Exploring the Role of Coping Strategies on the Impact of Client Suicide: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Client suicide refers to cases where a mental health practitioner is exposed, affected, or bereaved by a client's suicide and is known to have a profound impact on MHPs. The current study investigated the role of coping styles in understanding short- and long-term impact of client suicide. An international sample of 213 mental health practitioners who experienced a client suicide completed a survey on coping strategies (i.e., Brief-COPE) and the impact of traumatic events (i.e., impact of event scale-revised, long-term emotional impact scale and professional practice impact scale). Results indicate coping strategies explain 51% of the short-term, 64% of the long-term emotional and 55% of the long-term professional differences in impact of client suicide. Moreover, while an Avoidant coping style predicted more impact of client suicide, Positive coping and Humor predicted less impact of client suicide. Social Support coping did not predict impact of client suicide. Implications for both research and clinical practice are discussed.

The Indirect Effects of Proximal Stressors Associated with Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Severity among Sexually Victimized Sexual Minority Women: A Cross-Sectional Path Analysis

Sexual minority women (SMW) are at risk for sexual victimization and stressors specifically related to their minority identity (e.g., discrimination). However, SMW experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at rates beyond what may be explained by elevated risk for sexual victimization alone. This study aimed to examine the impact of stigma on PTSD symptoms among SMW survivors of sexual victimization. Results indicate that in relation to minority-specific distal stressors (i.e., heterosexist experiences), both minority-specific and general proximal stressors (i.e., internalized heterosexism, negative posttraumatic cognitions) indirectly affected PTSD symptom severity among this cross-sectional sample of sexually victimized SMW.

Autonomous Motives Foster Sustained Commitment to Action: Integrating Self-Determination Theory and the Social Identity Approach

Social change movements may take years or decades to achieve their goals and thus require ongoing efforts from their supporters. We apply the insights of self-determination theory to examine sustained collective action over time. We expected that autonomous motivation, but not controlled motivation, would predict sustained action. We also examine whether autonomous motivation shapes and is shaped by social identification as a supporter of the cause. Longitudinal data were collected from supporters of global poverty reduction (N = 263) at two timepoints 1 year apart. Using latent change score modeling, we found that increases in autonomous motivation positively predicted increases in opinion-based group identification, which in turn predicted increases in self-reported collective action. Controlled motivation (Time 1) negatively predicted changes in action. We concluded that autonomous motivation predicts sustained action over time, while promoting controlled motives for action may backfire because it may undermine identification with the cause.

The Partial Mediator Role of Satisficing Decision-Making Style Between Trait Emotional Intelligence and Compassion Fatigue in Healthcare Professionals

Background: Compassion fatigue (CF) represents a relevant issue for healthcare professionals. Currently, it is still unclear which psychological mechanism might lead to CF and which might protect workers from that. Decision-making styles, as well as emotional intelligence, might partially account for the presence of CF. Specifically, we hypothesized that a satisficing decision-making style would mediate the relationship between emotional intelligence and CF.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted on physicians and nurses from Italian Medical Departments. Three self-reported questionnaires were administered to collect data in accordance with our aims. A mediation model with Structural Equation Modeling on the relationship between trait emotional intelligence (TEI) and CF through the maximizing decision-making style was performed.Results: We found a significant relationship between TEI and CF (β = -0.28, SE = 0.04, p < .001). The maximizing style partially mediated this relationship (β = -0.04, SE = 0.01, p < .001). Moreover, negative relationships were found between sex (male), working hours, sleep quality, and CF. Conversely, a positive relationship between age and CF was demonstrated.Conclusions: Being emotionally intelligent resulted as a protective factor for developing CF, while the decision-making styles shaped the risk of developing CF.

Assessing Adolescent Functioning from Different Perspectives: Extending the Validation of the Adolescent Functioning Scale (AFS)

The study aimed to provide further evidence for the validity of the 33-item Adolescent Functioning Scale (AFS) as a parent- and adolescent-report scale of adolescent adjustment. In separate samples of parents (N = 542; 88% female) and adolescents (N = 303; 60% female), confirmatory factor analyses supported the original 4-factor structure of the AFS. Analyses produced a 28-item parent measure, and a 27-item adolescent measure. Parent and adolescent versions included positive development, oppositional behaviour, antisocial behaviour and emotional problems subscales. Evidence for convergent and construct validity was provided through correlations with existing measures of adolescent functioning and parenting. The AFS demonstrated configural and metric invariance, but not scalar variance. The study provided support for the validity and reliability of the revised AFS for parents and adolescents. The strong psychometric properties, and brief and multi-dimensional nature of the AFS means that it will have utility in research and applied contexts.

Use of psychoactive substances and alcohol during the first three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: Croatian experience

Increased prevalence and severity of both substance and behavioral addictions are among the most harmful consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak.

To determine the sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19-related stressors, and stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms that may predict the use and changes in the use of psychoactive substances (PS) during the first three COVID-19 waves in Croatia.

The cross-sectional online survey included 1,118 adult participants (220 men and 898 women; mean age: 35.1 [SD = 12.3] years; age range: 18-78) from general adult population. Sociodemographic data were collected, and ad-hoc developed questionnaires on COVID-19-related stressors, PS use before and during the pandemic, CAGE Alcohol Questionnaire, Impact of Event Scale, and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale were applied.

The PS use increased in 31% of participants. The use of tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, cannabinoids, and anxiolytics showed the greatest increase in the last year (tobacco 7.1%; caffeine 5.8%; alcohol 6.4%; cannabinoids 2.5%; and anxiolytics 3.9%). Alcohol consumption during the pandemic increased in 16.8% of participants who consumed alcohol before the pandemic, with 4.5% of them reporting problematic alcohol use (PAU). The tested model demonstrated relatively good model-data fit and significantly predicted 11.8% increase in the use of PS and 9.8% of PAU.

Being married or in a relationship and severe anxiety and depression symptoms predicted increased use of PS and PAU, while higher education level and ever being diagnosed with COVID-19 predicted only increased use of PS.

The Mediating Role of Rumination and Self-Regulation Between Self-Generated Stress and Psychological Well-Being

In this study, we aimed to examine the relationships between self-generated stress (SGS) and psychological well-being (PWB) and the mediating role of self-critical rumination (SCR) and self-regulation in this relationship. In this direction, the Self-Generated Stress Scale (SGSS) was adapted into Turkish in the first study. In the second study, we tested the mediating role of SCR and self-regulation in the relationship between SGS and PWB in university students. The findings showed that the Self-Generated Stress Scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool for Turkish culture and PWB and self-regulation have partial mediating roles in the relationship between SGS and PWB. These results contribute to a better understanding of the association between SGS and PWB.

Trajectory of Nostalgia in Emerging Adulthood

We examined the change and stability of nostalgia in emerging adulthood. We followed 327 students through their 4 university years with six assessments. Nostalgia demonstrated moderate rank stability (r = .25-.79). A Trait-State-Occasion model analysis indicated that the stable trait component, slowing-change trait component, and state component explained 37% to 43%, 10% to 27%, and 29% to 49% of variation in nostalgia on specific occasions, respectively. Longitudinal multilevel analysis revealed that the mean nostalgia level declined across university years. Greater intensity of negative life events at the start of university was associated with higher initial nostalgia and slower decline of it, while the emotion intensified when experiencing more negative life events. Nostalgia in emerging adulthood displays moderate stability, with negative life events contributing to the shape of its trajectory.

Current and Cumulative Stress Experiences: A Model for Arab American Young Adults

BACKGROUND

The effect of multiple stressors on immigrant young adults' endocrine functioning and health outcomes has not been comprehensively investigated.

AIMS

This study tested a theoretical model of cumulative and current stressor effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQL) among Arab American young adults.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional design, we recruited 160 participants, ages 18 to 24 years, from an urban university in the Midwest. Cumulative stress was assessed by self-report measures of childhood adversity, bullying victimization, and perceived ethnic discrimination. Current perceived stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) while cortisol levels were measured in participants' hair. Structural equation modeling tested the effects of cumulative and current stress on cortisol and HRQL.

RESULTS

Cumulative stress was negatively associated with HRQL (standardized path coefficient = -.51, p < .05). Interestingly, however, cumulative stress was inversely associated with hair cortisol level (standardized path coefficient = -.51, p < .05). Current stress was positively associated with cortisol level (standardized path coefficient = .43, p < .05) and negatively associated with the mental HRQL (standardized path coefficient < -.37, p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Cumulative stress exhibited a different effect on HPA functioning from current perceived stress. Mental health was significantly impaired by both cumulative and current perceived stress. Implications for mental health nursing practice and research among Arab Americans are discussed.

Emotion Identification for Self and Other Associated with Callous-Unemotional Traits and Sex Differences in Early Adolescents

Callous-unemotional traits (CU) associates with impairments in emotional responsivity. However, there is less evidence on associations with specific emotions and sex differences utilizing both self and other oriented emotional stimuli. Given that the nuance of associations with specific emotions (including sex effects) is critical for understanding core impairments of this antisocial phenotype, the current study employed a behavioral paradigm with both self and other emotional stimuli for specific emotions (happy, sad, anger, fear, neutral) with a sample of male and female early adolescents (females = 51%, age = 12.86 ± 0.75). We examined accuracy and reaction times on this task, along with moderating effects of sex, in relation to CU traits. Results indicate CU traits associated with overall self-emotions negatively and sex moderated CU traits negative association with recognizing others overall emotions. CU traits negatively associated with accurate identification of both self and other emotions (happy, sad, and fear). Sex moderated all other emotion identification but only sad emotions for self. No reaction time differences were found. These findings evidence important nuance in CU traits and sex effects with identifying self and other emotions. Results have important implications for clinical understanding of sex differences in CU traits that require further consideration.

Testing the equivalence of the aversive core of personality and a blend of agreeableness(-related) items

OBJECTIVE

There is an ongoing debate in personality research whether the common core of aversive ("dark") traits can be approximated by or even considered equivalent to one of the constructs that have been labeled "Agreeableness". In particular, it has been suggested that the low pole of (what we term) AG+, a broad blend of Big Five Agreeableness and the HEXACO factors Honesty-Humility, Agreeableness, and Altruism, is essentially equivalent to the Dark Factor of Personality (D). Based on theoretical differences, we herein test empirically whether D and AG+ are isomorphic.

METHODS

Self-report data on D, AG+, and eight criterion measures reflecting justifying beliefs, inflicting disutility on others, and affiliative tendencies were collected in a pre-registered study (N = 1156) and analyzed via confirmatory factor modeling.

RESULTS

Results speak against unity of D and AG+ (35% shared variance) and support the notion that D subsumes a broader range of aversive content (i.e., justifying beliefs and inflicting disutility on others) than AG+, which, in turn, subsumes a slightly broader range of non-aversive, affiliative tendencies.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that AG+ is non-equivalent to the common core of aversive traits, D.

An Examination of the Digital Parenting Profiles in Turkey

Internet use among children is increasing. This requires parents to develop digital parenting competencies as they are responsible for their children's well-being. In the current study the digital parenting self-efficacy perceptions of Turkish parents are examined with regard to the parental role, educational status, age, number of children, and Internet use experiences. Data were collected from a stratified sample of 7150 Turkish parents (i.e., only the mother or father in each family) from twenty-six provinces through the Digital Parenting Self-Efficacy Perception Scale. Descriptive statistics, comparison tests, and cluster analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings reveal that the participants' perceived digital parenting efficacy is high, and that perceptions change in terms of the parental role, educational status, age, number of children, and the Internet use experience.

Absolute and relative intrarater reliability of the modified motor assessment scale according to Uppsala academic hospital -99

BACKGROUND

For some of the most commonly used motor measures, psychometric properties, and minimal detectable change (MDC95) remain largely unknown, limiting the interpretability of tests.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to establish intrarater reliability, MDC95 and floor- and ceiling effects for a modified version of the Motor Assessment Scale (M-MAS UAS-99).

METHODS

Data was derived from an intervention study that enrolled 41 individuals with chronic stroke. Test scores from two subsequent assessments with 3 weeks apart were used for establishing the floor and ceiling effect, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC[2,1]), standard error mean (SEM) and the MDC95 for the total score, and subdomains of the M-MAS UAS-99.

RESULTS

The intrarater reliability was excellent with an ICC[2,1] between 0.970 and 0.995 for both total score and subdomains. The MDC95 for the M-MAS UAS-99 total score was 1.22 which means ≥ 2.0 points on an individual basis. For bed mobility subdomain, a ceiling effect was seen, but not for the total score of the test. No floor effect was seen for the test.

CONCLUSION

M-MAS UAS-99 has excellent intrarater reliability. Any individual increase in test scores must reach 2.0 to be considered a true change.

Autonomous motivation promotes goal attainment through the conscious investment of effort, but mental contrasting with implementation intentions makes goal striving easier

People with autonomous motives (e.g., personal importance) may use automated strategies to effortlessly sustain goal-directed behavior and overcome obstacles. We investigated whether conscious effort, ease of goal striving, physiological effort, and the number of obstacles encountered mediate relations between motives and goal attainment for a competitive cycling goal. Additionally, half the participants (n = 57) were trained in Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII) - a technique that facilitates development of goal-directed behavior - with remaining participants (n = 54) treated as controls. Conscious investment of effort mediated relations between autonomous motives and goal attainment. Subjective ease of goal striving and physiological effort did not. This result indicates that successful goal striving is not perceived as effortless for autonomously motivated individuals working on competitive goals. Conversely, MCII predicted a reduction in obstacles, which in turn was associated with easier goal striving but not goal attainment. Although MCII did not support goal attainment in the current study, its ability to minimize the influence of obstacles may still be useful for other types of goals or for sustaining long-term goal pursuit.

Mental Health and Well-being Measures for Mean Comparison and Screening in Adolescents: An Assessment of Unidimensionality and Sex and Age Measurement Invariance

Adolescence is a period of increased vulnerability for low well-being and mental health problems, particularly for girls and older adolescents. Accurate measurement via brief self-report is therefore vital to understanding prevalence, group trends, screening efforts, and response to intervention. We drew on data from the #BeeWell study (N = 37,149, aged 12-15) to consider whether sum-scoring, mean comparisons, and deployment for screening were likely to show bias for eight such measures. Evidence for unidimensionality, considering dynamic fit confirmatory factor models, exploratory graph analysis, and bifactor modeling, was found for five measures. Of these five, most showed a degree of non-invariance across sex and age likely incompatible with mean comparison. Effects on selection were minimal, except sensitivity was substantially lower in boys for the internalizing symptoms measure. Measure-specific insights are discussed, as are general issues highlighted by our analysis, such as item reversals and measurement invariance.

Extending the Usefulness of the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC): Validating the Phrase Speech and Young Fluent Version

The current study investigated the utility of the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change-Phrase Speech Young Fluent (BOSCC-PSYF) as an outcome measure of treatment response by analyzing the measure's psychometric properties and initial validity. The BOSCC coding scheme was applied to 345 administrations from 160 participants diagnosed with autism. Participants included individuals of any age with phrase speech, or individuals under the age of 8 years with complex sentences. All were receiving behavioral intervention throughout the study. Test-retest and inter-rater reliability were good for the Early Communication and Social Reciprocity/Language domains, and fair for the Restricted and Repetitive Behavior domain. Significant changes occurred over time in the Early Communication and Social Reciprocity/Language domains, and Core Total scores. The BOSCC-PSYF may provide a low-cost, flexible, and user-friendly outcome measure that reliably measures changes in broad social communicative behaviors in a short period of time.

Women's fertility and allostatic load in the post-reproductive years: An analysis of the Indonesian Family Life Survey

We know little about the effects of the reproductive health burden in contexts where unsafe abortions, miscarriages, stillbirths, and low-quality maternal care are common. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of allostatic load to understand the impact of reproductive histories on later-life health. We applied path models to the Indonesian Family Life Survey with a sample of 2,001 women aged 40+. Although number of children was not associated with allostatic load, pregnancies not ending in live birth and parenthood before age 18 were both negatively associated with health. We also identified clear cohort and educational effects and a possible rural advantage. Our contribution is twofold: we highlight the importance of reproductive histories beyond live births on women's later-life health in a context of increasing population ageing, and we demonstrate the applicability of using allostatic load to measure health outside the Global North.

Latent trajectories of recent and delayed memory and their predictors: evidence from SHARE

OBJECTIVES

Cognitive decline is common in the old age, but some evidence suggests it may already occur during adulthood. Previous studies have linked age, gender, educational attainment, depression, physical activity, and social engagement to better cognitive performance over time. However, most studies have used global measures of cognition, which could mask subtle changes in specific cognitive domains. The aim of this study is to examine trajectories of recent and delayed memory recall from a variable-centered perspective, in order to elucidate the impact of age, gender, educational attainment, depression, physical activity, and social engagement on recent and delayed memory both at initial time and across a 10-year period.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

The sample was formed by 56,616 adults and older adults that participated in waves 4 to 8 of the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

ANALYSES

We used latent growth modeling to establish latent recent and delayed memory trajectories, and then tested the effects of the aforementioned covariates on the latent intercept and slopes.

RESULTS

Results showed that both recent and delayed recall display a quadratic trajectory of decline. All covariates significantly explained initial levels of immediate and delayed recall, but only a few had statistically significant effects on the slope terms.

CONCLUSIONS

We discuss differences between present results and those previously reported in studies using a person-centered approach. This study provides evidence of memory decline during adulthood and old adulthood. Further, results provide support for the neural compensation reserve theory.

A Psychometric Evaluation of the Interpersonal Hopelessness Scale Among Individuals With Elevated Suicide Risk

The interpersonal theory of suicide hypothesizes that suicide ideation (SI) emerges specifically in the context of hopelessness about the immutability of thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB; i.e., interpersonal hopelessness). The psychometrics of the Interpersonal Hopelessness Scale (IHS), which could be used to test this hypothesis directly, have not been rigorously evaluated. Participants (U.S. adults reporting past-year SI) completed online self-report assessments at Waves 1 (W1; N = 595) and 2 (W2; N = 215), 1 week apart. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor structure, IHS-TB and IHS-PB. Correlations indicated strong concurrent validity. Hurdle negative binomial regressions indicated that W1 IHS-TB and IHS-PB scores were associated with SI presence and severity at both waves, but this was inconsistent when adjusting for other W1 variables. IHS-TB and IHS-PB demonstrated excellent internal consistency and moderate to good test-retest reliability. The IHS could improve theory testing and suicide risk assessment and management.

The role of social cognition in mental health trajectories from childhood to adolescence

We investigated the association between an aspect of Theory of Mind in childhood, false-belief understanding, and trajectories of internalising (emotional and peer) and externalising (conduct and hyperactivity) problems in childhood and adolescence. The sample was 8408 children from the UK's Millennium Cohort Study, followed at ages 5, 7, 11, 14, and 17 years. Social cognitive abilities were measured at 5 and 7 years through a vignette version of the Sally-Anne task administered by an unfamiliar assessor in a socially demanding dyadic interaction. Internalising and externalising problems were measured via the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at 7-17 years. Using latent growth modelling, and after controlling for sex, ethnicity, maternal education, verbal ability, and time-varying family income, we found that superior social cognitive abilities predicted a decrease in emotional problems over time. In sex-stratified analyses, they predicted decreasing conduct problem trajectories in females and lower levels of conduct problems at baseline in males.

Tracking Changes in the Endorsement of Injunctive Drinking Norms in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Longitudinal Alignment Analysis

The onset of the pandemic saw shifts in messaging around the acceptability of alcohol consumption at different times and contexts. A psychometric analysis of responses to injunctive norms may reveal important differences in specific aspects of norms that were influenced by the pandemic. Study 1 used alignment analysis to evaluate measurement invariance in low- and high-risk injunctive norms across samples of Midwestern college students from 2019 to 2021. Study 2 used an alignment-within-confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) approach to replicate the solution from Study 1 in an independent longitudinal sample (N = 1,148) who responded between 2019 and 2021. For Study 1, the latent mean for high-risk norms was significantly higher in 2021, and the endorsement of four specific norms also differed. In Study 2, increases in latent means for low- and high-risk norms were observed across 2020 and 2021, and differential endorsement emerged for one high-risk norm item. Examining scale-level changes in injunctive drinking norms provides insight into how college students' perceptions changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Weekday breakfast habits and mood at the start of the school morning

BACKGROUND

Good nutrition, regular physical activity, and adequate sleep are important for promoting health. However, it is not well characterized how these lifestyle behaviours are associated with mood at the start of school days.

AIM

To identify the weekday health-related behaviours (breakfast intake, physical activity, and sleep) of Singaporean adolescents and explore their associations with mood at the beginning of the school morning.

METHODS

365 adolescents (52.3% boys, 47.7% girls) aged 14-19 years (M = 16.9, SD = 1.3 years) completed a survey set on breakfast habits, physical activity participation, sleep duration, and mood.

RESULTS

More than one-third (38.6%) of participants never (15.0%) or irregularly (23.6%) consumed breakfast on weekdays. Adolescents consuming breakfast irregularly reported significantly higher negative mood scores than regular breakfast consumers (p = .002; d = .404). Almost two-thirds (64.1%) of adolescents did <60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on weekdays and reported lower positive morning mood scores than those who ≥60 min of MVPA (p = .014; d = .284). Although most (88.3%) adolescents slept <8 h each night, sleep duration was not related to either positive mood or negative mood.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that eating breakfast on a regular basis and completing for ≥60 min of weekday MVPA are useful behaviours to start school days in a better mood. Parents and health educators should recognise the importance of establishing these habits and support students by instigating practical approaches so they can achieve a regular breakfast intake and physical activity engagement.

The Mediating Effect of Danger Invulnerability in the Relationship Between Sensation Seeking and Gambling Among University Students

The association between sensation-seeking and gambling is well established, yet the research on mediators of this relationship is limited. The proposed model of the present study includes sensation seeking as an antecedent variable, danger invulnerability as a mediator, and gambling frequency as an outcome variable.Self-report data obtained from a convenient sample of 641 university students aged 18-40 years (Mage = 21.25; F = 52.7%, M = 47.3%) were analysed. This study supported proposed hypothesis that both sensation seeking and danger invulnerability are in significant positive relation with the frequency of gambling. Moreover, the results show that tested mediation model fit the data well, and that danger invulnerability completely mediates the relationship between sensation seeking and gambling frequency, such that higher sensation seeking is related to higher danger invulnerability and higher danger invulnerability is related to higher gambling frequency. The model explained 42.4% of the variance in danger invulnerability and 32.7% of the variance in gambling frequency. This study underscores the importance of examining both the direct and indirect effects of different variables on gambling behaviour.

Taken to the extreme: Transformational leadership, psychological capital, and follower health outcomes in extreme contexts

The purpose of this study is to examine the boundary conditions of transformational leadership, follower psychological capital, and their effects on follower mental health outcomes. Specifically, we utilize archival, multi-wave data from a military sample to examine whether the negative relationship between transformational leadership and adverse follower stress outcomes increases as the context shifts from a relatively safe environment to one in which follower lives are at risk. Additionally, psychological capital, a constellation of personal psychological resources, is also assessed to account for individual buffers against extreme stressors. Findings from the current study suggest that the negative relationship between transformational leadership and follower stress increases significantly when the context shifts to a high-risk, mortality-salient environment.

Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of Mandibular Function Impairment Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE

To assess the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Mandibular Function Impairment Questionnaire (MFIQ-TR).

METHODS

Included in this study were 248 patients diagnosed with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) according to Diagnostic Criteria for TMD Axis I protocol. Construct-related validity was evaluated through internal and external construct validity; convergent and divergent validities were evaluated by the average variance extracted (AVE), composite reliability (CR), and bivariate correlations between factors. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency and test-retest reliability.

RESULTS

All items of the MFIQ-TR had content validity and factor loadings above 0.5. The model statistics indicated a good fit. The convergent validity was very good (AVE > 0.5 and CR > 0.7), and the discriminant validity was satisfied. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the MFIQ-TR were excellent.

CONCLUSION

The MFIQ-TR is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating the impairment of mandibular function in Turkish patients with TMD.

Prospective effects of work-time control on overtime, work-life interference and exhaustion in female and male knowledge workers

AIMS

Employee-based flexible working hours are increasing, particularly among knowledge workers. Research indicates that women and men use work-time control (WTC; control over time off and daily hours) differently: while men work longer paid hours, women use WTC to counteract work-life interference. In a knowledge-worker sample, we examined associations between WTC and overtime, work-life interference and exhaustion and tested whether gender moderates the mediating role of overtime.

METHODS

The sample contained 2248 Swedish knowledge workers. Employing hierarchical regression modelling, we examined effects of control over time off/daily hours on subsequent overtime hours, work-life interference and exhaustion in general and in gender-stratified samples. Using conditional process analysis, we tested moderated mediation models.

RESULTS

Control over time off was related to less work-life interference (βmen= -0.117; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.237 to 0.003; βwomen= -0.253; 95% CI: -0.386 to -0.120) and lower exhaustion (βmen= -0.199; 95% CI: -0.347 to -0.051; βwomen= -0.271; 95% CI: -0.443 to -0.100). For control over daily hours, estimates were close to zero. While men worked more overtime (42 min/week), we could not confirm gender moderating the indirect effect of control over time off/daily hours on work-life interference/exhaustion via overtime. Independent of gender, effects of control over time off on work-life interference were partly explained by working fewer overtime hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Control over time off was related to lower exhaustion and better work-life balance (in particular for women). We found no evidence for men's work-life interference increasing with higher WTC owing to working more overtime. Knowledge workers' control over time off may help prevent work-life interference and burnout.

Bidirectional associations between mental health problems and language ability across 8 years of childhood

Research examining the development of behavior, emotions and language, and their intertwining is limited as only few studies had a longitudinal design, mostly with a short follow-up period. Moreover, most studies did not evaluate whether internalizing symptoms and externalizing symptoms are independently associated with language ability. This study examines bidirectional associations between internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms and language ability in childhood in a large, population-based cohort. Longitudinal data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a cohort of children in the United Kingdom followed from birth to 11 years (n = 10,878; 50.7% boys), were analyzed. Internalizing and externalizing symptoms were based on parent reports. Language ability (higher scores reflecting poorer ability) was assessed by trained interviewers at ages 3, 5, 7 and 11 years. Structural Equation Models (SEM) were performed, including random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) and cross-lagged panel models (CLPM). Internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms and language ability were stable over time and co-occur with each other from early life onwards. Over time, externalizing symptoms in early childhood were associated with less growth in language skills and with increases in internalizing symptoms. In late childhood, language ability was negatively associated with later internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The early start, co-occurrence and persistent nature of internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms and (poorer) language ability highlights the importance of comprehensive assessments in young children who present problems in one of these domains. Specifically, among children in the early grades of elementary school, those with language difficulties may benefit from careful monitoring as they are more likely to develop difficulties in behavior and emotions.

The role of religiosity types in the phenomenology of hallucinations: A large cross-sectional community-based study in a predominantly Muslim society

Religiosity is a multidimensional construct known to influence the occurrence of hallucinations. However, it remains unknown how different religiosity types affect clinically relevant phenomenological features of hallucinations. Therefore, we wished to explore associations between intrinsic and extrinsic (non-organizational and organizational) religiosity and hallucinations severity, distress or impact on daily function in a non-clinical Muslim population. We recruited a representative sample of full-time students at Qatar's only national university via systematic random sampling and administered the Questionnaire of Psychotic Experiences online. The study design was cross-sectional. Using structural equation modeling, we estimated effects of the religiosity types on hallucinations severity, distress or impact on daily function in the past week while accounting for sociodemographic variables, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and, delusions. Extrinsic non-organizational religiosity (ENORG) was associated with experiencing reduced distress or impact on daily function from hallucinations both directly and indirectly through intrinsic religiosity. In contrast, extrinsic non-organizational religiosity (EORG) was associated with increased hallucinations distress or impact albeit only through higher intrinsic religiosity. We found no association between any religiosity types and hallucinations severity. Younger and married participants from lower socio-economic class had comparatively more severe hallucinations and more distress from them. Qatari nationality was positively associated EORG and negatively associated with hallucinations distress or impact. Evidence of differential associations between the religiosity types, socioeconomic and cultural groups, and distress or impact from past week's hallucinations supports the importance of alignment between religious, mental health, and well-being education.

Three Fish at One Hook? Future-Oriented, Reconciliatory, and Defensive Claims for Historical Closure as Expressions of the Same Defensive Desire

Historical perpetrator groups seek to shield themselves from image threat by advocating for closing the discussion of their crimes. However, from a broader theoretical perspective, such demand for historical closure (HC) may also reflect willingness to reconcile with the victim group or to focus on the future rather than the past. In nine studies across four different contexts (Germany, United States, Italy, and Australia; N = 3405), we analyzed whether these three facets of HC (defensive, reconciliatory, and future-oriented) indeed substantially differ. Contrary to expectations, nomological network analyses suggested that all three facets reflect the same defensive desire (Studies 1a-2c) and are perceived as overall similar from a third-party perspective (Study 3). Finally, all three HC facets showed a positive trend toward costly avoidance of confrontation with the ingroup's perpetrator past (Studies 4a-c). We discuss implications for (and against) a more nuanced understanding of the demand for HC.

Pooling test statistics across multiply imputed datasets for nonnormal items

In structural equation modeling, when multiple imputation is used for handling missing data, model fit evaluation involves pooling likelihood-ratio test statistics across imputations. Under the normality assumption, the two most popular pooling approaches were proposed by Li et al. (Statistica Sinica, 1(1), 65-92, 1991) and Meng and Rubin (Biometrika, 79(1), 103-111, 1992). When the assumption of normality is violated, it is not clear how well these pooling approaches work with the test statistics generated from various robust estimators and multiple imputation methods. Jorgensen and colleagues (2021) implemented these pooling approaches in their R package semTools; however, no systematical evaluation has been conducted. In this simulation study, we examine the performance of these approaches in working with different imputation methods and robust estimators under nonnormality. We found that the naïve pooling approach based on Meng and Rubin (Biometrika, 79(1), 103-111, 1992; D3SN) worked the best when combining with the normal-theory-based imputation and either MLM or MLMV estimator.

Associations Among Stress, Internalized Weight Stigma, Emotional Eating, and Body Composition in Active-Duty Service Members Enrolling in a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Weight Management Program

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a critical public health concern with particular relevance to US military personnel. Stress and internalized weight stigma ("stigma") may contribute to and maintain obesogenic processes and behaviors, including emotional eating. In this secondary cross-sectional analysis, we examined (1) associations among stress and stigma with emotional eating and body fat percentage (BF%), (2) whether stress explains the association between stigma and emotional eating, and (3) whether emotional eating explains associations between stress and stigma with BF%.

METHOD

Active-duty military service members (N = 178) completed BF% assessment and questionnaires assessing stress, stigma, and emotional eating.

RESULTS

Structural equation modeling path analyses showed that stress and stigma were both significantly associated with emotional eating (b = 0.35, p < 0.001 and b = 0.23, p < 0.001, respectively) and with BF% (b = 0.38, p < 0.001 and b = 0.29, p < 0.001, respectively) such that individuals who reported higher stress and stigma tended to report more emotional eating and had higher BF%. Stress partially explained the association between internalized weight stigma and emotional eating, and emotional eating partially explained the relationship between stress and BF% but did not significantly mediate the association between stigma and BF%.

CONCLUSION

Greater stress and internalized weight stigma were associated with more emotional eating and higher BF%; however, emotional eating only partially explained the association between stress and BF%. Results highlight the importance of interventions targeting stress management skills, but additional research is needed to identify mechanisms that explain the association between stigma and BF%.

The relevance of perceived work environment and work activities for personality trajectories in midlife

OBJECTIVES

Work is an important developmental context in adulthood, yet little is known about how it contributes to personality trajectories in midlife. The present study examines how subjectively perceived work environment (autonomy, innovation, social integration, stress) and objectively measured work activities (activities related to information and people, physical/manual activities) are related to levels of Big Five personality traits at age 44 and to change over 20 years.

METHODS

We analyzed four-wave longitudinal data from N = 374 participants (born 1950-1952; Mage T1 = 44 years, SD = 1; 44% women) from the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development and Aging (ILSE) within the structural equation modeling framework.

RESULTS

At baseline, subjective perceptions of work environments showed a higher number of significant associations with personality than objective work activities. Over time, small declines in neuroticism and extraversion and small increases in agreeableness and conscientiousness were observed, which were largely independent of work characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show slight changes in most Big Five traits from age 44 to 64, which were mostly unrelated to work characteristics. More research is needed to uncover the sources and dynamics of personality trait change in midlife and the role of work for personality trajectories.

Social Interaction Profiles Among Youth with Intellectual Disabilities: Associations with Indicators of Psychosocial Adjustment

This study investigates the nature of the social interaction profiles observed among youth with intellectual disabilities (ID), defined while considering their relationships with their parents, peers, and teachers, as well as the implication of these profiles for self-esteem, aggressive behaviors, and prosocial behaviors. A sample of 393 youth with mild (48.2%) to moderate (51.8%) levels of ID, aged between 11 and 22 (M = 15.70), was recruited in Canada (n = 141) and Australia (n = 253). Our results revealed four profiles, corresponding to Socially Isolated (23.24%), Socially Integrated (39.83%), Socially Rejected (28.37%) and Socially Connected (8.57%) youth with ID. The socially integrated and connected profiles both presented higher self-esteem, more prosocial behaviors, and less aggressive behaviors than the socially isolated and rejected profiles.

Religious Involvement and Allostatic Resilience: Findings from a Community Study of Black and White Americans

Wide inequities in stress and health have been documented between Black and White women and men in the United States. This study asks: How does religion factor into these inequities? We approach this open question from a biopsychosocial perspective, developing three hypotheses for the stress-coping effects of religiosity between groups. We then test our hypotheses with survey and biomarker data from the Nashville Stress and Health Study (2011-2014), a probability sample of Black and White women and men from Davidson County, Tennessee. We find that Black women score the highest on all indicators of religiosity, followed by Black men, White women, and White men. We also find that increased divine control and religious coping predict higher levels of resiliency biomarkers for Black women only and lower levels for White respondents, especially White men. We discuss how our findings inform broader population health inequities and outline several avenues for future research.

Psychological Well-Being and Substance Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ethnic/Racial Identity, Discrimination, and Vigilance

OBJECTIVES

Emerging evidence indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health disparities among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) through increased exposure to racism. Although ethnic/racial identity (ERI) and mental health were associated among BIPOC young adults pre-pandemic, it is unclear how these associations may differ in the exacerbated hostile racial environment of the pandemic. The current study examined the associations between ERI exploration and commitment within the context of ethnic/racial discrimination (ERD) and race-related vigilance with psychological well-being and substance use as explained by rumination.

METHODS

Data from a cross-sectional online survey of 450 AIAN, Asian, Black, and Latinx young adults (18-25 years) collected in April 2020 included demographic variables, standardized measures of ERI, ERD, race-related vigilance, rumination brooding and reflection, substance use, and psychological well-being.

RESULTS

Black respondents reported more exposure to ERD than AIAN and Asian young adults. ERI exploration and commitment were positively associated with well-being. ERI exploration, ERD, and rumination were associated with higher levels of substance use. An association between ERI exploration and more substance use and lower well-being was partially accounted for by higher levels of rumination. An association between ERI commitment and more substance use was fully accounted for by higher levels of rumination.

CONCLUSIONS

Although ERI exploration and commitment were associated with better psychological well-being among BIPOC young adults, a significant association was found between ERI commitment and more substance use as explained by rumination. Public health efforts should cultivate culturally sensitive mental health services to decrease rumination and its negative association with substance use and well-being.

The Parent Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ-Parent). Adaptation and validity testing with parents of children with epilepsy

AIMS

The aim of this study was to adapt the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) in English and Norwegian for use with parents.

METHODS

The research group evaluated all HLQ items and, where relevant, modified them to refocus the attribution of care to that of a child by a parent. Five cognitive interviews with parents were undertaken to gain a detailed depiction of the meanings and processes they used to respond to the HLQ items. Assessment of the psychometric properties of the revised HLQ was undertaken using data from a cross-sectional survey of 254 parents of children with epilepsy. Analysis included internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

RESULTS

Some 22 out of 44 items and the names of three domains were modified (e.g. attribution changed from 'me' to 'my child'). Cognitive interviews indicated that parents interpreted the HLQ-Parent items in the way intended. All but three factor loadings were high to acceptable. All nine HLQ scales showed satisfactory to good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.70 to 0.87). When fitting one-factor CFA models, correlated residuals were required for four scales to generate an acceptable fit. One scale, '8. Ability to find good health information', required inclusion of two correlated residuals to generate an acceptable CFA model fit, indicating that further work on this scale is warranted.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from both the adaptation process and the CFA analysis supported the relevance, understanding and theoretical structure of the instrument in a parental context.

Longitudinal relations among family dysfunction, depressive symptoms, and cyberbullying involvement in Chinese early adolescents: Disentangling between- and within-person associations

Family dysfunction plays an important role in cyberbullying and cybervictimization. However, little research has investigated the longitudinal relations and the mediating mechanisms between them during adolescence. This study examined the longitudinal relations between family dysfunction and cyberbullying and cybervictimization, along with whether depressive symptoms function as mediators between them at the within-person level. A total of 3,743 Chinese adolescents (46.2% females; Mage = 9.92 years; SD = 0.51) participated a five-wave longitudinal study with a 6-month time interval. The results of random intercept cross-lagged panel model found that: (1) family dysfunction directly predicted depressive symptoms and vice versa at the within-person level; (2) depressive symptoms directly predicted cyberbullying and cybervictimization at the within-person level, but not vice versa; (3) family dysfunction indirectly predicted cyberbullying and cybervictimization via depressive symptoms at the within-person level; (4) at the between-person level, there were significant associations among family dysfunction, depressive symptoms, cyberbullying and cybervictimization. The results are discussed on the basis of the mechanisms that lead to cyberbullying and cybervictimization.

Investigating sensitivity through the lens of parents: validation of the parent-report version of the Highly Sensitive Child scale

Children differ in their environmental sensitivity (ES), which can be measured observationally or by self-report questionnaire. A parent-report scale represents an important tool for investigating ES in younger children but has to be psychometrically robust and valid. In the current multistudy, we validated the parent-report version of the Highly Sensitive Child (HSC-PR) scale in Italian children, evaluating its factorial structure (Study 1, N = 1,857, 6.2 years, age range: 2.6-14 years) through a multigroup Confirmatory Factory Analysis in preschoolers (n = 1,066, 4.2 years) and school-age children (n = 791, 8.8 years). We then investigated the HSC-PR relationship with established temperament traits (Study 2, N = 327, 4.3 years), before exploring whether the scale moderates the effects of parenting stress on children's emotion regulation (Study 3, N = 112, 6.5 years). We found support for a bi-factor structure in both groups, though in preschoolers minor adaptations were suggested for one item. Importantly, the HSC-PR did not fully overlap with common temperament traits and moderated the effects of parenting stress on children emotion regulation. To conclude, the HSC-PR performs well and appears to capture ES in children.

Effectiveness of psychodynamic treatment: Comparing trajectories of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology of adolescents in treatment, healthy and physically ill adolescents

Effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy for adolescents in reducing internalizing and externalizing psychopathology was determined by comparing treated adolescents (86 sessions) with the normative developmental progression in two groups without treatment: healthy and diabetic adolescents. In a three-wave longitudinal study, n = 531 adolescents (n = 303 patients, n = 119 healthy, n = 109 diabetics) and their mothers filled out psychopathology questionnaires (Youth Self-Report and Child Behavior Checklist). Latent growth curve modeling and multilevel modeling were used to analyze and compare within-person symptoms changes across groups. Analyses showed a significant reduction over the course of treatment for internalizing (Cohen's d = .90-.92) and externalizing (d = .58-.72) symptoms, also when the developmental progression of both control groups was accounted for (d = .48-.76). Mothers reported lower levels than their children in internalizing symptoms (p ≤ .01) while this discrepancy increased over time for treated adolescents (p = .02). Results established the effectiveness of psychodynamic treatment for adolescents both with externalizing and internalizing symptoms in comparison with growth and change in nonclinical samples. Cross-informant differences and age-specific trajectories require attention in psychotherapy treatment and research.

Trajectories of resilience among young children involved with child protective services

Although child maltreatment is associated with short- and long-term maladaptive outcomes, some children are still able to display resilience. Currently, there is a limited understanding of how children's resilience changes over time after experiencing maltreatment, especially for young children. Therefore, the current study used a longitudinal, multidimensional approach to examine trajectories of resilience among very young children involved in child protective services and determine whether placement setting and caregiving behaviors are associated with resilience trajectories. This study used data from National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being I and conducted repeated measures latent class analysis, focusing on children under 2 years old at baseline (n = 1,699). Results suggested that there were three trajectories of resilience: increasing resilience, decreasing resilience, and stable, low resilience. Caregiver cognitive stimulation was related to increasing trajectories of resilience compared to both decreasing and stable, low resilience. These findings illustrate the importance of caregiving behaviors for promoting resilience among a particularly vulnerable population.

Pathways to substance use: Examining conduct problems and parenting behaviors from preschool to adolescence

While many studies have identified risk and protective factors of substance use (SU), few have assessed the reciprocal associations of child conduct problems (CP) and parenting practices and behaviors in the prediction of SU across development. A greater understanding of how these factors relate over time is needed to improve the timing of targeted prevention efforts. This study examined how child CP, parenting behaviors, and parents' own antisocial behavior relate from preschool to adolescence and eventuate in SU. Participants included 706 youth (70.6% male; 89.7% white) enrolled in the Michigan Longitudinal Study. Data from waves 1 (ages 3-5), 2 (ages 6-8), 3 (ages 9-11), 4 (ages 12-14), and 5 (ages 15-17) were included. A random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) examined reciprocal associations between parenting practices, parents' antisocial behavior, and child CP over time (waves 1-4) and how these factors contribute to adolescent alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use (wave 5). At the within-person level, negative parenting and parents' own antisocial behavior had a strong influence in late childhood/early adolescence. Only child CP emerged as a significant predictor of SU. Results highlight the importance of early intervention and the potential influence of parenting and child factors throughout development in the prevention of SU.

The bidirectional relationship between head injuries and conduct problems: longitudinal modelling of a population-based birth cohort study

Childhood head injuries and conduct problems increase the risk of aggression and criminality and are well-known correlates. However, the direction and timing of their association and the role of their demographic risk factors remain unclear. This study investigates the bidirectional links between both from 3 to 17 years while revealing common and unique demographic risks. A total of 8,603 participants (50.2% female; 83% White ethnicity) from the Millennium Cohort Study were analysed at 6 timepoints from age 3 to 17. Conduct problems were parent-reported for ages 3 to 17 using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and head injuries at ages 3 to 14. A cross-lagged path model estimated the longitudinal bidirectional effects between the two whilst salient demographic risks were modelled cumulatively at three ecological levels (child, mother, and household). Conduct problems at age 5 promoted head injuries between 5 and 7 (Z = 0.07; SE = 0.03; 95% CI, 0.02-0.13), and head injuries at ages 7 to 11 promoted conduct problems at age 14 (ß = .0.06; SE = .0.03; 95% CI, 0.01-0.12). Head injuries were associated with direct child-level risk at age 3, whereas conduct problems were associated with direct risks from all ecological levels until 17 years. The findings suggest a sensitive period at 5-11 years for the bidirectional relationship shared between head injuries and conduct problems. They suggest that demographic risks for increased head injuries play an earlier role than they do for conduct problems. Both findings have implications for intervention timing.

Emotional Engagement and Caring Relationships: The Assessment of Emotion Regulation Repertoires of Nurses

In spite of the importance of emotion regulation for nurses' well-being, little is known about which strategies nurses habitually use, how these strategies combine in order to regulate their emotional distress, and how these are related to their caregiving orientations. The current study aimed to explore the emotion regulation repertoires that characterize health-care providers and to investigate the association between these repertoires and caregiving orientations in a sample of nurses. Firstly, a confirmatory factor analyses was run to test the suitability of the Regulation of Emotion System Survey for the assessment of six emotion regulation strategies among health-care providers. Subsequently, the latent profiles analysis was employed to explore emotion regulation repertoires. Three repertoires emerged: The Average, the Suppression Propensity and the Engagement Propensity profiles. The participants of the last two groups relied on Expressive Suppression and Engagement, respectively, more often than others. Nurses were more likely to be placed within the Engagement Propensity group when compared to the first responders, and higher levels of hyperactivation of the Caregiving System were associated with this repertoire. A greater reliance on Expressive Engagement among nurses was discussed in terms of the fact that nurses usually have a longer and more care-oriented relationships with patients than first responders.

Co-developmental trajectories of aggression and rule-breaking from middle childhood to early adolescence: individual and environmental predictors

This study examined the heterogeneous co-developmental trajectories of aggression and rule-breaking from middle childhood to early adolescence, as well as how these identified, distinct trajectories related to individual and environmental predictors. A total of 1944 Chinese elementary school students in grade 4 (45.5% girls, Mage = 10.06, SD = 0.57) completed measures on five occasions across two and a half years, using six-month intervals. Findings included: (a) Parallel process latent class growth modeling revealed four distinct co-developmental trajectory groups of aggression and rule-breaking: congruent-low (84.0%); moderate-decreasing aggression and high-decreasing rule-breaking (3.8%); moderate-increasing aggression (5.9%); and moderate-increasing rule-breaking (6.3%); (b) Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that children belonging to the high risk groups were more likely to experience multiple individual and environmental difficulties. Implications for prevention of aggression and rule-breaking were discussed.

When depressed-be mindful of and kind to yourself: Self-compassion as mediator of change in a mindful depression treatment

Self-compassion as an outcome and potential mediator in mindfulness-based interventions has gained increased attention in the last years. However, most mediation studies had several methodological shortcomings which precluded robust conclusions regarding its mediating role. This randomized controlled study aimed to address these issues by assessing self-compassion, as proposed mediator and outcome, in a temporal sequence.

Eighty-one patients with current depression and work-related conflicts were randomly assigned to either an eight-week mindfulness-based day hospital treatment (MDT-DH; n = 47; including psychopharmacological treatment if necessary) or a waitlist control condition including a psychopharmacological consultation (PCC; n = 34). The outcome, depression severity, was assessed before, at mid-treatment and after the treatment while the proposed mediator, self-compassion, was measured at two week-intervals from before treatment until directly after treatment. Within-person and between-person mediation effects were analysed using multilevel structural equation modelling.

The results from the mediation models show that self-compassion (as a general factor) and two of its components (mindfulness of personal suffering and common humanity) increased and mediated the change in depressive symptoms over time.

This study provides preliminary support for self-compassion as a mediator of treatment effects on depression in a mindful depression treatment.

Correlated Change Between Personality Traits and Perceived Social Support in Old Age

This study investigated correlated change between the Big Five personality traits and perceived social support in old age. Two data waves with an 8-year span from the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study on Adult Development (ILSE) were utilized. The longitudinal sample for this study consisted of 491 older adults (aged 64-68 years at T1). Four different aspects of perceived availability of social support were assessed (emotional support, practical support, social integration, and social strain). The Big Five personality traits were assessed with the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Results show significant latent concurrent correlations and correlated changes between personality traits and social support. Notably, correlated change with social support types differed depending on the Big Five traits being evaluated, with changes in extraversion, neuroticism, and agreeableness being the traits most associated with changes in social support types, and openness being least associated. Results are discussed through a life span development lens in light of past research.

Item selection methods in multidimensional computerized adaptive testing for forced-choice items using Thurstonian IRT model

Multidimensional computerized adaptive testing for forced-choice items (MFC-CAT) combines the benefits of multidimensional forced-choice (MFC) items and computerized adaptive testing (CAT) in that it eliminates response biases and reduces administration time. Previous studies that explored designs of MFC-CAT only discussed item selection methods based on the Fisher information (FI), which is known to perform unstably at early stages of CAT. This study proposes a set of new item selection methods based on the KL information for MFC-CAT (namely MFC-KI, MFC-KB, and MFC-KLP) based on the Thurstonian IRT (TIRT) model. Three simulation studies, including one based on real data, were conducted to compare the performance of the proposed KL-based item selection methods against the existing FI-based methods in three- and five-dimensional MFC-CAT scenarios with various test lengths and inter-trait correlations. Results demonstrate that the proposed KL-based item selection methods are feasible for MFC-CAT and generate acceptable trait estimation accuracy and uniformity of item pool usage. Among the three proposed methods, MFC-KB and MFC-KLP outperformed the existing FI-based item selection methods and resulted in the most accurate trait estimation and relatively even utilization of the item pool.

Coping Strategies and Their Relationship With Subjective Distress due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil

OBJECTIVES

To identify the strategies used by Brazilian adults for coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and to verify the effect of these strategies on subjective distress.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional observational study with online data collection in May/June 2020, November/December 2020, and May/June 2021. The BriefCOPE Inventory and the Impact of Event Scale (IES-R) were used. The prevalence of strategies used at different time points was estimated with a 95% confidence interval and compared with a z-test. A multiple logistic regression model was constructed and the odds ratio (OR, 95%CI) was calculated to verify the probability of subjective distress according to the coping strategy used.

RESULTS

Younger individuals had a lower prevalence of adaptive strategies, which increased significantly with age. Participants with higher income levels had a higher prevalence of adaptive strategies, as did those who were never diagnosed with a mental health disorder. The prevalence of using only maladaptive strategies ranged from 6.1% to 5.4% (p > 0.05). The use of problem-centered strategies (Active Coping and Planning), venting of emotions, and substance use increased with time, while acceptance and behavioral disengagement decreased. In general, the population used problem-centered strategies, but the high prevalence of problem avoidance was striking. Positive reinterpretation and acceptance were protective factors for subjective distress, whereas maladaptive strategies increased the chance of distress. The presence of a negative valence component (problem- or emotion-centered) increased the chance of subjective distress, whereas strategies based on Problem Solving acted as a protective factor.

CONCLUSION

Coping strategies were significantly associated to subjective distress and have changed since the beginning of the pandemic. Strategies focused on emotion regulation may be relevant to minimize distress.

A developmental perspective on personality-relationship transactions: Evidence from three nationally representative samples

OBJECTIVE

Throughout their lives, people experience different relationship events, such as beginning or dissolving a romantic relationship. Personality traits predict the occurrence of such relationship events (i.e., selection effects), and relationship events predict changes in personality traits (i.e., socialization effects), summarized as personality-relationship transactions. So far, evidence was partly inconsistent as to how personality traits and relationship events are linked with each other. In this article, we argue that unnoticed age differences might have led to these inconsistencies. To systematically test for age differences in transactions, we conceptualize relationship events in terms of gains and losses and apply a developmental perspective on transactions.

METHODS

Using longitudinal data from three nationally representative samples (SOEP, HILDA, Understanding Society), we computed event-focused latent growth models and summarized the results meta-analytically.

RESULTS

The findings indicated some transactions. Of these, selection effects were stronger than socialization effects, and effects of gain-based events were stronger than effects of loss-based events. We observed few interactions with age.

CONCLUSION

Selection effects and, particularly, socialization effects, tend to be rare and fairly independent of age. We discuss a series of broader and narrower factors that may have an impact on the strength of transactions across adulthood.

Multilevel mediation analysis in R: A comparison of bootstrap and Bayesian approaches

Mediation analysis in repeated measures studies can shed light on the mechanisms through which experimental manipulations change the outcome variable. However, the literature on interval estimation for the indirect effect in the 1-1-1 single mediator model is sparse. Most simulation studies to date evaluating mediation analysis in multilevel data considered scenarios that do not match the expected numbers of level 1 and level 2 units typically encountered in experimental studies, and no study to date has compared resampling and Bayesian methods for constructing intervals for the indirect effect in this context. We conducted a simulation study to compare statistical properties of interval estimates of the indirect effect obtained using four bootstrap and two Bayesian methods in the 1-1-1 mediation model with and without random effects. Bayesian credibility intervals had coverage closest to the nominal value and no instances of excessive Type I error rates, but lower power than resampling methods. Findings indicated that the pattern of performance for resampling methods often depended on the presence of random effects. We provide suggestions for selecting an interval estimator for the indirect effect depending on the most important statistical property for a given study, as well as code in R for implementing all methods evaluated in the simulation study. Findings and code from this project will hopefully support the use of mediation analysis in experimental research with repeated measures.