Cognition and the development of temperament from late childhood to early adolescence

Temperament is related to cognition, but it is unclear whether reciprocal associations exist with early developmental trajectories. Children from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (N = 8,677) were assessed over four waves on verbal ability at ages 8/9, nonverbal ability at ages 8/9 and 10/11, and parent-rated temperament every two years from ages 8/9 to 14/15. Latent difference score analyses indicated correlated changes between ages 8/9 and 10/11. Increased nonverbal ability over the first two years was associated with declined reactivity and increased persistence. Latent growth curve models further indicated that nonverbal and verbal ability at baseline were associated with declined reactivity and increased persistence over the six years. These findings suggest bidirectional associations between childhood cognitive ability and temperament development.     

Infant carrying as a tool to promote secure attachments in young mothers: Comparing intervention and control infants during the still-face paradigm

Infants of adolescent mothers have a greater risk of developing insecure attachment types and attachment disorders into adulthood. Previous research suggests that skin-to-skin contact predicts secure attachment; however, it is largely unknown whether infant carrying or “babywearing” has similar benefits. We hypothesized that adolescent mothers (Mage=19.1 years, SD = 2.0; 40.6 % Hispanic; 40 %< = 11th grade) who were randomly assigned to an infant carrying condition at 2–4 weeks’ post-partum (n = 16; 1 h daily for 3 months), compared to a control group (n = 17; reading), would be more likely to have securely attached infants at 7 months (M = 29.0 weeks, SD = 3.4). We coded infant gaze orientation, fretfulness, affect, self-soothing behaviors, and vocalizations in the reunion phase of the Still-Face Paradigm, and used an algorithm derived from the infant Global Rating Scales to determine attachment type. Infants in the intervention condition were more likely to have secure attachments and less likely to have disorganized attachments compared to the control condition. Hours spent babywearing was positively correlated with secure attachment, r_pb = .40, and negatively correlated with disorganized attachment, r_pb =−0.36. There were no statistically significant differences between the conditions or babywearing hours for avoidant or resistant attachment types. The results suggest that infant carrying may be an effective tool at promoting secure attachments, particularly for mothers and infants at greater risk for attachment insecurity.     

Why does perfectionism confer risk for depressive symptoms? A meta-analytic test of the mediating role of stress and social disconnection

The stress generation model posits perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic strivings generate stress and, in turn, depression. Alternatively, the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model (PSDM) maintains perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic strivings confer risk for depression through social disconnection. However, inconsistent findings, underpowered studies, and overreliance on cross-sectional designs have obscured understanding of the mediating role of stress and social disconnection in the perfectionism–depression link. We addressed this by conducting the first meta-analytic test of the stress generation model and PSDM. Our search yielded 18 longitudinal studies (N = 5,568) involving community adults, undergraduates, medical students, and psychiatric patients. Results revealed perfectionistic concerns predicted increased depression through social disconnection and stress, whereas perfectionistic strivings predicted increased depression through social disconnection, but not stress.     

On structural models for analyzing change

The recommendation to base the analysis of multi-wave data upon explicit models for change is advocated. Several univariate and multivariate models are described, which emerge from an interaction between the classical test theory and the structural equation modeling approach. The resulting structural models for analyzing change reflect in some of their parameters substantively interesting aspects of intra- and interindividual change in follow-up studies. The models are viewed as an alternative to an ANOVA-based analysis of longitudinal data, and are illustrated on data from a cognitive intervention study of old adults (Bakes et al , 1986). The approach presents a useful means of analyzing change over time, and is applicable for purposes of (latent) growth curve analysis when analysis of variance assumptions are violated (e.g., Schaie & Hertzog, 1982; Morrison, 1976).     

A longitudinal investigation of the role of perceived autonomy support from coaches in reducing athletes’ experiential avoidance: The mediating role of subjective vitality

Experiential avoidance, a personality trait that refers to individuals’ tendency to avoid negative experiences, can have a negative impact on athletes’ goal achievement. For this reason, it is crucial to identify the factors that can mitigate such a tendency. Drawing on self-determination theory and referring specifically to the function of subjective vitality, we first hypothesize that perceived autonomy support from coaches is positively associated with athletes’ subjective vitality, which in turn is negatively associated with athletes’ experiential avoidance. Data were collected from one hundred eighty-five high school athletes in Taiwan using a three-wave, time-lagged survey design spanning a period of seven months. These athletes were drawn from ten senior high schools and were in their second year of high school. The results of regression analysis showed that perceived autonomy support from coaches at Time 1 was associated with higher vitality among athletes at Time 2, which was, in turn, associated with lower levels of experiential avoidance at Time 3, conditional on the athletes’ experiential avoidance at Time 2. While perceived autonomy support from coaches at Time 1 was also associated with lower experiential avoidance at Time 2, experiential avoidance at Time 2 was not associated with vitality at Time 3 after controlling for vitality at Time 2. The results of mediation analysis further supported the claim that vitality is a critical mediator of the relationship between perceived autonomy support from coaches and athletes’ experiential avoidance. Implications concerning the identification of this mediator are discussed.     

心理弹性、负性生活事件和抑郁症状的关系：钢化效应和敏化效应

该研究追踪调查汶川地震后1573名青少年,考查心理弹性、生活事件和抑郁症状的关系,以探讨幸存者的心理修复过程。结果表明:（1）心理弹性既能直接预测抑郁症状,也能通过抑郁症状间接影响生活事件;（2）生活事件既能直接预测心理弹性,也能通过抑郁症状间接预测心理弹性;（3）抑郁症状既能直接影响心理弹性,也能通过生活事件间接影响心理弹性。结论：灾后不同特征的青少年心理修复过程不同,存在"钢化效应"和"敏化效应"。     

Stability of interests across ethnicity and gender: A longitudinal examination of grades 8 through 12

RIASEC interests were assessed in grades 8, 10, and 12 on a large national sample of 69,987 college bound students. Random samples of 1000 were drawn to represent each of the major US ethnic groups (African, Asian, Native, Mexican, Latino (non Mexican), Anglo, and Multiracial Americans) and interests were examined as they varied across time, ethnicity, and gender with respect to structure, mean changes, stability, clarity, and interest-occupational choice congruence. Results indicate that the structure of interests did not vary as a function of time, gender or ethnicity. The pattern of interests was fairly stable and similar across all ethnic groups and both genders. Congruence and clarity increased in 10th grade but both decreased in 12th grade suggesting a time of re-examination.     

Permanent Housing for Child Welfare‐Involved Families: Impact on Child Maltreatment Overview

A longitudinal randomized controlled trial tested whether access to permanent housing reduces child maltreatment among inadequately housed families under investigation for child abuse and neglect. The study followed homeless and child welfare‐involved families randomly assigned to receive a referral for housing subsidies plus housing case management (n = 75, 196 children) or housing case management alone (n = 75, 186 children). Latent growth models examined change in caregiver‐reported frequencies of psychological aggression, physical abuse, and neglect toward children at five time points across 2.5 years. Intent‐to‐treat analyses suggested treatment differences for minor assault and neglect that approached significance; families randomly assigned to permanent housing plus case management exhibited marginally greater declines compared to families referred for housing case management only. Caregiver psychological aggression remained high over time, regardless of treatment condition. No evidence indicated higher risk families benefitted more from permanent housing. Results show some promise of permanent housing and highlight the complex needs of homeless families under investigation for child maltreatment. Findings emphasize the importance of continued involvement from the child welfare system to connect families with important resources.     

Behavioral landscapes and earth mover’s distance: A new approach for studying individual differences in density distributions

Contemporary views of personality highlight intraindividual variability. We forward a general method for quantifying individual differences in behavioral tendencies based on Earth Mover’s Distance. Using data from 150 individuals who reported on their and others’ interpersonal behavior in 64,112 social interactions, we illustrate how this new approach can advance notions of personality as density distributions. Results provide independent confirmation and establish validity of existing representations of individual differences in interpersonal behavior, and identify new dimensions and profiles of personality and well-being. Benefits of the EMD method include freedom from assumptions about the shape and form of density distributions, generality of application to n-dimensional behavior captured in experience sampling studies, and natural integration of personality structure and dynamics.     

Bidirectional pathways between relational aggression and temperament from late childhood to adolescence

Relational aggression is linked to numerous adverse consequences. However, we know little about how temperament leads individuals to become perpetrators/victims of relational aggression, or how being a perpetrator/victim influences the development of temperament. We used longitudinal data from 674 Mexican-origin youth to examine relations between relational aggression and mother- and child-reported temperament from 5th grade (M_age = 10.8; SD = 0.60) through 11th grade (M_age = 16.8; SD = 0.50). Results show that: (a) high Negative Emotionality and low Effortful Control predicted increases in victimization; (b) low Effortful Control predicted increases in perpetration; (c) victims increased in Negative Emotionality and decreased in Effortful Control; and (d) perpetrators increased in Negative Emotionality and Surgency. Thus, temperament serves as both an antecedent to and a consequence of relational aggression.