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Biomedical subjects

C Puckering

Publications and source records attributed to C Puckering.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Mother-child interaction and the cognitive and behavioural development of four-year-old children with poor growth.

A whole population inner-city survey identified 23 stunted, otherwise healthy, children with persistently poor growth from infancy to 4 years. Their cognitive development was significantly retarded relative to a matched comparison group. Unstructured home observations were used to create transcripts of verbal and nonverbal mother-child interactions. In both groups child behavioural adjustment was linked to maternal negativity, and cognitive performance was correlated with quality of stimulation. The developmental delay associated with chronic failure to thrive appeared more likely to arise from other influences, perhaps a previous biological insult, than to contemporaneous parenting practices.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Evaluation of a home visiting and befriending scheme for young mothers: Newpin.

Befriending schemes to support families with young children are now widespread in the United Kingdom. One such scheme, Newpin, which aims to prevent child abuse is described. Evaluation compared those recruited to befriend as well as those befriended. Assessments at baseline and 6 months' follow-up comprised interviews with mothers, developmental assessments of the children and observation of mother-child interaction using video tapes. All assessments were conducted in the home and similar measures were applied to a control sample in an area where a Newpin scheme was planned. Newpin recruits, whether befrienders or befriended had high rates of adverse early experiences, but depression was more common amongst those referred for befriending. Approximately a third did not sustain involvement in the scheme, but those that did were more likely to have had training as volunteers and mental health problems of more than 2 years' duration.

Child Abuse↗
PubMed1987

Growth retardation and developmental delay amongst inner-city children.

A whole population survey of an inner-city health district (population 130,000) was undertaken in order to study the association between social deprivation and non-organic growth delay in preschool children. Potential cases were identified from health clinic records. Cases comprised white, full-term singletons, whose weight and height lay below the tenth centile at 4 years of age. Allowance was made for parental stature. A comparison group was closely matched for socio-economic conditions, and other salient variables. Case children were comparatively significantly delayed in all areas of their cognitive development. One-third were seriously retarded and likely to require special education.

Body Height↗
PubMed1987

The impact of maternal depression in young children.

An urban working class sample of depressed mothers with two-yr-old children was compared with a control group of non-depressed mothers using maternal interviews, home observation of mother/child interaction, and developmental assessment of the children. Measures were repeated after six months. Children of depressed mothers showed more emotional and behavioural disturbance and delay in expressive language development. Depressed mothers had more past and current adverse experiences, particularly in close relationships. In general depressed mothers were less responsive to their children and less able to sustain social interaction: their children were more often distressed, but there was a big variation in quality of mother/child interaction within the depressed group.

Child Rearing↗
PubMed1987

Nutrition and mealtime behaviour in families of growth-retarded children.

A sample of 4-year-olds from a London inner city area whose growth fell below the 10th population centile for height and weight were matched with children whose rate of growth was within normal limits. Neither food intake nor gross environmental variables distinguished the two groups. However, mealtime observations revealed considerably more disorganization and negative attitudes in case group families. Retrospective information obtained by interview indicates that these factors had been operative since early infancy. The findings suggest that in surveys of child nutrition the role of family dysfunction should be considered.

Attitude↗