Perceived difficult temperament, hostile maternal child-rearing attitudes and insulin resistance syndrome precursors among children: a 3-year follow-up study

Current Family Functioning and Youth Cardiometabolic Health in the SOL Youth Study

BACKGROUND

Family functioning may impact children's cardiometabolic health; however, few studies have examined multiple cardiometabolic markers among a diverse racial/ethnic cohort. The relationship between child- and caregiver-reported family functioning and the cardiometabolic health of Hispanic/Latino youth was examined.

METHOD

Data were from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth) (2012-2014), a population-based cohort study of children and adolescents whose parents participated in the HCHS/SOL (2008-2011). The relationship between youth- and caregiver-rated family functioning, and concordance of ratings is modeled, utilizing the general functioning subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device with youth objective cardiometabolic health markers (obesity, central adiposity, prediabetes/diabetes, prehypertension/hypertension, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol) adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

RESULTS

Among boys, child/caregiver concordant ineffective family functioning rating was associated with higher cumulative cardiometabolic risk (adjusted B (95% CI): 0.30 (0.04, 0.56)), but no association was observed among girls (adjusted B (95% CI): 0.04 (-0.13, 0.21)). Among girls, ineffective child rating/effective caregiver rating was associated with higher cumulative cardiometabolic risk (adjusted B (95% CI): 0.27 (0.06, 0.48)), but no association was observed among boys (adjusted B (95% CI): 0.02 (-0.23, 0.27).

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that family functioning among this Hispanic/Latino population may influence cardiometabolic risk among youth. Observed differences in the associations by youth sex and concordant/discordant reports of family functioning suggest interventions at the family level, targeting both caregivers and youth, that consider differential sex effects are warranted.

Difficult temperament predicts self‐esteem in adolescence

A six‐year longitudinal study investigated the impact of maternal hostile child‐rearing attitudes, role dissatisfaction, and maternal perceptions of adolescent temperamental difficultness on self‐esteem in late adolescence, after controlling for the initial self‐esteem measured in early adolescence. Adolescents (n = 313), derived from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study, rated their self‐esteem at the study entry at age 12, and six years later at age 18. Maternal reports of child‐rearing attitudes, of role satisfaction, and of the temperament of the adolescent were obtained at the study entry and three years later. Mother's perceptions of adolescent's temperament as difficult at ages 12 and 15 predicted adolescent's self‐reported self‐esteem in late adolescence, whereas earlier self‐esteem did not predict later perceptions of temperament or parenting. We found no evidence that maternal perceptions of parenting indirectly, or after controlling for the initial level, predicted adolescent's self‐reported self‐esteem. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Maternal Experience of Domestic Violence, Associations with Children's Lipid Biomarkers at 10 Years: Findings from MINIMat Study in Rural Bangladesh

The consequences of maternal experience of Domestic Violence (DV) on their children’s cardio-metabolic risk factors are unclear. We aimed to assess if maternal exposure to any or a specific form of DV (i.e., physical, sexual, emotional and controlling behaviors) before and after childbirth was associated with their children’s lipid biomarkers at the age of 10 years. A current observational sub-study of a larger MINIMat trial included a cohort of 1167 mothers and their children. The conflict tactic scale was used to record women’s experience of lifetime DV before and after childbirth at week 30 of pregnancy and at a 10-year follow up, respectively. Five ml of fasting blood sample was collected from the children to evaluate their lipid profile. Children of women who experienced any DV before childbirth had lower Apo A (β_adj −0.04; 95% CI: −0.08, −0.01). Women who experienced physical DV both before and after childbirth had children with higher triglycerides (β_adj 0.07; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.14). Children whose mother experienced sexual DV before birth had lower Apo A (β_adj −0.05; 95% CI: −0.08, −0.01) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) (β_adj −0.05; 95% CI: −0.10, −0.01) as well as higher Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) (β_adj 0.17; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.29) and LDL/HDL (β 0.24; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.38). However, levels of LDL (β_adj −0.17; 95% CI: −0.28, −0.06), LDL/HDL (β_adj −0.12; 95% CI: −0.25, −0.00) and cholesterol (β_adj −0.13; 95% CI: −0.25, −0.02) were lower among the children of mothers who experienced controlling behavior after childbirth. Results from the current study suggest that maternal experience of physical or sexual DV might negatively affect their children’s lipid profile at the age of 10 years.

Hostile parenting, parental psychopathology, and depressive symptoms in the offspring: a 32-year follow-up in the Young Finns study

BACKGROUND

Both hostile parenting and parental psychopathology have been shown to predict depression in the offspring. However, whether and how they interact in predicting the longitudinal course of depression from adolescence to adulthood remains unclear.

METHODS

Participants were from the prospective Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study, aged 3-18 years at baseline in 1980. We used multilevel modeling for repeated measurements to examine the associations of hostile parenting (i.e., parental intolerance and emotional distance) and parental history of psychopathology with trajectories of depressive symptoms across five study phases from 1992 to 2012.

RESULTS

On average, depressive symptoms decreased in a curvilinear pattern with age. A relatively steep decreasing trend was also observed among offspring of parents with a history of psychopathology but low intolerance. By contrast, among the offspring of parents with a history of psychopathology and high intolerance there was a rising trend in depressive symptoms starting from young adulthood. There was no similar interaction between parental history of psychopathology, emotional distance, and age.

LIMITATIONS

Non-standardized, parental self-report scales were used to measure hostile parenting. The observed effects were small, and the depressive symptoms scale applied in the study may not be used for measuring clinical depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Parental psychopathology might render individuals sensitive to the unfavorable characteristics of the caregiving environment. Intolerance towards the child can exacerbate the effects of parental psychopathology and have a long-term significance on the developmental trajectory of depressive symptoms over the life-course.

Childhood family factors predict developmental trajectories of hostility and anger: a prospective study from childhood into middle adulthood

BACKGROUND

Low socio-economic status (SES), and a conflictive, cold and unsupportive family environment in childhood have been associated with early adulthood hostility. However, it is unknown whether this association changes in magnitude with age from childhood to adulthood. We investigated whether childhood family factors (SES and parental child-rearing style) predicted differential development of offspring hostility and anger from early to middle adulthood.

METHOD

Between 2041 and 2316 participants (age range 3-18 years at baseline) were selected from the longitudinal Young Finns study. The participants were followed for 27 years between 1980 and 2007. Childhood SES and parent's self-reported child-rearing style were measured twice: at baseline and 3 years after baseline. Hostility and anger were assessed with self-report questionnaires at 12, 17, 21 and 27 years after baseline.

RESULTS

Low parental SES and hostile child-rearing style at baseline predicted higher mean levels of offspring anger and hostility. Low parental SES and one of the hostile child-rearing style components (strict disciplinary style) became more strongly associated with offspring hostility with age, suggesting an accumulating effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood family factors predict the development of hostility and anger over 27 years and some of these family factors have a long-term accumulating effect on the development of hostility.

Longitudinal study on infants' temperament and physical development in Beijing, China

The objective of this longitudinal study is to explore the relationship between temperament and physical development among infants in Beijing, China. A total of 1117 term, normal and singleton infants were followed regularly for 12 months. Body weight and horizontal length were measured at 42 days and monthly from the third to twelfth month of their lives. Infants' temperament was assessed using the revised Chinese infants' temperament scale when the infants were 6 months. There was a significant difference on temperament dimensions between infants' genders (P < 0.05). Infants' weight and length were significantly related to their parents' weight and height. Infants with positive temperaments (easy and intermediate) were heavier than those with negative temperaments (difficult and slow to warm up) (P < 0.05). The horizontal length of boys was related to their temperament categories (P < 0.05). Infants' weight and length were significantly related to their temperament category and parents' weight and height.

Socioeconomic and other social stressors and biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk in youth: a systematic review of less studied risk factors

Background

Socioeconomic disadvantage and other social stressors in childhood have been linked with cardiometabolic diseases in adulthood; however the mechanisms underlying these observed associations and the timing of their emergence are unclear. The aim of this review was to evaluate research that examined relationships between socioeconomic disadvantage and other social stressors in relation to less-studied cardiometabolic risk factors among youth, including carbohydrate metabolism-related factors, lipids, and central adiposity.

Methods

We searched PubMed and ISI Web of Science to identify relevant publications between 2001 and 2013.Studies were selected based on 4 criteria: (1) the study examined an association between at least one social or economic stressor and one relevant outcome prior to age 21; (2) the sample originated from a high-income country; (3) the sample was not selected based on a health condition; and (4) a central aim was to evaluate the effect of the social or economic stressor on at least one relevant outcome. Abstracts were screened and relevant publications were obtained and evaluated for inclusion criteria. We abstracted data from selected articles, summarized them by exposures and outcomes, and assigned an evidence grade.

Results

Our search identified 37 publications from 31 studies. Socioeconomic disadvantage was consistently associated with greater central adiposity. Research to date does not provide clear evidence of an association between childhood stressors and lipids or carbohydrate metabolism-related factors.

Conclusions

This review demonstrates a paucity of research on the relationship of socioeconomic disadvantage and other social stressors to lipid and carbohydrate metabolism-related factors in youth. Accordingly, it is not possible to form strong conclusions, particularly with regard to stressors other than socioeconomic disadvantage. Findings are used to inform priorities for future research. An improved understanding of these pathways is critical for identifying novel prevention targets and intervention opportunities to protect the long-term health of children and adolescents.

Personality as a risk factor for the metabolic syndrome: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease and/or type 2 diabetes. Personality can be defined as a stable set of behavioral characteristics of a person. In this review we systematically reviewed whether different personality characteristics are associated with the risk of having or developing the metabolic syndrome.

METHODS

Systematic review.

RESULTS

In total 18 studies were included. Thirteen cross-sectional analyses, and ten longitudinal analyses were grouped according to personality constructs: hostility, anger, and Type A behavior, temperament, neuroticism, and Type D personality. Conflicting evidence was reported on persons with high hostility, neuroticism, or Type D personality scores to be associated with an increased metabolic syndrome prevalence and development. All significant findings do point in the same direction: a more negative, or hostile personality type is associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its development over time.

CONCLUSION

There was no clear association between personality measures and the occurrence and development of the metabolic syndrome. There is, however, a cluster of risk factors that include the presence of the metabolic syndrome, as well as a more negative prone personality style, that both predispose to the development of coronary heart disease and diabetes. Future studies should investigate the role of personality measures in the development of these conditions, while taking into account metabolic syndrome, lifestyle and socio-demographic factors.

Temperamental activity and epidermal growth factor A61G polymorphism in Finnish adults

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has widespread effects on the developing and mature nervous system. This study examined whether genetic differences in the EGF predict differences in the self-reported level of activity temperament in adults.

METHODS

Two hundred and ninety-two men and women from the population-based Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study were genotyped for the functional EGF gene A61G polymorphisms, and their temperamental activity was assessed 3 times in 1992, 1997 and 2001.

RESULTS

The EGF gene predicted temperamental activity (the mean of 3 assessments, p = 0.007), with the G/G genotype being associated with the highest level of activity. Additional analyses in separate years indicated that the association was robust across different measurements of activity (p < or = 0.05 in 1992 and 1997, p = 0.008 in 2001).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that polymorphic variation in the EGF A61 gene may be one of the factors underlying the temperament dimension of activity.

Gender differences in temperament: A meta-analysis

The authors used meta-analytical techniques to estimate the magnitude of gender differences in mean level and variability of 35 dimensions and 3 factors of temperament in children ages 3 months to 13 years. Effortful control showed a large difference favoring girls and the dimensions within that factor (e.g., inhibitory control: d = -.41, perceptual sensitivity: d = -0.38) showed moderate gender differences favoring girls, consistent with boys' greater incidence of externalizing disorders. Surgency showed a difference favoring boys, as did some of the dimensions within that factor (e.g., activity: d = 0.33, high-intensity pleasure: d = 0.30), consistent with boys' greater involvement in active rough-and-tumble play. Negative affectivity showed negligible gender differences.

Association between hostility and plasma total homocysteine concentrations in a general population sample

OBJECTIVE

The present study focuses on testing the association of hostility with plasma homocysteine levels in a general population sample.

METHOD

Four hundred and ten healthy adults (200 men and 210 women), participating in a health survey in Greece, had blood samples taken for homocysteine concentrations and also completed a multidimensional hostility questionnaire, assessing direction of hostility ('extra- and intropunitive') as well as total hostility and its ingredients, i.e. urge to act out hostility, criticism of others, delusional hostility, self-criticism and delusional guilt. Multivariate relationship was tested between hostility components and homocysteine, after statistically controlling for potential confounders such as age, gender, educational status, smoking and body mass index.

RESULTS

Total hostility, delusional guilt as well as extrapunitive direction of hostility were positively related to homocysteine levels. Self-criticism was negatively related to homocysteine.

CONCLUSION

The study provides further evidence that particular dimensions of hostility are associated with increased plasma homocysteine levels, thus deserving a place within the spectrum of the coronary heart disease risk factors.

Affects and autonomic cardiac reactivity during experimentally induced stress as related to precursors of insulin resistance syndrome

This study examined the association of insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) precursors with state affects and autonomic reactivity in randomly selected healthy young adults. It was asked whether IRS precursors are able to predict a person's mental and physiological coping with acute stress over an 11-year follow-up period. IRS parameters were serum insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, body-mass index, and subscapular skinfold thickness. In the psychophysiological experiment, state affects and cardiac responses (heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and pre-ejection period) were measured during different challenges. The main result was that IRS precursors predicted high levels of negative emotions during the challenges; IRS accounted for 19% of the variance in tiredness. IRS was unrelated to cardiac reactivity. Mechanisms underlying the associations found are discussed.

Behavioral and emotional disturbances in the offspring of depressed parents with anger attacks

BACKGROUND

To examine the emotional and behavioral characteristics of the offspring of depressed parents with and without anger attacks.

METHODS

Forty-three parents who met criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) completed the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist - Parent Report Version (CBCL) for each of their birth children (n = 58, age range 6-17 years). Unpaired t tests were used to evaluate the CBCL scale score differences between children of parents with and children of parents without anger attacks. Baseline demographics and clinical differences between the two groups of parents were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Parents with anger attacks had a significantly younger age of onset of MDD. Offspring of depressed parents with anger attacks were found to have significantly lower social and school competency scale scores and higher scores for delinquency, attention problems, and aggressive behavior. In addition, this group was found to have a significantly higher total T score (a global measure of psychopathology).

CONCLUSIONS

There are some important differences between offspring of depressed parents with and without anger attacks. This finding may be important in identifying and formulating intervention strategies for childhood problems in the offspring of depressed parents.

Child-rearing attitudes and cardiovascular risk among children: moderating influence of parental socioeconomic status

BACKGROUND

We examined associations of parental socioeconomic status (SES) and hostile maternal child-rearing attitudes with the insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) precursors in children.

METHODS

The participants were 210 randomly selected healthy boys and girls who participated in the epidemiological Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study and who were 3, 6, and 9 years of age at the three study phases. Hostile maternal child-rearing attitudes were self-rated by the mothers. SES consisted of the years of education of the parents and family income. The IRS comprised serum insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and body mass index.

RESULTS

Among boys, low parental SES and strict maternal discipline were associated with heightened somatic risk. Among girls, parental SES moderated the association between maternal child-rearing attitudes and somatic risk so that belonging to a high-SES family seemed to protect the girls against the adverse health effects of hostile mothering.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that the psychosocial environment is differentially related to girls' and boys' somatic risk. It is concluded that belonging to high social class may buffer against childhood stress, while belonging to low social class may enhance vulnerability to stressors in childhood.