On Personality Measures and Their Data: A Classification of Measurement Approaches and Their Recommended Uses

We employ a new approach for classifying methods of personality measurement such as self-judgment, mental ability, and lifespace measures and the data they produce. We divide these measures into two fundamental groups: personal-source data, which arise from the target person's own reports, and external-source data, which derive from the areas surrounding the person. These two broad classes are then further divided according to what they target and the response processes that produce them. We use the model to organize roughly a dozen kinds of data currently employed in the field. With this classification system in hand, we describe how much we might expect two types of measures of the same attribute to converge-and explain why methods often yield somewhat different results. Given that each measurement method has its own strengths and weaknesses, we examine the pros and cons of selecting a given type of measure to assess a specific area of personality.

Despite popular intuition, positive world beliefs poorly reflect several objective indicators of privilege, including wealth, health, sex, and neighborhood safety

OBJECTIVES

We tested whether generalized beliefs that the world is safe, abundant, pleasurable, and progressing (termed "primal world beliefs") are associated with several objective measures of privilege.

METHODS

Three studies (N = 16,547) tested multiple relationships between indicators of privilege-including socioeconomic status, health, sex, and neighborhood safety-and relevant world beliefs, as well as researchers and laypeople's expectations of these relationships. Samples were mostly from the USA and included general population samples (Study 2) as well as focused samples of academic researchers (Study 1) and people who had experienced serious illness or trauma (Study 3).

RESULTS

Studies 1-2 found mostly negligible relationships between world beliefs and indicators of privilege, which were invariably lower than researcher predictions (e.g., instead of the expected r = 0.33, neighborhood affluence correlated with Abundant world belief at r = 0.01). Study 3 found that people who had experienced serious illness (cancer, cystic fibrosis) only showed modest differences in beliefs from controls.

CONCLUSIONS

While results do not preclude that some individuals' beliefs were meaningfully affected by life events, they imply that such changes are smaller or less uniform than widely believed and that knowing a person's demographic background may tell us relatively little about their beliefs (and vice versa).

Developmental cascades from early childhood attachment security to adolescent level of personality functioning among high-risk youth

This study examines associations between early childhood attachment security and adolescent personality functioning in a high-risk sample within a developmental psychopathology framework. Data from 2,268 children (1165 male; 1103 female) and caregivers participating in Future of Families and Child Well-Being Study (FFCWS) were used to examine (1) effects of genetic polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) and dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) genes and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on attachment security and emotional and behavioral dysregulation in early childhood and (2) longitudinal associations and transactional relationships among attachment security, dysregulation, negative parenting attitudes and behaviors, social competence, and adolescent personality functioning. Results revealed that ACEs predicted attachment security over and above sex or the genetic risk, and gene × environment interactions did not increment prediction. Results of cascade models showed that greater early childhood attachment security predicted higher adolescent level of personality functioning via pathways through intermediary variables. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.

Illness perception: A bibliometric study

Illness perception is a crucial area of study that has seen significant growth and development over the years. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric and network analysis of illness perception research, capturing its evolution from 1975 to 2023. Utilizing 1813 publications from the Scopus database, authored by 5428 researchers, we identify key scholars and influential articles in the field. Our analysis includes various bibliometric networks such as citation, co-citation, collaboration, and keyword co-occurrence networks, along with the presentation of intellectual structure maps. Major research areas include the role of illness perception in mental health conditions like depression, coping mechanisms, quality of life, and chronic illnesses like diabetes, as well as the influence of lay beliefs on health behaviors, and the impact of illness beliefs on conditions like Myocardial Infarction and stroke. The results show a growing academic interest in understanding how illness perceptions shape healthcare outcomes and behaviors.

Dose-Response Effects of MittEcho, a Measurement Feedback System, in an Indicated Mental Health Intervention for Children in Municipal and School Services in Norway

Including routine client feedback can increase the effectiveness of mental health interventions for children, especially when implemented as intended. Rate of implementation, or dose, of such feedback interventions has been shown to moderate results in some studies. Variation in implementation and use of client feedback may also contribute to the mixed results observed within the feedback literature. This study evaluates dose-response associations of client feedback using a novel Measurement Feedback System (MFS) within an indicated group intervention. The primary aim was to determine whether the rate of MFS implementation predicts symptom reduction in anxiety and depression among school-aged children. The secondary aim was to assess whether the rate of MFS implementation influences children's satisfaction with the group intervention or their dropout rates. Data were collected via a randomized factorial study (clinicaltrials.gov NCT04263558) across 58 primary schools in Norway. Children aged 8 to 12 years (N = 701) participated in a group-based, transdiagnostic intervention targeting elevated symptoms of anxiety or depression. Half of the child groups also received the feedback intervention using the MittEcho MFS. Group leaders (N = 83), recruited locally, facilitated the interventions. The MFS dose was measured using the Implementation Index, which combines the use of MFS by both children and providers (group leaders) into a single dose variable. Results showed no significant additional effect of dose of MFS on change in depression or anxiety scores, on user satisfaction with the intervention or on intervention dropout. The discussion addresses potential reasons for these non-significant findings and implications for MFS implementation in preventive, group-based interventions in school settings.

Assessing Criterion A of the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders: The Potential of Performance-Based Personality Measures

The conceptualization of personality disorder has been refined through recent nosological advances introduced in the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD). These advances locate self and interpersonal (dys)function at the core of personality pathology. Self-report personality assessment instruments have demonstrated promise in the assessment of Criterion A domains. However, research highlighting the utility of performance-based personality assessment instruments has been largely absent in these advances, despite acknowledgment of their potential. We adhered to PRISMA review guidelines to survey and assess the potential relevance and utility of select performance-based personality instruments in assessing Criterion A domains of the AMPD. We conclude that performance-based personality measures are uniquely positioned to assess maladaptive self- and interpersonal functioning and may address some limitations of self-report measures. Toward this end, we propose a working model that provides ranges of test scores that correspond to the 5-point scale of the Criterion A domains of the AMPD.

Large language models know how the personality of public figures is perceived by the general public

We show that people's perceptions of public figures' personalities can be accurately predicted from their names' location in GPT-3's semantic space. We collected Big Five personality perceptions of 226 public figures from 600 human raters. Cross-validated linear regression was used to predict human perceptions from public figures' name embeddings extracted from GPT-3. The models' accuracy ranged from r = .78 to .88 without controls and from r = .53 to .70 when controlling for public figures' likability and demographics, after correcting for attenuation. Prediction models showed high face validity as revealed by the personality-descriptive adjectives occupying their extremes. Our findings reveal that GPT-3 word embeddings capture signals pertaining to individual differences and intimate traits.

No relations between executive functions and dimensional models of psychopathology or is time the missing link?

Impaired executive functions (EF) have been found within various mental disorders (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders) as described in DSM-5. However, although impaired EF has been observed within several categories of mental disorders, empirical research on direct relations between EF and broader dimension of psychopathology is still scarce. Therefore, in the current investigation we examined relations between three EF performance tasks and self-reported dimensions of psychopathology (i.e., the internalizing, externalizing, and thought disorder spectra) in a combined dataset of patients with a broad range of mental disorders (N = 440). Despite previously reported results that indicate impaired EF in several categories of mental disorders, in this study no direct relations were found between EF performance tasks and self-reported broader dimensions of psychopathology. These results indicate that relations between EF and psychopathology could be more complex and non-linear in nature. We evaluate the need for integration of EF and dimensional models of psychopathology and reflect on EF as a possible transdiagnostic factor of psychopathology.

Relations Between Perceptions of Parental Messages Supporting Fighting and Nonviolence and Adolescents' Physical Aggression: Beliefs as Mediators

The purpose of this study was to examine adolescents' beliefs about fighting as mediators of longitudinal relations between perceptions of parental support for fighting and nonviolence and changes in adolescents' physical aggression. Participants were 2,575 middle school students (Mage = 12.20, SD = 1.02; 52% female; 83% African American) from the southeastern U.S. attending schools in communities with high rates of violence. Participants completed four waves of assessments every 3 months (i.e., fall, winter, spring, and summer). Each belief subscale mediated relations between perceptions of parental support for fighting and nonviolence and changes in aggression. Parental support for nonviolence was negatively associated with beliefs supporting reactive aggression and positively associated with beliefs against fighting. Parental support for retaliation was positively associated with beliefs supporting reactive and proactive aggression, and negatively associated with beliefs against fighting. Parental support for fighting as sometimes necessary was positively associated with beliefs supporting reactive aggression and beliefs that fighting is sometimes necessary. Beliefs supporting reactive and proactive aggression and beliefs that fighting is sometimes necessary were positively associated with aggression, whereas beliefs against fighting was negatively associated with aggression. Parents' support for fighting and for nonviolence may directly and indirectly reduce adolescents' physical aggression by influencing beliefs about the appropriateness of using aggression for self-defense and to attain a goal. This highlights the importance of jointly investigating multiple types of parental messages and types of beliefs about fighting.

A new performance-based measure of personality functioning impairment: development and preliminary evaluation of reliability and validity

Personality functioning impairment is at the center of many dimensional models of personality. Available measures of personality functioning impairment are limited to self-report, clinician-/informant-rated, and interview methods. Although researchers have begun investigating established performance-based instruments' potential for assessing personality functioning impairment, administration and scoring of these instruments is complex and the latent variables they measure diverge from personality functioning impairment as described in the ICD-11 and the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) of the DSM. We address this absence by developing and psychometrically evaluating the Level of Personality Functioning Scale-Questionnaire-based Implicit Association Test (LPFS-qIAT). The LPFS-qIAT's psychometric properties were evaluated across four studies, producing initial evidence supporting the new instrument's reliability as well as its convergent, discriminant, and criterion-related validity. As the first performance-based measure of personality functioning impairment that aligns with the AMPD and, to a degree the ICD-11, that is easily administered, scored, and interpreted, the LPFS-qIAT shows potential to become a valuable tool in both research and clinical practice.

A Comparative Investigation of Wavelet Families for Classification of EOG Signals Related to Healthy and ADHD Children

Based on previous research, there are differences between eye movements of people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and of healthy people, as a result, the existence of differences regarding the electrooculogram (EOG) signals of the 2 groups exists. Thus, this study aimed to examine the recorded EOG signals of 30 ADHD children and 30 healthy children while performing an attention-related task. For this purpose, the EOG signals of these 2 groups were decomposed utilizing various wavelet functions. Afterward, features, including mean, energy, and standard deviation (SD) of approximation and detail wavelet coefficients were calculated. The Davies-Bouldin (DB) index was used for the evaluation of the feature space quality. Finally, the 2 groups were classified using one-dimensional feature vector and support vector machine (SVM). The SD of detail coefficients (db4) was selected as the most effective feature for separating the 2 groups. Statistical analysis revealed that the values of energy and SD of EOG signals' detail coefficients were significantly lower in the ADHD group in comparison with the healthy group (P<.001). These results showed that the speed of the ADHD group's eye movements was slower due to the fact that the high-frequency band activity of EOG signals in the healthy group was higher. In addition, the EOG signals were classified with a detection accuracy of 83.42 ± 3.8%. The results of this study can be applied in designing an EOG biofeedback protocol to treat or mitigate the symptoms of ADHD patients.

Evidence-Based Assessment of Personality Disorder

The purpose of this article is to provide a description and discussion of the evidence-based assessment of personality disorder. Considered herein is the assessment of the Section II personality disorders included within the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.; DSM-5-TR), within Section III of DSM-5-TR, and within the 11th edition of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases (WHO). The recommendation for an evidence-based assessment is for a multimethod approach: first administer a self-report inventory to alert the clinician to maladaptive personality functioning that might not have otherwise been anticipated, followed by a semi-structured interview to verify the personality disorder's presence. The validity of this multimethod strategy can be improved further by considering the impact of other disorders on the assessment, documenting temporal stability, and establishing a compelling, empirical basis for cutoff points.

Childbirth-related episiotomy and tear in relation to risk of postpartum depression: a retrospective cohort study on Omani mothers

AIMS/BACKGROUND

Studies on the association between perineal trauma (episiotomy and tear) and the risk of postpartum depression in Omani mothers are scarce. This study aimed to screen women for the risk of postpartum depression and associated maternal adverse outcomes (episiotomy and tear) in newly delivered Omani mothers.

DESIGN/METHODS

Mothers were screened for postpartum depression using only the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), with cut-offs of 1-12 indicating low risk and 13-30 indicating high risk. Data on birth outcomes were collected retrospectively from the medical records. Descriptive analyses, group comparisons, and linear regression analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Of the 262 participating mothers (total sample, i.e. mothers with and without depression), 19.0% had an episiotomy, 29.0% had tears, and 52.0% had an intact perineum after their childbirth. The total EPDS score was significantly higher among mothers with episiotomy (10.4, SD = 5.4) compared to those with tears (8.1, SD = 4.8) and those with intact perineum (9.4, SD = 4.9) (p-value <0.05). Lower levels of depression (-2.23 points on average) were significantly (p-value <0.05) associated with higher levels of perineum status (coded as 1 = episiotomy, 2 = other). Mothers who had a tear or episiotomy had on average 1.24 points higher EPDS scores compared to mothers with an intact perineum, although not significant (p-value >0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Policymakers and clinicians are recommended to consider following up mothers with adverse birth outcomes to outline the risk of developing postpartum depression, at the same time as they routinely screen all mothers for risk of postpartum depression during their postpartum visits.

Personality differences in dental professionals: A cross-sectional survey

INTRODUCTION

Despite its influence on occupational performance and team dynamics, there has been little research into the personality of dental professionals. Existing research does not typically use the prevailing five-factor model of personality. We aimed to measure the personality of dental professionals in the United Kingdom and investigate differences among groups.

METHODS

The sample (n = 906) comprised dental nurses (n = 475), general dental practitioners (GDPs) (n = 182), orthodontists (n = 201), and oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMFSs) (n = 48). Recruitment was via email and social media. The questionnaire collected data on demographic variables and contained the Big Five Inventory, a validated self-report personality test. Participants scored on extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness neuroticism, and openness. A one-way analysis of variance and post-hoc tests with Bonferroni correction were used to identify significant differences in personality between occupations. Hierarchical multiple regression determined the influence of occupation over and above demographic variables.

RESULTS

On a 5-point scale, orthodontists had a mean conscientiousness score 0.23 points higher than GDPs (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.10-0.36). Dental nurses had a mean conscientiousness score 0.28 points higher than GDPs (95% CI, 0.17-0.39). Dental nurses had a mean agreeableness score 0.16 points higher than orthodontists (95% CI, 0.05-0.27) and 0.30 points higher than OMFSs (95% CI, 0.10-0.50). For neuroticism, orthodontists had a mean score 0.21 points lower than dental nurses (95% CI, 0.06-0.36), and OMFSs had a mean score 0.43 points lower than dental nurses (95% CI, 0.16-0.70). GDPs had a mean neuroticism score 0.43 points higher than OMFSs (95% CI, 0.14-0.71; P = 0.001). Differences were small to moderate in size (d = 0.35-0.45) and occupation was associated with personality after accounting for demographic variables.

CONCLUSIONS

The personalities of dental nurses, GDPs, orthodontists, and OMFSs differed. Occupation was associated with differences in personality after accounting for demographic characteristics.

Micro-level Factors Associated with Youth Drug Use Among an Urban at-Risk Youth Sample

BACKGROUND

Youth drug use has reached global epidemic proportions with unequal distribution among communities with low income, immigrants, or ethnic status.

PURPOSE

This study seeks to understand the association between micro-level factors and youth drug use behavior among 2693 low-income, ethnic, and immigrant youths in Pomona, CA, USA. The study uneath's unique evidence and intervention elements necessary to resolve youth drug use in Pomona.

METHODS

We used social cognitive theory as a conceptual framework, and performed correlation and multiple linear regression analysis in a cross-sectional design.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results reveal that attitudes, perceptions, and behavior related to friends, participants, family, and adults in the participant's life and ease of access to drugs are associated with youth drug use. Variables related to friends and participants show a relatively stronger association with youth drug use in comparison to variables related to parents and adults in participants' lives. Equally, drug and non-drug antisocial behavior of friends and participants show a stronger association with youth drug use relative to prosocial behavior. Also, when a diverse set of predictor variables are combined together, their association to the outcome variable is stronger than that of a single variable.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Future interventions in Pomona should prioritize strategies which target participants and friends over activities targeting parents and adults. Interventions targeting antisocial behavior should be prioritized over prosocial behavior. Program implementers should also develop unique evidence and tools which will help parents influence the drug use behavior of youths in Pomona and similar communities.

A systematic review of measurement uncertainty visualizations in the context of standardized assessments

This systematic review summarized findings of 29 studies evaluating visual presentation formats appropriate for communicating measurement uncertainty associated with standardized clinical assessment instruments. Studies were identified through systematic searches of multiple databases (Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, ERIC, Scopus, and Web of Science). Strikingly, we found no studies which were conducted using samples of clinicians and included clinical decision-making scenarios. Included studies did however find that providing participants with information about measurement uncertainty may increase awareness of uncertainty and promote more optimal decision making. Formats which visualize the shape of the underlying probability distribution were found to promote more accurate probability estimation and appropriate interpretations of the underlying probability distribution shape. However, participants in the included studies did not seem to benefit from the additional information provided by such plots during decision-making tasks. Further explorations into how presentations of measurement uncertainty impact clinical decision making are needed to examine whether findings of the included studies generalize to clinician populations. This review provides an important overview of pitfalls associated with formats commonly used to communicate measurement uncertainty in clinical assessment instruments, and a potential starting point for further explorations into promising alternatives. Finally, our review offers specific recommendations on how remaining research questions might be addressed.

An Examination of the Treatment Utility of the MMPI-2-RF: Prediction of Post-Treatment Depressive Symptoms and Increased Understanding of the Therapeutic Alliance in an Inpatient Mood Disorder Treatment

The study examined the ability of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) substantive scales to predict depressive symptoms in a psychiatric inpatient setting. The indirect effect of patient-rated alliance with their treatment team on these relationships was also investigated. Participants included 678 (52.5% female, 97.1% White) inpatients diagnosed with a mood disorder. MMPI-2-RF scales, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at intake and discharge, and Working Alliance Inventory-Short at discharge were used to test study hypotheses regarding MMPI-2-RF predictive utility and the influence of alliance. Jacobson and Truax's (1991) reliable change index (RCI) was calculated to identify those who did (74% of the sample) and did not (24%) make reliable and clinically significant depressive symptom change, and the predictive utility of MMPI-2-RF scores in distinguishing these groups was examined. MMPI-2-RF scales assessing internalizing and somatic dysfunction accounted for an additional 2% to 8% of the variance in depressive symptoms reported at discharge, above and beyond depressive symptoms reported at intake. Somatic scales were also able to differentiate groups based on clinically significant change on the PHQ-9 (small-sized effect). The relationship between MMPI-2-RF scales and depressive symptoms at discharge was indirect through alliance in 64% of models. Clinical implications are discussed.

Differing Effects of Implementation Leadership Characteristics on Nurses' Use of mHealth Technologies in Clinical Practice: Cross-Sectional Survey Study

BACKGROUND

Leadership has been consistently identified as an important factor in shaping the uptake and use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies in nursing; however, the nature and scope of leadership remain poorly delineated. This lack of detail about what leadership entails limits the practical actions that can be taken by leaders to optimize the implementation and use of mHealth technologies among nurses working clinically.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the effects of first-level leaders' implementation leadership characteristics on nurses' intention to use and actual use of mHealth technologies in practice while controlling for nurses' individual characteristics and the voluntariness of use, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use of mHealth technologies.

METHODS

A cross-sectional exploratory correlational survey study of registered nurses in Canada (n=288) was conducted between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018. Nurses were eligible to participate if they provided direct care in any setting and used employer-provided mHealth technologies in clinical practice. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted for the 2 outcome variables: intention to use and actual use.

RESULTS

The implementation leadership characteristics of first-level leaders influenced nurses' intention to use and actual use of mHealth technologies, with 2 moderating effects found. The final model for intention to use included the interaction term for implementation leadership characteristics and education, explaining 47% of the variance in nurses' intention to use mHealth in clinical practice (F10,228=20.14; P<.001). An examination of interaction plots found that implementation leadership characteristics had a greater influence on the intention to use mHealth technologies among nurses with a registered nurse diploma or a bachelor of nursing degree than among nurses with a graduate degree or other advanced education. For actual use, implementation leadership characteristics had a significant influence on the actual use of mHealth over and above the control variables (nurses' demographic characteristics, previous experience with mHealth, and voluntariness) and other known predictors (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use) in the model without the implementation leadership × age interaction term (β=.22; P=.001) and in the final model that included the implementation leadership × age interaction term (β=-.53; P=.03). The final model explained 40% of the variance in nurses' actual use of mHealth in their work (F10,228=15.18; P<.001). An examination of interaction plots found that, for older nurses, implementation leadership characteristics had less of an influence on their actual use of mHealth technologies.

CONCLUSIONS

Leaders responsible for the implementation of mHealth technologies need to assess and consider their implementation leadership behaviors because these play a role in influencing nurses' use of mHealth technologies. The education level and age of nurses may be important factors to consider because different groups may require different approaches to optimize their use of mHealth technologies in clinical practice.

Threats to the integrity of psychological assessment: The misuse of test raw data and materials

In the practice of psychological assessment there have been warnings for decades by the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN), other associations, and test vendors, against the disclosure of test raw data and test materials. Psychological assessment occurs across several different practice environments, and test raw data is a particularly sensitive aspect of practice considering what it implicitly represents about a client/patient, and this concept is further developed in this paper. Many times, test materials are intellectual property protected by copyrights and user agreements. It follows that improper management of the release of test raw data and test materials threatens the scientific integrity of psychological assessment. Here the matters of test raw data, test materials, and different practice environments are addressed to highlight the challenges involved with improper releases and to offer guidance concerning good-faith efforts to preserve the integrity of psychological assessment and legal agreements. The unique demands of forensic practice are also discussed, including attorneys' needs for cross-examination and discovery, which may place psychologists (and other duly vetted evaluators) in conflict with their commitment to professional ethical codes and legal agreements. To this end, important threats to the proper use of test raw data and test materials include uninformed professionals and compromised evaluators. In this paper, the mishandling of test raw data and materials by both psychologists and other evaluators is reviewed, representative case examples, including those from the literature, are provided, pertinent case law is discussed, and practical stepwise conflict resolutions are offered.

Pubertal timing and adolescent outcomes: investigating explanations for associations with a genetically informed design

BACKGROUND

Psychopathology and risky behaviors increase during adolescence, and understanding which adolescents are most at risk informs prevention and intervention efforts. Pubertal timing relative to same-sex, same-age peers is a known correlate of adolescent outcomes among both boys and girls. However, it remains unclear whether this relation is better explained by a plausible causal process or unobserved familial liability.

METHODS

We extended previous research by examining associations between pubertal timing in early adolescence (age 14) and outcomes in later adolescence (age 17) in a community sample of 2,510 twins (49% boys, 51% girls).

RESULTS

Earlier pubertal timing was associated with more substance use, risk behavior, internalizing and externalizing problems, and peer problems in later adolescence; these effects were small, consistent with previous literature. Follow-up co-twin control analyses indicated that within-twin-pair differences in pubertal timing were not associated with within-twin-pair differences in most adolescent outcomes after accounting for shared familial liability, suggesting that earlier pubertal timing and adolescent outcomes both reflect familial risk factors. Biometric models indicated that associations between earlier pubertal timing and negative adolescent outcomes were largely attributable to shared genetic liability.

CONCLUSIONS

Although earlier pubertal timing was associated with negative adolescent outcomes, our results suggests that these associations did not appear to be caused by earlier pubertal timing but were likely caused by shared genetic influences.

Generalizable prediction of childhood ADHD symptoms from neurocognitive testing and youth characteristics

Childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are believed to result from disrupted neurocognitive development. However, evidence for the clinical and predictive value of neurocognitive assessments in this context has been mixed, and there have been no large-scale efforts to quantify their potential for use in generalizable models that predict individuals' ADHD symptoms in new data. Using data drawn from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD), a consortium that recruited a diverse sample of over 10,000 youth (ages 9-10 at baseline) across 21 U.S. sites, we develop and test cross-validated machine learning models for predicting youths' ADHD symptoms using neurocognitive abilities, demographics, and child and family characteristics. Models used baseline demographic and biometric measures, geocoded neighborhood data, youth reports of child and family characteristics, and neurocognitive tests to predict parent- and teacher-reported ADHD symptoms at the 1-year and 2-year follow-up time points. Predictive models explained 15-20% of the variance in 1-year ADHD symptoms for ABCD Study sites that were left out of the model-fitting process and 12-13% of the variance in 2-year ADHD symptoms. Models displayed high generalizability across study sites and trivial loss of predictive power when transferred from training data to left-out data. Features from multiple domains contributed meaningfully to prediction, including neurocognition, sex, self-reported impulsivity, parental monitoring, and screen time. This work quantifies the information value of neurocognitive abilities and other child characteristics for predicting ADHD symptoms and provides a foundational method for predicting individual youths' symptoms in new data across contexts.

How to present work productivity loss results from clinical trials for patients and caregivers? A mixed methods approach

OBJECTIVES

From the perspectives of patients and caregivers, the objectives were: identifying which result presentations, describing work productivity loss (WPL) outcomes, are most understandable; measuring which presentations are important to report; and investigating which WPL outcomes are viewed as important alongside clinical trials results.

METHODS

We used a four phased, sequential mixed methods design, guided by patient-oriented research engaging one patient partner. We conducted think-aloud interviews, in British Columbia/Canada, to review WPL results and our survey measuring the understandability and importance of the results, and importance of each WPL outcome. We surveyed a sample representing working Canadians. The findings were summarized and analyzed using linear and logistic regression. We conducted sub-group analyses; one was gender based. All regressions were conducted using generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

In our qualitative phases, 20 patients and caregivers were interviewed. Participants recommended for the results to be brief, simple, and represented visually. Then, 118 patients and 120 caregivers were surveyed. The results presented in days or cost yielded the highest understandability and importance to report. All WPL outcomes were identified as important to somewhat important to report by most. The associations indicated that the more understandable the result presentation was, the more likely it was to be rated as important. Age was the only factor significantly associated with selecting days or cost as the most important result.

CONCLUSION

Presenting WPL results in days and cost, using lay terms and visual supports, were viewed as easiest to understand and most important to report in clinical trials by patients and caregivers. Our findings are supportive of clinical trials standardizing the measurement of WPL to include all of its outcomes (absenteeism, presenteeism, employment status changes and total work productivity loss), in addition to tools assessing the comprehensiveness of WPL results to be provided to patients and caregivers.

The impact of omitting confounders in parallel process latent growth curve mediation models: Three sensitivity analysis approaches

Parallel process latent growth curve mediation models (PP-LGCMMs) are frequently used to longitudinally investigate the mediation effects of treatment on the level and change of outcome through the level and change of mediator. An important but often violated assumption in empirical PP-LGCMM analysis is the absence of omitted confounders of the relationships among treatment, mediator, and outcome. In this study, we analytically examined how omitting pretreatment confounders impacts the inference of mediation from the PP-LGCMM. Using the analytical results, we developed three sensitivity analysis approaches for the PP-LGCMM, including the frequentist, Bayesian, and Monte Carlo approaches. The three approaches help investigate different questions regarding the robustness of mediation results from the PP-LGCMM, and handle the uncertainty in the sensitivity parameters differently. Applications of the three sensitivity analyses are illustrated using a real-data example. A user-friendly Shiny web application is developed to conduct the sensitivity analyses.

From asking to observing. Behavioural measures of socio-emotional and motivational skills in large-scale assessments

Socio-emotional and motivational skills are routinely measured using self-reports in large-scale educational assessments. Measures exploiting test-takers' behaviour during the completion of questionnaires or cognitive tests are increasingly used as alternatives to self-reports in the economics of education literature. We compute behavioural measures of socio-emotional and motivational skills using data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). We find that these measures capture important aspects of students' academic profiles: some are importantly associated with contemporaneous performance and educational attainment and most measures have a high degree of stability over time. However, these measures are only limitedly correlated among themselves and have low correlations with self-report measures of the same constructs. This is likely a reflection of the fact that behavioural measures are representations of the test taker current 'state', rather than descriptions of the participant view of their own 'trait' like the self-report measures. Moreover, the low correlation across measures suggests that they capture different behavioural responses to the test-taking situation. These differences are still limitedly understood because the measures are constructed ex-post using collateral information collected during the administration of assessments rather than developed ex ante in line with theoretical models of human cognition and affect.

The Use of Cognitive Tests in the Assessment of Dyslexia

In this literature review, we address the use of cognitive tests, including intelligence tests, in the assessment and diagnosis of dyslexia, from both historic and present-day perspectives. We discuss the role of cognitive tests in the operationalization of the concepts of specificity and unexpectedness, two constructs considered essential to the characterization of dyslexia since the publication of early case reports in the late nineteenth century. We review the advantages and disadvantages of several approaches to specific learning disabilities' identification that are used in schools. We also discuss contemporary debates around the use of standardized cognitive testing in dyslexia evaluations, in particular, the arguments of those who favor an approach to diagnosis based on prior history and the results of a comprehensive evaluation and those who favor an approach based on an individual's response to intervention. We attempt to explain both perspectives by examining clinical observations and research findings. We then provide an argument for how cognitive tests can contribute to an accurate and informed diagnosis of dyslexia.

Hypnotizability in the Clinic, Viewed from the Laboratory

A recent international survey discovered that clinicians who use hypnosis in their practice rarely assess the hypnotizability of their patients or clients. This contrasts sharply with the practice in laboratory research. One reason offered for this discrepancy is that hypnotizability does not strongly predict clinical outcome. But a comparison of this relationship with similar correlations in other domains shows that this criticism is misleading-especially when the treatment capitalizes on the alterations in perception, memory, and voluntary control that characterize the domain of hypnosis. Routine assessment of hypnotizability improves clinical practice by enabling clinicians to select patients for whom hypnosis is appropriate; and it improves clinical research by providing important information about the mechanisms underlying hypnotic effects.

Clinicians' perceptions and practices of diagnostic assessment in psychiatric services

BACKGROUND

Diagnostic assessment in psychiatric services typically involves applying clinical judgment to information collected from patients using multiple sources, including anamnesis and structured diagnostic interviews. Research shows that clinicians' perceptions of diagnostic assessment are associated with their diagnostic practices, and that perceptions and practices may vary according to clinician characteristics. Examining clinicians' perceptions and practices of diagnostic assessment is important for quality improvement in psychiatric services, including implementation of evidence-based practice procedures. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate clinicians' perceptions and practices of diagnostic assessment in psychiatric services and examine whether these perceptions and practices varied according to profession and age, with the aim of providing a basis for quality improvement.

METHODS

A total of 183 (53.2%) clinicians in community-based adult psychiatric services in Stockholm, Sweden participated in an online survey. Differences between professions were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis tests and effect sizes were calculated. Associations of clinicians' perceptions with their age were examined using Spearman correlations.

RESULTS

Overall, clinicians had positive attitudes toward diagnostic assessment, and they considered themselves as competent. Differences were as most pronounced between nurses and other professions. Nursed had conducted fewer assessments, perceived themselves as less competent, and reported to a smaller extent to be able to determine which diagnosis should be the target for treatment in patients with multiple diagnoses. There were no associations of clinicians' perceptions with their age. Some potential areas of improvement were identified, including clinician qualifications, education in diagnostic assessment, and contents of diagnostic assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study may provide a basis for quality improvement in psychiatric services. For example, it may be important to pay attention to potential differences in perceptions and practices between professions in efforts to improve quality of assessment and care.

Who attributes what to whom? Moral values and relational context shape causal attribution to the person or the situation

Eight preregistered studies (total N = 3,758) investigate the role of values and relational context in attributions for moral violations, focusing on the following questions: (1) Do people's values influence their attributions? (2) Do people's relationships with the violator (self, close other, distant other) influence their attributions? (3) Do the principles intrinsic to the violated values (e.g., loyalty to close others) further influence their attributions? We found that participants were more likely to attribute violations by distant others to the person committing the violation, rather than the situation in which the violation occurred, when participants endorsed the violated values themselves. The tendency to make dispositional attributions did not obtain for violations of participants' less highly endorsed moral values or non-moral values. Relationship with the violator also influenced participants' attributions-participants were more likely to attribute their own and close others' moral violations to situational factors, relative to distant others' violations. This relational pattern was pronounced for violations of "binding" moral values, in which protection of personal relationships and groups is primary. Collectively, these results support a relational-values account of causal attribution for moral violations, whereby attributions systematically vary based on (1) the relevance of the violated values to the attributor's moral values, (2) the attributor's personal relationship to the violator, and (3) an interaction between (1) and (2) such that the principles intrinsic to the violated values influence the effects of one's relationship to the violator.

Clinical Reasoning: A Missing Piece for Improving Evidence-Based Assessment in Psychology

Clinical reasoning is a foundational component of conducting evidence-based psychological assessments. In spite of its importance, limited attention has been paid to the teaching or measurement of clinical reasoning skills relative to psychological assessment, as well as how clinical reasoning develops or how its efficacy can be measured. Improving clinical reasoning throughout the assessment process, from initial case conceptualization to hypotheses testing, to recommendation writing, has the potential to address commonly noted concerns regarding diagnostic accuracy, as well as the accessibility and utility of psychological reports and recommendations, and will, ultimately, lead to improved outcomes for clients. Consequently, we provide a definition of clinical reasoning in relation to psychological assessment, followed by a critique of graduate training assessment and the current challenges of measuring clinical reasoning in psychology. Lastly, this paper provides suggestions for how to incorporate clinical reasoning throughout the assessment process as a way to answer client questions more effectively and provide meaningful recommendations to improve outcomes.

Developmental Language Disorder Is Associated With Slower Processing Across Domains: A Meta-Analysis of Time-Based Tasks

PURPOSE

Individuals with developmental language disorder (DLD) often exhibit slower processing on time-based tasks in comparison with age-matched peers. Processing speed has been linked to various linguistic skills and might serve as a global indicator of individual differences in language abilities. Despite an extensive literature on processing speed in DLD, it remains unclear whether slower processing is domain general or restricted to linguistic and/or auditory tasks.

METHOD

This meta-analysis used robust variance estimation to compare response/reaction times (RTs) of DLD and age-matched groups (N = 812 DLD, 870 neurotypical; M _age [DLD] = 8.9 years, range: 4.3-22.7 years). Moderators included task (simple RT, choice RT, naming, congruent/baseline conditions of interference control tasks), stimulus type (linguistic/nonlinguistic), stimulus modality (auditory/nonauditory), and response modality (verbal/nonverbal). Age and publication year were covariates.

RESULTS

The overall effect based on 46 studies and 144 estimates indicated longer mean RTs in DLD groups (g = .47, p < .001, 95% CI [.38, .55]). Moderator analyses indicated larger effects when tasks required verbal as opposed to nonverbal responses. No other moderators approached significance. All subgroup analyses were significant, indicating longer mean RTs in DLD groups across tasks, stimulus types, stimulus modalities, and response modalities.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with DLD exhibit longer RTs across verbal and nonverbal tasks, which may contribute to observed difficulties in language, motor skills, and executive functioning. Simple processing speed measures should be included in screening for language delays but may not be suitable for differential diagnosis, given that slower processing may occur across multiple disorders.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21809355.

The Operations Triad Model and Youth Mental Health Assessments: Catalyzing a Paradigm Shift in Measurement Validation

Researchers strategically assess youth mental health by soliciting reports from multiple informants. Typically, these informants (e.g., parents, teachers, youth themselves) vary in the social contexts where they observe youth. Decades of research reveal that the most common data conditions produced with this approach consist of discrepancies across informants' reports (i.e., informant discrepancies). Researchers should arguably treat these informant discrepancies as domain-relevant information: data relevant to understanding youth mental health domains (e.g., anxiety, depression, aggression). Yet, historically, in youth mental health research as in many other research areas, one set of paradigms has guided interpretations of informant discrepancies: Converging Operations and the Multi-Trait Multi-Method Matrix (MTMM). These paradigms (a) emphasize shared or common variance observed in multivariate data, and (b) inspire research practices that treat unique variance (i.e., informant discrepancies) as measurement confounds, namely random error and/or rater biases. Several yearsw ago, the Operations Triad Model emerged to address a conceptual problem that Converging Operations does not address: Some informant discrepancies might reflect measurement confounds, whereas others reflect domain-relevant information. However, addressing this problem requires more than a conceptual paradigm shift beyond Converging Operations. This problem necessitates a paradigm shift in measurement validation. We advance a paradigm (Classifying Observations Necessitates Theory, Epistemology, and Testing [CONTEXT]) that addresses problems with using the MTMM in youth mental health research. CONTEXT optimizes measurement validity by guiding researchers to leverage (a) informants that produce domain-relevant informant discrepancies, (b) analytic procedures that retain domain-relevant informant discrepancies, and (c) study designs that facilitate detecting domain-relevant informant discrepancies.

Emotional Intelligence and Teachers' Work Engagement: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Perceived Stress

A growing number of studies have tested the relationship between personal resources (e.g. emotional intelligence) and indicators of occupational well-being, including work engagement. However, few have examined health-related factors moderating or mediating the pathway from emotional intelligence to work engagement. A better knowledge of this area would contribute substantially to the design of effective intervention strategies. The present study's main goal was to test the mediating and moderating role of perceived stress in the association between emotional intelligence and work engagement. The participants comprised 1166 Spanish teaching professionals (744 of whom were female and 537 worked as secondary teachers; M_age = 44.28 years). The results showed that perceived stress partially mediated the link between emotional intelligence and work engagement. Moreover, the positive relationship between emotional intelligence and work engagement was strengthened among individuals who scored high in perceived stress. The results suggest that multifaceted interventions targeting stress management and emotional intelligence development may facilitate engagement in emotionally demanding occupations such as teaching.

Siblings, shopping, and sustainability: Birth-order differences in green consumption

Several studies have examined the role of birth order in shaping human personality, but fewer have tested this variable in relation to other pressing issues. We conducted a birth-order study on green consumption, which enabled us to detect a small-to-moderate effect size equivalent to r = 0.15 or d = 0.30 with sufficient statistical power (N = 335). To capture green consumption, participants indicated their tendency to express the value of environmental protection through purchases and consumption behaviors. Firstborns (vs. laterborns) consistently expressed lower concerns linked to environmental protection in their purchase patterns. While the effect size of this finding was small-to-moderate by conventional standards and in direct contrast to the findings from a recent article on the same topic, these results could still be informative to address challenges associated with climate change considering the number of individuals with siblings in the world and the ease with which birth-order data can be collected.

Interplay between personality traits and learning strategies: the missing link

Students with varying personality traits are likely to employ diverse learning and study strategies. However, this relationship has never been explored in the medical education context. This study's aim was to explore the relationship between learning strategies and personality traits among medical students. This study was a cross-sectional study, and a quantitative approach was employed using two self-administered questionnaires: one to assess the personality traits from the Five-Factor Model (Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, and Agreeableness), and the other to assess 10 learning strategies (Anxiety, Attitude, Concentration, Information Processing, Motivation, Selecting Main Ideas, Self-Testing, Test Strategies, Time Management, and Using Academic Resources). A stratified random sampling technique was used to recruit medical students at Alfaisal University in the preclinical and clinical years (N = 309). Pearson correlation coefficient was used to measure the relationship between variables, and linear regression was used to evaluate how personality traits predicted learning strategy selection. Personality traits predicted the selection of learning strategies, especially Conscientiousness and Neuroticism. Conscientiousness showed a positive correlation with seven learning strategies and was the most important predictor of learning strategies students employ. Neuroticism correlations and predictions were negative. The other three traits showed weaker correlations. These correlations were between Extraversion and Using Academic Resources (r = 0.27), Information Processing (r = 0.23), and Attitude (r = 0.19); Openness and Information Processing (r = 0.29); and Agreeableness and Attitude (r = 0.29). All personality domains influence at least one learning strategy, especially Conscientiousness and Neuroticism. This study helps build a foundation for individualized coaching and mentorship in medical education.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study aspires to build a foundation for individualized coaching and mentorship in medical education through utilizing personality traits to empower academic success. We demonstrate that all personality domains influence students' selection of at least one learning strategy, especially Conscientiousness and Neuroticism.

Intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment for children and adolescents with chronic noncancer pain: a preregistered systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

Chronic noncancer pain in children and adolescents can be impairing and results in substantial health care costs. Intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment (IIPT), an inpatient or day hospital treatment delivered by a team of 3 or more health professionals, may be an effective intervention for these children and adolescents. Based on previous reviews and meta-analyses, we updated findings regarding the description of available treatments and estimated the effectiveness of IIPT, overcoming methodological shortcomings of previous work by requesting and analyzing individual participant data. On June 26, 2021, we searched 5 literature databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and PubPsych) for studies examining the effectiveness of IIPT. Included studies used a pre-post design, assessed patients younger than 22 years, and presented their results in English, German, French, or Spanish. We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane to pool treatment effects and assess risk of bias. We identified 13 different treatment sites with similar treatment inclusion criteria and treatment components, but the descriptions of those treatments varied widely. Regarding treatment effectiveness, IIPT may result in large improvements in the mean pain intensity ( g = -1.28), disability ( g = -1.91), and number of missed school days at the 12-month follow-up ( g = -0.99), as well as moderate improvements in anxiety ( g = -0.77) and depression ( g = -0.76). The certainty of the evidence, however, was graded from very low to low. We recommend that future researchers use more scientific rigor to increase the certainty of the evidence for IIPT and standardize treatment outcomes for children and adolescents with chronic pain.

Explainable Personality Prediction Using Answers to Open-Ended Interview Questions

In this work, we demonstrate how textual content from answers to interview questions related to past behavior and situational judgement can be used to infer personality traits. We analyzed responses from over 58,000 job applicants who completed an online text-based interview that also included a personality questionnaire based on the HEXACO personality model to self-rate their personality. The inference model training utilizes a fine-tuned version of InterviewBERT, a pre-trained Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) model extended with a large interview answer corpus of over 3 million answers (over 330 million words). InterviewBERT is able to better contextualize interview responses based on the interview specific knowledge learnt from the answer corpus in addition to the general language knowledge already encoded in the initial pre-trained BERT. Further, the "Attention-based" learning approaches in InterviewBERT enable the development of explainable personality inference models that can address concerns of model explainability, a frequently raised issue when using machine learning models. We obtained an average correlation of r = 0.37 (p < 0.001) across the six HEXACO dimensions between the self-rated and the language-inferred trait scores with the highest correlation of r = 0.45 for Openness and the lowest of r = 0.28 for Agreeableness. We also show that the mean differences in inferred trait scores between male and female groups are similar to that reported by others using standard self-rated item inventories. Our results show the potential of using InterviewBERT to infer personality in an explainable manner using only the textual content of interview responses, making personality assessments more accessible and removing the subjective biases involved in human interviewer judgement of candidate personality.

Assessing the Impact of Relationship Profile Test Scores, Self-Identified Ethnic Group, and Gender on Adult Attachment Style

Research shows that the subscales of the Relationship Profile Test (RPT) are related to adult attachment. Gender differences have been implicated, but findings are inconsistent in terms of replication. A limited amount of research has been conducted on ethnic differences in the context of interpersonal dependency. This study aims to bridge the gap in the literature in terms of using the RPT to predict attachment styles and to assess gender and ethnic group differences in RPT scores. Four samples from various treatment settings were combined to yield a heterogeneous group of ethnically diverse men and women (N = 470) with a mean age of 31.96. No gender differences were observed; however, ethnic differences were noted, with the RPT scales predicting unique variance in secure and insecure attachment styles. This study evidences the incremental validity of the RPT scales when predicting adult attachment style with consideration of ethnic group differences, which can help inform the treatment and assessment process.

Comparison shopping: Is neuropsychological evaluation more expensive than neuroimaging?

OBJECTIVE

This study empirically examined if neuropsychological evaluation (NPE) is expensive compared to other diagnostic procedures such as neuroimaging.

METHOD

We aggregated data on charges for NPE and common neuroimaging procedures (e.g., head CT and brain MRI) from hospitals in the U.S. Charges for five-hour NPE and eight-hour NPE were compared to charges for head CT and brain MRI, respectively. Difference scores were calculated between five-hour NPE and head CT and between eight-hour NPE and brain MRI. A charge difference of $250 or less was considered minimal. NPE and neuroimaging charges were compared across U.S. regions.

RESULTS

Median head CT charges were $1942 to $2699. Median brain MRI charges were $3103 to $4487. Median five-hour NPE charges were $1855 to $1977. Median eight-hour NPE charges were $2757 to $2917. Head CT and five-hour NPE charges were not significantly different. Eight-hour NPE and brain MRI charges were not significantly different. Charge differences between five-hour NPE and head CT were minimal in 32.3% of hospitals. Charge differences between eight-hour NPE and brain MRI were minimal in 21.2% of hospitals. U.S. regions were not significantly different in charges for NPE or neuroimaging.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings provide preliminary data on charges for NPE in relation to charges for common imaging procedures. NPE does not appear to be more expensive than neuroimaging and, in fact, appears comparable. Future research might expand the information on NPE charges to include additional settings.

Effects of Parental Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior Problems on Children’s Limbic Brain Structures—An MRI Study

Parental behavior problems have long-term effects on children’s limbic brain structures and functions. Parental behavior problems-related brain changes in children may lead to mental disorders and behavior dysfunction later in life. However, our understanding of the relationship between parental behavior and children’s brain structures is less obvious when children and adolescents are studied in a general population without mental disorders. The majority of studies on the relationship between parental behavior and adolescent brain structure have been focused on severe forms of the following parental behavior problems: (1) internalizing behavior associated with mood and anxiety disorders, and (2) externalizing behavior associated with substance use and violence. A few studies examined the effect of normative variations or subtle differences in parental behavior. Therefore, we utilized a large study—Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD)—to determine relationships between normative variation in parental internalizing and externalizing behavior and limbic brain structures in children and adolescents without mental disorders. Quantile (median) regression models were used to compute associations between parental behavior and children’s limbic structures. We found that parental internalizing and externalizing behaviors are uniquely associated with children’s limbic structures after adjustment for biological confounders and parental socioeconomic status. Our findings indicate that normative parental behavior may have a significant early influence on limbic structures of normally developing children and adolescents. Accelerated or delayed limbic structure maturation may account for children’s and adolescents’ behavioral inadequacies and a risk of developing specific mood disorders or substance abuse problems later in life.

Validating a Nutrition Ranking System for Food Pantries Using the Healthy Eating Index-2015

In 2020, charitable food organizations began adopting Healthy Eating Research (HER) nutrition guidelines, which rank individual foods in tiers (e.g., green, yellow, or red) based on each food’s nutrient profile. This study aimed to validate this HER tier-ranked system against the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI) and develop a formula to summarize the percentages of tier-ranked foods in an overall nutritional quality index that correlated with HEI. Using secondary data of foods selected by clients in 16 Minnesota food pantries (n = 503 “client carts”), we generated an HEI score and percentages of green, yellow, and red foods for each cart. As validation, we tested the association between HEI scores and the percentages of tier-ranked foods and compared the means of the tier-ranked variables using quintiles of the HEI scores. HEI scores were positively associated with percentages of green foods and negatively associated with percentages of red foods. Next, we used statistical learning to generate weights to maximize the correlation of the tier-ranked variables and the HEI scores and used these weights to create an index. The index demonstrated a moderate-to-strong correlation with HEI and can be used as a single measure to summarize the overall nutritional quality for sets of tier-ranked foods.

The moderating role of emotional intelligence in the link between self-esteem and symptoms of eating disorders

OBJECTIVE

This research aimed to explore the moderating role of emotional intelligence (EI) in the relationship between self-esteem and eating disorders (ED) symptomatology.

METHOD

A battery of online questionnaires was administered to a sample of 516 adults including university students and a community population. The sample, age range of 18-77 years (X = 38.90; SD = 14.76), was made up of 63% women and 32% men.

RESULTS

EI moderated the association between self-esteem and ED symptomatology for the total sample. However, a gender-specific analysis showed that the moderation effect was only significant for women. Specifically, when women reported a low level of self-esteem, those with high scores in EI reported lower scores in ED symptoms than those with low EI.

DISCUSSION

Our findings are discussed in terms of the need for future research to understand the different gender associations and to consider these differences in further intervention programs for reducing the risk of ED, in which training in emotional skills may be more beneficial for women than men.

Associations between the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 trait facets and aggression among outpatients with personality disorder: A multimethod study

BACKGROUND

Most research on the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) was conducted with self-reports. One of the specific areas for which a multimethod design has yet to be implemented is for the PID-5's associations with aggression. The main objectives of this study were to (a) compare the PID-5 associations with self-reported and file-rated aggression, (b) compare these associations between women and men, and (c) identify the relative importance of PID-5 facet predictors.

METHODS

A sample of outpatients with personality disorder (N = 285) was recruited in a specialized public clinic to complete questionnaires, and a subsample was assessed for file-rated aggression (n = 227). Multiple regression analyses were performed with PID-5 facets as statistical predictors but using distinct operationalizations of aggression (self-reported vs. file-rated). Moderation analyses were performed to identify the moderating effect of biological sex. Dominance analyses were computed to identify the relative importance of predictors.

RESULTS

PID-5 facet predictors of self-reported and file-rated aggression were very consistent in both conditions. However, the amount of explained variance was reduced in the latter case (from 39% to 14%), especially for women (from 40% to 2%). The most important predictors were Hostility, Risk Taking, and Callousness.

CONCLUSION

Pertaining to the statistically significant facets associated with aggression, strong evidence of multimethod replication was found. The women-men discrepancies were not most obvious in their specific associations with aggression, but rather in their amount of explained variance, maybe reflecting examiners' or patients' implicit biases, and/or different manifestations of aggression between women and men.

In Their Own Words: Using Open-Ended Assessment to Identify Culturally Relevant Concerns among Kenyan Adolescents

Standardized assessment tools developed in western contexts may systematically miss certain problems that are considered important in non-western cultures. In this mixed-methods study, we used an open-ended assessment tool (the Top Problem Assessment; TPA) to identify culturally relevant concerns among low-income Kenyan youth. We then (a) applied thematic analysis to identify the most frequently reported problems and (b) examined the extent to which these problems were reflected in standardized mental health measures. Using the TPA, we identified common social, academic, and economic problems facing Kenyan youths. Specifically, 61% of the sample reported a social problem, 38% an academic problem, and 35% an economic problem. By contrast, the standardized assessments revealed that worrying and difficulty concentrating were the most commonly reported symptoms. However, the emotional and behavioral problems assessed via the standardized measures were only reported as top problems by 17% of the sample. Overall, our findings are consistent with the idea that standardized measures can miss certain culturally-salient concerns that can be acquired through open-ended assessments. We discuss how brief open-ended assessment tools could complement standardized measures, inform the development of culturally relevant standardized measures, and offer rich data about the experiences of people in understudied cultural contexts.