An examination of the psychometric properties of scores on the Family Strain Index (FSI) in a general community sample

Given the potentially harmful effects of parenting stress on parents, children, and their relationship, it is critical to have a reliable and valid measure of parenting stress in clinical and community samples. The Family Strain Index (FSI) is a brief questionnaire designed to measure stress and demand on parents of children with ADHD. The present study is the first to evaluate the psychometric properties of scores on the FSI in a general community sample. Parents (89% mothers) of 550 preschool children (aged 2–5 years; 50% boys) sampled through 17 kindergartens located in Danish cities and villages completed the FSI, the ADHD Rating Scale (RS)‐IV Preschool Version, and a background questionnaire. FSI scores were characterized by restricted range and floor effects. The scale's construct validity was not supported and the measurement repeatability after 1 month was low. The scale did have convergent validity as levels of parenting stress were associated with perceived ADHD behavior in off‐spring, but overall, results did not encourage the use of the FSI as a measure of parenting stress in the general population. Measures that include more normative events may be more appropriate when attempting to capture parenting stress in general community samples.     

When Treatment is Traumatic: An Empirical Review of Interventions for Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress

Pediatric medical traumatic stress (PMTS) is common among injured/ill children and is associated with elevated distress, treatment non‐adherence, and poor health outcomes. As survivorship of life‐threatening pediatric injury and illness continues to increase alongside rapid medical advancements, rates of PMTS and negative sequelae are expected to grow; however, research on prevention and treatment of PMTS is limited. The current study sought to systematically review the literature using a developmental framework to highlight research gaps. Sixteen peer‐reviewed studies were identified via a systematic literature search. Consistent with best practices for treatment of childhood trauma, caregiver involvement and CBT principles served as the foundation for most interventions. All studies reported improvements in PMTS; however, among the most methodologically rigorous, few found statistically superior reductions in PMTS between intervention and control groups. While many studies focused on a specific developmental stage and discussed developmental considerations, others took a “one‐size‐fits” approach. Interventions that demonstrated the most promising findings were online, self‐guided, or time‐limited. Future research would benefit from expanding diversity of participants, continuing to evaluate novel delivery methods, and integrating developmental considerations along with trauma‐informed care (TIC) approaches, given their useful framework for understanding child traumatic stress responses and avenues for prevention and treatment.     

Direct and indirect associations of cognitive reappraisal and suppression with disease biomarkers

Objective: Habitual use of emotion regulation strategies may influence physical health. We examined whether the tendencies to employ cognitive reappraisal and suppression were associated with health biomarkers, and whether stress and sleep quality mediated these associations. Design & main outcome measures: Using data from the Biomarkers substudy (n?=?1255) of the national Midlife in the U.S. Study, we tested the hypothesis that there would be indirect, but not direct, associations of cognitive reappraisal and suppression to biomarker indicators of multisystem physiological dysregulation, that is, allostatic load (AL). We computed the proportion of biomarkers in the highest risk quartile within seven biological systems, and summed these scores to compute AL. Associations with the biological systems were also examined separately.Results: Neither reappraisal nor suppression was directly associated with AL or biomarker function in the seven biological systems. Suppression was indirectly associated with higher AL and greater dysregulation in the inflammatory, metabolic, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal systems via its relations to stress and sleep, p?<?0.05. Reappraisal was indirectly associated with lower AL and less metabolic and inflammatory dysregulation, ps<0.05.Conclusions: Suppression and reappraisal may have different downstream health effects via stress, sleep, and biomarker expression, suggesting malleable emotion regulation strategies may be an important intervention target.     

自尊稳定性的认知神经机制

自尊稳定性(自尊在短期内波动的幅度)是一种具有重要心理功能的人格特质, 它既不同于自尊水平, 也区别于情境性自尊, 但在理论和测量上却与后两者具有密不可分的联系。然而, 由于目前人们对于自尊稳定性的认知神经机制知之甚少, 所以并不清楚它与自尊水平在生理机制上的关系是什么, 更不了解它会如何调节情境性自尊。鉴于此, 本研究计划将自尊稳定性、自尊水平和情境性自尊置于整合的认知神经加工模型(神经内分泌-脑-行为)之中, 通过融合心理测量、脑成像与应激诱发等多种技术指标, 力争全方位、多角度揭示自尊稳定性的认知神经机制, 及其与自尊水平、情境性自尊间的区别和联系。     

Parvalbumin阳性中间神经元缺陷在精神分裂症病理机制中的作用

精神分裂症是一种多发于青壮年的重性精神病, 其原因尚不明确。经典的多巴胺缺陷理论假说在某些方面欠缺解释力; 与此同时, 关于Parvalbumin阳性的中间神经元(后简称PV+神经元)缺陷在精神分裂症病理机制中的作用逐渐明晰, 并引起了越来越多的关注。PV+神经元在绝大部分脑区中是一种快速放电的抑制性神经元, 参与了突触可塑性的调节, 兴奋/抑制平衡的维持和神经发生等。而在精神分裂症中, PV+神经元的异常在患者和动物研究中都被普遍证实, 并发现与 NMDA受体缺陷、gamma波异常和氧化应激存在某些关联。     

The interaction between baseline trait anxiety and trauma exposure as predictor of post-trauma symptoms of anxiety and insomnia

In this study a prospective design was used to investigate the interaction between baseline trait anxiety and exposure to traumatic situations on post-trauma symptoms of anxiety and insomnia in a sample of Swedish peacekeeping soldiers serving in Kosovo. The result showed that pre-trauma trait anxiety interacted with exposure to traumatic situations predicting a higher post-trauma distress. Further, baseline trait anxiety and baseline symptoms of anxiety and insomnia predicted post-trauma symptoms of anxiety and insomnia. The results support a diathesis stress model in which high trait anxiety interacts with trauma exposure in the elicitation of anxiety-related distress but the study needs to be replicated before further conclusions can be drawn.     

Predicting Different Patterns of Sexual Identity Development Over Time Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths: A Cluster Analytic Approach

Recent research has suggested that the sexual identity development of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youths may not follow a single pattern, but may follow a variety of pathways. Although some research documenting variability in identity development exists, unclear are the potential individual and social contexts that predict these different patterns, as well as the contexts that predict changes in identity integration over time. This report longitudinally examined these issues in an ethnically diverse sample of 156 LGB youths (ages 14-21) in New York City. Cluster analytic techniques identified two patterns of sexual identity formation (i.e., early and more recent), and three patterns of sexual identity integration (i.e., high, middling, and low). Gender and sexual abuse were found to predict identity formation; and, gay-related stress, social support, negative social relationships, sexual orientation, sexual identity, and gender were found to predict patterns of sexual identity integration and changes in integration over 1 year. These findings document different patterns of sexual identity development and identify potential contextual barriers and facilitating factors that may be used to develop interventions to promote healthy LGB identity development.     

Post-Traumatic Reactions in Adolescents: How Well Do the DSM-IV PTSD Criteria Fit the Real Life Experience of Trauma Exposed Youth?

This study examined the structure and symptom specific patterns of post traumatic distress in a sample of 1,581 adolescents who reported exposure to at least one traumatic event. Symptom reporting patterns are consistent with past literature in that females reported more symptoms than males and older youth reported more symptoms than did their younger peers. Young people reporting exposure to exclusively violent type traumas were also found to be more likely to endorse symptoms than peers exposed exclusively to non violent type traumas. Confirmatory factor analysis provided stronger support for a four-factor model of PTSD than either the DSM-IV model or an alternate model. Further examination of the four factor model revealed gender differences in factor loadings with small to moderate effect sizes for recurrent, distressing memories, flashbacks, restricted affect, difficulty remember details, detachment, limited future orientation, hypervigilance and startle symptoms. Differences in factor loadings with the four factor model were also noted between younger and older adolescents, with medium to large effect sizes on the arousal items. In contract, comparison of the factor loadings revealed only small differences between youth exposed exclusively to violent traumatic stressors and those exposed exclusively to non violent traumatic stressors, suggesting relative similarity between these two groups.     

少数民族压力应对研究的文化视角

随着社会的急剧变迁与多元文化的相互融合与碰撞, 少数民族的压力应对问题已经变得日益重要。对少数民族压力应对与文化的关系进行全面的审视与探讨, 能够更好地理解多元文化交融下少数民族压力应对的心理机制, 促进民族团结与社会和谐。文章总结了少数民族压力应对研究的4种文化视角, 包括压力应对的跨文化研究、文化适应的压力应对研究、宗教应对研究、中国传统文化的应对思想研究, 并对不同研究视角进行了评述。未来中国少数民族压力应对研究应该综合多学科、多元文化视角的研究思路, 加强量与质的研究范式的整合, 进一步扩展少数民族压力应对的研究领域与研究范围, 从我国民族地区社会变迁的实际情况出发, 加强对少数民族不同社会群体的压力应对研究。     

成瘾与应激的关系及治疗

成瘾严重危害个体的心身健康,造成许多家庭和社会问题。成瘾与应激有着密切的关系。最新研究发现下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴、促肾上腺皮质激素调节因子（CRF）和糖皮质激素在成瘾与应激中发挥重要作用。由于对成瘾和应激的机制尚未完全阐明,目前无特效治疗。采取缓解应激源、预防精神活性物质的使用、预防复发、让患者回归社会等综合措施使复发率明显降低。