scholarly journals The Friendship Questionnaire, autism, and gender differences: a study revisited

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicity Sedgewick ◽  
Jenni Leppanen ◽  
Kate Tchanturia
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Online Study ◽  
Relationship Closeness ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Background The Friendship Questionnaire (FQ) is a widely used measure of friendships in autism research and beyond. This study sought to revisit the original paper where the measure was presented, using a larger sample of both autistic and non-autistic participants to examine gender differences in scoring. It also sought to expand upon the original paper by comparing FQ results to those of the Unidimensional Relationship Closeness Scale (URCS), to examine whether there are differences in how autistic people report on their general friendships in contrast to their most significant relationships. Methods Participants were recruited for an online study, and 949 people (532 autistic, 417 non-autistic) aged between 18 and 81 took part. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Autism Quotient-28, the Friendship Questionnaire, and the Unidimensional Relationship Closeness Scale. Results We used robust regressions and Pearson’s correlational analyses, conducted in R. Autistic people scored lower than non-autistic people on the FQ, and similar gender differences in the pattern of FQ scores were seen in both groups. There was a significant negative correlation between AQ and FQ scores in both groups. On the URCS, we took the data from those who rated specific close relationships and found that autistic people scored this relationship more highly than non-autistic adults did. There was a significant negative correlation between AQ and URCS scores in both groups. Also, in both groups, there was a significant positive correlation between FQ and URCS scores. Limitations The data is entirely self-report, and diagnoses could not be verified with a clinician, although AQ scores support self-identification as autistic. Also, the groups were not evenly matched on age and other demographic variables, although this was controlled for in analyses. It is also the case that more autistic than non-autistic people were unable to specify a close relationship to score on the URCS, meaning that a certain set of experiences are not represented in this data. Conclusions We conclude that our data replicates the core finding of the original FQ paper that autistic people score lower on the FQ. In contrast to that paper, however, we found that there were gender differences among the autistic population. Also, our inclusion of the URCS suggests that the intimate romantic relationships and best-friendships of autistic people can be of similar quality to those of non-autistic people, suggesting that there may be important differences in autistic people’s relations with friends in general versus close friends and romantic partners.

scholarly journals Evaluating empathy in adolescents with conduct disorders

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 429-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena Kostic ◽  
Milkica Nesic ◽  
Miodrag Stankovic ◽  
Olivera Zikic ◽  
Jasminka Markovic
Keyword(s):  
Conduct Disorder ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Conduct Disorders ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Reactivity Index ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Affective Empathy

Background/Aim. According to currently available data, there is no research dealing with evaluating empathy in adolescents with conduct disorders in our region. The aim of the research was to examine the differences in the severity of cognitive and affective empathy in adolescents with and with no conduct disorder, as well as to examine the relationship between cognitive and affective empathy and the level of externalization in adolescents with conduct disorder. Methods. This research was conducted on 171 adolescents, aged 15 to 18, using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Youth Self- Report and a Questionnaire constructed for the purpose of this research. Results. The results showed that adolescents with conduct disorder had significantly lower scores for Perspective Taking (t = 3.255, p = 0.001), Fantasy (t = 2.133, p = 0.034) and Empathic Concern (t = 2.479, p = 0.014) compared to the adolescents in the control group, while the values for Personal Distress (t = 1.818, p = 0.071) were higher compared to the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The study showed a statistically significant negative correlation between Perspective Taking and aggression (r = - 0.318, p = 0.003) and a negative correlation between Perspective Taking and the overall level of externalizing problems (r = -0.310, p = 0.004) in the group of adolescents with conduct disorder. Conclusion. This research contributes to better understanding of behavioral disorders in terms of individual factors, especially empathic reactivity. Preventive work with young people who have behavioral problems associated with empathy deficit disorder proved to be an important tool in preventing the development, or at least relieving the symptoms, of this ever more common disorder.

scholarly journals A Mediator Effect of Social Support in the Association between Stress for College Life and Depression among Nursing Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-135
Author(s):  
Kyung Hee Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Significant Positive Correlation ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Nursing Intervention ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Self Report ◽  
College Life ◽  
Significant Mediator

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the mediator effect of social support in the association between stress for college life and depression among nursing students. Methods: The participants of the study were 201 university students in A and C cities. Self-report questionnaires were used to measure the variables. In the data analysis, the SPSSWIN 25.0 program was utilized for descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, Sobel test and multiple regression analysis. Results: Mean scores of stress for college life, depression and social support were 2.56, 4.12 and 0.61, respectively. Stress for college life and depression showed a significant positive correlation (r=.60, p<.001), while depression and social support showed a significant negative correlation (r=-.46, p<.001). Lastly, stress for college life and social support showed a significant negative correlation (r=-.55, p<.001). The analysis of the mediator effect of social support in the association between stress for college life and depression showed that social support had a significant mediator effect. Conclusion: Among nursing students, social support may be a mediator in the association between stress for college life and depression. Therefore, strategies for nursing intervention to improve social support should be developed for nursing students.

scholarly journals Anxiety, Family Functioning and Neuroendocrine Biomarkers in Obese Children

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inês Pinto ◽  
Simon Wilkinson ◽  
Daniel Virella ◽  
Marta Alves ◽  
Conceição Calhau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Functioning ◽  
Mental State ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Obese Children ◽  
High Functioning ◽  
Specific Association ◽  
And Gender

Introduction: This observational study explores potential links between obese children’s cortisol, and parental mental state, family functioning, and the children’s symptoms of anxiety and depression.Material and Methods: A non-random sample of 104 obese children (55 boys), mean age 10.9 years (standard deviation 1.76), was recruited from a childhood obesity clinic. Obesity was defined as body mass index above the 95th age- and gender-specific percentiles. Neuroendocrine biomarkers were measured. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed with self and parent-reported questionnaires (Anxiety, Depression and Stress Scales; Child Behaviour Checklist). Family functioning was assessed with parent-reported questionnaires (Family Adaptation and Cohesion Scales-III).Results: A significant, negative correlation (rs = -0.779; p = 0.003) between girls’ cortisol and their parents’ anxiety symptoms was found, limited to high functioning families. Boys scored significantly higher than girls on parent-reported internalizing symptoms but not on self-report. No association was found between cortisol in children and parental depressive symptoms.Discussion: Whether the association between cortisol levels in obese children and parental mental health is effectively restricted to girls from high functioning families or is due to study limitations, requires further research. The lack of associations between cortisol in children and parental depressive symptoms, suggests a specific association between cortisol and parental anxiety symptoms.Conclusion: These results highlight the importance of taking into account family functioning, parental mental state and gender, when investigating neuroendocrine biomarkers in obese children associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression.

IBD subtype and gender differences in self-report of internalized and physical symptoms

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. S57
Author(s):  
Claire Hoogendoorn ◽  
Molly Blasco ◽  
Hsin-hua Lin ◽  
Parisa Parsafar ◽  
Dina Khaimova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Self Report ◽  
And Gender

Prevalence and Gender Differences of ODD, Anxiety, and Depression in a Sample of Children With ADHD

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 1339-1345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gudlaug Marion Mitchison ◽  
Urdur Njardvik
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Children With Adhd ◽  
Behavior Rating Scale ◽  
Oppositional Defiant ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Reported Data

Objective: Studies on comorbidity in children diagnosed with ADHD have relied more on parent/teacher reports instead of self-reported data and have focused on the frequency of comorbid symptoms instead of scores above clinical cutoffs. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), anxiety, and depression in children with ADHD, using self-report measures for internalizing symptoms and parent-reported measures for externalizing symptoms for increased accuracy. Gender differences were also assessed. Method: Parents of 197 children diagnosed with ADHD answered the Disruptive Behavior Rating Scale, and 112 of the children filled out the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children and the Children’s Depression Inventory. Results: Results revealed that 19.28% of the children met cut-off criteria for ODD, 41.96% for anxiety, and 21.43% for depression. Conclusion: Our findings indicate a relatively lower prevalence of ODD and a slightly higher prevalence of anxiety symptoms than previously reported. Possible explanations and future directions are discussed.

scholarly journals Gender differences in mental health prevalence in autism

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicity Sedgewick ◽  
Jenni Leppanen ◽  
Kate Tchanturia
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Gendered Patterns ◽  
Autistic Population

Purpose Mental health conditions are known to be more common amongst autistic than non-autistic people. To date, there is little work exploring gender differences in mental health amongst autistic people and no work including non-binary/trans people. This paper aims to address this gap. Design/methodology/approach This was a large-scale online study, with 948 participants between 18 and 81 years old. Participants self-reported autism, anxiety, depression and eating disorder status. Analyses were run examining gender differences in the rates of these conditions in each group. Findings Autistic people are more likely to have anxiety and depression than non-autistic people of all genders. Autistic women and non-binary people experienced mental health issues at higher rates than men and at similar rates to each other. Autistic people were twice as likely as non-autistic people to have all eating disorders. Further, gendered patterns of eating disorders seen in the non-autistic population are also present in the autistic population. Research limitations/implications There are inherent issues with self-report of diagnoses online, but this study showed that using screening questionnaires is effective. Originality/value This is the first paper to look at gender differences in common mental health issues amongst autistic and non-autistic adults. It highlights that there are significant gendered patterns in the prevalence of mental health issues in both the autistic and non-autistic population and that these have an impact for how treatment should be approached to be effective.

Repairing one’s mood for the benefit of others: Agreeableness helps motivate low self-esteem people to feel better

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 3835-3854
Author(s):  
Kassandra Cortes ◽  
Joanne V. Wood ◽  
Jill Prince
Keyword(s):  
Self Esteem ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Behavioral Measures ◽  
Prosocial Motivation ◽  
Relationship Context ◽  
Mood Repair ◽  
Relationship Outcomes ◽  
Close Relationship

The chronic experience and expression of negativity is associated with poorer personal and relationship outcomes. Unfortunately, compared to people with high self-esteem, those with low self-esteem (LSEs) are less motivated to repair their negative moods. The current research examined mood repair in a novel way: in a close relationship context, when mood repair centers on benefitting others. We hypothesized that LSEs are more motivated than usual to repair negative moods when doing so benefits close others and when high in agreeableness (a trait involving prosocial motivation). We found support for our hypothesis with self-report (Studies 1 and 2) and behavioral measures (Study 2) of mood repair motivation, through an experimental manipulation of relationship context (Study 1), when participants expected to communicate with their romantic partners (Study 2), and for both sad (Study 1) and angry (Study 2) moods. Agreeable LSEs were more motivated to repair their negative moods than were disagreeable LSEs.

scholarly journals CAT-Q MSCS BASC2 Pre-Print

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary Aime ◽  
Nichole Scheerer ◽  
Troy Boucher ◽  
Grace Iarocci
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Social Competence ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Competence Scale ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Camouflaging, defined as the use of strategies to compensate for or hide autistic traits, is associated with internalizing behaviour (i.e., anxiety and depression) in both autistic and non-autistic people. Non-autistic adults who have poorer social competence tend to engage in more camouflaging, thus it’s unclear whether the increase in internalizing behaviour associated with camouflaging may be explained by poor social competence, rather than camouflaging itself. The purpose of this study was to extend previous research on camouflaging and internalizing behaviour among non-autistic people through examination of the role of social competence. Methods: In this study, 315 non-autistic young adults completed the Multidimensional Social Competence Scale (MSCS) to assess their social competence, the Camouflaging of Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) to assess their use of camouflaging strategies, and the Behaviour Assessment Scale for Children 2 – Self-Report of Personality, College Version (BASC-2 SRP-COL) to assess their internalizing behaviour. Results: We found that camouflaging predicted internalizing behaviour among non-autistic young adults after controlling for social competence, autistic traits, age, IQ, and gender. Camouflaging partially mediated the relationship between social competence and internalizing behaviours. Conclusions: These results suggest that the use of camouflaging strategies is uniquely associated with internalizing behaviour over and above social competence and may, in part, contribute to the increased internalizing behaviours observed in individuals with poorer social competence.

scholarly journals The Correlations among Emotional Development, Over-excitabilities and Personal Maladjustment

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-pei Chang ◽  
Ching-chih Kuo
Keyword(s):  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Emotional Development ◽  
Emotional Adjustment ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Personality Inventory ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Emotion Development ◽  
Teachers And Parents ◽  
Regular Students

This article presents a self-report inventory, the “Emotion Scale”, conducted on the basis of Dabrowski’s theory (1964) to understand the emotional development of the gifted. Two subscales, “Emotional Functions” and “Emotional Cognition” were included with 26 items. The coefficients of internal consistency (Cronbach α =.769), stability(.657~.769) and the expert validity(.714~1.000) were well reported. The formal study included 123 mathematically gifted students and 132 regular students from senior high schools in Northern Taiwan. The participants were administered with three instruments: “The Emotion Scale”, “The Me Scale” (OEs Scale), and “The Basic Personality Inventory”. The research findings indicated that the gifted students had better emotional adjustment than the regular students on three scales. There was positive correlation (t=.33, p<.01) between the score of emotion development and the intellectual OE but negative correlation (-.14, p<.05) between the score of emotion development and Emotional OE. The significant negative correlation (-.49, p<.01) between the score of emotion development and the score of Basic Personality Inventory was also found. Through the Stepwise Regression analysis, the researchers found the intensive emotional Over-excitability(EOE) significantly predicted personal maladjustment. Teachers and parents of the gifted are suggested using “The Emotion Scale” and “The Me Scale” to understand the emotional needs of their students/children and provide at-risk students/children with differential guidance and counseling.

scholarly journals National identity and language: students′ usage of English terminology within the Croatian language

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-52
Author(s):  
Ana Penjak ◽  
Hrvoje Karninčić
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
National Identity ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Language Usage ◽  
Spearman Rank ◽  
Everyday Language ◽  
Language Students ◽  
And Gender

AbstractThis article explores the issue of whether the strength of a country’s national identity can determine extensive use of English instead of Croatian equivalents among Croatian students of kinesiology, both in their professional (i.e. expressions related to sport) and everyday language usage. The study addresses the following issues: a) what does having stronger national identity mean; b) is there correlation between strength of national identity and gender differences in knowledge and preferences in using Croatian equivalents over English terms; c) in which context (everyday or sports) do students use more Croatian terms than English ones? A questionnaire was given to a sample of 100 students from the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Croatia. The Spearman Rank Order Correlations were used in establishing a correlation between national identity and the usage of Croatian equivalents, while the Mann-Whitney U Test was used in testing gender differences. To conclude, the results show a negative correlation between strength of national identity and knowledge of Croatian equivalents (in 51% of cases, in sports terminology, students do not know the Croatian word, and 78% prefer using English sport terms). Furthermore, gender differences were only found on the scale regarding English grades in high school (women had better grades than men).

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