Association of prenatal attachment and early childhood emotional, behavioral, and developmental characteristics: A longitudinal study.

This study examines the associations between prenatal attachment and child development, socioemotional behavioral problems, and competence at early childhood. It also inquires whether maternal depression and anxiety at the prenatal period and at early childhood are associated with child outcomes. The study consisted of 83 mothers and their children. Data regarding the prenatal attachment, depression, and anxiety were collected during Weeks 28 to 40 of gestation. When the children were 21 to 31 months old, the Brief Infant and Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (BITSEA) and the Ankara Developmental Screening Inventory (ADSI) were applied to children along with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) administered to mothers. Results showed that prenatal attachment scores significantly correlated with BITSEA-Competency subscale scores and ADSI total scores at early childhood, r(83) = 0.246, P = .025, and r(82) = 0.316, P = .004, respectively. Prenatal attachment levels were found to be the predictors of both behavioral and emotional competence and development at early childhood, b = 0.081, t(83) = 2.273, P = .014, and b = 0.281, t(83) = 3.225, P = .002, respectively. In addition, prenatal attachment was shown to be even a stronger predictor of development than was worsening maternal depression at early childhood, b = -0.319, t(83) = 2.140, P = .035. Our results indicate that fostering prenatal attachment may be beneficial for better infant outcomes at early childhood.

Este estudio examina la asociación entre la afectividad prenatal y el desarrollo del niño, los problemas socio-emocionales de conducta y la competencia en la temprana niñez. También se pregunta si la depresión y ansiedad maternas en el período prenatal y en la temprana niñez están asociadas con los resultados en el niño. El estudio incluyó a 83 madres y sus niños. La información sobre la afectividad prenatal, la depresión y la ansiedad se recogió durante las semanas 28-40 de gestación. Cuando los niños tenían entre 21-31 meses de edad, se les aplicó la Evaluación Socio-Emocional Breve para el Infante y Niños Pequeñitos (BITSEA) y el Inventario Ankara de Examinación del Desarrollo (ADSI), y a las madres se les administró el Inventario Beck sobre la Depresión (BDI) y el Inventario Beck sobre la Ansiedad (BAI). Los resultados mostraron que los puntajes de la afectividad prenatal se correlacionaron significativamente con los puntajes de competencia de BITSEA y los puntajes totales de ADSI al nivel de la temprana niñez, r(83) = 0.246, p = 0.025; r(82) = 0.316, p = 0.004, respectivamente. Se encontró que los niveles de afectividad prenatal eran factores de predicción tanto de la competencia y desarrollo de conducta como emocional en la temprana niñez; b = 0.081, t(83) = 2.273, p = 0.014, b = 0.281, t(83) = 3.225, p = 0.002, respectivamente. Además, se mostró que la afectividad prenatal era un factor de predicción del desarrollo aún más fuerte que la depresión materna desmejorada en la temprana niñez, b = −0.319, t(83) = 2.140, p = 0.035. Nuestros resultados indican que fomentando la afectividad prenatal pudiera ser beneficioso para mejorar los resultados en el niño en la temprana niñez.

Cette étude examine le lien entre l'attachement prénatal et le développement de l'enfant, les problèmes de comportement social et émotionnels et la compétence durant la petite enfance. Elle s'interroge aussi sur si la dépression maternelle et l'anxiété dans la période prénatale et durant la très petite enfance sont liés aux résultats de l'enfant. L'étude a consisté en 83 mères et enfants. Les données concernant l'attachement prénatal, la dépression et l'anxiété ont été recueillies à 28-40 mois de grossesse. Lorsque les enfants avaient 21-31 mois, l'Evaluation Emotionnelle Brève du Bébé et du Petit Enfants (en anglais Brief Infant and Toddler Social Emotional Assessment, BITSEA), l'Inventaire de Dépistage Développemental d'Ankara (en anglais Ankara Developmental Screening Inventory, ADSI) ont été appliqués aux enfants ainsi que l'Inventaire de Dépression de Beck (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) et l'Inventaire d'Anxiété de Beck (Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI) ont donnés aux mères. Les résultats montrent que les scores d'attachement prénatale étaient liés de manière importance aux scores de compétence BITSEA et aux Scores ADSI à la petite enfance, r(83) = 0.246, p = 0.025; r(82) = 0.316, p = 0.004, respectivement. Les niveaux d'attachement prénatal se sont révélé être des prédicteurs d'à la fois la compétence émotionnelle, la compétence comportementale et le développement à la petite enfance; b = 0.081, t(83) = 2.273, p = 0.014, b = 0.281, t(83) = 3.225, p = 0.002, respectivement. De plus, l'attachement prénatal s'est avéré être un prédicteur de développement encore plus fort que la dépression maternelle s'aggravant à la petite enfance, b = −0.319, t(83) = 2.140, p = 0.035. Nos résultats indiquent que le fait de cultiver l'attachement prénatal peut être bénéfique pour l'amélioration des résultats du bébé à la petite enfance.

Sexual attitudes, behaviour changes and opinions of interns in Izmir, Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate sexual attitudes, behaviour and opinions of students at the end of their medical education studies in Izmir, Turkey, and compare findings with the results of the study carried out when they were first-year students. METHODS: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study, with data collected via a questionnaire. RESULTS: 'Friends' were most often mentioned as the source of their personal sexual information by students on both occasions. Use of the 'internet' increased significantly during the five years. Pornography and health professionals/specialists' also gained in importance but remained among the less frequently used sources of information. The most frequent factor affecting sexual attitudes and behaviour for both years was 'my own desire and values'. Most (74.8%) interns had taken only a few sexual health histories and 16.5% never; 35% believed their education would enable them to take one. Nearly half (48.5%) said being a medical student changed their opinions on sexuality and 25.7% said they changed their behaviour. DISCUSSION: Although changes were observed in sexual attitudes, behaviour and opinions between the two questionnaires many problems still exist. This study may add to the improvement of medical education regarding sexual health education and its practices.

Depression and anxiety levels in woman under follow-up for breast cancer: relationship to coping with cancer and quality of life.

AIM: The relation of anxiety and depression levels with characteristics of coping with the disease and quality of life were evaluated in women under follow-up for breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who had presented to the breast cancer polyclinics for follow-up were evaluated. The Beck Depression and the State-Trait Anxiety inventories were used in the evaluation of depression and anxiety levels. In order to evaluate their power to cope with cancer, the patients were questioned for a social support network. EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires were applied for quality of life evaluations. RESULTS: There were 23 (19%) patients with depression; 3 (2.5%) with grade I anxiety, 94 (77%) grade II, and 23 (19%) grade III anxiety, respectively. Depression and anxiety levels were affected by the following parameters: being unaccompanied by spouse for hospital follow-ups (P < 0.0001); request to get help by a psychologist (P = 0.02); presence of a person to share their problems (P < 0.0001); and using an alternative treatment (P = 0.04). In the quality of life evaluations, difficulty in sleeping, emotional status, fatigue, and body appearance were related with both depression and anxiety (P < 0.05 for all), whereas physical function (P = 0.002), role performance (P = 0.005), cognitive condition (P < 0.0001), social position (P < 0.0001), pain (P < 0.0001), general health (P < 0.0001), treatment methods (P = 0.001), future anxiety (P < 0.0001), and arm symptoms (P = 0.001) were negatively affected in patients with depression. CONCLUSION: High depression and anxiety levels in patients under follow-up for breast cancer influence the coping with cancer and quality of life adversely.

Importance of patient, tumour and treatment related factors on quality of life in head and neck cancer patients after definitive treatment.

The purpose of this study is to assess patient, tumour and treatment related factors on quality of life (QoL) outcomes of patients who received definitive or postoperative radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy for head and neck (H&N) cancer. In this cross-sectional study, 110 H&N cancer patients were evaluated in follow-up visit and were asked to fill out the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Core Questionnaire (QLQ-C-30) and H&N Module (QLQ-H&N35). Patients were also graded for their late side effects using EORTC/RTOG scoring system. The QLQ C-30 and QLQ-H&N35 mean scores were compared using ANOVA analysis for these variables: age, gender, occupation, educational status, social security status, place of residence, tumour localization, clinical stage, comorbidity, Karnofsky performance score, treatment modality and side effects. Median follow-up was 29 (4-155) months. Tumour localization was significant factor affecting physical (P = 0.03), social (P = 0.01), cognitive (P = 0.002) functioning. Treatment modality had significant impact on the physical (P = 0.02) and cognitive scores (P = 0.008). Global QoL was affected significantly by disease stage (P = 0.01) and occupation (P = 0.01). The QLQ-H&N35 scores were found significantly higher in patients with moderate/severe late morbidity. Tumour localization and the treatment modality are the most important factors affecting the QoL of H&N cancer patients treated definitively.

Sexual attitudes and risk-taking behaviors of high school students in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The risk of sexually transmitted diseases is high but opportunities of sexual education for adolescents are limited in Turkey. The aim of this study was to evaluate sexual attitudes and behaviors and to determine the predictors of sexual initiation among adolescents. METHODS: A questionnaire designed by the researchers was administered to 861 senior year high school students in their classrooms. RESULTS: The rates of masturbation and sexual intercourse and the median partner numbers among males were higher than females. The rates of having negative feelings after the first sex among females were higher than males. The rates of having sexual intercourse and the mean age at first sexual intercourse among males were similar to developed countries. However, the use of a condom at first intercourse was low. Lower academic performance and grade repetition experience among males and cigarette smoking among both gender groups were related to having sexual intercourse. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the first studies about sexual risk-taking behaviors among high school students in Turkey. Differences found between gender groups regarding attitudes and behaviors reflect the social structure in Turkey. These findings may be helpful in producing effective solutions for improving education and preventive health care.

Sexual behaviours and contraception among university students in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sexual attitudes and behaviours of university students. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to 550 final-year university students aged 20-25 years in Izmir, Turkey. Male students opposed premarital sexual intercourse for both genders more than female students did. The frequency of sexual intercourse among male students (61.2%) was higher than that among female students (18.3%). The mean age of first sexual intercourse was lower among male than among female respondents. The rate of condom use at first sexual intercourse was 47.4%. The frequency of having two or more past sexual partners and masturbation was higher among males than females. It was found that there were culture-specific and gender-dependent differences in sexual attitudes and behaviours of the university students. These results may help in the planning of education and health policies in Turkey.