Participation in Boys and Girls Clubs and relationships to youth outcomes

Participation is a key issue in youth development organizations. In fact, research suggests that youths who attend the programs offered by these agencies will experience numerous benefits. One such youth development organization is the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). Much of the research pertaining to the BGCA examines the importance of participation in structured prevention and educational programs such as Project SMART and Project Learn. The everyday Club participant, however, does not necessarily attend these structured programs. As such, the present study was designed to gain a better understanding of “typical” Club participation and how overall attendance at the Club is related to positive outcomes among youth. A total of 139 youths (aged 10 to 18 years old) participated in the study. Overall participation in the Club and age were both independently related to enhanced academic achievement, as well as increased substance use. Additionally, significant age and participation interaction effects point to the importance of Club participation at nullifying risks and problem behaviors associated with increasing age, particularly in relation to academic outcomes. Implications are discussed pertaining to program strategies that may serve as hooks or magnets that sustain youths' interest and continued involvement in BGCA activities and other youth development programs. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Survivors of childhood brain tumors: behavioral,emotional, and social adjustment

This paper reviews the literature on the psychological adjustment and quality of life in children who survive brain tumors. A total of 31 studies were reviewed. Findings are discussed in terms of the rates of general psychological adjustment, internalizing behavior problems, externalizing behavior problems, social competence, correlates or predictors of adjustment, and quality of life among survivors. Although these survivors appear to be at risk for compromised social competence and long-term quality of life, reports in the literature on rates of psychological adjustment in this population vary widely. Limitations in the current literature are discussed including inadequate assessment techniques, lack of appropriate comparison groups, and small sample sizes. Directions for future research are offered.     

A multimethod assessment of behavioral and emotional adjustment in children with asthma

OBJECTIVE: Examine behavioral adjustment and emotion regulation among 6-year-old children with asthma and a group of healthy controls. METHOD: Subjects were 81 children with asthma and 22 healthy controls. Asthma and allergy statuses were confirmed by objective measures. Emotional and behavioral functioning were assessed through parent report, child interview, and child participation in an emotional regulation paradigm. RESULTS: Maternal report revealed more internalizing and total behavior problems for children with asthma compared to controls. Child interview and behavioral observations of emotion regulation yielded no differences between groups. Severity of asthma was related to increased emotional difficulties by clinician interview and observation but not by maternal report. CONCLUSIONS: Two groups of children with asthma who have psychological difficulties include those with increased anxiety and those with poor emotion regulation and more asthma symptoms. Different measures of child adjustment yield a complex picture of the behavioral difficulties associated with pediatric asthma.     

Participation of the brainstem visceral centers in the formation of emotional and behavioral reactions

The effect of electrical stimulation of the region of the medial parabrachial nucleus on the behavior of albino rats is studied in chronic experiments. Stimulation of this region is found to cause an increase in the rate of respiration and inhibition of natural behavioral reactions and reactions elicited by stimulation of the nuclei of the amygdala, lateral hypothalamus, and the zona incerta of the brain. Similar inhibitory effects are noted for stimulation of certain zones of the midbrain cuneate nucleus and regions of the pontine suture. The inhibitory influence of stimulation of the parabrachial nucleus on behavior is thought to be due to the switching-on of the central mechanisms of inhibition of motor activity in animals.Translated from Fiziologicheskii Zhurnal SSSR imeni I. M. Sechenova, Vol. 73, No. 4, pp. 460–464, April, 1987.     

仡佬族中小学生的主观生活质量与情绪行为问题

目的:了解仡佬族中小学生的主观生活质量及其与情绪行为问题的关系,为提高其生活质量和减少行为问题提供参考.方法:选取250名仡佬族和430名汉族小学六年级、中学初一和初二学生,使用儿少主观生活质量问卷(ISLQ,包括认知成分和情感成分)评估生活质量,长处和困难问卷(SDQ)测查情绪行为问题.结果:仡佬族组ISLQ总分与汉族组的差异无统计学意义[(144.916.0) vs.(143.1±16.6),P＞0.05],ISLQ情感成分得分高于汉族组[(61.9±8.7)vs.(60.0±8.8),P＜0.01].仡佬族组SDQ总分与汉族组的差异无统计学意义[(18.3±5.6)vs.(19.0±5.4),P＞0.05],SDQ情绪症状得分低于汉族组[(3.4±2.2)vs.(3.9±2.2),P＜0.05].仡佬族组初一学生的ISLQ情感成分得分高于六年级和初二学生[(63.7±8.6) vs.(60.3±9.1),(60.0±7.4),P＜0.01];学习成绩优良者ISLQ总分[(150.7±17.4) vs.(144.5±15.3),(136.5±11.0)]和认知成分得分[(87.3±13.6) vs.(82.6±11.9),(77.0±9.9)]高于成绩中等或较差者(P＜0.01).除情感成分与亲社会行为问题外,ISLQ得分与SDQ得分呈负相关(r=-0.13～-0.54,P＜0.05).回归分析显示,SDQ的情绪症状(β=-0.38,P＜0.01)、亲社会行为问题(β=-0.22,P＜0.01)和多动(β=-0.17,P＜0.01)得分对ISLQ总分有一定的负向预测作用.结论:仡佬族中小学生的主观生活质量与汉族相当,正性情感体验可能更多;学习成绩越好,情绪行为问题越少,主观生活质量可能越高.     

Frontal behavioral and emotional symptoms in Spanish individuals with acquired brain injury and substance use disorders

INTRODUCTION: Patients with acquired brain injury affecting the frontal cortex and individuals with substance use disorders share a range of behavioral problems, including apathy, poor self-control, and executive dysfunction. The Frontal Systems Behavioral Scale (FrSBe) is a self-report instrument designed to measure behavioral problems resulting from damage to the frontal-striatal neural systems, involved both in brain insult and addiction. The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to compare the scores from the Spanish version of the FrSBe with the norms collected for American, English-speaking population; and (2) to examine the ability of the FrSBe to discriminate between two clinical populations (acquired brain injury (ABI) and addiction) with putative frontal dysfunction, as compared to a group of healthy participants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 139 volunteers participated including 46 patients with frontal ABI (F-ABI), 57 abstinent substance abusers, and 36 healthy controls from the Spanish population. A Spanish version of the FrSBe was administered to all participants. We conducted multivariate analyses of variance to examine group differences across the three subscales: apathy, disinhibition, and executive dysfunction; and in the FrSBe total score. RESULTS: F-ABI and substance abusers had higher scores (i.e., greater impairment) than controls on the FrSBe total score; F-ABI patients scored significantly higher than substance abusers, and substance abusers significantly higher than controls. For specific subscales, F-ABI patients had higher scores than substance abusers and controls in the subscales of apathy, disinhibition and executive dysfunction, whereas substance abusers had greater executive dysfunction than controls. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the FrSBe is a useful instrument for the detection of behavioral problems associated with frontal systems dysfunction in two clinical samples of Spanish-speakers.     

Contextual startle responses moderate the relation between behavioral inhibition and anxiety in middle childhood

Behavioral inhibition (BI), a temperament characterized in early childhood by wariness and avoidance of novelty, is a risk factor for anxiety disorders. An enhanced startle response has been observed in adolescents characterized with BI in childhood, particularly when they also manifest concurrent symptoms of anxiety. However, no prior study has examined relations among BI, startle responsivity, and anxiety in a prospective manner. Data for the present study were from a longitudinal study of infant temperament. Maternal reports and observations of BI were assessed at ages 2 and 3. At age 7, participants completed a startle procedure, while electromyography was collected, where participants viewed different colors on a screen that were associated with either the delivery of an aversive stimulus (i.e., puff of air to the larynx; threat cue) or the absence of the aversive stimulus (i.e., safety cue). Parental reports of child anxiety were collected when children were 7 and 9 years of age. Results revealed that startle responses at age 7 moderated the relation between early BI and 9‐year anxiety. These findings provide insight into one potential mechanism that may place behaviorally inhibited children at risk for anxiety.     

Body Dissatisfaction Prospectively Predicts Depressive Mood and Low Self-Esteem in Adolescent Girls and Boys

This research examined whether body dissatisfaction prospectively predicted depressive mood and low self-esteem in adolescent girls and boys 5 years later. Participants were early-adolescent girls (n = 440, Time 1 M age = 12.7 years) and boys (n = 366, Time 1 M age = 12.8 years) and midadolescent girls (n = 946, Time 1 M age = 15.8 years) and boys (n = 764, Time 1 M age = 15.9 years). After controlling for Time 1 of the relevant dependent variable, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and body mass index, Time 1 body dissatisfaction was a unique predictor of Time 2 depressive mood and low self-esteem in early-adolescent girls (depressive mood: F = 4.80, p < .05; self-esteem: F = 9.64, p < .01) and midadolescent boys (depressive mood: F = 12.27, p < .001; self-esteem: F = 9.38, p < .01) but not in early-adolescent boys or midadolescent girls. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that body dissatisfaction is a risk factor for depressive mood and low self-esteem in both girls and boys but in different phases of adolescence.     

Being hot-tempered: Autonomic, emotional, and behavioral distinctions between childhood reactive and proactive aggression

Reactive aggression (RA) is an angry response to perceived provocation. Proactive aggression (PA) is a pre-meditated act used to achieve some goal. This study test hypotheses that (1) individuals high in RA and PA will differ in resting levels of autonomic arousal and (2) RA will be related to emotional and behavioral problems, while PA only to behavioral problems.Parents of 68 children (age 6-13) reported on child symptoms, reactive/proactive aggression, and behavior problems. Resting heart rate (HR), skin conductance (SC), and HR variability (HRV) were measured in 42 of the children. RA was significantly related to decreased HRV and a trend for decreased SC, while PA was significantly related to increased SC and HRV. RA was significantly related to increased internalizing behaviors and attention deficits, while PA was significantly related to increased hyperactivity/impulsivity and delinquent behavior problems.Findings support a distinction between child reactive (hot-tempered) and proactive (cold-tempered) aggression in autonomic, emotional (i.e., internalizing problems), and behavioral (i.e., attention deficits, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and delinquent behavior) functioning, and are discussed in relation to theories of antisocial behavior.     

Structured leisure activities in middle childhood: Links to well‐being

Associations between children's (N = 147) participation in structured leisure activities and their adjustment were examined. Caregivers provided lists of extracurricular activities (clubs, sports, and church activities) in which children participated. Children and caregivers participated in interviews and completed questionnaires designed to measure children's adjustment in four domains (academic competence, psychosocial development, externalizing behavior, and internalizing behavior). Classroom teachers completed additional measures of children's academic and social competence. Greater participation in club activities was linked with higher academic grades and more positive teacher ratings of academic competence. Greater participation in sports was associated with higher levels of psychosocial maturity and more positive teacher ratings of social competence. There were no associations between involvement in church activities and any indicators of adjustment. Activity involvement was unassociated with externalizing or internalizing behavior. Findings are discussed in terms of both selection into different types of extracurricular activities and the skills emphasized in the pursuit of such activities. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 31: 641–659, 2003.     

Child Psychopathology and Parenting Stress in Girls and Boys Having Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity

The present study examined the extent to which girls with attentiondeficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) differed from ADDHboys, non-ADDH clinic-referred girls, and normal girls in parentratings of child psychopathology and parenting stress. ADDHgirls were rated as being more depressed and hyperactive thanADDH boys. However, there were no significant differences betweenADDH boys and girls on any of the 17 scales of the ParentingStress Index. Comparisons among the three groups of girls indicatedthat ADDH girls and non-ADDH clinic-referred girls did not differfrom each other on most dimensions of psychopathology but wererated as more deviant than normal girls on virtually all suchdimensions. Both ADDH and non-ADDH clinic-referred girls posedgreater stress for their mothers, and their mothers reportedgreater family and personal distress than the mothers of normalgirls. Only the mothers of non-ADDH clinic girls showed higherratings of depression, marital distress, and health problemsthan the normal girls. Ratings of parental stress were associatedwith both maternal depression and severity of child psychopathology,especially aggression, conduct problems, and hyperactivity.These findings suggest that ADDH girls and boys are quite similarin the nature of their psychopathology and do not differ fromeach other in the degree of parenting stress associated withtheir care. Instead, high parental stress is associated withchild psychopathology in general, and particularly with externalizingsymptoms.     

Emotional and behavioral adjustment in children born prematurely

Assessed the emotional and behavioral adjustment of13- to 14-year-old children born prematurely, as compared with children full term, using children's self-report questionnaires of anxiety, depression, aggression, and self-concept, as well as mothers' and teachers' reports of behavioral disturbances. On all measures, premature children had lower scores on adjustment. Birth weight and psychosocial-environmental variables assessed when the children were 6 or 7 years old were significant in predicting later emotional adjustment. Differential effects of the environment on premature versus full-term children were suggested     

Assessment and Etiology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Boys and Girls

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) are more common in boys than girls. In this paper, we investigated whether the prevalence differences are attributable to measurement bias. In addition, we examined sex differences in the genetic and environmental influences on variation in these behaviors. Teachers completed the Conners Teacher Rating Scale-Revised:Short version (CTRS-R:S) in a sample of 800 male and 851 female 7-year-old Dutch twins. No sex differences in the factor structure of the CTRS-R:S were found, implying the absence of measurement bias. The heritabilities for both ADHD and ODD were high and were the same in boys and girls. However, partly different genes are expressed in boys and girls. Edited by Stacey Cherny     

少数民族地区青少年网络成瘾倾向的调查

目的为了了解少数民族地区青少年网络成瘾倾向。方法釆用西南师范大学陈使编制的大学生网络咸瘾倾向问卷，对内蓑古地区57名青少年进行测评，其中蒙古族32名，汉族25名。结果网络成瘾者15名，占被拭的26．3%，蒙古族青少年成瘾者7人，占12．3％。蒙汉两族间无显着差异。而男女性别差异显着。结论青少年网络成瘾现状不容乐观，其学习生活受到很大的影响，有关部门应高度重视．并极早针对其发生的高危因素制订相应的预防措施。