Determinants of aggressive and prosocial behaviour among Jamaican schoolboys.

PURPOSE: This study examines risk factors for aggression among boys in Kingston, Jamaica. METHODS: One hundred and one aggressive and 101 prosocial schoolboys in grades 5-6 (mean age 11.7, SD 0.6 years) were selected by peer and teacher ratings from 10 schools in the capital city, Kingston, during 1998. They were given in-depth questionnaires, arithmetic, reading and verbal intelligence tests and their behaviour was rated. Their parents were also given a detailed questionnaire. RESULTS: The aggressive boys reported significantly more involvement in fights than the prosocial boys. They had lower scores on spelling/reading and verbal IQ, less ambitious aspirations and poorer quality school uniforms. They were not more likely to infer hostile intent in ambiguous situations but were more likely to respond with aggression. Aggressive boys came from poorer homes with more marijuana use, less parental affection or supervision and more family discord. They were less exposed to religious instruction, their parents had lower occupational levels and were more likely to be in common-law unions than married. They were more exposed to neighbourhood violence and were punished more often at home and at school. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the independent risk factors for aggression. Exposure to neighbourhood violence, physical punishment at home and family discord were associated with increased risk; parents' being married, practising religion as a family and better school uniforms were associated with reduced risk. CONCLUSIONS: Although community violence was a serious problem, family characteristics were also important risk factors for aggressive behaviour.

Determinants of aggressive and prosocial behaviour among Jamaican schoolboys / Determinantes del comportamiento agresivo y prosocial entre los escolares Jamaicanos)

PURPOSE: This study examines risk factors for aggression among boys in Kingston, Jamaica. METHODS: One hundred and one aggressive and 101 prosocial schoolboys in grades 5-6 (mean age 11.7, SD 0.6 years) were selected by peer and teacher ratings from 10 schools in the capital city, Kingston, during 1998. They were given in-depth questionnaires, arithmetic, reading and verbal intelligence tests and their behaviour was rated. Their parents were also given a detailed questionnaire. RESULTS: The aggressive boys reported significantly more involvement in fights than the prosocial boys. They had lower scores on spelling/reading and verbal IQ, less ambitious aspirations and poorer quality school uniforms. They were not more likely to infer hostile intent in ambiguous situations but were more likely to respond with aggression. Aggressive boys came from poorer homes with more marijuana use, less parental affection or supervision and more family discord. They were less exposed to religious instruction, their parents had lower occupational levels and were more likely to be in common-law unions than married. They were more exposed to neighbourhood violence and were punished more often at home and at school. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the independent risk factors for aggression. Exposure to neighbourhood violence, physical punishment at home and family discord were associated with increased risk; parents' being married, practising religion as a family and better school uniforms were associated with reduced risk. CONCLUSIONS: Although community violence was a serious problem, family characteristics were also important risk factors for aggressive behaviour.

Propósito: Este estudio examina los factores de riesgo que influyen en la agresión entre los niños en Kingston, Jamaica. Métodos: Ciento un escolares agresivos y 101 escolares prosociales en los grados 5­6 (edad promedio 11.7, desviación estándard 0.6 años) fueron seleccionados de acuerdo con las valoraciones de los pares y los maestros de 10 escuelas en la ciudad capital, Kingston, durante 1998. Se les aplicó cuestionarios exhaustivos, así como pruebas de aritmética y lectura, tests de inteligencia, y se clasificó su conducta. A sus padres también se les aplicó un cuestionario detallado. Resultados: Los niños agresivos reportaron una participación en peleas significativamente mayor que los niños prosociales. Asimismo, tuvieron puntuaciones más bajas en deletreo, lectura y coeficiente de inteligencia (C.I.) verbal, mostraron tener aspiraciones menos ambiciosas, y vestían uniformes más pobres. No estaban más inclinados a inferir intenciones hostiles en situaciones ambiguas, pero si más propensos a responder agresivamente. Los niños agresivos provenían de hogares más pobres, caracterizados por mayor consumo de marihuana, menos afecto o supervisión por parte de los padres, y más discordia en la familia. Estaban también menos expuestos a la instrucción religiosa, sus padres tenían bajo nivel ocupacional, y vivían en su mayor parte más en unión consensual que en matrimonio. Estaban más expuestos a la violencia del vecindario, y recibían castigos en la casa y la escuela con mayor frecuencia. Se llevaron a cabo análisis de regresión logística a fin de determinar los factores de riesgo de la agresión. La exposición a la violencia del vecindario, el castigo físico en el hogar, y la discordia familiar estaban asociados con el aumento del riesgo. En cambio, padres casados en matrimonio, la práctica de la religión como familia, y mejores uniformes escolares, estuvieron asociados con la reducción del riesgo. Conclusiones. Aunque la violencia comunitaria constituía un serio problema, las características de la familia fueron también importantes factores de riesgo en el comportamiento agresivo.

Zinc supplementation: effects on the growth and morbidity of undernourished Jamaican children.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether there was a growth or morbidity response to zinc supplementation. DESIGN: The study was randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind. SETTING: Children were recruited at clinics in Kingston, Jamaica, and supplemented at home. SUBJECTS: Children selected were singletons aged 6-24 months, and stunted (< -2.0 s.d. length for age, NCHS references). They were stratified by sex and age and randomly assigned to receive zinc supplement (n = 31) or placebo (n = 30). Four children were excluded because of hospitalization; all others had all measurements. Adequately nourished children (n = 24) were recruited from a well-baby clinic. INTERVENTIONS: The supplement provided 5 mg elemental zinc in a syrup daily for 12 weeks; the placebo comprised the syrup only. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Caretakers were interviewed to obtain social background data, number of clinic visits and hospitalizations. Anthropometric measurements were done on enrolment, and after 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 12 months. Children's health was determined by weekly questionnaire to caretakers of the undernourished groups during the supplementation period. RESULTS: The supplemented and placebo groups were similar on enrolment. The adequately nourished children were from significantly better socio-economic circumstances. Mean initial hair zinc content was 5.5 +/- 4.8 mumol/g (supplemented group) and 6.7 +/- 12.1 mumol/g (placebo)(n.s.). Regression analyses showed that there were no significant effects of supplementation on length, height or head circumference, nor on the incidence of any morbidity symptom. Mean duration of the episodes was significantly shorter for skin rashes in the supplemented group compared with the control group (ANCOVA, P = 0.02), and longer for vomiting (P = 0.02). The incidence of hospitalization was significantly greater in the control group (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Zinc supplementation reduced the hospitalizations which probably reflect severity of morbidity, but did not improve growth.

Activity and behavioral development in stunted and nonstunted children and response to nutritional supplementation.

It is frequently assumed that undernutrition in young children leads to poor development through reduced activity. 3 groups of 26 1-year-old stunted children were studied: nutritional supplementation, supplementation with psychosocial stimulation, and controls. 26 nonstunted comparison children were also studied. Activity levels were measured by extensive observation in the homes, and development using 4 subscales of the Griffith's Mental Development Scales. Initially, stunted children were less active than nonstunted ones (p < .01), but after 6 months they caught up regardless of treatment. The mental ages of the stunted children were lower than those of the nonstunted children initially, and improved with either treatment. Initially, activity levels made a significant contribution to the variance in the locomotor subscale only, but not 6 months later. Activity did not predict change in development over 6 or 12 months, nor did change in activity over 6 months predict change in development over 12 months.