Linda Pagani

Facebook

Linda S. Pagani

Lives In

Photo

Status Update

2012

Montreal, Quebec

Kindergartners have benefits later if they pay attention class. Attention spans in the early years can predict what to expect in the workplace, study suggests. Click on my research>>

Kindergartners who pay attention

Children who are attentive in kindergarten are likely to have "work-oriented" skills in higher grades, which provides lifelong benefits, according to a new study.

It included more than 1,000 children whose attention skills were assessed in kindergarten. As they moved from first to sixth grade, the children were rated on how well they worked alone and with others, their levels of self-control and self-confidence, and their ability to follow directions and rules.

Over time, the children were categorized into three groups: high, medium or low classroom engagement. Boys, aggressive children and children with lower cognitive skills in kindergarten were much more likely to be in the low group, according to the University of Montreal researchers.

There are important life risks associated with attention deficits in childhood, which include high-school dropout, unemployment and problematic substance abuse. Findings make a compelling case for early identification and treatment of attention problems, as early remediation represents the least costly form of intervention.

For children, the classroom is the workplace, and this is why productive, task-oriented behavior in that context later translates to the labor market. Children who are more likely to work autonomously and harmoniously with fellow classmates, with good self-control and confidence, and who follow directions and rules are more likely to continue such productive behaviors into the adult workplace. In child psychology, we call this the developmental evolution of work-oriented skills, from childhood to adulthood.

Interests

Status Update

Photo

2012

Child development

Child behaviour

Cognitive psychology

Found more about TV & toddlers. My recent research has revealed that TV watching in toddlerhood leads to thicker waists. Research!!>>

TV watching in toddlerhood leads to thicker waists

Every hour toddlers spend watching television adds to their waistlines and weakens their muscles, a Canadian study of 1,314 children has found.

Since the average 2- to 4-year-old in the study sat through 8.82 hours of TV a week, that would mean another 4.1 millimetres around the waist by age 10.

And the habits are ingrained. The study found nearly 15 per cent of the youngsters were watching more than 18 hours of TV a week.

Fitzpatrick and Dr. Linda Pagani of the University of Montreal asked mothers of children 29 to 53 months old, who were part of the Quebec Longuitudinal Study of Child Development, how long they watched TV.

The children's ability on the standing long jump test was tested in Grade 2 and their waist measurements taken in Grade 4.

More than 18 hours a week added 7.6 millimetres to their waistlines by age 10.

Every hour of TV also cut their jumping performance by 2.85 millimetres.

Abdominal fat is especially a risk factor for later cardiovascular health. And muscle strength is important for general health.

The study factored in such variables as the family's income and education as well as the mother's body mass index.

Because researchers relied on mothers' own reporting of their children's TV watching habits, their results might be conservative, given the possibility mothers would shave off some TV time.

A 2010 study by Fitzgerald and Pagani found each extra hour of TV by toddlers led to a future decrease in how involved they were in school, how good they were at math and how much junk food they ate.

The data will hopefully help shape future public health campaigns about the impact of TV watching on children's health.

Here's what the study found:

One hour of TV at 29 months = 3.61 millimetre decrease in standing long jump (SLJ) results (measured in Grade 2)

One hour of TV from 29 to 53 months = 2.85 millimetre decrease in SLJ

Every hour of TV from 29 to 53 months = 5 per cent increase in the odds of being in the bottom percentile on the SLJ test.

One hour of TV from 29 to 53 months = .42 millimetre increase in waist measurement (measured in Grade 4)

Average 8.82 hours of TV per week = 4.1 millimetre increase in waist measurement.

18+ hours per week of TV = 7.6 millimetre increase in waist measurement.

T

Message

2011

Linda pagani

D. Nichols

Photos

Hi Linda Pagani,

I was wondering if you are doing any further research on toddlers and TV? I think this a very interesting research experiment and i would like to know more about it.

Hope to get a message back from you,

D. Nichols

Comment

Hello Mr./Mrs. Nichols,

Currently, I am working on further specific research on toddlers and TV. My research will take some time, but i will keep updating my status.

I will keep everyone posted!

Linda Pagani

Status Update

2010

Education

Concordia University (1986-1989)

McGill University (1989-1993)

Does Early Emotional Distress Predict Later Child Involvement in Gambling? Click here to see my research>>

Does Early Emotional Distress Predict Later Child Involvement in Gambling?

Younger people are engaging in gambling, with some showing excessive involvement. Although a consequence of gambling could be anxiety and depression, emotional distress could be a precursor to gambling involvement. This could reflect developmental proneness toward problem behavior. We assessed whether early emotional distress directly influences later gambling or if it operates through an indirect pathway.

Using a prospective longitudinal design, an intentional subsample of children from the 1999 kindergarten cohort of the Montreal Longitudinal Preschool Study (Quebec) from intact families were retraced in 2005 for follow up in Grade 6. Consenting parents and children were separately interviewed. Key child variables and sources included kindergarten teacher ratings of emotional distress and impulsivity and self-reported parent and child gambling.

Higher levels of teacher rated emotional distress in kindergarten significantly predicted a higher propensity toward later gambling behavior. Impulsivity, a factor often comorbidly present with emotional distress, completely explained this predictive relation above and beyond potential child- and family-related confounds including parental gambling.

Children with higher levels of emotional distress at kindergarten were more inclined toward child gambling behavior in Grade 6. The influence of early emotional distress completely vanished when behaviours reflecting impulsivity were considered when predicted later child gambling behaviour. The relationship between emotional distress and child gambling involvement in children was thus explained by its comorbidity with early impulsivity. This study does not rule out the possibility that emotional distress could become a correlate consequence of excessive involvement in gambling activities at a later developmental period.

Work Experience

Photo

Status update

2010

Nurse (until1986)

Psychologist (present)

Early exposure to TV has negative and long-term impact on toddlers! Click here to see my research>>

Toddlers and TV: Early exposure has negative and long-term impact.

"We found every additional hour of TV exposure among toddlers corresponded to a future decrease in classroom engagement and success at math, increased victimization by classmates, have a more sedentary lifestyle, higher consumption of junk food and, ultimately, higher body mass index," says lead author Dr. Linda S. Pagani, a psychosocial professor at the Université de Montréal and researcher at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center.

The goal of the study was to determine the impact of TV exposure at age 2 on future academic success, lifestyle choices and general well being among children. "Between the ages of two and four, even incremental exposure to television delayed development," says Dr. Pagani.

A total of 1,314 kids took part in the investigation, which was part of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development Main Exposure. Parents were asked to report how much TV their kids watched at 29 months and at 53 months in age. Teachers were asked to evaluate academic, psychosocial and health habits, while body mass index (BMI) was measured at 10 years old.

"Early childhood is a critical period for brain development and formation of behaviour," warns Dr. Pagani. "High levels of TV consumption during this period can lead to future unhealthy habits."

Photo

Status Update

Workplaces

2009

Research Centre of the CHU Sainte- Justine, University of Montreal

High school dropout represents an important public health issue, research was done. click here to see my research>>

High School dropout

High school dropout represents an important public health issue. This study assessed the 3 distinct dimensions of student engagement in high school and examined the relationships between the nature and course of such experiences and later dropout.

We administered questionnaires to 13,330 students (44.7% boys) from 69 high schools in the province of Quebec (Canada). During 3 high school years, students reported their behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement to school. Information on later dropout status was obtained through official records.

Although many adolescents remained highly engaged in high school, one third reported changes, especially decreases in rule compliance, interest in school, and willingness to learn. Students reporting low engagement or important decrements in behavioral investment from the beginning of high school presented higher risks of later drop out.

School-based interventions should address the multiple facets of high school experiences to help adolescents successfully complete their basic schooling. Creating a positive social-emotional learning environment is very important.

Comments

S. Mathews

So, what would be the result of a positive social-emotional learning environment?

L. Pagani

Creating a positive social-emotional learning environment promises better adolescent achievement and, in turn, will contribute to a healthier lifestyle. It would also result less high school drop outs.