Measures Of Social Adjustment Research Articles

THE MOTHER'S PSYCHOLOGICAL TOUGHNESS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE MENTALLY RETARDED CHILD

The study addresses the three dimensions of psychological resilience: commitment, control and challenge of a mentally handicapped child's mother and its impact on social adjustment in general and after Feinland socialization on a disabled child The study sample consisted of two cases, each of which was the mother and her disabled child. approach ", where the sample was chosen in a deliberate manner, and the two researchers relied on the clinical approach of case study and two tools used the psychometer to measure the level of psychomotor toughness at the secretary's level, The measure of social adjustment in the aftermath of Feinland's socialization to measure the overall level of social adjustment and the level of socialization in its three dimensions for children with disabilities. The results of the study have shown that the level of mental stiffness of the mother affects the social adjustment of the disabled child, and the results of the study have shown that the level of psychological toughness of the mother affects the three dimensions of socialization of the disabled child. Key words: Psychological Toughness, Disabled Child, Social Adjustment, Socialization

The role of school friendship stability, instability, and network size in early adolescents' social adjustment.

This study examined longitudinal associations between early adolescents' school friendship stability, instability, and network size and their perceived social adjustment. The final sample consisted of 430 early adolescents residing in seven Midwestern schools (52% female, 47% Black, 42% White, 5% Hispanic or Latinx, and 6% Other). School friendship stability, instability, and network size were assessed via students' peer nominations of their same-grade friendships collected midway through their 7th and 8th grade years. Students also self-reported on several measures of social adjustment (their social satisfaction, social confidence, and school belonging). Results indicated having new friendships and having a larger friendship network at school were each more predictive of early adolescents' perceived social adjustment than was having maintained friendships or a consistent friend group within this context. However, school friendship stability consistently predicted greater perceived school belonging, whereas having a primarily new friend group and/or having lost more or most of a prior friend group predicted lower levels of this perception. Having lost school friendships was not predictive of early adolescents' social adjustment except when losses composed a significant proportion of their school friendship network (i.e., they had lost more or most of their school friendships from the year before). These findings provide valuable insights about peer friendship dynamics and social adjustment during a life stage critical to social development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Social adjustment in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia without cranial radiation therapy.

To evaluate group differences in social adjustment in survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) compared to survivor siblings and controls; identify disease-related predictors of social adjustment in survivors; and explore whether executive functioning explained differences in social adjustment across groups and between disease-related predictors. Survivors of pediatric ALL (n=38, average age at diagnosis=4.27years [SD=1.97]; average time off treatment=4.83years [SD=1.52]), one sibling (if available, n=20), and one parent from each family were recruited from a long-term survivor clinic. Healthy age- and sex-matched controls (n=38) and one parent from each family were recruited from the community. Parents completed the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Parent Rating Scale (BASC-3) Social Withdrawal subscale as a measure of social adjustment, and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF-2) as a measure of executive function for each of their children. Multilevel modeling and mediation analysis were used to achieve the study aims. Parents reported that survivors had significantly worse social adjustment compared to controls (b=6.34, p=.004), but not survivor siblings. Among survivors, greater time off treatment (b=2.06, p=.058) and poorer executive functioning (b=0.42, p=.006) were associated with worse social adjustment. Executive function did not mediate differences in social withdrawal between survivors and controls or the relationship between time off treatment and social withdrawal among survivors. Survivors of pediatric ALL presenting to follow-up programs should be screened for difficulties with social adjustment. Future research should examine treatment- and nontreatment-related factors contributing to poorer social outcomes.

La sociabilité et l’attrait pour la solitude des adultes à haut potentiel intellectuel (HPI)

There is evidence that gifted children tend to score above average on most measures of social adjustment (Zettergren & Bergman, 2014) of which sociability is a part. They are also considered more independent and autonomous (French et al., 2011). However, few data are available for adults. The goal of this study was therefore to assess the levels of gifted adults’ autonomy and desire for solitude, as well as their levels of sociotropy, defined as the motivation to engage in positive interchange with others. An experimental group of 106 gifted adults [55 women; mage=37.45 (± 8.50) years; mIQ=139.90 (± 6.46)] and as many control adults [52 women; mage=35.88 (± 10.57) years] completed the Sociotropy and Autonomy Scale (Beck, Epstein, Harrison, & Emery, 1983). Results showed that gifted adults score higher on the Sociotropy scale, suggesting that they are more sociable. They would have a greater social sensitivity including a lesser need for social affiliation, a superior fear of criticism and rejection and a greater desire to please others. Compared to the control group, gifted adults depicted themselves as being more autonomous and goal oriented. They also reported a greater need for solitude, associated with a greater appreciation of their freedom of action and movement. This study was the first to investigate both sociability and desire for solitude in gifted adults. It suggests that gifted adults are highly motivated to engage in positive interactions with others, although they do not express the same needs as their peers regarding the frequency, quantity and quality of these interactions.

The influence of paternal and maternal parenting styles on adolescents’ regulatory focus: A longitudinal study

To strengthen the evidence for the developmental assumption of regulatory focus theory, that individuals’ chronic self-regulatory orientations root in parenting behaviors, the present study investigated the influences of maternal and paternal parenting styles on Chinese adolescents’ regulatory focus and the effects of regulatory focus on mental health using an 8-month longitudinal design. 466 Chinese middle and high school students completed the regulatory focus, perceived maternal and paternal parenting style, life satisfaction, and positive and negative social adjustment measures. The results showed that: (1) Adolescents’ promotion focus positively predicted life satisfaction and positive social adjustment and negatively predicted negative social adjustment. Prevention focus positively predicted negative social adjustment. (2) Maternal emotional warmth positively predicted promotion focus, whereas paternal harsh discipline positively predicted prevention focus. (3) Promotion focus mediated the relationship between maternal emotional warmth and life satisfaction and positive and negative social adjustment. Prevention focus mediated the relationship between paternal harsh discipline and negative social adjustment.

Study of Impact of Family on the Adjustment of Adolescents

The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of family on the adjustment of adolescents. Descriptive survey method of research was used for collecting the data using Personal information schedule developed by investigator and Adjustment Inventory developed by Sinha and Singh. (1971). The sample comprised of randomly selected 120 adolescents (Nuclear Families: 60 and Joint Families: 60) studying in Xth class in Darbhanga town (Bihar). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to compare the means between the groups. Findings of the study revealed that (i) there is significant difference between adolescents from nuclear and joint families on the measure of emotional adjustment (ii) there is significant difference between adolescents from nuclear and joint families on the measure of social adjustment (iii) there is significant difference between adolescents from nuclear and joint families on the measure of educational adjustment.

Could Social Cognition Training Reduce Externalizing Behaviors and Social Maladjustment in Preschoolers?

Background: Recently, a social cognition training model has been developed and showed significant improvements on social cognition, social adjustment and externalizing behaviors in typically developing preschoolers. Objectives: Such model has been replicated in the current study in preschoolers with externalizing behaviors to test whether deficits in social cognition could cause deficits in social adjustment and externalizing behaviors in preschoolers. The effects of training in social information processing and Theory of Mind on social cognition, on emotion regulation, on social adjustment and on externalizing behaviors were examined. Methodology: After a pre-test, 37 children with externalizing behaviors were allocated either to an experimental group, which received 15 sessions of social cognition training in groups of 3-4 children, or to a control group. Results and conclusion: Through regression analyses, the Theory of Mind indirect, social information processing, emotion regulation and social adjustment measures were significantly predicted by group condition. The hypothesis that difficulties in social adjustment can be caused by deficits in social cognition is discussed.

Technological determinants of the lifetime well-being in the 21th century

The paper deals with technological determinants of the lifetime social well-being, as conditions of maintaining the level and style of consumption, social status throughout the whole life. Despite the high importance of the problem of the social well-being and the relevance of its solution for the development of modern society, the issues of its correlation with the technological level of production and the development of information technologies are still poorly researched. As the problem of the life-time wellbeing take on special significance, it is important to analyze its conditions, related not only to social benefits, but also to the scientific and technological progress. For the future innovation and the digital stage of social well-being is its network well-being. It is based on the usage of the Internet for professional activity and personal self-fulfillment during the whole conscious life. Network well-being also reflects the convergence of information and network, industrial, financial, marketing, and social technologies. The formation of the life-time network well-being requires from the Government some measures of social adjustment, fiscal policy and the regulation of employment to encourage Internet Education and Internet employment, enhancing the prestige of working in high-tech industries.

Comparing three forms of early intervention for youth with borderline personality disorder (the MOBY study): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BackgroundBorderline personality disorder is a severe mental disorder that usually has its onset in youth, but its diagnosis and treatment are often delayed. Psychosocial ‘early intervention’ is effective in improving symptoms and behaviours, but no trial has studied adaptive functioning as a primary outcome, even though this remains the major persistent impairment in this patient group. Also, the degree of complexity of treatment and requirements for implementation in mainstream health services are unclear.The primary aim of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of three forms of early intervention for borderline personality disorder in terms of adaptive functioning. Each treatment is defined by combining either a specialised or a general service delivery model with either an individual psychotherapy or a control psychotherapy condition.Methods/designThe study is a parallel-group, single-blind, randomised controlled trial, which has randomised permuted blocking, stratified by depression score, sex and age. The treatments are: (1) the specialised Helping Young People Early service model plus up to 16 sessions of individual cognitive analytic therapy; (2) the Helping Young People Early service plus up to 16 sessions of a control psychotherapy condition known as ‘befriending’; (3) a general youth mental health care model plus up to 16 sessions of befriending. Participants will comprise 135 help-seeking youth aged 15–25 years with borderline personality disorder. After baseline assessment, staff blind to the study design and treatment group allocation will conduct assessments at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. At the 12-month primary endpoint, the primary outcome is adaptive functioning (measures of social adjustment and interpersonal problems); secondary outcomes include measures of client satisfaction, borderline personality disorder features, depression and substance use.DiscussionThe results of this trial will help to clarify the comparative effectiveness of a specialised early intervention service model over and above general youth mental health care, along with the contribution of individual cognitive analytic therapy over and above specialised general clinical care in early intervention for borderline personality disorder. Consequently, the findings will also inform the level of training and competency required for effective delivery of early intervention services.Trial registrationRegistered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12610000100099 on 1 February 2010.

Relations between theory of mind, mental state language and social adjustment in primary school children

The present study investigated the concurrent relations between theory of mind (ToM), mental state language (MSL) and social adjustment (assessed in terms of emotional instability, prosocial behaviour and aggressiveness) in a sample of 150 children between 8 and 11 years of age. The results showed no correlation between the performance on false belief tasks and the frequency of MSL in a narrative task. False belief understanding was unrelated with all measures of social adjustment, whereas the children’s use of MSL was negatively correlated with emotional instability and aggressiveness, above and beyond the influence of receptive language ability. These findings suggest that having a ToM ability is different from spontaneously using it during non-interactive narrative tasks, and that the two ToM measures are differently related to social competence in primary school children.

Pragmatic randomized controlled trial of long-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression: the Tavistock Adult Depression Study (TADS).

This pragmatic randomized controlled trial tested the effectiveness of long-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy (LTPP) as an adjunct to treatment-as-usual according to UK national guidelines (TAU), compared to TAU alone, in patients with long-standing major depression who had failed at least two different treatments and were considered to have treatment-resistant depression. Patients (N=129) were recruited from primary care and randomly allocated to the two treatment conditions. They were assessed at 6-monthly intervals during the 18 months of treatment and at 24, 30 and 42 months during follow-up. The primary outcome measure was the 17-item version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17), with complete remission defined as a HDRS-17 score ≤8, and partial remission defined as a HDRS-17 score ≤12. Secondary outcome measures included self-reported depression as assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory - II, social functioning as evaluated by the Global Assessment of Functioning, subjective wellbeing as rated by the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure, and satisfaction with general activities as assessed by the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire. Complete remission was infrequent in both groups at the end of treatment (9.4% in the LTPP group vs. 6.5% in the control group) as well as at 42-month follow-up (14.9% vs. 4.4%). Partial remission was not significantly more likely in the LTPP than in the control group at the end of treatment (32.1% vs. 23.9%, p=0.37), but significant differences emerged during follow-up (24 months: 38.8% vs. 19.2%, p=0.03; 30 months: 34.7% vs. 12.2%, p=0.008; 42 months: 30.0% vs. 4.4%, p=0.001). Both observer-based and self-reported depression scores showed steeper declines in the LTPP group, alongside greater improvements on measures of social adjustment. These data suggest that LTPP can be useful in improving the long-term outcome of treatment-resistant depression. End-of-treatment evaluations or short follow-ups may miss the emergence of delayed therapeutic benefit.

Executive functions and theory of mind as predictors of social adjustment in childhood traumatic brain injury.

This study examined whether executive function and theory of mind mediate the effects of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) on social adjustment, relative to children with orthopedic injury (OI). Participants included 19 children with severe TBI, 41 children with complicated mild/moderate TBI, and 57 children with OI. They completed measures of executive function, as well as cognitive, affective, and conative theory of mind. Parents provided ratings of children's social adjustment. Children with severe TBI performed more poorly than children with OI on executive function and theory of mind tasks and were rated by parents as having more behavioral symptoms and worse communication and social skills. Executive function and theory of mind were positively correlated with social skills and communication skills, and negatively correlated with behavioral symptoms. In multiple mediator models, theory of mind and executive function were not significant direct predictors of any measure of social adjustment, but mediated the association between injury and adjustment for children with severe TBI. Theory of mind was a significant independent mediator when predicting social skills, but executive function was not. TBI in children, particularly severe injury, is associated with poor social adjustment. The impact of TBI on children's social adjustment is likely mediated by its effects on executive function and theory of mind.

Social Competence in Children with Brain Disorders: A Meta-analytic Review

Social competence, i.e. appropriate or effective social functioning, is an important determinant of quality of life. Social competence consists of social skills, social performance and social adjustment. The current paper reviews social skills, in particular emotion recognition performance and its relationship with social adjustment in children with brain disorders. In this review, normal development and the neuro-anatomical correlates of emotion recognition in both healthy children and adults and in various groups of children with brain disorders, will be discussed. A systematic literature search conducted on PubMed, yielded nine papers. Emotion recognition tasks were categorized on the basis of task design and emotional categories to ensure optimal comparison across studies before an explorative meta-analysis was conducted. This meta-analytic review suggests that children with brain disorders show impaired emotion recognition, with the recognition of sad and fearful expressions being most impaired. Performance did not seem to be related to derivative measures of social adjustment. Despite the limited number of studies on a variety of brain disorders and control groups, outcomes were quite consistent across analyses and corresponded largely with the existing literature on development of emotion recognition in typically developing children. More longitudinal prospective studies on emotion recognition are needed to gain insight into recovery and subsequent development of children with distinct brain disorders. This will aid development, selection and implementation of interventions for improvement of social competence and quality of life in children with a brain disorder.

Experimental Study of Short-term Training in Social Cognition in Pre-schoolers

Using an experimental approach, our study examined the differentiated effects on pre-schoolers’ social cognition of two short-term social information processing (SIP) and Theory of Mind (ToM) training sessions dealing with emotions and beliefs. The links between ToM, SIP, and social adjustment or externalizing behavior were examined. 47 pre-schoolers took part in a pretest session involving cognitive, socio-cognitive and social adjustment measures. The direct socio-cognitive measures involved tasks assessing emotion recognition, ToM emotions, ToM beliefs and social problem-solving. The teachers filled out a personality questionnaire and parents completed the Theory of Mind Inventory, a social adjustment scale and the CBCL. Secondly, they were allocated at random to two experimental groups (ToM training or SIP training) or to a control group. In the experimental groups, each of three children, short training sessions were given using educational materials. Free play was offered in the control group. Finally, all children took part in a post-test session. Our results showed significant improvement in ToM emotions for the ToM training group, in ToM beliefs for the SIP training group, and in social problem-solving for both experimental groups, and some transfer learning. In pretest, significant positive correlations were obtained between social cognition measures and individual characteristics, and between social cognition measures and social adjustment. Significant negative correlations were observed between social adjustment and externalizing behavior, and between social adjustment and emotional reactivity. This study provided some guidelines for formulating a medium-term training program in social cognition aimed at pre-schoolers at risk of displaying externalizing behavior disorders.

Clinical correlates of social adjustment in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

BackgroundPatients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) frequently show poor social adjustment, which has been associated with OCD severity. Little is known about the effects that age at symptom onset, specific OCD symptoms, and psychiatric comorbidities have on social adjustment. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical correlates of social functioning in OCD patients. MethodsCross-sectional study involving 815 adults with a primary DSM-IV diagnosis of OCD participating in the Brazilian Research Consortium on Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders. Patients were assessed with the Social Adjustment Scale, the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. Clinical correlates of social adjustment were assessed with generalized linear models with gamma distribution. ResultsPoor overall social functioning was associated with greater OCD severity (p = 0.02); hoarding symptoms (p = 0.004); sexual/religious obsessions (p = 0.005); current major depressive disorder (p = 0.004); current post-traumatic stress disorder (p = 0.002); and current eating disorders (p = 0.02). Poor social adjustment was also associated with impaired quality of life. ConclusionsPatients with OCD have poor social functioning in domains related to personal relationships and professional performance. Hoarding symptoms and sexual/religious obsessions seem to have the strongest negative effects on social functioning. Early age at OCD symptom onset seems to be associated with professional and academic underachievement and impairment within the family unit, whereas current psychiatric comorbidity worsen overall social functioning. In comparison with quality of life, social adjustment measures seem to provide a more comprehensive overview of the OCD-related burden.

The Impact of Children's Social Adjustment on Academic Outcomes

This study tested whether social adjustment added to the prediction of academic outcomes above and beyond prior academic functioning. Researchers collected school records and peer-, teacher-, and self-report measures for 1,255 third-grade children in the fall and spring of the school year. Measures of social adjustment included social acceptance by and aggression with peers. Academic outcomes included math and reading grade point average, classroom behavior, academic self-esteem, and absenteeism. As expected, the researchers found support for the causal model such that both forms of social adjustment contributed independently to the prediction of each area of academic adjustment. Gender differences were present in the patterns of results, particularly for the impact of aggression on academic adjustment. Discussion focuses on the implications for social–emotional literacy programs for preventing negative academic outcomes.

Psychiatric diagnoses, comorbidity, and functioning in National Guard troops deployed to Iraq

Objective Over 1.8 million troops have been deployed to Iraq (OIF) and Afghanistan. Estimates of mental health problems postdeployment have been based on screening instruments; no studies have examined the postdeployment mental health of troops returning from OIF using structured diagnostic interviews. The goal of the current study is to (a) report on rates of mental health diagnoses and comorbidity in soldiers after deployment to OIF using clinical interviews, and (b) examine the relationship between mental health diagnoses and overall functioning and quality of life. Method Participants were 348 National Guard soldiers drawn from the Readiness and Resilience in National Guard Soldiers (RINGS) study, a longitudinal study of mental health after deployment to OIF from March 2006 to July 2007. Participants completed clinical interviews, including the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale and the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV, and self-report measures of social adjustment and quality of life 6–12 months following deployment. Results Most participants did not meet criteria for a mental health diagnosis. Non-PTSD anxiety disorders and depressive disorders were the most common. Mental health diagnoses were associated with poorer functioning and quality of life. PTSD had the strongest relationship with social functioning and quality of life. For those with PTSD, comorbid diagnoses were not associated with an incremental decrease in functioning or quality of life. Conclusions The findings highlight the significant rate and burden of mental health disorders among this population and suggest that while PTSD is relatively uncommon, it is a particularly deleterious disorder.

Electrophysiological Correlates of Cognitive Control and the Regulation of Shyness in Children

Shyness is associated with social-emotional maladjustment in some, but not all, children. The ability to flexibly regulate attention under conditions of potential conflict may protect shy children from developing internalizing problems. In the current study, the associations between shyness, the N2 event related potential (ERP) response, and social-emotional adjustment were examined in a sample of 36 typically developing 9- to 13-year-old children. It was hypothesized that the N2 amplitude, an ERP measure associated with aspects of cognitive and attention control, would moderate the associations between shyness and social-emotional functioning (negative attribution style, social self-perceptions, social anxiety). Shyness was unrelated to behavioral or ERP measures collected during a modified Flanker task; however, shyness and N2 amplitude were alone and in combination associated with all three measures of social adjustment. In general, shyness was associated with poor outcomes primarily among children with relatively large amplitude, or enhanced, N2 responses. The results are discussed in terms of the role of conflict sensitivity in the regulation of attention and emotions associated with shyness and the importance of studying the combined influences of reactive and self-regulatory aspects of temperament in relation to adjustment in childhood.

Preschool education, educational attainment, and crime prevention: Contributions of cognitive and non-cognitive skills

We investigated the extent to which cognitive and non-cognitive skills accounted for the measured links between participation in preschool intervention and high school completion, highest grade completed, and incarceration history in early adulthood. Using data from the Chicago Longitudinal Study, an on-going 20-year investigation of the effects of the school-based Child–Parent Center early intervention program for over 1500 children, we assessed the contribution of school readiness and achievement test scores up to age 14 and remedial education as well as measures of social adjustment, motivation, educational expectations, problem behavior, and juvenile arrest. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that when assessed separately, cognitive factors accounted for 42% of the preschool effect on high school completion, 37% on highest grade completed, and 23% on incarceration history by age 24 while non-cognitive factors accounted for, respectively, 36%, 45%, and 59%. Together, cognitive and non-cognitive factors explained 46%, 51%, and 59% of the main effect of preschool participation. The set of cognitive skills made greater value-added contributions to educational attainment while non-cognitive skills made greater value-added contributions to incarceration history. Our findings support the important role of test scores, school performance, and social and motivational factors in explaining the effect of preschool participation on economically important indicators of well-being.

Recognition and Treatment of Psychotic Symptoms: Spiritists Compared to Mental Health Professionals in Puerto Rico and Brazil

This article expands psychosocial and cultural perspectives on the experience and expression of psychotic symptoms and the treatment of schizophrenia by exploring how Spiritism, a popular religion in Latin America, provides healing to persons with severe mental illness. Beliefs and treatment by Spiritist healers of persons with psychotic symptoms, some diagnosed with schizophrenia, are described. Reactions by mental health professionals (psychologists, mental health technicians and psychiatrists) to this alternative treatment are described. Qualitative data have been collected through in-depth interviews with 49 Spiritist mediums in Puerto Rico, and case histories of 22 patients and their family members, all of whom gave informed consent. In Brazil, interviews were conducted with a sample of 115 Spiritist mediums, with their informed consent. These mediums responded to semi-structured interviews and standard measures of social adjustment and mental health. As expected, beliefs and practices of Spiritist healers regarding psychotic symptoms, whether manifested by themselves or by clients diagnosed with schizophrenia or other disorders, differ substantively from conventional psychiatric constructs and treatment approaches. According to patients' self reports and researchers' observations, spirit healers often achieve positive results with persons manifesting psychotic symptoms or diagnosed with schizophrenia in that symptoms become less frequent and/or social adjustment improves. We suggest psychosocial mechanisms to explain these findings and raise questions for future research.