scholarly journals Prenatal maternal stress, child internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and the moderating role of parenting: findings from the Norwegian mother, father, and child cohort study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Zahra M. Clayborne ◽  
Wendy Nilsen ◽  
Fartein Ask Torvik ◽  
Kristin Gustavson ◽  
Mona Bekkhus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Maternal Stress ◽  
Parenting Behaviors ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Prenatal Maternal Stress ◽  
Maternal Report ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Oppositional Defiant ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing Symptoms

Abstract Background Few studies have examined how parenting influences the associations between prenatal maternal stress and children's mental health. The objectives of this study were to examine the sex-specific associations between prenatal maternal stress and child internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and to assess the moderating effects of parenting behaviors on these associations. Methods This study is based on 15 963 mother–child dyads from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). A broad measure of prenatal maternal stress was constructed using 41 self-reported items measured during pregnancy. Three parenting behaviors (positive parenting, inconsistent discipline, and positive involvement) were assessed by maternal report at child age 5 years. Child symptoms of internalizing and externalizing disorders (depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, and oppositional-defiant disorder) were assessed by maternal report at age 8. Analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling techniques. Results Prenatal maternal stress was associated with child internalizing and externalizing symptoms at age 8; associations with externalizing symptoms differed by sex. Associations between prenatal maternal stress and child depression, and conduct disorder and oppositional-defiant disorder in males, became stronger as levels of inconsistent discipline increased. Associations between prenatal maternal stress and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in females were attenuated as levels of parental involvement increased. Conclusions This study confirms associations between prenatal maternal stress and children's mental health outcomes, and demonstrates that these associations may be modified by parenting behaviors. Parenting may represent an important intervention target for improving mental health outcomes in children exposed to prenatal stress.

scholarly journals Polygenic Risks for Joint Developmental Trajectories of Internalizing and Externalizing Problems: Findings from the ALSPAC Cohort

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia Gabriela Speyer ◽  
Samuel Neaves ◽  
Hildigunnur Anna Hall ◽  
Gibran Hemani ◽  
MIchael Lombardo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Developmental Trajectories ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing Problems ◽  
Shared Risk ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing Symptoms

Background: Joint developmental trajectories of internalizing and externalizing problems show considerable heterogeneity; however, this can be parsed into a small number of meaningful subgroups. Doing so offered insights into risk factors that lead to different patterns of internalizing/externalizing trajectories. However, despite both domains of problems showing strong heritability, no study has yet considered genetic risks as predictors of joint internalizing/externalizing problem trajectories. Methods: Using parallel process latent class growth analysis, we estimated joint developmental trajectories of internalizing and externalizing difficulties assessed across ages 4 to 16 using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate a range of demographic, perinatal, maternal mental health, and child and maternal polygenic predictors of group membership. Participants included 11049 children taking part in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Polygenic data was available for 7127 children and 6836 mothers.Results: Five distinct classes were identified: Unaffected, Moderate Externalizing Symptoms, High Externalizing Symptoms, Moderate Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms and High Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms. Male sex, lower maternal age, maternal mental health problems, maternal smoking during pregnancy, higher child polygenic risk scores for ADHD as well as lower polygenic scores for IQ distinguished affected classes from the unaffected class.Conclusions: While affected classes could be relatively well separated from the unaffected class, phenotypic and polygenic predictors were limited in their ability to distinguish between different affected classes. Thus, results add to existing evidence that internalizing and externalizing problems have mostly shared risk factors.

scholarly journals Refugee Children’s Social–Emotional Capacities: Links to Mental Health upon Resettlement and Buffering Effects on Pre-Migratory Adversity

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 12180
Author(s):  
Ruth Speidel ◽  
Emma Galarneau ◽  
Danah Elsayed ◽  
Shahdah Mahhouk ◽  
Joanne Filippelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Refugee Children ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing Symptoms

Refugee children who experience severe pre-migratory adversity often show varying levels of mental health upon resettlement. Thus, it is critical to identify the factors that explain which refugee children experience more vs. less healthy outcomes. The present study assessed child social–emotional capacities (i.e., emotion regulation, sympathy, optimism, and trust) as potential moderators of associations between child, parental, and familial pre-migratory adversities and child mental health (i.e., internalizing and externalizing symptoms) upon resettlement. Participants were N = 123 five- to 12-year-old Syrian refugee children and their mothers living in Canada. Children and mothers reported their pre-migratory adverse life experiences, and mothers reported their children’s current social–emotional capacities, internalizing symptoms, and externalizing symptoms. Greater familial (i.e., the sum of children’s and their mother’s) pre-migratory adversity was associated with higher child internalizing and externalizing symptoms upon resettlement. Higher emotion regulation and optimism were associated with lower internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and higher sympathy was associated with lower externalizing symptoms. In contrast, higher trust was associated with higher internalizing symptoms. Finally, higher child optimism buffered against the positive association between familial pre-migratory adversity and child internalizing symptoms. In sum, select social–emotional capacities may serve as potential protective factors that support mental health and buffer against the deleterious effects of pre-migratory adversity in refugee children.

scholarly journals The Longitudinal Influence of Caregiver Dispositional Mindful Attention on Mindful Parenting, Parenting Practices, and Youth Psychopathology

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Parent ◽  
Chelsea Dale ◽  
Laura McKee ◽  
Alexandra D.W. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Parenting Practices ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Youth Mental Health ◽  
Mindful Parenting ◽  
Dispositional Mindfulness ◽  
Negative Parenting ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing Symptoms

Although much research examining youth psychopathology from an ecological family systems theoretical framework has highlighted negative or pathological parental characteristics, it is important to identify and explore positive parent characteristics, such as mindfulness, that may impact youth mental health. Dispositional mindfulness has been related, in cross-sectional research, to higher levels of mindful parenting, which impacts positive and negative parenting and, in turn, offspring internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The current study expands this work by examining associations among these variables in a short-term longitudinal model and by testing potential moderators (i.e., parent and youth gender and youth developmental stage). A sample of 564 parents (60% mothers) of children between the ages of 3 and 17 reported on their mindfulness, mindful parenting, positive and negative parenting practices, and their youth’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms at 4 time points over a 12 month period. The structural equation model indicated that higher levels of baseline parent disposition mindfulness were related to higher levels of mindful parenting at 4 months. Higher levels of mindful parenting were associated with higher levels of positive parenting and lower levels of negative parenting practices at 8 months. Finally, lower levels of negative parenting practices were related to lower levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms at 12 months. Moderator analyses suggested that all prospective associations in the model were equivalent for mothers and fathers, boys and girls, and children and adolescents. Findings shed light on the importance of parent mindfulness as it relates to parenting behaviors and youth mental health.

scholarly journals Did Affiliate Stigma Predict Affective and Behavioral Outcomes in Caregivers and Their Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7532
Author(s):  
Chih-Cheng Chang ◽  
Yu-Min Chen ◽  
Ray C. Hsiao ◽  
Wen-Jiun Chou ◽  
Cheng-Fang Yen
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Children With Adhd ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Affiliate Stigma ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing Symptoms

The aim of this follow-up study was to examine the predictive values of caregivers’ affiliate stigma at baseline for depression in caregivers and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 1 year later. The Study on Affiliate Stigma in Caregivers of Children with ADHD surveyed the levels of affiliate stigma and depression in 400 caregivers and the behavioral problems of their children with ADHD. The levels of the caregivers’ depression and children’s behavioral problems were assessed 1 year later. The associations of caregivers’ affiliate stigma at baseline with depression in caregivers and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children with ADHD at follow-up were examined using stepwise multiple regression. The results indicated that before caregivers’ depression and children’s behavioral problems at baseline were controlled, caregivers’ affiliate stigma at baseline positively predicted caregivers’ depression and all children’s behavioral problems. After caregivers’ depression and children’s behavioral problems at baseline were controlled, caregivers’ affiliate stigma at baseline still positively predicted children’s affective and somatic problems. Parenting training and cognitive behavioral therapy should be provided to caregivers with intense affiliate stigma to prevent emotional problems and difficulties in managing their children’s behavioral problems.

scholarly journals Roles of Family Stress, Maltreatment, and Affect Regulation Difficulties on Adolescent Mental Health During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Craig ◽  
Christina Lauren Robillard ◽  
Brianna Turner ◽  
Megan E. Ames
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Family Stress ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Psychological Maltreatment ◽  
Affect Dysregulation ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing Symptoms

Purpose: This study examines the indirect effect of affect dysregulation and suppression on the associations between family stress from confinement, maltreatment, and adolescent mental health during COVID-19. We examined both adolescent and caregiver perspectives to yield a more well-rounded understanding of these associations. Methods: Using both adolescent (N = 809, Mage = 15.66) and caregiver (N = 578) samples, exposure to physical and psychological maltreatment, family stress from confinement, affect dysregulation, suppression, and youth externalizing and internalizing symptoms were measured in the summer of 2020, following three months of stay at home orders due to COVID-19. Results: We found that affect dysregulation partially accounted for the associations between family stress and psychological maltreatment on both internalizing and externalizing symptoms for youth and parent report. Suppression partially accounted for the associations between family stress and maltreatment on internalizing and externalizing symptoms in the youth sample, but only for internalizing symptoms in the caregiver sample. Conclusion: Understanding the family predictors of adolescents’ mental health concerns, and their underlying mechanisms, affect dysregulation and suppression, can help us target mental health interventions during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract TP405: Psychological Outcomes After Childhood Arterial Ischemic Stroke

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily C Maxwell ◽  
Tonia Ballantyne ◽  
Kathleen E Carlson ◽  
Amanda L Hollatz ◽  
KC Clevenger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Child Behavior Checklist ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Neurological Injury ◽  
Normative Sample ◽  
Arterial Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Oppositional Defiant ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing Symptoms

Introduction: Previous research has broadly documented that emotional and behavioral difficulties are seen after pediatric stroke; however, global ratings are generally reported without comparison to age-based norms. Additionally, little is known about the discrete symptomatology exhibited by these children. Thus, the goal of the present study was to evaluate specific psychological symptoms following childhood arterial ischemic stroke (AIS). Hypothesis: Children with AIS were predicted to have increased difficulties in both internalizing and externalizing symptoms compared to the normative sample. Age at AIS was anticipated to influence the presence of psychological symptoms, with internalizing symptoms occurring at higher levels when the AIS occurred at a later age. Methods: Participants were children ( n = 50, mean age = 12.1 years) who suffered an AIS during childhood (range = 1 month to 17.1 years). Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist at least 10 months post-AIS (mean = 4.1 years). Children were divided into groups by age at AIS: early (<6 years), middle (6-10 years), or late (>10 years) childhood. Data were analyzed using one-sample t -tests and ANOVA. Results: Children with AIS had significantly greater problems on the following DSM-oriented scales compared to the normative sample (all p -values < 0.01): Affective Problems, Anxiety Problems, Somatic Problems, Oppositional Defiant Problems, and Conduct Problems. There was a significant age-at-AIS effect on the Anxiety Problems subscale, F (2, 49) = 3.31, p = 0.05, such that the early childhood group had significantly higher levels of anxiety compared to the late childhood group. Conclusions: Increased internalizing and externalizing symptoms were seen in children with AIS compared to the normative sample, and a higher percentage of children with AIS exceeded a clinically significant threshold in each domain. Contrary to expectations, children who had AIS at an earlier age showed greater number of anxiety symptoms relative to same-age peers. Possible mechanisms for the latter may include changes in family dynamics when young children suffer a neurological injury. These results support the need for careful psychological follow-up in this vulnerable population.

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