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Objective: Exposure to maternal depression during early childhood is a well-documented risk factor for offspring's internalizing problems, but the long-term risk and the psychosocial mechanisms underlying the association remain largely unknown. We examined whether maternal depression during early childhood was associated with offspring internalizing problems in adolescence, and the extent to which negative parenting, peer victimization, and poor friendship quality during middle childhood mediated this association.Method: We report on a population-based sample of children (n = 1,443) followed-up from 5 months to 15 years. We use yearly assessments of the exposure variable, that is, maternal depression (5 months to 5 years); the putative mediators, that is, peer victimization, friendship quality, and parenting practices (6-12 years); and assessment of the outcome variables at 15 years: self-reported major depressive (MD), generalized anxiety (GA), and social phobia (SP) symptoms. Structural equation modeling was used to test mediation by peer and family relationships.Results: Exposure to maternal depression during early childhood was associated with higher levels of adolescent MD, GA, and SP. Peer victimization was the only significant mediator and explained 35.9% of the association with adolescent MD, 22.1% of that with GA, and 22.1% of that with SP.Conclusion: Exposure to maternal depression prior to age 5 years was associated with depression, anxiety, and social phobia extending to adolescence via its impact on peer victimization during middle childhood. Particular attention should be paid to victimization as one potential psychosocial factor via which maternal depression is associated with adolescent internalizing problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To test the associations between the timing and chronicity of maternal depression symptoms (MDS) and children's long-term verbal abilities.Study Design: Participants were 1073 mother-child pairs from a population-based birth cohort in Canada. MDS were assessed at ages 5 months, 1.5, 3.5, and 5 years using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Verbal abilities were measured at 5, 6, and 10 years using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R). Multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the association between timing (early: 5 months and/or 1.5 years vs late 3.5 and/or 5 years) and chronicity (5 months, 1.5, 3.5, and 5 years) of exposure to elevated MDS and children's mean PPVT-R scores.Results: Children exposed to chronic MDS had lower PPVT-R scores than children never exposed (mean difference = 9.04 [95% CI = 2.28-15.80]), exposed early (10.08 [3.33-16.86]) and exposed late (8.69 [1.85-15.53]). There were no significant differences between scores of children in the early compared with the late exposure group. We adjusted for mother-child interactions, family functioning, socioeconomic status, PPVT-R administration language, child's birth order, and maternal IQ, psychopathology, education, native language, age at birth of child, and parenting practices. Maternal IQ, (η2 = 0.028), native language (η2 = 0.009), and MDS (η2 = 0.007) were the main predictors of children's verbal abilities.Conclusions: Exposure to chronic MDS in early childhood is associated with lower levels of verbal abilities in middle childhood. Further research is needed in larger community samples to test the association between MDS and children's long-term language skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study examined the moderating role of sports participation in the concurrent and longitudinal links of peer victimization with depressive symptoms and externalizing problems. The sample consisted of 1250 participants assessed between ages 7 and 10 years. Children''s levels of peer victimization, depressive symptoms and externalizing problems were assessed by teachers. Mothers reported on children''s sports participation. Regression analyses revealed that victimized children who often participated in team sports at age 8 years displayed significantly fewer depressive symptoms concurrently compared to victims who rarely participated in such activities. Participation in team sports also counteracted (via a main effect) the longitudinal effect of victimization on depression symptoms two years later. Moreover, victimized children who often participated in team sports showed significantly fewer externalizing problems at age 10 compared to children who rarely participated in such activities. This moderating effect of team sports was partly mediated by a decrease in victimization at age 10. Specifically, victimized children who were part of a sporting team at age 8 were less victimized two years later, which accounted for part of the decrease in externalizing problems at age 10. Similar benefits were not apparent when victimized children participated in individual sports. These results suggest that sports participation may be beneficial in regard to several aspects of development, specifically for children who suffer from peer victimization. However, potential benefits may vary depending on the type of sports played. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Children placed in out-of-home care in early childhood are more at risk to have low adult income and to rely on social welfare. • Mental health problems in adolescence/young adulthood and, to a less extent, primary school grade point average explain a significant proportion of these associations. • Associations are not explained by background individual, family, and parental characteristics. • Prevention of mental health problems and increased school support for children who experienced out-of-home placement may effectively reduce poor adult socioeconomic outcomes associated with placement. We aimed to first, estimate the association of early childhood out-of-home placement with adult income and reliance on social welfare, and second, to test whether, and to what extent, mental health problems in adolescence/young adulthood and primary school grade point average (GPA) explain these associations. We used linked registers of all 59,476 births in Finland in 1987. Children who were first placed between the ages 2–6 years were selected as our exposure-group. Outcomes measured in adulthood (26–28 years) were low income (i.e. <11,000US$ annual income during ≥2 of 3 years) and social welfare use (i.e. >3 months of annual social welfare during ≥2 of 3 years). Putative mediators were mental health problems (i.e., psychiatric diagnoses from inpatient/outpatient visits) at ages 18–25 years, and Grade Point Average (GPA). To account for background differences, we matched placed to non-placed children using propensity score matching on parental (e.g., psychiatric diagnoses, education) and child characteristics (e.g., neurodevelopmental problems, prematurity). Of 54,814 children with complete data, 386 (0.71%) experienced placement (384 were matched). At ages 26–28, placed children had greater odds than never-placed children of low income (OR, 1.74; CI, 1.31–2.32) and social welfare (OR, 2.09; CI, 1.34–3.04). We found significant indirect effects of out-of-home placement on social welfare use via mental health problems (proportion mediated, 22%) and GPA (proportion mediated 11%), and on low income via mental health problems only (proportion mediated, 34%). Prevention of mental health problems and increased school support for children who experienced out-of-home placement may effectively reduce poor adult socioeconomic outcomes associated with placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this 16-year longitudinal study, a new trajectory estimation approach was used to verify whether the developmental course of childhood inattention significantly predicted functional impairment. A rising childhood inattention trajectory significantly predicted graduation failure (OR: 1.76 [1.32-2.34]) independently of averaged inattention levels. Rising inattention is, in itself, important for prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood externalizing problems have been linked with adult criminality. However, little is known about criminal outcomes among children with comorbid externalizing and internalizing problems. We examined the associations between profiles of behavioral problems during childhood (i.e., externalizing, internalizing, and comorbid) and criminality by early adulthood. Participants were N = 3017 children from the population-based Quebec Longitudinal Study of Kindergarten Children followed up from age 6–25. Multitrajectory modeling of teacher-rated externalizing and internalizing problems from age 6–12 years identified four distinct profiles: no/low, externalizing, internalizing, and comorbid problems. Juvenile (age 13–17) and adult (age 18–25) criminal convictions were extracted from official records. Compared to children in the no/low profile, those in the externalizing and comorbid profiles were at higher risk of having a criminal conviction, while no association was found for children in the internalizing profile. Children with comorbid externalizing and internalizing problems were most at risk of having a criminal conviction by adulthood, with a significantly higher risk when compared to children with externalizing or internalizing problems only. Similar results were found when violent and non-violent crimes were investigated separately. Specific interventions targeting early comorbid behavioral problems could reduce long-term criminality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse remains a worldwide concern with devastating consequences on an individual's life. This longitudinal study investigates the associations between child sexual abuse (official reports versus retrospective self-reports) and subgroups by perpetrator identity (intrafamilial and extrafamilial), severity (penetration/attempted penetration, fondling/touching, noncontact), and chronicity (single, multiple episodes) and employment earnings in adulthood in a cohort followed for over 30 years. The Quebec Longitudinal Study of Kindergarten Children database was linked to child protection services (official reports of sexual abuse) and to Canadian government tax returns (earned income). The sample included 3,020 individuals in Quebec French-language school kindergartens in 1986/1988, followed until 2017, and assessed with retrospective self-reports at age 22 years. Tobit regressions were used for associations with earnings (ages 33–37 years), adjusting for sex and family socioeconomic characteristics in 2021–2022. Individuals who experienced child sexual abuse had lower annual earnings. Those with retrospective self-reported sexual abuse (n =340) earned $4,031 (95% CI= –7,134, –931) less annually at ages 33–37 years than nonabused individuals (n =1,320), with pronounced differences for those with official reports (n =20), earning $16,042 (95% CI= –27,465, –4,618) less. Individuals self-reporting intrafamilial sexual abuse earned $4,696 (95% CI= –9,316, –75) less than those who experienced extrafamilial sexual abuse, whereas those self-reporting penetration/attempted penetration earned $6,188 (95% CI= –12,248, –129) less than those who experienced noncontact sexual abuse. Earnings gaps were highest for severest child sexual abuse (official reports, intrafamilial, penetrative). Future studies should investigate the underlying mechanisms. Improving support for victims of child sexual abuse could yield socioeconomic returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the predictive association between preschool childcare arrangements and overweight/obesity in childhood. Study design: Children were enrolled in a prospective birth cohort in Quebec, Canada (n = 1649). Information about childcare obtained via questionnaires to the mothers at ages 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4 years was used to compute a main childcare arrangement exposure variable (center-based/family-based/care by a relative/nanny). Body mass index was derived from measured weights and heights at ages 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10 years and children were classified as overweight/obese versus normal weight. Generalized estimating equations were used to model the effect of main childcare arrangement (center-based/family-based/relative/nanny) (vs parental care) on overweight/obesity adjusting for several potential confounding factors. Results: Compared with parental care, children who attended a center-based childcare (OR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.13-2.41) or were cared for by a relative (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 0.95-2.38, although with greater uncertainty) had higher odds of being overweight/obese in childhood (4-10 years). Analyses of number of hours additionally suggested that each increment of 5 hours spent in either center-based or relative childcare increased the odds of overweight/obesity in the first decade of life by 9%. Associations were not explained by a wide range of confounding factors, including socioeconomic position, breastfeeding, maternal employment, and maternal body mass index. Conclusion: Overweight/obesity was more frequently observed in children who received non-parental care in center-based settings or care by a relative other than the parent. “Obesogeonic” features of these childcare arrangements should be investigated in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Studies reported that children in child care are more likely to have disrupted patterns of diurnal cortisol secretion. • Children in child care can benefit from a social skills training as it is inexpensive and easy to implement by educators. • Our social skills training led to decreasing diurnal cortisol secretion patterns in preschoolers in child care. • Children from lower-income families benefit the most from such a program. Most preschool children in Western industrialized countries attend child care during the day while parents work. Studies suggest that child care may be stressful to young children, perhaps because they still lack the social skills to interact daily in a group setting away from parents. This gap in social abilities may be greater for children in lower-income families, who may face more adversity at home, with fewer resources and more social isolation. We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial in 2013–2014 to test whether a social skills intervention led by early childhood educators within the child care center could reduce diurnal cortisol levels to more typical patterns expected of children this age. We randomized 19 public child care centers (n = 361 children) in low-income neighborhoods of Montreal, Canada, to either: 1) the Minipally program – intervention group (n = 10 centers; 186 children), or 2) waiting list – control group (n = 9 centers; 175 children). Saliva samples for cortisol levels were collected 3 times/day, pre- and post-implementation. The Minipally puppet program consists of 2 workshops/month for 8 months for the development of social skills and self-regulation in 2–5-year-olds, with reinforcement activities between workshops. Educators received 2-days' training and 12 h' supervision in Minipally. Linear mixed models for repeated measures revealed a significant interaction between intervention status and time of day of cortisol sampling (β = −0.18, p = 0.04). The intervention group showed patterns of decreasing diurnal cortisol secretion (β = −0.32, p < 0.01), whereas the control group showed increasing slopes (β = 0.20, p < 0.01). Moreover, family income was a moderator; children in lower-income families benefited most from the intervention. Results suggest that a social skills training program, when integrated into a preschool education curriculum, can foster an environment more conducive to typical childhood patterns of cortisol secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the cross-lagged associations between delinquency (nonviolent and violent), depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescence and to test the moderating effect of sex and family socioeconomic status (SES). Participants (n=1,515) were from a birth cohort in the Canadian province of Quebec. Autoregressive cross-lagged panel analyses were used to examine the associations between delinquency (nonviolent and violent), depression and anxiety symptoms from ages 15 to 17 years, while taking into account conduct and emotional problems at ages 10-12 years. Findings suggest that delinquency (violent delinquency especially) and depression symptoms may develop according to a spiraling model, such that conduct problems in childhood give rise to depression symptoms in mid-adolescence, which in turn, contribute to more delinquent acts at the end of adolescence. Family SES, but not sex, had a moderating effect on the paths. We found that anxiety symptoms at age 15 years were associated with nonviolent delinquency at age 17 years when family SES was low, and that violent delinquency at age 15 years was associated with anxiety symptoms at age 17 years when family SES was high. Delinquency and emotional problems do not develop independently from each other; both dimensions should be examined simultaneously. • Delinquency and depression may develop according to a spiraling model. • Family socioeconomic status, but not sex, had a moderating effect on the paths. • Anxious youths from lower socioeconomic environments are at risk for delinquency. • Violent youths from higher socioeconomic environments are at risk for anxiety. • Delinquency and emotional problems do not develop independently of each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Poverty is a well-established risk factor for the development of behavior problems, yet little is known about how timing of exposure to childhood poverty relates to behavior problems in early adolescence. Objective To examine the differential effects of the timing of poverty between birth and late childhood on behavior problems in early adolescence by modeling lifecourse models, corresponding to sensitive periods, accumulation of risk and social mobility models. Methods We used the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (N = 2120). Poverty was defined as living below the low-income thresholds defined by Statistics Canada and grouped into three time periods: between ages 0–3 years, 5–7 years, and 8–12 years. Main outcomes were teacher's report of hyperactivity, opposition and physical aggression at age 13 years. Structured linear regression analyses were conducted to estimate the contribution of poverty during the three selected time periods to behavior problems. Partial F-tests were used to compare nested lifecourse models to a full saturated model (all poverty main effects and possible interactions). Results Families who experienced poverty at all time periods were 9.3% of the original sample. Those who were poor at least one time period were 39.2%. The accumulation of risk model was the best fitting model for hyperactivity and opposition. The risk for physical aggression problems was associated only to poverty between 0 and 3 years supporting the sensitive period. Conclusion Early and prolonged exposure to childhood poverty predicted higher levels of behavior problems in early adolescence. Antipoverty policies targeting the first years of life and long term support to pregnant women living in poverty are likely to reduce behavior problems in early adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To test whether adolescents who are victimized by peers are at heightened risk for suicidal ideation and suicide attempt, using both cross-sectional and prospective investigations.Method: Participants are from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, a general population sample of children born in Quebec in 1997 through 1998 and followed up until 15 years of age. Information about victimization and serious suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in the past year was obtained at ages 13 and 15 years from self-reports (N = 1,168).Results: Victims reported concurrently higher rates of suicidal ideation at age 13 years (11.6-14.7%) and suicide attempt at age 15 years (5.4-6.8%) compared to those who had not been victimized (2.7-4.1% for suicidal ideation and 1.6-1.9% for suicide attempt). Being victimized by peers at 13 years predicted suicidal ideation (odds ratio [OR] = 2.27; 95% CI = 1.25-4.12) and suicide attempt (OR = 3.05, 95% CI = 1.36-6.82) 2 years later, even after adjusting for baseline suicidality and mental health problems and a series of confounders (socioeconomic status, intelligence, family's functioning and structure, hostile-reactive parenting, maternal lifetime suicidal ideation/suicide attempt). Those who were victimized at both 13 and 15 years had the highest risk of suicidal ideation (OR = 5.41, 95% CI = 2.53-11.53) and suicide attempt (OR = 5.85, 95% CI = 2.12-16.18) at 15 years.Conclusion: Victimization is associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt over and above concurrent suicidality and prior mental health problems. The longer the history of victimization, the greater the risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Determining the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of questionnaires on an interval scale, the trait level (TL) scale, using item response theory (IRT) models could overcome its association with baseline severity. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), and predictive values (PVs) of the MCID determined on the score scale (MCID-Sc) or the TL scale (MCID-TL). Study Design and Setting: The MCID-Sc and MCID-TL of the MOS-SF36 general health subscale were determined for deterioration and improvement on a cohort of 1,170 patients using an anchor-based method and a partial credit model. The Se, Sp, and PV were calculated using the global rating of change (the anchor) as the gold standard test. Results: The MCID-Sc magnitude was smaller for improvement (1.58 points) than for deterioration (-7.91 points). The Se, Sp, and PV were similar for MCID-Sc and MCID-TL in both cases. However, if the MCID was defined on the score scale as a function of a range of baseline scores, its Se, Sp, and PV were consistently higher. Conclusion: This study reinforces the recommendations concerning the use of an MCID-Sc defined as a function of a range of baseline scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present study assesses the prevalence of subclinical eating disorders and examines their comorbidity with mood and anxiety disorders in a sample of adolescent girls. A DSM-III-R computerized self-reported interview was administered to 833 adolescent girls (mean age=15.7±0.5years) from a population sample to assess the prevalence of subclinical eating disorders, major depression, dysthymia, separation anxiety, and generalized anxiety disorders. The prevalence of subclinical anorexia nervosa (restricting subtype) was 3.5%, 13.3% for weight concerns (restricting subtype), 3.8% for subclinical bulimia nervosa, and 10.8% for subclinical binge eating disorder. Girls with subclinical anorexia nervosa had a higher prevalence of separation anxiety diagnosis, and they reported significantly more major depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms compared with girls reporting no eating disorders. Girls with weight concerns reported significantly more major depressive, separation, and generalized anxiety symptoms compared with girls reporting no eating disorders. Girls with subclinical bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder had a higher prevalence of mood disorders (major depression and dysthymia) compared with girls reporting no eating disorders. Furthermore, girls with subclinical bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder also reported significantly more anxiety symptoms (separation anxiety and generalized anxiety) compared with girls reporting no eating disorders. In summary, adolescent girls suffering from subclinical eating disorders should be investigated concomitantly for mood and anxiety disorders while those suffering from mood and anxiety disorders should be investigated simultaneously for subclinical eating disorders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study tested the specificity of associations between childhood multi-trajectories of shyness, anxiety and depression symptoms and adolescent social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depression, as well as functional impairment. A population sample of 1596 singletons was followed over 15 years. Mothers rated child shyness, anxiety and depression between 1½ and 8 years-old. Adolescents self-reported symptoms of social phobia, GAD and depression at 15 years-old. Multi-trajectories of childhood internalizing symptoms showed developmental heterogeneity. Controlling for perinatal risk factors, low anxiety and depression in childhood were associated with lower GAD, depression and impairment in adolescence. Higher childhood shyness was associated with adolescent social phobia. Higher shyness in girls was a protective factor for GAD, depression and impairment due to depression, while low shyness in boys was linked to higher risk for GAD and impairment due to depression. Our results underline the importance of distinguishing between shyness and different internalizing symptoms. • Childhood multi-trajectories of shyness, anxiety and depression were modeled. • These childhood multi-trajectories showed distinct developmental patterns. • Higher shyness in girls was a protective for both adolescent GAD and depression. • Low shyness in boys was linked to functional impairment due to depression. • Future studies should distinguish shyness and other internalizing symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Childhood irritability predicts suicidal ideation/attempt (suicidality), but it is unclear whether irritability is an independent and direct risk factor for suicidality or a marker of intermediate mental health symptoms associated with suicidality. This study aimed to identify developmental patterns of childhood irritability and to test whether childhood irritability is directly associated with suicidality or indirectly associated with intermediate mental health symptoms.Method: One thousand three hundred ninety-three participants from the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development were followed from birth to 17 years. Teachers assessed irritability yearly (at 6-12 years) and children self-reported intermediate mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety, disruptiveness, and hyperactivity-impulsivity; at 13 years) and suicidality (at 15 and 17 years).Results: Four irritability trajectories were identified: low (74.7%), rising (13.0%), declining (7.4%), and persistent (5.0%). Children following a rising irritability trajectory (versus a low trajectory) were at higher suicidality risk. A large proportion of this association was direct (odds ratio 2.11, 95% CI 1.30-3.43) and a small proportion was indirect by depressive symptoms (accounting for 23% of the association; odds ratio 1.17, 95% CI 1.03-1.34). Children on a persistent irritability trajectory (versus a low trajectory) were at higher risk of suicidality and this association was uniquely indirect by depressive symptoms (accounting for 73% of the association; odds ratio 1.51, 95% CI 1.16-1.97). The declining trajectory was not related to suicidality; no association with anxiety, disruptiveness, and hyperactivity-impulsivity was found.Conclusion: Rising irritability across childhood represents a direct risk for suicidality. Persistent irritability appears to be a distal marker of suicidality acting through more proximal depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]