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Smith JA, Zhang J, Urusov A, Colucci L, Sloss I, Eckert L, Price‐Cameron M, Browne DT. Exploring networks of complex developmental trauma symptomatology among children and adolescents involved in child welfare. JCPP ADVANCES 2024; 4:e12224. [PMID: 38827977 PMCID: PMC11143960 DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Clinical presentations of child and adolescent psychopathology can vary systematically for boys and girls. While network analysis is increasingly being applied to explore psychopathology in adults, there is a dearth of network studies considering differences in symptoms for boys and girls, particularly in developmental trauma-related symptomatology. Methods This study involves rural children (n = 375, 39.47% girls) and adolescents (n = 291, 51.20% girls) involved with child protection services in Ontario, Canada. Caregivers completed the Assessment Checklist for Children or Adolescents within the first 6 months of care. Psychometric network analyses were conducted using subscales for boys and girls. Differences were examined via network comparison permutation tests, moderated network models, and independent t-tests. Results Attachment-related interpersonal difficulties were the most central nodes in the child and adolescent networks for both boys and girls. Emotional dysregulation also had high strength centrality for adolescents. While network comparison tests found the overall network structures and global network strength to be invariant between boys and girls for children and adolescents, moderated network models and independent t-tests revealed several differences with regards to the expression of specific symptoms. Among children, girls exhibited more indiscriminate and pseudomature interpersonal behaviors, whereas boys expressed significantly more non-reciprocal interpersonal behaviors and self-injury. Adolescent girls exhibited more behavioral dysregulation and suicide discourse in the moderated network model; t-tests also indicated higher levels of emotional dysregulation, negative self-image, and other items considered clinically important complex trauma symptoms (e.g., distrust of adults, confused belonging). Discussion This study supports evidence of differences in the expression of complex trauma symptomatology for boys and girls. Additionally, girls exhibit more symptoms, in general. Consistent with the transdiagnostic conceptualization of the consequences of developmental trauma, findings demonstrate the primacy of attachment-specific difficulties and emotion dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson A. Smith
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
- Centre for Mental Health Research and TreatmentUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
| | - Jasmine Zhang
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
- Centre for Mental Health Research and TreatmentUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
| | - Alexey Urusov
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
- Centre for Mental Health Research and TreatmentUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
| | - Laura Colucci
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
- Centre for Mental Health Research and TreatmentUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
| | - Imogen Sloss
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
| | - Lillian Eckert
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
| | | | - Dillon T. Browne
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
- Centre for Mental Health Research and TreatmentUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
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2
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Maciel MR, Calsavara VF, Zylberstajn C, Mello MF, Coimbra BM, Mello AF. Changes in attachment dimensions during the treatment of acute post-traumatic stress disorder in sexually assaulted Brazilian women. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1325622. [PMID: 38130963 PMCID: PMC10734689 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1325622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Attachment patterns are established during early childhood; however, extreme experiences throughout life may change this structure, either toward attachment security or insecurity. We analyzed changes in attachment dimensions in women with acute post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following sexual assault, that were randomized to a 14-week treatment with either the medication sertraline or Interpersonal Psychotherapy. Methods Seventy-four adult women who presented significant reduction in PTSD symptoms across the trial responded to the Revised Adult Attachment Scale at baseline, on week 8 of treatment, and at the end of the trial, on week 14. We fitted a generalized linear model to explain the attachment anxiety and avoidance scores at baseline. A generalized linear mixed model investigated how attachment dimensions changed over time. Socioeconomic data, treatment type, history of childhood trauma, and PTSD severity over the 14-week period were the considered covariates. Results At baseline, attachment anxiety was associated with a history of early trauma. Attachment anxiety remained stable during the follow-up. Attachment avoidance, on the other hand, significantly increased from baseline to week 14. Higher avoidance was observed in patients with higher total PTSD scores and on the cluster of hyperarousal symptoms. Races other than White (black, mixed-race, or Asian) and younger age were associated with higher attachment avoidance. Discussion Contrary to our expectations, attachment avoidance increased during follow-up, indicating changes in the interpersonal realm beyond the symptoms of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Rangel Maciel
- Program for Research and Care on Violence and PTSD (PROVE), Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Cecilia Zylberstajn
- Program for Research and Care on Violence and PTSD (PROVE), Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Feijo Mello
- Program for Research and Care on Violence and PTSD (PROVE), Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruno Messina Coimbra
- Program for Research and Care on Violence and PTSD (PROVE), Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute and Amsterdam Neuroscience Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Department of Methodology and Statistics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Andrea Feijo Mello
- Program for Research and Care on Violence and PTSD (PROVE), Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
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Muzi S, Pace CS. Attachment and alexithymia predict emotional-behavioural problems of institutionalized, late-adopted and community adolescents: An explorative multi-informant mixed-method study. Clin Psychol Psychother 2023; 30:1130-1145. [PMID: 37259169 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Compared to community adolescents (COM), adolescents placed in residential care (RC) or late adopted (LA) appear to show more emotional-behavioural problems. They also appear vulnerable in variables linked to emotional-behavioural problems, such as insecure-disorganized attachment and alexithymia. This study employs a mixed-method multi-informant approach to (1) compare adolescents placed in RC, LA and COM in emotional-behavioural problems, attachment and alexithymia and (2) investigate relationships and interplay of attachment and alexithymia concerning emotional-behavioural problems in these three groups. METHOD Participants were 174 adolescents (50 RC, 33 LA and 91 COM; Mage = 15, 53% boys and 47% girls). Adolescents' internalizing and externalizing problems were assessed through both caregiver-reported and self-reported questionnaires, while attachment and alexithymia were assessed with a mixed method, using interviews and self-report questionnaires. RESULTS The results showed RC adolescents as more vulnerable in all variables, while LA and COM did not differ. Accounting for the group, attachment and alexithymia cumulatively predicted 25-43% of internalizing problems, and 19-43% of externalizing problems depending on the method of assessment or problems' informant (all p < 0.01). Alexithymia was both an independent predictor and interacted with preoccupied attachment in predicting internalizing problems, while no predictors were isolated for externalizing ones, and the group never indicate an effect on problems' rates. CONCLUSIONS The authors discuss the utility to maintain a research focus on attachment and alexithymia, also suggesting future directions of research. A need to determine potential distortions of results because of problems' informant and method of assessment is also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Muzi
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Cecilia Serena Pace
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Centro Italiano Aiuti all'Infanzia (CIAI), Genoa, Italy
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4
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Petrican R, Paine AL, Escott-Price V, Shelton KH. Overlapping brain correlates of superior cognition among children at genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease and/or major depressive disorder. Sci Rep 2023; 13:984. [PMID: 36653486 PMCID: PMC9849214 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28057-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Early life adversity (ELA) tends to accelerate neurobiological ageing, which, in turn, is thought to heighten vulnerability to both major depressive disorder (MDD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The two conditions are putatively related, with MDD representing either a risk factor or early symptom of AD. Given the substantial environmental susceptibility of both disorders, timely identification of their neurocognitive markers could facilitate interventions to prevent clinical onset. To this end, we analysed multimodal data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study (ages 9-10 years). To disentangle genetic from correlated genetic-environmental influences, while also probing gene-adversity interactions, we compared adoptees, a group generally exposed to substantial ELA, with children raised by their biological families via genetic risk scores (GRS) from genome-wide association studies. AD and MDD GRSs predicted overlapping and widespread neurodevelopmental alterations associated with superior fluid cognition. Specifically, among adoptees only, greater AD GRS were related to accelerated structural maturation (i.e., cortical thinning) and higher MDD GRS were linked to delayed functional neurodevelopment, as reflected in compensatory brain activation on an inhibitory control task. Our study identifies compensatory mechanisms linked to MDD risk and highlights the potential cognitive benefits of accelerated maturation linked to AD vulnerability in late childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raluca Petrican
- Institute of Population Health, Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Bedford Street South, Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK.
| | - Amy L Paine
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Valentina Escott-Price
- Division of Neuroscience and Mental Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Katherine H Shelton
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
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Brodzinsky D, Gunnar M, Palacios J. Adoption and trauma: Risks, recovery, and the lived experience of adoption. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 130:105309. [PMID: 34544593 PMCID: PMC8926933 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although a very heterogeneous group, adopted persons may present developmental and mental health problems of varying severity. Pre-placement adversity and trauma have often been linked to these problems. It has been also suggested that adoption itself is a psychological trauma, predisposing the individual to emotional difficulties. OBJECTIVES This article examines the links between early adversity, trauma, and adoption. We begin by defining trauma and then describe the way in which pre-placement adversity can undermine neurobehavioral and interpersonal functioning, increasing the risk for long-term psychological difficulties. Next, we examine children's recovery when placed in a stable adoptive home. Finally, we explore adoption as a lived experience, highlighting contextual and developmental factors that facilitate the person's positive or negative attributions about being adopted, leading to varying patterns of emotional adjustment. CONCLUSIONS Although pre-placement adversity increases adopted individuals' risk for maladjustment, the human brain and behavior are malleable, and placement in a nurturing adoptive home often facilitates recovery from early adversity, with significant heterogeneity in the extent of recovery within and across domains of functioning. While there is no evidence that early adoption is a trauma for the individual, ongoing negative life circumstances, attachment difficulties, and developmentally-mediated attributions about adoption can undermine the person's self-esteem, identity, relationships, and sense of well-being. Conclusions and suggestions for future research are offered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megan Gunnar
- University of Minnesota, United States of America
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6
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Pace CS, Muzi S, Madera F. Emotional-behavioral problems, attachment and verbal skills in late-adopted adolescents: The role of pre-adoption adversities and adoption variables. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 130:105188. [PMID: 34274127 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are few studies on late-adopted adolescents' outcomes -e.g., emotional-behavioral problems, attachment and cognitive status- and their possible predictive factors, none from Italy. OBJECTIVE This paper aimed to investigate emotional-behavioral problems, attachment representations, and verbal skills in late-adopted adolescents in Italy and to explore the predictive role of pre-adoption adversities and adoption variables for worse adoptees' outcomes. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING The study included N = 79 late-adopted (mean age at adoption = 6 years) adolescents, between 11 and 18 years, placed via both intercountry and domestic adoption. METHODS Parents provided information about pre-adoption and adoption history and filled the Children's Behavior Checklist 6-18 for measuring participants' emotional-behavioral problems. Attachment representations were assessed through the Friend and Family Interview administered directly to adolescents, like the verbal comprehension index of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (4th edition) for measuring participants' verbal IQ. RESULTS Maltreatment and its interaction with multiple placements were the main predictors of other problems-i.e., social, thought, and identity difficulties (respectively, p = .007 and p = .029)-while intercountry adoption was the unique predictor of both externalizing and total problems (respectively, p = .047 and p = .015). However, domestic adoption was the most important predictor both for higher insecurity and disorganized attachment representations and lower verbal skills (all p < .044); even stronger if domestic adoption interacted with pre-adoptive institutionalization. CONCLUSIONS Pre-adoption adversities as well as domestic vs. intercountry adoption, but not the age at placement, contributed to adolescent adoptees' developmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefania Muzi
- Department of Educational Science (DISFOR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Madera
- Department of Educational Science (DISFOR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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7
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Almeida AS, Giger JC, Mendonça S, Fuertes M, Nunes C. Emotional Availability in Mother-Child and Father-Child Interactions as Predictors of Child's Attachment Representations in Adoptive Families. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19084720. [PMID: 35457588 PMCID: PMC9028699 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Emotional availability (EA) in parent-child interactions is associated with positive child outcomes, including attachment security. However, little is known about EA in adoptive families. This study investigated the associations between secure representations of attachment in adopted children and the adoptive parents' EA. The participants (n = 75) included 26 mothers, 23 fathers, and 26 children who were aged 3 to 9 years. Children completed the Attachment Story Completion Task. Adult-child dyadic relationships were assessed using the EA® System. The results showed that the children's and parents' EA, age when adopted, and time elapsed since adoption were associated with more secure children's attachment representations. Implications for family support and public policy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Susana Almeida
- Psychology Research Centre (CIP) & Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (J.-C.G.); (C.N.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Jean-Christophe Giger
- Psychology Research Centre (CIP) & Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (J.-C.G.); (C.N.)
| | - Sandra Mendonça
- CDI.UP—Cooperativa de Desenvolvimento Infantil e União Parental, CRL, 8125-196 Quarteira, Portugal;
| | - Marina Fuertes
- Centro de Psicologia da Universidade do Porto (CPUP) & Escola Superior de Educação (ESELX-IPL), Campus de Benfica do IPL, 1549-003 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Cristina Nunes
- Psychology Research Centre (CIP) & Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (J.-C.G.); (C.N.)
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Muzi S, Rogier G, Pace CS. Peer Power! Secure Peer Attachment Mediates the Effect of Parental Attachment on Depressive Withdrawal of Teenagers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:4068. [PMID: 35409754 PMCID: PMC8998754 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Adolescents' depressive social withdrawal is a relevant concern for mental health professionals, and it is widespread among community teenagers in form of subclinical symptoms. Different studies suggest that insecure attachment representations increase the adolescents' likelihood to show symptoms of withdrawal (e.g., loneliness). This study explored the effect of the general attachment internal working model (IWM) and the independent and cumulative effects of the specific attachment representations of parents-in terms of secure base/safe haven-and peers on adolescents' withdrawal. Additionally, the mediation of peer attachment on the effect of parental attachment on symptoms was explored. All analyses were conducted controlling for the difference between teenagers living with parents together or divorced/separated, as children of divorcees are considered more exposed to stressors. Ninety-one adolescents aged 12-17 years old were assessed online during the COVID pandemic period, employing the Youth Self-Report to assess withdrawal and the Friends and Family Interview to assess attachment-general IWM and attachment-specific representations. Results show no influence of parents together/separated or of the general IWM on withdrawal, but higher parent secure base/safe haven and peer attachment cumulatively predicted 10-21% less withdrawal. Moreover, more positive peer attachment mediated 61% of the effect of the parental secure attachment on withdrawal, revealing an indirect effect of parental attachment on withdrawal through peer attachment. In conclusion, both parents and peers are influential on adolescent mental health, and fostering positive peer relationships can buffer the effect of dysfunctional family relationships on teenagers' withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cecilia Serena Pace
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, 16129 Genoa, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.)
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Skandrani S, Moro MR, Harf A. The Search for Origin of Young Adoptees-A Clinical Study. Front Psychol 2021; 12:624681. [PMID: 34366954 PMCID: PMC8346243 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.624681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the current area of social media propagation, the adoptees' search for the birth family is increasingly reversed: more and more adopted adolescents are contacted directly by their birth parents, even if they did not search for them. This study explores the impact of these new forms of contact between adoptive family members and birth family members, through the qualitative analysis of clinical protocols of five adoptive families that sought counseling in a clinical setting devoted to international adoption. The interpretative phenomenological analysis revealed three themes. Two of them shared by the parents and their children: the feelings of anxiety and intrusion, as well as the feelings of guilt and debt. The last theme concerns only the parents: feelings of endangered family relations and can be divided into two sub-themes: feelings of threat by the birth family, feelings of an undermined parental role. Nevertheless, these new kinds of confrontations with the children's origins bear a potential of renegotiating adoptive family relationships and positive effects on mutual feeling of filiation. Exploring the impact of the search of adoptees by the birth family enables professionals involved in adoption to improve preventive and supportive work in the adoption process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Skandrani
- EA 4430, Université Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, France.,Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Rose Moro
- Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, Saint Aubin, France
| | - Aurelie Harf
- Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, Saint Aubin, France
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Muzi S, Sansò A, Pace CS. What's Happened to Italian Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Preliminary Study on Symptoms, Problematic Social Media Usage, and Attachment: Relationships and Differences With Pre-pandemic Peers. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:590543. [PMID: 33986698 PMCID: PMC8110826 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.590543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Italian adolescents were confined at home for 3 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed them to feelings of fear, uncertainty, and loneliness that may have increased their vulnerability to emotional-behavioral symptoms (e.g., anxiety) and binge-eating attitudes. Potential risk factors for these psychopathological symptoms are problematic social media usage and attachment insecurity. Therefore, this study aimed: (1) to assess emotional-behavioral symptoms, binge eating, problematic social media usage, and attachment representations of adolescents during the pandemic, comparing them with prepandemic similar samples; (2) to investigate relationships among variables, exploring the role of problematic social media usage and insecure attachment as risk factors for more psychopathological symptoms. Participants were 62 community adolescents aged 12-17 years, enrolled through schools, and assessed online through the following measures: Youth Self-Report for emotional-behavioral problems, Binge-Eating Scale for binge eating, Social Media Disorder Scale for problematic social media usage, and the Friends and Family Interview for attachment. The main results were: (1) 9.4% of adolescents showed clinical rates of emotional-behavioral symptoms and 4.8% of binge eating attitudes. The comparison with pre-pandemic samples revealed that pandemic teenagers showed lower internalizing, but higher other problems (e.g., binge drinking, self-destructive behaviors) and more problematic social media usage than pre-pandemic peers. No differences in binge-eating attitudes and attachment were revealed (76% secure classifications). (2) Problematic social media usage was related to more binge eating and emotional-behavioral problems, predicting 5.4% of both delinquent and attention problems. Attachment disorganization predicted 16.5% of internalizing problems, somatic complaints, and social and identity-related problems. In conclusion, confinement did not increase adolescents' internalizing symptoms -i.e., vulnerability to mood disorders of an anxious-depressive type- which even decreased. However, teenagers may have expressed their discomfort through other problems and symptoms of social media disorder. Further studies should explore the role of adolescents' problematic social media usage and attachment insecurity as risk factors for additional psychopathological symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Muzi
- Department of Education Sciences, School of Social Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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11
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Muzi S, Pace CS. Multiple facets of attachment in residential-care, late adopted, and community adolescents: an interview-based comparative study. Attach Hum Dev 2021; 24:169-188. [PMID: 33719926 DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2021.1899386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
In this study, 117 adolescents (12-19 years) from three groups (39 each), two groups from adverse caregiving environments as placed in residential-care (RC; i.e. istitutions) or late-adopted (LA; i.e. adopted after 12 months), and one of low-risk community adolescents (COM), were compared for the attachment distribution of categories in the Friends and Family Interview (FFI), and in several attachment-related domains where RC and LA showed difficulties during childhood. Only institutionalized adolescents showed more insecure and disorganized categories than both late-adopted and community peers, who did not differ. In the attachment-related domains, only RCs showed lower coherence, reflective functioning, secure-base/safe-haven parents, social and school competence, adaptive response, and more parental anger and derogation than the other two groups. Late-adoptees only showed higher hostility towards sibling(s) than COM.Therefore, only residential-care adolescents were at "high-risk" in attachment, but the analysis of attachment-related domains helped to detect vulnerabilities in both groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Muzi
- Department of Educational Sciences (DISFOR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Cecilia Serena Pace
- Department of Educational Sciences (DISFOR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Centro Italiano Aiuti all'Infanzia (CIAI)
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12
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Liang Z, Delvecchio E, Cheng Y, Mazzeschi C. Parent and Child's Negative Emotions During COVID-19: The Moderating Role of Parental Attachment Style. Front Psychol 2021; 12:567483. [PMID: 33746813 PMCID: PMC7973364 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.567483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In February 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) appeared and spread rapidly in Italy. With the health emergency and social isolation, parents started spending more time with their children, and they might have experienced greater distress. Attachment style is considered as an effective emotion regulation strategy in the parent-child relationship. However, few empirical studies have addressed this issue. Based on attachment theory, this study aimed to find parental attachment style as a candidate to moderate the relation between parents' negative emotions and their perceptions of their children's negative emotions related to COVID-19. Parents (Mage = 42.55 ± 6.56, 88.2% female) of 838 Italian children and adolescents aged 3 to 18 years participated in an online survey. Results showed that parents with a fearful attachment style had significantly higher negative emotions when facing COVID-19 than those with other attachment styles. Moreover, parents with a dismissing attachment style perceived fewer negative emotions in their children than parents with fearful and preoccupied styles. At last, higher parents' negative emotions were associated with greater perception of children's negative emotions only in parents classified as secure and fearful. These findings suggest that parents with dismissing and fearful attachment styles and their children may be at higher risk during the COVID-19 pandemic and they should be given long-term attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqin Liang
- Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Elisa Delvecchio
- Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Yucong Cheng
- Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Claudia Mazzeschi
- Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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13
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Pace CS, Guerriero V, Zavattini GC. Children’s attachment representations: A pilot study comparing family drawing with narrative and behavioral assessments in adopted and community children. ARTS IN PSYCHOTHERAPY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aip.2019.101612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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14
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Psouni E, Breinholst S, Hoff Esbjørn B, Steele H. Factor structure of the
Friends and Family
interview. Scand J Psychol 2020; 61:460-469. [DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elia Psouni
- Department of Psychology Lund University Sweden
| | | | | | - Howard Steele
- Department of Psychology The New School for Social Research New York USA
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