Association Between Paternal Separation During Early Childhood and Pubertal Timing Among Girls Using Longitudinal Birth Cohort in Japan

IntroductionPrevious studies have shown that paternal absence leads to earlier pubertal timing among girls in high-income countries. Despite the low divorce rate in Japan, paternal separation is commonly seen due to a unique corporation system, tanshin funin, where employees relocate with their spouses and children. We examined paternal separation, including paternal absence (due to divorce or paternal death) and paternal tanshin funin, during early childhood as a predictor of earlier girl’s pubertal development, assessed as age at peak height velocity (PHV).MethodsThis study examined 15 214 girls from a longitudinal survey conducted in Japan from 2001 to 2016 by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Paternal separation was determined by the occurrence through annual surveys conducted at ages 0.5 to 4.5 years. Outcome was defined as age at PHV between ages 6 to 15 years. We conducted linear regression, adjusted for potential confounders and other covariates.ResultsContinuous father cohabitation was seen in 88.7% of households, while paternal separation was experienced 1-2, 3-4 and 5 times (always) among 7.4%, 2.8% and 1.1% of households, respectively. Girls who confronted continuous paternal separation (5 times) experienced 0.42 years earlier [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.75, -0.10] age at PHV compared to their peers who always lived with their fathers.ConclusionGirls who experienced paternal separation throughout ages 0.5 to 4.5 years experienced PHV earlier.

Impacts of Migration on Families

The departure of adults from rural homes raises the living standards of the family left behind, but separation of married couples through migration tends to be endemic to particular societies. The proportion of married women left alone in a rural home is particularly large in much of Africa. The incidence of long-term separation before the wife follows the husband into town is high. Yet, more women than men among rural-urban migrants are without their partner who has moved on. The intersection of child and parental migration leaving children in towns with no relative present is shown to be problematic in Haiti and much of Africa. Otherwise, having migrated into town, children are better educated than those remaining at home, but they do not catch up with their urban-born counterparts. Education of children left behind in villages is hurt by maternal migration, though remittance receipts more than offset paternal absence.

Work Related Paternal Absence among Petroleum Workers in Canada

Work-Related Parental Absence (WRPA) is common in contemporary family life. Industries such as aviation, fishing, logging, mining, and petroleum extraction all require the employee to work away from family from short to significant periods of time. In Canada’s petroleum industry, work schedules that involve parental absence are especially common. There has been ample research conducted on the impact of military deployment on families, some research on how mining families are impacted by WRPA, and a small amount of research on the effects of WRPA among offshore European petroleum workers and their families. However, there is no research currently available that investigates the impact of WRPA on Canadian oil and gas petroleum workers and their families. In this article, we share the results of a qualitative study that examined the experience of WRPA through interviewing 10 heterosexual couples. Use of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis identified a tripartite thematic structure consisting of positive, negative, and neutral aspects of the WRPA experience, which in turn were shaped by specific adaptive strategies undertaken by families. The results of this research provide important insights into a common, yet poorly understood, lifestyle within the Canadian employment landscape.

Low birth weight, family income and paternal absence as risk factors in neuropsychomotor development

Introduction: The first years of life are crucial to neuropsychomotor development (NPMD), during this period children are susceptible to organic, environmental or activity-related influences that may represent protective or risk factors towards full development, with potential lifelong repercussions.Objective: This study aimed to investigate and verify the risk factors in the neuropsychomotor development (NPMD) of children aged from zero to three years, attending public early childhood education centers.Methods: Cross-sectional study, contextual approach – based on ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) –, Denver II developmental screening test and additional assessments about nutritional status. For the analysis, a logistic regression was performed. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) concerning body functions and structure (evaluation questionnaire), activity and participation (evaluation of NPMD in school), personal factors (family characteristics), and environmental factors (characteristics of the ECECs) were considered for the evaluation phase. The instruments consisted of a questionnaire containing items to elicit information about the child, including current, neonatal and family traits. For the evaluation DPMD, the Denver II test was used. Inter- and intra-rater reliability was established using Cohen's kappa, and data subsequently submitted to stepwise (backward) regression analysis using a Logit model, using binary responses. The construction of an ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) to define the explanatory profile of the model built also was included, in addition to the calculation of the Odds Ratio (OR), the odds of chance occurrence the association of a given variable with DPMD.Results: NPMD was within the normal parameters, in 68.8% (n = 53) and risk of delays was in 31.2% (n = 24). The area with the best performance was the fine motor-adaptive (3.75%) and the most questionable one was the language (57.5%). It was verified that 48% (n=37) of the children had normal weight while 52% (n = 40) presented some nutritional risk. Low birth weight (OR = 181), monthly family income (OR = 9) and paternal absence (OR = 34) were statistically significant factors on the risk of NPMD delays.Conclusion: low birth weight, family income and paternal absence are factors associated with risks of NPMD delays. These findings reinforce the systemic and multifactorial nature of NPMD and emphasize the need for monitoring and formulating public policies -- especially the ones dedicated to children with low income conditions --, which could contribute to the full development of children, since public early childhood education centers should be transforming agents in the quality of child development.

Serial killers: Relation between childhood maltreatment and sexual relations with the victims

IntroductionSerial killer's (SK) familiar relations often present a disorganized adherence characterized by the paternal absence and the excessive maternal coldness or over-protection. This familiar diagram, joined to mistreatment situations, could generate different antisocial conducts in the child because of the vacancy of a significant strong figure.ObjectivesTo study, in the SK, the relation between having suffered childhood mistreatment and the sexual aggression to the victims before killing them.MethodA study is realized between the variables of childhood mistreatment and sexual aggression to the victims. The data has been extracted from 100 protocols of SK with different nationalities elaborated by the unit of analysis of criminal behavioral (University of Salamanca, Spain).ResultsThe results show a significant relation between both variables.ConclusionsIt can be confirmed that the SK who have suffered childhood mistreatment sexually attack their victims before killing them while those who did not experiment it during their childhood do not realize that conduct.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Fatherhood in adolescence: prevalence and associated factors in a community sample of youngsters

This article aims to assess the prevalence of fatherhood in adolescence (FA) and associated factors in a community sample of 14 to 35 year-old men. Cross-sectional population-based study realized in the urban area of the city of Pelotas-RS, Brazil. The sample was selected by clusters, according to the city census. This sub-study only comprised sexually active men. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire in the participants’ homes. The sample was composed for 934 men. The prevalence of fatherhood in adolescence was 8% (n = 75). We verified higher prevalence of FA among those that reported paternal absence (p < 0.001), those that had lived with stepfather (p = 0.044), and among those that had sexual debut before the age of 14 (p = 0.011). Paternal absence, have lived with a stepfather, and early sexual experience are associated factors to fatherhood in adolescence.