Social-psychological profiles of identity styles: attitudinal and social-cognitive correlates in late adolescence

This study examined the relationships between three identity styles (i.e. the information style, the normative style, and the diffuse/avoidant style) and a number of social-cognitive and attitudinal variables (including empathy, prejudice, and conservatism). Discriminant analysis on a sample of late adolescents (N=393) led to the conclusion that two classes of variables differentiate between the three identity styles. Maladaptive coping strategies and, to a lesser extent, low empathy distinguished mainly between the information style and the normative style on the one hand and the diffuse/avoidant style on the other hand. Need for closure and measures of prejudice and conservatism differentiated primarily between the normative style and the two other styles. These two classes of variables can be related to two basic dimensions in current theory on adolescents' identity styles, that is, active vs. superficial processing of information and adherence to traditional opinions vs. openmindedness.     

Identity and perceived peer relationship quality in emerging adulthood: The mediating role of attachment-related emotions

Identity formation and the perceived quality of one’s peer relationships are theorized to be intimately linked in emerging adulthood. The present study examined the associations between identity styles (i.e., information-oriented, normative, and diffuse-avoidant styles) and the quality of relationships with peers (as indexed by friendship quality and loneliness) in a sample of 343 college students from Belgium. High scores for the information-oriented style were positively related to friendship quality, whereas high scores for the diffuse-avoidant identity style were positively related to loneliness. These direct associations were mediated, at least in part, by attachment-related emotions (i.e., avoidance and anxiety). These associations, both direct and indirect, provide the first evidence linking identity styles and the quality of peer relationships. Suggestions for future research are provided, both at the methodological and the conceptual level.     

A meta-analytic review of Berzonsky's Identity Style Inventory (ISI)

Identity formation is an essential developmental challenge associated with adolescence (Cote, 2009; Erikson, 1950, 1968). Berzonsky (1988) developed a social-cognitive model that distinguishes three styles by which adolescents engage the tasks associated with identity formation: informational, normative, and diffuse-avoidant. Focusing on studies (K?=?62) that employed the Identity Style Inventory (ISI; Berzonsky, 1989), three meta-analytic reviews were performed. First, results show a medium positive association between the informational and normative styles, a medium negative association between informational and diffuse-avoidant styles, and a negligible negative association between the normative and diffuse-avoidant styles. Second, results show large positive associations between commitment and both the informational and normative identity styles, and a large negative association between commitment and the diffuse-avoidant style. Finally, results show a small positive association between gender and the diffuse-avoidant identity style, with men scoring higher than women. Age and country of origin were evaluated as moderators.     

Correlates of hopelessness in psychiatrically hospitalized children

The importance of hopelessness within the study of childhood psychiatric disorders is becoming increasingly apparent. The present study divides a child inpatient sample (age 7 to 12 years) into two groups based on scores from the Kazdin Hopelessness Scale for Children. Comparisons made between the two groups on various measures showed that children with high hopelessness had lower cognitive ability, "difficult child" temperament characteristics, more anxiety, lower self-esteem, and a higher degree of psychopathology than the low-hopelessness group. The role of hopelessness in academic success and future psychopathology are discussed.     

无望感-自尊理论对抑郁症、焦虑症、强迫症患者的适用性研究

目的:比较抑郁症、焦虑症、强迫症患者在归因方式、无望感、自尊上的异同,探索抑郁症、焦虑症、强迫症患者对无望感-自尊理论的适用性. 方法:对门诊或住院的抑郁症(n=81)、焦虑症(n=53)、强迫症(n=48)患者,及正常对照组(n=51)被试进行归因方式问卷、自尊量表的测评,得分进行4组间比较. 结果:①抑郁症组在...     

Ethnic differences in adolescents'' identity status and associated behavior problems

The relationships between ethnicity and identity status and between identity status and behavior problems, social competence, and self-esteem were examined among 330 White, Black, Puerto Rican and Filipino students in an integrated high school. Identity status (i.e., achieved, moratorium, foreclosed, or diffuse) was defined on the basis of a 24-item self-report inventory on which students rated their explorations of options and/or commitments to choices in their occupational, political, and religious domains. Ethnic status was also assessed in an 8-item questionnaire which assessed exploration and commitment to one's ethnic role. White students in the upper grades reported significantly higher moratorium scale scores and perceived themselves as more likely to have explored and be committed to their ethnic role than minority youth. There were no significant ethnic differences in the relationships of identity status to behavior problems, social competence or self-esteem. Adolescent boys were significantly more likely to be in moratorium regarding their ethnic role than girls. Grade and sex differences in identity status were consistent with those predicted by developmental researchers. Across all ethnic groups, ratings of moratorium status were associated with significantly more behavior problems, less social competence, and lower self-esteem.     

Biological correlates of deliberate self-harm behaviour: a study of electroencephalographic,biochemical and psychological variables in parasuicide

Clinical, electroencephalographic and biochemical variables were measured in 40 patients who attempted suicide and 27 age-matched controls. Patients had significantly higher scores for depression, hopelessness, neuroticism and psychoticism and lower scores for extraversion than controls. They also had significantly lower contingent negative variation (CNV), higher postimperative negative variation and lower whole blood serotonin values than controls. Within the patient group, vulnerability to parasuicide, as determined by previous or repeated acts of deliberate self-harm, was associated with higher scores for hopelessness and suicide intent, lower scores for extraversion and decreased CNV. Factor analysis revealed significant correlations between psychological variables and auditory evoked potential amplitudes for the vulnerable group. A profile of variables associated with increased risk of self-harm in patients presenting with attempted suicide is proposed from our data.     

African Americans,Caribbean Blacks and Depression: Which Biopsychosocial Factors Should Social Workers Focus On? Results from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL)

Research suggests that African Americans may be more likely to experience depression, especially severe depression, than other racial or ethnic groups in the United States. Overall there is scant research comparing the relationship between ethnicity and depression among the U.S. Black population. The purpose of this study is to identify the most significant biopsychosocial factors social workers can address in the prevention and treatment of depression in African American and first generations Caribbean Black clients. Data was from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL). Bivariate associations showed that respondents who reported higher self-esteem, lower hopelessness, higher sense of mastery, and lower discrimination showed lower likelihood of having Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The logistic regression model suggested that respondents who have ever had a chronic disease were more likely to report depression than those who have not ever had a chronic disease. Caribbean Blacks were more likely to report depression compared to African Americans. Additionally, respondents who reported higher discrimination scores were more likely to report depression. This study suggests that social workers should embrace the interconnectedness and holistic approach of the biopsychosocial model in their case conceptualizations, prevention strategies, and treatment modalities.

     

Parenting styles and mental health of Palestinian-Arab adolescents in Israel

The relationship between three parenting styles (authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative) and the mental health of Arab adolescents was tested. It was hypothesized that parenting style toward boys would differ from that towards girls, psychological adjustment of girls would differ from that of boys, and that the authoritarian style applied within the authoritarian Arab society is not associated with poor psychological adjustment. The Parental Authority Questionnaire, Child Attitude Toward Parents, Lipsitt's Self-Concept Scale for Children, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Psychological State Scale were administered to 431 Arab adolescents. Sex comparison revealed that the parenting style with regard to girls tends to be more authoritative and less authoritarian than with regard to boys. Girls scored higher than boys on identity disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression scales, whereas boys scored higher than girls on the behavior disorder scale. There was no significant relationship between the authoritarian parenting style and the mental health measures. A significant positive relationship exists between the authoritative parenting style and the mental health of children. Among boys, the permissive parenting style was associated with negative attitudes towards parents, lower self-esteem and increased identity, anxiety, phobia, depressive, and conduct disorders. It seems, therefore, that the effect of parenting style is culturally and gender dependent rather than universal.     

Temperament types are associated with weak self-construct, elevated distress and emotion-oriented coping in schizophrenia: evidence for a complex vulnerability marker?

Knowledge concerning temperament factors involved in vulnerability to schizophrenia is limited. We hypothesized that temperament and self-variables (emotional distress, coping styles, self-efficacy and self-esteem) might present a complex trait marker for underlying vulnerability to schizophrenia. We sought to (1) assess temperament dimensions and types in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls using the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ), and (2) explore their association with symptom dimensions, emotional distress, coping styles, self-constructs, demographic and background variables. We evaluated 90 consecutively recruited DSM-IV schizophrenia patients and 136 healthy controls matched for gender and age. We found that the harm avoidance (HA) factor was higher, while reward dependence (RD) was lower in schizophrenia patients than in healthy controls. Relationships of negative symptoms to novelty seeking (NS) and general psychopathology with both NS and HA show a confounding relation to self-variables. TPQ temperament types were defined by dichotomization into high and low according to medians of the three TPQ temperament dimensions. The odds ratios for the HA and HA/NS temperament types were significantly higher, while the NS/RD type was lower in schizophrenia patients than in healthy controls. HA/NS, HA/RD and high-HA/NS/RD types revealed higher scores for emotional distress, emotion-oriented coping and lower scores on self-constructs. No links were found between temperament types and schizophrenia symptom dimensions, task and avoidance oriented coping, or demographic and background variables. Thus, our findings strengthen the hypothesis that temperament types, when associated with elevated emotional distress, emotion-oriented coping and weak self-constructs, might represent a complex trait marker for underlying vulnerability to schizophrenia.     

Predictors of mental distress in early adulthood: a five-year follow-up of 709 high-school students

Mental health risk factors in adolescence were examined as predictors of mental distress in early adulthood. A cohort of 709 Finnish adolescents was studied in 1990 (mean age 16.8) and in 1995. Trait anxiety, defence styles, life events, self-esteem and somatic symptoms were evaluated as predictors of high scores in the General Health Questionnaire in adulthood. Females (36%) were more likely to be distressed than males (23%). High trait anxiety and somatic symptom scores among adolescent females, and high immature defence style scores among males predicted mental distress. Males with low trait anxiety in adolescence had less distress. The results indicate trait anxiety as an important predictor of mental distress. Gender differences in other predictors suggest gender differences in coping.     

Cognitive factors related to suicidal ideation and resolution in psychiatrically hospitalized children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine whether there are changes in the cognitive factors of attributional style, hopelessness, and self-esteem when suicidal ideation fades in psychiatrically hospitalized children and adolescents. METHOD: The cognitive factors of attributional style, hopelessness, and self-esteem were assessed in subjects aged 7-17 years (50 with and 50 without suicidal ideation) at admission and discharge from a psychiatric hospital. RESULTS: For subjects with suicidal ideation, attributional style became significantly more positive and hopelessness was decreased from admission to discharge, by which time suicidal ideation had faded. There was no association between self-esteem and suicidal ideation after control for depression. These changes in cognitive factors were not seen in the group without suicidal ideation. There were no significant differences between children and adolescents in the pattern of results. CONCLUSIONS: Change in attributional style was shown to be a factor significantly related to the resolution of suicidal ideation in children and adolescents. This cognitive style could be specifically addressed in psychotherapy with depressed children and adolescents as a means of reducing suicidal ideation. These results may have an implication for reducing the length of psychiatric inpatient stays.     

Depression in parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

This study examined depression, self-esteem, and mastery in the family caretakers of a group of males with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in comparison to a control group. A questionnaire based on the National Population Health Survey from Statistics Canada, a survey to collect information on the health of the Canadian population and related sociodemographic information, was conducted by telephone with 42 parents. The results were compared with the national data from the National Population Health Survey (1994 and 1999), matched for province of residence, number of children in the household, age, and marital status of the respondents. Parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy had a higher probability of going through a major depressive episode and had significantly lower self-esteem and mastery scores than the national control group. None of the variables investigated (age, intelligence quotient, and ambulatory status of child or sex, age, and marital status of parent) could predict the depressive episode, with two exceptions. Parents without a partner had lower scores on the mastery scale, and parents of males older than 13 years of age were more likely to experience distress that interfered with life. It is incumbent on those caring for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy to counsel families regarding their potential to suffer a major depressive episode and to advise on appropriate therapy.     

Repetition of deliberate self-harm by adolescents: the role of psychological factors.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological variables and repetition of deliberate self-harm by adolescents (n=45) aged 13-18 years who had been admitted to a general hospital having taken overdoses. Standardized measures of depression, hopelessness, suicidal intent, impulsivity, trait and state anger, self-esteem and problem-solving (both self-report and observer-rated) were administered to the adolescents while still in the general hospital. Repetition was assessed on the basis of previous overdoses (n=14) and repetition of self-harm (self-poisoning and self-injury) during the subsequent year (n=9). Adolescents with a history of a previous overdose and/or who repeated self-harm during the following year (n=18) differed from non-repeaters in having higher scores for depression, hopelessness and trait anger, and lower scores for self-esteem, self-rated problem-solving and effectiveness of problem-solving rated on the basis of the Means End Problem Solving test, all measured at the initial assessment. These differences largely disappeared when level of depression was controlled for. Similarly, differences found between repeaters and non-repeaters in the year following the index overdoses for problem-solving were much reduced when account was taken of differences in depression scores.Depression is a key factor associated with risk of repetition of adolescent self-harm (and hence of suicide risk). In the management of adolescents who have harmed themselves, careful assessment of depression and appropriate management of those who are depressed is essential.     

The role of romantic attachment security and dating identity exploration in understanding adolescents' sexual attitudes and cumulative sexual risk-taking

This study addressed how two normative developmental factors, attachment and identity, are associated with adolescents' sexual attitudes and sexual risk-taking behavior. The sample consisted of 2029 adolescents (mean age = 16.2 years) living in the Southeast United States. Path analysis was used to test the hypotheses. Higher levels of attachment anxiety predicted more dating identity exploration and less healthy sexual attitudes. Higher levels of attachment avoidance predicted less dating identity exploration and indirectly predicted less healthy sexual attitudes through dating identity exploration. Females with dating or sexual experience showed the weakest associations between the attachment dimensions and dating identity exploration. More dating identity exploration predicted healthier sexual attitudes; this association was strongest for non-virgins. Finally, higher levels of attachment avoidance were associated with higher cumulative sexual risk scores, but only among non-virgin males. Results are interpreted in light of theory and research on attachment, identity exploration, and adolescent sexual relationships.     

Identity,grief and self-awareness after traumatic brain injury

The objective of this study was to investigate perceived identity change in adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and explore associations between identity change, grief, depression, self-esteem and self-awareness. The participants were 29 adults with TBI who were being followed up by a community brain injury rehabilitation service. Participants were longer post-injury than those more commonly studied. Time since injury ranged from 2.25 to 40 years (mean?=?11.17 years, SD?=?11.4 years). Participants completed a battery of questionnaires. Significant others and clinicians completed a parallel version of one of these measures. Questionnaires included the Head Injury Semantic Differential Scale (HISDS-III), Brain Injury Grief Inventory (BIGI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale – Depression, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Awareness Questionnaire (Self/Significant other/Clinician versions). The main findings were that participants reported significant changes in self-concept with current self being viewed negatively in comparison to pre-injury self. Perceived identity change was positively associated with depression and grief and negatively associated with self-esteem and awareness. Awareness was negatively associated with self-esteem and positively associated with depression. These findings were consistent with previous research, revealing changes in identity following TBI. Further research is needed to increase our understanding of the psychological factors involved in emotional adjustment after TBI and to inform brain injury rehabilitation interventions, including psychotherapy approaches.     

Applying ethnic equivalence and cultural values models to African-American teens' perceptions of parents

This study evaluated both the parenting styles and family ecologies models with interview responses from 93 14- and 15-year-old African-American adolescents. The parenting styles model was more strongly represented in both open-ended and structured interview responses. Using variables from the structured interview as independent variables, regression analyses contrasted each model with a joint model for predicting self-esteem, self-reliance, work orientation, and ethnic identity. Overall, the findings suggest that a joint model that combines elements from both models provides a richer understanding of African-American families.     

Personality variables in depressed patients and normal controls

Depressed patients (n = 46) were compared with normal controls (n = 42) for their scores on 7 personality variables measured on 4 personality questionnaires. The scores of the depressed patients obtained during the index depressive episode were significantly higher for introversion, neuroticism, and hostility, and significantly lower for self-esteem, than those of controls. Similarly, a subset of the female depressed patients studied when in remission and euthymic also had significantly higher socres than female controls for neuroticism and hostility, with a trend for significantly lower self-esteem scores. There were no significant differences on any of the 7 personality variables measured between depressed patients, with and without melancholia, or between patients with either unipolar or bipolar depression.