Small for gestational age and age at menarche in a contemporary population-based U.S. sample.

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) may be at risk for earlier puberty and adverse long-term health sequelae. This study investigates associations between SGA and age at menarche using secondary data on 1,027 female children in a population-based U.S.

Paternal depression in the postpartum year and children's behaviors at age 5 in an urban U.S. birth cohort.

Objective: To investigate associations between postpartum depression in fathers and children's behaviors at age 5 in a national high-risk U.S. sample.

Chronic health conditions and adolescents' social connectedness.

This study investigated associations between chronic developmental/behavioral and physical health conditions and social connectedness of adolescents using rich population-based data from a national U.S. birth cohort study.

Small-for-Gestational-Age and Vocabulary and Achievement Test Scores at Age 9 Among Children Born at Term in a Contemporary U.S. Sample.

Introduction: Children that are small-for-gestational-age (SGA) at birth are at an increased risk for cognitive impairment, even if born at term (37-41 weeks). This study examined associations between sex-specific SGA and vocabulary and achievement tests in 9 year old children born at term using a contemporary population-based US sample.

Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted on a sample of 2144 children born at term in 1998-2000 who participated in a US birth cohort study that oversampled non-marital births, which in the U.

Gestational Age at Term and Teacher-Reported Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptom Patterns.

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate associations between gestational age and teacher-reported attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related symptom patterns at age 9 years among children born at term (37-41 weeks).

Study Design: A secondary data analysis of approximately 1400 children in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study, a US birth cohort study that oversampled nonmarital births, was conducted. At age 9 years, students were evaluated by their teachers using the Conners Teacher Rating Scale-Revised Short Form that included subscales for symptoms of hyperactivity, ADHD, oppositional behavior, and cognitive problems/inattention.

Gestational Age at Term and Educational Outcomes at Age Nine.

Objectives: To estimate associations between gestational age (GA) and teacher-reported academic outcomes at age 9 years among children born at term (37-41 weeks).

Methods: A secondary data analysis of 1405 children participating in a national US birth cohort study was conducted. At age 9 years, students were evaluated by their teachers in the areas of mathematics, science and social studies, and language and literacy.

Adolescent Chronic Health Conditions and School Disconnectedness.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine associations between chronic health conditions and school disconnectedness, trouble getting along with others at school, and peer victimization at age 15.

Method: We conducted a secondary analysis of population-based data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing birth cohort to investigate associations between chronic developmental/behavioral and physical health conditions and school disconnectedness, trouble getting along with others at school, and peer victimization of adolescents using mother-reported child health conditions and youth-reported relationships/experiences at school ascertained from standardized scales. Associations were examined using linear and logistic regression models adjusting for confounding factors.

School and Community Involvement of Adolescents With Chronic Health Conditions.

Purpose: To investigate associations between chronic health conditions and participation in school and community activities at age 15 years.

Methods: Secondary analysis of data from an urban U.S.

Infant Health and Future Childhood Adversity.

Objective To investigate the extent to which disabling infant health conditions are associated with adverse childhood experiences at age 5. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a national urban birth cohort. We estimated logistic regression models of associations between the presence of a disabling infant health condition and the child's ACE exposures at age 5, controlling for factors that preceded the child's birth, including the mother's sociodemographic characteristics, physical health, mental illness, and substance abuse and the parents' criminal justice system involvement and domestic violence or sexual abuse.

Housing Instability and Children's Health Insurance Gaps.

Objective: To assess the extent to which housing instability is associated with gaps in health insurance coverage of preschool-age children.

Methods: Secondary analysis of data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort, a nationally representative study of children born in the United States in 2001, was conducted to investigate associations between unstable housing-homelessness, multiple moves, or living with others and not paying rent-and children's subsequent health insurance gaps. Logistic regression was used to adjust for potentially confounding factors.

Effects of maternal depression on family food insecurity.

We use data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort to estimate the effects of maternal depression, a condition that is fairly common and can be severe, on food insecurity, a hardship that has increased substantially in the U.S. Using various model specifications, we find convincing evidence that severe maternal depression increases the likelihood that young children experience food insecurity by 23-79%, with estimates depending on model specification and measures of depression and food insecurity.

Maternal depression as a risk factor for children's inadequate housing conditions.

Depression among mothers with young children is an important public health issue that not only has implications for their own well-being, but can also potentially affect their children's health and developmental trajectories. This study explored the extent to which maternal depression is a risk factor for inadequate housing conditions related to utilities, a noteworthy risk factor for poor child health. Using data on 2965 mothers and children from a national urban cohort of U.

Lifecycle effects of a recession on health behaviors: Boom, bust, and recovery in Iceland.

This study uses individual-level longitudinal data from Iceland, a country that experienced a severe economic crisis in 2008 and substantial recovery by 2012, to investigate the extent to which the effects of a recession on health behaviors are lingering or short-lived and to explore trajectories in health behaviors from pre-crisis boom, to crisis, to recovery. Health-compromising behaviors (smoking, heavy drinking, sugared soft drinks, sweets, fast food, and tanning) declined during the crisis, and all but sweets continued to decline during the recovery. Health-promoting behaviors (consumption of fruit, fish oil, and vitamins/minerals and getting recommended sleep) followed more idiosyncratic paths.

Effects of infant health on family food insecurity: evidence from two U.S. birth cohort studies.

Extremely little is known about the effects of health on food insecurity despite strong associations between the two and a theoretical basis for this avenue of inquiry. This study uses data from two national birth cohort studies in the U.S.

Maternal depression as a risk factor for family homelessness.

Objectives: We estimated the effects of maternal depression during the postpartum year, which is often an unexpected event, on subsequent homelessness and risk of homelessness in a national sample of urban, mostly low-income mothers.

Methods: We used logistic regression models to estimate associations between maternal depression during the postpartum year and both homelessness and risk of homelessness 2 to 3 years later, controlling for maternal and family history of depression, prenatal housing problems, and other covariates. Risk factors for homelessness included experiencing evictions or frequent moves and moving in with family or friends and not paying rent.

A randomized pilot study of aortic waveform guided therapy in chronic heart failure.

Background: Medication treatment decisions in heart failure (HF) are currently informed by measurements of brachial artery pressure, but ventricular afterload is more accurately represented by central aortic pressure, which differs from brachial pressure. We sought to determine whether aggressive titration of vasoactive medicines beyond goal-directed heart failure medical therapy (GDMT) based upon aortic pressure improves exercise capacity and cardiovascular structure-function.

Methods And Results: Subjects with chronic HF (n=50) underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing, echocardiography, and arterial tonometry to measure aortic pressure and augmentation index, and were then randomized to aortic pressure-guided treatment (active, n=23) or conventional therapy (control, n=27).

Life shocks and homelessness.

We exploited an exogenous health shock-namely, the birth of a child with a severe health condition-to investigate the effect of a life shock on homelessness in large cities in the United States as well as the interactive effects of the shock with housing market characteristics. We considered a traditional measure of homelessness, two measures of housing instability thought to be precursors to homelessness, and a combined measure that approximates the broadened conceptualization of homelessness under the 2009 Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (2010). We found that the shock substantially increases the likelihood of family homelessness, particularly in cities with high housing costs.

Was the economic crisis of 2008 good for Icelanders? Impact on health behaviors.

This study uses the 2008 economic crisis in Iceland to identify the effects of a macroeconomic downturn on a range of health behaviors. We use longitudinal survey data that include pre- and post-reports from the same individuals on a range of health-compromising and health-promoting behaviors. We find that the crisis led to large and significant reductions in health-compromising behaviors (such as smoking, drinking alcohol or soft drinks, and eating sweets) and certain health-promoting behaviors (consumption of fruits and vegetables), but to increases in other health-promoting behaviors (consumption of fish oil and recommended sleep).

Effects of prenatal care on child health at age 5.

The broad goal of contemporary prenatal care is to promote the health of the mother, child, and family through the pregnancy, delivery, and the child's development. Although the vast majority of mothers giving birth in developed countries receive prenatal care, past research has not found compelling evidence that early or adequate prenatal care has favorable effects on birth outcomes. It is possible that prenatal care confers health benefits to the child that do not become apparent until after the perinatal period.

Life shocks and crime: a test of the "turning point" hypothesis.

Other researchers have posited that important events in men's lives-such as employment, marriage, and parenthood-strengthen their social ties and lead them to refrain from crime. A challenge in empirically testing this hypothesis has been the issue of self-selection into life transitions. This study contributes to this literature by estimating the effects of an exogenous life shock on crime.

Effects of child health on housing in the urban U.S.

This study exploits an exogenous health shock-the birth of a child with a severe health condition that is considered by the medical community to be random-to investigate the effect of that shock on the family's housing situation. We use population-based data from an urban birth cohort study in the U.S.

Effects of prenatal care on maternal postpartum behaviors.

Most research on the effectiveness of prenatal care has focused on birth outcomes and has found small or no effects. It is possible, however, that prenatal care is "too little too late" to improve pregnancy outcomes in the aggregate, but that it increases the use of pediatric health care or improves maternal health-related parenting practices and, ultimately, child health. We use data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing birth cohort study that have been augmented with hospital medical record data to estimate effects of prenatal care timing on pediatric health care utilization and health-related parenting behaviors during the first year of the child's life.

Effects of child health on parents' social capital.

This paper adds to the literature on social capital and health by testing whether an exogenous shock in the health of a family member (a new baby) affects the family's investment in social capital. It also contributes to a small but growing literature on the effects of children's health on family resources and provides information about associations between health and social capital in a socioeconomically disadvantaged population. We use data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study, a longitudinal survey of about 5000 births to mostly unwed parents in 20 U.

Low-income fathers' access to health insurance.

We examine the prevalence and correlates of health insurance status among low-income fathers, a group not previously studied in this context. In a sample of 1,653 low-income fathers from a national urban birth cohort study, 29% had private, 14% had public, and 58% had no insurance. Privately insured fathers had greater levels of human capital than did publicly insured fathers; the latter more closely resembled uninsured fathers than they did privately insured fathers.

Mental illness as a risk factor for uninsurance among mothers of infants.

The objective of this study was to assess the extent to which maternal prenatal mental illness is associated with mothers' health insurance status 12-18 months after giving birth. The sample consisted of 2,956 urban, mostly unwed, mothers who gave birth in 20 large U.S.