Agreement Between Parents and Teachers on Behavioral/Emotional Problems in Japanese School Children Using the Child Behavior Checklist

We investigated the agreement between Japanese parents' and teachers' ratings concerning their children's behavioral/emotional problems. Mothers (n = 276) and teachers (n = 19) assessed each child (n = 316; 6 to 12 years old ) using Japanese parent and teacher version of the Child Behavior Checklist. Parent–teacher agreement were examined through three indices; mean scores, correlations and D scores (generalized distance between item profile). Mean scores rated by parents were significantly higher than those by teachers. The differences of parents' ratings according to sex of the child or parents' occupational level, and those of teachers' ratings according to sex of the child were consistent with previous Western studies. Parent-teacher correlations were in the low to middle range (0.16–0.36). We obtained significant sets of independent variables accounting for the variance of D scores, but the effect size of these variables was small. These results indicated that, as seen in Western studies, Japanese parents and teachers would also assess their child's problems differently and the child's demographics affect their evaluation. For further research, parent and teacher characteristics which may influence on their perspective of the child's problems could be examined.     

The Kazdin Method for Developing and Changing Behavior of Children and Adolescents

The Kazdin Method™ is a version of parent management training in which parents are trained to alter the behaviors of their children. The method draws on the principles and techniques of applied behavior analysis. The techniques focus on antecedents (what comes before the behavior), behavior (crafting the precise behaviors one wishes to develop), and consequences (usually praise to increase the likelihood that the desired behaviors will be performed again). The key focus is repeated practice in changing parent and child behaviors. The article traces the evolution of my use of parent training to treat severe aggressive and antisocial behavior among clinically referred samples and also to help parents with the routine challenges of child rearing. Research findings supporting the effectiveness of the techniques are highlighted. In addition, the article discusses issues and myths that may be of concern with the approach such as the exclusive focus on behavior, the extent to which the effects endure, and the use of consequences to change behavior. Resources are provide for parents and professionals for implementing the techniques and as well as for addressing topics of interest to parents in child and adolescent development.     

Parental Depression and Child Behavior Problems: A Pilot Study Examining Pathways of Influence

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have higher rates of depressive symptoms than parents of typically developing children and parents of children with other developmental disorders. Parental depressive symptoms are strongly associated with problem behaviors in children; however, the mechanisms through which parental depression influences child behavior in families of children with ASD are unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parental depression and child behavior problems among families of children with ASD, more specifically to investigate the mediating variables that may explain the processes through which parental depression and child behavior problems are associated. The sample consisted of 33 parents of children with ASD (ages 2 to 5 years old). Findings suggested that authoritative parenting style significantly mediated the relationship between parental depression and behavior problems. This study highlights the importance of considering parental mental health and its impact on parenting behavior in interventions targeting child behavior problems.     

Disciplinary Style and Child Abuse Potential: Association with Indicators of Positive Functioning in Children with Behavior Problems

Reduction of ineffective parenting is promoted in parent training components of mental health treatment for children with externalizing behavior disorders, but minimal research has considered whether disciplinary style and lower abuse risk could also be associated with positive functioning in such children. The present study examined whether lower dysfunctional disciplinary style and child abuse risk was associated with children’s positive self-concept, adaptive attributional style, and hopefulness. Recruited from children undergoing treatment for disruptive behavior disorders, 69 mother–child dyads participated, with maternal caregivers reporting on their disciplinary style and abuse potential and children reporting independently on their positive functioning (adaptive attributional style, overall self-concept, and hopelessness). Findings supported the hypothesized association, with lower scores on mothers’ dysfunctional discipline style and abuse potential significantly predicting children’s reported positive functioning. Future research directions pertaining to more adaptive functioning in children with behavior problems are discussed. This study was supported in part by a University of Utah Faculty Research and Creative Grant.     

The Munich Vulnerability Study on Affective Disorders: stability of polysomnographic findings over time.

BACKGROUND: Some of the sleep abnormalities found in depression also persist in remission, suggesting that these parameters could represent trait or vulnerability markers. In a previous study, we found that about one third of a group of high-risk probands (HRPs) showed sleep patterns that were comparable to those of depressed patients. In the present study, we re-investigated a subsample of these HRPs to evaluate the stability of these findings over time. METHODS: We investigated the sleep-electroencephalograms of 82 healthy subjects with a high genetic load of affective disorders. We were able to re-investigate 26 of these HRPs after a mean interval of 3.5 years. Thirty-five unrelated control probands and 33 unrelated depressed inpatients that were recruited at the first investigation served as reference groups. RESULTS: At index investigation, we found that the HRPs showed a significantly increased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep density compared to control subjects. At the second examination, no changes of the polysomnographic observations over time could be observed; in particular, the REM density remained elevated. CONCLUSIONS: The increased REM density in high-risk subjects for an affective disorder at index investigation was stable over time, so that one of the requirements for a true vulnerability marker is fulfilled.     

Substantiated Reports of Child Maltreatment From the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect 2008: Examining Child and Household Characteristics and Child Functional Impairment

Objective:

Identifying child and household characteristics that are associated with specific child maltreatment types and child functional impairment are important for informing prevention and intervention efforts. Our objectives were to examine the distribution of several child and household characteristics among substantiated child maltreatment types in Canada; to determine if a specific child maltreatment type relative to all other types was associated with increased odds of child functional impairment; and to determine which child and household characteristics were associated with child functional impairment.

Method:

Data were from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (collection 2008) from 112 child welfare sites across Canada (n = 6163 children).

Results:

Physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional maltreatment were highly prevalent among children aged 10 to 15 years. For single types of child maltreatment, the highest prevalence of single-parent homes (50.6%), social assistance (43.0%), running out of money regularly (30.7%), and unsafe housing (30.9%) were reported for substantiated cases of neglect. Being male, older age, living in a single-parent home, household running out of money, moving 2 or more times in the past year, and household overcrowding were associated with increased odds of child functional impairment.

Conclusions:

More work is warranted to determine if providing particular resources for single-parent families, financial counselling, and facilitating adequate and stable housing for families with child maltreatment histories or at risk for child maltreatment could be effective for improving child functional outcomes.     

Prevalence of the Child Behavior Checklist-pediatric bipolar disorder phenotype in a German general population sample

BACKGROUND: In children with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD), a consistent pattern of elevations in inattention/hyperactivity, depression/anxiety, and aggression has been identified on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL-PBD profile). In Germany, no epidemiological study has included PBD to date. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the six-month prevalence of the CBCL-PBD profile in Germany in a large normative general population sample, and to examine subjects with CBCL-PBD profile with regard to symptoms assumed to coexist with PBD (e.g., suicidality, decreased need for sleep, and hypersexuality). METHODS: We studied a nationwide representative general population sample of 2,856 children and adolescents aged 4-18 years. RESULTS: A total of 21 subjects [0.7% of the sample; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.5-1.1] met the criteria for the CBCL-PBD phenotype. CBCL-PBD subjects were more pervasively disturbed than clinical controls (n = 118; 4.1% of total sample; 95% CI = 3.4-4.9), demonstrated in significantly more social problems and delinquent behavior, and showed significantly higher rates of suicidality, decreased need for sleep and hypersexual behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CBCL-PBD subjects in the general German population compares to rates of PBD in US and Dutch epidemiological samples. Regardless of whether these subjects are affected by 'real' PBD or 'severe, pervasive ADHD' with pronounced emotional dysregulation, they constitute a group of seriously disturbed children and adolescents. The high rate of suicidality among CBCL-PBD subjects emphasizes the need for the identification and adequate treatment of children meeting this profile.     

The Effect of Parenting Stress on Child Behavior Problems in High-Risk Children with Prenatal Drug Exposure

Objective To examine the relationship between early parenting stress and later child behavior in a high-risk sample and measure the effect of drug exposure on the relationship between parenting stress and child behavior. Methods A subset of child-caregiver dyads (n = 607) were selected from the Maternal Lifestyle Study (MLS), which is a large sample of children (n = 1,388) with prenatal cocaine exposure and a comparison sample unexposed to cocaine. Of the 607 dyads, 221 were prenatally exposed to cocaine and 386 were unexposed to cocaine. Selection was based on the presence of a stable caregiver at 4 and 36 months with no evidence of change in caregiver between those time points. Results Parenting stress at 4 months significantly predicted child externalizing behavior at 36 months. These relations were unaffected by cocaine exposure suggesting the relationship between parenting stress and behavioral outcome exists for high-risk children regardless of drug exposure history. Conclusions These results extend the findings of the relationship between parenting stress and child behavior to a sample of high-risk children with prenatal drug exposure. Implications for outcome and treatment are discussed. Portions of the data were previously presented at the 11th Annual Research Symposium on Mental Health Sciences, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI and at the 25th Annual Society for Developmental and Behavior Pediatrics Meeting in Providence, RI.     

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Comorbid Anxiety: Practitioner Problems in Treatment Planning

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, combined type, and anxiety have been shown to co-occur in children but specific treatments tailored to suit this combination of diagnoses have not yet been reported. This paper addresses the problem from the perspective of clinical practice with a focus on treatment planning and evaluation. Existing work in the published literature is examined. A pilot study designed to explore the suitability of a cognitive-behavioural family-based intervention for use in a child mental health service is presented. The results of the intervention revealed high levels of parent and child satisfaction although there was no change in the level of symptoms. The implications for treatment planning and for future group interventions are discussed with regard to parent psychopathology and the difficulty in generalising research findings to day-to-day clinical practice.     

Social Skills and Behavior Problems in Children with Disabilities with and without Siblings

This study examined social skills and behavior of children with disabilities (CWD) and the impact of siblings on these behaviors. Eighty-five CWD diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder only (ADHD-o), Learning Disability or Learning Problems (LD/LP), ADHD and LD combined (ADHD/LD) or Spina Bifida (SB) and their siblings were evaluated using standardized social skills and behavior rating scales. The ADHD-o group had significantly lower social skills and more behavior problems than the other groups. There was no recognized effect of the sibling relationship on the social skills and behavioral problems of either the CWD or their siblings. Birth order of the sibling dyads and diagnos(es) of siblings did not have significant influence on the social skills or behavior of CWD. ADHD is a significant risk factor for poor social skills and behavior problems, even when compared with other diagnoses that carry an increased risk of these same problems.     

Psychometric Evaluation of the Behavior Problems Inventory-01 and the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form with Children and Adolescents

This study was conducted to assess the psychometric properties of 2 assessment instruments, the Behavior Problems Inventory-01 (BPI-01; Rojahn, Matson, Lott, Esbensen, & Smalls, 2001 Rojahn, J., Matson, J. L., Lott, D., Esbensen, A. J. and Smalls, Y. 2001. The Behavior Problems Inventory: An instrument for the assessment of self-injury, stereotyped behavior, and aggressive/destructive behavior in individuals with developmental disabilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31: 577–588. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form (NCBRF; Aman, Tassé, Rojahn, & Hammer, 1996 Aman, M. G., Tassé, M. J., Rojahn, J. and Hammer, D. 1996. The Nisonger CBRF: A child behavior rating form for children with developmental disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 17: 41–57. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). The sample consisted of 237 ethnically diverse children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities who ranged in age from 4 to 22 years. Reliability parameters included internal consistency, interteacher agreement, teacher-parent agreement, and test-retest reliability. Factorial validity was assessed first by bivariate Spearman rank (ρ) correlations and then by examining the factor structure fit via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent and discriminant validity was assessed by multiple regression analyses across the 2 instruments. Reliability coefficients (internal consistency, interteacher agreement, and test-retest reliability) of the BPI-01 and of the NCBRF subscales ranged from fair to excellent and from poor to excellent, respectively. The CFA suggested a poor fit between the present and the original BPI-01 and NCBRF factor structures, although item-total correlations were reasonable. Convergent and discriminant validity between the BPI-01 and the NCBRF, however, was strong. Limitations of the study are discussed and recommendations for future studies are presented.     

Use of the Child Behavior Checklist in an Israeli adolescent psychiatric unit

This article deals with the Hebrew version of an instrument for the diagnosis of psychopathology in young adolescents: the Child Behavior Checklist and the associated Child Behavior Profile developed by Achenbach (1978). We report on a study of the reliability and validity of the checklist and its suitability for use with severely disturbed adolescents in Israel. Parents of 130 adolescents, 89 healthy and 41 sick, participated in the research. The scales were found to be valid in that two-thirds of the items were correctly assigned by clinicians in Israel to their respective scales; it is internally consistent as measured by the Cronbach coefficient; and it is reliable in distinguishing between patient and control groups. Scores for control adolescents in Israel were found to be very similar to norms in the United States, the Netherlands and Chile. This finding may have important implications for cross-cultural research.     

Marital Satisfaction,Parental Stress,and Child Behavior Problems among Parents of Young Children with Developmental Delays

Studies have found that low marital satisfaction, parenting stress, and child behavior problems are linked in families of children with developmental delays (DD). However, previous investigations examining the relationships between parenting stress, child behavior problems, and marital satisfaction rarely examine the interrelationships of these three variables simultaneously, and the samples used are often restricted in terms of age and ethnicity, limiting generalizability. The primary aim of the study was to examine the associations between marital satisfaction, child behavior problems, and parenting stress in a diverse sample of parents of young children with DD. The study included 44 parents of children ages 2.5 to 5 years with DD and high levels of behavior problems who participated in a larger study looking at the impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in reducing parenting stress and child behavior problems. Marital satisfaction was significantly related to both parenting stress and child behavior problems, where parents with lower marital satisfaction reported higher parenting stress and child behavior problems. Additionally, preliminary analyses indicated that marital quality significantly moderated changes in child behavior problems from pre- to posttreatment but did not moderate changes in parenting stress as a result of the MBSR intervention.     

Need for Child Mental Health Consultation and Paediatricians' Perception of these Services: A Survey in the West Midlands

Background:  High rates of psychopathology have been noted in children presenting to GP surgeries and paediatricians. However, paediatricians do not always recognise this and when they do the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is often unable to meet their consultation needs.
Method:  This postal survey looked at paediatricians' perception of the need for child psychiatry consultation in the West Midlands.
Results:  The survey confirmed that paediatricians see a significant proportion of children with mental health problems and the findings showed that their need for child psychiatry consultation was not being adequately met. Lack of access to CAMHS was a significant issue.
Conclusions:  This has implications not only for further development of consultation services within CAMHS but also for improving training in child psychiatry for paediatricians in a more formalised way.     

An Examination of Specific Child Behavior Problems as Predictors of Parenting Stress Among Families of Children With Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Introduction: Studies have shown that parents of children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) exhibit higher levels of stress than parents of typically developing children or children with other types of developmental delays (DD). This relationship appears to be mediated by elevated levels of behavior problems observed in children with PDD. However, little is known about what specific child behavior problems are most common in this population or how these behavior problems relate to parental stress. We examined the relationship between parenting stress and child behavior problems in parents of young children with PDD. Method: The current study utilized data from the Mindful Awareness for Parenting Stress (MAPS) project and included 72 parents of children with PDD. The mean age of the parents in the current study was 34.81 years (SD = 7.67) and the mean age of the children was 3.86 years (SD = 0.98). Results: The most commonly endorsed classes of child behavior problems included attention problems, language problems, and externalizing behavior problems. Three specific behavior problems, “Doesn’t answer when people talk to him/her,” “Speech problem,” and “Temper tantrums or hot temper,” were significantly related to parental stress levels at intake. Furthermore, these three behavior problems uniquely predicted parenting stress. Conclusions: Identifying the behavior problems that are most difficult for parents to handle may allow clinicians to tailor interventions to the specific needs of families. The current study indicated that social difficulties, speech problems, and tantrums have the greatest negative impact on parental stress, highlighting these problems as ideal targets for interventions.     

Mental Illness,Behavior Problems,and Social Behavior in Adults With Down Syndrome

Little is known about the behavioral characteristics of adults with Down syndrome (DS) without dementia. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the psychopathology and social behavior among adults with DS compared to adults with nonspecific intellectual disability (NSID). Thirty-four adults with DS were individually matched with 34 adults with NSID for raw scores on a task that measured nonverbal reasoning ability. Participants' caregivers completed 3 questionnaires assessing mental illness, behavior problems, and social behavior. The group with DS presented fewer difficulties associated with mental illness and behavior problems, as well as better adapted social behavior, than the group with NSID despite a similar level of nonverbal reasoning ability. Aging in the group with DS was found to be positively correlated with behavioral signs of depression and autistic symptoms. These findings highlight the specificity of the behavioral profile of adults with DS without dementia.     

Relations Among Child Language Skills, Maternal Socialization of Emotion Regulation, and Child Behavior Problems

Research has linked language delays in young children to behavior problems and risk for psychopathology. We hypothesized that low language skill would affect normal socialization of emotion regulation, which in turn would affect the development of behavior problems. Seventy-eight mother/preschool-age child pairs participated in two mildly frustrating situations. Parents of children with low verbal comprehension used more unexplained compliance demands than other parents. Further, children whose parents used more unexplained compliance demands used fewer cognitive and distraction strategies, and more instrumental strategies. Children's use of physical self-comforting was positively related to overall, internalizing, and externalizing behavior problems. Findings supported the original hypothesis.