Role of Ethnicity and Environment on Regulation of Response Towards Sensory Stimulation in Children

NCT ID: NCT02878824

Last Updated: 2017-06-02

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 128 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2016-07-31
• Study Completion Date: 2017-05-30

Brief Summary

Difference in autonomic nervous system processes across cultural and ethnic groups was suggested and autonomic regulation differentiation may occur even at an early age. However, the role of ethnicity and environment on regulation of response towards sensory stimulation in children is not well understood yet. This research aims to compare the autonomic activity at resting condition and toward a block of auditory stimulation between typically developing children from different countries and living environments. There will be two phases in this study. In Phase I, two groups of participants will be recruited: (a) 32 typically-developing Chinese children living in Hong Kong, (HK group) and (b) 32 typically developing Filipino children living in Hong Kong (Fil-HK group). In phase II, two groups of participants will be recruited: (a) 32 typically-developing Filipino children who are living at Urban area (PH-U group), and (b) 32 typically developing Filipino children who are living at Philippines-Rural area (PH-R group). Participants will be composed of males and females ages 7-12 years old, and without known history of developmental disabilities, medical history of cardiac or pulmonary problem, medical history of diabetes, or having any sensory deficits. Recruited participants will watch a silent movie, and listen to a block of sound. Autonomic activity (heart rate variability and electrodermal activity) will be measured and recorded using Polar H2 heart rate monitor and eSense skin response. Recordings will be screened for ectopic beats of HRV or bursts of EDA. The HRV and EDA signals will be processed by using aHRV and the eSense propriety software, respectively, and according to the standards of editing HRV and EDA artefacts. Autonomic activity (LF, HF and EDA) at resting condition, and hypothesis interaction between conditions (resting condition vs. auditory stimulation) and groups (HK group and PH-U group; Fil-HK group and PH-U group; PH-U group vs. PH-R group) will be tested with repeated measures of MANOVA. All significant levels will be set at p≤ 0.05. This study will increase the understanding on the role of culture and environment in the regulation of behaviour in auditory processing. The findings of this research may further shed light on the evaluation and treatment planning for children across and within cultures.

Detailed Description

Background: Difference in autonomic nervous system (ANS) processes across cultural and ethnic groups was suggested and autonomic regulation differentiation may occur even at an early age. However, the role of ethnicity and environment on regulation of response towards sensory stimulation in children is not well understood yet. This research aims to compare the autonomic activity at resting condition and toward a block of auditory stimulation between typically developing children from different countries and living environments and examine the role of environments and ethnicity on autonomic regulation.

Methods: Four groups of typically-developing participants will be recruited in this study: 1) Chinese children living in Hong Kong (n=32); Filipino children living in Hong Kong (32); Filipino children living in urban-Philippines (n=32); Filipino children living in urban-Philippines (n=32). Participants will be males (nm=16) and females (nf=16), ages 7-12 years old, and without known history of developmental disabilities, medical history of cardiac or pulmonary problem, medical history of diabetes, or having any sensory deficits. Recruited participants will watch a silent movie, and listen to a block of sound stimulus presentations. Autonomic activity (heart rate variability and electrodermal activity) will be measured and recorded using Polar H2 heart rate monitor and eSense GSR. Recordings will be screened for ectopic beats of HRV or bursts of EDA. The HRV and EDA signals will be processed by using aHRV and Ledalab software, respectively, and according to the standards of editing and analysing HRV and EDA artefacts. Autonomic activity (LF, HF and EDA) at experimental condition groups (HK group and PH-U group; Fil-HK group and PH-U group; PH-U group vs. PH-R group) will be tested with repeated measures of MANOVA. All significant levels will be set at a critical α=> .05.

Discussion: This study will increase the understanding on the role of culture and environment in the regulation of behaviour in auditory processing. The findings of this research may further shed light on the evaluation and treatment planning for children across and within cultures.

Conditions

Children; Behavior

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: OTHER
• Study Time Perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Study Groups

HK-Children

This is a group of typically-developing children ages 7-12 years old who are of Chinese ethnicity, born and raised in Hong Kong (n=32).

Ethnicity

Intervention Type: OTHER

As mentioned by Goldberger and Veroff (1995) the concept of ethnicity is also associated with culture and is often used interchangeably with culture as well as with race. Ethnic differences are not necessarily inherited, but they are learned through constant exposure; however have strong genetic influences that explain consequent behavioural differences between different ethnic groups (Chudek & Henrich, 2011). An individual's genetic makeup greatly affects their behaviours (Klahr & Burt, 2014).

In this study, we look at exposure to different ethnicity as exemplified by comparison between two groups of typically-developing children from different ethnicity (Chinese children in Hong Kong and Filipino Children in Hong Kong).

FHK-Children

This is a group of typically-developing children ages 7-12 years old who are of Filipino ethnicity; either born, migrated and/or raised in Hong Kong (n=32).

Ethnicity

Intervention Type: OTHER

As mentioned by Goldberger and Veroff (1995) the concept of ethnicity is also associated with culture and is often used interchangeably with culture as well as with race. Ethnic differences are not necessarily inherited, but they are learned through constant exposure; however have strong genetic influences that explain consequent behavioural differences between different ethnic groups (Chudek & Henrich, 2011). An individual's genetic makeup greatly affects their behaviours (Klahr & Burt, 2014).

In this study, we look at exposure to different ethnicity as exemplified by comparison between two groups of typically-developing children from different ethnicity (Chinese children in Hong Kong and Filipino Children in Hong Kong).

FU-Children

This is a group of typically-developing children ages 7-12 years old who are of Filipino ethnicity, born and raised in an urban area in the Philippines (n=32).

Environment

Intervention Type: OTHER

The living environment has been implicated to have an effect on a person's psychological functioning (Rutter, Picker, Murray \& Eaves, 2001) and eventually how behaviour is manifested. The proposed disparity or effects between urban and rural dwelling is built on research that looks at the restorative and calming features of the natural environment, as well as the chaotic organization of the living spaces in urban settings.

FR-Children

This is a group of typically-developing children ages 7-12 years old who are of Filipino ethnicity, born and raised in a rural area in the Philippines (n=32).

Environment

Intervention Type: OTHER

The living environment has been implicated to have an effect on a person's psychological functioning (Rutter, Picker, Murray \& Eaves, 2001) and eventually how behaviour is manifested. The proposed disparity or effects between urban and rural dwelling is built on research that looks at the restorative and calming features of the natural environment, as well as the chaotic organization of the living spaces in urban settings.

Interventions

Ethnicity

As mentioned by Goldberger and Veroff (1995) the concept of ethnicity is also associated with culture and is often used interchangeably with culture as well as with race. Ethnic differences are not necessarily inherited, but they are learned through constant exposure; however have strong genetic influences that explain consequent behavioural differences between different ethnic groups (Chudek & Henrich, 2011). An individual's genetic makeup greatly affects their behaviours (Klahr & Burt, 2014).

In this study, we look at exposure to different ethnicity as exemplified by comparison between two groups of typically-developing children from different ethnicity (Chinese children in Hong Kong and Filipino Children in Hong Kong).

Intervention Type: OTHER

Environment

The living environment has been implicated to have an effect on a person's psychological functioning (Rutter, Picker, Murray \& Eaves, 2001) and eventually how behaviour is manifested. The proposed disparity or effects between urban and rural dwelling is built on research that looks at the restorative and calming features of the natural environment, as well as the chaotic organization of the living spaces in urban settings.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• male or female
• 7-12 years old
• enrolled in primary school
• currently resides in the country/area in context
• for Hong Kong participants: Hong Kong-Chinese national
• for Philippine participants: born and living within the area in context

Exclusion Criteria

• known history of developmental disabilities, medical history of cardiac or pulmonary problem, medical history of diabetes, or having any sensory deficits
• repeated a grade level
• multiracial parental background

• Minimum Eligible Age: 7 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 12 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

GOMEZ Ivan Neil Benitez

Mr.

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Cynthia YY Lai, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Locations

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Kowloon, , Hong Kong

Countries

Hong Kong

Other Identifiers

HSEARS20150316001-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id