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Psychosocial Adversity (psychosocial + adversity)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences100%

Selected Abstracts

Maternal Psychosocial Adversity and the Longitudinal Development of Infant Sleep

INFANCY, Issue 5 2008
Alison Cronin
Research has identified associations between indicators of social disadvantage and the presence of child sleep problems. We examined the longitudinal development of infant sleep in families experiencing high (n = 58) or low (n = 64) levels of psychosocial adversity, and the contributions of neonatal self-regulatory capacities and maternal settling strategies to this development. Assessments of infant sleep at 4-, 7-, and 12-weeks postpartum indicated no differences in sleeping difficulties between high- and low-adversity groups. However, more infant sleep difficulties were reported in the high- versus low-adversity groups at 12- and 18-month follow-ups. Neonatal self-regulatory capacities were not related to the presence or absence of adversity, or to subsequent infant sleep quality. However, there were group differences in maternal settling strategies that did predict subsequent infant sleep difficulties. The pattern of sleep disturbance observed in association with maternal psychosocial adversity at 18-months was consistent with risk for broader impairments in child functioning. [source]

Early predictors of antisocial developmental pathways among boys and girls

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2010
M. Pitzer
Objective:, We investigated in a high-risk sample the differential impact of biological and psychosocial risk factors on antisocial behaviour pathways. Method:, One hundred and thirty-eight boys and 155 girls born at differing degrees of obstetric and psychosocial risk were examined from birth until adolescence. Childhood temperament was assessed by a highly-structured parent-interview and standardized behavioural observations, adolescent temperament was measured by self-report. Neurodevelopmental variables were assessed by age-specific developmental tests. Emotional and behaviour problems were measured at the ages of 8 and 15 by the Achenbach scales. Results:, In both genders, psychosocial adversity and early self-control temperament were strongly associated with early-onset persistent (EOP) antisocial behaviour. Psychosocial adversity and more severe externalizing problems differentiated the EOP from childhood-limited (CL) pathway. In girls, adolescent-onset (AO) antisocial behaviour was strongly associated with novelty seeking at 15 years. Conclusion:, Our findings emphasize the need for early support and intervention in psychosocially disadvantaged families. [source]

Sociocultural Disadvantage, Traumatic Life Events, and Psychiatric Symptoms in Preadolescent Children

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2009
Per E. Gustafsson PhD
Previous research has demonstrated impact of psychosocial adversity on the mental health of children. This cross-sectional study examined specific influences of psychosocial adversity on internalizing versus externalizing symptoms, as explained by relative neighborhood disadvantage, sociocultural disadvantage, and exposure to interpersonal and non-interpersonal traumatic life events. Participants included 258 children aged 6 to 12 years from two Swedish elementary schools located in two socioeconomically distinct neighborhood settings. Information was obtained from their parents by means of questionnaires (a demographic form including information about parental occupation and country of origin, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Life Incidence of Traumatic Events checklist). Neighborhood differences in mental health were explained by variability in psychosocial adversity. While controlling for gender, age, and the other symptom dimension, sociocultural disadvantage was associated with internalizing but not with externalizing symptoms. In contrast, traumatic life events and especially interpersonal traumas were related to externalizing but not to internalizing symptoms. These findings provide some support for specificity of psychosocial adversities in the impact on child mental health. [source]

Early predictors of antisocial developmental pathways among boys and girls

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2010
M. Pitzer
Objective:, We investigated in a high-risk sample the differential impact of biological and psychosocial risk factors on antisocial behaviour pathways. Method:, One hundred and thirty-eight boys and 155 girls born at differing degrees of obstetric and psychosocial risk were examined from birth until adolescence. Childhood temperament was assessed by a highly-structured parent-interview and standardized behavioural observations, adolescent temperament was measured by self-report. Neurodevelopmental variables were assessed by age-specific developmental tests. Emotional and behaviour problems were measured at the ages of 8 and 15 by the Achenbach scales. Results:, In both genders, psychosocial adversity and early self-control temperament were strongly associated with early-onset persistent (EOP) antisocial behaviour. Psychosocial adversity and more severe externalizing problems differentiated the EOP from childhood-limited (CL) pathway. In girls, adolescent-onset (AO) antisocial behaviour was strongly associated with novelty seeking at 15 years. Conclusion:, Our findings emphasize the need for early support and intervention in psychosocially disadvantaged families. [source]

Maternal Psychosocial Adversity and the Longitudinal Development of Infant Sleep

INFANCY, Issue 5 2008
Alison Cronin
Research has identified associations between indicators of social disadvantage and the presence of child sleep problems. We examined the longitudinal development of infant sleep in families experiencing high (n = 58) or low (n = 64) levels of psychosocial adversity, and the contributions of neonatal self-regulatory capacities and maternal settling strategies to this development. Assessments of infant sleep at 4-, 7-, and 12-weeks postpartum indicated no differences in sleeping difficulties between high- and low-adversity groups. However, more infant sleep difficulties were reported in the high- versus low-adversity groups at 12- and 18-month follow-ups. Neonatal self-regulatory capacities were not related to the presence or absence of adversity, or to subsequent infant sleep quality. However, there were group differences in maternal settling strategies that did predict subsequent infant sleep difficulties. The pattern of sleep disturbance observed in association with maternal psychosocial adversity at 18-months was consistent with risk for broader impairments in child functioning. [source]

Sociocultural Disadvantage, Traumatic Life Events, and Psychiatric Symptoms in Preadolescent Children

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2009
Per E. Gustafsson PhD
Previous research has demonstrated impact of psychosocial adversity on the mental health of children. This cross-sectional study examined specific influences of psychosocial adversity on internalizing versus externalizing symptoms, as explained by relative neighborhood disadvantage, sociocultural disadvantage, and exposure to interpersonal and non-interpersonal traumatic life events. Participants included 258 children aged 6 to 12 years from two Swedish elementary schools located in two socioeconomically distinct neighborhood settings. Information was obtained from their parents by means of questionnaires (a demographic form including information about parental occupation and country of origin, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Life Incidence of Traumatic Events checklist). Neighborhood differences in mental health were explained by variability in psychosocial adversity. While controlling for gender, age, and the other symptom dimension, sociocultural disadvantage was associated with internalizing but not with externalizing symptoms. In contrast, traumatic life events and especially interpersonal traumas were related to externalizing but not to internalizing symptoms. These findings provide some support for specificity of psychosocial adversities in the impact on child mental health. [source]

Social adversity predicts ADHD-medication in school children , a national cohort study

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 6 2010
A Hjern
Abstract Aims:, To test the hypothesis that psychosocial adversity in the family predicts medicated ADHD in school children. Method:, ADHD-medication during 2006 was identified in the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register in national birth cohorts of 1.1 million 6,19 year olds. Logistic regression models adjusted for parental psychiatric disorders were used to test our hypothesis. Results:, There was a clear gradient for ADHD medication with level of maternal education, with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.20 (2.04,2.38) for the lowest compared with the highest level. Lone parenthood and reception of social welfare also implied higher risks of ADHD-medication with adjusted ORs of 1.45 (1.38,1.52) and 2.06 (1.92,2.21) respectively. Low maternal education predicted 33% of cases with medicated ADHD and single parenthood 14%. Conclusions:, Social adversity in the family predicts a considerable proportion of ADHD-medication in school children in Sweden. [source]