scholarly journals Why the son-bias in fathering? Testing sex-differences in the associations between paternal caregiving and child outcomes in England (Pre-print)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily H Emmott ◽  
Ruth Mace
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Ecological Framework ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
More Care ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Avon Longitudinal Study

Fathers in Western populations tend to provide more care to sons than daughters. Following a Human Behavioural Ecological framework, we hypothesise that son-biases in fathering may (at least in part) be due to differences in the “returns to paternal caregiving” on children’s outcomes by sex. In this study, we investigate possible sex-differences in the associations between paternal caregiving throughout early childhood and children’s outcomes in stable, two-parent families. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, we test whether paternal caregiving is associated with different effects on children’s school test scores and behavioural difficulty by children’s sex. Overall, we find that paternal caregiving is associated with higher school test scores and lower behavioural difficulty scores, but the association between paternal caregiving and school test scores were stronger for boys. Our findings highlight possible sex-differences in returns to paternal caregiving for certain domains of child outcomes in England.

scholarly journals Why the Son-bias in Caregiving? Testing Sex-differences in the Associations Between Paternal Caregiving and Child Outcomes in England

2020 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2094190
Author(s):  
Emily H. Emmott ◽  
Ruth Mace
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Behavioral Difficulties ◽  
Ecological Framework ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Behavioral Difficulty ◽  
More Care ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Avon Longitudinal Study

Studies show that fathers across Western populations tend to provide more care to sons than daughters. Following a human behavioral ecological framework, we hypothesize that son-biases in fathering may (at least in part) be due to differences in fitness returns to paternal direct investments by child’s sex. In this study, we investigate sex-differences in the associations between paternal caregiving and children’s outcomes in stable, two-parent families. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, we test whether paternal caregiving in early childhood is associated with different effects on children’s school test scores and behavioral difficulties by children’s sex. Overall, we find that paternal caregiving is associated with higher school test scores and lower behavioral difficulty scores, but the association between paternal caregiving and school test scores was stronger for boys. Our findings highlight possible sex-differences in returns to paternal caregiving for certain domains of child outcomes in England.

scholarly journals Infant temperament, early-childhood parenting, and early-adolescent development: Testing alternative models of Parenting × Temperament interaction

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Xiaoya Zhang ◽  
Kristina Sayler ◽  
Sarah Hartman ◽  
Jay Belsky
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Differential Susceptibility ◽  
Early Adolescent ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Supportive Parenting ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Parameterized Model ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Childhood Parenting ◽  
Avon Longitudinal Study

Abstract Here we evaluate whether infant difficult temperament (6 months) functions as a vulnerability or more general plasticity factor when investigating effects of early-childhood parenting (8–42 months) on both positive and negative early-adolescent socioemotional development (age 8–11 years). Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC, N = 14,541) and a re-parameterized model-testing approach to distinguish alternative person × environment conceptual models, results indicated that temperament × parenting interacted in predicting externalizing (i.e., hyperactivity, conduct problems), but not other behavior (i.e., emotional symptoms, peer problems), in a (weak) differential susceptibility manner. While more and less supportive parenting predicted, respectively, fewer and more behavior problems, it did so more strongly for children who were more difficult as infants.

scholarly journals Abuse in Childhood and Cardiometabolic Health in Early Adulthood: Evidence From the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Goncalves Soares ◽  
Annie Zimmerman ◽  
Stan Zammit ◽  
Anke Karl ◽  
Sarah L. Halligan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Cardiometabolic Health ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Avon Longitudinal Study

Background Although childhood abuse has been consistently associated with cardiovascular disease in later adulthood, its associations with cardiometabolic health in younger adults are poorly understood. We assessed associations between childhood physical, sexual, and psychological abuse and cardiometabolic outcomes at 18 and 25 years. Methods and Results We used data on 3223 participants of the ALSPAC (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children). Exposure to childhood abuse was self‐reported retrospectively at 22 years. We used linear regression to assess the associations between childhood abuse and cardiometabolic outcomes at 18 and 25 years. At 18 years, physical (β 1.35 kg/m 2 ; 95% CI, 0.66–2.05), sexual (β 0.57 kg/m 2 ; 95% CI 0.04–1.11), and psychological (β 0.47 kg/m 2 ; 95% CI 0.01–0.92) abuse were associated with higher body mass index. Physical abuse was also associated with lower high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (β −0.07 mmol/L; 95% CI, −0.13 to −0.01) and higher C‐reactive protein (31%; 95% CI, 1%–69%), and sexual abuse was associated with higher heart rate (β 1.92 bpm; 95% CI 0.26–3.58). At age 25, all 3 types of abuse were additionally associated with higher insulin, and sexual abuse was associated with lower cholesterol (−0.14 mmol/L; 95% CI, −0.26 to −0.01). The age at which abuse occurred (<11or 11–17 years) had little influence on the associations, and when sex differences were evident, associations were stronger in men. Conclusions Childhood abuse is associated with negative cardiometabolic outcomes even by young adulthood. Further follow‐up will determine whether associations strengthen across the life course and whether sex differences persist, which is essential for targeting effective screening programs and early interventions in those who suffered abuse in childhood.

scholarly journals Early Childhood General Anesthesia and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children Birth Cohort

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (5) ◽  
pp. 1007-1020
Author(s):  
Graham J. Walkden ◽  
Hannah Gill ◽  
Neil M. Davies ◽  
Alethea E. Peters ◽  
Ingram Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
General Anesthesia ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
P Value ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Avon Longitudinal Study

Background Most common anesthetic agents have been implicated in causing neurodegeneration in the developing animal brain, leading to warnings regarding their use in children. The hypothesis of this study was that exposure to general anesthesia and surgery before 4 yr would associate with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 7 to 16 yr. Methods This cohort study comprised 13,433 children enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a prospective, population-based birth cohort born between 1991 and 1993 in southwest England. Children were grouped by none, single, or multiple exposures to general anesthesia and surgery by 4 yr. Motor, cognitive, linguistic, educational, social, and behavioral developmental outcomes were evaluated at 7 to 16 yr using school examination results, validated parent/teacher questionnaires, or clinic assessments. Continuous outcomes were z-scored. P-value thresholds were corrected using false discovery rate procedures. Results This study compared 46 neurodevelopmental outcomes in 13,433 children: 8.3% (1,110) exposed singly and 1.6% (212) exposed multiply to general anesthesia and surgery. Of these, the following reached predefined levels of statistical significance (corrected P &lt; 0.00652): dynamic balance scores were 0.3 SD (95% CI, 0.1, 0.5; P &lt; 0.001) lower in multiply exposed children; manual dexterity performance was 0.1 SD (95% CI, 0.0, 0.2; P = 0.006) lower in singly and 0.3 SD (95% CI, 0.1, 0.4; P &lt; 0.001) lower in multiply exposed children; and social communication scores were 0.1 SD (95% CI, 0.0, 0.2; P = 0.001) and 0.4 SD (95% CI, 0.3, 0.5; P &lt; 0.001) lower in singly and multiply exposed children, respectively. General anesthesia and surgery were not associated with impairments in the remaining neurodevelopmental measures including: general cognitive ability; attention; working memory; reading, spelling, verbal comprehension and expression; behavioral difficulties; or national English, mathematics, and science assessments (all ≤0.1 SD; corrected P ≥ 0.00652). Conclusions Early childhood general anesthesia and surgery were not associated with a global picture of clinically and statistically significant neurodegenerative effects, providing reassurance about the neurotoxic potential of general anesthesia. Exposure to anesthesia and surgery was associated with significantly lower motor and social linguistic performance. Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New

scholarly journals Trimester effects of source-specific PM10 on birth weight outcomes in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingxin Chen ◽  
Susan Hodgson ◽  
John Gulliver ◽  
Raquel Granell ◽  
A. John Henderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Exposure Misclassification ◽  
Third Trimester ◽  
Residential History ◽  
The Third ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Avon Longitudinal Study

Abstract Background Evidence suggests that exposure to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM10) is associated with reduced birth weight, but information is limited on the sources of PM10 and exposure misclassification from assigning exposures to place of residence at birth. Methods Trimester and source-specific PM10 exposures (PM10 from road source, local non-road source, and total source) in pregnancy were estimated using dispersion models and a full maternal residential history for 12,020 births from the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children (ALSPAC) cohort in 1990–1992 in the Bristol area. Information on birth outcomes were obtained from birth records. Maternal sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were obtained from questionnaires. We used linear regression models for continuous outcomes (birth weight, head circumference (HC), and birth length (BL) and logistic regression models for binary outcomes (preterm birth (PTB), term low birth weight (TLBW) and small for gestational age (SGA)). Sensitivity analysis was performed using multiple imputation for missing covariate data. Results After adjustment, interquartile range increases in source specific PM10 from traffic were associated with 17 to 18% increased odds of TLBW in all pregnancy periods. We also found odds of TLBW increased by 40% (OR: 1.40, 95%CI: 1.12, 1.75) and odds of SGA increased by 18% (OR: 1.18, 95%CI: 1.05, 1.32) per IQR (6.54 μg/m3) increase of total PM10 exposure in the third trimester. Conclusion This study adds to evidence that maternal PM10 exposures affect birth weight, with particular concern in relation to exposures to PM10 from road transport sources; results for total PM10 suggest greatest effect in the third trimester. Effect size estimates relate to exposures in the 1990s and are higher than those for recent studies – this may relate to reduced exposure misclassification through use of full residential history information, changes in air pollution toxicity over time and/or residual confounding.

scholarly journals The Influence of Alcohol Consumption on Fighting, Shoplifting and Vandalism in Young Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3509
Author(s):  
Ieuan Evans ◽  
Jon Heron ◽  
Joseph Murray ◽  
Matthew Hickman ◽  
Gemma Hammerton
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Experimental Findings ◽  
Avon Longitudinal Study ◽  
Causal Component

Experimental studies support the conventional belief that people behave more aggressively whilst under the influence of alcohol. To examine how these experimental findings manifest in real life situations, this study uses a method for estimating evidence for causality with observational data—‘situational decomposition’ to examine the association between alcohol consumption and crime in young adults from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Self-report questionnaires were completed at age 24 years to assess typical alcohol consumption and frequency, participation in fighting, shoplifting and vandalism in the previous year, and whether these crimes were committed under the influence of alcohol. Situational decomposition compares the strength of two associations, (1) the total association between alcohol consumption and crime (sober or intoxicated) versus (2) the association between alcohol consumption and crime committed while sober. There was an association between typical alcohol consumption and total crime for fighting [OR (95% CI): 1.47 (1.29, 1.67)], shoplifting [OR (95% CI): 1.25 (1.12, 1.40)], and vandalism [OR (95% CI): 1.33 (1.12, 1.57)]. The associations for both fighting and shoplifting had a small causal component (with the association for sober crime slightly smaller than the association for total crime). However, the association for vandalism had a larger causal component.

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