The association between parents phubbing and prosocial behavior among Chinese preschool children: a moderated mediation model.

Introduction: The popularization and widespread use of smartphones and other electronic devices have led to the occurrence of "parents phubbing", which may have a negative impact on child-parent relationship and preschoolers' prosocial behavior. Methods: To clarify this process, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 3,834 parents from 20 kindergartens in Zhuhai, China. This study examined the relationship between between parents phubbing, closeness child-parent relationship, authoritative parenting style and children's prosocial behavior. Results: According to the study, we found a significant negative correlation between parents phubbing and preschoolers' prosocial behavior. Closeness child-parent relationship mediated between parents phubbing and preschoolers' prosocial behavior through mediation effects analysis. In other words, parent phubbing was negatively associated with closeness child-parent relationship, which in turn predicted less child prosocial behavior. In addition, authoritative parenting styles have a moderating effect. As the level of authoritative parenting style increases, the negative impact of parent phubbing on the prosocial behavior of preschool children is attenuated. Discussion: This study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between parents phubbing and prosocial behaviors of preschool children, as well as the internal mechanisms at work. Practically, the study suggests that parents should reduce the incidence of phubbing in their contact with their children and, at the same time, work to improve the child-parent relationship and promote the development of prosocial behaviors in children.

Impact of Replacing Soft Drinks with Dairy Products on Micronutrient Intakes of Chinese Preschool Children: A Simulation Study.

At present, energy surplus and micronutrient deficiency coexist in preschool children in China. The low intake of dairy products accompanied by an increased consumption of soft drinks in this age group reveals some of the reasons for this phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the improvement of key micronutrients in preschool children by quantifying the dietary nutritional gap before and after simulating the use of dairy products instead of equal amounts of soft drinks. In the cross-sectional dietary intake survey of infants and young children in China (2018-2019), 676 preschool children aged 3-6 years were randomly selected. Four days of dietary data were collected through an online diary for simulation. The individual intake of soft drinks was substituted at a corresponding volume by soymilk, cow's milk, or formulated milk powder for preschool children (FMP-PSC). In these three models, the simulated nutrient intake and nutrient inadequacy or surplus were compared with the actual baseline data of the survey. The results of this study indicated that all three models made the nutrient intakes of this group more in line with the recommendations. For the whole population, the replacement of soymilk improved the intake of zinc (from 4.80 to 4.85 mg/d), potassium (from 824.26 to 836.82 mg/d), vitamin A (from 211.57 to 213.92 µg retinol activity equivalent/d), and vitamin B9 (from 115.94 to 122.79 µg dietary folate equivalent/d); the simulation of cow's milk improved the intake of calcium (from 311.82 to 330.85 mg/d), zinc (from 4.80 to 4.87 mg/d), potassium (from 824.26 to 833.62 mg/d), vitamin A (from 211.57 to 215.12 µg retinol activity equivalent/d), vitamin B2 (from 0.53 to 0.54 mg/d), and vitamin B12 (from 1.63 to 1.67 µg/d); and the substitution of FMP-PSC improved the intake of calcium (from 311.82 to 332.32 mg/d), iron (from 9.91 to 9.36 mg/d), zinc (from 4.80 to 4.96 mg/d), potassium (from 824.26 to 828.71 mg/d), vitamin A (from 211.57 to 217.93 µg retinol activity equivalent/d), vitamin B2 (from 0.53 to 0.54 mg/d), vitamin B9 (from 115.94 to 118.80 µg RA dietary folate equivalent/d), and vitamin B12 (from 1.63 to 1.70 µg/d). Therefore, correct nutritional information should be provided to parents and preschool children. In addition to changing the consumption behavior of soft drinks, it is also necessary to have a diversified and balanced diet. When necessary, the use of food ingredients or nutritional fortifiers can be encouraged.

Dairy fortification as a good option for dietary nutrition status improvement of 676 preschool children in China: A simulation study based on a cross-sectional diet survey (2018-2019).

Background: Chinese children are deficient in several essential nutrients due to poor dietary choices. Dairy products are a source of many under-consumed nutrients, but preschool children in China consume dairy products significantly less than the recommended level. Methods: From the cross-sectional dietary intake survey of infants and young children aged 0-6 years in China (2018-2019), preschool children (age: 3-6 years) (n = 676) were selected. The four-day dietary data (including 2 working days and 2 weekends) collected through an online diary with reference to the food atlas were used for analysis and simulation. In scenario 1, individual intake of liquid milk equivalents was substituted at a corresponding volume by soymilk, cow's milk, or formulated milk powder for preschool children (FMP-PSC). In scenario 2, the amount of cow's milk or FMP-PSC increased to ensure each child's dairy intake reached the recommended amount (350 g/day). In both scenarios, the simulated nutrient intakes and nutritional inadequacy or surplus were compared to the survey's actual baseline data. Results: It was suggested suggested that replacing dairy foods with FMP-PSC at matching volume is better than replacing them with soymilk or cow's milk to increase the intake of DHA, calcium, iron, zinc, iodine, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B3, vitamin B12, vitamin C and vitamin D. Moreover, our results suggested that adding FMP-PSC to bring each child's dairy intake to the recommended amount can bring the intakes of dietary fiber, DHA, calcium, iron, zinc, iodine, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B3, vitamin B9, vitamin B12, vitamin C and vitamin D more in line with the recommendations when compared with cow's milk. Conclusion: Accurate nutrition information should be provided to the parents of preschool children so as to guide their scientific consumption of dairy products and the usage and addition of fortified dairy products can be encouraged as needed.

Callous-unemotional traits in Chinese preschool children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND: Children with early onset of Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits are at a higher risk for long-term, persistent psychosocial problems. The current study aimed to explore the characteristics of CU in preschool children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the diagnostic significance of CU traits in ADHD. METHODS: A total of 176 preschool children (89 with ADHD and 87 Typically Developing Children [TDC]) aged 4-5 years old were recruited to the study. The participants were assessed for CU traits, emotional and behavioral problems, and how their executive functioning was associated with ADHD using multiple assessment scales. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the incremental validity of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU), adjusting for possible covariates by child's sex, conduct problems, and oppositional defiant symptoms. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a significant difference of ICU scores between the ADHD and TDC groups (F = 30.12, P < 0.001). In terms of callousness, ADHD + Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) group showed a significant high score, and the ADHD only group scored significantly higher than the TDC group (F = 20.42, P < 0.001). The ICU was negatively associated with the prosocial behaviour subscale (γ = - 0.57, P < 0.01) and showed low to moderate positive correlations with emotional and behavioural problems, as well as executive function (γ = 0.24-0.67, P < 0.05). The ICU scores explained 6% of the incremental validity in ADHD symptoms. The diagnostic value of the ICU for ADHD was medium and acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The current study indicated that early identification of CU traits may help clinicians better understand symptoms and behavioural problems in children with ADHD. CU traits therefore could be considered as a useful assessment tool for ADHD.

Resilience Coping in Preschool Children: The Role of Emotional Ability, Age, and Gender.

BACKGROUND: In the process of children's physical and mental development, emotional ability is an important part of their cognitive and social ability. Resilience in the face of difficulties or setbacks and other adversity will also produce differences in adaptability, thus affecting physical and mental development. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to measure the effect of children's emotional ability on resilience and to provide an in-depth analysis based on age and gender differences. METHODOLOGY: A total of 300 preschool children aged 3-6 years old in kindergartens of China were randomly selected as the research subjects. Through a combination of experiments and questionnaires, the emotional ability and resilience of children were measured, and differences were analyzed according to the actual situation, using age and gender. RESULTS: Children of different ages have significant differences in the dimensions and total scores of emotional ability and resilience, but only some of the resilience dimensions have significant gender differences. Moreover, the emotional ability has a significant positive effect on resilience. DISCUSSIONS: The results confirm the influence of children's emotional ability on resilience, but the research hypothesis has not been fully verified. LIMITATIONS: This study has the limitations of a single measurement method and a more effective research tool.

Understanding the associations among parents teaching safety rules to children, safety behaviors and unintentional injuries in Chinese preschool children.

Child unintentional injuries are one of the most prominent global health threats and parents may play a vital role in these injuries. This study thus aims to explore the associations of parents teaching safety rules with preschool children's safety behaviors and unintentional injuries. A total of 62,922 children registered at 182 kindergartens in Longhua District of Shenzhen, China during the fall semester of 2016, were included in this cross-sectional study. Their parents were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire covering information about socio-demographics, parents teaching safety rules to children, child safety behaviors and unintentional injuries. Logistic and linear regression models were carried out to test the associations among parents teaching safety rules, child safety behaviors, and child unintentional injuries. Whether child safety behaviors mediated the relationship between parents teaching safety rules and child unintentional injuries was assessed using Hayes' PROCESS macros for SPSS. Regression analyses revealed that the higher scores of both mothers' and fathers' teaching safety rules to children were significantly associated with the reduced risks of child unintentional injuries and the modest improvements in child safety behaviors, after adjusting for potential confounders. Furthermore, mediation analysis illustrated that child safety behaviors mediated 18.1% of the association between mothers teaching safety rules and child unintentional injuries and 30.3% of the association between fathers teaching safety rules and child unintentional injuries, respectively. These findings suggest that parents teaching safety rules to children is beneficial for mitigating unintentional injury risks among Chinese preschool children through improving child safety behaviors.

Sleep Patterns in Chinese Preschool Children: A Population-Based Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to (1) provide data on normal sleep patterns in Chinese preschool children, (2) identify cross-cultural differences of sleep patterns among children from China and other countries, (3) estimate the prevalence of sleep duration not meeting the optimal amount, and (4) characterize delayed weekend sleep pattern. METHODS: A population-based sample of 1,610 children aged 3-6 years was recruited from 10 cities across China. Parents completed questions about their child's sleep patterns adapted from the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). RESULTS: The mean bedtime was 9:31 PM, wake time was 7:27 AM, nighttime sleep duration was 9 hours 30 minutes, daytime sleep duration was 1 hour 31 minutes, and total sleep duration was 11 hours 2 minutes. The children had a shorter nighttime sleep duration but longer daytime naps, resulting in no differences in total sleep duration compared with counterparts predominantly in the west. Of the children, 85.3% met the recommended amount of sleep of 10 to 13 hours, and 10.8% slept fewer than 10 hours. The prevalence of sleep less than 10 hours was higher in older children and children from eastern China. Children went to bed and woke up more than 30 minutes later on weekends than weekdays, accounting for 40.1% and 50%, respectively. Children in western China showed longer delay than children in eastern China (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Age- and region-specific variability of sleep patterns are reported as well as insufficient sleep and delayed weekend sleep pattern in Chinese preschool children. The cross-cultural difference of sleep patterns was in temporal placement rather than sleep duration.