The Role of Social Problem Solving, Criminal Attitude, and ADHD in Aggression Among Incarcerated Youth in Hong Kong

Author(s):  
Jonathan S. F. Lau ◽  
S. W. Hung ◽  
Eva Y. W. Kwong

It is not atypical for young offenders to use aggression to handle problems. This exploratory study examined the contribution of social problem-solving deficit, criminal attitude, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms to aggression among incarcerated young offenders in Hong Kong. Correlational and regression analyses were conducted to identify factors that help to predict aggression. To control for the influence of ADHD symptoms, hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to reexamine the contribution of the identified factors. The results showed that negative problem orientation (NPO) and contemptuous attitudes toward the law, court, and police (LCP) helped to predict aggression at the current moment and 3 months later. After controlling for ADHD symptoms, only LCP but not NPO remained a significant predictor of both current and near-future aggression. This finding suggests that the contribution of criminal attitude to aggression tends to be independent of the effects of ADHD and social problem-solving deficit. We conclude by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of conceptualizing aggression and improving psychological services for young offenders.

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 366-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia Y.C.L. Kwok ◽  
Daniel T. L. Shek

Utilizing Daniel Goleman's theory of emotional competence, Beck's cognitive theory, and Rudd's cognitive-behavioral theory of suicidality, the relationships between hopelessness (cognitive component), social problem solving (cognitive-behavioral component), emotional competence (emotive component), and adolescent suicidal ideation were examined. Based on the responses of 5,557 Secondary 1 to Secondary 4 students from 42 secondary schools in Hong Kong, results showed that suicidal ideation was positively related to adolescent hopelessness, but negatively related to emotional competence and social problem solving. While standard regression analyses showed that all the above variables were significant predictors of suicidal ideation, hierarchical regression analyses showed that hopelessness was the most important predictor of suicidal ideation, followed by social problem solving and emotional competence. Further regression analyses found that all four subscales of emotional competence, i.e., empathy, social skills, self-management of emotions, and utilization of emotions, were important predictors of male adolescent suicidal ideation. However, the subscale of social skills was not a significant predictor of female adolescent suicidal ideation. Standard regression analysis also revealed that all three subscales of social problem solving, i.e., negative problem orientation, rational problem solving, and impulsiveness/carelessness style, were important predictors of suicidal ideation. Theoretical and practice implications of the findings are discussed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
László Kasik

This cross-sectional research focused on social problem solving (SPS) as a field within social behaviour among Hungarian 10-, 14-, and 16-year-olds (N = 459) in connection with people who considerably affect one's SPS (mothers, fathers, teachers, peers). We used the Social Problem Solving Inventory — Revised (SPSI–R; D'Zurilla, Nezu, & Maydeu-Olivares, 2002; factors: PPO = Positive Problem Orientation; NPO = Negative Problem Orientation; RPS = Rational Problem Solving; I = Impulsivity; A = Avoidance) as a measurement. The content of the original questionnaire has not been changed; the only applied modification concerns the instruction of being person-based when filling in the questionnaire. Based on the results, mothers’ and children's opinion were quite similar in all age groups. Fathers believed that RPS and PPO are more typical, contrary to their children's standpoint (only among 16-year-olds). The teachers saw fewer differences between pupils in terms of their SPS as they spent more years together. In light of the collected data, person-based SPS differs mainly in terms of NPO and A.


2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 166-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Chan

A sample of 116 Chinese secondary students nominated by their schools to participate in university gifted programs in Hong Kong were assessed on their divergent thinking and leadership characteristics prior to their admission to programs. Sixty of these students participated in the Creative Leadership Training Program (CLTP), and 56 joined other non-leadership training programs. The 2 groups of students did not differ on the pretraining assessment of general measures of divergent thinking and self-report leadership qualities. To evaluate the effectiveness of the leadership training, CLTP participants were also assessed on specific measures of interpersonal communication, public speaking, and social problem solving before and after the leadership training. The general findings indicated that CLTP participants gained confidence as leaders, especially in skill areas of communication and public speaking, and in regulating emotions and generating alternatives in social problem solving. The limitations of the pre- and postmeasures comparison and the need to develop program components for the enhancement of leadership flexibility and goal orientation are discussed


2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 710-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minsun Lee ◽  
Arthur M. Nezu ◽  
Christine Maguth Nezu

The present study examined the relationship among acculturative stress, social problem solving, and depressive symptoms among 107 Korean American immigrants. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that acculturative stress significantly predicted depressive symptoms controlling for different domains of acculturation. With regard to the role of social problem solving, among the five dimensions of social problem solving (i.e., positive problem orientation, negative problem orientation, rational problem solving, impulsive/careless style, and avoidant style), negative problem orientation and impulsive/careless style significantly predicted depressive symptoms. Avoidant style significantly interacted with acculturative stress, indicating that avoidant style is associated with depressive symptoms when acculturative stress is high. The study underscores the impact of culture as well as severity of stress on the relationship among acculturative stress, coping, and depressive symptoms among Korean American immigrants.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Wang ◽  
Yisi Huang ◽  
Yueting Xiao

This study examined the relationship between perfectionism and subjective well-being (SWB) and dimensions of social problem-solving ability. The Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R), Social problem-solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used to conduct a questionnaire survey of 202 Chinese adults. The results found that: (1) Subjective well-being was significantly negatively correlated with the discrepancy dimension of perfectionism and was also significantly negatively correlated with the negative problem orientation of social problem-solving. (2) The discrepancy dimension reflected in maladaptive perfectionism was significantly positively correlated with the negative aspects of social problem solving (Negative Problem Orientation, NPO; Impulsivity-Carelessness Style, ICS; and Avoidance Style, AS). (3) The negative problem orientation (NPO) dimension in SPSI-R, as a partial mediator, mediated the negative correlation between maladaptive perfectionism and subjective well-being. In conclusion, perfectionism and social problem-solving ability had different degrees of influence on the SWB of Chinese adults, and attention could be paid to dealing with discrepancy and how to reduce negative problem-solving tendency in education and clinical practice.


2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Hasegawa ◽  
Takuya Yoshida ◽  
Yosuke Hattori ◽  
Haruki Nishimura ◽  
Hiroshi Morimoto ◽  
...  

The relationship between depressive rumination and dimensions of social problem solving were investigated in a Japanese, nonclinical population. University students (N = 227) completed the Beck Depression Inventory—Second Edition, Ruminative Responses Scale, Means-Ends Problem-Solving (MEPS) test, and Social Problem-Solving Inventory—Revised Short Version (SPSI-R:S). Results indicated that after controlling for depression, trait rumination, especially its brooding subcomponent, was positively correlated with negative problem orientation and avoidance style. Unexpectedly, trait rumination was weakly but positively associated with an effective problem-solving style, as assessed by the SPSI-R:S and MEPS. These findings suggest that one pathway through which rumination leads to depression in nonclinical populations could be through increasing negative problem orientation and avoidance problem-solving style. Results also suggested that reflection, compared to brooding, was positively associated with positive problem orientation and more strongly associated with rationale problem-solving style. These findings suggest that reflection leads to active problem solving.


2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erdal Hamarta

The aim of this study was to determine whether or not social problem solving by university students predicts their self-esteem and life satisfaction. The survey model was adopted and the sample of the study consisted of 405 university students. The results of the study showed that self-esteem and life satisfaction are positively correlated with positive problem orientation and rational problem solving; they are negatively correlated with negative problem orientation, impulsivity/carelessness, and avoidance styles. The results also showed that negative problem orientation, positive problem orientation, and avoidance style significantly predicted self-esteem. In addition, rational problem solving, positive problem orientation, and avoidance style significantly predicted life satisfaction.


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