Biomedical subjects

Robert H Bradley

Publications and source records attributed to Robert H Bradley.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Socioeconomic risk, parenting during the preschool years and child health age 6 years.

BACKGROUND: Parent child relationships and parenting processes are emerging as potential life course determinants of health. Parenting is socially patterned and could be one of the factors responsible for the negative effects of social inequalities on health, both in childhood and adulthood. This study tests the hypothesis that some of the effect of socioeconomic risk on health in mid childhood is transmitted via early parenting. METHODS: Prospective cohort study in 10 USA communities involving 1041 mother/child pairs, selected at birth at random with conditional sampling. EXPOSURES: income, maternal education, maternal age, lone parenthood, ethnic status and objective assessments of mother child interaction in the first 4 years of life covering warmth, negativity and positive control. OUTCOMES: mother's report of child's health in general at 6 years. Modelling: multiple regression analyses with statistical testing of mediational processes. RESULTS: All five indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) were correlated with all three measures of parenting, such that low SES was associated with poor parenting. Among the measures of parenting maternal warmth was independently predictive of future health, and among the socioeconomic variables maternal education, partner presence and 'other ethnic group' proved predictive. Measures of parenting significantly mediated the impact of measures of SES on child health. CONCLUSIONS: Parenting mediates some, but not all of the detectable effects of socioeconomic risk on health in childhood. As part of a package of measures that address other determinants, interventions to support parenting are likely to make a useful contribution to reducing childhood inequalities in health.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2006

Particle-surface capillary forces with disjoining pressure.

A new, atomic force microscopy (AFM) based experimental setup for the continuous acquisition of friction force data as a function of humidity has been developed. The current model of interactions between wet contacts under the influence of capillary effects, has been amended to include a vertical component due to the disjoining pressure and takes into account the influence of liquid films adsorbed on the surface. This is a 'switching' model, i.e. the contact between nanometer-sized sphere and a flat surface can exist in two distinct states due to capillary bridge formation/destruction as the humidity is varied. The model has been qualitatively verified on samples of differing wettability produced by UV-ozone treatment of polystyrene (PS). Results of AFM analysis of the friction vs. vapor pressure curves collected from the surface are presented. Correlation between important surface properties such as wettability, adsorption, and contact angle and friction force under varying humidity were found and discussed.

Microscopy, Atomic Force↗

PubMed2006

Neighborhood safety and overweight status in children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is a relationship between parental perception of neighborhood safety and overweight at the age of 7 years. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. SETTING: Ten urban and rural US sites. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 768 children selected via conditional random sampling with complete data at follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Parents reported demographics and perception of neighborhood safety by standardized questionnaire. Child overweight status was defined as a body mass index greater than or equal to the 95th percentile for age and sex from measured anthropometrics at the age of 7 years. The base model included relationship of the safety reporter to the child, sex, and baseline body mass index z score at the age of 4.5 years. Covariates tested included maternal marital status, education, and depressive symptoms; child race/ethnicity; participation in structured after-school activities; Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment total score; and neighborhood social cohesiveness. RESULTS: The sample was 85% white, and 10% of the children were overweight. Neighborhood safety ratings in the lowest quartile were independently associated with a higher risk of overweight at the age of 7 years compared with safety ratings in the highest quartile (adjusted odds ratio, 4.43; 95% confidence interval, 2.03-9.65). None of the candidate covariates altered the relationship between perception of neighborhood safety and child overweight status. CONCLUSIONS: Perception of the neighborhood as less safe was independently associated with an increased risk of overweight at the age of 7 years. Public health efforts may benefit from policies directed toward improving both actual and perceived neighborhood safety.

Body Mass Index↗

PubMed2006

Television exposure and overweight risk in preschoolers.

OBJECTIVE: To test the independent effect of television exposure in preschool-aged children on overweight risk. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. SETTING: Ten US sites. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand sixteen children selected via conditional random sampling. MAIN EXPOSURE: Being awake in the room with the television on for 2 hours or more per day, by maternal report at age 36 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Child overweight (body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters] > or =95th percentile) calculated from measured anthropometrics at ages 36 and 54 months. Covariates tested included child sex and race; maternal marital status, education, age, and depressive symptoms; income-needs ratio, child behavior problems; Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment total score; hours per week in nonparental care; and proportion of television exposure that was educational. RESULTS: At age 36 months, 5.8% of children were overweight; at age 54 months, 10.0% were overweight. Exposure to 2 or more hours of television per day was associated with an increased risk of overweight at both age 36 months (odds ratio, 2.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-6.24) and age 54 months (odds ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.83) in unadjusted analyses. Only maternal age altered the concurrent relationship, and the effect of television remained significant (odds ratio, 2.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-5.62). Television exposure at age 36 months was no longer a significant predictor of overweight at age 54 months when controlling for covariates. CONCLUSION: Excessive television exposure is a risk factor for overweight in preschoolers independent of a number of potential confounders associated with the quality of the home environment.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2006

Parenting styles and overweight status in first grade.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to determine the relationship between the 4 parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful) and overweight status in first grade. METHODS: Data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development were analyzed. Children with complete data for parenting parameters at 54 months and measured weight and height in first grade were included in the analysis. Overweight was defined as BMI of > or =95th percentile. The 4 parenting styles were constructed with 2 scales, namely, maternal sensitivity and maternal expectations for child self-control. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between parenting style and overweight in first grade, controlling for gender, race, maternal education, income/needs ratio, marital status, and child behavior problems. RESULTS: A total of 872 children, 11.1% overweight and 82.8% white, were included in the analysis. Children of authoritarian mothers (n = 298) had an increased risk of being overweight, compared with children of authoritative mothers (n = 179). Children of permissive (n = 132) and neglectful (n = 263) mothers were twice as likely to be overweight, compared with children of authoritative mothers. Of the covariates, only income/needs ratio was significant and did not alter the relationship between parenting style and overweight risk. CONCLUSIONS: Among the 4 parenting styles, authoritarian parenting was associated with the highest risk of overweight among young children. Understanding the mechanisms through which parenting styles are associated with overweight risk may lead to the development of more-comprehensive and better-targeted interventions.

Child↗

PubMed2006

Impact of prenatal and/or postnatal growth problems in low birth weight preterm infants on school-age outcomes: an 8-year longitudinal evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the 8-year growth, cognitive, behavioral status, health status, and academic achievement in low birth weight preterm infants who had failure to thrive only, were small for gestational age only, had failure to thrive plus were small for gestational age, or had normal growth. METHODS: A total of 985 infants received standardized evaluations to age 8; 180 infants met the criteria for failure to thrive between 4 and 36 months' gestational corrected age. The following outcome variables were collected at age 8: growth, cognitive, behavioral status, health status, and academic achievement. Multivariate analyses were performed among the 4 growth groups on all 8-year outcome variables. RESULTS: Children who both were small for gestational age and had failure to thrive were the smallest in all growth variables at age 8, and they also demonstrated the lowest cognitive and academic achievement scores. The children with failure to thrive only were significantly smaller than the children with normal growth in all growth variables and had significantly lower IQ scores. Those who were small for gestational age only did not differ from those with normal growth in any cognitive or academic achievement measures. There were no differences among the 4 groups in behavioral status or general health status. CONCLUSION: Low birth weight preterm infants who develop postnatal growth problems, particularly when associated with prenatal growth problems, demonstrate lower physical size, cognitive scores, and academic achievement at age 8. There does not seem to be an independent affect of small for gestational age status on 8-year cognitive status and academic achievement when postnatal growth is adequate.

Body Height↗

PubMed2005

Productive activity and the prevention of behavior problems.

This study used data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care to examine relations between parenting, self-control, and externalizing behavior among 1st graders. Of special concern was the relation between opportunities for productive activity and behavior problems and whether the relation was mediated by self-control. Evidence in favor of the hypothesis was observed for both mother-reported and teacher-reported externalizing behavior even with substantial controls on the models examined. Self-control also mediated relations for maternal harshness and maternal sensitivity. Somewhat surprisingly, the direct effect of maternal sensitivity on mother-reported externalizing behaviors was positive.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Children of mothers with serious substance abuse problems: an accumulation of risks.

This study examines the life circumstances and experiences of 4084 children affected by maternal addiction to alcohol or other drugs. The paper will address the characteristics of their caregivers, the multiple risk factors faced by these children, their health and development, and their school performance. Data were collected from mothers at intake into 50 publicly funded residential substance abuse treatment programs for pregnant and parenting women. Findings from this study suggest that children whose mothers abuse alcohol or other drugs confront a high level of risk and are at increased vulnerability for physical, academic, and social-emotional problems. Children affected by maternal addiction are in need of long-term supportive services.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Child care and common communicable illnesses in children aged 37 to 54 months.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between experience in child care and communicable illnesses (gastrointestinal tract infection, upper respiratory tract infection, and otitis media) in children aged 37 months to 54 months with particular focus on the effect of entry into child care after age 3 years. DESIGN: Health, child care, and family data were obtained from more than 1100 participants in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care, a 10-site prospective study that began at birth. Longitudinal logistic regression analyses were performed using each type of communicable illness as the outcome variable, with family, child, and child care variables as predictors in the model. RESULTS: For children aged 37 to 54 months, rates of upper respiratory tract illness, gastrointestinal tract illness, and ear infections were higher in those enrolled in child care arrangements with more than 6 children. During this period, children with experience in large-group care prior to age 3 years were less likely to be ill than children who entered child care for the first time after age 3 years. Even so, their rates were still higher than for those in small-group care or who were cared for at home between the ages of 37 and 54 months. Reported rates of respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract illnesses were higher for European American than African American children. Number of hours per week in child care was not a factor. CONCLUSION: Children in child care arrangements with more than 6 other children experience more bouts of upper respiratory tract illness between the ages of 37 and 54 months.

Child Day Care Centers↗

PubMed2003

Children of mothers with serious substance abuse problems: an accumulation of risks.

This study examines the life circumstances and experiences of 4084 children affected by maternal addiction to alcohol or other drugs. The paper will address the characteristics of their caregivers, the multiple risk factors faced by these children, their health and development, and their school performance. Data were collected from mothers at intake into 50 publicly funded residential substance abuse treatment programs for pregnant and parenting women. Findings from this study suggest that children whose mothers abuse alcohol or other drugs confront a high level of risk and are at increased vulnerability for physical, academic, and socioemotional problems. Children affected by maternal addiction are in need of long-term supportive services.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Socioeconomic status and child development.

Socioeconomic status (SES) is one of the most widely studied constructs in the social sciences. Several ways of measuring SES have been proposed, but most include some quantification of family income, parental education, and occupational status. Research shows that SES is associated with a wide array of health, cognitive, and socioemotional outcomes in children, with effects beginning prior to birth and continuing into adulthood. A variety of mechanisms linking SES to child well-being have been proposed, with most involving differences in access to material and social resources or reactions to stress-inducing conditions by both the children themselves and their parents. For children, SES impacts well-being at multiple levels, including both family and neighborhood. Its effects are moderated by children's own characteristics, family characteristics, and external support systems.

Achievement↗

PubMed1978

Screening the environment.

Use of environmental as well as developmental measures in screening high-risk children is suggested as a solution to some of the problems of EPSDT and similar programs. Defects of present developmental screening instruments are discussed, and recent efforts to refine environmental measurement techniques are reviewed. The need for further research on the impact of environmental variables is stressed.

Achievement↗