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Child Development 2014Findings are presented on a U.K. study of 41 gay father families, 40 lesbian mother families, and 49 heterosexual parent families with an adopted child aged 3-9 years.... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Findings are presented on a U.K. study of 41 gay father families, 40 lesbian mother families, and 49 heterosexual parent families with an adopted child aged 3-9 years. Standardized interview and observational and questionnaire measures of parental well-being, quality of parent-child relationships, child adjustment, and child sex-typed behavior were administered to parents, children, and teachers. The findings indicated more positive parental well-being and parenting in gay father families compared to heterosexual parent families. Child externalizing problems were greater among children in heterosexual families. Family process variables, particularly parenting stress, rather than family type were found to be predictive of child externalizing problems. The findings contribute to theoretical understanding of the role of parental gender and parental sexual orientation in child development.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adoption; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Child; Child Behavior Disorders; Child Development; Fathers; Female; Homosexuality, Female; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Parent-Child Relations; Parenting; Paternal Behavior; Psychology, Child; Sexual Behavior
PubMed: 24033323
DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12155 -
African Journal of Primary Health Care... Aug 2021Kangaroo mother care (KMC) has been widely adopted in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) to minimise low birthweight infants' (LBWIs) adverse outcomes. However, the...
BACKGROUND
Kangaroo mother care (KMC) has been widely adopted in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) to minimise low birthweight infants' (LBWIs) adverse outcomes. However, the burden of neonatal and child mortality remains disproportionately high in LMICs.
AIM
Thus, this scoping review sought to map evidence on the barriers, challenges and facilitators of KMC utilisation by parents of LBWIs (parent of low birthweight infant [PLBWI]) in LMICs.
METHODS
We searched for studies conducted in LMICs and published in English between January 1990 and August 2020 from SciELO, Google Scholar, JSTOR, LILACS, Academic search complete, PubMed, CINAHL with full text, and Medline databases. We adopted Arksey and O'Malley's framework for conducting scoping reviews. Potential studies were exported to Endnote X7 reference management software for abstract and full article screening. Two independent reviewers did a parallel abstract and full article screening using a standardised form. The results were analysed using thematic content analysis.
RESULTS
We generated 22 040 studies and after duplicate removal, 42 studies were eligible for full-text screening and 22 studies, most form sub-Saharan Africa, were included in the content analysis. Eight themes emerged from the analysis: access, buy-in, co-ordination and collaboration, medical issues, motivation, social support-gender obligation and empowerment, time and timing and traditional/cultural norms.
CONCLUSION
Identifying factors affecting KMC may optimise KMC utilisation. Additional studies aiming at identifying influencing factors that affect KMC utilisation amongst PLBWIs' in LMICs need to be conducted to provide evidence-based strategies to enhance practice, inform policy and decision-makers in KMC utilisation amongst the PLBWIs in LMICs and beyond.
Topics: Child; Child Mortality; Developing Countries; Humans; Infant; Infant Mortality; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Kangaroo-Mother Care Method
PubMed: 34476975
DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v13i1.2856 -
Journal of Child Psychology and... Sep 2023Rutter and colleagues' seminal observation that extended early life exposure to extreme institutional deprivation can result in what he termed quasi-autism (QA),...
BACKGROUND
Rutter and colleagues' seminal observation that extended early life exposure to extreme institutional deprivation can result in what he termed quasi-autism (QA), informed both our understanding of the effects of adversity on development and the nature of autism. Here we provide the first detailed analysis of the adult outcomes of the group of institutionally deprived-then-adopted children identified as displaying QA.
METHODS
Twenty-six adult adoptees identified with QA in childhood (Childhood QA+) were compared to 75 adoptees who experienced extended institutional deprivation (>6 months) but no QA (Childhood QA-), and 116 adoptees exposed to Low/No institutional deprivation. The outcomes were child-to-adult developmental trajectories of neuro-developmental symptoms (autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), disinhibited social engagement (DSE) and cognitive impairment), adult functioning, life satisfaction and mental health.
RESULTS
Childhood QA+ was associated with elevated and persistent trajectories of broad-based autism-related difficulties, ADHD and DSE symptoms and low IQ, as well as adult mental health difficulties and functional impairment, including high rates of low educational attainment and unemployment. Life satisfaction and self-esteem were unaffected. Autism-related communication problems, in particular, predicted negative adult outcomes. Childhood QA+ was still associated with poor outcomes even when ADHD, DSE and IQ were controlled.
CONCLUSIONS
Early and time-limited institutional deprivation has a critical impact on adult functioning, in part via its association with an early established and persistent variant of autism, especially related to communication difficulties. Apparent similarities and differences to non-deprivation related autism are discussed.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adult; Autistic Disorder; Adoption; Child, Adopted; Cognitive Dysfunction; Mental Health; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
PubMed: 36782398
DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13767 -
Development and Psychopathology Aug 2021Children who are adopted from care are more likely to experience enduring emotional and behavioral problems across development; however, adoptees' trajectories of mental...
Children who are adopted from care are more likely to experience enduring emotional and behavioral problems across development; however, adoptees' trajectories of mental health problems and factors that impact their trajectories are poorly understood. Therefore, we used multilevel growth analyses to chart adoptees' internalizing and externalizing problems across childhood, and examined the associations between preadoptive risk and postadoptive protective factors on their trajectories. This was investigated in a prospective longitudinal study of case file records (N = 374) and questionnaire-based follow-ups (N = 96) at approximately 5, 21, and 36 months postadoptive placement. Preadoptive adversity (indexed by age at placement, days in care, and number of adverse childhood experiences) was associated with higher internalizing and externalizing scores; the decrease in internalizing scores over childhood was accelerated for those exposed to lower levels of preadoptive risk. Warm adoptive parenting was associated with a marked reduction in children's internalizing and externalizing problems over time. Although potentially limited by shared methods variance and lack of variability in parental warmth scores, these findings demonstrate the deleterious impact of preadoptive risk and the positive role of exceptionally warm adoptive parenting on children's trajectories of mental health problems and have relevance for prevention and intervention strategies.
Topics: Child; Child, Adopted; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Parenting; Parents; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 32366341
DOI: 10.1017/S0954579420000231 -
Ugeskrift For Laeger Sep 2019Torticollis is an abnormal head posture caused by ocular or non-ocular factors. Ocular torticollis (OT) is a compensatory head posture adopted to avoid double vision or... (Review)
Review
Torticollis is an abnormal head posture caused by ocular or non-ocular factors. Ocular torticollis (OT) is a compensatory head posture adopted to avoid double vision or dampen nystagmus. In this review, we argue, that causes for OT comprise a wide range of congenital or acquired ocular conditions. These patients are at risk of being mis-cat-egorised as having non-ocular torticollis, which may delay treatment and cause amblyopia in children. OT can be symptomatically relieved by prismatic correction incorporated in the patient's glasses or treated by strabismus surgery, which also improve ocular motility.
Topics: Child; Head; Humans; Ocular Motility Disorders; Oculomotor Muscles; Posture; Torticollis
PubMed: 31543099
DOI: No ID Found -
British Journal of Anaesthesia Mar 2017There remain unanswered questions and implications related to emergence delirium in children. Although we know that there are some predisposing factors to emergence... (Review)
Review
There remain unanswered questions and implications related to emergence delirium in children. Although we know that there are some predisposing factors to emergence delirium, we still are unable to predict accurately those who are at greatest risk. Emergence delirium should be considered as a ‘vital sign’, which should be followed and documented in every child in the postanaesthesia recovery period. Standardized screening tools should be adopted for paediatric emergence delirium.
Topics: Adolescent; Anesthesia Recovery Period; Child; Child, Preschool; Emergence Delirium; Humans; Infant; Pediatrics
PubMed: 28203739
DOI: 10.1093/bja/aew477 -
Psychological Medicine Mar 2021Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highly heritable and is associated with lower educational attainment. ADHD is linked to family adversity, including...
BACKGROUND
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highly heritable and is associated with lower educational attainment. ADHD is linked to family adversity, including hostile parenting. Questions remain regarding the role of genetic and environmental factors underlying processes through which ADHD symptoms develop and influence academic attainment.
METHOD
This study employed a parent-offspring adoption design (N = 345) to examine the interplay between genetic susceptibility to child attention problems (birth mother ADHD symptoms) and adoptive parent (mother and father) hostility on child lower academic outcomes, via child ADHD symptoms. Questionnaires assessed birth mother ADHD symptoms, adoptive parent (mother and father) hostility to child, early child impulsivity/activation, and child ADHD symptoms. The Woodcock-Johnson test was used to examine child reading and math aptitude.
RESULTS
Building on a previous study (Harold et al., 2013, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(10), 1038-1046), heritable influences were found: birth mother ADHD symptoms predicted child impulsivity/activation. In turn, child impulsivity/activation (4.5 years) evoked maternal and paternal hostility, which was associated with children's ADHD continuity (6 years). Both maternal and paternal hostility (4.5 years) contributed to impairments in math but not reading (7 years), via impacts on ADHD symptoms (6 years).
CONCLUSION
Findings highlight the importance of early child behavior dysregulation evoking parent hostility in both mothers and fathers, with maternal and paternal hostility contributing to the continuation of ADHD symptoms and lower levels of later math ability. Early interventions may be important for the promotion of child math skills in those with ADHD symptoms, especially where children have high levels of early behavior dysregulation.
Topics: Academic Success; Adult; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child; Child Behavior; Child, Adopted; Child, Preschool; Female; Gene-Environment Interaction; Hostility; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Parent-Child Relations; Parenting; Parents
PubMed: 31839017
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291719003593 -
International Breastfeeding Journal Mar 2006Breastfeeding an adopted child has previously been discussed as something that is nice to do but without potential for significant benefit. This paper reviews the...
Breastfeeding an adopted child has previously been discussed as something that is nice to do but without potential for significant benefit. This paper reviews the evidence in physiological and behavioural research, that breastfeeding can play a significant role in developing the attachment relationship between child and mother. As illustrated in the case studies presented, in instances of adoption and particularly where the child has experienced abuse or neglect, the impact of breastfeeding can be considerable. Breastfeeding may assist attachment development via the provision of regular intimate interaction between mother and child; the calming, relaxing and analgesic impact of breastfeeding on children; and the stress relieving and maternal sensitivity promoting influence of breastfeeding on mothers. The impact of breastfeeding as observed in cases of adoption has applicability to all breastfeeding situations, but may be especially relevant to other at risk dyads, such as those families with a history of intergenerational relationship trauma; this deserves further investigation.
PubMed: 16722597
DOI: 10.1186/1746-4358-1-5 -
Turk Psikiyatri Dergisi = Turkish... 2014This study aimed to investigate and compare emotional and behavioral problems in Turkish adoptees and non-adopted peers raised by their biological parents.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate and compare emotional and behavioral problems in Turkish adoptees and non-adopted peers raised by their biological parents.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study included 61 adopted children (34 female and 27 male) aged 6-18 years and 62 age- and gender-matched non-adopted children (35 female and 27 male). Parents rated their children's problem behaviors using the Child Behavior Checklist/6-18, temperament characteristics using the School Age Temperament Inventory, their own personality traits using the Basic Personality Traits Inventory, and their parenting styles using the Measure of Child Rearing Styles. Children rated their parents' availability and reliability as attachment figures using the Kerns Security Scale and parenting styles using the Measure of Child Rearing Styles. Adolescents aged 11-18 years self-rated their problem behaviors using the Youth Self Report. Group differences and correlations were analyzed.
RESULTS
There were non-significant differences in all scale scores between the adopted and non-adopted groups. In contrast to the literature, age of the children at the time of adoption was not associated with problem behaviors or attachment relationships. On the other hand, the findings indicate that as the age at which the children learned that they had been adopted increased emotional and behavioral problems increased.
CONCLUSION
Adoption alone could not explain the problem behaviors observed in the adopted children; the observed problem behaviors should be considered within the context of the developmental process.
Topics: Adolescent; Anxiety Disorders; Child; Family; Female; Humans; Male; Object Attachment; Parenting; Psychometrics; Stress, Psychological; Turkey
PubMed: 25487621
DOI: No ID Found -
Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal =... 2006Reproductive health has been receiving increasing recognition and attention. Its elements are included as 3 of the 8 Millennium Development Goals adopted by the world... (Review)
Review
Reproductive health has been receiving increasing recognition and attention. Its elements are included as 3 of the 8 Millennium Development Goals adopted by the world government community, and it is considered essential for reaching the other goals. Reproductive health problems still account for a major share of the burden of disease, particularly in women. The 57th World Health Assembly adopted a reproductive health strategy to accelerate progress towards the attainment of international development goals and targets. A research component is indispensable. The research community is called upon to enhance the responsiveness and potential impact of its contribution. Ten propositions are submitted.
Topics: Cause of Death; Child; Child Welfare; Cost of Illness; Female; Global Health; Health Policy; Health Priorities; Health Services Needs and Demand; Health Status Indicators; Healthy People Programs; Humans; Information Dissemination; Interinstitutional Relations; Male; Maternal Welfare; Mediterranean Region; Morbidity; Politics; Reproductive Medicine; Research; Women's Health; World Health Organization
PubMed: 17361674
DOI: No ID Found