Objective: To examine the Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD--Symptoms and Normal Behavior scale (SWAN) clinical utility as a diagnostic measure of ADHD in an ADHD clinic sample. Method: In a sample of 357 children (6-11 years old) referred for evaluation at an academic medical center, we explored the SWAN's diagnostic and convergent validity with…

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is known to have detrimental effects on persons who directly experience this form of abuse. Emerging research also indicates that a parent's experience of IPV may influence their children's well-being through various intermediary pathways. However, there is still no established model to explain these mechanisms.…

A number of resources are available for evaluating the rigor of single-case designs, including the commonly used multiple baseline design. In this article, we discuss two characteristics commonly cited as necessary for the highest rigor in multiple baseline designs--concurrence and response-guided baseline condition duration. We suggest that both…

This research evaluated the feasibility of actigraphy to measure sleep and physical activity in children (ages 2-8 years) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We also explored associations between sleep and physical activity. Validated screening measures established eligibility. Questionnaires, diaries, and 5 days and 5 nights of actigraphy…

This exploratory study examines parents' views of their parenting self-efficacy and children's behaviour during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece. One hundred and fifty-nine parents whose children were 3-5 years old completed an online survey. The Short-Form of the Self-Efficacy for Parenting Tasks Index-Toddler Scale (SEPTI-TS)…

Parental involvement in education has significantly contributed to positive youth development. This study applied Epstein's six constructs of parental involvement (parenting, communicating, volunteering, decision making, learning, and collaborating) and examined the effects of different types of parental involvement on children's emotions and…

It is well established that parenting influences child behavior at home, but less is known about the associations between parenting and teacher reports of child behavior at school, an environment more distal from the home context. This study investigated the presence of authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved parenting styles (PS)…

Attendance at preschool represents an important transition, as it is often here that children have their first experience with unfamiliar adults. In this context, several factors can affect children's adjustment. Two important protective factors are the attachment relationship with the teacher and the level of executive functions. We investigate…

Little is known about the attributional patterns of caregivers of autistic children, particularly in relation to caregivers of children with other developmental or behavioral disorders. This study examined differences in caregiver attributions of child behavior between three groups: toddlers with (1) Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or ASD concerns;…

Many children with autism spectrum disorder experience feeding difficulties that can lead to increased health risks (e.g., severe nutrition deficiencies, obesity-related illnesses) if left untreated. Intensive feeding programs that use behavior-analytic interventions have reported positive outcomes for treating challenging behavior associated with…

Although function-based treatments have been proven to decrease challenging behavior, it is unclear whether these results translate to socially significant outcomes. In fact, researchers rarely analyze what happens outside the highly controlled setting in which behavior analytic sessions typically occur. In our first study, we used a changing…

This was an exploratory cross-sectional study comparing 45 children with ASD to 24 typically developing drug-naïve controls, group-matched on age, sex, and body mass index. Objective data was obtained using the following: an ambulatory circadian monitoring device; saliva samples to determine dim light melatonin onset (DLMO): and three…

Mental health conditions are more prevalent in autistic people than non-autistic people. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire is a commonly used screening tool for emotional and behavioural difficulties in autistic children and adolescents. However, few studies have assessed the psychometric properties of the Strengths and Difficulties…

Paternal incarceration is an important predictor of teen delinquency, but the factors that may explain this relationship--such as early child problem behaviors and level of father engagement--have not been adequately explored. The current longitudinal study examined paternal history of incarceration as a predictor of teen self-reported delinquency…

Instability in early childhood education and care (ECEC) arrangements may have detrimental consequences on children's mental health. This study examined ECEC trajectories in the first 30 months of life for 373 children from low-income families in Toronto. We provide information about patterns of instability and reasons for instability. We also…