Search

Objective: We investigated the effect of maternal preconception fasting plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) on psychological problems in children aged 6 years from normal pregnancies.Design: A longitudinal study was carried out from preconception, throughout each trimester of pregnancy, until 6 years of age in the offspring. Fasting blood samples at 2-10 weeks preconception and non-fasting samples at birth were collected. Parents completed the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and teachers the Inattention-Overactivity with Aggression (IOWA) scale for the 6-year-old children.Setting: Elevated tHcy during pregnancy has been associated with several adverse outcomes and with neurodevelopmental impairment in the offspring.ParticipantsThe initial sample consisted of 139 healthy non-pregnant women who were planning on becoming pregnant. Eighty-one mother-child dyads were followed from preconception until 6 years of age.Results: After adjusting for covariables, multiple linear regression models showed that higher preconception tHcy was associated with higher scores in internalizing dimension (β=0·289; P=0.028), specifically in withdrawn behaviour (β=0·349; P=0·009), anxiety/depression (β=0·303; P=0·019) and social problems (β=0·372; P=0·009). Aggressive behaviour in the school setting was higher in children whose mothers had higher preconception tHcy (β=0·351; P=0·014).Conclusions: Moderately elevated preconception tHcy may increase the risk of psychological problems in offspring during childhood. These findings add to the evidence that maternal nutritional status, even before being pregnant, can affect later offspring health and may be important to consider when developing future public health policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the associations between haemoconcentration at the end of pregnancy (third trimester and delivery) and neonatal behaviour in healthy pregnant women supplemented with moderate doses of Fe.Design: A prospective longitudinal study in which obstetric and clinical history, maternal toxic habits, maternal anxiety and Hb levels were recorded at the third trimester and delivery. Neonatal behaviour was assessed at 48-72 h of age using the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale.Setting: Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Sant Joan University Hospital in Reus, Tarragona (Spain).Subjects: A total of 210 healthy and well-nourished pregnant women and their full-term, normal-weight newborns.Results: The results showed that, after adjusting for confounders, in the third trimester the risk of haemoconcentration (6·2 % of pregnant women) was related to decreased neonatal state regulation (B=-1·273, P=0·006) and alertness (B=-1·848, P=0·006) scores. In addition, the risk of haemoconcentration at delivery (12·0 % of pregnant women) was also related to decreased neonatal state regulation (B=-0·796, P=0·021) and poor robustness and endurance (B=-0·921, P=0·005) scores.Conclusions: Our results show that the risk of haemoconcentration at the end of pregnancy is related to the neonate's neurodevelopment (and self-regulation capabilities), suggesting that Fe supplementation patterns and maternal Fe status during pregnancy are important factors for neurodevelopment which may be carefully controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Mediterranean diet (MD) pattern has important health benefits; however, it seems that Spanish school-aged children have been abandoning this healthy pattern recently. We aimed to identify psychopathological, anthropometric and sociodemographic factors that may influence the risk of low MD adherence.Design: Longitudinal study in three phases. MD adherence was assessed using the Krece Plus food questionnaire and psychopathological symptoms using the Screen for Childhood Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, Children's Depression Inventory, Youth's Inventory-4 and Eating Disorder Inventory-2. Anthropometric data were collected in the first and third phases. Settings All five representative areas in Reus, Spain.Subjects: Adolescents (n 241).Results: Regardless of past and current BMI, socio-economic status was a protective factor for low MD adherence (OR=0·805, P=0·003) and a risk factor for high BMI (OR=0·718, P=0·002; OR=0·707, P=0·001). Regardless of socio-economic status, depression was involved with risk of low adherence (OR=1·069, P=0·021). Girls with lower MD adherence presented significantly higher scores for eating disorders measured using the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (low adherence, mean 18·9 (sd 13·5); high adherence, mean 8·9 (sd 9·0), P=0·020) and the Youth Inventory-4 (low adherence, mean 5·2 (sd 4·3); medium adherence, mean 3·6 (sd 3·2), P=0·044). They also presented higher depression symptoms (low adherence, mean 17·7 (sd 9·6); medium adherence, mean 12·3 (sd 7·2), P=0·01) than girls with high adherence.Conclusions: The results highlight the influence of psychosocial factors on levels of MD adherence. These factors need to be taken into account when developing prevention and health promotion initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between the degree of severity of eating disorders (ED) and energy and nutrient intakes and nutritional risk in a mixed-sex adolescent population without clinical symptoms.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingData were collected in schools.SubjectsAdolescents (n 495) aged 14·2 (sd 1·0) years. The Eating Attitudes Test was used to detect adolescents at risk of ED (rED) and a structured interview based on the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, was used to diagnose eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). Dietary intake was quantified using the 24 h recall method over three days and the probability of inadequate intake was determined.ResultsFemales presented lower intakes of energy, macronutrients and micronutrients (Ca, Fe, Mg, K, P, Na, thiamin, vitamins E, C, B6, B12, pantothenic acid, folic acid) because the severity of their ED was greater. These lower dietary intakes led to nutritional risk (for Ca, Fe, Mg, P, vitamins A, D, B6) in more than 80 % and 60 % of females with EDNOS and rED, respectively. The multiple linear regression models showed that the rED and EDNOS groups presented a lower energy intake of 1597·4 kJ/d (381·8 kcal/d) and 3153·0 kJ/d (753·6 kcal/d), respectively. In contrast, little difference was observed in the nutritional intakes of males.ConclusionsThe female adolescents showed lower energy and nutrient intakes as the ED became more severe, which led to energy, vitamin and mineral deficiencies in a high percentage of females with ED. These nutritional risks could hinder adequate physical and psychological development and lead to chronic ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This three-phase prospective study investigated psychosocial factors predicting or associated with academic achievement. An initial sample of 1,514 school-age children was assessed with screening tools for emotional problems (Screen for Childhood Anxiety and Related Emotional Disorders; Leyton Obsessional Inventory-Child Version; Children's Depression Inventory). The following year, 562 subjects (risk group/without risk group) were re-assessed and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was assessed. Two years later, 242 subjects were followed, and their parents informed about their academic achievement. Results showed that early depression (phase 1 B = -.130, p = .001; phase 1 + phase 2 B = -.187, p < .001), persistent anxiety symptoms (phase 1 + phase 2 B = -1.721, p = .018), and ADHD were predictors of lower academic achievement (phase 1 + phase 2 B = -3.415, p = .005). However, some anxiety symptoms can improve academic achievement (Social phobia B = .216, p = .018; Generalized anxiety B = .313, p < .001). Socio-economic status (SES) was positively related to academic achievement. We can conclude that in the transition period to adolescence, school-health professionals and teachers need to consider the emotional issues of students to avoid unwanted academic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have examined the psychometric properties of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) in a large adolescent community sample, finding a significant disparity. This study explores the psychometric properties of the CD-RISC among Spanish adolescents by means of exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Rasch analysis, and measurement invariance (MI) across sex, as well as internal consistency and criterion validity. The sample was comprised of 463 adolescents (231 girls), aged 12 to 18 years, who completed the CD-RISC and other measures on emotional status and quality of life. The EFA suggested that the CD-RISC structure presented a unidimensional model. Consequently, shorter unidimensional CD-RISC models observed in the literature were explored. Thus, the Campbell-Sills and Stein CD-RISC-10 showed the soundest psychometric properties, providing an adequate item fit and supporting MI and non-differential item functioning across sex. Item difficulty levels were biased toward low levels of resilience. Some items showed malfunctioning in lower response categories. With regard to reliability, categorical omega was. 82. Strong associations with health-related quality of life, major depressive disorder symptoms, and emotional symptoms were observed. A weak association was found between resilience and the male sex. Campbell-Sills and Stein's CD-RISC-10 model emerges as the best to assess resilience among Spanish adolescents, as already reported in adults. Thus, independently of the developmental stage, the core of resilience may reside in the aspects of hardiness and persistence.