scholarly journals Associations between Subjective and Objective Measures of the Community Food Environment and Executive Function in Early Childhood

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1944
Author(s):  
Lindsey M. Bryant ◽  
Heather A. Eicher-Miller ◽  
Irem Korucu ◽  
Sara A. Schmitt
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Food Access ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Parent Reports ◽  
Limited Food ◽  
Community Food Environment

The present study utilized a cross-sectional design to assess whether two indicators of the community food environment, parent perceptions of the community food environment (i.e., as assessed by parent reports of access to, availability, and affordability of foods) and limited food access (via census data), were related to executive function in preschool children. Children were recruited during the 2014–2015 academic year from Head Start and community-based preschools (N = 102) and children’s executive function ability was tested using the Head–Toes–Knees–Shoulders task. Multiple linear regression analysis was used, as well as adjusted standard errors to account for clustering at the classroom level. Parent reports of their food environment were significantly related to children’s executive function, such that children living in higher quality community food environments had better executive function. In contrast, limited food access using census data was not significantly related to executive function. The results suggest that parent reports of the community food environment in early childhood may contribute to young children’s cognitive outcomes more so than being in a limited food access area, as these data may not represent individual behaviors or capture the variability of the accessibility and affordability of healthy foods. Policy makers should consider correlations between the food environment and early executive functioning when developing new community health/wellness legislation.

scholarly journals The Longitudinal Relationship Between Screen Time, Sleep and a Diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Childhood

2020 ◽  
pp. 108705472095389
Author(s):  
Birgit Levelink ◽  
Marjolein van der Vlegel ◽  
Monique Mommers ◽  
Jessica Gubbels ◽  
Edward Dompeling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Estimating Equation ◽  
Birth Cohort Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Television Time

Objective: To evaluate longitudinal associations between recreational screen time and sleep in early childhood, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age 8 to 10 years. Method: Questionnaires from 2,768 mother-child pairs from the Dutch KOALA Birth Cohort Study were used. General estimating equation logistic regression analyses examined associations between screen time and sleep at age 2, 4, and 6, and ADHD at age 8 to 10. Linear regression analysis examined associations between television time, sleep and CBCL/2-3 scores at age 2. Results: Longitudinally, neither screen time nor sleep were associated with ADHD. Cross-sectionally, CBCL/2-3 externalizing symptom scores increased by 0.03 with every hour television time (95% CI 0.002–0.05) and increased by 0.02 per hour of less sleep (95% CI −0.03–−0.01). Conclusion: Despite an association with externalizing symptoms at age 2, screen time and sleep in early childhood were not associated with ADHD. Carefulness is warranted when extrapolating cross-sectional associations at early age to an ADHD diagnosis.

scholarly journals Community food environment and early childhood BMI: baseline findings from the Hawaii Children’s Healthy Living Program (390.5)

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Fialkowski ◽  
Fenfang Li ◽  
Jean Butel ◽  
Claudio Nigg ◽  
Kathryn Braun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Healthy Living ◽  
Community Food Environment

Beneficial impact of education on cognition in amyloid-positive individuals with subjective cognitive decline: The SILCODE study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guanqun Chen ◽  
Chunhua Liu ◽  
Kun Yang ◽  
Jiehui Jiang ◽  
Ying Han
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Model ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Function Language

Abstract Background: Previous studies suggest that education is associated with a decreased risk of dementia in individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). However, the influence of education on cognition in amyloid-positive SCD subjects is not clear.Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study that involved 43 amyloid-negative and 29 amyloid-positive SCD subjects from the Sino Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Decline (SILCODE) project. Cognitive assessment included episodic memory, executive function, language, and general cognitive function. Multiple linear regression model was used to assess the association of education on cognitive performance.Results: Multiple linear regression analysis suggested that education has a protective effect on executive function, language for the amyloid-negative SCD group and language, global cognition for the amyloid-positive SCD group.Conclusions: The present study indicated that education has the potential to delay disease progression in amyloid-positive SCD subjects.

scholarly journals Maternal Executive Function and the Family Food Environment: A Cross-Sectional Study

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Bauer ◽  
Heidi M. Weeks ◽  
Julie C. Lumeng ◽  
Alison Miller ◽  
Ashley N. Gearhardt
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Parenting Practices ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Food Environment

Background: Individuals with lower executive function (EF) have poorer quality dietary intake and are more likely to experience obesity, in part because of their limited ability to resist impulses and implement routines that promote healthy eating. It is unknown whether these negative impacts of lower EF among parents extend to the parenting practices and routines that support children’s healthy eating and weight. The purpose of the current study is to examine associations between mothers’ EF and characteristics of the family food environment that support children’s healthy eating.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2017 via Amazon Mechanical Turk of US-based mothers of 2 to 9-year-old children (N=492). EF was measured using the Behavior Rating of Executive Function-Adult Version. Family food environment characteristics were measured via self-report surveys. Standardized, linear regression models were used to examine covariate-adjusted associations and the potential for different associations between mothers’ EF and family food environment characteristics by family socio-demographics. Results: Low EF among mothers was associated with less engagement in positive food-related parenting practices and less presence of healthy family food environment characteristics including providing family meals, implementing consistent mealtime schedules and structure, and avoiding using food to regulate children’s emotions. Few differences in these associations were observed by mothers’ educational attainment, household income-to-needs ratio, or child age.Conclusions and Implications: Maternal EF is associated with several features of the family food environment. Lower EF among mothers may interfere with their ability to implement recommending parenting practices that support children’s healthy eating and weight.

scholarly journals Relationships Between Balance and Cognition in Patients With Subjective Cognitive Impairment, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Alzheimer Disease

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (8) ◽  
pp. 1123-1134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gro Gujord Tangen ◽  
Knut Engedal ◽  
Astrid Bergland ◽  
Tron Anders Moger ◽  
Anne Marit Mengshoel
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Alzheimer Disease ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Postural Responses

Background Balance impairments are common in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), but which aspects of balance are affected, at which stage of cognitive impairment, and their associations with cognitive domains remain unexplored. Objectives The aims of this study were: (1) to explore differences in balance abilities among patients with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), mild AD, and moderate AD and (2) to examine the relationship between the various aspects of balance and cognitive domains. Design This was a cross-sectional study. Methods Home-dwelling patients with SCI or MCI (n=33), mild AD (n=99), and moderate AD (n=38) participated in this study. The Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest), comprising 6 subscales—“Biomechanical Constraints,” “Stability Limits/Verticality,” “Anticipatory Postural Adjustments,” “Postural Responses,” “Sensory Orientation,” and “Stability in Gait”—was used to assess balance. Cognitive domains were assessed using the following measures: Mini-Mental Status Examination, Word-List Learning Test from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), Verbal Fluency Test, Clock Drawing Test, and Trail Making Test, parts A and B (TMT-A and TMT-B, respectively). Two-way between-group analyses of variance, adjusted for age, were used to analyze differences among the groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the associations between balance and cognition. Results Differences were found between the groups on all BESTest subscales; the moderate AD group had the worst scores. The TMT-B (measuring executive function) was associated with all of the BESTest subscales after controlling for demographic factors. Limitations The cross-sectional design hampered interpretation of the development of balance impairments. Conclusions The study findings indicate that all aspects of balance control deteriorate with increasing severity of cognitive impairment and that executive function plays an important role in balance control. Physical therapists should pay attention to these findings both in clinical practice and in future research.

scholarly journals Attitudes of pharmacy students towards patient safety: a cross-sectional study from six developing countries

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e039459
Author(s):  
Abdallah Y Naser ◽  
Zahra Khalil Alsairafi ◽  
Ahmed Awaisu ◽  
Hassan Alwafi ◽  
Oriana Awwad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Pharmacy Students ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

ObjectiveTo evaluate the attitudes of undergraduate pharmacy students towards patient safety in six developing countries.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingParticipants were enrolled from the participating universities in six countries.ParticipantsUndergraduate pharmacy students from the participating universities in six developing countries (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, India and Indonesia) were invited to participate in the study between October 2018 and September 2019.Primary outcomeAttitudes towards patient safety was measured using 14-item questionnaire that contained five subscales: being quality-improvement focused, internalising errors regardless of harm, value of contextual learning, acceptability of questioning more senior healthcare professionals’ behaviour and attitude towards open disclosure. Multiple-linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of positive attitudes towards patient safety.ResultsA total of 2595 students participated in this study (1044 from Jordan, 514 from Saudi Arabia, 134 from Kuwait, 61 from Qatar, 416 from India and 429 from Indonesia). Overall, the pharmacy students reported a positive attitude towards patient safety with a mean score of 37.4 (SD=7.0) out of 56 (66.8%). The ‘being quality-improvement focused’ subscale had the highest score, 75.6%. The subscale with the lowest score was ‘internalising errors regardless of harm’, 49.2%. Female students had significantly better attitudes towards patient safety scores compared with male students (p=0.001). Being at a higher level of study and involvement in or witnessing harm to patients while practising were important predictors of negative attitudes towards patient safety (p<0.001).ConclusionPatient safety content should be covered comprehensively in pharmacy curricula and reinforced in each year of study. This should be more focused on students in their final year of study and who have started their training. This will ensure that the next generation of pharmacists are equipped with the requisite knowledge, core competencies and attitudes to ensure optimal patient safety when they practice.

scholarly journals The relationship between the atherogenic index of plasma and arterial stiffness in essential hypertensive patients from China: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Yin ◽  
Minghui Li ◽  
Lingling Yu ◽  
Feng Hu ◽  
Yu Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Stiffness ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Atherogenic Index ◽  
Chinese Patients ◽  
Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Atherogenic Index Of Plasma

Abstract Background The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) always remains in a potential association with arterial stiffness, however, this association has not been fully discovered and needs to be studied in depth in large hypertensive patient populations. The present analysis thus sought to further explore the association that exists between AIP and arterial stiffness in Chinese patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed 4744 Chinese individuals with essential hypertension. AIP was defined as the base 10 logarithm of the ratio of plasma of triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels indicated in molar concentrations. Measurement of arterial stiffness was carried out via brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Results Data were adjusted for potential confounding variables, and multivariate linear regression analysis revealed AIP to be positively correlated with baPWV (β = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.96 to 1.72, P < 0.001). When AIP was instead treated as a categorical variable divided into quartiles, the same relationship was observed (P for trend < 0.001). We additionally found AIP and baPWV had a stronger positive association in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) < 24 kg/m2 (P for interaction < 0.05). Conclusion AIP and arterial stiffness were positively correlated in essential hypertension patients in China, especially in those with a BMI < 24 kg/m2. Clinical trial registration ChiCTR1800017274.

scholarly journals Early Childhood Educators’ Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Eadie ◽  
Penny Levickis ◽  
Lisa Murray ◽  
Jane Page ◽  
Catriona Elek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Lower Risk ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Organizational Structures ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Student Teacher Relationship ◽  
Learning At Home ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe importance of Early Childhood (EC) educators’ wellbeing has been brought into sharp focus during the COVID-19 pandemic, as educators have navigated numerous additional stressors while providing education and care services for some children and ongoing support for many others learning at home. This study aimed to explore the impact of the pandemic on EC educators’ wellbeing and educator-child relationships, as growing evidence shows the influence of these factors on children’s developmental outcomes.In July 2020, members of a Research Network of EC Professionals—who previously identified educator wellbeing as a priority issue—were invited to participate in an online survey. The survey included two published, validated scales: the Early Childhood Professional Wellbeing scale (ECPW) and the Student–Teacher Relationship Scale (modified). Survey items about educators’ experiences during the pandemic were also included. Two hundred and thirty-two EC educators from across Australia completed the survey, mostly from Victoria where lockdowns were most severe. Linear regression analysis demonstrated stronger professional wellbeing was associated with less conflict in educator-child relationships and lower risk of staff turnover. This was more likely to be experienced by senior or more experienced staff. Although a negative impact of COVID-19 was reported, ECPW scores were relatively high, and organizational structures supporting professional wellbeing were most strongly associated with lower risk of turnover (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). Findings highlight that supporting EC educators’ wellbeing is essential for workforce retention, and for promoting quality educator-child relationships which are central to young children’s learning and development.

Dental Caries Severity and Nutritional Status of Nigerian Preschool Children

2021 ◽  
pp. 238008442110021
Author(s):  
O.O. Olatosi ◽  
A.A. Alade ◽  
T. Naicker ◽  
T. Busch ◽  
A. Oyapero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Early Childhood Caries ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Malnourished Children ◽  
Z Scores ◽  
Childhood Caries

Introduction: Malnutrition in children is one of the most prevalent global health challenges, and malnourished children have a higher risk of death from childhood diseases. Early childhood caries (ECC) is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Complications from ECC such as pain, loss of tooth/teeth, and infection can undermine a child’s nutrition and growth. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the severity of decay, missing, and filled tooth (dmft) by nutritional status using the z scores of the anthropometric measurements: height for age (HFA), weight for age (WFA), weight for height (WFH), and body mass index for age (BMIA) among children with ECC in Nigeria. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in 5 local government areas (LGAs) in Lagos State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used. Results: A total of 273 cases of ECC were included in the analyses (mean age 4.19 ± 0.96 y). Overall, the mean dmft was 3.04 ± 2.28, and most (96%) were accounted for by untreated decay. The distribution of dmft within the different z score categories of BMIA (<–3 = severely wasted, –2 to –3 = wasted, –2 to +2 = normal, +2 to +3 = overweight and >+3 = obese) showed the highest dmft scores among the combined severely wasted and wasted groups, lowest among children with normal z scores, and intermediate in the overweight and obese groups. There was a significant negative correlation between BMIA z score, WFH z score, and dmft ( r = −0.181, P < 0.05 and r = −0.143, P < 0.05, respectively). However, the correlations between HFA z score, WFA z score, and dmft were positive but not significant ( r = 0.048, P = 0.44 and r = 0.022, P = 0.77, respectively). Conclusion: Our study showed an increased severity of dental caries among severely wasted or wasted children with ECC compared to those of normal or overweight. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The results from this study will raise awareness among clinicians and policy makers on the need for a primary prevention program for early childhood caries in countries with high burden of malnutrition and limited resources. Also, it will help draw the attention of clinicians to the caries status of malnourished children that can be managed to improve the nutritional outcomes.

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