Psychosocial Adjustment Of Adolescents Research Articles

Gender and Multiple Forms of Peer Victimization: How Do They Influence Adolescent Psychosocial Adjustment?

This study explores the relationship among multiple forms of peer victimization (e.g., direct physical/verbal, relational, and sexual harassment) and psychosocial adjustment among urban students and uses cluster analysis to identify subgroups of victims. Students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade completed self-report surveys about their psychosocial adjustment, peer victimization experiences, and the gender of the other person involved. Results reveal that both physical/verbal victimization and sexual harassment were related to internalizing behavior, and sexual harassment was related to externalizing behavior. Cluster analysis revealed preliminary subgroups of victims. In addition, being victimized by a boy was more strongly related to behavior problems for both boys and girls than the experience of being victimized by a girl. Results suggest that the gender of perpetrators and victims should be considered, and there is a need to include sexual harassment in the study of peer victimization when developmentally appropriate.

Gender and Multiple Forms of Peer Victimization: How Do They Influence Adolescent Psychosocial Adjustment?

Gender and Multiple Forms of Peer Victimization: How Do They Influence Adolescent Psychosocial Adjustment?

The potential role of conflict resolution schemas in adolescent psychosocial adjustment

Four specific schemas of cognitive structures that adolescents may hold concerning interpersonal disagreements with their parents were identified, each reflecting an authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, or a neglecting parenting style. To examine the occurrence of such schemas across high and low levels of psychosocial adjustment, 120 Swedish adolescents (50 boys, 70 girls) (mean age = 14.76 years) indicated how their parents usually approach six potential situations involving parent–adolescent conflict. Findings show that the authoritative conflict schema (compliance as a result of mutual respect) occurred more often among well-adjusted adolescents, whereas authoritarian and indulgent conflict schemas were particularly associated with low levels of psychosocial adjustment. The concept of conflict schemas may contribute to the understanding of how various parenting styles are linked to certain developmental outcomes for the adolescent.

Longitudinal Relationships between Early Adolescent Family Functioning and Youth Adjustment: An Examination of the Moderating Role of Very Low Birth Weight

To examine longitudinal relations between early adolescent family conflict and late adolescent psychosocial adjustment, and the moderating role of low birth weight. Three groups of adolescents (48 with birth weight <750 g, 46 with birth weight 750-1499 g, and 51 term-born controls) and their parents completed ratings of family conflict at age 11 (Time 1). Parent, teacher, and youth reports of psychosocial functioning were obtained at ages 11 and 17 (Time 2). Birth weight moderated the relationship between Time 1 adolescent-perceived conflict and change in adolescent behavioral functioning. For adolescents with histories of <750 g birth weight, adolescent-perceived conflict predicted less adaptive changes in teacher-reported total behavior problems and externalizing problems. Small disruptions to the parent-child relationship have negative implications for the later well-being of adolescents with extreme levels of low birth weight. Clinical attention to resolving early adolescent conflict may promote adaptive adjustment.

Psychosocial outcomes at 15 years of children with a preschool history of speech‐language impairment

Evidence suggests there is a heightened risk of psychiatric disorder in children with speech-language impairments. However, not all forms of language impairment are strongly associated with psychosocial difficulty, and some psychiatric disorders (e.g., attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)) are more prevalent than others in language-impaired populations. The present study assessed the psychosocial adjustment in adolescence of young people with history of speech-language impairment, and investigated specific relationships between language deficits and psychiatric disorders. Seventy-one young people (aged 15-16 years) with a preschool history of speech-language impairment were assessed using a psychiatric interview (K-SADS) supplemented by questionnaires probing social encounters and parental reports of behaviour and attention. Their psycho-social adjustment was compared with that of a cross-sectional control group of age-matched controls. Overall the rate of psychiatric disorder was low in the clinical sample and children whose language delay had resolved by 5.5 years had a good outcome. For those whose language difficulties persisted through the school years, there was a raised incidence of attention and social difficulties. These difficulties were partially independent and associated with different language profiles. The group with attention problems showed a profile of specific expressive language difficulties; the group with social difficulties had receptive and expressive language difficulties; and the group with both attention and social difficulties was of low IQ with global language difficulties. Amongst children with speech-language delays at 5.5 years, those with more severe and persistent language difficulties and low nonverbal IQ are at higher risk of psychiatric morbidity in adolescence.

The Role of Spirituality Versus Religiosity in Adolescent Psychosocial Adjustment

This study investigated the interaction between religiosity (defined as church attendance) and spirituality (defined as personal beliefs in God or a higher power) on psychosocial adjustment. Four groups were created capturing 4 different religious/spiritual orientations. Differences were assessed between the groups on a wide range of psychosocial indicators. Participants included 6578 adolescents ages 13–18 encompassing a school district in Ontario, Canada. Results were striking with regards to the consistency with which religious youth reported more positive adjustment than did non-religious youth, regardless of level of spirituality. Spirituality may not be as salient an influence on behavior as religiosity. The secondary analyses indicated that the advantage for religiosity may not be entirely unique to church attendance, but rather a function of being part of any community. However, where religiosity may be uniquely associated with adjustment (over and above benefits associated with participation in any community) is in lower levels of risk behaviors.

Social networks and psychosocial development: A longitudinal Dutch study

Unique longitudinal results are described from a national scientific study into social networks and psychosocial adjustment of adolescents and young adults who are blind or partially sighted. In this Dutch community-based study the first sample of participants are interviewed twice: the first time (1996) when they were adolescents (N=316), the second time 8 years later, when they were young adults (N=206). The second sample of adolescents is interviewed once in 2004 (N=155). Preliminary findings suggest an improvement in psychosocial adjustment into the transition in young adulthood. A replication of earlier findings with adolescents was found in the sample 2 adolescents, meaning relatively small networks and a rather positive outcome for psychosocial indicators.

Psychosocial Adjustment in Adolescents with Craniofacial Anomalies: A Comparison of Parent and Self-Reports

To assess rates of psychosocial adjustment problems in adolescents with craniofacial anomalies (CFAs) and to evaluate the correspondence between adolescent and parent reports of adjustment. Retrospective chart review. Reconstructive plastic surgery department in urban medical center. Sixty-four adolescents aged 14 to 18 years with CFAs and their parents. Child Behavior Checklist, Youth Self-Report. Adolescent and parent reports were compared with published norms. Adolescents with CFAs did not differ from norms on rates of self-reported problems in the clinical range. Parents of sons and daughters with CFAs reported elevations in the clinical range for deficits in social and scholastic competence; parents of daughters also reported higher clinical rates of withdrawn and somatic problems. Correlations between adolescent and parent reports were generally higher than seen in norms, especially for boys. Parents and adolescents did not differ in reported rates of problems in the clinical range. Adolescents with CFAs showed elevated risk for problems with academics and peer relationships; there was limited evidence for clinical levels of other adjustment problems. When parent and adolescent reports differed, parents reported more problems.

Keeping Secrets From Parents: Longitudinal Associations of Secrecy in Adolescence

A 2-wave survey study among 1173 10–14-year-olds tested the longitudinal contribution of secrecy from parents to psychosocial and behavioral problems in adolescence. Additionally, it investigated a hypothesized contribution of secrecy from parents to adolescent development by examining its relation with self-control. Results showed that keeping secrets from parents is associated with substantial psychosocial and behavioral disadvantages in adolescence even after controlling for possible confounding variables, including communication with parents, trust in parents, and perceived parental supportiveness. Contrary to prediction, secrecy was also negatively associated with feelings of self-control. Secrecy from parents thus appears to be an important risk factor for adolescent psychosocial well-being and behavioral adjustment.

Perceived support in sibling relationships and adolescent adjustment.

Siblings may support each other, but also reveal fierce rivalry and mutual aggression. Supportive sibling relationships have been linked to the development of psychosocial competence of children. In the present longitudinal study, we will focus on the development of perceived support in sibling dyads and on the influence of sibling support and sibling problem behavior on psychosocial adjustment in adolescence. In a three-wave longitudinal sample of 285 Dutch families with two adolescent children (11- to 15-year-olds), these two siblings judged the support perceived from each other. In addition, they themselves and their parents judged their internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. The relation of sibling support and sibling problem behavior with internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors was examined while controlling for support from parents and friends and, over time, controlling for the autoregressive effects of problem behavior. Support perceived from a sibling is mostly negatively related to externalizing problems; sibling problem behavior is strongly related to internalizing problems. Differential developmental trajectories of adolescents' adjustment are associated with siblings' support and problem behavior. The results indicate that adolescents' relationships with both older and younger siblings are characterized by modeling processes.

Parenting Styles and Mental Health of Arab Gifted Adolescents

This study examined the parental styles and psychosocial adjustment of adolescents and the relationship between them in gifted as compared to nongifted Arab adolescents. Five scales—The Parental Authority Questionnaire, Child Attitude Toward Parents, Lipsitt’s Self-Concept Scale for Children, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and The Psychological State Scale—were administered to 118 gifted and 115 nongifted Arab adolescents in Israel. Results indicate that parents of gifted adolescents tend to be more authoritative and less authoritarian than parents of nongifted adolescents. The attitudes of the gifted adolescents toward their parents were more positive than those of the nongifted adolescents. The gifted displayed higher self-esteem and fewer identity disorders, phobias, and conduct disorders than the nongifted adolescents. The authoritative parental style correlates positively with the mental health of both gifted and nongifted adolescents, while the authoritarian parenting style impacts negatively on the mental health of the gifted, but not of the nongifted adolescents. The study results indicate that the authoritarian parenting style is a crucial factor that influences the well-being of gifted children and may affect their psychological adjustment. More studies are needed among gifted underachievers and among eminent talented Arab writers and artists.

PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT OF CHINESE ADOLESCENTS WITH ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE: A PIONEER LONGITUDINAL STUDY IN HONG KONG

Although studies have been carried out to examine factors associated with the psychosocial adjustment of adolescents with economic disadvantage, there are several limitations of the existing literature. First, available studies have been mainly conducted in Western contexts and scientific studies based on Chinese people are almost non-existent. Second, a review of the literature shows that existing studies are mainly cross-sectional in nature and few longitudinal attempts have been carried out to understand the development of poor adolescents across time. Third, there are few existing studies in which a wide range of adolescent developmental outcomes is included. Finally, there have been to date few related studies in which both parents and adolescents are included in a single study. Against this background, this study attempts to examine the relationships between a number of factors at different ecological systems and psychosocial adjustment of poor Chinese adolescents over time.

Adolescent self-perceptions of adjustment to childhood arthritis: the influence of disease activity, family resources, and parent adjustment.

To examine the influence of illness parameters, adolescent support resources, and parental adjustment on the psychosocial adjustment of adolescents with arthritis. A sample of 57 adolescents with childhood arthritis, 50 of their mothers, and 40 of their fathers completed paper-and-pencil measures of: (a) perceptions of the severity of the adolescent's illness, (b) social support and family functioning, and (c) adolescent depression and global self-worth. Participants were predominantly white and upper middle class. Data were analyzed using multiple regression strategies. Adolescent perceptions of family functioning and social support were significant predictors of both global self-worth and depression in regression analyses. Additionally, greater functional limitations because of arthritis were predictive of adolescent depression. Family functioning was significantly associated with adolescent adjustment across different conceptulaizations and measures of adjustment.

Cannabis use and psychosocial adjustment in adolescence and young adulthood.

To examine the associations between frequency of cannabis use and psychosocial outcomes in adolescence/young adulthood. A 21-year longitudinal study of the health, development and adjustment of a birth cohort of 1265 New Zealand children. Annual assessments of the frequency of cannabis use were obtained for the period from age 14-21 years, together with measures of psychosocial outcomes including property/violent crime, depression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt and other illicit drug use. The frequency of cannabis use was associated significantly with all outcomes, and particularly other illicit drug use. Statistical control for confounding by both fixed and time-dynamic factors substantially reduced the strength of association between cannabis use and outcome measures. Nevertheless, cannabis use remained significantly (P < 0.05) associated with all outcomes and particularly other illicit drug use, after adjustment for confounding. For the measures of crime, suicidal behaviours and other illicit drug use there was evidence of age related variation in the strength of association with cannabis use, with younger (14-15 years old) users being more affected by regular cannabis use than older (20-21 years old) regular users. However, the association between cannabis use and depression did not vary with age. Cannabis use, and particularly regular or heavy use, was associated with increased rates of a range of adjustment problems in adolescence/ young adulthood-other illicit drug use, crime, depression and suicidal behaviours-with these adverse effects being most evident for school-aged regular users. The findings reinforce public health concerns about minimizing the use of cannabis among school-aged populations.

Coping styles and locus of control as predictors for psychological adjustment of adolescents with a chronic illness

This study examines the way coping styles and locus of control contribute to the prediction of psychosocial adjustment in adolescents with a chronic illness. Psychosocial adjustment of 84 adolescents aged 13–16 years with a chronic illness was assessed with measures of social adjustment, global self-esteem and behavior problems. Linear regressions were performed with demographic factors (age and gender) and stress-processing factors (coping style and locus of control) as predictor variables. Results indicated that coping styles were related to most aspects of social adjustment. The coping styles ‘seeking social support’ and ‘confrontation’ were important predictors for positive social adjustment; the coping style ‘depression’ was a predictor for poor adjustment, viz. low social self-esteem and high social anxiety. Avoidance and locus of control were not strongly associated with psychosocial adjustment . Clinical implications of these findings were discussed in terms of preventive interventions for adolescents with a chronic illness.

Relating familial stress to the psychosocial adjustment of adolescents with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Adolescence is a time that offers significant challenges to families dealing with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A major developmental task in the adjustment process for the adolescent is the achievement of a sense of self-identity. Mastering stress in families of adolescents with DMD has also been shown to be a major task in the adjustment process for the family. In this study, the relationships between familial stress and psychosocial adjustment in adolescents with DMD were investigated. The study participants (36 caregivers and 32 adolescents) were all registered with the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada and all resided in the province of Ontario. The Offer Self-Image Questionnaire for Adolescents (Offer et al., 1982, 1989) was used to measure psychosocial adjustment of adolescents with DMD. Family stress was measured by the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress (Holroyd, 1987). All but a few of the participants were interviewed and completed self-report instruments in their own homes. The other families were interviewed in other settings (e.g., clinic, adolescent's school). The results indicate that, overall and in several specific areas, the adolescents demonstrate lower levels of psychosocial adjustment than their normal reference group. The results also indicate that familial stress is not related to sociodemographic variables, but is associated with psychosocial adjustment in the adolescent (P = 0.0004), and with intellectual function of the adolescent (P = 0.001). In fact, the results of a regression analysis show that the level of stress experienced by the family predicts the degree of psychosocial adjustment of the adolescent with DMD (R2 = 0.38, P = 0.0003). These findings underscore the importance of a holistic approach with these families. Limitations of the study, and implications of the results, are discussed in terms of clinical practice and future research.

The relation of parental practices and self-conceptions to young adolescent problem behaviors and substance use

The object of the present research was to examine the role of parenting practices for young adolescent psychosocial adjustment and self-regulation problems. The sample included 287 sixth- and seventh-grade subjects from intact families. The participants completed a questionnaire that measured variables including family interaction, parental involvement in children's activities, parental support, joint decision-making, and monitoring of children's behavior. Children's involvement with friends, after-school activities, school achievement, and self-reported externalizing behaviors (problem behaviors, cigarette and alcohol use) were also measured. Self-concept domains (scholastic competence, social acceptance, and behavioral conduct) were assessed with Harter's Self-Perception Profile. The findings indicated that self-conceptions of positive behavioral conduct and higher parental monitoring of children's activities were consistently negatively related to young girls' and boys' behavior problems and substance use. Parental monitoring was higher for girls and for younger children. Lower monitoring was also related to children's pattern of after-school activities that were connected to at-risk behavior. Parental involvement and supervision of children's day-to-day activities seem particularly important in socializing children's behavior at the time of early adolescence.

Parent-Child Synchrony and Adolescent Adjustment

This study of 984 children and their parents examined the correlates of adolescent psychosocial adjustment. Based on previous research, it was expected that parental involvement and limit-setting would predict conduct disorder scores and that variables associated with the parent-child relationship, particularly parent-child synchrony, would be more closely related to emotional adjustment and social relationship measures. Contrary to expectations, parenting practices were unrelated to adolescent conduct disorder, but family harmony and adult-child synchrony predicted all measures of adolescent adjustment. It is concluded that positive parenting is not something adults do to children, but a quality of the parent-child relationship characterized by family harmony and parental empathy. Implications for social work practice with adolescents and their families are identified.

Intimacy and Psychosocial Adjustment in Hong Kong Chinese Adolescents

This study examined the association between 8 aspects of friend intimacy and 3 measures of psychosocial adjustment (self-esteem, deviant behavior, and purpose in life) among Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. The respondents were 289 students between 16 and 19 years of age from a cross-sectional study in Hong Kong. Bivariate correlation and multiple regression analyses revealed (a) friend intimacy was positively associated with self-esteem and purpose in life, and (b) friend intimacy was negatively correlated with deviant behavior. Results indicated that friend intimacy is an important variable that affects some aspects of psychosocial adjustment. Moreover, results of multiple regression analyses indicated that different measures of friend intimacy are related to deviant behavior and purpose in life. Therefore, it is crucial to study the relationship between different aspects of friend intimacy and different aspects of psychosocial adjustment among adolescents.

Differential trajectories of parent–child relationships and psychosocial adjustment in adolescents

In this 2-year longitudinal study, trajectories of family development during the second half of adolescence were examined. Cluster analyses of 208 adolescents' reports of family connectedness and individuality yielded three groups: families who were constantly high on connectedness and individuality, families who were high on connectedness and showed an increase in individuality over time and families who were higher on individuality than connectedness at every point in time. Adolescents in the latter group had higher levels of aggressiveness and depressive mood than those in the other two types of families. Findings are discussed with reference to theories of family individuation in adolescence.