Current Mood Symptoms Research Articles

More Positive Attitudes to Aging are Associated with Lower Subjective Cognitive Decline: Moderating Roles of Affective Well-Being.

This study cross-sectionally examined associations between older adults' aging attitudes and subjective cognitive decline as well as moderating effects of current positive affect and depressive symptoms. Data were collected via an online survey among U.S. adults 65+ (N = 339, 55.5% female, Mage = 71.7, SD ± 4.78) with no self-reported diagnosis of dementia. SCD was measured with the Everyday Cognition scale; attitudes to physical change, psychological growth, and psychosocial loss in aging were measured with the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire. A Poisson regression analysis showed that overall aging attitudes, attitudes to physical change, and psychosocial loss were associated with SCD, but attitudes to psychosocial growth were not. More positive attitudes to physical change were associated with lower SCD; more negative attitudes to psychosocial loss were associated with higher SCD. The association between more positive attitudes to physical change in aging and lower SCD was accentuated with lower current positive mood and higher current depressive symptoms.

Social Cognition, Executive Functioning, Mood, and Disability in Cervical Dystonia.

Individuals with idiopathic adult-onset isolated cervical dystonia (CD) may have cognitive difficulties and increased mood challenges. Social cognition and executive functioning may be particularly affected. To explore social cognition and executive functioning performance in individuals with CD, using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), as previous research has used traditional, nondigital neuropsychological assessments. We sought to investigate the relationships between social cognition, executive functioning, mood, and disability in individuals with CD. We recruited 37 individuals with CD, including 26 women with an age range of 33 to 69 years (M = 56.64, SD = 8.31) from a dystonia clinic in a hospital neurology department. The individuals completed selected tasks from the CANTAB measuring social cognition and executive functioning. We compared the individuals' performance with CANTAB normative data. Depression, anxiety, disease severity, and disability were measured. The individuals with CD had significantly lower scores than the CANTAB normative data in both social cognition and executive functioning tasks, with the largest differences evident in problem-solving, attention, and positive emotion bias tasks. Poorer emotion recognition was associated with increased difficulties in problem-solving tasks. The individuals demonstrated a bias toward identifying happiness in facial affect, which was related to a poorer recognition of emotions. Cognitive performance was not related to CD severity or disability or to current mood symptoms. Difficulties with both social cognition and executive functioning were identified in the individuals with CD, and are likely important targets for clinical interventions.

Preventive interventions for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders: A review of selected programs

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) have high prevalence rates and profound deleterious effects on birthing people, families, and society. Counseling interventions have been shown to be effective and carry minimal risk. We review here the protocols and clinical trial data of four preventive counseling interventions that are effective at preventing PMADs. We present the Mothers and Babies (MB) program, a cognitive-behavioral preventive intervention, and Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials for mothers of newborns (ROSE), an interpersonal psychotherapy preventive intervention. We also present Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Perinatal Depression (MBCT- PD), a preventive intervention that combines a cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based approach, and Practical Resources for Effective Postpartum Parenting (PREPP), a parent-infant dyadic intervention with psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based, and psychoeducational elements. We recommend that screening for risk of PMADs (not just current mood symptoms) and providing preventive interventions to those at risk should be included as part of standard obstetrics care.

A - 31 Relationship between Self-Reported Concussion History, Cognition, and Mood among Former Collegiate Athletes

Abstract Purpose Long-term concussion sequelae have been increasingly studied in former professional athletes, and less is known about those who participated in sport at the collegiate level. This study explores the relationship between concussion history and cognition/mood in former collegiate athletes in middle-to-later adulthood. Method 422 former collegiate athletes over age 50 (M = 61.5; 62% male) completed the College Level Aging Athlete Study (CLEAATS) including the Cognitive Function Instrument (CFI), Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified (TICSm), and self-report questionnaires including concussion history and current mood. Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses examined the relationship between concussion history, subjective and objective cognitive status, and mood. Results 54% of the sample reported a history of concussion (M = 1.2, SD = 1.7). Number of concussions was marginally associated with subjective cognitive complaints (r = 0.13, p = 0.004) and depression (r = 0.14, p = 0.002), but not objective cognition (p = 0.39) or anxiety (p = 0.33). Regression models including demographic factors and mood were significant and explained 32% and 17% of the variance in subjective and objective cognition, respectively. Concussion history was not a significant predictor in either model, whereas depression (Β = -0.12) was associated with poorer subjective cognition only. Conclusions Concussion history was not associated with subjective or objective cognitive changes in former collegiate athletes. Although a very small relationship between concussion history and depression was found, depression was associated with more subjective cognitive complaints. This suggests mood symptoms have greater impact on subjective cognitive status than concussion history. These findings highlight the importance of considering the effect of current mood symptoms when evaluating former athletes who present with cognitive complaints.

Bipolarity in Older individuals Living without Drugs (BOLD): Protocol and preliminary findings

IntroductionAlthough clinical guidelines regard prophylactic medication as the cornerstone of treatment, it is estimated almost half of patients with bipolar disorder (BD) live without medication. This group is underrepresented in research but can provide indispensable knowledge on natural course, resilience and self-management strategies. We aim to describe the clinical phenotype of patients diagnosed with BD who have discontinued maintenance treatment. MethodsThe mixed-methods BOLD study included 58 individuals aged 50 years and over with BD that did not use maintenance medication in the past 5 years. A preliminary, quantitative comparison of clinical characteristics between BOLD and our pre-existing cohort of >220 older BD outpatients with medication (Dutch Older Bipolars, DOBi) was performed. ResultsBD-I, psychiatric comorbidities, number of mood episodes and lifetime psychotic features were more prevalent in BOLD compared to DOBi. BOLD participants had a younger age at onset and reported more childhood trauma. BOLD participants reported fewer current mood symptoms and higher cognitive, social, and global functioning. LimitationsOur findings may not be generalizable to all individuals diagnosed with BD living without maintenance medication due to selection-bias. ConclusionA group of individuals exists that meets diagnostic criteria of BD and is living without maintenance medication. They appear to be relatively successful in terms of psychosocial functioning, although they do not have a milder clinical course than those on maintenance medication. The high prevalence of childhood trauma warrants further investigation. Future analyses will examine differences between BOLD and DOBi per domain (e.g. cognition, physical health, psychosocial functioning, coping).

The structure of mood and anxiety disorder symptoms in the perinatal period

BackgroundThe perinatal period is increasingly recognized as a vulnerable time for the development and exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms. Research has often focused on perinatal depression, with much less information on perinatal anxiety. This study examined the psychometric structure of all internalizing (anxiety and mood disorder symptoms) in the perinatal period. MethodsParticipants were primarily community adults receiving prenatal care from an academic medical center (N = 246). Participants completed a structured clinical interview using the Interview for Mood and Anxiety Symptoms (IMAS) during pregnancy (28–32 weeks gestation) and the postpartum (6–8 weeks). Clinical interviews dimensionally assessed all current anxiety, mood, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms as well as lifetime psychiatric diagnoses. ResultsConfirmatory factor analyses identified three latent factors onto which psychiatric symptoms loaded: Distress (depression, generalized anxiety, irritability, and panic symptoms), Fear (social anxiety, agoraphobia, specific phobia, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms), and Bipolar (mania and obsessive-compulsive symptoms) in both pregnancy and the postpartum. The fit statistics of the models indicated adequate to good fit in both models. LimitationsThe IMAS is validated against the DSM-IV-TR rather than the DSM-5 and assessments of psychiatric symptoms were focused only on the current pregnancy. ConclusionsA three-factor model consisting of Distress, Fear and Bipolar latent factors was the best-fitting model in pregnancy and the postpartum period and showed stability across time. The structure of internalizing symptoms has important implications for future perinatal research and can be utilized to guide treatment by highlighting which psychiatric symptoms may be most similar during the perinatal period.

Mood Instability in Youth at High Risk for Bipolar Disorder.

Mood instability is associated with the onset of bipolar disorder (BD) in youth with a family history of the illness. In a clinical trial with youth at high risk for BD, we examined the association between mood instability and symptomatic, psychosocial, and familial functioning over an average of 2 years. Youth (aged 9-17 years) with major depressive disorder or other specified BD, current mood symptoms, and a family history of BD were rated by parents on a mood instability scale. Participants were randomly assigned to 4 months of family-focused therapy or enhanced care psychoeducation, both with medication management as needed. Independent evaluators rated youth every 4-6 months for up to 4 years on symptom severity and psychosocial functioning, whereas parents rated mood instability of the youth and levels of family conflict. High-risk youth (N= 114; mean age 13.3 ± 2.6 years; 72 female) were followed for an average of 104.3 ± 65.8 weeks (range, 0-255 weeks) after randomization. Youth with other specified BD (vs major depressive disorder), younger age, earlier symptom onset, more severe mood symptoms, lower psychosocial functioning, and more familial conflict over time had higher mood instability ratings throughout the study period. Mood instability mediated the association between baseline diagnosis and mother/offspring conflict at follow-up (Z= 2.88, p= .004, αβ= 0.19, 95% CI= 0.06-0.32). Psychosocial interventions did not moderate these associations. A questionnaire measure of mood instability tracked closely with symptomatic, psychosocial, and family functioning in youth at high risk for BD. Interventions that are successful in reducing mood instability may enhance long-term outcomes among high-risk youth. Early Intervention for Youth at Risk for Bipolar Disorder; https://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT01483391.

A-185 Influence of Improved Lifetime TBI History Ascertainment on Clinical Outcomes

Abstract Objective: History of TBI/concussion earlier in life may have implications for long-term health. It is important to understand factors that influence retrospective reports of TBI/concussion history in the clinic. We examined whether providing a formal TBI/concussion definition affected self-reported TBI/concussion history and evaluated association of TBI/concussion history with current mood symptoms. Methods: Participants were 12 individuals (5 M, 7 F, average age = 40.4) seen in an interdisciplinary TBI/concussion clinic. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon tests compared the total number of reported TBI/concussions before and after providing patients a formalized definition for TBI/concussion in the overall sample and then separately for males and females. A secondary analysis used Pearson’s correlation to examine the relationship between total number of TBI/concussions and self-reported anxiety using Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) total score. Results: Participants reported an average of 3.1 more concussions after being informed of the definition of a TBI/concussion. This result was primarily seen in men, who reported 5.8 more TBI/concussions (women = 0.5 more TBI/concussions) after the definition was provided (W = 1.5, p = 0.05). Further, there was a positive, strong correlation between total number of reported lifetime concussions post TBI/concussion definition and anxiety severity (r = 0.67, p = 0.05). Conclusions: Providing a definition of TBI/concussion increases reports of lifetime concussion, primarily in males. Higher trait anxiety may also be associated with self-reported concussion history. Larger sample sizes are needed to better understand factors that drive retrospective injury reports in those who seek concussion care.

Visual-stress-related cortical excitability as a prospective marker for symptoms of depression and anxiety in young people.

Visual stress is thought to reflect cortical excitability and has been associated with many neurological, neuropsychiatric, and neurodevelopmental conditions. However, its relationships with symptoms of depression and anxiety have not yet been elucidated. We conducted two separate studies to first examine visual stress in a longitudinal community sample of 104 participants (aged 12-24) in association with prospective symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress after 3months, and subsequently in a cross-sectional epidemiological sample of 530 participants (aged 15-24) to validate its associations with current mood and distress symptoms. The Pattern Glare Test was used to examine visual stress to three grating patterns with the spatial frequencies (SF) of 0.3, 2.3, and 9.4 cycles per degree (cpd). Other known factors of mental health, including functioning, as well as resilience, hopelessness, and loneliness, were also assessed at baseline. In both studies, we showed that perceptual distortions were highest toward the pattern with mid-SF (2.3cpd). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that greater visual stress was significantly associated with not only baseline but also 3-month symptom outcomes, even when accounting for age, years of education, days of no functioning, resilience, hopelessness, and loneliness. Our findings suggest the importance of visual stress in understanding and predicting poor mental health outcomes. As mental health can lead to far-reaching consequences that extend to adulthood, our findings may inform state-of-the-art innovative strategies for the prediction of poor mental health outcomes and suggest visual stress as a potential marker for early risk detection among young people.

Pain sensitivity is modulated by affective temperament: Results from the population-based CHRIS Affective Disorder (CHRIS-AD) study

BackgroundNociceptive pain modulation is related to psychological and psychiatric conditions. Evidence from clinical studies backs innate temperaments as potential precursors of mood symptoms and disorders, and pain sensitivity. Our study examines the modulation effect of affective temperaments on pain sensitivity in a general population adult sample, accounting for possible intervening mood symptoms, lifetime anxiety and depression, and pain treatments. MethodsThe sample is part of the CHRIS-AD study, Italy. Primary outcomes were the pain sensitivity questionnaire PSQ-total intensity score and the experimental pressure pain threshold (PPT). Affective temperaments were evaluated with the TEMPS-M. Lifetime depression, anxiety, current mood disorders, and treatments were self-reported via rating-scales. Directed acyclic graphs theory guided linear and mixed linear regression model analyses. ResultsAmong 3804 participants (aged 18–65; response rate 78.4 %, females 53.3 %, mean age 38.4 years) for any given temperament, both the PSQ-total and the PPT were associated with temperament. The TEMPS-M four cyclothymic-related temperaments aligned on the pain-sensitive pole and the hyperthymic on the pain-resilient pole. The inclusion of current or lifetime mood symptoms, or pain drug use, as possible intervening pathways only partly diluted these associations, with stronger evidence for an effect of trait anxiety. LimitationsThe main limitations were the lack of experimental measures of suprathreshold pain intensity perception, and detailed information on affective disorders in the study population. ConclusionsThese findings support the hypothesis of a biological dichotomous diathesis of affective temperaments towards pain sensitivity; hyperthymic suggesting protection, whereas cyclothymic suggesting predisposition.

Key findings on bipolar disorders from the longitudinal FondaMental Advanced Center of Expertise-Bipolar Disorder (FACE-BD) cohort

BackgroundThe FACE-BD cohort is an observational cohort of individuals with bipolar disorders (BD) who benefited from a systematic evaluation with evidence-based treatment recommendations and who were followed-up every year for 3 years in France. The objectives were to describe the lifetime course of BD, associated psychiatric and somatic comorbidities, and cognition profile. This cohort aims to identify clinical/biological signatures of outcomes, trajectories of functioning and transition between clinical stages. This article summarizes 10 years of findings of the FACE-BD cohort. Method & resultsWe included 4422 individuals, all having a baseline assessment, among which 61.2% had at least one follow-up visit at either one, two or three years. A subsample of 1200 individuals had at least one biological sample (serum, plasma, DNA). Assessments include family history of psychiatric disorders, psychiatric diagnosis, current mood symptoms, functioning, hospitalizations, suicidal attempts, physical health, routine blood tests, treatment history, psychological dimensions, medico-economic data and a cognitive assessment. Studies from this cohort illustrate that individuals with BD display multiple coexistent psychiatric associated conditions including sleep disturbances, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders and suicide attempts as well as a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome. During follow-up, we observed a 55% reduction of the number of days of hospitalization and a significant improvement in functioning. ConclusionsThe FACE-BD cohort provides a strong research infrastructure for clinical research in BD and has a unique position among international cohorts because of its comprehensive clinical assessment and sustainable funding from the French Ministry of Health.

Perceptions of childhood unpredictability, delay discounting, risk-taking, and adult externalizing behaviors: A life-history approach.

Guided by principles from life-history theory, theories of adaptive calibration provide an overarching theoretical framework for understanding the developmental roots of impulsivity and externalizing psychopathology. The current research provides evidence for robust associations between perceptions of childhood unpredictability, delay discounting (Studies 1a and 1b), and adult externalizing traits and behaviors (Study 2). Both associations were observed while controlling for perceptions of the harshness of childhood environments, as well as a range of demographic characteristics. The association with externalizing traits and behavior was observed over and above current mood and depressive symptoms. Study 2 also replicated a previously documented association between changes in maternal employment, residence, and cohabitation during childhood and externalizing behavior and, furthermore, suggested that this association was mediated by perceptions of unpredictability. These studies provided no evidence for links between perceived childhood unpredictability and basic forms of risk-taking (Studies 1a and 1c). This research adds to a growing body of work leveraging principles from life-history theory to demonstrate links between childhood experiences, impulsivity, and potentially debilitating forms of mental illness. This work also highlights the value of assessing people's perceptions of their childhood environments.

Predictors of Cognitive Functioning Among Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To investigate the relative contributions of demographic factors, behavioral health and mood symptoms, and history of mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) on neuropsychological test performance. <h3>Design</h3> Cross-sectional Study. <h3>Setting</h3> Three VA Polytrauma Network Sites. <h3>Participants</h3> Veterans aged 18 years and older who deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan conflicts, and had not received treatment for concussion in the preceding 30 days were eligible for enrollment. Across sites, 454 Veterans were enrolled between August 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011. After excluding Veterans with missing outcome data or with scores below study cutoffs on measures of symptom/performance validity, 250 Veterans remained. <h3>Interventions</h3> N/A. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Cognitive functioning assessed using neuropsychological measures of processing speed, executive functioning, attention, and memory. <h3>Results</h3> Using separate multiple regression models (i.e., one for each neuropsychological measure), examining specified predictor variables (estimated pre-injury IQ scores, demographics, behavioral health ratings, insomnia, alcohol use, pain, positive mTBI history, anxiety, depression, presence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), indicate that current mood symptoms and other behavioral health concerns (e.g., pain/sleep) predict objective cognitive performance over and above mTBI history. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Some Veterans presenting to neuropsychology clinics with subjective cognitive complaints attribute these to their prior mTBI. However, many also have commonly co-occurring mood, sleep, and pain concerns which are also known to impact cognition. Our findings suggest that these modifiable factors, rather than mTBI history, likely play a greater role in objective cognitive abilities (i.e., performance on neuropsychological tests). These findings inform ongoing efforts to improve patient education regarding the expected recovery course from mTBI and the relationship between mood and health on daily cognitive efficiency. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> N/A.

Sex differences in zonulin in affective disorders and associations with current mood symptoms

IntroductionThe bidirectional connection between the brain and the gut within psychiatric entities has gained increasing scientific attention over the last years. As a regulator of intestinal permeability, zonulin acts as a key player on the interface of this interplay. Like several psychiatric disorders, intestinal permeability was associated with inflammation in previous findings. MethodsIn this study we explored differences in zonulin serum levels in currently depressed (n = 55) versus currently euthymic (n = 37) individuals with an affective disorder. Further, we explored sex differences and possible influences on zonulin and affective symptoms like medication, age, body mass index, and smoking status. ResultsSerum zonulin was significantly higher in females than in men independent from affective status (z = -2.412, p = .016). More specifically, females in the euthymic subgroup had higher zonulin levels than euthymic men (z = -2.114, p = .035). There was no difference in zonulin serum levels in individuals taking or not taking a specific psychopharmacotherapy. We found no correlation between zonulin serum levels and depression severity. DiscussionIncreased serum zonulin levels as a proxy for increased intestinal permeability in women may indicate a state of elevated susceptibility for depression-inducing stimuli.

Activity in Executive Control and Salience Network Regions During Inhibitory Control is Associated With Current Mood Symptoms in Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Previously, fMRI activity during a Parametric Go/No-Go (PGNG) task predicted treatment response and relapse in young adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). We sought to determine whether such activity predicted current mood symptoms in those with MDD or bipolar disorder (BD).

Dysfunctional Cognition in Individuals With an Increased Risk for Mania.

There is still a lack of knowledge about attitudes and cognitions that are related to bipolar disorder. Theoretically, it was proposed that exaggerated beliefs about the self, relationships, the need for excitement, and goal-related activities might lead to mania in vulnerable individuals, however, the few studies that examined this hypothesis provided mixed results. One of the unresolved issues is if such a cognitive style is associated with current mood symptoms or with different stages of the illness, i.e. at-risk versus diagnosed bipolar disorder. Therefore, the present study aimed at evaluating depression and mania-related cognitive style in individuals at-risk for mania. In an online survey, we collected data of 255 students of the University of Klagenfurt, Austria. All participants completed the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS), the Cognition Checklist for Mania - Revised (CCL-M-R), the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Internal State Scale (ISS). In a hierarchical regression, HPS was positively related to scores of all subscales of the CCL-M-R. The HPS did not significantly predict scores of the DAS. Current manic and depressive symptoms significantly contributed to the models. The present results suggest that a trait-like risk for mania is associated with mania-related but not depression-related cognitions.

Relationship between cognitive flexibility and subsequent course of mood symptoms and suicidal ideation in young adults with childhood-onset bipolar disorder.

Neurocognitive deficits, such as cognitive flexibility impairments, are common in bipolar disorder (BD) and predict poor academic, occupational, and functional outcomes. However, the association between neurocognition and illness trajectory is not well understood, especially across developmental transitions. This study examined cognitive flexibility and subsequent mood symptom and suicidal ideation (SI) course in young adults with childhood-onset BD-I (with distinct mood episodes) vs. BD-not otherwise specified (BD-NOS) vs. typically-developing controls (TDCs). Sample included 93 young adults (ages 18-30) with prospectively verified childhood-onset DSM-IV BD-I (n = 34) or BD-NOS (n = 15) and TDCs (n = 44). Participants completed cross-sectional neuropsychological tasks and clinical measures. Then participants with BD completed longitudinal assessments of mood symptoms and SI at 6-month intervals (M = 39.18 ± 16.57months of follow-up data). Analyses included ANOVAs, independent-samples t tests, chi-square analyses, and multiple linear regressions. Participants with BD-I had significant deficits in cognitive flexibility and executive functioning vs. BD-NOS and TDCs, and impaired spatial working memory vs. TDCs only. Two significant BD subtype-by-cognitive flexibility interactions revealed that cognitive flexibility deficits were associated with subsequent percentage of time depressed and with SI in BD-I but not BD-NOS, regardless of other neurocognitive factors (full-scale IQ, executive functioning, spatial working memory) and clinical factors (current and prior mood and SI symptoms, age of BD onset, global functioning, psychiatric medications, comorbidity). Thus, cognitive flexibility may be an important etiological brain/behavior mechanism, prognostic indicator, and intervention target for childhood-onset BD-I, as this deficit appears to endure into young adulthood and is associated with worse prognosis for subsequent depression and SI.

Do Automatic Habits Predict Physical Activity Engagement in Older People?

Sufficient physical activity is crucial to maintaining independence, health and wellbeing during ageing, yet physical inactivity is common in older people. Identifying factors associated with physical activity engagement is essential to develop novel approaches to increase activity in older people. Automatic, context-dependent habits may play an important role in physical activity behaviour. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity behaviours and their automaticity in older people. 123 community dwelling Australians aged over 65 – 88 years (M=72.2; 81 women), recruited from participant registries, hospital noticeboards and community groups, completed an online questionnaire. Current physical activity levels were measured using the Incidental and Planned Exercise Questionnaire, and automaticity of those physical activity behaviours were measured using the Self-Report Habit Automaticity Index. Participants also reported demographic information, body mass index (BMI), medical history and current mood symptoms. Participants reported an average of 2.28 hours planned walking (SD=2.33), 5.81 hours planned moderate/vigorous exercise (SD=4.02), and 20.5 hours incidental activity (SD=15.52) per week. Multiple regression analyses revealed that after controlling for age, gender, BMI and depression symptoms, higher automaticity scores were associated with more hours per week of planned walking (p=.012), moderate/vigorous exercise (p=.038), and incidental activity (p=.017). Supporting older people to make their physical activity more habitual could therefore be an effective approach to increase levels of physical activity in this population.

過去の躁病エピソードの経験と現在の気分症状の関係に対するマインドフルネスの調整効果

過去の躁病エピソードの経験と現在の気分症状の関係に対するマインドフルネスの調整効果

Attachment as a Moderator in the Relation Between Child Maltreatment and Symptoms of Depression.

Experiencing child maltreatment is a risk factor for later psychopathology; however, not all survivors of child maltreatment go on to develop mental health diagnoses. There are likely important risk factors that act as moderators interacting with child maltreatment to contribute to the development of psychopathology. The present study examined the attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance as potential moderators in the association between child maltreatment and depressive symptomatology in a sample of college students. An attachment style high in anxiety or avoidance was expected to exacerbate the effect of child maltreatment on depressive symptomatology across both primary and secondary caregiver attachment relationships. This study was conducted at a private university in the northeastern United States in a sample of college students (N = 203; 52% male; Mage = 19.85, SDage = 2.19). Participants completed online measures of attachment, current mood symptoms, and demographic information. Two moderation models were tested, one for attachment to primary caregivers and one for attachment to secondary caregivers. Anxious attachment to primary caregivers moderated the relationship between child maltreatment and depressive symptoms (B = -0.16, p < .01, R2 =.44). However, moderation was not significant in the secondary caregiver attachment relationship. Maladaptive attachment styles, as well as child maltreatment itself, may result in disruptions in the development of positive internal working models of the self and others and adaptive emotion regulation. In cases of child maltreatment, interventions focused on the parent-child attachment relationship may have long-lasting effects and implications for the child's future mental health. This research highlights important areas of intervention in cases of child maltreatment as well as important differences in the anxiety and avoidance dimensions of attachment.