1,720,984 research outputs found
Understanding the prospective associations between neuro-developmental problems, bullying victimization, and mental health: lessons from a longitudinal study of institutional deprivation
Full text linkStudies suggest that children who have experienced neglect are at risk for bullying which in turn increases the risk for poor mental health. Here we extend this research by examining whether this risk extends to the neglect associated with severe institutional deprivation and then testing the extent to which these effects are mediated by prior deprivation-related neuro-developmental problems such as symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and autism. Data were collected at ages 6, 11, 15, and young adulthood (22–25 years) from 165 adoptees who experienced up to 43 months of deprivation in Romanian Orphanages in 1980s and 52 non-deprived UK adoptees (N = 217; 50.23% females). Deprivation was associated with elevated levels of bullying and neuro-developmental symptoms at ages 6 through 15 and young adult depression and anxiety. Paths from deprivation to poor adult mental health were mediated via cross-lagged effects from earlier neuro-developmental problems to later bullying. Findings evidence how deep-seated neuro-developmental impacts of institutional deprivation can cascade across development to impact social functioning and mental health. These results elucidate cascade timing and the association between early deprivation and later bullying victimization across childhood and adolescence
Affective forecasting and psychopathology: a scoping review
Full text linkAffective forecasting – estimations of future emotional reactions – is an important aspect of future thinking that informs judgement and decision making. Biases in affective forecasting have been noted generally and with people with emotional disturbances specifically. Still, the role of affective forecasting within models of psychopathology has received little attention. Given the state of the literature, a scoping review method was adopted to summarize and synthesize the methodological approaches used in measuring affective forecasting within the context of psychopathology and the scope of the evidence on this association. Three databases were searched for research published on or before November 13th, 2023. Original quantitative research that examined affective forecasting and its association with psychopathology was reviewed. Data were charted using a form designed for this study. Overall, the review highlights the heterogeneity in operationalization of affective forecasting. The majority of the evidence supports an association between severity of psychopathology and intensity of affective forecasts, with notable exceptions, which are discussed within the scope of methodology and operationalization of affective forecasting. This remains an important process to investigate in information processing models of psychopathology to elucidate its role in the development and maintenance of psychopathology and potential as a target for intervention
Climate worry and hope have different associations with well-being and climate-friendly behaviors across young people from Sweden and Qatar
Full text linkClimate change is a global crisis posing exceptional threats and demands on our younger generations. Our aim was to understand how climate-change worry and hope relate to climate-friendly behaviors, life satisfaction, and negative affect in young people across Qatar and Sweden—countries with different climates and challenges. Data from young people between 16 and 19 years of age from Sweden (n = 277; 61.37% female) and Qatar (n = 134; 49.25% female) were used. Participants completed questionnaires online. Correlational and regression analyses were used to test bivariate and unique associations and moderation effects. Climate worry was positively associated with climate-friendly behaviors in both samples. Climate worry was positively associated with negative affect and negatively associated with life satisfaction in the sample from Qatar, whereas in the Swedish sample it was only positively associated with negative affect. There was a significant interaction between climate hope and worry on climate-friendly behavior (interaction coefficient = 1.44, p = 0.0032) in the sample from Qatar, and on life satisfaction (interaction coefficient = 0.61, p = 0.036) in the sample from Sweden. Climate hope’s positive effects on these outcomes were significant at higher levels of worry. This study shows the importance of considering both the unique effects and the interplay between hope and worry across regions to understand the impacts of the climate crisis on young people
Trauma and affective forecasting: The mediating effect of emotion dysregulation on predictions of negative affect
No full textWork on affective forecasting has provided support for the finding that people overestimate their predicted emotional reactions towards future life events. We extend past work by highlighting individual differences in affective forecasting. A sample of 368 undergraduate students differing in trauma experience and symptoms were asked to complete emotion regulation questionnaires and predict their emotions and reactions towards two hypothetical future negative life events (i.e. academic failure and cyberbullying). Using structural equation modelling, emotion dysregulation mediated the association between higher trauma experience and symptomatology and greater negative affective forecasts towards both hypothetical negative life events. The mediating role of emotion dysregulation suggests it can be a potential target for intervention, especially for those with a history of trauma. The present findings extend the research on individual differences in affective forecasting and expand our understanding of the role of emotion in shaping one's decision-making and outlook for the future
Changing Relations Among Cognitive Abilities Across Development: Implications for Measurement and Research
Full text linkThe constructs of intelligence and executive function are critical concepts of ability in neuropsychological research, cognitive research, developmental research, and clinical assessment. Yet, we have limited understanding of the changing age-related associations among these cognitive constructs. To better understand the development of these abilities, we compared a child sample and a young-adult sample on several measures of intelligence and executive functions. We used confirmatory factor analysis to estimate models for each developmental period. In addition, the association with ratings of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, a dispositional measure of cognitive and behavioural regulation, was examined. The results indicated that cognitive abilities are more dependent on age in children than in young adults and that these abilities are more highly associated with ratings of cognitive and behavioural regulation in children than in young adults. The results support the integral relationship between intelligence and executive function throughout development, but especially in children
Exploring how climate change anxiety differs from other mental health problems in youth
Full text linkA rapidly growing research base is emerging around psychological responses to climate change, showing emotional and functional impairments. The concept of “climate change anxiety” (CCA) is still being developed, and more research is needed to explore how it interacts with mental health, particularly in youth. This study aimed to explore the degree to which CCA differentiates from other mental health problems in youth. As a secondary aim, this study also explored how CCA relates to transdiagnostic mental health factors. An anonymous online survey recruited a volunteer sample of youth aged 16–24 in the UK. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) explored the underlying structure of CCA alongside depression and generalised anxiety. The best fitting model was expanded on as a structural equation model to explore relationships with the transdiagnostic factors. The best fitting CFA model was found to be a three-factor model, suggesting that CCA, depression and generalised anxiety are not best represented as a unidimensional construct, but as three separate domains. CCA had moderate positive correlations with depression and generalised anxiety. The transdiagnostic factors were found to have weak relationships with CCA, whilst they had stronger relationships with depression and generalised anxiety. Taken together, these results suggest that CCA differentiates from other mental health problems in youth. Alternative approaches for understanding and supporting youth with climate anxiety in line with current theory and research are discussed
An Examination of the Structure and Common Correlates of Three Domains of Contaminated Mindware in Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Full text linkLimited research has examined individual differences in the accumulation of misinformation and unwarranted beliefs, known as contaminated mindware. The three unwarranted beliefs examined in this dissertation are paranormal, conspiracy, and anti-science beliefs. These beliefs remain prevalent in the public despite their epistemically suspect or unsubstantiated nature. This dissertation focused on the psychometric properties of items measuring individual differences in unwarranted beliefs to address three research objectives: (1) examine the underlying dimensional structure of unwarranted belief items in adolescents and young adults, (2) examine individual differences predicting susceptibility to these beliefs, and (3) examine differences between adolescents and young adults with respect to these beliefs. Study One examined the underlying structure of individual differences in unwarranted belief scores and its correlates in a sample of young-adults. Study Two confirmed that the same structure and correlates are found in adolescents. Both studies demonstrate the multidimensional nature of unwarranted beliefs that form domains of contaminated mindware. Specifically, the optimal factor model among adolescents and young adults was a hierarchical factor model with three correlated general factors (paranormal, conspiracy, and anti-science beliefs) and four specific paranormal factors (i.e., psi, superstition, spiritualism, and precognition). Further, we observed unique effects of individual differences in thinking and reasoning on individual differences in unwarranted beliefs. In Study Three, we assessed the measurement invariance of these scales across the two developmental groups, to allow for cross-sectional comparisons and age associations. The paranormal and conspiracy scales were characterized by strict invariance and the anti-science scale was characterized by strong invariance. With respect to developmental comparisons, endorsement of the unwarranted beliefs did not differ across development, except for a small difference in paranormal belief. Further, the unwarranted beliefs total scores were not associated with age. We discuss the novelty of the results within the belief literature on contaminated mindware and focus on the utility of this scale for future research
The cognitive, emotional, and behavioral sequelae of trauma exposure: an integrative approach to examining trauma’s effect
Full text linkObjective: In this study, we tested direct pathways from trauma exposure to trauma symptomatology and risky and self-destructive behavior and indirect pathways through two cognitive and affective mechanisms: (a) world assumptions and (b) emotion dysregulation. Method: A sample of 270 undergraduate students with an average age of 20.02 years participated in the study (204 women, 65 men, and one participant choosing not to disclose). Participants completed self-report measures assessing trauma exposure, trauma symptoms, emotion dysregulation, world assumptions, and lifetime and past-month engagement in any of 38 risky and self-destructive behaviors. Results: The direct path from trauma exposure to trauma symptoms was significant, and so was the indirect effect of self-worth assumptions on this association. The indirect pathway between trauma symptoms and risky and self-destructive behavior in the past month was significant through difficulties with impulse control when distressed. Trauma symptoms had an indirect effect on the association between trauma exposure and lifetime and past-month engagement in risky and self-destructive behavior, while the direct pathway from trauma exposure to lifetime engagement remained significant. Conclusion: We offer theoretically and empirically supported integrative pathways that explicate some aspects of trauma exposure’s negative sequelae with potential areas for intervention. Clinical Impact Statement: Trauma exposure is widespread and is associated with negative views about oneself and the world and with difficulties in managing one’s emotions, which in part is associated with individuals’ risk for developing psychopathology and engaging in risky and self-destructive behaviors. The findings inform optimal time for intervention and prevention efforts targeting trauma exposure
Measuring judgment and decision-making in developmental samples: assessment of the generation of cognitively sophisticated responses and implications for the study of creative cognition
No full texttheoretical and empirical studies in the study of judgment and decision-making to explore potential commonalities across these literatures, with the potential of using parallel paradigms that may be productive for the empirical study of creative cognition. We first review the operationalization of judgment and decision-making, highlighting two key dimensions to organize the multifarious tasks and paradigms that have been examined: processing and knowledge requirements. We cover the importance of stimulus equivalence across different periods of development and review indicators of cognitive sophistication, including associations with age, cognitive abilities, and thinking dispositions, all of which have been used to examine patterns of performance in relation to tasks of judgment and decision-making in developmental samples. We then introduce a set of knowledge facilitators and inhibitors that have been examined in the judgment and decision-making literature. We use empirical findings from a study conducted with adolescents on three domains of contaminated mindware – paranormal, conspiracy, and anti-science – as a way to discuss the inhibitive aspect of certain types of mindware and highlight the implications for the study of creative cognition in developmental samples. We conclude this chapter with considerations for extrapolating theoretical and empirical research strategies from the judgment and decision-making literature that have been identified as relevant in the field of creative cognition
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