Description:
The severity of obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS) is suggested to be normally distributed in the general population, and they appear to have an impact on a range of aspects of adolescent development. Importantly, there are individual differences regarding susceptibility to OCS. In the present repeated measures study, OCS were studied in relation to gender and emotional stability (as a personality trait) using a normative sample of 515 adolescents at ages 16 and 18 years. OCS were assessed with the relevant subscale of the SCL-90-R and emotional stability with the Five Factor Questionnaire. A three-level hierarchical linear model was calculated to longitudinally assess the over time variations of OCS and their over time links to gender and emotional stability, while controlling for random effects due to the nesting of the data. Experiencing OCS increased with age (between 16 and 18 years). Additionally, male gender and higher emotional stability were associated with lower OCS at 16 years and these remained stable over time. Results indicate age-related and between individual differences on reported OCS that need to be considered for prevention and intervention planning.
Description:
The severity of obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS) is suggested to be normally distributed in the general population, and they appear to have an impact on a range of aspects of adolescent development. Importantly, there are individual differences regarding susceptibility to OCS. In the present repeated measures study, OCS were studied in relation to gender and emotional stability (as a personality trait) using a normative sample of 515 adolescents at ages 16 and 18 years. OCS were assessed with the relevant subscale of the SCL-90-R and emotional stability with the Five Factor Questionnaire. A three-level hierarchical linear model was calculated to longitudinally assess the over time variations of OCS and their over time links to gender and emotional stability, while controlling for random effects due to the nesting of the data. Experiencing OCS increased with age (between 16 and 18 years). Additionally, male gender and higher emotional stability were associated with lower OCS at 16 years and these remained stable over time. Results indicate age-related and between individual differences on reported OCS that need to be considered for prevention and intervention planning.
Description:
Confirmatory factor analysis was used to model a multitrait-multisource design to evaluate the construct validity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rating scales. The 2 trait factors were the ADHD inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity dimensions. The 2 source factors were parents and teachers. In Study 1, parents and teachers rated 1,475 Australian elementary school children on the ADHD symptoms. In Study 2, parents and teachers rated 285 Brazilian elementary school children on the ADHD symptoms. Similar results occurred in both studies with most of the ADHD symptoms containing more source than trait variance, thus providing weak evidence for the convergent and discriminant validity of the symptoms as measured by rating scales. The study outlines the implications of such strong source effects for understanding ADHD.
Description:
OBJECTIVE: ADHD and Hyperkinetic Disorder (HKD) have the same 18 symptoms, covering inattention (IA), hyperactivity (HYP), and impulsivity (IMP). This study was aimed at providing descriptive scores for the different symptom groups in these disorders and how these scores varied by age and gender, the percentages of individuals meeting the symptom thresholds for the different ADHD types and HKD, the factor structure, and gender invariance of these symptoms in adults. METHOD: To accomplish this, 852 adults provided self-ratings for a scale comprising the 18 ADHD/HKD symptoms. RESULTS: The findings showed that age and gender had minimal effects on the ADHD symptoms. Also, in terms of symptom counts, 2% had HKD and 6.3% had ADHD (inattentive = 1.6%, hyperactive-impulsive = 2.7%, and combined type = 2.0%). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) provided most support for the three-factor HKD model, involving separate factors for the IA, HYP, and IMP symptoms. This model showed full measurement invariance across gender. CONCLUSION: The theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
Description:
We report a meta-analysis of up to 40 data sets that examined the personality dimensions in the Five-Factor Model (FFM) and the integrated Five-Factor Model (IFFM) in relation to ADHD symptom domains of inattention (IA) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI). The IFFM incorporated the dimensions of other personality models (in particular, those of Eysenck, Tellegen, and Cloninger, as well as the FFM). Major findings were: (1) IA and HI were both associated with low conscientious inhibition/conscientiousness, and low agreeable inhibition/agreeableness, and with high negative emotionality/neuroticism; (2) conscientious inhibition and conscientiousness were more strongly related to IA than HI; (3) agreeable inhibition and agreeableness were more strongly related to HI than IA; and (4) the association of conscientious inhibition and conscientiousness with HI was moderated by age group and source from where participants were recruited (associations were stronger in children than adults, and clinical samples than community samples). These findings are discussed in relation to single and multiple pathway theories, underlying factors and processes for the personality-ADHD link, and clinical implications.
Description:
Background: Pornography Use (PU) has been defined as the viewing of explicit materials in the form of pictures and videos, in which people are performing intercourse with clearly exposed and visible genitals. The prevalence of PU has increased dramatically among adolescents, partly attributed to the wide availability of such online material. Objective: The aim of this systematic literature review is to map the research interest in the field and to examine whether statistically significant results have emerged from the areas of research focus. Methods: To address these aims: a) the PRISMA guidelines are adopted and; b) an integrative conceptualization (derived from the merging of two widely accepted models of understanding of Internet use behaviours) was introduced to guide the synthesis of the findings. Results: In total, 57 studies were integrated into the present literature review. Findings were concep-tualized/ classified into individual, contextual and activity factors related to PU in adolescence. In that context, individual associated factors, such as development, victimization, mental health and religiosity, appear to have primarily captivated research interest demonstrating significant relationships with adolescent PU. Conclusion: Results indicate that more research focus on contextual and activity related factors is required to improve the level of understanding of adolescent PU and to inform a more holistic conceptual framework of understanding of the phenomenon during adolescence that could potentially guide future research.
Description:
This study used the correlated trait-correlated method minus one model to examine the convergent and discriminant validity of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Teacher's Report Form (TRF) and Youth Self-Report (YSR), based on ratings of clinic-referred adolescents. A total of 294 adolescents, comprising 70.5 % males, provided self-ratings on the YSR. The adolescents were also rated by their mothers and teachers on the CBCL and TRF respectively. The findings indicated some support for convergent validity for the CBCL and TRF for Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn/Depressed and Rule Breaking Behavior, and for the convergent validity for the CBCL and YSR for Rule Breaking Behavior. There was support for the discriminant validity between virtually all the traits. The findings are discussed in relation to the construct validity, cross-informant agreement, and clinical use of the CBCL, TRF and YSR.
Description:
This study examined the applicability and measurement invariance of the bifactor model of the 10 Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) core subtests in groups of children and adolescents (age range from 6 to 16 years) with low (IQ /=80; N = 816; % male = 75.0) IQ scores. Results supported this model in both groups, and there was good support for measurement invariance for this model across these groups. For all participants together, the omega hierarchical and explained common variance (ECV) values were high for the general factor and low to negligible for the specific factors. Together, the findings favor the use of the Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) scores of the WISC-IV, but not the subscale index scores. (PsycINFO Database Record
Description:
Despite controversy about the potential for the development of dependence in relation to ecstasy [1], some people do experience problems with ecstasy use, and full case reports of dependence have been identified [2]. The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) is a brief, five-item screening instrument that has demonstrated validity in identifying cases of DSM cannabis, amphetamine, cocaine and benzodiazepine dependence. This study aimed to determine a cut-off score on the SDS that could provide a useful indication of individuals that are potentially ecstasy dependent according to DSM criteria.
Description:
Despite controversy about the potential for the development of dependence in relation to ecstasy [1], some people do experience problems with ecstasy use, and full case reports of dependence have been identified [2]. The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) is a brief, five-item screening instrument that has demonstrated validity in identifying cases of DSM cannabis, amphetamine, cocaine and benzodiazepine dependence. This study aimed to determine a cut-off score on the SDS that could provide a useful indication of individuals that are potentially ecstasy dependent according to DSM criteria
Description:
Despite controversy about the potential for the development of dependence in relation to ecstasy [1], some people do experience problems with ecstasy use, and full case reports of dependence have been identified [2]. The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) is a brief, five-item screening instrument that has demonstrated validity in identifying cases of DSM cannabis, amphetamine, cocaine and benzodiazepine dependence. This study aimed to determine a cut-off score on the SDS that could provide a useful indication of individuals that are potentially ecstasy dependent according to DSM criteria.
Description:
Despite controversy about the potential for the development of dependence in relation to ecstasy [1], some people do experience problems with ecstasy use, and full case reports of dependence have been identified [2]. The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) is a brief, five-item screening instrument that has demonstrated validity in identifying cases of DSM cannabis, amphetamine, cocaine and benzodiazepine dependence. This study aimed to determine a cut-off score on the SDS that could provide a useful indication of individuals that are potentially ecstasy dependent according to DSM criteria