Adjustment In Young Adulthood Research Articles

Enlarged Lateral Ventricles and Smaller Subcortical Volumes are Associated With Better Premorbid Adjustment in Young Adults With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome With Prodromal Symptoms of Schizophrenia

The sizes of lateral ventricles and subcortical structures are abnormal in schizophrenia, and in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), a developmental genetic syndrome associated with a 30% risk for developing schizophrenia. Here we investigated whether lateral ventricles and subcortical volumes are related in young adults with 22q11DS with and without prodromal symptoms (PS) of schizophrenia and whether abnormalities in volumes are associated with premorbid adjustment.

Identifying the Links Between Trauma and Social Adjustment: Implications for More Effective Psychotherapy With Traumatized Youth.

Background: Past research has highlighted the role of trauma in social adjustment problems, but little is known about the underlying process. This is a barrier to developing effective interventions for social adjustment of traumatized individuals. The present study addressed this research gap through a cognitive model.Methods: A total of 604 young adults (aged 18–24; living in Australia) from different backgrounds (refugee, non-refugee immigrant, and Australian) were assessed through self-report questionnaires. The data were analyzed through path analysis and multivariate analysis of variance. Two path analyses were conducted separately for migrant (including non-refugee and refugee immigrants) and Australian groups.Results: Analyses indicated that cognitive avoidance and social problem solving can significantly mediate the relation between trauma and social adjustment (p < 0.05). The model explaining this process statistically fit the data (e.g., NFI, TLI, CFI > 0.95). According to the model, reacting to trauma by cognitive avoidance (i.e., chronic thought suppression and over-general autobiographical memory) can disturb the cognitive capacities that are required for social problem solving. Consequently, a lack of effective social problem solving significantly hinders social adjustment. There were no significant differences among the Australian, non-refugee immigrant and refugee participants on the dependent variables. Moreover, the hypothesized links between the variables was confirmed similarly for both migrant (including refugee and non-refugee immigrants) and Australian groups.Conclusion: The findings have important implications for interventions targeting the social adjustment of young individuals. We assert that overlooking the processes identified in this study, can hinder the improvement of social adjustment in young adults with a history of trauma. Recommendations for future research and practice are discussed.

The Effectiveness of Emotional Intelligence as a Mediator between Perceptions of Parental Acceptance/Rejection and Psychological Adjustment in Kuwaiti Adolescents, Youth, and Young Adults

The Effectiveness of Emotional Intelligence as a Mediator between Perceptions of Parental Acceptance/Rejection and Psychological Adjustment in Kuwaiti Adolescents, Youth, and Young Adults

Institutional adjustment of young adults undergoing forensic assessment

ABSTRACT Adolescence and emerging adulthood are considered distinct developmental periods and times of peak criminal offending and onset of many major mental disorders. Previous research suggests that adolescents and young adults in adult correctional institutions adjust more poorly than their older counterparts do, and psychosocial adjustment is associated with pre-existing vulnerability. Research with institutionalized young adults is sparse. We studied institutional and psychosocial adjustment of men admitted to a forensic psychiatric hospital. Overall, younger age on admission was associated with previous vulnerability (i.e. adverse childhood experiences) and institutional adjustment (e.g. assaults, management problems), but not psychosocial adjustment (i.e. mood problems, psychosis, social withdrawal). Age had small and inconsistent effects on adjustment measures in regression analyses controlling for length of stay. Comparing the 141 young adults aged 18–24 with 141 men aged 25–59 matched on pre-admission psychiatric and criminal history did not yield age-related group differences. The apparent poorer adjustment of young adults may be attributable to younger onset of psychiatric and criminal justice involvement, resulting in earlier admission to the institution.

The interplay of community and family risk and protective factors on adjustment in young adult immigrants.

We examined the direct and interactive effects of community violence and both family cohesion and conflict on collective efficacy and aggressive behaviours among immigrant young adults. Participants included 221 young adults (ages 18-26; mean age=21.36; 45.7% female, 190 born outside the U.S.) who completed self-report measures of their exposure to neighbourhood violence, social cohesion, collective efficacy and prosocial behaviours toward friends and strangers. Results, in general, showed that community violence and family cohesion were positively associated with collective efficacy whereas community violence and family conflict were positively associated with aggressive behaviours. Family cohesion and conflict also moderated the links between community violence and aggressive behaviours. Discussion focuses on the interplay of community and family processes and the relations to adjustment of immigrant young adults.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health-Related Concerns, Quality of Life and Psychological Adjustment in Young Adults with Congenital Heart Disease

Background: The risk for a severe disease course in case of infection with SARS-CoV-2 in young adults with congenital heart disease is largely unknown, potentially leading to uncertainty and anxiety among affected patients. This study aims to investigate health-related concerns, health-related quality of life and psychological adjustment in patients with congenital heart disease compared to healthy peers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: One-hundred patients with congenital heart disease and 50 controls (M = 29.7, SD = 3.8 years) were recruited. They completed an online survey including the assessment of health-related concerns regarding COVID-19, the 12-item Short Form Health Survey and the Brief Symptom Inventory. Results: Patients considered COVID-19 to be a more serious issue (Generalized odds ratio [GenOR] = 1.67, p = 0.04), were more concerned about becoming infected (GenOR = 2.93, p < 0.001) and expressed more fear about leaving their homes (GenOR = 1.81, p = 0.004) while general anxiety symptoms were not different between groups (p = 0.23). Patients relied more on family and friends for support (30% vs. 2% in controls, p < 0.001) and reported better compliance with protective measures (p = 0.03). Mental health-related quality of life and psychological adjustment were not different between groups (p = 0.17 and p = 0.68, respectively). Physical health-related quality of life was lower in patients compared to controls (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Young adults with congenital heart disease in Switzerland are more concerned about their health during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to healthy peers. These concerns, however, do not translate into generally impaired mental wellbeing. The impact of the easing of lockdown measures on long-term anxiety levels and quality of life requires further study

Perceived Parental Acceptance–Rejection in Childhood Predict Psychological Adjustment and Rejection Sensitivity in Adulthood

The present study examined relationships between childhood parental acceptance–rejection and the current psychological adjustment and rejection sensitivity of young adult men and women. The study also explored independent effects of childhood parental acceptance–rejection on the current psychological adjustment and rejection sensitivity of young adult men and women. Data were collected from 514 university students (49% female and 51% male) in Bangladesh. The mean age of the respondents was 22 years with a range of 18 through 26 years. Measures used were Adult version (short form) of the Parental Acceptance–Rejection Questionnaire for Mothers and Fathers, the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire, and the Adult version of the Personality Assessment Questionnaire. Results revealed significant correlations between remembered maternal and paternal acceptance–rejection in childhood and current psychological adjustment and rejection sensitivity of young adult men and women. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that both maternal and paternal acceptance in childhood have significant independent effects on the current psychological adjustment of both male and female young adults. Results also showed that perceived paternal rejection in childhood has significant independent effects on the rejection sensitivity of both young adult men and women, but perceived maternal rejection in childhood has no significant effects on the rejection sensitivity of young adult men and women.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Chronic Medical Conditions: Emotion Dysregulation as a Mediator of Adjustment.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to contribute to long-term harmful effects on mental health in young adults. Research has demonstrated that having a chronic medical condition (CMC) can also be conceptualized as being a potentially traumatic experience, and that young adults with a CMC are also at risk for negative adjustment. Emotion dysregulation, or difficulty identifying and regulating one's emotions, is common among individuals with ACEs, and is a predictor of young adult adjustment. Given the mediational link between ACEs, emotion dysregulation, and young adult adjustment, it is likely that emotion dysregulation may demonstrate a similar linkage to adjustment in individuals with a CMC. The current study compared the effects of ACEs and having a CMC on depressive and anxious symptoms, while also examining emotion dysregulation as a possible mediator for both ACEs and CMC on adjustment outcomes, specifically depressive and anxious symptoms. College students (N = 1911) completed online questionnaires that assessed history of ACEs, emotion regulation difficulties, adjustment, and chronic illness status. Path analyses demonstrated a significant correlation between ACEs and depressive and anxious symptoms, as well as having a CMC and depressive and anxious symptoms. Furthermore, emotion dysregulation demonstrated a significant mediation between ACEs and negative adjustment, as well as between having a CMC and negative adjustment. This study highlights the importance of emotion dysregulation in understanding outcomes for individuals with a CMC and/or ACEs.

Social Cognition as Mediator of Romantic Breakup Adjustment in Young Adults Who Experienced Childhood Maltreatment.

ABSTRACT The current study investigated whether childhood maltreatment and social cognition (emotional regulation, mentalization, causal attributions) are associated with romantic breakup adjustment in youth (resilience, psychiatric symptoms, distress); and whether social cognition mediates the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adjustment to romantic breakup. We assessed childhood maltreatment, social cognition, and romantic breakup adjustment in a sample of 482 university students who experienced a romantic breakup recently. Linear regressions and mediation analyses were computed. Childhood maltreatment was associated with romantic breakup adjustment when mediators were considered (p < .01) and when they were not (p < .01). Only emotional regulation was linked with measures of breakup adjustment (p < .01), while mentalization and personal control demonstrated relationships with resilience (p < .01) and psychiatric symptoms (p < .01; p < .05). Childhood maltreatment was indirectly associated with romantic breakup adjustment through emotional regulation (p < .05). Childhood maltreatment was indirectly associated with psychiatric symptoms through mentalization (p < .05), while childhood maltreatment was indirectly associated with romantic breakup adjustment through self-related mentalization (p < .05). The current study provides further evidence that emotional regulation and mentalization may act as protective factors on romantic breakup adjustment in the context of childhood maltreatment.

The Role of Stigma in the Relationship Between Illness Intrusiveness and Adjustment in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Path Model.

Adolescents/Young Adults (AYAs) with a chronic illness display elevated risk for poor psychosocial outcomes, yet relatively little is known about factors that place these individuals at risk. Illness intrusiveness is a known predictor of negative psychosocial outcomes in AYAs. Illness-related stigma, an understudied concept in this population, may also be a key contributor to increased intrusiveness. The present study sought to determine if higher levels of illness-related stigma would be associated with higher levels of depressive and anxious symptoms in AYAs with a chronic illness, and whether this relationship would be mediated by illness intrusiveness. College students with a chronic illness completed measures of illness-related stigma, illness intrusiveness, and both depressive and anxious symptoms. A path model indicated that stigma was significantly related to illness intrusiveness, and illness intrusiveness was significantly related to depressive and anxious symptoms. Both indirect paths from stigma to depressive and anxious outcomes were significant. There were also significant direct effects of stigma on depressive and anxious outcomes. An additional path model was tested to assess anxious and depressive outcomes as multidimensional factors by evaluating the individual factors of both scales as outcomes. This model revealed similar results. Findings support previous research indicating relationships between stigma, illness intrusiveness, and negative psychosocial outcomes, with illness intrusiveness serving as a possible mediator between illness-related stigma and depressive and anxious symptoms.

Raising Spanish Children With an Antisocial Tendency: Do We Know What the Optimal Parenting Style Is?

Families can play an essential role in preventing violent and antisocial behaviors, which are considered a significant public health issue. However, some studies argue that most children are antisocial only during adolescence, and even teenagers can mimic antisocial behavior in ways that are normative and well-adjusted. This study analyzed patterns of competence and adjustment in young adults with and without an antisocial tendency during adolescence from authoritative (characterized by warmth and strictness), authoritarian (strictness but not warmth), indulgent (warmth but not strictness), and neglectful (neither warmth nor strictness) families. Emergent research has indicated that in a European context, the indulgent parenting style is optimal. Offspring's competence and adjustment were captured through self-esteem (academic and family), psychosocial development (self-competence and empathy), and low emotional maladjustment (nervousness and hostility). Participants consisted of a community sample of 489 Spanish young adults, 191 men (39.1%) and 298 women (60.9%), aged 18 to 34 years old. The design was a 4 × 2 × 2 × 2 MANOVA (parenting style × antisocial tendency × sex × age). Analysis of main effects showed that youths with an antisocial tendency have less self-esteem and psychosocial development, but more emotional maladjustment. Regardless of the parenting style, an antisocial tendency during adolescence is consistently associated with worse adjustment in young adults. Both the authoritative and indulgent parenting styles are consistently associated with better outcomes (higher self-esteem and psychosocial development, and lower emotional maladjustment) than the authoritarian and neglectful parenting styles. However, there are interactions between the parenting style and the antisocial tendency. For young adults without an antisocial tendency, only indulgent parenting is associated with less emotional maladjustment. These results support the idea that in Europe the indulgent parenting style performs better than the authoritative style, but only when raising adolescents without an antisocial tendency. For young adults with an antisocial tendency, indulgent and authoritative parenting are equally optimal for all the studied outcomes.

Parent-Initiated Sexual Orientation Change Efforts With LGBT Adolescents: Implications for Young Adult Mental Health and Adjustment

ABSTRACTStudies of adults who experienced sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) have documented a range of health risks. To date, there is little research on SOCE among adolescents and no known studies of parents’ role related to SOCE with adolescents. In a cross-sectional study of 245 LGBT White and Latino young adults (ages 21–25), we measured parent-initiated SOCE during adolescence and its relationship to mental health and adjustment in young adulthood. Measures include being sent to therapists and religious leaders for conversion interventions as well as parental/caregiver efforts to change their child’s sexual orientation during adolescence. Attempts by parents/caregivers and being sent to therapists and religious leaders for conversion interventions were associated with depression, suicidal thoughts, suicidal attempts, less educational attainment, and less weekly income. Associations between SOCE, health, and adjustment were much stronger and more frequent for those reporting both attempts by parents and being sent to therapists and religious leaders, underscoring the need for parental education and guidance.

Predictors of quality of life in young adults with congenital heart disease.

The aim of this study was to identify medical and psychosocial risk factors for impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and poor psychological adjustment (PA) in young adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). A group of 188 patients (43% females, ages 18-30 years) with various types of CHD and 139 age-matched healthy controls (57% females) completed questionnaires assessing HRQoL, PA, social support, significant life events in the past year, education level, civil status, and employment status. Medical variables were retrieved from the patients' hospital records. Patients reported worse physical HRQoL than controls but similar mental HRQoL and PA. Female CHD patients showed worse physical and mental HRQoL and poorer PA than males. In CHD patients, a lower educational level and lower physical exercise capacity predicted lower physical HRQoL, but complexity of CHD was not related to HRQoL or PA. Less social support was associated with lower mental HRQoL and poorer PA in CHD patients. Young adults with CHD have impaired physical HRQoL but normal mental HRQoL and PA. Lower physical exercise capacity, female sex, less social support, and lower educational level predict an unfavourable quality of life and PA. This subgroup of patients should be monitored more closely and provided with special psychosocial care to improve long-term outcome.

Peer Victimization and Adjustment in Young Adulthood: Introduction to the Special Section.

A substantive number of children and adolescents are bullied by their peers, with serious risks for the victims' emotional, behavioral, physical, and academic adjustment. However, while the immediate and short-term consequences of peer victimization in childhood and adolescence are very well documented, knowledge about the potential long-term consequences for victims' functioning once they reach adulthood is only slowly emerging. Based on prospective, longitudinal data from different countries, the 4 papers in this special section investigate the association between peer victimization suffered in childhood and adolescence and victims' developmental outcomes in late adolescence/early adulthood. This introduction highlights the major findings of each paper and discusses the implications for future research.

Childhood peer victimization experiences and adult psychological adjustment: Examining race/ethnicity and race-related attributions

Few studies have examined young adults’ perceptions of childhood peer victimization (CPV) experiences and whether people of different racial/ethnic backgrounds perceive CPV differently. The current study examined the prevalence of CPV reported by members of the dominant racial majority (e.g., White), and individuals with racial minority backgrounds, and assessed the link between CPV and young adults’ psychological adjustment. Additionally, by examining attributions of skin color/ethnicity for CPV, both generally speaking and in light of possible moderating effects, the current study provides information on possible racial/ethnic differences in the causal interpretations of CPV. Data from 258 undergraduates (188 = majority; 70 = ethnic minority) revealed that racial/ethnic minority participants reported greater frequencies of CPV than majority White participants, and CPV was significantly associated with poorer psychological adjustment in young adulthood for all participants. Although attributions of skin color/ethnicity did not exacerbate the relationship between CPV and poor adjustment, the results do show that racial/ethnic minority participants are more likely than White participants to attribute all types of CPV to their skin color/ethnicity.

Mentors’ behavioral profiles and college adjustment in young adults participating in an academic mentoring program

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore associations between different mentor behavioral profiles and mentees’ perceptions of the quality of mentoring relationship, the usefulness of the mentoring, and their college adjustment during the first year of college.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a quasi-experimental design and involved the participation of 253 student mentees and 246 students from a control group. Cluster analysis on the responses of mentees on the mentor behavior scale was used to identify behavioral profiles of academic mentors.FindingsFour distinct behavioral profiles were identified: optimal (high scores on mentor structure, involvement, autonomy support, and competence support); sufficient (moderate on all scales); controlling (low on autonomy support but high on other scales); and inadequate (low on all scales). Compared to mentees exposed to sufficient and inadequate profiles, mentees exposed to the optimal profile perceived the mentoring relationship and its usefulness as more positive. Furthermore, they reported better social adjustment in college compared to a control group, whereas mentees exposed to the inadequate profile reported poorer adjustment. Interestingly, mentees exposed to the controlling profile found the mentoring relationship useful.Research limitations/implicationsThis study provides new empirical bases for the behavioral profiles of mentors that best meet mentees’ academic adjustment challenges. Limitations of the study include the absence of the mentors’ perceptions in the creation of behavioral profiles and the fact that the profiles were analyzed based on a single program.Originality/valueBehavioral profiles of academic mentors were examined through the lens of a strong theoretical model that emphasizes the important role of structure, involvement, autonomy support, and competence support in the academic adjustment of mentees.

Trajectories of binge drinking differentially mediate associations between adolescent violence exposure and subsequent adjustment in young adulthood.

Trajectories of binge drinking differentially mediate associations between adolescent violence exposure and subsequent adjustment in young adulthood.

Do depressive symptoms explain associations between binge eating symptoms and later psychosocial adjustment in young adulthood?

Prospective associations between binge eating symptoms (i.e., objective overeating [OOE] and loss of control [LOC] eating) and psychosocial functioning during emerging adulthood were examined using data from the Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. We examined associations between OOE and LOC eating and psychosocial functioning variables with and without adjusting for concurrent depressive symptoms. Analyses revealed that OOE at Wave 3 (ages 18–28) was associated with depressive symptoms, social isolation, weight perception, and perceived attractiveness seven years later at Wave 4 (ages 25–35) and LOC eating at Wave 3 was associated with later depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, weight perception, social isolation, number of close friends, and sleep difficulty. Analyses adjusted for depressive symptoms at Wave 3 revealed that OOE at Wave 3 was associated with social isolation and perceived attractiveness at Wave 4 and LOC eating at Wave 3 was associated with later depressive symptoms, isolation, number of close friends, and sleep difficulty. Results show that binge eating symptoms are prospectively associated with psychosocial impairment during emerging adulthood even after controlling for depressive symptoms. Rather than simply screening for depressive symptoms, results highlight the utility of screening for binge eating symptoms as these symptoms are independently associated with psychosocial impairment in emerging adults.

한국거주 고려인청년의 문화적응경험에 관한 질적 연구

한국거주 고려인청년의 문화적응경험에 관한 질적 연구

The influence of personality disorder on the future mental health and social adjustment of young adults: a population-based, longitudinal cohort study

Existing knowledge about the consequences of personality disorders is substantially derived from the study of clinical populations. To gain a fuller understanding of the disease burden associated with personality disorders, we report their long-term mental health and social consequences in a large population-based sample of young adults. We used data from a population-based, ten-wave cohort study of a stratified random sample of non-treatment-seeking young adults recruited from Victoria, Australia, between Aug 20, 1992, and March 3, 2014. The population sample was originally recruited in adolescence: here we report the analysis of data collected from wave 8 (participants aged 24-25 years) and wave 10 (participants aged 34-35 years). Presence and severity of personality disorder were assessed at age 24 years with a semi-structured, informant-based interview (the Standardised Assessment of Personality). At age 35 years, participants were assessed on the occurrence of the following outcomes: major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, smoking and alcohol consumption, illicit substance use, ever having separated from a long-term partner or been divorced, not currently in a relationship, not currently in paid employment, and in receipt of government welfare. We used multiple imputation to address potentially biased estimates resulting from the reduction of the analysis sample to participants who had completed both survey waves. The imputation dataset contained 1635 individuals. For the 1520 participants in wave 8, 1145 (75%) informant interviews for personality disorder in these participants took place. At age 24 years, 305 (27%) of the observed sample had either personality difficulties or personality disorder. At age 24 years, in the imputed analysis sample, the severity of personality disorder was associated with the absence of a degree or vocational qualification (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for the effect of complex and severe personality disorder vs no personality disorder 1·76, 95% CI 1·11-2·76), receipt of welfare (2·52, 1·33-4·78), the presence of common mental disorders (1·77, 1·08-2·90), and cigarette smoking (2·01, 1·29-3·14). At age 35 years, severity of personality disorder was independently associated with not being in a relationship (aOR for the effect of complex and severe personality disorder vs no personality disorder or personality difficulty 2·05, 95% CI 1·21-3·45), increased odds of an anxiety disorder (2·27, 1·2-4·28), and major depression (2·23, 1·24-4·01). The presence of personality disorder predicts the occurrence of later anxiety and depression, as well as the absence of long-term relationships, effects that are not attributable to pre-existing mental health, substance use or social problems. Our study provides strong support for including personality disorder in global studies of the burden of mental disorders to improve the understanding of population mental health. Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Victoria's Operational Infrastructure Support Program.