Browsing by Author "Madigan, Sheri L."
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Item Open Access Adverse childhood experiences and HPA axis function in pregnant women(Elsevier, 2018-05-28) Thomas, Jenna C.; Magel, Chantelle; Tomfohr-Madsen, Lianne; Madigan, Sheri L.; Letourneau, Nicole Lyn; Campbell, Tavis S.; Giesbrecht, G. F.; APrON Study TeamItem Open Access The AMBIANCE-brief: An observational assessment tool of disruptive caregiving for use in applied settings with families at high social risk(2019-08-27) Cooke, Jessica Elizabeth; Madigan, Sheri L.; Graham, Susan A.; Noel, Melanie; Benzies, Karen MarieBackground: A community-identified need has emerged for a well-validated indicator of caregiving difficulties for use in practice settings. Thus, a brief form of the Atypical Maternal Behavior Instrument for Assessment and Classification System (AMBIANCE) was developed for use as a screening instrument. Prior to its dissemination in practice settings, further evidence of the feasibility and validity of the AMBIANCE-Brief must be established. Objectives: The current study aims to: assess feasibility of coding disrupted caregiving in real-time; establish the convergent validity of the AMBIANCE-Brief with the full AMBIANCE, as well as its postdictive validity in relation to maternal unresolved states of mind, and its concurrent validity with infant attachment disorganization; examine if the relation between maternal unresolved states of mind and infant attachment disorganization is mediated by maternal disrupted caregiving as assessed by the AMBIANCE-Brief. Method: Adolescent mothers and their infants (N = 69 dyads) participated when infants were 6 and 12 months of age. At 6 months of age, mothers completed the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). Dyads completed the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP), as well as play sessions with toys and without toys when infants were 12 months of age. Maternal disrupted caregiving was coded from the play sessions using the full AMBIANCE and AMBIANCE-Brief. Results: The AMBIANCE-Brief demonstrated strong convergent validity with the full AMBIANCE, postdictive validity with maternal unresolved states of mind, and concurrent validity with infant attachment disorganization in both play sessions. However, maternal disrupted caregiving, as assessed by the AMBIANCE-Brief, did not significantly mediate the association between maternal unresolved states of mind and infant attachment disorganization. Conclusions: The current work represents an initial step in the development of shorter protocols which are more efficient for practitioners to use in practice settings. Future studies are needed to establish evidence of validity and feasibility of the AMBIANCE-Brief in community agencies.Item Open Access Bridging the Gaps in the Study of Typical and Atypical Cognitive Development: A Commentary(Taylor & Francis, 2016-01) Graham, Susan; Madigan, Sheri L.The articles in this special issue of the Journal of Cognition and Development examine the cognitive development of children who are following typical and atypical developmental pathways. The articles offer a mixture of theory-based considerations, reviews of the literature, and new empirical data addressing fundamental aspects of cognitive development. Our commentary considers these articles in light of comparative and dimensional approaches to the study of typicality/atypicality and offers some considerations for researchers building bridges between typical and atypical development.Item Open Access Co-constructing the Past: Examining Mother- and Father-Child Narratives About Past Events Involving Pain versus Sadness(2019-08-26) Pavlova, Maria; Noel, Melanie; Graham, Susan A.; Madigan, Sheri L.; McMorris, Carly A.Background. Parent-child reminiscing about past events creates an influential sociolinguistic context within which children’s development occurs. Parents differ dramatically in their reminiscing styles, whereas some parents are highly elaborative (i.e., they use open-ended detailed questions) and focus on talking about emotions, other parents are repetitive and emphasize factual information. Elaborative reminiscing has been linked to more optimal developmental outcomes. No studies have examined how parent-children reminiscing about past pain compares to other stressful experiences (i.e., sadness, fear), and how parent-children reminiscing about past pain might be linked to children’s socio-emotional skills. This study was the first to examine the association between parent-child reminiscing about past pain and children’s prosocial acts to pain-related distress in others as well as overall children’s socio-emotional functioning. Methods. One hundred and sixteen 4-year old children (54% girls) and their parents (49% mothers) completed a structured narrative elicitation task wherein they reminisced about a unique past event involving pain, fear, and sadness. Children then witnessed a confederate pretending to be in pain (i.e., hurt fingers and a knee). Children’s prosocial responses and parent-child narratives about past pain were coded using established coding schemes based on the developmental psychology literature. Results. Parent-children narratives about pain were characterized by less emotion-laden and more coping and pain-related words as compared to sadness or fearful narratives. Parents, who used open-ended questions, provided new information, and talked about emotions and coping when talking about past events involving pain, had children who exhibited more prosocial acts and concern in response to other’s pain and had higher parent-reported levels of empathy. Discussion. Parent-children reminiscing about past pain differs from reminiscing about other types of distressing events (e.g., involving sadness or fear) and is linked to children’s socio-emotional skills. This highlights a possibility of differential socialization of pain. Parent-child reminiscing is amenable to intervention and offers a promising avenue for pediatric pain management interventions.Item Open Access A Developmental Cascade from Prenatal Stress to Child Internalizing and Externalizing Problems(Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Pediatric Psychology : Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2019-05) Hentges, Rochelle F.; Graham, Susan; Plamondon, André R.; Tough, Suzanne C.; Madigan, Sheri L.This study utilized a developmental cascade approach to test alternative theories about the underlying mechanisms behind the association of maternal prenatal stress and child psychopathology. The fetal programming hypothesis suggests that prenatal stress affects fetal structural and physiological systems responsible for individual differences in child temperament, which further increases risk for internalizing and externalizing problems. Interpersonal models of stress transmission suggest that maternal stress influences child mental health via early parenting behaviors. We also examined a continuation of stress hypothesis, in which prenatal stress predicts child mental health via the continuation of maternal stress in the postpartum period.Item Open Access Examining Adolescent Sexting, Sexual Behaviour, and Mental Health Using Variable-Centered and Person-Centered Analyses(2020-07-21) Mori, Camille Misora; Madigan, Sheri L.; Schwartz, Kelly Dean; Boon, Susan D.; Kopala-Sibley, Daniel C.Introduction: Much of the research on adolescent sexting has been dedicated to understanding associated risks, such as mental health problems, substance use, and risky sexual behaviours. However, the literature has yielded inconsistent findings. Moreover, results have largely been based on variable-centered analytical approaches, which do not capture individual differences in sexting behaviours. Objectives: 1) Consolidate results examining sexting and associated risks via a meta-analysis in order to clarify inconsistent findings; 2) Use a person-centered analysis to assess heterogeneous subgroups of youth that display differential engagement in sexting and sexual behaviours. Methods: The current thesis is presented in two parts. Study 1 used a meta-analysis to synthesize results from 23 studies and 41,723 participants (52.1% female; Mage = 14.9). It examined associations between sexting and variables related to sexual behaviour and mental health. Sex, age, publication date, and study quality were examined as moderators. Study 2 used a latent class analysis with data from a sample of 894 youth (55.8% female; Mage = 17.04), from a longitudinal study based in southeast Texas. Classes were identified through participants’ patterns of responses to sexting and sexual behaviour indicator variables. Sex and ethnicity were analyzed as predictors, and depressive symptoms as an outcome, of class membership. Results: Study 1: The meta-analysis found significant associations between sexting and sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, lack of contraception use, delinquent behaviour, symptoms of anxiety/depression, and substance use. Moderator analyses revealed that associations were stronger among younger adolescents. Study 2: The latent class analysis revealed four distinct classes: No sexting-Low sex (42.2%), Sexting-Low sex (4.5%), No sexting-moderately risky sex (28.3%), and Sexting-Moderately risky sex (24.9%). Females and youth identifying as an ethnic minority were less likely to be in groups characterized by higher rates of sexting. Group membership predicted depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Through the use of both variable-centered (meta-analysis) and person-centred analyses (latent class analysis), the current thesis clarifies results pertaining to sexting and correlated risks, and lends nuance to broad correlational findings through the examination of individual differences. Taken together, results can be used to inform initiatives aimed at educating youth, parents, and teachers about adolescent sexting.Item Open Access Examining the Intergenerational Cascade from Parent Adverse Childhood Experiences to Child Chronic Pain: The Mediating Roles of Parent Chronic Pain and PTSD Symptoms(2020-09-19) Beveridge, Jaimie; Noel, Melanie; Madigan, Sheri L.; Yeates, Keith Owen; Giesbrecht, Gerald F.Introduction: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; exposure to abuse, neglect, household dysfunction as a child) are common and associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes in adolescence and adulthood. Emerging research suggests ACEs can also confer risk for the next generation. Indeed, parent ACEs have been found to relate to children’s general health, development, and psychosocial functioning. Research has yet to examine ACEs among parents of youth with chronic pain. Parent ACEs may play an important role in pediatric chronic pain, given their association with physical (e.g., parent chronic pain) and mental (e.g., parent PTSD) health conditions that are related to the functioning of youth with chronic pain. The current study sought to examine the relation between parent ACEs and child chronic pain as well as the potential mediating roles of parent chronic pain and PTSD symptoms in this relation. Methods: Parent-child dyads were recruited from tertiary-level pediatric chronic pain clinics in Canada. At baseline, parents completed self-report measures of exposure to ACEs, chronic pain status, and current PTSD symptoms. At 3-month follow-up, youth completed self-report measures of pain intensity and pain interference. The final sample included 195 youth with chronic pain (75.9% female, Mage = 14.39 years) and one of their parents (92.3% female, Mage = 44.91 years). Results: Over two-thirds (67.7%) of parents reported one or more ACEs and almost one-quarter (22.1%) reported four or more ACEs. Parent ACEs (total score, maltreatment score, and household dysfunction score) were related to parent chronic pain status but not parent PTSD symptoms. Moreover, parent ACEs were not related to youth pain outcomes either directly or indirectly through parent chronic pain or PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: These findings suggest that ACEs are prevalent among parents of youth seeking treatment for their chronic pain but are not directly related to the youth’s pain or impairment. Further research that examines the role of parent ACEs in the development of child chronic pain as well as other potential mediators of this association is needed to inform interventions that prevent the intergenerational transmission of risk for chronic pain.Item Open Access Exploring Preschooler Mobile Media Use and Relationships with Physical Activity, Executive Functioning, and Sleep(2018-09-21) Warren, Karly Dawn; Schwartz, Kelly Dean; Makarenko, Erica; Madigan, Sheri L.This study investigated the exposure to and use of screen devices in preschool children (3-5-years-old) and whether mobile media use related to executive functions, physical activity, and sleep. A total of 32 mothers from Southern Alberta completed online questionnaires that measured their child’s media exposure, mobile media use, executive function behaviors (e.g. attention, emotional control), physical activity, and sleep habits. Preschooler’s executive functioning was assessed with A Development Neuropsychological Assessment – Second Edition (NEPSY-II). Results indicated that children are meeting screen time recommendations set by the Canadian Pediatric Society (2017), spending an average of 34 minutes a day on any screen device. Television and mobile devices were the most commonly used. Children who used mobile media daily had significantly better ratings of emotional control compared to children who did not use mobile media daily. Sleep did not significantly moderate the relationship between mobile media use and executive functioning or physical activity outcomes. Interpretations of these findings, along with implications, limitations, and future directions are provided.Item Open Access Heterogeneous Trajectories of Delayed Communicative Development From 12 to 36 Months: Predictors and Consequences(Wolters Kluwer Health Inc. : Society for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 2019-06) Hentges, Rochelle F.; Madigan, Sheri L.; Plamondon, André R.; Racine, Nicole M.; Collisson, Beverly Anne; Tough, Suzanne C.; Graham, SusanThe objective of the study was to identify distinct trajectories of delayed communicative development from 12 to 36 months and examine differences in risk factors and developmental outcomes for each trajectory.Item Embargo Injury Setting and Social Support as Moderators of the Effects of Pediatric Concussion on Post-Concussive Symptoms(2020-09-16) Chadwick, Leah; Yeates, Keith Owen; Emery, Carolyn A.; Brooks, Brian L.; Madigan, Sheri L.Concussions are a pressing public health concern. Concussions often result in physical, cognitive, and emotional problems, known as post-concussive symptoms (PCS). Although most children recover from concussions without complication, a subset are hindered by persistent PCS that reduce their quality of life. Previous research tends to differentiate between sport-and-recreation-related and non-sport-related concussions because there may be differences between these settings that affect concussion outcomes. Social support, the perceived or actual support a person receives from their community and social networks, is known to protect against detrimental consequences of health problems. However, little research has examined the effect of social support on PCS after concussion. Social support may foster recovery, particularly for children with sport-related concussions, who are often isolated from their teams during recovery, resulting in feelings of loneliness and isolation. This study aimed to identify the effects of social support on PCS in children after sport-related versus non-sport-related concussion. Participants were children/adolescents aged 8-16 years with either concussion or orthopedic injury who were recruited during Emergency Department visits at five sites across Canada. Injury information was collected in the Emergency Department, social support was measured at 10 days, and PCS were measured at 10 days, 3 months, and 6 months post-injury. Linear multi-level modelling analysis was used to examine injury group (concussion versus orthopedic injury), injury setting (sport-related versus non-sport-related), and social support as predictors of PCS over time. The analyses found that social support predicted lower ratings of cognitive PCS, but regardless of the type of injury. However, injury setting did have a specific moderating effect on recovery from concussion, such that concussions in non-sport-related settings were associated with higher cognitive PCS relative to orthopedic injuries and concussions occurring in sport-related settings. We did not find any significant effects of social support or injury setting on somatic PCS, which suggests that trajectories of somatic and cognitive PCS after concussion may be associated with different risk factors.Item Open Access Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences and Infant DNA Methylation: Examining an Epigenetic Biomarker of Intergenerational Risk(2019-04-22) Sekhon, Bikramjit; Letourneau, Nicole Lyn; Kobor, Michael S.; Giesbrecht, Gerald; Madigan, Sheri L.While “nature" and "nurture" are often viewed as opposing influences on human development, epigenetics is one area of study investigating how these influences work together. Until recently, transmission of intergenerational risk to human development has centred on claims of genetic inheritance, or the persistence of poor social environments such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), across generations. Stress occurring during gestation, that affects both the fetus and mother, has also been proposed as a method of transmitting intergenerational risk to offspring. New evidence in animal models suggests that “preconception stress” may also predict DNA methylation (DNAm; one component of epigenetics) in offspring, potentially impacting developmental health outcomes. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association between human mothers’ preconception stress and differential DNAm patterns in their biological infants. A secondary analysis was conducted, utilizing data obtained from the Fetal Programming (FetalPro) cohort study, a sub-set of participants in the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study. APrON study participants were voluntary, and all pregnant women were over 16-years-old and before 22 weeks of gestation at enrolment. Measures included mothers’ scores on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) questionnaire, mental health during pregnancy including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised, as well as demographics. Epigenetic data were obtained from buccal epithelial cell (BEC) samples collected from mothers’ 3-month-old infants. Cellular DNA were processed with the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 Bead Chip to investigate DNAm. Relationships were investigated using regression modelling with the Limma function in R-package. Results showed a strong relationship between mothers’ total ACE score and differential DNAm patterning in their infants at eight epigenetic sites out of over 450,000 sites investigated. These findings have implications for the study of DNAm patterning as a biomarker for the transfer of preconception stress in humans and suggest a role for epigenetics in the transfer of intergenerational trauma.Item Open Access Maternal mental health and child allostatic load in rural Nicaragua(2018-09-10) Hoehn, Natasha Christine; Wilson, Warren M.; Krentz, Hartmut B.; Madigan, Sheri L.Approximately 25% of individuals worldwide will experience a common mental disorder (CMD) in their lifetime, and previous studies have suggested that poor maternal mental health (MMH) is associated with negative child health and development outcomes. However, these studies use individual markers to represent overall child health status. An allostatic load (AL) index may provide a better understanding of overall health status by pooling together multiple markers of intermediary risk to poor health outcomes. Here, I tested for an association between the following variables in a cross-sectional sample of maternal-child dyads from rural Nicaragua: 1) MMH and individual child health measures. 2) MMH and a child AL index. Multiple regression analyses found no significant relationships between MMH and any of the outcome measures. However, a high prevalence of probable cases of CMDs (30.9%) was documented among mothers, indicating that mental health should be prioritized by local and regional health interventions.Item Open Access Parenting Behavior and Child Language: A Meta-analysis(American Academy of Pediatrics, 2019-01) Madigan, Sheri L.; Prime, Heather; Graham, Susan; Rodrigues, Michelle; Anderson, Nina; Khoury, Jennifer E.; Jenkins, Jennifer M.Early language development supports cognitive, academic, and behavioral success. Identifying modifiable predictors of child language may inform policies and practices aiming to promote language development.Item Embargo Preschoolers’ Attention to Social Allegiances When Identifying Social Category Membership(2019-02-04) Switzer, Jessica L.; Graham, Susan A.; Curtin, Suzanne; Madigan, Sheri L.One way that children organize social categories is through an understanding that social categories mark individuals who are socially obligated to one another (Rhodes, 2012a). In this dissertation, I investigated: (1) whether 4- and 5-year-old children infer the social category membership of an individual based on observed relational interactions; (2) whether children use these social categories to guide inductive inferences about related category properties; and (3) whether children require rich linguistic cues to establish meaningful categories from which to make categorical inferences. In Chapter 2, I investigated children’s ability to categorize an individual on the basis of helpful and harmful behaviour directed from a novel social category member to an ambiguous individual whose category membership was not identified. I then asked whether children would generalize a category property to the newly identified member of the category. In Experiment 1, children identified the ambiguous character as belonging to the same category as the individual who helped them, but as belonging to a different social category as the individual who harmed them. Children did not extend the category property to the new member of the category. In Experiment 2, when the category properties were framed as mutually exclusive social conventions, children extended the property to newly identified members of the category. In Experiment 3, I sought to elucidate whether preschoolers require rich linguistic input to form meaningful social categories from which to make categorical inferences. Categories were described without category labels and marked only by spatial segregation and shared properties. Here, children did not identify social category membership on the basis or helpful or harmful behaviour, nor did they generalize category properties. In Chapter 3, I examined whether children infer social category membership on the basis of observed social interactions when categories were labeled with a familiar count-noun. Here, children categorized an ambiguous individual based on harmful, but not helpful, behaviour. The results highlight: (1) children’s ability to infer social category membership on the basis of social interactions; and (2) that children require category information made available via robust linguistic cues to prompt them to attend to social interactions.