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Background: Administration of the Einstein Neonatal Neurobehavioral Assessment Scale (ENNAS) can be time-consuming, and items can be highly correlated. We aimed to determine: (1) its factor analytic structure; (2) the validity of the factor structure; and (3) the associations of physiologic measures with factor scores. Methods: A factor analysis reduced 21 ENNAS items into 5 factors in 57 congenital heart disease (CHD) and 35 healthy infants. Multiple linear regressions examined the association of factor scores with group, gestational age, and physiologic variables. Results: 5-factor solution: 1 (Orienting Reflex), 2 (Extensor Axial Tone), 3 (Primitive Reflexes), 4 (Flexor Tone), 5 (Reflexive Tone Around Extremity Joints). Moderate to strong evidence supported: face, discriminant, and construct validity of these factors, with Factor 2 having the strongest. Conclusions: Components of Factor 2 may provide similar information about neonatal development, thus reducing the time for and burden of administration for researchers and clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that can cause lifelong suffering, with 1 out of 2 children in the United States experiencing at least 1 ACEs. The intergenerational effect of ACEs has been described, but there's still paucity of knowledge of its impact on child development and behavior in children enrolled in Early Head Start (EHS) home visiting programs. A retrospective observational study was performed with 71 parents and 92 children participating in the EHS Home Visiting Program in Olmsted County from 2014 to 2019. Parents reported their own ACEs using a 10-item questionnaire. Children's social-emotional status was evaluated with Devereux Early Childhood Assessment Second Edition (DECA) and development was evaluated using the Brigance Early Childhood Screens III. Referrals of children by EHS staff to community agencies were recorded. The association between parental ACEs score, developmental outcomes and referrals was analyzed. Parental ACEs score of 4 or more was associated with failing at least 1 domain on the Brigance screen (P =.02) especially adaptive/cognitive domain (P =.05), and increased risk of referral to community resources (P <.001). However, there was no association between ACEs scores and failing DECA screens. We identified an intergenerational association between parental exposure to ACEs and risk for childhood developmental delay and referrals to community services. Parental adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have intergenerational effects on offspring. In our study, parental ACEs are associated with offspring developmental delays and referral to community resources. Screening for parental adverse childhood experiences, a key social determinant of health, is imperative and should be incorporated into primary care and early childhood settings to identify children at risk for developmental delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African Americans experience more than double the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW)/premature birth compared to their Caucasian counterparts, reflecting a public health crisis and a significant social justice concern. However, there is a paucity of LBW outcome studies in African American samples. There are even fewer that investigate developmental outcomes within the moderately LBW range (i.e., 1500–2500 g), the most prevalent category of LBW births. This study investigates the relationship between LBW and various psychoeducational outcomes in a prospectively designed African American birth cohort. Multivariate logit analyses of the Johns Hopkins University Pathways to Adulthood study compared LBW children with normal birth weight children on a number of outcome measures at seven and 8 years of age. Results revealed that children born within the lowest birth weight category produced the most adverse findings, from both a statistical and clinical standpoint, on measures of cognitive ability, academic achievement, speech, language, auditory processing, and visual–motor integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social communicative precursors to autism spectrum disorder may influence how infants who are later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder interact with their social partners and the responses they receive, thus bidirectionally influencing early social experience. This systematic review aimed to identify a developmental timeline for parent–infant interaction in the first 2 years of life in at-risk infants and in emergent autism spectrum disorder, and to examine any parent–infant interaction associations with later social-communicative outcomes. In total, 15 studies were identified investigating parent–infant interaction in infants at familial autism risk (i.e. with an older sibling with autism spectrum disorder). Starting from the latter part of the first year, infants at risk of autism spectrum disorder (and particularly infants with eventual autism spectrum disorder) showed parent–infant interaction differences from those with no eventual autism spectrum disorder, most notably in infant gesture use and dyadic qualities. While parental interactions did not differ by subsequent child autism spectrum disorder outcome, at-risk infants may receive different 'compensatory' socio-communicative inputs, and further work is needed to clarify their effects. Preliminary evidence links aspects of parent–infant interaction with later language outcomes. We discuss the potential role of parent–infant interaction in early parent-mediated intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exposure to parental chronic illness is associated with several adverse developmental outcomes.Objectives:We examined the association between parental multiple sclerosis (MS) and childhood developmental outcomes. Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study in Manitoba, Canada, using linked databases. The outcome was childhood development at 5 years of age, expressed as vulnerability (absent vs. present) on the Early Development Instrument (EDI). Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Children with an MS parent (n=153) were similar to children of unaffected parents (n=876) on all EDI domains. However, mental health morbidity was more common among MS parents compared with non-MS parents 49.5% vs. 35.3%. Among MS parents, mental health morbidity was associated with children’s vulnerability on the social competence (OR, 5.73 [95% CI:1.11–29.58]) and emotional maturity (OR, 3.03 [95% CI:1.03–8.94]) domains. The duration of child’s exposure to parental MS was associated with vulnerability on the physical health domain (OR, 1.49 [95%CI:1.03–2.15]). Conclusion: Parental MS was not associated with adverse early childhood developmental outcomes. However, children of parents with mental health morbidity, and those with longer duration of exposure to parental MS, were at higher risk for early childhood developmental vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examine race, sex, and self-reported arrest histories (excluding arrests for minor traffic violations) from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97; N = 7,335) for the period 1997 through 2008 covering cumulative arrest histories through ages 18 and 23. The analysis produces three key findings: (a) males have higher cumulative prevalence of arrest than females and (b) there are important race differences in the probability of arrest for males but not for females. Assuming that the missing cases are missing at random (MAR), about 30% of Black males have experienced at least one arrest by age 18 (vs. about 22% for White males); by age 23 about 49% of Black males have been arrested (vs. about 38% for White males). Earlier research using the NLSY97 showed that the risk of arrest by age 23 was 30%, with nonresponse bounds [25.3%, 41.4%]. This study indicates that the risk of arrest is not evenly distributed across the population. Future research should focus on the identification and management of collateral risks that often accompany arrest experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Despite existing research on the contribution of social context and religiosity to adolescent behavioral outcomes, few studies have attempted to explore this topic among Muslim adolescents in non-Western settings, looking at both positive and negative outcomes. In response to this gap, the current study explored the effects of three dimensions of developmental assets (positive parenting, community support, and religiosity) on risk, prosocial, and thriving behaviors among Muslim adolescents (N = 895) from Malaysia. Hierarchical regression results revealed positive parenting as the greatest protective factor against risk behavior, religiosity as the most significant promotive factor of prosocial behaviors, and community support as the greatest contributor to adolescent thriving. In the final model, unique effects varied by outcome. The findings support the importance and universality of multiple levels of developmental assets for youth development, and highlight the need to better understand their interaction in non-Western cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Despite increased focus on the effects of organized activities on youth development, there is currently no consensus about the best way to assess various dimensions of involvement. This article explores the complexities of assessing involvement and focuses specifically on the following organized activity dimensions: (a) breadth, (b) intensity, (c) duration/consistency, and (d) engagement. For each dimension, the article examines the theoretical underpinnings for why it is important to measure the dimension, presents measurement issues that have arisen in previous studies, describes how the dimension relates to developmental outcomes, and offers recommendations for assessing it in future use. A conceptual model is presented to describe issues that are important to consider when assessing various dimensions of organized activity involvement in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Part of three systematic reviews on the effects of psychotropic medication exposure in pregnancy, this paper critically reviews the literature on adverse effects of antidepressant use during pregnancy, and derives recommendations for clinical practice. Electronic databases were searched for original research studies examining the effects of gestational exposure to antidepressants on pregnancy, neonatal and longer-term developmental outcomes. Most results were derived from cohort (prospective and retrospective) and casecontrol studies. There were no randomized controlled trials. Congenital malformations: 35 studies identified, 12 demonstrated a significant association between antidepressant use in early pregnancy and congenital malformations. Pregnancy outcomes: 35 articles identified, outcomes measured rates of spontaneous abortion (4 out of 7 studies reporting elevated risk), preterm birth (15 out of 19 reporting elevated risk) and abnormal birth weight (8 out of 23 reporting elevated risk). Neonatal outcomes: 17 controlled studies including one meta-analysis were identified concerning neonatal adaptation. 15 studies showed an association between gestational exposure to antidepressants and neonatal adaptation difficulties. Three studies examined an association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) exposure and persistent pulmonary hypertension in the neonate with conflicting results. Longer-term developmental outcomes: 6 of 7 studies comparing developmental outcomes of children exposed to antidepressants in utero with non- exposed children reported no significant differences. Most of these medications remain relatively safe in pregnancy, but some significant areas of concern exist, particularly some evidence of higher risk of preterm birth, neonatal adaptation difficulties and congenital cardiac malformations (with paroxetine). The impact of these findings on the risk-benefit analysis when treating pregnant women with antidepressants is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have captured the variation in single mothers' work and welfare experiences and the implications for children. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and the Child Development Study, this study examines patterns of wages, work hours, and time spent on welfare in relation to children's well-being (N = 820). Six patterns emerged and were related to differences in children's outcomes, with lower well-being among children whose mothers had left welfare for work or who stayed on welfare. Findings differed by children's age and gender among some groups. Considering how these patterns relate to children may help in the design and implementation of programs or services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every summer more than 10 million children attend day or resident (sleepover) camps sponsored by churches, not-for-profit youth agencies, and independent operators. This study explored the outcomes of a 1-week or longer camp experience from the perspective of parents. A national sample of almost 2,300 parents responded to pre-, post-, and follow-up surveys about their children's growth experiences at camp. Parents perceived statistically significant gains from precamp to postcamp in 10 youth development constructs with the highest effect sizes related to adventure/exploration, independence, making friends, positive identity, and peer relationships. Additional gains from the precamp to the 6-month follow-up were noted for leadership. Parents also described what their children learned at camp and what changes they perceived occurred as a result of their child's camp experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the cognitive, social cognitive, behavioural, emotional and attachment security outcomes of children whose mothers were admitted to a psychiatric mother and baby unit (MBU) with those of offspring of mothers not admitted and with standardized norms. Method: Children aged 4-6 years of mothers admitted (following childbirth) to the dedicated psychiatric MBUs in Manchester, and still living with their mother, were traced for recruitment. Observational and multi-informant measures of developmental functioning were administered during a home visit. Results: From 94 consecutive admissions, 16 children participated and showed no poorer developmental outcomes than comparison children or standardized child norms. Girls, securely attached children and children of mothers with no current mental illness tended to show the most positive outcomes. Conclusion: Possible reasons for low participant recruitment are discussed. Our provisional findings suggest that interventions should focus on improving infant attachment security, targeted at women with psychotic and chronic illness, who have no partner and/or who have a male child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]