Sexual Violence Against Persons With Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis

A growing number of large-scale studies suggest that people with disabilities are at greater risk of sexual victimization than nondisabled individuals. However, certain results are inconsistent and whether potential moderators explain this variability in previous findings remain to be considered. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the magnitude of the difference in risk of being sexually victimized based on the presence of a disability. An additional objective was to evaluate the relative influence of gender, age, type of disability, type of sexual violence, and relationship with the perpetrator on the association between the presence of a disability and sexual victimization. Studies were searched using pertinent databases and retained if they included a group with a disability, provided data that quantify the occurrence of abuse, indicated the type of sexual violence, and was published between 1970 and 2018 in French or English. A total of 68 studies, allowing 84 independent samples and 12,427 participants, were included. Individuals with disabilities were at significantly higher risk of sexual victimization than persons without disabilities (odds ratio = 2.27). The risk of sexual victimization among individuals with a disability was significantly higher in adult participants compared with the risk in minor participants. Sensory impairment was the type of disability associated with the highest risk of sexual victimization. Odds of sexual victimization among individuals with a disability were significantly higher in African countries compared with all others, and odds in Western Europe were significantly lower than in the United States. No significant differences emerged across eras.

Olfactory Identification in Subjective Cognitive Decline: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Recently, subjective cognitive decline (SCD) has been considered to be one of the first signs of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Since this potential early marker is sensitive but not specific to AD, combining it with other markers could ensure higher accuracy when predicting which persons with SCD will convert to AD. Since olfactory dysfunction is observable in both AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), it is a promising marker that could help improve the early diagnosis of AD.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this meta-analysis was to verify whether the presence of SCD is associated with a decrease in olfactory identification ability.

METHODS

We collected articles from the following databases: PsychNet, PubMed, Ebsco, and ProQuest using the keywords: "SCD", "subjective cognitive decline", "subjective cognitive impairment", "subjective memory impairment", "subjective memory decline", "cognitive complaints", "memory complaints", "cognitive concerns", "memory concerns", "olfac*" and "smell". We included articles according to the following criteria: 1) participants aged 50 and over; 2) presence of an SCD group or a conceptual equivalent; 3) presence of a healthy control group with the same age range; and 4) assessment of olfactory identification ability.

RESULTS

Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Small and homogeneous effects were observed for olfactory identification alteration in individuals with SCD relative to controls (g = -0.16, 95% CI [-0.46, 0.14]).

CONCLUSION

Despite the low number of studies included, the findings suggest that odor identification is slightly altered in SCD compared to healthy older adults. This alteration in individuals with SCD could be an early marker of AD.

The association between maternal sensitivity/availability and attachment in children with autism Spectrum disorder: A systematic review and Meta-analysis

The association between maternal sensitivity and attachment security has long been established among normative samples. However, less is known about how this association operates among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This meta-analytic review is the first to address the association between maternal sensitivity/availability and attachment security in a population of children with ASD (aged 1 to 7 years) and to explore if this association is moderated by child chronological age, mental age, ASD-related symptoms severity. The objective was also to assess the role of methodological moderators, including the informant of the attachment measure, country and publication year. A systematic search was performed on relevant databases. Seven studies were retained. Meta-analytic results showed a significant medium effect size between maternal sensitivity/availability and attachment security in children with ASD (r = .47; 95% CI: 0.32-.60; p < .001), which is a stronger association than in the general population (r = .24). Moderation analyses did not show any significant effect of child chronological age and publication year on effect sizes. The categorical moderators (e.g., informant, country) could not be tested due to the limited number of studies. More research is needed to better understand the way mothers adapt to their children with autism and identify the nuances regarding how maternal sensitivity/availability relates to child attachment in the context of ASD.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-021-02227-z.

Attentional and executive functions in children and adolescents with developmental coordination disorder and the influence of comorbid disorders: A systematic review of the literature

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting primarily motor skills, but attentional and executive impairments are common in affected individuals. Moreover, the presence of neurodevelopmental comorbidities is frequent in this population, which certainly influences the cognitive profile of the children concerned. Previous studies have reported deficits in visuospatial/nonverbal and planning tasks. This systematic review of the literature aims to determine if impairments can be found in other attentional and executive functions as well. The type of cognitive tasks, the tasks’ modality (verbal/nonverbal), and the influence of comorbid disorders on attentional and executive profiles are systematically considered. Forty-one studies were identified through the PubMed/Medline and PsycINFO databases according to pre-established eligibility criteria. The results reveal weaknesses in inhibitory control, working memory, planning, nonverbal fluency, and general executive functioning in children with DCD. The presence of comorbid disorders seemingly contributes to the verbal working memory difficulties findings. This review contributes to a better understanding of the cognitive impairments in DCD and of the needs of children with this disorder, allowing to optimize practitioners’ therapeutic interventions.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults: Rapid Review

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the lives of countless members of the general population. Older adults are known to experience loneliness, age discrimination, and excessive worry. It is therefore reasonable to anticipate that they would experience greater negative outcomes related to the COVID-19 pandemic given their increased isolation and risk for complications than younger adults.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to synthesize the existing research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and associated isolation and protective measures, on older adults. The secondary objective is to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and associated isolation and protective measures, on older adults with Alzheimer disease and related dementias.

METHODS

A rapid review of the published literature was conducted on October 6, 2020, through a search of 6 online databases to synthesize results from published original studies regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults. The Human Development Model conceptual framework-Disability Creation Process was used to describe and understand interactions between personal factors, environmental factors, and life habits. Methods and results are reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Statement.

RESULTS

A total of 135 records were included from the initial search strategy of 13,452 individual studies. Of these, 113 (83.7%) studies were determined to be of level 4 according to the levels of evidence classification by the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. The presence of psychological symptoms, exacerbation of ageism, and physical deterioration of aged populations were reported in the included studies. Decreased social life and fewer in-person social interactions reported during the COVID-19 pandemic were occasionally associated with reduced quality of life and increased depression. Difficulties accessing services, sleep disturbances, and a reduction of physical activity were also noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight the need for adequate isolation and protective measures. Older adults represent a heterogeneous group, which could explain the contradictory results found in the literature. Individual, organizational, and institutional strategies should be established to ensure that older adults are able to maintain social contacts, preserve family ties, and maintain the ability to give or receive help during the current pandemic. Future studies should focus on specific consequences and needs of more at-risk older adults to ensure their inclusion, both in public health recommendations and considerations made by policy makers.

Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children's Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health problems in many individuals, including children. Children with pre-existing socio-demographic or developmental risk factors may be particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of the pandemic and associated public health preventive measures. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children aged 5-13 years-old, while highlighting the specific difficulties experienced by children with neurodevelopmental issues or chronic health conditions. Methods: A systematic search of the published literature was conducted in Medline, ERIC, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar, followed by a quantitative meta-analysis of the eligible studies. Results: Out of the 985 articles identified, 28 empirical studies with prospective or retrospective longitudinal data were included in the quantitative synthesis. COVID-19 lockdown measures were associated with negative general mental health outcomes among children (g = 0.28, p < 0.001, and k = 21), but of small magnitude. Sleep habits were also changed during the pandemic, as sleep duration significantly increased in children (g = 0.32; p = 0.004, and k = 9). Moreover, results did not differ between children from the general population and those from clinical populations such as children with epilepsy, oncology, neurodevelopmental disorders, or obesity. Effect sizes were larger in European vs. Asian countries. Conclusions: Studies included in this review suggest that children's mental health was generally negatively impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. More research is needed to understand the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's mental health and the influence of specific risks factors as they evolve over time.

Impact of COVID-19 on people with physical disabilities: A rapid review

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic caused drastic changes in the lives of the general population. People with physical disabilities, who commonly encounter daily challenges such as barriers to community mobility, reduced access to healthcare services and higher risk of suffering from depression, may face additional challenges in the context of the pandemic.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and associated isolation and protective measures, among people with physical disabilities.

METHODS

A rapid review of the published literature was conducted on August 10, 2020 through a search in six online databases to synthesize results from original studies regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with physical disabilities. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health was used to describe the population and the personal and environmental factors with a unified and standard health language.

RESULTS

Eleven records were extracted from 1621 individual papers retrieved from the search strategy. Various impacts on daily functioning such as a decrease in access to healthcare have been noted during the pandemic. Changes in social and lifestyle habits, mood changes and decreased levels of physical activity were also noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlighted the lack of early research about the impacts of COVID-19 experienced by people with physical disabilities. Future studies should focus on specific consequences and needs of this vulnerable population to ensure their inclusion in public health recommendations and consideration by policy makers.

Personality traits in adolescents with eating disorder: A meta-analytic review

OBJECTIVE

Given the growing interest in personality traits among the young population with eating disorders (EDs) and the recognition that a better understanding of personality can facilitate clinical management, this meta-analytic study reviewed evidence concerning the relationship between personality traits and the presence of an ED during adolescence.

METHOD

We conducted a systematic literature search to identify studies that examined personality traits among adolescents with an ED (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, eating disorder not otherwise specified) and that compared these traits with a normative group without an ED. The personality traits investigated in the selected studies were organized according to the personality trait domains presented in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fifth ed.). Effect sizes of the mean differences were calculated for each domain. We performed meta-regressions to assess the moderating effect of ED subtype and age on the combined effect sizes.

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies met our inclusion criteria, containing a total of 63 effect sizes. Adolescents with EDs differed from the non-ED group according to traits related to negative affectivity (g = 0.78), detachment (g = 0.69), and conscientiousness (g = -0.53). The presence of an anorexia nervosa diagnosis moderated the relationship between an ED and personality traits; this diagnosis was more strongly associated with conscientious traits compared to other EDs.

DISCUSSION

Our findings provide evidence that personality traits are related to EDs in adolescents. Thus, considering personality traits could lead to a better understanding of etiological and maintenance factors for EDs.

Common transdiagnostic cognitive deficits among people with psychiatric disorders exposed to childhood maltreatment: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Previous meta-analyses have shown a moderate negative impact of maltreatment on the neuropsychological functioning of people with or without psychiatric disorders compared to healthy groups. The objectives of the present meta-analysis were to (1) investigate the impact of maltreatment on neuropsychological functioning of people with psychiatric disorders and to (2) evaluate the moderating effect of age, at the time of the cognitive assessment, on neuropsychological functioning.

METHODS

Seventeen studies published between 1970 and July 2017 were included.

RESULTS

The results showed a negative impact of maltreatment with a small effect size (g = -0.25) on the neuropsychological performances in the group with psychiatric disorders with a history of exposure to childhood maltreatment compared to the group with psychiatric disorders without a history of exposure to childhood maltreatment. Cognitive domains that are significantly affected by maltreatment are: working memory (g = -0.56), verbal episodic memory (g = -0.39), intelligence (g = -0.27) and processing speed (g = -0.21). The impact of childhood maltreatment on the cognitive profile is greater in adults than young people.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians should consider these common cognitive deficits using a transdiagnostic approach in cognitive interventions.

Foetal programming and cortisol secretion in early childhood: A meta-analysis of different programming variables

It is widely recognized that different events may take place in the intrauterine environment that may influence later developmental outcome. Scholars have long postulated that maternal prenatal stress, alcohol or drug use, and cigarette smoking may impact foetal formation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which may later influence different aspects of early childhood socioemotional and cognitive development. However, results linking each of these factors with child cortisol secretion have been mixed. The current meta-analysis examined the relation between each of these programming variables and child cortisol secretion in studies conducted up to December 31st, 2012. Studies were included if they were conducted prior to child age 60 months, and if they reported an index of effect size linking either maternal prenatal stress, alcohol or drug use, or cigarette smoking with an index of child cortisol secretion. In total, 19 studies (N=2260) revealed an average effect size of d=.36 (p<.001). Moderator analyses revealed that greater effect sizes could be traced to maternal alcohol use, to the use of retrospective research methodology, where mothers are questioned after childbirth regarding programming variables, and to the use of baseline measures of cortisol secretion, as opposed to recovery measures. Discussion focuses on processes that link the environment to foetal development and how both are linked to later adaptation.

Neuropsychological Profile of Children, Adolescents and Adults Experiencing Maltreatment: A Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Few studies have attempted to describe the range of cognitive impairments affecting people who have experienced child maltreatment. The aim of this meta-analysis was to examine the neuropsychological profile of these people and to determine the cognitive impacts of maltreatment from childhood to adulthood.

METHOD

Fifty-two publications from 1970 to 2013 were included.

RESULTS

The affected cognitive domains were working memory (g = -.65), attention (g = -.63), intelligence (g = -.56) and speed of processing (g = -.49). The impact of maltreatment was greater in young children (g = -.71) and less pronounced in adults (g = -.26).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that exposure to maltreatment has an impact on specific cognitive processes, regardless of age.