Predictors Of Psychological Adjustment Research Articles

Exploring dimensions of childhood adversity as predictors of psychological adjustment among adolescents involved in the child welfare system: A latent profile analysis

Child welfare-involved youth experience elevated rates of psychological maladjustment. Few studies have examined whether there are latent subgroups of youth who experience similar patterns of psychological adjustment. Toadvance understanding of the promotion of adjustment among this marginalized population, the current study addressed this gap by conducting a latent profile analysis of psychological symptoms. Once the identified latent profiles were identified, we examined relations between sociodemographic characteristics and adversity experiences among a nationally representative sample of 1,048 child welfare-involved adolescents (11–17 years). We used a 3-step approach to examine whether dimensions of adversity predict profile membership. We identified two distinct subgroups: “comorbid internalizing and externalizing symptoms” (18%) and “non-clinical symptoms” (82%). The comorbid subgroup was characterized by scores within the clinically significant or borderline range for all indicators. Results of the logistic regression suggested that for every additional threat adversity experienced (e.g., exposure to violence, such as physical abuse), youth were 1.7 times more likely to be in the comorbid subgroup than the non-clinical subgroup. However, deprivation (e.g., unfulfilled physical, emotional, or social needs, such as physical neglect) was not a significant predictor of profile membership. Our findings highlight the importance of preventing exposure to threat-related adversity and building our understanding of psychological adjustment among child welfare-involved adolescents to promote positive psychological outcomes in this population.

Too many lemons to make lemonade? Disentangling mental health during the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Spain

The study aimed to analyze the longitudinal change in mental health during the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Spain. Negative (e.g., emotional distress) and positive (e.g., positive functioning variables) outcomes were analyzed. Protective factors (e.g., resilience) as predictors of psychological adjustment (i.e., positive mental health, openness to the future, and low burden due to COVID-19) after ten months of the pandemic were also examined. The sample consisted of 164 participants, and self-reported questionnaires were administered at the beginning of the lockdown (March 2020), at the end of the lockdown (June 2020), and during the third wave (January 2021). Linear mixed models showed that individuals’ emotional distress increased, and positive functioning variables (i.e., meaning in life, gratitude, resilience, and life satisfaction) decreased over time, but an increase was observed in some dimensions of posttraumatic growth. Regression analyses showed that resilience scores at all three data collection time points were significant predictors of positive mental health, openness to the future, and burden during the third wave. Mediation analyses showed that positive mental health and openness to the future were mediators of the effect of resilience on burden. The prolonged situation of the COVID-19 crisis had an important impact on positive and negative mental health. However, resilience may help to build up resources that can act as a buffer against adverse psychological effects.

Online self-regulated learning, academic performance, and well-being of Senior High School Students in the NCR: A mediation analysis

Online self-regulated learning, academic performance, and well-being of Senior High School Students in the NCR: A mediation analysis

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND SELF EFFICACY AS PREDICTORS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN AWKA EDUCATION ZONE, NIGERIA

<p>This study investigated emotional intelligence and self-efficacy as predictors of psychological adjustment among secondary school adolescents in Awka Education Zone, Anambra State. Three research questions guided the study and three null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population of the study was 4,421 senior secondary two (SS2) students from 61 secondary schools in Awka Education Zone. The Sample size of the study comprises 485 SS2 obtained using simple random sampling technique. Three sets of questionnaire titled “Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (EIQ), “Self Efficacy Questionnaire (SEQ) and “Psychological Adjustment Questionnaire (PAQ)” were used for data collection. The data obtained were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The results of the study showed among others that emotional intelligence and self efficacy of students significantly predict their psychological adjustment. It was also revealed that there were positive relationship existing between adolescents’ emotional intelligence, self efficacy and their psychological adjustment. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others, that parents and teachers should devote more time and put best efforts to empower their children and students to build good self-efficacy for promoting their psychological adjustment.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0791/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Does Centrality Moderate the Relation Between Skin Tone Satisfaction and Psychological Adjustment for Latinx Blacks and Non-Latinx Blacks?

Few studies have examined the similarities and differences between individuals from across the African diaspora in terms of racial identity and skin tone and how these might influence psychological adjustment (i.e., depression, anxiety, and positive affect). We explored this question in a sample of 326 Latinx black and non-Latinx black participants from the Northeast. Due to different ethnic identities, and possibly socialization experiences, we hypothesized that Latinx blacks would report lower levels of skin tone satisfaction and black racial centrality compared to non-Latinx blacks. For the same reason, we also hypothesized that the relationship between skin tone satisfaction and adjustment would be moderated by racial centrality such that it would be more protective for non-Latinx blacks than Latinx blacks. As expected, Latinx blacks reported significantly lower skin tone satisfaction (despite perceiving themselves as lighter) and black centrality compared to non-Latinx blacks. Skin tone satisfaction, but not black centrality, emerged as a significant predictor of psychological adjustment for the combined sample. Importantly, findings also revealed that while centrality was a protective factor for non-Latinx blacks, it was less impactful for Latinx blacks and may have functioned as a vulnerability factor. This study represents an important first step in disentangling important group differences within the African diaspora that can help inform research and treatment.

Expectations and acculturation: Further unpacking of adjustment mechanisms within the Russian-speaking community in Montreal

Recent years have witnessed a significant growth in the Russian-speaking community in Montreal, Canada. However, little is currently known about the predictors of psychological adjustment in immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU). In this study we explored the expectations that this group of immigrants (N = 271) hoped to fulfill in their adopted society, the extent to which these expectations have been fulfilled, and the impact of fulfilled expectations on psychological adjustment. We found that the degree of fulfilled expectations was significantly associated with better psychological adjustment independent of personality traits, language proficiency, and acculturation. These findings contribute to the literature on cross-cultural adaptation of immigrants from the FSU and highlight the potential importance of expectations for the study of acculturation more generally.

Personality and the Social Environment: Contributions to Psychological Adjustment Among Asian and Euro American Students

Introduction: Although personality and sociocultural experiences shape how people adapt to changing life circumstances, these factors’ contributions to psychological adjustment outcomes may differ across ethnic groups. Previous research has shown that personality traits predict psychological distress and wellbeing, and people's comfort with their social environments and interpersonal relationships also can be instrumental in understanding their psychological adjustment. Research on personality and on environmental characteristics have tended to focus on Euro Americans and on people of color, respectively; the extent to which campus climate and ethnic group contact predict psychological adjustment above and beyond personality remains understudied and unclear.Method: Relative influences of Big 5 personality and environmental characteristics at a predominantly White college were tested as predictors of psychological adjustment among Asian (N = 412; 48.5% women, Mage= 19.60) and Euro American (N = 277; 47.7% women, Mage= 19.46) students.Results: Measurement invariance tests showed that only a subset of the NEO Five Factor Inventory was equivalent across groups. Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that personality contributed to depression and anxiety symptoms for both groups, but comfort with campus environment and ethnic social comfort were distinctively important predictors of Asians’ psychological adjustment.Discussion: Implications for research, professional services, and university practices are discussed.

Fathers and Perceptions of God Play an Important Role in Psychological Adjustment Among Emerging Adults in Guatemala and the United States

Interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory posits that people require parental acceptance in childhood to develop healthy psychological adjustment. People’s beliefs about and their relationship with deity also influences their psychological adjustment. The purpose of the present study was to investigate how both perceived parental acceptance and a relationship with deity are related to psychological adjustment for emerging adults in Guatemala and the United States. Participants (N = 189) from Guatemala and the United States completed measures of perceived parental acceptance-rejection, images of God, attachment to God, and psychological adjustment. Results indicate that perceived paternal acceptance-rejection was only a significant predictor of psychological adjustment in U.S. participants, and not in Guatemalan participants. In both samples, images of God did not predict psychological adjustment. However, an anxious attachment with God predicted psychological maladjustment for both groups. The findings suggest that two important factors to be considered by researchers, educators, and mental health professionals are adults’ perceptions of their father’s level of acceptance-rejection and the amount of anxiety they experience in their relationship with God.

Social Acceptance as a Moderator in the Relationship between Socioeconomic Status and the Psychological Adjustment of Ethnically Diverse Early Adolescents

ABSTRACTResearch suggested that socioeconomic status is related to psychological adjustment in ethnically diverse adolescents. Understanding correlates that may be helpful in mitigating ill effects on diverse adolescents’ psychological adjustment is important, with adolescents’ social acceptance being one correlate of interest. As a result, this study examined the relationships among ethnic identity, SES, social acceptance, and the psychological adjustment of 278 ethnically diverse early adolescents. Results of regression analyses suggested that socioeconomic status and social acceptance are important predictors of psychological adjustment. In addition, results indicated that adolescents’ perceived social acceptance moderates significantly the relationships between their socioeconomic status and depression, anxiety, and self-concept. These results suggested that social workers and other health service providers should identify early adolescents who are not feeling accepted socially for intervention in an effort to mitigate the symptoms of poor psychological adjustment, particularly when these adolescents are facing other struggles related to low socioeconomic backgrounds.

The relationship between emotional intelligence and high risk sexual behaviors in women referring to central unit of forensic medicine in Tehran

The relationship between emotional intelligence and high risk sexual behaviors in women referring to central unit of forensic medicine in Tehran

Parental Acceptance and Power/Prestige as Predictors of Psychological Adjustment Among Pakistani Adolescents

This study dealt with the impact of paternal versus maternal acceptance on the psychological adjustment of adolescents in relation to parental power and prestige within the family in the Lahore region of Pakistan. The study drew from a sample of 91 adolescents (46% males) ages 13 through 17 years ( M = 14.86). Measures used were the child version of the Parental Acceptance–Rejection Questionnaire (mother and father forms), the child version of the Personality Assessment Questionnaire, and the youth version of the Parental Power–Prestige Questionnaire. Results showed that perceived maternal and paternal acceptance were significantly correlated with adolescents’ psychological adjustment. However, neither power nor prestige was correlated with either maternal or paternal acceptance. Results of hierarchical regression analyses confirmed that adolescents’ perceptions of psychological adjustment were uniquely predicted by both maternal and paternal acceptance irrespective of either parent’s power or prestige within family.

Development and predictors of psychological adjustment during the course of community-based rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury: A preliminary study

The aim of the study was to describe the development and predictors of psychological adjustment during community-based traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation. Forty-two adolescent and adult individuals with TBI (mean age 32 years, 88% male, median post-traumatic amnesia 11 days) participated in a single-group, longitudinal design study. The main measures used were the Reactions to Impairment and Disability Inventory, Adjustment subscale; Sydney Psychosocial Reintegration Scale; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and Self-awareness of Deficits Interview. At rehabilitation start, individuals differed significantly from each other with respect to their level of psychological adjustment. Individual trajectories of psychological adjustment were highly variable. However, for the sample as a whole, psychological adjustment did not change during the course of rehabilitation (multilevel regression models; p > .05). Good psychological adjustment was related to low levels of emotional distress and a small discrepancy between current and aspired functional status. Poor functional status had a more minor impact on psychological adjustment in individuals with poor self-awareness than in individuals with high levels of self-awareness. The results confirm parts of theoretical models of psychological adjustment to acquired brain injury, especially the importance of goal refinement. However, the results need to be treated cautiously, given the limited sample size.

Daily hassles and coping dispositions as predictors of psychological adjustment

This study examined daily hassles and coping dispositions in relation to life satisfaction and depressive symptoms among resettled unaccompanied refugees and other youth in the resettlement country. A total of 223 unaccompanied refugees (M = 20 years) was compared with 609 ethnic minority and 427 majority youth in Norway. Unaccompanied refugees reported higher levels of depressive symptoms, daily hassles and engagement and disengagement coping than the other two groups, but equal level of life satisfaction. Daily hassles and disengagement coping predicted lower life satisfaction and more depressive symptoms across groups. Engagement coping predicted higher life satisfaction in all groups, but not less depressive symptoms among unaccompanied refugees. Multiple mediation analyses showed that daily hassles and coping dispositions partly explained group differences in depressive symptoms, and that at the same level of hassles and disengagement coping, unaccompanied refugees would be significantly more satisfied with life. Findings suggest that interventions to promote more effective coping strategies to handle the many hassles in their daily lives may improve unaccompanied refugees’ psychological adjustment and chances to succeed in the resettlement country.

Extrinsic Cultural Religious Orientation: analysis of an Iranian measure in university students in the United States

Previous research examining Iranian university students suggested that an Extrinsic Cultural Religious Orientation may be more important than an Extrinsic Social Religious motivation in maintaining Muslim religious commitments. The present project demonstrated that a similar conclusion seemed applicable to the largely Christian commitments of American university students. In the United States, an Extrinsic Cultural Religious Orientation Scale displayed a factor structure like that observed in Iran, was a more robust and consistent predictor of psychological adjustment than the Extrinsic Social Religious Orientation, and was sensitive to spiritual as well as religious dimensions of commitment. Peace and Justice and Cultural Foundations factors from this scale were relatively more positive in their adjustment implications than were Disorder Avoidance and Family and Social Order factors. Noteworthy contrasts between the present American and previous Iranian data appeared in Extrinsic Cultural Religious Orientation relationships with a sense of identity and with cognitive empathy. These results confirmed that the Extrinsic Cultural Religious Orientation deserves additional research attention in both Muslim and more secular Western societies.

Family income and appraisals of parental conflict as predictors of psychological adjustment and diurnal cortisol in emerging adulthood.

The goal of the current study was to provide the first investigation of whether appraisals of parental marital conflict mediate associations of family income with emerging adult psychological adjustment and diurnal cortisol production. Participants were 178 college students who provided 3 saliva samples across the day and reported their family income, adjustment (depressive symptoms, perceived daily stress, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems), and appraisals of their parents' conflict (including perceptions of frequency, intensity, resolution, stability, as well as perceived threat and self-blame for conflict). Results indicated that emerging adults from low-income families reported more-negative conflict appraisals, which in turn predicted lower levels of adjustment; there was no association between income and patterns of cortisol production across the day. However, emerging adults who felt responsible for their parents' conflict displayed cortisol levels that were lower early in the day, with a tendency toward blunted cortisol slopes across the day; those who appraised their parents' conflict less negatively displayed a more normative pattern of cortisol production. These results suggest that effects of family income on psychological adjustment are explained, in part, by appraisals of parental conflict, particularly of appraisals of conflict as threatening, whereas self-blame conflict appraisals have main effects on cortisol, and predict a dysregulated and potentially maladaptive pattern of cortisol production across the day for emerging adults.

Posttraumatic Growth and Posttraumatic Depreciation as Predictors of Psychological Adjustment

Informed by current trauma literature, this study explored the relationships between posttraumatic growth (PTG), posttraumatic depreciation (PTD), and other posttrauma outcomes including well-being, psychological flourishing, and psychological distress. The predictive utility of PTG and PTD was also examined. The sample comprised 104 trauma survivors (28 community members and 76 university students) who completed the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory–42 and several outcome measures. As expected, PTD showed strong linear correlations with well-being, flourishing and distress, and emerged as a significant predictor of scores on such measures. However, PTG showed negligible correlations with well-being, flourishing, and distress. This reaffirms that PTG and PTD measure conceptually distinct and independent dimensions of experience, which has implications for therapeutic practice.

Predictors of psychological adjustment in early placed adopted children with lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parents.

Little research has focused on predictors of psychological adjustment among early placed adopted children. Additionally, the research on adopted children in lesbian or gay parent-families is sparse. The current study examined 40 female same-sex, 35 male same-sex, and 45 different-sex parent families with adopted children, all of whom were placed in their adoptive homes under the age of 18 months. We explored aspects of children's preadoptive and postadoptive contexts (measured at 3 months postplacement) in relation to children's externalizing and internalizing symptoms (measured at 2 years postplacement; M age = 2.33 years). Findings revealed that lack of parental preparation for the adoption, and parental depressive symptoms, were associated with higher parent-reported levels of both externalizing and internalizing symptoms. Additionally, parents' relationship conflict was associated with higher levels of parent- and partner-reported internalizing symptoms. Children's adjustment outcomes did not differ by family type. Our findings point to the importance of considering the adoptive family context (including parent and couple subsystems) in predicting later adjustment in early placed adopted children, in diverse family contexts.

Perceived Stress, External Locus of Control, and Social Support as Predictors of Psychological Adjustment Among Female Inmates With or Without a History of Sexual Abuse

Given the growing number of women who are incarcerated across the United States, the current study investigated the relationships among female inmates' perceptions of their own stress, external locus of control (LOC), social support adequacy, and various aspects of psychological functioning. Generally, female inmates with a self-reported history of childhood sexual abuse did not differ from their nonabused counterparts on the variables of interest. Results suggested that female inmates' perceptions of higher stress, a higher degree of external LOC, and inadequate social support correlated with greater symptoms of depression and hopelessness as well as lower self-esteem. In regression analyses, stress and social support were significant predictors for depression and anxiety. In contrast, stress was the only significant predictor of hopelessness and self-esteem. Finally, none of the predictors examined here was significant in the prediction of traumatic stress. Overall, findings suggested the importance of stress and social support in the prediction of female inmates' adjustment, specifically their symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Predictors of psychological adjustment, experienced parenting burden and chronic sorrow symptoms in parents of children with cerebral palsy

To investigate the role of child behaviour, parental coping and experiential avoidance in predicting the psychological outcomes of: (i) psychological symptoms; (ii) chronic sorrow symptoms; and (iii) experienced parenting burden in parents of children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study is a cross-sectional, correlational study. Ninety-four parents of children (aged 2-12 years) with CP (various levels of motor functioning GMFCS I-V) participated. Together, the three predictors of child behaviour, parental coping and experiential avoidance explained 36.8% of the variance in psychological symptoms with child behavioural problems and experiential avoidance as significant unique predictors. In addition, 15.8% of the variance in chronic sorrow symptoms was explained by the three predictors with experiential avoidance alone as a significant unique predictor. Lastly, the predictors together explained 24.3% of the variance in experienced parenting burden with child behavioural problems and experiential avoidance as significant unique predictors. This study demonstrates a relationship between child behavioural problems and parental psychological symptoms and experienced parenting burden as well as a relationship between experiential avoidance and parental psychological symptoms, experienced parenting burden and chronic sorrow symptoms.

Development of Self-regulation Abilities as Predictors of Psychological Adjustment Across the First Year of College

The first year of college can be a difficult developmental transition for many students, although it is also a time of personal growth and maturation. Little is known about how self-regulation abilities mature across this transition, nor whether maturation predicts better adjustment across the first year. We investigated the development of three self-regulation abilities (constructive thinking, emotional regulation, and mastery) and relations of this development to adjustment (depression, anxiety, and stress) in a sample of 162 first-year students. Data were gathered at two time points: just prior to their attendance at a large public northeastern university and then again at the end of the first year. Results indicated that, on average, students did not increase in their constructive thinking or emotion regulation abilities and actually decreased in their sense of mastery. In bivariate analyses, increases in all three self-regulation abilities were related to better adjustment across the year, effects that remained when examined simultaneously in multiple regression analyses. Further, analyses showed that change in self-regulation abilities, rather than mean levels per se, predicted changes in adjustment over the first year. Implications for interventions to assist students in the development of these self-regulation skills in regard to adjustment are discussed.