Insights from user experience and evaluation of a mobile health nutrition intervention for children with autism: A qualitative study.

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience high rates of atypical eating behaviours, such as food neophobia. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have been found to improve communication, behaviour and social skills for children with ASD. However, there is limited evidence examining mHealth nutrition interventions among children with ASD.

Machine learning approach to investigate pregnancy and childbirth risk factors of sleep problems in early adolescence: Evidence from two cohort studies.

Background: This study aimed to predict early adolescent sleep problems using pregnancy and childbirth risk factors through machine learning algorithms, and to evaluate model performance internally and externally.

Methods: Data from the China Jintan Child Cohort study (CJCC; n=848) for model development and the US Healthy Brain and Behavior Study (HBBS; n=454) for external validation were employed. Maternal pregnancy histories, obstetric data, and adolescent sleep problems were collected.

A Comparison of Family Management Between Families of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Families of Children With Down Syndrome.

Introduction: This cross-sectional study aimed to (1) compare family management between families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or Down syndrome and (2) evaluate the contribution of the child (ASD behaviors, feeding difficulties, sleep disturbances), caregiver (mental health) and family (social support) factors to the caregiver's perceived condition management ability and effort.

Method: Eighty-five caregivers (56 ASD, 29 Down syndrome) completed quantitative instruments online. Data analysis included independent samples t-tests and multiple linear regression.

Longitudinal association of early childhood lead exposure and adolescent heart rate variability: influence of parental education.

Lead exposure has been shown to dysregulate physiological stress responses. However, few studies have investigated the effect of lead exposure on later heart rate variability (HRV), an indicator of a stress response, in large samples of children. Furthermore, the interaction between social environmental factors and lead exposure in childhood, which commonly co-occur, remains understudied.