Simple Psych Prep Improves Test Results

If you feel anxious before taking an important test, writing about your test anxieties for 10 minutes immediately before the exam improves your test results by 10 to 15%, according to a new study.

The study, published last week in Science by researchers at the University of Chicago,  tracked test taking performance over 3 different experiments.

In the first experiment, the researchers tracked 20 college students, divided in two groups, one of which was told to write for 10 minutes on how they felt about the test they were about to take, while the other was told to do nothing during that time. Compared to a previous reference test, the students who sat quietly did worse by 12%, while those who wrote about test anxiety improved their scores by 5%.

In the second experiment, the researchers had 47 college students take the same kind of test, but divided the subjects into three groups, where the third group was asked to write about unrelated subjects for 10 minutes. The scores for the students in the non-writing group and in the group writing about unrelated subjects dropped by 7%, while those for the students writing about test anxiety rose by 4%.

The third experiment tracked a total of 105 9th grade high school students, in two groups, one year apart. Six weeks before a final exam, the researchers surveyed students' anxiety levels. Then, right before the exam, they divided the students in two groups, one of which was asked to write for 10 minutes about their feelings about the test, while the other was asked to think quietly about unrelated topics. In the non-writing group, the subjects with the highest anxiety performed worst. However, in the writing group, the subjects with the highest anxiety performed as well as those will low anxiety. The student with low anxiety performed similarly in both groups.

The study conclusion: if you have significant test anxiety, taking 10 minutes to write about your test taking feelings before the test might significantly improve your test results. The study's main author, Professor Sian Beilock, believes that the method clears the subjects' working memory of latent anxiety and allows their brain to work more efficiently.


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Study Abstract in Science

Babies Fatter from Cow Milk Formula?

Babies fed standard cow milk formula may grow fatter than those fed hypo-allergenic formula, according to a recent study.

The study, published this week in the journal Pediatrics by researchers from the Monell Chemical Senses Center, in Philadelphia, followed a blind clinical trial of 64 newborns. Infants were randomly assigned to two groups, one of which was fed traditional cow milk formula  (the most common type), while the other was fed hypo-allergenic formula. After 7 months, the weight of babies in the first group averaged two pounds over that of babies in the second group. Both formulas have the same amount of calories, and weight differences could not be attributed to length differences.This early difference in weight may predispose infants fed cow milk formula to obesity: "Numerous studies have shown that rapid rates of growth during first year are linked to obesity, metabolic syndrome [and] mortality" says Julie Mannella, Ph.D., principal author of the study.

Most common baby formulas, such as Similac or Enfamil, are based on cow milk. Hypo-allergenic (protein hydrolysate) formulas, such as Nutramigen or Alimentum, are also based on cow milk, but the proteins in the formula have been processed to be less likely to generate allergic reactions. Babies fed formula typically gain more weight than breastfed babies, although weight gain for babies fed hypo-allergenic formula in the study was similar to that of breastfed babies. Hypo-allergenic formula is significantly more expensive than regular formula. Medical authorities strongly recommend breastfeeding as a preferable alternative to formula feeding.

Should you switch to hypo-allergenic formula? The sample size in the study was small, and the cause of the discrepancy in weight gain was not clear. The principal investigator, Julie Manella, when asked, believes that is would be premature to switch on the basis of the study alone. However, suspicion of lactose intolerance would be a good reason to switch despite the price difference.

Research for the study was funded by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

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Study Abstract in Pediatrics

Babies No Smarter From Fish Oil Pills

Use of fish oil supplements during pregnancy does not appear to improve the baby's mental development or decrease the incidence of post partum depression, according to a new study.

This new study, published this week in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by researchers of the University of Adelaide in Australia, reports on the results of a well designed randomized double blind trial correlating the use of fish oil supplements during pregnancy with the baby's cognitive development and the mother's risk of post partum depression.

Some studies in the past have found a link between higher intake of fish oil and improved cognitive development for the baby along with less incidence of post partum depression for the mother. None of these studies, however, were truly authoritative: some were observational (post facto analysis), while others used small sample sizes. As a result of these studies, many national and international health agencies have come out with recommendations for pregnant women to take fish oil supplements. The key fish oil component is assumed to be docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA.

This study was the first clinical trial of significant size to actually test the causality link between taking fish oil supplements and assumed health and cognitive benefits. It used a double blind randomized trial approach with a statistically large population of subjects. The researchers followed 2,320 women, who were randomly assigned to take 1,500 mg of fish oil pills or of vegetable oil pills (control group), starting on the 21st week of pregnancy. After giving birth, mothers took standard evaluation test for depression 6 weeks and 6 months after giving birth, while 694 children were evaluated at age 6 months.

The conclusions were disappointing. The children's cognitive, language, motor development and social emotional behavior scores were the same across both groups. Of the women in the trial, 9.67% of those who took DHA supplements developed post partum depression, while 11.02% of those in the trial group did. The conclusions of the authors were that DHA supplements did not influence either the baby's cognitive development, of the mother's risk to develop post partum depression, although there appeared to be some positive influence for women at high risk. The researchers conclude: "The results of [this trial] do not support routine DHA supplementation for pregnant women to reduce depressive symptoms or to improve cognitive or language outcomes in early childhood."

Why is the outcome of this study so unexpected to many? Some experts, such as Dr. Emily Orken of Harvard Medical School, suggest that dosage might be a possibility. Some mention that eating fish may be better than taking supplements. The study authors suggest that previous observational studies have other impacting factors, and that past clinical trials might have used too small population samples. Finally, some, like Dr. William Barth of Massachussetts General Hospital, were skeptical all along: “I wish it were so simple, that there was a pill we could take to make our children smarter.”

The study was considered important enough by the Journal of the American Medical Association to warrant an editorial. This editorial recognizes the value of the study, yet suggest that, for now, recommendations to pregnant women not be changed: "For now, pregnant women should take care to get the recommended intake of 200 mg/d of DHA, either by including low-mercury, high-DHA fish in their diets or by taking a daily n-3 PUFA supplement," write Dr. Emily Orken of Harvard Medical School and Dr. Many Belfort of Children's Hospital in Boston for Editorial Board of JAMA.



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Study Abstract in JAMA

JAMA editorial excerpt

Best Ergonomic Online Stores for Children

Children' s ergonomic furniture, kids' mouse, headphones, headset, keyboard, desk, chair, footrest, workstation - where can you find them? Children are affected by ergonomic issues in the same manner as adults - but finding ergonomic equipment for them is much harder. In fact, simply finding decently fitting computer equipment for them is hard enough.

In our research on ergonomic stores, we found two store with a decent inventory of children' s ergonomic or computer equipment.

Ask Ergo Works, an excellent, although pricey, ergonomic store, has a very good children' s section. They have ergonomic children' s chairs and footrests, children' s keyboards and tracking devices, kids' backpacks, and kids' writing instruments such as ergonomic pens, and pen or pencil holders.

Ergo Guys is an unusual ergonomic store. Behind the 90's online store front (which carries a caricature of the two founders), you can find a broad inventory of hard-to-find ergonomic tools. Ergo Guys has several children' s sections, with kids' furniture, kids'  gear, and other miscellaneous children' s items. There you can find children' s workstations, adjustable tables and desks, children' s standing desks, safe step-ups, art horses, and properly sized keyboards, tracking devices, and headphones.

Do you know good children size ergonomic resources? Let us know!

Baby Slings Dangerous to Infants: Warning and Recall

Shortly after the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) warned parents not to use baby sling carriers with infants under 4 months of age, Infantino LLC has recalled over one million baby slings in the US and Canada. The recalled models are the "SlingRider", pictured at left, and the "Wendy Bellissimo", sold since 2003. In both models,  the name "Infantino" shows on a plastic slider on the carrying strap.

Baby sling carriers have become popular (again) in the last 20 years, but have caused the death of at least 14 children in the same period. Baby slings can be dangerous to infants or babies in two ways:

• the sling fabric can smother them by pressing against their nose and mouth
• the pressure of the carrying strap against their spine, when they are in a curled position with their chin against their chest, can slowly suffocate them by restricting their airway.

The CPSC is now working on a safety standard for baby sling carriers. Consumers who own a recalled model may contact Infantino at 866-860-1361 or at www.infantino.com.

Should you use baby slings?  The debate in ongoing between those consumer advocates (including Consumer Reports) who are concerned about the dangers of the practice, and its defenders, who point out documented benefits of remaining in physical touch with infants. If you do, follow the recommendations of the CPSC:

• Place the child with the face uncovered and visible at all times to the wearer
• If nursing a child in a sling, change the baby's position after feeding so the baby's head is facing up and clear of both the sling and the mother's body.
• Be vigilant about frequently checking the baby in the sling 

 image by CPSC

More resources

• CPSC warning
•  Infantino recall statement
• Consumer Reports comments
•  WebMD warning report
•  WebMD recall report
•  Baby Carrier Manufacturers' statement through KidsTodayOnline
•  Non-profit Babywearing comments
•  Babywearing safety advice