Validation of the short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire in young adulthood

AbstractBackgroundDepression often onsets in adolescence and is associated with recurrence in adulthood. There is a need to identify and monitor depression symptoms across adolescence and into young adulthood. The short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (sMFQ) is commonly used to measure depression symptoms in adolescence but has yet to be validated in young adulthood. This study aimed to (1) examine whether the sMFQ is a valid assessment of depression in young adults, and (2) identify cut-points that best capture a DSM-5 diagnosis of depression at age 25.MethodsThe sample included young people who took part in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) at age 25 (n=4098). Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses were used to examine how well the self-rated sMFQ discriminates between cases and non-cases of DSM-5 Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) classified using the self-rated Development and Well Being Assessment. Sensitivity and specificity values were used to identify cut-points on the sMFQ.ResultsThe sMFQ had high accuracy for discriminating MDD cases from non-cases at age 25. The commonly used cut-point in adolescence (≥12) performed well at this age, best balancing sensitivity and specificity. However, a lower cut-point (≥10) may be appropriate in some contexts, e.g. for screening, when sensitivity is favoured over specificity.LimitationsALSPAC is a longitudinal population cohort that suffers from non-random attrition.ConclusionsThe sMFQ is a valid measure of depression in young adults in the general population. It can be used to screen for and monitor depression across adolescence and early adulthood.

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Self-Efficacy and Clinical Characteristics in Casual Gamers Compared to Excessive Gaming Users and Non-Gamers in Young Adults

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9092720 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 2720 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sun Ju Chung ◽

Joon Hwan Jang ◽

Ji Yoon Lee ◽

Aruem Choi ◽

Bo Mi Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Internet Gaming Disorder ◽

Well Being ◽

The Self ◽

Behavioral Inhibition System ◽

Addictive Behaviors ◽

Internet Gaming ◽

Excessive Gaming

This study investigated differences in the self-efficacy and clinical characteristics which were found relevant to addictive behaviors in young adults according to time spent gaming. To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore self-efficacy in casual gamers relative to patients with internet gaming disorder (IGD) and non-gamers. In total, 158 young adults participated in this study and were divided into three groups: excessive gamers, who were diagnosed with IGD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-fifth edition (DSM-5, n = 71); casual gamers, who played games regularly but did not meet the criteria for IGD (n = 37); and non-gamers/controls, who did not engage in gaming (n = 50). All participants completed self-administered questionnaires, including measures of self-efficacy and clinical features such as the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Behavioral Activation/Inhibition Systems, aggression, and psychosocial well-being. There were significant differences in the self-efficacy according to the extent of gaming (excessive gamers < casual gamers < non-gamers). In addition, aggression, impulsivity, depression, anxiety, level of stress, and behavioral inhibition system scores were significantly higher in excessive gamers than in casual gamers and non-gamers. These findings showed that individuals who spend more time playing games tend to have lower self-efficacy. Our study suggests that self-efficacy may protect against or constitute a risk of excessive gaming, particularly among casual gamers. It is necessary to pay attention to enhancing psychological well-being through self-efficacy to prevent addiction in young adult gamers.

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Maternal Partner Criminality and Cannabis use in Young Adulthood: Prospective Study

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1080/00048670701341897 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 41 (6) ◽

pp. 546-553 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Mohammad R. Hayatbakhsh ◽

Stuart A. Kinner ◽

Konrad Jamrozik ◽

Jake M. Najman ◽

Abdullah A. Mamun

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Young Adulthood ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Birth Cohort Study ◽

Mater Hospital ◽

Frequent Use ◽

Increased Risk ◽

History Of

Objectives: The present study examined whether the experience of the arrest or incarceration of a mother's partner before a child reached 14 years of age was associated with use of cannabis in early adulthood and, if so, whether this association was confounded or mediated by other factors. Method: Data were from the Mater Hospital University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy, a prospective birth cohort study in Brisbane, Australia. The history of partner arrest and incarceration was reported by mothers at the 14 year follow up. Mothers were divided into four groups: mothers whose partner had no history of arrest or incarceration, mothers reporting partner arrest, mothers reporting partner incarceration, and unpartnered mothers. Young adults’ cannabis use was assessed at 21 years. Other covariates were prospectively measured between birth and 14 years. Results: After controlling for potential confounding and mediating factors, frequent use of cannabis at age 21 was more likely among young adults with a history of maternal partner arrest (odds ratio=2.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.4–3.8). There was no significant association between maternal partner incarceration or single motherhood, and cannabis use at age 21. Conclusions: Arrest of the mother's partner before the child is 14 is associated with that child's increased cannabis use at age 21 but this does not appear to be the case for children whose fathers have been imprisoned. It appears that for children whose fathers have been arrested, the father's ongoing presence in the family may result in worse outcomes for the child, including an increased risk of cannabis use in young adulthood.

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Development of the Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices–Adolescent Version: A Self-Efficacy Measure

Journal of Nursing Measurement ◽

10.1891/1061-3749.26.1.134 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 134-141

Author(s):

Jenifer M. Chilton ◽

Kevin P. Gosselin ◽

Barbara K. Haas

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Extraction Method ◽

Psychometric Testing ◽

Well Being ◽

Adolescent Females ◽

The Self ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Health Practices ◽

Reliable Measure ◽

Efficacy Measure

Background and Purpose:An instrument to measure wellness behaviors in adolescent females did not appear in the literature. The purpose of this article is to describe the development and evaluation of the Self-Rated Abilities for Health and Practices Scale–Adolescent Version (SRAHP-A).Methods:Initial psychometric testing was conducted with a sample of 265 adolescents and young adults aged 13–24 years. Data collection occurred through paper and pencil surveys.Results:Exploratory factor analysis using maximum likelihood factor extraction method and oblique ration was conducted. A four-factor structure consisting of Exercise, Nutrition, Health Practices, and Well-Being emerged.Conclusions:Initial psychometric testing suggested that it is a valid and reliable measure of wellness behaviors in adolescent females. Further testing is necessary; however, it appears this instrument has the potential to move wellness care for adolescents and young adults forward.

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Study Protocol of the Ten Years Up Project: Mapping the Development of Self-Regulation Strategies in Young Adults Over Time

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.729609 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Marleen Gillebaart ◽

Jantina Brummelman ◽

Denise de Ridder

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Young Adulthood ◽

Study Protocol ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Well Being ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Regulation Strategies ◽

Prospective Longitudinal ◽

Health And Well Being ◽

Over Time

Self-regulation is an important predictor of many outcomes relating to health and well-being. Research thus far has not systematically addressed the development of self-regulation strategies during young adulthood, but instead has focused on the predictive value of childhood self-regulation competence for outcomes later in life. The present study protocol describes the Ten Years Up (10YUP) project, a longitudinal cohort of young adults who will be followed for Ten years. By adopting a dynamic approach, we aim to examine how the nature and frequency of self-regulation strategies develop over time, document to what extent the use of strategies is affected by contextual and personal factors, and determine how these strategies affect health and well-being over the course of ten years. The 10YUP project employs a prospective longitudinal design to map the development of self-regulation strategies over time. A sample of 3,000 participants will be recruited by random selection from the general population of 16-year olds to retain a final sample of 1,000 participants after Ten years (accounting for an estimated drop-out rate of 10% each year). A mobile app will be used to collect data every 3 months. Self-regulation strategies will be assessed by means of the Goal Setting and Striving Inventory that asks participants to list their personal goals and then choose their most important goal to answer items about goal perception and strategy use. The resulting composite self-regulation index will be related to a wide range of contextual and personal factors that may act as either antecedents or consequences of self-regulation, depending on their specific time of assessment (either prior to or following self-regulation assessment) by means of cross-lagged panel analyses and other analyses allowing for establishing causal relationships over time. The 10YUP project is likely to generate novel insights into the development of self-regulation in young adulthood, how this development is affected by personal and contextual factors, and how these in turn may be influenced by how young people self-regulate—which is important for public policies aimed at guiding young people's choices and how they affect their health and well-being.

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Quality of Life in Young Adults With Cerebral Palsy: A Longitudinal Analysis of the SPARCLE Study

Frontiers in Neurology ◽

10.3389/fneur.2021.733978 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Nicolas Vidart d'Egurbide Bagazgoïtia ◽

Virginie Ehlinger ◽

Carine Duffaut ◽

Jérôme Fauconnier ◽

Silke Schmidt-Schuchert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Young Adults ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Young Adulthood ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

The Social

Introduction: While most people with cerebral palsy (CP) will have a life expectancy similar to that of the general population, international research has primarily focused on childhood and adolescence; and knowledge about the quality of life (QoL) of young adults with CP, its trajectories, and associated factors remains scarce.Methods: This longitudinal study included young adults with CP living in five European regions and who had previously participated in the SPARCLE cohort as children and/or adolescents. Their QoL in the psychological well-being and social relationships domains was estimated using age-appropriate validated instruments (KIDSCREEN-52 in childhood/adolescence and WHOQOL-Bref in young adulthood). We used generalized linear mixed-effect models with random intercept to estimate long-term trajectories of QoL in both domains and to investigate whether severity of impairment, pain, and seizure influenced these trajectories. We sought to identify potentially different trajectories of QoL from childhood to adulthood using a shape-based clustering method.Results: In total, 164 young adults with CP aged 22–27 years participated in the study. Psychological well-being linearly decreased by 0.78 points (scale 0–100) per year (95% confidence interval (CI) −0.99 to −0.56) from childhood to young adulthood, whereas QoL in the social relationships domain increased (β coefficient 1.24, 95% CI 0.92–1.55). Severity of impairment was associated with reduced QoL in all life periods of the study (childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood): motor impairment with social relationships, and more nuancedly intellectual disability with psychological well-being and social relationships. At all periods, frequent pain significantly reduced psychological well-being, and seizures were associated with lower QoL in the social relationships domain. In both domains, we identified a group of individuals with CP who presented a reverse trajectory compared with the general QoL trajectory.Conclusion: Identification of QoL trajectories and their associated factors yields improved knowledge about the experience of individuals with CP until young adulthood. Further studies are needed to better understand the determinants that have the greatest influence on the different shapes of long-term trajectories of QoL.

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Enhancing Meaning in Life and Psychological Well-Being Among a European Cohort of Young Adults via a Gratitude Intervention

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.751081 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Natalia Czyżowska ◽

Ewa Gurba

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

General Health ◽

Meaning In Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Gratitude Intervention ◽

Experimental Group

Background: Strengthening the sense of meaning in life and psychological well-being brings benefits for mental health. The group particularly vulnerable to mental problems are young adults, therefore the aim of our research was to explore how a gratitude intervention will affect the sense of meaning in life, psychological well-being, general health and perceived stress among them. The research also took into account the issue of expressing gratitude.Method: The study involved 80 young adults (58 women and 22 men) who were randomly assigned to the experimental group that filled out the specially prepared diaries for a week (participants were asked to list three things for which they feel grateful, to whom they are grateful and if and how they expressed their gratitude) or the control group. Participants completed the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), the General Health Questionnaire – 28 (GHQ-28), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being (PWBS) twice (before and after intervention).Results: In the experimental group significant increases were observed in three areas of psychological well-being: environmental mastery, relationships with others and purpose in life. The significant decrease was also noted in anxiety/insomnia and depression symptoms as well as in perceived stress. There were no differences in the level of meaning in life. There was a positive relationship between expressing gratitude and meaning in life and psychological well-being.Conclusion: Proposed gratitude intervention has the potential to enhance psychological well-being among young adults, however, it may not be effective in enhancing meaning in life.

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Unpacking Violent Behavior in Young Adulthood: The Relative Importance of Hazardous Alcohol Use

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/08862605211044103 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088626052110441

Author(s):

Siobhan Lawler ◽

Lexine Stapinski ◽

Maree Teesson ◽

Katrina Prior ◽

Miguel Basto-Pereira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Young Adults ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Young Adulthood ◽

Violent Behavior ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Report ◽

Unique Contribution ◽

Hazardous Alcohol Use ◽

Hazardous Alcohol

Young adulthood is an important developmental period for investigating the nature of violent behavior. This study examines the unique contribution of alcohol use to violence perpetration among young adults in the Australian community, after accounting for the influence of sociodemographic, early life, trait, and well-being influences. Cross-sectional, self-report data was collected from 507 young adults aged 18-20 years in the Australian general community via an online survey. Sequential logistic regressions examined the relative and independent contribution of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), impulsivity, psychological distress, and hazardous alcohol use to past-year violent behavior. Results show one in eight young adults aged 18-20 (13%) reported at least one act of violent behavior in the past year, primarily assault perpetrated against another person. Sequential logistic regression identified that after controlling for other risk factors, the number of ACEs reported and hazardous alcohol use were independently and positively associated with increased odds of reporting violent behavior in young adulthood. These findings demonstrate that ACEs and hazardous alcohol use are important, independent correlates of violent behavior in young adults. While preventing early adversity is key for reducing violence in the community, this evidence suggests that it is also important to target proximal causes such as hazardous alcohol use. Increasing early and widespread access to evidence-based, trauma-informed violence-prevention programs targeting risk factors across multiple settings is critical for reducing harm and supporting young people into healthy adulthood.

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Social Confidence in Early Adulthood Among Young People With and Without a History of Language Impairment

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2017_jslhr-l-16-0256 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 60 (6) ◽

pp. 1635-1647 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Kevin Durkin ◽

Umar Toseeb ◽

Nicola Botting ◽

Andrew Pickles ◽

Gina Conti-Ramsden

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Young People ◽

Young Adulthood ◽

Language Impairment ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Language Ability ◽

Social Self ◽

History Of

Purpose The purposes of this study were to test the predictions that lower self-esteem and higher shyness in individuals with a history of language impairment (LI) would continue from adolescence into early adulthood and that those with LI would have lower social self-efficacy in early adulthood. Method Participants were young people with a history of LI and a comparison group of age-matched peers. Both groups were tested at ages 17 and 24 years. Participants completed measures of language ability, nonverbal IQ, shyness, global self-esteem, and (at age 24 years only) social self-efficacy. Results Young adults with LI scored lower than age-matched peers on self-esteem, higher on shyness, and lower on social self-efficacy (medium to large effect sizes). In line with expectations, in the group with LI, language ability in adolescence predicted shyness in young adulthood, which, in turn, was negatively associated with self-esteem. There was also a direct association between language ability in adolescence and self-esteem in young adulthood. Conclusions Young people with a history of LI are likely to be entering adulthood less socially confident than their peers. Interventions may be desirable for young adults with LI, and the present findings indicate social self-efficacy as a key area of social confidence that calls for practitioners' attention.

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Use of the Chatbot “Vivibot” to Deliver Positive Psychology Skills and Promote Well-Being Among Young People After Cancer Treatment: Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/15018 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (10) ◽

pp. e15018 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Stephanie Greer ◽

Danielle Ramo ◽

Yin-Juei Chang ◽

Michael Fu ◽

Judith Moskowitz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Positive Psychology ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Negative Emotion ◽

Well Being ◽

Feasibility Trial ◽

Control Group ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Experimental Group

Background Positive psychology interventions show promise for reducing psychosocial distress associated with health adversity and have the potential to be widely disseminated to young adults through technology. Objective This pilot randomized controlled trial examined the feasibility of delivering positive psychology skills via the Vivibot chatbot and its effects on key psychosocial well-being outcomes in young adults treated for cancer. Methods Young adults (age 18-29 years) were recruited within 5 years of completing active cancer treatment by using the Vivibot chatbot on Facebook messenger. Participants were randomized to either immediate access to Vivibot content (experimental group) or access to only daily emotion ratings and access to full chatbot content after 4 weeks (control). Created using a human-centered design process with young adults treated for cancer, Vivibot content includes 4 weeks of positive psychology skills, daily emotion ratings, video, and other material produced by survivors, and periodic feedback check-ins. All participants were assessed for psychosocial well-being via online surveys at baseline and weeks 2, 4, and 8. Analyses examined chatbot engagement and open-ended feedback on likability and perceived helpfulness and compared experimental and control groups with regard to anxiety and depression symptoms and positive and negative emotion changes between baseline and 4 weeks. To verify the main effects, follow-up analyses compared changes in the main outcomes between 4 and 8 weeks in the control group once participants had access to all chatbot content. Results Data from 45 young adults (36 women; mean age: 25 [SD 2.9]; experimental group: n=25; control group: n=20) were analyzed. Participants in the experimental group spent an average of 74 minutes across an average of 12 active sessions chatting with Vivibot and rated their experience as helpful (mean 2.0/3, SD 0.72) and would recommend it to a friend (mean 6.9/10; SD 2.6). Open-ended feedback noted its nonjudgmental nature as a particular benefit of the chatbot. After 4 weeks, participants in the experimental group reported an average reduction in anxiety of 2.58 standardized t-score units, while the control group reported an increase in anxiety of 0.7 units. A mixed-effects models revealed a trend-level (P=.09) interaction between group and time, with an effect size of 0.41. Those in the experimental group also experienced greater reductions in anxiety when they engaged in more sessions (z=–1.9, P=.06). There were no significant (or trend level) effects by group on changes in depression, positive emotion, or negative emotion. Conclusions The chatbot format provides a useful and acceptable way of delivering positive psychology skills to young adults who have undergone cancer treatment and supports anxiety reduction. Further analysis with a larger sample size is required to confirm this pattern.

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Abstract P204: Depressive Symptomatology, Anti-depressant Use and Hypertension in Young Adulthood

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.133.suppl_1.p204 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 133 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Shakira F Suglia ◽

Danielle M Crookes ◽

Katherine M Keyes ◽

Karestan C Koenen

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Young Adults ◽

Young Adulthood ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Epidemiologic Studies ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Antihypertensive Medications ◽

Antidepressant Use

Objective: While depression symptoms have been associated with cardiovascular disease in adulthood, little is known of the effects of adolescent-onset depression and hypertension in young adulthood. Furthermore, few studies have examined whether use of anti-depressants is associated with hypertension among young adults. Research Design and Methods: We examined the relation between depression symptoms and hypertension in young adulthood in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N=13,722). Adolescents completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD)-20 during wave 1 (1994-1995, mean age 16) and the CESD-10 during follow-up wave 4 (2007-2008, mean age 29). Depression symptoms were characterized as a score of 16 or above for the CESD-20 and 11 or above for CESD-10. During follow-up participants were asked to provide to the interviewer all medications they were currently taking or had taken in the previous six months. Antidepressant and antihypertensive medications were identified from all medications provided. Blood pressure was measured during an in-home visit. Hypertension was defined as measured SBP of at least 140mmHg or DBP of at least 90mmHG measured in adulthood, or use of antihypertensive medications. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 20%. In models adjusting for sociodemographic factors, high depression symptoms in either adolescence or young adulthood were not significantly associated with hypertension in young adulthood. Use of anti-depressants in young adulthood was associated with hypertension (OR 2.89, 95%CI 1.82, 4.56) this association remained even after adjusting for obesity. No interactions by gender were noted. Conclusions: In this nationally representative sample, antidepressant use was associated hypertension in young adulthood. In accordance with a recent AHA Scientific Statement, our findings suggest that young adults with depression should be monitored closely to prevent the development of risk factors, such as hypertension, which may accelerate the development of cardiovascular disease.

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