OBJECTIVE: To determine whether dietary supplementation or psychosocial stimulation given to growth retarded (stunted) children age 9-24 months has long term benefits for their psychosocial functioning in late adolescence. DESIGN: Sixteen year follow-up study of a randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Poor neighbourhoods in Kingston, Jamaica. PARTICIPANTS: Of 129 stunted children identified at age 9-24 months, 103 adolescents aged 17-18 were followed up. INTERVENTION: Supplementation with 1 kg milk based formula each week or psychosocial stimulation (weekly play sessions with mother and child), or both, for two years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anxiety, depression, self esteem, and antisocial behaviour assessed by questionnaires administered by interviewers; attention deficit, hyperactivity, and oppositional behaviour assessed by interviews with parents. RESULTS: Primary analysis indicated that participants who received stimulation had significantly different overall scores from those who did not (F = 2.047, P = 0.049). Supplementation had no significant effect (F = 1.505, P = 0.17). Participants who received stimulation reported less anxiety (mean difference - 2.81, 95% confidence interval - 5.02 to - 0.61), less depression (- 0.43, - 0.78 to - 0.07), and higher self esteem (1.55, 0.08 to 3.02) and parents reported fewer attention problems (- 3.34, - 6.48 to - 0.19). These differences are equivalent to effect sizes of 0.40-0.49 standard deviations. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulation in early childhood has sustained benefits to stunted children's emotional outcomes and attention.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether dietary supplementation or psychosocial stimulation given to growth retarded (stunted) children age 9-24 months has long term benefits for their psychosocial functioning in late adolescence. DESIGN: Sixteen year follow-up study of a randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Poor neighbourhoods in Kingston, Jamaica. PARTICIPANTS: Of 129 stunted children identified at age 9-24 months, 103 adolescents aged 17-18 were followed up. INTERVENTION: Supplementation with 1 kg milk based formula each week or psychosocial stimulation (weekly play sessions with mother and child), or both, for two years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anxiety, depression, self esteem, and antisocial behaviour assessed by questionnaires administered by interviewers; attention deficit, hyperactivity, and oppositional behaviour assessed by interviews with parents. RESULTS: Primary analysis indicated that participants who received stimulation had significantly different overall scores from those who did not (F = 2.047, P = 0.049). Supplementation had no significant effect (F = 1.505, P = 0.17). Participants who received stimulation reported less anxiety (mean difference - 2.81, 95% confidence interval - 5.02 to - 0.61), less depression (- 0.43, - 0.78 to - 0.07), and higher self esteem (1.55, 0.08 to 3.02) and parents reported fewer attention problems (- 3.34, - 6.48 to - 0.19). These differences are equivalent to effect sizes of 0.40-0.49 standard deviations. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulation in early childhood has sustained benefits to stunted children's emotional outcomes and attention.
Authors: J R Galler; C P Bryce; D Waber; R S Hock; N Exner; D Eaglesfield; G Fitzmaurice; R Harrison Journal: J Child Psychol Psychiatry Date: 2010-03-10 Impact factor: 8.982
Authors: Janina R Galler; Cyralene P Bryce; Deborah P Waber; Gayle Medford; G David Eaglesfield; Garrett Fitzmaurice Journal: Nutr Neurosci Date: 2011-07 Impact factor: 4.994
Authors: Jan L Wallander; Elizabeth McClure; Fred Biasini; Shivaprasad S Goudar; Omrana Pasha; Elwyn Chomba; Darlene Shearer; Linda Wright; Vanessa Thorsten; Hrishikesh Chakraborty; Sangappa M Dhaded; Niranjana S Mahantshetti; Roopa M Bellad; Zahid Abbasi; Waldemar Carlo Journal: BMC Pediatr Date: 2010-04-30 Impact factor: 2.125