@article{HoffmannTschornMichalskietal.2022, author = {Hoffmann, Stephanie and Tschorn, Mira and Michalski, Niels and Hoebel, Jens and F{\"o}rstner, Bernd Rainer and Rapp, Michael A. and Spallek, Jacob}, title = {Association of regional socioeconomic deprivation and rurality with global developmental delay in early childhood}, series = {Health \& place : an international journal ; a social science \& medicine publication ; incorporating Geographia medica}, volume = {75}, journal = {Health \& place : an international journal ; a social science \& medicine publication ; incorporating Geographia medica}, publisher = {Elsevier Science}, address = {Amsterdam [u.a.]}, issn = {1353-8292}, doi = {10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102794}, pages = {8}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Background: From birth to young adulthood, health and development of young people are strongly linked to their living situation, including their family's socioeconomic position (SEP) and living environment. The impact of regional characteristics on development in early childhood beyond family SEP has been rarely investigated. This study aimed to identify regional predictors of global developmental delay at school entry taking family SEP into consideration. Method: We used representative, population-based data from mandatory school entry examinations of the German federal state of Brandenburg in 2018/2019 with n=22,801 preschool children. By applying binary multilevel models, we hierarchically analyzed the effect of regional deprivation defined by the German Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation (GISD) and rurality operationalized as inverted population density of the children's school district on global developmental delay (GDD) while adjusting for family SEP (low, medium and high) Results: Family SEP was significantly and strongly linked to GDD. Children with the highest family SEP showed a lower odds for GDD compared to a medium SEP (female: OR=4.26, male: OR=3.46) and low SEP (female: OR=16.58, male: OR=12.79). Furthermore, we discovered a smaller, but additional and independent effect of regional socioeconomic deprivation on GDD, with a higher odds for children from a more deprived school district (female: OR=1.35, male: OR=1.20). However, rurality did not show a significant link to GDD in preschool children beyond family SEP and regional deprivation. Conclusion: Family SEP and regional deprivation are risk factors for child development and of particular interest to promote health of children in early childhood and over the life course.}, language = {en} } @article{GmeinerWarschburger2022, author = {Gmeiner, Michaela Silvia and Warschburger, Petra}, title = {Simply too much}, series = {Eating and weight disorders : studies on anorexia, bulimia and obesity}, volume = {27}, journal = {Eating and weight disorders : studies on anorexia, bulimia and obesity}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, issn = {1590-1262}, doi = {10.1007/s40519-021-01170-z}, pages = {317 -- 324}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Purpose Weight bias internalization (WBI) is associated with negative health consequences such as eating disorders and psychosocial problems in children. To date, it is unknown to what extent WBI considerably raises the risk of negative outcomes. Methods Analyses are based on cross-sectional data of 1,061 children (9-13 years, M = 11, SD = 0.9; 52.1\% female) who filled in the WBI scale (WBIS-C). First, ROC analyses were run to identify critical cut-off values of WBI (WBIS-C score) that identify those who are at higher risk for psychosocial problems or eating disorder symptoms (as reported by parents). Second, it was examined whether WBI is more sensitive than the relative weight status in that respect. Third, to confirm that the cut-off value is also accompanied by higher psychological strain, high- and low-risk groups were compared in terms of their self-reported depressive symptoms, anxious symptoms, body dissatisfaction, and self-esteem. Results WBIS-C scores >= 1.55 were associated with a higher risk of disturbed eating behavior; for psychosocial problems, no cut-off score reached adequate sensitivity and specificity. Compared to relative weight status, WBI was better suited to detect disturbed eating behavior. Children with a WBIS-C score >= 1.55 also reported higher scores for both depressive and anxious symptoms, higher body dissatisfaction, and lower self-esteem. Conclusion The WBIS-C is suitable for identifying risk groups, and even low levels of WBI are accompanied by adverse mental health. Therefore, WBI is, beyond weight status, an important risk factor that should be considered in prevention and intervention.}, language = {en} } @article{PitzerEsserSchmidtetal.2017, author = {Pitzer, Martina and Esser, G{\"u}nter and Schmidt, Martin H. and Hohm, Erika and Banaschewski, Tobias and Laucht, Manfred}, title = {Child regulative temperament as a mediator of parenting in the development of depressive symptoms}, series = {Journal of neural transmission}, volume = {124}, journal = {Journal of neural transmission}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Wien}, issn = {0300-9564}, doi = {10.1007/s00702-017-1682-2}, pages = {631 -- 641}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Child temperament as well as parenting behaviors have been linked to adolescent depression. Beyond their main effects, the interplay between these factors is of interest. For example, in an interactive model, a differential susceptibility of temperamental variants to parenting has been suggested. However, so far, the differential susceptibility hypothesis has mostly been studied with a focus on externalizing disorders. On the other hand, parenting may shape the child's temperament and vice versa in a transactional process. In a prospective, longitudinal at-risk sample (163 boys, 176 girls), we assessed emotional (easy-difficult) and regulative (self-control) temperament at ages 4.5, and 8 years, respectively, as well as parenting quality at age 4.5 years using the HOME inventory. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to investigate the prediction of depressive symptoms at age 11, measured by the Child Depression Inventory, including interaction terms between the temperament variable and parenting. We additionally tested whether parenting was mediated by child temperament. As previously reported, both self-control and parenting were longitudinally associated with preadolescent depressive symptoms. There were no interactive effects between temperament and parenting. However, the effects of parenting were partly mediated by self-control. Our data do not support a differential susceptibility of temperamental variants in the development of preadolescent depression. However, our results are in line with the assumption that parenting may shape young children's temperament, with positive parenting in the early childhood fostering the development of regulative temperament.}, language = {en} } @article{ZubaWarschburger2018, author = {Zuba, Anna and Warschburger, Petra}, title = {Weight bias internalization across weight categories among school-aged children}, series = {Body image : an international journal of research}, volume = {25}, journal = {Body image : an international journal of research}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1740-1445}, doi = {10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.02.008}, pages = {56 -- 65}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Anti-fat bias is widespread and is linked to the internalization of weight bias and psychosocial problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the internalization of weight bias among children across weight categories and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Weight Bias Internalization Scale for Children (WBIS-C). Data were collected from 1484 primary school children and their parents. WBIS-C demonstrated good internal consistency (alpha = .86) after exclusion of Item 1. The unitary factor structure was supported using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (factorial validity). Girls and overweight children reported higher WBIS-C scores in comparison to boys and non-overweight peers (known-groups validity). Convergent validity was shown by significant correlations with psychosocial problems. Internalization of weight bias explained additional variance in different indicators of psychosocial well-being. The results suggest that the WBIS-C is a psychometrically sound and informative tool to assess weight bias internalization among children.}, language = {en} } @article{MeiserEsser2017, author = {Meiser, Susanne and Esser, G{\"u}nter}, title = {How dysfunctional are dysfunctional attitudes?}, series = {Cognitive Therapy and Research}, volume = {41}, journal = {Cognitive Therapy and Research}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {0147-5916}, doi = {10.1007/s10608-017-9842-0}, pages = {730 -- 744}, year = {2017}, abstract = {In order to clarify further the role of Beck's vulnerability-stress model in the early development of depression, this longitudinal study tested a threshold model of dysfunctional attitudes in children and adolescents. An initially asymptomatic sample of 889 youths aged 9-18 years completed measures of dysfunctional attitudes and depressive symptoms. Twenty months later, participants reported stressful life events and current depressive symptoms. Results support a threshold view of cognitive vulnerability as only dysfunctional attitudes above a certain threshold significantly interacted with life events to predict depressive symptoms. Thus, findings suggest that dysfunctional attitudes must exceed a certain threshold to confer vulnerability to depressive symptomatology in youth. The term "dysfunctional" might therefore only apply to higher levels of the "dysfunctional attitudes" proposed by A. T. Beck. Results also indicate that studies using non-clinical samples may systematically underestimate the effect of dysfunctional attitudes when relying on conventional linear methods.}, language = {en} } @article{VerchHirschmuellerMuelleretal.2018, author = {Verch, Ronald and Hirschm{\"u}ller, Anja and M{\"u}ller, Juliane and Baur, Heiner and Mayer, Frank and M{\"u}ller, Steffen}, title = {Is in-toing gait physiological in children?}, series = {Gait \& posture}, volume = {66}, journal = {Gait \& posture}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Clare}, issn = {0966-6362}, doi = {10.1016/j.gaitpost.2018.08.019}, pages = {70 -- 75}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Research question: This study aimed to establish reference values in 1-14 year old healthy children and to implement FPA-percentile curves for daily clinical use. Methods: 5910 healthy children performed at least 3 repetitions of barefoot walking over an instrumented walkway using a pressure measurement platform. The FPA [degrees] was extracted and analyzed by age and gender (mean +/- standard deviation; median with percentiles, MANOVA (age, gender) and Wilcoxon-Signed-Rank test for intra-individual side differences (alpha = 0.05). Results: FPA maximum was observed in 2-year-old children and diminished significant until the age of 4 to moderate out-toeing. For ages 5-14, no statistically significant differences in FPA values were present (p > 0.05). MANOVA confirmed age (p < 0.001) and gender (p < 0.001) as significant FPA influencing factors, without combined effect (p > 0.05). In every age group, right feet showed significantly greater out-toeing (p < 0.05). Significance: Percentile values indicate a wide FPA range in children. FPA development in young children shows a spontaneous shift towards moderate external rotation (age 2-4), whereby in-toeing <= 1-5 degrees can be present, but can return to normal. Bilateral in-toeing after the age of four and unilateral in-toeing after the age of seven should be monitored.}, language = {en} } @article{SendBardtkeGillesetal.2018, author = {Send, Tabea Sarah and Bardtke, Svenja and Gilles, Maria and Wolf, Isabella Germaine and S{\"u}tterlin, Marc W. and Kirschbaum, Clemens and Laucht, Manfred and Witt, Stephanie H. and Rietschel, Marcella and Streit, Fabian and Deuschle, Michael}, title = {Stress reactivity in preschool-aged children}, series = {Psychoneuroendocrinology}, volume = {101}, journal = {Psychoneuroendocrinology}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0306-4530}, doi = {10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.002}, pages = {223 -- 231}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Prenatal maternal stress is an established risk factor for somatic and psychological health of the offspring. A dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in offspring has been suggested as an important mechanism. However, the impact of prenatal stress on stress reactivity in preschool-aged children is not yet well understood. This is partly due to the fact that for this age group there is no stress test as well established as for older children and adults. In the present work a previously published stress test (Kryski et al., 2011) was evaluated in a large sample of 45-month-old children (n = 339). Furthermore, the relation between measures of prenatal maternal stress and cortisol reactivity was investigated. Prenatal stress was defined as psychopathology (self-report available for n = 339; expert-rating available for a subsample of n = 246) and perceived stress (n = 244) during pregnancy. The stress paradigm elicited significant increases in salivary cortisol 30 and 40 min after the test, and 60.8\% of the children were classified as responders. Lower cortisol levels after the stress test were observed in the group of children with prenatal stress defined as maternal psychopathology (both self-reported and expert-rated). Maternal perceived stress as a continuous measure was not significantly associated with cortisol levels. However, when comparing children in the highest quartile of maternal perceived stress to all other children, significantly lower cortisol values were observed in the prenatally stressed group. The present study confirms the paradigm by Kryski et al. as an effective stress test for preschool-aged children. Moreover, it provides further evidence that prenatal stress impacts HPA axis reactivity. Future studies should target the timing, nature, and intensity of prenatal stressors and their effect on the stress response in offspring at different developmental stages.}, language = {en} } @misc{GmeinerWarschburger2020, author = {Gmeiner, Michaela Silvia and Warschburger, Petra}, title = {Intrapersonal predictors of weight bias internalization among elementary school children}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {665}, issn = {1866-8364}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-48230}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-482303}, pages = {11}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Background Weight-related stigmatization is a widespread problem. Particularly the internalization of weight-related stereotypes and prejudices (weight bias internalization, WBI) is related to mental and physical health impairments. To date, little is known about the risk factors of WBI. Previous studies are mainly cross-sectional and based on adult samples. As childhood is a sensitive period for the development of a healthy self-concept, we examined predictors of WBI in children. Methods The final sample included 1,463 schoolchildren (6-11 years, 51.7\% female) who took part in a prospective study consisting of three measurement waves. The first two waves delivered data on objective weight status and self-reported weight-related teasing, body dissatisfaction, relevance of one's own figure, self-esteem and depressive symptoms; WBI was measured during the third wave. To examine predictors of WBI, we ran hierarchical regression analyses and exploratory mediation analyses. Results Lower parental education level, higher child weight status, female gender, experience of teasing, higher body dissatisfaction, higher figure-relevance, and higher depression scores were found to be predictive for higher WBI scores. Body dissatisfaction (only for girls) and the relevance of one's own figure (both genders) mediated the association between self-esteem and WBI; no weight-related differences were observed. Conclusions Our study offers longitudinal evidence for variables that enable the identification of children who are at risk for WBI. Thus, the findings deliver starting points for interventions aimed at the prevention of adverse health developments that come along with WBI.}, language = {en} } @article{GmeinerWarschburger2020, author = {Gmeiner, Michaela Silvia and Warschburger, Petra}, title = {Intrapersonal predictors of weight bias internalization among elementary school children}, series = {BMC Pediatrics}, volume = {20}, journal = {BMC Pediatrics}, publisher = {BioMed Central}, address = {London}, issn = {1471-2431}, doi = {10.1186/s12887-020-02264-w}, pages = {9}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Background Weight-related stigmatization is a widespread problem. Particularly the internalization of weight-related stereotypes and prejudices (weight bias internalization, WBI) is related to mental and physical health impairments. To date, little is known about the risk factors of WBI. Previous studies are mainly cross-sectional and based on adult samples. As childhood is a sensitive period for the development of a healthy self-concept, we examined predictors of WBI in children. Methods The final sample included 1,463 schoolchildren (6-11 years, 51.7\% female) who took part in a prospective study consisting of three measurement waves. The first two waves delivered data on objective weight status and self-reported weight-related teasing, body dissatisfaction, relevance of one's own figure, self-esteem and depressive symptoms; WBI was measured during the third wave. To examine predictors of WBI, we ran hierarchical regression analyses and exploratory mediation analyses. Results Lower parental education level, higher child weight status, female gender, experience of teasing, higher body dissatisfaction, higher figure-relevance, and higher depression scores were found to be predictive for higher WBI scores. Body dissatisfaction (only for girls) and the relevance of one's own figure (both genders) mediated the association between self-esteem and WBI; no weight-related differences were observed. Conclusions Our study offers longitudinal evidence for variables that enable the identification of children who are at risk for WBI. Thus, the findings deliver starting points for interventions aimed at the prevention of adverse health developments that come along with WBI.}, language = {en} } @article{WarschburgerKroellerHaertingetal.2016, author = {Warschburger, Petra and Kr{\"o}ller, Katja and Haerting, Johannes and Unverzagt, Susanne and van Egmond-Fr{\"o}hlich, Andreas}, title = {Empowering Parents of Obese Children (EPOC): A randomized controlled trial on additional long-term weight effects of parent training}, series = {Appetite : multidisciplinary research on eating and drinking}, volume = {103}, journal = {Appetite : multidisciplinary research on eating and drinking}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {London}, issn = {0195-6663}, doi = {10.1016/j.appet.2016.04.007}, pages = {148 -- 156}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Although inpatient lifestyle treatment for obese children and adolescents can be highly effective in the short term, long-term results are unconvincing. One possible explanation might be that the treatment takes place far from parents' homes, limiting the possibility to incorporate the parents, who play a major role in establishing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in childhood and adolescence. The main goal was to develop a brief behaviorally oriented parent training program that enhances 'obesity-specific' parenting skills in order to prevent relapse. We hypothesized that the inclusion of additional parent training would lead to an improved long-term weight course of obese children. Parents of obese children (n = 686; 7-13 years old) either participated in complementary cognitive-behavioral group sessions (n = 336) or received written information only (n = 350) during the inpatient stay. Children of both groups attended multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation. BMI-SDS as a primary outcome was evaluated at baseline, post-intervention and at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Intention-to-treat (ITT) as well as per-protocol analyses (PPA) were performed. A significant within-group decrease of 0.24 (95\% CI 0.18 to 0.30) BMI-SDS points from the beginning of the inpatient stay through the first year was found, but no group difference at the one-year follow-up (mean difference 0.02; 95\% CI -0.04 to 0.07). We also observed an increase in quality of life scores, intake of healthy food and exercise for both groups, without differences between groups (ITT and PPA). Thus, while the inpatient treatment proved highly effective, additional parent training did not lead to better results in long-term weight maintenance or to better psychosocial well-being compared to written psycho-educational material. Further research should focus on subgroups to answer the question of differential treatment effects.}, language = {en} } @misc{RubertusNoiray2018, author = {Rubertus, Elina and Noiray, Aude}, title = {On the development of gestural organization}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {478}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-419753}, pages = {21}, year = {2018}, abstract = {In the first years of life, children differ greatly from adults in the temporal organization of their speech gestures in fluent language production. However, dissent remains as to the maturational direction of such organization. The present study sheds new light on this process by tracking the development of anticipatory vowel-to-vowel coarticulation in a cross-sectional investigation of 62 German children (from 3.5 to 7 years of age) and 13 adults. It focuses on gestures of the tongue, a complex organ whose spatiotemporal control is indispensable for speech production. The goal of the study was threefold: 1) investigate whether children as well as adults initiate the articulation for a target vowel in advance of its acoustic onset, 2) test if the identity of the intervocalic consonant matters and finally, 3) describe age-related developments of these lingual coarticulatory patterns. To achieve this goal, ultrasound tongue imaging was used to record lingual movements and quantify changes in coarticulation degree as a function of consonantal context and age. Results from linear mixed effects models indicate that like adults, children initiate vowels' lingual gestures well ahead of their acoustic onset. Second, while the identity of the intervocalic consonant affects the degree of vocalic anticipation in adults, it does not in children at any age. Finally, the degree of vowelto-vowel coarticulation is significantly higher in all cohorts of children than in adults. However, among children, a developmental decrease of vocalic coarticulation is only found for sequences including the alveolar stop /d/ which requires finer spatiotemporal coordination of the tongue's subparts compared to labial and velar stops. Altogether, results suggest greater gestural overlap in child than in adult speech and support the view of a non-uniform and protracted maturation of lingual coarticulation calling for thorough considerations of the articulatory intricacies from which subtle developmental differences may originate.}, language = {en} } @article{RubertusNoiray2018, author = {Rubertus, Elina and Noiray, Aude}, title = {On the development of gestural organization}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {13}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {9}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, address = {San Francisco}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0203562}, pages = {1 -- 21}, year = {2018}, abstract = {In the first years of life, children differ greatly from adults in the temporal organization of their speech gestures in fluent language production. However, dissent remains as to the maturational direction of such organization. The present study sheds new light on this process by tracking the development of anticipatory vowel-to-vowel coarticulation in a cross-sectional investigation of 62 German children (from 3.5 to 7 years of age) and 13 adults. It focuses on gestures of the tongue, a complex organ whose spatiotemporal control is indispensable for speech production. The goal of the study was threefold: 1) investigate whether children as well as adults initiate the articulation for a target vowel in advance of its acoustic onset, 2) test if the identity of the intervocalic consonant matters and finally, 3) describe age-related developments of these lingual coarticulatory patterns. To achieve this goal, ultrasound tongue imaging was used to record lingual movements and quantify changes in coarticulation degree as a function of consonantal context and age. Results from linear mixed effects models indicate that like adults, children initiate vowels' lingual gestures well ahead of their acoustic onset. Second, while the identity of the intervocalic consonant affects the degree of vocalic anticipation in adults, it does not in children at any age. Finally, the degree of vowelto-vowel coarticulation is significantly higher in all cohorts of children than in adults. However, among children, a developmental decrease of vocalic coarticulation is only found for sequences including the alveolar stop /d/ which requires finer spatiotemporal coordination of the tongue's subparts compared to labial and velar stops. Altogether, results suggest greater gestural overlap in child than in adult speech and support the view of a non-uniform and protracted maturation of lingual coarticulation calling for thorough considerations of the articulatory intricacies from which subtle developmental differences may originate.}, language = {en} } @article{AppiahDwomohMuellerMayer2018, author = {Appiah-Dwomoh, Edem Korkor and M{\"u}ller, Steffen and Mayer, Frank}, title = {Reproducibility of Static and Dynamic Postural Control Measurement in Adolescent Athletes with Back Pain}, series = {Rehabilitation Research and Practice}, volume = {2018}, journal = {Rehabilitation Research and Practice}, publisher = {Hindawi}, address = {New York}, issn = {2090-2875}, doi = {10.1155/2018/8438350}, pages = {1 -- 8}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Static (one-legged stance) and dynamic (star excursion balance) postural control tests were performed by 14 adolescent athletes with and 17 without back pain to determine reproducibility. The total displacement, mediolateral and anterior-posterior displacements of the centre of pressure in mm for the static, and the normalized and composite reach distances for the dynamic tests were analysed. Intraclass correlation coefficients, 95\% confidence intervals, and a Bland-Altman analysis were calculated for reproducibility. Intraclass correlation coefficients for subjects with (0.54 to 0.65), (0.61 to 0.69) and without (0.45 to 0.49), (0.52 to 0.60) back pain were obtained on the static test for right and left legs, respectively. Likewise, (0.79 to 0.88), (0.75 to 0.93) for subjects with and (0.61 to 0.82), (0.60 to 0.85) for those without back pain were obtained on the dynamic test for the right and left legs, respectively. Systematic bias was not observed between test and retest of subjects on both static and dynamic tests. The one-legged stance and star excursion balance tests have fair to excellent reliabilities on measures of postural control in adolescent athletes with and without back pain. They can be used as measures of postural control in adolescent athletes with and without back pain.}, language = {en} } @misc{AppiahDwomohMuellerMayer2018, author = {Appiah-Dwomoh, Edem Korkor and M{\"u}ller, Steffen and Mayer, Frank}, title = {Reproducibility of Static and Dynamic Postural Control Measurement in Adolescent Athletes with Back Pain}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {470}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-417526}, pages = {8}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Static (one-legged stance) and dynamic (star excursion balance) postural control tests were performed by 14 adolescent athletes with and 17 without back pain to determine reproducibility. The total displacement, mediolateral and anterior-posterior displacements of the centre of pressure in mm for the static, and the normalized and composite reach distances for the dynamic tests were analysed. Intraclass correlation coefficients, 95\% confidence intervals, and a Bland-Altman analysis were calculated for reproducibility. Intraclass correlation coefficients for subjects with (0.54 to 0.65), (0.61 to 0.69) and without (0.45 to 0.49), (0.52 to 0.60) back pain were obtained on the static test for right and left legs, respectively. Likewise, (0.79 to 0.88), (0.75 to 0.93) for subjects with and (0.61 to 0.82), (0.60 to 0.85) for those without back pain were obtained on the dynamic test for the right and left legs, respectively. Systematic bias was not observed between test and retest of subjects on both static and dynamic tests. The one-legged stance and star excursion balance tests have fair to excellent reliabilities on measures of postural control in adolescent athletes with and without back pain. They can be used as measures of postural control in adolescent athletes with and without back pain.}, language = {en} } @article{Warschburger2015, author = {Warschburger, Petra}, title = {SRT-Joy - computer-assisted self-regulation training for obese children and adolescents: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial}, series = {Trials}, volume = {16}, journal = {Trials}, publisher = {BioMed Central}, address = {London}, issn = {1745-6215}, doi = {10.1186/s13063-015-1078-2}, pages = {10}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Background: Obesity is not only a highly prevalent disease but also poses a considerable burden on children and their families. Evidence is increasing that a lack of self-regulation skills may play a role in the etiology and maintenance of obesity. Our goal with this currently ongoing trial is to examine whether training that focuses on the enhancement of self-regulation skills may increase the sustainability of a complex lifestyle intervention. Methods/Design: In a multicenter, prospective, parallel group, randomized controlled superiority trial, 226 obese children and adolescents aged 8 to 16 years will be allocated either to a newly developed computer-training program to improve their self-regulation abilities or to a placebo control group. Randomization occurs centrally and blockwise at a 1:1 allocation ratio for each center. This study is performed in pediatric inpatient rehabilitation facilities specialized in the treatment of obesity. Observer-blind assessments of outcome variables take place at four times: at the beginning of the rehabilitation (pre), at the end of the training in the rehabilitation (post), and 6 and 12 months post-rehabilitation intervention. The primary outcome is the course of BMI-SDS over 1 year after the end of the inpatient rehabilitation. Secondary endpoints are the self-regulation skills. In addition, health-related quality of life, and snack intake will be analyzed. Discussion: The computer-based training programs might be a feasible and attractive tool to increase the sustainability of the weight loss reached during inpatient rehabilitation.}, language = {en} } @article{KochPollatos2014, author = {Koch, Anne and Pollatos, Olga}, title = {Cardiac sensitivity in children: Sex differences and its relationship to parameters of emotional processing}, series = {Psychophysiology : journal of the Society for Psychophysiological Research}, volume = {51}, journal = {Psychophysiology : journal of the Society for Psychophysiological Research}, number = {9}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0048-5772}, doi = {10.1111/psyp.12233}, pages = {932 -- 941}, year = {2014}, abstract = {In adults, the level of ability to perceive one's own body signals plays an important role for many concepts of emotional experience as demonstrated for emotion processing or emotion regulation. Representative data on perception of body signals and its emotional correlates in children is lacking. Therefore, the present study investigated the cardiac sensitivity of 1,350 children between 6 and 11 years of age in a heartbeat perception task. Our main findings demonstrated the distribution of cardiac sensitivity in children as well as associations with interpersonal emotional intelligence and adaptability. Furthermore, independent of body mass index, boys showed a significantly higher cardiac sensitivity than girls. We conclude that cardiac sensitivity in children appears to show weaker but similar characteristics and relations to emotional parameters as found in adults, so that a dynamic developmental process can be assumed.}, language = {en} } @article{WarschburgerKuhne2014, author = {Warschburger, Petra and Kuhne, Daniela}, title = {Psychosocial determinants of quality of life in parents of obese children seeking inpatient treatment}, series = {Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation}, volume = {23}, journal = {Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation}, number = {7}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0962-9343}, doi = {10.1007/s11136-014-0659-y}, pages = {1985 -- 1995}, year = {2014}, abstract = {To examine and identify predictors of parental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a sample of obese and very obese children participating in an inpatient program for treating obesity.}, language = {en} } @article{WarschburgerCalvanoBeckeretal.2014, author = {Warschburger, Petra and Calvano, Claudia and Becker, Sebastian and Friedt, Michael and Hudert, Christian and Posovszky, Carsten and Schier, Maike and Wegscheider, Karl}, title = {Stop the pain: study protocol for a randomized-controlled trial}, series = {Trials}, volume = {15}, journal = {Trials}, publisher = {BioMed Central}, address = {London}, issn = {1745-6215}, doi = {10.1186/1745-6215-15-357}, pages = {11}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Background: Functional abdominal pain (FAP) is not only a highly prevalent disease but also poses a considerable burden on children and their families. Untreated, FAP is highly persistent until adulthood, also leading to an increased risk of psychiatric disorders. Intervention studies underscore the efficacy of cognitive behavioral treatment approaches but are limited in terms of sample size, long-term follow-up data, controls and inclusion of psychosocial outcome data. Methods/Design: In a multicenter randomized controlled trial, 112 children aged 7 to 12 years who fulfill the Rome III criteria for FAP will be allocated to an established cognitive behavioral training program for children with FAP (n = 56) or to an active control group (focusing on age-appropriate information delivery; n = 56). Randomization occurs centrally, blockwise and is stratified by center. This study is performed in five pediatric gastroenterology outpatient departments. Observer-blind assessments of outcome variables take place four times: pre-, post-, 3- and 12-months post-treatment. Primary outcome is the course of pain intensity and frequency. Secondary endpoints are health-related quality of life, pain-related coping and cognitions, as well as selfefficacy. Discussion: This confirmatory randomized controlled clinical trial evaluates the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral intervention for children with FAP. By applying an active control group, time and attention processes can be controlled, and long-term follow-up data over the course of one year can be explored.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerCarlsohnMuelleretal.2012, author = {M{\"u}ller, Steffen and Carlsohn, Anja and M{\"u}ller, Juliane and Baur, Heiner and Mayer, Frank}, title = {Static and dynamic foot characteristics in children aged 1-13 years a cross-sectional study}, series = {Gait \& posture}, volume = {35}, journal = {Gait \& posture}, number = {3}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Clare}, issn = {0966-6362}, doi = {10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.10.357}, pages = {389 -- 394}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The aim of this study was to acquire static and dynamic foot geometry and loading in childhood, and to establish data for age groups of a population of 1-13 year old infants and children. A total of 10,382 children were recruited and 7788 children (48\% males and 52\% females) were finally included into the data analysis. For static foot geometry foot length and foot width were quantified in a standing position. Dynamic foot geometry and loading were assessed during walking on a walkway with self selected speed (Novel Emed X, 100 Hz, 4 sensors/cm(2)). Contact area (CA), peak pressure (PP), force time integral (FTI) and the arch index were calculated for the total, fore-, mid- and hindfoot. Results show that most static and dynamic foot characteristics change continuously during growth and maturation. Static foot length and width increased with age from 13.1 +/- 0.8 cm (length) and 5.7 +/- 0.4 cm (width) in the youngest to 24.4 +/- 1.5 cm (length) and 8.9 +/- 0.6 cm (width) in the oldest. A mean walking velocity of 0.94 +/- 0.25 m/s was observed. Arch-index ranged from 0.32 +/- 0.04 [a.u.] in the one-year old to 0.21 +/- 0.13 [a.u.] in the 5-year olds and remains constant afterwards. This study provides data for static and dynamic foot characteristics in children based on a cohort of 7788 subjects. Static and dynamic foot measures change differently during growth and maturation. Dynamic foot measurements provide additional information about the children's foot compared to static measures.}, language = {en} } @article{WarschburgerKroeller2012, author = {Warschburger, Petra and Kr{\"o}ller, Katja}, title = {"Childhood overweight and obesity maternal perceptions of the time for engaging in child weight management"}, series = {BMC public health}, volume = {12}, journal = {BMC public health}, number = {12}, publisher = {BioMed Central}, address = {London}, issn = {1471-2458}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2458-12-295}, pages = {8}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Background: There is an increasing awareness of the impact of parental risk perception on the weight course of the child and the parent's readiness to engage in preventive efforts, but only less is known about factors related to the parental perception of the right time for the implementation of preventive activities. The aim of this study was to examine parental perceptions of the appropriate time to engage in child weight management strategies, and the factors associated with different weight points at which mothers recognize the need for preventive actions. Methods: 352 mothers with children aged 2-10 years took part in the study. We assessed mothers' perceptions of the actual and preferred weight status of their child, their ability to identify overweight and knowledge of its associated health risks, as well as perceptions of the right time for action to prevent overweight in their child. A regression analysis was conducted to examine whether demographic and weight related factors as well as the maternal general risk perception were associated with recognizing the need to implement prevention strategies. Results: Although most of the parents considered a BMI in the 75th to 90th percentile a valid reason to engage in the prevention of overweight, 19\% of the mothers were not willing to engage in prevention until their child reached the 97th percentile. Whereas the child's sex and the identification of an elevated BMI were significant predictors for parents' recognition of the 75th percentile as right point to engage in prevention efforts, an inability to recognize physical health risks associated with overweight silhouettes emerged as a significant factor predicting which parents would delay prevention efforts until a child's BMI reached the 97th percentile. Conclusion: Parental misperceptions of overweight and associated health risks constitute unfavorable conditions for preventive actions. Feedback on the health risks associated with overweight could help increase maternal readiness for change.}, language = {en} } @article{GrossWarschburger2013, author = {Gross, Martina and Warschburger, Petra}, title = {Chronic abdominal pain psychosocial strain and treatment-associated changes in coping}, series = {Verhaltenstherapie}, volume = {23}, journal = {Verhaltenstherapie}, number = {2}, publisher = {Karger}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1016-6262}, doi = {10.1159/000351215}, pages = {80 -- 89}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background: Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) in childhood is a commonly occurring condition and shows a high stability. Psychosocial dysfunctioning of children, such as increased stress experience, is a burden for children and parents and complicates clinical management. Additional comorbid disorders may develop. To minimize the onset of such disorders, treatment at an early stage and taking psychosocial aspects into consideration is strongly recommended. Through this approach, the cognitive-behavioral, child-centered group program 'Stop the pain with Happy-Pingu' was developed, applied, and subsequently evaluated. What is the psychosocial situation of the affected children? Can the cognitive-behavioral group program be applied to improve psychosocial limitations? Method: The cognitive-behavioral group program comprises 6 weekly sessions for children and 1 single meeting for parents. In a randomized controlled study, the program was evaluated with 29 children aged between 6 and 12 years. The evaluation was based on a comparison between the intervention group (IG) and the waiting list control group (WLC), measured at 3 measurement points: T1 (pre), T2 (post), and T3 (3-month follow-up). Results: Emotional problems in particular can emerge in children with CAP. The program was well received, with a high level of participation through to completion. The results demonstrate that children participating in the IG experience significant stress reduction and improved psychosocial functioning compared to children participating in the WLC. The effect sizes range from medium to high. Conclusions: Drawing upon the above findings, multimodal cognitive-behavioral techniques appear to be suitable to successfully treat children with CAP. However, further controlled studies are required to identify the specific elements of the training that are most effective in reducing pain.}, language = {de} } @article{GrossWarschburger2013, author = {Gross, Martina and Warschburger, Petra}, title = {Evaluation of a cognitive-behavioral pain management program for children with chronic abdominal pain - a randomized controlled study}, series = {International journal of behavioral medicine : the official journal of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine}, volume = {20}, journal = {International journal of behavioral medicine : the official journal of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {1070-5503}, doi = {10.1007/s12529-012-9228-3}, pages = {434 -- 443}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) in childhood is widely prevalent and has adverse effects on mental health and quality of life. Earlier research emphasized the positive effects of psychological intervention on pain symptoms. This study describes the results of a cognitive-behavioral pain management program for children with CAP. The newly developed cognitive-behavioral group program, "Stop the pain with Happy-Pingu," includes six sessions for the children and one meeting for the parents. Purpose We hypothesized that the training would significantly reduce pain symptoms (frequency, duration, intensity, and pain-related impairment) and increase health-related quality of life compared to wait-list controls, with improvement seen both at the end of treatment and at a 3-month follow-up. Method In all, 29 children were randomized into two groups: 15 in the intervention group (IG) and 14 as the wait-list controls (WLC). An intent-to-treat analysis was performed using two-factorial multivariate analyses of variance with repeated measures. Results Children in the IG experienced both a reduction in pain (primary outcome) and an improvement in health-related quality of life (secondary outcome) as compared to the WLC. The effect sizes ranged from medium to high. Conclusion Cognitive-behavioral methods seem to be appropriate for treating children with CAP.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerMuellerBauretal.2013, author = {M{\"u}ller, Juliane and M{\"u}ller, Steffen and Baur, Heiner and Mayer, Frank}, title = {Intra-individual gait speed variability in healthy children aged 1-15 years}, series = {Gait \& posture}, volume = {38}, journal = {Gait \& posture}, number = {4}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Clare}, issn = {0966-6362}, doi = {10.1016/j.gaitpost.2013.02.011}, pages = {631 -- 636}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Introduction: Gait speed is one of the most commonly and frequently used parameters to evaluate gait development. It is characterized by high variability when comparing different steps in children. The objective of this study was to determine intra-individual gait speed variability in children. Methods: Gait speed measurements (6-10 trials across a 3 m walkway) were performed and analyzed in 8263 children, aged 1-15 years. The coefficient of variation (CV) served as a measure for intra-individual gait speed variability measured in 6.6 +/- 1.0 trials per child. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of age and body height on changes in variability. Additionally, a subgroup analysis for height within the group of 6-year-old children was applied. Results: A successive reduction in gait speed variability (CV) was observed for age groups (age: 1-15 years) and body height groups (height: 0.70-1.90 m). The CV in the oldest subjects was only one third of the CV (CV 6.25 +/- 3.52\%) in the youngest subjects (CV 16.58 +/- 10.01\%). Up to the age of 8 years (or 1.40 m height) there was a significant reduction in CV over time, compared to a leveling off for the older (taller) children. Discussion: The straightforward approach measuring gait speed variability in repeated trials might serve as a fundamental indicator for gait development in children. Walking velocity seems to increase to age 8. Enhanced gait speed consistency of repeated trials develops up to age 15.}, language = {en} } @article{BuddPaulmannBarryetal.2013, author = {Budd, Mary-Jane and Paulmann, Silke and Barry, Christopher and Clahsen, Harald}, title = {Brain potentials during language production in children and adults - an ERP study of the English past tense}, series = {Brain \& language : a journal of the neurobiology of language}, volume = {127}, journal = {Brain \& language : a journal of the neurobiology of language}, number = {3}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {San Diego}, issn = {0093-934X}, doi = {10.1016/j.bandl.2012.12.010}, pages = {345 -- 355}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The current study examines the neural correlates of 8-to-12-year-old children and adults producing inflected word forms, specifically regular vs. irregular past-tense forms in English, using a silent production paradigm. ERPs were time-locked to a visual cue for silent production of either a regular or irregular past-tense form or a 3rd person singular present tense form of a given verb (e.g., walked/sang vs. walks/sings). Subsequently, another visual stimulus cued participants for an overt vocalization of their response. ERP results for the adult group revealed a negativity 300-450 ms after the silent-production cue for regular compared to irregular past-tense forms. There was no difference in the present form condition. Children's brain potentials revealed developmental changes, with the older children demonstrating more adult-like ERP responses than the younger ones. We interpret the observed ERP responses as reflecting combinatorial processing involved in regular (but not irregular) past-tense formation.}, language = {en} } @misc{BeurskensMuehlbauerGranacher2015, author = {Beurskens, Rainer and M{\"u}hlbauer, Thomas and Granacher, Urs}, title = {Association of dual-task walking performance and leg muscle quality in healthy children}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-75100}, pages = {7}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Background Previous literature mainly introduced cognitive functions to explain performance decrements in dual-task walking, i.e., changes in dual-task locomotion are attributed to limited cognitive information processing capacities. In this study, we enlarge existing literature and investigate whether leg muscular capacity plays an additional role in children's dual-task walking performance. Methods To this end, we had prepubescent children (mean age: 8.7 ± 0.5 years, age range: 7-9 years) walk in single task (ST) and while concurrently conducting an arithmetic subtraction task (DT). Additionally, leg lean tissue mass was assessed. Results Findings show that both, boys and girls, significantly decrease their gait velocity (f = 0.73), stride length (f = 0.62) and cadence (f = 0.68) and increase the variability thereof (f = 0.20-0.63) during DT compared to ST. Furthermore, stepwise regressions indicate that leg lean tissue mass is closely associated with step time and the variability thereof during DT (R2 = 0.44, p = 0.009). These associations between gait measures and leg lean tissue mass could not be observed for ST (R2 = 0.17, p = 0.19). Conclusion We were able to show a potential link between leg muscular capacities and DT walking performance in children. We interpret these findings as evidence that higher leg muscle mass in children may mitigate the impact of a cognitive interference task on DT walking performance by inducing enhanced gait stability.}, language = {en} } @article{BeurskensMuehlbauerGranacher2015, author = {Beurskens, Rainer and M{\"u}hlbauer, Thomas and Granacher, Urs}, title = {Association of dual-task walking performance and leg muscle quality in healthy children}, series = {BMC pediatrics}, volume = {15}, journal = {BMC pediatrics}, number = {2}, publisher = {BioMed Central}, address = {London}, issn = {1471-2431}, doi = {10.1186/s12887-015-0317-8}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Background Previous literature mainly introduced cognitive functions to explain performance decrements in dual-task walking, i.e., changes in dual-task locomotion are attributed to limited cognitive information processing capacities. In this study, we enlarge existing literature and investigate whether leg muscular capacity plays an additional role in children's dual-task walking performance. Methods To this end, we had prepubescent children (mean age: 8.7 ± 0.5 years, age range: 7-9 years) walk in single task (ST) and while concurrently conducting an arithmetic subtraction task (DT). Additionally, leg lean tissue mass was assessed. Results Findings show that both, boys and girls, significantly decrease their gait velocity (f = 0.73), stride length (f = 0.62) and cadence (f = 0.68) and increase the variability thereof (f = 0.20-0.63) during DT compared to ST. Furthermore, stepwise regressions indicate that leg lean tissue mass is closely associated with step time and the variability thereof during DT (R2 = 0.44, p = 0.009). These associations between gait measures and leg lean tissue mass could not be observed for ST (R2 = 0.17, p = 0.19). Conclusion We were able to show a potential link between leg muscular capacities and DT walking performance in children. We interpret these findings as evidence that higher leg muscle mass in children may mitigate the impact of a cognitive interference task on DT walking performance by inducing enhanced gait stability.}, language = {en} }