Borderline Personality Disorder Features Predict Negative Outcomes 2 Years Later.

In a sample of 351 young adults, the authors assessed whether borderline personality disorder (BPD) features prospectively predicted negative outcomes (poorer academic achievement and social maladjustment) over the subsequent 2 years, over and above gender and both Axis I and Axis II psychopathology. Borderline traits were significantly related to these outcomes, with impulsivity and affective instability the most highly associated. The present findings suggest that the impulsivity and affective instability associated with BPD leads to impairment in relating well with others, in meeting social role obligations, and in academic or occupational achievement. Therefore, these may be especially important features to target in interventions for BPD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Use of Visual, Acoustic, and Olfactory Information During Embedded Invertebrate Foraging in Brown Capuchins (Cebus apella).

Experiments were conducted to investigate which sensory cues are used by brown capuchins (Cebus apella) in embedded invertebrate foraging. The importance of visual, olfactory, and acoustic cues in such foraging was determined by presenting subjects with a stimulus log modified to block out given sensory cues. Experiment 1 was designed to investigate whether subjects could locate an invertebrate embedded in wood when only visual, acoustic, or olfactory information was available. Experiments 2 and 3 were designed to investigate extractive foraging behavior when two sensory cues were provided. It was hypothesized that the combination of visual and acoustic information would be necessary for subjects to successfully locate embedded invertebrates. Results indicated that subjects' performance was most successful when both visual and acoustic information was available. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perception of induced visual motion: Effects of relative position, shape, and size of the surround.

In the 1st of 3 experiments with 64 undergraduates, the induced motion perceived in a stationary central point of light was primarily determined by the movement of the outermost of 2 oppositely moving surrounds, regardless of surround shape. Exp II found that moving square surrounds were more effective than moving circular surrounds in generating induced motion. In Exp III, perceived motion of the stationary light was directly related to the size of the moving square surround. These results, which indicate that induced motion is a function of the relative position, shape, and size of the moving surround(s), may be due to changes in the observer's egocentric orientation and perception of straight ahead. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social influences on children's problem solving.

Three studies examined the nature and limiting conditions of effects of peer interaction on children's problem solving. 150 children (4 to 11 years old) worked alone or with a same-age peer at a computer. Age, task complexity, and task familiarity were found to qualify effects of peer interaction on both motivation and learning. At all ages, except when the task was very complex or very familiar, working with a peer increased task engagement and positive affect. For younger preschool children, working with a peer had no effect on retention of simple or moderately complex tasks but had a negative effect on retention of more complex tasks. For older preschool children, peer interaction had a positive effect on retention of simple tasks, a neutral effect on retention of moderately complex tasks, and a negative effect on retention of more complex tasks. For elementary-school children, peer interaction had a positive effect on retention of even the most complex tasks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Healing the incest wound: Adult survivors in therapy, 2nd edition.

Reviews the book, Healing the incest wound: Adult survivors in therapy, 2nd edition by Christine A. Courtois (see record 2010-06160-000). Similar to the first edition, the second edition is divided into three main sections: Section I gives a broad but in-depth overview of the characteristics and dynamics of incest; Section II provides a breadth of information on the long-term effects, assessment, and diagnosis; and Section III details current evidence-informed best practice in working with survivors of prolonged child sexual abuse. The book presents a wide range of treatment modalities that represent a bevy of both empirically supported and supplemental techniques, from cognitive–behavioral to expressive therapies, such as art or poetry. The second edition of Healing the incest wound is an important read for any practitioner, novice or experienced, working with child sexual abuse survivors. Courtois both provides a solid basis for those beginning work with child sexual abuse survivors and adds to the knowledge of seasoned practitioners by bringing together the most current empirical evidence and clinical wisdom regarding child sexual abuse treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

A new SAS procedure for latent transition analysis: Transitions in dating and sexual risk behavior.

The set of statistical methods available to developmentalists is continually being expanded, allowing for questions about change over time to be addressed in new, informative ways. Indeed, new developments in methods to model change over time create the possibility for new research questions to be posed. Latent transition analysis, a longitudinal extension of latent class analysis, is a method that can be used to model development in discrete latent variables, for example, stage processes, over 2 or more times. The current article illustrates this approach using a new SAS procedure, PROC LTA, to model change over time in adolescent and young adult dating and sexual risk behavior. Gender differences are examined, and substance use behaviors are included as predictors of initial status in dating and sexual risk behavior and transitions over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The strengths and difficulties questionnaire: The self-report version in American urban and suburban youth.

This study examined the factor structure of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in urban inner-city and suburban general population samples of American youth. The SDQ was administered to 4,661 predominantly minority urban youth (mean age = 13.0 years, SD = 2.02) and 937 predominantly Caucasian suburban youth (mean age = 14.0 years, SD = 1.56). The authors examined SDQ factor structure using structural equation modeling techniques. The fit for the 5-factor models in both samples was very good (comparative fit index = .96-.97). However, the factor loadings and, correspondingly, the scale reliabilities for most of the SDQ scales (except for Emotional Problems) were low, which suggests poor specificity of the items. Subsequent exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses suggested that a 3-factor structure had a comparable model fit and better internal consistency of the scales. The study concluded that, although the SDQ scales do conform reasonably well to a 5-factor model, the scales are unsatisfactory in other respects and that, in its present form, the instrument has inadequate psychometric characteristics. Future research is needed for further scale development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role of manual-guided training in the conduct and efficacy of interpersonal psychotherapy for depression.

This article reviews findings from manual-guided training programs in short-term interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for depression, an exploratory treatment that focuses on symptom reduction and improvement of social functioning. The literature revealed (a) that experienced, dynamically trained therapists were able to achieve a high level of competence in IPT after comparatively brief training and were able to maintain adherence to the manual over a lengthy study; (b) that general dimensions of the psychotherapy process, including therapist warmth and patient difficulty, were highly correlated with ratings of therapist competence in the performance of IPT; and (c) that therapists judged as performing IPT more competently tended to be more effective. Although definitive evidence on the effectiveness of manual-guided training is lacking, the use of manuals and systematic therapist training appear to be useful for the conduct of psychotherapy efficacy research. Findings showing that manual adherence is related to therapist efficacy suggest a role for these procedures in clinical training and competency determination. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prediction of basic reading skills among young children with diverse linguistic backgrounds.

This study was conducted to assess the relative predictive validity of phonological processing, listening comprehension, general cognitive ability, and visual-motor coordination against early reading skills within a sample of children from diverse linguistic backgrounds. 65 children were tested in kindergarten with measures from each of the aforementioned areas, and in Grade 1 with measures of letter and word recognition. Among all predictor variables, phonological processing was the only significant predictor of Grade 1 reading. Language(s) spoken in the home added to the prediction of letter recognition. Results suggest that phonological processing may contribute to the acquisition of basic reading skills for children with varied language experiences in the same way as it does for monolingual children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social role and birth cohort influences on gender-linked personality traits in women: A 20-year longitudinal analysis.

Growth curve modeling was used to examine the impact of social role experiences (e.g., marital support, occupational prestige) and birth cohort on mean-level differences and age-related changes in positive personality traits indicative of either femininity or masculinity in 758 mothers heterogeneous in age, assessed 4 times over 2 decades. Both femininity and masculinity increased significantly from mean ages 39 through 59; each was predictive of an age change in the other. Low masculinity was associated with a more rapid increase in femininity, whereas high occupational prestige decreased the magnitude of association between masculinity and femininity. Femininity increased with more marital support but decreased with unmarried status, more children at home, and working full or part time; among full-time workers, that effect was modified by marital support. Masculinity increased with full-time work and high occupational prestige. A trend for differing levels of femininity, and contrasting associations of masculinity with femininity and marital conflict in women born after 1944 compared with those born earlier, suggests shifting social norms and gender relations in the marital role. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)