Advanced parental age and the risk of autism spectrum disorder

This study evaluated independent effects of maternal and paternal age on risk of autism spectrum disorder. A case-cohort design was implemented using data from 10 US study sites participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. The 1994 birth cohort included 253,347 study-site births with complete parental age information. Cases included 1,251 children aged 8 years with complete parental age information from the same birth cohort and identified as having an autism spectrum disorder based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision criteria. After adjustment for the other parent's age, birth order, maternal education, and other covariates, both maternal and paternal age were independently associated with autism (adjusted odds ratio for maternal age > or =35 vs. 25-29 years = 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.1, 1.6; adjusted odds ratio for paternal age > or =40 years vs. 25-29 years = 1.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.1, 1.8). Firstborn offspring of 2 older parents were 3 times more likely to develop autism than were third- or later-born offspring of mothers aged 20-34 years and fathers aged <40 years (odds ratio = 3.1, 95% confidence interval: 2.0, 4.7). The increase in autism risk with both maternal and paternal age has potential implications for public health planning and investigations of autism etiology.     

Wilms' tumour: a systematic review of risk factors and meta‐analysis

Chu A, Heck JE, Ribeiro KB, Brennan P, Boffetta P, Buffler P, Hung RJ. Wilms' tumour: a systematic review of risk factors and meta‐analysis. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. Wilms' tumour comprises 95% of all renal cancers among children less than 15 years of age. The purpose of this review is to examine the existing literature on perinatal and environmental risk factors for Wilms' tumour. A search for epidemiological studies that examined risk factors for Wilms' tumour was undertaken in Medline, LILACS, ISI Web of Science and Dissertation Abstracts. A total of 37 studies, including 14 cohort, 21 case–control and 2 case–cohort studies, were identified that examined environmental and perinatal risk factors. Most studies were from Western Europe and North America, and among case–control studies, 16 used randomly selected population‐based controls. We observed a significantly increased risk of Wilms' tumour with maternal exposure to pesticides prior to the child's birth (OR = 1.37 [95% CI 1.09, 1.73]), high birthweight (OR = 1.36 [95% CI 1.12, 1.64]) and preterm birth (OR = 1.44 [95% CI 1.14, 1.81]), although the results regarding pesticide exposure may be subject to publication bias (Egger's test, P = 0.09). Further analyses to adjust for the heterogeneity in the results for high birthweight and preterm birth did not statistically change the significance of the results. Additionally, an increased though not statistically significant risk of Wilms' tumour was associated with maternal hypertension (OR = 1.30 [95% CI 0.99, 1.72]), and, compared with the first born, being a second or later birth was associated with a significantly decreased risk (OR = 0.82 [95% CI 0.71, 0.95]). This review suggests a role for several perinatal and environmental risk factors in the aetiology of Wilms' tumour.     

Teen driving risk: the promise of parental influence and public policy.

An analysis is presented of adolescent driving risk, the advantages of graduated licensing programs, and the potential for parent-based programs to moderate teen driving risks. Risk factors associated with youthful driving illustrate the potential importance and benefits of limiting the amount and conditions under which teens can drive. State policies, such as graduated driver licensing systems that formalize restrictions on youthful driving. have been shown to be effective. However, teen driving risks remain elevated. Parents are in a prime position to extend the benefits of state restrictions by developing and implementing their own tailored family policies on adolescent driving. Unfortunately, parents of adolescent drivers are often under-aware of the need to do so and fail to impose effective driving restrictions. An ongoing parent-based intervention to increase parental restriction on teen driving is described, and issues involved in implementing and evaluating family-centered approaches to reduce teen driving risk are raised.     

Longitudinal influence of perceptions of peer and parental factors on African American adolescent risk involvement

To explore the long-term contributions of perceived peer and parental influences on adolescent risk and protective behaviors (sexual involvement, condom use, and drug use), we assessed self-reported behaviors and perceptions of peer risk involvement and parental supervision and communication among 383 low-income, urban African Americans aged 9 to 15 years at baseline over a 4-year, period. Baseline perceptions of peer sexual involvement were significantly associated with youth sexual behavior at baseline and were predictive of sexual involvement through all 4 years of follow-up. Perceived parental monitoring was inversely correlated with sexual involvement ment through 3 years of follow-up. Perceptions of peer condom use were associated with increased levels of condom use at baseline and through 6 months of follow-up. Positive parental communication was correlated with increased condom use. Drug use was higher among youths who perceived peers or family members to be using drugs and was inversely correlated with increased parental monitoring and supervision. Stepwise regression revealed peer and parental influences for all three behaviors. Perceptions of both peer and parental behaviors influence long-term risk and protective behaviors of adolescents. Therefore, parents should be included in adolescent riskreduction intervention efforts. Inclusion of friends and/or changing youth perceptions of peer involvement may also be effective intervention strategies.     

The contrasting effects of parental birthweight and gestational age on the birthweight of offspring

Investigations on intergenerational effects on birthweight have been carried out using the data of the 1958 British National Birthday Trust Fund cohort and its follow-up to 23 years, the National Child Development Study (NCDS-4), which included information on all births to cohort members by that age. This report is directed particularly at ascertaining the independent effect of parental gestational age on babies' birthweight. The two main findings are a direct association between parental and offspring birthweight (significant for both mothers and fathers after allowing for confounding factors), but an inverse association with parental gestational age (significant only for the mothers). It is postulated that at least part of this effect is mediated through the association between maternal fetal growth rate and their babies' birthweight; the faster the rate the shorter the gestational age for a given birthweight. It was not possible to ascertain what part genetic factors played in this relationship. Larger and more informative intergenerational studies are needed to further knowledge on this question.     

The influence parental rearing patterns on the intermediate factors of medical students'mental health

目的 探讨父母教养方式与医学生心理健康的中介因素(如个性、自尊、应对方式和心理控制感)之间的关系,从而为大学生心理健康的干预研究提供整合性研究依据.方法 选取786名医学生进行父母教养方式[EMBU]、个性(16PF)、自尊量表(SES)、简易应对方式问卷(SCSQ)、心理控制感(IPC)等问卷测试.结果 医学生组与中文修订版组相比,医学生组的父母教养方式各因子分均低于修订版中文组;父母教养方式对医学生的个性、自尊、应对方式和心理控制感都存在显著性的相关;多元逐步回归分析显示,父母的情感温暖理解(FF1、MF1)、父亲的过度保护(FF6)、母亲的拒绝否认(MF3)和惩罚严厉(MF4)对医学生的个性、自尊、应对方式和心理控制感的影响最大.结论 父母教养方式对医学生的个性、自尊、应对方式和心理控制感有较好的预测效应.     

The influence of parental education on child mental health in Spain

Purpose

To analyze the association between parental education and offspring’s mental health in a nationally representative Spanish sample, and assess the contribution of other socioeconomic factors to the association.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of data on 4- to 15-year-olds participating in the 2006 Spanish National Health Survey. Mental health was assessed using the parent-reported Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire. Parents’ respective educational levels were summarized in a single variable. Univariate and multivariate analyses, controlling for family-, child- and parent-related characteristics, were used to study the association.

Results

The final sample comprised 5,635 children. A strong association between parental education and parent-reported child mental health was observed among 4- to 11-year-olds, with odds ratios (ORs) increasing as parental educational level decreased. Where both parents had a sub-university level, maternal education showed a stronger association than did paternal education. Following adjustment for covariates, parental education continued to be the strongest risk factor for parent-reported child mental health problems, OR = 3.7 (95% CI 2.4–5.8) for the lowest educational level, but no association was found among 12- to 15-year-olds. Male sex, immigrant status, activity limitation, parent’s poor mental health, low social support, poor family function, single-parent families, low family income and social class were associated with parent-reported child mental health problems in both age groups.

Conclusions

Our results show that there is a strong association between parental education and parent-reported child mental health, and that this is indeed stronger than that for income and social class. Among adolescents, however, the effect of parental education would appear to be outweighed by other factors.     

年龄因素对人心房有效不应期的影响

目的探讨老年人心房有效不应期（AERP）的变化。方法入选30例无器质性心脏病,因室上性心动过速行心脏电生理检查及射频消融术的患者,按年龄分为青年组、中年组和老年组。测定高右房（HRA）、冠状静脉窦（CS）远端的起搏阈值,于HRA及CS远端以2倍阈值行SIS2刺激,分别测量基础刺激S1（600ms、500ms、400ms、300ms）时左房及右房AERP。计算起搏周长缩短时AERP缩短的差值与600ms起搏时AERP的比值,作为AERP的缩短率。结果共有9例诱发房颤,老年组房颤诱发率显著高于青年组（P〈0．05）,不同周长S1起搏时老年组左房及右房AERP均较青年组延长（P〈0．05）,亦较中年组延长,但未达到统计学差异;S1周长越短,AERP缩短越明硅（P〈0．05）;老年组500ms、400ms起搏时右房AERP缩短较青年组、中年组更加明最（P〈0．05）;左房仅在300ms起搏时老年组AERP缩短率更为明显（P〈0．05）。结论随年龄增长．AERP延长,但在起搏频率加快时老年人AERP缩短更加明显。     

Child-rearing attitudes and cardiovascular risk among children: moderating influence of parental socioeconomic status

BACKGROUND: We examined associations of parental socioeconomic status (SES) and hostile maternal child-rearing attitudes with the insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) precursors in children. METHODS: The participants were 210 randomly selected healthy boys and girls who participated in the epidemiological Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study and who were 3, 6, and 9 years of age at the three study phases. Hostile maternal child-rearing attitudes were self-rated by the mothers. SES consisted of the years of education of the parents and family income. The IRS comprised serum insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and body mass index. RESULTS: Among boys, low parental SES and strict maternal discipline were associated with heightened somatic risk. Among girls, parental SES moderated the association between maternal child-rearing attitudes and somatic risk so that belonging to a high-SES family seemed to protect the girls against the adverse health effects of hostile mothering. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that the psychosocial environment is differentially related to girls' and boys' somatic risk. It is concluded that belonging to high social class may buffer against childhood stress, while belonging to low social class may enhance vulnerability to stressors in childhood.     

The influence of parental attitude and behavior on early adolescent cigarette smoking

In 1983, Nolte and colleagues reported parental attitude may be more powerful than parental behavior in shaping adolescent cigarette smoking behavior. This study replicates the finding of Nolte et al and suggests parents need to be actively recruited to discourage their children from smoking, regardless of their own behavior. Fewer parents actively discourage youth smoking today than in 1983, a possible unfortunate result from an apparently successful effort to change the public attitude toward cigarette smoking.     

The influence of maternal employment on children's learning growth and the role of parental involvement

Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, this study employed a latent growth curve model to examine how parental involvement explains the association between maternal employment status and children's math and reading achievement growth from kindergarten through the third grade. To address this issue, three types of parental involvement – school participation, parent–child interaction, and educational trips – were considered. Our findings indicated that maternal employment can be both beneficial and detrimental to children's educational development depending on the mother's number of working hours. Students whose mothers were employed part time exhibited an advantage in academic learning because of increased rates of school participation and parent–child interaction, whereas students of mothers employed full time appeared to experience a lower learning growth, given lower rate of school participation and fewer educational trips than students of unemployed mothers. These findings highlight the importance of family context in understanding work–family relationships.     

The joint influence of parental modeling and positive parental concern on cigarette smoking in middle and high school students

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to examine the interaction between parental smoking status and parental attitudes, as measured by positive parental concern, on the risk of adolescent cigarette smoking. Parental smoking and parental concern about smoking were measured in a cross-sectional study of 37,244 students, a random sample of Maryland middle and high school students, who were current or never smokers. Parental concern was classified into 3 levels: strict, moderate, and minimal. The likelihood of youths being current smokers was positively associated with both parental smoking (both versus neither parent smokes: odds ratio [OR] 3.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.1-3.7) and parental concern about smoking (minimal versus strict concern: OR 2.3, 95% CI 2.1-2.4). Youths with parents who did not smoke and with strict concern had the lowest likelihood of smoking. In comparison to this group, after adjustment for other social influences the likelihood of being a current smoker was more than 5 times greater among boys (OR 5.8, 95% CI 4.5-7.4) and girls (OR 5.2, 95% CI 4.1-6.5) whose parents both smoked and were minimally concerned about smoking. Current smoking in youths was independently associated with both parental smoking and less parental concern. When these 2 factors were jointly considered, the prevalence of current smoking in youths increased both with exposure to parental modeling and reduced parental concern about smoking. The results indicate that minimal parental concern about smoking worsens the risk due to parental modeling. Parental modeling and parental attitudes act synergistically to exacerbate the likelihood of smoking. (J Sch Health. 2006;76(8):402-407)     

Contextual risk and parental attributions of children's behavior as factors that influence the acceptability of empirically supported treatments

This study examined the acceptability of several empirically supported treatments (child social skills training, parent training and medication) within a sample of low-income African American mothers of a preschooler exhibiting significant disruptive behavior. Contextual risk and causal and responsibility attributions were predicted to be associated with treatment acceptability. Eighty-seven participants completed an attributional-style measure of child misbehavior and considered hypothetically the acceptability of several empirically supported treatments. Social skills and parent training were highly accepted, while medication was not. Greater causal attributions (child's behavior viewed as global, stable and due to something within the child) were associated with higher acceptability of social skills training. The relationship between attributions and medication was moderated by risk. In the context of high risk, lower causal attributions were associated with higher acceptability of medication whereas in the context of low risk, lower causal attributions were associated with lower acceptability of medication. In contrast, in the context of high risk, higher responsibility attributions (child's behavior viewed as purposeful, selfish and deserving of blame) were associated with greater acceptability of medication, while in the context of low risk, higher responsibility attributions were associated with lower acceptability of medication. Implications for future research and the implementation of empirically supported treatments within communities of color and those with economic disadvantage are discussed.