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Jahns CC, Poulain T, Vogel M, Kiess W. Association between hair cortisol concentration and behavioral difficulties in children and adolescents. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 142:105795. [PMID: 35537293 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to assess associations between behavioral difficulties and an objectively measurable indicator for long-term stress (hair cortisol) in children and adolescents. We expected increased hair cortisol levels in participants with more externalizing (conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention) or internalizing (peer relationship problems, emotional problems) behavioral difficulties. Behavioral difficulties were assessed using the parent version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Hair cortisol concentration (HCC), measured via liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS3), was used as stress marker. A 1 cm strand of hair was cut off from the occipital or parietal cranium closest to the scalp. The study sample comprised 1321 children and adolescents aged between 3 and 17 years participating in the LIFE Child cohort study (Leipzig, Germany). To assess associations, we applied multiple linear regression analyses. Only a few associations met expectations, others contradicted our hypotheses. No association reached statistical significance. The present findings may suggest that behavioral difficulties gathered by SDQ are not associated with stress measured through HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cora Charlotte Jahns
- LIFE Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 27, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Department of Women and Child Health, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents and Center for Pediatric Research, Leipzig University, Liebigstrasse 20a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Tanja Poulain
- LIFE Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 27, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Mandy Vogel
- LIFE Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 27, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Wieland Kiess
- LIFE Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 27, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Department of Women and Child Health, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents and Center for Pediatric Research, Leipzig University, Liebigstrasse 20a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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Grasso M, Lazzaro G, Demaria F, Menghini D, Vicari S. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire as a Valuable Screening Tool for Identifying Core Symptoms and Behavioural and Emotional Problems in Children with Neuropsychiatric Disorders. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137731. [PMID: 35805390 PMCID: PMC9265541 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a worldwide questionnaire used for the early identification of behavioural/emotional symptoms in children and adolescents with neuropsychiatric disorders. Although its prognostic power has been studied, it has not yet been tested whether SDQ: (i) can identify pathognomonic symptoms across a variety of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, (ii) can capture emotional and behavioural problems associated with the main diagnosis, as well as shared transdiagnostic dimensions, and (iii) can detect changes in symptomatology with age. The present study evaluated nearly 1000 children and adolescents overall with Global Developmental Delay (GDD), Intellectual Disability (ID), Language Disorder (LD), Specific Learning Disorder (SLD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Mood Disorder (MD), Anxiety Disorder (AD), and Eating Disorders (ED). We found that SDQ: (i) can identify the core symptoms in children with ASD, ADHD, MD, and AD via specific subscales; (ii) can capture the associated emotional and behavioural symptoms in children with LD, GDD, ID, SLD, and ED; and (iii) can detect changes in the symptomatology, especially for GDD, LD, ASD, ADHD, and AD. SDQ is also able to recognise the transdiagnostic dimensions across disorders. Our results underscore the potential of SDQ to specifically differentiate and identify behavioural/emotional profiles associated with clinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Grasso
- Neurological and Neurosurgical Diseases Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Lazzaro
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Demaria
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Deny Menghini
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University, 00168 Rome, Italy
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Anwar SM, Mahmoud SA, Aly MM. Assessment of child psychological attributes using strength and difficulties questionnaire for prediction of child behavior at first dental visit: a cross-sectional study. BDJ Open 2022; 8:10. [PMID: 35396548 PMCID: PMC8993796 DOI: 10.1038/s41405-022-00103-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Predicting child behavior before the first dental visit is considered an effective approach that enables the dentist to guide child behavior during the dental treatment. AIM The present study aimed to detect psychological attributes of children seeking dental treatment for the first time using the strength and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), evaluate actual child behavior during the dental treatment using Frankl Behavior Rating Scale, and test the association between these attributes and child behavior. MATERIAL AND METHOD The study was conducted on 128 children aged between 4 and 7 years attending the outpatient Pediatric Dentistry clinic for the first time. Parents were asked to answer the SDQ, then a simple restorative treatment under local anesthesia was performed for children to evaluate their behavior using Frankl Behavior Rating Scale. RESULTS About 19.5% of the study sample were categorized as psychologically abnormal, where emotional and conduct problems were the most prevalent psychological attributes by a percentage of 22.7% and 20% respectively. A strong correlation was detected between the total difficulty score and child behavior. CONCLUSIONS Psychological problems are common among children aged from 4 to 7 years and they also affect their dental behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Moussa Anwar
- Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Sara Ahmed Mahmoud
- Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mariam Mohsen Aly
- Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
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Post-Separation Physical Custody Arrangements in Germany: Examining Sociodemographic Correlates, Parental Coparenting, and Child Adjustment. SOCIAL SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/socsci11030114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Most children continue to live with their mother after a divorce or separation, yet paternal involvement in post-separation families has increased substantially in many Western nations. This shift has contributed to a growing share and more diverse set of post-separation parents opting for shared physical custody (SPC), which typically means that children alternate between the parental residences for substantive amounts of time. Profiling the case of Germany, where no legal regulations facilitating SPC are implemented to date, we examine the prevalence of SPC families, sociodemographic correlates of SPC, and its associations with parental coparenting and child adjustment. Using representative survey data sampled in 2019 (N = 800 minors of 509 separated parents), results revealed that only 6–8% of children practiced SPC. SPC parents were more likely to hold tertiary levels of schooling and to report a better coparenting relationship with the other parent. There was no link between SPC and child adjustment, yet conflictual coparenting was linked to higher levels of hyperactivity among SPC children. We conclude that the social selection into SPC and linkages between conflictual coparenting and hyperactivity among SPC children likely stem from the higher costs and the constant level of communication between the ex-partners that SPC requires.
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Verhage V, Reijneveld SA, Wunderink C, Grietens H, Almansa J, Jansen DEMC. Care improves self-reported daily functioning of adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2022; 31:1685-1693. [PMID: 34052910 PMCID: PMC9666343 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-021-01812-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Emotional and behavioural problems (EBP) have a negative impact on various life domains of adolescents. Receiving care for EBP may improve the functioning of adolescents with EBP, but evidence on long-term outcomes in real-life settings is lacking. We, therefore, investigated self-reported functioning in different life domains of adolescents with various EBP, and the role of care during a three-year period. We used data from the TAKECARE study, which consist of a care and community cohort. We followed adolescents aged 12 and over (n = 733) during 3 years over five assessment rounds. Using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, self-reported functioning was measured in four life domains: home life, friendships, classroom learning and leisure activities. We categorized the respondents into four groups: (1) adolescents without emotional and behavioural problems (n = 298); (2) adolescents with emotional problems (n = 192); (3) adolescents with behavioural problems (n = 80); and (4) adolescents with both emotional and behavioural problems (n = 163). The development of functioning over time was analyzed using longitudinal ordinal (probit) regression analyses. Adolescents with both emotional and behavioural problems reported poorer functioning at baseline in all domains and adolescents who received care reported poorer functioning at baseline compared to adolescents who did not receive care. Regarding the change in functioning during the 3 years, adolescents who received care showed improved functioning in all domains. We found improved functioning after care, even if the problems may not have been solved. Psychosocial care can contribute to the functioning of adolescents with EBP, which can have major effects on their future life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Verhage
- Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Centre of Expertise Healthy Ageing, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Sijmen A Reijneveld
- Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte Wunderink
- Centre of Expertise Healthy Ageing, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Lentis Psychiatric Institute Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Grietens
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Josue Almansa
- Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Danielle E M C Jansen
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Sociology and Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Psychometric Properties of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-Dysregulation Profile in Italian Early Adolescents. CHILDREN 2021; 8:children8121123. [PMID: 34943319 PMCID: PMC8700491 DOI: 10.3390/children8121123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Emotional dysregulation is of great cause for concern because it is associated with severe outcomes. Currently, the identification of youths with signs of emotional and behavioral dysregulation is obtained through the assessment of a Dysregulation Profile (DP), including the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-DP (SDQ-DP). Despite its increasingly frequent use in research, studies exploring the SDQ-DP properties are still limited, and no study with Italian samples is currently available. The current study aimed to explore the psychometric properties of the SDQ-DP parent-report and its association with difficulties in the school context in a sample of 332 Italian early adolescents. Results showed that the SDQ-DP parent-report is a single-factor measure with good internal consistency. Also, in both males and females, the SDQ-DP parent-report was associated with higher teacher-reported Internalizing (e.g., anxious symptoms) and Externalizing Problems (e.g., hyperactivity, conduct problems) and lower Prosocial Behavior. This study added further evidence about the utility of the SDQ-DP in the assessment, prevention, and treatment of emotional dysregulation.
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