Study Ventegodt (1997): study DK 1993

Public

31-33 aged, born at the university hospital, Denmark, 1993

Sample

Respondents

N = 4626

Non Response

36%

Assessment

Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
Data were taken from the medical files of mothers and their babies

Correlate

Authors's Label

Plantar reflex shortly after birth

Our Classification

Remarks

The lateral side of the sole of the foot is rubbed with a sharp or hard implement (usually the tip of a tendon hammer , running from the heel along a curve to the metatarsal pads. It is an unpleasant sensation for most. There are roughly three responses possible: Flexor: the toes curve inwards and the foot pronates; this is the response seen in healthy adults. Indifferent: there is no response (sometimes a feature of peripheral neuropathy Extensor: the pollux (large toe) extends upwards, and the other toes to a lesser extent; this response is Babinski's sign. In decerebrate patients, a more complex reflex is observed, which includes the lifting of the whole leg. This is a primitive reflex , indicating that the brain has been damaged severely. The extensor response can indicate damage of the spinal cord in the thoracal or lumbar region, or brain disease

Distribution

N day 1 all:4268,    1:0,1%,    2a:0,2%,   2b:55,9%,   2c:6,0%,   2d:4,9% ,   3:29,2%
N  day 5 all:4140,   1:6,2%,   2a:0,2%,   2b:48,4%,   2c:5,7%,   2d:8,0% ,   3:30,6%

Operationalization

Plantar reflex shortly after birth as reported in medical file
1: no reaction, despite relaxation
   2a: dorsal flexion of hallux(big toe) without other
   2b: spreading of toes without dorsal flexion of hall
   2c: spreading of toes with dorsal flexion of all toes
   2d: spreading of toes and dorsal flexion of hall, classic every time
3: plantar reflex of all toes
Assessed at day 1 and day 5

Observed Relation with Happiness