Irritability and parenting practices as mediational variables between temperament and affective,anxiety, and oppositional defiant problems

Irritability and parenting are potential targets for transdiagnostic studies to identify the common and core dysfunctional characteristics underlying several diagnostic pictures with the goal of addressing these issues in treatment. Our objective was to investigate the different paths from temperament to child psychopathology (affective, anxiety, and oppositional problems) through irritability and parenting using a prospective design from ages 3 to 7. A sample of 614 3-year-old preschoolers was followed at ages 4, 6, and 7. Parents answered questionnaires about temperament (age 3), irritability (age 4), parenting practices (age 6), and psychopathology (age 7). Statistical analyses were carried out through structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the mediation effect of irritability and parenting practices from temperament (negative affectivity and effortful control) through to affective, anxious, and oppositional problems. The proposed model fit the data well. SEM showed (a) an indirect effect from temperament to affective problems, via irritability and positive parenting; (b) a direct effect from negative affectivity to anxiety, plus an indirect effect from both temperament dimensions, via irritability and autonomy parenting practices; and (c) an indirect effect from temperament to oppositional problems, via irritability and punitive parenting. Irritability and parenting are transdiagnostic mediational variables that should be focused on in intervention programs for affective, anxiety, and oppositional problems.     

Influence pattern effectiveness

Managers apply different influence tactics to get subordinates to perform their tasks. For a better understanding of the influence process dynamics, it has been recommended to consider the combination of different tactics instead of analyzing them separately. (Cialdini & Goldstein, 2004). The present study has analyzed the effectiveness of various influence tactics combinations used by superiors with their subordinates. We identified four influence patterns: hard pattern, rational pattern, active pattern and passive pattern. Pattern effectiveness was analyzed in terms of subordinates' satisfaction, commitment and well-being. We found that superiors who used a broader range of tactics were more effective than those using a single range of tactics. Practical implications are discussed.     

Associations Among Anxiety Disorders and Non-anxiety Disorders,Functional Impairment and Medication in Children and Adolescents

This is a study of comorbid anxiety disorders and how they affect the clinical picture of comorbid cases. The sample consisted of 576 Spanish children aged 8 to 17 years receiving psychiatric outpatient consultation that were evaluated using a semi-structured diagnostic interview for both parents and children. A specific association of homotypic comorbidity among anxiety disorders that was independent of the presence of other disorders was found. There was heterotypic comorbidity between anxiety and depressive disorders, ADHD, anorexia and tic disorders. Relationships between non-anxiety disorders were, in general, independent of anxiety, but anxiety moderated the relationship between ADHD-Conduct disorder and Conduct disorder-enuresis. Comorbid anxiety increased difficulties in social interaction, was related with higher global impairment and had an impact on consultation and medication. Anxiety disorder comorbidity should be well recognized in order not to disregard the treatment of all present disorders.     

Dimensional analysis of a categorical diagnostic interview: the DICA-IV

The aim of this study is to obtain dimensions from a categorical diagnostic interview. 512 children aged 8 to 17 attending public centers for children's mental health and presenting some form of psychological disorder were interviewed with the "Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents" (DICA-IV). Analysis of the principal components indicate that a two-dimensional model (externalizing-internalizing) satisfactorily explain the data collected from the children and their parents. The data from the adolescents are better represented by a three-dimensional model (attention problems-internalizing-antisocial behavior). The factor scales show good internal consistency and significantly relate to other criteria of psychopathology and incapacity (concurrent validity). These results show that it is possible to use DICA-IV to obtain categorical and dimensional indicators simultaneously. The latter are particularly sensitive for measuring changes over the course of disorders.     

Examining the Psychometric Properties of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale in Two Spanish Multi‐occupational Samples

The aim of this study was to provide some evidence of reliability and validity of the 15‐item Spanish version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) between two multi‐occupational samples. In two different studies, 525 human services employees (study 1; males = 233; females = 292) and 409 multi‐occupational employees (study 2; males = 179; females = 230) completed the Spanish UWES. In study 1, our results revealed satisfactory levels of reliability for each subscale. In addition, the confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the three‐factor model fitted better than the one‐factor model and supported the theoretical three‐factor structure (vigor, dedication, and absorption). Furthermore, results from the multi‐sample analysis found strict factorial invariance of the Spanish UWES across gender, suggesting that the UWES factors show the same composition and interpretation in both groups. In study 2, our results once again confirmed the same three‐factor structure for the Spanish UWES. We found support for theoretically proposed two‐factor model including: (1) emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and (2) all three dimensions of engagement plus personal accomplishment. We also found evidence of convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity with respect to burnout, life satisfaction, and perceived stress. In short, our results provide empirical support for structural validity of the Spanish UWES in multi‐occupational workers.     

Características diferenciales de los niños con puntuaciones extremas en el Children's Depression Inventory

Resumen

Se describen las características diferenciales de la población de niños con puntuaciones altas (≥19) y bajas (≤5) en el Children's Depression Inventory (Kovacs, 1983) a partir de la información de distintas fuentes. Se evaluaron 148 niños de 4.^o de EGB de los cuales 68 presentaban puntuaciones ≤5 y 80 presentaban puntuaciones ≥19, respecto a nivel de depresión, estilo atribucional, variables cognitivas y rendimiento escolar. Los niños con puntuaciones altas versus los de puntuaciones bajas presentaban mayor severidad de la sintomatología depresiva, un estilo atribucional más depresógeno, menor rendimiento en los subtests de inteligencia que evalúan cierre perceptivo, formación de conceptos no verbales y comprensión de la lectura, su rendimiento escolar fue inferior, tuvieron más problemas de conducta según informaron los padres, eran menos felices según el profesor y menos populares y más deprimidos según sus compañeros.     

Beyond emotional benefits: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour affect psychosocial resources through emotions

Physical activity is known to improve emotional experiences, and positive emotions have been shown to lead to important life outcomes, including the development of psychosocial resources. In contrast, time spent sedentary may negatively impact emotional experiences and, consequently, erode psychosocial resources. Two studies tested whether activity independently influenced emotions and psychosocial resources, and whether activity indirectly influenced psychosocial resources through emotional experiences. Using cross-sectional (Study 1a) and longitudinal (Study 1b) methods, we found that time spent physically active independently predicted emotions and psychosocial resources. Mediation analyses suggested that emotions may account for the relation between activity and psychosocial resources. The improved emotional experiences associated with physical activity may help individuals build psychosocial resources known to improve mental health. Study 1a provided first indicators to suggest that, in contrast, sedentary behaviour may reduce positive emotions, which could in turn lead to decrements in psychosocial resources.     

Perceptions of coparenting in foster care

Although literature supports the association between harmonious coparenting practices and lowered child problems, little is known about coparenting influences among family constellations in the foster care system. Via a compilation of a new coparenting practices measure, we examined similarities and differences on foster parent-derived perceptions of support/flexibility, shared communication, conflict/triangulation, and total coparenting between foster and biological parents and their independent contribution to child internalizing and externalizing problems. Self-reports were gathered from foster parents (N=80) in 2 groups: kin and nonkin. As compared with nonkin, kin foster parents reported higher perceived support/flexibility, shared communication, and total coparenting. A tendency for higher conflict/triangulation among kin foster parents was also found. After considering foster parent group, psychological distress, and harsh discipline, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that perceived total coparenting and conflict/triangulation contributed to child internalizing and externalizing problems. Results support the linkage between perceptions of coparenting and child problems among caregivers (foster and biological alike) in kin and nonkin arrangements and highlight training in coparenting in general, and conflict management in particular, as an important intervention focus to reduce the high level of child problems in this vulnerable population.