scholarly journals A longitudinal investigation of non-suicidal self-injury and perfectionism in a sample of New Zealand adolescents

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Madeleine Brocklesby

<p>Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is defined as the intentional, direct injury to body tissue, undertaken without suicidal intent, and for a purpose that is not socially or culturally sanctioned (International Society for the Study of Self-Injury, 2007; Klonsky & Muehlenkamp, 2007; Muehlenkamp, 2014). NSSI is prevalent in adolescent samples worldwide (Muehlenkamp, Claes, Havertape, & Plener, 2012; Swannell, Martin, Page, Hasking, & St John, 2014) and is typically considered a marker of wider distress. NSSI in adolescents has been associated with numerous poor mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and attempted and completed suicide (Asarnow et al., 2011; Brunner et al., 2014; Claes, Soenens, Vansteenkiste, & Vandereycken, 2012; Fox et al., 2015; Glenn & Klonsky, 2011; Jacobson & Gould, 2007).  In addition, research has demonstrated that perfectionism, defined as the setting of excessively high standards of performance (Frost, Marten, Lahart, & Rosenblate, 1990), is also commonly associated with substantial distress. Unfortunately, perfectionism in adolescents is thought to be on the rise (see Flett & Hewitt, 2014; Portesova & Urbanek, 2013) with many adolescents reporting multi-sourced and relentless pressure to perform highly and adhere to societal ideals. As such, individuals are setting excessively high goals for themselves, and increasingly worrying about the consequences of less than perfect performance. Similar to the research pertaining to NSSI, perfectionism has been shown to also be associated with a raft of poor outcomes including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and general psychological distress (e.g., Boone, Braet, Vandereycken, & Claes, 2013; Claes et al., 2012; DiBartolo et al., 2007; Lombardo, Mallia, Battagliese, Grano, & Violani, 2013; Vartanian & Grisham, 2011).  Research has shown an association between NSSI and perfectionism (e.g., Hoff & Muehlenkamp, 2009; O’Connor, Rasmussen, & Hawton, 2010). However, this literature is currently very limited and the relationship between NSSI and perfectionism is not well understood. In light of this, I set out to thoroughly explore if, and how, NSSI and perfectionism are related in New Zealand adolescents. Moreover, I aimed to gain insight into the mechanisms that could underpin such relationships.  Of the four studies conducted, the first and second studies established a foundation for my research. Specifically, Study 1 meta-analyses synthesised data from 118 studies investigating the relationship between perfectionism and adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. These analyses demonstrated a robust relationship between negative perfectionism and maladaptive outcomes. More specifically, they revealed a significant, positive summary correlation for the relationship between negative perfectionism and self-injurious thoughts and behaviours.  Study 2 aimed to define the most appropriate conceptualisation of perfectionism for research with New Zealand adolescents. This involved investigating the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Frost et al., 1990) in 930 adolescents with a mean age of 14 years old. A hierarchical structure with two overarching components (positive perfectionism, negative perfectionism), comprised of four second-level components (concerns and doubts, parental pressure, personal standards, and organisation) was identified and adopted for all following research.  Studies 3 and 4 investigated the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between NSSI and perfectionism. Study 3a specifically aimed to ascertain whether negative and positive perfectionism are associated with NSSI in New Zealand adolescents, based on survey data from 930 adolescents in their second year of high school. As expected, negative perfectionism was significantly associated with NSSI in females, however this relationship did not hold for males. On the other hand, positive perfectionism was associated with less engagement in NSSI in both males and females. This suggested that negative perfectionism may represent a risk factor for NSSI, while positive perfectionism may buffer against risk of NSSI. In addition, Study 3b investigated the relationships between perfectionism and the functions of NSSI, indicating that self-punishment functions are particularly relevant for perfectionistic adolescents. As the final component of the cross-sectional analyses, Study 3c illustrated that the association between perfectionism and NSSI is more accurately captured when the interaction between positive and negative perfectionism is also considered.  Study 4 involved the examination of this relationship over time. To do so, another wave of data was collected, resulting in data matched across two times points for 608 adolescents. Longitudinal analyses demonstrated that negative perfectionism prospectively predicted NSSI one year later in females only. Moreover, again for only females, positive perfectionism predicted an increase in negative perfectionism over time. No significant longitudinal relationships were demonstrated for male adolescents.  The ultimate aim of this research was to provide clinicians, school staff and parents with the information required to effectively identify at-risk adolescents, and thereby prevent the onset of NSSI and its vast associated negative outcomes. This research suggests that perfectionism is one such risk factor to be aware of. As such, it is argued that targeted prevention and intervention strategies for perfectionism will help prevent the onset and maintenance of NSSI in females, and are also likely to be of benefit to the wider mental wellbeing of New Zealand adolescents.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Madeleine Brocklesby

<p>Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is defined as the intentional, direct injury to body tissue, undertaken without suicidal intent, and for a purpose that is not socially or culturally sanctioned (International Society for the Study of Self-Injury, 2007; Klonsky & Muehlenkamp, 2007; Muehlenkamp, 2014). NSSI is prevalent in adolescent samples worldwide (Muehlenkamp, Claes, Havertape, & Plener, 2012; Swannell, Martin, Page, Hasking, & St John, 2014) and is typically considered a marker of wider distress. NSSI in adolescents has been associated with numerous poor mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and attempted and completed suicide (Asarnow et al., 2011; Brunner et al., 2014; Claes, Soenens, Vansteenkiste, & Vandereycken, 2012; Fox et al., 2015; Glenn & Klonsky, 2011; Jacobson & Gould, 2007).  In addition, research has demonstrated that perfectionism, defined as the setting of excessively high standards of performance (Frost, Marten, Lahart, & Rosenblate, 1990), is also commonly associated with substantial distress. Unfortunately, perfectionism in adolescents is thought to be on the rise (see Flett & Hewitt, 2014; Portesova & Urbanek, 2013) with many adolescents reporting multi-sourced and relentless pressure to perform highly and adhere to societal ideals. As such, individuals are setting excessively high goals for themselves, and increasingly worrying about the consequences of less than perfect performance. Similar to the research pertaining to NSSI, perfectionism has been shown to also be associated with a raft of poor outcomes including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and general psychological distress (e.g., Boone, Braet, Vandereycken, & Claes, 2013; Claes et al., 2012; DiBartolo et al., 2007; Lombardo, Mallia, Battagliese, Grano, & Violani, 2013; Vartanian & Grisham, 2011).  Research has shown an association between NSSI and perfectionism (e.g., Hoff & Muehlenkamp, 2009; O’Connor, Rasmussen, & Hawton, 2010). However, this literature is currently very limited and the relationship between NSSI and perfectionism is not well understood. In light of this, I set out to thoroughly explore if, and how, NSSI and perfectionism are related in New Zealand adolescents. Moreover, I aimed to gain insight into the mechanisms that could underpin such relationships.  Of the four studies conducted, the first and second studies established a foundation for my research. Specifically, Study 1 meta-analyses synthesised data from 118 studies investigating the relationship between perfectionism and adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. These analyses demonstrated a robust relationship between negative perfectionism and maladaptive outcomes. More specifically, they revealed a significant, positive summary correlation for the relationship between negative perfectionism and self-injurious thoughts and behaviours.  Study 2 aimed to define the most appropriate conceptualisation of perfectionism for research with New Zealand adolescents. This involved investigating the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Frost et al., 1990) in 930 adolescents with a mean age of 14 years old. A hierarchical structure with two overarching components (positive perfectionism, negative perfectionism), comprised of four second-level components (concerns and doubts, parental pressure, personal standards, and organisation) was identified and adopted for all following research.  Studies 3 and 4 investigated the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between NSSI and perfectionism. Study 3a specifically aimed to ascertain whether negative and positive perfectionism are associated with NSSI in New Zealand adolescents, based on survey data from 930 adolescents in their second year of high school. As expected, negative perfectionism was significantly associated with NSSI in females, however this relationship did not hold for males. On the other hand, positive perfectionism was associated with less engagement in NSSI in both males and females. This suggested that negative perfectionism may represent a risk factor for NSSI, while positive perfectionism may buffer against risk of NSSI. In addition, Study 3b investigated the relationships between perfectionism and the functions of NSSI, indicating that self-punishment functions are particularly relevant for perfectionistic adolescents. As the final component of the cross-sectional analyses, Study 3c illustrated that the association between perfectionism and NSSI is more accurately captured when the interaction between positive and negative perfectionism is also considered.  Study 4 involved the examination of this relationship over time. To do so, another wave of data was collected, resulting in data matched across two times points for 608 adolescents. Longitudinal analyses demonstrated that negative perfectionism prospectively predicted NSSI one year later in females only. Moreover, again for only females, positive perfectionism predicted an increase in negative perfectionism over time. No significant longitudinal relationships were demonstrated for male adolescents.  The ultimate aim of this research was to provide clinicians, school staff and parents with the information required to effectively identify at-risk adolescents, and thereby prevent the onset of NSSI and its vast associated negative outcomes. This research suggests that perfectionism is one such risk factor to be aware of. As such, it is argued that targeted prevention and intervention strategies for perfectionism will help prevent the onset and maintenance of NSSI in females, and are also likely to be of benefit to the wider mental wellbeing of New Zealand adolescents.</p>


2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
David N. Weil

This book explores the relationship between the material standard of living and health, both across countries and over time. Above all, Deaton is interested in the question of whether income growth contributes significantly to better health. His answer is no: saving lives in poor countries is not expensive, and there are many episodes of massive health improvements in the absence of income growth. As an alternative, he argues that the cross-sectional correlation between health and income is induced by variation in institutional quality, while over time, parallel improvements in income and health have been a result of advancing knowledge. (JEL E23, I12, I14, I15, O15, O47)


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3728
Author(s):  
Masahiro Hatasa ◽  
Sumiko Yoshida ◽  
Hirokazu Takahashi ◽  
Kenichi Tanaka ◽  
Yoshihito Kubotsu ◽  
...  

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease caused by pathogenic oral microorganisms that leads to the destruction of alveolar bone and connective tissues around the teeth. Although many studies have shown that periodontal disease is a risk factor for systemic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and periodontal disease has not yet been clarified. Thus, the purpose of this review was to reveal the relationship between NAFLD and periodontal disease based on epidemiological studies, basic research, and immunology. Many cross-sectional and prospective epidemiological studies have indicated that periodontal disease is a risk factor for NAFLD. An in vivo animal model revealed that infection with periodontopathic bacteria accelerates the progression of NAFLD accompanied by enhanced steatosis. Moreover, the detection of periodontopathic bacteria in the liver may demonstrate that the bacteria have a direct impact on NAFLD. Furthermore, Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide induces inflammation and accumulation of intracellular lipids in hepatocytes. Th17 may be a key molecule for explaining the relationship between periodontal disease and NAFLD. In this review, we attempted to establish that oral health is essential for systemic health, especially in patients with NAFLD.


1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina M. Frederick ◽  
Virginia M. Grow

This study expands upon existing literature by examining how the relationship between autonomy deficits and low self-esteem may create a psychological environment conducive to the development of eating disordered behaviors. Findings supported a mediational model to account for eating disordered behaviors in 71 college women. In this model, lack of autonomy was related to decreased global self-esteem, which in turn was associated with bulimia, body dissatisfaction, and drive for thinness. Although only tentative and cross-sectional in nature, this study is of particular importance because it links autonomy and self-esteem in a coherent model predictive of eating disordered behaviors in college women. Developmental aspects of eating disorders and treatment implications are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 592-593
Author(s):  
Francesca Falzarano ◽  
Karen Siedlecki ◽  
Jillian Minahan

Abstract Research examining the relationship between subjective cognitive complaints and objective cognitive performance has been mixed. Despite the lack of clear evidence demonstrating an association, subjective cognitive complaints are used as a criterion for the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and is considered a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Cross-lagged panel analyses were used in the current study to examine the longitudinal relationships between subjective cognitive complaints (using the Memory Functioning Questionnaire) and objective cognition (e.g., reasoning, memory, spatial visualization, processing speed, and vocabulary) in healthy adults over 60 from the Virginia Cognitive Aging Project (N=441). Results indicated that objective and subjective cognition were only weakly related but that objective cognition is a stronger predictor of subjective cognitive complaints then vice versa. Although subjective cognitive complaints may be an early indicator of pathological aging, results indicate that subjective cognitive complaints may not be a valid predictor of objective cognitive decline.


Author(s):  
Nicholas P. Wood

Nicholas Wood traces the effect of the Missouri Crisis on the American Colonization Society’s efforts to gain support from the federal government. Like Ericson, Wood highlights the desire of ACS leaders to gain government support, and he traces their initial success in that endeavour before examining how the relationship changed as a result of the situation in Missouri. According to Wood, the ACS program became increasingly controversial in the 1820s and 1830s, leading Congress to reject the society’s appeals for greater aid. He concludes that the Missouri Crisis played a large role in destroying the cross-sectional trust that would have been essential for a federal colonization program to pass.


1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 799-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves T. Prairie ◽  
C. Tara Marshall

Aquatic scientists using empirical relationships developed from point measurements or averages from different lakes often assume that these relationships also apply to individual lakes over time. However, this assumption is difficult to test because the extent of variation within a single system is generally much smaller and the relationship accordingly less defined than across a number of systems. We present a new method to extract empirical relationships from the internal structure of a time-series within a single lake. When we applied the method to an extreme simulation, we were able to recover accurately the parameters of the relationship in spite of the absence of any apparent relationship between the variables. When applied to empirical data for phosphorus and chlorophyll concentrations collected daily over one field season, the estimated structural relationship was nearly identical to that estimated from cross-sectional data even though the empirical trend appeared much shallower and very weak.


BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e018701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Fuentes Pacheco ◽  
Gabriela Carrillo Balam ◽  
Daryll Archibald ◽  
Elizabeth Grant ◽  
Valeria Skafida

IntroductionObesity is a global pandemic that affects all socioeconomic strata, however, the highest figures have been observed in the most disadvantaged social groups. Evidence from the USA and Canada showed that specific urban settings encourage obesogenic behaviour in the population living and/or working there. We aim to examine the evidence on the association between local food environments and obesity in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.MethodsSix databases from 1990 to 2017 will be searched: MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) and Web of Science. Grey literature will also be sought by searching Opengrey Europe, The Grey Literature Report and relevant government websites. Additional studies will be retrieved from the reference lists of the selected articles. It will include cohort, longitudinal, case study and cross-sectional studies that have assessed the relationship between local food environments and obesity in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand regardless of sex, age and ethnicity of the population. Two researchers will independently select the studies and extract the data. Data items will incorporate: author names, title, study design, year of study, year exposure data collected, country, city, urban/rural, age range, study exclusions, special characteristics of study populations, aims, working definitions of food environments and food outlets, exposure and methods of data collection, outcomes and key findings. A narrative synthesis and a summary of the results will be produced separately for children and adults, according to the type of food exposure–outcome. All the selected studies will be assessed using The Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies.Ethics and disseminationThis study will be based on published literature, and therefore ethical approval has not been sought. Our findings will be presented at relevant national and international scientific conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal.


Criminology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
James V. Ray

Cross-sectional research allows researchers to study a phenomenon or the relationship between variables at one point in time. In cross-sectional research data are collected once for each case (e.g., individual, neighborhood, city, state) at a single point in time. Cross-sectional research is most appropriate for studies that have descriptive or exploratory aims and in many cases are inadequate to assess causal processes due to an inability for researchers to establish temporal order—a necessary but not sufficient condition for causality. However, in some cases cross-sectional research may be adequate or even preferable to assess mediational models such as when the mediator variable is contemporaneous. Due to the nature of cross-sectional research, it is also not possible to utilize this approach to examine patterns or within-individual change in behavior over time. Alternatively, longitudinal designs typically follow the same cases over time and make observations (e.g., surveys, interviews) for each case at multiple time points. This approach allows for researchers to establish temporal order and assess both between and within-individual change over time. There is an ongoing debate among criminologists, particularly those interested in developmental processes and theories, regarding the worth of cross-sectional designs over longitudinal designs. This debate largely stems from the relationship between age and crime in what is typically referred to as the age-crime curve and the criminal career paradigm. That is, traditional cross-sectional research has found that crime peaks in mid- to late adolescence and then gradually declines across adult age groups. Despite the criticisms waged against cross-sectional research and the benefits of longitudinal research to establish temporal order, cross-sectional research designs still dominate criminology and criminal justice research. This may be due to some of the advantages of cross-sectional research and disadvantages of longitudinal research. For instance, cross-sectional research is relatively quick and affordable to carry out, making it a fairly accessible research design to conduct without funding and enables production of timely findings. Most importantly, researchers have developed unique methods of data collection and statistical analyses to overcome concerns of causality in cross-sectional research including retrospective or life history analyses, experimental survey designs, and repeated cross-sections or trend data. While these “fixes” do not allow researchers to assess within-individual change in outcomes (e.g., behaviors, attitudes, personality), they do address issues of temporal order and nonspuriousness within the cross-sectional design. The following article presents works that address various aspects of cross-sectional research and some examples of research utilizing this design.


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