Proposal summaries
B293 - Adult learning in ALSPAC - 01/01/2003
The purpose of this adult learning module was twofold:
1) To add to and update our knowledge about adult participation in learning activities including reasons for participating, attitudes to learning, benefits and barriers.
2) To help us better understand the educational cultures in the homes of young people, including any wider effects of adult learning on the family.
Ultimately this will allow us to develop a better understanding of the relationship between parents' education and learning activities and their children's social and emotional development.
Recent Government policy including that set out in the FE White Paper 'Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances' has emphasised the importance of equipping adults with the skills, competences and qualifications that employers value and which will prepare people to succeed in life and work. There is also recognition of the importance of learning for personal fulfilment and community development, and as parents, in supporting their children's educational progress and achievement.
B291 - Developing access to the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children a scoping study - 01/01/2003
In this note we describe the capability of ALSPAC to add to national data resources available for UK social scientists interested in studying patterns of social change over the post-war period.
The focus is on ALSPAC as a "missing cohort," i.e. its value in relation to the 1958, 1970 and Millennium Cohorts, rather than as a self-contained study. Therefore, we do not describe the full breadth of ALSPAC but rather draw out the common elements that might be of use in a cross-cohort study. We describe the data provided by these four cohort studies that may be of value to social scientists interested in studying and analysing national patterns and post-war trends in relation to the following related issues:
- child attainment and development
- the family and social contexts of children
- the characteristics and behaviours of families and parents
We describe some of the key variables that would be of use to social scientists interested in addressing these issues separately or jointly. This is far from being an exhaustive list of all the many domains of measurement in these four rich studies but is indicative of the breadth and commonality of measurement that social scientists could draw on in a cross-cohort study. We focus on construct measurement without providing any discussion of appropriate methods for any particular cross-cohort analysis.
To structure the discussion of variables and measurement we adopt a classification that we hope spans the different disciplines of social scientists who may wish to explore the cross-cohort issues. The following broad categories are used:
- Socio-economic and demographic factors
- Characteristics of the home & family
- Proximal processes within the home
- Child factors
- Other contexts
The variables described under these headings are specified below. For each of these variables the following sections then set out key measures in the four datasets.
Socio-economic and demographic factors
Family SEG
Parental employment status and details
Parental education
Household income
Family structure and family size
Age of parents
Ethnicity
Characteristics of the home & family
Housing
Pregnancy and birth of the study child
Parental physical health (as child)
Parental physical health (as adult)
Parental mental health
Parental attitudes, beliefs & values
Proximal processes within the home
Breastfeeding
Immunisations
Parenting
Home learning
Interpersonal relationships
Child factors
Ante-natal health
Child development measures
Physical health
Other contexts
Neighbourhood
Average income & education
Social capital
Pre-school & other child-care
Type & use
Age started formal care
Hours
Quality
Informal care
School factors
Characteristics of the child in school
Characteristics of the school
Peer group
Funding
Pedagogy
Ethos.
B283 - Lymphoblastoid cell line generation banking and related services for sample collections in human biomedical research - 01/01/2003
The primary aim was to develop all aspects of a robot-assisted human EBV-transformed, lymphoblastoid cell line facility within the ALSPAC population genetics laboratory in Bristol, so as to provide a reliable service for groups using large sample collections for human biomedical research. Once spare capacity arose following ALSPAC and 1958 Birth Cohort (58BC) work, this service was to be available, first, for selected Wellcome Trust funded research groups wishing to generate and bank cell lines, to use DNA from such cell lines or to study the cell lines themselves. A secondary aim was to learn more about the usefulness of EBV-transformed cell lines in genetic epidemiology beyond just providing a renewable source of DNA.
B160 - Does proximity to high voltage power lines influence child development and morbidity in the local population A test of the corona ion hypothesis - 01/12/2002
(No outline received).
B91 - Abnormal eye growth and myopia - a study of the genetic and environmental risk factors - 01/12/2002
(No outline received).
B90 - The risk factors and natural history of allergic and obstructive airway disease and associated atopic problems in children teenagers and adults - 01/12/2002
(No outline received).
B89 - How do genes modify the prenatal effects of tobacco smoke paracetamol and antioxidant exposures on childhood respiratory outcomes - 01/12/2002
The extent to which oxidant exposures such as tobacco smoke and paracetamol are detrimental, and antioxidants are
beneficial, to lung health, will depend partly on variation in genes involved in antioxidant defences and xenobiotic
metabolism and detoxification. However, few epidemiological studies have explored interactions between such genes
and oxidant/antioxidant exposures on childhood respiratory outcomes.
We will study how relevant gene polymorphisms in the mother and child modify effects of prenatal and postnatal
exposure to tobacco smoke, paracetamol and antioxidants on childhood lung function, wheezing, asthma and
bronchial hyper-responsiveness, in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a large population-based
birth cohort, which has collected DNA from mothers as well as from children.
Confirmation of interactions between oxidant/antioxidant exposures and gene variants which influence antioxidant
function and xenobiotic toxicity would provide stronger evidence that the effects of the environmental risk factors are
causal, and may provide insights into mechanisms. By increasing our understanding of the early life influences on lung
development we hope to devise new strategies aimed at the primary prevention of lung disease in children and the
optimisation of their respiratory health.
B81 - Adaptive modelling of human infant growth - 01/11/2002
(No outline received).
B290 - Long and short term health impact of parent-child relationships - 01/10/2002
1) To test the hypothesis that the quality of the parent-child relationship predicts subsequent physical health independently of socio-economic factors such as social class, maternal education, household income, maternal age and biological factors such as parental smoking and breast feeding.
2) To estimate the role of potential mediators such as parental mental health, the quality of the parent-parent relationship, the child's temperament and child mental health in the possible causal pathways between parent-child relationship quality and subsequent health.
To test the hypothesis that the quality of the parent-child relationship predicts indicators of subsequent physical health such as waist circumference relative to BMI (internal adipose tissue) and blood pressure.
B79 - Investigating the heritability and epidemiology of non-clinical psychotic phenomena in the general population - 01/10/2002
(No outline received).
B78 - The long-term consequences of exposure to dioxin dioxin-like PCBs on the childs neurodevelopment - and their interaction with susceptible genotype a genetic approach - 01/10/2002
(No outline received).
B77 - Caffeine consumption and its impact on mood cognition and behaviour in children - 01/10/2002
(No outline received).
B76 - MRC Senior Non-Clinical Research Fellowship - 01/09/2002
(No outline received).
B75 - Understanding the relationship between diet and dental erosion in a cohort of 12 year olds - 01/09/2002
(No outline received).
B74 - Effects of lifestyle on bone mass acquisition in early puberty - 01/08/2002
We aim to investigate whether lifestyle in early puberty influences bone mass acquisition during this period, and as a result likely to effect the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life. This will be addressed by analysing whether diet, exercise or other factors as assessed at age 10.5 years are associated with gain in bone mass, as measured between the ages of 9.5 and 11.5 years in the ALSPAC cohort.
B73 - Childrens attitudes and experiences of race racism inter-relationships - 01/08/2002
Background
Statistics suggest that race and experiences of racial discrimination have an important impact upon almost every aspect of children's lives, affecting their emotional, social and cultural well-being, as well as physical and mental health. These issues also have an impact upon both academic attainment and employment prospects, and in turn with the transition into adulthood (Greater London Authority, 2007).
In England and Wales, health inequalities attributable to ethnicity and social deprivation are reflected in epidemiological data and infant mortality statistics (Davey-Smith et al, 2000; Office for National Statistics; Hessol et al, 2005). One study has shown a higher rate of admission to paediatric intensive care for children from certain ethnic minority backgrounds (most notably South Asian children, with a 36% higher admission rate compared with Caucasian children) (Parslow et al, 2009).
However, there are limited published data exploring childrens' racial attitudes and experiences, particularly from the UK. One recent study has suggested that implicit maternal beliefs regarding race are a significant predictor of a child's racial attitudes (Castelli et al, 2009). Several studies have suggested that the degree of inter-racial mixing decreases with advancing age (Virdee et al, 1999; Pitts et al, 2000).
Research from the United States has suggested that children from ethnically homogenous schools tend to evaluate ethnic minority peers more critically and are less likely to form friendships with these children than with other children of a similar racial background (McGlothlin et al, 2006).
Aim:
To assess the attitudes and experiences of race and inter-racial relationships amongst children aged 12 years.
Objectives:
- To analyse the attitudes of young people towards race and racism.
- To assess the nature of inter-racial relationships amongst children at school and in the community.
- To ascertain children's experiences of racial bullying and discrimination.
- To analyse the ways in which experiences of inter-racial relationships differ according to ethnicity, gender and social class.
- To explore the impact of race and inter-racial relationships upon a child's social, cultural and emotional well-being.
Methods
A written questionnaire survey of approximately 10,000 ALSPAC children aged 12 years was used to assess attitudes to race and racism. In consultation with the funders (NSPCC) and in collaboration with Prof Tariq Modood, a series of questions were developed on racial attitudes, drawing on questions used in previous surveys of young people in the UK. Predominantly closed questions were used to assess responses, and the questions were included in the 'All around me' questionnaire completed by 12 year olds in 2003-5.
These data have yet to be analysed, so initial analysis will be univariate and descriptive. Associations will be explored between racial identity, gender, friendship groups, bullying and school context.
Exposure and outcome variables
The exposure measured in this study is the questionnaire answers relating to racial attitudes and experiences.
The primary outcome variable is the experience of bulling and racism. Secondary outcome variables are self-esteem, impact upon personal identity and self-categorisation of ethnicity, mental health problems including anxiety and depression, physical health, friendships, academic achievement and employment prospects.
Confounding factors
Confounding factors are likely to include maternal and paternal age, attitudes of parents or guardians, sibling attitudes and behaviour, social class, poverty, disability, ethnicity, religion, nature of residence in the UK (whether temporary or permanent), gender, schooling (including whether private, grammar or state school), and ethnic composition of the school the child attends and local community in which they live.
References
Greater London Authority. The State of London's Children Report. 2007. Accessed at http://www.legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/children/docs/solc-main-2007.rtf. Last accessed 22/02/11.
Davey-Smith G, Chaturvedi N, Harding S et al. Ethnic inequalities in health: a review of the epidemiological evidence. Critical Public Health. 2000; 10: 375-408.
Office for National Statistics. Infant mortality by ethnic group, England and Wales. Series DH3 no.36. London: Office for National Statistics, 2005. Accessed from http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15111&Pos=1&ColRa...
Last accessed 22/02/11.
Hessol NA, Fuentes-Afflick E. Ethnic differences in neonatal and postneonatal mortality. Pediatrics. 2005; 115: 44-51.
Parslow RC, Tasker RC, Draper ES et al. Epidemiology of critically ill children in England and Wales: incidence, mortality, deprivation and ethnicity. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 2009; 94: 210-15.
Castelli L, Zogmaister C and Tomelleri. The transmission of racial attitudes within the family. Developmental Psychology. 2009; 42 (2): 586-591.
Virdee S, Modood T, Newburn T et al. Understanding racial harassment in schools. Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. University of Strathclyde and Bristol. 1999. Accessed at http://www.regard.ac.uk.
Pitts J, Marlow A, Porteous D et al. Inter-group and inter-racial violence and the victimisation of school students in a London neighbourhood. Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, Violence Research Programme. University of Luton. 2000. Accessed at http://www.regard.ac.uk.
McGlothlin H, Killen M. Intergroup attitudes of European American children attending ethnically homogenous schools. Child Development. 2006; 77 (5): 1375-86.
B72 - Middle childhood risk protective factors for the onset of risky sexual behaviours in adolescence - 01/08/2002
(No outline received).
B289 - Prevalence of borderline personality disorder in children - 01/07/2002
(No outline received).
B71 - Collagen genes and urinary continence - 01/07/2002
(No outline received).
B70 - Identification of children with autism and autistic spectrum disorder - 01/07/2002
(No outline received).