Measuring Positive Affect,Negative Affect,and Physiological Hyperarousal among Italian Youth: Translations of the PANAS-C and PH-C

Italian-language versions of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children (PANAS-C; Laurent et al. Psychological Assessment, 11, 326–338, 1999) and Physiological Hyperarousal Scale for Children (PH-C; Laurent et al. Psychological Assessment, 16, 373–380, 2004) were developed. Students (N = 1026; M age = 12.05 years, SD = 1.49) from central Italy completed these scales. Measures were evaluated based on criteria from previous studies resulting in an 11-item PANAS-C PA scale (α = .88), a 13-item PANAS-C NA scale (α = .87), and a 14-item PH-C (α = .85). Confirmatory factor analyses resulted in best-fit indices that favored a 3-factor model consistent with the tripartite model of anxiety and depression. Similar to results reported with the original English-language and other translations of these measures, scores on the PA scale were lower and scores on the NA and PH scales were higher for older girls than older boys and younger boys and girls. Findings suggested that the psychometric properties of the Italian-language versions of the PANAS-C and PH-C were similar to the English-language versions and other translated versions of the measures.     

Genetic Counseling Dilemmas for a Patient with Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,Frontotemporal Degeneration & Parkinson’s Disease

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal degeneration and Parkinson’s disease may be different expressions of the same neurodegenerative disease. However, association between ALS and parkinsonism-dementia complex (ALS-PDC) has only rarely been reported apart from the cluster detected in Guam. We report a patient presenting with ALS-PDC in whom pathological mutations/expansions were investigated. No other family members were reported to have any symptoms of a neurological condition. Our case demonstrates that ALS-PDC can occur as a sporadic disorder, even though the coexistence of the three clinical features in one patient suggests a single underlying genetic cause. It is known that genetic testing should be preferentially offered to patients with ALS who have affected first or second-degree relatives. However, this case illustrates the importance of genetic counseling for family members of patients with sporadic ALC-PDC in order to provide education on the low recurrence risk. Here, we dicuss the ethical, psychological and practical consequences for patients and their relatives.     

Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Hanoi,Vietnam

For individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), early and accurate diagnosis enables early intervention, which leads to improved quality of life. The diagnostic label of ASD has only been recognized in Vietnam since 2000 and the number of children who have been diagnosed has increased dramatically. However, there is limited understanding about the condition. This article aims to describe the current assessment and diagnostic practices in Hanoi, Vietnam, a low resource setting. Data for this article came from in-depth interviews with parents of children with ASD and service providers, and observation at health clinics and early intervention centers that provide ASD assessment during field work from July 2011 to May 2012. This study reveals that although there is some improvement in assessment services, parents still face a number of challenges in accessing quality assessment and diagnosis of ASD in Vietnam. These include rushed and perfunctory assessment; a lack of clinical guidelines for assessment; limited communication among health professionals in assessment teams, and between professionals and parents of children with ASD. Public awareness-raising of the signs of autism, capacity building for professionals, development of practical and contextual appropriate assessment protocols are needed to enhance the accessibility and quality of assessment services.     

Parents’ Social Status and Children’s Daily Physical Activity: The Role of Familial Socialization and Support

Physical activity is a health relevant factor, particularly in affluent societies where overweight and obesity are increasingly prevalent, even among children. Understanding the development of physical activity patterns in childhood is thus an important issue for health promotion. Following socialization theory, this study describes and explains differences in objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in a socially and ethnically mixed sample of 6- to 11-year-old children in Germany. MVPA levels were objectively measured with accelerometers over the course of six consecutive days (Wednesday to Monday). Parents’ attitudes and practices as well as the family’s socio-economic status (SES) were assessed from the parents via questionnaires. Results indicate that MVPA levels of children vary with gender, but not with age and ethnicity. Moreover, parental SES, parental support for the child’s sports activities, parents’ own sport activities and the parents’ belief in sports’ capacities to foster personality development, character building and social integration significantly predict the MVPA level of children. It is concluded that interventions to promote MVPA among children need to take family interactions and lifestyles into account and should address families in socio-economically underprivileged areas.     

Generativity and Political Participation in Old Age: A Mixed Method Study of Spanish Elders Involved in Political Organisations

This study has dual aims. First, it aims to explore the relationship between generativity and political participation, a neglected aspect of civic participation. Second, using different dimensions of generativity in a mixed methods study, it also aims to contribute to the theoretical and methodological literature on generativity as a multidimensional concept relevant to later life. This Spanish study involved a large survey utilising three different measures of generativity—generative concern, generative goals, and perceived cultural demands—to look for differences between older people actively engaged in political organisations and a comparison group. Results showed that older people from the two groups differed on all dimensions of generativity. Participants in political organisations showed significantly higher scores on generative concern, reported more generative goals in the present and future, and noted more perceived generative demands than comparison individuals. Overall, our findings suggest that generativity plays a key role in political engagement in later life, and, further, that our understanding of generativity in later life gains from a multidimensional assessment of the concept.     

Adolescents’ Faith Commitments as Correlates of Their Involvement in Christian Service

This study sought to determine the relationship between adolescents’ involvement in service to others and their commitment to religious values and Seventh-day Adventist beliefs. Canonical correlation indicated that adolescents’ involvement in service to others is significantly related to their commitment to religious values and beliefs. Results indicated that greater commitment to religious values and Seventh-day Adventist beliefs among adolescents attending Seventh-day Adventist schools is correlated with greater involvement in service to others.     

Function‐based replacement behavior interventions for students with challenging behavior

Using a concurrent multiple probe design, this study investigated the effects of function‐based replacement behavior interventions on the challenging behaviors of three students with or at risk of emotional and behavioral disorders who attended a rural elementary school. For all three students, interventions were effective at decreasing the occurrence of challenging and off‐task behavior. Effects were maintained for two participants. Maintenance and generalization effects in a replication setting in which replacement behaviors were loosely trained were also documented for two participants. Furthermore, teachers rated the interventions favorably. Implications for practice, study limitations, and areas for future research are discussed.     

“When I’d Dealt with My Issues,I Was Ready to Give Back”: Peer Leader’s Perspectives of Support Groups for Women Abused by Intimate Partners

The serious nature of the abuse of women by intimate partners has garnered worldwide concern. Victims are often assisted through support groups; however, little is known about how the groups work or how leaders perceive the group process and the women’s response to the intervention. This qualitative process evaluation presents the perspectives of 14 trained peers who led weekly Growth Circle groups to provide support to abused women. The article describes the leader’s backgrounds, perceptions of the group process, and coleadership, in addition to reflections on the value and challenges in offering the program. Implications for community agencies and group leaders are offered.     

Child Abuse—Suicide Resilience Link in African American Women: Interpersonal Psychological Mediators

The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior (IPTS) is an exemplary model for understanding the desire for suicidal behavior. As such, it is important to explore its applicability in ethnoracial minority groups at increasing risk for suicidal behavior, such as low-income, African American women. Guided by the IPTS, the current study used 5 parallel mediation models to examine if there are links between individual types of childhood abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) and suicide resilience, and between cumulative abuse (higher levels of abuse inclusive of all three types, more types of severe levels of abuse) and suicide resilience, and whether the three components of the model (thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, acquired capability for suicide) mediate these associations. In a sample of low-income, African American women (n = 179), higher levels of each of the 3 types of childhood abuse and cumulative abuse correlated with lower levels of suicide resilience. Parallel mediation analyses using bootstrapping techniques revealed that increased acquired capability for suicide mediated all 5 associations and perceived burdensomeness mediated 3 of the links (emotional abuse, cumulative abuse, and cumulative abuse–severe with suicide resilience). Attention is paid to the clinical implications of the findings in terms of attending to the acquired capability for suicide and suicide resilience in the assessment and treatment of low-income, suicidal, African American women.