Objective: There is increasing recognition that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with significant costs and burdens. However, research ...on their impact has focused mostly on the caregivers of young children; few studies have examined caregiver burden as children transition into adolescence and young adulthood, and no one has compared the impact of ASD to other neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., ADHD). Method: We conducted an observational study of 192 families caring for a young person (aged 14 to 24 years) with a childhood diagnosis of ASD or ADHD (n = 101 and n = 91, respectively) in the United Kingdom. A modified stress-appraisal model was used to investigate the correlates of caregiver burden as a function of family background (parental education), primary stressors (symptoms), primary appraisal (need), and resources (use of services). Results: Both disorders were associated with a high level of caregiver burden, but it was significantly greater in ASD. In both groups, caregiver burden was mainly explained by the affected young person's unmet need. Domains of unmet need most associated with caregiver burden in both groups included depression/anxiety and inappropriate behavior. Specific to ASD were significant associations between burden and unmet needs in domains such as social relationships and major mental health problems. Conclusions: Adolescence and young adulthood are associated with high levels of caregiver burden in both disorders; in ASD, the level is comparable to that reported by persons caring for individuals with a brain injury. Interventions are required to reduce caregiver burden in this population. (Contains 5 tables.)
Urban environmental exposures associate with adult depression, but it is unclear whether they are associated to postpartum depression (PPD).
We investigated associations between urban environment ...exposures during pregnancy and PPD.
We included women with singleton deliveries to liveborn children from 12 European birth cohorts (N with minimum one exposure = 30,772, analysis N range 17,686–30,716 depending on exposure; representing 26–46 % of the 66,825 eligible women). We estimated maternal exposure during pregnancy to ambient air pollution with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), road traffic noise (Lden), natural spaces (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index; NDVI, proximity to major green or blue spaces) and built environment (population density, facility richness and walkability). Maternal PPD was assessed 3–18 months after birth using self-completed questionnaires. We used adjusted logistic regression models to estimate cohort-specific associations between each exposure and PPD and combined results via meta-analysis using DataSHIELD.
Of the 30,772 women included, 3,078 (10 %) reported having PPD. Exposure to PM10 was associated with slightly increased odds of PPD (adjusted odd ratios (OR) of 1.08 95 % Confidence Intervals (CI): 0.99, 1.17 per inter quartile range increment of PM10) whilst associations for exposure to NO2 and PM2.5 were close to null. Exposure to high levels of road traffic noise (≥65 dB vs. < 65 dB) was associated with an OR of 1.12 CI: 0.95, 1.32. Associations between green spaces and PPD were close to null; whilst proximity to major blue spaces was associated with increased risk of PPD (OR 1.12, 95 %CI: 1.00, 1.26). All associations between built environment and PPD were close to null. Multiple exposure models showed similar results.
The study findings suggest that exposure to PM10, road traffic noise and blue spaces in pregnancy may increase PPD risk, however future studies should explore this causally.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+) requires harmonizing different policy sectors and interests that have impacts on forests. However, these ...elements have not been well-operationalized in environmental policy-making processes of most developing countries. Drawing on five cases-Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam, this article aims to determine whether emerging governance arrangements help REDD+ development by delivering participatory mechanisms for policy coordination. Building upon literature on environmental governance and stakeholder participation, the article examines national governance structures for REDD+ and identifies who participates where, and what decision-making powers they have. Despite structural differences between the countries, our analysis illustrates that REDD+ potentially encourages a new form of environmental governance promoting a cross-sectoral approach and stakeholder participation. Cohesiveness of the structures within a broader governance system is key to defining the capacity of REDD+ governance. The result also poses a question as to the inclusiveness of the state actors involved in order to tackle the different pressure on forests. Considering structural inequalities, the analysis further suggests a need of policy support for those who are affected by REDD+ to ensure that their voices could be heard in decision-making processes.
Common pregnancy and perinatal complications are associated with offspring cardiometabolic risk factors. These complications may influence multiple metabolic traits in the offspring and these ...associations might differ with offspring age.
We used data from eight population-based cohort studies to examine and compare associations of pre-eclampsia (PE), gestational hypertension (GH), gestational diabetes (GD), preterm birth (PTB), small (SGA) and large (LGA) for gestational age (vs. appropriate size for gestational age (AGA)) with up to 167 plasma/serum-based nuclear magnetic resonance-derived metabolic traits encompassing lipids, lipoproteins, fatty acids, amino acids, ketones, glycerides/phospholipids, glycolysis, fluid balance, and inflammation. Confounder-adjusted regression models were used to examine associations (adjusted for maternal education, parity age at pregnancy, ethnicity, pre/early pregnancy body mass index and smoking, and offspring sex and age at metabolic trait assessment), and results were combined using meta-analysis by five age categories representing different periods of the offspring life course: neonates (cord blood), infancy (mean ages: 1.1-1.6 years), childhood (4.2-7.5 years); adolescence (12.0-16.0 years), and adulthood (22.0-67.8 years).
Offspring numbers for each age category/analysis varied from 8925 adults (441 PTB) to 1181 infants (135 GD); 48.4% to 60.0% were females. Pregnancy complications (PE, GH, GD) were each associated with up to three metabolic traits in neonates (P≤0.001) with some evidence of persistence to older ages. PTB and SGA were associated with 32 and 12 metabolic traits in neonates respectively, which included an adjusted standardised mean difference of -0.89 standard deviation (SD) units for albumin with PTB (95% CI: -1.10 to -0.69, P=1.3×10
) and -0.41 SD for total lipids in medium HDL with SGA (95% CI: -0.56 to -0.25, P=2.6×10
), with some evidence of persistence to older ages. LGA was inversely associated with 19 metabolic traits including lower levels of cholesterol, lipoproteins, fatty acids, and amino acids, with associations emerging in adolescence, (e.g. -0.11 SD total fatty acids, 95% CI: -0.18 to -0.05, P=0.0009), and attenuating with older age across adulthood.
These reassuring findings suggest little evidence of wide-spread and long-term impact of common pregnancy and perinatal complications on offspring metabolic traits, with most associations only observed for newborns rather than older ages, and for perinatal rather than pregnancy complications.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
•Longitudinal analyses from a large birth cohort in the southeast of England.•Parental monitoring reduced likelihood of depression, anxiety, and self-harm in late adolescence.•Analyses did not ...indicate a role for emotional quality of the parent-child relationship.•No interaction of parenting with child gender in relation to outcomes.
Prior research examining the impact of parenting on adolescent mental health has been limited by the use of cross-sectional designs and small or clinical samples.
We used data (N = 6,212) from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a UK-based birth cohort study.
We found longitudinal evidence that parental monitoring in late childhood/early adolescence (ages 9.5–13.5), but not the emotional quality of the parent-child relationship, reduces the likelihood of offspring major depressive disorder (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.64, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.56 – 0.76), anxiety disorder (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.53 – 0.69), and self-harm (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.57 – 0.75) at age 18. Associations did not vary according to adolescent sex.
Findings indicate that parenting monitoring may be important for later adolescent mental health. Future research is needed to understand why this aspect of parenting is associated with better adolescent outcomes.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This paper investigates the views of multi-stakeholders on the governance quality of existing forest management strategies for red panda (Ailurus fulgens) protection in Nepal, focusing on forest ...governance in general, red panda conservation programmes and natural habitat protection in particular. The study deployed two surveys in August and September 2020. The first survey was conducted online for the stakeholders with internet access; for those without, it was conducted over the phone. While the results reveal almost similar perspectives among the stakeholders regarding the effectiveness of the red panda management approaches, they differ significantly between the online survey and telephonic survey, in terms of the relative scores given to these initiatives. In depth, follow-up interviews revealed that marginalised groups had little access to income generation from conservation activities and few capacity-building opportunities. These findings indicate that while management strategies for red panda conservation were generally considered effective by online survey participants which are generally more privileged, this is less effective for marginalised people. Local people, who are typically resource-poor and reliant on the forest, continue to endure inequitable resource distribution and benefit sharing. Consequently, greater attention should be paid to balancing the conservation needs and basic needs of forest-dependent communities through capacity building, income generation and alternative sources of livelihood.
Background:
Maternal postnatal depression (PND) is a risk factor for offspring depression in adulthood. However, few longitudinal studies have examined the role of maternal nurturing parenting ...behaviours in the association between maternal PND and offspring depression in adulthood.
Methods:
We
examined pathways from maternal PND measured using self-reported Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 8 weeks to offspring ICD-10 depression diagnosed using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised computerised assessment at 24 years through maternal-reported nurturing behaviours concerning feeding, sleeping and crying measured from pregnancy to age 3 years 6 months in 5,881 members of the UK-based birth cohort study, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
Results:
The fully adjusted model revealed an indirect effect from PND to adult offspring depression through the combination of all parenting factors (probit regression coefficient
B
=0.038, 95% confidence interval CI 0.005, 0.071); however, there was no evidence of a direct effect from early maternal PND to offspring depression once the indirect effect via parenting factors was accounted for (
B
=0.009, 95%CI -0.075, 0.093). Specificity analyses revealed indirect effects through maternal worries about feeding (
B
=0.019, 95%CI 0.003, 0.035, p=0.010) and maternal perceptions and responses to crying (
B
=0.018, 95%CI 0.004, 0.032, p=0.012).
Conclusions:
The adverse impact of maternal PND on offspring depression in early adulthood was explained by maternal nurturing behaviours concerning feeding, crying and sleeping in early childhood. Residual confounding and measurement error likely limit reliable conclusions. If found causal, interventions providing support to reduce worries around maternal nurturing behaviours and treating depression could reduce adverse outcomes in adult offspring of depressed mothers.
Background
Parental personality may influence the course of offspring depression but epidemiological evidence for associations is lacking. It is also unknown whether associations between parental ...personality and offspring depression differ by socio‐economic position (SEP). Our aims were to describe the trajectories of depressive symptoms across adolescence of offspring of parents with and without maladaptive personality traits and to test for effect modification by SEP.
Methods
A longitudinal study in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort (ns = 3054–7046). Exposures were binary measures of maladaptive maternal and paternal personality traits. The outcome was depressive symptoms measured over nine occasions (ages 11–24) using the short mood and feelings questionnaire (SMFQ; range: 0–26). Effect modifiers were parental education and self‐reported material hardship. Multilevel growth curve models were used to estimate trajectories.
Results
offspring of mothers with high (vs. low) maladaptive traits showed higher levels of depressive symptoms at multiple ages of adolescence, the greatest of which was observed at age 22 (predicted SMFQ difference age 10 = 0.66, 95% confidence intervals CIs: 0.25 to 1.28; age 22 = 1.00, CI: 0.51 to 1.50). There was weaker and inconsistent evidence of an association between paternal maladaptive personality and offspring depressive symptoms (SMFQ difference age 10 = 0.21, CI: −0.58 to 0.99; age 22 = 0.02, CI: −0.94 to 0.90). Lower SEP was also associated with higher offspring depressive symptoms (SMFQ difference material hardship vs. no hardship age 10 = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.46 to 1.13; age 22 = 0.96, CI: 0.56 to 1.36). There was minimal statistical evidence for effect modification.
Conclusions
The offspring of mothers with high levels of maladaptive personality traits show evidence of greater depressive symptoms throughout adolescence although the absolute increase in symptoms is small. Evidence for the associations with fathers' personality was weaker. Socio‐economic position and maladaptive personality traits appear to be independent risk factors for offspring depressive symptoms.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The international political economy is developing carbon markets based on decisions made in Glasgow in 2021 at COP26. The development of such markets is problematic. An examination of the history of ...the agreements made at the climate change conferences indicates issues that remain pertinent today. These include the ability of markets to provide the necessary reductions in fossil fuel emissions at a scale large enough to combat climate change; the integrity of current systems for the accounting of carbon; possible negative impacts on natural capital generally and biodiversity in particular arising from such mechanisms; the inherent risks associated with trying to simultaneously deliver other (co- )benefits; and clarity over the extent to which the rights will be safeguarded. While there is an urgency in ensuring that mechanisms will deliver the emissions reductions required, the risks of carbon market failure remain due to the insufficiency of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the lack of transparency of carbon markets. Integrity systems based on sound principles for governing the integrity of carbon offsets and other mechanisms to reduce emissions are required. Unless standards are adopted, the likelihood of combatting climate change effectively, in the context of the danger of greenwashing and the ongoing pandemic, remains uncertain.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This paper investigates the clearance of native forests and native vegetation for plantation establishment, otherwise known as forest conversion, in the state-owned plantations of New South Wales, ...Australia. It begins by describing Australia’s forests, plantations, and forest conversion, continues with an outline of the history of public hardwood plantations in New South Wales, and explores the regulatory frameworks that allow this practice to happen, and the responses adopted by non-state environmental governance systems, notably forest certification, to address this problem. The paper presents a case study analysis of conversion in the hardwood plantations of northern NSW, and concludes that the current regulatory environment facilitates deforestation, with cumulative impacts at the landscape level, and that without government intervention, efforts to prevent this by non-state action will only be partially successful, leading to ongoing habitat and species loss. The failure of existing legislative and regulatory frameworks to adequately acknowledge, define, and prohibit conversion will remain an impediment to sustainable forest management, as the entry of such timber into the market contaminates supply chains, resulting in considerable reputation risk. Reform is needed in both public and private governance systems to ensure strong governance, effective planning, and ecosystem integrity at the landscape level. Recommendations are provided for policymakers.
•A new methodology to identify original forest inside plantation areas via historical aerial imagery.•A detailed evaluation of a range of spatial datasets demonstrating the increase of plantation cover, potentially at the expense of native forest.•A case study identifying that forest conversion has occurred in public hardwood plantations managed by the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales.•There is an urgent need to undertake reform to ensure New South Wales does not fall foul of the EUDR, or the Glasgow Declaration.•More research is needed to determine how significant these conversion events are, and the impacts on flora and fauna, notably the koala.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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