Objective: To explore the long-term effects of maternal pregnancy bisphenol A (BPA) exposure on emotional and behavioral problems appeared in their preschool children. Methods: The study sample was a subset of the China-Anhui Birth Cohort Study (C-ABCS). A unified questionnaire was used to collect basic information on both pregnant women and their children. Free BPA concentration in maternal serum was determined by high-performance liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The parent-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to estimate the emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children. A total of 1 713 pairs of mothers and children were included in this study. Association between BPA exposure during pregnancy and the emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children was evaluated with multinomial logistic regression model. Results: Prevalence rates in 1 713 preschool children appeared as: 6.48% of emotional problems, 8.11% for conduct problems, 8.35% for hyperactivity/inattention, 2.86% for peer problems, 11.38% for prosocial behaviors and 7.94% for total difficulties. Subjects were divided according to the degrees of exposure and the results showed as: low exposure group (≤0.120 ng/ml), medium exposure group (0.120OR=1.876, 95% CI: 1.161-3.029), more obvious in boys (OR=2.291, 95%CI: 1.126-4.661). Conclusion: Maternal exposure to high level of BPA during pregnancy might increase the detrimental effects of abnormal conducts in their preschool children, more obviously seen in boys.
Benzhydryl Compounds/toxicity* ; Child Behavior Disorders/etiology* ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Emotions/physiology* ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Pollutants ; Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Male ; Maternal Exposure ; Mothers ; Phenols/toxicity* ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cognitive characteristics in early school-age children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using event-related potential (ERP) and Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), as well as the correlation between ERP and behavioral problems.

METHODSA total of 22 children aged 6-7 years with ADHD and 19 healthy children matched by age were enrolled. Continue Performance Test-AX (CPT-AX) was performed for ERP test. The amplitude and latency of N2 and P3 of Go and Nogo were compared. The CBCL was completed by the parents, and the correlation between behavioral factors and ERP was analyzed.

RESULTSThe ADHD group had a significantly higher number of ERP omissions than the normal control group (10±8 vs 5±4; P<0.05), while the reaction time and number of commission errors showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). The ADHD group showed a significantly lower Go-N2 amplitude than the normal control group (-8±5 μV vs -10±4 μV; P<0.05). In the ADHD group, the detection rates of hyperactivity, attack, and discipline violation were 27%, 27% and 9% respectively. The scores on attack and discipline violation subscales were negatively correlated with the Go-N2 amplitude of ERP (r=-0.43 and -0.48 respectively; P<0.05), while the score on hyperactivity subscale was positively correlated with the latency of Go-P3 (r=0.50, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe early school-age children with ADHD show the tendency to the impairment of attention/executive function, but the inhibition function defect has not been noted. In early school-age children with ADHD, the behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, attack, and discipline violation are associated with ERP.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Child ; Child Behavior Disorders ; etiology ; Evoked Potentials ; physiology ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of family cohesion and adaptability on behavioral problems in preschool children.

METHODSThe stratified cluster multistage sampling method was used to perform a questionnaire survey in the parents of 1 284 children aged 3-6 years in the urban area of Lanzhou, China. The general status questionnaire, Conners Child Behavior Checklist (Parent Symptom Question), and Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale, Second edition, Chinese version (FACESII-CV) were used to investigate behavioral problems and family cohesion and adaptability.

RESULTSThe overall detection rate of behavioral problems in preschool children was 17.13%. The children with different types of family cohesion had different detection rates of behavioral problems, and those with free-type family cohesion showed the highest detection rate of behavioral problems (40.2%). The children with different types of family adaptability also had different detection rates of behavioral problems, and those with stiffness type showed the highest detection rate of behavioral problems (25.1%). The behavioral problems in preschool children were negatively correlated with family cohesion and adaptability.

CONCLUSIONSDuring the growth of preschool children, family cohesion and adaptability have certain effects on the mental development of preschool children.

Adaptation, Psychological ; Child ; Child Behavior Disorders ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Parent-Child Relations ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Child Behavior Disorders ; etiology ; Child, Preschool ; Dyskinesias ; etiology ; Encephalitis ; complications ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; etiology

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

Child ; Child Behavior Disorders ; etiology ; Cognition Disorders ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; psychology

OBJECTIVETo collect basic information on family burdens and long-term influence of children suffered from traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODSThrough prospective study, child behavioral problems, and injury-related family burden were assessed longitudinally in children with TBI over 6 months during the post injury period and children's pre-injury family function rated by parents soon after injury. Post injury child behavior and family outcomes were assessed at 6-month follow-up period.

RESULTSThe mean adaptation partnership growth affection and resolve scale (APGAR) score of 113 children before TBI was 7.96 and score after TBI was 6.94, which had significantly difference through t test. The mean APGAR score after 6 months was 7.60, which was significantly different from the hospital data. Among group with severe TBI, the family APGAR score in hospital was significantly smaller than that before injury occurred, and the family APGAR score in 6 months after being discharged from the hospital had no significant difference with the score when staying in the hospital. The three leading dimensions among family burden scale of diseases (FBS) scores after TBI were dimension of family economic burden, family daily life and family entertainment. 6 months later, the three leading dimensions had changed to be as dimension of mental health status, dimension of family relationship and dimension of family economic burden. Mean score of child behavior checklist (CBCL) assessed at 6-months follow up period among 113 children was among normal range.

CONCLUSIONSFamily function of children with TBI was affected by TBI. However, family function could be recovered along with child's convalescence except among children with severe TBI. Long-term pressure of TBI on family was revealed in mental health status and family relationship. In this study, there were no evidence of association between TBI and children's behavior problem.

Brain Injuries ; complications ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child Behavior Disorders ; etiology ; China ; Cost of Illness ; Family Health ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index

OBJECTIVEThe present study was designed to investigate the influence of viral myocarditis on mental behavior of the children.

METHODSMentality and behavior of the 178 children suffering from viral myocarditis were examined with Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) edited by Gong Yao-xian in 1986 and 104 sex, age, education and achievement-matched children with pneumonia or upper respiratory infection were enrolled as controls.

RESULTSThe mentality and behavior of the children with viral myocarditis were distinctly abnormal. The abnormal rates of boys and girls suffering from acute and deferment viral myocarditis were evidently higher than those of control children (P < 0.01). The behavioral abnormalities of boys were hypochondria, social difficulties, unwell of body and attack. Whereas, the girls presented hypochondria, unwell of body, social flinch and disobeyed discipline, which was significantly different from the control children. The total and hypochondria cursory mark of the second check result of deferment boys were evidently higher than those of the first check (P < 0.05). The total cursory mark of the second check result of deferment girls was higher than that of the first check (P < 0.05) and evidently higher than that of the acute second check result (P < 0.01). The abnormal rates of mentality and behavior correlated positively with the age of children and they were associated with the severity of the illness.

CONCLUSIONViral myocarditis evidently affected the mentality and behavior of children, which should be paid great attention to.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior ; psychology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child Behavior ; psychology ; Child Behavior Disorders ; etiology ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypochondriasis ; etiology ; psychology ; Juvenile Delinquency ; psychology ; Male ; Myocarditis ; psychology ; virology ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Severity of Illness Index ; Social Behavior ; Virus Diseases ; psychology

OBJECTIVEThe present study investigated the behavioral patterns of autistic children during infancy to provide clues for early identification of childhood autism.

METHODSThe abnormal behaviors of 30 children with autism and 26 children with other developmental disorders in infancy were investigated.

RESULTSThe children with autism presented a series of abnormal behaviors, including no social smile, no eye contact and no respond to own name, and joint attention deficiency, which were distinguished from the children with other developmental disorders. The imitation and attachment behaviors were significantly different between the two groups. Repetitive motor actions and interest peculiarity were only seen in children with autism.

CONCLUSIONSThe children with autism may present a series of abnormal behaviors as early as in infancy. The abnormal behaviors facilitate early diagnosis of autism.

Autistic Disorder ; diagnosis ; psychology ; Child Behavior Disorders ; etiology ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVEChildhood behavioral problems can predict future psychiatric disorders. Temperament development is important for a healthy personality in adulthood. This study investigated whether breastfeeding is associated with the occurrence of behavioral problems and the temperament development in preschool children.

METHODSA total of 737 children (399 boys and 338 girls) aged 4-5 years in Zibo City were recruited by stratified random cluster sampling. They were born at term with a birth weight of >/= 2.5 kg. The feeding patterns and the breastfeeding duration in infancy were collected. Behavioral and temperament developments were investigated by the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), temperament questionnaire for 3-7-year-old children and a self-designed inventory questionnaire. The association of feeding patterns and the breastfeeding duration with behavioral problem occurrence and the temperament development in children were analyzed by a multivariate non-conditional logistic regression analysis and a multivariate stepwise regression analysis.

RESULTSAfter controlling for confounding variables, such as family income and parental education levels, it was found that a breastfeeding duration of >/= 9 months was a protective factor against behavioral problem occurrence in boys (OR=0.184). In girls, a breastfeeding duration of >/= 9 months was also a protective factor against behavioral problem occurrence (OR=0.165), while a mixed feeding with more breast milk and less formula milk was a risk factor (OR=2.203). The factors influencing temperament development consisted of exclusive formula feeding and the duration of breastfeeding (lasting for 4-6 months or 7-9 months) as well as a mixed feeding (with more formula milk and less breast milk, more breast milk and less formula milk, or equal amount of both).

CONCLUSIONSThe fewer amounts and the shorter duration of breastfeeding are risk factors for behavioral problems occurrence in children aged 4-5 years. Children's temperament development is correlated with the feeding patterns and the breastfeeding duration.

Breast Feeding ; Child Behavior Disorders ; etiology ; Child, Preschool ; Educational Status ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mother-Child Relations ; Temperament