Racial disparities in infant health conditions have persisted for decades. However, there is surprisingly limited evidence regarding the long-term consequences of these disparities. Using novel linked administrative data from Texas and the shift to Medicaid Managed Care (MMC), I show that MMC-driven declines in infant health worsened cognitive and…

The present article aims to systematically summarize the effects of free-play (FP) on preschool-aged children's physical activity (PA) level, and motor (MC), cognitive (CC), and socioemotional competence evaluated through randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. A systematic review of relevant articles was carried out using two electronic…

Physical education is often viewed as a public health tool that can be used to increase the amount of physical activity young people engage in. However, not only should the amount of physical activity at school and in physical education lessons be increased, but students should also acquire the knowledge, skills, motivation and responsibility that…

Water is essential for life. The brain, heart, kidneys, and lungs require continued hydration to function, and our bodies need water for digestion, nutrient absorption, blood distribution, and so much more. While water comprises around 60% of the adult body, 75% of infants' bodies are water. Children also drink more water per pound of body weight…

Adolescent health and well-being are abysmal due to low and declining physical activity rates, increasing mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, and minimal opportunities to engage in meaningful social experiences. Adolescents who live in communities that are underserved face greater risks for experiencing health disparities…

While there is wide consensus regarding the importance of early intervention, health is rarely considered within priorities. Twenty-five children on the autism spectrum (M[subscript age] = 4.67, SD = 0.82) participated in a 12-week physical activity intervention. Primary objective was to examine impact of a physical activity intervention on…

Gradients across socioeconomic status occur for many children's health and improvement in high-income countries. The objective is to explore infant growth and child development in four developed countries around the socioeconomic landscape. In this paper, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) enhances the socioeconomic status gradients for the…

Background: Armed conflicts continue to threaten a vast number of children across the world, especially in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Evidence-based interventions are vital to adequately address the mental health needs in these groups. Objective: This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive update of the most current…

As a popular tenant underpinning paediatric health service provision, the ability of health professionals to achieve Family-Centred Care (FCC) is often questioned. A major factor has been the judgmental attitudes and behaviour of health professionals. According to expectancy-value theory, individuals' behavioural decisions are based on their…

While schools have seen an influx of federal and state dollars for more services to combat the youth mental health crisis, parents have often been overlooked as allies. When supported with information, classes, and ongoing school engagement opportunities, parents can better identify signs of mental distress in their children and ways to increase…

A growing awareness of the negative impact of childhood trauma and adversity on life outcomes has led many schools to seek out ways to become trauma-informed. School psychologists, given their expertise and scope of practice in schools, could be considered potential leaders in such a movement. Given a growing body of theoretical and empirical…

Background: Nutrition is important in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Because nutritional problems of children with ASD can lead to nutritional deficiencies and this can also directly or indirectly affect symptoms related to autism. We investigated the effect of diet and supplementation treatments on gastrointestinal, behavioral or sleep problems…

The "UN Convention on the Rights of the Child" is one of the most widely-ratified human rights treaties, yet the visibility of children in the early years, in the mandatory government reports to the "UN Committee on the Rights of the Child" and in the Committee's concluding observations to States Parties, is relatively low…

This double-blind, randomized controlled trial, tested fatty acid (FA) supplementation in children (ages 2- < 6 years) recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants received daily oral FA supplement containing omega-3 and omega-6 FA, or a placebo for 90 days based on participant weight. Erythrocyte FAs and the cytokines,…

Dealing with numbers is an inherent aspect of interpreting health statistics, and negative emotions may interfere with medical decision making. One emotionally charged decision-making context is parents making medical decisions for their children. Knowing which factors--such as anxiety specific to math contexts--are associated with parents'…