Improving quality of mother-infant relationship and infant attachment in socioeconomically deprived community in South Africa: randomised controlled trial - Cooper, P. J.; Tomlinson, M.; Swartz, L.; Landman, M.; Molteno, C.; Stein, A.; McPherson, K.; Murray, L. (2009)
Objective To assess the efficacy of an intervention designed to improve the mother-infant relationship and security of infant attachment in a South African peri-urban settlement with marked adverse socioeconomic circumstances.Design Randomised controlled trial.Setting Khayelitsha, a peri-urban settlement in South Africa.Participants 449 pregnant women.Interventions The intervention was delivered from late pregnancy and for six months postpartum. Women were visited in their homes by previously untrained lay community workers who provided support and guidance in parenting. The purpose of the intervention was to promote sensitive and responsive parenting and secure infant attachment to the mother. Women in the control group received no therapeutic input from the research team.Main outcome measures Primary outcomes: quality of mother-infant interactions at six and 12 months postpartum; infant attachment security at 18 months. Secondary outcome: maternal depression at six and 12 months.Results The intervention was associated with significant benefit to the mother-infant relationship. At both six and 12 months, compared with control mothers, mothers in the intervention group were significantly more sensitive (6 months: mean difference=0.77 (SD 0.37), t=2.10, P<0.05, d=0.24; 12 months: mean difference=0.42 (0.18), t=−2.04 , P<0.05, d=0.26) and less intrusive (6 months: mean difference=0.68 (0.36), t=2.28, P<0.05, d=0.26; 12 months: mean difference=−1.76 (0.86), t=2.28 , P<0.05, d=0.24) in their interactions with their infants. The intervention was also associated with a higher rate of secure infant attachments at 18 months (116/156 (74%) v 102/162 (63%); Wald=4.74, odds ratio=1.70, P<0.05). Although the prevalence of maternal depressive disorder was not significantly reduced, the intervention had a benefit in terms of maternal depressed mood at six months (z=2.05, P=0.04) on the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale).Conclusions The intervention, delivered by local lay women, had a significant positive impact on the quality of the mother-infant relationship and on security of infant attachment, factors known to predict favourable child development. If these effects persist, and if they are replicated, this intervention holds considerable promise for use in the developing world.Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN25664149.

Impact of a Social-emotional Skills-Building Program (Pisotón) on Early Development of Children in Colombia: A Pilot Effectiveness Study - Cosso, Jimena; de Vivo, Ana Rita Russo; Hein, Sascha; Silvera, Liceth Paola Reales; Ramirez-Varela, Lucero; Ponguta, Liliana Angelica (International Journal of Educational Research, 2022)
Keywords: Colombia; early childhood development; social and emotional skill development

Maternal perceptions of paternal investment are associated with relationship satisfaction and breastfeeding duration in humans. - Tombeau Cost, Katherine; Jonas, Wibke; Unternaehrer, Eva; Dudin, Aya; Szatmari, Peter; Gaudreau, Hélène; Kennedy, James; Atkinson, Leslie; Steiner, Meir; Meaney, Michael; Fleming, Alison (Journal of Family Psychology, 2018)

Forced Migration Review: Education needs, rights and access in displacement - Couldrey, M.; Peebles, J. (2019)
Keywords: child labour; early childhood educatgion; education in emergencies; education policy; forced migration; immigration policy; refugee children; Refugees

The Family Context of Parenting in Children's Adaptation to Elementary School - Cowan, P. A.; Cowan, C. P.; Ablow, J. C.; Johnson, V. K.; Measelle, J. R. (Taylor & Francis, 2005)

An approach to preventing coparenting conflict and divorce in low-income families: strengthening couple relationships and fostering fathers' involvement. - Cowan, C. P.; Cowan, P. A.; Pruett, M. K.; Pruett, K. (Fam Process, 2007)
In the context of current concern about levels of marital distress, family violence, and divorce, the SFI study is evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention to facilitate the positive involvement of low-income Mexican American and European American fathers with their children, in part by strengthening the men's relationships with their children's mothers. The study design involves a randomized clinical trial that includes assignment to a 16-week couples group, a 16-week fathers group, or a single-session control group. Couples in both group interventions and the control condition include partners who are married, cohabiting, and living separately but raising a young child together. This article presents the rationale, design, and intervention approach to father involvement for families whose relationships are at risk because of the hardships of their lives, many of whom are manifesting some degree of individual or relationship distress. We present preliminary impressions and qualitative findings based on our experience with 257 families who completed the pretest, and the first 160 who completed one postintervention assessment 9 months after entering the study. Discussion centers on what we have learned and questions that remain to be answered in mounting a multisite preventive intervention to strengthen relationships in low-income families.
Keywords: Adult; Child; Conflict (Psychology); Divorce; Family Therapy; Father-Child Relations; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Parenting; Parents; Socioeconomic Factors

Promoting Fathers' Engagement With Children: Preventive Interventions for Low-Income Families - Cowan, P. A.; Cowan, C. P.; Pruett, M. K.; Pruett, K.; Wong, J. J. (Journal of Marriage and Family, 2009)
Keywords: experimental methods; Father-Child Relations; Hispanic American; marriage and close relationships; Parenting; prevention

Primarily Peaceful: Nurturing Peace in the Primary Grades - Crawford, PatriciaA (Early Childhood Education JournalEarly Childhood Education JournalEarly Childhood Education Journal, 2005)
Keywords: character education; children’s literature; conflict resolution; peace studies; primary grades

Peer Mediation: Citizenship And Social Inclusion Revisited: Citizenship and Social Inclusion in Action - Cremin, H. (McGraw-Hill Education, 2007)

A longitudinal study of relational aggression, physical aggression, and children's social-psychological adjustment - Crick, N. R.; Ostrov, J. M.; Werner, N. E. (J Abnorm Child Psychol, 2006)
Although great strides have recently been made in our understanding of relational aggression and its consequences, one significant limitation has been the lack of prospective studies. The present research addressed this issue by identifying and assessing groups of relationally aggressive, physically aggressive, relationally plus physically aggressive (co-morbid), and nonaggressive children during their third grade year in elementary school and then reassessing them a year later, during fourth-grade (N = 224, 113 girls). Two aspects of social-psychological adjustment were assessed during both assessment periods including internalizing difficulties (i.e., withdrawal, depression/anxiety, and somatic complaints) and externalizing problems (i.e., aggressive behavior, delinquency). It was revealed that the strongest predictor of future social-psychological adjustment problems and increases in these problems from third to fourth was the combination of relational and physical aggression. Relational aggression also contributed unique information, relative to physical aggression, in the prediction of future maladjustment. Implications of these findings for future research and prevention efforts, particularly for aggressive girls, are discussed.
Crick, Nicki R Ostrov, Jamie M Werner, Nicole E eng Comparative Study Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2006/06/03 09:00 J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2006 Apr;34(2):131-42. Epub 2006 Apr 26.
Keywords: *Aggression; *Interpersonal Relations; *Social Adjustment; Anxiety/psychology; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child Behavior Disorders/epidemiology/*psychology; Comorbidity; Depression/psychology; Female; Humans; Juvenile Delinquency/psychology; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Midwestern United States/epidemiology; Multivariate Analysis; Psychophysiologic Disorders/psychology; Violence/psychology

Postinfancy growth, schooling, and cognitive achievement: Young Lives - Crookston, B. T.; Schott, W.; Cueto, S.; Dearden, K. A.; Engle, P.; Georgiadis, A.; Lundeen, E. A.; Penny, M. E.; Stein, A. D.; Behrman, J. R. (Am J Clin Nutr, 2013)
BACKGROUND: Early life growth failure and resulting cognitive deficits are often assumed to be very difficult to reverse after infancy. OBJECTIVE: We used data from Young Lives, which is an observational cohort of 8062 children in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam, to determine whether changes in growth after infancy are associated with schooling and cognitive achievement at age 8 y. DESIGN: We represented the growth by height-for-age z score at 1 y [HAZ(1)] and height-for-age z score at 8 y that was not predicted by the HAZ(1). We also characterized growth as recovered (stunted at age 1 y and not at age 8 y), faltered (not stunted at age 1 y and stunted at age 8 y), persistently stunted (stunted at ages 1 and 8 y), or never stunted (not stunted at ages 1 and 8 y). Outcome measures were assessed at age 8 y. RESULTS: The HAZ(1) was inversely associated with overage for grade and positively associated with mathematics achievement, reading comprehension, and receptive vocabulary. Unpredicted growth from 1 to 8 y of age was also inversely associated with overage for grade (OR range across countries: 0.80-0.84) and positively associated with mathematics achievement (effect-size range: 0.05-0.10), reading comprehension (0.02-0.10), and receptive vocabulary (0.04-0.08). Children who recovered in linear growth had better outcomes than did children who were persistently stunted but were not generally different from children who experienced growth faltering. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in child growth after early faltering might have significant benefits on schooling and cognitive achievement. Hence, although early interventions remain critical, interventions to improve the nutrition of preprimary and early primary school-age children also merit consideration.
Crookston, Benjamin T Schott, Whitney Cueto, Santiago Dearden, Kirk A Engle, Patrice Georgiadis, Andreas Lundeen, Elizabeth A Penny, Mary E Stein, Aryeh D Behrman, Jere R eng R01 HD070993/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ T32 DK007734/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/ Comparative Study Observational Study Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2013/09/27 06:00 Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Dec;98(6):1555-63. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.113.067561. Epub 2013 Sep 25.
Keywords: *Child Development; *Cognition; *Learning; *Musculoskeletal Development; Cohort Studies; Developing Countries; Educational Status; Ethiopia; Family Characteristics; Female; Growth Disorders/etiology/*prevention & control; Humans; India; Infant; Male; Malnutrition/*diet therapy/physiopathology; Peru; Reading; Vietnam; Vocabulary

Evaluation of a Wraparound Process for Children Exposed to Family Violence - Crusto, C.A.; Lowell, D. I.; Paulicin, B.; Reynolds, J.; Feinn, R.; Friedman, S.R.; Kaufman, J.S. (Best Practice in Mental Health, 2008)
Numerous programs have been established to help children who have experienced or are experiencing family violence, but few of these programs have been systematically evaluated. To contribute to the field's understanding of interventions for young children exposed to family violence and their families, we evaluated an intervention that offers comprehensive assessment, targeted caregiver-child intervention, individualized service planning, and care coordination. Baseline-to-discharge results revealed (1) a significant decrease over time in the number of potentially traumatic events that children experienced, including family and nonfamily violence events, (2) significant decreases over time in children's post-traumatic stress-intrusive thoughts and post-traumatic stress-avoidance behaviors, (3) significant decreases in self-reported stress associated with the parenting role among caregivers, (4) favorable ratings of services by caregivers, and (5) high levels of service receipt.
Keywords: caregiver-child intervention; childhood trauma; family violence

Children’s voices in times of COVID-19. Continued child activism in the face of personal challenges - Cuevas-Parra, P.; Stephano, M. (World Vision, 2020)
Keywords: Child Advocacy; COVID-19

Intergenerational transmission of relationship aggression: a prospective longitudinal study - Cui, M.; Durtschi, J. A.; Donnellan, M. B.; Lorenz, F. O.; Conger, R. D. (J Fam Psychol, 2010)
The present study examined whether physical and verbal aggression in the family of origin were associated with similar patterns of aggression in young adult couples. Hypotheses were tested using a sample of 213 focal individuals who were followed from adolescence to adulthood. Results suggested that aggression in the family when focal participants were adolescents predicted aggression with romantic partners when participants were adults. The association between interparental aggression and later aggression in adult romantic unions was partially mediated through parents' aggression to focal participants when they were adolescents. Both physical and verbal aggression revealed the same pattern of findings. All together, these findings are consistent with a developmental-interactional perspective (Capaldi & Gorman-Smith, 2003) concerning the developmental origins of aggression in intimate relationships.
1939-1293 Cui, Ming Durtschi, Jared A Donnellan, M Brent Lorenz, Frederick O Conger, Rand D R01 MH062989/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States MH051361/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States R01 MH051361-06A1/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States R01 HD051746/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States HD051746/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States HD047573/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States HD027724/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States DA05347/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States MH59355/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States HD064687/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States R01 MH051361/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States MH62989/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States MCJ-109572/PHS HHS/United States MH19734/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States R01 HD064687-01/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States MH43270/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States T32 MH019734/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States R01 HD047573/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States R01 HD064687/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States K05 MH000567/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States MH00567/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States MH48165/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States R01 HD051746-01/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. United States J Fam Psychol. 2010 Dec;24(6):688-97. doi: 10.1037/a0021675.
Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Aggression/*psychology; Child; Domestic Violence/psychology; Family/*psychology; Female; Humans; Intergenerational Relations; Interpersonal Relations; Interviews as Topic; Iowa; Male; Parents/psychology; Prospective Studies; Spouses/psychology

Children and violence: the role of children's regulation in the marital aggression-child adjustment link - Cummings, E. M.; El-Sheikh, M.; Kouros, C. D.; Buckhalt, J. A. (Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev, 2009)
Exposure to marital psychological and physical abuse has been established as a risk factor for children's socio-emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems. Understanding the processes by which children develop symptoms of psychopathology and deficits in cognitive functioning in the context of marital aggression is imperative for developing efficient and effective treatment programs for children and families, and has far-reaching mental health implications. The present paper outlines our research program, Child Regulation and Exposure to Marital Aggression, which focuses on children's emotional and physiological reactivity and regulation as pathways in the marital aggression-child development link. Findings from our research program, which highlight the importance of children's regulatory processes for understanding children's adjustment in contexts of intimate partner violence, are presented, and future directions in this line of inquiry are outlined.
Cummings, E Mark El-Sheikh, Mona Kouros, Chrystyna D Buckhalt, Joseph A eng R01 HD046795/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ R01 HD046795-01/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ R01 HD046795-02/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ R01 HD046795-03/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ R01 HD046795-04/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ R01 HD046795-05/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ Review 2009/02/28 09:00 Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2009 Mar;12(1):3-15. doi: 10.1007/s10567-009-0042-7.
Keywords: *Child Development; Adaptation, Psychological; Child; Child of Impaired Parents/*psychology; Expressed Emotion; Female; Humans; Male; Models, Psychological; Parenting; Psychophysiologic Disorders/etiology/physiopathology; Risk; Spouse Abuse/*psychology; Stress, Psychological/*physiopathology/*psychology; United States

Dominance, Status and Social Hierarchies - D. Cummings (The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology, 2005)

Political Violence and Child Adjustment: Longitudinal Tests of Sectarian Antisocial Behavior, Family Conflict and Insecurity as Explanatory Pathways - Cummings, E. M.; Merrilees, C. E.; Schermerhorn, A. C.; Goeke-Morey, M. C.; Shirlow, P.; Cairns, E. (Child Development, 2012)
Understanding the impact of political violence on child maladjustment is a matter of international concern. Recent research has advanced a social ecological explanation for relations between political violence and child adjustment. However, conclusions are qualified by the lack of longitudinal tests. Towards examining pathways longitudinally, mothers and their adolescents (M = 12.33, SD =1.78, at time 1) from two-parent families in Catholic and Protestant working class neighborhoods in Belfast, Northern Ireland, completed measures assessing multiple levels of a social ecological model. Utilizing autoregressive controls, a three-wave longitudinal model test (T1, n = 299; T2, n = 248; T3, n = 197) supported a specific pathway linking sectarian community violence, family conflict, children’s insecurity about family relationships, and adjustment problems.
22313052[pmid] Child Dev

The Economics and Psychology of Inequality and Human Development - Cunha, F.; Heckman, J. J. (J Eur Econ AssocJ Eur Econ Assoc, 2009)
Recent research on the economics of human development deepens understanding of the origins of inequality and excellence. It draws on and contributes to personality psychology and the psychology of human development. Inequalities in family environments and investments in children are substantial. They causally affect the development of capabilities. Both cognitive and noncognitive capabilities determine success in life but to varying degrees for different outcomes. An empirically determined technology of capability formation reveals that capabilities are self-productive and cross-fertilizing and can be enhanced by investment. Investments in capabilities are relatively more productive at some stages of a child's life cycle than others. Optimal child investment strategies differ depending on target outcomes of interest and on the nature of adversity in a child's early years. For some configurations of early disadvantage and for some desired outcomes, it is efficient to invest relatively more in the later years of childhood than in the early years.
Cunha, Flavio Heckman, James J eng R01 HD043411/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ R01 HD043411-05/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ R01 HD054702/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ 2009/01/01 00:00 J Eur Econ Assoc. 2009;7(2):320-364.

Global health post-2015: the case for universal health equity. - D'Ambruoso, Lucia (Glob Health Action, 2013)
Set in 2000, with a completion date of 2015, the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals is approaching, at which time a new global development infrastructure will become operational. Unsurprisingly, the discussions on goals, topics, priorities and monitoring and evaluation are gaining momentum. But this is a critical juncture. Over a decade of development programming offers a unique opportunity to reflect on its structure, function and purpose in a contemporary global context. This article examines the topic from an analytical health perspective and identifies universal health equity as an operational and analytical priority to encourage attention to the root causes of unnecessary and unfair illness and disease from the perspectives of those for whom the issues have most direct relevance.
Keywords: Environment; Global Health; Health Status Disparities; Humans; International Cooperation; Socioeconomic Factors

Aggression in young children with concurrent callous-unemotional traits: can the neurosciences inform progress and innovation in treatment approaches? - Dadds, M. R.; Rhodes, T. (Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 2008)
Parenting is the 'clean water' of healthy psychological development and parenting interventions remain the number one treatment at the individual and community levels for early-onset aggression and antisocial behaviour in children. However, recent progress in child psychopathology research is specifying a number of biological mechanisms that interact with environmental risk to influence pathways into aggression and antisocial behaviour. After a brief review of the parent training literature, we focus on child factors, especially callous-unemotional traits, that parse 'aggressive' children into more homogeneous groupings, and then review selected ideas about the origins of aggression coming from the neurosciences (such as neurobehavioural responsivity to emotional stimuli; hypothalamic-pituitary axis abnormalities influencing low cortisol and low serotonin production). We review human and, where relevant, animal models of neurobiological system changes with particular attention to developmental timing and interactions with environmental factors, especially parenting. Based on this innovative research, we then discuss a number of ideas that hold potential for interventions. We conclude that the future will see the development of interventions that aim for synergy between specific biological processes and psychological experiences as they unfold developmentally. The use of D-cycloserine in fear extinction and oxytocin in affiliative bonds is used as an example of these futuristic approaches.
Keywords: Aggression; Animals; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Child; Child Behavior; Child Behavior Disorders; Emotions; Humans; Neurosciences

Methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene and oxytocin blood levels in the development of psychopathy - Dadds, M. R.; Moul, C.; Cauchi, A.; Dobson-Stone, C.; Hawes, D. J.; Brennan, J.; Ebstein, R. E. (Dev Psychopathol, 2014)
Child conduct problems (CPs) are a robust predictor of adult mental health; the concurrence of callous-unemotional (CU) traits confers specific risk for psychopathy. Psychopathy may be related to disturbances in the oxytocin (OXT) system. Evidence suggests that epigenetic changes in the OXT receptor gene (OXTR) are associated with lower circulating OXT and social-cognitive difficulties. We tested methylation levels of OXTR in 4- to 16-year-old males who met DSM criteria for a diagnosis of oppositional-defiant or conduct disorder and were stratified by CU traits and age. Measures were DNA methylation levels of six CpG sites in the promoter region of the OXTR gene (where a CpG site is a cytosine nucleotide occurs next to a guanine nucleotide in the linear sequence of bases along its lenth, linked together by phosphate binding), and OXT blood levels. High CU traits were associated with greater methylation of the OXTR gene for two cytosine nucleotide and guanine nucleotide phosphate linked sites and lower circulating OXT in older males. Higher methylation correlated with lower OXT levels. We conclude that greater methylation of OXTR characterizes adolescent males with high levels of CU and CPs, and this methylation is associated with lower circulating OXT and functional impairment in interpersonal empathy. The results add genetic evidence that high CU traits specify a distinct subgroup within CP children, and they suggest models of psychopathy may be informed by further identification of these epigenetic processes and their functional significance.
Dadds, Mark R Moul, Caroline Cauchi, Avril Dobson-Stone, Carol Hawes, David J Brennan, John Ebstein, Richard E eng 2013/09/26 06:00 Dev Psychopathol. 2014 Feb;26(1):33-40. doi: 10.1017/S0954579413000497. Epub 2013 Sep 23.
Keywords: *DNA Methylation; Adolescent; Age Factors; Antisocial Personality Disorder/blood/*genetics/psychology; Child; Conduct Disorder/blood/*genetics/psychology; Empathy; Epigenesis, Genetic; Family; Humans; Male; Oxytocin/*blood; Receptors, Oxytocin/*genetics; Social Environment

Effective interventions and strategies for improving early child development - Daelmans, B.; Black, M. M.; Lombardi, J.; Lucas, J.; Richter, L.; Silver, K.; Britto, P.; Yoshikawa, H.; Perez-Escamilla, R.; MacMillan, H.; Dua, T.; Bouhouch, R. R.; et al. (BMJ, 2015)
Daelmans, Bernadette Black, Maureen M Lombardi, Joan Lucas, Jane Richter, Linda Silver, Karlee Britto, Pia Yoshikawa, Hirokazu Perez-Escamilla, Rafael MacMillan, Harriet Dua, Tarun Bouhouch, Raschida R Bhutta, Zulfiqar Darmstadt, Gary L Rao, Nirmala eng 001/World Health Organization/International England 2015/09/16 06:00 BMJ. 2015 Sep 14;351:h4029.
Keywords: *Child Development; *Mental Health; *Social Support; Adolescent; Child; Child Health Services/*organization & administration; Child, Preschool; Evidence-Based Medicine; Global Health; Health Services Research; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Maternal Health Services/*organization & administration/standards/trends; Mothers; Nutrition Policy; Poverty/prevention & control/trends; Preconception Care/*organization & administration; Program Development; Program Evaluation; Quality of Health Care; Social Environment; Socioeconomic Factors; World Health Organization

Early childhood development: the foundation of sustainable development - Daelmans, B.; Darmstadt, G. L.; Lombardi, J.; Black, M. M.; Britto, P. R.; Lye, S.; Dua, T.; Bhutta, Z. A.; Richter, L. M. (The Lancet, 2017)

Supporting Maternal Mental Health and Nurturing Care in Humanitarian Settings - Daelmans, Bernadette; Nair, Mahalakshmi; Hanna, Fahmy; Lincetto, Ornella; Dua, Tarun; Hunt, Xanthe (Journal on Education in Emergencies, 2021)
Keywords: early childhood development; humanitarian settings; mental health and psychological support services

Youth violence. Developmental pathways and prevention challenges - Dahlberg, L. L.; Potter, L. B. (Am J Prev Med, 2001)
Youth violence is an important public health problem. During the latter half of the 1980s and early 1990s, the United States witnessed unprecedented levels of violence among the nation's youths. Homicide remains one of the leading causes of death for young people aged 10 to 24 years. This paper reviews the major trends in homicide victimization and perpetration among youths during the past decade, the developmental pathways of delinquent and violent behavior and the context in which these behaviors occur, and some of the challenges associated with disrupting these pathways and preventing violence. Previous research reveals that multiple pathways lead toward violence and delinquency. Predicting which pathway a youth will follow, or if one will be followed at all, depends to some extent on a host of other biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors present as young people transition from early childhood to adolescence to early adulthood. Preventing violence requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account developmental needs, tasks, and supports.
Dahlberg, L L Potter, L B Journal Article Review Netherlands Am J Prev Med. 2001 Jan;20(1 Suppl):3-14.
Keywords: *Psychology, Adolescent; Adolescent; Adult; Child, Preschool; Female; Homicide/psychology; Humans; Infant; Juvenile Delinquency/psychology; Male; United States; Violence/prevention & control/*psychology/statistics & numerical data

Oxytocin and vasopressin are dysregulated in Williams Syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting social behavior - Dai, L.; Carter, C. S.; Ying, J.; Bellugi, U.; Pournajafi-Nazarloo, H.; Korenberg, J. R. (PLoS One, 2012)
The molecular and neural mechanisms regulating human social-emotional behaviors are fundamentally important but largely unknown; unraveling these requires a genetic systems neuroscience analysis of human models. Williams Syndrome (WS), a condition caused by deletion of ~28 genes, is associated with a gregarious personality, strong drive to approach strangers, difficult peer interactions, and attraction to music. WS provides a unique opportunity to identify endogenous human gene-behavior mechanisms. Social neuropeptides including oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) regulate reproductive and social behaviors in mammals, and we reasoned that these might mediate the features of WS. Here we established blood levels of OT and AVP in WS and controls at baseline, and at multiple timepoints following a positive emotional intervention (music), and a negative physical stressor (cold). We also related these levels to standardized indices of social behavior. Results revealed significantly higher median levels of OT in WS versus controls at baseline, with a less marked increase in AVP. Further, in WS, OT and AVP increased in response to music and to cold, with greater variability and an amplified peak release compared to controls. In WS, baseline OT but not AVP, was correlated positively with approach, but negatively with adaptive social behaviors. These results indicate that WS deleted genes perturb hypothalamic-pituitary release not only of OT but also of AVP, implicating more complex neuropeptide circuitry for WS features and providing evidence for their roles in endogenous regulation of human social behavior. The data suggest a possible biological basis for amygdalar involvement, for increased anxiety, and for the paradox of increased approach but poor social relationships in WS. They also offer insight for translating genetic and neuroendocrine knowledge into treatments for disorders of social behavior.
Dai, Li Carter, C Sue Ying, Jian Bellugi, Ursula Pournajafi-Nazarloo, Hossein Korenberg, Julie R eng MH072935/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ P01 HD033113/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ P01 HD33113/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural 2012/06/22 06:00 PLoS One. 2012;7(6):e38513. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038513. Epub 2012 Jun 12.
Keywords: *Social Behavior; Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Oxytocin/*physiology; Vasopressins/*physiology; Williams Syndrome/*physiopathology

Maternal history of autoimmune disease and later development of tourette syndrome in offspring - Dalsgaard, S.; Waltoft, B. L.; Leckman, J. F.; Mortensen, P. B. (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 2015)
OBJECTIVE: In a nationwide prospective cohort study, we examined the possible association between maternal autoimmune disease (AD) and later diagnosis of Tourette syndrome (TS) in offspring. METHOD: Data from national Danish health registers identified a cohort consisting of all children born in Denmark between 1990 and 2007 (n = 1,116,255), followed prospectively from birth until 2011, date of TS diagnosis, death, or emigration/disappearance, whichever came first. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) of TS, dependent on whether or not the mother had a prior diagnosis of AD, was estimated by Poisson regression with 95% CIs and adjusted for age, calendar time, place of birth, maternal and paternal age, parental psychiatric diagnoses other than TS, and parental TS. RESULTS: The cohort contributed a total of 13,000,162 person years and 2,442 participants with a diagnosis of TS (414 females and 2,028 males). Prior maternal AD was found in 110 of the 2,442 children with TS, corresponding to an increased risk of TS, with an adjusted IRR of 1.22 (95% CI = 1.01-1.48). Maternal history of a prior AD increased the risk of TS in males, with an adjusted IRR of 1.29 (95% CI = 1.05-1.58), but not in females, with an adjusted IRR of 0.89 (95% CI = 0.52-1.52). CONCLUSION: Maternal AD was associated with a 29% increased incidence rate of TS in male offspring. This finding supports the hypothesis that neuroimmunological disorders may act as a component in the etiology of a subset of TS.
1527-5418 Dalsgaard, Soren Waltoft, Berit L Leckman, James F Mortensen, Preben Bo Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't United States J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2015 Jun;54(6):495-501.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2015.03.008. Epub 2015 Mar 17.
Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; autoimmune disease; Autoimmune Diseases/*epidemiology; Child; cohort study; Denmark; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Mothers; neuroimmunology; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects/*epidemiology; Prospective Studies; Registries; Regression Analysis; Sex Factors; tics; Tourette syndrome; Tourette Syndrome/diagnosis/*etiology; Young Adult

Relocation from Greece: Lessons learned and looking ahead - DanishRefugeeCouncil (2021)
Keywords: Greece; Protection and Human Rights; refugees and migrants

Welcome Home and Early Start: An Assessment of Program Quality and Outcomes - Daro, D.; Howard, E.; Tobin, J.; Harden, A. (Chapin Hall Center for Children, University of Chicago, 2005)
Keywords: early childhood initiatives

The Descent of Man - Darwin, C. (D. Appleton and Company, 1871)

Sexual assault hotline sees spike in messages from minors amid coronovirus outbreak - DaSilva, C. (Newsweek, 2020)
Keywords: Child Abuse; COVID-19; sexual abuse

The Role of Education in Peacebulding Country Report: Uganda - Simone Datzberger; Alan McCully; Alan Smith (UNICEF Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR), University of Amsterdam Centre for International Education, University of Sussex UNESCO Centre at Ulster University, 2015)

Empathy-Related Emotional Responses, Altruism, and Their Socialization. - Richard J. Davidson; Anne Harrington (2002)

Childhood & Adversity: Psychological Perspectives from South African Research - Dawes, A.; Donald, D. (D. Philip, 1994)

Monitoring Child Well-being: A South African Rights-based Approach - Dawes, A.; Bray, R.; Van der Merwe, A.; Rädda barnen (HSRC Publishers, 2007)
(Society)

Levels, Trends, and Determinants of Child Maltreatment in the Western Cape Province - Dawes, A.; C. Ward (The State of the Population in the Western Cape Province, 2008)
(South Africa)

Structural violence and early childhood development - Dawes, Andrew; Merwe, Amelia van der (Pathways to peace: The transformative power of children and families, 2014)
The first part of this chapter examines the influence of structural violence on early child development and the family environment. In contrast to direct violence, this form manifests as unequal exposure to protective and risk factors, inequitable access to the resources and services that could ameliorate risk and support positive development, and as unequal service quality. Similar to direct violence, the structural variant violates the rights of children and undermines the protective capacities of those who care for them. Insults to early development raise the probability of poor outcomes in the long term, including reduced capabilities for productive, prosocial, and peaceable citizenship. The second part offers the example of an essential package of population-level, evidence-based services for young children and caregivers that has been developed in South Africa. These services aim to reduce exposure to risk factors that compromise developmental potential, and to increase protective and promotive influences in those most affected by poverty. It covers basic services designed to promote maternal and child health and nutrition, stimulation for early learning, social protection, child protection, and the well-being of primary caregivers. Provision of these services is seen as a social good (not just an investment in future productivity). They should be available to all, but particularly to those disadvantaged by poverty and other forms of deprivation occasioned by structural violence.
Keywords: child health; early childhood development; peaceable citizenship; protective influences; rights of children; structural violence

lifalabantwana Sobambisana Initiative Partner Evaluation Report: The Ntataise Trust Play Group, Parent Support and Teacher Enrichment Programmes Rammulotsi/Viljoenskroon, Northern Free State. - Dawes, A.; L. Biersteker; L. Hendricks. (2012)

The Origins of War: Biological and Anthropological Theories - Dawson, Doyne (History and Theory, 1996)
This article surveys the history since the Enlightenment of the controversy over the origins and functions of warfare, focusing on the question of whether war is caused by nature or nurture. In the earlier literature (before 1950) five positions are distinguished. (1) The Hobbesian thesis: war is part of human nature and serves both the internal function of solidarity and the external function of maintaining the balance of power. (2) The Rousseauean thesis: war is not in human nature but was invented by states for the functions mentioned above. (3) The Malthusian thesis: war serves the grand function of reducing population, quite apart from its conscious proximate functions. (4) The Spencerian thesis: a combination of Hobbes and Malthus - war serves the grand function of human evolution. (5) The cultural anthropologists' thesis: an extreme version of Rousseau - war is a dysfunctional historical accident. Most of the article is devoted to recent controversy, distinguishing three major theories: (1) sociobiology, an updated version of the Spencerian thesis; (2) cultural ecology, an updated version of the cultural-anthropological thesis, combining Rousseau and Malthus; (3) cultural Darwinism, which holds that the process of cultural evolution mimics natural selection. The last theory is favored here. It implies that warfare has no grand functions, either sociobiological or ecological. War is neither nature nor nurture, but nurture imitating nature. Hobbes was right in thinking war has always been around; Rousseau was right to think primitive warfare was not the same thing as the wars of states.

Relationships between Macro and Micro Socio-Cultural Contexts: Implications for the Study of Interactions in the Mathematics Classroom - Abreu, Guida De (Educational Studies in Mathematics, 2000)
In this paper I attempt to clarify how the relationship between macro and micro social contexts has been addressed in the Vygotskian and Neo-Piagetian approaches to learning. For each approach I look at how key scholars (Cole, 1977; Perret-Clermont, Perret and Bell, 1991) come to view context as central to their theories of cognitive development. In order to illustrate my review of the dominant strands of empirical research I refer to studies that focus on the uses, learning and understanding of mathematics. I start the paper with the socio-cultural Vygotskian approach. This is closely associated with my own research into the relationship between culture and learning. Not surprisingly, I find biases in this body of research in terms of the macro and micro features of contexts which were analysed. In an attempt to gain insights into alternative ways of conceptualising these relationships I explore work which has adopted a socio-psychological approach. In the final part of the paper I discuss how these insights can be used to broaden our basis for studying interactions in the mathematics classroom and conclude by relating my ideas to new developments in socio-cultural theory.

Psychiatric co-morbidity in caregivers and children involved in maltreatment: a pilot research study with policy implications - De Bellis, M. D.; Broussard, E. R.; Herring, D. J.; Wexler, S.; Moritz, G.; Benitez, J. G. (Child Abuse Negl, 2001)
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the lifetime incidence of mental disorders in caregivers involved in maltreatment and in their maltreated child. METHODS: Lifetime DSM-III-R and IV psychiatric diagnoses were obtained for 53 maltreating families, including at least one primary caregiver and one proband maltreated child or adolescent subject (28 males, 25 females), and for a comparison group of 46 sociodemographically, similar nonmaltreating families, including one proband healthy child and adolescent subject (22 males, 22 females). RESULTS: Mothers of maltreated children exhibited a significantly greater lifetime incidence of anxiety disorders (especially post-traumatic stress disorder), mood disorders, alcohol and/or substance abuse or dependence disorder, suicide attempts, and comorbidity of two or more psychiatric disorders, compared to control mothers. Natural fathers or mothers' live-in mates involved in maltreatment exhibited a significantly greater lifetime incidence of an alcohol and/or substance abuse or dependence disorder compared to controls. The majority of maltreated children and adolescents reported anxiety disorders, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (from witnessing domestic violence and/or sexual abuse), mood disorders, suicidal ideation and attempts, and disruptive disorders. Most maltreated children (72%) suffered from comorbidity involving both emotional and behavioral regulation disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Families involved in maltreatment manifest significant histories of psychiatric comorbidity. Policies which target identification and treatment of comorbidity may contribute to breaking the intergenerational transmission of maltreatment.
De Bellis, M D Broussard, E R Herring, D J Wexler, S Moritz, G Benitez, J G eng 5 K08 MHO1324-02/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. England 2001/08/29 10:00 Child Abuse Negl. 2001 Jul;25(7):923-44.
Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child Abuse/psychology/*statistics & numerical data; Comorbidity; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Family Health; Fathers/psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders/classification/complications/*epidemiology; Middle Aged; Mothers/psychology; Parents/*psychology; Pennsylvania/epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Biologic findings of post-traumatic stress disorder and child maltreatment - De Bellis, M. D.; Thomas, L. A. (Curr Psychiatry Rep, 2003)
Child maltreatment is a serious problem in US society, affecting approximately three million children. Children and adolescents exposed to child abuse and neglect experience high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition, they are at risk for comorbid mental illness. Biologic stress systems affected in trauma and in PTSD are complex. Findings in cognitive testing, neuroimaging, and affected pathways shed light on the consequences of child maltreatment. What is known about treatment and outcomes for children with history of maltreatment and maltreatment-related PTSD indicates the need for prevention, intervention, and treatment of children exposed to abuse and neglect. The following is a brief review of the most recent neurobiologic findings in child maltreatment and related PTSD.
De Bellis, Michael D Thomas, Lisa A eng 5K08MH01324-02/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review 2003/04/11 05:00 Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2003 Jun;5(2):108-17.
Keywords: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/*metabolism; Aggression/psychology; Antisocial Personality Disorder/epidemiology/etiology; Aspartic Acid/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism; Child; Child Abuse/*psychology/statistics & numerical data; Cognition Disorders/epidemiology/etiology; Depressive Disorder/epidemiology; Humans; Hydrocortisone/*metabolism; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/*metabolism; Pituitary-Adrenal System/*metabolism; Serotonin/metabolism; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/epidemiology/*etiology/*metabolism; Suicide, Attempted/statistics & numerical data

Demographic, maltreatment, and neurobiological correlates of PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents - De Bellis, M. D.; Hooper, S. R.; Woolley, D. P.; Shenk, C. E. (J Pediatr Psychol, 2010)
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships of demographic, maltreatment, neurostructural and neuropsychological measures with total posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. METHODS: Participants included 216 children with maltreatment histories (N = 49), maltreatment and PTSD (N = 49), or no maltreatment (N = 118). Participants received diagnostic interviews, brain imaging, and neuropsychological evaluations. RESULTS: We examined a hierarchical regression model comprised of independent variables including demographics, trauma and maltreatment-related variables, and hippocampal volumes and neuropsychological measures to model PTSD symptoms. Important independent contributors to this model were SES, and General Maltreatment and Sexual Abuse Factors. Although hippocampal volumes were not significant, Visual Memory was a significant contributor to this model. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to adult PTSD, pediatric PTSD symptoms are associated with lower Visual Memory performance. It is an important correlate of PTSD beyond established predictors of PTSD symptoms. These results support models of developmental traumatology and suggest that treatments which enhance visual memory may decrease symptoms of PTSD.
De Bellis, Michael D Hooper, Stephen R Woolley, Donald P Shenk, Chad E eng K24 DA028773/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ K24 MH071434/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ K24 MH071434-01A1/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ K24 MH071434-02/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ K24 MH071434-03/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ K24 MH071434-04/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ K24 MH071434-05/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ K24MH071434/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R01 AA012479/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/ R01 MH061744/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R01 MH063407/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R01-75 MH61744/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R01-AA12479/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/ R01-MH63407/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ T32 DK063929/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural 2009/12/17 06:00 J Pediatr Psychol. 2010 Jun;35(5):570-7. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsp116. Epub 2009 Dec 11.
Keywords: *Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Adolescent; Child; Child Abuse, Sexual/*psychology/*statistics & numerical data; Child Abuse/*psychology/*statistics & numerical data; Child, Preschool; Dominance, Cerebral/physiology; Female; Hippocampus/*pathology; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Male; Memory, Short-Term/physiology; Neuropsychological Tests/*statistics & numerical data; North Carolina; Organ Size/physiology; Pattern Recognition, Visual/physiology; Post-Traumatic/diagnosis/epidemiology/*physiopathology/*psychology; Psychometrics; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress Disorders,

Oxytocin promotes human ethnocentrism. - De Dreu, Carsten K W; Greer, Lindred L; Van Kleef, Gerben A; Shalvi, Shaul; Handgraaf, Michel J J (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2011)
Human ethnocentrism--the tendency to view one's group as centrally important and superior to other groups--creates intergroup bias that fuels prejudice, xenophobia, and intergroup violence. Grounded in the idea that ethnocentrism also facilitates within-group trust, cooperation, and coordination, we conjecture that ethnocentrism may be modulated by brain oxytocin, a peptide shown to promote cooperation among in-group members. In double-blind, placebo-controlled designs, males self-administered oxytocin or placebo and privately performed computer-guided tasks to gauge different manifestations of ethnocentric in-group favoritism as well as out-group derogation. Experiments 1 and 2 used the Implicit Association Test to assess in-group favoritism and out-group derogation. Experiment 3 used the infrahumanization task to assess the extent to which humans ascribe secondary, uniquely human emotions to their in-group and to an out-group. Experiments 4 and 5 confronted participants with the option to save the life of a larger collective by sacrificing one individual, nominated as in-group or as out-group. Results show that oxytocin creates intergroup bias because oxytocin motivates in-group favoritism and, to a lesser extent, out-group derogation. These findings call into question the view of oxytocin as an indiscriminate "love drug" or "cuddle chemical" and suggest that oxytocin has a role in the emergence of intergroup conflict and violence.
Keywords: Choice Behavior; Codependency (Psychology); Cooperative Behavior; Double-Blind Method; Emotions; Humans; Male; Oxytocin; Social Behavior; Task Performance and Analysis; Young Adult

The neuropeptide oxytocin regulates parochial altruism in intergroup conflict among humans. - De Dreu, Carsten K W; Greer, Lindred L; Handgraaf, Michel J J; Shalvi, Shaul; Van Kleef, Gerben A; Baas, Matthijs; Ten Velden, Femke S; Van Dijk, Eric; Feith, Sander W W (Science, 2010)
Humans regulate intergroup conflict through parochial altruism; they self-sacrifice to contribute to in-group welfare and to aggress against competing out-groups. Parochial altruism has distinct survival functions, and the brain may have evolved to sustain and promote in-group cohesion and effectiveness and to ward off threatening out-groups. Here, we have linked oxytocin, a neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus, to the regulation of intergroup conflict. In three experiments using double-blind placebo-controlled designs, male participants self-administered oxytocin or placebo and made decisions with financial consequences to themselves, their in-group, and a competing out-group. Results showed that oxytocin drives a "tend and defend" response in that it promoted in-group trust and cooperation, and defensive, but not offensive, aggression toward competing out-groups.
Keywords: Aggression; Altruism; Conflict (Psychology); Cooperative Behavior; Decision Making; Double-Blind Method; Game Theory; Group Processes; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Oxytocin; Trust; Young Adult

Oxytocin modulates cooperation within and competition between groups: an integrative review and research agenda - De Dreu, C. K. (Horm BehavHorm Behav, 2012)
The author reviews evidence that hypothalamic release (or infusion) of the neuropeptide oxytocin modulates the regulation of cooperation and conflict among humans because of three reasons. First, oxytocin enables social categorization of others into in-group versus out-group. Second, oxytocin dampens amygdala activity and enables the development of trust. Third, and finally, oxytocin up-regulates neural circuitries (e.g., inferior frontal gyrus, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, caudate nucleus) involved in empathy and other-concern. Consistent with an evolutionary perspective on the functionality of cooperation, it is concluded that oxytocin-motivated cooperation is mostly parochial-it motivates (i) in-group favoritism, (ii) cooperation towards in-group but not out-group members, and (iii) defense-motivated non-cooperation towards threatening outsiders. Thus, in addition to its well-known role in reproduction and pair-bond formation, oxytocin's primary functions include in-group "tend-and-defend." This review concludes with avenues for new research on oxytocin's functions in within-group cooperation and between-group competition. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior.
1095-6867 De Dreu, Carsten K W Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review United States Horm Behav. 2012 Mar;61(3):419-28. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.12.009. Epub 2011 Dec 20.
Keywords: *Cooperative Behavior; *Group Processes; Competitive Behavior/*physiology; Discrimination (Psychology); Empathy/physiology; Fear/psychology; Humans; Love; Oxytocin/*physiology; Recognition (Psychology); Social Behavior; Trust

A deletion variant of the alpha2b-adrenoceptor is related to emotional memory in Europeans and Africans - de Quervain, D. J.; Kolassa, I. T.; Ertl, V.; Onyut, P. L.; Neuner, F.; Elbert, T.; Papassotiropoulos, A. (Nat NeurosciNat Neurosci, 2007)
Emotionally arousing events are recalled better than neutral events. This phenomenon, which helps us to remember important and potentially vital information, depends on the activation of noradrenergic transmission in the brain. Here we show that a deletion variant of ADRA2B, the gene encoding the alpha2b-adrenergic receptor, is related to enhanced emotional memory in healthy Swiss subjects and in survivors of the Rwandan civil war who experienced highly aversive emotional situations.
de Quervain, Dominique J-F Kolassa, Iris-Tatjana Ertl, Verena Onyut, P Lamaro Neuner, Frank Elbert, Thomas Papassotiropoulos, Andreas Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't United States Nat Neurosci. 2007 Sep;10(9):1137-9. Epub 2007 Jul 29.
Keywords: *Gene Deletion; African Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics; Analysis of Variance; Emotions/*physiology; European Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics; Glutamic Acid/genetics; Humans; Memory/*physiology; Neuropsychological Tests; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2/*genetics

PKCalpha is genetically linked to memory capacity in healthy subjects and to risk for posttraumatic stress disorder in genocide survivors - de Quervain, D. J.; Kolassa, I. T.; Ackermann, S.; Aerni, A.; Boesiger, P.; Demougin, P.; Elbert, T.; Ertl, V.; Gschwind, L.; Hadziselimovic, N.; Hanser, E.; Heck, A.; et al. (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S AProc Natl Acad Sci U S AProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2012)
Strong memory of a traumatic event is thought to contribute to the development and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therefore, a genetic predisposition to build strong memories could lead to increased risk for PTSD after a traumatic event. Here we show that genetic variability of the gene encoding PKCalpha (PRKCA) was associated with memory capacity--including aversive memory--in nontraumatized subjects of European descent. This finding was replicated in an independent sample of nontraumatized subjects, who additionally underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). fMRI analysis revealed PRKCA genotype-dependent brain activation differences during successful encoding of aversive information. Further, the identified genetic variant was also related to traumatic memory and to the risk for PTSD in heavily traumatized survivors of the Rwandan genocide. Our results indicate a role for PKCalpha in memory and suggest a genetic link between memory and the risk for PTSD.
1091-6490 de Quervain, Dominique J-F Kolassa, Iris-Tatjana Ackermann, Sandra Aerni, Amanda Boesiger, Peter Demougin, Philippe Elbert, Thomas Ertl, Verena Gschwind, Leo Hadziselimovic, Nils Hanser, Edveena Heck, Angela Hieber, Petra Huynh, Kim-Dung Klarhofer, Markus Luechinger, Roger Rasch, Bjorn Scheffler, Klaus Spalek, Klara Stippich, Christoph Vogler, Christian Vukojevic, Vanja Stetak, Attila Papassotiropoulos, Andreas Journal Article Randomized Controlled Trial Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't United States Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 May 29;109(22):8746-51. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1200857109. Epub 2012 May 14.
Keywords: *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Brain/pathology/physiopathology; Female; Genotype; Homicide/psychology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Memory/*physiology; Mental Recall/physiology; Middle Aged; Photic Stimulation; Protein Kinase C-alpha/*genetics; Psychomotor Performance/physiology; Risk Factors; Rwanda/ethnology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*genetics/*physiopathology/psychology; Survivors/psychology; Uganda; Young Adult

Good Natured: The Origins of Right and Wrong in Humans and Other Animals - de Waal, F. B. M. (Harvard Univ. Press, 1996)

Putting the altruism back into altruism: the evolution of empathy - de Waal, F. B. (Annu Rev PsycholAnnual Review of PsychologyAnnual Review of Psychology, 2008)
Evolutionary theory postulates that altruistic behavior evolved for the return-benefits it bears the performer. For return-benefits to play a motivational role, however, they need to be experienced by the organism. Motivational analyses should restrict themselves, therefore, to the altruistic impulse and its knowable consequences. Empathy is an ideal candidate mechanism to underlie so-called directed altruism, i.e., altruism in response to anothers's pain, need, or distress. Evidence is accumulating that this mechanism is phylogenetically ancient, probably as old as mammals and birds. Perception of the emotional state of another automatically activates shared representations causing a matching emotional state in the observer. With increasing cognition, state-matching evolved into more complex forms, including concern for the other and perspective-taking. Empathy-induced altruism derives its strength from the emotional stake it offers the self in the other's welfare. The dynamics of the empathy mechanism agree with predictions from kin selection and reciprocal altruism theory.
de Waal, Frans B M Journal Article Review United States Annu Rev Psychol. 2008;59:279-300.
Keywords: *Altruism; *Biological Evolution; *Empathy; Affect; Cooperative Behavior; Humans; Intention; Social Behavior

The Age of Empathy: Nature's Lessons for a Kinder Society - de Waal, F. (Three Rivers Press, 2010)

Sensitivity and attachment: a meta-analysis on parental antecedents of infant attachment - De Wolff, M. S.; van IJzendoorn, M. H. (Child Dev, 2006)
This meta-analysis included 66 studies (N = 4,176) on parental antecedents of attachment security. The question addressed was whether maternal sensitivity is associated with infant attachment security, and what the strength of this relation is. It was hypothesized that studies more similar to Ainsworth's Baltimore study (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978) would show stronger associations than studies diverging from this pioneering study. To create conceptually homogeneous sets of studies, experts divided the studies into 9 groups with similar constructs and measures of parenting. For each domain, a meta-analysis was performed to describe the central tendency, variability, and relevant moderators. After correction for attenuation, the 21 studies (N = 1,099) in which the Strange Situation procedure in nonclinical samples was used, as well as preceding or concurrent observational sensitivity measures, showed a combined effect size of r(1,097) = .24. According to Cohen's (1988) conventional criteria, the association is moderately strong. It is concluded that in normal settings sensitivity is an important but not exclusive condition of attachment security. Several other dimensions of parenting are identified as playing an equally important role. In attachment theory, a move to the contextual level is required to interpret the complex transactions between context and sensitivity in less stable and more stressful settings, and to pay more attention to nonshared environmental influences.
De Wolff, M S van Ijzendoorn, M H eng Meta-Analysis Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 1997/08/01 00:00 Child Dev. 1997 Aug;68(4):571-91.
Keywords: *Maternal Behavior; *Mother-Child Relations; *Object Attachment; *Psychological Theory; *Psychology, Child; Adult; Communication; Cooperative Behavior; Cues; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Parenting/*psychology; Research Design; Touch

CpG islands and the regulation of transcription - Deaton, A. M.; Bird, A. (Genes Dev, 2011)
Vertebrate CpG islands (CGIs) are short interspersed DNA sequences that deviate significantly from the average genomic pattern by being GC-rich, CpG-rich, and predominantly nonmethylated. Most, perhaps all, CGIs are sites of transcription initiation, including thousands that are remote from currently annotated promoters. Shared DNA sequence features adapt CGIs for promoter function by destabilizing nucleosomes and attracting proteins that create a transcriptionally permissive chromatin state. Silencing of CGI promoters is achieved through dense CpG methylation or polycomb recruitment, again using their distinctive DNA sequence composition. CGIs are therefore generically equipped to influence local chromatin structure and simplify regulation of gene activity.
Deaton, Aimee M Bird, Adrian eng Cancer Research UK/United Kingdom Medical Research Council/United Kingdom Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review 2011/05/18 06:00 Genes Dev. 2011 May 15;25(10):1010-22. doi: 10.1101/gad.2037511.
Keywords: *Gene Expression Regulation; Animals; Chromatin/chemistry; CpG Islands/genetics/*physiology; DNA Methylation; Gene Silencing; Humans; Polycomb-Group Proteins; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics; Repressor Proteins/metabolism; Transcription Initiation Site

The functional architecture of human empathy - Decety, J.; Jackson, P. L. (Behav Cogn Neurosci Rev, 2004)
Empathy accounts for the naturally occurring subjective experience of similarity between the feelings expressed by self and others without loosing sight of whose feelings belong to whom. Empathy involves not only the affective experience of the other person's actual or inferred emotional state but also some minimal recognition and understanding of another's emotional state. In light of multiple levels of analysis ranging from developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and clinical neuropsychology, this article proposes a model of empathy that involves parallel and distributed processing in a number of dissociable computational mechanisms. Shared neural representations, self-awareness, mental flexibility, and emotion regulation constitute the basic macrocomponents of empathy, which are underpinned by specific neural systems. This functional model may be used to make specific predictions about the various empathy deficits that can be encountered in different forms of social and neurological disorders.
Decety, Jean Jackson, Philip L eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review 2004/11/13 09:00 Behav Cogn Neurosci Rev. 2004 Jun;3(2):71-100.
Keywords: *Empathy; *Self Concept; *Social Behavior; Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Awareness/*physiology; Cerebral Cortex/physiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Emotions/*physiology; Humans; Infant; Models, Neurological; Models, Psychological; Perception/physiology

The Adaptive Calibration Model of stress responsivity - Del Giudice, M.; Ellis, B. J.; Shirtcliff, E. A. (Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 2011)
This paper presents the Adaptive Calibration Model (ACM), an evolutionary-developmental theory of individual differences in the functioning of the stress response system. The stress response system has three main biological functions: (1) to coordinate the organism's allostatic response to physical and psychosocial challenges; (2) to encode and filter information about the organism's social and physical environment, mediating the organism's openness to environmental inputs; and (3) to regulate the organism's physiology and behavior in a broad range of fitness-relevant areas including defensive behaviors, competitive risk-taking, learning, attachment, affiliation and reproductive functioning. The information encoded by the system during development feeds back on the long-term calibration of the system itself, resulting in adaptive patterns of responsivity and individual differences in behavior. Drawing on evolutionary life history theory, we build a model of the development of stress responsivity across life stages, describe four prototypical responsivity patterns, and discuss the emergence and meaning of sex differences. The ACM extends the theory of biological sensitivity to context (BSC) and provides an integrative framework for future research in the field.
Del Giudice, Marco Ellis, Bruce J Shirtcliff, Elizabeth A eng K01 MH077687/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ K01 MH077687-05/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R21 MH093675/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review 2010/12/15 06:00 Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2011 Jun;35(7):1562-92. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.11.007. Epub 2010 Dec 8.
Keywords: *Adaptation, Biological; *Adaptation, Psychological; *Biological Evolution; *Human Development; *Models, Theoretical; Humans; Individuality; Sex Characteristics; Stress, Psychological/*physiopathology/*psychology

Sex, attachment, and the development of reproductive strategies - Del Giudice, M. (Behav Brain Sci, 2009)
This target article presents an integrated evolutionary model of the development of attachment and human reproductive strategies. It is argued that sex differences in attachment emerge in middle childhood, have adaptive significance in both children and adults, and are part of sex-specific life history strategies. Early psychosocial stress and insecure attachment act as cues of environmental risk, and tend to switch development towards reproductive strategies favoring current reproduction and higher mating effort. However, due to sex differences in life history trade-offs between mating and parenting, insecure males tend to adopt avoidant strategies, whereas insecure females tend to adopt anxious/ambivalent strategies, which maximize investment from kin and mates. Females are expected to shift to avoidant patterns when environmental risk is more severe. Avoidant and ambivalent attachment patterns also have different adaptive values for boys and girls, in the context of same-sex competition in the peer group: in particular, the competitive and aggressive traits related to avoidant attachment can be favored as a status-seeking strategy for males. Finally, adrenarche is proposed as the endocrine mechanism underlying the reorganization of attachment in middle childhood, and the implications for the relationship between attachment and sexual development are explored. Sex differences in the development of attachment can be fruitfully integrated within the broader framework of adaptive plasticity in life history strategies, thus contributing to a coherent evolutionary theory of human development.
Del Giudice, Marco eng England 2009/02/13 09:00 Behav Brain Sci. 2009 Feb;32(1):1-21; discussion 21-67. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X09000016.
Keywords: *Biological Evolution; *Object Attachment; *Sex Characteristics; Adolescent; Adrenarche/physiology/*psychology; Adult; Aggression/psychology; Animals; Child; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Competitive Behavior; Female; Humans; Infant; Life Change Events; Male; Marriage/*psychology; Parent-Child Relations; Parenting; Phenotype; Psychological Theory; Sexual Behavior/physiology/psychology; Sexual Development; Stress, Psychological

Talking to Infants: How Culture Is Instantiated in Early Mother- Infant Interactions. The Case of Cameroonian Farming Nso and North German Middle-Class Families - Demuth, C. (School of Human Sciences, Department of Culture and Psychology, 2008)

“Parenting About Peace”: Exploring Taiwanese Parents' and Children's Perceptions in a Shared Political and Sociocultural Context - Deng, Liang-Yu F. (Family Relations, 2012)
Keywords: children; Parents; peace; peace education; perception

Secondary Traumatization in Caregivers Working With Women and Children Who Suffered Extreme Violence by the "Islamic State" - Denkinger, J. K.; Windthorst, P.; Rometsch-Ogioun El Sount, C.; Blume, M.; Sedik, H.; Kizilhan, J. I.; Gibbons, N.; Pham, P.; Hillebrecht, J.; Ateia, N.; Nikendei, C.; Zipfel, S.; et al. (Front Psychiatry, 2018)
Introduction: Refugees fleeing persecution, torture, or sexual violence are at high risk of developing both acute and chronic psychological disorders. Systematic violence, as committed against the Yazidi minority in Northern Iraq by the terror organization known as the Islamic State (IS), can be seen as a particularly traumatic burden to the victims, but also to caregivers providing treatments and assistance to them. The intense exposure to traumatic content may cause secondary traumatization in respective caregivers. This study aims (1) to identify the prevalence of secondary traumatization in caregivers working with traumatized women and children from Northern Iraq; (2) to determine the specific distressing factors and resources of the caregivers; as well as (3) to analyze whether caregivers' personal history of trauma or flight, attachment styles, working arrangements as well as support offers qualify as risk or resilience factors for secondary traumatization. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, N = 84 caregivers (social workers, psychotherapists/physicians, and interpreters) in the context of a Humanitarian Admission Program (HAP) for women and children traumatized by the so called IS were investigated about their work-related burdens and resources. Secondary traumatization was assessed with the Questionnaire for Secondary Traumatization (FST). To identify relevant determinants for secondary traumatization multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Secondary traumatization was present in 22.9% of the participating caregivers, with 8.6% showing a severe symptom load. A personal history of traumatic experiences, a personal history of flight, a higher number of hours per week working in direct contact with refugees as well as a preoccupied attachment style were detected as risk factors for secondary traumatization. A secure attachment style could be identified as a resilience factor for secondary traumatization. Discussion: Caregivers working with traumatized refugees are at high risk of developing secondary traumatization. Based on the findings of this study and theoretical considerations, a framework of classification for different types of trauma-associated psychological burdens of caregivers working with traumatized refugees is proposed. Implications for the training and supervision of professionals in refugee- and trauma-care are discussed.
Denkinger, Jana K Windthorst, Petra Rometsch-Ogioun El Sount, Caroline Blume, Michael Sedik, Hes Kizilhan, Jan I Gibbons, Niamh Pham, Phuong Hillebrecht, Jennifer Ateia, Nora Nikendei, Christoph Zipfel, Stephan Junne, Florian eng Switzerland 2018/06/21 06:00 Front Psychiatry. 2018 Jun 5;9:234. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00234. eCollection 2018.
Keywords: attachment style; caregiver; genocide; Refugees; resilience; secondary traumatization; Trauma; Yazidi

Cultivating a Landscape of Peace: Iroquois-European Encounters in Seventeenth-century America - Dennis, M. (Cornell University Press, 1993)

Making life better for Children on the Move promising practices for working with and supporting children on the move - DestinationUnknown (Destination Unknown, 2019)
Keywords: displaced children; Migrant children; refugee children

Justice and Conflict - Deutsch, M. (The Handbook of Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice, 2011)

The Resolution of Conflict: Constructive and Destructive Processes - Deutsch, M. (Yale University Press, 1977)

Cooperation and Competition - Deutsch, M. (The Handbook of Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice, 2011)

Enhancing the Interactions of Teenage Mothers and Their At-Risk Children: Effectiveness of a Maternal-Focused Intervention - Deutscher, B.; Fewell, R. R.; Gross, M. (Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 2006)

Experience and Education, 60th Anniversary Edition - Dewey, J. (Kappa Delta Pi, 1998)

Long-term consequences of stunting in early life - Dewey, K. G.; Begum, K. (Matern Child Nutr, 2011)
This review summarizes the impact of stunting, highlights recent research findings, discusses policy and programme implications and identifies research priorities. There is growing evidence of the connections between slow growth in height early in life and impaired health and educational and economic performance later in life. Recent research findings, including follow-up of an intervention trial in Guatemala, indicate that stunting can have long-term effects on cognitive development, school achievement, economic productivity in adulthood and maternal reproductive outcomes. This evidence has contributed to the growing scientific consensus that tackling childhood stunting is a high priority for reducing the global burden of disease and for fostering economic development. Follow-up of randomized intervention trials is needed in other regions to add to the findings of the Guatemala trial. Further research is also needed to: understand the pathways by which prevention of stunting can have long-term effects; identify the pathways through which the non-genetic transmission of nutritional effects is mediated in future generations; and determine the impact of interventions focused on linear growth in early life on chronic disease risk in adulthood.
Dewey, Kathryn G Begum, Khadija eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review England 2011/10/05 06:00 Matern Child Nutr. 2011 Oct;7 Suppl 3:5-18. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2011.00349.x.
Keywords: *Child Development; *Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; *Developing Countries; *Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Africa/epidemiology; Asia/epidemiology; Body Height; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Dietary Supplements; Female; Humans; Latin America/epidemiology; Malnutrition/complications/epidemiology; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors

Secondary analysis of the "Love Me...Never Shake Me" SBS education program. - Deyo, Grace; Skybo, Theresa; Carroll, Alisa (Child Abuse Negl, 2008)
OBJECTIVE: Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is preventable; however, an estimated 21-74 per 100,000 children worldwide are victims annually. This study examined the effectiveness of an SBS prevention program in the US. METHODS: A descriptive, secondary analysis of the Prevent Child Abuse Ohio (PCAO) "Love Me...Never Shake Me" SBS education program database included 7,051 women who completed a commitment statement, pre and post-test, and follow-up survey. RESULTS: Participants were mostly White (76%), had at least some college education (62%), were privately insured (62%), and lived with the father and infant (63%). Mothers knew of the dangers of shaking (96%) and recommended SBS education for all parents (98%) because they found it helpful (97%). Scores on the pre and post-tests were significantly different, but there was no difference based on education site or demographics. There was a significant increase in a pre/post-test item pertaining to infant crying. At follow-up, participants remembered postpartum SBS education (98%), but post-discharge did not receive SBS education from their primary care provider (62%). Most mothers practiced infant soothing techniques (79%) provided in the education; however, few women practiced self-coping techniques (36%) and accessed community support services (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Postpartum SBS prevention education should continue. Development of SBS programs should result from these study findings focusing on education content and program evaluation. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Mothers report that shaken baby syndrome education is important for all parents and memorable at follow-up. Postpartum SBS education should continue because the hospital is the primary place they receive education. Mothers' report they less frequently receive education from healthcare sources post-discharge. Diligence of primary care providers to incorporate SBS prevention education in well child visits will increase parental exposure to this information. Education may need to place greater emphasis on infant crying and soothing, as well as parent support and self-coping techniques versus the dangers of shaking.
Keywords: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Child Abuse; Databases, Factual; Fathers; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hospitals; Humans; Infant Care; Infant, Newborn; Male; Middle Aged; Mothers; Ohio; Patient Education as Topic; Postpartum Period; Questionnaires; Shaken Baby Syndrome; Young Adult

Can Psychosocial Intervention Improve Peer and Sibling Relations Among War-affected Children? Impact and Mediating Analyses in a Randomized Controlled Trial - Diab, Marwan; Punamäki, Raija-Leena; Palosaari, Esa; Qouta, Samir R. (Social Development, 2014)
Social resources are considered important protectors in traumatic conditions, but few studies have analyzed their role in psychosocial interventions among war-affected children. We examined (1) whether a psychosocial intervention (teaching recovery techniques, TRT) is effective in improving peer and sibling relations, and (2) whether these potentially improved relations mediate the intervention's impacts on children's mental health. Participants were 428 Palestinian children [10–13 (mean = 11.29, standard deviation SD = .68)-year-old girls (49.4 percent) and boys (50.6 percent)], who were cluster-randomized into the TRT and wait-list control groups. They reported the quality of peer (friendship and loneliness) and sibling (intimacy, warmth, conflict, and rivalry) relations, and posttraumatic stress, depressive and psychological distress symptoms, as well as psychosocial well-being at baseline (T1), postintervention (T2), and six month follow-up (T3). Results showed gender-specific TRT intervention effects: Loneliness in peer relations reduced among boys and sibling rivalry reduced among girls. The TRT prevented the increase in sibling conflict that happened in the control group. The mediating hypothesis was partially substantiated for improved peer relations, and beneficial changes in sibling relations were generally associated with improved mental health.
Keywords: intervention; peer relations; siblingship; War

The Psychosocial Factors That Undermine Children’s Academic Potentials: A Multi-Level Study of the Main Psychosocial Factors That Contribute to Palestinian Children’s Academic Underachievement. - Diab, S. Y. (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2011)

Parental olfactory experience influences behavior and neural structure in subsequent generations. - Dias, Brian G; Ressler, Kerry J (Nat Neurosci, 2014)
Using olfactory molecular specificity, we examined the inheritance of parental traumatic exposure, a phenomenon that has been frequently observed, but not understood. We subjected F0 mice to odor fear conditioning before conception and found that subsequently conceived F1 and F2 generations had an increased behavioral sensitivity to the F0-conditioned odor, but not to other odors. When an odor (acetophenone) that activates a known odorant receptor (Olfr151) was used to condition F0 mice, the behavioral sensitivity of the F1 and F2 generations to acetophenone was complemented by an enhanced neuroanatomical representation of the Olfr151 pathway. Bisulfite sequencing of sperm DNA from conditioned F0 males and F1 naive offspring revealed CpG hypomethylation in the Olfr151 gene. In addition, in vitro fertilization, F2 inheritance and cross-fostering revealed that these transgenerational effects are inherited via parental gametes. Our findings provide a framework for addressing how environmental information may be inherited transgenerationally at behavioral, neuroanatomical and epigenetic levels.
Keywords: 1-Propanol; Acetophenones; Acoustic Stimulation; Analysis of Variance; Animals; beta-Galactosidase; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; Conditioning, Classical; Electroshock; Epigenomics; Fear; Female; Glycine; Male; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Odors; Olfactory Pathways; Paternal Exposure; Pregnancy; Receptors, Odorant; Reflex, Startle; Sensory Receptor Cells; Smell; Spermatozoa

Effectiveness of the Turkish Version of "First Step to Success Program" in Preventing Antisocial Behaviors - DİKEN, I.H.; CAVKAYTAR, A.; BATU, E.S.; BOZKURT, F.; KURTILMAZ, Y. (Education & Science / Egitim ve Bilim, 2011)
The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Turkish version of the First Step to Success (TFSS) early intervention program on problem behaviors, social skills, and academic competence of at-risk students for antisocial behaviors in Turkey. Participants consisted of a total number of 102 students (53 students in experimental and 49 students in control group) and experimental group students' teachers and mothers. Experimental group students were subjected to implementation of TFSS while control group students were not. Results revealed significant differences between the scores of two groups on problem behaviors and social skills. Moreover, significant decreases in experimental group students' problem behavior scores and significant increases in their social skills and academic competence scores were observed. High levels of satisfaction were reported by experimental group students' teachers and mothers. Results are being discussed
Keywords: antisocial behavior; early intervention; First Step to Success

A systematic review on the mental health of children and adolescents in areas of armed conflict in the Middle East - Dimitry, L. (Child Care Health Dev, 2012)
For many decades, the Middle East has been troubled with numerous long-standing armed conflicts and wars. Children and adolescents were not spared the trauma and its consequences. Exposure to traumatic events can result in mental, behavioural and emotional problems in children and adolescents. To date, this is the first paper that aims to systematically review the literature on the mental health of children and adolescents living in areas of armed conflict in the Middle East, specifically Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq. It explores factors that mediate between exposure to armed conflict and mental, behavioural and emotional problems and places them in a cultural context. Pubmed was searched and papers were identified using specific inclusion criteria. Seventy-one eligible studies were included. The main findings are that children and adolescents living in these conflict zones are exposed to high levels of traumatic experiences. Number of conflict-related traumatic experiences correlates positively with prevalence of mental, behavioural and emotional problems. Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents is estimated to be 5-8% in Israel, 23-70% in Palestine and 10-30% in Iraq (insufficient data for Lebanon). The main determining factors identified were level and type of exposure, age, gender, socio-economic adversity, social support and religiosity. These findings bring to light the pressing need to provide children and adolescents living in conflict areas with help. They are useful in designing new interventions to strengthen child and adolescent resilience in areas of conflict worldwide. Specific recommendations are included.
Dimitry, L eng Review England 2011/05/28 06:00 Child Care Health Dev. 2012 Mar;38(2):153-61. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01246.x. Epub 2011 May 27.
Keywords: *Mental Health; *Psychology, Child; *Warfare; Adolescent; Child; Child Welfare; Child, Preschool; Conflict (Psychology); culture; Female; Humans; Infant; Iraq; Israel; Lebanon; Male; Mental Disorders/*etiology; Middle East; Mothers/*psychology; Social Support; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*epidemiology/*psychology; Young Adult

Peer contagion in child and adolescent social and emotional development - Dishion, T. J.; Tipsord, J. M. (Annu Rev Psychol, 2011)
In this article, we examine the construct of peer contagion in childhood and adolescence and review studies of child and adolescent development that have identified peer contagion influences. Evidence suggests that children's interactions with peers are tied to increases in aggression in early and middle childhood and amplification of problem behaviors such as drug use, delinquency, and violence in early to late adolescence. Deviancy training is one mechanism that accounts for peer contagion effects on problem behaviors from age 5 through adolescence. In addition, we discuss peer contagion relevant to depression in adolescence, and corumination as an interactive process that may account for these effects. Social network analyses suggest that peer contagion underlies the influence of friendship on obesity, unhealthy body images, and expectations. Literature is reviewed that suggests how peer contagion effects can undermine the goals of public education from elementary school through college and impair the goals of juvenile corrections systems. In particular, programs that "select" adolescents at risk for aggregated preventive interventions are particularly vulnerable to peer contagion effects. It appears that a history of peer rejection is a vulnerability factor for influence by peers, and adult monitoring, supervision, positive parenting, structure, and self-regulation serve as protective factors.
Dishion, Thomas J Tipsord, Jessica M eng DA018760/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ DA07031/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ DA16110/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ MH20012/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ P30 DA018760/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ P30 DA018760-05/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ R01 DA007031/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ R01 DA007031-20/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ R01 DA016110/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ R01 DA016110-09/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ T32 MH020012/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ T32 MH020012-13/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Review 2009/07/07 09:00 Annu Rev Psychol. 2011;62:189-214. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100412.
Keywords: *Emotions; *Interpersonal Relations; *Peer Group; *Social Behavior; *Social Environment; Adolescent; Adolescent Development; Aggression; Child; Child Development; Humans; Juvenile Delinquency; Male; Violence

The family check-up with high-risk indigent families: preventing problem behavior by increasing parents' positive behavior support in early childhood - Dishion, T. J.; Shaw, D.; Connell, A.; Gardner, F.; Weaver, C.; Wilson, M. (Child Dev, 2008)
Seven hundred thirty-one income-eligible families in 3 geographical regions who were enrolled in a national food supplement program were screened and randomized to a brief family intervention. At child ages 2 and 3, the intervention group caregivers were offered the Family Check-Up and linked parenting support services. Latent growth models on caregiver reports at child ages 2, 3, and 4 revealed decreased behavior problems when compared with the control group. Intervention effects occurred predominantly among families reporting high levels of problem behavior at child age 2. Families in the intervention condition improved on direct observation measures of caregivers' positive behavior support at child ages 2 and 3; improvements in positive behavior support mediated improvements in children's early problem behavior.
Dishion, Thomas J Shaw, Daniel Connell, Arin Gardner, Frances Weaver, Chelsea Wilson, Melvin eng 5 R01 DA16110/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ K05 DA025630/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ R01 DA022773/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ R01 DA022773-01A2/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ R01 DA022773-02/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ R01 DA023245/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ R01 DA023245-02/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ R01 DA026222/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ R01 DA036832/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/ Randomized Controlled Trial Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural 2008/10/02 09:00 Child Dev. 2008 Sep-Oct;79(5):1395-414. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01195.x.
Keywords: *Parent-Child Relations; Child Behavior Disorders/*prevention & control/*psychology; Child, Preschool; Family/*psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Parents/*psychology; Risk Factors

Maternal responsiveness moderates the relationship between allostatic load and working memory - Doan, S. N.; Evans, G. W. (Dev PsychopatholDevelopment and PsychopathologyDevelopment and Psychopathology, 2011)
A substantial amount of research has demonstrated the deleterious effects of chronic stress on memory. However, much less is known about protective factors. In the current study we test the role of maternal responsiveness in buffering the effects of childhood allostatic load on subsequent adolescent working memory. Allostatic load is a marker of cumulative stress on the body that is caused by mobilization of multiple physiological systems in response to chronic environmental demands. Results of the study suggest that allostatic load negatively affects working memory, but that this effect is significantly attenuated in children with responsive mothers.
1469-2198 Doan, Stacey N Evans, Gary W Journal Article United States Dev Psychopathol. 2011 Aug;23(3):873-80. doi: 10.1017/S0954579411000368.
Keywords: *Mother-Child Relations; Adaptation, Physiological/physiology; Adolescent; Allostasis/*physiology; Child; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Memory, Short-Term/*physiology; Poverty; Stress, Physiological/*physiology; Stress, Psychological/*physiopathology

Mechanisms in the cycle of violence - Dodge, K. A.; Bates, J. E.; Pettit, G. S. (Science, 1990)
Two questions concerning the effect of physical abuse in early childhood on the child's development of aggressive behavior are the focus of this article. The first is whether abuse per se has deleterious effects. In earlier studies, in which samples were nonrepresentative and family ecological factors (such as poverty, marital violence, and family instability) and child biological variables (such as early health problems and temperament) were ignored, findings have been ambiguous. Results from a prospective study of a representative sample of 309 children indicated that physical abuse is indeed a risk factor for later aggressive behavior even when the other ecological and biological factors are known. The second question concerns the processes by which antisocial development occurs in abused children. Abused children tended to acquire deviant patterns of processing social information, and these may mediate the development of aggressive behavior.
Dodge, K A Bates, J E Pettit, G S eng 42498/PHS HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 1990/12/21 Science. 1990 Dec 21;250(4988):1678-83.
Keywords: *Aggression; *Child Abuse; *Child Development; *Violence; Child, Preschool; Humans; Probability; Risk Factors; Temperament

Hostile attributional biases among aggressive boys are exacerbated under conditions of threats to the self - Dodge, K. A.; Somberg, D. R. (Child DevChild DevChild Development, 1987)
Previous studies have found a tendency for aggressive boys to display hostile attributional biases and social cue interpretation deficits. It was hypothesized that these biases and deficits would be exaggerated under conditions of social anxiety and threat. Aggressive and nonaggressive boys aged 8 - 10 (total N = 65) were administered tests of attributional tendencies and social cue interpretation skills (via videorecorded stimuli) under relaxed and threatening conditions. It was found that, relative to normal boys, aggressive boys displayed a bias toward attributing hostile intentions to peers, a deficit in interpreting accurately others' intentions, and a deficit in linking interpretations to behavioral responses. The hypothesis that these biases and deficits would be exaggerated under conditions of threat was also supported. Findings were interpreted as consistent with theories of preemptive processing and emotional vulnerability in aggressive boys.
Dodge, K A Somberg, D R NIMH 37062/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. United states Child Dev. 1987 Feb;58(1):213-24.
Keywords: *Hostility; *Social Perception; Aggression/*psychology; Child; Cognition; Cues; Humans; Male; Motivation

Testing an idealized dynamic cascade model of the development of serious violence in adolescence - Dodge, K. A.; Greenberg, M. T.; Malone, P. S.; Conduct Problems Prevention Research, Group (Child Dev, 2008)
A dynamic cascade model of development of serious adolescent violence was proposed and tested through prospective inquiry with 754 children (50% male; 43% African American) from 27 schools at 4 geographic sites followed annually from kindergarten through Grade 11 (ages 5-18). Self, parent, teacher, peer, observer, and administrative reports provided data. Partial least squares analyses revealed a cascade of prediction and mediation: An early social context of disadvantage predicts harsh-inconsistent parenting, which predicts social and cognitive deficits, which predicts conduct problem behavior, which predicts elementary school social and academic failure, which predicts parental withdrawal from supervision and monitoring, which predicts deviant peer associations, which ultimately predicts adolescent violence. Findings suggest targets for in-depth inquiry and preventive intervention.
Dodge, Kenneth A Greenberg, Mark T Malone, Patrick S eng K05MH00797/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ K05MH01027/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R18 MH048043-10/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R18 MH48043/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R18 MH50951/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R18 MH50952/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R18 MH50953/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2008/11/29 09:00 Child Dev. 2008 Nov-Dec;79(6):1907-27. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01233.x.
Keywords: Achievement; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior/*psychology; Child; Child, Preschool; Cognition; Female; Humans; Male; Parenting; Prospective Studies; Social Behavior; Surveys and Questionnaires; Violence/*psychology

Oxytocin improves "mind-reading" in humans. - Domes, Gregor; Heinrichs, Markus; Michel, Andre; Berger, Christoph; Herpertz, Sabine C (Biol Psychiatry, 2007)
BACKGROUND: The ability to "read the mind" of other individuals, that is, to infer their mental state by interpreting subtle social cues, is indispensable in human social interaction. The neuropeptide oxytocin plays a central role in social approach behavior in nonhuman mammals. METHODS: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject design, 30 healthy male volunteers were tested for their ability to infer the affective mental state of others using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) after intranasal administration of 24 IU oxytocin. RESULTS: Oxytocin improved performance on the RMET compared with placebo. This effect was pronounced for difficult compared with easy items. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that oxytocin improves the ability to infer the mental state of others from social cues of the eye region. Oxytocin might play a role in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder, which is characterized by severe social impairment.
Keywords: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Awareness; Brain; Cues; Double-Blind Method; Empathy; Facial Expression; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Nonverbal Communication; Oxytocin; Reference Values; Social Perception; Telepathy

Improving young children's social and emotional competence: a randomized trial of the preschool "PATHS" curriculum. - Domitrovich, Celene E; Cortes, Rebecca C; Greenberg, Mark T (J Prim Prev, 2007)
This paper reports the results from a randomized clinical trial evaluating an adaptation of the Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies curriculum (PATHS) for preschool-age children in Head Start. PATHS is a universal, teacher-taught social-emotional curriculum that is designed to improve children's social competence and reduce problem behavior. Twenty classrooms in two Pennsylvania communities participated in the study. Teachers in the 10 intervention classrooms implemented weekly lessons and extension activities across a 9-month period. Child assessments and teacher and parent reports of child behavior assessments were collected at the beginning and end of the school year. Analysis of covariance was used to control for baseline differences between the groups and pretest scores on each of the outcome measures. The results suggest that after exposure to PATHS, intervention children had higher emotion knowledge skills and were rated by parents and teachers as more socially competent compared to peers. Further, teachers rated intervention children as less socially withdrawn at the end of the school year compared to controls.
Keywords: Child Development; Child, Preschool; Curriculum; Early Intervention (Education); Emotions; Female; Humans; Male; Pennsylvania; Poverty; School Health Services; Socialization

Patho-genetics of posttraumatic stress disorder - Domschke, K. (Psychiatr DanubPsychiatr DanubPsychiatr Danub, 2012)
Clinical genetic studies propose a moderate genetic contribution to the pathogenesis of PTSD with a heritability of about 30-35%. The present brief review will give an overview of molecular genetic research in PTSD yielding support for specific vulnerability genes. Additionally, evidence for gene-environment (GxE) interactions between susceptibility genes of PTSD and traumatic experiences will be reported. Recent studies suggest a pivotal role of epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation in mediating the impact of trauma in the pathogenesis of PTSD. Future approaches to further unravel the genetic underpinnings of PTSD might comprise genome-wide association studies (GWAS), the investigation of the genetic influence on intermediate phenotypes of PTSD (e.g., imaging genetics) as well as pharmaco- and psychotherapy-genetic studies. Genetic research in PTSD will be discussed with respect to its potential benefit regarding innovative and individually tailored therapeutic approaches in PTSD.
Domschke, Katharina Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review Croatia Psychiatr Danub. 2012 Sep;24(3):267-73.
Keywords: DNA Methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Gene-Environment Interaction; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Pharmacogenetics; Risk Factors; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*genetics/therapy

Contributions of Early Childhood Development Programming to Sustainable Peace and Development - Donaldson, C.; Affolter, F.; Salah, R.; Britto, P. R.; Leckman, J. F.; Connolly, P.; Fitzpatrick, S.; Walmsley, P. (Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC), 2018)
In order to advance the notion that young children and their families have a role to play in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, the Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC) is pleased to introduce its first publication "Contributions of Early Childhood Development Programming to Promoting Peace and Sustainable Development". This concept paper summarizes and combines evidence from developmental psychology, health and nutrition, with lessons learned from the peacebuilding and social services administration sectors. The paper will help practitioners appreciate how ECD services can prevent and mitigate conflict between individuals and among groups. This background paper thereby follows in the footsteps of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which acknowledges that “there can be no sustainable development without peace, and no peace without sustainable development.” It exemplifies the role of ECD in supporting the achievement of the SDGs, and in particular Goal 16. The concepts described in the paper align with recent directions in peacebuilding that aim to operationalize socio-economic development interventions so that they simultaneously transform relationships and build social support networks capable of mitigating violent conflict risks. Read the ECPC background paper ”Contributions of Early Childhood Development Programming to Sustainable Peace and Development”. Read the ECPC issue brief [Eng] [Ara] [Fre] [Spa] [Tur].
Keywords: early childhood development; Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC)

ECPC background paper "Contributions of Early Childhood Development programming to sustainable peace and development" - Donaldson, C.; Affolter, F.; Salah, R.; Britto, P. R.; Leckman, J. F.; Connolly, P.; Fitzpatrick, S.; Walmsley, P. (Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC), 2018)
In order to advance the notion that young children and their families have a role to play in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, the Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC) is pleased to introduce its first publication "Contributions of Early Childhood Development Programming to Promoting Peace and Sustainable Development". This concept paper summarizes and combines evidence from developmental psychology, health and nutrition, with lessons learned from the peacebuilding and social services administration sectors. The paper will help practitioners appreciate how ECD services can prevent and mitigate conflict between individuals and among groups. This background paper thereby follows in the footsteps of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which acknowledges that “there can be no sustainable development without peace, and no peace without sustainable development.” It exemplifies the role of ECD in supporting the achievement of the SDGs, and in particular Goal 16. The concepts described in the paper align with recent directions in peacebuilding that aim to operationalize socio-economic development interventions so that they simultaneously transform relationships and build social support networks capable of mitigating violent conflict risks. Read the ECPC background paper ”Contributions of Early Childhood Development Programming to Sustainable Peace and Development”. Read the ECPC issue brief [Eng] [Ara] [Fre] [Spa] [Tur].
Keywords: early childhood development (ECD); peacebuilding; Social cohesion; Sustainable development; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); violence prevention

Contributions of Early Childhood Development services to preventing violent conflict and sustaining peace [Eng, Ara, Fre, Spa, Tur] - Donaldson, Chelsea (Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC), 2017)
The purpose of this Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC) issue brief is to: (1) demonstrate the societal risks that result when early childhood development (ECD) services are lacking and (2) show how ECD services ontribute to sustaining peace through increasing social cohesion, equality and economic productivity. The brief and the ECPC background paper on which it is based are available via the links below. Read the ECPC issue brief [Eng] [Ara] [Fre] [Spa] [Tur]. Read the ECPC background paper "Contributions of Early Childhood Development Programming to Sustainable Peace and Development".
Keywords: early childhood development; sustaining peace; vulnerable children

The Moral Psychology Handbook - Doris, J.M.; Group, T.M.P.R. (OUP Oxford, 2010)

Commonality and the complexity of "we": social attitudes and social change - Dovidio, J. F.; Gaertner, S. L.; Saguy, T. (Pers Soc Psychol RevPers Soc Psychol RevPers Soc Psychol Rev, 2009)
The present article explores the complex role of collective identities in the development of intergroup biases and disparities, in interventions to improve orientations toward members of other groups, and in inhibiting or facilitating social action. The article revolves around the common ingroup identity model, examining general empirical support but also acknowledging potential limitations and emphasizing new insights and extensions. It proposes that the motivations of majority group members to preserve a system that advantages them and the motivations of minority group members to enhance their status have direct implications for preferred group representations and consequent intergroup relations. In particular, the effects of majority group members' preferences for a common, one-group identity and minority group members' preference for a dual identity (in which differences are acknowledged within the context of a superordinate identity) are considered in terms of intergroup attitudes, recognition of unfair disparities, and support for social action.
Dovidio, John F Gaertner, Samuel L Saguy, Tamar Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Review United States Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 2009 Feb;13(1):3-20. doi: 10.1177/1088868308326751.
Keywords: *Group Processes; *Prejudice; *Social Change; *Social Identification; Acculturation; Conflict (Psychology); Humans; Minority Groups; Models, Psychological

Early origins of health disparities: burden of infection, health, and socioeconomic status in U.S. children - Dowd, J. B.; Zajacova, A.; Aiello, A. (Soc Sci Med, 2009)
Recent work in biodemography has suggested that lifetime exposure to infection and inflammation may be an important determinant of later-life morbidity and mortality. Early exposure to infections during critical periods can predispose individuals to chronic disease, in part through the reallocation of energy away from development needed for immune and inflammatory responses. Furthermore, markers of inflammation are known to vary by socioeconomic status in adults and may contribute to overall socioeconomic health inequalities, but little is known about how the sources of this inflammation differ over the life course. This paper uses novel biomarker data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) to test the association of the burden of common chronic infections (Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), hepatitis A and hepatitis B) with height-for-age and asthma/chronic respiratory conditions in U.S. children ages 6 and older, and the association of these chronic infections to children's socioeconomic status. A higher burden of infection is found to be associated with lower height-for-age as well as an increased likelihood of asthma net of race/ethnicity, family income, and parental education. Children with lower family income, lower parental education, and non-white race/ethnicity have a higher likelihood of infection with several individual pathogens as well as the overall burden of infection. Differential exposure and/or susceptibility to infections may be one mechanism through which early social factors get embodied and shape later-life health outcomes.
Dowd, Jennifer Beam Zajacova, Anna Aiello, Allison eng R21 NR 011181-01/NR/NINR NIH HHS/ R21 NR011181-01/NR/NINR NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2009/01/21 09:00 Soc Sci Med. 2009 Feb;68(4):699-707. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.12.010. Epub 2009 Jan 17.
Keywords: *Health Status Disparities; *Social Class; Adolescent; African Americans; Asthma/epidemiology; Body Height; Child; Helicobacter Infections/*epidemiology; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Nutrition Surveys; Seroepidemiologic Studies; United States/epidemiology; Virus Diseases/*epidemiology

Investing in early human development: timing and economic efficiency - Doyle, O.; Harmon, C. P.; Heckman, J. J.; Tremblay, R. E. (Econ Hum Biol, 2009)
Policy discussions to ameliorate socioeconomic (SES) inequalities are increasingly focused on investments in early childhood. Yet such interventions are costly to implement, and clear evidence on the optimal time to intervene to yield a high economic and social return in the future is meagre. The majority of successful early childhood interventions start in the preschool years. However socioeconomic gradients in cognitive skills, socio-emotional functioning and health can be observed by age three, suggesting that preventative programmes starting earlier in childhood may be even more effective. We discuss the optimal timing of early childhood intervention with reference to recent research in developmental neuroscience. We motivate the need for early intervention by providing an overview of the impact of adverse risk factors during the antenatal and early childhood periods on outcomes later in life. We provide a brief review of the economic rationale for investing early in life and propose the "antenatal investment hypothesis". We conclude by discussing a suite of new European interventions that will inform this optimal timing debate.
1873-6130 Doyle, Orla Harmon, Colm P Heckman, James J Tremblay, Richard E R01 HD054702/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States R01 HD054702-01/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands Econ Hum Biol. 2009 Mar;7(1):1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ehb.2009.01.002. Epub 2009 Jan 21.
Keywords: Child Development/*physiology; Child, Preschool; Cognition/physiology; Early Intervention (Education)/*economics; Humans; Infant; Neurosciences

Investing in early human development: timing and economic efficiency - Doyle, O.; Harmon, C. P.; Heckman, J. J.; Tremblay, R. E. (Econ Hum BiolEcon Hum Biol, 2009)
Policy discussions to ameliorate socioeconomic (SES) inequalities are increasingly focused on investments in early childhood. Yet such interventions are costly to implement, and clear evidence on the optimal time to intervene to yield a high economic and social return in the future is meagre. The majority of successful early childhood interventions start in the preschool years. However socioeconomic gradients in cognitive skills, socio-emotional functioning and health can be observed by age three, suggesting that preventative programmes starting earlier in childhood may be even more effective. We discuss the optimal timing of early childhood intervention with reference to recent research in developmental neuroscience. We motivate the need for early intervention by providing an overview of the impact of adverse risk factors during the antenatal and early childhood periods on outcomes later in life. We provide a brief review of the economic rationale for investing early in life and propose the "antenatal investment hypothesis". We conclude by discussing a suite of new European interventions that will inform this optimal timing debate.
Doyle, Orla Harmon, Colm P Heckman, James J Tremblay, Richard E eng R01 HD054702/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ R01 HD054702-01/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands 2009/02/14 09:00 Econ Hum Biol. 2009 Mar;7(1):1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ehb.2009.01.002. Epub 2009 Jan 21.
Keywords: Child Development/*physiology; Child, Preschool; Cognition/physiology; Early Intervention (Education)/*economics; Humans; Infant; Neurosciences

Attachment for infants in foster care: the role of caregiver state of mind - Dozier, M.; Stovall, K. C.; Albus, K. E.; Bates, B. (Child Dev, 2001)
The concordance between foster mothers' attachment state of mind and foster infants' attachment quality was examined for 50 foster mother-infant dyads. Babies had been placed into the care of their foster mothers between birth and 20 months of age. Attachment quality was assessed between 12 and 24 months of age, at least 3 months after the infants' placement into foster care. The two-way correspondence between maternal state of mind and infant attachment quality was 72%, kappa = .43, similar to the level seen among biologically intact mother-infant dyads. Contrary to expectations, age at placement was not related to attachment quality. Rather, concordance between maternal state of mind and infant attachment was seen for relatively late-placed babies, as well as early placed babies. These findings have two major implications. First, following a disruption in care during the first year and a half of life, babies appear capable of organizing their behavior around the availability of new caregivers. Second, these data argue for a nongenetic mechanism for the intergenerational transmission of attachment.
Dozier, M Stovall, K C Albus, K E Bates, B eng 52135/PHS HHS/ Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 2001/11/09 10:00 Child Dev. 2001 Sep-Oct;72(5):1467-77.
Keywords: *Mother-Child Relations; *Object Attachment; Adult; Aged; Caregivers/*psychology; Female; Foster Home Care/*psychology; Humans; Infant; Infant Behavior/*psychology; Intergenerational Relations; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Psychological; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Reactive Attachment Disorder/psychology

Global research priorities to accelerate early child development in the sustainable development era - Dua, T.; Tomlinson, M.; Tablante, E.; Britto, P.; Yousfzai, A.; Daelmans, B.; Darmstadt, G. L. (Lancet Glob Health, 2016)
Dua, Tarun Tomlinson, Mark Tablante, Elizabeth Britto, Pia Yousfzai, Aisha Daelmans, Bernadette Darmstadt, Gary L eng 001/World Health Organization/International R01 AA017104/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2016/10/09 06:00 Lancet Glob Health. 2016 Dec;4(12):e887-e889. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(16)30218-2. Epub 2016 Oct 4.
Keywords: *Child Development; *Global Health; *Research; Child, Preschool; Goals; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn

Growing up with parental alcohol abuse: exposure to childhood abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction - Dube, S. R.; Anda, R. F.; Felitti, V. J.; Croft, J. B.; Edwards, V. J.; Giles, W. H. (Child Abuse Negl, 2001)
OBJECTIVE: This study is a detailed examination of the association between parental alcohol abuse (mother only, father only, or both parents) and multiple forms of childhood abuse, neglect, and other household dysfunction, known as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). METHOD: A questionnaire about ACEs including child abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, and exposure to parental alcohol abuse was completed by 8629 adult HMO members to retrospectively assess the relationship of growing up with parental alcohol abuse to 10 ACEs and multiple ACEs (ACE score). RESULTS: Compared to persons who grew up with no parental alcohol abuse, the adjusted odds ratio for each category of ACE was approximately 2 to 13 times higher if either the mother, father, or both parents abused alcohol (p < 0.05). For example, the likelihood of having a battered mother was increased 13-fold for men who grew up with both parents who abused alcohol (OR, 12.7; 95% CI: 8.4-19.1). For almost every ACE, those who grew up with both an alcohol-abusing mother and father had the highest likelihood of ACEs. The mean number of ACEs for persons with no parental alcohol abuse, father only, mother only, or both parents was 1.4, 2.6, 3.2, and 3.8, respectively (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Although the retrospective reporting of these experiences cannot establish a causal association with certainty, exposure to parental alcohol abuse is highly associated with experiencing adverse childhood experiences. Improved coordination of adult and pediatric health care along with related social and substance abuse services may lead to earlier recognition, treatment, and prevention of both adult alcohol abuse and adverse childhood experiences, reducing the negative sequelae of ACEs in adolescents and adults.
Dube, S R Anda, R F Felitti, V J Croft, J B Edwards, V J Giles, W H eng TS-44-10/11/TS/ATSDR CDC HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. England 2002/01/30 10:00 Child Abuse Negl. 2001 Dec;25(12):1627-40.
Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Alcoholism/complications/*epidemiology/psychology; California/epidemiology; Causality; Child; Child Abuse/psychology/*statistics & numerical data; Child of Impaired Parents/*psychology/statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Behavior; Health Maintenance Organizations/*utilization; Humans; Life Change Events; Likelihood Functions; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time

Childhood abuse, household dysfunction, and the risk of attempted suicide throughout the life span: findings from the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study - Dube, S. R.; Anda, R. F.; Felitti, V. J.; Chapman, D. P.; Williamson, D. F.; Giles, W. H. (JAMA, 2001)
CONTEXT: Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, but identifying persons at risk is difficult. Thus, the US surgeon general has made suicide prevention a national priority. An expanding body of research suggests that childhood trauma and adverse experiences can lead to a variety of negative health outcomes, including attempted suicide among adolescents and adults. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between the risk of suicide attempts and adverse childhood experiences and the number of such experiences (adverse childhood experiences [ACE] score). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective cohort study of 17 337 adult health maintenance organization members (54% female; mean [SD] age, 57 [15.3] years) who attended a primary care clinic in San Diego, Calif, within a 3-year period (1995-1997) and completed a survey about childhood abuse and household dysfunction, suicide attempts (including age at first attempt), and multiple other health-related issues. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Self-reported suicide attempts, compared by number of adverse childhood experiences, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse; household substance abuse, mental illness, and incarceration; and parental domestic violence, separation, or divorce. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of having at least 1 suicide attempt was 3.8%. Adverse childhood experiences in any category increased the risk of attempted suicide 2- to 5-fold. The ACE score had a strong, graded relationship to attempted suicide during childhood/adolescence and adulthood (P<.001). Compared with persons with no such experiences (prevalence of attempted suicide, 1.1%), the adjusted odds ratio of ever attempting suicide among persons with 7 or more experiences (35.2%) was 31.1 (95% confidence interval, 20.6-47.1). Adjustment for illicit drug use, depressed affect, and self-reported alcoholism reduced the strength of the relationship between the ACE score and suicide attempts, suggesting partial mediation of the adverse childhood experience-suicide attempt relationship by these factors. The population-attributable risk fractions for 1 or more experiences were 67%, 64%, and 80% for lifetime, adult, and childhood/adolescent suicide attempts, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A powerful graded relationship exists between adverse childhood experiences and risk of attempted suicide throughout the life span. Alcoholism, depressed affect, and illicit drug use, which are strongly associated with such experiences, appear to partially mediate this relationship. Because estimates of the attributable risk fraction caused by these experiences were large, prevention of these experiences and the treatment of persons affected by them may lead to progress in suicide prevention.
Dube, S R Anda, R F Felitti, V J Chapman, D P Williamson, D F Giles, W H eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 2002/01/05 10:00 JAMA. 2001 Dec 26;286(24):3089-96.
Keywords: *Family Relations; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child Abuse/*statistics & numerical data; Domestic Violence/statistics & numerical data; Family Characteristics; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Psychology, Social/*statistics & numerical data; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology; Suicide, Attempted/prevention & control/*statistics & numerical data

Conducting longitudinal, process-oriented research with conflict-affected youth: Solving the inevitable challenges - Dubow, E. F.; Aber, J. L.; Betancourt, T. S.; Cummings, E. M.; Huesmann, L. R. (Dev Psychopathol, 2017)
The reader might get the impression that the four projects described in this Special Section proceeded in a systematic and predictable way. Of course, those of us engaged in each research project encountered pitfalls and challenges along the way. A main goal of this Special Section is to provide pathways and encouragement for those who may be interested in advancing high-quality research on this topic. In this paper, we describe a set of practical and ethical challenges that we encountered in conducting our longitudinal, process-oriented, and translational research with conflict-affected youth, and we illustrate how problems can be solved with the goal of maintaining the internal and external validity of the research designs. We are hopeful that by describing the challenges of our work, and how we overcame them, which are seldom treated in this or any other literature on research on child development in high-risk contexts, we can offer a realistic and encouraging picture of conducting methodologically sound research in conflict-affected contexts.
Dubow, Eric F Aber, J Lawrence Betancourt, Theresa S Cummings, E Mark Huesmann, L Rowell eng R01 HD047814/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural 2016/11/22 06:00 Dev Psychopathol. 2017 Feb;29(1):85-92. doi: 10.1017/S0954579416001176. Epub 2016 Nov 21.
Keywords: *Adaptation, Psychological; *Dissent and Disputes; *Translational Medical Research; Adolescent; Armed Conflicts/*psychology; Child; Humans; Interdisciplinary Communication; Intersectoral Collaboration; Longitudinal Studies; Research Support as Topic

Cumulative effects of exposure to violence on posttraumatic stress in Palestinian and Israeli youth - Dubow, E. F.; Boxer, P.; Huesmann, L. R.; Landau, S.; Dvir, S.; Shikaki, K.; Ginges, J. (J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol, 2012)
We examine cumulative and prospective effects of exposure to conflict and violence across four contexts (ethnic-political, community, family, school) on posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms in Palestinian and Israeli youth. Interviews were conducted with 600 Palestinian and 901 Israeli (Jewish and Arab) children (ages 8, 11, and 14) and their parents once a year for 3 consecutive years. Palestinian children, males, and older youth were generally at greatest risk for exposure to conflict/violence across contexts. Regression analysis found unique effects of exposure to ethnic-political (Palestinian sample), school (Palestinian and Israeli Jewish samples), and family conflict/violence (Israeli Arab sample) during the first 2 years on PTS symptoms in Year 3, controlling for prior PTS symptoms. Cumulative exposure to violence in more contexts during the first 2 years predicted higher subsequent PTS symptoms than did exposure to violence in fewer contexts, and this was true regardless of the youth's level of prior PTS symptoms. These results highlight the risk that ongoing exposure to violence across multiple contexts in the social ecology poses for the mental health of children in contexts of ethnic-political violence. Researchers and mental health professionals working with war-exposed youth in a given cultural context must assess both war- and non-war-related stressors affecting youth. Based on this assessment, interventions may not be limited to individual-based, war-trauma-focused approaches but also may include school-based, community-based, and family-level interventions.
Dubow, Eric F Boxer, Paul Huesmann, L Rowell Landau, Simha Dvir, Shira Shikaki, Khalil Ginges, Jeremy eng HD047814/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ R01 HD047814/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ R24 HD050959/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural England 2012/05/01 06:00 J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2012;41(6):837-44. doi: 10.1080/15374416.2012.675571. Epub 2012 Apr 27.
Keywords: *Warfare; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior/psychology; Arabs/psychology/*statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Status; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Israel/epidemiology; Jews/psychology/*statistics & numerical data; Male; Middle East/epidemiology; Risk Factors; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*epidemiology/psychology; Violence/psychology/*statistics & numerical data

Working with Children Affected by Hurricane Katrina: Two Case Studies in Play Therapy - Dugan, Erin M.; Snow, Marilyn S.; Crowe, Sindy R. (Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2010)
In August 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast Regions. Throughout history, mental health professionals have primarily focused on adults as the identified victims of natural disasters. More recently, mental health professionals are focused on integrating mental health services to children and adolescents. This article discusses the impact natural disasters have on children, and the related traumatic stress response and post traumatic stress disorder often experienced by children. Treating children can be complicated and a developmentally appropriate intervention is needed. Evidenced-based research has shown play therapy to be a developmentally effective intervention with traumatised children. This article presents two case studies of play therapy with children affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Keywords: hurricane; non directive play therapy; Play therapy; Trauma

Adolescent violence perpetration: associations with multiple types of adverse childhood experiences - Duke, N. N.; Pettingell, S. L.; McMorris, B. J.; Borowsky, I. W. (Pediatrics, 2010)
OBJECTIVE: Adverse childhood experiences are associated with significant functional impairment and life lost in adolescence and adulthood. This study identified relationships between multiple types of adverse events and distinct categories of adolescent violence perpetration. METHODS: Data are from 136 549 students in the 6th, 9th, and 12th grades who responded to the 2007 Minnesota Student Survey, an anonymous, self-report survey examining youth health behaviors and perceptions, characteristics of primary socializing domains, and youth engagement. Linear and logistic regression models were used to determine if 6 types of adverse experiences including physical abuse, sexual abuse by family and/or other persons, witnessing abuse, and household dysfunction caused by family alcohol and/or drug use were significantly associated with risk of adolescent violence perpetration after adjustment for demographic covariates. An adverse-events score was entered into regression models to test for a dose-response relationship between the event score and violence outcomes. All analyses were stratified according to gender. RESULTS: More than 1 in 4 youth (28.9%) reported at least 1 adverse childhood experience. The most commonly reported adverse experience was alcohol abuse by a household family member that caused problems. Each type of adverse childhood experience was significantly associated with adolescent interpersonal violence perpetration (delinquency, bullying, physical fighting, dating violence, weapon-carrying on school property) and self-directed violence (self-mutilatory behavior, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt). For each additional type of adverse event reported by youth, the risk of violence perpetration increased 35% to 144%. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple types of adverse childhood experiences should be considered as risk factors for a spectrum of violence-related outcomes during adolescence. Providers and advocates should be aware of the interrelatedness and cumulative impact of adverse-event types. Study findings support broadening the current discourse on types of adverse events when considering pathways from child maltreatment to adolescent perpetration of delinquent and violent outcomes.
1098-4275 Duke, Naomi N Pettingell, Sandra L McMorris, Barbara J Borowsky, Iris W T01-DP000112/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States Comparative Study Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. United States Pediatrics. 2010 Apr;125(4):e778-86. doi: 10.1542/peds.2009-0597. Epub 2010 Mar 15.
Keywords: *Life Change Events; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior/*psychology; Child; Child Abuse/psychology/statistics & numerical data; Family/psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Risk Factors; Schools/statistics & numerical data; Substance-Related Disorders/complications/epidemiology/psychology; Suicide, Attempted/psychology/statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Violence/*psychology/statistics & numerical data

Healthy Families New York (HFNY) randomized trial: effects on early child abuse and neglect. - DuMont, Kimberly; Mitchell-Herzfeld, Susan; Greene, Rose; Lee, Eunju; Lowenfels, Ann; Rodriguez, Monica; Dorabawila, Vajeera (Child Abuse Negl, 2008)
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a home visiting program modeled after Healthy Families America on parenting behaviors in the first 2 years of life. METHODS: A sample of 1173 families at risk for child abuse and neglect who met the criteria for Healthy Families New York (HFNY) was randomly assigned to either an intervention group that was offered HFNY or a control group that was given information and referrals to other services. Data were collected through a review of CPS records, and maternal interviews at baseline and the child's first birthday (90% re-interviewed) and second birthday (85% re-interviewed). RESULTS: HFNY mothers reported committing one-quarter as many acts of serious abuse at age 2 as control mothers (.01 versus .04, p<.05). Two sets of interactions were tested and found to have significant effects (p<.05). At age 2, young, first-time mothers in the HFNY group who were randomly assigned at 30 weeks of pregnancy or less were less likely than counterparts in the control group to engage in minor physical aggression in the past year (51% versus 70%) and harsh parenting in the past week (41% versus 62%). Among women who were "psychologically vulnerable," HFNY mothers were one-quarter as likely to report engaging in serious abuse and neglect as control mothers (5% versus 19%) at age 2. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that who is offered home visitation may be an important factor in explaining the differential effectiveness of home visitation programs. Improved effects may be realized by prioritizing the populations served or by enhancing the model to meet program objectives for hard-to-serve families.
Keywords: Age Factors; Child Abuse; Child, Preschool; Early Diagnosis; Family; Female; Humans; Male; Maternal Behavior; Mother-Child Relations; Parenting; Social Environment

The structure of online social networks mirrors those in the offline world - Dunbar, R. I. M.; Arnaboldi, Valerio; Conti, Marco; Passarella, Andrea (Social Networks, 2015)
We use data on frequencies of bi-directional posts to define edges (or relationships) in two Facebook datasets and a Twitter dataset and use these to create ego-centric social networks. We explore the internal structure of these networks to determine whether they have the same kind of layered structure as has been found in offline face-to-face networks (which have a distinctively scaled structure with successively inclusive layers at 5, 15, 50 and 150 alters). The two Facebook datasets are best described by a four-layer structure and the Twitter dataset by a five-layer structure. The absolute sizes of these layers and the mean frequencies of contact with alters within each layer match very closely the observed values from offline networks. In addition, all three datasets reveal the existence of an innermost network layer at ∼1.5 alters. Our analyses thus confirm the existence of the layered structure of ego-centric social networks with a very much larger sample (in total, >185,000 egos) than those previously used to describe them, as well as identifying the existence of an additional network layer whose existence was only hypothesised in offline social networks. In addition, our analyses indicate that online communities have very similar structural characteristics to offline face-to-face networks.
Keywords: Ego-centric social networks; Facebook; Network scaling; Network structure; Twitter

How Much Does Childhood Poverty Affect the Life Chances of Children? - Duncan, G. J.; Yeung, W. J.; Brooks-Gunn, J.; Smith, J. R. (American Sociological Review, 1998)
Why parental socioeconomic status correlates strongly with various measures of child and adult achievement is an important and controversial research question. After summarizing findings from recent contributions to this literature, we conduct two sets of analyses using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Completed schooling and nonmarital childbearing are related to parental income during early and middle childhood, as well as during adolescence. These analyses suggest that family economic conditions in early childhood have the greatest impact on achievement, especially among children in families with low incomes. Estimates from sibling models support the hypothesis that economic conditions in early childhood are important determinants of completed schooling.

Economic deprivation and early childhood development. - Duncan, G J; Brooks-Gunn, J; Klebanov, P K (Child Dev, 1994)
We consider 3 questions regarding the effects of economic deprivation on child development. First, how are developmental outcomes in childhood affected by poverty and such poverty correlates as single parenthood, ethnicity, and maternal education? Second, what are the developmental consequences of the duration and timing of family economic deprivation? And, third, what is the comparative influence of economic deprivation at the family and neighborhood level? We investigate these issues with longitudinal data from the Infant Health and Development Program. We find that family income and poverty status are powerful correlates of the cognitive development and behavior of children, even after accounting for other differences--in particular family structure and maternal schooling--between low- and high-income families. While the duration of poverty matters, its timing in early childhood does not. Age-5 IQs are found to be higher in neighborhoods with greater concentrations of affluent neighbors, while the prevalence of low-income neighbors appears to increase the incidence of externalizing behavior problems.
Keywords: African Americans; Child Behavior Disorders; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developmental Disabilities; European Continental Ancestry Group; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intelligence Tests; Learning Disorders; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Poverty; Risk Factors; Social Class; Social Environment; Socialization; United States

Classifying prosocial behavior: children's responses to instrumental need, emotional distress, and material desire - Dunfield, K. A.; Kuhlmeier, V. A. (Child Dev, 2013)
This study investigates the diversity of early prosocial behavior by examining the ability of ninety-five 2- to 4-year-olds to provide aid to an adult experimenter displaying instrumental need, emotional distress, and material desire. Children provided appropriate aid in response to each of these cues with high consistency over multiple trials. In contrast to the consistency with which the children provided aid within each task, there were no cross-task correlations, and the tendency to respond to each of the cues revealed unique developmental trajectories. Taken together, these results provide preliminary support for the importance of examining the cues to which children are responding and of differentiating between varieties of aid when considering the development of prosocial behavior.
Dunfield, Kristen A Kuhlmeier, Valerie A eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2013/03/07 06:00 Child Dev. 2013 Sep-Oct;84(5):1766-76. doi: 10.1111/cdev.12075. Epub 2013 Mar 5.
Keywords: *Helping Behavior; Analysis of Variance; Attitude; Child, Preschool; Cues; Female; Humans; Male; Stress, Psychological/*psychology

Examining the Diversity of Prosocial Behavior: Helping, Sharing, and Comforting in Infancy - Dunfield, K.; Kuhlmeier, V. A.; O’Connell, L.; Kelley, E. (Infancy, 2011)
Prosocial behaviors are a diverse group of actions that are integral to human social life. In this study, we examined the ability of 18- and 24-month-old infants to engage in three types of other-oriented behaviors, specifically helping, sharing, and comforting. Infants in both age groups engaged in more prosocial behavior on trials in which an unfamiliar adult experimenter required aid (experimental conditions) than on those in which she did not (control conditions) across two of the three prosocial tasks (i.e., helping and sharing). The infants engaged in these behaviors with similar frequency; however, there was no correlation between the tasks. The implications for the construct of prosocial behavior and the presence of a prosocial disposition are discussed.

Determinants of posttraumatic adjustment in adolescents from Sarajevo who experienced war - Durakovic-Belko, E.; Kulenovic, A.; Dapic, R. (J Clin Psychol, 2003)
The purpose of this study was to examine risk and protective factors of postwar adjustment among adolescents from Sarajevo who have been exposed to war traumas during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. More specifically, we wanted to examine differential linkages between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and depression (as outcomes) and (a) war traumas, (b) individual and socioenvironmental factors, and (c) cognitive appraisals and coping mechanisms. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicate that dimensions of war traumas, individual characteristics, and cognitive appraisals and coping mechanisms play a significant role in determining who will have more serious PTSD symptoms. Although individual and socioenvironmental factors are the strongest predictors of depression, dimensions of war traumas also are significantly correlated with depressive symptoms. Common risk factors for more serious depression and PTSD symptoms in postwar adjustment were female gender and low optimism. While the strongest predictor of posttraumatic stress reactions (PTSR) was trauma experience in the category of loss, the strongest predictor of depressive symptoms was female gender.
Durakovic-Belko, Elvira Kulenovic, Alija Dapic, Renko eng Comparative Study 2003/01/01 04:00 J Clin Psychol. 2003 Jan;59(1):27-40.
Keywords: *Adaptation, Psychological; *Warfare; Adjustment Disorders/*diagnosis/epidemiology/psychology; Adolescent; Adult; Bosnia and Herzegovina/epidemiology; Depression/diagnosis/epidemiology/psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Psychology, Adolescent; Risk Factors; Social Support; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*diagnosis/epidemiology/psychology; Students/psychology

A neural basis for the development of inhibitory control - Durston, Sarah; Thomas, Kathleen M.; Yang, Yihong; Uluğ, Aziz M.; Zimmerman, Robert D.; Casey, B. J. (Developmental Science, 2002)
The present study explores the neural basis of the development of inhibitory control by combining functional neuroimaging with a parametric manipulation of a go–nogo paradigm. We demonstrate how the maturation of ventral fronto–striatal circuitry underlies the development of this ability. We used event–related fMRI to examine the effect of interference on neural processes involved in inhibitory control in children and adults. Nogo trials were preceded by either 1, 3 or 5 go trials and then compared to one another. Both children and adults showed an increase in errors with increasing interference. Successful response inhibition was associated with stronger activation of prefrontal and parietal regions for children than for adults. In adults, activation in ventralprefrontal regions increased with increasing interference from go trials. Unlike adults, the circuitry appeared to be maximally activated in children when suppressing a behavioral response regardless of the number of preceding responses. Furthermore, activation in ventral fronto–striatal regions correlated with both age and performance. These findings suggest that immature cognition is more susceptible to interference and this is paralleled by maturational differences in underlying fronto–striatal circuitry.

Transitional Justice and Education: Learning Peace - Clara Ramírez-Barat and Roger Duthie (The International Center for Transitional Justice, 2017)

Education and Transitional Justice Opportunities and Challenges for Peacebuilding - Clara Ramírez-Barat and Roger Duthie (The International Center for Transitional Justice, 2015)

Paid parental leave and family-friendly policies. An evidence brief - Earle, A.; Heymann, J.; UNICEF (UNICEF, 2019)
Keywords: breastfeeding; early childhood development; family-friendly policies; immunization; infant development; job protection; parental leave; preventative care

The contributions of oxytocin and vasopressin pathway genes to human behavior - Ebstein, R. P.; Knafo, A.; Mankuta, D.; Chew, S. H.; Lai, P. S. (Horm Behav, 2012)
Arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) are social hormones and mediate affiliative behaviors in mammals and as recently demonstrated, also in humans. There is intense interest in how these simple nonapeptides mediate normal and abnormal behavior, especially regarding disorders of the social brain such as autism that are characterized by deficits in social communication and social skills. The current review examines in detail the behavioral genetics of the first level of human AVP-OXT pathway genes including arginine vasopressin 1a receptor (AVPR1a), oxytocin receptor (OXTR), AVP (AVP-neurophysin II [NPII]) and OXT (OXT neurophysin I [NPI]), oxytocinase/vasopressinase (LNPEP), ADP-ribosyl cyclase (CD38) and arginine vasopressin 1b receptor (AVPR1b). Wherever possible we discuss evidence from a variety of research tracks including molecular genetics, imaging genomics, pharmacology and endocrinology that support the conclusions drawn from association studies of social phenotypes and detail how common polymorphisms in AVP-OXT pathway genes contribute to the behavioral hard wiring that enables individual Homo sapiens to interact successfully with conspecifics. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior.
Ebstein, Richard P Knafo, Ariel Mankuta, David Chew, Soo Hong Lai, Poh San eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review 2012/01/17 06:00 Horm Behav. 2012 Mar;61(3):359-79. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.12.014. Epub 2011 Dec 29.
Keywords: Animals; Antigens, CD38/genetics/physiology; Autistic Disorder/genetics/physiopathology/psychology; Dancing; Feeding Behavior/physiology; Gene Expression/physiology; Genomics; Humans; Microsatellite Repeats; Music; Oxytocin/blood/*genetics/metabolism/*physiology; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Receptors, Oxytocin/genetics/physiology; Receptors, Vasopressin/genetics/physiology; Retinoids/physiology; Social Behavior; Substance-Related Disorders/genetics/psychology; Vasopressins/*genetics/metabolism/*physiology

National Strategic Plan for Early Childhood Development in Jamaica 2008-2013 - Early Childhood Commission (ECC) (ECC, 2009)

COVID-19 and ECD - ECDAN (2020)
On March 26, 2020, the ECD Action Network (ECDAN) along with WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, ARNEC and other partners organized the first in a series of webinars on COVID-19 and Early Childhood Development. Dr. David Nabarro, the Special Envoy on COVID-19 for the Secretary-General at WHO also provided the global community with a briefing on the pandemic to date. (See: https://mailchi.mp/ecdan/covid19) High bandwidth Low bandwidth
Keywords: COVID-19; early childhood development

A call for coordinated action to protect and support all young children and their caregivers - ECDAN (Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), 2020)
The Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) partners have co-developed and launched a Call For Coordinated Action urging all governments, global partnerships, multi- and bi-lateral agencies, political bodies, funders, international non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, the business sector, academia, civil society organizations, networks, and advocates to prioritize and invest in the needs of ALL young children and their parents and caregivers, especially the most vulnerable, during the COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery.
Keywords: child protection; COVID-19; early childhood development

Early childhood focused COVID-19 resources - ECDAN (2020)
ECDAN, along with partners, regional networks and members curates an ECD-related COVID-19 resource hub that is continually updated.
Keywords: COVID-19; early childhood development

Genomics: ENCODE explained - Ecker, J. R.; Bickmore, W. A.; Barroso, I.; Pritchard, J. K.; Gilad, Y.; Segal, E. (Nature, 2012)
Ecker, Joseph R Bickmore, Wendy A Barroso, Ines Pritchard, Jonathan K Gilad, Yoav Segal, Eran eng England 2012/09/08 06:00 Nature. 2012 Sep 6;489(7414):52-5. doi: 10.1038/489052a.
Keywords: *Encyclopedias as Topic; *Genomics/trends; *Molecular Sequence Annotation; Chromatin/genetics/metabolism; Deoxyribonuclease I/metabolism; DNA Methylation; DNA/*genetics; Evolution, Molecular; Gene Expression Regulation/genetics; Gene Regulatory Networks; Genome, Human/*genetics; Humans; Interdisciplinary Communication; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid/*genetics; RNA, Untranslated/genetics; Sequence Analysis; Transcription Factors/metabolism

Out of the Shadows: Shining light on response to child sexual abuse and exploitation - a 40 country benchmarking index - EconomistIntelligenceUnit (Economist Intelligence Unit, 2019)
Out of the shadows: Shining light on the response to child sexual abuse and exploitation - a 40-country benchmarking index examines how countries are responding to the threat of sexual violence against children. It explores the environment in which the issue occurs and is addressed; the degree to which a country’s legal framework provide protections for children from sexual violence; whether government commitment and capacity is being deployed to equip institutions and personnel to respond appropriately; and the engagement of industry, civil society and media in efforts to tackle the problem.
Keywords: child sexual abuse and exploitation

ECPC global call to action in response to COVID-19 for children in fragile and conflict-affected settings - ECPC (Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC), 2020)
In this global call to action, the Early Childhood Peace Consortium entreats governments, policy makers and community leaders to safeguard the increasingly undermined rights of young children living in fragile contexts and to prioritise investment in their survival, development and protection. We stand in solidarity and collaborate with the United Nations and the wider international community in the global response to this pandemic-induced humanitarian crisis. Early childhood development strategies and services are now more important than ever, to mitigate the immediate and long-term impact of the COVID-19 crisis and its indirect consequences on the most vulnerable young children and families. Supporting and empowering them today can not only interrupt cycles of racial injustice and inequality, but build a strong foundation for peace and security, resilience, social justice and social cohesion. We invite you to join us in this global call to action, to ensure young children are not forgotten amidst this pandemic and to invest in their – and our – shared futures in a just world. - Rima Salah, PhD, Chairperson ECPC ►READ the ECPC Global Call to Action in Response to COVID-19 for Children in Fragile and Conflict-affected Settings: The Promise of Early Childhood Development. Available in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic.
Keywords: COVID-19; displaced children; early childhood development; refugee and migrant children

ECPC Video Series► Early Childhood Development Advances The Culture of Peace - ECPC (Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC), 2018)
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="432px" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m1QuSntsmzw" title="ECPC Open House Conference Speaker Video Series Trailer" width="768px"> Presenting the "ECPC Conference Speaker Video Series". Watch 14 compelling talks by 25 world champions in evidence-based science and practice, education, human migration, web technology and media. Learn why they join together in expertise to pave a road to hope and build pathways to peace through the transformative power of children and families. Hear them sound the global call to action as they launch the ECPC Pledge to Action for Peace.
Keywords: early childhood development; Early Childhood Peace Consortium; ECPC; peacebuilding

The meanings of spaces in ECEC centres: A literature review - EDUCAS (EDUCAS, 2019)
Keywords: Belgium; early childhood development; Italy; Lithuania; the Netherlands

Relationship between multiple forms of childhood maltreatment and adult mental health in community respondents: results from the adverse childhood experiences study - Edwards, V. J.; Holden, G. W.; Felitti, V. J.; Anda, R. F. (Am J PsychiatryAm J PsychiatryAm J Psychiatry, 2003)
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the prevalence of a history of various combinations of childhood maltreatment types (physical abuse, sexual abuse, and witnessing of maternal battering) among adult members of a health maintenance organization (HMO) and explored the relationship with adult mental health of the combinations of types of childhood maltreatment and emotional abuse in the childhood family environment. METHOD: A total of 8,667 adult members of an HMO completed measures of childhood exposure to family dysfunction, which included items on physical and sexual abuse, witnessing of maternal battering, and emotional abuse in the childhood family environment. The adults' current mental health was assessed by using the mental health scale of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey. RESULTS: The prevalences of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and witnessing of maternal violence were 21.6%, 20.6%, and 14.0%, respectively, when the maltreatment types were considered separately. Among respondents reporting any of the maltreatment types, 34.6% reported more than one type of maltreatment. Lower mean mental health scores were associated with higher numbers of abuse categories (mean=78.5, 75.5, 72.8, and 69.9 for respondents with no, one, two, and three abuse types, respectively). Both an emotionally abusive family environment and the interaction of an emotionally abusive family environment with the various maltreatment types had a significant effect on mental health scores. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood physical and sexual abuse, as well as witnessing of maternal battering, were common among the adult members of an HMO in this study. Among those reporting any maltreatment, more than one-third had experienced more than one type of maltreatment. A dose-response relation was found between the number of types of maltreatment reported and mental health scores. In addition, an emotionally abusive family environment accentuated the decrements in mental health scores. Future research examining the effects of childhood maltreatment on adult mental health should include assessments of a wide range of abusive experiences, as well as the family atmosphere in which they occur.
Edwards, Valerie J Holden, George W Felitti, Vincent J Anda, Robert F Comparative Study Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't United States Am J Psychiatry. 2003 Aug;160(8):1453-60.
Keywords: *Family Health; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Child Abuse, Sexual/diagnosis/psychology/statistics & numerical data; Child Abuse/diagnosis/psychology/*statistics & numerical data; Comorbidity; Domestic Violence/psychology/statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Status; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders/diagnosis/*epidemiology; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Surveys and Questionnaires

Integrating Early Child Development and violence prevention programs: A systematic review - Efevbera, Y.; McCoy, D. C.; Wuermli, A. J.; Betancourt, T. S. (New Dir Child Adolesc Dev, 2018)
Limited evidence describes promoting development and reducing violence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), a missed opportunity to protect children and promote development and human capital. This study presents a systematic literature review of integrated early childhood development plus violence prevention (ECD+VP) interventions in LMICs. The search yielded 5,244 unique records, of which N = 6 studies met inclusion criteria. Interventions were in Chile, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Mozambique, and Turkey. Five interventions were parent education programs, including center-based sessions (n = 3) and home visiting (n = 2), while one intervention was a teacher education program. All but one study reported improvements in both child development and maltreatment outcomes. The dearth of evidence on ECD+VP interventions suggests additional research is needed. Integrated ECD+VP interventions may improve multiple child outcome domains while leveraging limited resources in LMICs.
Efevbera, Yvette McCoy, Dana C Wuermli, Alice J Betancourt, Theresa S eng Review 2018/03/15 06:00 New Dir Child Adolesc Dev. 2018 Mar;2018(159):27-54. doi: 10.1002/cad.20230.
Keywords: Child maltreatment; Developing Countries; early childhood development; prevention; systematic review

Integrating Early Child Development and Violence Prevention Programs: A Systematic Review - Efevbera, Y.; McCoy, D. C.; Wuermli, A. J.; Betancourt, T. S. (New Dir Child Adolesc Dev, 2018)
Limited evidence describes promoting development and reducing violence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), a missed opportunity to protect children and promote development and human capital. This study presents a systematic literature review of integrated early childhood development plus violence prevention (ECD+VP) interventions in LMICs. The search yielded 5,244 unique records, of which N = 6 studies met inclusion criteria. Interventions were in Chile, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Mozambique, and Turkey. Five interventions were parent education programs, including center-based sessions (n = 3) and home visiting (n = 2), while one intervention was a teacher education program. All but one study reported improvements in both child development and maltreatment outcomes. The dearth of evidence on ECD+VP interventions suggests additional research is needed. Integrated ECD+VP interventions may improve multiple child outcome domains while leveraging limited resources in LMICs.
1534-8687 Efevbera, Yvette McCoy, Dana C Wuermli, Alice J Betancourt, Theresa S Journal Article Review Systematic Review United States New Dir Child Adolesc Dev. 2018 Mar;2018(159):27-54. doi: 10.1002/cad.20230.
Keywords: *Child Development; *Developing Countries; *Program Development; Child maltreatment; Child, Preschool; Developing Countries; early childhood development; Humans; prevention; systematic review; Violence/*prevention & control

Suffering, hope, and entrapment: resilience and cultural values in Afghanistan. - Eggerman, M.; Panter-Brick, C. (Soc Sci Med, 2010)
A critical health-related issue in war-affected areas is how people make sense of adversity and why they show resilience in a high-risk environment. In Afghanistan, the burden of poor mental health arises in contexts of pervasive poverty, social inequality, and persistent violence. In 2006, we conducted face-to-face interviews with 1011 children (age 11-16) and 1011 adult caregivers, randomly selected in a school-based survey in three northern and central areas. Participants narrated their experiences as part of a systematic health survey, including an open-ended questionnaire on major life stressors and solutions to mitigate them. Responses were analysed using an inductive thematic approach and categorised for quantitative presentation, producing a conceptual model. For adults, the primary concern is repairing their "broken economy," the root of all miseries in social, educational, governance, and health domains. For students, frustrations focus on learning environments as well as poverty, as education is perceived as the gateway to upward social and economic mobility. Hope arises from a sense of moral and social order embodied in the expression of key cultural values: faith, family unity, service, effort, morals, and honour. These values form the bedrock of resilience, drive social aspirations, and underpin self-respect and dignity. However, economic impediments, social expectations, and cultural dictates also combine to create entrapment, as the ability to realise personal and social aspirations is frustrated by structural inequalities injurious to health and wellbeing. This study contributes to a small but growing body of work on resilience in public health and conflict settings. It demonstrates that culture functions both as an anchor for resilience and an anvil of pain, and highlights the relevance of ethnographic work in identifying what matters most in formulating social and public health policies to promote a hopeful future.
Keywords: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Afghanistan; Child; Conflict (Psychology); Cultural Characteristics; Domestic Violence; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Questionnaires; Resilience, Psychological; Social Values; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress, Psychological; War

Life Feeds on Hope: Family mental health, culture, and resilience - Eggerman, M.; Panter-Brick, C (Children of Afghanistan: The Path to Peace, 2014)

A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder - Ehlers, A.; Clark, D. M. (Behav Res Ther, 2000)
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common reaction to traumatic events. Many people recover in the ensuing months, but in a significant subgroup the symptoms persist, often for years. A cognitive model of persistence of PTSD is proposed. It is suggested that PTSD becomes persistent when individuals process the trauma in a way that leads to a sense of serious, current threat. The sense of threat arises as a consequence of: (1) excessively negative appraisals of the trauma and/or its sequelae and (2) a disturbance of autobiographical memory characterised by poor elaboration and contextualization, strong associative memory and strong perceptual priming. Change in the negative appraisals and the trauma memory are prevented by a series of problematic behavioural and cognitive strategies. The model is consistent with the main clinical features of PTSD, helps explain several apparently puzzling phenomena and provides a framework for treatment by identifying three key targets for change. Recent studies have provided preliminary support for several aspects of the model.
Ehlers, A Clark, D M eng 069777/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review ENGLAND 2000/04/13 09:00 Behav Res Ther. 2000 Apr;38(4):319-45.
Keywords: *Adaptation, Psychological; *Cognitive Therapy; Association; Chronic Disease; Humans; Imagery (Psychotherapy); Memory; Models, Psychological; Negativism; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*psychology/therapy; Stress, Psychological/*psychology; Thinking

Blood Rites: Origins and History of the Passions of War - Ehrenreich, B. (Henry Holt and Company, 1998)

Together in pain: attachment-related dyadic processes and posttraumatic stress disorder - Ein-Dor, T.; Doron, G.; Solomon, Z.; Mikulincer, M.; Shaver, P. R. (J Couns Psychol, 2010)
We used actor-partner interdependence modeling to explore associations among attachment-related dyadic processes, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in war veterans, and secondary traumatic stress (STS) in their wives. A sample of 157 Israeli couples (85 former prisoners of war and their wives and a comparison group of 72 veterans not held captive and their wives) completed self-report scales assessing attachment insecurities (anxiety, avoidance) and PTSD symptoms. For both groups of veterans and their wives, attachment anxiety was associated with the severity of their own and their spouses' PTSD and STS. Avoidant attachment was associated with PTSD and STS only in couples that included a former prisoner of war. A complex pattern of associations involving avoidant attachment was observed in the actor-partner analyses of these couples. The study demonstrates that attachment-related dyadic processes play a role in the development and maintenance of PTSD in traumatized veterans and STS in their wives.
Ein-Dor, Tsachi Doron, Guy Solomon, Zahava Mikulincer, Mario Shaver, Phillip R eng 2010/12/08 06:00 J Couns Psychol. 2010 Jul;57(3):317-27. doi: 10.1037/a0019500.
Keywords: *Object Attachment; Adult; Combat Disorders/diagnosis/*psychology; Defense Mechanisms; Female; Humans; Life Change Events; Male; Models, Psychological; Pain/*psychology; Personality Inventory/statistics & numerical data; Prisoners/*psychology; Psychometrics/statistics & numerical data; Reproducibility of Results; Social Support; Spouses/*psychology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/diagnosis/*psychology; Veterans/*psychology

The relation of empathy to prosocial and related behaviors - Eisenberg, N.; Miller, P. A. (Psychol Bull, 1987)
Eisenberg, N Miller, P A eng 935691/PHS HHS/ Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 1987/01/01 Psychol Bull. 1987 Jan;101(1):91-119.
Keywords: *Empathy; *Interpersonal Relations; *Social Behavior; Humans

Prosocial Development - Eisenberg, N.; Fabes, R. A.; Spinrad, T. L. (Handbook of Child Psychology, 2007)
Keywords: Altruism; children; Empathy; helping; prosocial behavior; sharing; sympathy

An experimental study of shared sensitivity to physical pain and social rejection - Eisenberger, N. I.; Jarcho, J. M.; Lieberman, M. D.; Naliboff, B. D. (Pain, 2006)
Recent evidence points to a possible overlap in the neural systems underlying the distressing experience that accompanies physical pain and social rejection (Eisenberger et al., 2003). The present study tested two hypotheses that stem from this suggested overlap, namely: (1) that baseline sensitivity to physical pain will predict sensitivity to social rejection and (2) that experiences that heighten social distress will heighten sensitivity to physical pain as well. In the current study, participants' baseline cutaneous heat pain unpleasantness thresholds were assessed prior to the completion of a task that manipulated feelings of social distress. During this task, participants played a virtual ball-tossing game, allegedly with two other individuals, in which they were either continuously included (social inclusion condition) or they were left out of the game by either never being included or by being overtly excluded (social rejection conditions). At the end of the game, three pain stimuli were delivered and participants rated the unpleasantness of each. Results indicated that greater baseline sensitivity to pain (lower pain unpleasantness thresholds) was associated with greater self-reported social distress in response to the social rejection conditions. Additionally, for those in the social rejection conditions, greater reports of social distress were associated with greater reports of pain unpleasantness to the thermal stimuli delivered at the end of the game. These results provide additional support for the hypothesis that pain distress and social distress share neurocognitive substrates. Implications for clinical populations are discussed.
Eisenberger, Naomi I Jarcho, Johanna M Lieberman, Matthew D Naliboff, Bruce D eng MH15750/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ NR04881/NR/NINR NIH HHS/ P50 DK64539/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/ R24 AT002681/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/ T32 MH019925/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Netherlands 2006/08/08 09:00 Pain. 2006 Dec 15;126(1-3):132-8. Epub 2006 Aug 4.
Keywords: *Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; *Rejection (Psychology); *Social Isolation; Adult; Female; Games, Experimental; Hot Temperature; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Nervous System/*physiopathology; Pain Threshold; Pain/etiology/*physiopathology/*psychology; Skin/physiopathology

Does rejection hurt? An FMRI study of social exclusion - Eisenberger, N. I.; Lieberman, M. D.; Williams, K. D. (ScienceScience, 2003)
A neuroimaging study examined the neural correlates of social exclusion and tested the hypothesis that the brain bases of social pain are similar to those of physical pain. Participants were scanned while playing a virtual ball-tossing game in which they were ultimately excluded. Paralleling results from physical pain studies, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was more active during exclusion than during inclusion and correlated positively with self-reported distress. Right ventral prefrontal cortex (RVPFC) was active during exclusion and correlated negatively with self-reported distress. ACC changes mediated the RVPFC-distress correlation, suggesting that RVPFC regulates the distress of social exclusion by disrupting ACC activity.
1095-9203 Eisenberger, Naomi I Lieberman, Matthew D Williams, Kipling D R21MH66709-01/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. United States Science. 2003 Oct 10;302(5643):290-2.
Keywords: *Emotions; *Rejection (Psychology); *Social Isolation; Brain Mapping; Female; Gyrus Cinguli/*physiology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Pain/*physiopathology; Prefrontal Cortex/*physiology

Why rejection hurts: a common neural alarm system for physical and social pain - Eisenberger, N. I.; Lieberman, M. D. (Trends Cogn SciTrends in Cognitive SciencesTrends in Cognitive Sciences, 2004)
Numerous languages characterize 'social pain', the feelings resulting from social estrangement, with words typically reserved for describing physical pain ('broken heart', 'broken bones') and perhaps for good reason. It has been suggested that, in mammalian species, the social-attachment system borrowed the computations of the pain system to prevent the potentially harmful consequences of social separation. Mounting evidence from the animal lesion and human neuroimaging literatures suggests that physical and social pain overlap in their underlying neural circuitry and computational processes. We review evidence suggesting that the anterior cingulate cortex plays a key role in the physical-social pain overlap. We also suggest that the physical-social pain circuitry might share components of a broader neural alarm system.
Eisenberger, Naomi I Lieberman, Matthew D R21MH66709-01/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review England Trends Cogn Sci. 2004 Jul;8(7):294-300.
Keywords: *Rejection (Psychology); *Social Behavior; Animals; Brain Mapping; Brain/anatomy & histology/*physiology; Humans; Pain/classification/*psychology

Children of the Great Depression: 25th Anniversary Edition - Elder, G.H. (Westview Press, 1998)

The Civilizing Process: Sociogenetic and Psychogenetic Investigations - Elias, N. (Wiley, 2000)

Differential susceptibility to the environment: an evolutionary--neurodevelopmental theory - Ellis, B. J.; Boyce, W. T.; Belsky, J.; Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J.; van IJzendoorn, M. H. (Dev Psychopathol, 2011)
Two extant evolutionary models, biological sensitivity to context theory (BSCT) and differential susceptibility theory (DST), converge on the hypothesis that some individuals are more susceptible than others to both negative (risk-promoting) and positive (development-enhancing) environmental conditions. These models contrast with the currently dominant perspective on personal vulnerability and environmental risk: diathesis stress/dual risk. We review challenges to this perspective based on emerging theory and data from the evolutionary, developmental, and health sciences. These challenges signify the need for a paradigm shift in conceptualizing Person x Environment interactions in development. In this context we advance an evolutionary--neurodevelopmental theory, based on DST and BSCT, of the role of neurobiological susceptibility to the environment in regulating environmental effects on adaptation, development, and health. We then outline current thinking about neurogenomic and endophenotypic mechanisms that may underpin neurobiological susceptibility, summarize extant empirical research on differential susceptibility, and evaluate the evolutionary bases and implications of BSCT and DST. Finally, we discuss applied issues including methodological and statistical considerations in conducting differential susceptibility research; issues of ecological, cultural, and racial--ethnic variation in neurobiological susceptibility; and implications of differential susceptibility for designing social programs. We conclude that the differential susceptibility paradigm has far-reaching implications for understanding whether and how much child and adult development responds, for better and for worse, to the gamut of species-typical environmental conditions.
Ellis, Bruce J Boyce, W Thomas Belsky, Jay Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J van Ijzendoorn, Marinus H eng 2011/01/26 06:00 Dev Psychopathol. 2011 Feb;23(1):7-28. doi: 10.1017/S0954579410000611.
Keywords: *Child Development; *Models, Neurological; *Social Environment; Biological Evolution; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Susceptibility/*psychology; Humans; Mental Disorders/*etiology; Risk Factors; Stress, Psychological/complications

Beyond mental health: an evolutionary analysis of development under risky and supportive environmental conditions: an introduction to the special section - Ellis, B. J.; Bjorklund, D. F. (Dev Psychol, 2012)
Evolutionary approaches to behavior have increasingly captured the attention and imagination of academics and laypeople alike. One part of this trend has been the increasing influence of evolutionary theory in developmental science. The articles in this special section of Developmental Psychology attempt to demonstrate why an evolutionary analysis is needed to more fully understand the contexts and contingencies of development. The 3 theoretical articles articulate the core evolutionary logic underlying conditional adaptation (and maladaptation) to both stressful and supportive environmental conditions over development. These theoretical articles are then followed by 9 empirical articles that test these evolutionary-developmental theories and hypotheses. Finally, 6 commentaries evaluate the prospects, pitfalls, and implications of this body of work.
Ellis, Bruce J Bjorklund, David F eng Introductory 2012/05/02 06:00 Dev Psychol. 2012 May;48(3):591-7. doi: 10.1037/a0027651.
Keywords: *Biological Evolution; *Child Development; *Environment; Adaptation, Psychological/*physiology; Child; Humans; Psychological Theory; Psychology, Child

Fundamental Dimensions of Environmental Risk : The Impact of Harsh versus Unpredictable Environments on the Evolution and Development of Life History Strategies - Ellis, B. J.; Figueredo, A. J.; Brumbach, B. H.; Schlomer, G. L. (Hum NatHum NatHum Nat, 2009)
The current paper synthesizes theory and data from the field of life history (LH) evolution to advance a new developmental theory of variation in human LH strategies. The theory posits that clusters of correlated LH traits (e.g., timing of puberty, age at sexual debut and first birth, parental investment strategies) lie on a slow-to-fast continuum; that harshness (externally caused levels of morbidity-mortality) and unpredictability (spatial-temporal variation in harshness) are the most fundamental environmental influences on the evolution and development of LH strategies; and that these influences depend on population densities and related levels of intraspecific competition and resource scarcity, on age schedules of mortality, on the sensitivity of morbidity-mortality to the organism's resource-allocation decisions, and on the extent to which environmental fluctuations affect individuals versus populations over short versus long timescales. These interrelated factors operate at evolutionary and developmental levels and should be distinguished because they exert distinctive effects on LH traits and are hierarchically operative in terms of primacy of influence. Although converging lines of evidence support core assumptions of the theory, many questions remain unanswered. This review demonstrates the value of applying a multilevel evolutionary-developmental approach to the analysis of a central feature of human phenotypic variation: LH strategy.
Ellis, Bruce J Figueredo, Aurelio Jose Brumbach, Barbara H Schlomer, Gabriel L Journal Article United States Hum Nat. 2009 Jun;20(2):204-68. doi: 10.1007/s12110-009-9063-7.

Timing of pubertal maturation in girls: an integrated life history approach - Ellis, B. J. (Psychol Bull, 2004)
Life history theory provides a metatheoretical framework for the study of pubertal timing from an evolutionary-developmental perspective. The current article reviews 5 middle-level theories--energetics theory, stress-suppression theory, psychosocial acceleration theory, paternal investment theory, and child development theory--each of which applies the basic assumptions of life history theory to the question of environmental influences on timing of puberty in girls. These theories converge in their conceptualization of pubertal timing as responsive to ecological conditions but diverge in their conceptualization of (a) the nature, extent, and direction of environmental influences and (b) the effects of pubertal timing on other reproductive variables. Competing hypotheses derived from the 5 perspectives are evaluated. An extension of W. T. Boyce and B. J. Ellis's (in press) theory of stress reactivity is proposed to account for both inhibiting and accelerating effects of psychosocial stress on timing of pubertal development. This review highlights the multiplicity of (often unrecognized) perspectives guiding research, raises challenges to virtually all of these, and presents an alternative framework in an effort to move research forward in this arena of multidisciplinary inquiry.
Ellis, Bruce J eng 2004/11/13 09:00 Psychol Bull. 2004 Nov;130(6):920-58.
Keywords: *Life Change Events; Adolescent; Age Factors; Child; Female; Humans; Psychological Theory; Psychology; Puberty/*physiology/*psychology

Multi-tier mental health program for refugee youth - Ellis, B. H.; Miller, A. B.; Abdi, S.; Barrett, C.; Blood, E. A.; Betancourt, T. S. (J Consult Clin Psychol, 2013)
OBJECTIVE: We sought to establish that refugee youths who receive a multi-tiered approach to services, Project SHIFA, would show high levels of engagement in treatment appropriate to their level of mental health distress, improvements in mental health symptoms, and a decrease in resource hardships. METHOD: Study participants were 30 Somali and Somali Bantu refugee youths in the English language learner classroom in a middle school in New England. Project SHIFA is a multi-tiered program including prevention and community resilience building for the community at large, school-based early intervention groups for at-risk students, and direct intervention using an established trauma model (trauma systems therapy) for those with significant psychological distress. Data were collected from students at time of enrollment, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up. Measures used were the War Trauma Screening Scale, Adolescent Post-War Adversities Scale-Somali version, UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-IV (Revision 1), and the Depression Self-Rating Scale. RESULTS: Students across all tiers of the program demonstrated improvements in mental health and resources. Resource hardships were significantly associated with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder over time, and the stabilization of resource hardships coincided with significant improvements in symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder for the top tier of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Project SHIFA is a promising model of treatment for young refugees.
Ellis, B Heidi Miller, Alisa B Abdi, Saida Barrett, Colleen Blood, Emily A Betancourt, Theresa S eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2012/08/29 06:00 J Consult Clin Psychol. 2013 Feb;81(1):129-40. doi: 10.1037/a0029844. Epub 2012 Aug 27.
Keywords: *Mental Health; Adolescent; Adolescent Health Services; Child; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mental Health Services; Refugees/*psychology; School Health Services; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/diagnosis/psychology/*therapy; Warfare

The evolutionary basis of risky adolescent behavior: implications for science, policy, and practice - Ellis, B. J.; Del Giudice, M.; Dishion, T. J.; Figueredo, A. J.; Gray, P.; Griskevicius, V.; Hawley, P. H.; Jacobs, W. J.; James, J.; Volk, A. A.; Wilson, D. S. (Dev Psychol, 2012)
This article proposes an evolutionary model of risky behavior in adolescence and contrasts it with the prevailing developmental psychopathology model. The evolutionary model contends that understanding the evolutionary functions of adolescence is critical to explaining why adolescents engage in risky behavior and that successful intervention depends on working with, instead of against, adolescent goals and motivations. The current article articulates 5 key evolutionary insights into risky adolescent behavior: (a) The adolescent transition is an inflection point in development of social status and reproductive trajectories; (b) interventions need to address the adaptive functions of risky and aggressive behaviors like bullying; (c) risky adolescent behavior adaptively calibrates over development to match both harsh and unpredictable environmental conditions; (d) understanding evolved sex differences is critical for understanding the psychology of risky behavior; and (e) mismatches between current and past environments can dysregulate adolescent behavior, as demonstrated by age-segregated social groupings. The evolutionary model has broad implications for designing interventions for high-risk youth and suggests new directions for research that have not been forthcoming from other perspectives.
Ellis, Bruce J Del Giudice, Marco Dishion, Thomas J Figueredo, Aurelio Jose Gray, Peter Griskevicius, Vladas Hawley, Patricia H Jacobs, W Jake James, Jenee Volk, Anthony A Wilson, David Sloan eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2011/11/30 06:00 Dev Psychol. 2012 May;48(3):598-623. doi: 10.1037/a0026220. Epub 2011 Nov 28.
Keywords: *Biological Evolution; *Environment; *Models, Psychological; *Risk-Taking; Adaptation, Physiological; Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior/*psychology; Behavioral Symptoms/psychology/therapy; DNA-Cytosine Methylases; Humans; Motivation; policy; Sex Characteristics

Beyond allostatic load: rethinking the role of stress in regulating human development - Ellis, B. J.; Del Giudice, M. (Dev Psychopathol, 2014)
How do exposures to stress affect biobehavioral development and, through it, psychiatric and biomedical disorder? In the health sciences, the allostatic load model provides a widely accepted answer to this question: stress responses, while essential for survival, have negative long-term effects that promote illness. Thus, the benefits of mounting repeated biological responses to threat are traded off against costs to mental and physical health. The adaptive calibration model, an evolutionary-developmental theory of stress-health relations, extends this logic by conceptualizing these trade-offs as decision nodes in allocation of resources. Each decision node influences the next in a chain of resource allocations that become instantiated in the regulatory parameters of stress response systems. Over development, these parameters filter and embed information about key dimensions of environmental stress and support, mediating the organism's openness to environmental inputs, and function to regulate life history strategies to match those dimensions. Drawing on the adaptive calibration model, we propose that consideration of biological fitness trade-offs, as delineated by life history theory, is needed to more fully explain the complex relations between developmental exposures to stress, stress responsivity, behavioral strategies, and health. We conclude that the adaptive calibration model and allostatic load model are only partially complementary and, in some cases, support different approaches to intervention. In the long run, the field may be better served by a model informed by life history theory that addresses the adaptive role of stress response systems in regulating alternative developmental pathways.
Ellis, Bruce J Del Giudice, Marco eng Review 2013/11/28 06:00 Dev Psychopathol. 2014 Feb;26(1):1-20. doi: 10.1017/S0954579413000849. Epub 2013 Nov 26.
Keywords: Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology; Allostasis/*physiology; Child; Child Development/*physiology; Humans; Models, Theoretical; Stress, Physiological/*physiology; Stress, Psychological/*physiopathology

Abnormal brain connectivity in children after early severe socioemotional deprivation: a diffusion tensor imaging study - Eluvathingal, T. J.; Chugani, H. T.; Behen, M. E.; Juhasz, C.; Muzik, O.; Maqbool, M.; Chugani, D. C.; Makki, M. (Pediatrics, 2006)
OBJECTIVES: We previously reported that children who were subjected to early socioemotional deprivation in Romanian orphanages showed glucose hypometabolism in limbic and paralimbic structures, including the orbital frontal gyrus, infralimbic prefrontal cortex, hippocampus/amygdala, lateral temporal cortex, and the brainstem. The present study used diffusion tensor imaging tractography to examine the integrity of white matter tracts that connect these brain regions. METHODS: Fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient for uncinate fasciculus, stria terminalis, fornix, and cingulum were measured in 7 right-handed children (5 girls and 2 boys; mean age: 9.7 +/- 2.6 years) with a history of early severe socioemotional deprivation in Eastern European orphanages and compared with similar measurements in 7 right-handed normal children (4 girls and 3 boys; mean age: 10.7 +/- 2.8 years). RESULTS: Neuropsychological assessment of the orphans verified the relatively mild specific cognitive impairment and impulsivity consistent with previous studies of children who were adopted from Romanian orphanages. Fractional anisotropy values in the left uncinate fasciculus were decreased significantly in the early deprivation group compared with control subjects. Apparent diffusion coefficient values for the early deprivation group tended to be greater than that in control subjects in all of the tracts measured, without reaching statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates in children who experienced socioemotional deprivation a structural change in the left uncinate fasciculus that partly may underlie the cognitive, socioemotional, and behavioral difficulties that commonly are observed in these children.
Eluvathingal, Thomas J Chugani, Harry T Behen, Michael E Juhasz, Csaba Muzik, Otto Maqbool, Mohsin Chugani, Diane C Makki, Malek eng 2006/06/03 09:00 Pediatrics. 2006 Jun;117(6):2093-100.
Keywords: *Psychosocial Deprivation; Brain/*pathology/*physiopathology; Child; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neuropsychological Tests; Severity of Illness Index

Bullying and your child. What every parent needs to know and do - ENABLE (European Network Against Bullying in Learning and Leisure Environments (ENABLE), 2017)
Keywords: Bullying; cyberbullying; parenting support and education; social and emotional skill development

End corporal punishment. Reports on every state and territory - EndViolenceAgainstChildren (End Violence Against Children, 2021)
Keywords: corporal punishment; violence prevention

Psychosocial aspects of care and nutrition - P. L. Engle; H. N. Ricciuti (Food Nutrition Bulletin, 1995)

Strategies for reducing inequalities and improving developmental outcomes for young children in low-income and middle-income countries. - Engle, P. L.; Fernald, L. C. H.; Alderman, H.; Behrman, J.; O'Gara, C.; Yousafzai, A.; de Mello, M. C.; Hidrobo, M.; Ulkuer, N.; Ertem, I.; Iltus, S. (Lancet, 2011)
This report is the second in a Series on early child development in low-income and middle-income countries and assesses the effectiveness of early child development interventions, such as parenting support and preschool enrolment. The evidence reviewed suggests that early child development can be improved through these interventions, with effects greater for programmes of higher quality and for the most vulnerable children. Other promising interventions for the promotion of early child development include children's educational media, interventions with children at high risk, and combining the promotion of early child development with conditional cash transfer programmes. Effective investments in early child development have the potential to reduce inequalities perpetuated by poverty, poor nutrition, and restricted learning opportunities. A simulation model of the potential long-term economic effects of increasing preschool enrolment to 25% or 50% in every low-income and middle-income country showed a benefit-to-cost ratio ranging from 6·4 to 17·6, depending on preschool enrolment rate and discount rate.
Keywords: Child Development; Humans

Strategies to avoid the loss of developmental potential in more than 200 million children in the developing world - Engle, Patrice L; Black, Maureen M; Behrman, Jere R; Cabral de Mello, Meena; Gertler, Paul J; Kapiriri, Lydia; Martorell, Reynaldo; Young, Mary Eming (The Lancet, 2007)

A Prospective Cohort Study of Influences on Externalizing Behaviors Across Childhood: Results From a Nurse Home Visiting Randomized Controlled Trial - Enoch, M. A.; Kitzman, H.; Smith, J. A.; Anson, E.; Hodgkinson, C. A.; Goldman, D.; Olds, D. L. (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 2016)
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated genetic and environmental influences on behavior in a cohort of 600 children followed prenatally to 18 years. METHOD: A randomized controlled trial of prenatal/infancy nurse home visits (NHV) was conducted in 600 predominantly African American mothers and their firstborn children from Memphis, TN. Mothers were assessed in pregnancy for mental health (MH), self-efficacy, and mastery. Mothers reported longitudinally on smoking and alcohol/drug use. The functional polymorphisms SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR, FKBP5 rs1360780 and DRD2/ANKK1 rs1800497 were genotyped together with 186 ancestry informative markers. Composite externalizing disorders (ED) continuous total scores from the mother-report Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist were included as dependent variables in regression analyses for time points 2, 6, 12, and 18 years. RESULTS: Behaviors at younger ages strongly predicted later behaviors (p < .0001). Children whose mothers had high self-efficacy and had received NHV were better behaved at age 2 years. Poorer maternal MH adversely influenced ED up to 12 years, but at age 18 years, maternal mastery exerted a strong, positive effect (p = .0001). Maternal smoking was associated with worse ED at 6 and 18 years. Main and interactive effects of genetic polymorphisms varied across childhood: FKBP5 rs1360780 up to age 6, 5-HTTLPR from 6 to 12, and DRD2/ANKK1 rs1800497 from 2 to 18 years. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that maternal MH and resilience measured in pregnancy have long-lasting effects on child behavior. Maternal smoking across childhood and genetic factors also play a role. NHV had a positive effect on early behavior. Our findings have implications for prevention of pathological behaviors in adulthood. Clinical trial registration information-Age-17 Follow-Up of Home Visiting Intervention; http://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT00708695.
1527-5418 Enoch, Mary-Anne Kitzman, Harriet Smith, Joyce A Anson, Elizabeth Hodgkinson, Colin A Goldman, David Olds, David L K05 MH001382/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States R01 HD043492/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States R01 MH068790/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ZIA AA000306-10/NULL/International Journal Article Randomized Controlled Trial Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural United States J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016 May;55(5):376-82. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2016.02.007. Epub 2016 Mar 2.
Keywords: *5-httlpr; *Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist; *drd2/ankk1; *fkbp5; *nurse home visiting; *Self Efficacy; Adolescent; African Americans/*statistics & numerical data; Child; Child Behavior Disorders/*epidemiology; Child, Preschool; Female; Follow-Up Studies; House Calls/*statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Mothers/psychology/*statistics & numerical data; Tennessee/epidemiology

Forgiveness is a Choice: A Step-by-step Process for Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope - Enright, R.D. (American Psychological Association, 2001)

More than One Way to Get There: Pathways of Change in Coparenting Conflict after a Preventive Intervention - Epstein, K.; Pruett, M. K.; Cowan, P.; Cowan, C.; Pradhan, L.; Mah, E.; Pruett, K. (Fam Process, 2015)
This study explored pathways of change in the levels of conflict couples experienced after Supporting Father Involvement, an evidence-based, prevention-oriented couples and parenting intervention that included a diverse low-income and working class group of participants. Pathways of change were examined for couples with baseline conflict scores that were initially low, medium, and high. The growth mixture model analysis found that the best-fitting model for change in couples' conflict was represented by three distinctly different change patterns. The intervention was most successful for High-Conflict couples. This finding contributes to a growing literature examining variations in how relationships change over time and the process of change, especially for couples in distress. This study supports further investigation into the impact and costs associated with universal interventions versus those that target specific groups of higher risk families.
Epstein, Kenneth Pruett, Marsha Kline Cowan, Philip Cowan, Carolyn Pradhan, Lisa Mah, Elisabeth Pruett, Kyle eng Randomized Controlled Trial 2015/02/14 06:00 Fam Process. 2015 Dec;54(4):610-8. doi: 10.1111/famp.12138. Epub 2015 Feb 11.
Keywords: *Family Conflict; *Parenting; Adult; cambio; Case Management; Change; Child, Preschool; co-crianza; Communication; conflict; conflicto; Coparenting; Couples; Couples Therapy/*methods; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Marriage; matrimonio; Models, Psychological; parejas; Parents/*psychology; Paternal Behavior; prevencion; prevention; Young Adult

School, family, and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools - Epstein, J.L. (Routledge, 2018)
Keywords: Academic Achievement; Educational Policy; Educational Research; Elementary Secondary Education; Family School Relationship; Homework; Inner City; Marital Status; One Parent Family; Parent Attitudes; Parent Participation; Parent Teacher Cooperation; Partnerships in Education; School Community Programs; School Community Relationship; Teacher Attitudes; Urban Schools

Maternal immune activation: Implications for neuropsychiatric disorders - Estes, M. L.; McAllister, A. K. (Science, 2016)
Epidemiological evidence implicates maternal infection as a risk factor for autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Animal models corroborate this link and demonstrate that maternal immune activation (MIA) alone is sufficient to impart lifelong neuropathology and altered behaviors in offspring. This Review describes common principles revealed by these models, highlighting recent findings that strengthen their relevance for schizophrenia and autism and are starting to reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of MIA on offspring. The role of MIA as a primer for a much wider range of psychiatric and neurologic disorders is also discussed. Finally, the need for more research in this nascent field and the implications for identifying and developing new treatments for individuals at heightened risk for neuroimmune disorders are considered.
1095-9203 Estes, Myka L McAllister, A Kimberley P50 MH106438/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States R01 NS060125/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States P50-MH106438-01/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States R01-NS060125-05/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review United States Science. 2016 Aug 19;353(6301):772-7. doi: 10.1126/science.aag3194.
Keywords: Adolescent; Animals; Autism Spectrum Disorder/epidemiology/*immunology; Brain/*immunology/physiopathology; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology; Humans; Immune System Diseases/epidemiology/*immunology; Immune System/immunology; Mothers; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology/*immunology; Risk Factors; Schizophrenia/epidemiology/*immunology; Young Adult

European Care Strategy. Eurochild position - Eurochild (Eurochild, 2022)
Keywords: child rights and protection; Convention on the Rights of the Child; COVID-19; early childhood development; Early childhood education; Governance and policymaking

Child immigration detention in the EU - Eurochild; ChildrenInMigration (Children In Migration, 2019)
Keywords: children in alternative care; children's rights; Eurochild news; migration

Commission proposes action to uphold child rights and support children in need - EuropeanCommission (European Union, 2021)
Keywords: child rights and protection; Education; governance and policy; Health

The European Union’s Plan for Children’s Rights - EuropeanUnion; QueensUniversityBelfast (European Union, 2021)
Keywords: Advocacy; children; European Union; governance; justice; policy

Compendium of Resources | Protecting children during the COVID-19 outbreak - EVAC (2020)
COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic. As we continue to navigate this rapidly evolving situation, it is essential to stay informed on the latest news, updates and resources about the virus and its effect on children. As a global partnership, End Violence is here to share the latest evidence, data and information to protect children from COVID-19 and the related risk of violence. (See: https://www.end-violence.org/protecting-children-during-covid-19-outbreak)
Keywords: child protection; COVID-19; violence exposure

COVID-19 and Child Protection - EVAC; ECDAN (Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children (EVAC) and the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), 2020)
COVID-19 and Child Protection: On April 8, 2020, the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children (EVAC) and the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) partnered together to present a webinar focused on key issues on child protection in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers from WHO, Oxford University, Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Actions, and country briefings from Tanzania, Montenegro, and the Philippines. (See: https://mailchi.mp/ecdan/covid19) <a href="https://zoom.us/rec/play/6JJ5d7z-q203HdOVswSDU6AsW9S_L66s13If_vsKxUjjWiRSYFulY-QXY-N4AztlsCmPu9xR8-XGvOjv?startTime=1586349047000&_x_zm_rtaid=1YbMxokIQd2waVM1Z-YYBQ.1586968287275.ef27407061eac7b125294eda4bda9280&_x_zm_rhtaid=211">High bandwidth Low bandwidth
Keywords: child protection; COVID-19

Compendium of Resources | Stay safe at home. Stay safe online. - EVAC (2020)
Keywords: child online safety; COVID-19

The rituals, fears and phobias of young children: insights from development, psychopathology and neurobiology - Evans, D. W.; Gray, F. L.; Leckman, J. F. (Child Psychiatry Hum Dev, 1999)
This study examined the relationship between ritualistic, compulsive-like behaviors and normative fears and phobias in 61 children ranging from 1 to 7 years of age. Parents reported on their children's ritualistic habits, and perfectionistic behaviors that reflect what we have previously called "compulsive-like" behaviors. Parents also reported on their children's fears and phobias. Results indicated that various aspects of children's ritualistic and compulsive-like behaviors are correlated with children's fears and phobias. Developmental differences existed such that younger children's (< 4 years) repetitive, compulsive-like behaviors were related to "prepotent" fears such as stranger and separation anxieties, whereas the compulsive-like behaviors of older children (> 4 years) were correlated with more specific, "contextual" fears such as fears of contamination, death, and fears often associated with concerns of the inner city such as burglars, assault, etc. These findings are discussed in terms of the phenomenologic and possible neurobiological continuities between normative and pathologic rituals, fears and phobias.
Evans, D W Gray, F L Leckman, J F eng 1999/07/28 00:00 Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 1999 Summer;29(4):261-76.
Keywords: *Ceremonial Behavior; *Fear; *Psychology, Child; Child; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Compulsive Behavior/*psychology; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Phobic Disorders/*psychology; Regression Analysis

Childhood Poverty, Chronic Stress, Self-Regulation, and Coping - Evans, Gary W.; Kim, Pilyoung (Child Development Perspectives, 2013)
Poverty is a powerful factor that can alter lifetime developmental trajectories in cognitive, socioemotional, and physical health outcomes. Most explanatory work on the underlying psychological processes of how poverty affects development has focused on parental investment and parenting practices, principally responsiveness. Our primary objective in this article was to describe a third, complementary pathway—chronic stress and coping—that may also prove helpful in understanding the developmental impacts of early childhood poverty throughout life. Disadvantaged children are more likely than their wealthier peers to confront a wide array of physical stressors (e.g., substandard housing, chaotic environments) and psychosocial stressors (e.g., family turmoil, separation from adult caregivers). As exposure to stressors accumulates, physiological response systems that are designed to handle relatively infrequent, acute environmental demands are overwhelmed. Chronic cumulative stressors also disrupt the self-regulatory processes that help children cope with external demands.
Keywords: coping; Poverty; self-regulation; stress

Dads Matter Performance Measures: Preliminary results for confidence and knowledge - D. Evans-Rhodes (National Fatherhood Iniative, 2010)

Child maltreatment, youth violence, and intimate partner violence: developmental relationships - Fang, X.; Corso, P. S. (Am J Prev Med, 2007)
BACKGROUND: Understanding the cycle of violence, from victimization to perpetration across the life span, is critical for designing successful prevention interventions. This study uses a nationally representative sample to examine the developmental relationships among three forms of child maltreatment, youth violence perpetration or victimization, and young adult intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration or victimization. METHODS: Data describing self-reported youth violence perpetration (or victimization) from Wave I of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (1994-1995) were matched with self-reported IPV perpetration (or victimization) in young adult sexual relationships and retrospective reports of child maltreatment collected during Wave III (2001-2002). Bivariate probit regression models were used to analyze the developmental relationships between child maltreatment, youth violence, and IPV. Analyses were completed in September 2006. RESULTS: Compared to nonvictims of child maltreatment, victims of child maltreatment are more likely to perpetrate youth violence (a likelihood increase ranging from -1.2% to 6.6% for females and 3.7% to 11.9% for males) and young adult IPV (an increase from 8.7% to 10.4% for females and from 1.3% to 17.2% for males), although the direct and indirect effects vary by type of child maltreatment experienced. Gender differences exist in the links between child maltreatment, youth violence and IPV, and in the effects of socioeconomic factors on youth violence and IPV. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that it may be important to account for gender differences when designing violence prevention programs, and an integrative approach is critical for stopping the developmental trajectory of violence.
Fang, Xiangming Corso, Phaedra S P01 HD 31921/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Netherlands Am J Prev Med. 2007 Oct;33(4):281-90. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2007.06.003.
Keywords: *Child Abuse/statistics & numerical data; *Sexual Partners; *Violence/statistics & numerical data; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; United States

Structural violence and clinical medicine. - Farmer, Paul E; Nizeye, Bruce; Stulac, Sara; Keshavjee, Salmaan (PLoS Med, 2006)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Baltimore; Child Welfare; Child, Preschool; Clinical Medicine; Ethics, Institutional; Haiti; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Infant; Public Health; Rwanda; Socioeconomic Factors; Violence

Key results from the first forty years of the Cambridge Study in delinquent development - D. P. Farrington (Taking stock of delinquency: An overview of findings from contemporary longitudinal studies, 2003)

Influence of psychosocial risk factors on the trajectory of mental health problems from childhood to adolescence: a longitudinal study - Fatori, D.; Bordin, I. A.; Curto, B. M.; de Paula, C. S. (BMC Psychiatry, 2013)
BACKGROUND: Longitudinal epidemiological studies involving child/adolescent mental health problems are scarce in developing countries, particularly in regions characterized by adverse living conditions. We examined the influence of psychosocial factors on the trajectory of child/adolescent mental health problems (CAMHP) over time. METHODS: A population-based sample of 6- to 13-year-olds with CAMHP was followed-up from 2002-2003 (Time 1/T1) to 2007-2008 (Time 2/T2), with 86 out of 124 eligible children/adolescents at T1 being reassessed at T2 (sample loss: 30.6%). OUTCOME: CAMHP at T2 according to the Child Behavior Checklist/CBCL's total problem scale. Psychosocial factors: T1 variables (child/adolescent's age, family socioeconomic status); trajectory of variables from T1 to T2 (child/adolescent exposure to severe physical punishment, mother exposure to severe physical marital violence, maternal anxiety/depression); and T2 variables (maternal education, child/adolescent's social support and pro-social activities). RESULTS: Multivariate analysis identified two risk factors for child/adolescent MHP at T2: aggravation of child/adolescent physical punishment and aggravation of maternal anxiety/depression. CONCLUSIONS: The current study shows the importance of considering child/adolescent physical punishment and maternal anxiety/depression in intervention models and mental health care policies.
1471-244x Fatori, Daniel Bordin, Isabel A Curto, Bartira M de Paula, Cristiane S Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England BMC Psychiatry. 2013 Jan 17;13:31. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-13-31.
Keywords: Adolescent; Brazil; Checklist; Child; Child Behavior/psychology; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mental Disorders/*etiology; Psychology; Punishment/psychology; Risk Factors; Social Support; Socioeconomic Factors

Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among Haitian immigrant students: implications for access to mental health services and educational programming - Fawzi, M. C.; Betancourt, T. S.; Marcelin, L.; Klopner, M.; Munir, K.; Muriel, A. C.; Oswald, C.; Mukherjee, J. S. (BMC Public Health, 2009)
BACKGROUND: Previous studies of Haitian immigrant and refugee youth have emphasized "externalizing" behaviors, such as substance use, high risk sexual behavior, and delinquency, with very little information available on "internalizing" symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. Analyzing stressors and "internalizing" symptoms offers a more balanced picture of the type of social and mental health services that may be needed for this population. The present study aims to: 1) estimate the prevalence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Haitian immigrant students; and 2) examine factors associated with depression and PTSD to identify potential areas of intervention that may enhance psychosocial health outcomes among immigrant youth from Haiti in the U.S. METHODS: A stratified random sample of Haitian immigrant students enrolled in Boston public high schools was selected for participation; 84% agreed to be interviewed with a standardized questionnaire. Diagnosis of depression and PTSD was ascertained using the best estimate diagnosis method. RESULTS: The prevalence estimates of depression and PTSD were 14.0% and 11.6%; 7.9% suffered from comorbid PTSD and depression. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated factors most strongly associated with depression (history of father's death, self-report of schoolwork not going well, not spending time with friends) and PTSD (concern for physical safety, having many arguments with parents, history of physical abuse, and lack of safety of neighborhood). CONCLUSIONS: A significant level of depression and PTSD was observed. Stressors subsequent to immigration, such as living in an unsafe neighborhood and concern for physical safety, were associated with an increased risk of PTSD and should be considered when developing programs to assist this population. Reducing exposure to these stressors and enhancing access to social support and appropriate school-based and mental health services may improve educational attainment and psychosocial health outcomes among Haitian immigrant youth.
Fawzi, Mary C Smith Betancourt, Theresa S Marcelin, Lilly Klopner, Michelle Munir, Kerim Muriel, Anna C Oswald, Catherine Mukherjee, Joia S eng R03-MH52267/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural England 2009/12/24 06:00 BMC Public Health. 2009 Dec 22;9:482. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-9-482.
Keywords: Adolescent; Boston/epidemiology; Depressive Disorder/*ethnology; Emigrants and Immigrants/*psychology/statistics & numerical data; Female; Haiti/ethnology; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Logistic Models; Male; Parent-Child Relations; Residence Characteristics; Risk Factors; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*ethnology; Students/*psychology/statistics & numerical data; Young Adult

Mental health of displaced and refugee children resettled in high-income countries: risk and protective factors. - Fazel, M.; Reed, R. V.; Panter-Brick, C.; Stein, A. (Lancet, 2012)
We undertook a systematic search and review of individual, family, community, and societal risk and protective factors for mental health in children and adolescents who are forcibly displaced to high-income countries. Exposure to violence has been shown to be a key risk factor, whereas stable settlement and social support in the host country have a positive effect on the child's psychological functioning. Further research is needed to identify the relevant processes, contexts, and interplay between the many predictor variables hitherto identified as affecting mental health vulnerability and resilience. Research designs are needed that enable longitudinal investigation of individual, community, and societal contexts, rather than designs restricted to investigation of the associations between adverse exposures and psychological symptoms. We emphasise the need to develop comprehensive policies to ensure a rapid resolution of asylum claims and the effective integration of internally displaced and refugee children.
Keywords: Adolescent; Child; Developed Countries; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Parenting; Parents; Refugees; Risk Management; Social Problems; Social Support; Socioeconomic Factors; Violence; War

The significance of insecure attachment and disorganization in the development of children's externalizing behavior: a meta-analytic study - Fearon, R. P.; Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J.; van IJzendoorn, M. H.; Lapsley, A. M.; Roisman, G. I. (Child Dev, 2010)
This study addresses the extent to which insecure and disorganized attachments increase risk for externalizing problems using meta-analysis. From 69 samples (N = 5,947), the association between insecurity and externalizing problems was significant, d = 0.31 (95% CI: 0.23, 0.40). Larger effects were found for boys (d = 0.35), clinical samples (d = 0.49), and from observation-based outcome assessments (d = 0.58). Larger effects were found for attachment assessments other than the Strange Situation. Overall, disorganized children appeared at elevated risk (d = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.50), with weaker effects for avoidance (d = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.21) and resistance (d = 0.11, 95% CI: -0.04, 0.26). The results are discussed in terms of the potential significance of attachment for mental health.
Fearon, R Pasco Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J van Ijzendoorn, Marinus H Lapsley, Anne-Marie Roisman, Glenn I eng Meta-Analysis Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2010/05/05 06:00 Child Dev. 2010 Mar-Apr;81(2):435-56. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01405.x.
Keywords: *Internal-External Control; *Mother-Child Relations; *Object Attachment; Adaptation, Psychological; Aggression/psychology; Anxiety, Separation/diagnosis/psychology; Child; Child Behavior Disorders/*diagnosis/*psychology; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Personality Assessment; Reactive Attachment Disorder/*diagnosis/*psychology; Risk Factors; Sex Factors

Direct and extended friendship effects on minority and majority children's interethnic attitudes: a longitudinal study - Feddes, A. R.; Noack, P.; Rutland, A. (Child Dev, 2009)
Longitudinal direct and extended cross-ethnic friendship effects on out-group evaluations among German (majority status, N = 76) and Turkish (minority status, N = 73) children (age 7-11 years) in ethnically heterogeneous elementary schools were examined at the beginning and end of the school year (time lag: 7 months). The results showed that among majority status children, but not minority status children, direct cross-ethnic friendship predicted over time positive out-group evaluations. This association was partly mediated by perceived social norms about cross-ethnic friendship relations. No longitudinal effects of extended cross-ethnic friendship were found. These results suggest that in ethnically heterogeneous contexts, direct friendship is more effective in changing intergroup attitudes than extended friendship and that social status moderates direct friendship effects.
Feddes, Allard R Noack, Peter Rutland, Adam eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2009/05/27 09:00 Child Dev. 2009 Mar-Apr;80(2):377-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01266.x.
Keywords: *Interpersonal Relations; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior/*psychology; Attitude/*ethnology; Ethnic Groups/*psychology; Female; Friends/*ethnology/psychology; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Minority Groups/*psychology; Portugal; Schools; Social Environment; Students/*psychology; Turkey/ethnology

Egalitarianism in young children - Fehr, E.; Bernhard, H.; Rockenbach, B. (Nature, 2008)
Human social interaction is strongly shaped by other-regarding preferences, that is, a concern for the welfare of others. These preferences are important for a unique aspect of human sociality-large scale cooperation with genetic strangers-but little is known about their developmental roots. Here we show that young children's other-regarding preferences assume a particular form, inequality aversion that develops strongly between the ages of 3 and 8. At age 3-4, the overwhelming majority of children behave selfishly, whereas most children at age 7-8 prefer resource allocations that remove advantageous or disadvantageous inequality. Moreover, inequality aversion is strongly shaped by parochialism, a preference for favouring the members of one's own social group. These results indicate that human egalitarianism and parochialism have deep developmental roots, and the simultaneous emergence of altruistic sharing and parochialism during childhood is intriguing in view of recent evolutionary theories which predict that the same evolutionary process jointly drives both human altruism and parochialism.
Fehr, Ernst Bernhard, Helen Rockenbach, Bettina eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2008/08/30 09:00 Nature. 2008 Aug 28;454(7208):1079-83. doi: 10.1038/nature07155.
Keywords: *Altruism; *Cooperative Behavior; Age Factors; Biological Evolution; Candy; Child; Child, Preschool; Decision Making; Female; Humans; Male; Morals; Motivation; Sex Characteristics; Social Justice; Switzerland

Effects of family foundations on parents and children: 3.5 years after baseline. - Feinberg, Mark E.; Jones, Damon E.; Kan, Marni L.; Goslin, Megan C. (Journal of Family Psychology, 2010)

Enhancing coparenting, parenting, and child self-regulation: effects of family foundations 1 year after birth. - Feinberg, Mark E; Kan, Marni L; Goslin, Megan C (Prev Sci, 2009)
This study investigated whether a psycho-educational program with modest dosage (eight sessions), delivered in a universal framework through childbirth education programs and targeting the coparenting relationship would have a positive impact on observed family interaction and child behavior at 6-month follow-up (child age 1 year). One hundred sixty-nine couples, randomized to intervention and control conditions, participated in videotaped family observation tasks at pretest (during pregnancy) and at child age 1 year (2003-2007). Coparenting, parenting, couple relationship, and child self-regulatory behaviors were coded by teams of raters. Intent-to-treat analyses of program effects controlled for age, education, and social desirability. Evidence of significant (p < 0.05) program effects at follow-up emerged in all four domains. Effect sizes ranged from 0.28 to 1.01. Targeting the coparenting relationship at the transition to parenthood represents an effective, non-stigmatizing means of promoting parenting quality and child adjustment.
Keywords: Adult; Child Behavior; Child, Preschool; Family Relations; Female; Humans; Infant; Interviews as Topic; Male; Mental Disorders; Parenting; Questionnaires; Young Adult

Establishing Family Foundations: Intervention Effects on Coparenting, Parent/Infant Well-Being, and Parent–Child Relations - M. E. Feinberg; M. L. Kan (Journal of Family Psychology, 2008)

Long-term follow-up of a randomized trial of family foundations: effects on children's emotional, behavioral, and school adjustment. - Feinberg, Mark E; Jones, Damon E; Roettger, Michael E; Solmeyer, Anna; Hostetler, Michelle L (J Fam Psychol, 2014)
This study examines long-term effects of a transition to parenthood program, Family Foundations, designed to enhance child outcomes through a strategic focus on supporting the coparenting relationship. Roughly 5 to 7 years after baseline (pregnancy), parent and teacher reports of internalizing and externalizing problems and school adjustment were collected by mail for 98 children born to couples enrolled in the randomized trial. Teachers reported significantly lower levels of internalizing problems among children in the intervention group compared with children in the control group and, consistent with prior findings at age 3, lower levels of externalizing problems for boys in the intervention group. Baseline level of observed couple negative communication moderated intervention effects for parent and teacher report of child adjustment and teacher report of school adjustment and adaptation. Effect sizes ranged from 0.40 to 0.98. Results indicate that relatively brief preventive programs for couples at the transition to parenthood have the capacity to promote long-term positive benefits for children's adjustment. Although we attended to missing data issues in several ways, high levels of attrition in this long-term follow-up study is a cause for caution.

Effects of family foundations on parents and children: 3.5 years after baseline. - Feinberg, Mark E; Jones, Damon E; Kan, Marni L; Goslin, Megan C (J Fam Psychol, 2010)
This study investigated the ability of a psychosocial prevention program implemented through childbirth education programs to enhance the coparental and couple relationship, parental mental health, the parent-child relationship, and child outcomes. A sample of 169 heterosexual, adult couples expecting their first child was randomized to intervention and control conditions. The intervention families participated in Family Foundations, a series of eight classes delivered before and after birth, which was designed as a universal prevention program (i.e., applicable to all couples, not just those at high risk). Intent-to-treat analyses utilizing data collected from child age 6 months through 3 years indicated significant program effects on parental stress and self-efficacy, coparenting, harsh parenting, and children's emotional adjustment among all families, and maternal depression among cohabiting couples. Among families of boys, program effects were found for child behavior problems and couple relationship quality. These results indicate that a universal prevention approach at the transition to parenthood focused on enhancing family relationships can have a significant and substantial positive impact on parent and child well-being.
Keywords: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Child; Child Behavior; Child, Preschool; Family; Family Relations; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Education; Humans; Infant; Male; Mental Health; Parent-Child Relations; Parenting; Parents; Pennsylvania; Program Evaluation; Questionnaires; Self Efficacy; Stress, Psychological

Stochastic epigenetic variation as a driving force of development, evolutionary adaptation, and disease - Feinberg, Andrew P.; Irizarry, Rafael A. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010)
Neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory is based on exquisite selection of phenotypes caused by small genetic variations, which is the basis of quantitative trait contribution to phenotype and disease. Epigenetics is the study of nonsequence-based changes, such as DNA methylation, heritable during cell division. Previous attempts to incorporate epigenetics into evolutionary thinking have focused on Lamarckian inheritance, that is, environmentally directed epigenetic changes. Here, we propose a new non-Lamarckian theory for a role of epigenetics in evolution. We suggest that genetic variants that do not change the mean phenotype could change the variability of phenotype; and this could be mediated epigenetically. This inherited stochastic variation model would provide a mechanism to explain an epigenetic role of developmental biology in selectable phenotypic variation, as well as the largely unexplained heritable genetic variation underlying common complex disease. We provide two experimental results as proof of principle. The first result is direct evidence for stochastic epigenetic variation, identifying highly variably DNA-methylated regions in mouse and human liver and mouse brain, associated with development and morphogenesis. The second is a heritable genetic mechanism for variable methylation, namely the loss or gain of CpG dinucleotides over evolutionary time. Finally, we model genetically inherited stochastic variation in evolution, showing that it provides a powerful mechanism for evolutionary adaptation in changing environments that can be mediated epigenetically. These data suggest that genetically inherited propensity to phenotypic variability, even with no change in the mean phenotype, substantially increases fitness while increasing the disease susceptibility of a population with a changing environment.

Evidence for a neuroendocrinological foundation of human affiliation: plasma oxytocin levels across pregnancy and the postpartum period predict mother-infant bonding. - Feldman, Ruth; Weller, Aron; Zagoory-Sharon, Orna; Levine, Ari (Psychol Sci, 2007)
Although research on the neurobiological foundation of social affiliation has implicated the neuropeptide oxytocin in processes of maternal bonding in mammals, there is little evidence to support such links in humans. Plasma oxytocin and cortisol of 62 pregnant women were sampled during the first trimester, last trimester, and first postpartum month. Oxytocin was assayed using enzyme immunoassay, and free cortisol was calculated. After the infants were born, their interactions with their mothers were observed, and the mothers were interviewed regarding their infant-related thoughts and behaviors. Oxytocin was stable across time, and oxytocin levels at early pregnancy and the postpartum period were related to a clearly defined set of maternal bonding behaviors, including gaze, vocalizations, positive affect, and affectionate touch; to attachment-related thoughts; and to frequent checking of the infant. Across pregnancy and the postpartum period, oxytocin may play a role in the emergence of behaviors and mental representations typical of bonding in the human mother.
Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Infant, Newborn; Maternal Behavior; Mother-Child Relations; Object Attachment; Oxytocin; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy

Parental oxytocin and early caregiving jointly shape children's oxytocin response and social reciprocity. - Feldman, Ruth; Gordon, Ilanit; Influs, Moran; Gutbir, Tamar; Ebstein, Richard P (Neuropsychopharmacology, 2013)
Oxytocin (OT) has an important role in bond formation and social reciprocity, and animal studies indicate that OT functioning is transferred from parent to child through patterns of parental care. Perspectives on attachment suggest that the individual's various attachment bonds are underpinned by the oxytocinergic system. However, prospective human studies that demonstrate the cross-generation transfer of OT as mediated by early caregiving and its impact on children's multiple attachments are lacking. To address these concerns, the current study included 160 mothers and fathers and their firstborn child who participated in a 3-year longitudinal study. At the first and sixth postpartum months, parents' plasma OT was assayed, parent-infant interactions were videotaped and micro-coded, and allelic variations on the OXTR(rs2254298, rs1042778) and CD38rs3796863 genes were measured. At 3 years, parents' and child's salivary OT was assessed and children's social reciprocity observed during interactions with mother, father, and their first best friend. Parents' OT levels were individually stable across the 3-year period, correlated with low-risk OXTR and CD38 alleles, and predicted child OT. Child's social reciprocity with friend was associated with child OT levels, mother's OT-related genes and hormones, and mother-child reciprocity, but not with father's genes, hormones, or behavior. A cross-generation gene-by-environment effect emerged, with low child OT levels predicted by the interaction of maternal high-risk CD38 allele and diminished maternal care in infancy. These results demonstrate individual stability in peripheral OT across several years and describe a cross-generation transfer of OT through caregiving in humans within a prospective longitudinal design. Consistent with other mammals, biobehavioral experiences within the parent-infant bond shape children's affiliative biology and social behavior across multiple attachments. Our findings bear important implications for conditions involving disruptions to maternal-infant bonding and underscore the potential for peer-based interventions.
Keywords: Adult; Alleles; Antigens, CD38; Child, Preschool; Female; Gene-Environment Interaction; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins; Oxytocin; Parent-Child Relations; Parents; Receptors, Oxytocin; Saliva

The nature of the mother's tie to her infant: maternal bonding under conditions of proximity, separation, and potential loss - Feldman, R.; Weller, A.; Leckman, J. F.; Kuint, J.; Eidelman, A. I. (J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 1999)
Attachment has generally been examined from the infant's perspective. We focused on mothers' post-partum thoughts and behaviors. Guided by an ethological approach, maternal bonding was examined under conditions of proximity, separation, and potential loss. Ninety-one mothers were interviewed: mothers of full-term infants who maintained continuous proximity to the infant, mothers of healthy premature infants who were separated from the infant, and mothers of very low birthweight infants who experienced potential loss and prolonged separation. Mothers of term infants reported medium-to-high levels of preoccupations with thoughts of infant safety and well-being. Preoccupations increased with separation (Group 2) and significantly decreased with impending loss (Group 3). Attachment behaviors and representations were the highest among mothers of term infants and declined linearly with the duration of mother-infant separation. Maternal trait anxiety and depression were related respectively to higher levels of preoccupations and reduced attachment behaviors and representations, independent of the infant medical condition and mother-child separation. Discussion focused on the comparability of maternal and infant attachment in relation to the neurobiological system underlying bond formation.
Feldman, R Weller, A Leckman, J F Kuint, J Eidelman, A I eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 1999/10/06 00:00 J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1999 Sep;40(6):929-39.
Keywords: *Anxiety, Separation; *Infant, Premature; *Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; *Mother-Child Relations; *Object Attachment; Adult; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Maternal Behavior/*psychology; Pregnancy

The cross-generation transmission of oxytocin in humans. - Feldman, Ruth; Gordon, Ilanit; Zagoory-Sharon, Orna (Horm Behav, 2010)
Animal studies demonstrated that the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT), implicated in bond formation across mammalian species, is transmitted from mother to young through mechanisms of early social experiences; however, no research has addressed the cross-generation transmission of OT in humans. Fifty-five parents (36 mothers and 19 fathers) engaged in a 15-min interaction with their infants. Baseline plasma OT was sampled from parents and salivary OT was sampled from parents and infants before and after play and analyzed with ELISA methods. Interactions were micro-coded for parent and child's socio-affective behavior. Parent and infant's salivary OT was individually stable across assessments and showed an increase from pre- to post-interaction. Significant correlations emerged between parental and infant OT at both assessments and higher OT levels in parent and child were related to greater affect synchrony and infant social engagement. Parent-infant affect synchrony moderated the relations between parental and infant OT and the associations between OT in parent and child were stronger under conditions of high affect synchrony. Results demonstrate consistency in the neuroendocrine system supporting bond formation in humans and other mammals and underscore the role of early experience in shaping the cross-generation transmission of social affiliation in humans.
Keywords: Adult; Cohort Effect; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant Behavior; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Maternal Behavior; Oxytocin; Parent-Child Relations; Paternal Behavior; Play and Playthings; Saliva; Young Adult

Conflict resolution in the parent-child, marital, and peer contexts and children's aggression in the peer group: a process-oriented cultural perspective. - Feldman, Ruth; Masalha, Shafiq; Derdikman-Eiron, Ruth (Dev Psychol, 2010)
Theories of socialization propose that children's ability to handle conflicts is learned at home through mechanisms of participation and observation-participating in parent-child conflict and observing the conflicts between parents. We assessed modes of conflict resolution in the parent-child, marriage, and peer-group contexts among 141 Israeli and Palestinian families and their 1st-born toddler. We observed the ecology of parent-child conflict during home visits, the couple's discussion of marital conflicts, and children's conflicts with peers as well as aggressive behavior at child care. Israeli families used more open-ended tactics, including negotiation and disregard, and conflict was often resolved by compromise, whereas Palestinian families tended to consent or object. During marital discussions, Israeli couples showed more emotional empathy, whereas Palestinians displayed more instrumental solutions. Modes of conflict resolution across contexts were interrelated in culture-specific ways. Child aggression was predicted by higher marital hostility, more coparental undermining behavior, and ineffective discipline in both cultures. Greater family compromise and marital empathy predicted lower aggression among Israeli toddlers, whereas more resolution by consent predicted lower aggression among Palestinians. Considering the cultural basis of conflict resolution within close relationships may expand understanding on the roots of aggression.
Keywords: Adult; Age Factors; Aggression; Child; Child Behavior; Child Care; Child, Preschool; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Family Conflict; Female; Humans; Infant; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Object Attachment; Parent-Child Relations; Peer Group; Play and Playthings; Young Adult

Direct and indirect effects of breast milk on the neurobehavioral and cognitive development of premature infants. - Feldman, Ruth; Eidelman, Arthur I (Dev Psychobiol, 2003)
Eighty-six premature infants were tested to examine the effects of maternal breast milk on infant development. Infants were classified by breast-milk consumption during the hospitalization period (M = 57.4 days) into three groups: those receiving minimal (<25% of nutrition), intermediate (25-75%), and substantial (>75%) amounts of breast milk. Infants in the three groups were matched for birth weight, gestational age (GA), medical risk, and family demographics. At 37 weeks GA, mother-infant interaction was videotaped, maternal depression self-reported, and neurobehavioral maturation assessed by the Neonatal Behavior Assessment Seale (Brazelton, 1973). At 6 months corrected age, infants were tested with the Bayley II (Bayley, 1993). Infants receiving substantial amounts of breast milk showed better neurobehavioral profiles-in particular, motor maturity and range of state. These infants also were more alert during social interactions, and their mothers provided more affectionate touch. Higher maternal depression scores were associated with lower quantities of breast milk, longer latencies to the first breast-milk feeding, reduced maternal affectionate touch, and lower infant cognitive skills. Maternal affectionate touch moderated the relations between breast milk and cognitive development, with infants receiving a substantial amount of breast milk and frequent touch scoring the highest. In addition to its nutritional value, breast milk may be related to improved maternal mood and interactive behaviors, thereby indirectly contributing to development in premature infants.
Keywords: Brain; Breast Feeding; Child Development; Cognition; Depression; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Food, Formulated; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Male; Maternal Behavior; Milk, Human; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers

Affiliation buffers stress: cumulative genetic risk in oxytocin-vasopressin genes combines with early caregiving to predict PTSD in war-exposed young children - Feldman, R.; Vengrober, A.; Ebstein, R. P. (Transl Psychiatry, 2014)
Research indicates that risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is shaped by the interaction between genetic vulnerability and early caregiving experiences; yet, caregiving has typically been assessed by adult retrospective accounts. Here, we employed a prospective longitudinal design with real-time observations of early caregiving combined with assessment of genetic liability along the axis of vasopressin-oxytocin (OT) gene pathways to test G x E contributions to PTSD. Participants were 232 young Israeli children (1.5-5 years) and their parents, including 148 living in zones of continuous war and 84 controls. A cumulative genetic risk factor was computed for each family member by summing five risk alleles across three genes (OXTR, CD38 and AVPR1a) previously associated with psychopathology, sociality and caregiving. Child PTSD was diagnosed and mother-child interactions were observed in multiple contexts. In middle childhood (7-8 years), child psychopathology was re-evaluated. War exposure increased propensity to develop Axis-I disorder by threefold: 60% of exposed children displayed a psychiatric disorder by middle childhood and 62% of those showed several comorbid disorders. On the other hand, maternal sensitive support reduced risk for psychopathology. G x E effect was found for child genetic risk: in the context of war exposure, greater genetic risk on the vasopressin-OT pathway increased propensity for psychopathology. Among exposed children, chronicity of PTSD from early to middle childhood was related to higher child, maternal and paternal genetic risk, low maternal support and greater initial avoidance symptoms. Child avoidance was predicted by low maternal support and reduced mother-child reciprocity. These findings underscore the saliency of both genetic and behavioral facets of the human affiliation system in shaping vulnerability to PTSD as well as providing an underlying mechanism of post-traumatic resilience.
Feldman, R Vengrober, A Ebstein, R P eng Duplicate Publication Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2014/03/13 06:00 Transl Psychiatry. 2014 Mar 11;4:e370. doi: 10.1038/tp.2014.6.
Keywords: *Gene-Environment Interaction; *Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Adult; Child; Child Rearing/*psychology; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mother-Child Relations/*psychology; Receptors, Oxytocin/*genetics; Receptors, Vasopressin/*genetics; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*etiology/genetics; Warfare

Parent-child and triadic antecedents of children's social competence: cultural specificity, shared process. - Feldman, Ruth; Masalha, Shafiq (Dev Psychol, 2010)
Guided by theories of cultural participation, the authors examined mother-child, father-child, and triadic interactive behaviors in 141 Israeli and Palestinian couples and their firstborn child at 5 and 33 months as antecedents of children's social competence. Four parent-child measures (parent sensitivity, child social engagement, parental control, dyadic reciprocity) and two family-level measures (cohesion and rigidity) were coded at each age. Children's social competence was observed at child-care locations. Cultural differences were observed for parent sensitivity and child social engagement, and the large cultural differences in sensitivity observed in infancy were attenuated by the toddler age. Interactive behaviors correlated with culture-specific parenting practices, child-rearing goals, and sex-role attitudes. Mother-child reciprocity in infancy and child engagement with father and family-level cohesion at both time points predicted social competence. Maternal sensitivity in infancy facilitated social competence only among Israeli children. Paternal control in toddlerhood interfered with Israeli children's social functioning but contributed to competence among Palestinians. Results underscore the links between early relational experiences and children's adaptation to the social milieu.
Keywords: Age Factors; Attention; Attitude; Child Care; Child Development; Child Rearing; Child, Preschool; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Family; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Mental Competency; Object Attachment; Parent-Child Relations; Parents; Social Behavior

Oxytocin and social affiliation in humans - Feldman, R. (Horm Behav, 2012)
A conceptual model detailing the process of bio-behavioral synchrony between the online physiological and behavioral responses of attachment partners during social contact is presented as a theoretical and empirical framework for the study of affiliative bonds. Guided by an ethological behavior-based approach, we suggest that micro-level social behaviors in the gaze, vocal, affective, and touch modalities are dynamically integrated with online physiological processes and hormonal response to create dyad-specific affiliations. Studies across multiple attachments throughout life are presented and demonstrate that the extended oxytocin (OT) system provides the neurohormonal substrate for parental, romantic, and filial attachment in humans; that the three prototypes of affiliation are expressed in similar constellations of social behavior; and that OT is stable over time within individuals, is mutually-influencing among partners, and that mechanisms of cross-generation and inter-couple transmission relate to coordinated social behavior. Research showing links between peripheral and genetic markers of OT with concurrent parenting and memories of parental care; between administration of OT to parent and infant's physiological readiness for social engagement; and between neuropeptides and the online synchrony of maternal and paternal brain response in social-cognitive and empathy networks support the hypothesis that human attachment develops within the matrix of biological attunement and close behavioral synchrony. The findings have conceptual implications for the study of inter-subjectivity as well as translational implications for the treatment of social disorders originating in early childhood, such as autism spectrum disorders, or those associated with disruptions to early bonding, such as postpartum depression or child abuse and neglect. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior.
Feldman, Ruth eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Review 2012/01/31 06:00 Horm Behav. 2012 Mar;61(3):380-91. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2012.01.008. Epub 2012 Jan 20.
Keywords: *Social Behavior; Animals; Autistic Disorder/genetics/psychology; Friends; Humans; Love; Maternal Behavior; Object Attachment; Oxytocin/genetics/pharmacology/*physiology; Paternal Behavior

Natural variations in maternal and paternal care are associated with systematic changes in oxytocin following parent-infant contact. - Feldman, Ruth; Gordon, Ilanit; Schneiderman, Inna; Weisman, Omri; Zagoory-Sharon, Orna (Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2010)
Animal studies have demonstrated that the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) plays a critical role in processes of parent-infant bonding through mechanisms of early parental care, particularly maternal grooming and contact. Yet, the involvement of OT in human parenting remains poorly understood, no data are available on the role of OT in the development of human fathering, and the links between patterns of parental care and the OT response have not been explored in humans. One hundred and twelve mothers and fathers engaged in a 15-min play-and-contact interaction with their 4-6-month-old infants and interactions were micro-coded for patterns of parental touch. Results showed that baseline levels of plasma and salivary OT in mothers and fathers were similar, OT levels in plasma and saliva were inter-related, and OT was associated with the parent-specific mode of tactile contact. Human mothers who provided high levels of affectionate contact showed an OT increase following mother-infant interaction but such increase was not observed among mothers displaying low levels of affectionate contact. Among fathers, only those exhibiting high levels of stimulatory contact showed an OT increase. These results demonstrate consistency in the neuroendocrine basis of human parental interactions with those seen in other mammals. The findings underscore the need to provide opportunities for paternal care to trigger the biological basis of fatherhood and suggest that interventions that permit social engagement may be recommended in conditions of diminished maternal-infant contact, such as prematurity or postpartum depression.
Keywords: Adult; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Maternal Behavior; Oxytocin; Parent-Child Relations; Parenting; Parents; Paternal Behavior; Play and Playthings; Saliva; Time Factors; Touch; Young Adult

Sensitive parenting is associated with plasma oxytocin and polymorphisms in the OXTR and CD38 genes. - Feldman, Ruth; Zagoory-Sharon, Orna; Weisman, Omri; Schneiderman, Inna; Gordon, Ilanit; Maoz, Rina; Shalev, Idan; Ebstein, Richard P (Biol Psychiatry, 2012)
BACKGROUND: Research in mammals has demonstrated the involvement of oxytocin (OT) in social bond formation; yet, its role in human bonding remains unclear. Plasma OT has been used as a proxy for central activity and studies indicate its association with human affiliative behaviors. Molecular genetic studies also reveal a role for OT neuropathways in shaping the social brain. However, the links between peripheral OT, genetic markers, and their combined contribution to human parenting are unknown. METHODS: Participants included 352 individuals: 272 mothers and fathers and their 4- to 6-month-old-infants and 80 nonparents. Plasma OT was assayed from adults who were genotyped for oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and CD38 risk alleles associated with social dysfunctions. CD38 is an ectoenzyme that mediates the release of brain OT. Parent-infant interactions were microcoded for parental touch and gaze synchrony and participants reported on parental care in childhood. RESULTS: OXTR (rs2254298 and rs1042778) and CD38 (rs3796863) risk alleles were each associated with lower plasma OT. Reduced plasma OT and both OXTR and CD38 risk alleles were related to less parental touch. The interaction of high plasma OT and low-risk CD38 alleles predicted longer durations of parent-infant gaze synchrony. Parents reporting greater parental care showed higher plasma OT, low-risk CD38 alleles, and more touch toward their infants. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that peripheral and genetic markers of the extended OT pathway are interrelated and underpin core behaviors associated with human parenting and social engagement. These findings may have important implications for understanding neuropsychiatric disorders marked by early social dysfunctions.
Keywords: Adult; Alleles; Antigens, CD38; DNA; Female; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Humans; Infant; Male; Object Attachment; Oxytocin; Parent-Child Relations; Parenting; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Genetic; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Receptors, Oxytocin; Regression Analysis; Risk Assessment; Young Adult

Maternal and paternal plasma, salivary, and urinary oxytocin and parent-infant synchrony: considering stress and affiliation components of human bonding. - Feldman, Ruth; Gordon, Ilanit; Zagoory-Sharon, Orna (Dev Sci, 2011)
Studies in mammals have implicated the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) in processes of bond formation and stress modulation, yet the involvement of OT in human bonding throughout life remains poorly understood. We assessed OT in the plasma, saliva, and urine of 112 mothers and fathers interacting with their 4-6-month-old infants. Parent-infant interactions were micro-coded for parent and child's social behaviors and for the temporal coordination of their socio-affective cues. Parents were interviewed regarding their attachment to the infant and reported on bonding to own parents, romantic attachment, and parenting stress. Results indicated that OT in plasma (pOT) and saliva (sOT) were inter-related and were unrelated to OT in urine (uOT). pOT and sOT in mothers and fathers were associated with parent and child's social engagement, affect synchrony, and positive communicative sequences between parent and child. uOT was related to moments of interactive stress among mothers only, indexed by the co-occurrence of infant negative engagement and mother re-engagement attempts. pOT and sOT were associated with mothers' and fathers' attachment relationships throughout life: to own parents, partner, and infant, whereas uOT correlated with relationship anxiety and parenting stress among mothers only. Similar to other mammals, OT is involved in human attachment and contingent parenting. The dual role of OT in stress and affiliation underscores its complex involvement in processes of social bonding throughout life.
Keywords: Adult; Anxiety; Fathers; Female; Humans; Infant; Love; Male; Mothers; Object Attachment; Oxytocin; Parent-Child Relations; Parenting; Saliva; Social Behavior; Stress, Psychological

Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study - Felitti, V. J.; Anda, R. F.; Nordenberg, D.; Williamson, D. F.; Spitz, A. M.; Edwards, V.; Koss, M. P.; Marks, J. S. (Am J Prev Med, 1998)
BACKGROUND: The relationship of health risk behavior and disease in adulthood to the breadth of exposure to childhood emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, and household dysfunction during childhood has not previously been described. METHODS: A questionnaire about adverse childhood experiences was mailed to 13,494 adults who had completed a standardized medical evaluation at a large HMO; 9,508 (70.5%) responded. Seven categories of adverse childhood experiences were studied: psychological, physical, or sexual abuse; violence against mother; or living with household members who were substance abusers, mentally ill or suicidal, or ever imprisoned. The number of categories of these adverse childhood experiences was then compared to measures of adult risk behavior, health status, and disease. Logistic regression was used to adjust for effects of demographic factors on the association between the cumulative number of categories of childhood exposures (range: 0-7) and risk factors for the leading causes of death in adult life. RESULTS: More than half of respondents reported at least one, and one-fourth reported > or = 2 categories of childhood exposures. We found a graded relationship between the number of categories of childhood exposure and each of the adult health risk behaviors and diseases that were studied (P < .001). Persons who had experienced four or more categories of childhood exposure, compared to those who had experienced none, had 4- to 12-fold increased health risks for alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, and suicide attempt; a 2- to 4-fold increase in smoking, poor self-rated health, > or = 50 sexual intercourse partners, and sexually transmitted disease; and 1.4- to 1.6-fold increase in physical inactivity and severe obesity. The number of categories of adverse childhood exposures showed a graded relationship to the presence of adult diseases including ischemic heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, skeletal fractures, and liver disease. The seven categories of adverse childhood experiences were strongly interrelated and persons with multiple categories of childhood exposure were likely to have multiple health risk factors later in life. CONCLUSIONS: We found a strong graded relationship between the breadth of exposure to abuse or household dysfunction during childhood and multiple risk factors for several of the leading causes of death in adults.
Felitti, V J Anda, R F Nordenberg, D Williamson, D F Spitz, A M Edwards, V Koss, M P Marks, J S eng TS-44-10/12/TS/ATSDR CDC HHS/ Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. NETHERLANDS 1998/06/23 Am J Prev Med. 1998 May;14(4):245-58.
Keywords: *Cause of Death; *Child Abuse/statistics & numerical data; *Family; *Social Problems; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; California/epidemiology; Child; Child of Impaired Parents; Domestic Violence/statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Behavior; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Violence/statistics & numerical data

Comparing the reliability and predictive power of child, teacher, and guardian reports of noncognitive skills - Feng, Shuaizhang; Han, Yujie; Heckman, James J.; Kautz, Tim (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022)
Keywords: Big Five; personality traits; Predictive power; psychological assessment; respondent types

Randomized trial of the Early Start program of home visitation: parent and family outcomes. - Fergusson, David M; Grant, Hildegard; Horwood, L John; Ridder, Elizabeth M (Pediatrics, 2006)
OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent to which the Early Start program of home visitation had beneficial consequences in the areas of maternal health, family functioning, family economic circumstances, and exposure to stress and adversity. METHODS: The study used a randomized, controlled trial design in which 220 families receiving the Early Start program were contrasted with a control series of 223 families not receiving the program. Families were enrolled in the program after population screening conducted by community health nurses. Families were enrolled in the program for up to 36 months. Outcomes were assessed at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after trial entry. RESULTS: There was a consistent lack of association between maternal and family outcomes and group membership. There were no significant differences between the Early Start and control series in any comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: This evaluation suggested that the Early Start program failed to lead to parent- and family-related benefits. This absence of benefit for parent/family outcomes is contrasted with the benefits found previously for child-related outcomes, including child health, preschool education, child abuse and neglect, parenting, and behavioral adjustment. This comparison suggests that home visitation programs may provide benefits for child-related outcomes in the absence of parent- or family-related outcomes.
Keywords: Child Welfare; Child, Preschool; Early Intervention (Education); Family Health; House Calls; Humans; Infant; Maternal Welfare; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Parenting; Poverty; Social Support; Social Work; Spouse Abuse; Stress, Psychological

Functional magnetic resonance imaging and the neurobiology of vasopressin and oxytocin - Ferris, C. F. (Prog Brain ResUnderstanding Emotions, 2008)
Functional magnetic resonance imaging is used to assess the roles of vasopressin (AVP) in aggressive motivation and oxytocin (OXT) in maternal behaviour. In the case of aggression, male rats are triggered to show the autonomic signs of impending attack behaviour by simulating a resident/intruder conflict in the bore of the magnet during the imaging session. Intraventricular injection of AVP alone causes robust changes in brain activity mirroring many areas selective for AVP receptor binding and overlapped with many of the same areas activated during aggression. Pretreatment with an orally active AVP V1a receptor antagonist blocks aggression in bench-top studies and suppressed the pattern of brain activation caused by the intruder or administration of AVP. These findings using imaging corroborate and extended our understanding of the neural circuitry of aggression and the role of AVP neurotransmission in agonistic motivation. In the case of maternal behaviour, primiparous dams are imaged during nursing with and without OXT receptor blockade. Suckling alone activates many cortical and subcortical areas. Intracerebroventricular injection of OXT stimulates brain activity in areas selective to OXT receptor binding and overlap with many of the same areas activated during pup suckling. Pretreatment with OXT receptor antagonist suppresses the pattern of brain activation caused by suckling or administration of OXT. The data suggest that OXT may strengthen mother-infant bond formation partly by acting through brain areas involved in regulating olfactory discrimination, emotions and reward.
Ferris, Craig F eng Netherlands 2008/07/29 09:00 Prog Brain Res. 2008;170:305-20. doi: 10.1016/S0079-6123(08)00425-1.
Keywords: *Motivation; Aggression/*physiology; Amphibians/physiology; Amygdala/physiology; Animals; Arginine Vasopressin/pharmacology; Birds/physiology; Brain/drug effects/*physiology; Cerebral Ventricles/physiology; Female; Fishes/physiology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods; Male; Mammals/physiology; Maternal Behavior/*physiology; Models, Animal; Oxytocin/*physiology; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Sex Characteristics; Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology; Vasopressins/*physiology

A Theory of Social Comparison Processes - Festinger, Leon (Human Relations, 1954)

Violence, crime, and abuse exposure in a national sample of children and youth: an update. - Finkelhor, David; Turner, Heather A; Shattuck, Anne; Hamby, Sherry L (JAMA Pediatr, 2013)
IMPORTANCE: Because exposure to violence, crime, and abuse has been shown to have serious consequences on child development, physicians and policymakers need to know the kinds of exposure that occur at various developmental stages. OBJECTIVES: To provide updated estimates of and trends for childhood exposure to a broad range of violence, crime, and abuse victimizations. DESIGN: The National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence was based on a cross-sectional, US national telephone survey conducted in 2011. SETTING: Interviews by telephone. PARTICIPANTS: The experiences of 4503 children and youth aged 1 month to 17 years were assessed by interviews with caregivers and with youth in the case of those aged 10 to 17 years. RESULTS: Two-fifths (41.2%) of children and youth experienced a physical assault in the last year, and 1 in 10 (10.1%) experienced an assault-related injury. Two percent experienced sexual assault or sexual abuse in the last year, but the rate was 10.7% for girls aged 14 to 17 years. More than 1 in 10 (13.7%) experienced maltreatment by a caregiver, including 3.7% who experienced physical abuse. Few significant changes could be detected in rates since an equivalent survey in 2008, but declines were documented in peer flashing, school bomb threats, juvenile sibling assault, and robbery and total property victimization. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The variety and scope of children's exposure to violence, crime, and abuse suggest the need for better and more comprehensive tools in clinical and research settings for identifying these experiences and their effects.
Keywords: Adolescent; Bullying; Caregivers; Child; Child Abuse; Child, Preschool; Crime; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Male; Peer Group; Prevalence; Risk Factors; United States; Violence

Violence, abuse, and crime exposure in a national sample of children and youth. - Finkelhor, David; Turner, Heather; Ormrod, Richard; Hamby, Sherry L (Pediatrics, 2009)
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research was to obtain national estimates of exposure to the full spectrum of the childhood violence, abuse, and crime victimizations relevant to both clinical practice and public-policy approaches to the problem. METHODS: The study was based on a cross-sectional national telephone survey that involved a target sample of 4549 children aged 0 to 17 years. RESULTS: A clear majority (60.6%) of the children and youth in this nationally representative sample had experienced at least 1 direct or witnessed victimization in the previous year. Almost half (46.3%) had experienced a physical assault in the study year, 1 in 4 (24.6%) had experienced a property offense, 1 in 10 (10.2%) had experienced a form of child maltreatment, 6.1% had experienced a sexual victimization, and more than 1 in 4 (25.3%) had been a witness to violence or experienced another form of indirect victimization in the year, including 9.8% who had witnessed an intrafamily assault. One in 10 (10.2%) had experienced a victimization-related injury. More than one third (38.7%) had been exposed to 2 or more direct victimizations, 10.9% had 5 or more, and 2.4% had 10 or more during the study year. CONCLUSIONS: The scope and diversity of child exposure to victimization is not well recognized. Clinicians and researchers need to inquire about a larger spectrum of victimization types to identify multiply victimized children and tailor prevention and interventions to the full range of threats that children face.
Keywords: Adolescent; Child; Child Abuse; Child Abuse, Sexual; Child, Preschool; Crime; Crime Victims; Domestic Violence; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; United States; Violence

Nine country profiles highlight the need for greater attention to early childhood development across Europe - FirstYearsFirstPriority (First Years First Priority, 2021)
Keywords: cross-country analysis; early childhood development; Europe

G Is for Growing: Thirty Years of Research on Children and Sesame Street - Fisch, S.M.; Truglio, R.T. (Taylor & Francis, 2014)

Paving the Way: Contributions of Interactive Conflict Resolution to Peacemaking - Fisher, R.J. (Lexington Books, 2005)

Interactive Conflict Resolution - Fisher, R.J. (Syracuse University Press, 1997)