Agentic and communal traits and health: adolescents with and without diabetes

The authors examined whether agentic and communal traits are associated with relationship and health outcomes among adolescents with and without diabetes. They interviewed 263 teens (average age 12; 132 Type 1 diabetes; 131 healthy) on an annual basis for 5 years. The authors measured agency, communion, unmitigated agency, and unmitigated communion as well as parent and peer relationship quality, psychological distress, and diabetes health. In concurrent and lagged multilevel models, unmitigated communion and unmitigated agency were associated with poor relationship outcomes and greater psychological distress for those with and without diabetes. In lagged analyses, unmitigated communion predicted deterioration in diabetes health. Communion and agency were associated with positive relationship and health outcomes, with the former being stronger than the latter. These results underscore the need to focus on unmitigated agency and unmitigated communion when studying the implications of personality for health during adolescence.     

Implications of Psychosocial Factors for Diabetes Outcomes among Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Review

We adopt a risk and resistance framework to review the literature on the psychosocial factors that influence diabetes outcomes—specifically self‐care behavior (blood glucose monitoring, diet, exercise, insulin administration) and glycemic control. We examine both personal and social/environmental risk and resistance factors. We conclude by suggesting conceptual and methodological directions for future research. Conceptually, we suggest that researchers examine the synergy among variables that cut across domains, mechanisms linking psychosocial factors to diabetes outcomes, and the impact of goals on health. Methodologically, we suggest that researchers examine age, gender, and race as moderator variables; utilize momentary data collection technology; and employ more sophisticated longitudinal analyses.     

Traditional Machismo and Caballerismo as Correlates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder,Psychological Distress,and Relationship Satisfaction in Hispanic Veterans

An online survey was used to examine 45 Hispanic male veterans’ traditional machismo and caballerismo as correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological distress, and relationship satisfaction. Higher traditional machismo was associated with higher PTSD severity and distress and lower relationship satisfaction. Psychometric properties of the Traditional Machismo and Caballerismo Scale were explored. Se utilizó una encuesta en línea para examinar el machismo y el caballerismo tradicionales de 45 veteranos hispanos varones, y su correlación con el trastorno de estrés post‐traumático (PTSD, por sus siglas en inglés), la angustia psicológica y la satisfacción en sus relaciones. Un mayor nivel de machismo tradicional se asoció con una mayor severidad del PTSD, así como con angustia y una menor satisfacción en las relaciones. Se exploraron las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Machismo y Caballerismo Tradicionales.     

Evaluating the effectiveness of REBOOT Combat Recovery: A faith-based combat trauma resiliency program

Evidence-based intervention programs attuned to the spiritual needs of service members, Veterans, and their families are needed to help them deal with the potentially debilitating consequences of combat trauma. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a faith-based, peer-led combat trauma resiliency program called REBOOT Combat Recovery. Participants were 254 adults who reported on 8 aspects of physical, mental, and social well-being during the 3rd week and the 12th week of the program. Findings indicated improvement for pain interference, fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and social participation. Improvement was uniform except that Veterans benefited more than currently serving military personnel with respect to anxiety symptoms. These results suggest the program may be effective for coping with the aftermath of combat trauma.     

Attention and social functioning in children with malformations of cortical development and stroke

Attention and social functioning and their interrelationships have not been routinely examined in children with early brain insult (EBI). This study aimed to describe attention and social functioning in children with two types of EBI: malformations of cortical development (MCD) and stroke. Children diagnosed with MCD (n?=?14, 6 males) or stroke (n?=?14, 8 males) aged 8 to 14 years (M?=?12 years 11 months) completed neuropsychological assessments to examine attention processes. Primary caregivers completed a questionnaire to assess executive components of children's attention and teachers completed a questionnaire to measure children's social functioning. Brain scans (MRI or CT) were coded by a pediatric neuroradiologist. Higher rates of impairments in attention and social function were found in children with EBI compared with normative expectations. Children with MCD experienced more global and clinically significant levels of impairment than children with stroke; though impairments were present in both groups. A strong association between executive components of attention and social function was observed. In addition, complex attention processes were associated with social function. The findings emphasize the reciprocity between attention, behavior and social outcomes, and the vulnerability of social function following EBI.     

Multiple repetition priming of faces: Massed and spaced presentations

Previously viewing a face typically leads to a decrease in the amount of time taken to later identify it (“repetition priming”). Five repetition priming experiments are reported, which investigate whether multiple presentations of a face increase the amount of repetition priming. The results demonstrate similar amounts of priming from massed multiple presentations of the same face or a series of different images (freeze frames selected from a moving clip and presented in sequence), compared with a single unchanging presentation (Experiments 1 and 2). This is true even when different images are presented at prime and test (Experiment 3). However when multiple presentations were presented in a spaced fashion, with one or more intervening items between each repeat, there was significantly more priming in the multiple than single presentation condition (Experiment 4). This was true even when the face was named only once in both the multiple and single spaced conditions (Experiment 5). The results are discussed in relation to face motion.     

Self-perception and motivational characteristics of tennis participants: The influence of age and skill

Abstract

An integrated approach to the study of psychosocial factors related to participation behavior was adopted by incorporating developmental, skill acquisition, and psychosocial variables. Specifically, the relationship of age and skill with self-perceptions and motivational characteristics of tennis participants was examined. Males and females (N = 240) ranged in age from 10 to 67 years. Professional tennis coaches verified the skill rating of each player using the National Tennis Rating Program introduced by the United States Tennis Association. Individuals completed self-report scales measuring perceived tennis competence, tennis salience, global self-worth, challenge motivational orientation, task and ego orientations, and competitive trait anxiety. Canonical correlation analyses revealed that age and skill were significantly related to psychosocial variables for both males and females. These findings suggest that an integrated research approach can extend our understanding of social-psychological variables in the physical activity setting.     

The Longitudinal Psychometric Properties of the EAS Temperament Survey in Adolescence

Studies on the psychometric properties of the EAS Temperament Survey (EAS) have produced equivocal results. In particular the psychometrics of the EAS are largely unknown in adolescence. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to explore the EAS structure in adolescents. Structural equation modeling was also used to assess measurement invariance and factor stability. A modified 4-factor model provided the best fit to the data and demonstrated reasonable longitudinal invariance and stability. Furthermore, the standardized factor scores correlated at near unity with the sum of observed scores, suggesting factor interpretations remained unchanged. However, the modifications suggest that further work is necessary.