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Applying the ICF-CY framework to examine biological and environmental factors in early childhood development
Ai-Wen Hwang1, Hua-Fang Liao2, Pau-Chung Chen3
1Graduate Institute of Early Intervention, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
Insights
The home environment significantly impacts infant and toddler development, accounting for 59% of developmental outcomes. This study utilized the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Children and Youth Version (ICF-CY) framework.
Area of Science:
- Child Development Research
- Biopsychosocial Health Models
Background:
- Previous pediatric studies often focused narrowly on environmental or biological factors.
- Child development is a complex interplay of physical, mental, social, and environmental influences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate influential factors of child development using a comprehensive biopsychosocial perspective.
- To apply the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Children and Youth Version (ICF-CY) framework to child development research.
Main Methods:
- A birth cohort study followed 122 child-parent dyads from birth to 2.5 years.
- Structural equation modeling was employed, guided by the ICF-CY framework.
Main Results:
- The home environment explained 59% of the variance in infant developmental outcomes.
- Most path coefficients linking exposures to outcomes were significant, with exceptions noted for birth weight's effect on development.
Conclusions:
- The ICF-CY-based model demonstrated good fit with the study data.
- Findings underscore the critical role of the home environment in infant and toddler general development.
Background/Purpose:
Previous cohort studies for the general pediatric population had a limited focus on either environmental or biological influences, or a specific theoretical framework. The child's development, however, is a composite of physical, mental, social, environmental, and personal factors. The framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Children and Youth Version (ICF-CY) provides a comprehensive model for investigating the influential factors of child development within a biopsychosocial perspective.
Methods:
A birth cohort study followed up 122 child-parent dyads at birth and when the children were 4 months, 6 months, and 2.5 years old. Structural equation modeling was conducted based on the concept and the definitions of ICF-CY.
Results:
The path coefficients linking exposures and outcome variables were significant except for the paths from birth weight to general development of infants and toddlers. Home environment explained 59% of variance of infant developmental outcomes.
Conclusion:
The proposed model based on ICF-CY showed acceptable fit to the data and provides support for the importance of the home environment on general development of infants and toddlers.
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