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Levy M, Yatziv T, Levavi K, Yakov P, Pike A, Deater-Deckard K, Hadar A, Bar G, Froimovici M, Atzaba-Poria N. The association between maternal and child posttraumatic stress symptoms among families living in southern Israel: The buffering role of maternal executive functions. Stress Health 2024; 40:e3456. [PMID: 39116030 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder is a prolonged stress and anxiety response that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event. Research shows that both parental and child posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are correlated but parental executive functions (EFs) could buffer this link. EFs refers to a group of high-level cognitive processes that enable self-regulation of thoughts and actions to achieve goal-directed behaviours and can be of importance for both positive parenting interactions and effective coping skills for PTSS. Our study aimed to (1) examine the link between maternal and child PTSS and the moderating role of varying degrees of exposure to severe security threats context, and (2) to identify the moderating role of maternal EFs in this interaction, among families living in southern Israel. Our sample included 131 mothers in their second pregnancy and their firstborn children. Mothers performed computerised tasks to assess their EFs and they reported on their own and their child's PTSS. Results revealed a positive correlation between maternal PTSS and child PTSS. However, the link between maternal and child PTSS was moderated by maternal working memory updating abilities and threat context severity. Among mothers with lower updating capacities, the association between maternal and child symptoms was stronger under higher threat contexts; conversely, among mothers with higher maternal updating abilities, threat context did not modulate the link between maternal and child PTSS, suggesting a stress-buffering effect. Our study contributes to the growing literature on the significant role of parental EFs in the context of parent-child interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Levy
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
- Duet Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Tal Yatziv
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
- Yale Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kinneret Levavi
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
- Duet Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Porat Yakov
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
- Duet Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Alison Pike
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Kirby Deater-Deckard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Guy Bar
- Fertility and IVF Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | | | - Naama Atzaba-Poria
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
- Duet Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
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Calero AD, Formoso J, Injoque-Ricle I, Barreyro JP, Burin DI. Spontaneous emotional regulation under experimental emotional condition: The role of working memory. Psych J 2023; 12:838-843. [PMID: 37681239 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
The present research studied the bidirectional effects of working memory (WM) capacity and emotional regulation; that is, the effect of WM capacity on spontaneous emotional regulation and whether the emotional valence to be regulated has a differential impact on performance in a second WM task. Participants (79) first completed a WM span task (Digit Span), then a self-report emotional intelligence task, which was followed by randomly assigned mock Positive-feedback, Negative-feedback, or No-feedback. In the Negative-feedback and Positive-feedback conditions, a dummy report based on participants' responses to the Trait Meta Mood- 21 was shown on the screen. After that, participants completed another WM task (Running Span). An ordinary least squares multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the predictive power of WM span and experimental condition on post-feedback test performance. The model yielded a significant effect on post-feedback test performance for Negative-feedback and a marginal significant effect for the interaction of this parameter with WM span. The results showed that participants in the Negative-feedback condition performed worse than those assigned to other conditions, and individuals with a higher WM capacity were less susceptible to negative experimental stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Daniela Calero
- Cognitive Studies Laboratory, Research Institute, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Faculty of Psychology, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jésica Formoso
- National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J.A. Rimoldi", Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Irene Injoque-Ricle
- Cognitive Studies Laboratory, Research Institute, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Faculty of Psychology, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Barreyro
- National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones en Psicología Matemática y Experimental "Dr. Horacio J.A. Rimoldi", Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Débora Inés Burin
- Cognitive Studies Laboratory, Research Institute, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Faculty of Psychology, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Kelm MR, Diercks CM, Dunning ED, Lunkenheimer E. Parental working memory buffers associations between COVID-19 hardships and child mental health. JOURNAL OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 87:101559. [PMID: 37363111 PMCID: PMC10266502 DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2023.101559] [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: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impaired young children's mental health, underscoring the need for research on protective factors. Using a cross-sectional design, we examined whether parental working memory (WM) buffered relations between COVID-19 hardships (home-life, economic, and quarantine) and child internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Female parents (N = 339; 83.19% White/Caucasian, 8.85% Black/African American, 3.54% Asian, 1.47% Native American, and 2.36% mixed race; 7.67% Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity) of children 2-5-years-old reported COVID-19 hardships and child internalizing and externalizing symptoms and completed a backward digit span task to measure WM. All types of COVID-19 hardships were positively related to child internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Higher parental WM weakened positive relations between all types of hardships and child internalizing symptoms, and between home-life and economic hardships and externalizing symptoms. Results suggest that parental WM, a malleable target for intervention, may buffer associations between the detrimental effects of COVID-19 and young children's mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison R Kelm
- The Pennsylvania State University, 140 Moore, Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America
| | - Catherine M Diercks
- The Pennsylvania State University, 140 Moore, Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America
| | - Emily D Dunning
- The Pennsylvania State University, 140 Moore, Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America
| | - Erika Lunkenheimer
- The Pennsylvania State University, 140 Moore, Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America
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Letourneau N, Anis L, Novick J, Pohl C, Ntanda H, Hart M. Impacts of the Attachment and Child Health (ATTACH TM) Parenting Program on Mothers and Their Children at Risk of Maltreatment: Phase 2 Results. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3078. [PMID: 36833770 PMCID: PMC9961631 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Early adversity (e.g., family violence, parental depression, low income) places children at risk for maltreatment and negatively impacts developmental outcomes. Optimal parental reflective function (RF), defined as the parent's ability to think about and identify thoughts, feelings, and mental states in themselves and in their children, is linked to secure attachment and may protect against suboptimal outcomes. We present the results of Phase 2 randomized control trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies (QES) of the Attachment and Child Health (ATTACHTM) parental RF intervention for families with children at risk for maltreatment. Phase 2 parents experiencing adversity, along with their children aged 0-5 years (n = 45), received the 10-12-week ATTACHTM intervention. Building on completed Phase 1 pilot data, Phase 2 examined outcomes of long-standing interest, including parental RF and child development, as well as new outcomes, including parental perceived social support and executive function, and children's behavior, sleep, and executive function. RCTs and QES revealed significant improvements in parents' RF, perception of social support, and executive function, children's development (i.e., communication, problem-solving, personal-social, and fine motor skills), and a decrease in children's sleep and behavioral problems (i.e., anxiety/depression, attention problems, aggressive behavior, and externalizing problems), post-intervention. ATTACH™ positively impacts parental RF to prevent negative impacts on children at risk of maltreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Letourneau
- Owerko Centre for Children’s Neurodevelopment and Mental Health, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Faculty of Nursing, and Cumming School of Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Lubna Anis
- Owerko Centre for Children’s Neurodevelopment and Mental Health, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Jason Novick
- Owerko Centre for Children’s Neurodevelopment and Mental Health, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Carrie Pohl
- Owerko Centre for Children’s Neurodevelopment and Mental Health, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Henry Ntanda
- Owerko Centre for Children’s Neurodevelopment and Mental Health, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Martha Hart
- Owerko Centre for Children’s Neurodevelopment and Mental Health, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
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Rossi AA, Panzeri A, Mannarini S. The Italian Version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale – Short Form (IT-DERS-SF): A Two-step Validation Study. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-022-10006-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Diercks CM, Gunther KE, Teti DM, Lunkenheimer E. Ecological validity in measuring parents' executive function. CHILD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES 2022; 16:208-214. [PMID: 36590076 PMCID: PMC9799100 DOI: 10.1111/cdep.12464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Parents' executive functions (EFs), or cognitive skills facilitating thought and behavior management, are meaningful correlates of parenting behavior. EFs are theorized to support parents in inhibiting reactive responses, managing information during parent-child interactions, and adapting to novel developmental demands. Less effective EFs associate with risk for harsh parenting and physical abuse, underscoring the importance of research on parental EFs in promoting healthy child development. Yet, despite the strong theory, findings are mixed and reveal only modest effect sizes in relations between EFs and parenting. One explanation may be a lack of ecological validity in measuring parental EFs. Traditional measures of adult EFs have been used, but these are decontextualized and do not reflect the cognitively and emotionally demanding nature of parenting. In this article, we argue that new and adapted measures are needed. We discuss the role of EFs in parenting, review measurement, and offer suggestions for improvements in ecological validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M. Diercks
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kelley E. Gunther
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Douglas M. Teti
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Erika Lunkenheimer
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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Fernandes C, Santos AF, Fernandes M, Veríssimo M, Santos AJ. Caregivers’ Responses to Children’s Negative Emotions: Associations with Preschoolers’ Executive Functioning. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9071075. [PMID: 35884059 PMCID: PMC9317396 DOI: 10.3390/children9071075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
There is a lack of knowledge regarding the connection between parental emotional responsiveness and children’s executive functioning (EF). This study aimed to explore the relations between caregivers’ reactions to their children’s distress and children’s EF. Mothers of 136 preschoolers reported their reactions to their children’s negative emotions using the Coping with Children’s Negative Emotions Scale. Children’s EF was assessed through the mothers and teachers’ reports using the Behavioral Inventory of Executive Functioning for Preschool Children. Results showed that the mothers’ perceived use of negative emotional regulation responses (i.e., punitive and minimizing reactions) was associated with lower levels of EF in children, as reported by both mothers and teachers. The association between the mothers’ use of positive emotional regulation responses (i.e., problem-focused, emotion-focused, and expressive encouragement reactions) and children’s EF was not significant. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the mothers’ use of negative emotional regulation responses accounted for significant proportions of variance in EF indexes. These findings suggest that parental socialization of emotion could be important for children’s EF. Specifically, caregivers’ negative emotional regulation responses to children’s distress may serve as a risk factor for poorer EF in children. Efforts to improve children’s EF may be more effective when parental emotional responsiveness to their distress is considered.
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Groves NB, Wells EL, Soto EF, Marsh CL, Jaisle EM, Harvey TK, Kofler MJ. Executive Functioning and Emotion Regulation in Children with and without ADHD. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2022; 50:721-735. [PMID: 34762251 PMCID: PMC9091051 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-021-00883-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Difficulties with emotion regulation affect the majority of youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and predict greater functional impairment than ADHD symptoms alone. Deficits in executive functioning are also present for most children with ADHD, and have been linked with emotion regulation difficulties in both clinical and neurotypical populations throughout development. The current study was the first to assess all three core executive functions (working memory, inhibitory control, set shifting) simultaneously in a clinically-diverse sample of children with and without ADHD and common comorbidities and investigate the extent to which they uniquely predict emotion dysregulation. A sample of 151 children ages 8-13 years (M = 10.36, SD = 1.52; 52 girls; 70.2% White/Non-Hispanic) were assessed using a criterion battery of executive functioning tasks, teacher-reported ADHD symptoms, and parent-reported emotion regulation. Results of the bias-corrected, bootstrapped conditional effects path model revealed that better-developed working memory predicted better emotion regulation (β = 0.23) and fewer ADHD symptoms (β = -0.21 to -0.37), that ADHD symptoms (β = -0.18 to -0.20) independently predicted emotion dysregulation, and that working memory exerted indirect effects on emotion regulation through both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity (β = 0.04-0.07). Sensitivity analyses indicated that these effects were generally robust to control for age, sex, executive function interrelations, and inclusion/exclusion of children with co-occurring ASD. These findings underscore the importance of working memory (relative to inhibitory control and set shifting) and its relations with ADHD symptoms for understanding children's emotion regulation skills, and may help explain the limited efficacy of first-line ADHD treatments, which do not target working memory, for improving emotion regulation skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole B Groves
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Erica L Wells
- Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Elia F Soto
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Carolyn L Marsh
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Emma M Jaisle
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - T Kathy Harvey
- Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, Florida State University, 3210 Stone Building, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Michael J Kofler
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
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9
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Anker E, Ogrim G, Heir T. Verbal working memory and processing speed: Correlations with the severity of attention deficit and emotional dysregulation in adult ADHD. J Neuropsychol 2021; 16:211-235. [PMID: 34218514 PMCID: PMC9290636 DOI: 10.1111/jnp.12260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Objectives The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM‐5), emphasizes symptoms severity with regard to the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many clinicians use neuropsychological test results as objective measures of cognitive functions as part of the diagnostic work‐up. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the psychometric test results regarding verbal working memory and processing speed are useful as indicators of the severity of attention deficits and emotional dysregulation in adults with ADHD. Methods This observational cross‐sectional clinical study included 418 adults diagnosed with ADHD according to the DSM‐5. Attention deficit severity was defined based on the inattentive subscale of the Adult ADHD Self‐Report Scale. Emotional dysregulation was assessed with the Deficient Emotional Self‐Regulation scale. Verbal working memory was measured with the Working Memory Index (WMI), and processing speed was measured with the Processing Speed Index (PSI) from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, third edition. Results The full‐scale intelligence quotients of the participants were in the normal range, with expected reductions in verbal working memory and processing speed. Only processing speed was associated with attention deficits (β = −.056, p = .003). The association between the psychometric test result for verbal working memory and processing speed and that between the severity of attention deficits and emotional dysregulation were weak (R2 < .1) and mostly non‐significant. Conclusion The psychometric index scores for verbal working memory (WMI) and processing speed (PSI) seem to have limited utility as indicators of the severity of attention deficits and emotional dysregulation in adult ADHD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Geir Ogrim
- Østfold Hospital Trust, Norway.,Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Trond Heir
- Institute of clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
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Maternal working memory, emotion regulation, and responsivity to infant distress. JOURNAL OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2020.101202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Groves NB, Kofler MJ, Wells EL, Day TN, Chan ESM. An Examination of Relations Among Working Memory, ADHD Symptoms, and Emotion Regulation. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 48:525-537. [PMID: 31900835 PMCID: PMC7318097 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-019-00612-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Emotion regulation difficulties are present in many, if not most, children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and confer risk for a host of adverse outcomes. Little is known, however, regarding the neurocognitive and behavioral mechanisms that underlie these difficulties. A well-characterized, clinically evaluated sample of 145 children ages 8-13 years (M = 10.33, SD = 1.47; 55 girls; 69% White/non-Hispanic) were administered multiple, counterbalanced working memory tests and assessed for emotion dysregulation and ADHD symptoms via multiple-informant reports. Bias-corrected, bootstrapped conditional effects modeling indicated that underdeveloped working memory exerted significant direct effects on emotion regulation in all tested models as well as indirect effects on emotion regulation via parent-reported hyperactive/impulsive symptoms (95% CIs excluded zero). Interestingly, hyperactive/impulsive symptoms also predicted emotion dysregulation when controlling for the influence of working memory. Inattention failed to predict emotion regulation difficulties in all tested models (all 95% CIs included zero). This pattern of results replicated across parent and teacher models and were robust to control for mono-informant bias, age, and gender. These findings suggest that emotion dysregulation in ADHD reflects, in part, both a direct outcome of underdeveloped working memory and an affective outcome of hyperactive and/or impulsive symptomatology, both attributable to and independent of the role of underlying working memory deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole B Groves
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Michael J Kofler
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA.
| | - Erica L Wells
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Taylor N Day
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Elizabeth S M Chan
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
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Håkansson U, Watten RG, Söderström K, Øie MG. The association between executive functioning and parental stress and psychological distress is mediated by parental reflective functioning in mothers with substance use disorder. Stress Health 2019; 35:407-420. [PMID: 30977584 PMCID: PMC9328653 DOI: 10.1002/smi.2868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Mothers with a substance use disorder (SUD) have been found to exhibit heightened experience of stress and deficits in executive functioning (EF) and in parental reflective functioning (PRF). Although experiences of stress, EF and PRF are important for caregiving capacities; no studies have explored associations between the phenomena in mothers with SUD. This study aimed to examine the association between EF (working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility) and different forms of stress (parental stress, general life stress, and psychological distress) in 43 mothers with SUD with infants. We further aimed to investigate whether PRF had a mediating function between EF and the experience of stress. The mothers completed self-report questionnaires regarding experiences of different types of stress, and we also used neuropsychological tests to assess EF and a semistructured interview to assess PRF. Results identified problems in EF were associated with higher parental stress and psychological distress but not with general life stress. Cognitive flexibility contributed uniquely to variance in parental stress, whereas working memory was a unique contributor to variance in psychological distress. PRF had a mediating function between EF and parental stress and between EF and psychological distress. Findings highlight the importance of considering individual differences in PRF when targeting EF in interventions trying to reduce the experience of parental stress and psychological distress in mothers with SUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika Håkansson
- Department of PsychologyInnland Norway University of Applied SciencesLillehammerNorway
| | - Reidulf G. Watten
- Department of PsychologyInnland Norway University of Applied SciencesLillehammerNorway
| | - Kerstin Söderström
- Department of PsychologyInnland Norway University of Applied SciencesLillehammerNorway,Division of Mental Health CareInnlandet Hospital TrustLillehammerNorway
| | - Merete Glenne Øie
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway,Research DivisionInnlandet Hospital TrustLillehammerNorway
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Yatziv T, Kessler Y, Atzaba-Poria N. What's going on in my baby's mind? Mothers' executive functions contribute to individual differences in maternal mentalization during mother-infant interactions. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207869. [PMID: 30500853 PMCID: PMC6267990 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal mentalization refers to a mother's capacity to understand mental-states of herself and her child and to regard her child as a psychological agent. In mother-infant interactions, this capacity is commonly conceptualized as maternal mind-mindedness, which can be divided into two dimensions: appropriate and nonattuned interpretations of the infants' mental-states. Appropriate mind-mindedness refers to interpretations that seem to be compatible with the infant's behaviors, whereas nonattuned mind-mindedness refers to noncompatible interpretations. The aim of this study was to investigate the cognitive mechanisms that contribute to mind-mindedness. Specifically, we investigated the role of executive functions in appropriate and nonattuned mind-mindedness, and the moderating roles of two infant-related factors, prematurity (as a stressful context) and child temperament (as a context of unpredictability and negative emotionality). To this end, mother-infant free play interactions were coded for mind-mindedness in a sample of 102 mothers and their 6-month-old infants (61 preterm, 41 full-term). When children were 66-months old, mothers completed cognitive tasks that assessed working memory updating, resistance to interference, response inhibition, and shifting. Appropriate mind-mindedness was positively associated with updating, and this link was stronger when infant temperament was rated as more difficult. Furthermore, among mothers of full-term infants, mothers' resistance to interference was negatively associated with nonattuned mind-mindedness. This link was not evident in the stressful context of premature birth. Mothers' response inhibition and shifting were not associated with either of the mind-mindedness dimensions. Implications on understanding variability in maternal mentalization during mother-infant interactions and the roles of executive functions in parenting are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Yatziv
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Yoav Kessler
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Naama Atzaba-Poria
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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Alvarez-Monjaras M, Mayes LC, Potenza MN, Rutherford HJ. A developmental model of addictions: integrating neurobiological and psychodynamic theories through the lens of attachment. Attach Hum Dev 2018; 21:616-637. [PMID: 30021489 DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2018.1498113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Although substance use and abuse may impact brain and behavior, it is still unclear why some people become addicted while others do not. Neuroscientific theories explain addiction as a series of between- and within-system neuroadaptations that lead to an increasingly dysregulating cycle, affecting reward, motivation, and executive control systems. In contrast, psychoanalysis understands addiction through a relational perspective wherein there is an underlying failure in affect regulation, a capacity shaped early developmentally. Considering recent findings suggesting the neurobiological overlap of addiction and attachment, it may be possible to integrate both perspectives into a developmental model through the lens of attachment. The goal of the present review is to evaluate the value of neurobiological and psychodynamic perspectives to inform our understanding of addiction, particularly substance-use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Alvarez-Monjaras
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT.,Department of Clinical, Educational, and Health Psychology, University College London , London , UK
| | - Linda C Mayes
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT
| | - Marc N Potenza
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT.,Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT.,Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling , Wethersfield , CT.,Connecticut Mental Health Center , New Haven , CT
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15
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Emotional Availability, Neuropsychological Functioning, and Psychopathology: The Context of Parental Substance Use Disorder. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:5359037. [PMID: 29888268 PMCID: PMC5985126 DOI: 10.1155/2018/5359037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Parental Substance Use Disorder (SUD) constitutes a high-risk condition for parent-child interactions and child development. Empirical evidence indicates high rates of psychopathology and neuropsychological impairments in individuals with SUD. Despite research indicating that parenting skills are related to psychological well-being and cognitive/neuropsychological functioning, prior studies have not examined the associations between these areas of parental functioning and the quality of parent-child interactions in the context of SUD. Aim(s). The present study adopts an integrated perspective to investigate the way in which maternal neuropsychological functioning and psychopathology are associated with mother-child emotional availability (EA), in the context of parental Substance Use Disorder. Methods. Twenty-nine mothers with SUD were assessed in interaction with their children, as well as with respect to their neuropsychological functioning and psychopathology. Results. In this group, high rates of maternal neuropsychological impairments and psychopathology, as well as generally low levels of EA, were uncovered. Regression analyses showed that maternal neuropsychological functioning was significantly associated with mother-child EA, specifically sensitivity; the role of maternal psychopathology, however, was only marginally significant. Conclusion. In the context of SUD, maternal neuropsychological impairments are significantly associated with mother-child EA. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
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Rutherford HJV, Byrne SP, Crowley MJ, Bornstein J, Bridgett DJ, Mayes LC. Executive Functioning Predicts Reflective Functioning in Mothers. JOURNAL OF CHILD AND FAMILY STUDIES 2018; 27:944-952. [PMID: 29937678 PMCID: PMC6007034 DOI: 10.1007/s10826-017-0928-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Parental reflective functioning (PRF) describes a parent's capacity for considering both their own and their child's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, which can help parents to guide interactions with children. Given the cognitive demands of keeping infants in mind whilst caregiving, we examined the association between aspects of executive function (i.e., working memory and set-shifting) and PRF (employing the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire) in recent mothers. In Study 1 (N=50), we found that better working memory was associated with higher levels of maternal interest and curiosity in their child's feelings. In Study 2 (N=68), we found that visual working memory and set-shifting capacity were also associated with higher levels of maternal interest and curiosity in their child's thoughts and feelings. Our results provide preliminary support for the association between executive processes and maternal reflective functioning. The implications of these findings and important future directions are discussed, including advancing our understanding of executive processes and PRF to support the broader family system.
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17
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Håkansson U, Söderström K, Watten R, Skårderud F, Øie MG. Parental reflective functioning and executive functioning in mothers with substance use disorder. Attach Hum Dev 2017; 20:181-207. [PMID: 29105598 DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2017.1398764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Having a substance use disorder (SUD) may adversely affect caregiving capacities. Reflective functioning (RF) and executive functioning (EF) are both important capacities for sensitive parenting, and are often impaired in a SUD. Only a few studies have explored the possible association between the two phenomena. In this study, we used a neuropsychological test battery to assess EF, and the Parent Development Interview to assess RF in a sample of mothers with a SUD (N = 43). Although parental RF (PRF) was associated with EF, when controlled for intelligence (IQ) and mental health, there was no significant association between EF and PRF. Mental health, however, showed a significant negative association with PRF. Splitting the group in two based on PRF level, mothers with a negative to low PRF exhibited more severe difficulties in SUD-related aspects, as well as in several EF components, compared to mothers with an adequate to high PRF, highlighting the association between EF and PRF. The results from this study contribute to enhance our understanding of the dynamics underlying vulnerability in PRF that mothers with small children may experience. We suggest EF to be a prerequisite for adequate PRF, and for interventions to be customized accordingly regarding parents with a SUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika Håkansson
- a The Research Centre for Child and Youth Competence and Development , Innland Norway University of Applied Sciences , Lillehammer , Norway
| | - Kerstin Söderström
- a The Research Centre for Child and Youth Competence and Development , Innland Norway University of Applied Sciences , Lillehammer , Norway.,b Division Mental Health Care , Innlandet Hospital Trust , Lillehammer , Norway
| | - Reidulf Watten
- a The Research Centre for Child and Youth Competence and Development , Innland Norway University of Applied Sciences , Lillehammer , Norway
| | - Finn Skårderud
- c Norwegian School of Sport Science , University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway
| | - Merete Glenne Øie
- d Department of Psychology , University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.,e Research Division , Innlandet Hospital Trust , Lillehammer , Norway
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18
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Kataja EL, Karlsson L, Huizink AC, Tolvanen M, Parsons C, Nolvi S, Karlsson H. Pregnancy-related anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with visuospatial working memory errors during pregnancy. J Affect Disord 2017; 218:66-74. [PMID: 28458118 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive deficits, especially in memory and concentration, are often reported during pregnancy. Similar cognitive dysfunctions can also occur in depression and anxiety. To date, few studies have investigated the associations between cognitive deficits and psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy. This field is of interest because maternal cognitive functioning, and particularly its higher-order aspects are related to maternal well-being and caregiving behavior, as well as later child development. METHODS Pregnant women (N =230), reporting low (n =87), moderate (n =97), or high (n =46) levels of depressive, general anxiety and/or pregnancy-related anxiety symptoms (assessed repeatedly with EPDS, SCL-90/anxiety subscale, PRAQ-R2, respectively) were tested in mid-pregnancy for their cognitive functions. A computerized neuropsychological test battery was used. RESULTS Pregnant women with high or moderate level of psychiatric symptoms had significantly more errors in visuospatial working memory/executive functioning task than mothers with low symptom level. Depressive symptoms throughout pregnancy and concurrent pregnancy-related anxiety symptoms were significant predictors of the performance in the task. General anxiety symptoms were not related to visuospatial working memory. LIMITATIONS Cognitive functions were evaluated only at one time-point during pregnancy precluding causal conclusions. CONCLUSIONS Maternal depressive symptoms and pregnancy-related anxiety symptoms were both associated with decrements in visuospatial working memory/executive functioning. Depressive symptoms seem to present more stable relationship with cognitive deficits, while pregnancy-related anxiety was associated only concurrently. Future studies could investigate, how stable these cognitive differences are, and whether they affect maternal ability to deal with demands of pregnancy and later parenting.
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Affiliation(s)
- E-L Kataja
- Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Finland; FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.
| | - L Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Finland; Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Finland
| | - A C Huizink
- Department of Clinical Developmental Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - M Tolvanen
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Finland; Department of Community Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland
| | - C Parsons
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, UK; Interacting Minds Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - S Nolvi
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Finland
| | - H Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Finland
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