Search Results

DESIGN/METHODS: We used the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY), identifying children 5-14 years of NLSY mothers in 1988 and 1994. We initially determined presence of obesity (body mass index (BMI)>85th percentile) and asthma in the child in 1988 and 1994, as well as dichotomized age (5-9 vs. 10-14 years) and maternal BMI (>85% or not). Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between obesity and asthma over time, controlling for the child's age, gender, race/ethnicity, and maternal BMI and chronic health status.

RESULTS: In 1988, the presence of obesity was not associated with the presence of asthma (p=0.37). In 1994, the presence of obesity was significantly positively associated with the presence of asthma (odds ratio [OR] 1.88; 95% CI 1.29, 2.72; p<0.001). While this relationship in 1994 was found in both age groups and genders, it was more pronounced among children in the older age group (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.16, 2.38; p<0.01) and less pronounced in females (OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.38, 0.80; p<0.01). Race/ethnicity was not significantly related to the presence of asthma.

CONCLUSIONS: While recent studies suggest that obesity and asthma are positively related, this study implies that this relationship is relatively new. This suggests the possibility of an evolving environmental or biological risk factor common to both obesity and asthma.

DESIGN/METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, Child Sample. Participants were 5571 children 0-15 years of age whose mothers were followed in the NLSY study cohort from 1992 to 1998. The outcome was unintentional injury that required medical care. Family "life events" in the data set include maternal illness, unemployment, marital status change, new onset drug use, and sibling birth or sibling injury. Incidence rates were calculated for children with and without exposure to a family life event in the preceding 180 days. Results were adjusted for age, gender, race, income, and medical insurance status.

RESULTS: Over 22,842 child-years, there were 1846 reported injury events (81/1000 child-years). Children exposed to a recent life event were no more likely to be injured than were those without the exposure (RR = 1.10 [95% CI: 0.97, 1.28]). When only recent sibling injuries or maternal illnesses were considered, those exposed were more likely to report injury (RR = 2.41 [95% CI: 1.99, 2.93). Injury risk increased with increasing number of recent sibling injuries or maternal illnesses.

CONCLUSIONS: In this national sample, child injury risk was not associated with exposure to a recent family life event. However, injury risk increased if there was a recent sibling injury or maternal illness. This specific association between recent maternal or sibling health care events and injury risk does not appear to be mediated by family stress as measured by a count of recent life events. Other, unmeasured, aspects of family function or family stress may warrant study.

DESIGN/METHODS: Data from 884 EA, 538 AA and 404 L families with a child 6-9 y enrolled in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). Outcome variable: internalizing and externalizing child behavior problems (Behavior Problems Index). Predictor variables: 1) chronic poverty (> 50% of child's life), 2) maternal depression (CESD), 3) parenting/home environment (HOME-SF), 4) social capital/neighborhood characteristics. A structural equation model (SEM) was developed to define the hypothesized direct and indirect effects of predictor variables on child behavior problems. Multiple group SEM compared effects of predictor variables in the 3 racial/ethnic groups

RESULTS: Effects of chronic poverty on behavior problems were fully mediated through parenting, maternal depression and neighborhood in EA and AA, and through parenting and mat. depression in L families. Maternal depression had direct effects on behavior problems in AA families, and partially mediated effects through parenting in EA and L. Neighborhood/social capital had direct and indirect effects (through parenting) on behavior problems in EA and AA, but had no significantly effect in the L group.

CONCLUSIONS: The processes and mechanisms through which maternal depression, chronic poverty, neighborhood, and parenting influence child behavioral problems differ in different racial/ethnic groups. Culturally normative beliefs and practices, as well as social/structural issues may explain some of these findings. Approaches to intervention need to take into account these differences.