Maladaptive Outcomes Research Articles

Parent socialization of emotion in a high-risk sample.

The Socialization of Emotion (Eisenberg, Cumberland, & Spinrad, 1998; Eisenberg, Spinrad, & Cumberland, 1998) model creates a theoretical framework for understanding parents' direct and indirect influences on children's emotional development, including the influence of parent characteristics on subsequent emotion specific parenting. Large numbers of children live in families with fathers who have alcohol problems, setting the stage for cascading risk across development. For instance, fathers' alcohol problems are a marker of risk for higher family conflict, increased parental depression and antisociality, and less sensitive parenting, leading to dysregulated child emotion and behavior. We examined a conceptual model for emotion socialization in a community sample of alcoholic and nonalcoholic father families (N = 227) recruited in infancy (i.e., 12 months) with follow-ups to adolescence (i.e., 15-19 years), and examined if hypothesized paths differed by child sex or group status (alcoholic vs. nonalcoholic families). Results indicated significant indirect effects between parent psychopathology and sensitivity in early childhood to both adaptive (e.g., emotion regulation) and maladaptive (e.g., aggression and peer delinquency) outcomes in middle childhood to adolescence via child negative emotionality and supportive emotion socialization. There were significant differences by child sex and alcohol group status. Implications for intervention and prevention are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The effect of trauma proximity and ruminative response styles on posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth following a university shooting.

Shootings in academic settings are associated with the development of both posttraumatic growth (PTG) and posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms (Bardeen, Kumpula, & Orcutt, 2013). Traumatic events can challenge an individual's cognitive framework and contribute to the development of PTS and PTG. Intrusive rumination is thought to increase vulnerability to PTS symptoms, whereas deliberate rumination is likely to be associated with PTG. Literature that serves to distinguish the contextual and intraindividual predictors differentially leading to the development of PTS and PTG symptoms is limited. This cross-sectional study examined the relations between trauma proximity and posttraumatic outcomes as mediated by deliberate and intrusive ruminative responses to a university shooting. We hypothesize that (a) physical and emotional proximity would exert distinct effects on posttraumatic outcomes, (b) the effects of proximity on PTS would be mediated by intrusive rumination, and (c) the effects of proximity on PTG would be mediated by deliberate rumination. Three hundred and eighty-five students, faculty, and staff who were exposed to a university campus shooting completed a series of questionnaires 4 months after the event. Emotional proximity was associated with PTS and PTG, whereas physical proximity was only associated with PTS. Of our four hypothesized mediation relationships, intrusive rumination mediated the relationship between physical proximity and PTS, and deliberate rumination mediated the relationship between emotional proximity and PTG. These results suggest that physical and emotional proximity to a traumatic event uniquely contribute to the development of posttraumatic outcomes and that intrusive rumination promotes maladaptive outcomes, whereas deliberate rumination may promote adaptive outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Adverse childhood experiences and problematic media use: the roles of attachment and impulsivity

ABSTRACT Research has found that childhood adversity is associated with numerous maladaptive outcomes, including insecure attachment, mental health challenges, and problematic media use. As attachment is a primary developmental process that can be affected by childhood adversity, insecure attachment may be one psychological mechanism through which childhood adversity is associated with problematic media use. Further, disturbances in the attachment relationship resulting from childhood adversity may be associated with increased impulsivity, a construct that has been connected with problematic media use. Using a sample of adults (n = 616), this study examined whether the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and problematic media use was mediated through (i) attachment anxiety, (ii) attachment avoidance, or (iii) both attachment dimensions operating in series with impulsivity. Results revealed that a history of adverse childhood experiences was significantly associated with more problematic media use. Both anxious and avoidant attachment dimensions independently mediated the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and problematic media use. Specifically, avoidant attachment was associated with less problematic media use, and anxious attachment was associated with more problematic media use. Avoidant attachment and impulsivity in series, as well as anxious attachment and impulsivity in series, both accounted for part of the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and problematic media use. Results suggest that attachment may influence media use both directly and indirectly. Implications are discussed.

The Integrated Stress Response and Phosphorylated Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2α in Neurodegeneration.

The proposed molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative pathogenesis are varied, precluding the development of effective therapies for these increasingly prevalent disorders. One of the most consistent observations across neurodegenerative diseases is the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α). eIF2α is a translation initiation factor, involved in cap-dependent protein translation, which when phosphorylated causes global translation attenuation. eIF2α phosphorylation is mediated by 4 kinases, which, together with their downstream signaling cascades, constitute the integrated stress response (ISR). While the ISR is activated by stresses commonly observed in neurodegeneration, such as oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and inflammation, it is a canonically adaptive signaling cascade. However, chronic activation of the ISR can contribute to neurodegenerative phenotypes such as neuronal death, memory impairments, and protein aggregation via apoptotic induction and other maladaptive outcomes downstream of phospho-eIF2α-mediated translation inhibition, including neuroinflammation and altered amyloidogenic processing, plausibly in a feed-forward manner. This review examines evidence that dysregulated eIF2a phosphorylation acts as a driver of neurodegeneration, including a survey of observations of ISR signaling in human disease, inspection of the overlap between ISR signaling and neurodegenerative phenomenon, and assessment of recent encouraging findings ameliorating neurodegeneration using developing pharmacological agents which target the ISR. In doing so, gaps in the field, including crosstalk of the ISR kinases and consideration of ISR signaling in nonneuronal central nervous system cell types, are highlighted.

Longitudinal Impact of Parental Catastrophizing on Child Functional Disability in Pediatric Amplified Pain.

ObjectiveChildren with amplified musculoskeletal pain (AMPS) experience significant functional disability, with impairment in their ability to participate in age-appropriate activities of daily living. Parental factors play an important role in a child’s pain symptoms and treatment outcomes, with parental pain catastrophizing and protective behaviors linked to several maladaptive outcomes for children. Aims of the current study were to examine how parental pain catastrophizing, child pain catastrophizing, and parental protective behaviors longitudinally impacted functional disability for children with AMPS.MethodsArchival data were examined from parent-child dyads presenting to a tertiary pain clinic for treatment of AMPS. Over 1 year, parents completed measures assessing the level of pain catastrophizing, common behavioral responses to child pain, and child functional disability. Children completed measures of pain catastrophizing and functional disability. Measures were collected at initial evaluation, 6-months, and 12-months. Latent growth models (LGM) were conducted to examine how to study variables longitudinally impacted the rate of change in child functional disability.ResultsExamining a comprehensive LGM of study variables, parental catastrophizing emerged as the sole contributing factor to slower improvement in functional disability.ConclusionsThe strong influence of parental pain catastrophizing on functional disability may relate to parents limiting behaviors that promote adaptive coping in children with pain. As such, parents who catastrophize may benefit from specific interventions to increase their use of adaptive behavioral responses, such as redirecting children to complete functional activities and encouraging the use of positive coping skills for pain-related distress.

Child Abuse and Neglect, Callous-Unemotional Traits, and Substance Use Problems: the Moderating Role of Stress Response Reactivity.

Young adults who experienced child abuse and neglect (CAN) are at significant risk for callous-unemotional traits and substance use problems. Research shows that compromised self-regulation may increase risk for these maladaptive outcomes. In the present cross-sectional study, we examined the moderating role of self-regulation, indexed by heart rate variability reactivity, in the indirect link between CAN and alcohol and other drug use problems via callous-unemotional traits. We utilized a sample of mostly female undergraduate students (N = 130, 81% Female; M age = 20.72). We hypothesized that (a) CAN and alcohol or other drug use problems would be associated indirectly via elevations in callous-unemotional traits, and (b) that this indirect association would be exacerbated by elevated heart rate variability reactivity. Results indicated that increased callous-unemotional traits underlain in the link between CAN and alcohol or other drug use problems. Further, this indirect link was exacerbated among youth with elevated heart rate variability reactivity. These findings have significant implications for prevention by demonstrating that physiological self-regulation is important to target in substance use prevention among collegiate samples.

Institutional Innovation for Nature-Based Coastal Adaptation: Lessons from Salt Marsh Restoration in Nova Scotia, Canada

Sea-levels have been rising at a faster rate than expected. Because of the maladaptive outcomes of engineering-based hard coastal protection infrastructure, policy makers are looking for alternative adaptation approaches to buffer against coastal flooding—commonly known as nature-based coastal adaptation (NbCA). However, how to implement NbCA under an institutional structure demonstrating ‘inertia’ to alternative adaptation approaches is a question that seeks scientific attention. Building on a case study derived from a highly climate-vulnerable Canadian province, this study shows how the entrepreneurial use of scientific information and institutional opportunities helped institutional actors overcome the inertia. Drawing on secondary document analysis and primary qualitative data, this study offers five key lessons to institutional actors aiming at implementing NbCA: (i) develop knowledge networks to help avoid uncertainty; (ii) identify and utilize opportunities within existing institutions; (iii) distribute roles and responsibilities among actors based on their capacity to mobilize required resources; (iv) provide entrepreneurial actors with decision-making autonomy for developing agreed-upon rules and norms; and (v) facilitate repeated interactions among institutional actors to develop a collaborative network among them. This study, therefore, helps us to understand how to implement a relatively new adaptation option by building trust-based networks among diverse and relevant institutional actors.

Bidirectional Effects Between Callous-Unemotional Traits and Student-Teacher Relationship Quality Among Middle School Students.

The present study investigated the bidirectional effects between callous-unemotional (i.e., CU) traits, student-teacher relationship quality, and bonds with school. A sample of 301 middle school students (156 girls; M age = 12.96years, SD = 0.94) completed the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits and the Student-Teacher Relationship Questionnaire, along with measures of both externalizing and internalizing problems, both in the first and second part of the school year (i.e., a time frame of 6months). They also completed a peer-nominated measure of social preference within their peer group at the beginning of the school year. Results from a cross-lagged panel model suggested that, controlling for measures of both externalizing and internalizing problems, levels of affiliation with teachers were negatively related to levels of CU traits in students with low levels of social preference among peers. Moreover, a synergistic effect of high levels of both bonds with school and social preference emerged in predicting lower levels of CU traits. Similar results emerged with regard to externalizing problems, over and above the role of CU traits and internalizing problems. No effects of CU traits predicting student-teacher relationship quality emerged. Overall, the findings highlighted the teachers' role as emotion socializers and role models for the students who can promote students' emotional and relational prosperity over the development of maladaptive outcomes, including CU traits. They also stressed the importance of considering multiple environmental determinants in examining the pathways to CU traits, suggesting the need to integrate and expand previous research on parenting.

Relationships between elite adolescent athletes' perceptions of parental behaviors and their motivational processes: Does sex matter?

This study aimed to: (a) examine the relationships between high-level athletes' perceptions of mothers' and fathers' behaviors, their satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and sport motivation and (b) explore whether the sex of the athlete moderated the aforementioned relationships. A total of 333 adolescent athletes involved in intensive training settings completed the Parental Involvement in Sport Questionnaire (PISQ), the Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire (BRSQ) and the Basic Need Satisfaction in Sporting Context Scale (BNSSS). Data were examined using correlational analyses and partial least square path modeling (PLS-PM). The PLS-PM revealed that father's perceived pressure positively predicted maladaptive outcomes (controlled forms of motivation and amotivation). Perceptions of the mothers' and fathers' praise and understanding positively predicted adaptive athletes' outcomes (self-determined forms of motivation and satisfaction of competence and relatedness), whereas the mothers' and fathers' perceived pressure negatively predicted such adaptive outcomes. Furthermore, differences regarding the aforementioned relationships between mother's and father's behaviors and athletes' outcomes were highlighted across their sex. More significant relationships emerged for boys versus girls and between athletes' outcomes and the perceived behaviors of the same-sex parents. In particular, the direction of relationships between introjected regulation and two parental behaviors (i.e. perception of father's directive behaviors and perception of mother's pressure) was reversed for boys and girls. As a whole, this study highlighted that both parent's and child's sex should be evaluated to understand sport parenting.

Relationships between concurrent language ability and mental health outcomes in a South African sample of 13-year-olds.

Children and adolescents with delayed or disordered language development are at increased risk of a number of negative outcomes, including social and emotional problems and mental health difficulties. Yet, in low- and middle- income countries, where risk factors for compromised language development are known to be prevalent, there is a lack of research on the association between child and adolescent language ability and mental health outcomes. This study evaluates data from a cross-sectional study in Khayelitsha, a semi-urban impoverished community near Cape Town, South Africa. To measure language ability, behaviour and mental health, adolescents aged 13 (n = 200) were assessed using the Riddles subtest of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children Version 2, the parent report Child Behaviour Checklist, and the self-report Moods and Feelings Questionnaire and the Self-Esteem Questionnaire. We conducted univariate and multivariate analyses to determine associations between language skills, self-esteem and mental health in this group of adolescents. Poor language ability was related to a range of concurrent adverse difficulties, such as attention deficits, self-esteem problems, social withdrawal, and depressive symptoms. Increased levels of language ability were related to better psychosocial profiles. In some cases, only individuals with a low level of language (bottom 10% of sample) were at increased risk of maladaptive outcomes. This study replicates the well-established relationship between language ability and poorer mental health found within high income countries in an upper middle-income country setting. Locally accessible support for children with reduced language ability is required, given the longer-term consequences of poorer mental health.

Moving Beyond the Dyad: Broadening Our Understanding of Family Conflict

The family represents a set of interconnected relationships, characterized by high levels of intimacy and closeness, which also provide opportunities for family conflict. In the literature, there appears to be a shift in understanding of what family conflict is and its subsequent consequences. Previous research focuses on dyadic family conflicts and often views it as a negative experience, resulting in the study of various maladaptive outcomes including internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems. Recently, researchers argue that family conflict should be operationalized to include more than two individuals. Further, evidence suggests that experience in conflict offers children a unique context to hone their social and cognitive skills. This review explores how research on family conflict has evolved. We investigate the status of the field by specifying that family conflict should include instances where more than two members are involved, how theories can be bridged to support this claim, and why it is also necessary to view family conflict as a positive experience. Lastly, we discuss key methodological and analytical issues as well as possible interventions that would help disentangle the inherent complexity of studying family conflict. We emphasize the implications of advancing the field for researchers and frontline professionals.

The development of inhibitory control in adolescence and prospective relations with delinquency

IntroductionDespite the central role of inhibitory control in models of adolescent development, few studies have examined the longitudinal development of inhibitory control within adolescence and its prospective association with maladaptive outcomes. The current study evaluated: 1) growth in inhibitory control from early- to middle-adolescence, and 2) the relation between inhibitory control and later delinquency. MethodsParticipants included 387 parent-child dyads (11–13 years old at Wave 1; 55% female; USA). Across three annual assessments, teens completed the Stop Signal Task (SST), and parents completed the Inhibitory Control subscale of the Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire-Revised. Teens self-reported their delinquent behaviors in early (Mage = 12.1) and middle adolescence (Mage = 14.1) and emerging adulthood (Mage = 18.2). ResultsLatent growth curve models indicated that SST performance improved curvilinearly from early to middle adolescence (ages 11–15), with growth slowing around middle adolescence. However, no growth in parent-reported inhibitory control was observed. Lower task-based and parent-reported inhibitory control in early adolescence predicted greater increases in delinquency from middle adolescence to emerging adulthood. However, rate of growth in task-based inhibitory control was unrelated to later delinquency. ConclusionsThis longitudinal study provides a novel examination of the development of inhibitory control across early and middle adolescence. Results suggest that the degree to which inhibitory control confers risk for later delinquency may be captured in early adolescence, consistent with neurodevelopmental accounts of delinquency risk. Differences across assessment tools also highlight the need for careful measurement considerations in future work, as task-based measures may be better suited to capture within-person changes over time.

Drive for leanness: potentially less maladaptive compared to drives for thinness and muscularity.

Drive for leanness (DL), a motivating interest in having low body fat and toned muscles, is hypothesized to be less maladaptive than drives for thinness (DT) and muscularity (DM), which has implications for its inclusion in eating- and health-related prevention and treatment programs; however, little research has explored this hypothesis. The current study investigated DL's uniqueness from these other drives, as well as simultaneously explored if associations of DL and a range of health-related outcomes supported that it may be less maladaptive than DT and DM. A sample of 589 undergraduate participants completed an online battery of drive (DL, DT, DM) and health-related measures (disordered eating, aerobic and weight training frequency, exercise motivation, dieting, appearance enhancing supplement use, anxiety, and depression). Exploratory factor analysis and semi-partial correlations evaluated DL's uniqueness. Hierarchical regressions and generalized linear models evaluated comparative associations of drives with health-related outcomes. Analysis of covariance investigated comparative perceived drive healthiness. DL was supported as unique from DT and DM. DL was less strongly associated with maladaptive outcomes (e.g., disordered eating, ExpB = .99, p = .86) and more strongly predictive of adaptive outcomes (e.g., healthy exercise motivation, β = .30, p < .001) than DT or DM. DL was perceived as healthier than either other drive. DL was supported as a unique and less maladaptive motivation than DT or DM, suggesting the emergence of a lean ideal may be less problematic than body ideals focused on either thinness or muscularity alone. V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Childhood abuse: Differential gender effects on mental health and sexuality

Summary Objectives Childhood abuse is linked to many maladaptive outcomes in adulthood, but its effects on adult sexuality are rarely explored. The goal of this study was to explore adult correlates of childhood abuse, related to both sexual fantasies and behavior, as well as mental health. Moreover, the relationship of these outcomes and gender was explored. Methods Surveys exploring sexual activity and fantasies, and psychopathological symptoms were conducted online on two groups of adults – those not abused in childhood, and those abused during their pre-teen age by close family members (sample of 349 participants). Results Atypical sexual fantasies were more common in the abused than in the non-abused males, while the same relationship was not observed in the females. Similar tendencies, albeit not as strong, were seen in the case of sexual behaviors. On the other hand, both man and abused women were more prone to developing psychological symptoms, in comparison to non-abused group. However, this relationship was more pronounced in the females. Moreover, high tendency for borderline personality disorder was registered in both, abused males and females, but tendency for posttraumatic stress disorder was only increased in the females. Conclusions Findings supported the hypothesis that gender moderates the outcomes of childhood abuse, with the abused males experiencing more disturbances in the sexuality domain, and the females experiencing more psychological symptoms. This is in accordance with findings claiming that male sexuality is more likely to be influenced by developmental events, while the females tend to experience more psychological symptoms in the face of childhood abuse.

Integrative and suppressive emotion regulation differentially predict well-being through basic need satisfaction and frustration: A test of three countries

Individuals’ emotion regulatory styles are differentially related to well-being. Drawing on self-determination theory (Ryan and Deci 2017, Self-determination theory: basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness, Guilford Press, New York), researchers have recently explored the concept of integrative emotion regulation (IER) as an adaptive emotion regulation style, contrasting it with the less adaptive style of suppressive emotion regulation (SER). This research studied the extent to which the relations between IER and SER and well-being are mediated by the satisfaction and frustration of individuals’ basic psychological needs. Data were collected in three countries, Israel (n = 224), Peru (n = 304), and Brazil (n = 203). Participants filled in questionnaires assessing the study variables. Multi-group structural equation modeling (SEM) results showed that integrative emotion regulation positively predicted well-being, mediated by psychological need satisfaction, in all three countries. Moreover, psychological need frustration mediated the relationship between suppressive emotion regulation and well-being. The results support and extend recent findings demonstrating the adaptive outcomes of IER and the maladaptive outcomes of SER. The article concludes by discussing the implications and limitations of the research.

A Person-Centered Representation of Basic Need Satisfaction Balance at Work

Abstract. This study examines how a global overarching need satisfaction construct, together with three specific dimensions (autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs satisfaction) combine within different profiles of workers among two independent samples ( n = 1,419 and n = 677). In addition, this research investigates the role of job demands and resources in the prediction of profile membership, and documents the relation between these profiles and maladaptive outcomes (anxiety and physical fatigue). The results revealed four distinct profiles. Job resources (e.g., participation, organizational support, and work scheduling autonomy) predicted an increased likelihood of membership in the normative profile in both samples. The globally dissatisfied yet moderately autonomous profile was also associated with the highest anxiety levels relative to all other profiles.

Does dispositional mindfulness moderate how individuals engage in their passions? An investigation into video games

ABSTRACTThe Dualistic Model of Passion (DMP) is an emerging framework in social psychology that assesses individuals’ passion for an activity. Although a passion parallels the definition for a serious leisure activity, the DMP further differentiates between a harmonious (HP) versus an obsessive (OP) passion, which are associated with adaptive versus maladaptive outcomes, respectively. Building on recent research in the area of mindfulness and the growing interest in problem video gaming, the present study explores the effect of dispositional mindfulness on reports of HP and OP. An online sample of adult video game users (N = 1,124; 68.95% male) completed assessments of their passion for video gaming as well as their dispositional mindfulness. Results revealed a negative association between dispositional mindfulness and OP for video gaming, but no association between dispositional mindfulness and HP for video gaming. Further, a moderation effect was found such that high dispositional mindfulness appears to protect against internalizing an OP for video gaming. Finally, results from a latent profile generally supported the role dispositional mindfulness plays in reducing the severity of OP for video gaming. The implications for theory and positive video game engagement are discussed.

How Teachers Define and Identify Self-Regulated Learning

The first step for teachers to be efficacious in teaching self-regulated learning (SRL) in their classroom(s) is to have clear understandings of what constitutes SRL and when to use it. This study examined how K–12 teachers (N = 128, 73% female, predominantly Caucasian) define SRL and identify students with deficient SRL by examining their responses to open-ended questions. The results indicated that most definitions of SRL (84%) did not closely reflect the components of SRL that are identified and viewed as important in contemporary models of SRL; however, the areas of greatest overlap were motivation and self-monitoring. Interestingly, teachers often (55%) described SRL as self-directedness without connecting it to the SRL processes that researchers perceive to facilitate self-directedness. There were no significant relationships between teachers’ definitions of SRL and their level of experience or training. When asked how teachers identify students who lack SRL, teachers described maladaptive classroom behaviors and/or outcomes (e.g., off task, poor work completion) more often than they identified the absence of SRL processes (e.g., deficient planning). We discussed how the current findings relate to teachers’ efficacy to teach SRL.

Processes of Religious and Spiritual Influence in Adolescence: A Systematic Review of 30 Years of Research

This is a systematic review of 30years (1988-2017) of empirical research on processes of religious/spiritual influence in adolescence. We followed a multi-step process that resulted in 241 studies organized according to eight research questions and the corresponding methods and analyses typically used to address them. We coded these studies based on the dimensions of religiosity/spirituality and the youth outcomes involved. In some cases (quantitative studies of mediation and moderation, as well as qualitative studies) we also coded a third process variable. Results of the coding process revealed a number of interesting patterns. First, religiosity/spirituality is generally adaptive for adolescents, protecting them from negative outcomes (e.g., risk behaviors and mental illness), and promoting positive youth development and flourishing. Nevertheless, in some contexts, religiosity/spirituality may be at least partially maladaptive. Second, there is some evidence, from experimental and longitudinal studies, that relations between religiosity/spirituality and adaptive outcomes are causal. Third, there are numerous complex and dynamic processes by which religiosity/spirituality relate to youth outcomes. In terms of mediation studies, the most salient mediating processes seem to involve religiosity/spirituality dimensions, peers, values/attitudes, and social control/norms. Fourth, religiosity/spirituality is multidimensional, involving various interwoven facets at the individual and ecological levels. Private or personal aspects of religiosity/spirituality (e.g., religious/spiritual importance) tend to be more salient predictors of outcomes than public aspects of religiosity/spirituality (e.g., religious worship service attendance). The results of this systematic review point to promising directions for future research. First, more research is needed studying a broader range of dimensions of religiosity/spirituality, processes of influence, and outcomes. In terms of religiosity/spirituality, much of the prior work has focused on overall religiosity/spirituality, and religious/spiritual behaviors (e.g., worship service attendance). In terms of outcomes, the emphasis has been on religiosity/spirituality protecting against maladaptive outcomes (e.g., substance use). Second, more research is needed examining the role of culture, and using more rigorous methods (e.g., experience sampling, experimental design, longitudinal design, or mixed methods). This systematic review provides a detailed analysis of what is known regarding processes of religious/spiritual influence in the lives of adolescents, and hopefully better positions researchers to move the field forward.

Does cognitive control ability mediate the relationship between reward-related mechanisms, impulsivity, and maladaptive outcomes in adolescence and young adulthood?

Neurobiological models explain increased risk-taking behaviours in adolescence and young adulthood as arising from staggered development of subcortical reward networks and prefrontal control networks. In this study, we examined whether individual variability in impulsivity and reward-related mechanisms is associated with higher level of engagement in risky behaviours and vulnerability to maladaptive outcomes and whether this relationship is mediated by cognitive control ability. A community sample of adolescents, young adults, and adults (age = 15-35 years) completed self-report measures and behavioural tasks of cognitive control, impulsivity, and reward-related mechanisms, and self-reported level of maladaptive outcomes. Behavioural, event-related potential (ERP), and multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) measures of proactive control were derived from a task-switching paradigm. Adolescents, but not young adults, reported higher levels of impulsivity, reward-seeking behaviours and maladaptive outcomes than adults. They also had lower cognitive control ability, as measured by both self-report and task-based measures. Consistent with models of risk-taking behaviour, self-reported level of cognitive control mediated the relationship between self-reported levels of impulsivity and psychological distress, but the effect was not moderated by age. In contrast, there was no mediation effect of behavioural or EEG-based measures of cognitive control. These findings suggest that individual variability in cognitive control is more crucial to the relationship between risk-taking/impulsivity and outcomes than age itself. They also highlight large differences in measurement between self-report and task-based measures of cognitive control and decision-making under reward conditions, which should be considered in any studies of cognitive control.