Cross-lagged Structural Equation Models Research Articles

The relationship between sleep disturbance and self-harming behaviours in high-risk clinical adolescents

Emerging research has identified sleep disturbance as an important risk factor for predicting self-harming behaviours. However, the temporality of this relationship, particularly in clinical adolescent samples remains poorly understood. This study examines the relationship between sleep disturbance and self-harming behaviours (namely nonsuicidal self-injury and suicide attempts) in clinical adolescents engaging in risk-taking and self-harming behaviours using secondary analyses from a clinical cohort study. Cross-lagged structural equation modelling was used to determine whether baseline sleep disturbance and self-harming behaviours were predictors of each other over a one-year follow-up period in a sample of adolescents (n = 238, 89.5% female) attending and receiving treatment from an outpatient clinic specializing in risk-taking and self-harming behaviours. When controlling for age, sex and depressive symptoms, greater sleep disturbance (p = 0.001) at baseline independently predicted higher numbers of suicide attempts at follow-up. No bidirectional relationship was found when sleep disturbance was modelled with the frequency of nonsuicidal self-injury. This study adds to the growing evidence that sleep disturbance may predict suicidal behaviours. Clinicians should thus regularly assess for sleep disturbances when evaluating suicidal behaviours in high-risk adolescents. Further research and clinical trials should investigate whether sleep-based interventions may be efficacious in reducing the prevalence of suicidal behaviours.

Relationships Between School Enjoyment, Social Integration, and Achievement at the Beginning of Primary School: Does Family Background Matter?

<p style="text-align: justify;">At the beginning of primary school, young children need to adapt academically, socially, and emotionally to their new school environment. Enjoying going to school and becoming socially integrated are important preconditions for successful learning. However, children from disadvantaged families have fewer resources and receive less support, and such deficits can result in lower attainment, negative emotions, and lower well-being. In recent years, interest in emotions and well-being in school has grown in educational research. However, studies analyzing the affective characteristics of disadvantaged students, especially in primary school, are still scarce. In this study, we analyzed reciprocal relationships between school enjoyment, social integration, and achievement using cross-lagged structural equation modeling (Grades 1 and 2), while controlling for family background and sex. We used data from the National Educational Panel Study in Germany (NEPS; N = 4,986). Results showed positive effects of school enjoyment on achievement and social integration on school enjoyment. Additionally, a better home learning environment had positive effects on school enjoyment and social integration in Grade 1. Effects of socioeconomic and migration background on school enjoyment and social integration were not significant. Our results show no evidence that educationally disadvantaged students are additionally disadvantaged in their school enjoyment or social integration at the beginning of primary school. </p>

The Effects of Online Social Interactions on Life Satisfaction of Older Chinese Adults: New Insights Based on a Longitudinal Approach.

Population aging and digitalization have become universal phenomena. Over the past two decades, digital inclusion has started to play a crucial role in supporting successful aging. Based on a nationally representative sample of around 5200 older adults in China over the period of 2014–2018, we explore the effects of online social interactions (OSIs) on the life satisfaction of older adults. We find that OSIs can improve the levels of life satisfaction of older Chinese adults. Estimates from fixed effect and cross-lagged structural equation models further suggest that OSIs work by increasing physical activities, healthy time allocation, interpersonal trust, and informal social engagement and reducing loneliness. We also find that OSIs narrow the social inequality in life satisfaction across groups from rural–urban areas and groups with different social statuses. Moreover, a comparison among different online engagements shows that not all online activities positively affect older adults’ life satisfaction. Different online activities have varying effects. Our results highlight that public digital interventions focusing on social functions can benefit the lives of older adults.

Longitudinal Relationships Between Social Connection, Agency, and Emotional Well-Being: A 13-Year Study

ABSTRACT Social connection and agency are typically conceptualized as antecedents of well-being, yet the relative contributions of each for well-being are not yet well known. Moreover, whether or not well-being can lead to social connection and agency has not received sufficient research attention. In the present study, we test longitudinal effects of social connection, agency, and emotional well-being over a time span encompassing 13-years and four quadrennial measurement waves (total N = 22,980). Controlling for age and gender, random-intercept cross-lagged structural equation modelling suggested that earlier emotional well-being significantly predicted future agency and social connection. Similarly, earlier agency predicted future emotional well-being and social connection. However, contrary to previous findings, earlier social connection did not significantly predict emotional well-being or agency in the future. These results suggest that building emotional well-being, in addition to agency, may lead to the best social, emotional and cognitive well-being outcomes.

Workplace bullying, symptoms of anxiety and the interaction with leadership quality - a longitudinal study using dynamic panel models with fixed effects.

Workplace bullying has been suggested to increase symptoms of anxiety. A reverse relationship has also been proposed. However, so far only few earlier studies have investigated this topic and the reported associations might partly be explained by unmeasured individual characteristics. In this study, we aim to examine the temporality and directionality between workplace bullying and anxiety symptoms, taking time-invariant characteristics into account. Furthermore, we aim to examine whether leadership quality modifies these associations. We included 13 491 individuals from two nationwide cohort studies in Sweden and Denmark. Using cross-lagged structural equation models (SEM) and dynamic panel models with fixed effects, we examined contemporaneous and lagged associations between self-reported workplace bullying and anxiety. Cohort-specific results were estimated and combined using fixed-effect meta-analysis. The cross-lagged SEM models supported contemporaneous and lagged relationships in both directions (from workplace bullying to symptoms of anxiety and vice versa). In contrast, only contemporaneous relationships remained statistically significant and of considerable magnitude in the dynamic panel models with fixed effects. Specifically, exposure to workplace bullying was related to a concurrent increase in anxiety symptoms (b=0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.32-0.90). No support of interaction with leadership quality was found. The results indicate that onset of workplace bullying is associated with an immediate or short-term increase in anxiety symptoms. This study provides novel insights regarding temporal aspects and causal inference of the bullying-anxiety relationship useful for managing psychological hazards and preventing mental illness at work.

Does arterial stiffness progression temporally precede higher low-grade inflammation in adolescents? Causal longitudinal evidence using auto-regressive cross-lagged structural equation models

Abstract Background Arterial stiffness, a precursor of arteriosclerosis, measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adults. Emerging evidence among adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged adults suggest that arterial stiffness may predict the risk of hypertension, obesity, insulin resistance, and the onset of type 2 diabetes and could be a causal risk factor for these diseases. However, it is unknown whether higher arterial stiffness temporally precedes elevated inflammation in the young population or if there is a bi-directional relationship. This evidence is crucial to developing interventions for attenuating arterial stiffness in early life. Purpose To examine the temporal causal longitudinal associations between repeated measures of cfPWV and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Methods We studied 3862 adolescents, aged 17.7 years, followed-up for 7 years, from Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, birth cohort, UK. Fasting plasma hsCRP was assessed at 17.7 and 24.5-year clinic visits. In the same clinic visits, cfPWV was computed from pressure waveforms obtained using the Vicorder device (Skidmore Medical, Bristol, UK), 5 minutes after participants rested in a semi-prone position, with 2 blood pressure measurement channels and 2 Velcro pressure sensor cuffs applied over each of the carotid and femoral arteries. The assessment was repeated until three readings that were within 0.5 m/s of each other were recorded. We conducted autoregressive cross-lagged structural equation model path analyses to untangle temporal associations. We adjusted for sex, time in years between ages 17.7 and 24.5 years, age, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, dual-energy Xray absorptiometry measured total fat mass and lean mass, ActiGraph measured moderate to vigorous physical activity at 15.5 years, smoking status, and family history of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Results Among 3862 adolescents (55.5% female), median (IQR) hsCRP at 17.7 and 24.5 years were 0.56 (0.98) mg/L and 0.84 (1.62) mg/L, respectively. The median (IQR) cfPWV at 17.7 and 24.5 years were 5.79 (0.66) m/s and 6.12 (1.12) m/s, respectively. Higher hsCRP at age 17.7 years was associated with higher cfPWV [Standardized β = 0.058, standard error = 0.004, p=0.037] at age 24.5 years. However, higher cfPWV at age 17.7 years was not associated with higher hsCRP [β = 0.023, standard error = 0.243, p=0.341] at 24.5 years. Conclusion We observed that elevated low-grade inflammation in adolescence may temporally cause higher arterial stiffness 7 years later, but not vice versa. Clinical and public health interventions targeted at reducing low-grade inflammation to regress the development of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease before mid-adulthood are needed. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Finnish Cultural Foundation

Temporal causal longitudinal associations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein with carotid intima-media thickness progression in adolescents: the ALSPAC birth cohort study

Abstract Background The causal role of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in the evolution of preclinical cardiovascular disease remains unclear. A previous longitudinal study concluded that hsCRP measured in childhood was not associated with a single measure of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) assessed at mid-adulthood. The use of hsCRP samples stored for 25 years prior to analysis might have confounded this previous findings. In the young population of adolescents and young adults no study has investigated whether elevated hsCRP temporally precedes higher cIMT or if bi-directional associations exist, due to the lack of repeated measures of cIMT. Purpose To examine the temporal causal longitudinal associations between repeated measures of cIMT and hsCRP in a young population. Methods We studied 3862 adolescents, aged 17.7 years, followed-up for 7 years, from Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, birth cohort, UK. Fasting plasma hsCRP was assessed at age 17.7 and 24.5-year clinic visits. cIMT from the right and left common carotid arteries at 17 years was assessed by ultrasound using a linear 12-MHz transducer (Vivid7, GE Medical, Chicago, Illinois) and cIMT from the right and left common carotid arteries at 24 years was measured using an ultrasound machine (CardioHealth Panasonic and a 13.5 MHz linear array broadband transducer (probe; centre frequency 9.0 MHz). We conducted autoregressive cross-lagged structural equation model path analyses to untangle temporal and bi-directional associations. We adjusted for sex, time in years between ages 17.7 and 24.5 years, age, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, dual-energy Xray absorptiometry measured total fat mass and lean mass, ActiGraph measured moderate to vigorous physical activity at 15.5 years, smoking status, and family history of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Results Among 3862 adolescents (55.5% female), median (IQR) hsCRP values at 17.7 and 24.5 years were 0.56 (0.98) mg/L and 0.84 (1.62) mg/L, respectively. The median (IQR) cIMT values at 17.7 and 24.5 years were 0.48 (0.05) mm and 0.54 (0.09) mm, respectively. Higher hsCRP at age 17.7 years was associated with cIMT [Standardized β = 0.062, standard error = 0.004, p=0.035] at age 24.5 years. However, higher cIMT at age 17.7 years was not associated with higher hsCRP [β = −0.014, standard error = 0.284, p=0.523] at 24.5 years. Conclusion These findings in the largest adolescent population to date suggest that higher inflammation in adolescence temporally precede higher carotid thickness 7 years later and there was no bi-directional relationship. Clinical and public health interventions targeted at reducing low-grade inflammation to potentially attenuate the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in the young population are warranted. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Finnish Cultural Foundation

Longitudinal Associations Among Adolescents' Sexual Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors.

Youth sex and relationship education programs aim to improve adolescent well-being by changing their knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding sex and their health. However, there is a gap in existing research linking these cognitive targets to relevant behaviors, and a particular dearth of data on links with sexual behaviors. The current study tested longitudinal links between cognitive factors related to sex (attitudes about sex, normative beliefs, risk-avoidant intentions, and confidence in refusal skills) and outcomes of sexual behaviors (recent sexual encounters, number of sexual partners, and frequency of condom use). Data were drawn from three waves of data from a panel study of US high-school students and were analyzed using cross-lagged structural equation modeling. We hypothesized direct, reciprocal links between intentions and behaviors, but this hypothesis was not supported. Instead, more conservative attitudes about sex emerged as the most consistent prospective predictor of fewer sexual encounters and sexual partners, though with small effect sizes (βs = -.08 to-.131, ps < .05). Further, bidirectional interrelationships were observed among several of the cognitive and behavioral variables over time. These results highlight attitudes about sex as a potentially useful intervention target, but also suggest that sex and relationship education curricula and evaluations should consider multiple pathways of links between cognition and behavior. Continued research is needed on causal links between adolescents' sexual attitudes, knowledge, intentions, and behavior.

Depression predicts equivalized income five years later, but not vice versa: Results from the prospective Gutenberg Health Study

• The bidirectional association of income and depression in midlife (adults aged 35–74) was studied. • We used an autoregressive cross-lagged structural equation model. • Depression had a small but statistically significant negative effect on equivalized income five years later. • Equivalized income, however, did not exert an effect on depression five years later. • No differences regarding gender or retirement status were found.

Cross-Lagged Analyses Across Middle-Adulthood of the Bidirectional Associations Between Substance Use Disorders and Psychosocial Dysfunction.

We sought to clarify the causal nature of the bidirectional associations in adulthood between substance use disorder (SUD) and psychosocial dysfunction (PSD). As assessed from National Swedish registers, SUD is measured by alcohol use disorder (AUD) and drug use disorder (DUD) and PSD by unemployment (UN), low income (LI), and high community deprivation (HCD). A cross-lagged structural equation model from ages 31 to 48 is applied to the native Swedish population born 1960-1980 and residing in Sweden at age 29 followed through 2017 (n = 2,283,330), excluding individuals with prior SUD and PSD. All models fitted well. Focusing on the cross-lagged paths, across sexes, substances, and forms of PSD, parameter estimates for the SUD to PSD paths consistently exceeded those for the parallel PSD to SUD paths. SUD to PSD paths were nearly all statistically significant. Although the UN to SUD and LI to SUD paths were usually significant, most HCD to SUD paths were not. The differences between the UN to SUD and SUD to UN paths grew larger with increasing age, whereas the opposite pattern was seen for the HCD to SUD and SUD to HCD paths. Across sexes, forms of SUD, and dimensions of PSD, in a fully parametrized and good-fitting cross-lagged model of middle adult life, a diagnosis of SUD consistently predicted future PSD whereas PSD often but not always predicted future SUD. The SUD to PSD paths were consistently larger than the parallel PSD to SUD paths. Our results suggest a bidirectional causal relationship between SUD and PSD across adulthood, driven largely, but not entirely, by the negative effects of SUD on future psychosocial functioning.

Impact of student-teacher relationship quality on classroom behavioral engagement for young students on the autism spectrum

BackgroundStudent academic behavioral engagement (BE) contributes to learning and school success. Student-teacher relationships (STRs) may promote BE, although previous findings regarding how these constructs are associated over time are mixed. For young autistic students who face barriers to early school success, a high-quality STR may serve as a key protective factor to promote classroom engagement. MethodsThe present study investigated connections between teacher-rated STR quality and student BE over two school years for 146 young autistic children (grade PK-2) using cross-lagged structural equation modeling. A full model with cross-lagged paths from BE to STR quality and from STR quality to BE was first examined. Potential confounding variables (i.e., externalizing behaviors, cognitive skills, and language skills) were included. The model was then trimmed by removing all non-significant paths. It was hypothesized that the final model would highlight the unidirectional influence of STR quality on BE. ResultsResults supported the unidirectional influence of STR quality on BE across one school year. STR quality at the beginning of the first school year predicted behavioral engagement at the end of the year (β =.26, p<.01) BE outcomes persisted into the following school year (β =.45, p<.001). ConclusionsFindings suggest that STR quality significantly contributes to engagement for young autistic students, potentially serving as a critical protective factor for classroom success. This highlights the importance of developing quality STRs with high levels of closeness and low levels of conflict for students on the spectrum in early schooling.

Bidirectional associations between sleep problems and behavioural difficulties and health-related quality of life in adolescents: Evidence from the SCAMP longitudinal cohort study.

Sleep problems show associations with negative outcomes in both physical and mental health in adolescents, but the associations may be reciprocal. We aimed to assess bidirectional associations between sleep problems and mental health symptoms including behavioural difficulties (internalising and externalising difficulties) and low health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A total of 6616 adolescents (52.4% females) across Greater London completed baseline assessments when they were aged 11-12years, and 3803 of them (57.2% females) completed follow-up assessments at aged 13-15years. Weekday and weekend sleep duration were derived from self-reported bedtime, sleep onset latency and wake time. Sleep disturbance was assessed using a standardized sleep disturbance scale. Internalising and externalising difficulties were assessed using subscales of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. HRQoL was assessed using the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire. Cross-lagged structural equation modelling was used with multiple imputation to examine bidirectional associations between sleep problems and mental health symptoms. Females had greater internalising difficulties, worse HRQoL and more sleep disturbance than males. Persistent insufficient weekday and weekend sleep, and sleep disturbance (i.e., at both baseline and follow-up) were associated with internalising and externalising difficulties and low HRQoL at follow-up (ORs ranged from 1.53 to 3.63). Persistent externalising difficulties and low HRQoL were also associated with insufficient weekend sleep and sleep disturbance at follow-up (ORs ranged from 1.68 to 4.25). Using continuous variables, we found bidirectional associations between weekday sleep duration and HRQoL, weekend sleep duration and externalising score, sleep quality and internalising score, and sleep quality and HRQoL. The association magnitudes were mostly similar in the two directions. Our study showed bidirectional associations between sleep problems and mental health symptoms during adolescence, indicating that early intervention and treatment on the first-occurring symptom may prevent the development of subsequent problems.

The relations between urban high school science students’ agentic mindset, agentic engagement, and perceived teacher autonomy support and control

Students’ agentic engagement and teachers’ autonomy support represent powerful reciprocal factors that can influence academic outcomes. However, little is known about the extent to which students’ agentic mindset reciprocally relates to agentic engagement and teachers’ practice or the parallel role of teacher control, particularly among ethnically diverse urban students. The current investigation examined reciprocal relations between urban U.S. high school science students’ agentic mindset, agentic engagement, and perceived teacher autonomy support and control over time. Cross-lagged structural equation models indicated that agentic mindset, agentic engagement, and perceived teacher practice reciprocally relate. Agentic engagement predicted increases in agentic mindset. Perceived teacher autonomy support predicted increases in agentic mindset and agentic engagement. Agentic mindset predicted decreases in perceived teacher control and vice versa. Moderator analyses suggested that relations varied depending on prior achievement and stereotype vulnerability, but not gender. Specifically, perceived support increased the agentic engagement more for low versus high stereotype vulnerable students. Predicted relations were also stronger and more adaptive for higher achieving compared to lower achieving students, with adaptive relationships from mindset to engagement and from engagement to perceived teacher practice emerging only for high achieving students. Implications for theory, future research, and practice are discussed.

The relationship between unemployment and wellbeing: an updated meta-analysis of longitudinal evidence

ABSTRACT We provide an up-to-date quantitative synthesis of the evidence on the effect of unemployment on wellbeing based on 46 samples reported in 29 studies published between 1990 and 2020. Our sample includes longitudinal studies focusing on developed economies (e. g., EU-15 countries, UK, US, and Australia). We advance existing knowledge by exploring a wider range of wellbeing measures (both mental health and subjective wellbeing) and an extensive set of moderators capturing individual characteristics and country-level factors. In addition to the well-established negative impact upon mental health, our results present a negative relationship between unemployment and life satisfaction. In line with previous work, this negative association is stronger for men than women, and the longer the duration of unemployment, the larger the impact. We contribute to the existing evidence by pointing to the significant role in this relationship of gender, social and economic context, and norms/societal expectations regarding work. Finally, by utilizing longitudinal data and meta-analytic cross-lagged structural equation modelling, we present preliminary evidence on the existence of a reciprocal relationship between unemployment and wellbeing over time. While unemployment reduces wellbeing, poor wellbeing also leads to unemployment, indicating that individuals can become trapped in a cycle of unemployment and poor wellbeing.

A longitudinal investigation of the effects of parental discipline strategies on social competence in early childhood

In the current study, we investigated the associations between parenting discipline strategies (i.e., physical punishment and non-violent punishment) and social development using n = 3265 reports from primary caregivers across three waves of data. Analyses were conducted using cross-lagged structural equation modeling, where we evaluated the developmental effects of physical punishment and non-violent punishment on social competence. The findings showed partial support for developmental changes between non-violent punishment and social competence unfold reciprocally and longitudinally; the relationship between physical punishment and social competence appeared unrelated, as physical punishment in Wave 2 only negatively predicted social competence in Wave 3. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the developmental pathways for parenting discipline strategies and social skill development among children living in urban neighborhoods.

A longitudinal test of acculturative family distancing theory explaining latino/a/x adolescents' adjustment

According to acculturative family distancing theory, adolescents' perceptions of cultural incongruencies with parents can diminish the quality of parent-adolescent relationships and, as a result, harm adolescent adjustment. Using four time points of data for a sample of 547 diverse Latino/a/x adolescents, this study examined how parent-adolescent relationship quality and acculturative family distancing were associated with changes in adolescent school performance and internalizing symptoms. At baseline, the school-based sample ranged from 11- to 14-years-old (M = 12.78) and included slightly more females (55%) than males (45%). Cross-lagged structural equation model results indicated that adolescent reports of greater acculturative family distancing were associated with adolescent perceived increases in parent-adolescent conflict and decreases in parental support. Conflict mediated associations between acculturative family distancing and decreased school performance. Associations between parent-child relationship qualities and Latino/a/x adolescent adjustment were bidirectional.

Maternal and adolescent depressive symptoms and family conflict: An autoregressive cross-lagged examination of competing models in multi-stressed mothers and adolescents.

Maternal and adolescent depression are challenges that often co-occur. Many studies have drawn bivariate associations between maternal depressive symptoms, adolescent depressive symptoms, and family conflict, but few have examined reciprocal effects. Even among extant studies, there is a lack of clarity related to directionality of influence. Three competing theoretical models may explain the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms, adolescent depressive symptoms, and family conflict, and these processes may differ by adolescents' sex. Using three time points of data from 187 diverse mother-adolescent dyads, we fit a taxonomy of autoregressive cross-lagged structural equation models to simultaneously evaluate the competing theoretical models and also examine differences by sex using multiple-group analyses. Results indicate a symptom-driven model whereby adolescent depressive symptoms predicted increases in family conflict. Sex differences were also found. For males, but not females, greater adolescent depressive symptoms predicted subsequent increases in maternal depressive symptoms, which then predicted lower family conflict-possibly indicating maternal disengagement/withdrawal. Our findings suggest addressing adolescent depressive symptoms in order to prevent family conflict and that distinctive targets for the prevention/intervention of family conflict should account for differences by adolescents' sex.

Information Scanning Impacts Nonmedical Drug Use Among College Students: A Longitudinal Study of Scanning Effects

ABSTRACT Health information that is acquired through information scanning has been shown to play an important role in shaping individual beliefs and health behavior. This study examines the direct and indirect effects of the breadth of scanning from media and interpersonal sources about two risk behaviors (nonmedical use of amphetamines and marijuana) on subsequent drug use behavior through changes to perceived norms. We test effects of scanning using a longitudinal online survey design with data collected at six-month intervals over three time points among 800 Israeli undergraduate students in their freshman year. Of the 800 respondents who participated in the first wave, 62.4% completed the second wave (N = 499), among which 347 (69.5%) completed a follow-up 6 months later. Results of cross-lagged structural equation models find that scanning information about amphetamines from interpersonal sources at 6 months predicted an increased likelihood of nonmedical use of amphetamines at 12-months. In addition, young adults who scanned information about marijuana from media sources at 6 months reported greater nonmedical marijuana use at 12 months. Breadth of scanning about marijuana from media sources mediated the relationship between perceived norms and marijuana use at 12 months. Results also showed indirect effects of scanning at baseline on nonmedical drug use at 12 months through scanning from the same source at 6 months. These findings contribute to our understanding of the role of information scanning and perceived norms in shaping substance use behaviors, and suggest that scanning may serve as a potential early indicator of risk.

Reciprocal relationships between time pressure and mental or physical health in Australian mothers of preschool aged children

The associations between time pressure and health are typically conceptualised and examined as unidirectional. This study examined the reciprocal relationships between time pressure and mental and physical health amongst working mothers of preschool children; a high-risk group for feeling time pressured. Using 5 waves of a panel study of Australian mothers when their children were aged 0–4 (n = 3878) and cross-lagged structural equation models, we find strong significant negative reciprocal associations between time pressure and mental and physical health, although these reciprocal associations were stronger and more consistent over time for mental health. Our results indicate that physical health takes a couple of years to deteriorate to a point where the reciprocal effects with time pressure become apparent, but for mental health the reciprocal effects are immediate, present at all time points and consistently strong. Findings suggest there are significant reciprocal health consequences of the time pressure experienced by working mothers and government policy encouraging mothers back into the workforce without adequate supports may be harmful for health.

Psychometric Characteristics of the Oxford Grief Memory Characteristics Scale and Its Relationship With Symptoms of ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR Prolonged Grief Disorder.

Difficulties with loss-related memories are hypothesised to be an important feature of severe and enduring grief reactions according to clinical and theoretical models. However, to date, there are no self-report instruments that capture the different aspects of memory relevant to grieving and adaptation after bereavement over time. The Oxford Grief–Memory characteristics scale (OG-M) was developed using interviews with bereaved individuals and was subject to exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in a community sample (N = 676). Results indicated the scale was unidimensional and demonstrated excellent psychometric properties. The impact of memory characteristics on symptoms of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) according to both ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR criteria were investigated using cross-lagged structural equation modelling in a three-wave longitudinal sample (N = 275) at baseline and 6 and 12 months later. Results indicated that loss-related memory characteristics predicted future symptoms of PGD after controlling for autoregressions, and concurrent associations between symptoms and memory characteristics. Cross-lagged associations between memory characteristics and symptoms were significant in the first 6 months of follow-up. After that, memory characteristics predicted future symptoms, but not the other way round. Theoretical and clinical utility of the scale and its features are discussed.