What colour is the car? Implicit memory for colour information in children

Three experiments were conducted to examine age-related differences in colour memory. In Experiment 1, preschool age and elementary school age children were given a conceptual test of implicit colour memory (a colour-choice task). They were presented with the names or achromatic versions of previously studied coloured line drawings and asked to select an appropriate colour. Significant priming could be demonstrated: The children chose the previously seen colours more often than was expected by chance. Equivalent priming was found for both versions (pictorial and verbal) suggesting that colour priming may be conceptually mediated. Moreover, colour priming proved to be age invariant. Experiment 2 replicated and extended this finding by using a wider age group (preschool, elementary school, and young adults) and by giving a perceptual implicit task (picture identification) in addition to a verbal colour-choice task. Colour did not affect priming in the perceptual task. Whereas priming showed no developmental change, agerelated improvements were observed on an explicit colour memory task that differed only in the test instructions from the implicit colour-choice task (Experiments 2 and 3). Taken together, the results suggest that implicit colour memory may be mediated by conceptual processes that are age invariant.     

Dating Violence Victimization,Dispositional Aggression,and Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury among Psychiatrically Hospitalized Male and Female Adolescents

The objective of the current study was to characterize the association between dating violence victimization and dispositional aggression in predicting nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) among psychiatrically hospitalized male and female adolescents. One hundred fifty‐five adolescents (ages 13–17) and their parents completed the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School‐Age Children clinical interview to assess NSSI and child abuse; adolescents completed self‐report measures of aggression and dating violence victimization (verbal, physical, and sexual). Dating violence victimization and NSSI were found to be highly prevalent among both males and females in this psychiatric inpatient sample. Two moderational models were supported, wherein dating violence was associated with NSSI in the context of elevated trait anger in males and indirect aggression in females. Findings suggest that helping victims of dating violence acquire skills to address certain forms of dispositional aggression may attenuate NSSI.     

Are self-perceptions of ageing modifiable? Examination of an exercise programme with vs. without a self-perceptions of ageing-intervention for older adults

Objective: Longitudinal studies have consistently shown beneficial effects of positive self-perceptions of ageing (SPA) on health. However, SPA are more often negative than positive, particularly in older adults. For this reason, the present study tested the effectiveness of an intervention to promote more positive SPA in the context of an exercise programme for older adults.

Design: Eighty-four community-dwelling older adults (66-88 years; M(SD)=76.8(5.29)) were randomly assigned to a group-based exercise programme over 12 weeks with (n?=?46) or without (n?=?38) a psychological intervention to change SPA, consisting of four intervention units over the programme period.

Main Outcome Measures: A gain- and a loss-related domain of SPA were assessed at baseline, after the first half of the programme, directly after the programme and in a follow-up four weeks later.

Results: Latent change score models showed an improvement of participants’ SPA in the intervention group in both SPA domains after the programme, whereas SPA did not change in the control group. Both groups showed an improvement in physical performance, however, only the IG showed additional improvements in mental health.

Conclusion: The implementation of an SPA intervention is a promising approach in regular health promotion programmes for older adults.