Association of child maltreatment with risk of death during childhood in South Australia

Importance Child maltreatment is a prominent public health concern affecting 20% to 50% of children worldwide. Consequences for mental and physical health have been reported, but population-level estimates of risk of death during childhood that are adjusted for confounders have not been published to date. Objective To estimate the association of documented child protection concerns regarding maltreatment with risk of death from infancy to 16 years of age. Design, setting, and participants This case-control study was nested in a population birth cohort of 608 547 persons born in South Australia, Australia. Case children were those who died between 1 month and 16 years of age (with the death registered by May 31, 2019). Control children were randomly selected individuals from the same population who were alive at the age at which the case child died, matched 5:1 for age, sex, and Aboriginal status. Data were analyzed from January 2019 to March 2021. Exposure Children were assigned to 1 of 4 child protection concern categories (child protection system notification[s] only, investigation[s] [not substantiated], substantiated maltreatment, and ever placed in out-of-home care) based on administrative data from the South Australia Department for Child Protection or were classified as unexposed.Main outcomes and measures Mortality rate ratios for death before 16 years of age, by child protection concern category, were estimated using conditional logistic regression, adjusted for birth outcomes, maternal attributes, and area-based socioeconomic status. Patterns of cause of death were compared for children with vs without child protection concerns.Results Of 606 665 children included in the study, 1635 were case children (57.9% male [when sex was known]; mean [SD] age, 3.59 [4.56] years) and 8175 were control children (57.7% male; mean [SD] age, 3.59 [4.56] years [age censored at the time of death of the matched control child]). Compared with children with no child protection system contact, adjusted mortality rate ratios among children who died before 16 years of age were 2.69 (95% CI, 2.05-3.54) for children with child protection system notification(s) only; 3.16 (95% CI, 2.25-4.43) for children with investigation(s) (not substantiated); 2.93 (95% CI, 1.95-4.40) with substantiated maltreatment; and 3.79 (95% CI, 2.46-5.85) for children ever placed in out-of-home care. External causes represented 136 of 314 deaths (43.3%) among children with a documented child protection concern and 288 of 1306 deaths (22.1%) among other children. Deaths from assault or self-harm were most overrepresented, accounting for 11.1% of deaths in children with child protection concerns but just 0.8% of deaths among other children. Conclusions and relevance In this case-control study, children with documented child protection concerns, who were known to child protection agencies and were typically seen by clinicians and other service providers, had a higher risk of death compared with children with no child protection service contact. These findings suggest the need for a more comprehensive service response for children with protection concerns.Leonie Segal, James Doidge, Jason M. Armfield, Emmanuel S. Gnanamanickam, David B. Preen, Derek S. Brown, Ha Nguye

Higher Spins from Tensorial Charges and OSp(N|2n) Symmetry

It is shown that the quantization of a superparticle propagating in an N=1, D=4 superspace extended with tensorial coordinates results in an infinite tower of massless spin states satisfying the Vasiliev unfolded equations for free higher spin fields in flat and AdS_4 N=1 superspace. The tensorial extension of the AdS_4 superspace is proved to be a supergroup manifold OSp(1|4). The model is manifestly invariant under an OSp(N|8) (N=1,2) superconformal symmetry. As a byproduct, we find that the Cartan forms of arbitrary Sp(2n) and OSp(1|2n) groups are GL(2n) flat, i.e. they are equivalent to flat Cartan forms up to a GL(2n) rotation. This property is crucial for carrying out the quantization of the particle model on OSp(1|4) and getting the higher spin field dynamics in super AdS_4, which can be performed in a way analogous to the flat case.Comment: LaTeX, 21 page (JHEP style), misprints corrected, added comments on the relation of results of hep-th/0106149 with hep-th/9904109 and hep-th/9907113, references adde

On the covariant quantization of tensionless bosonic strings in AdS spacetime

The covariant quantization of the tensionless free bosonic (open and closed) strings in AdS spaces is obtained. This is done by representing the AdS space as an hyperboloid in a flat auxiliary space and by studying the resulting string constrained hamiltonian system in the tensionless limit. It turns out that the constraint algebra simplifies in the tensionless case in such a way that the closed BRST quantization can be formulated and the theory admits then an explicit covariant quantization scheme. This holds for any value of the dimension of the AdS space.Comment: 1+16 pages; v4 two clarifications adde

Resonant and off-resonant transients in electromagnetically induced transparency: Turn-on and turn-off dynamics

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Excess hospital costs incurred by individuals with child abuse and neglect history in South Australia: A birth-cohort study

Child abuse and neglect is a serious public health issue across the globe, with documented impacts on health, but the impact on hospital costs, at the population level, is unknown. We aimed to estimate the additional public hospital costs for emergency department visits and admitted patient hospitalizations, for persons with reported child protection concerns, from birth to 31 years and modelled to age 65. Using linked hospital data from 2003 to 2017 for a population birth-cohort of all individuals born in South Australia from 1986 to 2017, we estimated costs of public hospital care. Mean cost and cost differences (adjusted and unadjusted) in 2018 Australian dollars (AU$) were calculated for persons with child protection contact vs none, per person and at the population level. Persons with child protection contact had higher annualized mean hospital costs than those with no contact, with cost differentials increasing with age. Unadjusted differential cost per person was AU$338 (95% CI AU$204- AU$473) from birth to 12 years; increasing to AU$2242 (AU$2074-AU$2411) at ages 25 to 31 years, equating to an additional AU$124 (US$100) million for public hospital services from birth to 31 years, an 18$415 (US$337, adjusted: AU$365 and US$296) million, a 27% cost impost. There is a considerable hospital cost penalty associated with persons with reported child protection concerns, especially from adolescence into adulthood, highlighting an opportunity for cost savings by preventive investment in effective early-in-life interventions.Emmanuel S. Gnanamanickam, Derek S. Brown, Jason M. Armfield, Leonie Sega

Fashion Psychology: The Predictors of Everyday Clothing Preference Among UK and USA Participants

Fashion is one of the most common and accessible (aesthetic) activities in everyday life, yet still largely missing in the literature is a systematic study on clothing preference and its predictors. In this context, the present study builds on Hur, Etcoff, and Silva (2023), which examined the preference structure of clothing styles, i.e. the four-factored Everyday Clothing Preference Factors (ECPF), and its correlates among UK participants. Aiming to replicate and expand the ECPF, the present study employed gender-balanced samples from the UK (N = 402) and the USA (N = 400). The work further explored the predictors of the ECPF through path analyses, incorporating a range of individual differences (e.g. Big 5 personality traits, gender, age, fashion expertise, etc.). A set of factor analyses and correlations revealed that while the ECPF was replicated among UK participants in its original four-factor structure, the ECPF could be expanded into five (Feminine/Pretty, Sporty/Trendy, Formal/Elegant, Classic, and Sporty) or six factors (adding Hip/Unique), depending on the sample. Overall, notable overlaps were found between the UK and USA ECPF structures. Furthermore, path analyses identified extraversion, gender, and age as important predictors of fashion behaviors in both samples. These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding clothing choice dynamics and contribute to empirical aesthetics and preference research, where fashion is rarely examined. This study's insights could inform retail marketing strategies and sustainable fashion, enhancing the understanding of fashion consumption mechanisms

Fashion psychology: The predictors of everyday clothing preference among UK and USA participants

Fashion is one of the most common and accessible (aesthetic) activities in everyday life, yet still missing in the literature is a systematic study on clothing preference. Two studies explored whether a preference structure of clothing style can be established and whether this clothing preference structure can be further understood through individual differences. The first study – published in Empirical Studies of the Arts (Hur, Etcoff, & Silva, 2023) – was based on an online survey consisting of 500 participants living in the UK. Factor analyses revealed a four-factor preference structure, the Everyday Clothing Preference Factors (ECPF). The preference structure consisted of Feminine, Essential, Comfortable, and Trendy styles. The findings further revealed that the preference for each of these clothing styles was correlated with certain individual difference variables (e.g. personality & demographics). The second study aimed to replicate and expand the ECPF, employing gender-balanced samples from the UK (N = 402) and the USA (N = 400). The work further explored the predictors of the ECPF through path analyses, incorporating a wide range of individual differences (e.g. fashion expertise, fashion attitude, etc.). Analyses revealed that while the ECPF was replicated among UK participants in its original four-factor structure, the ECPF could be expanded into five (Feminine/Pretty, Sporty/Trendy, Formal/Elegant, Classic, and Sporty) or six factors (adding Hip/Unique), depending on the sample. Overall, notable overlaps were found between the UK and USA ECPF structures. The path analyses identified extraversion, gender, and age as important predictors of fashion behaviors in both samples. These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding how people choose and like certain styles of clothes. The studies' insights could inform retail marketing strategies and sustainable fashion, enhancing the understanding of fashion consumption mechanisms

Educational strengths and functional resilience at the start of primary school following child maltreatment

Background and objective: This study explored the associations between child maltreatment and functional resilience at school commencement, and investigated factors related to resilience separately for boys and girls. Participants and setting: Children were part of a birth cohort of all children born in South Australia between 1986 and 2017 who had completed the Early Australian Development Census (AEDC) at about age 5–6 years when starting primary school (N = 65,083). Methods: Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted with a subsample of 3414 highrisk children who had a maltreatment substantiation or investigation, with resilience defined as having well or highly developed strengths on the Multiple Strength Indicator of the AEDC. Results: CPS involvement was strongly associated with poorer functioning at school commencement. Among high-risk children, 51.2% demonstrated resilience. Predictors of resilience in the multivariable model were being older, not having an emotional condition, and being read to at home. Risk factors were being male, living in rural or remote areas, having a physical or sensory disability, or having a learning disability. Boys who had been maltreated demonstrated few strengths and had less resilience than girls. Boys and girls who were read to regularly at home had more than three times the odds of showing resilience than children who were not read to at home. Conclusions: The early learning environment provides an ideal opportunity to identify and intervene to help those children who are struggling with school adjustment following familial maltreatment. Boys are likely to need additional help.Jason M. Armfield, Lesley-Anne Ey, Carole Zufferey, Emmanuel S. Gnanamanickam, Leonie Sega

Hospitalizations among children involved in the child protection system: a long-term birth cohort study from infancy to adulthood using administrative data

BACKGROUND: Despite considerable health consequences of child abuse and neglect, there is limited evidence on hospitalizations in this population. OBJECTIVES: To describe frequency and reasons for hospitalization by lifetime child protection system (CPS) involvement. PARTICIPANTS: 608,540 children born from January 1, 1986 to June 30, 2017 in South Australia, Australia METHODS: Using linked administrative data on CPS involvement and hospitalizations, we descriptively examined cumulative incidence, cumulative count and reasons for hospitalization from infancy to early adulthood by CPS involvement. RESULTS: By 16.5 years of age, cumulative incidence of ever-being hospitalized was 58% (95% CI 58-58) for children with no CPS involvement and significantly higher (72% (95% CI 71-73) to 88% (95% CI 86-90), P < 0.001) among those with different levels of CPS involvement. Cumulative mean counts of hospitalizations were highest at every age for those placed in out-of-home-care (reaching 7.7 by 16.5 years), almost four times higher than for children with no CPS involvement (2.0 by 16.5 years). Most frequent reasons for hospitalizations were similar across CPS involvement in the early years. From adolescence through early adulthood, mental health, and 'injury, poisoning or toxic effects of drugs' were frequent reasons for hospitalization among individuals with CPS involvement. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the vulnerability of children who have been maltreated, or are at risk of maltreatment, and the urgency of implementing effective preventive strategies early in life including consideration of adequate responses of child protection services. Frequent hospitalizations for mental health and injury confirms the potentially preventable nature of these hospitalizations.Emmanuel Sumithran Gnanamanickam, Ha Nguyen, Jason M.Armfield, James C.Doidge, Derek S.Brown, David B.Preen, Leonie Sega