Yap Seng Chong
Biographic Data
| ID | 97495 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Yap Seng Chong |
| GIVEN NAMES | Yap Seng |
| FAMILY NAME | Chong |
| SIGNATURE | CHONG Y S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Agency for Science, Technology and Research |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7232-8473 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 38 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 58 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 38 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1996 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Harsh discipline in adolescence
The current study examined 13-year-old adolescents' self-reports regarding the prevalence, frequency, and emotional experiences of harsh discipline (psychological aggression, corporal punishment, severe assault) from both mothers and fathers. We further investigated how mothers' childhood experiences of physical discipline were associated with their current disciplinary practices through parental attitudes and emotional dysregulation in the conte…
Early Maternal Parenting Profiles and Subsequent Child Well‐Being in an Asian Cohort
Objective To identify parenting profiles among Singaporean mothers of young children and to examine the longitudinal implications of these profiles for children's well‐being during middle childhood. Background The universality of traditional parenting styles (e.g., authoritative, authoritarian), established in Western contexts, and their implications for child well‐being, has been called into question, with studies conducted with Asian population…
The promotion of independence and interdependence in parent–child interactions across two cultures
Parents are early socialization agents who promote both independence and interdependence in their interactions with children. However, given that cultural contexts differ in the relative emphasis placed on the self versus others, the manifestations of these behaviours are likely to differ across cultures. This study compares mothers’ observed independence- and interdependence-promoting behaviours during a naturalistic snack interaction with their…
Maternal Use of Physical Discipline and Children's Externalizing Problems Across Childhood in Singapore
This study explored the reciprocal associations between maternal physical discipline and children's externalizing problems across childhood, distinguishing between trait-like (i.e., between-person) and state-like (i.e., within-person) differences. We used data from 604 dyads in Singapore, a context where physical discipline is commonly accepted. We analyzed maternal physical discipline and children's externalizing problems at three timepoints bet…
Preconception to postpartum accelerometry-based 24-hour movement behaviors
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03531658 (registered May 22, 2018)
Feeding practices and concerns as mediators between maternal mental health and eating behaviours in early childhood
BACKGROUND: The impact of maternal mental health on child eating beyond infancy is understudied. This study explores whether maternal feeding practices and concerns mediate the association between maternal depression and anxiety symptoms and eating behaviours at age three years. METHODS: Data from 409 mother-child dyads in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes cohort were analysed. Maternal mental health was assessed using the Beck…
Grandparental care and early childhood development
Singapore's aging population and the geographical proximity of Singaporean families may contribute to comparatively high rates of grandparental caregiving. This study describes the prevalence of grandparental caregiving and investigates concurrent and longitudinal effects of grandparental care on infant and preschool-aged children's preacademic, executive function, and socioemotional outcomes for the first time in Singapore. In the present study,…
The prospective associations of 24-hour movement behaviors and domain-specific activities with executive function and academic achievement among school-aged children in Singapore
Background Physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep are collectively referred to as 24-h movement behaviors, which may be linked to cognitive development in children. However, most of the evidence was based on cross-sectional studies and/or solely relied on parent-reported information on children’s behaviors, and it remains uncertain whether all domains/contexts of PA and SB are similarly associated with executive function and a…
Transforming healthcare with integrated inter-professional education in a research-driven medical school
Singapore, located strategically at the meeting point of the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea, has established itself as a global financial and economic hub. Despite its small geographical size, Singapore is home to over 5 million people from diverse cultural backgrounds. The city-state's medical education landscape has evolved significantly over the past century. Originally, Singapore had only one undergraduate medical school, the NUS Yong…
Correlates of lifestyle patterns among children in Singapore aged 10 years
These findings provide direction for future interventions by identifying vulnerable groups and contexts that should be prioritised
Relation of preconception eating behaviours to dietary pattern trajectories and gestational weight gain from preconception to late pregnancy
Examining the factor structure and validity of the WHOQOL-AGE among the oldest-old Chinese in Singapore
Objectives: A short measure of quality of life in old age is essential. The present study examined the factor structure and validity of the 13-item WHOQOL-AGE among the oldest-old. Methods: Data came from 1,000 Chinese aged ≥85 years in Singapore. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyzes were conducted on the WHOQOL-AGE. Regression examined the demographic, social and health correlates of the identified factors. Results: Factor analyzes sugge…
Effects of maternal childhood trauma on child emotional health
BACKGROUND: Experiences of early life adversity pose significant psychological and physical health risks to exposed individuals. Emerging evidence suggests that these health risks can be transmitted across generations; however, the mechanisms underlying the intergenerational impacts of maternal early-life trauma on child health remain unknown. METHODS: The current study used a prospective longitudinal design to determine the unique and joint cont…
Turbulent academic journey of female academics
Globally, only a small percentage of women hold full-time tenured faculty or leadership positions, and the attrition rate remains high. The reasons for the gender disparity were mostly presented quantitatively with little consideration in qualitative reviews. We seek to consolidate the qualitative evidence examining female academics’ experiences. Six electronic databases were searched from the inception date until October 2021. The included studi…
Exploring how socioeconomic status affects neighbourhood environments’ effects on obesity risks
Research on how socioeconomic status interacts with neighbourhood characteristics to influence disparities in obesity outcomes is currently limited by residential segregation-induced structural confounding, a lack of empirical studies outside the U.S. and other ‘Western’ contexts, and an over-reliance on cross-sectional analyses. This study addresses these challenges by examining how socioeconomic status modifies the effect of accumulated exposur…
Automated Machine Learning (AutoML)-Derived Preconception Predictive Risk Model to Guide Early Intervention for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
The increasing prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is contributing to the rising global burden of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and intergenerational cycle of chronic metabolic disorders. Primary lifestyle interventions to manage GDM, including second trimester dietary and exercise guidance, have met with limited success due to late implementation, poor adherence and generic guidelines. In this study, we aimed to build a preconception-based…
The effect of older sibling, postnatal maternal stress, and household factors on language development in two- to four-year-old children
Previous literature has shown that family structure affects language development. Here, factors relating to older siblings (their presence in the house, sex, and age gap), mothers (maternal stress), and household size and residential crowding were assessed to systematically examine the different roles of these factors. Data from mother-child dyads in a Singaporean birth cohort, (677-855 dyads; 52% males; 58% to 61% Chinese, 20% to 24% Malay, 17% …
Associations of Childcare Arrangements with Adiposity Measures in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Cohort
Childcare arrangements shape behavioural patterns that influence the risk of childhood obesity. However, little is known of its influence on childhood obesity in Singapore. We aim to examine the associations between childcare arrangements at the age of 5 years and childhood adiposity at age 6 years. Children from the GUSTO study were grouped into three childcare arrangements at age 5: full-time centre-based childcare (FC), partial centre-based wi…
Identification and reproducibility of dietary patterns assessed with a FFQ among women planning pregnancy
Objective: To identify a posteriori dietary patterns among women planning pregnancy and assess the reproducibility of these patterns in a subsample using two dietary assessment methods. Design: A semi-quantitative FFQ was administered to women enrolled in the Singapore PREconception Study of long-Term maternal and child Outcomes study. Dietary patterns from the FFQ were identified using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In a subsample of women (…
Network Analyses of Maternal Pre- and Post-Partum Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety
The differences between pre- and post-partum networks suggest that the presentation of maternal mental health problems varies over the peripartum period. This variation is not captured by traditional symptom scale scores. The bridging symptoms also suggest that anxiety symptoms may precede the development of maternal depression. Interventions and public health policies should thus be tailored to specific pre- and post-partum symptom profiles
Is breastfeeding associated with later child eating behaviours
Iron status and risk factors of iron deficiency among pregnant women in Singapore
NCT01174875 . Registered 1 July 2010 (retrospectively registered)
Validation of a semi-quantitative FFQ for 18-month-old toddlers
Objective Dietary intake of toddlers has been of growing interest due to its long-term consequences on health. However, previous works have focused largely on Caucasian populations and less is known about Asian toddlers. We aimed to validate a semi-quantitative FFQ designed to assess dietary intakes of 18-month-old toddlers in a multi-ethnic Asian cohort. Design An FFQ of ninety-four food items, identified based on food records of 12-month-old GU…
Maternal feeding practices and children's food intake during an ad libitum buffet meal
Prevalence and incidence of postpartum depression among healthy mothers
Acculturation and low-birthweight infants among Latino women
Previous studies have demonstrated that acculturation is associated with negative birth outcomes among mothers in numerous immigrant populations, including Latinas. This study used structural equation models to reanalyze data employed in the 1989 Scribner and Dwyer study on the effect of acculturation (measured through the Cuellar scale) on mothers' low-birthweight status. Data revealed that language components dominate the effects of acculturati…
Validation of the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire in 3 year old children of a multi-ethnic Asian population
Oral processing behaviours that promote children's energy intake are associated with parent-reported appetitive traits
Anxiety and Depression During Pregnancy and Temperament in Early Infancy
Maternal antenatal mood is associated with negative infant temperament. This link has not been substantiated in Asian populations. We evaluated the association between antenatal maternal mood and infant temperament among Asian mother–infant pairs. Antenatal maternal depression and anxiety were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (J. Cox, J. Holden, & R. Sagovsky, 1987) and the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (C. Spielberger, R. …
Maternal feeding practices and children's food intake during an ad libitum buffet meal
Relation of preconception eating behaviours to dietary pattern trajectories and gestational weight gain from preconception to late pregnancy
Is breastfeeding associated with later child eating behaviours
Turbulent academic journey of female academics
Globally, only a small percentage of women hold full-time tenured faculty or leadership positions, and the attrition rate remains high. The reasons for the gender disparity were mostly presented quantitatively with little consideration in qualitative reviews. We seek to consolidate the qualitative evidence examining female academics’ experiences. Six electronic databases were searched from the inception date until October 2021. The included studi…
The effect of older sibling, postnatal maternal stress, and household factors on language development in two- to four-year-old children
Previous literature has shown that family structure affects language development. Here, factors relating to older siblings (their presence in the house, sex, and age gap), mothers (maternal stress), and household size and residential crowding were assessed to systematically examine the different roles of these factors. Data from mother-child dyads in a Singaporean birth cohort, (677-855 dyads; 52% males; 58% to 61% Chinese, 20% to 24% Malay, 17% …
Acculturation and low-birthweight infants among Latino women
Previous studies have demonstrated that acculturation is associated with negative birth outcomes among mothers in numerous immigrant populations, including Latinas. This study used structural equation models to reanalyze data employed in the 1989 Scribner and Dwyer study on the effect of acculturation (measured through the Cuellar scale) on mothers' low-birthweight status. Data revealed that language components dominate the effects of acculturati…
A Multi-Institutional Survey on Faculty Development Needs, Priorities and Preferences in Medical Education in an Asian Medical School
Background: Faculty development in medical education is crucial for maintaining academic vitality. The authors conducted a needs assessment survey in Singapore to determine the educational needs and priorities of clinical faculty.Methods: This study implemented a questionnaire-based, anonymous, multi-institutional survey with stratified random sampling. Each question was anchored with two statements on a 9-point scale. Respondents were asked to d…
Dietary changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period in Singaporean Chinese, Malay and Indian women
Objective To examine changes in food consumption during pregnancy and the postpartum period in women of major Asian ethnic groups. Design Using interviewer-administered questionnaires, we assessed changes in food consumption during pregnancy (26–28 weeks’ gestation) and the postpartum period (3 weeks after delivery) as compared with the usual pre-pregnancy diet. Setting Singapore. Subjects Pregnant women ( n 1027) of Chinese, Malay and Indian eth…
Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Patterns Before and During Pregnancy in a Multi-ethnic Sample of Asian Women in Singapore
Tobacco smoke exposure and respiratory morbidity in young children
Secondhand smoke exposure during the prenatal and postnatal periods is associated with increased respiratory morbidity in children. Opportunistic screening and targeted smoking cessation counselling for parents at child hospital admissions and well-child outpatient visits, as well as preconception smoking cessation counselling for future pregnancies, may be beneficial to protect the child from negative health impacts
Maternal and infant correlates of maternal feeding beliefs and practices in a multi-ethnic Asian population
Objective Little is known about the influences of maternal and infant correlates on maternal feeding beliefs and practices in the first 2 years of life, despite its important role in early obesogenic eating behaviours and weight gain. Design Cross-sectional study using demographic data of mothers and infants obtained at 26–28 weeks of gestation, and postnatally from birth to 15 months, respectively. The Infant Feeding Questionnaire was administer…
Anxiety and Depression During Pregnancy and Temperament in Early Infancy
Maternal antenatal mood is associated with negative infant temperament. This link has not been substantiated in Asian populations. We evaluated the association between antenatal maternal mood and infant temperament among Asian mother–infant pairs. Antenatal maternal depression and anxiety were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (J. Cox, J. Holden, & R. Sagovsky, 1987) and the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (C. Spielberger, R. …
Sleep and Dietary Patterns in Pregnancy
Evidence on the association between sleep, diet, and eating behaviors in pregnant women is lacking. We examine this in a cohort of apparently healthy pregnant women. At 26-28 weeks gestation, 497 participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess sleep and a 24-h recall to assess dietary intake. Diet quality was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index for pregnant women in Singapore (HEI-SGP) score and previously derived dietary pat…
Validation of the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire in 3 year old children of a multi-ethnic Asian population
Prevalence and incidence of postpartum depression among healthy mothers
Prospective associations between parental feeding practices and children's oral processing behaviours
Previous research demonstrated that faster eating rates are linked with increased intake of energy during a meal. Here, we examined whether within-meal parental feeding practices show cross-sectional and prospective associations with children's oral processing behaviours and whether the previously demonstrated association between faster eating rates and higher energy intakes varies by parental feeding practices. A subset (n = 155) of children and…
Pregnancy Trimester-Specific Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Child Respiratory Health Outcomes in the First 2 Years of Life
Prenatal exposure to air pollution is associated with childhood respiratory health; however, no previous studies have examined maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) as a potential effect modifier. We investigated whether maternal pre-pregnancy BMI modified the association of trimester-specific air pollution divided into quartiles of exposure (Q1−4) on respiratory health in the Growing Up in Singapore towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study …
Food Sources of Energy and Macronutrient Intakes among Infants from 6 to 12 Months of Age
Adequate nutrition during complementary feeding is important for the growth, development and well-being of children. We aim to examine the energy and macronutrient intake composition and their main food sources in a mother-offspring cohort study in Singapore. The diets of infants were assessed by 24 h dietary recalls or food diaries collected from mothers when their offspring were 6 (n = 760), 9 (n = 893) and 12 (n = 907) months of age. Food sour…
Oral processing behaviours that promote children's energy intake are associated with parent-reported appetitive traits
Iron status and risk factors of iron deficiency among pregnant women in Singapore
NCT01174875 . Registered 1 July 2010 (retrospectively registered)
Validation of a semi-quantitative FFQ for 18-month-old toddlers
Objective Dietary intake of toddlers has been of growing interest due to its long-term consequences on health. However, previous works have focused largely on Caucasian populations and less is known about Asian toddlers. We aimed to validate a semi-quantitative FFQ designed to assess dietary intakes of 18-month-old toddlers in a multi-ethnic Asian cohort. Design An FFQ of ninety-four food items, identified based on food records of 12-month-old GU…
Maternal feeding practices and children's food intake during an ad libitum buffet meal
Network Analyses of Maternal Pre- and Post-Partum Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety
The differences between pre- and post-partum networks suggest that the presentation of maternal mental health problems varies over the peripartum period. This variation is not captured by traditional symptom scale scores. The bridging symptoms also suggest that anxiety symptoms may precede the development of maternal depression. Interventions and public health policies should thus be tailored to specific pre- and post-partum symptom profiles
Is breastfeeding associated with later child eating behaviours
Associations of Childcare Arrangements with Adiposity Measures in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Cohort
Childcare arrangements shape behavioural patterns that influence the risk of childhood obesity. However, little is known of its influence on childhood obesity in Singapore. We aim to examine the associations between childcare arrangements at the age of 5 years and childhood adiposity at age 6 years. Children from the GUSTO study were grouped into three childcare arrangements at age 5: full-time centre-based childcare (FC), partial centre-based wi…
Identification and reproducibility of dietary patterns assessed with a FFQ among women planning pregnancy
Objective: To identify a posteriori dietary patterns among women planning pregnancy and assess the reproducibility of these patterns in a subsample using two dietary assessment methods. Design: A semi-quantitative FFQ was administered to women enrolled in the Singapore PREconception Study of long-Term maternal and child Outcomes study. Dietary patterns from the FFQ were identified using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In a subsample of women (…
Exploring how socioeconomic status affects neighbourhood environments’ effects on obesity risks
Research on how socioeconomic status interacts with neighbourhood characteristics to influence disparities in obesity outcomes is currently limited by residential segregation-induced structural confounding, a lack of empirical studies outside the U.S. and other ‘Western’ contexts, and an over-reliance on cross-sectional analyses. This study addresses these challenges by examining how socioeconomic status modifies the effect of accumulated exposur…
Automated Machine Learning (AutoML)-Derived Preconception Predictive Risk Model to Guide Early Intervention for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
The increasing prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is contributing to the rising global burden of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and intergenerational cycle of chronic metabolic disorders. Primary lifestyle interventions to manage GDM, including second trimester dietary and exercise guidance, have met with limited success due to late implementation, poor adherence and generic guidelines. In this study, we aimed to build a preconception-based…
The effect of older sibling, postnatal maternal stress, and household factors on language development in two- to four-year-old children
Previous literature has shown that family structure affects language development. Here, factors relating to older siblings (their presence in the house, sex, and age gap), mothers (maternal stress), and household size and residential crowding were assessed to systematically examine the different roles of these factors. Data from mother-child dyads in a Singaporean birth cohort, (677-855 dyads; 52% males; 58% to 61% Chinese, 20% to 24% Malay, 17% …
Examining the factor structure and validity of the WHOQOL-AGE among the oldest-old Chinese in Singapore
Objectives: A short measure of quality of life in old age is essential. The present study examined the factor structure and validity of the 13-item WHOQOL-AGE among the oldest-old. Methods: Data came from 1,000 Chinese aged ≥85 years in Singapore. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyzes were conducted on the WHOQOL-AGE. Regression examined the demographic, social and health correlates of the identified factors. Results: Factor analyzes sugge…
Medicine (30 works) · Demography (17 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (17 works) · Psychology (17 works) · Pregnancy (14 works) · Cohort (13 works) · Internal Medicine (13 works) · Demography (10 works) · Environmental health (10 works) · Developmental psychology (8 works)