Adult Adjustment Research Articles

Within-session acquisition of anticipatory postural adjustments during forward reaching task

To describe the acquisition of anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) in healthy adults during standing forward reaching. Repeated-measures design Subjects/Patients: Ten healthy subjects. Within one day, all subjects practiced forward reaching to a moving target for sixty trials (10 trials, 6 blocks). APAs were recorded by electromyography (EMG), center of pressure (COP), and kinematic measurements. Repeated measure ANOVA was used to compare the changes of APA among the six blocks. All subjects showed basic APA patterns in the beginning, such as posterior shift of COP and tibialis anterior firing first. The adults demonstrated significantly quicker onset of posterior shift of COP between block 2 and 6 (p<0.05) and decreased muscle activation of ispilateral tibialis anterior between block 1 and 3 (p=0.01). The results suggested the acquisition process of APA could be observed after 50 trials of practice. Further study will need to verify the optimal practice trials in different populations with movement disorders.

Interpersonal difficulties mediate the relationship between child sexual abuse and depression symptoms.

This study examined the influence of interpersonal functioning as a mediator in the relationship between child sexual abuse and depression symptoms, after accounting for the influence of child physical abuse. The research questions build on the existing knowledge base by examining mechanisms of adult adjustment among child sexual abuse survivors. In the current study, 2,892 young adult women (18-29 years old; M = 19.06) reported on child sexual and physical abuse, 5 domains of interpersonal functioning, and depression symptoms. The results supported aggression, sensitivity, ambivalence, and lack of sociability as mediators in the relationship between child sexual abuse and depression symptoms. These results suggest that interpersonal difficulties related to hostility, emotional reactivity, inability to collaborate, and isolation may be of particular interest when understanding depression in child sexual abuse survivors. The findings support interpersonal problems as a key mechanism of depression symptoms following child sexual abuse and is even demonstrated when examining long-term outcomes and controlling for child physical abuse. The hypotheses and findings are discussed in the context of interpersonal psychotherapy for depression.

Enhancement of anticipatory postural adjustments in older adults as a result of a single session of ball throwing exercise.

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of short-term training in improvement of anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) and its effect on subsequent control of posture in older adults. Nine healthy older adults were exposed to self-initiated and predictable external perturbations before and after a single training session consisting of throwing a medicine ball. EMG activity of eight trunk and leg muscles and ground reaction forces were recorded before and immediately after the training session. Muscle onsets and center of pressure displacements were analyzed during the anticipatory and compensatory phases of postural control. The training involving throwing of a medicine ball resulted in enhancement of the generation of APAs seen as significantly early onsets of leg and trunk muscle activity prior to the bilateral arm flexion task. Significantly early activation of postural muscles observed prior to the predictable external perturbation, the task that was not a part of training, indicates the transfer of the effect of the single training session. The observed training-related improvements of APAs suggest that APA-focused rehabilitation could be effective in improving postural control, functional balance, mobility, and quality of life in the elderly.

Abstract 18614: Long-term Psychosocial Outcomes of Congenital Heart Disease: Neurocognitive Performance, Quality of Life, Psychosocial Adjustment and Psychiatric Morbidity of Adolescents and Young Adults Surviving Their Disease

Objectives: to study neurocognitive performance (NP) of CHD patients and to determine whether is related to parameters of fetal development registered at birth, head circumference (HC), weight (W) and length (L) and neonatal parameters (APGAR 1, 5); to study their quality of life (QOL), psychiatric morbidity (PM), psychosocial adjustment (PSA) and traits of personality (TP). Methods: 266 CHD patients, 148 male, aged from 12 to 30 years (mean= 18.00 ± 3.22), 103 cyanotic, and 119 healthy controls (56 males, mean=18.41±3.20) participated. Clinical data were collected. Neuropsychological assessment included Wechsler’s Digit Test (direct and reverse) and Symbol Search, Rey’s Complex Figure, BADS’s Key Searching Test, Color-Word Stroop Test, Trail Making Test (A, B) and Logical Memory Task. Participants were interviewed on social support, family educational style, self-image, physical limitations, completed a psychiatric interview (SADS-L) and self-report questionnaires on QOL (WHOQOL-BREF), PSA (YSR and ASR) and TP (NEOPI-R). HC, W and L and APGAR were collected. Results: CHD patients had a significantly worse NP than healthy controls in all tests, and the cyanotic worse than the acyanotic patients (but not significantly). Several correlations were apparent between fetal parameters (HC, W and L) and neuropsychological abilities in CHD. However, low weight at birth, cyanosis and male gender are the main predictors of bad NP later on in CHD patients (R=0.414; R2=0.171; F=5.787; p=0.001; β=1.654; t=2.858; p=0.005; β=1.881; t=2.377; p=0.020; b=1.624; t=2.062; p=0.042). We found a 15.3% lifetime prevalence of psychopathology (18.5% in females). Comparing to normal population, our patients have better QOL in environmental (t=6.907; p=0.000), social relationships (t=5.102; p=0.000) and general dimensions (t=2.558; p=0.011). Complex CHD reported worse QOL in physical dimension (U=3576.500; p=0.001) than those with moderate/mild forms of disease; Female patients showed worse PSA, with more withdrawal, anxiety/depression and internalization. Conclusion: CHD patients have worse NP than controls; low weight at birth, male gender and the presence of cyanosis predict bad NP in CHD patients; patients seem to be more prone to PM, worse PSA and SP.

The Role of Narcissistic Vulnerability in Predicting Adult Posttraumatic Symptoms from Childhood Sexual Abuse.

The aim of the present study is to determine whether narcissistic vulnerability can aid in clarifying the debate regarding the relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and adulthood adjustment to traumatic events. 157 survivors (mean age=31.1, SD=10.9) of a traumatic event (war activities and road and work accidents) were assessed 1week, 1, and 4months following the event. Of the 157 participants, 15 reported experiencing CSA, and 26 reported experiencing childhood physical abuse (CPA). In the first-week assessment, patients were administered the Narcissistic Vulnerability Scale (NVS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). In the follow-up assessments, subjects were interviewed on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Narcissistic vulnerability was found, both in 1- and 4-month follow-ups, to increase the likelihood of participants who experienced CSA to develop PTSD symptoms later in their adult life, when exposed to other additional trauma. Narcissistic vulnerability, in both follow-ups, did not increase the likelihood of participants who experienced CPA to develop PTSD symptoms later in their life when exposed to other additional trauma. The NVS predicted the development of PTSD symptoms in the whole sample, both in the 1- and 4-month follow-ups, above and beyond the prediction of the BDI. In other words, narcissistic vulnerability can add additional information above and beyond general negative emotionality. In conclusion, it is recommended to take into consideration the interplay between CSA and the individual's narcissistic vulnerability when assessing the long term effects of CSA such as acute or chronic PTSD.

Siblings in foster care: A relational path to resilience for emancipated foster youth

Sibling relationships are a powerful influence on child development, one that takes on particular significance in contexts of familial disruption or adversity. This study examined the effect of sibling co-placements during foster care on subsequent educational competence, occupational competence, housing quality, relational adjustment, and civic engagement in a sample of 170 recently emancipated foster youth (66.5% female; Mage=19.63). Analyses evaluated direct relations between the proportion of time spent with a sibling in foster placement and young adult adjustment outcomes, as well as indirect effects from sibling co-placement to later competence through youth's coherence displayed in a narrative of experiences in foster care. The coherence of life narratives develops in the context of primary relationships, including those with siblings, through co-constructed meaning making and emotional discourse, particularly regarding difficult life events. Emancipated foster youth's verbal narratives about their experiences in foster care were evaluated for narrative coherence based on the organization, complexity, and balance of youth's narratives. Analyses documented significant indirect effects of sibling co-placement on young adult competence through narrative coherence. Moreover, moderation analyses indicated that these effects were particularly robust among males. Findings are discussed with respect to relational mechanisms underlying resilience, and the potential for sibling co-placement to provide a relational context for risk and resilience among emancipated foster youth.

Nursing home adjustment scale: a psychometric study of an English version.

The purpose of this study was to translate the nursing home adjustment scale (NHAS) from Korean into English and assess its psychometric properties on a sample of nursing home residents in the USA. A total of 193 older adults in six nursing homes in the Midwest were included in this study. Reliability of the NHAS in English was tested using Cronbach's alpha values for internal consistency. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine the factor structure, and correlation analysis was utilized for convergent validity. The NHAS English showed satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.77). The NHAS English demonstrated excellent convergent validity with life satisfaction (r = 0.431), and the known group comparison showed a significant difference in means of the NHAS between the short length of stay group (≤6 months) and long length of stay group (>6 months). The NHAS in English included five factors: emotional distress, relationship development, acceptance of new residence, difficulty fitting in, and depressed mood, which were loaded on the main concept "nursing home adjustment." The findings indicate that the English version of the NHAS is a valid and reliable tool to measure the level of nursing home adjustment for older adults who speak English.

The Dark Triad of personality in adolescence: Psychometric properties of a concise measure and associations with adolescent adjustment from a multi-informant perspective

Accumulating evidence suggests that the Dark Triad of personality (i.e., Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) is useful in explaining individual differences in adult adjustment. The present study is among the first to examine unique effects of these traits on multi-informant ratings of adolescent aggressive behavior. In two samples (Ns=611 and 302), we first established measurement invariance, internal consistency and validity of the 12-item Dirty Dozen Dark Triad measure. Furthermore, we found unique associations of each Dark Triad trait with particular forms of aggression, with inconsistent results across informants providing greater insight into these traits. Overall, Dark Triad traits seem applicable to adolescents and useful correlates of adolescent adjustment, especially if their unique effects are studied.

Cumulative childhood risk and adult functioning in abused and neglected children grown up.

This paper examines the relationship between childhood exposure to cumulative risk and three indicators of psychosocial adjustment in adulthood (educational attainment, mental health, and criminal behavior) and tests three different models (linear, quadratic, and interaction). Data were collected over several time points from individuals who were part of a prospective cohort design study that matched children with documented cases of abuse and/or neglect with children without such histories and followed them into adulthood. Hierarchical multiple regressions compared linear and quadratic models and then examined potential moderating effects of child abuse/neglect and gender. Exposure to a greater number of childhood risk factors was significantly related to fewer years of education, more anxiety and depression symptomatology, and more criminal arrests in adulthood. The relationship between cumulative risk and years of education demonstrated a curvilinear pattern, whereas the relationship between cumulative risk and both mental health and criminal arrests was linear. Child abuse/neglect did not moderate these relationships, although there were direct effects for both child abuse/neglect and gender on criminal arrests, with more arrests for abused/neglected individuals than controls and more for males than females. Gender interacted with cumulative risk to impact educational attainment and criminal behavior, suggesting that interventions may be more effective if tailored differently for males and females. Interventions may need to be multifaceted and designed to address these different domains of functioning.

Living with CHD: quality of life (QOL) in early adult life.

The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life, psychiatric morbidity, and the psychosocial adjustment of adolescents and young adults with CHD, and determine which variables play a role in buffering stress and promoting resilience and which ones have a detrimental effect; and to investigate the situation on school performance and failures, social and family support, physical limitations, and body image of these patients. The study enrolled 137 CHD patients (79 male), with age ranging from 12 to 26 years old (M=17.60±3.450 years). The patients were interviewed regarding social support, family educational style, self-image, demographic information, and physical limitations. They responded to questions in a standardised psychiatric interview (SADS-L) and completed self-reported questionnaires for the assessment of quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) and psychosocial adjustment (YSR/ASR). We found a 19.7% lifetime prevalence of psychopathology in our patients (27.6% in female and 13.9% in male). Of them, 48% had retentions in school (M=1.61 year±0.82). The perception of quality of life in CHD patients is better compared with the Portuguese population in the social relationships and environmental dimensions. However, it is worse in complex forms of CHD than in moderate-to-mild ones, in cyanotic versus acyanotic patients, in moderate-to-severe versus mild residual lesions, in patients submitted versus those not submitted to surgery, in patients with versus without physical limitations, and patients who have need for medication versus those who do not. Social support is very important in improving quality of life of patients in all dimensions as well as academic performance. Female patients and patients with poor academic performance and poor social support have worse psychosocial adjustment and perception of quality of life.

The impact of cognitive impairment on perceived workforce performance: Results from the International Mood Disorders Collaborative Project

BackgroundCognitive dysfunction and depression severity are key mediators of workplace adjustment in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). Herein, we sought to determine the extent to which measures of depression severity and cognitive dysfunction were associated with perceived global disability, workplace performance and quality of life. MethodA post hoc analysis was conducted using data from 260 participants with a diagnosis of DSM-IV-TR-defined MDD who were enrolled in the International Mood Disorders Collaborative Project (IMDCP) between January 2008 and July 2013. Measures of workplace function, global disability, depression severity, cognitive function, and quality of life were employed. These data were analyzed using a multiple variable linear regression equations. ResultsPerceived global disability was significantly predicted by clinical ratings of depression severity (β=0.54), and perceived inattention (β=0.24), accounting for 37% of the variance. In addition, perceived inattention (β=0.58) and clinical ratings of depression severity (β=0.18), were also significant predictors of perceived workplace productivity/performance, accounting for 38% of the variance. Finally, both clinical ratings of depression severity (β=−0.54), and perceived inattention (β=−0.18) were significant inverse predictors of perceived quality of life, accounting for 34% of the variance. ConclusionThe overarching finding in the analysis herein is that workplace performance variability is explained by subjective measures of cognitive dysfunction to a greater extent than total depression symptom severity. Conversely, total depression symptom severity accounts for a greater degree of variability in global measures of disability relative to cognitive measures. Treatment strategies for adults with major depressive disorder should address issues of cognitive dysfunction to improve workforce participation and performance.

Maladaptive social information processing in childhood predicts young men's atypical amygdala reactivity to threat.

Maladaptive social information processing, such as hostile attributional bias and aggressive response generation, is associated with childhood maladjustment. Although social information processing problems are correlated with heightened physiological responses to social threat, few studies have examined their associations with neural threat circuitry, specifically amygdala activation to social threat. A cohort of 310 boys participated in an ongoing longitudinal study and completed questionnaires and laboratory tasks assessing their social and cognitive characteristics the boys were between 10 and 12 years of age. At age 20, 178 of these young men underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging and a social threat task. At age 22, adult criminal arrest records and self-reports of impulsiveness were obtained. Path models indicated that maladaptive social information-processing at ages 10 and 11 predicted increased left amygdala reactivity to fear faces, an ambiguous threat, at age 20 while accounting for childhood antisocial behavior, empathy, IQ, and socioeconomic status. Exploratory analyses indicated that aggressive response generation - the tendency to respond to threat with reactive aggression - predicted left amygdala reactivity to fear faces and was concurrently associated with empathy, antisocial behavior, and hostile attributional bias, whereas hostile attributional bias correlated with IQ. Although unrelated to social information-processing problems, bilateral amygdala reactivity to anger faces at age 20 was unexpectedly predicted by low IQ at age 11. Amygdala activation did not mediate associations between social information processing and number of criminal arrests, but both impulsiveness at age 22 and arrests were correlated with right amygdala reactivity to anger facial expressions at age 20. Childhood social information processing and IQ predicted young men's amygdala response to threat a decade later, which suggests that childhood social-cognitive characteristics are associated with the development of neural threat processing and adult adjustment.

Observed macro- and micro-level parenting behaviors during preadolescent family interactions as predictors of adjustment in emerging adults with and without spina bifida.

To examine observed autonomy-promoting and -inhibiting parenting behaviors during preadolescence as predictors of adjustment outcomes in emerging adults with and without spina bifida (SB). Demographic and videotaped interaction data were collected from families with 8/9-year-old children with SB (n = 68) and a matched group of typically developing youth (n = 68). Observed interaction data were coded with macro- and micro-coding schemes. Measures of emerging adulthood adjustment were collected 10 years later (ages 18/19 years; n = 50 and n = 60 for SB and comparison groups, respectively). Autonomy-promoting (behavioral control, autonomy-relatedness) and -inhibiting (psychological control) observed preadolescent parenting behaviors prospectively predicted emerging adulthood adjustment, particularly within educational, social, and emotional domains. Interestingly, high parent undermining of relatedness predicted better educational and social adjustment in the SB sample Parenting behaviors related to autonomy have long-term consequences for adjustment in emerging adults with and without SB.

Sexual activity with romantic and nonromantic partners and psychosocial adjustment in young adults.

The present study examined whether positive or negative links occur between psychosocial adjustment and sexual activity with four types of partners-romantic partners, friends, acquaintances, and friends with benefits. We examined longitudinal associations and concurrent between-person and within-person associations. A representative sample of 185 participants (93 males, 92 females), their friends, and mothers completed questionnaires when the participants were 2.5, 4, and 5.5years out of high school. Regardless of the type of partner, more frequent sexual activity relative to the sexual activity of other young adults was associated with more substance use and risky sexual behavior (i.e., between-person effects). Similarly, for all types of nonromantic partners, more frequrent sexual activity relative to one's own typical sexual activity was associated with more substance use and risky sexual behavior (i.e., within-person effects). Differences in frequency of sexual activity with friends and acquaintances were associated with greater internalizing and externalizing symptoms as well as lower self-esteem. Follow-up analyses revealed the associations were particularly strong for friends with benefits. Women's sexual activity frequency with a nonromantic partner was more commonly associated with poorer psychosocial adjustment than such activity by men. More frequent sexual activity with a romantic partner was associated with higher self-esteem and lower internalizing symptoms. Few long-term effects were found for any type of sexual activity. The findings underscore the importance of examining relationship context and illustrate the value of using multiple analytic strategies for identifying the precise nature of associations.

Relationships Between Parental Power, Prestige, and Acceptance, and the Psychological Adjustment of Young Adults in Poland

This article explored relationships between perceived maternal and paternal acceptance, parental power and prestige, and young adults’ psychological adjustment in Poland. The sample consisted of 200 college students (38% men) ages 20 through 22 ( M = 21.10). The measures used were the child versions of the Parental Acceptance–Rejection Questionnaire for mothers and fathers, the youth version of the Parental Power–Prestige Questionnaire, and the adult version of the Personality Assessment Questionnaire. Results showed that maternal and paternal acceptance were significantly and positively correlated with offspring’s psychological adjustment. Furthermore, fathers’ high power and prestige were positively correlated with women’s psychological adjustment, whereas mothers’ high power was positively correlated with men’s adjustment. However, hierarchical regression analyses showed that only paternal (but not maternal) acceptance was a unique predictor of women’s psychological adjustment as well as of men’s adjustment. The regression analysis also suggests that the less power–prestige fathers had relative to mothers (beyond the point where both parents were perceived to be approximately equal in power and prestige), the better was men’s adjustment. No significant moderating effects were found.

Making an effort to feel positive: insecure attachment in infancy predicts the neural underpinnings of emotion regulation in adulthood

BackgroundAnimal research indicates that the neural substrates of emotion regulation may be persistently altered by early environmental exposures. If similar processes operate in human development then this is significant, as the capacity to regulate emotional states is fundamental to human adaptation.MethodsWe utilised a 22-year longitudinal study to examine the influence of early infant attachment to the mother, a key marker of early experience, on neural regulation of emotional states in young adults. Infant attachment status was measured via objective assessment at 18-months, and the neural underpinnings of the active regulation of affect were studied using fMRI at age 22 years.ResultsInfant attachment status at 18-months predicted neural responding during the regulation of positive affect 20-years later. Specifically, while attempting to up-regulate positive emotions, adults who had been insecurely versus securely attached as infants showed greater activation in prefrontal regions involved in cognitive control and reduced co-activation of nucleus accumbens with prefrontal cortex, consistent with relative inefficiency in the neural regulation of positive affect.ConclusionsDisturbances in the mother–infant relationship may persistently alter the neural circuitry of emotion regulation, with potential implications for adjustment in adulthood.

Hostile, aggressive family conflict trajectories during the transition to adulthood: Associations with adolescent Big Five and emerging adulthood adjustment problems

The goal of this longitudinal study was to investigate the relation of adolescents' Big Five factor (BFF) personality to the development of different patterns of mother–adolescent hostile, aggressive conflict (MHAC) from late adolescence to young adulthood. Furthermore, we examined the prediction of Antisocial Problems (AP) and Depressive Problems (DP) in emerging adulthood from BFF and MHAC trajectories. 385 adolescents participated in this study (age 15–16 at Time 1 and 21–22 at Time 4). Using latent growth curve analysis, Low stable (69.1%), Medium Increasing, (23.3%), and High decreasing (7.6%) trajectories were distinguished. Low adolescents' emotional stability was directly related to AP and indirectly related to DP, throughout the mediation of both Medium Increasing and High Decreasing trajectories. Agreeableness was directly negatively related to DP and indirectly throughout the mediation of High Decreasing trajectory. Low Conscientiousness was indirectly related to DP, throughout the mediation of Medium Increasing trajectory.385 adolescents participated in this study (age 15–16 at Time 1 and 21–22 at Time 4). Using latent growth curve analysis, Low stable (69.1%), Medium Increasing, (23.3%), and High decreasing (7.6%) trajectories were distinguished. Low adolescents' emotional stability was directly related to AP and indirectly related to DP, throughout the mediation of both Medium Increasing and High Decreasing trajectories. Agreeableness was directly negatively related to DP and indirectly throughout the mediation of High Decreasing trajectory. Low Conscientiousness was indirectly related to DP, throughout the mediation of Medium Increasing trajectory.

Being out at school: the implications for school victimization and young adult adjustment.

Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adolescents disclose their sexual and/or gender identities to peers at school. Disclosure of LGBT status is linked with positive psychosocial adjustment for adults; however, for adolescents, "coming out" has been linked to school victimization, which in turn is associated with negative adjustment. This study investigates the associations among adolescent disclosure of LGBT status to others at school, school victimization, and young adult psychosocial adjustment using a sample of 245 LGBT young adults (aged 21-25 years, living in California). After accounting for the association between school victimization and later adjustment, being out at high school was associated with positive psychosocial adjustment in young adulthood. Results have significant implications for training of school-based health and mental health providers, education and guidance for parents and caregivers, fostering positive development of LGBT youth, and developing informed school policies and educational practices.

Serum uric acid and insulin sensitivity in adolescents and adults with and without type 1 diabetes

HypothesisDecreased insulin sensitivity (IS) exists in type 1 diabetes. Serum uric acid (SUA), whose concentration is related to renal clearance, predicts vascular complications in type 1 diabetes. SUA is also inversely associated with IS in non-diabetics, but has not been examined in type 1 diabetes. We hypothesized SUA would be associated with reduced IS in adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes. MethodsThe cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of SUA with IS were investigated in 254 adolescents with type 1 diabetes and 70 without in the Determinants of Macrovascular Disease in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Study, and in 471 adults with type 1 diabetes and 571 without in the Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 1 diabetes (CACTI) study. ResultsSUA was lower in subjects with type 1 diabetes (p<0.0001), but still remained inversely associated with IS after multivariable adjustments in adolescents (β±SE: −1.99±0.62, p=0.001, R2=2%) and adults (β±SE: −0.91±0.33, p=0.006, R2=6%) with type 1 diabetes, though less strongly than in non-diabetic controls (adolescents: β±SE: −2.70±1.19, p=0.03, R2=15%, adults: β±SE: −5.99±0.75, p<0.0001, R2=39%). ConclusionWe demonstrated a significantly weaker relationship between SUA and reduced IS in subjects with type 1 diabetes than non-diabetic controls.

Differences in Sleep Quality and Health-Related Quality of Life in Young Adults With Allergies and Asthma and Their Healthy Peers

Objective: The current study examined the relationship between sleep quality and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Participants: Participants were 501 undergraduate students with allergies (167), asthma + allergies (167), or with no history of a chronic illness (167) completed study measures from August 2011 to April 2012. Methods: The undergraduate students completed questionnaires online as part of a larger study of psychosocial adjustment of young adults. Results: Young adults with allergies and asthma + allergies reported significantly worse sleep quality and HRQOL than healthy peers. Additionally, those with allergies and asthma + allergies had significantly more sleep disturbances and used sleeping medication significantly more often in the previous month than healthy peers. Conclusions: These results highlight concerns regarding quality of life and sleep problems in an often-overlooked population. Importantly, sleep difficulties can result in difficulties in daily living and impairment in academic functioning.