A Longitudinal Study of the Relation between Childhood Activities and Psychosocial Adjustment in Early Adolescence

Background: Although an increasing body of research shows that excessive screen time could impair brain development, whereas non-screen recreational activities can promote the development of adaptive emotion regulation and social skills, there is a lack of comparative research on this topic. Hence, this study examined whether and to what extent the frequency of early-life activities predicted later externalizing and internalizing problems. Methods: In 2012/13, we recruited Kindergarten 3 (K3) students from randomly selected kindergartens in two districts of Hong Kong and collected parent-report data on children’s screen activities and parent–child activities. In 2018/19, we re-surveyed the parents of 323 students (aged 11 to 13 years) with question items regarding their children’s externalizing and internalizing symptoms in early adolescence. Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between childhood activities and psychosocial problems in early adolescence. Results: Early-life parent–child activities (β = −0.14, p = 0.012) and child-alone screen use duration (β = 0.15, p = 0.007) independently predicted externalizing problems in early adolescence. Their associations with video game exposure (β = 0.19, p = 0.004) and non-screen recreational parent–child activities (β = −0.14, p = 0.004) were particularly strong. Conclusions: Parent–child play time is important for healthy psychosocial development. More efforts should be directed to urge parents and caregivers to replace child-alone screen time with parent–child play time.

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A Twin-Singleton Comparison of Developmental Trajectories of Externalizing and Internalizing Problems in 6- to 12-Year-Old Children

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1375/twin.13.1.79 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 79-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Sylvana C. C. Robbers ◽

Meike Bartels ◽

Floor V. A. van Oort ◽

C. E. M. (Toos) van Beijsterveldt ◽

Jan van der Ende ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Adolescence ◽

Internalizing Problems ◽

Externalizing Problems ◽

Internalizing Symptoms ◽

Child Behavior Checklist ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Developmental Trajectories ◽

Population Sample ◽

Growth Curves ◽

Externalizing And Internalizing Problems

AbstractResearch on twin-singleton differences in externalizing and internalizing problems in childhood is largely cross-sectional and yields contrasting results. The goal of this study was to compare developmental trajectories of externalizing and internalizing problems in 6- to 12-year-old twins and singletons. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) maternal reports of externalizing and internalizing problems were obtained for a sample of 9651 twins from the Netherlands Twin Register and for a representative general population sample of 1351 singletons. Latent growth modeling was applied to estimate growth curves for twins and singletons. Twin-singleton differences in the intercepts and slopes of the growth curves were examined. The developmental trajectories of externalizing problems showed a linear decrease over time, and were not significantly different for twins and singletons. Internalizing problems seem to develop similarly for twins and singletons up to age 9. After this age twins' internalizing symptoms start to decrease in comparison to those of singletons, resulting in less internalizing problems than singletons by the age of 12 years. Our findings confirm the generalizability of twin studies to singleton populations with regard to externalizing problems in middle and late childhood. The generalizability of studies on internalizing problems in early adolescence in twin samples should be addressed with care. Twinship may be a protective factor in the development of internalizing problems during early adolescence.

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The Parent Play Questionnaire (PPQ): development of a parent questionnaire to assess parent-child play and digital media use

10.31234/osf.io/5yqu7 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Yasmin Iona Ahmadzadeh ◽

Kathryn J. Lester ◽

Bonamy R. Oliver ◽

Tom McAdams

Keyword(s):

Digital Media ◽

Media Use ◽

Parent Report ◽

Total N ◽

Parent Questionnaire ◽

Social And Emotional ◽

Child Play ◽

Three Samples ◽

Family Variables ◽

Parent Child

We introduce the Parent Play Questionnaire (PPQ), a parent-report measure designed to assess frequency of parent–infant play, parents’ attitudes towards play with their infant, and infants’ use of digital media. We describe measure development and empirical data across three samples of parent–infant dyads (total N = 414, offspring a ged 0.3–2.5 years). Three latent factors explain the PPQ, corresponding with theoretically defined subscales. Summary scores showed good internal consistency and normally distributed results. Weak to moderate correlations were found between the frequency and attitude play scales, and with standardized measures of family social and emotional characteristics. Overall, frequency of digital media use was not correlated with play or broader family variables. Results suggest that the PPQ will be a useful tool for researchers interested in assessing parent–child play during early childhood.

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Early-life activities mediate the association between family socioeconomic status in early childhood and physical fitness in early adolescence

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-03883-8 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rosa S. Wong ◽

Keith T. S. Tung ◽

Bianca N. K. Chan ◽

Frederick K. W. Ho ◽

Nirmala Rao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Screen Time ◽

Early Life ◽

Activity Level ◽

Family Socioeconomic Status ◽

Standing Long Jump ◽

Long Jump ◽

Parent Child

AbstractThe graded association between family socioeconomic status (SES) and physical fitness is evident, but little is known about the mechanism underlying this association. This study investigated the role of early-life activities as mediators of the longitudinal relationship between early-life SES and health-related physical fitness in 168 adolescents (51.2% boys; final mean age: 12.4 years old). In Wave 1 (2011–12), their parents completed questionnaires about family socioeconomic status (SES), parent–child activities, and child screen time. In Wave 2 (2014–15), participants’ physical activity levels were assessed through parent proxy-reports. In Wave 3 (2018–19), a direct assessment of handgrip strength, standing long-jump, and 6-min walk test (6MWT) performance was conducted. After controlling for demographic factors, results of mediation analyses revealed that (a) Wave 1 SES predicted Wave 3 long-jump and 6MWT performance; (b) child physical activity level in Wave 2 mediated the relation between Wave 1 SES and standing long-jump performance in Wave 3; and (c) recreational parent–child activities and child screen time in wave 1 mediated the relation between Wave 1 SES and 6MWT performance in Wave 3. Our findings suggest that the type and frequency of early-life activities play a role in the graded association between childhood SES and physical fitness in adolescence.

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Associations of Perceived Sibling and Parent-Child Relationship Quality With Internalizing and Externalizing Problems: Comparing Indian and Dutch Early Adolescents

The Journal of Early Adolescence ◽

10.1177/0272431616653473 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (8) ◽

pp. 1163-1190 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Kirsten L. Buist ◽

Marjolein Verhoeven ◽

René Hoksbergen ◽

Jan ter Laak ◽

Sujala Watve ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Relationship Quality ◽

Psychosocial Development ◽

Internalizing Problems ◽

Primary Schools ◽

Early Adolescents ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Parent Child Relationship ◽

Child Relationship ◽

Externalizing And Internalizing Problems ◽

Parent Child

The aims of the present study were (a) to examine whether Dutch and Indian early adolescents differ concerning sibling and parent-child relationship quality and externalizing and internalizing problems, and (b) to compare the associations between sibling and parent-child relationship quality and externalizing and internalizing problems for Indian and Dutch early adolescents. Our sample consisted of 274 Dutch (mean age = 10.9 years) and 236 Indian early adolescents (mean age = 10.8 years). Questionnaires were administered in the final grades of 15 Dutch primary schools and six Indian English-language middle schools. Indian early adolescents reported more sibling warmth and parental negative interaction than Dutch early adolescents. However, associations between sibling and parent-child relationship quality and externalizing and internalizing problems were similar. Our study indicates that cross-cultural differences may exist in quality of sibling and parent-child relationships, but not in their impact on externalizing and internalizing problems. More cross-cultural research concerning family relationship quality and its impact on early adolescent psychosocial development is needed to confirm our findings.

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The Effects of the Parent-Child Relationship on the Quality of Peer Relationship in Early Adolescence : Focusing on Gender Differences

Korean Journal of Youth Studies ◽

10.21509/kjys.2017.09.24.9.249 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (9) ◽

pp. 249-275

Author(s):

Young Wha Yang ◽

Ju Ri Joeng

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Early Adolescence ◽

Peer Relationship ◽

Parent Child Relationship ◽

Child Relationship ◽

Parent Child

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Does physical activity moderate the association between screen time and psychosocial development in early childhood? Analysis of a longitudinal infant cohort study in Ireland

European Journal of Pediatrics ◽

10.1007/s00431-021-04008-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ross D. Neville ◽

Michele A. Nelson ◽

Sheri Madigan ◽

Dillon T. Browne ◽

Kimberley D. Lakes

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Early Childhood ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Psychosocial Development ◽

Screen Time

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Who should we ask about mental health symptoms in adolescents with CFS/ME? Parent-child agreement on the revised children’s anxiety and depression scale

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/1359104521994880 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 367-380

Author(s):

Teona Serafimova ◽

Maria Loades ◽

Daisy Gaunt ◽

Esther Crawley

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Parent Report ◽

Self Report ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Child Report ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Children’S Anxiety ◽

Parent Child

Background: One in three adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) have mental health problems. Multi-informant perspectives are key to psychological assessment. Understanding parent-child agreement is crucial to accurate diagnosis, particularly where severe fatigue limits self-report. Methods: Agreement on the revised children’s anxiety and depression scale (RCADs) was assessed between parents and children with CFS/ME ( n = 93) using Bland-Altman plots, cross tabulations and regression analyses. Results: Diagnostic thresholds were met more frequently based on child-report. Parent- and child-report had similar sensitivity and specificity on RCADS compared to gold-standard diagnostic interviews. Regression analysis found similar accuracy between both reports. For anxiety diagnoses, odds ratio (OR) for child-report was 1.10 (CI = 1.06–1.14), and 1.10 (CI = 1.05–1.14) for parent-report. For depression, OR for child report was 1.26 (CI = 1.11–1.43), while for parent-report is was 1.25 (CI = 1.10–1.41). For total score, OR for child-report was 1.10 (CI = 1.05–1.13) while OR for parent-report was 1.09 (CI = 1.05–1.13). Conclusions: Reasonable agreement was observed between parent- and child-report of mental health symptoms in paediatric CFS/ME. While parent-report can facilitate psychological evaluation in CFS/ME, this is not a substitute for a child’s own report.

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