1305Early chronic inflammation and behavioural problems in children at age two: a longitudinal study

Background Inflammation has been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of adult mental illness and been implicated mechanistically in childhood behavioural problems like internalising and externalising symptoms. High-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA) are biomarkers of chronic low-grade inflammation. We aimed to investigate whether hsCRP and GlycA, and environmental factors that influence these inflammatory biomarkers, were associated with internalising and externalising behaviours in early childhood. Methods The Barwon Infant Study is a population-derived birth cohort recruited using an unselected antenatal sampling frame in Victoria, Australia. Infant bloods collected at birth and 12-month were analysed for hsCRP by ELISA and GlycA by NMR. Environmental factors were derived from questionnaires undertaken antenatally to four years postnatally. Internalising and externalising behaviours at age two were measured by the Child Behaviour Checklist. Associations between inflammatory biomarkers and behavioural outcomes were assessed by multivariable regression analyses adjusted for relevant factors. Results Increased GlycA levels at birth (GlycAbirth)(β = 5.22 T-score units; 95% confidence interval (CI)(1.22, 9.21; P=0.01) and decreased GlycA levels at 12 months (GlycA12months)(β=-6.47 T-score units; 95% CI(-11.44, -1.50); P=0.01) were associated with increased internalising behaviours at age two. Association persisted for GlycAbirth, but not for GlycA12months when adjusted for GlycA at both time points within the same model. Weak associations were observed for hsCRP at both time points and externalising behaviours at age two. Conclusions Our findings document an association between increased GlycAbirth and greater internalising behaviours in children aged two years. Elevated early chronic inflammation may be an important pathway in adverse behavioural development in children. Key messages Increased GlycA levels at birth is associated with greater internalising behaviours in children at age two years.

Adverse childhood experiences—household stressors and children’s mental health: a single centre retrospective review

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of reported ‘household stressor’ adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in families of children presenting with neurodevelopmental, behavioural or emotional difficulties and to determine whether family vulnerabilities, individually or cumulatively, were associated with particular clinical symptomatology.DesignRetrospective chart review followed by statistical analysis of family stressors and clinical symptomatology.SettingA community paediatric clinic in Australia.ParticipantsAll 267 children who attended an initial paediatric appointment during 2018.Results162 (60.7%) children had been exposed to one or more household stressor ACEs, including 116 (43.4%) children exposed to parental mental illness. Behavioural disturbance occurred in 144 (53.9%) children and externalising behaviours (other than attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) were more frequent than internalising behaviours. Externalising and internalising behaviours were associated with individual and cumulative household stressor ACEs. Most other symptomatology apart from genetic/neurological conditions, autistic symptoms and some developmental delays appeared to be partially associated with ACEs.ConclusionHousehold stressor ACEs were common, frequently occurred concurrently, and were associated with much of the symptomatology, in this cohort. Parental mental illness was the most prevalent stressor and behavioural disturbance the most prevalent symptomatology. These findings may have implications for clinical practice and service provision.

The relationship between allergic diseases and internalizing and externalizing behaviours in Spanish children: a cross-sectional study

Introduction and objectives: The relationship between allergic diseases and behavioural dis-orders is still unclear. The objective of this study was to describe and compare children’s behaviour (internalising and externalising) across a sample of children aged 6–11 years with and without allergic diseases. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional observational case-control study. A survey to 366 families (194 allergic cases and 172 controls), including a child behaviour checklist (CBCL) and a socio-demographic questionnaire with questions related to family, school education, health conditions and allergy symptoms, was administered. Results: Children with a diagnosis of allergy showed higher scores in the overall CBCL score (standardised mean differences [SMD] = 0.47; confidence intervals [CI]: 0.26–0.68) and in the internalising and externalising factors (SMD = 0.52 and SMD = 0.36, respectively) than non-allergic children. Odds ratio (OR) analyses showed a higher risk (OR = 2.76; 95% CI [1.61 to 4.72]) of developing a behavioural difficulty in children diagnosed with allergies. Age and level of asthma appear as modulatory variables. Conclusions: Children aged 6–11 years diagnosed with allergies showed larger behavioural problems than non-allergic children, especially in the case of internalising behaviours. These findings suggest the importance of attending to them and treating them in the early stages of diagnosis to avoid future psychological disorders.

Food insecurity and psychological distress in Inuit adolescents of Nunavik

Objective:The present study aims at measuring the association between household food insecurity and psychological distress in adolescents in Inuit communities, concurrently and overtime from childhood to adolescence.Design:The study used measures of internalising behaviours (anxiety, withdrawn attitude, somatic complaints and depression) as indicators of psychological distress during adolescence, a concurrent measure of household food insecurity in adolescence and an assessment of longitudinal patterns of household food insecurity from childhood to adolescence. We collected descriptive information at birth, childhood and adolescence on potential confounders.Setting:Inuit communities of Nunavik in northern Quebec, CanadaParticipants:The study consisted of 212 participants from the Nunavik Child Development Study, who have been assessed at birth, childhood (mean age = 11 years, range = 9–13 years) and adolescence (mean age = 18 years, range = 16–21 years).Results:Concurrent severe household food insecurity in adolescence was associated with higher measures of psychological distress: depression (βstd = 0·26, P < 0·01) and withdrawn attitude (βstd = 0·20, P = 0·04). Persistent household food insecurity (both at childhood and adolescence) was associated with higher levels of adolescent depression (βstd = 0·18, P = 0·02) and anxiety (βstd = 0·17, P = 0·03).Conclusions:Adolescents from Nunavik living with higher food insecurity and those having experienced food insecurity in both childhood and adolescence were more likely to report symptoms of psychological distress. Considering the high level of distress experienced by young Inuit, existing initiatives to reduce food insecurity in Nunavik communities should be targeted to include children and adolescents.

Time spent in different types of childcare and children's development at school entry: an Australian longitudinal study

ObjectiveTo investigate whether the total amount of time in childcare through the first 3 years of life was associated with children's receptive vocabulary, externalising and internalising problem behaviours at age 4–5 years, and whether this association varied for different types of childcare.MethodsWe used data from the prospective, population-based Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (n=3208–4066, depending on outcome). Parental reports of the time spent in different types of childcare were collected at face-to-face interviews at age 0–1years and at age 2–3 years. Children's receptive vocabulary was directly assessed in the child's home, and externalising and internalising behaviours were measured by questionnaire, completed by parents and teachers at age 4–5 years.ResultsAt 3 years of age, 75% of the sample spent regular time in the care of someone other than the parent. After adjustment, more time in childcare was not associated with children's receptive vocabulary ability but was associated with higher levels of parent-reported (β=0.10 (95% CI 0.00 to 0.21)) and teacher-reported (β=0.31 (0.19 to 0.44)) externalising problem behaviours and lower levels of parent-reported internalising problem behaviours (β=−0.08 (−0.15 to −0.00)). Compared with children who did not attend any type of childcare, children in centre-based care had higher parent-reported and teacher-reported externalising and lower internalising problem behaviours.ConclusionsMore time in centre-based childcare (but not other types of care) through the first 3 years of life was associated with higher parent-reported and teacher-reported externalising problem behaviours, and lower parent-reported internalising problem behaviours but not with children's receptive vocabulary ability at school entry.