Effects of context and facial expression on imitation tasks in preschool children with autism

The present study explored the effect of the context in which an imitation act occurs (elicited/spontaneous) and the experimenter's facial expression (neutral or smiling) during the imitation task with young children with autism and typically developing children. The participants were 10 typically developing children and 10 children with autism (mean chronological age: 72 months). They were tested in imitation of tasks and facial expressions posed by the researcher. The results showed that, compared with typically developing children, children with autism: (a) engaged less in imitation of action with objects, (b) had more difficulties with the imitation of facial expressions in the elicited condition, and (c) performed less accurately both at imitating the experimenter's facial expression and on tasks involving the simultaneous imitation of action with objects and facial expression, and (d) the type of the experimenter's facial expression did not influence the imitative performance of either group in either the elicited or the spontaneous condition. The present study attempts to advance investigation of imitative ability and impairment in autism.     

Parental beliefs about the nature of ADHD behaviours and their relationship to referral intentions in preschool children

BACKGROUND: Parental beliefs about child problem behaviour have emerged as closely related to referral intentions to mental health services. METHODS: This study compared beliefs of severity, impact and advice seeking for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) behaviours of parents whose preschool children present ADHD behaviours with those of parents whose children do not display such behaviours. Both parents of 295 preschoolers, aged 4-6 years, enrolled in kindergartens in Athens, filled in: (i) a questionnaire composed by a vignette describing a hypothetical 5-year-old child presenting ADHD symptoms followed by rating scales assessing dimensions of severity, impact and referral intention, and (ii) the 'Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire' for screening ADHD behaviours in their own child. RESULTS: Results showed that almost half of the parents who reported ADHD behaviours in their own child replied that they had never met a child exhibiting such behaviours. These parents also perceived such behaviours as being less severe and with less negative family impact than parents who did not report such behaviours in their own child. CONCLUSIONS: Parents whose preschool child displays ADHD behaviours tend to perceive them as normal developmental patterns and may suspend the referral of the child. Implications of these findings for early identification of ADHD are discussed.     

Australian Middle Eastern parents’ perceptions and practices of children's weight‐related behaviours: Talking with Parents’ Study

The home environment is associated with obesity‐related behaviours among children, and research in Australia has shown that some of these behaviours are more prevalent among children from particular cultural backgrounds including Middle Eastern. This study presents findings from face‐to‐face, semi‐structured interviews conducted in April 2013 with a convenience sample of Middle Eastern parents of primary school‐age children at an Islamic private school in Sydney, Australia. The interviews explored parental perceptions and practices regarding state government health messages addressing children's eating, physical activity and screen time. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the content of these generic public health messages is relevant and acceptable to Middle Eastern parents of young children, and to identify any enablers and barriers to adopting these healthy practices at home. Thematic analysis identified predominant themes. In total, 21 interviews were conducted (reference children: 12 boys/9 girls, aged 5–12 years). The content of current health messages regarding children's weight‐related behaviours was familiar to respondents, and accepted as relevant for guiding their parenting practices. Parents perceived that they typically encouraged healthy behaviours, although they also reported making regular exemptions, in response to various circumstances. Overall, the perceptions and reported practices of the parents were consistent with other studies with Australian parents. There were no apparent culturally specific barriers or enablers to children's weight‐related behaviours. There is however scope for health promoters to provide more precise information on health recommendations, health risks and benefits, and to provide more specific ideas for ways in which parents can act on these health messages within the home and family environment, to encourage and support healthy behaviours in their children.     

Media influenced imitative hanging: a report from West Bengal

Media influences behaviour, especially of the young children and adolescents in various ways. The present study examined the media coverage of a judicial hanging and its immediate social effect. In a qualitative study the media coverage of a case of a judicial hanging was thoroughly discussed and the media influence, for over a period of ten weeks of the incident, in terms of suicide and copying of hanging among children, was collected and analysed. Eighteen cases were reported as an aftermath of this hanging: 1 suicide and 17 imitative hanging in children with 5 deaths. This report calls for attention that media should be cautious and responsible in presenting the news items that have potential social impact.     

The relationship between alcohol supply source and young people's risky drinking and alcohol‐related problem behaviours in Victoria,Australia

Objective: To determine whether source of alcohol supply is related to adolescent underage drinkers’ reports of risky drinking and alcohol‐related problem behaviours. Methods: In 2003/04, a cross‐sectional survey of 2,644 16–17 year‐olds were recruited from Victorian households and surveyed by phone as part of the Victorian Youth Alcohol and Drug Survey. The results were analysed to determine whether alcohol supply source was associated with weekly or more frequent risky single occasion drinking (RSOD) and reports of alcohol‐related problem behaviours. Results: Around 20% (524/2,644) of the sample reported weekly RSOD and 34% (904/2,644) of the sample reported engaging in at least one alcohol‐related problem behaviour. These outcomes were associated with reported usual source of alcohol supply, with reports of alcohol sources in addition to parents alone more than twice as likely to be accompanied by reports of RSOD (OR=2.53, 95%CI=1.85–3.46) and/or problem behaviours (OR=2.16, 95%CI=1.64–2.84), compared to when adolescents reported parents as their sole source of alcohol. Reports of alcohol supply only from sources other than parents were similarly more than twice as likely to be accompanied by reports of RSOD (OR=2.27, 95% CI=1.74–2.95) and/or problem behaviours (OR=2.27, 95%CI=1.82–2.82) compared to compared to parental supply alone. Conclusions and implications: The rate at which older adolescents report RSOD and alcohol‐related problem behaviour is increased when they obtain alcohol from sources other than their parents. Parents need to be equipped with strategies for managing the supply of alcohol to adolescents.     

Gender, social background and sexual attitudes among Chinese students

Chinese society is changing rapidly. As a result of the political and economic reforms of the 'socialist market economy', for example, people have more choices than before. To examine current attitudes to sexual behaviour and marriage, 1100 university students from different parts of China were asked to talk about their views on marriage and choosing a marriage partner, and to describe their own sexual behaviours. Views about 'male superiority' in marriage, for age, education and height persisted, especially for women. Overall, attitudes to sexual behaviours were less open then in the West. However, young people from the cities with educated/professional parents showed more liberal attitudes than those from rural backgrounds. While some attitudes are changing, evidence concerning behaviour change is not so clear. There are important implications for the HIV/AIDS awareness programmes and sex education.     

Feeding Behaviour and Lifestyle of Children and Adolescents One Year after Lockdown by the COVID-19 Pandemic in Chile

Lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced feeding behaviour and lifestyle in children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to analyse feeding behaviour and lifestyle in children and adolescents one year after lockdown by the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile. In this cross-sectional study an online survey was implemented in 1083 parents and caregivers regarding their children’s feeding behaviour and lifestyle and sociodemographic background. The results showed that “eat breakfast daily” (89.2%), “not overnight food intake” (69.9%) and “not fast-food intake” (66.0%) were the most frequent reported feeding behaviours, particularly in pre-school children. Respondents declaring healthy feeding behaviours and lifestyle were 23.4 and 23.7%, respectively, with no significant differences by sex. In pre-school children, families with three or fewer members and parents or caregivers with an undergraduate or postgraduate degree reported a significantly better feeding behaviour and lifestyle compared to families with more than three members and parents or caregivers without an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. In conclusion, the pandemic lockdown had a negative impact in lifestyle in children and particularly in adolescents. Healthier feeding behaviour was associated with fewer family members and parents or caregivers with at least an undergraduate degree.     

The influence of parents' dietary beliefs and behaviours on children's dietary beliefs and behaviours. The CYKIDS study

We investigated the association between parental dietary beliefs and behaviours (DBB) and those of their children behaviours. Data were derived from a national cross-sectional study using multistage sampling design, among 1140 children (9-13 years). Principal component analysis was employed to extract the main factors out of eight variables assessing children's dietary beliefs and behaviours (N=991); those eight factors were then regressed, on 16 dependent variables, describing different parental dietary beliefs and behaviours, adjusted for potential confounders. Three factors emerged as important in explaining the variance in children's dietary beliefs and behaviours: "guilty about eating" (factor 1), "concerned about own body weight" (factor 2) and "eating all my food" (factor 3). Children with types 1-3 behaviour: were 30% more likely to have parents who did not control what and how much their child ate, have parents who are 40% more likely to think that their child is overweight/obese and seem to have more availability of high fat foods, respectively. Breastfeeding was associated with the acquisition of positive dietary beliefs and behaviours by children, independently of child's age, gender, place of residence, socio-economic status, diet quality, and child's and parents' obesity status. We propose that parents are likely to exert their influence in shaping eating habits and subsequently obesity development in their children, by influencing their children's dietary beliefs and behaviours.     

Bullied children: parent and school supports

Family interviews were conducted with 28 7–12-year-old children who had experienced various forms of bullying and relational aggression by their peers, as well as with their parent and with an older sibling. Interviews explored possible supportive strategies of older siblings, parents, and teachers. All bullied children reported negative feelings about their experiences. Boys reported more physical bullying than girls. Bullies of boys were significantly more likely to experience consequences as a result of their behaviours. About half of the parents said that they had contacted the school about the bullying. Specific suggestions are given for how schools together with parents can create a climate that decreases bullying in schools.     

A comparison of the interactive play behaviours between children with albinism and their siblings and children without albinism and their non-albino siblings

The study explored the nature of the interactive play behaviours of children with albinism and children without albinism and compared the interactive behaviours of both children with albinism and children without albinism. Naturalistic observations were conducted during periods of free play, using the interactive play behaviour checklist aided by video recordings, on three different days. The findings of the study showed that children without albinism showed more pro-social play behaviours, aggressive play behaviours, affiliative play behaviours and possession-related behaviours as compared to children with albinism. A significant difference was noted in the pro-social and possession-related play behaviours between the children with albinism and children without albinism. Children without albinism showed more interactive play behaviours as compared with the children with albinism. Both groups of children showed the same amount of aggressive and affiliative play behaviours, while children without albinism showed more pro-social and possession-related behaviours.     

Association of socio-economic factors with health risk behaviours among high school students in rural Nova Scotia

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of socio-economic (SES) factors with risk behaviours among adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out on students in four high schools in northern Nova Scotia, Canada. Associations between SES variables and substance use behaviours, having early intercourse and suicide attempt in the past year were examined using multivariate analysis (logit regression). Negative binomial regression was performed for associations of SES with a total risk score summing risk behaviours. RESULTS: Participants included 2,198 students (48% males; 52% females) ranging in age from 14 to 20 years. Almost 25% of youth smoked regularly, 19% of males smoked marijuana > or = 10 times monthly, more than 40% of males regularly drank excessively, and 10% of students > 14 years old had had intercourse before age 15. Smoking was the behaviour most often associated with lower SES in both genders. Mother's not being employed was protective against all substance use variables except driving after drinking. Living both with lone mother and in any family arrangement other than with both parents was associated with smoking, using marijuana, and early sex. Higher risk score was associated with living with a lone mother or other family arrangement. Lower risk score was associated with father having more than high school education and mother not working. INTERPRETATION: Lower socio-economic status is associated with adolescent risk behaviours. These findings point to the importance of these factors to risk-taking in youth, their relevance to social policy, and also their importance as factors to consider in targeted interventions.     

How much do they need to be the same? What parents believe about continuity between home and childcare environments

This study explores the associations among parental education, weekly work hours, child behaviours, and parental daily hassles and parents desires for continuity between home and childcare. Data were collected using questionnaires from 82 parents with a child attending centre-based childcare in the Midwestern US. Results indicate that parent education and work hours are directly and indirectly related to the desire of continuity of practice between home and childcare programme and parental daily hassles. Path analysis results show higher parental education decreases parents desire for continuity of practices, while more weekly work hours increases parents desire for continuity of practices. Additional findings related to education, parental daily hassles and child behaviours are reported. Future research should investigate the perceptions of parents and the fit between the offerings of the centre and parental expectations for both familial and child adjustment.     

Parenting practices and pre-schoolers’ cognitive skills in Turkish immigrant and German families

The present study aims to investigate the association between parenting behaviours, children’s daily activities and their cognitive development. Participants were 52 Turkish-German and 65 German pre-school children and their mothers, who were matched in terms of education level (10–12 years of schooling). Children’s cognitive skills were assessed using a developmental test (ET 6–6). Parenting behaviours were measured with a modified version of the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire. Children’s daily activities and their literacy environment were captured with interviews as well as with a time budget diary covering two days. For parenting practices, we found mean differences inasmuch as parents in the German sample were more likely to be engaged in dyadic interaction and book reading, and less likely to endorse inconsistent parenting practices and rigid discipline practices when compared to the Turkish immigrant parents. We found similarities in the sense that parents in the two samples were equally likely to engage in positive parenting behaviour and in social play, and girls received higher scores on cognitive performance than boys. Separate regression analyses for each sample revealed that parent’s involvement indicating a more stimulating environment was positively associated with children’s cognitive development. Taken together, the findings point to the importance of programmes geared at supporting Turkish immigrant parents’ involvement with their pre-schoolers.     

Demographic and lifestyle factors associated with sexual activity among adolescents in Malaysia

Having a better understanding of the factors associated with sexual behaviour among adolescents is important as it may assist government in lowering the prevalence of teen pregnancy. The objective of the present study is to examine the effects of demographic and lifestyle factors on the likelihood of engaging in sexual intercourse with a focus on Malaysian adolescents. Using a nationally representative data collected by the Ministry of Health Malaysia, the present study finds that age, self-rated academic performance, parents’ marital status, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking can significantly affect the sexual behaviour among adolescents. The present study concludes by discussing the policy implications of these findings. As a measure towards reducing underage sex, successful policies should be targeted primarily at adolescents who aged more than 16 years self-rate their academic performance as poor, have single parents, and adopt alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking behaviours.     

The intersubjective and transitional function of imitation in early grandparent–infant grandchild interaction

Primary objective: Research has provided evidence of the intersubjective function of imitation in grandparent–infant interaction based on the basic aspects of imitation. This lacks the systematic investigation of behaviour dynamics framing spontaneous imitation. The aim of this study was to compare the dyadic expressive behaviours (vocal, kinetic and vocal–kinetic combinations) preceding and following spontaneous imitative exchanges in grandmother–infant (GM–I) and grandfather–infant (GF–I) interactions. Method: Sixteen infants were video-recorded during spontaneous dyadic interactions with maternal grandmothers and grandfathers at home from the second to the tenth month of life. Results: Before and after imitation, there was a similarity between the GM–I and GF–I interactions, in that: (a) the communicative expressive behaviours predominated over non-communicative behaviours, (b) grandparent vocal/kinetic behaviours predominated over vocal and kinetic behaviours and (c) infant kinetic behaviours predominated over vocal and vocal/kinetic behaviours. Conclusion: It is assumed that imitation serves an intersubjective and transitional function in early grandparent–infant interaction.     

Preventive procedures and practices among working class women: new data and fresh insights

Using a sample of lower working class mothers from South Wales, U.K. data is presented on the extent to which procedures, (behaviours which involve health professionals and services) and practices (behaviours which involve the individuals in day to day lifestyle choices) are interrelated and likely to be practised by the same people. The socio-demographic variables associated with each category separately and with the whole range of preventive behaviour are also described. The British data is considered in the light of current research on preventive health behaviour (PHB) which has relied heavily for both empirical data and theoretical insight on studies conducted in U.S.A. No evidence is found to support the proposition that PHB is undimensional nor on the other hand is there convincing support for the existence of hypothesized independent dimensions. It is argued that the failure of present theory to predict more than a comparatively small part of the variance in PHB has positive implications for researchers and health educators alike.     

Health risks for older US adolescents in foster care: the significance of important others' health behaviours on youths' health and health behaviours

Background   Little research to date has examined older foster care youths' physical health and the associated health behaviours of the youth and important people in their lives (parents, peers and important non-parental adults).
Methods   Older US foster care youth ( n = 188) completed surveys on multiple indicators of self-report physical health, including number of chronic health problems, overall health and sick symptoms, as well as their own health-compromising behaviours and the health-compromising behaviours of important others.
Results   The findings suggested that boys, particularly those placed in non-kin foster homes and group homes, appeared to have poorer health than did boys in these placement settings. Girls, however, engaged in similar levels of health-compromising behaviours as boys. Furthermore, the health-compromising behaviours of peers and important non-parental adults (VIPs), but not parents, were associated with youths' health behaviours, which, in turn, were associated with the physical health status of the foster care youth.
Conclusion   Youth report high levels of health-related problems and involvement in health-compromising behaviours. Healthcare practitioners can help to improve the health and well-being of children in foster care by becoming informed about adolescent health behaviours, as well as the health behaviours of their peers and other important non-parental adults.     

'BeSAFE', effect-evaluation of internet-based,tailored safety information combined with personal counselling on parents' child safety behaviours: study design of a randomized controlled trial

Background  

Injuries in or around the home are the most important cause of death among children aged 0-4 years old. It is also a major source of morbidity and loss of quality of life. In order to reduce the number of injuries, the Consumer Safety Institute introduced the use of Safety Information Leaflets in the Netherlands to provide safety education to parents of children aged 0-4 years. Despite current safety education, necessary safety behaviours are still not taken by a large number of parents, causing unnecessary risk of injury among young children. In an earlier study an E-health module with internet-based, tailored safety information was developed and applied. It concerns an advice for parents on safety behaviours in their homes regarding their child. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of this safety information combined with personal counselling on parents' child safety behaviours.     

Family correlates of breakfast consumption among children and adolescents. A systematic review

Regular breakfast consumption can have a multitude of positive health benefits, yet young people are more likely to skip breakfast than any other meal. Given the evidence that dietary behaviours established in childhood and adolescence track into adulthood along with evidence that breakfast skipping increases with age, identifying correlates of children's and adolescent's breakfast behaviours is imperative. The family environment is an important influence on the dietary behaviours of young people, and therefore we systematically reviewed the literature on family correlates of children and adolescent's breakfast consumption. From the 24 papers reviewed, 6 studied children and 19 studied adolescents. Few studies have examined the same specific family correlates of breakfast consumption, limiting the possibilities of drawing strong or consistent conclusions. Research in this area is relatively new and this review has identified areas for further investigation. Parental breakfast eating and living in two-parent families were the correlates supported by the greatest amount of evidence in association with adolescent's breakfast consumption. The results suggest that parents should be encouraged to be positive role models to their children by targeting their own dietary behaviours and that family structure should be considered when designing programmes to promote healthy breakfast behaviours.