Infant Appetitive Phenotypes: A Group-Based Multi-Trajectory Analysis

Background: Examining appetitive traits with person-centered analytical approaches can advance the understanding of appetitive phenotype trajectories across infancy, their origins, and influences upon them. The objective of the present study was to empirically describe appetitive phenotype trajectories in infancy and examine the associations with infant and parent factors.Materials and Methods: In this longitudinal cohort study of Australian infants, parents completed three online surveys ~3 months apart, beginning when the infant was <6 months. Appetitive traits were assessed with the Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire (BEBQ) and parent feeding practices with the Feeding Practices and Structure Questionnaire (FPSQ) infant and toddler version. Parent demographics and cognitions were also collected. Infant weight and length were transcribed from health records and converted to a BMI z-score. Group-based trajectory modeling identified appetitive phenotype trajectories using the BEBQ. Multilevel modeling examined change in feeding practices and child BMI z-score over time by appetitive phenotype trajectories.Results: At time 1, 380 participants completed the survey (mean infant age 98 days), 178 at time 2 (mean infant age 198 days), and 154 at time 3 (mean infant age 303 days). Three multi-trajectory appetitive phenotype groups were identified and labeled as (Phenotype 1) food avoidant trending toward low food approach (21.32% of infants), (Phenotype 2) persistently balanced (50.53% of infants), and (Phenotype 3) high and continuing food approach (28.16% of infants). Formula feeding was more common in Phenotype 1 (p = 0.016). Parents of infants in Phenotype 1 were more likely to rate them as being more difficult than average, compared to infants with phenotypes 2 or 3. Phenotype 2 had the greatest increase in persuasive feeding over time [0.30; 95% CI (0.12, −0.47)].Conclusions: Distinct multi-trajectory appetitive phenotype groups emerge early in infancy. These trajectories appear to have origins in both infant and parent characteristics as well as parent behaviors and cognitions. The infant multi-trajectory appetitive phenotype groups suggest that for some infants, difficulties in self-regulating appetite emerge early in life. Investigation of infant multi-trajectory appetitive phenotype groups that utilize a range of measures, examine relationships to key covariates and outcomes, and extend from infancy into childhood are needed.

Interplay between genetic risk and the parent environment in adolescence and substance use in young adulthood: A TRAILS study

Many adolescents start using tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis. Genetic vulnerability, parent characteristics in young adolescence, and interaction (GxE) and correlation (rGE) between these factors could contribute to the development of substance use. Using prospective data from the TRacking Adolescent Individuals’ Lives Survey (TRAILS; N = 1,645), we model latent parent characteristics in young adolescence to predict young adult substance use. Polygenic scores (PGS) are created based on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for smoking, alcohol use, and cannabis use. Using structural equation modeling we model the direct, GxE, and rGE effects of parent factors and PGS on young adult smoking, alcohol use, and cannabis initiation. The PGS, parental involvement, parental substance use, and parent–child relationship quality predicted smoking. There was GxE such that the PGS amplified the effect of parental substance use on smoking. There was rGE between all parent factors and the smoking PGS. Alcohol use was not predicted by genetic or parent factors, nor by interplay. Cannabis initiation was predicted by the PGS and parental substance use, but there was no GxE or rGE. Genetic risk and parent factors are important predictors of substance use and show GxE and rGE in smoking. These findings can act as a starting point for identifying people at risk.

Psychological distress, resettlement stress, and lower school engagement among Arabic-speaking refugee parents in Sydney, Australia: A cross-sectional cohort study

Background Schools play a key role in supporting the well-being and resettlement of refugee children, and parental engagement with the school may be a critical factor in the process. Many resettlement countries have policies in place to support refugee parents’ engagement with their children’s school. However, the impact of these programs lacks systematic evaluation. This study first aimed to validate self-report measures of parental school engagement developed specifically for the refugee context, and second, to identify parent characteristics associated with school engagement, so as to help tailor support to families most in need. Methods and findings The report utilises 2016 baseline data of a cohort study of 233 Arabic-speaking parents (77% response rate) of 10- to 12-year-old schoolchildren from refugee backgrounds across 5 schools in Sydney, Australia. Most participants were born in Iraq (81%) or Syria (11%), and only 25% spoke English well to very well. Participants’ mean age was 40 years old, and 83% were female. Confirmatory factor analyses were run on provisional item sets identified from a literature review and separate qualitative study. The findings informed the development of 4 self-report tools assessing parent engagement with the school and school community, school belonging, and quality of the relationship with the schools’ bilingual cultural broker. Cronbach alpha and Pearson correlations with an established Teacher–Home Communication subscale demonstrated adequate reliability (α = 0.67 to 0.80) and construct and convergent validity of the measures (p < 0.01), respectively. Parent characteristics were entered into respective least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses. The degree of parents’ psychological distress (as measured by the Kessler10 self-report instrument) and postmigration living difficulties (PLMDs) were each associated with lower school engagement and belonging, whereas less time lived in Australia, lower education levels, and an unemployed status were associated with higher ratings in relationship quality with the schools’ cultural broker. Study limitations include the cross-sectional design and the modest amount of variance (8% to 22%) accounted for by the regression models. Conclusions The study offers preliminary refugee-specific measures of parental school engagement. It is expected they will provide a resource for evaluating efforts to support the integration of refugee families into schools. The findings support the need for initiatives that identify and support parents with school-attending children from refugee backgrounds who are experiencing psychological distress or resettlement stressors. At the school level, the findings suggest that cultural brokers may be effective in targeting newly arrived families.

Change the Things You Can: Modifiable Parent Characteristics Predict High-Quality Early Language Interaction Within Socioeconomic Status

Purpose Understanding variability sources in early language interaction is critical to identifying children whose development is at risk and designing interventions. Variability across socioeconomic status (SES) groups has been extensively explored. However, SES is a limited individual clinical indicator. For example, it is not generally directly modifiable. The purpose of this study was to examine if child language ability, input quantity and quality, and dyadic interaction were associated with modifiable caregiver characteristics—self-efficacy and developmental knowledge. Method We conducted secondary analyses using the baseline data ( n = 41 dyads enrolled, n = 30 analyzed) from a longitudinal study. Mothers and children (1;0–2;3 [years;months]) in low-income households completed demographic questionnaires, self-efficacy and developmental knowledge measures, child language assessments, and interaction samples. We used linear regression models to examine the relationship between self-efficacy, developmental knowledge, and outcomes. Results Child receptive and expressive language scores were significantly associated with mothers' self-efficacy, knowledge, and Efficacy × Knowledge interaction. Specifically, maternal self-efficacy was positively associated with child language only in the context of high developmental knowledge. Neither self-efficacy nor developmental knowledge was significantly associated with the number of total or different words mothers produced. However, self-efficacy was significantly and positively associated with the rate of child-initiated conversational turns per minute, controlling for the number of child utterances. Mothers with higher self-efficacy responded more readily to their children than those with lower self-efficacy. Conclusions Child language ability and interaction quality vary based on modifiable parent characteristics. Modifiable individual characteristics should be considered in early language interaction within and across SES groups.

Maternal and Paternal Representations in Assisted Reproductive Technology and Spontaneous Conceiving Parents: A Longitudinal Study

Aim of this study was to investigate whether parental mental representations during pregnancy and after delivery differed between parents who conceived after Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ART) and spontaneous conceiving (SC) parents. Effects of specific ART variables (previous ART attempts, treatment type and cause of infertility) were also taken into account. Seventeen ART couples and 25 SC couples were recruited at Santa Maria Nuova Hospital (Reggio Emilia, Italy). At both 32 weeks of gestation (T1) and 3 months postpartum (T2) participants completed the Semantic Differential of the IRMAG, a self-report tool which measures specific domains of mental representations pertaining either individual (Child, Self-as-woman/man, and Partner) or parental (Self-as-parent, Own parent) characteristics. Results showed that ART parents had significantly more positive representations of the child compared to SC parents, while the scores at Partner dimension improved from T1 to T2 for SC parents only. With regards to ART history, scores at the Self-as-woman/man dimension were significantly less positive for ICSI than IVF parents and improved substantially from T1 to T2 only in case of mothers with previous ART attempts and of fathers at the first ART cycle. The representation of own parents increased from T1 to T2 in case of infertility diagnosis due to male factors, while a decrease emerged when infertility was due to female factors. Findings suggest the need to investigate parental mental representations after ART, in order to improve the understanding on the transition to parenthood of infertile couples and to target more specific intervention for parenting support.

Understanding Bias in Surgery: Perceived Cultural Similarity Between Surgeons and Patient Families

Objective We describe surgeon and parent perceptions of similarity toward each other and evaluate differences in the perceptions of similarity by race. Study Design Observational cohort analysis. Setting Three outpatient sites. Methods Following consultations for children undergoing evaluation for 1 of 3 surgical procedures (tonsillectomy, hernia repair, circumcision), surgeons and parents rated their perception of cultural similarity toward each other on a 6-point Likert scale. Surgeon evaluation of 9 parent characteristics was measured with 7-point Likert scales. Regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of greater surgeon-perceived similarity and to assess associations of perceived similarity with evaluation of parent characteristics. Results Most parents were women (n = 38, 84%), whereas surgeons were primarily men (n = 7, 54%). Of 45 parents, 23 (51%) were non-White, whereas only 4 of 13 clinicians (31%) were non-White. Mean perceived similarity score was 21.7 for parents (range, 10-24) and 18.2 for surgeons (range, 10-24). There was no difference in parent-perceived similarity based on race (White vs non-White parents, mean [SD] = 22.3 [3.4] vs 21.1 [3.0]; P = .26). Surgeons perceived greater similarity with White parents (odds ratio = 4.78; 95% CI, 1.02-22.54; P = .04) and parents with higher income (odds ratio = 11.84; 95% CI, 1.32-106.04; P = .03). Greater perceived similarity by the surgeons was associated with more positive assessments of parent personality characteristics. Conclusion Surgeons perceived similarity more commonly with White parents, while parents’ perception of similarity to surgeons was uniform regardless of parent race. Elucidating biases of surgeons may help to tailor interventions promoting culturally competent, equitable communication and decision making for elective surgery.

Children witnessing domestic violence

Purpose Witnessing domestic violence is a common experience among children, but has only recently been recognized as a specific form of abuse. The purpose of this paper is to present a review of the researchers who have examined the experience of children witnessing domestic violence. Design/methodology/approach Research papers related to witnessing domestic violence and published in leading academic journals in the UK and abroad from January 1980 to September 2018 were identified and reviewed. Findings Although there were some inconsistent findings, it was found that most of the available research suggests that witnessing domestic violence is prevalent among children and recognized today as a form of abuse. Results from analyzed studies identified high rates of psychological problems among children exposed to witnessing domestic violence. Furthermore, there is evidence that a variety of child and parent characteristics are important to more fully understand what influences have on exposure children’s witnessing domestic violence. In the end, this data emphasize that to be successful, access is essential to the places where the risks for the occurrence of this form of abuse is most evident, in the family, working with the child and the parents/caregivers. Originality/value This is an original paper which draws on different research about children witnessing domestic violence.