Maladaptive Personality Characteristics Research Articles

Maladaptive Personality Characteristics, Coping and Situational Factors Predict Symptoms of Complicated Grief and Health Difficulties.

Grief responses range from minimal changes in functioning to debilitating, prolonged, complicated grief. The objective of the current study was to clarify the relationship between maladaptive personality characteristics, coping and situational factors associated with symptoms of complicated grief and health difficulties among bereaved individuals who had lost a loved one within the past six months to two years (N = 304; 59% male; M age = 33.49, SD = 9.98, range 20-81). Situational risk factors, coping (self-distancing, denial, substance use, positive reframing, acceptance, religion, self-blame, behavioral disengagement, venting and humor) and maladaptive personality traits significantly predicted either symptoms of complicated grief or health difficulties. Coping strategies partially mediated the relationship between maladaptive personality traits and symptoms of complicated grief and health difficulties. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of maladaptive personality traits and coping strategies in the conceptualization of complicated grief and should be a greater focus of clinical intervention.

Statistical predictors of the co-occurrence between gambling disorder and problematic pornography use

Co-occurrence between gambling disorder (GD) and other mental disorders is common, but its association with problematic pornography use (PPU) remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate relationships between sociodemographic variables, personality measures, psychopathology, emotional regulation, and impulsivity and the co-occurrence of GD and PPU using structural equation modeling (SEM). The sample consisted of 359 adults seeking treatment for GD. The short version of the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS-6) identified patients with GD + PPU. Psychopathology, impulsivity, emotional regulation, and personality were also assessed. Higher impulsivity levels statistically predicted co-occurrence between GD and PPU. Impulsivity mediated the relationship between younger age, maladaptive personality features, and emotional dysregulation and co-occurrence. Psychopathological distress did not directly associate with GD + PPU co-occurrence. Impulsivity relates importantly to the co-occurrence of GD and PPU. Younger age, maladaptive personality, and emotional dysregulation contribute to increased impulsivity levels and co-occurrence. The findings highlight the importance of addressing impulsivity in understanding and treating co-occurring GD and PPU.

Exploring the Multidimensional Model of Leadership Through the Lens of Coaches: An Examination of the Relationship Between Personality, Leader Behaviors, and the Coach–Athlete Relationship

The Multidimensional Model of Leadership hypothesizes that leader personality characteristics impact leader behaviors, which in turn influence collective and individual outcomes. While the Multidimensional Model of Leadership has received substantial research attention over the past four decades, the full hypothesis including antecedents, throughputs, and outputs has rarely been tested in one study. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to test the relationship between adaptive and maladaptive personality characteristics (i.e., perfectionism and passion), leader behaviors, and the coach–athlete relationship in college coaches. National Collegiate Athletic Association coaches (N = 380) completed the Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-2, the Passion Scale, the Leadership Scale for Sports, and the Coach–Athlete Relationship Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling revealed that perfectionism and passion accounted for 65% of the variance for leader behaviors. Specifically, adaptive dimensions of perfectionism and passion positively predicted leader behaviors, whereas maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism negatively predicted leader behaviors. Furthermore, leader behaviors explained over half the variance of the coach–athlete relationship. The results provide support for the Multidimensional Model of Leadership from the perspective of sport coaches. Applied implications for coaches and sport psychology practitioners are discussed.

Dynamic phase-locking states and personality in sub-acute mild traumatic brain injury: An exploratory study

Research has shown that maladaptive personality characteristics, such as Neuroticism, are associated with poor outcome after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The current exploratory study investigated the neural underpinnings of this process using dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) analyses of resting-state (rs) fMRI, and diffusion MRI (dMRI). Twenty-seven mTBI patients and 21 healthy controls (HC) were included. After measuring the Big Five personality dimensions, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to obtain a superordinate factor representing emotional instability, consisting of high Neuroticism, moderate Openness, and low Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. Persistent symptoms were measured using the head injury symptom checklist at six months post-injury; symptom severity (i.e., sum of all items) was used for further analyses. For patients, brain MRI was performed in the sub-acute phase (~1 month) post-injury. Following parcellation of rs-fMRI using independent component analysis, leading eigenvector dynamic analysis (LEiDA) was performed to compute dynamic phase-locking brain states. Main patterns of brain diffusion were computed using tract-based spatial statistics followed by PCA. No differences in phase-locking state measures were found between patients and HC. Regarding dMRI, a trend significant decrease in fractional anisotropy was found in patients relative to HC, particularly in the fornix, genu of the corpus callosum, anterior and posterior corona radiata. Visiting one specific phase-locking state was associated with lower symptom severity after mTBI. This state was characterized by two clearly delineated communities (each community consisting of areas with synchronized phases): one representing an executive/saliency system, with a strong contribution of the insulae and basal ganglia; the other representing the canonical default mode network. In patients who scored high on emotional instability, this relationship was even more pronounced. Dynamic phase-locking states were not related to findings on dMRI. Altogether, our results provide preliminary evidence for the coupling between personality and dFNC in the development of long-term symptoms after mTBI.

The mediating effect of parental warmth on the association of parent pressure and athlete perfectionism in adolescent soccer

ABSTRACT Appropriately designed sport contexts have the potential to offer participants a range of positive developmental outcomes across domains. However, excessive pressure from parents and an emphasis on achievement outcomes may lead young athletes to develop maladaptive personality characteristics such as perfectionism, which may undermine the positive outcomes from participating in sport. While parenting styles have been broadly explored in relation to the development of perfectionism, individual parenting behaviours have not been examined as unique predictors. The present study was designed to test the potential mediating role of perceived parental warmth on the association of perceived parent pressure and athletes’ perfectionism in the context of competitive club soccer. Data were drawn from a sample of 149 adolescents in the United States who were participating in competitive club soccer. Results demonstrated an acceptable model fit with paternal pressure positively predicting both perfectionistic concerns and strivings, and perceived paternal warmth mediating the relationship between paternal pressure and perfectionistic strivings (β = -.18, p < .05) and concerns (β = -.19, p < .05). Perceived maternal pressure had no relationship with athlete perfectionistic strivings (β = -.03, p = .38) or concerns (β = -.02, p = .46). These findings extend knowledge of the pressure-perfectionism association while also accounting for the mediating effect of perceived parental warmth. The present study highlights the relationship between perceived paternal pressure and warmth in relation to perfectionism in competitive club soccer. Findings have the potential to inform future research examining parenting styles in the context of adolescent sport.

The bright side of entitlement: exploring the positive effects of psychological entitlement on job involvement

PurposeAlthough the sense of entitlement was traditionally associated with a range of maladaptive personality characteristics, the purpose of the current study is to take an initial step to explore a positive implication of psychological entitlement.Design/methodology/approachThe target population for this study comprises employees from various industries in Taiwan. To examine the research hypotheses, structural equation modeling techniques were employed to perform a mediation analysis and conditional process analysis.FindingsThe results of this research showed that career ambition mediates the relationship between psychological entitlement and job involvement, where psychological entitlement is positively related to career ambition, and career ambition is positively related to job involvement. Nonetheless, the authors' data did not support the proposed moderation effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between career ambition and job involvement.Originality/valueThis work is among the first to investigate how an employee's psychological entitlement is associated with his/her job involvement and the boundary conditions that affect this relationship.

Maladaptive Personality Features, Alexithymia, and Traumatic Events as Risk Factors for Patients With Cancer Diagnosis

It is critical to investigate the role of psychological and psychosocial factors involved in cancer diagnosis, in order to improve prevention and treatment strategies. Two hundred and six Italian participants (healthy group, 118 adult volunteers, 53.4% female; target group, 88 patients with first-time cancer diagnosis, 55.7% female) completed questionnaires measuring maladaptive personality traits, alexithymia, and traumatic events. Controlling for gender, age, and education, results showed that higher age and lower education, together with higher exposure to traumatic events and increased levels of negative affectivity, were significant predictors of belonging to the target group. Our findings suggest the need of an early assessment of psychological functioning and traumatic history in cancer patients, in order to promote more effective prevention strategies and tailored treatment approaches.

Parental Problem Drinking and Maladaptive Personality Features in Children: The Role of Marital Conflict.

The personality characteristics of children of exposed to parental problem drinking have been of interest to clinicians and researchers for several decades, but personality research on this population often focuses on identifying a unique cluster of adult personality traits. The current study adopts a cutting-edge dimensional approach to understanding personality pathology as extreme variants of the five factor model, and examines pathways of risk to personality pathology through marital conflict and emotional insecurity. Participants were 199 two-parent families with a child between the ages of 6 and 12years. Parents completed questionnaire measures of their problem drinking, marital conflict, child emotional insecurity (i.e., emotional reactivity to conflict), and child maladaptive personality traits. Structural equation models found an indirect pathway from mother and father problem drinking to pathological child disagreeableness, introversion, emotional instability, and compulsivity via greater mother destructive marital conflict behavior and child emotional reactivity to conflict. There was also some evidence that this pathway of effects was stronger for girls than for boys. Findings support the use of a dimensional approach to understanding maladaptive personality among individuals exposed to parental problem drinking.

Multidimensional perfectionism and the ICD-11 personality disorder model

The International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11) contains a dimensional model of personality disorder. Beyond general personality dysfunction, this model accommodates six personality descriptors depicting maladaptive personality characteristics. Perfectionism is a well-researched multidimensional personality disposition with strong links to psychological maladjustment. Yet, it is unclear how multidimensional perfectionism is conceptually and empirically represented in the ICD-11. In this questionnaire study, we assessed relations between the ICD-11 personality disorder model and perfectionism traits. In two community samples (NSample 1 = 293, NSample 2 = 308), all perfectionism traits, except other-oriented perfectionism, substantially correlated with the six ICD-11 personality descriptors and personality dysfunction. Additionally, two perfectionism traits displayed small incremental utility for explaining personality dysfunction beyond the ICD-11 personality descriptors. This study shows that perfectionism traits are related but not redundant to the ICD-11 personality descriptors. We discuss implications for the measurement and potential gradual refinement of the ICD-11 personality disorder model based on our findings and previous perfectionism research.

When Are Therapists' Efforts to Bring about Cognitive Change Effective? Considering Interpersonal Vulnerabilities as Contextual Factors.

We examined interpersonal variables as moderators of the relation between therapists' use of cognitive change (CC) strategies and CC in a sample of 125 adults who participated in cognitive behavioral therapy for depression. We measured self-reported maladaptive personality characteristics, interpersonal problems, and social skills at intake. Observers rated therapist adherence to cognitive methods for the first five sessions. Patients reported in-session CC following each session. Cognitive methods predicted greater CC. The relation between cognitive methods and CC was moderated by maladaptive personality traits; this relation was stronger for patients with greater maladaptive personality traits. We encourage future research investigating moderators of therapist interventions of putative therapeutic mechanisms.

The longitudinal impact of DSM–5 Section III specific personality disorders on relationship satisfaction.

Maladaptive personality features, in the form of dimensional traits or symptoms of personality disorders, have been linked with lower levels of relationship satisfaction. Most of this research, however, has been cross-sectional, and little is known about the effect of specific personality disorder types, as measured dimensionally, on relationship satisfaction. In the current study, we used actor partner interdependence modeling (APIM) with self-reported personality traits from the Personality Inventory for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition and spouse-reported traits from the Personality Inventory for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Informant Report Form. Composite scores for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Section III Specific Personality Disorder Types, based on combinations of PID facets as outlined in the Section III criteria, were used to predict relationship satisfaction 1 year after personality was assessed. The alternative model of personality disorders composites significantly predicted relationship satisfaction both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Results indicated that spouse reports of personality disorder types from the alternative model of personality disorders framework were robust predictors of satisfaction. Thus, individuals who perceive their partners as high in personality pathology (at any point in a relationship) are likely to be subsequently dissatisfied in the relationship. Interventions targeting perceptions of one's partner might be an effective way to improve marital satisfaction for these individuals. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form: An Examination of Internal Consistency, Factor Structure, and Relationship to Aggression in an Incarcerated Offender Sample.

This study evaluated the internal consistency and factor structure of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form (PID-5-BF), and its relationship to aggression in 438 incarcerated Australian male offenders. Results provide support for the internal consistency and five-factor and bifactor structure of the PID-5-BF. The PID-5-BF total score, as well as the domains of Antagonism, Disinhibition, and Negative Affect (low), demonstrated significant relationships with aggression. These results provide preliminary support for the psychometric properties of the PID-5-BF within prison settings, and suggest that a PID-5-BF assessment may be useful within forensic settings to screen for broad maladaptive personality characteristics that are indicative of a greater propensity for aggressive behavior.

Latent Profile Analysis of Traditional and Cyber-Aggression and Victimization: Associations with Dark Triad Traits and Psychopathology Symptoms

Research has shown that while traditional (e.g., physical and relational) and cyber aggression and victimization often co-occur, individuals may differ in terms of their experiences with aggression and victimization as well as social-psychological adjustment. The current study investigated whether there are distinct groups of college students who experience different forms of aggression and victimization using latent profile analysis (LPA), and whether these groups differ from one another in their maladaptive personality characteristics and psychopathology symptoms. Participants were 540 undergraduate students from a Midwestern university (53% female; 78.5% White; average age = 19.27 years). Four profiles were identified: Non-Involved (80.7%), Traditional Victim-Only (10.3%), Traditional Aggressor/Victim (4.8%), and Combined Aggressor/Victim (traditional aggression, cyber aggression and victimization; 4.1%). Maladaptive personality traits and psychopathology symptoms differed across the four groups. Both the traditional aggressor/victim group and the combined aggressor/victim group, compared to the non-involved and traditional victim-only group, reported higher levels of narcissism, psychopathy, and callous-unemotional (CU) traits. The traditional aggressor/victim group, compared to the combined aggressor/victim group, reported higher levels of narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and CU traits. The combined aggressor/victim group reported higher levels of psychopathology symptoms (i.e., emotion dysregulation, depression, anxiety, and stress) compared to the traditional aggressor/victim group. These findings enhance our understanding of the heterogeneity in experiences with aggression and victimization among college students, and highlight the importance of developing interventions that target their specific mental health needs.

The relationship between maladaptive personality functioning and problematic technology use in adolescence: A cluster analysis approach.

In the last two decades, scientific research has explored the problematic use of internet, videogames and mobile phones. However, there is still little consistent knowledge regarding the co-occurrence of problematic technology use and the role of maladaptive personality characteristics in adolescence. The present study aimed to investigate adolescents' styles of technology use with a cluster analysis approach focusing on personality functioning. The sample comprised 408 Italian adolescents (46.3% males) aged 11 to 18years (M age =13.80; SD=2.08). Data were collected using the Internet Addiction Test, the Videogame Dependency Scale, the Test of Mobile-Phone Dependence Brief Form and the Personality Inventory for DSM5 Brief Form. Results provided a four-cluster solution based on the co-occurrence of problematic technology use. The four clusters were labeled as follows: cluster 1: "Above average internet and mobile-phone use"; cluster 2: "Below average technology use"; cluster 3: "Above average videogame use"; and cluster 4: "Problematic technology use." Analyses on demographic variables (e.g., gender and age) demonstrated significant differences between the four groups. Adolescents with high levels of problematic technology use reported greater overall personality dysfunction than the other three groups. This finding supported our hypothesis on maladaptive personality functioning in adolescents at risk for addiction. Finally, the Antagonism domain played a specific role in differentiating the severity of adolescents' involvement in technology use. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and to plan preventive interventions as well as therapeutic treatments.

Psychopathic traits and social anxiety in cyber-space: A context-dependent theoretical framework explaining online disinhibition

Online disinhibition is a common phenomenon with negative implications among adolescents, but its correlates have been scarcely investigated from an integrative perspective. This study aimed to examine the relationship of two socially maladaptive personal characteristics, namely psychopathic traits and social anxiety, with online disinhibition. Furthermore, the effect of empathy (affective and cognitive) was examined through moderation analysis. The investigation was based on a context-dependent theoretical framework, according to which, the structural characteristics of cyberspace increase or decrease the expression of certain personal tendencies, thus differentiating an individual's behavior. Overall, 1097 Greek Junior High School students from Northern Greece voluntarily completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire. After construct validity was tested, a two-step latent moderated structural equation modeling was conducted. Results showed that online disinhibition correlated negatively with all variables except affective empathy. Cognitive empathy moderated only the effect of impulsive-irresponsible traits and social anxiety on online disinhibition. Overall, findings show that students with maladaptive personality characteristics have high propensity for online disinhibition. These results can contribute significantly in understanding the phenomenon, as well as in the design of prevention programs aiming at developing the cognitive empathy of impulsive and socially anxious adolescents.

Reliability, Validity, and Factor Structure of the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS–16) in an Italian Sample

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is an extensive fantasy activity that replaces human interaction and interferes with work and interpersonal functioning. In this study, we investigated the nomological network of the MD construct and examined the psychometric properties of the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS–16) in an Italian sample. The MDS–16 is a self-report measure composed of 16 items designed to assess MD. Participants in this study were 468 individuals (333 volunteers, 56.8% female; 135 self-diagnosed maladaptive daydreamers, 78.5% female) between 18 and 56 years of age. MDS–16 scores showed good internal reliability. An exploratory factor analysis suggested a 2-factor solution (interference with life and sensory-motor retreat); this solution was consistent with theory, and all items loaded in the expected direction. MDS–16 scores were associated with global psychopathology, traumatic experiences, maladaptive personality features, alexithymia, dissociation, shame feelings, and anxious attachment styles. Furthermore, MDS–16 scores showed satisfactory incremental validity, and a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that a cutoff value of 51 best discriminates between cases and noncases of self-diagnosed MD. Results suggest that the scale is a suitable measure for assessing MD in Italian samples.

The Unfabulous Four: Maladaptive Personality Functioning, Insecure Attachment, Dissociative Experiences, and Problematic Internet Use Among Young Adults

Even though positive associations among problematic Internet use (PIU), maladaptive personality traits, insecure attachment styles, and dissociation have been frequently observed in research, a need exists to examine the interrelationships among these factors in young adults. Two hundred fifty-three young adults (52% females) aged between 18 and 25 years old completed a sociodemographic form and measures on PIU, maladaptive personality traits, dissociative experiences, and adult attachment styles. They also reported how much time they usually spent online. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that male gender, increased time spent online, negative affectivity, an avoidant attachment style, and dissociative symptoms of depersonalization/derealization were strongly associated with PIU scores in the sample. Our findings suggest that an excessive time spent online may combine with maladaptive personality features, insecure attachment dispositions, and difficulties in processing bodily experiences in generating PIU among young adults.

Comparative study of adolescents with and without ADHD

Introduction. Although an association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and personality disorders has been observed in adult population, no descriptions in Chilean adolescents have been reported. Objective. To explore personality profiles in Chilean adolescent patients diagnosed with ADHD. Method. Non-experimental, comparative design, convenience sample with 61 adolescent patients (13-19 years old) diagnosed with ADHD who completed the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI) questionnaire. Results compared parameters for the Chilean adolescent population and patients in the study. Attending psychiatrists completed a medical history file (comorbidities, pharmacological treatment and factors associated with mental health). Multivariate statistics, cluster analyses, and means comparison analyses were performed. This project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Chile. Results. The personality profile of female adolescent patients with ADHD resembles that of the general female population, while the profile of the male patients is similar to that of the patient’s parameter group. Cluster analysis identified two personality sub-profiles: 25% of the subjects belonged to cluster 1, which was characterized by higher scores for different personality traits, expressed concerns, and clinical syndromes, compared with subjects from cluster 2. There were no differences regarding gender, ADHD clinical presentation, use of medication, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), type of school, grade retention, or, applicable only to the female group, comorbidities in belonging to cluster 1. Only the presence of comorbidity in male subjects was associated with cluster 1 membership. Discussion and conclusion. Adolescent patients diagnosed with ADHD differed significantly in some personality traits when compared to Chilean parameters for the MACI. Of the adolescents studied, 25% have maladaptive personality characteristics.

Predictors of treatment attrition and treatment length in Parent‐Child Interaction Therapy in Taiwanese families

Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) has been used successfully in the United States and in other countries around the world, but its use in Asian countries has been more limited. The present study is the first of its kind to examine the predictors of treatment attrition and length in a sample of Taiwanese caregivers and their children. It is also the first to examine PCIT outcomes in Taiwanese families. Maladaptive personality characteristics of the caregiver were the best predictor of attrition, followed by single-parent, removal of the child from the home, and lower levels of caregiver education. Treatment length was predicted by child minority status and parent–child interactions (i.e., parent commands and negative parent talk). In terms of outcomes, statistically significant treatment changes were noted for all treatment outcome variables at post-treatment and at 3-month follow-up. These findings suggest that PCIT is a promising intervention for this population. The predictors of treatment attrition and length can be used when Taiwanese caregiver–child dyads present for services so that additional assistance can be provided prior to or during treatment to increase adherence to the recommended number of treatment sessions for maximal impact. Future studies may replicate the present study with a larger clinical sample to examine the long-term effects of PCIT and to include a no-treatment control condition to afford a more robust empirical evaluation.

Structural coherence and temporal stability of psychopathic personality features during emerging adulthood.

Psychopathy is a complex personality disorder characterized by affective, interpersonal, and behavioral dimensions. Although features of psychopathy have been extended downwardly to earlier developmental periods, there is a discerning lack of studies that have focused on critically important issues such as longitudinal invariance and stability/change in these features across time. The current study examines these issues using a large sample of male adolescent offenders (N = 1,170) assessed across 7 annual time points during the transition into emerging adulthood (ages ∼17 to 24 years). Findings demonstrated that features of psychopathy remained longitudinally invariant across this developmental period, and showed temporally consistent and theoretically coherent associations with other measures of personality, psychopathology, and criminal behaviors. Results also demonstrated that mean levels of psychopathic personality features tended to decrease into emerging adulthood and showed relatively modest rank-order stability across assessments with 7-year lags. These findings suggest that reductions in maladaptive personality features seem to parallel the well-documented decreases in offending that occur during the early 20s.