Nivel Socioeconómico y conductas externalizadas en preescolares: el rol del mediador parental / Socioeconomical level and behavior in school-age children: the mediating role of parents

Un determinante de particular relevancia en el desarrollo humano es el nivel socioeconómico y, en específico, el nivel socioeconómico (NSE) bajo y la pobreza. El entorno familiar es asimismo fundamental en el desarrollo de niños y niñas, y un potencial mediador o moderador del efecto de condiciones sociales más amplias. Objetivo: Analizar el rol del estrés parental como variable mediadora de la relación del NSE con conductas externalizadas e internalizadas en niños y niñas preescolares. Sujetos y Método: Estudio descriptivo de base secundaria basado en la Encuesta Longitudinal de Primera Infancia Chilena que seleccionó una muestra estratificada, representativa por clusters, de 9.996 niños y niñas de 3 a 5 años y sus cuidadoras(es), los(as) que completaron una batería de instrumentos para la medida de las variables de NSE, estrés parental y conductas externalizadas e internalizadas. El análisis utilizó un modelo lineal con estimación por mínimos cuadrados. Como prueba de hipótesis, se usó la Dm, una adaptación de la prueba F para imputación múltiple. Resultados: El modelo de mediación del estrés parental en la relación entre NSE y conductas externalizadas e internalizadas se corroboró para las segundas; respecto de las conductas externalizadas se observó un modelo de moderación, siendo menor la influencia del estrés en el NSE bajo. Conclusiones: El estrés parental mostró una clara relación con la presencia de conductas externalizadas e internalizadas, más fuerte que el NSE; la relación entre NSE y estrés parental resulta de importancia para comprender los procesos que afectan el desarrollo de niños y niñas.

A determinant of particular relevance in human development is the socioeconomic status (SES) and, specifically, low SES and poverty. Likewise, family environment is essential in the development of children and a potential mediator or moderator of the effect of broader social conditions. Objective: To analyze the role of parenting stress as a mediating variable of the relationship between SES and both externalized and internalized behaviors in preschool children. Subjects and Method: Descriptive secondary base study based on the Longitudinal Survey of Chilean First Infancy that selected a stratified sample, representative by clusters, of 9.996 children from 3 to 5 years old and their caregivers, that completed a battery of instruments for measuring SES variables, parenting stress and externalized and internalized behaviors. The analysis used a linear model with least square estimate. As hypothesis testing, the Dm (an adaptation of the F-test for multiple imputation method) was used. Results: The mediation model of parenting stress in the relationship between SES and both externalized and internalized behaviors was confirmed for the latter; regarding externalized behaviors a model of moderation was observed, being the stress influence lower on the low SES. Conclusions: Parental stress showed a clear relationship with the presence of externalized and internalized behaviors, stronger than the SES. The relationship between SES and parenting stress is very important to understand the processes that affect children’s development.

Occupational Diseases in Korea

Korea has industrialized since the 1970s. Pneumoconiosis in coal miners was the most common occupational disease in the 1970s to 1980s. With the industrialization, the use of many chemicals have increased since the 1970s. As a consequence, there were outbreaks of occupational diseases caused by poisonous chemicals, such as heavy metal poisoning, solvent poisoning and occupational asthma in the late 1980s and early 1990s with civil movement for democracy. Many actions have been taken for prevention by the government, employers and employees or unions. In the 1990s most chemical related diseases and pneumoconiosis have rapidly decreased due to improving work environment. In the late 1990s, cerebro-cardiovascular diseases related to job stress or work overloads have abruptly increased especially after the economic crisis in 1998. After the year 2000, musculoskeletal disorders became a major problem especially in assembly lines in the manufacturing industry and they were expanded to the service industry. Mental diseases related to job stress have increased. Infectious diseases increased in health care workers and afforestation workers. Occupational cancers are increasing because of their long latency, although the use of carcinogenic substances are reduced, limited, and even banned.

The socio-economic impact of noise: a method for assessing noise annoyance.

Norwegian authorities have developed and adopted a method for assessing the magnitude of noise impact on a community in quantitative terms. The method takes into account all levels of noise annoyance experienced by all the residents in an area and transforms these data into a single quantity that can also be expressed in monetary terms. This method is contrary to other commonly used assessment methods where only a certain fraction of the impacted people, e.g. those "highly annoyed," is considered.