scholarly journals Diminished Association between Parental Education and Parahippocampal Cortical Thickness in Pre-Adolescents in the US

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. p34
Author(s):  
Mona Darvishi ◽  
Mohammed Saqib ◽  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
Racial Differences ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Us ◽  
American Children ◽  
The Right

Introduction: Socioeconomic status (SES) indicators, such as parental education and household income, are associated with the thickness of various cortical areas. However, less is known about the parahippocampal region. Additionally, more research is required regarding how the correlation between SES indicators and cortical thickness differs among diverse racial groups. Purpose: This study uses a national sample of pre-adolescents ages 9 to 10 years old in the US and was performed with two aims in mind. First, to investigate the correlations between two SES indicators, namely parental education and household income, and parahippocampal cortical thickness. Second, to explore racial differences in these associations. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study to analyze the Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI) data of 9,849 US pre-adolescents between the ages of 9 and 10 years old. The main outcomes were parahippocampal cortical thickness separately calculated for the right and the left hemispheres using sMRI. The independent variables were parental education and household income, which were both treated as nominal variables. Age, sex, ethnicity, and family structure were the covariates, and race was the moderator. Mixed-effects regression models were used for data analysis with and without interaction terms. Results: High income positively associated with right and left parahippocampal cortical thickness in the fully adjusted models. Race showed a statistically significant interaction with parental education on children’s parahippocampal cortical thickness, suggesting that the correlations between parental education with the right and left parahippocampal cortical thickness were significantly larger for White than Black and other/mixed race pre-adolescents. No interaction was found for household income and race. Conclusions: The association between parental education and pre-adolescents parahippocampal cortical thickness may be weaker in Black than in White American children. Consistent with the findings of Marginalization-related Diminished Returns (MDRs), parental education shows weaker links for some brain indicators, such as parahippocampal cortical thickness, in Black and other racial and minority children when compared to White children.

scholarly journals Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Cerebellum Cortex Fractional Anisotropy in Pre-Adolescents

Adolescents ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-94
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Shanika Boyce
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Racial Differences ◽  
Fractional Anisotropy ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
The Right

Introduction: Cerebellum cortex fractional anisotropy is a proxy of the integrity of the cerebellum cortex. However, less is known about how it is shaped by race and socioeconomic status (SES) indicators such as parental education and household income. Purpose: In a national sample of American pre-adolescents, this study had two aims: to test the effects of two SES indicators, namely parental education and household income, on cerebellum cortex fractional anisotropy, and to explore racial differences in these effects. Methods: Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, we analyzed the diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) data of 9565, 9–10-year-old pre-adolescents. The main outcomes were cerebellum cortex fractional anisotropy separately calculated for right and left hemispheres using dMRI. The independent variables were parental education and household income; both treated as categorical variables. Age, sex, ethnicity, and family marital status were the covariates. Race was the moderator. To analyze the data, we used mixed-effects regression models without and with interaction terms. We controlled for propensity score and MRI device. Results: High parental education and household income were associated with lower right and left cerebellum cortex fractional anisotropy. In the pooled sample, we found significant interactions between race and parental education and household income, suggesting that the effects of parental education and household income on the right and left cerebellum cortex fractional anisotropy are all significantly larger for White than for Black pre-adolescents. Conclusions: The effects of SES indicators, namely parental education and household income, on pre-adolescents’ cerebellum cortex microstructure and integrity are weaker in Black than in White families. This finding is in line with the Marginalization-related Diminished Returns (MDRs), defined as weaker effects of SES indicators for Blacks and other racial and minority groups than for Whites.

scholarly journals Age-Related Decline in Children’s Reward Sensitivity: Blacks’ Diminished Returns

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. p112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
Racial Differences ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Black Children ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Reward Sensitivity ◽  
Behavioral Approach ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
White Children ◽  
Age Related ◽  
American Children

Background: It is important to study the correlates of reward sensitivity since it predicts high-risk behaviors. While ageing reduces children’s reward sensitivity and its associated risk taking, there is more to find out about racial differences in regard to the effect of age on reward sensitivity. Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) suggest that resources and assets show weaker effects on Black children than White children. Aim: We compared White children to Black children as for the effects of age on reward sensitivity. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 10533 American children who participated in the baseline of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. The independent variable was age, while the dependent variable was reward sensitivity as captured by the behavioral approach/behavioral avoidance system (BAS-BIS). Gender, parental education, marital status, parental education, and household income were the covariates. Results: Higher age was associated with less reward sensitivity. A significant interaction was found between race and age when it comes to children’s reward sensitivity. It suggested that age is associated with a smaller gain in terms of reduced reward sensitivity in Black children than White children. Conclusion: Age is more likely to reduce reward sensitivity in White children than Black children. This finding is in line with MDRs, and may be due to social racism, segregation, stratification, and discrimination.

scholarly journals Association between Hippocampal Volume and Working Memory in 10,000+ 9–10-Year-Old Children: Sex Differences

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 411
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Shanika Boyce ◽  
Tanja Jovanovic
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Predictor Variable ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Hippocampal Volume ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Right

Aim: This study tested sex differences in the association between hippocampal volume and working memory of a national sample of 9–10-year-old children in the US. As the hippocampus is functionally lateralized (especially in task-related activities), we explored the results for the right and the left hippocampus. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study data. This analysis included baseline ABCD data (n = 10,093) of children between ages 9 and 10 years. The predictor variable was right and left hippocampal volume measured by structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI). The primary outcome, list sorting working memory, was measured using the NIH toolbox measure. Sex was the moderator. Age, race, ethnicity, household income, parental education, and family structure were the covariates. Results: In the overall sample, larger right (b = 0.0013; p < 0.001) and left (b = 0.0013; p < 0.001) hippocampal volumes were associated with higher children’s working memory. Sex had statistically significant interactions with the right (b = −0.0018; p = 0.001) and left (b = −0.0012; p = 0.022) hippocampal volumes on children’s working memory. These interactions indicated stronger positive associations between right and left hippocampal volume and working memory for females compared to males. Conclusion: While right and left hippocampal volumes are determinants of children’s list sorting working memory, these effects seem to be more salient for female than male children. Research is needed on the role of socialization, sex hormones, and brain functional connectivity as potential mechanisms that may explain the observed sex differences in the role of hippocampal volume as a correlate of working memory.

scholarly journals Association between socioeconomic status and dental caries among Chinese preschool children: a cross-sectional national study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e042908
Author(s):  
Tingting Zhang ◽  
Jialan Hong ◽  
Xueting Yu ◽  
Qiulin Liu ◽  
Andi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Index Of Inequality

ObjectivesSocioeconomic inequalities in oral health are often neglected in oral health promotion. This cross-sectional study assessed the association between dental caries and socioeconomic status (SES) among preschool children in China.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingData from the Fourth National Oral Health Survey of China (2015), comprising of 40 360 children aged 3–5 years was used.MethodsDental caries indicators including prevalence of dental caries, dental pain experience and number of decayed, missing and filling teeth (dmft). SES indicators included parental education and household income. The associations between SES and dental caries were analysed by using negative binomial regression or Poisson regression models according to data distribution. Relative and absolute inequalities in dental caries were quantified by using the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) and Slope Index of Inequality (SII), respectively.ResultsThere were significant associations between SES and prevalence of dental caries and dmft (p<0.001). Children from lower educated (RII 1.36, 95% CI 1.3 to 1.43; SII 0.97, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.13) and lower household income (RII 1.17, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.24; SII 0.55, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.75) families had higher dmft than those from well-educated and most affluent families. Relative and absolute inequalities in dental caries were larger in urban areas by household income, and in rural areas by parental education.ConclusionsAssociation between dental caries and SES was demonstrated and socioeconomic inequalities in dental caries existed among Chinese preschool children.

scholarly journals Mental Rotation in American Children: Diminished Returns of Parental Education in Black Families

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 130-141
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
Mental Rotation ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Efficiency Score ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
White Children ◽  
Family Socioeconomic Status ◽  
White Families ◽  
American Children

Background: While parental education and family socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with an increase in children’s cognitive functioning, and less is known about racial variation in these effects. Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) suggest that, under racism and social stratification, family SES and particularly parental education show weaker effects on children’s tangible outcomes for marginalized, racialized, and minoritized families, particularly Blacks, compared to Whites. Aim: We conducted this study to compare the effect of parental education on children’s mental rotation abilities, as an important aspect of cognitive function, by race. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 11,135 9–10-year-old American children. Data came from baseline of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. The independent variable was parental education. The dependent variable, mental rotation, was measured by the Little Man Task. Ethnicity, gender, age, marital status, and household income were the covariates. Results: Parental education was positively associated with mental rotation. However, parental education showed a weaker association with mental rotation in Black than in White families. This was documented by a significant interaction between race and parental education on children’s efficiency score. Conclusion: Parental education shows a weaker correlation with mental rotation of Black rather than White children, which is probably because of racism, social stratification, and discrimination. This finding is in line with the MDRs phenomenon and suggests that marginalization and racism may interfere with the influences of parental assets and resources and Black American children’s development.

scholarly journals Parental Education or Household Income? Which Socioeconomic Status Indicator Can Better Reduce Body Mass Index Disparities among Latino Children?

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. p19
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Mohammad Reza Malek-Ahmadi ◽  
Cleopatra H. Caldwell
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Status Indicator ◽  
Hispanic White

Aim: We compared the effects of parental education and household income on children’s Body Mass Index (BMI) in Hispanic White (HW) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) families. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we borrowed data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study and analyzed data of 5100 children between the ages of 9 and 10. The independent variables were parental education and household income. The primary outcome was BMI value. Ethnicity was the moderating variable. Confounders were age, sex, and family structure. Three mixed-effects regression models were used for data analysis. Results: Overall, higher parental education and household income were associated with lower BMI levels in children. While an interaction was reported between ethnicity and parental education, no relation was noted between ethnicity and household income regarding BMI. The interaction indicated weaker protective effects of high parental education on BMI in HW children than NHW children. Household income showed similar protective effects on children’s BMI in HW and NHW families. Conclusion: Parental education but not household income loses some of its protective effects on childhood BMI among HW families compared to NHW families. Distal social determinants of health may be more vulnerable to the MDRs (minorities’ diminished returns) than proximal ones. As a result, closing the income gap may be a good strategy towards closing the childhood BMI gap between highly educated HW and NHW families. Policies that raise the minimum wage and those that help HW families save money (e.g., earned income tax policies) maybe more promising strategies to eliminate the ethnic gap in BMI than increasing the education level of ethnic minority families.

scholarly journals Racial Variation in the Association between Childhood Depression and Frontal Pole Volume among American Children

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. p121
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
Racial Differences ◽  
Black Children ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Frontal Pole ◽  
Access To Treatment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
White American ◽  
American Children

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is associated with an altered structure and function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). There is more to find out about how this association differs among diverse racial groups. Aim: This study was performed to investigate racial differences in the association between MDD and frontal pole volume in 9/10-year-old children in the U.S. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study used the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Then an analytical sample included 10185 American children between the ages of 9 and 10. The independent variable was current MDD, measured using K-SADS. The primary outcome was frontal pole volume, measured using the structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI). Race was the moderator. Mixed-effects regression models were used for data analysis. Results: In the overall sample, MDD was associated with a smaller frontal pole volume among children. Race showed a statistically significant interaction with MDD on children’s frontal pole volume, indicating stronger effects on White children compared to Black children. Conclusion: The inverse association between MDD and frontal pole volume is steeper in Black than White American children. White American children with and without MDD show more similar frontal pole volume, while Black children with and without MDD differ more when it comes to the frontal pole volume. It is unknown whether or not the stronger association between frontal pole volume and MDD in Black children is due to a poor access to treatment or to a higher chronicity of MDD in Black communities.

scholarly journals Sex Differences in the Association between Household Income and Children’s Executive Function

Sexes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-31
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Shanika Boyce ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan ◽  
Cleopatra Howard Caldwell
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Stop Signal Task ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
American Children ◽  
Using Data ◽  
High Household Income

The study aimed to investigate sex differences in the boosting effects of household income on children’s executive function in the US. This is a cross-sectional study using data from Wave 1 of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Wave 1 ABCD included 8608 American children between ages 9 and 10 years old. The independent variable was household income. The primary outcome was executive function measured by the stop-signal task. Overall, high household income was associated with higher levels of executive function in the children. Sex showed a statistically significant interaction with household income on children’s executive function, indicating a stronger effect of high household income for female compared to male children. Household income is a more salient determinant of executive function for female compared to male American children. Low-income female children remain at the highest risk regarding poor executive function.

Sex Differences in the Association of Household Income with Amygdala Volume

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 233-243
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Amygdala Volume ◽  
American Children

Background: Household income and other socioeconomic position (SEP) indicators are among the most salient social determinants of children’s emotions and behaviors. Some research has shown that income and other SEP indicators may have certain sex-specific effects on the structures and functions of particular brain regions. Objectives: To investigate sex differences in the association of household income with amygdala volumes in US children. Materials & Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. The study data was collected between 2016 and 2018 across 21 sites distributed across US states. Wave 1 ABCD included 10262 American children aged between 9 and 10 years old. The independent variable was household income. The primary outcome was the left amygdala volume, which was measured by T1-weighted structural brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). We used a data exploration and analysis portal for our data analysis. Results: Overall, the household income was positively associated with left amygdala size in children. Sex showed a statistically significant interaction with household income on children’s left amygdala volume, net of all confounders, indicating a stronger effect of high household income on male children compared to female children. Conclusion: Household income is a more salient determinant of left amygdala volume for male children compared to female American children. Low-income male children remain at the highest risk of a small amygdala.

Postpartum Depression and Its Associated Factors among Women in Bandar Abbas City

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arefeh Shahi
Keyword(s):  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancy ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Bandar Abbas

Background: Postpartum depression with a different incidence of 40- 45% in different societies, which it has adverse effects on the health of mothers and their child, given the negative effects of maternal depression and its harmful effects on the baby and the quality of family life. So, this study was performed with the aim to determine postpartum depression and its associated factors in Bandar Abbas city. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 after obtaining consent from mothers by the census. A total of 343 mothers was examined for depression who referred to Bandar Abbas health centers in the 2nd and 4th months after childbirth. The data collection tools included demographic information and Postpartum Depression Edinburgh questionnaires. Finally, the statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (version 22.0) software and data were analyzed using the Independent t-test, Mann Whitney, Chi-square, and Fisher exact tests.Result: Totally, 68 (19.8%) of samples were in the second month and 54 (15.7%) in the fourth month after delivery had postpartum depression. The incidence of depression in the four months was 6.6%. There was a significant difference between depression and income, parental education, father’s use of cigarette and abnormalities of the infant (P <0.001). There was no significant difference between other factors such as gestational age, infant sex, birth weight, unwanted pregnancy, and type of delivery. Conclusion: Regarding the prevalence of this disorder, it seems that postpartum depression screening planning should be considered during child routine care as an essential component, especially for vulnerable groups.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document