OBJECTIVETo investigate the influencing factors for psychological and behavioral problems in school-age twins and to provide a basis for reducing the incidence of these problems.

METHODSThe psychological and behavioral problems were assessed in 147 pairs of twins aged 6-12 years in Huhhot, China, using the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales and Family General Condition Questionnaire were used to collect data.

RESULTSThe overall detection rate of psychological and behavioral problems in these children was 24.1%; the detection rate of thought problems (15.3%) was the highest, and the detection rate of physical discomforts (3.4%) was the lowest. According to the multiple logistic regression analysis, full-term birth or not was significantly associated with withdrawn behavior and total score on the CBCL (P<0.05); temperament type was significantly associated with thought problems and overall detection rate of psychological and behavioral problems (P<0.05); father's child-bearing age was significantly associated with thought problems (P<0.05); family cohesion was significantly associated with discipline violation (P<0.05); family adaptability was significantly associated with thought problems (P<0.05); family rearing patterns were significantly associated with socialization problems (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSChildren's temperament type, full-term birth or not, father's child-bearing age, family cohesion, family adaptability, and family rearing patterns are the main influencing factors for the psychological and behavioral problems in school-age twins.

Child ; Child Behavior Disorders ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Problem Behavior ; psychology ; Twins ; psychology

INTRODUCTION: The study was performed to determine the psychological problems in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) while they were on steroid therapy, as compared to healthy children. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted in a paediatric clinic of a tertiary hospital. Parents of the participants in the INS group and control group (comprising children without chronic illness) completed questionnaires using the Child Behavioural Checklist (CBCL). The CBCL measures a range of age-specific emotional and psychological problems, including internalising and externalising domains. Analyses of the CBCL scores between groups were done using Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: A total of 140 children were recruited with an equal number in the INS and control groups. There was a significant difference in the mean total CBCL scores between the INS group and the control group, specifically in the withdrawal, somatic, anxious and aggressiveness subdomains. Similar findings were demonstrated in correlation between total psychological problems and corticosteroid dosage. In the INS group, steroid dose and cushingoid features were found to have a significant positive association with internalising psychological problems. CONCLUSION Children with INS on corticosteroid treatment showed an increase in internalising and externalising scores, as compared to healthy children.
Child ; Humans ; Child Behavior Disorders/psychology* ; Nephrotic Syndrome/psychology* ; Problem Behavior/psychology* ; Prospective Studies ; Southeast Asian People ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVES: To study the moderating effect of mother-child relationship in the association between maternal parenting stress and emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children, and to provide reference for the prevention and control of emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children. METHODS: Using a stratified cluster sampling method, 2 049 preschool children were surveyed from November to December 2021, who sampled from 12 kindergartens in Wuhu City, Anhui Province. The emotional and behavioral problems of preschool children were assessed with the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship of maternal parenting stress and mother-child relationship with children's emotional and behavioral problems. The PROCESS Macro was used to analyze the moderating effect of conflicted and dependent mother-child relationships in the association between maternal parenting stress and emotional and behavioral problems in these preschool children. RESULTS: Among these preschool children, maternal parenting stress was positively correlated with the scores of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer problems subscales and total difficulty scores (P<0.001); intimate mother-child relationships were negatively correlated with the scores of conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer problems subscales and total difficulty scores (P<0.001); conflicted and dependent mother-child relationships were positively correlated with the scores of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer problems subscales and total difficulty scores (P<0.001). After controlling for relevant confounding factors, conflicted mother-child relationship (β=0.05, P=0.001) and dependent mother-child relationship (β=0.04, P=0.012) were found to have a moderating effect on the association between maternal parenting stress and total difficulty scores in these preschool children. CONCLUSIONS Negative mother-child relationships play a moderating role in the association between maternal parenting stress and emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children. Prevention of emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children should focus on reducing maternal parenting stress and improving negative mother-child relationships.
Humans ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Problem Behavior/psychology* ; Parenting/psychology* ; Emotions ; Mother-Child Relations ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Mothers/psychology*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review interventions available to nurses caring for siblings of children with cancer. METHODS: Searches of CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and RISS identified ten intervention studies published from January, 2000 to November, 2016. RESULTS: Ten studies on interventions for siblings of pediatric cancer patients were identified as follows: 4 included camps, 4 included support groups, and 2 provided individual interventions. Theoretical frameworks were mainly cognitive behavioral theory and most studies were led by psychologists and multidisciplinary teams. The purpose of the interventions was primarily enhancing psychosocial adjustment. Siblings' fear of disease, self-esteem, and social support were improved significantly after the interventions. Findings were inconsistent with regard to depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, post-traumatic stress, health-related quality of life, and siblings' perceptions of the illness. CONCLUSION: Study findings showed the potential for enhancing emotional and behavioral outcomes in siblings of children with cancer. However, the number of studies was very small, and several methodological limitations were identified. In the future, more randomized controlled trials with larger samples are needed to extend the evidence base. Moreover, future research should identify sibling's characteristics and circumstances most likely to bring benefits to the siblings.
Anxiety ; Child ; Depression ; Humans ; Problem Behavior ; Psychology ; Quality of Life ; Self-Help Groups ; Siblings*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the mental health promotion program based on Positive Psychology for adolescents with problem behavior. METHODS: The study used a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Eligible participants were first grade students in two high schools in K Province. The inclusion criteria for the study were those with scores in the upper 15% on the Korean Youth Self-Report. A total of 74 participants were assigned to an 8-session program (n=38) or to a control (n=36) group. The outcome variables were psychological well-being, depression, and self-esteem. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in demographic variables or outcome variables, except self-esteem, between the two groups at the baseline. The experimental group had higher mean scores on psychological well-being and self-esteem and a lower mean score on depression. There were significant differences in psychological well-being (t=3.45, p=.001), self-esteem (F=5.45, p=.022), and depression (t=-2.80, p=.007) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The mental health promotion program based on Positive Psychology was effective in decreasing depression as well as improving psychological well-being and self-esteem for adolescents with problem behavior. This study contributes to suggesting a framework for promoting mental health for high school students with problem behavior.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adolescent* ; Depression ; Humans ; Mental Health* ; Problem Behavior* ; Program Evaluation ; Psychology* ; Self Concept

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of clinical and psychological factors on the self-concept of children and adolescents with epilepsy. METHODS: Children and adolescents with epilepsy (n=60; age range=9–17 years) completed questionnaires about their epilepsy-related variables, self-concept, depressive symptoms, anxiety, family functions, and behavioral problems. The T-test and one-way analysis of variance were used to examine the variables affecting the total self-concept scores. To determine the independent variables by adjusting the significant variables, a stepwise regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: In the correlational analysis, age, depressive symptoms, anxiety, social problems, attention problems, and internalizing problems had significantly negative correlations with self-concept. On the other hand, IQ and family functions showed positive correlations with self-concept. Age (β=−0.177, p=0.015), depressive symptoms (β=−0.487, p<0.001), anxiety (β=−0.298, p=0.008), and attention problems (β= −0.138, p=0.048) were analyzed as independent factors to assess their impact on self-concept, and were found to account for 78.3% of the variance in self-concept by stepwise regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Parents and clinicians should pay attention to improving the self-concept of children and adolescents with epilepsy, especially if they have problems with depression, anxiety, or attention.
Adolescent* ; Anxiety ; Child* ; Depression ; Epilepsy* ; Hand ; Humans ; Parents ; Problem Behavior ; Psychology ; Self Concept ; Social Problems

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of clinical and psychological factors on the quality of life of children and adolescents with epilepsy and their families.METHODS: Children and adolescents with epilepsy and their families (n = 63, age range = 6–17 years) completed questionnaires on epilepsy-related variables, quality of life, children's depressive symptoms, children's anxiety, children's behavioral problems, children's attention problems, parental stress, and parental anxiety. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to determine the significant predictive variables that affect quality of life.RESULTS: In the correlational analysis, children's attention problems (r = 0.363, p = 0.004), parental anxiety (r = 0.377, p = 0.003), parental stress (r = 0.564, p < 0.001), and children's behavioral problems (r = 0.503, p < 0.001) showed a significant correlation with quality of life. Parental stress (β = 0.415, p = 0.001, adjusted R² = 0.345) and children's behavioral problems (β = 0.285, p = 0.02, adjusted R² = 0.345) were significantly related to the quality of life.CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should pay attention to parental stress and children's behavioral problems, which affect quality of life in families with pediatric epilepsy.
Adolescent ; Anxiety ; Child ; Depression ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Parents ; Problem Behavior ; Psychology ; Quality of Life

Objective: To explore the associations between maternal and prenatal depressive symptoms and children's behavioral problems at 2 years old. Methods: In the present study, a total of 491 mother-child pairs were selected from the Shanghai-Minhang Birth Cohort Study (S-MBCS) which was conducted in Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Minhang District in Shanghai between April and December, 2012. Data from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies on Depression was gathered to assess the maternal depressive symptoms in the second and third trimester of pregnancy, as well as at 6 months and 12 months postpartum. Neurodevelopment at 2 years was assessed, using the Child Behavior Checklist. We used generalized linear models with a log-link function and a Binomial distribution to estimate the risk ratios (RRs) and 95%CIs, on children's behavioral problems at 2 years of age. Sensitivity analyses were performed among participants without postpartum depressive symptoms. Results: After adjustment on factors as maternal age, gestation week, average monthly income per person, parental education and children's gender etc., maternal depression in second trimester of pregnancy was found associated with higher risk of both developing emotional (RR=2.61, 95%CI: 1.36-4.99) and internalizing problems (RR=1.94, 95%CI: 1.22-3.08). However, maternal depression in third trimester was found to be associated with higher risks of developing emotional (RR=6.46, 95%CI: 3.09-13.53), withdrawn (RR=2.42, 95%CI: 1.16-5.02), aggressive (RR=2.93, 95%CI: 1.45-5.94), internalizing (RR=1.79, 95%CI: 1.01-3.16) or externalizing problems (RR=2.56, 95%CI:1.49-4.42). In sensitivity analysis, antenatal maternal depression was found positively associated with children's emotional, internalizing and externalizing problems and the differences all statistically significant. Conclusions: Maternal depression during pregnancy might increase the risks of children's behavioral problems. In order to decrease the incidence of children's behavioral problems and promoting both maternal and child health status, monitoring program regarding maternal mental health care should be strengthened.
Adult ; Child ; Child Behavior Disorders/psychology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Depression/epidemiology* ; Depressive Disorder ; Emotions ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Mothers/psychology* ; Pregnancy ; Problem Behavior/psychology* ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a self-esteem improvement program on self-esteem and peer attachment in elementary school children with observed problematic behaviors. METHODS: This study is a quasi-experimental study with a nonequivalent control group pretest-post-test design. A total of 47 fourth grade elementary school students participated in this study. The program was provided for 45 minutes once a week; a total of 12 sessions were completed with a group in the classroom for the experimental group. Child Problem-Behavior Screening Questionnaire was used to measure problematic behavior. Self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg's Self-esteem Questionnaire, and peer attachment was measured using the Inventory of Parent and Attachment. Measuring was performed right after the program was done (post 1) and 1 month after the program was finished (post 2). To compare the differences in self-esteem and peer attachment between groups, repeated measures analysis of variance was used. RESULTS: Most participants in the experimental group were 10 years old (62.5%, range 10-11), male (52.0%) and with middle grade point average (64.0%). The self-esteem scores in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group (F = 26.64, p < .001). The peer attachment scores in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group (F = 6.48, p = .014). CONCLUSIONS: The self-esteem improvement program in this study improved the self-esteem and peer attachment in elementary school children. The self-esteem program helped acknowledge the peer's name and increased their connections. The program needs to be considered as a formal and consistent program.
Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Peer Group ; Problem Behavior/*psychology ; Republic of Korea ; *Self Concept ; Students/*psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that screen time (ST) has a negative effect on children's emotional and behavioral health, but there are few longitudinal studies that have been conducted with infants and toddlers. This study sought to examine the effect of ST in early childhood on emotional and behavioral problems in children aged 4 years, based on a birth cohort study in China. METHODS: A total of 2492 children aged 4 years were enrolled in this study. The parents and guardians of each child completed a questionnaire that included items eliciting information on children's birth information, socio-demographic information at baseline, and ST at each follow-up. Emotional and behavioral problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at 4 years of age. Multivariate logistic analysis was used to explore the effects of ST on emotional and behavioral problems. RESULTS: The percentages of children with ST > 0 h/day at age 0.5 years, ST > 2 h/day at age 2.5 years, and ST > 2 h/day at age 4 years were 45.7, 55.5, and 34.5% respectively. The prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems was 10.8%. ST at 6 months was a risk factor for emotional symptoms and hyperactivity at the age of 4 years. ST at age 2.5 years was a risk factor for hyperactivity at the age of 4 years. However, ST at age 4 years was a risk factor for total difficulties, conduct problems, peer problems, hyperactivity, and prosocial behavior. CONCLUSIONS Higher ST exposure at early childhood is associated with later emotional and behavioral problems. In particular, sustained high ST exposure is a risk factor for behavioral problems. These findings suggested the importance of controlling ST to prevent the occurrence of emotional and behavioral problems in the early years.
Altruism ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Emotions ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Problem Behavior/psychology* ; Psychomotor Agitation/psychology* ; Screen Time