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Deng J, Shou Y, Wang MC, Allen JL, Gao Y, Hawes DJ. Core features of callous-unemotional traits: a cross-cultural comparison of youth in four countries. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:2681-2693. [PMID: 38180536 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02357-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
With considerable debate concerning the impact of culture on the expression of callous-unemotional (CU) traits, it is unclear whether the core features of CU traits generalize to youth across cultures. This study aimed to examine whether cultural differences are reflected in the core features of CU traits and the associations among these features. Network analysis was employed to identify the core features and to examine the network structure of CU traits operationalized by the Inventory of Callous Unemotional traits (ICU) in four community youth samples from different nations (Australia, N = 190; the UK, N = 437; the USA, N = 330; China, N = 503). The item "Apologizes to people" was identified as a cross-cultural core feature in the ICU network with a greater centrality of this item compared to others in all four samples. In addition, some items were identified as culture-specific core features in the network, differing in their centrality across samples. The network structures of the youth self-report ICU items were moderately similar across samples, while the structures of parent-report items showed substantial differences. These findings have important implications for cross-cultural research on CU traits as well as practical implications for screening and treatment. The core features of ICU appear to be generalizable in youth across cultures, although cultural-specific manifestations should be noted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Deng
- Department of Psychology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center Guangzhou, 230 Wai Huan Xi Road, 510006, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiyun Shou
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Lloyd's Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Meng-Cheng Wang
- Department of Psychology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center Guangzhou, 230 Wai Huan Xi Road, 510006, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | | | - Yu Gao
- Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, USA
| | - David J Hawes
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Chen C, Li C, Fei S, Chen W. Network analysis of trait aggression among community youths and juvenile offenders. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:387. [PMID: 38987815 PMCID: PMC11238466 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01872-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The mainstream view in trait aggression research has regarded the structure as representing the latent cause of the cognitions, emotions, and behaviors that supposedly reflect its nature. Under network perspective, trait aggression is not a latent cause of its features but a dynamic system of interacting elements. The current study uses network theory to explain the structure of relationships between trait aggression features in juvenile offenders and their peers. METHODS Network analysis was applied to investigate the dynamic system of trait aggression operationalized by the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire in a sample of community youths (Mage = 17.46, N = 715) and juvenile offenders (Mage = 18.36, N = 834). RESULTS The facet level networks showed that anger is a particularly effective mechanism for activating all other traits. In addition, anger was more strongly associated with physical aggression and the overall network strength was greater in juvenile delinquency networks than in their peers. The item level networks revealed that A4 and A6 exhibited the highest predictability and strength centrality in both samples. Also, the Bayesian network indicated that these two items were positioned at the highest level in the model. There are similarities and differences between juvenile delinquents and community adolescents in trait aggression. CONCLUSION Trait aggression was primarily activated by difficulty controlling one's temper and feeling like a powder keg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
- Inner Mongolia Student Bullying Prevention Research Center, Tongliao, China
| | - Chenglong Li
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Shienyu Fei
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Wei Chen
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China.
- Inner Mongolia Student Bullying Prevention Research Center, Tongliao, China.
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He J, Gao Y, Deng J, Wang MC. Resting heart rate moderates the relationship between parental emotion socialization and callous-unemotional traits in children. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:2353-2363. [PMID: 38145444 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02338-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Although empirical findings have indicated that both familial and neurobiological risk factors contribute to the development of callous-unemotional (CU) traits in children, relatively few studies have investigated how these two factors interact to influence these traits. The current study focused on the combined effects of parental emotion socialization and child's resting heart rate on CU traits. Parents of Chinese children (N = 166) completed the Coping with Children's Negative Scale when children were 9.39 years old (SD = 0.92), while children's resting heart rate data were collected when they were 10.21 years old (SD = 0.72). When they were 11.15 years old (SD = 0.67), parents completed the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits Short-Form. Results showed that parental supportive emotion socialization was negatively associated with CU traits and Callous behaviors in particular. In addition, resting heart rate moderated the relationship between parental emotion socialization and child's CU traits. Findings provide further evidence that an interdisciplinary approach that combines both psychosocial and biological factors is essential to further our understanding of CU traits in youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi He
- Department of Psychology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Gao
- Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, USA
| | - Jiaxin Deng
- Department of Psychology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng-Cheng Wang
- Department of Psychology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center Guangzhou, Guangzhou University, 230 Wai Huan Xi Road, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China.
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Winters DE, Sakai JT. Emotion Identification for Self and Other Associated with Callous-Unemotional Traits and Sex Differences in Early Adolescents. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2024; 55:564-574. [PMID: 36088498 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-022-01429-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew E Winters
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Joseph T Sakai
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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Wang Q, Wen M, Fan S, Liu J, Wang X, Guo W, Hu J, Zhang J, Li B, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Li K. Attention-Dominated Cognitive Dysfunction May Be a Biological Marker for Distinguishing SA from SI in Adolescents: A Network Analysis Study Based on Adolescent Depression. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:945-956. [PMID: 38464812 PMCID: PMC10924855 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s448904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Suicidal behavior is strongly correlated with depressive symptoms and the degree of suicidal ideation. Cognitive impairment may have varying degrees of influence on suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal attempts (SA). The aim of this study was to identify the cognitive biomarkers that distinguish suicidal ideation from suicidal attempts in adolescents. Methods The cross-sectional sample comprised 54 adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 32 healthy controls (HC). The THINC-it was utilized to assess cognitive function of all the samples. Suicidal ideation was examined by the Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Scale (PANSI). Based on the type of data, one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis was performed to investigate group differences. Bonferroni post-hoc analysis was employed for regulating type I error for pairwise comparisons. Network analysis was used to compare the networks associated with suicidal ideation, depression symptoms, and cognitive function between SA and SI. Results The depression symptoms (HAMD-17) (F=72.515, P<0.001) and suicidal ideation (PANSI) (F=267.952, P<0.001) in the SA were higher than those in the SI. Analysis of between-group differences showed SA performed worse in THINC-it, especially in "Spotter (SP)" (P=0.033), "Objective cognition score (OS)" (P=0.027) and "Composite score (CS)" (P=0.017). Compared with SI, network analysis revealed that SA had a unique network of cognitive function, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Nevertheless, both networks exhibit comparable performance concerning the node strength of cognitive function. Within their separate networks, the aspects of CS, OS, and SP have emerged as the three most crucial elements. Conclusion Adolescents with SI or SA exhibit a broad spectrum of cognitive impairments. Attention impairment can be beneficial in discerning between SI and SA. Future interventions for adolescent suicide can center on attention and the comprehensive cognitive ability that it represents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wang
- Clinical Medicine College, Hebei University, Hebei, People's Republic of China
- Hebei Provincial Mental Health Center, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Wen
- Hebei Provincial Mental Health Center, Hebei, People's Republic of China
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaohang Fan
- Hebei Provincial Mental Health Center, Hebei, People's Republic of China
- School of Psychology and Mental Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinning Liu
- Hebei Provincial Mental Health Center, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowen Wang
- Psychosomatic Medicine Department, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wentao Guo
- Hebei Provincial Mental Health Center, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinyun Hu
- Psychiatric Department, The Second People's Hospital of Yuxi, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jialan Zhang
- Hebei Provincial Mental Health Center, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Bing Li
- Hebei Provincial Mental Health Center, Hebei, People's Republic of China
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Mental and Behavioral Disorders, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Hebei Provincial Mental Health Center, Hebei, People's Republic of China
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Mental and Behavioral Disorders, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunshu Zhang
- Clinical Medicine College, Hebei University, Hebei, People's Republic of China
- Hebei Provincial Mental Health Center, Hebei, People's Republic of China
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Mental and Behavioral Disorders, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Keqing Li
- Hebei Provincial Mental Health Center, Hebei, People's Republic of China
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Mental and Behavioral Disorders, Hebei, People's Republic of China
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López-Romero L, Andershed H, Romero E, Cervin M. In Search of Conceptual Clarity About the Structure of Psychopathic Traits in Children: A Network-Based Proposal. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2024:10.1007/s10578-023-01649-z. [PMID: 38236454 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01649-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Psychopathic traits in childhood have been revealed as potential identifiers of risk, being predictive of later forms of behavioral maladjustment. Yet, it is still under debate how psychopathic traits in children should be best conceptualized and which are the core dimensions for construct definition and prediction. The present study aims to examine the structure of psychopathic traits in childhood, and its predictive value, by using a combination of traditional factor analysis and more recent network-based methods. Data on psychopathic traits, as measured by the Child Problematic Traits Inventory (CPTI), were collected in a large sample of children (n = 2454; 48.2% girls), aged 3 to 6 at the onset of the study (Mage = 4.26; SD = 0.91), who were followed-up one and two years later using parent- and teacher-reports. Results showed that psychopathic traits measured via CPTI are best conceptualized as five latent factors encompassing grandiosity, deceitfulness, callousness, impulsivity and need of stimulation, a result that converged across informants and time. Callousness and grandiosity emerged as central traits using network analysis of parent-reports, while deceitfulness was most central using teacher-reports. Finally, callousness, impulsivity and deceitfulness emerged as the best predictors of concurrent, prospective and stable conduct problems. These results provide a refined structure of psychopathic traits in children that better accounts for the core elements of the construct. Additional theoretical and practical implications will be discussed in terms of assessment, diagnostic classification and tailored prevention/intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura López-Romero
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica y Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Rua Xose María Suárez Núñez S/N, Campus Sur, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | | | - Estrella Romero
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica y Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Rua Xose María Suárez Núñez S/N, Campus Sur, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Identifying Symptoms of ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Most Strongly Associated with Functional Impairment in Children: A Symptom-Level Approach. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-023-10025-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
AbstractTo enhance the understanding of how symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and disruptive behavior disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), including callous-unemotional (CU) traits, differentially relate to functional impairment (FI). Participants were 474 German school-age children (age: M = 8.90, SD = 1.49, 81% male) registered for participation in the ESCAschool trial (ESCAschool: Evidence-based, Stepped Care of ADHD in school-aged children). Clinicians assessed the severity of individual symptoms and five FI domains specifically associated with ADHD symptoms or ODD/CD/CU symptoms using a semi-structured clinical interview. We conducted two multiple linear regression analyses, combined with relative importance analyses, to determine the impact of individual symptoms on global FI associated with ADHD and ODD/CD/CU symptoms. Next, we estimated two networks and identified the strongest associations of ADHD symptoms or ODD/CD/CU symptoms with the five FI domains. Symptoms varied substantially in their associations with global FI. The ADHD symptom Easily Distracted (15%) and ODD symptom Argues with Adults (10%) contributed most strongly to the total explained variance. FI related to academic performance, home life and family members, and psychological strain were most strongly associated with ADHD inattention symptoms, whereas FI related to relationships with adults and relationships with children and recreational activities were most strongly associated with hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms. By comparison, the ODD/CD/CU symptoms most closely linked to FI domains originated from the ODD and CD dimensions. Our findings contribute to a growing body of literature on the importance of analyzing individual symptoms and highlight that symptom-based approaches can be clinically useful.
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Longitudinal network structure of child psychopathy across development in chinese community children. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03799-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Psychopathic Traits, Treatment Engagement, and Their Interrelation in Criminal Justice-Involved Boys: A Cross-Sectional Network Analysis. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2022; 50:1589-1604. [DOI: 10.1007/s10802-022-00974-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Utility of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits in Predicting Criminal Recidivism Among Detained Youth. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-021-09904-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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