Personality and the predisposition to engage in risky or problem behaviors during adolescence.

Longitudinal data from a representative sample of 1,978 Black and White adolescents were used to examine the role of personality in multiple risk or problem behaviors. Results indicate that covariation among diverse behaviors (educational underachievement, delinquent behavior, substance use, sexual behavior) can be adequately modeled by a single higher order factor, and that impulsivity and avoidance coping serve as generalized risk factors for involvement in these behaviors. Whereas none of the personality variables examined explained change in problem behaviors once established, avoidance coping prospectively predicted involvement among a subgroup of adolescents with little or no prior involvement. Results suggest that dysfunctional styles of regulating emotions and emotionally driven behaviors are core features of risky or problem behaviors during adolescence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structure of problem behavior in adolescence and young adulthood.

Conducted 3 studies on the structure of behavior, using data collected by the 2nd author and S. L. Jessor (1977). These earlier bivariate findings suggested that diverse problem behaviors, including problem drinking, illicit drug use, delinquent-type behavior, and precocious sexual intercourse, may comprise a single behavioral syndrome in samples of normal adolescents. Data had been collected in 6 self-report waves for 162 male and 222 female Ss from the time they were in Grades 7–9 to when they were aged 25–27 yrs and for 84 males and 100 females from the time they were college students to when they were aged 30 yrs (approximately). In Study 1, a multivariate test of this possible syndrome was carried out through a series of maximum likelihood factor analyses. Analyses were performed by sex on 4 waves of the panel data. In Study 2, multiple random subsamples of adolescents who participated in the 1978 National Study of Adolescent Drinking (J. V. Rachal et al, 1980) were used to determine the generality of the results. In Study 3, the presence of a similar syndrome in Ss in their middle to late 20's was investigated, using data from Study 1. The analyses consistently showed that a common factor accounted for the correlations among the different problem behaviors. The findings support the notion of a syndrome of problem behavior in both adolescence and young adulthood. (45 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structure of problem and positive behaviors in African American youths.

Explored the association of 21 problem and positive behaviors in a sample of 283 inner-city, African American youths (8–12 yrs old). Data reduction yielded 4 factors, 3 representing different types or levels of problem behavior, labeled Interpersonal-Minor Deviance, School Problems, and Covert-High Deviance, and 1 representing positive behaviors. The 3 problem behavior factors, although not the positive behavior factor, were significantly correlated with an underlying second-order general deviance factor. The problem behavior clusters identified differed by the settings in which they occur as well as their inherent magnitude of deviance. Discriminant validity analyses confirmed that deviance was not a unitary phenomenon. Limitations as well as other implications of the data are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Verbal deception from late childhood to middle adolescence and its relation to executive functioning skills.

The present investigation examined 8- to 16-year-olds' tendency to lie, the sophistication of their lies, and related cognitive factors. Participants were left alone and asked not to look at the answers to a test, but the majority peeked. The researcher then asked a series of questions to examine whether the participants would lie about their cheating and, if they did lie, evaluate the sophistication of their lies. Additionally, participants completed measures of working memory, inhibitory control, and planning skills. Results revealed that the sophistication of 8- to 16-year-olds' lies, but not their decision to lie, was significantly related to executive functioning skills. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factor structure of Rorschach Prognostic Rating Scale and its relation to therapeutic outcome.

Evaluated the factor structure of the Rorschach Prognostic Rating Scale (RPRS) in 3 different clinical populations (psychoneurotics, homosexuals, and schizoids). Results (a) lend strong support for the structural stability of the RPRS at least across "nonpsychotic" patient samples, (b) suggest that the RPRS reflects at least 2 underlying response dimensions, and (c) indicate that abbreviated, factorially derived subscales may be as effective in predicting therapeutic status as the complete RPRS. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reliability of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale.

Examined the reliability of G. B. Spanier's (1976) Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). 158 middle-aged men and women completed the DAS on 2 occasions separated by approximately 2 wks. Separate alpha and stability coefficients were calculated for each of the 4 DAS subscales as well as the Total score. Coefficients alpha ranged from .70 (for the 4-item Affectional Expression subscale) to .95 (for the 32-item Total score), Mdn?=?.87. Stability coefficients ranged from .75 (Affectional Expression) to .87 (Total), Mdn?=?.81. Partial correlations revealed that the stability of the DAS was not influenced by Ss' age, educational attainment, number of children, relationship duration, or the length of the test–retest interval. Results suggest the DAS and its 4 subscales are internally consistent and stable over the interval examined in this study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Estonian Self-Consciousness Scale and its relation to the five-factor model of personality

This article reports on the current state of our efforts to shed light on the origin and evolution of linguistic diversity using synthetic modeling and artificial life techniques. We construct a simple abstract model of a communication system that has been designed with regard to referential signaling in nonhuman animals. We analyze the evolutionary dynamics of vocabulary sharing based on these experiments. The results show that mutation rates, population size, and resource restrictions define the classes of vocabulary sharing. We also see a dynamic equilibrium, where two states, a state with one dominant shared word and a state with several dominant shared words, take turns appearing. We incorporate the idea of the abstract model into a more concrete situation and present an agent-based model to verify the results of the abstract model and to examine the possibility of using linguistic diversity in the field of distributed AI and robotics. It has been shown that the evolution of linguistic diversity in vocabulary sharing will support cooperative behavior in a population of agents.     

Development and validation of the Ostomy Adjustment Scale.

Describes the development of the Ostomy Adjustment Scale, which is designed to measure psychological adjustment to ostomy surgery. 53 19–83 yr old ostomy patients responded to a mail questionnaire used for development of the scale; 30 of these Ss also completed a retest approximately 1 mo later. A 34-item scale comprised of items to be responded to on a 6-point Likert scale was developed. The scale was found to be reliable, and discriminant validity from measures of self-esteem and social desirability was demonstrated. Scores on the scale were related to time since surgery, return to work, and the amount of choice and preparation given Ss regarding the surgery. The scale also discriminated between these Ss and 31 undergraduates asked to simulate ostomy patients' responses. Factor analysis of the scale and the development of 2 short forms are also discussed. It is concluded that the scale will be useful in clinical practice with ostomates and in further research on adjustment to ostomy surgery. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relation of empathy to prosocial and related behaviors.

In a prior review involving a meta-analysis (Underwood & Moore, 1982), no relation between affective empathy and prosocial behavior was found. In this article, the literature relevant to this issue is reexamined. The studies were organized according to the method used to assess empathy. When appropriate, meta-analyses were computed. In contrast to the earlier review, low to moderate positive relations generally were found between empathy and both prosocial behavior and cooperative/socially competent behavior. The method of assessing empathy did influence the strength of the relation; picture/story measures of empathy were not associated with prosocial behavior, whereas nearly all other measures were. Several possible explanations for the pattern of findings are discussed, as are the implications of the findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing the strengths of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale.

Comments on an evaluation of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale conducted by A. E. Kazak et al (see record 1989-17603-001) and suggests areas of weakness in the analysis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality correlates of the Goodman Socio-Sexual Adjustment Scale.

Administered Goodman's Socio-Sexual Adjustment Scale to 71 male undergraduates, and assessed their personalities by means of the Omnibus Personality Inventory (OPI). Based on Goodman-OPI correlations of p     

The relation of the Vocational Preference Inventory to the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire.

How valid is the Holland Vocational Preference Inventory? The VPI, a short form of this inventory, and Form A of Cattell's Sixteen Personality Factor test were administered via mail to 783 boys and 394 girls and the scores intercorrelated. These "generally provided positive evidence for the construct validity of the VPI and its rationale." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conduct problem behaviors in a stratified random sample of children and adolescents: New standardization data on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory.

Presents new standardization data on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI), a parent-completed measure of conduct-problem behaviors. The ECBI was mailed to the parents of a stratified random sample of 3,600 students in Grades 1 to 12. A total of 1,003 completed ECBIs were returned (28%). Results indicated that the ECBI provides a homogenous measure of conduct-problem behaviors. Child (gender, ethnicity) and rater characteristics (gender, education, income) had minimum influence on the rating scale (accounting for less than 3% of the variance). The child or adolescent's age had a stronger impact, accounting for 8% of variance, with conduct-problem behaviors decreasing with age. The ECBI was also shown to discriminate children currently in treatment for learning disability or behavioral problems from children with no treatment history. Finally, using previously published screening criteria, the results indicated that in a sample of 810 children with no treatment history 7.9% scored in the clinical range. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Positive parenting in adolescence and its relation to low point narration and identity status in emerging adulthood: A longitudinal analysis.

In this longitudinal study, we examined identity development using the life story model (McAdams, 2001), in addition to a traditional identity status approach, in order to explore the association between perceived parenting in adolescence and the subsequent quality of life story narration in emerging adulthood. Participants (N = 100) were given a battery of questionnaires at ages 17 and 26 years and were asked to narrate a story at age 26 about their most difficult life experience. Low point narratives were analyzed for evidence of concluding clarity, resolution, and affective tone, termed coherent positive resolution (Pals, 2006). Structural equation modeling showed that participants who experienced more positive parenting at age 17 narrated their low points with clearer evidence of coherent positive resolution at age 26. Coherent positive resolution of the low point was also related to concurrent measures of identity achievement and emotional adjustment at age 26. Discussion centers on the potential impact of positive parenting as a contributor to healthy low point narration and identity in emerging adulthood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral disinhibition: Liability for externalizing spectrum disorders and its genetic and environmental relation to response inhibition across adolescence.

Behavioral disinhibition has been characterized as a generalized vulnerability to externalizing disorders. Despite increasing evidence for its validity and heritability, the structural stability of behavioral disinhibition across adolescence and the strength and etiology of its relation to executive functions have not been studied. In this multivariate twin study, the authors assessed behavioral disinhibition using measures tapping substance use, conduct disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and novelty seeking at ages 12 and 17. Executive functions were assessed with laboratory-based cognitive tasks at age 17. Results indicated that, at age 12, behavioral disinhibition was dominated by ADHD and conduct problems and was highly heritable. At age 17, the contributions of the 4 components were more balanced, and the proportion of variance attributable to genetic factors was somewhat smaller, with additional variance due to shared environmental influences. At both ages, behavioral disinhibition was more closely related to response inhibition than other executive functions (working memory updating and task-set shifting), and this relationship was primarily genetic in origin. These results highlight the dynamic nature of behavioral disinhibition across adolescence and suggest that response inhibition may be an important mechanism underlying vulnerability to disinhibitory psychopathology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Variable Response Inconsistency Scale and a True Response Inconsistency Scale for the Jesness Inventory.

Inconsistent item pair Variable Response Inconsistency (J-VRIN) and True Response Inconsistency (J-TRIN) scales were developed for the Jesness Inventory using 250 male and 250 female delinquents, ages 14–18, to detect the random and acquiescent sets. J-VRIN utility was assessed by comparing protocols of 262 male delinquents, ages 14–18, screened for probable randomness with matched-pair Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—Adolescent, with 500 all and part random computer-generated protocols. J-TRIN utility was assessed by comparing these protocols with 500 simulated acquiescent and nonacquiescent protocols. Specificities above .90 showed sensitivities up to .89 for J-VRIN and .85 and .62 for J-TRIN. Predictive power and overall effectiveness are reported for base rates of .20, .10, .067, and .05. Scales' relations to gender, race, age, and verbal fluency were investigated using an overlapping sample of 1,085 male and 356 female delinquents. Verbal fluency was the most salient. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relatedness of the Holland-grouped Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory Occupational Scale placements.

The Occupational scales of the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory (SCII) have been placed into broad interest categories that are based on J. L. Holland's (1973) system. These placements are important in the process of SCII interpretation; scales that are placed together may be interpreted as if they were related statistically as well as conceptually. The assumption of a statistical relationship may or may not be valid. The present study estimated the relatedness of those placements according to empirical and theoretical criteria for 87 female undergraduates. The empirical criterion was based on the Occupational scale intercorrelations within each Holland category. The theoretical criterion was based on Holland's occupational codes listed in the Occupations Finder. Occupational scales were identified as related or discrepant by one or both of the study criteria. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Autonomy, relatedness, and the initiation of health risk behaviors in early adolescence.

Examined the relationships among sociodemographic characteristics, family processes, and the initiation of health risk behaviors in early adolescence. Ss were 189 6th and 7th graders from a public middle school. A path-analytic model was used to analyze data. Results showed that students who received autonomy support from parents were less likely to initiate sexual intercourse. Students who were emotionally detached from their parents were more likely to fight and use substances. Those who were emotionally detached tended to come from families with low levels of cohesion and acceptance. Sociodemographic variables, such as family structure, gender, and ethnicity, had both direct and indirect effects on health risk behaviors, but the indirect effects were quite small. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relation between values and social competence in early adolescence.

Examined relationships between the social competence of early adolescents, as viewed by different reference groups, and the values adolescents place on controversial social behaviors. Assessed social competence for 65 seventh- and eight-graders with self-ratings of perceived competence, peer sociometric status ratings, teacher ratings, and academic achievement tests. Ss also completed an inventory assessing their values toward controversial social behaviors. A factor reflecting adolescents' valuing of direct, constructive communication in social interactions was positively related to competence with all reference groups. However, a factor that reflected valuing conforming to adult norms was negatively related to status with peers but positively related to teacher ratings of competence. The role of social values in the developmental task of achieving autonomy in interactions with adults while maintaining positive social relationships with peers and adults is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)