Associations of behavioral, motivational, and socioeconomic factors with BMI among children and adolescents.

Background: Higher weight represents a significant health concern in youth and may be influenced by socioeconomic and behavioral factors. We investigated the relationship between BMI and parental education, nutritional health, eating culture, organized and non-organized physical activity (PA), motives for PA (weight loss/maintenance, enjoyment), and screen-time in children and adolescents.

Methods: 677 2- to 11-year-olds (young-age-group) and 464 12- to 20-year-olds (old-age-group) from Leipzig, a city in Germany, participated.

Are the Results of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Third Edition) Predictive for Later Motor Skills and School Performance?

Background/objectives: The first year of life represents a critical developmental stage in which the foundations for motor, cognitive, language, and social-emotional development are set. During this time, development occurs rapidly, making early detection of developmental disorders essential for timely intervention. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (Bayley-III) is an effective tool for assessing language, motor, and cognitive development in children aged 1 to 42 months.

Parent-child interaction frequency: associations with age, sibling presence, and child health.

Objectives: Parent-child interaction plays a crucial role in child development. This study investigated associations between the frequency of parent-child-interactions and sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, socio-economic status, family structure, number and age of siblings), physical and psychological symptoms in children, and mental health of parents.

Methods: The frequencies of 11 different parent-child interactions (shared reading, singing, moving, painting, building, puzzle, playing ball, role games, language games, number games and talking about problems) were assessed in 739 children aged 2-6.

Associations between media use at bedtime and sleep: a cross-sectional analysis on differences between girls and boys.

Objectives: This study investigated associations between the use of electronic media and sleep in children and young adolescents, with a specific focus on the moderation of associations by sex and age.

Methods: Between 2021 and 2022, 453 10- to 14-year-old children participating in the LIFE Child cohort study (Germany) reported on their use of electronic media (daily screen time, use at bedtime, device ownership) and on their sleep difficulties (Sleep Self Report). Associations between media use and sleep as well as interactions with age and sex were assessed using linear regression analyses.

Modifiable factors influencing attention performance in healthy children: insights from a comprehensive school nutrition study.

Background: There is inconclusive evidence for the effects of various leisure activities on attention performance in children. The literature reports inconsistent associations between activities such as physical activities or media use. To date, no study has thoroughly examined the various factors influencing attentional performance in a larger cohort of healthy children.

Associations between gestational weight gain and weight development of the offspring: Differences depending on maternal pre-pregnancy BMI.

Purpose: Obesity rates are rising, and the gestational weight gain (GWG) of most women does not comply with current guidelines. This study assesses the association of pre-pregnancy BMI (ppBMI) and GWG with the child's weight development and investigates whether associations with GWG differ depending on ppBMI.

Methods: Data were obtained from the cohort study LIFE Child (Germany), comprising 691 mother-child pairs.

Parent-perceived recurrent pain in children: associations with maternal pain, depressiveness, socioeconomic status, and children's behavioural difficulties.

Objectives: The current study aimed to examine the potential transgenerational associations between maternal pain and depressiveness and childhood pain, and to explore the associations between the children's difficulties and recurrent pain (defined as pain occurring at least once a month in the previous 6 month) in healthy children aged 3-13 years.

Methods: We collected Data between 2015 and 2019 as part of the LIFE Child study in Germany and investigated associations of maternal pain and depressiveness, child age, sex, pubertal stage, emotional difficulties, conduct difficulties, hyperactivity/inattention, peer group difficulties, and prosocial skills, and family socioeconomic status with the frequency of parent-perceived headache, backache, and stomachache in a sample of 1,850 children (4,819 documented visits) using logistic and ordinal regression analyses.

Results: Overall, 10.

Associations between sleep problems and emotional/behavioural difficulties in healthy children and adolescents.

Objective: This study aimed to (1) characterise sleep disturbances and emotional/behavioural difficulties among healthy German children and adolescents aged 3 to 13 years, (2) examine the association between parent-reported sleep problems and emotional/behavioural difficulties, (3) point out possible relations between specific kinds of sleep disturbances and different behavioural difficulties.

Methods: Data were collected between 2011 and 2015 within the LIFE Child study in Germany. The sample included 1101 3- to 13-year-old children and adolescents.

Family structure, socioeconomic status, and mental health in childhood.

The changing landscape of family structures over the last decades has led to a growing need to investigate its impact on children's well-being. This study examined differences in mental health among children from different family compositions and how these differences may be affected by familial socioeconomic status (SES). Data were collected within the LIFE Child study.

Body image and behavioural and emotional difficulties in German children and adolescents.

Background: Behavioural and emotional difficulties might play an important role in the development of body image disturbances, which represent serious risk factors for eating disorders or depression. The present study provides a detailed overview on body image disturbances and several behavioural and emotional difficulties (differences between gender, age, and weight status) and their inter-relations in German children and adolescents.

Methods: Data on body image disturbances, assessed through a Figure Rating Scale, and on behavioural and emotional difficulties, assessed through Goodman's Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), were available for 5255 observations of 1982 German children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years from the LIFE Child study, based in Leipzig, Germany.

Epigenome-Wide Meta-analysis Reveals Associations Between Dietary Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load and DNA Methylation in Children and Adolescents of Different Body Sizes.

Objective: Dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) are associated with cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents, with potential distinct effects in people with increased BMI. DNA methylation (DNAm) may mediate these effects. Thus, we conducted meta-analyses of epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) between dietary GI and GL and blood DNAm of children and adolescents.

Children's satisfaction with a comprehensive study program-Results from the LIFE Child cohort study.

Background: Research participants' satisfaction is a topic of great interest, especially in the context of longitudinal studies. Evaluation also represents an important component of quality management in the health care system. Adult studies found that personal characteristics, e.

Early child development and its determinants: Findings from a large cohort of healthy children growing up in a low-risk environment.

Background: Despite numerous studies on early child development, there is still much to be discovered about the significance of possible risk factors. This study examines cognitive, motor, and language development of healthy children growing up in a low-risk environment and how various individual and environmental factors are associated with it. The study also considers whether the importance of particular parameters changes depending on child age.

Media regulation strategies in parents of 4- to 16-year-old children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Since children can only control and limit their own media use to a limited extent, it is often the parents who regulate their children's media use. However, there is insufficient research on which strategies they use and on how these strategies are related to socio-demographic and behavioral parameters.

Methods: The parental media regulation strategies co-use, active mediation, restrictive mediation, monitoring, and technical mediation were assessed in a sample of 563 four- to 16-year-old children and adolescents from middle to high social strata participating in the German cohort study LIFE Child.

Associations between Stressful Life Events and Increased Physical and Psychological Health Risks in Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study.

Stressful life events (SLEs) are understood as risk factors for mental and physical health problems, particularly in the vulnerable period of adolescence. Using a longitudinal approach, this study investigated associations between SLE and several negative health outcomes in adolescents. Moderating effects of sociodemographic factors were considered.

Mental health in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity.

Background: Overweight and obesity represent huge concerns for children's physical and mental well-being. This study examined the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), somatoform complaints, and behavioral problems in children and adolescents. Additionally, the influence of sex, age, and socioeconomic status (SES) on these associations was considered.

The relationship between myopia and near work, time outdoors and socioeconomic status in children and adolescents.

Background: To investigate environmental and social risk factors for myopia in children and adolescents in Germany.

Methods: 1437 children aged between 3 and 18 inclusive were examined as part of the LIFE Child study based in Leipzig, Germany. Information about leisure time activities and social status was ascertained by parents and children in a questionnaire.

Associations between sociodemographic and behavioural parameters and child development depending on age and sex: a cross-sectional analysis.

Objectives: To explore environmental and individual factors that are associated with child development and to investigate whether the strength of these associations differs according to the age of the children.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: This study was part of the LIFE Child study, a large cohort study conducted in Leipzig, Germany.

Having siblings promotes a more healthy weight status-Whereas only children are at greater risk for higher BMI in later childhood.

Background: Birth order and having at least one sibling are known to be associated with an increased risk for development of overweight. However, there are no studies assessing pre- and postnatal factors for developing overweight within families. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyse the association of the mother's weight gain during pregnancy, prepregnancy BMI, mother's age at birth, breastfeeding, age gap between siblings, and physical activity together with sibling-related characteristics on the development of overweight in children and adolescents.

Wellbeing, coping with homeschooling, and leisure behavior at different COVID-19-related lockdowns: A longitudinal study in 9- to 16-year-old German children.

Background: School closures are an effective measure against the spread of Covid-19. However, they pose a major challenge to children, especially to those from socially disadvantaged families. The present study compared the wellbeing, coping with homeschooling, and leisure behavior of children and adolescents at two different periods of school closures in Germany.

Association between hair cortisol concentration and behavioral difficulties in children and adolescents.

This study aimed to assess associations between behavioral difficulties and an objectively measurable indicator for long-term stress (hair cortisol) in children and adolescents. We expected increased hair cortisol levels in participants with more externalizing (conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention) or internalizing (peer relationship problems, emotional problems) behavioral difficulties. Behavioral difficulties were assessed using the parent version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

Associations between problematic smartphone use and behavioural difficulties, quality of life, and school performance among children and adolescents.

Background: European studies on determinants and factors associated with problematic smartphone use (PSU) in children and adolescents are still sparse. This study reports the current amount of PSU symptoms and the presence of (clinically relevant) PSU in German children and adolescents. We also investigated associations between socio-demographic factors, different smartphone usage patterns, and daily smartphone usage time and the amount of PSU symptoms in this group.

Association of Oral Health Conditions in Adolescents with Social Factors and Obesity.

This study aimed to investigate associations between psychosocial factors, obesity, and oral health in a study population of 10- to 18-year-old adolescents who participated in the LIFE Child study. Psychosocial information (socioeconomic status (SES) based on parents’ education, occupation and household income, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), health-related quality of life) and physical activity behavior were obtained. Nutritional status was classified based on age- and sex-adjusted body mass index into underweight, overweight, normal weight and obese.