Posttraumatic stress in children and adolescents exposed to family violence: I. Overview and issues.

Exposure to child physical abuse and parents' domestic violence can subject youth to pervasive traumatic stress and can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This article presents evolving conceptualizations in the burgeoning field of trauma related to family violence exposure and describes how the often repeating and ongoing nature of family violence exposure can complicate a PTSD diagnosis. In addition, recent literature indicates that children exposed to family violence may experience problems in multiple domains of functioning and may meet criteria for multiple disorders in addition to PTSD. Considerations salient to the recognition of traumatic stress in this population and that inform assessment and treatment planning are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The continuance and spillover of everyday tensions in distressed and nondistressed families.

This study compared 38 distressed and 35 nondistressed families on 2 interaction processes: the continuance of tensions involving the same family members and the spillover of tensions from one family subsystem to another. One parent reported perceptions of family tensions and satisfaction ratings each day for 2 wks. Sequential analyses revealed that distressed, compared with nondistressed, families experienced (1) greater continuance of tensions, particularly tensions that occurred the following day during the same time period, and (2) more spillover, particularly between marital and child-related tensions. Correlations with daily satisfaction ratings indicated that marital dissatisfaction in distressed families is highly related to the occurrence of marital tensions. These data support the importance of examining daily events and multiple family subsystems in order to understand family distress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Earthquakes and children: The role of psychologists with families and communities.

The 2008 Sichuan Province earthquake and 2005 Pakistan earthquake are examples of natural disasters that took an unimaginable toll on children. In such disaster management contexts, family members as well as health care and school personnel are the first-line responders and are natural sources of continued social support as children recover. Although psychologists have increasingly sophisticated understandings of post-disaster reactions and strategies for helping children and adolescents cope with trauma, models for responding to mass catastrophes are limited, particularly in geographically remote communities and in regions in which mental health services are stigmatizing. With children’s well-being subsequent to earthquakes inextricably linked to family and community, psychologists can make important contributions in 3 spheres: (a) coordinating and activating collaborations within children’s existing social contexts to develop post-earthquake interventions; (b) designing prevention and preparedness programs focused on the emotional needs of children in earthquake-prone communities; and (c) conducting research on interventions and recovery with particular attention to developmental stage, sociocultural-economic contexts, and the similarities versus differences across various types of disasters. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A 50-year comparison of University of Minnesota freshmen's reading performance.

The Minnesota Reading Examination for College Students and the Minnesota Speed of Reading Test were administered to 1,313 college freshmen in 1928 and to 1,154 in 1978. On the reading tests, the 1978 sample scored significantly lower than the 1928 sample on vocabulary, comprehension, and reading rate. The potential utility of this research, which covers a 50-yr time span, is discussed in terms of the generalizability of these findings to other college populations. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Scaffolded Thermally Remendable Hybrid Polymer Networks

Step‐growth Diels–Alder (DA) networks using furan and maleimide groups are particularly useful in forming thermally remendable crosslinked polymers, due to the dramatic shift in equilibrium over a relatively low temperature range as compared with other diene‐dienophile pairs. However, the efficient healing observed in these materials at high temperature is directly tied to their ability to depolymerize and flow, and thermal treatment often results in deformation of the original shape. To overcome this limitation, a hybrid network material is developed, which consists of orthogonal Diels–Alder and polyurethane networks. Both step‐growth networks form simultaneously at elevated temperature without the presence of a catalyst. At high temperatures, the Diels–Alder network depolymerizes and flows into fractures through capillary action, while the polyurethane serves as a scaffold to maintain the overall shape of the sample. The DA network then repolymerizes at lower temperatures, creating a crosslinked, scar‐like “patch” throughout the crack. This healing process is repeatable without concern of monomer depletion. During heating through the glass transition, a shape memory “assist” is observed, which reverses some of the localized damage by bringing broken edges closer together. Samples are repeatedly damaged and then healed through temperature cycling, as evidenced through tensile fracture tests and electrochemical conductivity tests.     

Analysis of the association between marital relationships and health problems: An interactional perspective.

Reviews the evidence for a relationship between 3 types of marital variables (marital status, marital adjustment, and marital interaction) and health problems (etiology, course/outcome/treatment) as well as the effect that health problems have on marriage. The mechanisms responsible for these associations also are evaluated. The evidence suggests that marital variables affect health status but that the effect is indirect and nonspecific. The major explanatory model, the stress/social support hypothesis, has provided a broad conceptual framework rather than testable hypotheses. The results of the review suggest, however, that sufficient evidence exists for researchers to focus on exploring specific explanations. A hypothetical model is presented that includes interpersonal, intrapersonal, psychological, and physiological variables. This model is intended as a blueprint for exploration as well as a summary of available evidence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predictors of driving exposure and avoidance in a field study of older drivers from the state of Maryland

Using structural equation modeling techniques, this study examines causal models of driving avoidance and exposure among older adults. Prior studies have revealed that past incidence of falls, Useful Field of View (UFOV) test performance, and Trails Making test performance are predictive of subsequent motor vehicle crash involvement [Owsley, C., Ball, K., McGwin Jr., G., Sloane, M.E., Roenker, D.L., White, M.F., Overley, E.T., 1998. Visual processing impairment and risk of motor vehicle crash among older adults. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 279 (14), 1083-1088; Sims, R.V., McGwin, G., Pulley, L., Roseman, J.M., 2001. Mobility impairments in crash-involved older drivers. J. Aging Health 13 (3), 430-438; Stutts, J.C., 1998. Do older drivers with visual nd cognitive impairments drive less? J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 46, 854-861]. Data analyses used these indices, along with age, health, measures of physical functioning, and additional measures of cognitive functioning, to examine driving exposure and avoidance behaviors. A field sample of 4,234 drivers, 55 years of age and older, were recruited from the Maryland Motor Vehicles Administration after renewing their driver's licenses. A performance-based assessment, which included the Gross Impairment Screening battery and task 2 of the UFOV test, was completed by participants. A sub-sample of participants (n=815) were interviewed by telephone about their health and mobility 3-6 months following the initial assessment at a renewal center. In addition to age and gender, latent variables for health status, physical functioning, cognitive functioning, driving exposure, and driving avoidance were created. Direct and indirect causal paths were specified. Age, gender, health status, and cognitive functioning had direct effects on both driving exposure and driving avoidance; physical functioning did not have a direct effect on driving exposure or avoidance. The implications of these findings are discussed as they relate to designing interventions to promote mobility.     

America's angriest home videos: Behavioral contingencies observed in home reenactments of marital conflict.

Sequential analysis was used to compare the conflictual marital interactions of 17 physically aggressive (PAG), 15 verbally aggressive, 18 withdrawing, and 15 nondistressed, low-conflict (NDLC) couples to describe behavior patterns characteristic of couples who report different marital conflict styles. Videotapes of couples enacting typical conflicts in their own homes were coded with a system designed to capture the affective aspects of communication. PAG couples were characterized by the reciprocity of hostile affect and by rigid, highly contingent behavior patterns that were both stronger and longer lasting than those of other conflictual, but nonviolent, couples. In a limited way, NDLC couples demonstrated some of the same negative behavior patterns as the conflictual couples, but they were able to exit these negative interaction cycles quickly, which underscores the importance of further research into the de-escalation of conflict. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Speed-of-processing and driving simulator training result in improved driving performance

Useful field of view, a measure of processing speed and spatial attention, can be improved with training. We evaluated the effects of this improvement on older adults' driving performance. Elderly adults participated in a speed-of-processing training program (N = 48), a traditional driver training program performed in a driving simulator (N = 22), or a low-risk reference group (N = 25). Before training, immediately after training or an equivalent time delay, and after an 18-month delay each participant was evaluated in a driving simulator and completed a 14-mile (22.5-km) open-road driving evaluation. Speed-of-processing training, but not simulator training, improved a specific measure of useful field of view (UFOV), transferred to some simulator measures, and resulted in fewer dangerous maneuvers during the driving evaluation. The simulator-trained group improved on two driving performance measures: turning into the correct lane and proper signal use. Similar effects were not observed in the speed-of-processing training or low-risk reference groups. The persistence of these effects over an 18-month test interval was also evaluated. Actual or potential applications of this research include driver assessment and/or training programs and cognitive intervention programs for older adults.