Publications
All peer reviewed publications are listed below.
Displaying page 18 of 23.
A longitudinal study of New Zealand children's experience with alcohol | 1991
Casswell, S., Stewart, J., Connolly,
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British Journal of Addiction, 1991, 86(86), 277-285.
Our ref: RO165
This paper described a longitudinal study of children's experience with alcohol and some correlates of various levels of children's alcohol consumption. There was a marked increase in consumption with age, particularly between ages 13 and 15. Girls drank slightly less than boys until age 15 when they drank slightly more. Those from lower socio-economic levels drank less to age 13, after which they drank more. There was a tendency with increasing age towards more drinking away from the home.
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Social competence in adolescence: preliminary findings from a longitudinal study of New Zealand 15-year olds | 1991
McGee, R., Williams, S.M.
Psychiatry, 1991, 54(54), 281-291.
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Our ref: RO164
Recently, there has been an increase of research interest in the nature of the relationship between the concept of competence and mental health and disorder. For a large sample of adolescents studied at ages 11 and 15 years, we developed indices of social competence at each age based on measures of social attachment and involvement in activities. There was a significant association between competence and externalizing disorders at both ages. Competence was related to internalizing disorder only at age 11. Preadolescent social competence did not predict later disorder at age 15 in the sample as a whole. However, externalizing disorder at age 15 was predicted by presence of disorder together with low social competence in preadolescence.
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Anxiety and cognitive task performance: A longitudinal perspective | 1991
Henry, B., Moffitt, T.E., Silva,
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Child Study Journal, 1991, 21(21), 167-184.
Our ref: RO163
Assesses the relation between anxiety and cognitive task performance longitudinally across middle childhood in New Zealand. Testing of contrasting predictions; Examining cognitive task performance of four anxiety groups; Comparison of intelligence quotients (IQ) among anxious and comparison subjects.
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Adolescents' self perceptions of their strengths | 1991
Williams, S.M., McGee, R.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 1991, 20(20), 325-337.
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Our ref: RO162
This paper described the results and properties of the Strengths Scale, and some sex differences in various types of strength. Boys tended to see themselves as strong in sport, confidence, popularity, having lots of hobbies and to be attractive. Girls saw themselves as reliable, kind, independent and affectionate. Regression analysis suggested that boys' strengths depended upon parent, peer and school attachment, part-time work and the number of physical activities with which they were involved. Girls' strengths were best predicted by parent attachment and the number of physical activities in which they were involved.
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Comparison of United States and New Zealand children's body mass scores | 1991
Kelly, J.L., Stanton, W.R., Silva,
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Journal of the Royal Society of Health, 1991, 111(111), 51-53.
Our ref: RO161
Heights and weights of a large sample of subjects studied longitudinally from ages 3 and 13 years were used to calculate relative weight, using a Body Mass Index score (BMI) which estimates adiposity. Males and females differed significantly in BMI scores only at ages 3 and 13 years. The correlations between BMI scores at all ages were positive and significant. The subjects were divided at each age into a 'light', an 'average' and a 'heavy' group based on the position of their BMI score relative to the 25th and 75th percentiles. Subjects were 'tracked' from ages 3, 7 and 11 years to determine whether they had remained in the same BMI group by age 13 years relative to their peers. Slightly fewer than half of the 3 year old subjects but the majority of 7 and 11 year old subjects remained in the same relative weight group by age 13 years. Only 1% of 7 and 11 year old subjects in the top and the bottom quartiles for BMI scores shifted from one extreme group to the other. Relative weight at 3, 7 and 11 years was more persistent for subjects with extreme bodyweights than subjects with bodyweights in the middle range. Consistent with the pattern of correlations, the tracking pattern for all 3 groups showed that subjects' BMI scores remained more stable as the subjects grew older.
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Individual differences are accentuated during periods of social change: the sample case of girls at puberty | 1991
Caspi, A., Moffitt, T.E.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1991, 61(61), 157-168.
Our ref: RO160
This study was designed to test several hypotheses related to the effects of different timings of puberty in girls related to behavioural problems. The results showed that behaviour problems were associated with puberty only when this occurred at a very young age. The results clearly supported the hypothesis that stressful transitions tended to accentuate behavioural problems among girls who were predisposed to behaviour problems earlier in childhood.
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Big cities, small towns and adolescent mental health in New Zealand | 1991
McGee, R., Stanton, W.R., Feehan,
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Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 1991, 25(25), 338-342.
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Our ref: RO159
This study examined relationships between measures of mental health and the type of residential locations in which the sample lived. There were no significant differences between groups from differing types of towns or cities, but adolescents who come from larger population centres reported more life event stresses. Those adolescents who experienced more frequent changes of address had more mental health problems.
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A twelve year follow-up of preschool hyperactive children | 1991
McGee, R., Partridge, F., Williams,
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Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1991, 30(30), 224-232.
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Our ref: RO158
Two percent (N = 21) of a large sample of preschool children were identified as pervasively hyperactive. Compared with nonhyperactive preschoolers, these children more often came from families with high levels of adversity, and they showed poorer language skills. Over a 12-year follow-up period, the hyperactive preschoolers continued to show poorer cognitive skills, lower levels of reading ability, disruptive and inattentive behaviors at home and at school, and higher rates of DSM-III disorder in preadolescence and adolescence. By age 15, only one-quarter of this group were identified as having met recovery criteria. The findings point to the long-term adverse consequences of preschool hyperactivity and indicate the need for intervention with this type of disorder.
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Smoking and blood pressure in Dunedin fifteen year olds | 1991
St. George, I.M., Williams, S.M., Stanton,
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BMJ, 1991, 302(302), 89.
Our ref: RO155
When an individual inhales cigarette smoke, heart rate rises and blood pressure increases. These physiologic responses are due to the effects of nicotine. However, many studies have reported lower than average blood pressures in adults who smoke than in nonsmokers. A total of 839 children in Dunedin, New Zealand were evaluated biannually, between the ages of 11 and 15 years, regarding their smoking history, cardiovascular fitness, exercise tolerance, and body size. Blood pressures were obtained at rest; before exercise, while seated on a bicycle; during a standard six-minute bicycling test; immediately after six minutes of cycling; and following five minutes' recovery. The study population consisted of five groups of children who were defined in terms of their smoking history. Data were evaluated when the participants were 15 years old. Among the groups, blood pressure differences during exercise were not significant. However, significant differences in blood pressure readings were observed after recovery and, although these differences were small, they remained significant after adjustment for height, weight, and sex. The results were similar in direction and magnitude to those noted in adult smokers, and are suggestive of a smoking-related effect on blood pressure among even young, occasional smokers. That the differences were not evident four years earlier suggests that they were caused by smoking.
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Indices of perinatal complications, family background, child rearing and health as predictors of early cognitive and motor development | 1991
Stanton, W.R., McGee, R., Silva,
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Pediatrics, 1991, 88(88), 954-959.
Our ref: RO154
An index of adversity is a measure of risk that can be considered independently of individual risk factors. This study examined four areas of adversity in early childhood, namely perinatal complications, family background, child-rearing practices, and the child's physical health, and their relationship to developmental outcomes. Four indices of adversity in these areas were examined as predictors of cognitive ability and motor ability for 476 girls and 510 boys at age 5 years. Results of the study indicated that indices of family background and child-rearing practices were highly related to these developmental outcomes. An index of health problems was found to be significantly related to motor ability. The perinatal complications index was significantly related only to specific cognitive ability scores for boys. Previously, developmental outcomes have been assessed in terms of the magnitude of individual risk factors, but more effective screening procedures may need to take account of the additive effect of the number of relevant adverse risk factors.
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Adolescents' sporting and leisure-time physical activities during their fifteenth year | 1991
Reeder, A.I., Stanton, W.R., Langley,
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Canadian Journal of Sports Science, 1991, 16(16), 308-315..
Our ref: RO153
Participation in physical activity may influence health outcomes, so its quantification is important. There is little data on adolescent physical activities. Recall of physical activity in the preceding year was obtained from a birth cohort of 799 fifteen-year-old adolescents in New Zealand using a modified version of the Minnesota Leisure Time Activities Questionnaire. Mean total participation times were relatively high, with 612 hrs/year (1.68 hrs/day) for males and 401 hrs/year (1.1 hrs/day) for females. Individual total participation ranged from less than a minute to 6.5 hrs/day. Over 10% more females than males reported netball, equestrian activities, and dancing, and at least 10% more males reported cricket, rugby, fishing, soccer, squash, golf, and surfing. Ranked by mean participation time, equestrian activity was highest for females and walking was highest for males. Cycling and swimming represented the largest proportion of total group participation time. The sample will be followed up at age 18 years.
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Handedness and allergic disorders in a Dunedin cohort | 1991
Stanton, W.R., Feehan, M., Silva,
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Cortex, 1991, 27(27), 131-135.
Our ref: RO148
Studies of the proposed association between handedness and allergic disorders have shown results which appear contradictory. In view of differences in the procedures of these studies, further tests of the strength of this association are warranted. Results from this study of a large birth cohort of children showed no support for an association between handedness measured at age 7 years and reports of eczema, urticaria, rhinitis, or asthma in late childhood or early adolescence. There was no significant association found between handedness and reported frequency and duration of symptoms of wheezing, or parental help-seeking for these symptoms. Apparent differences in the results of these studies could possibly be reconciled by the view that preference for use of the left hand may be associated with increased help-seeking behaviour in later life for a range of problems or difficulties. Further tests of the association between handedness and disorder in clinical samples require more rigorous control procedures.
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Hot water temperature in Dunedin homes with pre-school children | 1990
Dickson, N., Martin, M., Waller,
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New Zealand Medical Journal, 1990, 103(103), 452-454.
Our ref: NZ61
This paper described a study of hot water temperatures in Dunedin homes. Temperatures were often found to be too high for safety. Strategies to overcome this problem were suggested.
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Road crash experiences during the fourteenth and fifteenth years of life: An overview | 1990
Begg, D.J., Langley, J.D., Chalmers,
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New Zealand Medical Journal, 1990, 103(103), 174-176.
Our ref: NZ59
This paper describes a study of road crash experiences. From a sample of 848 15 year olds, 113 subjects had experienced 121 road traffic crashes. Details relating to the type of crash by nature of outcome, place of treatment and the number reported to the Ministry of Transport are given. Problems of under-reporting and biases in reporting are discussed.
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Serious unintentional injuries associated with architectural glass | 1990
Johnston, S.E., Langley, J.D., Chalmers,
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New Zealand Medical Journal, 1990, 103(103), 117-119.
Our ref: NZ58
This paper reported on national data relating to serious injuries associated with architectural glass. Outcomes assessed were mortality and morbidity, including hospitalisation. Recommendations for preventing this type of injury were made.
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Medication use in nine year olds: Types of medicines used and recall of advice given | 1990
Sinclair, B.L., Clark, D.W.J., Facoory,
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New Zealand Medical Journal, 1990, 13(13), 263-265.
Our ref: NZ57
Use of medications was investigated in 819 nine year old children living in Dunedin. Twenty-four percent of the cohort (199 children) were given medications during the week prior to interview, mainly on prescription (68%). The majority of medicines used were said to be for respiratory illnesses and oral antibiotics represented a high proportion of prescribed medicines. Most medicines were obtained through a pharmacy (91%), and side effects were noted by nine percent of those taking medications. Some counselling was recalled with 70% of items although, as recalled by the parent, less than 25% of medicines obtained from pharmacies were dispensed or sold with any advice or instruction. The prescriber must ensure that adequate information is provided for the patient. Pharmacists may reinforce this information and provide additional advice on optimum methods of administration. It is debatable whether antibiotics should be used to the extent indicated by this study.
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The stability of high blood pressure in Dunedin children: An eight year longitudinal study | 1990
St. George, I.M., Williams, S.M., Silva,
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New Zealand Medical Journal, 1990, 103(103), 115-117.
Our ref: NZ56
Resting blood pressures were recorded for children in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study at two year intervals five times from age seven to fifteen. Correlations between pairs of readings were modest but significant, and higher for systolic (0.39 to 0.62) than for diastolic blood pressure. However, although children with normal blood pressure were likely to continue to have normal blood pressure, high blood pressures at age seven, nine, eleven and thirteen were not stable--only 28% of those whose systolic blood pressure at age seven was in the highest 5% had two subsequent readings in the highest 5%. On the other hand 56% of those in the highest 20% had two subsequent readings in the highest 20%, and 9% had all subsequent readings in the highest 20%. We do not believe that adult essential hypertensives can be recognised early by annual blood pressure measurement in childhood and the assignation of blood pressure rank according to a set of normal values.
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Weight control practices of fifteen year old New Zealanders | 1990
Worsley, A., Worsley, A.J., McConnon,
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Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 1990, 26(26), 41-45.
Our ref: RO197
More than 800 15 year old members of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development study cohort completed a questionnaire designed to provide descriptive data concerning the weight control behaviours of this sample of New Zealand adolescents. The results showed that approximately 75% of the adolescents were within acceptable body mass index ranges. However 68% of the girls (but only 19% of the boys) wanted to weigh less than their present weight. Generally, girls were more concerned about their body weight than boys: 26% of girls weighed themselves fortnightly or more often, compared with 12% of boys; 45% of girls reported that they were trying to lose weight at present, compared with 9.5% of boys. The main methods of weight reduction included weight reduction diets (21% of girls, 4% of boys in the previous year); exercise such as jogging, walking, swimming and cycling (60% of girls, 34% of boys); and participation in dieting and fitness clubs (35% of girls, 16% of boys). In addition, 20% of girls reported using techniques such as slimming tablets (3%), cigarette smoking (5%) and self-induced vomiting (5%) to control weight. The results show that weight control is a major preoccupation of many girls and some boys. Results are discussed in relation to differential social influences on the sexes, and health consequences.
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Serious unintentional injuries to students at school | 1990
Langley, J.D., Chalmers, D.J., Collins,
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Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 1990, 26(26), 323-328.
Our ref: RO171
Unintentional injuries at school have been identified as a significant public health problem. A major barrier to the development of injury prevention policy has been the absence of national data on the circumstances of injuries to students which occur at school. This study sought to determine the incidence, nature, and circumstances of injuries which resulted in death or hospitalization. Fatalities were identified from national mortality data for 1977-86 inclusive. Coroners' files were then examined to obtain details of the circumstances of injury. Hospitalization cases were identified from the national hospital discharge summary for 1986. Fifteen fatalities were identified. The circumstances of the deaths were diverse with the most frequent event being a fall (n = 4). A total of 1013 first admissions to hospital were identified, giving an overall incidence rate of 152/100 000 students/year. Injury rates declined with increasing age, and males had higher rates than females for all ages. Fractures of the upper and lower limbs and intracranial injury represented more than three-quarters of all injury. The two leading causes of injury, falls, and incidents involving striking against or being struck by a person or object, represented 89% of all incidents. The use of playground equipment and involvement in sporting activity were two of the more common aspects of many injury events. The results suggest that prevention policy should place emphasis on those in their first 2 years of schooling, falls from playground equipment, provision of protective equipment for sporting activities, sporting activities designed to minimize physical contact, establishment of standardized injury referral procedures, first-aid training, and a standardized injury reporting system.
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Acoustic reflectometry for assessment of hearing loss in children with middle ear effusion | 1990
Teele, D.W., Stewart, I.A., Teele,
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Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 1990, 9(9), 870-873.
Our ref: RO166
This paper reports on associations between acoustic reflectometry and hearing loss in ears with and without middle ear effusion in 137 Dunedin children aged 3 to 16 years. Reflectometry was significantly associated with conductive hearing loss. It was recommended that the techniques be further explored and extended to permit rational decisions about management of middle ear problems.
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How early can we tell? Predictors of childhood conduct disorder and adolescent delinquency | 1990
White, J.L., Moffitt, T.E., Earls,
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Criminology, 1990, 28(28), 507-533.
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Our ref: RO157
This study examined the power of a variety of characteristics of the preschool child to predict antisocial behaviour at ages 11 and 15 years. After screening preschool measures for their predictive power, a discriminant function analysis was performed with the five most promising preschool predictors. This function correctly classified 81% of subjects as antisocial at age 11 and 66% as delinquent at age 15. Having preschool behaviour problems was the best predictor of antisocial outcome.
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Parental help seeking for behavioural and emotional problems in childhood and adolescence | 1990
Feehan, M., Stanton, W.R., McGee,
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Community Health Studies, 1990, 14(14), 303-309.
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Our ref: RO156
Previous publications from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit have reported the prevalence of DSM-III disorders through its longitudinal examination of a New Zealand birth cohort. The present study describes the help-seeking practices of each sample member's parents for their child's behavioural or emotional problems exhibited in childhood (ages 5-11) or adolescence (ages 12-15). Increased help-seeking for boys was evident in childhood. However, this sex difference was not present at adolescence. There was a decline in the frequency with which medically oriented agencies were contacted between childhood and adolescence, and teachers were found to be the most frequently used source of assistance in adolescence. Although there was a strong association between help-seeking and mental health disorder, approximately half of those with disorder had parents who had not sought help for their child's problems. In addition, family characteristics of low SES, low family social support and poorer maternal mental health predicted help-seeking. The results are discussed in terms of service provision for these age groups, within the present restructuring of the public health system in New Zealand.
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Blood pressure level, trend, and variability in Dunedin children. An 8-year study of a single birth cohort | 1990
St. George, I.M., Williams, S.M., Silva,
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Circulation, 1990, 82(82), 1675-1680.
Our ref: RO152
In a birth cohort of children in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study in New Zealand, resting blood pressures were recorded biennially five times from age 7 to 15 years. Using previously described methods, we examined the level, trend, and variability of blood pressures in those children with at least three readings. The level, trend, and variability of height, weight, and body mass index were compared among six separate groups of children. Two groups were categorized on the basis of high systolic pressure levels, one with low variability and the other with high variability, which was thought to resemble adult labile hypertension. Two additional groups were categorized on the basis of increasing and decreasing blood pressure trends; the fifth group had consistently low blood pressures, and the sixth group consisted of the remaining children. There were significant differences among the groups for the level of all the physical measurements and for the trend of body mass index. No significant differences were found among the groups for gender or socioeconomic status. A parental history of high blood pressure, stroke, or heart attack was significantly more common in the first two groups.
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Injuries in the 14th and 15th Years of Life | 1990
Lodge, J.F., Langley, J.D., Begg,
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Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 1990, 26(26), 316-322.
Our ref: RO151
From a sample of 849 adolescents studied at age 15, 429 had been involved in 657 separate incidents, which resulted in 705 acute injuries requiring medical attention during their 14th and 15th years of life. The most common injuries were sprains, strains, fractures and lacerations, and the most common body site was the finger. The majority of injuries were of minor severity. Striking against an object or person was the most common incident resulting in injury, followed by being struck by an object or person, and overexertion or strenuous movement. Approximately half of the injuries were incurred during sport or a similar physical activity. Sporting injuries are examined in detail and preventive measures discussed.
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Purposely self-inflicted injuries resulting in death and hospitalisation | 1990
Langley, J.D., Johnston, S.E.
Community Health Studies, 1990, 14(14), 190-199.
Our ref: RO150
This study reported national data on morbidity and mortality relating to self inflicted injuries. Incidence rates for various groups in the population for fatalities and hospitalisations are reported. Personal factors, methods used to inflict injury and place of occurrence are described, together with a discussion of implications for prevention. Limiting the availability and lethality of agents in self inflicted injuries is recommended.
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Epidemiology of playground equipment injuries resulting in hospitalisation | 1990
Chalmers, D.J., Langley, J.D.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 1990, 26(26), 329-334.
Our ref: RO149
This study reported national data relating to discharges from hospitals in 1984 as a result of injuries relating to mainly falls from playground equipment. Incidence rates, ages of children, type of injuries and the implications of the findings are reported.
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DSM-III disorders in a large sample of adolescents | 1990
McGee, R., Feehan, M., Williams,
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Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1990, 29(29), 611-619.
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Our ref: RO147
The prevalence of DSM-III disorders was studied in 943 adolescents aged 15 years from a general population. Prevalence rates of disorder of 25.9% for girls and 18.2% for boys were found. The most prevalent disorders were overanxious disorder, nonaggressive conduct disorder, and simple phobia. Marked differences were noted among the disorders in terms of associated social competence, with multiple disorders and primarily externalizing disorders being related to poorer competence. A model of parental confirmation of disorder was developed suggesting that confirmation was more likely where the mother was depressed, the family low in social support, and the adolescent less socially competent. (Abstracted in the Psychiatry Digest, 1991.)
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Antecedents of academic self concept: a longitudinal study | 1990
Chapman, J.W., Lambourne, R., Silva,
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British Journal of Educational Psychology, 1990, 60(60), 142-159.
Our ref: RO144
The influence of cognitive, achievement, and family background variables on academic self-concept was examined for 435 students participating in a major longitudinal study in New Zealand. Family background variables included mother's marital status at the birth of the child, family socio-economic status at the time the child was born, and family environment when the child was 7 years and 9 years of age. These factors were not significantly related to academic self-concept at ages 9 and 11. In addition, the general emotional status of mothers when their child was 3 years and 5 years old was not significantly related to academic self-concept at ages 9 and 11. Mother's intelligence when the child was 3 years, and mother's expectations for school performance when the child started school at age 5 were not significantly related to academic self-concept. Similarly, cognitive and intellectual functioning at ages 3, 5, 7, and 9 years were not significantly related to academic self-concept at ages 7 and 9 years. Rather, academic self-concept at age 11 appeared to be influenced primarily by reading achievement and academic self-concept at age 9, and academic self-concept at age 9 was influenced primarily by reading achievement at age 7. It was concluded that academic self-concept is mainly a product of school achievement, and that any influence home background factors may have are likely to occur by means of their effect on school achievement.
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Hyperactivity and serum and hair zinc levels in eleven year old children from the general population | 1990
McGee, R., Williams, S.M., Anderson,
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Biological Psychiatry, 1990, 28(28), 165-168.
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Our ref: RO143
This study examined associations between blood and hair zinc levels and inattentiveness, hyperactivity and antisocial behaviour. No significant associations were found.
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Risk factors for behavioural and emotional disorder in pre-adolescent children | 1990
Williams, S.M., Anderson, J., McGee,
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Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1990, 29(29), 413-419.
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Our ref: RO142
The relationship between risk factors and behavioral and emotional disorder was examined in 792 11-year-old children. Background characteristics such as sex, maternal depression, marital status of the parents, and reading problems distinguished between children with and without disorder. It also appeared that disorder was related to the number of risk factors experienced. This study, like others, failed to provide strong support for differences in background characteristics among children with different diagnoses. This may reflect the degree of overlap among disorders, because even children with only a single disorder may not be entirely free of the symptomatology of other disorders. For this reason it is important to assess children for multiple disorders or at least consider impaired functioning in other dimensions.
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Parent reports of disability among 13 year olds with DSM-III disorder | 1990
McGee, R., Stanton, W.R.
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 1990, 31(31), 793-801.
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Our ref: RO141
This study examined physical and psychological dimensions of disability associated with different DSM-III disorders in a large sample of 13-year old adolescents. The measure of disability was based upon the World Health Organization (1980) classification. We found that adolescents with multiple DSM-III disorders and those with attention deficit and anxiety disorders showed the highest levels of parent perceived disablement; depression and conduct disorder showed the least. In addition, adolescents with any kind of DSM-III disorder showed a rate of parent-reported hospitalization twice that of the remainder of the sample. They also had poorer perceived health, as suggested by lower parent and self health ratings than those without disorder.
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Is there an association between lateral preference and delinquent behaviour | 1990
Feehan, M., Stanton, W.R., McGee,
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Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1990, 99(99), 198-201.
Our ref: RO140
Results of recent research suggests an association between left lateral preference and delinquent behavior. In this study the lateral preferences of 881 seven-year-old children were determined using behavioral indicators of hand and foot use. Mixed-handedness was associated with parent-reported problem behavior scores and self-reported delinquency scores at ages 13 and 15. However, preference for left hand and foot use was found to be unrelated to the delinquency measures. The distribution of lateral preferences in an identified delinquent group was not significantly different from the distribution in the sample remainder. The lack of an association between left preference and delinquency may be accounted for by an increased cultural acceptance of individual preference.
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A 6 year follow-up of childhood enuresis: prevalence in adolescence and consequences for mental health | 1990
Feehan, M., McGee, R., Stanton,
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Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 1990, 26(26), 75-79.
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Our ref: RO139
Recent studies have shown an association between enuresis and behavioural or emotional problems. The direction or causality of the association and its duration, however, remain unclear. This study followed a large group of children from ages 11 to 15 years and reported the prevalence of enuresis to age 13 years. The enuretic status of the sample at age 11 years was established relative to the history of enuresis at age 9 years. At age 11 years a significant association was found between enuresis and measures of psychopathology. This association was particularly evident for those children with secondary enuresis, and those who had a history of enuresis but had ceased to wet the bed. Current primary enuresis was not significantly associated with disorder. Similar associations were found between enuresis at age 11 and later disorder at age 13. At age 15 years no significant associations between enuresis and disorder were found. These findings have implications for parents of children with enuresis and for clinicians dealing with the disorder.
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Should family doctors screen asymptomatic children for high blood pressure | 1990
St. George, I.M.
Family Practice, 1990, 7(7), 219-226.
Our ref: RO138
Literature and research evidence relating to the value of screening asymptomatic children for high blood pressure was reviewed. It was concluded that on epidemiological and ethical grounds, screening for hypertension cannot at present be justified.
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Juvenile delinquency and attention deficit disorder: boys' developmental trajectories from age 3 to age 15 | 1990
Moffitt, T.E.
Child Development, 1990, 61(61), 893-910.
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Our ref: RO137
This study described factors related to delinquency and attention deficit disorder over time. Those with both attention deficit disorder and delinquency fared worst in all analyses. Their delinquency tended to begin early and persist to adolescence. Those who were delinquent but did not have attention deficit disorder showed less risk factors. The comorbidity of attention deficit disorder and delinquency was considered to be a likely predictor of criminal offending beyond adolescence.
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The relative value of reading ability and IQ as predictors of teacher reported behaviour problems | 1990
Stanton, W.R., Feehan, M., McGee,
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Journal of Learning Disabilities, 1990, 23(23), 514-518.
Our ref: RO136
Measures of early family adversity, pre-school-age IQ, school-age IQ, and reading ability were obtained from 779 Dunedin children. The data were used to examine the role of reading ability in the relationship between intellectual performance and teacher-reported behavior problems. Results of regression analyses showed that family adversity and pre-school-age IQ predicted problem behavior during the first year at school. However, reading scores accounted for a larger proportion of the variance in the later behavior problem scores than did school-age IQ scores, and when reading ability was entered in the regression equation before IQ, then reading but not IQ significantly predicted change in problem behavior during the primary school years. The results indicated that the association between IQ scores and problem behavior was mediated by reading ability and that a measure of school-age IQ has limited usefulness for models of primary school-age problem behavior.
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The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study: A 15 year longitudinal study | 1990
Silva, P.A.
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 1990, 4(4), 76-107.
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Our ref: RO135
This article describes the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, a longitudinal study of 1037 children studied at birth and followed-up at age 3, with the majority being followed-up every 2 years thereafter, to age 15. The paper includes a description of the setting for the study, the historical background, establishment of the study, the sample, follow-up rates, changes in sample characteristics over time, the procedures, the data gathered at each phase and the investigators responsible. Some of the topics studied over the years are set out in a table of descriptors which includes references to refereed journal articles that include results relating to the topics. Plans for the future are also described. Reflections on some of the reasons why the study has been successful are noted.
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Smoking behaviour in nine year old children: a replication and extension study | 1990
Oei, T.P.S., Fae, A., Silva,
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Journal of Addictive Diseases (fmr Advances in Alcohol and Substance Abuse), 1990, 8(8), 85-96.
Our ref: RO133
This paper reported on children's smoking experience and the attitudes of those who had and had not puffed on a cigarette. Those who had experience of smoking had a more positive attitude towards smoking than those who had never puffed on a cigarette.
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What do New Zealand adolescents know about nutrition | 1990
Worsley, A., Worsley, A.J., McConnon,
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Nutrition and Dietetics, 1990, 47(47), 47-51.
Our ref: RO132
This study assessed adolescents' knowledge about nutrition. It was concluded that the level of general nutrition knowledge was poor.
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Parenting perspectives among adolescents: findings from a study of 846 Dunedin fifteen year olds in 1987-88 | 1989
Calvert, B.
Delta, 1989, 42(42), 53-60.
Our ref: NZ60
This article reported a study of adolescents' self reports about their expectations about being parents, their experience and knowledge of parenting, the information they believed they needed, and their attitudes to parenting issues. Gender differences and some differences relating to socio-economic status, reading ability and family characteristics were noted. The results showed that there is likely to be a continuing move towards greater participation by both parents in nurturing roles. Implications for preparation for parenting for both boys for both boys and girls was discussed. See also NZ63 and MO 22 for the full report.
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