Marital Name Changing Attitudes and Plans of College Students: Comparing Change Over Time and Across Regions

This study examines time period and regional effects on U.S. college students’ attitudes and plans regarding marital naming. Data were gathered at a Midwestern college in 1990 and 2006 and at an Eastern university in 2006 (N?=?867). No time period effect was identified for marital name plans in the Midwest samples. Women were neither more nor less likely to plan to retain their birth name in 1990 as compared to 2006. A time period effect was found for attitudes: Midwest women in 2006 were more likely to say a woman was more committed to the marriage if she took her husband’s last name as compared to Midwest women in 1990. This indicates that women in the Midwest may have become more conservative over time. We also found regional differences: women in the East were significantly more likely than women in the Midwest to plan to keep their birth surname upon marriage. Findings suggest a trend toward more conservative attitudes over time and location although plans, perhaps due to the rareness of maintaining a birth surname upon marriage, have not changed.     

Outcomes in a System of Care for Youths with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: An Examination of Differential Change Across Clinical Profiles

We assessed the utility of an empirically-derived classification system for youths with emotional and behavioral disorders in a system of care with a strong representation of juvenile delinquents. Eighty-seven youths served in a system of care were categorized by variables related to past history, current behavioral functioning, and current psychological functioning into four clinical clusters. We evaluated preliminary clinical outcomes after six months of interagency involvement for youths within each cluster and across the four clusters. Results indicated that youths in different clusters improved significantly in need-specific areas. Trends in our data indicated differential change in clinical outcomes across clusters. We discuss our findings within the context of emerging outcomes of youths involved in comprehensive community-based programs and consider implications for outcome research, treatment of juvenile delinquents, and mental health policy.     

Interpreting Behavioral Genetic Results: Suggestions for Counselors and Clients

Treatment strategies often are premised on modifying either environmental factors or clients' interpretations of the interpersonal environment, which are assumed to be causing problem behaviors or emotional distress. A more complete analysis would take into account the role played by genetic transmission in an individual's personality, for example, intraversion- extraversion and sense of personal control, and in the occurrence of psychopathological disorders, such as depression. When developing interventions, both counselors and clients may be helped by behavioral genetic information (a) indicating the heritability of propensities or disorders as well as (b) confirming the importance of environmental influences that hold out the possibility of change.     

A Measurement Model of Media Parenting: Differences Across Parent and Child Reports and Youth Age and Sex

For youth raised in the Digital Age, online risks such as cyberbullying and sexting have become increasingly problematic. Since digital media is primarily consumed at home, parents play an important role in mitigating these risks; parents can teach children about online dangers, regulate the amount of time spent online, and, to some extent, curate the online content children see. The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of a four-factor media parenting measurement model introduced by Livingstone et al. (2011) across self-reports of a U.S. sample of parents (M_age?=?38.5) and children (ages 10–14; M_age?=?11.8). To identify meaningful group differences, latent mean comparisons were evaluated across youth age and gender. Confirmatory Factor Analysis results provided good fit to the data for the four-factor media parenting model based on both parent [χ2(201, n?=?306)?=?384.407; RMSEA_{(.046—.063)}?=?.055; CFI?=?.958; TLI/NNFI?=?.951; SRMR?=?.050] and child report [χ2(203, n?=?306)?=?378.033; RMSEA_(.045-.061)?=?.053; CFI?=?.942; TLI/NNFI?=?.934; SRMR?=?.060]. The final latent parenting factors included: Active Mediation, Monitoring, Technology Control, and Restrictive Mediation. Latent mean comparisons revealed that parents of girls reported higher levels of Monitoring than parents of boys, whereas girls reported higher levels of parental Restriction than boys. Similarly, older children and their parents reported lower Restriction than younger children and their parents. Overall, latent mean differences identified between media parenting domains may be important for youth outcomes and provide support for their inclusion as distinct factors in predictive models.

     

Across the Spectrum: Case Studies in Genetic Counseling for Breast and Ovarian Cancer

We present three vignettes based on participants counseled as part of a clinical research program. These include a young unaffected woman at risk for a familial mutation, a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient, and a woman with recurrent ovarian cancer. Through the use of detailed vignettes, multifaceted issues that arise in cancer genetic counseling are highlighted.     

Helper-Sufferer Similarity and a Specific Request for Help: Bystander Intervention During a Peace Demonstration

Eighty randomly selected male participants in the April 1971 pcace demonstration in Washington, D.C. were approached by a young women E v ho asked them to help her friend who was feeling ill. The "friend" was a young male E , in either conventional or "hip" clothing, who was displaying either a "Support Nixon" or a "Dump Nixon" sign. The dependent variable was a 5-point ordinal scale of cooperation with a series of specific requests, which ranged from going over to the distressed E to providing bus fare and help for both Es to leave the area and go home. All 80 Ss went to the E and 79 helped to some extent. There was more helping behavior in the morning than in the afternoon, when the program of activities had intensified; with Ss who were tested in the afternoon, the E displaying a "Support Nixon" sign attracted less helping behavior than the "Dump Nixon" condition. The dress manipulation (implicit attitudinal similarity) had no effect.     

Trajectories of Symptom Reduction and Engagement During Treatment for Childhood Behavior Disorders: Differences Across Settings

In this study, we examined trajectories of symptom reduction and family engagement during the modular treatment phase of a clinical trial for early-onset disruptive behavior disorders that was applied either in community settings or a clinic. Participants (N = 139) were 6–11 year-old children with diagnoses of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) or Conduct Disorder (CD). Symptoms of ODD/CD and level of engagement were assessed at every session during the course of treatment. Overall, symptom reduction was characterized by a gradual decline in symptoms over the first 11 sessions followed by a flatter slope beginning with session 12. Clinic participants evidenced a greater decline in symptoms after session 11 compared to participants in community settings. Overall, engagement remained stable during the course of treatment. However, clinic participants had higher levels of engagement throughout treatment compared to participants in the community settings. These setting differences in level of engagement did not account for the differences in trajectories of symptom reduction across the treatment settings.     

Passive‐Submissive and Active‐Emotional Trait Dependency: Evidence for a Two‐Factor Model

ABSTRACT Dependency plays an important role in both normal and abnormal personality, but the construct remains loosely defined, both in clinical practice and the research literature. Moreover, although a number of measures purport to measure trait dependency, little agreement exists as to the structure of dependency within or across these instruments. Furthermore, what constitutes the low end of trait dependency remains unclear. Five hundred nine undergraduates completed a battery of 14 dependency scales and subscales, a subset of whom (n=322) also completed a broad measure of personality pathology (SNAP‐2). Exploratory factor analysis of the dependency measures yielded two correlated factors—Passive‐Submissive and Active‐Emotional dependency—as well as a third, unrelated factor, Detachment/Autonomy, all with differential correlates to the pathological personality traits of the SNAP‐2. Taken together, these data suggest a clear, 2‐factor model for trait dependency that is distinct from detachment/autonomy.     

Getting to Know Me: Social Role Experiences and Age Differences in Self‐Concept Clarity During Adulthood

ABSTRACT The current research had 2 aims: (1) to determine the cross‐sectional age differences in self‐concept clarity during adulthood and (2) to examine the importance of social role experiences for age differences in self‐concept clarity. These aims were addressed in 2 large samples of adults ranging in age from 18 to 94 years. In both studies, self‐concept clarity had a curvilinear relation to age such that self‐concept clarity was positively related to age from young adulthood through middle age and negatively related to age in older adulthood. This relationship was moderated by annual income and community investment. In addition, annual income and health‐related social role limitations mediated age differences in self‐concept clarity. Findings are discussed in terms of modern theories of identity development.     

Group Therapy for Latency Age Black Males: Unplanned Interventions,Setting, and Racial Transferences as Catalysts for Change

This paper focuses on the special problems and processes encountered in organizing and running a group therapy program for black, latency age, male children within an urban school setting. The group chosen for presentation consisted of five boys (average age 11.8 years, range 11–13) and was run by two white clinical psychology interns (a male and female).

In the course of the group several important issues emerged which acted as catalysts for change. These included unplanned interventions, setting effects, cotherapy issues, and racial transferences. The findings and follow-up suggested that a modified expressive group psychotherapy approach can be successful in treating inner city black children.     

Exploring the Interplay of Trait Self‐Control and Ego Depletion: Empirical Evidence for Ironic Effects

Trait self‐control (TSC) has been conceptualized as a general and abstract ability to exert self‐regulation across multiple domains that has mostly beneficial effects. However, its relationship to situational depletion of self‐regulatory resources has received little attention. We systematically explore the interplay of trait and situational self‐control in two studies (total N = 264). In contrast with a positive view of TSC, the results show greater ego depletion effects for high (vs. low) self‐control abilities across such diverse domains as candy consumption (Study 1), risk‐taking behaviour (Study 2) and achievement motivation (Study 2). It is proposed that these ironic effects are attributable to high‐TSC individuals' less frequent active inhibition of impulses in everyday life and their resulting lack of experience in resisting acute temptations. A third study (N> = 358) corroborated this general reasoning by showing that TSC is indeed associated with less frequent impulse inhibition in daily routines. Our data point to a downside of dispositional self‐control in ego depletion paradigms. Other explanations and potential future avenues for resolving inconsistent findings across the literature are discussed. Copyright © 2013 European Association of Personality Psychology     

Transdiagnostic Clinical Staging for Childhood Mental Health: An Adjunctive Tool for Classifying Internalizing and Externalizing Syndromes that Emerge in Children Aged 5–11 Years

Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review - Clinical staging is now recognized as a key tool for facilitating innovation in personalized and preventative mental health care. It places a strong...     

A Multifactorial Model for the Etiology of Anxiety in Non-Clinical Adolescents: Main and Interactive Effects of Behavioral Inhibition, Attachment and Parental Rearing

There has been limited research examining the additive and interactive effects of multiple factors on the development of anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders in youths. This study was an attempt to examine the reciprocal connections among temperament, attachment, and rearing style, and their unique and interactive relations to anxiety symptoms. Six hundred forty-four non-clinical children aged 11–15 years (mean age = 12.7 years) completed questionnaires measuring behavioral inhibition, attachment, parental rearing behavior, and anxiety symptoms. Results indicated that there were small to moderate positive correlations among various risk factors. Furthermore, modest but significant positive correlations were found between behavioral inhibition, attachment quality, and anxious and controlling rearing behaviors on the one hand, and anxiety scores on the other hand. That is, higher levels of behavioral inhibition, insecure attachment, and parental control and anxious rearing were associated with higher levels of anxiety symptoms. Finally, behavioral inhibition, attachment quality, parental control and anxious rearing each accounted for a small but unique proportion of the variance of anxiety disorders symptomatology. Little support was found for interactive effects of these vulnerability factors on childhood anxiety.     

Sites of Plasticity in the Neural Circuit Mediating Tentacle Withdrawal in the Snail Helix aspersa: Implications for Behavioral Change and Learning Kinetics

The tentacle withdrawal reflex of the snail Helix aspersa exhibits a complex combination of habituation and sensitization consistent with the dual-process theory of plasticity. Habituation, sensitization, or a combination of both were elicited by varying stimulation parameters and lesion condition. Analysis of response plasticity shows that the late phase of the response is selectively enhanced by sensitization, whereas all phases are decreased by habituation. Previous data have shown that tentacle withdrawal is mediated conjointly by parallel monosynaptic and polysynaptic pathways. The former mediates the early phase, whereas the latter mediates the late phase of the response. Plastic loci were identified by stimulating and recording at different points within the neural circuit, in combination with selective lesions. Results indicate that depression occurs at an upstream locus, before circuit divergence, and is therefore expressed in all pathways, whereas facilitation requires downstream facilitatory neurons and is selectively expressed in polysynaptic pathways. Differential expression of plasticity between pathways helps explain the behavioral manifestation of depression and facilitation. A simple mathematical model is used to show how serial positioning of depression and facilitation can explain the kinetics of dual-process learning. These results illustrate how the position of cellular plasticity in the network affects behavioral change and how forms of plasticity can interact to determine the kinetics of the net changes.     

‘Oh My Child,What an Inappropriate Spouse for You!’: Asymmetrical Preferences and Parent–Offspring Conflict Over Mating

During human evolutionary time, parents have been influential in controlling the mating decisions of their offspring. As a result, they have evolved preferences that enable them to choose as sons‐in‐law and daughters‐in‐law those individuals who are most beneficial for them. Despite parental control over mating, offspring have been able to exercise their own mate choice, and they have evolved preferences which enable them to choose as mates those individuals who are most beneficial for them. However, parents and offspring are not genetically identical and thus they do not share identical interests with respect to mate choice. As a consequence, in‐law and mate preferences do not always converge, with a number of traits being valued differently in an in‐law and in a spouse. Recent advancements in evolutionary psychology have identified specific in‐law and mate preferences, along with specific areas of disagreement between the two. These findings have important implications for psychology, evolutionary theory and the social sciences, which are further explored.     

Exploration of Environmental and Genetic Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease: The Value of Cross-Cultural Studies

Advances in molecular genetics have revolutionized epidemiological research. It is now possible to combine the techniques of population genetics with research on risk factors to construct genetic-environmental interactive models that explain geographic-ethnic variations in disease rates. Cross-cultural studies involving populations from developing and developed countries offer a unique opportunity for constructing these models by providing a wide diversity of environmental exposures. Results from a comparative Indianapolis-Ibadan study suggest that Alzheimer’s disease incidence rates are lower in Yoruba than in African Americans and that these lower rates may be due to a combination of genetic and environmental, primarily dietary, influences.     

Effectiveness of Cognitive/Behavioral Small Group Intervention for Reduction of Depression and Stress in Non-Hispanic White and Hispanic/Latino Women Dementia Family Caregivers: Outcomes and Mediators of Change

This study enrolled 184 middle-aged and older women (95 Non-Hispanic White and 89 Hispanic/Latino) who provided in-home hands-on care to an elderly relative with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Within ethnic group they were randomly assigned to either a CBT-based small group intervention program called “Coping with Caregiving” (CWC) that taught a variety of cognitive and behavioral skills to reduce stress and depression, or to a minimal telephone based control condition (TSC). Intervention lasted about 4 months; one post-treatment assessment was completed 6 months after baseline by interviewers blind to the intervention condition. Interviews and interventions were conducted in English or Spanish by trained staff. Results indicated that those in the CWC (regardless of ethnicity) showed greater improvement from pre to post intervention than those in the TSC on measures of depressive symptoms, overall life stress, and caregiving-specific stress. In order to investigate if these changes may have been related to one proposed mechanism of change in CBT (skill utilization), a new measure was constructed. Change in frequency of use and perceived helpfulness of adaptive coping skills were assessed in all caregivers. Results indicated that caregivers in CWC reported greater frequency of use, and greater perceived helpfulness, of these skills at post intervention compared to caregivers in the TSC. Improvement measured by dependent measures was correlated with an increase in these indices for those in the CWC. Tests for mediation suggest that effective skill utilization may mediate the effect of treatment on outcome. Implications of these findings are discussed and recommendations provided for future research.