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Negative affect is an important temperament in children, influencing their social skills. However, the evidence for this association in preschool children is limited. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms that explain the relationship between preschool children's negative affect and social skills remain less understood. Thus, the primary goal of this study was to examine the moderating role of the teacher--child relationship in the associations between negative affect and social skills of Chinese preschoolers. A sample of 198 preschool children (Mage = 58.64 ± 3.83 months, 53% boys), recruited from 13 classes in two public kindergartens in Shanghai, China, participated in this 1-year longitudinal study. The mothers reported children's negative affect, while the teachers reported children's social skills and the teacher--child relationship. Results of a series of moderating effect analyses showed that (1) T1 negative affect could significantly negatively predict T2 social skills (cooperation, self-control, and assertion), and (2) the associations between negative affect and social skills were moderated by the teacher--child relationship (including teacher--child closeness and conflict). Specifically, a high level of teacher--child closeness buffered the prediction of negative affect on social skills, while a high level of teacher--child conflict aggravated the said prediction. The findings highlight the importance of the teacher--child relationship in the development of children's social skills during preschool age when they have a high level of negative affect. This has important implications for the development of interventions to improve teacher--child relationships and children's social skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and distribution of tooth wear among groups of adolescents and adults in Shanghai, China through an epidemiological survey, and explore the associated factors. Methods: Multistage, stratified, constant volume and cluster sampling methods were used in an epidemiological survey conducted in Shanghai in 2014. The basic erosive wear examination (BEWE) index was used to screen for tooth wear in different age groups: 12 years, 15 years, 18 to 35 years, 36 to 49 years and 50 to 74 years. A previously published questionnaire collected information including dietary habits, oral hygiene habits and general conditions. Results: This survey reports the results for 1806 participants in Shanghai. The prevalence of tooth wear was 59.7% in adolescents (BEWE ≥ 1) and 93.1% in adults (BEWE ≥ 2). The prevalence and severity of disease increased with age (P < 0.01). The teeth most susceptible to wear were the central incisors and first molars. Multivariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) results showed that soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, pickled vegetables and hard food, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), xerostomia and poor tooth brushing habits were statistically correlated with tooth wear in different age groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of tooth wear appears to be high in adolescents and adults in Shanghai. Frequent consumption of soft or alcoholic drinks, GERD, xerostomia and poor tooth brushing habits were positively associated with tooth wear in different age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]