative nature of the relationships between sleep quality of children with ADHD and parental ADHD and insomnia symptoms, and suggest that clinicians consider parental sleep when attending to children with ADHD.

The Relationship between Digital Game Addiction Tendency and Depressive Symptoms in Children (36-72 Months).

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between digital game addiction tendency and depressive symptoms in children (36-72 months). Method: We conducted this research in a virtual environment with the mothers of 747 children (36-72 months). A predictive evaluation was performed using a simple regression analysis between the mean scores of the Digital Game Addiction Tendency Scale (DGATS) and the Child Depressive Symptoms Assessment Scale (CDSAS). Results: A total of 53.9% of children reported that they play games for 3-24 h a day. The average duration of children playing digital games was 2.86 ± 1.86 h per day. The total mean score of the CDSAS was 142.48 ± 27.36. The total mean score the children received from DGATS was 46.34 ± 17.28. In the regression analysis, it was determined that there was a strong positive correlation between the (DGATS) total score average and the (CDSAS) total score average (R = 0.52, R2 = 0.27, p < 0.05). Accordingly, digital game addiction tendency explains 27% of children's depressive symptoms. Conclusions: When the standardized beta coefficient and t values are examined, it can be said that digital game addiction tendency is a significant predictor of children's depressive symptoms.

Deductive Reasoning Skills in Children Aged 4-8 Years Old.

Young children possess the fundamental deductive reasoning skills for solving their upcoming problems in their daily lives. These skills are of great importance for their school readiness and academic development. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the age differences and predictive variables of deductive reasoning skills in young Hungarian children aged 4-8 years old who reside in Hungary and Slovakia. Face-to-face data were collected from 3050 participants. The instrument of deductive reasoning skills assessment was extracted from the school readiness test, DIFER (Diagnostic System for Assessing Development). Utilizing various statistical analyses with R, AMOS, and MPlus8 packages, it was found that there were significant differences in young children's deductive reasoning skills across countries and age groups. Parents' education levels had significant positive relationships with children's deductive reasoning skills development. And the variables of country and age were identified as significant predictors of children's deductive reasoning skills. And children's family background variables such as parental education played a significant role in predicting children's deductive reasoning skills in Hungary. The implications of this study emphasize the importance of educational contexts, parental involvement, cross-cultural exchange, and further research, with the potential to enhance young children's educational experiences and prospects in Hungary, Slovakia, and beyond.

Happy parents, happy kids: Marital happiness, parenting styles, and children's behavioral outcomes in Chinese societies

ABSTRACTObjectiveWe examine the impacts of parental marital happiness on child outcomes. We also examine the potential mediating role of parenting styles in the relationship between marital happiness and children's behavioral outcomes.BackgroundParents' marital happiness lays a crucial foundation for successful parenthood, which contributes to children's positive development. However, scant research has examined the relationship between parental marital happiness and child outcomes in Chinese populations.MethodData from a subsample of 3,258 parents of third‐grade children in Shanghai and Greater Taipei were analyzed (n = 1,285 from Shanghai; 1,973 from Greater Taipei). We conducted hierarchical multiple regression analyses to investigate whether marital happiness is a significant predictor of children's behavioral outcomes, adjusted for four covariates: parent gender, child gender, site, and subjective social status. We also conducted parallel mediation analyses to examine parenting styles as mediators.ResultsOur findings reveal that in both Shanghai and Greater Taipei, marital happiness was positively associated with authoritative parenting style and negatively associated with harsh parenting style. Moreover, marital happiness was significantly associated with children's behavioral outcomes, even after covariates were accounted for. Our parallel mediation analysis reveals that marital happiness had significant direct and indirect effects on children's behavioral outcomes through authoritative and harsh parenting styles.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate the pivotal importance of parental marital happiness in healthy child development.ImplicationsIntervention programs promoting child welfare in Chinese communities should include interparental relations. Public resources should raise awareness of marital happiness and offer guidance and support for high‐quality relationships.

Association Between Children's and Parents' Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Lagged Analysis.

COVID-19 caused closures of movement supporting environments such as gyms and schools in Canada. This study evaluated the association between Ontario parents' and children's physical activity levels across time during COVID-19, controlling for variables that were identified as significant predictors of children's and parents' physical activity (e.g.,children's age, parents' employment status). Parents (n = 243; mean age = 38.8y) of children aged 12 and under (n = 408; mean age = 6.3y) living in Ontario, Canada completed 2 online surveys, the first between August and December 2020 and the second between August and December 2021. At baseline, parents were asked to recall prepandemic physical activity levels. To determine the association between parent and child physical activity during COVID-19, a cross-lagged model was estimated to determine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between parents' and children's physical activity across time. Bivariate associations revealed that parents' and children's physical activity levels were significantly related during lockdown and postlockdown but not prelockdown. The autoregressive paths from prelockdown to during lockdown were significant for children (β = 0.53, P < .001) and parents (β = 1.058, P < .001) as were the autoregressive paths from during lockdown to postlockdown for children (β = 0.61, P < .001) and parents (β = 0.48, P < .001). In fully adjusted models, the cross-lagged association between parents' physical activity prelockdowns was significantly positively associated with their children's physical activity during lockdowns (β = 0.19, P = .013). Resources are needed to ensure that children and parents are obtaining sufficient levels of physical activity, particularly during a pandemic.

Social robots as effective language tutors for children: empirical evidence from neuroscience

The aim of the current study was to investigate children's brain responses to robot-assisted language learning. EEG brain signals were collected from 41 Japanese children who learned French vocabularies in two groups; half of the children learned new words from a social robot that narrated a story in French using animations on a computer screen (Robot group) and the other half watched the same animated story on the screen but only with a voiceover narration and without the robot (Display group). To examine brain activation during the learning phase, we extracted EEG functional connectivity (FC) which is defined as the rhythmic synchronization of signals recorded from different brain areas. The results indicated significantly higher global synchronization of brain signals in the theta frequency band in the Robot group during the learning phase. Closer inspection of intra-hemispheric and inter-hemispheric connections revealed that children who learned a new language from the robot experienced a stronger theta-band EEG synchronization in inter-hemispheric connections, which has been previously associated with success in second language learning in the neuroscientific literature. Additionally, using a multiple linear regression analysis, it was found that theta-band FC and group assignment were significant predictors of children's language learning with the Robot group scoring higher in the post-interaction word recognition test. These findings provide novel neuroscientific evidence for the effectiveness of social robots as second language tutors for children.

Remote vs. in-person schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic and internalizing symptoms among children on the autism spectrum

BackgroundChildren on the autism spectrum encountered interruptions to their education due to the COVID-19 pandemic (White et al., 2021). This study examined the extent to which autistic children’s anxiety and depressive symptoms during the pandemic were associated with the school format they attended in October 2020 (remote, in-person/hybrid, homeschool), controlling for their pre-pandemic symptoms. Pre-pandemic peer victimization and autism symptom characteristics were tested as moderators. MethodParticipants were 81 verbally-fluent autistic children (Mage = 14.71 years, 77.8 % males), without an intellectual disability, and their mothers; families were part of an ongoing, longitudinal study that began before the pandemic. ResultsSchool format did not significantly predict children’s anxiety or depressive symptoms.Results indicated that the only significant predictors of children’s anxiety and depressive symptoms during the pandemic were their pre-pandemic symptom levels. ConclusionsSchool format did not significantly contribute to variability in children’s anxiety and depressive symptoms during the pandemic, over and above their pre-pandemic symptoms.The results contribute quantitative findings to the growing body of research on pandemic-related effects on autistic children, and underscore the need to account for pre-pandemic child functioning when drawing conclusions about pandemic-level effects.

Mindfulness in Marriage and Mindfulness in Parenting as Predictors of Social Skills in Early Childhood

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between children's social skills in early childhood, mindfulness in parenting, and mindfulness in marriage. The research was conducted based on the correlational survey model. The participants are 279 parents with children aged 3-7 years. The instruments that used for data collection were the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scale (PKBS-2), Mindfulness in Marriage Scale (MMS), Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire (MPQ) and Personal Information Form. Independent samples t-test, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The results show that mindfulness in marriage and mindfulness in parenting have a positive and significant relationship with social skills in early childhood. According to the results of the regression analysis, mindfulness in marriage and mindfulness in parenting are significant predictors of children’s social skills. The regression model has explained 27% of social skills. The research findings were discussed in light of the literature.

MATERNAL COPING STRATEGIES AND BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME

Background: Coping strategies are the behaviours, thoughts, and emotions that are used to adjust to the stressful situation and changes that occur in the life. Mothers’ coping can affect the behavioural problems of children with Down syndrome. The present study examined the relationship between maternal coping strategies and behavioural problems of children with Down syndrome. Method: The sample comprised of 54 mothers with age range 25–52 years, and 54 children with age range 6–18 years. This was a correlational research study using purposive sampling strategy from different government and private special education institutes of Lahore. Mothers responded to two instruments, the Cope Inventory and Child Behavioural Checklist. Children responded to Colour Progressive Matrices, and it was used to assess their ability to recognize and think logically. Results: The results revealed significant negative association of emotion-focused coping and children’s behavioural problem, while significant positive association of recently developed coping and children behavioural problem. Additionally, recently developed coping, family size, and mothers’ education were the significant predictors of behavioural problems of the children. However, results showed non-significant gender differences of behavioural problems. Conclusion: Emotion-focused coping and recently developed coping are connected with behavioural problems of children. Recently developed coping, family size, and mothers’ education are the significant predictors of children’s behavioural problems. Behavioural problems are not affected by gender. Pak J Physiol 2022;18(4):22–6

Positive Future Expectancies: When Hopeful Thinking Contributes to Happiness in Children

ABSTRACT This research investigates positive future expectancies, particularly hope in children, which is comprised of agency thinking, perceiving oneself as capable of achieving goals, and pathways thinking, perceiving oneself as capable of discovering methods toward the desired goals. Two studies (n = 82) were conducted in the United States to examine the role of agency and pathways thinking in children’s trait and state happiness based on children’s self-reports and their parents reports of their children. In Study 1, dyads of typically developing children (Mage = 10.21 years) and their parents (Mage = 43.84 years) completed measures of hope and happiness. Study 2 extended Study 1 to include a diverse sample of children with chronic health conditions (Mage = 11.14 years) and their parents (Mage = 43.48 years). In Study 1, regression analyses revealed that children’s self-reports of agency thinking predict children’s trait and state happiness, p’s < .05. Contrastingly, in Study 2, regression analyses revealed that children’s self-reports of pathways thinking predict children’s self-reports of trait happiness, p < .001. Also, collectively, pathways thinking, agency thinking, and children’s age predict children’s state happiness, p = .025. In both studies, parents’ reports of their children’s hope were not significant predictors of children’s happiness. There also was not an association between parents’ perceptions of their children’s hope and happiness and their children’s self-reported levels. These findings elucidate the cognitive aspects of hope that promote happiness in childhood and advance understanding of the determinants of children’s happiness in the U.S.

Contributions of cognitive flexibility, inhibition and number label knowledge to numerical equivalence in 3- to 5-year-old children.

To investigate the contributions of cognitive flexibility, inhibition and number label knowledge to children's numerical equivalence, one hundred and one 3- to 5-year-olds were administered the dimensional change card sorting task, the day-night task and the give-a-number task. The numerical equivalence was assessed with the numerical matching task in three surface similarity conditions. Results showed that, in the high surface similarity condition, cognitive flexibility and label knowledge, rather than inhibition, were significant predictors of children's performance in numerical equivalence. In the low surface similarity and the cross-mapping conditions, only cognitive flexibility, rather than number label knowledge and inhibition, significantly explained the unique variance in numerical equivalence. Besides, cognitive flexibility explained more variation in numerical equivalence in the cross-mapping condition compared with the low surface similarity condition. These findings highlight different roles of cognitive flexibility, inhibition and number label knowledge in numerical equivalence in the three surface similarity conditions.

Early childhood educator's implementation readiness and intervention fidelity: Findings from a person-centered study

Research has indicated that early educators’ intervention fidelity is a significant predictor of children's responsiveness to classroom interventions. To improve understanding of predictors of intervention fidelity in early childhood settings, this study adopted a person-centered approach to identify profiles of “implementation readiness” in 1,192 Danish educators, and to examine relations with implementation fidelity. Multilevel latent profile analyses including setting-level characteristics as well as characteristics particular to the individual educator, showed reliable profiles of general and intervention-specific implementation readiness, which were associated with proportion of fulltime educators, employees with a teaching-related pre-service education, and investment in professional development. Higher and more positive implementation readiness predicted implementation dosage and adherence to early childhood interventions.

Clinical Trial Data: Both Parents Having Psychiatric Symptoms as Risk Factor for Children's Mental Illness.

Children of mentally ill parents represent a particularly vulnerable risk group for the development of mental illness. This study examines whether there is a predictive association between children's psychiatric symptomatology and (1) the clinical diagnosis according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) of their mentally ill parent as well as (2) to families both parents showing psychiatric symptoms. The study is part of the multicenter controlled trial project "Children of Mentally Ill Parents" (CHIMPS). For this purpose, the psychiatric symptomatology of the mentally ill parent (N = 196) and his or her partner (N = 134) as well as the psychiatric symptomatology of their children aged 4 to 18 years (N = 290) was measured using clinical rated ICD-10-diagnosis, self-rated Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Using multilevel analyses, the severity of the parental psychiatric symptomatology (BSI) was identified as a significant predictor of children's psychiatric symptomatology (CBCL). Children of parents with a personality disorder (ICD-10) were not more affected than children of parents with another ICD-10-diagnosis. However, children with two parents showing psychiatric symptoms (CBCL) were significantly more affected than children with one mentally ill parent. The results of this study support the well-known view that parental mental illness is a risk factor for children's psychiatric symptoms. Therefore, increased support, especially in high-risk families, both parents having psychiatric symptoms, is highly necessary and should be implemented in the future psychotherapeutic family care.

Does time heal all wounds? How is children's exposure to intimate partner violence related to their current internalizing symptoms?

The effects of time and the longitudinal course of the children's internalizing symptoms following Intimate Partner Violence Exposure (IPVE) are still of great interest today. This study aimed to analyze the effect of the frequency of IPVE, adverse experiences after the cessation of the IPVE and the time elapsed since the termination of the violent relation on the prevalence of anxiety and depression among children. Participants were 107 children and their mothers who had been victims of IPV and had existing judicial protection and restraining orders. Hierarchical logistic regression models were estimated to analyze children's adjustment, considering the effect of the time elapsed since the termination, frequency of IPVE, experiences of revictimization, maternal pathology, and anxious anticipation of the mother at the prospect of future harm. Exposure to multiple events of violence at the hands of multiple ex-partners and higher scores in the mother's anxious anticipation were significant predictors of children's pathological depression and anxiety. Our results emphasize the need for early psychological evaluation of women and children's victims of IPV to provide timely interventions that avoid symptoms from becoming chronic. Strategies to bring support and emotional security to the victims after the end of the violent relationship are desirable.

Associations between Emotion Regulation, Feeding Practices, and Preschoolers' Food Consumption.

Previous research identified emotion dysregulation, non-responsive feeding practices, and unhealthy food consumption as risk factors for childhood obesity. However, little is known about the relationships between these factors. This study examined associations between children’s emotion regulation, parental feeding practices, and children’s food consumption. The sample consisted of 163 mothers of children aged 3–5 years. Mothers completed the Emotion Regulation Checklist, the Child Feeding Questionnaire, and the Child Health Section from the Parent Interview of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-B to assess model variables. Results showed that healthy food consumption was associated with higher emotion regulation abilities, higher monitoring, and lower pressure to eat. For unhealthy food consumption, the associations were in opposite directions. Higher emotion regulation abilities were also associated with higher monitoring, lower pressure to eat, and lower restriction. For lability, the associations were in opposite directions. Regression analyses revealed that children’s lability, pressure to eat, and monitoring were significant predictors of children’s food consumption. These findings suggest that children’s emotion regulation and feeding practices are important determinants of children’s food consumption. Future longitudinal studies that examine bidirectional associations between children’s emotion regulation, parental feeding practices, children’s food consumption, and potential mechanisms accounting for these associations are needed.

Family Socio-Economic Status and Children's Play Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Home Environment.

Family socio-economic status (SES) is a significant predictor of children’s early learning performance, while little is known about the relationship between family SES and children’s play. This study aimed to examine how family SES was related to different aspects of children’s play behaviors and whether the home environment served as a mediator in this relationship. A total of 844 mothers of children aged three to six (Nboys = 431) from different SES backgrounds (Nlow-SES = 123, Nmedium-SES = 322, Nhigh-SES = 399) reported the situation of the home environment and their children’s play behaviors with self-developed questionnaires. Results of regression analyses showed that family SES significantly predicted the level of Imagination, Approaches to Learning, and Emotion Expression in children’s play and that the home environment partially mediated such relationships. The results indicate SES-related differences in children’s play behaviors and offer the possibility of narrowing such discrepancies by establishing a child-friendly home environment.

Too Many Treats or Not Enough to Eat? The Impact of Caregiving Grandparents on Child Food Security and Nutrition.

With the number of grandparent-headed households on the rise, the influence of grandparents needs to be considered in the fight to reduce child obesity. The current study investigated the influence of caregiver type (i.e., grandparents only, parents only, or multi-generational households) on children’s nutrition, food security, and BMI. This was a cross-sectional, secondary analysis based on the 2009–2010 wave of the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey in collaboration with the World Health Organization. This sample included 12,181 students from 10,837 families with only parents present in the household, 238 with only grandparents present, and 1106 multi-generational families. One-way analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were conducted using caregiver type as the independent variable, controlling for SES, on items assessing frequency of breakfast consumption, nutrition intake, hunger, snacking frequency and location, and BMI. Children reported more unhealthy snacking in households with only grandparents. Hunger was reported more often in multi-generational households. These results support that caregiver type, especially caregiving grandparents, is a significant predictor of children’s BMI, nutrition, and food security. Tailoring nutrition education to the needs of grandparents could help both the health of grandparents and the reduction of child obesity.