Psychosocial Stimulation In Early Childhood
Helps Stunted Children
July 31, 2006
Psychosocial stimulation in early childhood has long term benefits for stunted
children's emotional outcomes and attention, finds a sixteen-year study
published on bmj.com today.
Growth retardation or stunting affects 30% of children under 5 years globally
and is associated with poor development and behavioural problems in late
adolescence. Some studies suggest that psychosocial stimulation in early
childhood reduces antisocial behaviour and delinquency in adolescence, but
evidence is limited.
So researchers set out to determine whether dietary supplementation or
psychosocial stimulation given to stunted children early in life had any long
term benefits for their psychosocial functioning in late adolescence.
In 1986-7, they identified 129 stunted children (age 9-24 months) living in poor
neighbourhoods of Kingston, Jamaica. Children were assigned to one of four
groups: control (no intervention), supplementation with 1 kg milk based formula
each week, stimulation (weekly play sessions with mother and child), or both,
for two years.
In 2002-3, 103 adolescents aged 17-18 years were re-examined to assess their
psychosocial functioning (self esteem, anxiety, depression, and antisocial
behaviour).
Those who had received stimulation reported less anxiety, less depression, and
higher self esteem, and parents reported fewer attention problems.
Supplementation had no significant effect.
Psychosocial stimulation in early childhood had sustained benefits for the
psychosocial functioning of stunted children, say the authors. The next
challenge is to develop interventions that can meet the needs of the enormous
number of stunted children, they conclude.
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Contact: Emma Dickinson
BMJ Specialty Journals
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