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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Adult affective disorder and early environment.

Childhood precursors of symptoms of depression and anxiety were investigated in a national population sample of over 3000 men and women, aged 36 years. Early-life data had been collected prospectively for all subjects. A number of factors, differing for men and women, were found to be significant predictors of adult disorder. Some factors showed strong effects but tended to apply to relatively few individuals, while other more common circumstances had modest influences. Overall, early environment did not seem to hold great significance for adult affective disorder, although multiple disadvantages had a cumulative deleterious effect. There was little evidence of early benefits being protective.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

[A preliminary exploration of the factors of some early family environment in schizophrenia].

The relations between the factors of some early family environment and the psychosis in 200 cases of schizophrenia and 50 cases of argunic psychosis were studied with a comparison. As a result, a significant difference was showed (chi 2 = 5.06, P less than 0.05), OR = 4.18, and the confidence limit of 95 per cent was 1.20 to 14.51. It's considered that these factors are closely related to schizophrenia.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1977

Influence of certain language and communication environments in early childhood on the development of language in deaf individuals.

Four groups of deaf subjects between the age of 10-0 and 18-11 years were tested, employing the Test of Syntactic Ability, and the language subtests of the Stanford Achievement Test, in a study of the influence of early language and communication environment on later syntactic language ability. The groups, 18 subjects in each, were dichotomized by whether the parents were hearing or deaf and further subgrouped by the language ability of the parents if the parents were deaf, and by the amount and intensity of oral preschool training provided by the parents if the parents were hearing. The groups were labeled by the type of language used with them in infancy and early childhood: manual English, average manual, intensive oral, and average oral. Results showed significant superiority of the manual English group over the two oral groups on five of the six major test structures of the Test of Syntactic Ability. On the Stanford Achievement Test, the manual English group performed significantly better than the other three groups on all four subtests. The two manual groups performed significantly better than the two oral groups on every test measure employed.

Achievement↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Substance misuse and the physical environment: the early action on a newly completed field.

Transactions between individuals and their physical settings involving consciousness-altering drugs are examined. Research has gradually expanded outward from the individual and the drug to include the social and, finally, the physical context of drug use and misuse. Similarly, theory has evolved from simple unidirectional causal tenets to complex multidirectional contextual tenets. Research to date is sparse and does not live up to the ambitious vision of current theoretical views, but some results are striking and provocative. The review is framed in terms of physical scale (macro-, meso-, and microenvironments) and specificity (from molecular features of a setting to molar environmental characteristics such as stimulation level). Three temporal phases are considered: the development, maintenance, and cessation of substance misuse. The paucity of empirical research combined with the potential importance of environmental factors means that many challenging questions remain for a new generation of researchers.

Humans↗
PubMed1977

Alienation: character neuroses and narcissistic disorders.

Various defensive adaptations are described that patients with structural defects involving the self-representation (character neurotics) use to adapt to the external world, often achieving an organization sufficiently stable to lead to considerable success. Externalization rather than projection is used. The differences between these two psychic processes are important for our understanding of character neurotics. Projection signifies placing impulses or parts of the self into external objects whereas externalization involves creating or finding a reality to support the defences, including projecting. The patient externalizes his infantile traumatic environment to construct a current world after his early environment which he finds both threatening and familar. Clinical material illustrates how the process of externalization operating within the transference context may lead to special technical problems. One type of character neurotic demonstrates a special type of externalization which supports overcompensatory feelings of self-aggrandizement, which are in effect, narcissistic defenses. To varying degrees, all character neurotics have some narcissistic defenses. Countertransference problems are also discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1976

Life-history tactics: a review of the ideas.

This review organizes ideas on the evolution of life histories. The key life-history traits are brood size, size of young, the age distribution of reproductive effort, the interaction of reproductive effort with adult mortality, and the variation in these traits among an individual's progeny. The general theoretical problem is to predict which combinations of traits will evolve in organisms living in specified circumstances. First consider single traits. Theorists have made the following predictions: (1) Where adult exceeds juvenile mortality, the organism should reproduce only once in its lifetime. Where juvenile exceeds adult mortality, the organism should reproduce several times. (2) Brood size should macimize the number of young surviving to maturity, summed over the lifetime of the parent. But when optimum brood-size unpredictably in time, smaller broods should be favored because they decrease the chances of total failure on a given attempt. (3) In expanding populations, selection should minimize age at maturity. In stable populations, when reproductive success depends on size, age, or social status, or when adult exceeds juvenile mortality, then maturation should be delayed, as it should be in declining populations. (4) Young should increase in size at birth with increased predation risk, and decrease in size with increased resource availability. Theorists have also predicted that only particular combinations of traits should occur in specified circumstances. (5) In growing populations, age at maturity should be minimized, reproductive effort concentrated early in life, and brood size increased. (6) One view holds that in stable environments, late maturity, broods, a few, large young, parental care, and small reproductive efforts should be favored (K-selection). In fluctuating environments, early maturity, many small young, reduced parental care, and large reproductive efforts should be favored (r-selection). (7) But another view holds that when juvenile mortality fluctuates more than adult mortality, the traits associated with stable and fluctuating environments should be reversed. We need experiments that test the assumptions and predictions reviewed here, more comprehensive theory that makes more readily falsifiable predictions, and examination of different definitions of fitness.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Cellular mechanisms underlying the development and expression of individual differences in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress response.

Several years ago Levine, Denenberg, Ader, and others described the effects of postnatal "handling" on the development of behavioral and endocrine responses to stress. As adults, handled rats exhibited attenuated fearfulness in novel environments and a less pronounced increase in the secretion of the adrenal glucocorticoids in response to a variety of stressors. These findings clearly demonstrated that the development of rudimentary, adaptive responses to stress could be modified by environmental events. We have followed these earlier studies, convinced that this paradigm provides a marvellous opportunity to examine how subtle variations in the early environment alter the development of specific neurochemical systems, leading to stable individual differences in biological responses to stimuli that threaten homeostasis. In this work we have shown how early handling influences the development of certain brain regions that regulate glucocorticoid negative-feedback inhibition over hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity. Specifically, handling increases glucocorticoid (type II corticosteroid) receptor density in the hippocampus and frontal cortex, enhancing the sensitivity of these structures to the negative-feedback effects of elevated circulating glucocorticoids, and increasing the efficacy of neural inhibition over ACTH secretion. These effects are reflected in the differential secretory pattern of ACTH and corticosterone in handled and nonhandled animals under conditions of stress. In more recent years, using a hippocampal cell culture system, we have provided evidence for the importance of serotonin-induced changes in cAMP levels in mediating the effect of postnatal handling on hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor density. The results of these studies are consistent with the idea that environmental events in early life can permanently alter glucocorticoid receptor gene expression in the hippocampus, providing evidence for a neural mechanism for the development of individual differences in HPA function.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The effects of neonatal handling on the development of the adrenocortical response to stress: implications for neuropathology and cognitive deficits in later life.

Several years ago Levine, Denenberg, Weininger, Ader, and others described the effects of postnatal "handling" on the development of behavioral and endocrine responses to stress. The handling procedure usually involved removing rat pups from their cages, placing the animals together in small containers, and 15-20 min later, returning the animals to their cages and their mothers. The manipulation was performed daily for the first 21 days of life. As adults, handled (H) rats exhibited attenuated fearfulness (e.g., decreased freezing, increased exploration) in novel environments and a less pronounced increase in the secretion of adrenal glucocorticoids in response to a variety of stressors. These findings clearly demonstrated that the development of rudimentary, adaptive responses to stress could be modified by environmental events. We have followed on these earlier handling studies, convinced that this paradigm provides a marvelous opportunity to examine how subtle variations in the early environment alter the development of specific biochemical systems in the brain, leading to stable individual differences in biological responses to stimuli that threaten homeostasis. In this work we have shown how early handling influences the neurochemical development of certain brain regions that regulate the adrenocortical response to stress. Neonatal handling increases the efficiency of this endocrine response to stress, preventing excessive exposure to the highly catabolic adrenal steroids. In later life, this effect appears to protect the animal from potentially damaging effects of these steroids, ensuring the anatomical integrity of brain structures involved in cognitive functioning.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1991

The first cellular bioenergetic process: primitive generation of a proton-motive force.

It is proposed that the energy-transducing system of the first cellular organism and its precursor was fueled by the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide and ferric sulfide to iron pyrites and two [H+] on the outside surface of a vesicle (the cell membrane), with the concomitant reduction of CO or CO2 on the interior. The resulting proton gradient across the cell membrane provides a proton-motive force, so that a variety of kinds of work can be done. It is envisioned as providing a selective advantage for cells capable of harvesting this potential. The proposed reactants for these reactions are consistent with the predicted composition of the Earth's early environment. Modern-day homologs of the ancestral components of the energy-transducing system are thought to be membrane-associated ferredoxins for the extracellular redox reaction, carbon monoxide dehydrogenase for the carbon fixation reaction, and ATPase for the harvesting of the proton gradient. With a source of consumable energy, the cell could drive chemical reactions and transport events in such a way as to be exploited by Darwinian evolution.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1990

A qualitative analysis of adult incest survivors' responses to sexual involvement with therapists.

Six women who had histories of incest and had been sexually involved with therapists participated in qualitative research employing semi-structured, open-ended interviews. Transcribed interviews were content analyzed for recurrent regularities in topics, themes, events, and dynamics. Following content and cluster analyses of interviews, three overall themes emerged that appeared most salient in attempting to understand the development and maintenance of therapeutic relationships in which incest survivors experienced additional abuse. The themes were (1) early environment that prohibited the development of a sense of "personhood" in incest survivors, (2) repeated experiences of depersonalization inside and outside of therapy that reinforced a state of non-personhood, and (3) adoption of a "surrender pattern" to cope with violations, including therapist violations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Infant development in father-absent families.

In a sample of 55 black infants (age 5-6 months) living in the inner city in lower socioeconomic circumstances, 27 infants were being reared by their mothers in single-parent families. Male infants who had experienced minimal interaction with their fathers were significantly lower on the Bayley Mental Developmental Index and in measures of social responsiveness, secondary circular reactions, and preferences for novel stimuli. Female infants in this sample appeared unaffected by the father's presence or absence. After weighing alternative interpretations of the findings, we conclude that the father is a significant component in the early environment and that both observational studies and conceptual development of the role of the father in infancy are needed.

Child Development↗
PubMed1976

Background of angina pectoris: social and environmental factors in relation to smoking.

Questionnaire data on about 1200 male twin pairs from the Registry at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, and on about 4000 male twin pairs from the Registry of the National Research Council, Washington, DC, have been used to study factors affecting angina pectoris. An operational definition of "angina pectoris" was developed from the questionnaire. In the available data, alcohol drinking, lack of exercise, frequent change of employer, low occupational adjustment and smoking are moderately but significantly related to angina among individuals (disregarding twin relationships) in both Sweden and the US. In monozygous US twin pairs discordant for the above variables, significantly different rates of angina appear only with alcohol drinking. In discordant dizygous US twin pairs, significantly different rates of angina appear with alcohol drinking and with low occupational adjustment. Of the independent variables only smoking and drinking are appreciably associated with each other. These findings suggest that alcohol drinking and to a lesser extent occupational adjustment are related to angina directly and not through their association with other factors such as age, genetic background, smoking, physical exercise and early environment.

Adult↗
PubMed2026

Age and early life adversity shape heterogeneity of the epigenome across tissues in macaques.

Age and early life adversity (ELA) are key determinants of health, but whether they affect similar physiological mechanisms across tissues is unknown. We generated DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles across 14 tissues in 237 semi-free-ranging rhesus macaques with naturally occurring ELA. Age-associated DNAm was predominantly tissue dependent, yet tissue-specific epigenetic clocks showed that epigenetic aging was relatively consistent within individuals. ELA effects were adversity dependent, but each ELA exerted coordinated effects across tissues. Although ELA targeted many of the same loci as age, the directions of effects differed, which indicates that ELA does not uniformly increase epigenetic age. Instead, ELA leaves a coordinated, cross-tissue epigenetic signature that is distinct from-yet intertwined with-age-related differences, which advances our understanding of how early environments sculpt the molecular foundations of aging and disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Satisfaction with clinical practice environments among early-career health professionals in South Africa: Findings from the WiSDOM cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The work or practice environments of health professionals play a central role in their retention in the healthcare system and their ability to provide quality patient care. The aim of the study was to examine and compare the satisfaction of early-career health professionals in the WiSDOM (Wits longitudinal Study to Determine the Operation of the labour Market among its health professional graduates) study with their clinical practice environments (CPEs) in South Africa, and the factors influencing their satisfaction. METHODS: WiSDOM, a prospective longitudinal cohort study, consists of eight health professions: clinical associates, dentists, doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, oral hygienists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists. Every year we collect information on the cohort's involvement in direct patient care, their perceived workload, availability of medicines and equipment for patients in their care, and their satisfaction with the clinical practice environment (CPE).We used Stata&#xae;19 for analysis. We used panel linear regression to investigate factors associated with the cohort's satisfaction with their clinical practice environments from 2018 to 2024, and logistic regression to evaluate the association between CPE and intention to leave in 2024. RESULTS: In 2024, the mean age of the cohort was 30.9 (&#xb1; 2.0), the majority were female (74.4%) and working in urban areas (92.7%). In 2024, 59.7% of the overall cohort reported a heavy workload compared to 69.2% in 2018. Over the follow-up period, reported problems with the availability of medicines or equipment were worse in the public sector and in rural areas, compared to the private sector and urban areas respectively.The cohort's satisfaction score with the CPE was 6.7 out of 10 in 2018 and 6.9 in 2024. The predictors of CPE were year of follow-up, health profession, employment sector, and geographic location. Nurses (&#x3b2;=-1.2; 95% CI -1.7, -0.7; p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001), and pharmacists (&#x3b2;=-0.7; 95% CI -1.1, -0.4; p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001) scored their CPE significantly lower compared to the other professional groups. Health professionals in the public sector (&#x3b2;=-1.1; 95% CI -1.3, -0.9; p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001) and in rural areas (&#x3b2;=-0.6; 95% CI -0.9, -0.3; p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001) were less satisfied with their CPE compared to those in the private sector and urban areas respectively. Dissatisfaction with the CPE was significantly associated with intention to leave the workplace and the profession. CONCLUSION: The study findings underscore the need for positive clinical practice environments for early-career health professionals in South Africa both as a health workforce and patient safety imperative.

South Africa↗
PubMed2026

Cooperative care influences genome-wide levels of DNA methylation in nestling chestnut-crowned babblers.

Carers in cooperatively breeding vertebrates increase food acquisition for offspring; however, they also impact the developmental social environment. One means of linking early-life environments, such as nutrition and social structure, with later-life phenotypes is DNA methylation. Here, using whole-genome methylation sequencing, we measured how additional carers influence DNA methylation in nestlings of the cooperatively breeding chestnut-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps). A comparison of nestlings raised by their parents (two carers) and those raised by parents plus additional helpers ('three plus' carers; mean = 4.3 &#xb1; 1.4 s.d.) revealed that additional care is associated with genome-wide differences in DNA methylation. Overall, 570 cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites from the regulatory regions of 487 genes were differentially methylated, with 85% being more methylated in nestlings reared by groups. Specifially, sites associated with genes that are integral for metabolism, growth, the regulation and promotion of sociality, the ability to cope with stressors, and cell communication were differentially methylated between the groups. Furthermore, gene ontology-term analysis revealed that differentially methylated sites were over-represented in multiple pathways, including those important for protein binding, metabolism and cell-to-cell and environment-to-cell communication. Our results suggest that the effects of being reared by groups as opposed to pairs in cooperative breeders can extend beyond those typically attributed to nutritional benefits and that these effects are molecularly mediated. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ecological epigenetics at the intersection of behaviour and life history variation in non-model animals'.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

The psychoanalytic impasse.

In the study of impediments to the success of psychoanalysis as a treatment method, the character structure of the analysand has received the most attention. Psychoanalysis has come to be used for the treatment of an ever-widening range of psychopathological states, and the analysts have become confronted with a greater incidence and variety of clinical situations which can develop into therapeutic obstacles. Whether the psychoanalytic impasse will become a therapeutic stepping-stone or an obstacle to treatment often depends upon the emotional response of the therapist and his resultant behavior. Accordingly, there has been a heightened interest in the study of countertransference. Some therapists equate the psychoanalytic treatment of patients with severe character deformations with "wild" analysis and therefore feel needless guilt and anxiety when they attemtp to treat patients who suffer from them; thus they increase the likelihood of their becoming therapeutic obstacles. We have considered the psychoanalytic impasse as an inevitable aspect of the analytic sequence and discussed countertransference reactions in this context. Technical complications resulting from adverse countertransference reactions are examined both in terms of the patient's provocations and responses in the analyst. Among the analyst's responses, three were emphasized: (1) helpless fellings which represent the patient's helplessness and vulnerability; (2) rage reactions; and (3) profound anxiety reactions. The patient's need to construct and environment similar to the early traumatic environment within the analysis can become a very difficult situation for a therapist. The resolution or at least understanding of these interactions becomes equivalent to the lifting of infantile amnesia, a step which has been considered the essence of psychoanalytic resolution. Thus, adverse reactions can become keys to the gaining of fundamental insights, permitting the analytic process to continue its inevitable course.

Anxiety↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of early training to cold environment on some neuroendocrine patterns in adult rats.

Experiments carried out on Wistar rats of either sex: controls; early trained to cold (day 1--30) and handled newborn rats, killed on day 105 show that cold exposure during neonatal period induces long-lasting changes, which persist during the adult life. The most important changes concern CNS metabolism (modifications of 32P-incorporation into cerebral phospholipids, phosphoproteins and nucleic acids) and thyroid function. The authors discuss the mechanisms of these changes and their biological significance.

Age Factors↗