To examine individual, interpersonal, family, and community correlates associated with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms among pregnant adolescents. A total of 249 primarily African American and Hispanic pregnant adolescents ages 15–18 years were recruited into either an intervention group utilizing Centering Pregnancy prenatal care and case management, or to a comparison group receiving case management only. Moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were defined as a score ≥16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Intervention and comparison groups did not significantly differ on demographic characteristics or depression scores at baseline. A total of 115 (46.1 %) participants met criteria for moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms at entry into the program. Pregnant adolescents who were moderately-to-severely depressed were more likely to be African American, to have reported limited contact with the father of the baby, and to have experienced prior verbal, physical or sexual abuse. Depressed adolescents also experienced high levels of family criticism, low levels of general support, and exposure to community violence. A significant number of pregnant adolescents were affected by depression and other challenges that could affect their health. Comprehensive interventions addressing these challenges and incorporating partners and families are needed.

The interplay between child characteristics and parenting is increasingly implicated as crucial to child health outcomes. This study assessed the joint effects of children’s temperamental characteristics and maternal sensitivity on children’s weight status. Data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development were utilized. Infant temperament, assessed at child’s age of 6 months by maternal report, was categorized into three types: easy, average, and difficult. Maternal sensitivity, assessed at child’s age of 6 months by observing maternal behaviors during mother-child semi-structured interaction, was categorized into two groups: sensitive and insensitive. Children’s height and weight were measured longitudinally from age 2 years to Grade 6, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. BMI percentile was obtained based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s BMI charts. Children, who had a BMI ≥ the 85th percentile, were defined as overweight-or-obese. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the data. The proportions of children overweight-or-obese increased with age, 15.58% at 2 years old to 34.34% by Grade 6. The joint effects of children’s temperament and maternal sensitivity on a child’s body mass status depended on the child’s age. For instance, children with difficult temperament and insensitive mothers had significantly higher risks for being overweight-or-obese during the school age phase but not during early childhood. Specific combinations of child temperament and maternal sensitivity were associated with the development of obesity during childhood. Findings may hold implications for childhood obesity prevention/intervention programs targeting parents.

Two studies were conducted to validate marshmallows as a saliva stimulant for use with toddlers. First, cortisol concentrations from 14 subjects (ages 6–46 years) were compared using three saliva collection methods: (1) plain cotton dental roll, (2) dental roll with one mini-marshmallow, and (3) expectorating into a collection tube using no cotton or stimulant. EIA was used for analyses. There were no significant differences among cortisol concentrations. Second, saliva collection compliance rate was compared for 21-month-olds (n = 51) using either flavored drink crystal- (compliance rate = 16.7%) or marshmallow-flavored (compliance rate = 60%) dental rolls for saliva collection (χ2 )1) = 4.02, p = .045). These studies indicate that marshmallow is a viable option for saliva stimulation to determine toddler cortisol concentrations using EIA.

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No description available.

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The present study investigates the relationship between individual differences in children's temperament and their responsiveness to joint attention. Twenty-five 11-month-old children (12 girls and 13 boys) were presented with a gaze-following task in a laboratory setting, and parent reports of temperament were collected. Findings indicate that children's ability to correctly follow an experimenter's gaze differed as a function of individual temperament predispositions. Children high in perceptual sensitivity and negative affect engaged in relatively less frequent gaze-following, consistent with reports from previous research. However analysis of the dimension of orienting/effortful control produced an unexpected finding; that children low in effortful control were relatively more likely to respond to joint attentional bids. Overall, these findings are consistent with a view of temperament as a moderator of children's engagement in joint attention, and raise the possibility that joint attention may be a mechanism underlying previous reports of temperament–language relationships.

Preterm delivery is one of the important causes of infant morbidity and mortality in the United States (U.S.). Annually, 12% of infants are born preterm in the U.S. and preterm birth related causes of death account for approximately 35% of all infant deaths. Using the latest (2012) National Survey of Children’s Health, the study aims to estimate the prevalence rates of preterm birth in the U.S., and identify key risk factors associated with it. Data (n=42,282) was obtained from the 2012 NSCH. Using the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommendations, preterm birth was defined as one occurring less than 37 completed weeks of gestation from the first day of Page 26 2015 Appalachian Student Research Forum the last menstrual period. Based on existing literature, the following maternal and child characteristics were included as potential factors associated with preterm birth in the U.S. – infant gender, race, maternal smoking or maternal exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS), family income and maternal general health status. Descriptive statistics were reported using frequencies and proportions. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association of selected variables with the preterm birth. Overall, 10.65% of live births were born preterm in the U.S. during 2012. Preterm birth prevalence rates were higher among males (12.07%), non-Hispanic blacks (14.34%) and those born to mothers who were smokers or exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy (23.8%). Males had higher odds of being born preterm (OR 1.07 95% CI 1.01-1.15) than females. Non-Hispanic White is less likely to be born preterm (OR 0.86 95% CI 0.74-0.99) compared to non-Hispanic black. Infants born to mothers who were smokers or exposed to SHS during pregnancy had higher odds of being born preterm (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.97-1.13) compared to those born to women who were non-smokers and not exposed to SHS. Infants born to women who reported better general health status were less likely to be born preterm (Excellent/Very good vs Fair/Poor: OR 0.51 95% CI 0.46-0.56, Good vs Fair/Poor: OR 0.68 95% CI 0.61-0.75) than referent group. Approximately one-tenths of live births in the U.S. were born preterm. Study findings demonstrated infant race, gender, maternal general health status and maternal smoking or secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy as factors associated with preterm birth. Determining these factors is important in the development of effective intervention programs and policies to reduce the rates of preterm birth in the U.S.

Abstract available through Annals of Epidemiology.

The National Children’s Study (NCS) Harris County, Texas Study Center participated in the NCS Provider Based Sampling (PBS) substudy of the NCS Vanguard Phase pilot. As part of the hospital-based birth cohort component of the PBS substudy, we conducted a secondary data analysis to evaluate the proportion of postpartum women who consented to future biospecimen collection alone and to both future collection and use of residual birth biospecimens. In phase 1, 32 postpartum women at one hospital were asked to consent only to maternal future biospecimen collection. In phase 2, 40 other postpartum women from the same hospital were asked for an additional consent to use residual clinical biospecimens from the birth event that otherwise would be discarded, including cord blood and maternal blood and urine. Among 103 eligible women, a total of 72 participated. They were 28.3 ± 5.9 years old on average; 58 % were Hispanic; 63 % consented in English, and 37 % in Spanish; 39 % had some college education; 42 % were married; 60 % had an annual family income <$30,000; and 51 % were employed. In phase 1, 59 % consented to future biospecimen collection, and in phase 2, 95 % consented to both future collection and use of at least one residual birth biospecimen, with a difference between phases of 36 % [95 % CI 17–54 %]. Demographic characteristics did not differ among those who did and did not consent. Postpartum women were significantly more likely to grant consent for use of future and residual hospital-obtained biospecimens than future biospecimen collection alone.