Predictors Of Behavioral Outcomes Research Articles

Model-based parcellation of diffusion MRI of injured spinal cord predicts hand use impairment and recovery in squirrel monkeys

A mathematical model-based parcellation of magnetic resonance diffusion tensor images (DTI) has been developed to quantify progressive changes in three types of tissues – grey (GM), white matter (WM), and damaged spinal cord tissue, along with behavioral assessments over a 6 month period following targeted spinal cord injuries (SCI) in monkeys. Sigmoid Gompertz function based fittings of DTI metrics provide early indicators that correlate with, and predict, recovery of hand grasping behavior. Our three tissue pool model provided unbiased, data-driven segmentation of spinal cord images and identified DTI metrics that can serve as reliable biomarkers of severity of spinal cord injuries and predictors of behavioral outcomes.

0791 The Association of Sleep with Developmental and Behavioral Factors in Premature Infants

Abstract Introduction Children with neurodevelopmental conditions often experience sleep problems. Whereas sleep is a predictor of behavioral outcomes in children, there is limited evidence regarding sleep as an indicator of neurodevelopmental concerns. This study examined the prevalence of sleep issues and neurodevelopmental conditions in children with a history of prematurity, as well as the role of sleep as a potential indicator for future developmental and behavioral concerns. Methods Electronic health records of 57 young children (M = 31.9 gestational weeks, range = 23 to 40 weeks; 35.1% girls) presenting to a neonatal follow-up clinic were reviewed. Caregivers completed the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ-R) between 6-16 corrected months (Mage = 11.6 mos) and then completed the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) between 16-26 corrected months (Mage = 20.9 mos). Caregivers also completed the Survey of Wellbeing of Young Children (SWYC; n = 56; Mage = 20.9 mos) and the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA; n = 32; Mage = 17.4 mos). Results Approximately one-quarter (26.3%) of subjects had a caregiver-perceived child sleep problem at ages 6-16 corrected months. A total of 40.4% of children had clinically significant autism concerns on the M-CHAT and 67.9% had clinically significant concerns on the SWYC. Subsequent caregiver ratings showed that 25.0% of children exhibited challenging behaviors and 34.4% lower social-emotional competency on the BITSEA. Children who demonstrated clinically significant autism risk on the M-CHAT were more likely to have a prior caregiver-identified child sleep problem. Those who later failed the M-CHAT also had increased night waking frequency (2.43 vs 1.82 wakings) earlier in development. Logistic regression indicated that caregiver-identified sleep problems significantly predicted subsequent challenging behaviors on the BITSEA but not later neurodevelopmental concerns on the SWYC or social-emotional competencies on the BITSEA. Conclusion These pilot data suggest that a caregiver-identified child sleep problem at age 6-16 months corrected is linked to more frequent challenging child behaviors in toddlerhood (16-26 corrected months). Caregiver-identified child sleep problems and more night wakings also predicted later neurodevelopmental concerns. Sleep problems in premature infants may thus be an early indication of later behavioral and neurodevelopmental issues. Support (if any)

Therapeutic alliance as a predictor of behavioral outcomes in a relationally focused, family-centered telehealth intervention.

This study evaluates therapeutic alliance as a mediator of the relationship between dosage and clinical outcomes for the Family Check-Up (FCU) Online, a telehealth adaptation of an evidence-based parenting intervention for parents of middle school youth. The sample consisted of N = 111 parents with children in middle school who received the FCU Online as part of an ongoing clinical trial. They were randomly assigned to receive telehealth coaching and participated in the intervention and follow-up assessment 12 months later. Data was collected using parent and child questionnaires as well as engagement data collected as part of the online intervention, using both parents and children as reporters of parent behavioral change. Using parent report measures, there was clear support for a mediation model, with parent report of alliance predicting parent self-report ratings of clinical progress (parent behavior change) at 12-month follow-up. However, for the child-report data, there was no clear relationship between dosage or therapeutic alliance with child reports of parenting. Clinical implications and future research directions are discussed.

Development and Validation of SDBeasy Score as a Predictor of Behavioral Outcomes in Childhood.

Rationale: There are limited tools to identify which children are at greatest risk for developing sleep-disordered breathing (SDB)-associated behavioral morbidity.Objectives: To examine associations between age of onset and duration of parent-reported symptoms of SDB and behavioral problems at the age of 5 years.Methods: Data were collected and analyses were completed for participants in the CHILD (Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development) cohort at the Edmonton and Toronto sites. We generated an SDBeasy score on the basis of the age of onset and duration of SDB symptoms as reported by parents completing the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire. Using CHILD-Edmonton data, we completed multivariate linear regression to determine whether the SDBeasy score was associated with behavioral problems at the age 5 years of age as assessed by using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). We then validated the SDBeasy score using CHILD-Toronto data.Measurements and Main Results: At the 5-year visit, 581 of 716 (81%) CHILD-Edmonton participants still enrolled had CBCL data. Of the 581 children with data, 77% (446 of 581) had an SDBeasy score of 0 (never had SDB symptoms), whereas 20 of 581 children (3.4%) had persistent SDB symptoms from infancy through 5 years of age (SDBeasy score of 24). Children had a 0.35-point-higher CBCL total behavioral score at 5 years for each 1-point increase in their SDBeasy score (95% confidence interval, 0.24-0. 5; P < 0.01). We found consistent results among CHILD-Toronto participants; children had a 0.26-point-higher CBCL total behavioral score at 5 years for each 1-point increase in their SDBeasy score (95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.44; P = 0.005).Conclusions: The SDBeasy score, based on the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire, enables identification of children with higher behavioral-problem scores.

Negative emotions as predictors of behavioral outcomes in middle school physical education

Discrete emotions provide a lens for understanding students’ subjective experiences in physical education (PE). Enjoyment of PE is one discrete emotion that receives a great deal of attention because it promotes students’ interest and engagement. However, the implications of students’ negative emotions toward PE remain less clear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine relationships between students’ negative emotions including shame, boredom, and anger in PE and self-reported disruptive behavior, leisure time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary time. Middle school students ( N = 401) completed surveys on all study variables seven weeks apart. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the validity and reliability of students’ reports of negative emotions and behaviors across two time points. A cross-lagged design using structural equation modeling tested relationships between emotions and behavioral outcomes. Shame related to higher reports of future disruptive and sedentary behaviors and lower reports of leisure time MVPA. Boredom also related to lower reports of future leisure time MVPA. Lastly, anger related to higher reports of future disruptive behavior but lower reports of sedentary behavior. Each negative emotion produced unique relationship patterns that generally underscored undesirable student behaviors. Evaluating discrete emotions can highlight information regarding students’ action tendencies. Understanding relationships between negative emotions and their resulting behaviors may help inform interventions and best teacher practices in PE. Overall, physical education teachers need to be aware of students’ negative emotions and make pedagogical and content-related decisions to improve students’ subjective experiences.

Long-term cognitive follow-up of Parkinson's disease patients with impulse control disorders.

This study investigated cognitive functions in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with impulse control disorders (ICDs) and aimed to identify possible predictors of behavioral outcome. In this longitudinal cohort study, 40 PD outpatients with ICDs and 40 without, were matched for sex, age at PD onset, age and disease duration at cognitive assessment. All patients had two neuropsychological assessments at least 2 years apart (mean, 3.5 years). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of ICDs remission at follow-up. The PD patients with and without ICDs had overall comparable cognitive performance at baseline. When evaluating changes between baseline and follow-up, we found significant group × time interactions in several frontal lobe-related tests, with the ICDs group showing a less pronounced worsening over time. ICDs remission was associated with better performance at baseline in working memory-related tasks, such as digit span (odds ratio [OR] = 2.69 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-6.66]) and attentive matrices (OR=1.19 [95%CI, 1.03-1.37]). ICDs remitters and non-remitters had no remarkable differences in baseline PD-related features and therapy management strategies (including the extent of dopamine agonist dose reduction). In conclusion, ICDs in PD patients are not related to greater cognitive impairment or executive dysfunction, but rather show relatively lower cognitive decline over time. The impaired top-down inhibitory control characterizing ICDs is likely attributable to a drug-induced overstimulation of relatively preserved prefrontal cognitive functions. Full behavioral remission in the long term was predicted by better working memory abilities. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Abstract 67: Level of Participation in Health Screenings as a Predictor of Behavioral Outcomes in Middle School Children: A Report from Project Healthy Schools

Background: Previous research has shown that parents influence their children’s eating behaviors. However, associations between the consent of both parent and child to health screenings and the child’s health behaviors have not yet been determined. This study aims to determine the effect of participation in a health screening and education program on the self-reported behaviors of middle-school students. Methods: Data were collected from 3049 middle-school students enrolled in Project Healthy Schools (PHS). Students were assigned a group based on their level of participation in a health screening. Group 1 (n=608) was defined as students and parents who consented to a finger stick to obtain a lipid profile, blood pressure, resting and recovery heart rate, and a behavioral survey. Group 2 (n=149) was defined as students and parents who agreed to all aspects of the screening except the lipid profile (finger stick). Group 3 (n=2292) was defined as students (+/- parents) who chose not to be screened but did complete the behavioral survey. The primary outcome examined was the change in health habits from baseline to post intervention. Results: At baseline Group 1 reported eating more vegetables (p=.044), drinking less high-sugar, non-soda beverages (p=.012), participating in more school-sponsored sports (p≤.001), and demonstrating less sedentary screen time (p≤.001) than students in Groups 2 and 3. Post PHS wellness intervention, Group 3 reported the largest decrease in soda consumption (p=.010) and sedentary behaviors (TV time (p=.001), video game time (p≤.001), and computer time (p=.003)). Conclusion: Parental consent was shown to be associated with higher levels of healthy behaviors at baseline. However, the group without parental consent demonstrated significant positive changes in health behaviors, suggesting a school-based intervention is particularly important amongst children with potentially less parental involvement. Further research is warranted to determine the extent to which parental participation, attitude and knowledge affects children’s health behaviors.

Relationships between desired attributes, consequences and purchase frequency

PurposeEmploying means‐end theory, this paper seeks to examine the influence of specific types of product attributes upon desired consumption consequences and the mediating impact of desired consequences upon purchase frequency.Design/methodology/approachThe research employed means‐end interviews to generate specific attribute and consequence measures. These measures were then administered in a survey instrument within the context of a fashion product. Partial least squares was used for testing the measurement validity of the survey instrument and testing the structural model and related hypotheses.FindingsStyle attributes significantly related to desired psychological and social consequences but did not significantly relate to functional consequences. Quality significantly related to functional consequences and social consequences but not psychological consequences. Price significantly related to all consequences. Psychological consequences were the strongest predictor of purchase frequency followed by functional consequences. Finally, desired consequences played a mediating role between product attributes and purchase frequency, with no direct influence of attributes upon purchase frequency.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings demonstrate the value of understanding the consumption consequences that consumers desire for products, especially after initial purchase. In doing so, the findings also provide some evidence that consequences may be better predictors of behavioral outcomes than product attributes.Practical implicationsThis study demonstrates that the consumer means‐end value hierarchy can be used as a tool for understanding the meanings that consumers construct around products and services. Moreover, it indicates that marketers should consider customer value analysis as a segmentation tool.Originality/valueThis paper represents one of the few to test the chain of cause‐and‐effect relationships of the means‐end hierarchy within an integrated framework. It is original in that it specifically tests the relationships between major attributes (i.e. style, quality, and price) and particular consequence types (i.e. psychological, social, and functional).

Does a Perceptual Discrepancy Lead to Action? A Meta-analysis of the Behavioral Component of the Third-Person Effect

The third-person effect consists of two hypotheses. The perceptual hypothesis states that people assume that communications influence others more than themselves. The behavioral component suggests that people's overestimation of media impact on others lead them to take action or to have some relevant behavioral intentions, perhaps in the hopes to thwart the predicted effects (Peiser & Peter, 2000). The major point of the behavioral component is that the magnitude of third-person perception is a salient, if not the best, predictor of behavioral outcomes. What energizes practitioners and intrigues researchers is the behavioral hypothesis, which suggests that perceptions can hypothetically influence behavior intentions or even actual behavior. To a certain degree, the hypothesis is vague and simplistic in that it ignores the underlying mechanisms that mediate the perception-behavior relationship. Nonetheless, when considering the practical implication, we can appreciate the possibility that perceptions of effects (especially harmful consequences) on third persons propel people to act. The behavioral component of the third-person effect hypothesis has stimulated considerable research in recent years; a majority of which has looked into the possibility that third-person perceptions push people toward censoring content deemed undesirable. Research for the behavioral component, as applied to domains other than censorship, is very much underexplored and the support is largely mixed.

Customer perceived value: a substitute for satisfaction in business markets?

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the value construct among both marketing researchers and practitioners. Despite a growing body of research, it is still not clear how value interacts with related marketing constructs. Researchers have called for an investigation of the interrelationship between customer satisfaction and customer value to reduce the ambiguities surrounding both concepts. Investigates whether customer value and satisfaction represent two theoretically and empirically distinct concepts. Also addresses whether value is a better predictor of behavioral outcomes than satisfaction in a business marketing context. Two alternative models are developed and empirically tested in a cross-sectional survey with purchasing managers in Germany. The first model suggests a direct impact of perceived value on the purchasing managers' intentions. In the second model, perceived value is mediated by satisfaction. This research suggests that value and satisfaction can be conceptualized and measured as two distinct, yet complementary constructs.

Customer perceived value: a substitute for satisfaction in business markets?

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the value construct among both marketing researchers and practitioners. Despite a growing body of research, it is still not clear how value interacts with related marketing constructs. Researchers have called for an investigation of the interrelationship between customer satisfaction and customer value to reduce the ambiguities surrounding both concepts. Investigates whether customer value and satisfaction represent two theoretically and empirically distinct concepts. Also addresses whether value is a better predictor of behavioral outcomes than satisfaction in a business marketing context. Two alternative models are developed and empirically tested in a cross‐sectional survey with purchasing managers in Germany. The first model suggests a direct impact of perceived value on the purchasing managers’ intentions. In the second model, perceived value is mediated by satisfaction. This research suggests that value and satisfaction can be conceptualized and measured as two distinct, yet complementary constructs.

Treatment, Age, and Time-Related Predictors of Behavioral Outcome in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors

The research has shown that children surviving cancer are at risk for long-term emotional and behavioral problems secondary to the cumulative effects of cranial irradiation and chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the emotional and behavioral outcome of children diagnosed with brain tumor and treated with cranial irradiation and chemotherapy by looking at the association between treatment, time, age, and cognitive-related variables on externalizing and internalizing behaviors at 3 years posttreatment. Fifty-four brain tumor survivors were administered a neuropsychological test battery, whereas the parents filled out the CBCL and Conners' Parent Rating Scale. The results indicate that chemotherapy treatment with vincristine, cytoxan, cisplantinum, and/or VP16 was related to poorer internalizing and externalizing behavioral outcome, especially attention, social withdrawal, and anxious–depressive symptomatology. Age at time of diagnosis or treatment, time since discontinuation of treatment, type and/or total dose of radiation therapy was not significantly correlated with any of the behavioral outcome scales. Verbal memory and learning deficits accounted for a significant portion of the variance in social withdrawal, whereas lower scores in overall intellectual functioning and verbal fluency was related to disturbances in attention, inhibition, and social functioning. The findings suggest that children treated with 1 or a combination of any of the aforementioned chemotherapy agents who exhibit declines in intellectual functioning and memory are at increased risk for long-term behavioral problems 3 years after treatment cessation. These findings support the importance for early psychotherapeutic and supportive intervention services immediately after treatment cessation, with the goal of circumventing these potentially debilitating emotional problems.

Traumatic spinal cord injury produced by controlled contusion in mouse.

Previous work from this laboratory has described a rat spinal cord injury (SCI) model in which the mid-thoracic spinal cord is subjected to a single rapid and calibrated displacement at the site of a dorsal laminectomy. Injury is initiated at the tip of a vertical shaft driven by an electromagnetic shaker. Transducers arranged in series with the shaft record the patterns of displacement and force during the impact sequence. In the present study, this device and the relevant surgical procedures were adapted to produce a spinal contusion injury model in laboratory mice. The signal generator for the injury device has also been converted to a computer-controlled interface to permit extension of the model to other laboratories. Mice were subjected to SCI across a range of severities by varying the amplitude of displacement and the magnitude of measured preload force on the dural surface. A moderate injury produced by displacement of 0.5 mm over 25 msec resulted in initial paralysis and recovery of locomotion with chronic deficits in hindlimb function. The magnitude of the peak force, impulse, power, and energy generated at impact were correlated with behavioral outcome at 1 day postinjury, while peak displacement and impulse were the best predictors of behavioral outcome at 28 days postinjury. The shape of the force recording proved to be a highly sensitive measure of subtle variations in the spinal compartment that were otherwise difficult to detect in this small species. The results demonstrate that the electromagnetic spinal cord injury device (ESCID) can be used to produce a well-controlled contusion injury in mice. The unique features of controlled displacement and monitoring of the biomechanical parameters at the time of impact provide advantages of this model for reducing outcome variability. Use of this model in mice with naturally occurring and genetically engineered mutations will facilitate understanding of the molecular mechanisms of pathophysiology following traumatic spinal cord injury.

Customer satisfaction and customer behavior: The differential role of brand and category expectations

Previous research has suggested that consumers use multiple strands to evaluate their satisfaction with a product and to establish postpurchase behavioral intention. However, prior empirical research has focused on which individual standard best predicts satisfaction. In contrast, this article develops and tests a model of consumer satisfaction and postpurchase behavioral intention in which consumers simultaneously use multiple standards—perceptions of performance, brand expectations, and category expectations. The results of an experiment for a simulated service encounter provide support for the proposition that consumers use multiple standards and that these standards have differential effects on such postpurchase outcomes as satisfaction, repurchase intention, and willingness to recommend. Brand expectations are shown to be better predictors of affective outcomes (such as satisfaction), while category expectations are shown to be better predictors of behavioral outcomes (repurchase and recommendation). Consistent with prior research, perceived performance is shown to have a strong effect on both satisfaction and behavioral intention.

Career Commitment as a Predictor of Behavioral Outcomes

Abstract Few researchers have examined career commitment in a systematic fashion. The present longitudinal study used Rusbult and Farrell's (1983) commitment scale in two ways: (a) as an independent variable for predicting (after an interval of one week) several behavioral outcomes and (b) as a dependent variable predicted by various demographic measures. Data collected from 73 university students in Israel showed that none of the demographics correlated with career commitment, but the latter predicted several future behaviors including the number of times respondents met with their instructors and hours spent in written work. The limitations of a short time interval as well as some of the unique aspects of the Israeli educational system are discussed.

Locus of control in aging research: a case for multidimensional and domain-specific assessment.

Do locus of control beliefs change in later life? Is locus of control related to aging-relevant outcomes involving intelligence and health? In past research on these topics, the use of unidimensional and generalized measures of locus of control has led to a set of inconsistent findings. Three studies were conducted to examine the usefulness of multidimensional and domain-specific measures of locus of control for examining age differences and correlates. College students and elderly adults were compared on Levenson's multidimensional and generalized (internal, chance, and powerful others) locus of control scales and two domain-specific versions related to intelligence and health. As predicted, no age differences were found with generalized measures, but the elderly were more external on intelligence- and health-specific locus of control dimensions. Age differences were found most often on the chance and powerful others control dimensions, suggesting that the elderly acknowledge the importance of external sources of control and at the same time preserve their sense of internal control. In addition, the domain-specific scales were better predictors of behavioral outcomes within their respective domains for the elderly but not for the young. The findings suggest that multidimensional and domain-specific conceptions of control are advantageous for aging research.