Social Problem-solving Deficits Research Articles

Facets of social problem-solving as moderators of the real-time relation between social rejection and negative affect in an at-risk sample

Social rejection predicts negative affect, and theoretical work suggests that problem-solving deficits strengthen this relation in real-time. Nevertheless, few studies have explicitly tested this relation, particularly in samples at risk for suicide. This may be particularly important as social rejection and negative affect are significant predictors of suicide. The aim of the current study was to examine whether cognitive (i.e., perceiving problems as threats) and behavioral (i.e., avoidance) facets of problem-solving deficits moderated the real-time relation between social rejection and negative affect. The sample consisted of 49 young adults with past-month suicidal ideation. Demographic information, social problem-solving deficits, as well as depressive/anxiety symptoms and stress levels were assessed at baseline. Social rejection and negative affect were assessed using ecological momentary assessment over the following 28 days. Dynamic structural equation modeling was used to assess relations among study variables. After accounting for depressive/anxiety symptoms, stress levels, sex, and age, only avoidance of problems bolstered the real-time positive relation between social rejection severity and negative affect (b = 0.04, 95% credibility interval [0.003, 0.072]). Individuals with suicidal ideation who possess an avoidant problem-solving style may be particularly likely to experience heightened negative affect following social rejection and may benefit from instruction in problem-solving skills.

The heterogeneity of negative problem orientation in Chinese adolescents: A latent profile analysis.

Negative problem orientation (NPO) has become an essential construct for comprehending social problem-solving deficits. However, the heterogeneity of NPO has not yet been explored. With a sample of Chinese adolescents (N = 2,174), four latent profiles were identified as lower NPO, moderate NPO, self-inefficacy and negative outcome expectancy (SI&NOE), and dysfunctional NPO. Compared to the lower NPO and moderate NPO, a greater percentage of boys in the SI&NOE and dysfunctional NPO profiles than were girls. In addition, lower grades and younger adolescents tended to engage in the moderate NPO and SI&NOE profiles. The dysfunctional NPO reported higher levels of worry, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress, and worse sleep quality than the other profiles. The implications of these findings are discussed herein.

Psychological Risk Factors of Future Drug Offending among Young Offenders in Hong Kong - A Longitudinal Study

In recent years there is a growing concern on drug offenders in Hong Kong. Despite its over-representation in prison and recidivists, drug offending has seldom been studied systematically in risk factor research. The issue as to whether drug offending has specific psychological risk factors or they share a common set of risk factors with general offending remains largely unaddressed. This research applied a longitudinal design to investigate this issue. Using a data-set on young offenders’ psychological characteristics established in 2004 in the Hong Kong Correctional Services, and re-conviction data retrieved 11 years later in 2015, ANCOVA with planned orthogonal contrasts and Discriminant Function Analysis, Correlation and Regression analyses were used to analyze factors predicting post-release outcomes including recidivism, drug offending, and crime severity. Results revealed two sets of psychological risk factors with little overlap that could predict general recidivism (of all types of crime) and future drug offending. Recidivism could be predicted by low Future Time Perspective and Empathy, and high Assertiveness. Low Empathy was predictive of post-release crime severity of non-drug offending recidivists. Drug offending, in contrast, could be predicted by high Impulsiveness and Social Problem-solving deficits during adolescence. These two variables, together with low Assertiveness, also predicted post-release crime severity of drug-offending recidivists. Implications to future intervention and research were discussed.

The psychological impact of social problem solving under stress in adults: Debased life satisfaction, heightened depressed mood, or both?

The present study sought to examine how social problem solving and stress are involved in psychological adjustment in an adult sample of 336 (262 females & 74 males) college students. We were interested in examining whether stress might play an additive, as well as interactive, role in the prediction of psychological adjustment (viz., life satisfaction & depressive symptoms) above and beyond social problem solving. Results from regression analyses indicated that strengths in social problem solving, especially high positive problem orientation and low negative problem orientation, and lack of stress were important and unique predictors of life satisfaction. Specifically, deficits in social problem solving, especially low positive problem orientation and high negative problem orientation, and presence of stress were important and unique predictors of depressive symptoms. Moreover, we found support for a specific Negative Problem Orientation × Stress interaction effect in predicting depressive symptoms, but not life satisfaction. A plot of the interaction showed that among those holding a negative problem orientation and experiencing stress, they reported “borderline clinical depression” levels of symptoms. Some implications of the present findings are discussed.

A sociocognitive approach to social problem solving in patients with traumatic brain injury: a pilot study

ABSTRACTPrimary objective: Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) have difficulty dealing with the social world and may display inappropriate social behavior that negatively affects their social and occupational rehabilitation. This difficulty may be explained by a social problem-solving (SPS) impairment, but little is yet known about the cognitive processes involved in the ability to solve social problems. Several publications have demonstrated that executive functions are related to social problem solving, but the role of social cognition needs to be confirmed. The present pilot study examined the expected relationships between SPS ability and both social cognition and social behavioral skills. Research design: We compared the performances of 15 patients with TBI on SPS, theory-of-mind and social behavior tasks with those of 25 matched healthy controls. Main outcomes and results: Our results showed for the first time that impaired social problem solving is associated with a theory-of-mind deficit, but surprisingly not with executive impairment. There was no evidence that SPS deficits predict social behavioral disorders. Conclusions: Studying social problem solving in patients with TBI may inform the design of more appropriate methods of social rehabilitation.

Perceived problem-solving deficits and suicidal ideation: Evidence for the explanatory roles of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness in five samples.

Perceived social problem-solving deficits are associated with suicide risk; however, little research has examined the mechanisms underlying this relationship. The interpersonal theory of suicide proposes 2 mechanisms in the pathogenesis of suicidal desire: intractable feelings of thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB). This study tested whether TB and PB serve as explanatory links in the relationship between perceived social problem-solving (SPS) deficits and suicidal thoughts and behaviors cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The specificity of TB and PB was evaluated by testing depression as a rival mediator. Self-report measures of perceived SPS deficits, TB, PB, suicidal ideation, and depression were administered in 5 adult samples: 336 and 105 undergraduates from 2 universities, 53 homeless individuals, 222 primary care patients, and 329 military members. Bias-corrected bootstrap mediation and meta-analyses were conducted to examine the magnitude of the direct and indirect effects, and the proposed mediation paths were tested using zero-inflated negative binomial regressions. Cross-sectionally, TB and PB were significant parallel mediators of the relationship between perceived SPS deficits and ideation, beyond depression. Longitudinally and beyond depression, in 1 study, both TB and PB emerged as significant explanatory factors, and in the other, only PB was a significant mediator. Findings supported the specificity of TB and PB: Depression and SPS deficits were not significant mediators. The relationship between perceived SPS deficits and ideation was explained by interpersonal theory variables, particularly PB. Findings support a novel application of the interpersonal theory, and bolster a growing compendium of literature implicating perceived SPS deficits in suicide risk. (PsycINFO Database Record

Effects of brief mindful breathing and loving-kindness meditation on shame and social problem solving abilities among individuals with high borderline personality traits

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental condition characterized by a range of cognitive and behavioral vulnerabilities, including chronic shame and deficits in social problem solving (SPS) abilities. Little research however, has examined strategies that may alleviate shame and SPS deficits among individuals with BPD traits. Using a laboratory experimental approach, the present study compared the effects of a brief mindfulness versus loving-kindness meditation (LKM) induction on shame and SPS abilities in a sample of adults with high BPD traits. Eighty-eight participants underwent a shame induction procedure involving recall of a negative autobiographical memory. They were then randomly assigned to 10 min of mindful breathing or LKM, or a no-instruction condition. Shame and SPS abilities were assessed via visual analogue scales and the Means-Ends Problem Solving task respectively. Results indicated that there were significant decreases in shame from pre-to post-regulation in the mindfulness group versus the LKM and no-instruction groups. Groups did not differ on changes in SPS abilities from pre-to post-regulation. Overall, the findings support the efficacy of mindfulness as a strategy to regulate shame among individuals with BPD traits, and raises questions with regard to the utility of LKM in modulating shame in the context of high emotional arousal.

Rejection Sensitivity and Depression: Indirect Effects Through Problem Solving

Objective: Rejection sensitivity (RS) and deficits in social problem solving are risk factors for depression. Despite their relationship to depression and the potential connection between them, no studies have examined RS and social problem solving together in the context of depression. As such, we examined RS, five facets of social problem solving, and symptoms of depression in a young adult sample. Method: A total of 180 participants completed measures of RS, social problem solving, and depressive symptoms. We used bootstrapping to examine the indirect effect of RS on depressive symptoms through problem solving. Results: RS was positively associated with depressive symptoms. A negative problem orientation, impulsive/careless style, and avoidance style of social problem solving were positively associated with depressive symptoms, and a positive problem orientation was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. RS demonstrated an indirect effect on depressive symptoms through two social problem-solving facets: the tendency to view problems as threats to one’s well-being and an avoidance problem-solving style characterized by procrastination, passivity, or overdependence on others. Conclusions: These results are consistent with prior research that found a positive association between RS and depression symptoms, but this is the first study to implicate specific problem-solving deficits in the relationship between RS and depression. Our results suggest that depressive symptoms in high RS individuals may result from viewing problems as threats and taking an avoidant, rather than proactive, approach to dealing with problems. These findings may have implications for problem-solving interventions for rejection sensitive individuals.

Hombres violentos contra la pareja: ¿tienen un trastorno mental y requieren tratamiento psicológico?

Hay muchas razones por las que los hombres maltratadores contra la pareja deben recibir tratamiento psicologico. En este articulo se analizan los transtornos mas relevantes, tales como el abuso de alcohol/drogas, los celos patologicos y los transtornos de personalidad (antisocial, limite, narcisista y paranoide), asi como los deficits psicologicos de estas personas, tales como el descontrol de la ira, las dificultades emocionales, las distorsiones cognitivas, la baja autoestima y los deficits de comunicacion y de solucion de problemas. Se describen las tipologias de hombres maltratadores mas relevantes y se senala su importancia para la planificacion del tratamiento individualizado. La inclusion de medidas penales y de tratamiento psicologico es posible. Se analiza la motivacion para el tratamiento y se senalan las principales vias de intervencion terapeutica, asi como los resultados obtenidos. Por ultimo, se comentan las lineas de investigacion mas urgentes para el futuro.

Behavioral Interventions for Anger, Irritability, and Aggression in Children and Adolescents.

Anger, irritability, and aggression are among the most common reasons for child mental health referrals. This review is focused on two forms of behavioral interventions for these behavioral problems: Parent management training (PMT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). First, we provide an overview of anger/irritability and aggression as the treatment targets of behavioral interventions, followed by a discussion of the general principles and techniques of these treatment modalities. Then we discuss our current work concerning the transdiagnostic approach to CBT for anger, irritability, and aggression. PMT is aimed at improving aversive patterns of family interactions that engender children's disruptive behavior. CBT targets deficits in emotion regulation and social problem-solving that are associated with aggressive behavior. Both forms of treatment have received extensive support in randomized controlled trials. Given that anger/irritability and aggressive behavior are common in children with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses, a transdiagnostic approach to CBT for anger and aggression is described in detail. PMT and CBT have been well studied in randomized controlled trials in children with disruptive behavior disorders, and studies of transdiagnostic approaches to CBT for anger and aggression are currently underway. More work is needed to develop treatments for other types of aggressive behavior (e.g., relational aggression) that have been relatively neglected in clinical research. The role of callous-unemotional traits in response to behavioral interventions and treatment of irritability in children with anxiety and mood disorders also warrants further investigation.

Modeling the impact of social problem-solving deficits on depressive vulnerability in the broader autism phenotype

The social communication and interaction deficits associated with the autism phenotype can have serious emotional consequences for individuals on the autism spectrum. This can be particularly true during young-adulthood, a period of increased social demands and expectations. The current study investigated the specific role of social problem-solving deficits as a mediator in the relationship between autism phenotype severity and depressive symptomology in young-adults. A sample of 230 university students (48% male) ranging in age from 18 to 30 (M=21.30, SD=2.48) were assessed on autism phenotype expression (Autism-Spectrum Quotient), social problem-solving ability (Social Problem-Solving Inventory, Revised) and depressive symptomology (Beck’s Depression Inventory). Results indicated that deficient social problem-solving skills account for a significant portion of the depressive symptomology associated with increased autism phenotype expression. Path model analysis output suggested that increased expression of the social components of the autism phenotype are associated with both ineffective social problem-solving styles and attitudes, while increased detail orientation discourages the use of an impulsive problem-solving style. The findings of this investigation provide preliminary evidence suggesting that programs designed to improve social problem-solving skills could be beneficial in the reduction of depressive vulnerability for young-adults on the autism spectrum.

Factor structure and item level psychometrics of the Social Problem Solving Inventory – Revised: Short Form in traumatic brain injury

Social problem-solving deficits characterise individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and poor social problem solving interferes with daily functioning and productive lifestyles. Therefore, it is of vital importance to use the appropriate instrument to identify deficits in social problem solving for individuals with TBI. This study investigates factor structure and item-level psychometrics of the Social Problem Solving Inventory – Revised: Short Form (SPSI-R:S), for adults with moderate and severe TBI. Secondary analysis of 90 adults with moderate and severe TBI who completed the SPSI-R:S was performed. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA), principal components analysis (PCA) and Rasch analysis examined the factor structure and item-level psychometrics of the SPSI-R:S. The EFA showed three dominant factors, with positively worded items represented as the most definite factor. The other two factors are negative problem-solving orientation and skills; and negative problem-solving emotion. Rasch analyses confirmed the three factors are each unidimensional constructs. It was concluded that the total score interpretability of the SPSI-R:S may be challenging due to the multidimensional structure of the total measure. Instead, we propose using three separate SPSI-R:S subscores to measure social problem solving for the TBI population.

Social Problem Solving Under Assault: Understanding the Impact of Sexual Assault on the Relation Between Social Problem Solving and Suicidal Risk in Female College Students

The present study sought to examine how social problem solving and sexual assault are involved in suicidal risk in a sample of 221 female college students. Specifically, we were interested to examine whether sexual assault may play an additive as well as interactive role in the prediction of suicidal risk (viz., hopelessness and suicidal behaviors) above and beyond social problem solving. Results from regression analyses indicated that deficits in social problem solving, especially low positive problem orientation, and sexual assault were important and unique predictors of suicidal risk in female students. Moreover, we found support for a Social Problem Solving × Sexual Assault interaction in predicting hopelessness. Significant interactions emerged specifically for negative problem orientation and impulsivity/carelessness style. Some important implications of the present findings are discussed.

Working memory dysfunctions predict social problem solving skills in schizophrenia

The current study aimed to examine the contribution of neurocognition and social cognition to components of social problem solving. Sixty-seven inpatients with schizophrenia and 31 healthy controls were administrated batteries of neurocognitive tests, emotion perception tests, and the Chinese Assessment of Interpersonal Problem Solving Skills (CAIPSS). MANOVAs were conducted to investigate the domains in which patients with schizophrenia showed impairments. Correlations were used to determine which impaired domains were associated with social problem solving, and multiple regression analyses were conducted to compare the relative contribution of neurocognitive and social cognitive functioning to components of social problem solving. Compared with healthy controls, patients with schizophrenia performed significantly worse in sustained attention, working memory, negative emotion, intention identification and all components of the CAIPSS. Specifically, sustained attention, working memory and negative emotion identification were found to correlate with social problem solving and 1-back accuracy significantly predicted the poor performance in social problem solving. Among the dysfunctions in schizophrenia, working memory contributed most to deficits in social problem solving in patients with schizophrenia. This finding provides support for targeting working memory in the development of future social problem solving rehabilitation interventions.

Social Problem Solving in Staffed Community Homes Among Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities and Their Staff

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) increasingly live with other individuals with ID in small community homes staffed by paraprofessionals where aggressive/challenging (problem) behaviors occur more frequently then among individuals with ID living with their families. Evidence suggests that individuals with ID are more susceptible to problem behaviors due to deficits in social problem solving, that social problem-solving interventions can improve behaviors, but that individuals with ID need long-term supports to maintain improvements. Steps to Effective Problem Solving (STEPS) is a research-based social problem-solving program tailored as a preventive intervention for staffed community homes. We pilot-tested STEPS in two staffed community homes to assess its feasibility and evaluate initial efficacy. Results showed reasonable attendance and satisfaction with the program. Intervention fidelity was developed and maintained, and participants could discuss key concepts. Although the sample size was small, effect sizes indicated initial efficacy for improvement in social problem solving and behaviors for participants with ID. The staffed community home may be an ideal environment in which to implement social problem-solving programs and develop long-term supports.

Personality Disorder Traits as a Moderator of Poor Social Problem-Solving Skills and Depressive Symptoms

This investigation examined whether Cluster B and Cluster C personality disorder symptoms moderate the relationship between social problem-solving skills and depressive symptoms. Participants were 102 young adults, assessed for personality disorder traits and depressive symptoms. Participants completed a novel performance-based assessment and a self-report measure of social problem-solving skills. Multiple regression models indicated that at moderate to lower levels of personality pathology, social problem-solving deficits were associated with depressive symptoms, whereas at higher levels of personality pathology there was not a similar relationship. These findings highlight the importance of both social problem-solving approaches and personality characteristics in understanding the complex network of risk factors for depression.

UNDERSTANDING SELF-HARM IN YOUNG PEOPLE: AN EMOTIONAL UNBALANCE IN NEED FOR INTERVENTION

Self-harm behavior refers to the intentional self-destruction or alteration of body tissue without deliberate suicidal intent. Studies claimed self-harm as being associated to obsessive-compulsive characteristics and eating disorders, emotion-regulation functions when interpersonal distress occurs and physiological reactivity during a distressing task in association to social problem-solving deficits. Three national studies referring to young people will be presented. The main study’s aim was to understand frequency of self-harm in Portuguese students and understanding the associations between self-harm and risk behaviors. A convenience sample of 206 was collected among high school and university students. The instrument used was a self-completed questionnaire: “Teens Self-Destructive Scale”. A minority of self-harmers was found. Results suggested associations between self-harm, eating disorders and difficulties regarding self-regulation of emotions and that self-harm can be considered a non-adaptive and not successful personal strategy to manage emotions. Findings from the other two national studies will be referred. All together, these findings demonstrate the relevance of studies in this domain and helped producing guidelines in terms of therapeutic interventions. During the last decades, young people became more literate regarding health information and more aware of risk behaviors, but did not improve their literacy about emotions and how to deal with them. Are we in need for a "positive" approach to mental health promotion in young people? Key words: protective factors, risk factors, self-harm, students.

Biological and Cognitive Responses to an In Vivo Interpersonal Stressor: Longitudinal Associations with Adolescent Depression

Social stress occurring during adolescence is considered a risk factor for the development of adolescent depressive symptoms. However, the specific mechanisms through which social stress may affect depressive symptoms are not well-established. The current prospective study considered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity and social problem-solving deficits occurring in response to an acute interpersonally themed stressor as longitudinal predictors of depressive symptoms. Sixty-two adolescents (ages 12–16; 73% female) were recruited using oversampling techniques intended to include adolescents with a wide range of depressive symptoms. HPA axis reactivity was established by collecting Cortisol samples before and after an in vivo interpersonally themed social stressor task. Similarly, adolescents completed a structured performance-based social problem-solving task before and after the stressor to provide a measure of stress-induced social problem-solving deficits. Depressive symptoms were asse...

Social problem solving in complicated grief

This study investigated social problem solving (SPS) and autobiographical memory specificity in complicated grief (CG). The study employed a cross-sectional design, comparing the responses of bereaved individuals with and without CG. Twenty-one individuals with CG and twenty-two No-CG bereaved individuals completed a means-ends problem-solving (MEPS) task and a cue word autobiographical memory retrieval task (AMT). CG was associated with significantly poorer performance on the MEPS and AMT tasks. After controlling for levels of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, CG remained a significant independent predictor of MEPS scores. Categoric recall was not an independent predictor after controlling for symptoms. This finding indicates that CG is associated with deficits in SPS, which may contribute to maintenance of deficits associated with CG.

Preliminary application ofthe abbreviated C-SPSI to nursing students in Shanghai

：Objective To explore theapplicability of the abbreviated Chinese version of the social problem-solving inventory(C-SPSI) for nursing students in Shanghai. Methods The abbreviated C-SPSI was revised and603 nursing students in Shanghai were surveyed by it, and the reliability and con-structvalidity were evaluated by inter-item consistency analysis, test-retest reliability andprincipal factor analysis. Results The total CVI was 0.968. The construct validity wasconfirmed by factor analysis with 64.917% variance explained by four factors. The totalCronbach's α ofC-SPSI was 0.897,and the total test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.781. ConclusionsThe abbreviated C-SPSI is an instrument with good reliability and validity and it can beused in assessing the nursing students' social problem-solving abilities and deficits. Key words: Problem-solving; Nursing student; Scale; Reliability; Validity