Precursors and correlates of anxiety trajectories from late childhood to late adolescence

The present research employed a prospective, multi-informant design to examine precursors and correlates of differing anxiety profiles from late childhood to late adolescence. The sample consisted of 626 boys and 667 girls who are participants in the Australian Temperament Project, a large, longitudinal, community-based study that has followed young people's psychosocial adjustment from infancy to adulthood. The present research analyzes data collected from the first 12 waves of data, from 4–8 months to 17 years. Parents, primary school teachers, maternal and child health nurses, and from the age of 11 onward, the young people themselves have provided survey data. Trajectory analyses revealed three distinct patterns of self-reported anxiety from late childhood to late adolescence, comprising low, moderate, and high (increasing) trajectories, which differed somewhat between boys and girls. A range of parent- and teacher-reported factors was found to be associated with these trajectories, including temperament style, behavior problems, social skills, parenting, negative family events, and peer relationships. Compared with male trajectories, female trajectories were associated with a greater variety of psychosocial variables (including parenting and externalizing problems), which may partially account for the higher prevalence of anxiety in adolescent girls compared with boys. Findings shed light on gender-specific pathways to anxiety and the need for comprehensive, integrative approaches to intervention and prevention programs.

The Australian temperament project: the first 30 years

The Australian Temperament Project (ATP) is a longitudinal study of the psychosocial development of a large and representative sample of Australian children born in the state of Victoria, Australia between September 1982 and January 1983.The study aims to trace the pathways to psychosocial adjustment and maladjustment across the lifespan, and to investigate the contribution of personal, family and environmental factors to development and wellbeing.

Breast cancer on the world wide web: cross sectional survey of quality of information and popularity of websites.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the characteristics of popular breast cancer related websites and whether more popular sites are of higher quality. DESIGN: The search engine Google was used to generate a list of websites about breast cancer. Google ranks search results by measures of link popularity---the number of links to a site from other sites. The top 200 sites returned in response to the query "breast cancer" were divided into "more popular" and "less popular" subgroups by three different measures of link popularity: Google rank and number of links reported independently by Google and by AltaVista (another search engine). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Type and quality of content. RESULTS: More popular sites according to Google rank were more likely than less popular ones to contain information on ongoing clinical trials (27% v 12%, P=0.01 ), results of trials (12% v 3%, P=0.02), and opportunities for psychosocial adjustment (48% v 23%, P<0.01). These characteristics were also associated with higher number of links as reported by Google and AltaVista. More popular sites by number of linking sites were also more likely to provide updates on other breast cancer research, information on legislation and advocacy, and a message board service. Measures of quality such as display of authorship, attribution or references, currency of information, and disclosure did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Popularity of websites is associated with type rather than quality of content. Sites that include content correlated with popularity may best meet the public's desire for information about breast cancer.

Self-esteem, coping styles, and quality of life in polish adolescents and young adults with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

Objectives : To evaluate self-esteem, coping styles, and health-related quality of life and their relationships in Polish adolescents and young adults with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate and related sex differences. Design and Participants : Self-report questionnaires measuring self-esteem (Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory), coping styles (Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations), and health-related quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) were completed by 48 participants with cleft lip and palate (age, 16 to 23 years; 31 males, 17 females) and 48 controls without cleft lip and palate (age, 16 to 23 years; 28 males, 20 females) matched for age, place of residence, and socioeconomic status. Results : Regarding self-esteem, individuals with cleft lip and palate scored higher on body functioning (P < .01) and defensive self-enhancement (P < .05). Self-control showed an interaction effect: Females with cleft lip and palate scored higher than controls, but males did not differ between groups (P < .05). Males with cleft lip and palate scored lower than controls in personal power but higher in body functioning (P < .05); females showed no differences between groups. The groups did not differ with regard to coping styles or quality of life, but several correlations were found between self-esteem and coping styles, and quality of life (P < .01). Conclusions : Late adolescents and young adults with and without cleft lip and palate differed little in terms of psychological adjustment measures. The higher scores in defensive self-enhancement of individuals with cleft lip and palate suggest the need for instruments measuring social approval in psychosocial adjustment research involving this group.

Theory of uncertainty in illness in patients with cancer of unknown primary origin: Structure providers as antecedents of uncertainty in a population of cancer patients with an unknown primary diagnosis

Uncertainty has been found to be a major component of the cancer experience and can dramatically affect psychosocial adaptation and outcomes of a patient's disease state (McCormick, 2002). Patients with a diagnosis of Carcinoma of Unknown Primary (CUP) may experience higher levels of uncertainty due to the unpredictability of current and future symptoms, limited treatment options and an undetermined life expectancy. To date, only one study has touched upon uncertainty and its' effects on those with CUP but no information exists concerning the effects of uncertainty regarding diagnosis and treatment on the distress level and psychosocial adjustment of this population (Parker & Lenzi, 2003). ^ Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Theory (1984) proposes that uncertainty is preceded by three variables, one of which being Structure Providers. Structure Providers include credible authority, the degree of trust and confidence the patient has with their doctor, education and social support. It was the goal of this study to examine the relationship between uncertainty and Structure Providers to support the following hypotheses: (1) There will be a negative association between credible authority and uncertainty, (2) There will be a negative association between education level and uncertainty, and (3) There will be a negative association between social support and uncertainty. ^ This cross-sectional analysis utilized data from 219 patients following their initial consultation with their oncologist. Data included the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS) which was used to determine patients' uncertainty levels, the Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Scale (MOSS-SSS) to assess patients, levels of social support, the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ-18) and the Cancer Diagnostic Interview Scale (CDIS) to measure credible authority and general demographic information to assess age, education, marital status and ethnicity. ^ In this study we found that uncertainty levels were generally higher in this sample as compared to other types of cancer populations. And while our results seemed to support most of our hypothesis, we were only able to show significant associations between two. The analyses indicated that credible authority measured by both the CDIS and the PSQ was a significant predictor of uncertainty as was social support measured by the MOSS-SS. Education has shown to have an inconsistent pattern of effect in relation to uncertainty and in the current study there was not enough data to significantly support our hypothesis. ^ The results of this study generally support Mishel's Theory of Uncertainty in Illness and highlight the importance of taking into consideration patients, psychosocial factors as well as employing proper communication practices between physicians and their patients.^

Interpersonal Emotion Dynamics in Mother-Daughter Dyads during Adolescence

Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2016-05-16 14:38:20.622

Is cannabis a gateway drug? Testing hypotheses about the relationship between cannabis use and the use of other illicit drugs

We outline and evaluate competing explanations of three relationships that have consistently been found between cannabis use and the use of other illicit drugs, namely, ( 1) that cannabis use typically precedes the use of other illicit drugs; and that ( 2) the earlier cannabis is used, and ( 3) the more regularly it is used, the more likely a young person is to use other illicit drugs. We consider three major competing explanations of these patterns: ( 1) that the relationship is due to the fact that there is a shared illicit market for cannabis and other drugs which makes it more likely that other illicit drugs will be used if cannabis is used; ( 2) that they are explained by the characteristics of those who use cannabis; and ( 3) that they reflect a causal relationship in which the pharmacological effects of cannabis on brain function increase the likelihood of using other illicit drugs. These explanations are evaluated in the light of evidence from longitudinal epidemiological studies, simulation studies, discordant twin studies and animal studies. The available evidence indicates that the association reflects in part but is not wholly explained by: ( 1) the selective recruitment to heavy cannabis use of persons with pre-existing traits ( that may be in part genetic) that predispose to the use of a variety of different drugs; ( 2) the affiliation of cannabis users with drug using peers in settings that provide more opportunities to use other illicit drugs at an earlier age; ( 3) supported by socialisation into an illicit drug subculture with favourable attitudes towards the use of other illicit drugs. Animal studies have raised the possibility that regular cannabis use may have pharmacological effects on brain function that increase the likelihood of using other drugs. We conclude with suggestions for the type of research studies that will enable a decision to be made about the relative contributions that social context, individual characteristics, and drug effects make to the relationship between cannabis use and the use of other drugs.

A metacognitive contextual intervention to enhance error awareness and functional outcome following traumatic brain injury: A single-case experimental design

Very few empirically validated interventions for improving metacognitive skills (i.e., self-awareness and self-regulation) and functional outcomes have been reported. This single-case experimental study presents JM, a 36-year-old man with a very severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) who demonstrated long-term awareness deficits. Treatment at four years post-injury involved a metacognitive contextual intervention based on a conceptualization of neuro-cognitive, psychological, and socio-environmental factors contributing to his awareness deficits. The 16-week intervention targeted error awareness and self-correction in two real life settings: (a) cooking at home: and (b) volunteer work. Outcome measures included behavioral observation of error behavior and standardized awareness measures. Relative to baseline performance in the cooking setting, JM demonstrated a 44% reduction in error frequency and increased self-correction. Although no spontaneous generalization was evident in the volunteer work setting, specific training in this environment led to a 39% decrease in errors. JM later gained paid employment and received brief metacognitive training in his work environment. JM's global self-knowledge of deficits assessed by self-report was unchanged after the program. Overall, the study provides preliminary support for a metacognitive contextual approach to improve error awareness and functional Outcome in real life settings.

Exploration du rôle modérateur des stratégies d’adaptation sur la relation entre les mauvais traitements perçus et les problèmes psychologiques d’adolescents à risque

Les adolescents qui ont subi de la négligence ou des abus substantiels dans leur famille risquent de présenter des symptômes anxieux et dépressifs et des comportements antisociaux plus importants. Parmi les ressources internes qui pourraient contribuer à la résilience de ces jeunes, les stratégies qu’ils adoptent pour composer avec les situations stressantes ont été peu examinées. Dans cette thèse, nous examinons les stratégies d’adaptation utilisées par 336 adolescents placés en centre de réadaptation, avec pour objectif de vérifier leur rôle modérateur dans la relation entre les mauvais traitements qu’ils perçoivent et l’ampleur de leurs problèmes intériorisés ou extériorisés. Le premier chapitre présente une revue de la recherche sur les liens entre divers stresseurs, les stratégies d’adaptation des jeunes et leur condition psychologique. Ces études mettent en lumière combien les effets des stratégies qu’ils utilisent peuvent varier selon les stresseurs familiaux ou sociaux auxquels ils sont exposés. Les deux études empiriques aux chapitres 2 et 3 portent sur les interactions entre trois types de maltraitance (abus émotionnel ou physique, négligence émotionnelle) et quatre stratégies d’adaptation (centrées sur les problèmes, les émotions, la diversion sociale et la distraction). Dans la première étude, ces interactions sont testées pour leurs effets sur l’ampleur des problèmes intériorisés rapportés par les jeunes ou leurs éducateurs; la seconde étude explore leurs effets sur l’ampleur des problèmes extériorisés. Quand les problèmes intériorisés sont rapportés par les adolescents, les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes, la diversion sociale et la distraction avaient un effet protecteur sur l’ampleur des symptômes associés à la maltraitance émotionnelle, surtout chez les filles. Les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes ont aussi un effet protecteur sur la relation entre l’abus émotionnel et les comportements agressifs rapportés par les jeunes. Toutefois quand il s’agit des problèmes extériorisés, plusieurs interactions montrent plutôt que les effets adaptatifs de certaines stratégies diminuent quand les mauvais traitements augmentent. Il en est ainsi pour les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes ou la diversion sociale quand ces problèmes sont observés par les éducateurs, et pour les distractions, lorsqu’ils sont rapportés par les filles. Enfin la diversion sociale est associée à des comportements délinquants plus marqués rapportés par les jeunes et son effet modérateur chez les garçons montre que cette relation est plus forte quand ils sont moins maltraités. Les stratégies d’adaptation examinées contribuent donc surtout à atténuer la détresse émotionnelle des filles victimes de maltraitance psychologique, mais elles semblent avoir peu d’impact sur les comportements antisociaux des jeunes maltraités. Ces résultats sont discutés en lien avec les caractéristiques de notre échantillon. Les implications cliniques qui s’en dégagent permettent de suggérer des pistes pour mieux soutenir ces jeunes dans l’apprentissage de stratégies adaptatives pour réguler leur stress.

Adultos com experiências precoces de vitimação e resiliência

A literatura tem vindo a comprovar que determinados indivíduos conseguem integrar-se ou ajustar-se de forma positiva e normativa nas sociedades em que vivem, apesar das vivências altamente adversas ocorridas, ainda numa idade precoce, poderem potenciar um percurso significativamente diferente. O presente estudo, de índole qualitativo, tem como objetivo geral analisar e caracterizar o percurso de vida de adultos, que precocemente vivenciaram formas de vitimação em contexto familiar, procurando identificar os fatores que contribuíram para o seu ajustamento psicossocial. Para tal, recorreu-se a uma entrevista semiestruturada, elaborada para o efeito, e a qual foi administrada a 10 participantes com idades entre 19 e 41 anos (M=26.1; DP=8), selecionados a partir de informantes privilegiados e que os identificaram como sendo resilientes. O conteúdo das entrevistas foi analisado através da grounded analysis. Os resultados revelam que os participantes no decorrer do processo de vitimação desenvolveram características comportamentais semelhantes (e.g., isolamento, baixa autoestima, revolta, agressividade), identificando a retirada do meio familiar como elemento promotor da mudança ocorrida no seu percurso e autoconceito. De igual modo, identificaram a existência de sonhos, de objetivos de vida e a presença de pessoas significativas (e.g., irmãos, parceiros, amigos) como sendo determinantes na construção do seu percurso resiliente. A retirada do contexto familiar foi identificada pelos participantes como uma medida de intervenção relevante na proteção da criança e subsequente ajustamento psicossocial. Os resultados do presente estudo permitem evidenciar a importância dos fatores protetivos no ajustamento psicossocial, algo que deve ser considerado na intervenção psicoterapêutica com crianças em risco.

Exploration du rôle modérateur des stratégies d’adaptation sur la relation entre les mauvais traitements perçus et les problèmes psychologiques d’adolescents à risque

Les adolescents qui ont subi de la négligence ou des abus substantiels dans leur famille risquent de présenter des symptômes anxieux et dépressifs et des comportements antisociaux plus importants. Parmi les ressources internes qui pourraient contribuer à la résilience de ces jeunes, les stratégies qu’ils adoptent pour composer avec les situations stressantes ont été peu examinées. Dans cette thèse, nous examinons les stratégies d’adaptation utilisées par 336 adolescents placés en centre de réadaptation, avec pour objectif de vérifier leur rôle modérateur dans la relation entre les mauvais traitements qu’ils perçoivent et l’ampleur de leurs problèmes intériorisés ou extériorisés. Le premier chapitre présente une revue de la recherche sur les liens entre divers stresseurs, les stratégies d’adaptation des jeunes et leur condition psychologique. Ces études mettent en lumière combien les effets des stratégies qu’ils utilisent peuvent varier selon les stresseurs familiaux ou sociaux auxquels ils sont exposés. Les deux études empiriques aux chapitres 2 et 3 portent sur les interactions entre trois types de maltraitance (abus émotionnel ou physique, négligence émotionnelle) et quatre stratégies d’adaptation (centrées sur les problèmes, les émotions, la diversion sociale et la distraction). Dans la première étude, ces interactions sont testées pour leurs effets sur l’ampleur des problèmes intériorisés rapportés par les jeunes ou leurs éducateurs; la seconde étude explore leurs effets sur l’ampleur des problèmes extériorisés. Quand les problèmes intériorisés sont rapportés par les adolescents, les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes, la diversion sociale et la distraction avaient un effet protecteur sur l’ampleur des symptômes associés à la maltraitance émotionnelle, surtout chez les filles. Les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes ont aussi un effet protecteur sur la relation entre l’abus émotionnel et les comportements agressifs rapportés par les jeunes. Toutefois quand il s’agit des problèmes extériorisés, plusieurs interactions montrent plutôt que les effets adaptatifs de certaines stratégies diminuent quand les mauvais traitements augmentent. Il en est ainsi pour les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes ou la diversion sociale quand ces problèmes sont observés par les éducateurs, et pour les distractions, lorsqu’ils sont rapportés par les filles. Enfin la diversion sociale est associée à des comportements délinquants plus marqués rapportés par les jeunes et son effet modérateur chez les garçons montre que cette relation est plus forte quand ils sont moins maltraités. Les stratégies d’adaptation examinées contribuent donc surtout à atténuer la détresse émotionnelle des filles victimes de maltraitance psychologique, mais elles semblent avoir peu d’impact sur les comportements antisociaux des jeunes maltraités. Ces résultats sont discutés en lien avec les caractéristiques de notre échantillon. Les implications cliniques qui s’en dégagent permettent de suggérer des pistes pour mieux soutenir ces jeunes dans l’apprentissage de stratégies adaptatives pour réguler leur stress.

Blame Attributions Among Child Sexual Abuse Survivors and Disclosure of the Abuse

Child sexual abuse (CSA) disclosure is critical for survivor´s psychosocial adjustment later in life. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between attributions of blame for child sexual abuse by the victim and the disclosure of the abuse to parents or caregivers while controlling for characteristics of the abuse. Female college students between 17 and 24 years of age (M = 19.44, SD = 1.64) from a southern Spanish University were surveyed. Of 1547 respondents, 153 (9.90%) reported having suffered some form of CSA before the age of 15. Information about the characteristics of abuse (age of onset, type of abuse suffered, continuity of abuse, and relationship with and age of the perpetrator) and the existence of abuse disclosure by the survivor was obtained from a self-reported questionnaire developed for the present study. The Attributions of Responsibility and Blame Scale (McMillen & Zuravin, 1997) was used to assess attributions made about CSA (self-blame, perpetrator blame and family blame). The results of a logistic regression model was statistically significant, χ² (9) = 43.856, p < .001. The model explained 41% (Nagelkerke R²) of the variance of abuse disclosure and correctly classified 85.6% of cases. Survivor disclosure was 5.50 times more likely to occur when the perpetrator was not a family member (Wald = 8.14, p < .01) and 3.95 times more likely to occur when there was not physical contact with the perpetrator (Wald = 4.30, p < .05). The occurrence of disclosure was also related to increased perpetrator age (Wald = 4.83, p < .05). With regard to the attributions of blame, the occurrence of disclosure was related to lower scores on self-blame (Wald = 6.78, p < .01) and higher scores on family blame (Wald = 9.67, p < .001). However, no relationship was found between perpetrator blame and disclosure of abuse. The results confirm the idea that not only self-blame attributions, but also family blame attributions are critical to the decision of a CSA victim to disclose abuse. The possibility that children who do not disclose abuse have a greater need to deny the occurrence of abuse, or have more confusion about being abused is discussed. Attributions of blame should be taken into serious consideration when evaluating children for possible sexual abuse.

Students’ Involvement in School and Parental Support: Contributions to the Socio-Educational Intervention

Student involvement in the school and the perception of parental support are core variables in the context of studies on personal and school adjustment of children and adolescents and should be considered in the context of socio-educational intervention. In this study, we formulated the following objectives: i) to understand the differences in students’ involvement in school and the perception of parental support, according to several socio- demographic and school variables, ii) to analyse the relationship between involvement and the perception of parental support iii) to outline socio-educational intervention strategies in the contexts of children’s lives. This is a non-experimental, correlational and cross-sectional study by means of a non-probabilistic convenience sample consisting of 150 children, aged between 10 and 16 years, attending the 2nd and 3rd cycles basic education [5th – 9th years of schooling] attending a school in the central region of Portugal. The data collection instruments were “Students’ Engagement in School: a Four-Dimensional Scale – SES-4DS” (Veiga 2013, 2016), the “Perceived Parental Support Scale” (Veiga, 2011) and a part with socio-demographic and school questions was added. We found significant differences in overall (and partial) amounts of student involvement and the perception of parental support, depending on the age, gender (in agency and behaviour subscales), school difficulties/retentions and methods of study (time, a place to study and a study schedule). We also found positive and significant relationships between student involvement and perception of parental support. The results are in line with the scientific literature in the field, which highlights the key role of the variables, student involvement and perception of parental support in the academic and psychosocial adjustment of young people. These should be considered in the context of socio-educational intervention. Given the above, we present areas and action strategies promoting parent and student involvement in the educational process.

Resilience, perception of parental support and socio-educational intervention strategies

Introduction: Resilience is a core variable in the context of studies on the psychosocial adjustment and school children and teenagers, and should be considered in the context of strategies to promote their well- being and quality of life. Objectives: To know the relationship between resilience, parental support and some sociodemographic variables; outline socio-educational intervention strategies in contexts of children’s lives. Methods: This is a non-experimental, correlational and cross-sectional study, having used a non- probabilistic convenience sample consisting of 150 children, aged between 10 and 16 years old, attending the 2nd and 3rd cycles of Basic Education. The gathering instruments were the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Inventory Measuring State and Child Resilience (Martins, 2005) and Perception Parental Support Scale (Veiga, 2011). Results: Results show that there are signiicant differences in the values of the current, past and overall resilience, between the age groups children, revealing that children aged between 10 and 11 years have higher results in resilience than young people aged between 14 and 16 years. We also observed signiicant differences in the current resilience, depending on the parents’ marital status (higher when parents are married). We also observed positive and signiicant correlations between resilience and perception of parental support. Conclusions: Results are in line with the scientiic literature in the ield that highlights the key role of resilience in school and psychosocial adjustment of children, and should be considered within the design of socio-educational intervention strategies. Keywords: Resilience. Parental support. Attachment