scholarly journals Moderating effects of family environment on the association between children's aggressive beliefs and their aggression trajectories from childhood to adolescence

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmina Burdzovic Andreas ◽  
Malcolm W. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Family Cohesion ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Individual Growth ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Child Aggression ◽  
Aggressive Beliefs ◽  
Over Time

AbstractThis study explored how children's aggressive beliefs and their family environments combine to influence the development of child aggression from middle childhood into adolescence. We utilized a “variable-centered” empirical approach, specifically examining whether children's aggressive beliefs represent a risk factor for their aggressive behaviors and whether this risk can be moderated by children's family environment. These questions were tested with individual growth modeling, using the data from a community-representative sample of 440 mother–child dyads, interviewed four times over a 6-year study period. The accelerated longitudinal design of the study enabled examination of children's aggression trajectories from age 7 to age 19. The results supported the hypothesis that elevated aggressive beliefs in children represent a risk factor for aggression, as higher aggressive beliefs were associated with greater aggression at the youngest age, as well as with increased aggression over time. However, as hypothesized, family environment moderated this association, such that changes in children's aggression over time were contingent upon the interaction of their aggressive beliefs with family environment. Specifically, aggression was reduced in children with high aggressive beliefs if they experienced better than average family environment, which included less family conflict and more family cohesion.

Corporal Punishment and Child Aggression: Ethnic-Level Family Cohesion as a Moderator

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15-16) ◽  
pp. 2687-2710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoona Lee ◽  
Malcolm W. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Corporal Punishment ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Family Cohesion ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Cultural Variation ◽  
Child Aggression ◽  
The Mean

Ethnicity has been examined as a putative moderator between parents’ use of corporal punishment and children’s externalizing behaviors. Yet, the reasons for this potential ethnic-level moderator have not been fully examined. The primary objective of this study was to examine whether the effect of corporal punishment on aggression is ethnic-specific using major racial groups inside and outside the U.S. samples and how the mean levels of cohesion in family relationships as found in different ethnic groups moderate the association between mothers’ use of corporal punishment and children’s aggression. A total of 729 mothers who had children aged 7 to 13 years were sampled from five ethnic groups (i.e., European American, African American, Hispanic American, Korean, and Chinese). Several hypotheses were tested to examine the moderating effect of ethnic-level, family cohesion on the relation of corporal punishment to children’s aggression. As expected, the mean level of family cohesion was significantly different across ethnicities. Consistent results across parallel multilevel and fixed effect models showed that high corporal punishment was associated with more aggression in all ethnicities, but there was a significant variation in the association across ethnicities, and the variation was explained by ethnic-level family cohesion. There were weaker associations between corporal punishment and child aggression among ethnic groups with high family cohesion and stronger associations among ethnic groups with low family cohesion. Ethnic/cultural variation in this study emphasizes the importance of understanding family environment of diverse ethnic groups when evaluating the influence of corporal punishment on child behavior in different ethnic/cultural contexts.

Perception of Autonomy and Connectedness Prior to the Onset of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Huemer ◽  
Maria Haidvogl ◽  
Fritz Mattejat ◽  
Gudrun Wagner ◽  
Gerald Nobis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Bulimia Nervosa ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Diagnostic Interview ◽  
Individual Autonomy ◽  
Mothers And Fathers ◽  
Image Test ◽  
Restrictive Type

Objective: This study examines retrospective correlates of nonshared family environment prior to onset of disease, by means of multiple familial informants, among anorexia and bulimia nervosa patients. Methods: A total of 332 participants was included (anorexia nervosa, restrictive type (AN-R): n = 41 plus families); bulimic patients (anorexia nervosa, binge-purging type; bulimia nervosa: n = 59 plus families). The EATAET Lifetime Diagnostic Interview was used to establish the diagnosis; the Subjective Family Image Test was used to derive emotional connectedness (EC) and individual autonomy (IA). Results: Bulimic and AN-R patients perceived significantly lower EC prior to onset of disease compared to their healthy sisters. Bulimic patients perceived significantly lower EC prior to onset of disease compared to AN-R patients and compared to their mothers and fathers. A low family sum – sister pairs sum comparison – of EC had a significant influence on the risk of developing bulimia nervosa. Contrary to expectations, AN-R patients did not perceive significantly lower levels of IA compared to their sisters, prior to onset of disease. Findings of low IA in currently ill AN-R patients may represent a disease consequence, not a risk factor. Conclusions: Developmental child psychiatrists should direct their attention to disturbances of EC, which may be present prior to the onset of the disease.

Effects of an Anxiety-Specific Psychometric Factor on Fear Conditioning and Fear Generalization

2017 ◽  
Vol 225 (3) ◽  
pp. 200-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Baumann ◽  
Miriam A. Schiele ◽  
Martin J. Herrmann ◽  
Tina B. Lonsdorf ◽  
Peter Zwanzger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Specific Factor ◽  
High Anxious ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Fear Generalization

Abstract. Conditioning and generalization of fear are assumed to play central roles in the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders. Here we investigate the influence of a psychometric anxiety-specific factor on these two processes, thus try to identify a potential risk factor for the development of anxiety disorders. To this end, 126 healthy participants were examined with questionnaires assessing symptoms of anxiety and depression and with a fear conditioning and generalization paradigm. A principal component analysis of the questionnaire data identified two factors representing the constructs anxiety and depression. Variations in fear conditioning and fear generalization were solely associated with the anxiety factor characterized by anxiety sensitivity and agoraphobic cognitions; high-anxious individuals exhibited stronger fear responses (arousal) during conditioning and stronger generalization effects for valence and UCS-expectancy ratings. Thus, the revealed psychometric factor “anxiety” was associated with enhanced fear generalization, an assumed risk factor for anxiety disorders. These results ask for replication with a longitudinal design allowing to examine their predictive validity.

scholarly journals The Chicken and Egg of Pride and Social Rank

2021 ◽  
pp. 194855062110236
Author(s):  
Zachary Witkower ◽  
Eric Mercadante ◽  
Jessica L. Tracy
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Causal Direction ◽  
Authentic Pride ◽  
Longitudinal Relationships ◽  
Over Time

Prior research has found an association between pride experiences and social rank outcomes. However, the causal direction of this relationship remains unclear. The current research used a longitudinal design ( N = 1,653) to investigate whether pride experiences are likely to be a cause, consequence, or both, of social rank outcomes, by tracking changes in individuals’ pride and social rank over time. Prior research also has uncovered distinct correlational relationships between the two facets of pride, authentic and hubristic, and two forms of social rank, prestige and dominance, respectively. We therefore separately examined longitudinal relationships between each pride facet and each form of social rank. Results reveal distinct bidirectional relationships between authentic pride and prestige and hubristic pride and dominance, suggesting that specific kinds of pride experiences and specific forms of social rank are both an antecedent and a consequence of one another.

scholarly journals The Longitudinal Link between Organizational Citizenship Behaviors and Three Different Models of Happiness

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6387
Author(s):  
Wenceslao Unanue ◽  
Eduardo Barros ◽  
Marcos Gómez
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Citizenship ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Organizational Citizenship Behaviors ◽  
Citizenship Behaviors ◽  
Broad Perspective ◽  
Typical Sample ◽  
Eudaimonic Happiness ◽  
Over Time

A growing body of research conducted in general life settings has found positive associations between happiness and prosocial behavior. Unfortunately, equivalent studies in the workplace are lacking. Organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs), the prosocial behaviors at work, have not been properly studied in relation to happiness, despite the positive consequences of both constructs for workers and companies. In response, our research aims to better understand this relationship from several angles. First, using a three-wave longitudinal design, we explored how OCBs and happiness are related to each other over time. Second, happiness was measured from a broad perspective, and three conceptualizations were adopted: the hedonic (e.g., positive affect and life satisfaction), the eudaimonic (e.g., relatedness and autonomy), and the flourishing (e.g., meaning and engagement) approaches. Thus, not only the prospective link between OCBs and happiness was tested, but it was also explored using the three models of happiness previously mentioned. Third, we conducted this longitudinal design in a less typical sample than previous research (i.e., Chile). We found results that supported our main hypotheses: (1) OCBs are prospective positive predictors of hedonic happiness, eudaimonic happiness, and flourishing; (2) the three models of happiness also prospectively predict OCBs. Our findings suggest that OCBs foster a broad range of happiness facets, which in turn fosters back the emergence of more OCBs, leading to a virtuous circle of prosociality and well-being in the workplace. This positive spiral benefits not only workers’ quality of life, but also organizations’ profitability and sustainability. Theoretical and applied implications for the field of Positive Organizational Psychology are discussed.

Partners’ Attachment Insecurity and Stress Predict Poorer Relationship Functioning During COVID-19 Quarantines

2021 ◽  
pp. 194855062199297
Author(s):  
Nickola C. Overall ◽  
Valerie T. Chang ◽  
Paula R. Pietromonaco ◽  
Rachel S. T. Low ◽  
Annette M. E. Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Family Cohesion ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Relationship Functioning ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Attachment Insecurity ◽  
Relationship Problems ◽  
Ongoing Relationship ◽  
Related Stress

The COVID-19 pandemic presents acute, ongoing relationship challenges. The current research tested how (1) preexisting vulnerabilities assessed prior to the pandemic (attachment insecurity) and (2) stress as couples endured a mandated quarantine predicted residual changes in relationship functioning. Controlling for prequarantine problems, relationship quality, and family environment, greater partners’ attachment anxiety predicted greater relationship problems, lower relationship quality, and a less stable and cohesive family environment when people were experiencing more stress. Greater partners’ attachment avoidance predicted lower problem-solving efficacy and family cohesion. The effects of partners’ preexisting vulnerabilities and pandemic-related stress demonstrate the utility of key models in relationship science in identifying who is at most risk of relationship problems in the unprecedented context of a mandated quarantine. The results emphasize that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on relationship functioning will be shaped by the characteristics of partners with whom people are confined with during the pandemic.

scholarly journals No Sustained Attention Differences in a Longitudinal Randomized Trial Comparing Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction versus Active Control

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donal G. MacCoon ◽  
Katherine A. MacLean ◽  
Richard J Davidson ◽  
Clifford Saron ◽  
Antoine Lutz
Keyword(s):  
Active Control ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Visual Discrimination ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Mindfulness Practice ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction ◽  
Over Time

Background: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a secular form of meditation training. The vast majority of the extant literature investigating the health effects of mindfulness interventions relies on wait-list control comparisons. Previous studies have found that meditation training over several months is associated with improvements in cognitive control and attention.Methodology/Principal Findings: We used a visual continuous performance task (CPT) to test the effects of eight weeks of mindfulness training on sustained attention by comparing MBSR to the Health Enhancement Program (HEP), a structurally equivalent, active control condition in a randomized, longitudinal design (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01301105) focusing on a non-clinical population typical of MBSR participants. Researchers were blind to group assignment. 63 community participants were randomized to either MBSR (n = 31) or HEP (n = 32). CPT analyses were conducted on 29 MBSR participants and 25 HEP participants. We predicted that MBSR would improve visual discrimination ability and sustained attention over time on the CPT compared to HEP, with more home practice associated with greater improvements. Our hypotheses were not confirmed but we did find some evidence for improved visual discrimination similar to effects in partial replication of other research. Our study had sufficient power to demonstrate that intervention groups do not differ in their improvement over time in sustained attention performance. One of our primary predictions concerning the effects of intervention on attentional fatigue was significant but not interpretable.Conclusions: Attentional sensitivity is not affected by mindfulness practice as taught in MBSR, but it is unclear whether mindfulness might positively affect another aspect of attention, vigilance. These results also highlight the relevant procedural modifications required by future research to correctly investigate the role of sustained attention in similar samples.

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