Browsing by Subject "Early deprivation"

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    ADHD symptoms, executive attention, and electrophysiological activity in post-institutionalized children.
    (2010-08) Wiik Cruden, Kristen Louise
    Prior research indicates children who experience early deprivation in institutional care have increased rates of attentional problems (e.g., ADHD) years after adoption. Limited and conflicting evidence suggests post-institutionalized (PI) children may demonstrate behavioral deficits on measures of attentional control, response inhibition, and conflict monitoring and resolution, capacities broadly referred to as executive attention. Previous research has documented increased concentration of electroencephalogram (EEG) relative power in low frequency (e.g., theta) bands in PI children, compared to never institutionalized children. Similar patterns of low frequency EEG power have been observed in individuals with ADHD, suggesting a potentially shared neurobiological correlate. The current study examined both behavioral and electrophysiological correlates of attention in PI children. Parent reported ADHD symptoms, behavioral performance on two computerized executive attention measures, and resting EEG power were collected in a sample of 5 ½-year-old internationally adopted PI children (n = 25) and compared to same age non-adopted (NA) children (n = 33). Resting EEG collected when the children were 18 months of age was examined in longitudinal analyses. Consistent with prior research, PI children had increased levels of ADHD symptoms, although most children's symptoms were below a clinical threshold. No group differences were found in behavioral performance on executive attention measures. Analysis of longitudinal EEG data indicated PI children demonstrated greater concentration of low frequency EEG power (e.g., theta) than NA children at 18 months of age, and this group difference remained at age 5 ½, despite the PI group having spent an average of 4 ½ years in adoptive care. Contrary to hypotheses, concentration of frontal relative EEG power in the theta band at age 5 ½ was associated for PI children with more accurate performance on an executive attention task. In addition, in PI children increased concentration of low frequency frontal relative EEG power at age 18 months was associated with lower ADHD symptoms at age 5 ½ years. Interpretation of these results is limited by small sample size, particularly for the EEG analyses. However, these findings suggest the importance of considering brain-behavior relationships in respect to developmental context (e.g., resource poor vs. resource rich environments).
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    Beyond The Sum Score: A Multidimensional Examination Of Allostatic Load Using Principal Component Analysis And Latent Profile Analysis In Previously Institutionalized Youth
    (2023-09) Zhong, Danruo
    Allostatic Load (AL), the stress-related physiological toll on the body, has been significantly associated with long-term health in humans. In this dissertation study, I examined the impact of early institution care on allostatic load in adolescents, using 13 biomarker data collected from 97 previously institutionalized youth who were adopted internationally from orphanage-liked institutions (PI; 61 females and 36 males; age range 12.02 to 21.39 years; Mean age = 16.31, SD age= 2.4 years) and 96 youth born and raised by birth families (Non-adopted, NA; 50 females and 46 males; age range 12.11 to 21.82 years; Mean age = 15.24, SD age= 2.35 years). Three distinct statistical approaches, namely, the Group Allostatic Load Index (GALI), the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and the Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) were used to characterize the allostatic load. ANCOVA, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), and multinomial logistic regression were utilized to examine how AL was associated with the experience of early institutional care. Our findings revealed a significant association between early institutional care and elevated allostatic load in adolescents. The sex difference was also found, such that males were more vulnerable to elevated AL levels than females. Moreover, age was positively associated with allostatic load. Furthermore, the construct of AL transcended beyond a single sum score, as evidenced by the detected multi-dimensions of AL and various underlying AL profiles among the studied individuals. Finally, three methods in the present study each offered unique perspectives that collectively enriched our understanding of AL. Taken together, this dissertation study underlined early health risks in youths who experienced early institutional care, highlighting the need for early, targeted, and personalized intervention programs for the ELS-impacted, at-risk population.