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Birth Order (birth + order)
Selected AbstractsAbused child to nonabusive parent: Resilience and conceptual changeJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Glenda Wilkes Individuals who were abused as children and have spontaneously, without intervention, been able to change their cognitive and behavioral patterns such that they do not abuse their own children represent a heretofore untapped source of information and understanding about the processes of conceptual change and resilience. This pilot study investigates the nature of this conceptual change as an exemplar of resilience. Birth order, gender, locus of control, and coping behaviors emerged as areas needing further study. Additionally, the belief on the part of the abusing parents that abuse was not wrong needs further investigation as a possible precursor to this particular context for conceptual change. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 58: 261,276, 2002. [source] Birth order and sibship size as independent risk factors for asthma, allergy, and eczemaPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 6 2003Roos M. D. Bernsen This study was carried out to disentangle the independent relations of birth order and sibship size with the presence of asthma, allergy and eczema. In a retrospective study, 700 families in the Netherlands were selected with index children born in 1988,90. Data were extracted from reports of health examinations at the age of 6 years of these children and their siblings. Birth order, and not sibship size, appeared to be a strong risk factor for allergy (excluding eczema). Children with higher birth order had a lower risk of allergy compared with first-borns (adjusted odds ratios: 0.43, 0.26 and 0.05 for second-, third- and fourth- or higher borns, respectively; p < 0.0001). Allergy including eczema also had a significant relation with birth order (p = 0.01). For asthma there appeared no clear relation with birth order. For asthma a non-significant relationship with sibship size (adjusted for birth order) was found (p = 0.06): first-born children in small sibships were more at risk than those in larger sibships. For allergy and eczema no such trend was observed. In conclusion, birth order is inversely related to the risk of allergy, independent of the size of the sibship. [source] Birth order and sibling sex ratio in homosexual transsexual South Korean men: Effects of the male-preference stopping rulePSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 5 2007KENNETH J. ZUCKER phd Abstract Two biodemographic variables , birth order and sibling sex ratio , have been examined in several Western samples of homosexual transsexual men. The results have consistently shown that homosexual transsexuals have a later birth order and come from sibships with an excess of brothers to sisters; the excess of brothers has been largely driven by the number of older brothers and hence has been termed the fraternal birth order effect. In the present study the birth order and sibling sex ratio were examined in an Asian sample of 43 homosexual transsexual men and 49 heterosexual control men from South Korea. Although the transsexual men had a significantly late birth order, so did the control men. Unlike Western samples, the Korean transsexuals had a significant excess of sisters, not brothers, as did the control men, and this was largely accounted for by older sisters. It is concluded that a male-preference stopping rule governing parental reproductive behavior had a strong impact on these two biodemographic variables. Future studies that examine birth order and sibling sex ratio in non-Western samples of transsexuals need to be vigilant for the influential role of stopping rules, including the one identified in the present study. [source] Birth order, atopy, and symptoms of allergy and asthma among inner-city children attending Head Start in New York CityCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 6 2008M. S. Perzanowski Summary Background In past research, children with older siblings were more likely than others to wheeze at age 2 years, but less likely by age 6 years. Higher infection transmission and a down-regulated allergic immune response as a result of these infections, respectively, were suggested as the causes. However, in a study of children aged 0,3 years in a low-income urban community in New York City, USA, with high asthma prevalence, we observed no birth-order effect. Objective To evaluate the association between birth order and atopy and respiratory symptoms in 4-year-old children attending Head Start programs in NYC. Methods Respiratory symptoms were assessed by questionnaire for 1005 children (mean age 4.0 years) living in high asthma prevalence neighbourhoods. Serum was collected from a subgroup of the children (n=494) and specific IgE responses to dust mite, cockroach, mouse, and cat allergens were measured. Results Prevalence of specific IgE (0.35 IU/mL) did not differ significantly among first (35%), second (35%), and later-born children (28%) (P=0.23). Increasing birth order was associated with increasing prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the prior year, including wheeze (first 20%, second 27%, third or later 35%; P<0.001), being awakened at night by cough (28%, 33%, 38%; P=0.005), emergency department visits (14%, 17%, 21%; P=0.02) and hospitalizations for difficulty breathing (6.1%, 6.6%, 10%; P=0.04). The associations of birth order with respiratory symptoms were statistically significant only for the non-seroatopic children and those without an asthmatic parent. Conclusions Non-seroatopic children with older siblings were more likely than those without older siblings to have respiratory symptoms at age 4 years. Although the stability of these associations over time remains to be determined, the differences in findings between this study and our previous NYC birth cohort study suggest that patterns of asthma development may vary even among low-income populations within the same city. [source] Risk factors for adult male criminality in ColombiaCRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2001Joanne Klevens Objectives This study sought to establish, in Colombia, the importance of factors alleged to be causes or correlates of adult criminality according to the published literature from other countries. Methods A comparison was made of arrested male offenders from ages 18 to 30 (n = 223) and similar community controls (n = 222) selected from five cities in Colombia as to their family background, exposure to abuse, family stressors, perceived care and history of childhood disruptive behaviour problems. Results Compared with neighbourhood controls from similar social classes, offenders were significantly more likely to report having had parents with less education, a mother under the age of 18 or over the age of 35 at time of birth, family members involved in crime, experiencing extreme economic deprivation, parental absence, family conflict, severe punishments, physical abuse, and maternal unavailability, rejection and lack of supervision. Prevalence of childhood disruptive behaviour problems was similar among offenders and controls. These findings appear to be independent of economic status, family size or type, birth order, or primary caregiver. Although the independent contribution of most of these factors is small, once all others have been controlled for, their cumulative effect is strong. Conclusions The findings obtained in this Latin American setting do not support the generalized view that adult antisocial behaviour is necessarily preceded by a history of childhood behaviour problems. However, they do add evidence for the importance of family factors in the risk for adult criminality. Copyright © 2001 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] The referential communication skills of children with imaginary companionsDEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2008Anna C. Roby The present study investigated the referential communication skills of children with imaginary companions (ICs). Twenty-two children with ICs aged between 4 and 6 years were compared to 22 children without ICs (NICs). The children were matched for age, gender, birth order, number of siblings, and parental education. All children completed the Test of Referential Communication (Camaioni, Ercolani & Lloyd, 1995). The results showed that the children with ICs performed better than the children without ICs on the speaker component of the task. In particular, the IC children were better able to identify a specific referent to their interlocutor than were the NIC children. Furthermore, the IC children described less redundant features of the target picture than did the NIC children. The children did not differ in the listening comprehension component of the task. Overall, the results suggest that the IC children had a better understanding of their interlocutor's information requirements in conversation. The role of pretend play in the development of communicative competence is discussed in light of these results. [source] Parental rules and communication: their association with adolescent smokingADDICTION, Issue 6 2005Zeena Harakeh ABSTRACT Aims To examine the association between parental rules and communication (also referred to as antismoking socialization) and adolescents' smoking. Design and participants A cross-sectional study including 428 Dutch two-parent families with at least two adolescent children (aged 13,17 years). Measurements Parents' and adolescents' reports on an agreement regarding smoking by adolescents, smoking house rules, parental confidence in preventing their child from smoking, frequency and quality of communication about smoking, and parent's reactions to smoking experimentation. Findings Compared with fathers and adolescents, mothers reported being more involved in antismoking socialization. There were robust differences in antismoking socialization efforts between smoking and non-smoking parents. Perceived parental influence and frequency and quality of communication about smoking were associated with adolescents' smoking. The association between antismoking socialization practices and adolescents' smoking was not moderated by birth order, parents' smoking or gender of the adolescent. Conclusions Encouraging parents, whether or not they themselves smoke, to discuss smoking-related issues with their children in a constructive and respectful manner is worth exploring as an intervention strategy to prevent young people taking up smoking. [source] Dimensions of Mothers' and Fathers' Differential Treatment of Siblings: Links With Adolescents' Sex-Typed Personal Qualities,FAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 1 2003Corinna Jenkins Tucker We explored mothers' and fathers' differential treatment (PDT) of their adolescent offspring in five domains (privileges, chores, affection, discipline, and temporal involvement) and examined how siblings' personal qualities were associated with PDT. Participants were 188 families with first- and secondborn adolescents. Equal treatment was the modal parental style except for privileges and discipline. Even where equal treatment was normative a substantial proportion of parents reported differential treatment. Further, the similarity of the nature of parents' differential treatment varied by domain. Sex was associated with parents' differential temporal involvement. Sex-typed personal qualities were related to parents' differential discipline. Both sex and sex-typed personal characteristics were linked to differential affection. Privileges and chores were associated with age and birth order. [source] Antecedents of mirror self-recognition of toddlers: Emotional availability, birth order, and genderINFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 3 2002Judith Harel Ph.D. The present study employed a longitudinal design for examining the role of emotional availability of child,mother dyads, birth order of children, and their gender as determinants of mirror self-recognition of toddlers. It was hypothesized that toddlers who maintained more optimal emotional availability with mother at the age of 12 months would tend to identify themselves more readily at the age of 20 months. We assumed further that first-born children and females would identify themselves more readily than males and younger siblings. A sample of 54 nonrisk children and their mothers was investigated. Path analysis model showed that emotional availability partly predicted self-recognition: responsive toddlers identified themselves more often than less responsive peers. No significant effects were found for the other scales of emotional availability. A nonlinear birth order effect was observed, with second-born children being less likely to show mirror self-recognition than first-borns or third-borns. Child gender was not significantly associated with self-recognition at the age of 20 months. The data showed further that birth order was significantly linked with components of emotional availability. No significant correlations were found between emotional availability scores and child gender. Results were discussed in light of the different components of emotional availability, and the psychological correlates of ordinal position in the family. ©2002 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health. [source] Infant feeding practices of Pakistani mothers in England and PakistanJOURNAL OF HUMAN NUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 6 2002T. Sarwar Abstract Objectives To investigate infant feeding practices followed by Pakistani mothers in Pakistan and in England. To establish if practices conform to current guidelines and to investigate reasons for adherence and nonadherence. Methods Ninety mothers of weaning age children were interviewed; 45 were in England and 45 in Pakistan. A questionnaire available in English and Urdu sought to find out about the methods of milk feeding and weaning used and the advice received, together with general beliefs about weaning. Results Characteristics of the infants in terms of current age, gender distribution, birth order of baby and age of weaning showed no significant differences between the two groups. Thus, differences between the two groups could be attributed to cultural differences rather than any of these factors. Chi-square analysis showed that the initial method of feeding chosen was significantly different (P < 0.001, d.f. = 2) with 73% of mothers in Pakistan breast-feeding compared with 24% in England. Similar proportions of mothers in both groups commenced weaning between 3 and 4 months. Common weaning foods included rice, cereals and eggs with progression to fruit and vegetables and family food in Pakistan, and fruit, vegetables, meat and convenience foods (especially sweet options) in England. Both groups of mothers wanted more information about infant feeding practices. Conclusion Mothers in Pakistan demonstrated more confidence in weaning practices than in England because of experiences with other siblings and advice from relatives. More advice from health professionals was requested and is needed by all mothers in order to improve weaning practices of the infants. [source] Effect of multiple birth on infant mortality in BangladeshJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 10 2006Rathavuth Hong Aim: Levels of infant and child mortality in many developing countries remain unacceptably high, and they are disproportionably higher among high-risk groups such as newborn and infant of multiple births, particularly in countries where advanced medical cares are available only at regional referral levels with limited access by the poor rural women and children. This study examined the relationship between high-risk infant of multiple birth and infant mortality in Bangladesh. Methods: The analysis uses information on 7001 childbirths in 5 years preceding the 2004 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey to examine the relationship between multiple birth and infant mortality using multivariate analysis, controlling for child's sex, birth order, prenatal care, delivery assistance; mother's age at child birth, nutritional status, education level; household living conditions and several other risk factors. Results: Results indicate that children born multiple birth were more than six-times as likely to die during infancy as those born singletons (hazard ratio = 6.51; 95% confidence interval: 4.10, 10.36). Controlling for all other risk factors does not change the strength and direction of the relationship (hazard ratio = 6.18; 95% confidence interval: 3.65, 10.46). Receiving prenatal care and access to safe drinking water are associated with lower risk. Conclusion: Multiple births are strongly negatively associated with infant survival in Bangladesh independent of other risk factors. This evidence suggests that improving maternal and child health at the community level, screening for high-risk pregnancies and making referral services for these conditions more accessible to the rural women and children will be key to improving child survival in Bangladesh. [source] Temporal changes in UK birth order and the prevalence of atopyALLERGY, Issue 8 2010S. Upchurch To cite this article: Upchurch S, Harris JM, Cullinan P. Temporal changes in UK birth order and the prevalence of atopy. Allergy 2010; 65: 1039,1041. Abstract Background:, Many studies have reported an inverse association between birth order and the risk of respiratory allergic disease. In recent decades, the prevalence of atopy has increased alongside reductions in fertility rates. Aims of the study:, To quantitate how much of the increased prevalence of atopy, measured by skin prick test or specific IgE, can be attributed to temporal changes in family size in the United Kingdom. Methods:, Through a systematic literature review (MEDLINE, 1965,2009), five studies of UK populations were identified and their data were included in the calculation of a summary odds ratio for the risk of atopy for each birth order. Information on changes in UK family sizes between 1960 and 2001 was obtained from Eurostat. On this basis, expected increases in the prevalence of atopy were calculated by weighting the proportion in each birth order category for 1960 and 2001 by the summary odds ratio for that category and then calculating the relative risk of atopy in 2001 compared with 1960. Results:, The pooled summary odds ratios for atopy were 0.90, 0.69 and 0.69 for those born second, third and fourth (or higher), respectively. The expected relative increase in the prevalence of atopy resulting from a change in family size between 1960 and 2001 was 3%. Conclusions:, Despite the strong associations between birth order and atopy, reductions in family size in the last 40 years account for little of the increase in atopy. [source] Evaluation of the birthweight values of newborns presenting at the Mother,Child Health and Family Planning Center in Yenibosna, Istanbul, TurkeyNURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES, Issue 2 2009Gülümser Dolgun rn Abstract This study was conducted to examine the effect of a number of variables related to the mother (age, educational level, employment status, cigarette smoking during pregnancy) and to the baby (sex and birth order) on newborns' birthweight. The research was carried out in the province of Istanbul, one of Turkey's large metropolises, at the Mother,Child Health and Family Planning Center in the district of Yenibosna, where 0,1 month old infants had been brought in for phenylketonuria screening and vaccinations. The mean age of the mothers was 26.1 ± 4.8 years and the mean birthweight of the newborns was 3236.7 ± 542.2 g. Of the infants, 6.3% were classified as having a low birthweight and 8.3% were large infants. The mean birthweight showed a statistical significance depending upon the infants' sex and birth order. The mean birthweight of the infants of the working mothers, as opposed to the unemployed mothers and the mothers in nuclear families, as opposed to the mothers in extended families, was higher. [source] Secular trends in socio-economic status and the implications for preterm birthPAEDIATRIC & PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006John M. D. Thompson Summary The rate of preterm birth in the developed world has been shown to be increasing, in part attributable to obstetric intervention. It has been suggested that this may be a differential increase between socio-economic groups. We aimed to assess whether the preterm rate in Norway is different in socio-economic groups defined by maternal education, and to determine the extent to which a difference is attributable to a socio-economic differential in obstetrical intervention, in terms of caesarean section or induction of labour. We used data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway from 1980 to 1998 with preterm rate as the outcome and maternal educational level, marital status and obstetric intervention as exposure variables. In multivariable analyses, adjustment was made for maternal age, year of birth and birth order, and secular trends were assessed according to year of birth. The preterm birth rate was highest in the lowest socio-economic group. An increase of 25.2% in the preterm rate was seen over the observation period. No apparent differential was seen in the increase of the crude preterm rates between socio-economic groups, although in multivariable analyses there was a significant interaction between socio-economic group and time, implying a stronger effect of low education towards the end of the observation period attributable to demographic change. In conclusion, the preterm birth rate increased over time, but was mainly due to an increase in obstetric interventions. No closing of the gap between socio-economic groups was observed. [source] Birth order and sibship size as independent risk factors for asthma, allergy, and eczemaPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 6 2003Roos M. D. Bernsen This study was carried out to disentangle the independent relations of birth order and sibship size with the presence of asthma, allergy and eczema. In a retrospective study, 700 families in the Netherlands were selected with index children born in 1988,90. Data were extracted from reports of health examinations at the age of 6 years of these children and their siblings. Birth order, and not sibship size, appeared to be a strong risk factor for allergy (excluding eczema). Children with higher birth order had a lower risk of allergy compared with first-borns (adjusted odds ratios: 0.43, 0.26 and 0.05 for second-, third- and fourth- or higher borns, respectively; p < 0.0001). Allergy including eczema also had a significant relation with birth order (p = 0.01). For asthma there appeared no clear relation with birth order. For asthma a non-significant relationship with sibship size (adjusted for birth order) was found (p = 0.06): first-born children in small sibships were more at risk than those in larger sibships. For allergy and eczema no such trend was observed. In conclusion, birth order is inversely related to the risk of allergy, independent of the size of the sibship. [source] Preparation of parents by teaching of distraction techniques does not reduce child anxiety at anaesthetic induction.PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 9 2002A. Watson Introduction For those children having surgery, induction of anaesthesia is one of the most stressful procedures the child experiences perioperatively. Current work has failed to show a benefit of parental presence at induction of anaesthesia for all children. The reasons for lack of effect may include the high anxiety levels of some parents and also that the role for parents at their child's induction is not delineated. The main aim of this study was to see if parental preparation by teaching of distraction techniques could reduce their child's anxiety during intravenous induction of anaesthesia. Methods After ethics committee approval 40 children aged 2,10 years old, ASA status I or II undergoing daycase surgery under general anaesthesia were enrolled into the study. To avoid possible confounding factors children with a history of previous, surgery, chronic illness or developmental delay were excluded form participation. No children were given sedative premedication. After written informed consent by the parent, each child and parent was randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. Parents in the intervention group received preparation from a play specialist working on the children's surgical ward. It involved preparation for events in the anaesthetic room and instruction on methods of distraction for their child during induction using novel toys, books or blowing bubbles appropriate to the child's age. Preoperative information collected included demographic and baseline data. The temperament of the child was measured using the EASI (Emotionality, Activity, Sociability, Impulsivity) instrument of child temperament(l). In the anaesthetic room all children were planned to have intravenous induction of anaesthesia after prior application of EMLA cream. Anxiety of the child was measured by the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS)(2) by a blinded independent observer at three time points: entrance to the anaesthetic room, intravenous cannulation and at anaesthesia induction. Cooperation of the child was measured by the Induction Compliance Checklist (ICC) by the same observer (3). Postoperative data collected included parental satisfaction and anxiety scores measured by the Stait Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)(4) and at one week the behaviour of the child was measured Using the Posthospitalisation Behavioural Questionnaire (PHBQ)(5). Normally distributed data were analysed by a two-sample t-test, categorical data by Pearson's Chi-squared test and non-parametric data by the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results One parent withdrew after enrolment. This left 22 children in the control group and 17 in the intervention group. There were no significant differences in demographic and baseline data of the children between the two groups including ethnic origin, number of siblings, birth order of the child, recent stressful events in the child's life, previous hospital admissions and the temperament of the child. Parent demographics were also similar between groups including parent's age, sex, relationship to child and level of education. There were no significant differences in child anxiety or cooperation during induction measured by mYPAS and ICC between the control and intervention groups. More parents in the preparation group distracted their child than those without preparation but this did not reach significance. Parental anxiety immediately postinduction was similar between groups as was the level of parental satisfaction. The incidence of development of new negative postoperative behaviour of the child at one week was not significantly different between groups. Discussion This study shows that giving an active role for parents in the induction room, particularly by instructing them on distracting techniques for their child, does not reduce their child's anxiety compared to conventional parental presence. We conclude resources should not be directed at this type of parental preparation. Further work should examine the usefulness of distraction by nursing staff or play specialists during anaesthetic induction. [source] Association between birthweight and body mass index at 3 years of agePEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2001Tamami Tanaka AbstractBackground: Obesity in children is one of the risk factors for adulthood obesity, which then leads to the development of chronic diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes. In this study, we identified significant factors associating with the body mass index (BMI) at 3 years of age from the perinatal characteristics of children. Methods: A total of 588 children were included in the study. The BMI at 3 years of age was examined in conjuction with the possible variables such as parents' smoking status during pregnancy, parents' age at birth, gestational age, sibling number and live birth order, sex, birthweight, BMI at 1 month of age, weight gain during the first month of life and feeding method at 1 month of age. Results: Univariate analysis showed that birthweight (P<0.0001), weight gain during the first month of life (P=0.0012) and BMI at 1 month of age (P<0.0001) were significantly associated with the BMI at 3 years of age. Of these factors, birthweight and weight gain during the first month of life were the independent factors correlating with the BMI at 3 years by multivariate analysis (P<0.0001 and P=0.0095, respectively). Conclusions: Infants with higher birthweight and/or greater weight gain during the first month of life may have a risk of being overweight at 3 years of age. [source] Family migration and physical growth in Merida, Yucatan, MexicoAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Hugo Azcorra Merida city in Yucatan, Mexico, has received rural-to-urban migration for decades, with most immigrants settling in the city's southern neighborhoods. Exposure of immigrants to new environmental and sociocultural conditions can generate biological responses, including changes in physical growth pattern at early age. We performed a study to identify and measure the effects of family migration into south Merida on growth in 4- to 6-year-old children, measuring weight, height, sitting height, and calculated arm muscle and fat areas of 445 children: 228 natives (116 females) and 217 immigrants (118 females) and collecting family social and demographic data. Statistical analysis focused on determining differences in growth, socioeconomic, and biological variables by migratory condition and generating multiple regression models for each growth measurement. No univariate statistical differences (P > 0.05, Student's t- test) were observed in growth between studied children. Multiple regression analyses showed age, sex, mother's height, birth order, birth weight, family income, zone of residence, diet, and febrile episodes had an effect on growth. Neither the migration variable used above nor any other definition of migrant had a significant effect on growth. The lack of differences in growth between immigrant and native children is probably due to similarity in socioeconomic conditions of their families. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Birth Order Effects and Rebelliousness: Political Activism and Involvement with MarijuanaPOLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 2 2002Richard L. Zweigenhaft Frank Sulloway (1996) has claimed that later-borns are more likely to rebel against the status quo than are firstborns. The two studies reported here attempt to examine more fully Sulloway's claims about rebelliousness. The studies draw on archival data from studies of high school and college students in a midwestern state between 1969 and 1982. The current studies compare the effects of birth order, gender, family size, and father's education on two self-report measures: participation in protests and demonstrations, and involvement with marijuana. The data on involvement with marijuana provided support for Sulloway's thesis that later-borns are more rebellious than firstborns, but the data on participation in protests and demonstrations did not. These mixed findings, which contribute to the ongoing debate about Sulloway's theory, are discussed. [source] Sex Differentials in Childhood Feeding, Health Care, and Nutritional Status in IndiaPOPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW, Issue 2 2004Vinod Mishra Strong preference for sons in South Asia is well documented, but evidence on female disadvantage in childhood feeding, health care, and nutritional status is inconclusive. This article examines sex differentials in indicators of childhood feeding, health care, and nutritional status of children under age 3 by birth order and sex composition of older living siblings. Data are from India's 1992,93 and 1998,99 National Family Health Surveys. The analysis finds three reasons for inconclusive evidence on female disadvantage in aggregate analyses. First, discrimination against girls is limited to the relatively small fraction of children of certain birth orders and sex compositions of older siblings. Second, discrimination against girls when boys are in short supply and discrimination against boys when girls are in short supply cancel each other to some extent. Third, some discrimination against girls (e.g., in exclusive breastfeeding at 6,9 months) is nutritionally beneficial to girls. Separate analyses for North and South India find that gender discrimination is as common in the South as in the North, where son preference is generally much stronger. [source] The End of the Fertility Transition in the Developed WorldPOPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW, Issue 3 2002John Bongaarts By the late 1990s the average period total fertility rate in the developed world had declined to 1.6, a level substantially lower than projected in the 1970s and 1980s. This article examines recent trends and patterns in fertility in the developed world with particular emphasis on the effects and implications of changes in the timing of childbearing. The main objective is to demonstrate that while fertility in these countries is indeed low, women's childbearing levels are not as low as period measures such as the total fertility rate suggest. To obtain a full understanding of the various dimensions of fertility change. several indicators are examined, including period and cohort fertility by birth order and childbearing preferences. An analysis of these indicators demonstrates that period fertility measures in many developed countries are temporarily depressed by a rise in the mean age at childbearing. The distortion of the TFR is as great as 0.4 births per woman in Italy and Spain. These effects have been present in many developed countries since the 1970s and could continue for years into the future. But tempo effects are temporary, and once the postponement of childbearing ends,as it eventually must,the corresponding fertility-depressing effect stops, thus putting upward pressure on period fertility. Countries with very low fertility and substantial tempo effects may well experience rises in fertility in the near future if the timing of childbearing stabilizes. Even if this happens, however, it seems unlikely that fertility will rebound to the replacement level. [source] Birth order and sibling sex ratio in homosexual transsexual South Korean men: Effects of the male-preference stopping rulePSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 5 2007KENNETH J. ZUCKER phd Abstract Two biodemographic variables , birth order and sibling sex ratio , have been examined in several Western samples of homosexual transsexual men. The results have consistently shown that homosexual transsexuals have a later birth order and come from sibships with an excess of brothers to sisters; the excess of brothers has been largely driven by the number of older brothers and hence has been termed the fraternal birth order effect. In the present study the birth order and sibling sex ratio were examined in an Asian sample of 43 homosexual transsexual men and 49 heterosexual control men from South Korea. Although the transsexual men had a significantly late birth order, so did the control men. Unlike Western samples, the Korean transsexuals had a significant excess of sisters, not brothers, as did the control men, and this was largely accounted for by older sisters. It is concluded that a male-preference stopping rule governing parental reproductive behavior had a strong impact on these two biodemographic variables. Future studies that examine birth order and sibling sex ratio in non-Western samples of transsexuals need to be vigilant for the influential role of stopping rules, including the one identified in the present study. [source] Language abilities of siblings of children with autismTHE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 6 2003Tammy Pilowsky Background: Language abilities of siblings of children with autism were examined to explore the possibility that language abilities are behavioral markers specific to the genetic liability for autism, as part of the broader phenotype. Method: Language abilities were compared among 27 siblings of children with autism, 23 siblings of children with mental retardation of unknown etiology (MR), and 22 siblings of children with developmental language disorders (DLD). Groups were matched by siblings' age, gender, birth order, family size, ethnicity, family income and by probands' gender and mental age. Results: Siblings of children with autism achieved higher scores than siblings of children with DLD on receptive, expressive, and total language scales of the Children's Evaluation of Language Fundamentals and on verbal IQ. Moreover, within the DLD group, school problems in the domains of reading and arithmetic were more prevalent than within the other two groups. Only 2 siblings of children with autism received clinical diagnoses based on DSM-IV criteria compared to 3 siblings of children with MR and 7 siblings of children with DLD. Conclusions: After excluding data of the diagnosed siblings, no differences in language abilities could be discerned among the groups, except that more siblings in the DLD group were identified as having language difficulties. In summary, although language deficits characterize autism, siblings of children with autism were not found to demonstrate deficits in language skills assessed by formal language tests, IQ, or academic skills. [source] Lack of association between birth order and juvenile idiopathic arthritisARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 10 2003Sampath Prahalad MD No abstract is available for this article. [source] Parental Education and Child Health: Evidence from China,ASIAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL, Issue 1 2006Pushkar Maitra J1; C31; C35 This paper examines the effect of parental, household and community character-istics on the health of children in China. We find that birth order, death of elder siblings, use of prenatal care and alcohol consumption by the mother when pregnant have statistically significant effects on the health of children. Although parental education does not have a significant direct effect on child health, it does affect mothers' behavior during pregnancy and inflfluences the use of health inputs, indirectly impacting the health of children. The research findings have important implications for both family planning programs and broader social policies in China. [source] Apgar score and dental caries risk in the primary dentition of five year oldsAUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010AE Sanders Abstract Background:, Conditions in utero and early life underlie risk for several childhood disorders. This study tested the hypothesis that the Apgar score predicted dental caries in the primary dentition. Methods:, A retrospective cohort study conducted in 2003 examined associations between conditions at birth and early life with dental caries experience at five years. Dental examination data for a random sample of five-year-old South Australian children were obtained from School Dental Service electronic records. A questionnaire mailed to the parents obtained information about neonatal status at delivery (five-minute Apgar score, birthweight, plurality, gestational age) and details about birth order, weaning, and behavioural, familial and sociodemographic characteristics. Results:, Of the 1398 sampled children with a completed questionnaire (response rate = 64.6%), 1058 were singleton term deliveries among whom prevalence of dental caries was 40.1%. In weighted log-binomial regression analysis, children with an Apgar score of <=8 relative to a score of 9,10 had greater probability of dental caries in the primary dentition after adjusting for sociodemographic and behavioural covariates and water fluoridation concentration (adjusted PR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.11, 1.95). Conclusions:, Readily accessible markers of early life, such as the Apgar score, may guide clinicians in identifying children at potentially heightened risk for dental caries and aid decision-making in allocating preventive services. [source] Breastfeeding Rates in Hong Kong: A Comparison of the 1987 and 1997 Birth CohortsBIRTH, Issue 3 2002Gabriel M. Leung MD ABSTRACT: Background: Low breastfeeding rates are an issue of international public health concern. Anecdotal reports suggest very low breastfeeding rates in Asia, but no population-based studies have been conducted in the region. To determine the secular trend in breastfeeding practice in an Asian postindustrialized metropolitan community, we examined data from two population-based birth cohorts of Hong Kong infants in 1987 and 1997. Methods: Annual population rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration were estimated from the birth cohorts, considering the change in breastfeeding rates over 10 years with correction for sociodemographic and birth characteristics. Factors associated with breastfeeding practice were identified using multivariate logistic regression modeling in a pooled analysis of individual data of both cohorts. Results: Overall, 26.8 percent of mothers initiated breastfeeding in 1987, and the rate increased to 33.5 percent in 1997. The rate would have been 27.4 percent in 1987 if the distributions of method of delivery, birthweight, birth order, maternal age, education, and employment status had been the same as in 1997. Only 7.6 percent of infants remained on the breast for more than 1 month in 1987 compared with 20.4 percent a decade later. Similarly, the rate for breastfeeding more than 3 months increased from 3.9 to 10.3 percent. Total breastfeeding duration was significantly longer in 1997 than 10 years earlier. Conclusions: This is the first systematic report of secular variations of breastfeeding rates in Asia. Hong Kong should set higher but realistic goals for breastfeeding that emphasize both initiation and maintenance. Given the wide latitude for improvement in terms of readily modifiable risk factors, such as smoking and cesarean section, these new goals should focus on improving rates in these targeted groups where breastfeeding rates are lowest. (BIRTH 29:3 September 2002) [source] The Development of Gendered Interests and Personality Qualities From Middle Childhood Through Adolescence: A Biosocial AnalysisCHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2009Susan M. McHale This study charted the development of gendered personality qualities and activity interests from age 7 to age 19 in 364 first- and secondborn siblings from 185 White, middle/working-class families, assessed links between time in gendered social contexts (with mother, father, female peers, and male peers) and gender development, and tested whether changes in testosterone moderated links between time use and gender development. Multilevel models documented that patterns of change varied across dimensions of gender and by sex and birth order and that time in gendered social contexts was generally linked to development of more stereotypical qualities. Associations between time with mother and expressivity and time with father and instrumentality were stronger for youth with slower increases in testosterone. [source] Birth order, atopy, and symptoms of allergy and asthma among inner-city children attending Head Start in New York CityCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 6 2008M. S. Perzanowski Summary Background In past research, children with older siblings were more likely than others to wheeze at age 2 years, but less likely by age 6 years. Higher infection transmission and a down-regulated allergic immune response as a result of these infections, respectively, were suggested as the causes. However, in a study of children aged 0,3 years in a low-income urban community in New York City, USA, with high asthma prevalence, we observed no birth-order effect. Objective To evaluate the association between birth order and atopy and respiratory symptoms in 4-year-old children attending Head Start programs in NYC. Methods Respiratory symptoms were assessed by questionnaire for 1005 children (mean age 4.0 years) living in high asthma prevalence neighbourhoods. Serum was collected from a subgroup of the children (n=494) and specific IgE responses to dust mite, cockroach, mouse, and cat allergens were measured. Results Prevalence of specific IgE (0.35 IU/mL) did not differ significantly among first (35%), second (35%), and later-born children (28%) (P=0.23). Increasing birth order was associated with increasing prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the prior year, including wheeze (first 20%, second 27%, third or later 35%; P<0.001), being awakened at night by cough (28%, 33%, 38%; P=0.005), emergency department visits (14%, 17%, 21%; P=0.02) and hospitalizations for difficulty breathing (6.1%, 6.6%, 10%; P=0.04). The associations of birth order with respiratory symptoms were statistically significant only for the non-seroatopic children and those without an asthmatic parent. Conclusions Non-seroatopic children with older siblings were more likely than those without older siblings to have respiratory symptoms at age 4 years. Although the stability of these associations over time remains to be determined, the differences in findings between this study and our previous NYC birth cohort study suggest that patterns of asthma development may vary even among low-income populations within the same city. [source] Early life circumstances and atopic disorders in childhoodCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 7 2006R. M. D. Bernsen Summary The prevalence of childhood atopic disorders has risen dramatically in the last decades of the past century. Risk factors for the development of these disorders have been studied extensively. This review focuses on the role of early life risk factors such as pre-natal development, perinatal circumstances, birth order and childhood vaccinations. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||