Community Sample Of Adolescents Research Articles

Putting it into words: Emotion vocabulary, emotion differentiation, and depression among adolescents.

Emotion differentiation (ED; the ability to distinguish discrete internal emotion states) may reflect or benefit from knowledge of linguistic labels. The present study uses natural language processing to examine how emotion vocabulary (EV; diversity of unique emotion terms within active vocabulary) relates to ED and depression in an adolescent sample. We tested two competing preregistered (https://osf.io/4j75w/) models regarding the EV-ED link. In the lexical facilitation hypothesis, we posited that larger EV may inform ED, perhaps resulting in larger EVs being associated with greater ED. In the emotional concision hypothesis, we theorized that ED may reflect narrower emotional experiences that are more succinctly labelled, which could result in larger EV being associated with lower ED. A community sample of adolescents (N = 241, ages 14-17, predominantly White) completed interviews, self-report measures, and ecological momentary assessments as part of a larger study conducted between 2014 and 2016. EV was derived using speech samples from transcribed recordings of life stress interviews. In line with the emotion concision hypothesis, EV and ED were inversely related for negative emotions. Moreover, larger negative EV and lower negative ED were each uniquely associated with depression, casting further doubt on whether diverse negative EVs within spontaneous language are fundamentally adaptive for emotional functioning. Replication in more diverse samples is needed to extend generalizability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Annual Research Review: Psychosis in children and adolescents: key updates from the past 2 decades on psychotic disorders, psychotic experiences, and psychosis risk

Psychosis in children and adolescents has been studied on a spectrum from (common) psychotic experiences to (rare) early‐onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This research review looks at the state‐of‐the‐art for research across the psychosis spectrum, from evidence on psychotic experiences in community and clinical samples of children and adolescents to findings from psychosis risk syndrome research, to evidence on early‐onset psychotic disorders. The review also looks at new opportunities to capture psychosis risk in childhood and adolescence, including opportunities for early intervention, identifies important unanswered questions, and points to future directions for prevention research.

Paranoia, Functioning, and the Moderating Effect of Well‐Being in a Community Sample of Adolescents

ABSTRACTIntroductionParanoid ideation is a relatively common experience in adolescence, yet it has not been well‐explored in relation to psychological well‐being and functioning in general population samples of youth. The current study aimed to investigate the relations between paranoia (operationalized as “persecutory ideation”), well‐being, and two domains of functioning, social (e.g., interpersonal relationships) and role (e.g., school and home responsibilities), in adolescence.MethodsThis nonclinical sample of adolescents (n = 462, aged 14–17 years, 50% male, 50% female) was recruited from the United Kingdom and the United States via an online survey in 2022.ResultsCorrelations indicated significant associations between persecutory ideation, in the negative direction, and well‐being, in the positive direction, with both social and role functioning. With respect to social, but not role, functioning, these associations remained significant in linear regression analyses controlling for the effects of depression, past‐year bullying/victimization, and past‐year adverse life events. A subsequent analysis indicated that the association between persecutory ideation and social functioning was moderated by well‐being. Persecutory ideation was significantly associated with social functioning at the lowest level of well‐being (1 SD below the mean), but not at moderate (mean) or high (1 SD above the mean) levels of well‐being.ConclusionsResults suggest that among adolescents, persecutory ideation is negatively associated with functioning. Furthermore, novel findings suggest that well‐being may buffer the association between persecutory ideation and social functioning. Therapeutic interventions targeting well‐being may be helpful for youth experiencing paranoia, especially with respect to maintaining relationships and social connectedness.

Sociocultural attitudes towards appearance questionnaire-4-revised (SATAQ-4R): validation in a community sample of Norwegian adolescents

BackgroundNegative body image and disordered eating are common among adolescents and young adults. The Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4-Revised (SATAQ-4R) captures the internalization of societal appearance ideals and perceived pressures from others but has not been validated in a Norwegian adolescent population.MethodsThe current study explored the factor structure of SATAQ-4R in a sample of adolescent Norwegian males and females (n = 1558, mean age 17.04 ± 0.95) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for a 6- and 7-factor structure in females, and a 7-factor structure in males. Correlations between subscales, internal consistency and reliability, and comparisons with convergent measures (disordered eating, body mass index, negative influence of social media) were explored.ResultsThe CFA supported a 7-factor structure of the SATAQ-4R for both males and females. Internal consistency and reliability were acceptable. SATAQ-4R subscales largely correlated with disordered eating and additional convergent measures.ConclusionsResults confirm the structure and reliability of the SATAQ-4R in a Norwegian adolescent population. The subscales showed good convergent validity, and high scores on internalization and societal pressures were related to higher levels of disordered eating and negative social media influence. The Norwegian version of the SATAQ-4R thus demonstrates good psychometric properties in adolescent males and females, and is well suited to capture internalization and sociocultural pressures that particularly affect adolescents. Results highlight the need to continue working towards reducing adverse internalization and improving body image among adolescents.

Development of the two-factor modified Kids Eating Disorder Survey (M-KEDS): a validation study with hispanic adolescents

BackgroundDisordered eating behaviors and body dissatisfaction are highly prevalent among adolescents and linked to negative health outcomes. While Hispanic adolescents appear to be at high risk of disordered eating and body dissatisfaction, validated tools for assessment of these health concerns among this population are lacking.MethodsThis study used Confirmatory Factor Analysis to establish factorial validity for the Kids Eating Disorder Survey (KEDS) among a community sample of Hispanic adolescents. Internal consistency was measured by the Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20).ResultsParticipants (N = 690) were Hispanic (100%) and female (53%), with a mean age of 12 years. After testing the psychometric properties of KEDS and implementing modifications, the resulting two-factor KEDS model (M-KEDS) showed acceptable fit (TLI = 0.98, CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.06) for the Weight Dissatisfaction (renamed to Negative Weight Attitudes) and Purging/Restriction (renamed to Extreme Weight Control Behaviors) sub-scales and good internal consistency (KR-20 = 0.77).ConclusionM-KEDS is a factorial valid instrument for assessing Extreme Weight Control Behaviors and Negative Weight Attitudes among Hispanic adolescents. Hispanics are among the fastest-growing racial/ethnic groups in the United States, warranting further research on negative weight attitudes and extreme weight control behaviors in this population.

Supplemental Material for Assessing Drivers of Eating Behavior in a Community Sample of Adolescents: Implications for Preventive Interventions

Supplemental Material for Assessing Drivers of Eating Behavior in a Community Sample of Adolescents: Implications for Preventive Interventions

Neurocognitive functioning during adolescence: Spanish validation of the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery.

The Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery - Child Version (PennCNB-cv) is presented as a brief tool that allows comprehensive and automated assessment of 5 factors (via 14 performance tasks): Executive Control, Episodic Memory, Complex Cognition, Social Cognition, and Sensorimotor Speed. The literature links (dys)functions in these areas with psycho(patho)logical constructs, but evidence is scarce among Spanish-speaking youth. Therefore, this study aims to validate the PennCNB-cv in a community sample of Spanish adolescents. After a process of (back)translation and adaptation by bilingual researchers, the PennCNB-cv was administered in 34 schools. The sample included1506 students, ages 14-19, 44.28% were male. Preliminary treatment of the data included descriptive and correlational statistics. To provide evidence of structural validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. Results from the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis showed a four-factor model (Complex Cognition, Executive Control, Episodic Memory, and Social Cognition) as the most appropriate.These findings provide compelling evidence in favor of the a priori theory that underpinned the development​ of the CNB. The study of the psychometric properties showed that the Spanish version of the PennCNB-cv, seems to be an adequate tool for assessing neurocognitive functioning during adolescence.

Game Genres, Behavioural Difficulties and Internet Gaming Disorder among a Sample of Egyptian Adolescents

Abstract Background Decades of research shows a rise in the number of young people playing videogames, with the content of violent video games becoming increasingly realistic, interactive and unequivocal in depicting violent activity. The combination of these two factors: growing numbers of players in addition to progressively violent games appears to have important consequences. Aim of the Work Measure the Rate of Internet Gaming Disorder among a community sample of Egyptian adolescents. To Assess the most frequently played type of Game genres. Finding out the association between different game genres and behavioural dysregulation. Finding out the association between different game genres and sociodemographic correlates. Assess and Measure the association of Violent Video Game Use and Internet Gaming disorder with psychological correlates. Patients and Methods This study is a cross-sectional observational study. Study population A sample of Egyptian Adolescents aged 14-17 males and females randomly selected from study sites. relatives of patients in outpatient clinics. Relatives of fellow doctors and nursing staff. study started from September 2022 till October 2023. Results The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess the psychological well-being of children and adolescents, grouped into five subscales: Emotional difficulties, conduct symptoms, Hyperactivity, Peer Relationship problems, Prosocial Behaviour, and an Impact Supplement that assesses chronicity, distress, social impairment, and burden to others. The Rate of game addiction among the studied sample was 4%. Significant difference was found in game addiction scores between violent and nonviolent gamers. Our study results showed that violent games were more frequently played than nonviolent ones (64.5%) played violent games whereas (35.5%) played nonviolent games, with a higher preference of violent games among males. Conduct symptoms, and prosocial behaviour were more affected in subjects who played violent games than those who played nonviolent games. Conclusion The observed correlation between exposure to violent games and an increased likelihood of developing game addiction, prolonged gaming sessions, conduct symptoms, and diminished prosocial behavior highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to understanding and managing video game-related difficulties.

Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Nightmares Distress Questionnaire (NDQ-AV) in a community sample of adolescents

BackgroundThe Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ), known and commonly used for its adequate psychometric properties, is the most widely used instrument for the measurement of nightmare distress. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of a newly translated Arabic version of the Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ-AV).MethodsA total of 546 Lebanese adolescents was recruited for this study and completed the NDQ-AV, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the eight-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-8).ResultsThe results of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported both a one-factor model and a two-factor model of the NDQ-AV, with the latter consisting of seven items within both factors. The first factor was referred to as the “general nightmare distress and coping” while the second was named “nightmare impact and perception”. The reliability of the scale was excellent (α = 0.930 and ω = 0.915). Moreover, measurement invariance was shown across gender, demonstrating that this measure performs consistently for both men and women. Additionally, the NDQ-AV scores exhibited excellent reliability alongside factorial and concurrent validity.ConclusionIn conclusion, these results support the psychometric validity of the Arabic version of the NDQ. The availability of the NDQ-AV is expected to facilitate the understanding of nightmare distress within the Lebanese context.

Low neurocognitive performance and problematic contexts: interaction influences in predicting adolescent externalizing behaviors within a community sample

ABSTRACT Research has identified neurocognitive and contextual risk factors of externalizing behaviors. However, fewer studies have examined the interaction among neurocognitive and other risk factors in predicting externalizing behaviors. The goal of the current study was to examine the relation between neurocognitive and contextual factors in predicting externalizing behaviors in a community sample of adolescents. Participants were 84 adolescents, aged 11–17 (M = 13.39, SD = 1.82), recruited as part of a larger study. Separate moderated multiple regression models were utilized in which neurocognitive variables (intellectual functioning, short-term memory/attention, disinhibition) were added as predictors and contextual variables (family dysfunction and parental depression, anxiety, and stress) were added as moderators in step 1, and their interaction was added in step 2. Externalizing behaviors served as criterion variables (hyperactivity/impulsivity and oppositional defiant disorder symptom severity, reactive and proactive aggression). Overall, results suggest that higher levels of problematic contextual factors exacerbate the significant negative associations among neurocognitive functioning and externalizing behaviors. Importantly, this pattern was shown across neurocognitive domains and contextual factors. Findings suggest that contextual factors should be targeted for the treatment or prevention of youth externalizing behaviors, particularly for adolescents with neurocognitive vulnerabilities.

Social Media Use and Internalizing Symptoms in Clinical and Community Adolescent Samples

In response to widespread concerns about social media's influence on adolescent mental health, most research has studied adolescents from the general population, overlooking clinical groups. To synthesize, quantify, and compare evidence on the association between social media use and internalizing symptoms in adolescent clinical and community samples. Peer-reviewed publications from MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Scopus (initially reviewed in May 2022 and updated in October 2023) and preprints from Europe PubMed Central (February 2023) published in English between 2007 and 2023. Two blinded reviewers initially identified 14 211 cross-sectional and longitudinal studies quantifying the association between social media use and internalizing symptoms, excluding experimental studies and randomized clinical trials. PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines were followed, pooling data using a random-effects model and robust variance estimation. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Quality of Survey Studies in Psychology Checklist. Articles were included if they reported at least 1 quantitative measure of social media use (time spent, active vs passive use, activity, content, user perception, and other) and internalizing symptoms (anxiety, depression, or both). The 143 studies reviewed included 1 094 890 adolescents and 886 effect sizes, 11% of which examined clinical samples. In these samples, a positive and significant meta-correlation was found between social media use and internalizing symptoms, both for time spent (n = 2893; r, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.15; P = .03; I2, 57.83) and user engagement (n = 859; r, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.15; P = .002; I2, 82.67). These associations mirrored those in community samples. The findings in this study highlight a lack of research on clinical populations, a critical gap considering public concerns about the increase in adolescent mental health symptoms at clinical levels. This paucity of evidence not only restricts the generalizability of existing research but also hinders our ability to evaluate and compare the link between social media use and mental health in clinical vs nonclinical populations.

Exploring the interplay of weight-based teasing and sociodemographic factors in adolescent weight bias internalization.

Research has highlighted the potential adverse effects of weight bias internalization (WBI) on adolescents, but there has been little examination of WBI and sources of weight teasing (family, peers, or both) or across racial/ethnic diversity of adolescents. We aimed to examine the relationship between WBI and sources of weight teasing across sociodemographic characteristics and weight status in a diverse community sample of adolescents. Data were collected from a U.S. sample of 1859 adolescents aged 10-17 years (59% female; 43% White, 27% Black or African American, and 25% Latino). An online questionnaire was used to assess participants' experiences of weight teasing from family members, peers, or both, and their weight status, weight-related goals, WBI, and sociodemographic characteristics. Adolescents experiencing weight teasing from both family and peers reported the highest levels of WBI, while those reporting no teasing exhibited the lowest levels. These patterns were observed across sex, race/ethnicity, weight status, and weight goals, and persisted after controlling for depressive symptoms. Notably, family influences played a salient role, with adolescents reporting higher WBI if teased by family only compared to teasing from peers only. Sex and racial differences were also observed in adolescents' experiences with weight-based teasing. Our study reveals associations between adolescent weight-based teasing, WBI, and sociodemographic factors. Weight-based teasing, whether from family and peers or from family only, was associated with increased WBI. Interventions targeting weight stigma in youth should not be limited to peer-focused efforts, but should also emphasize supportive family communication.

Potential Mechanism Linking Peer Relationships and Adolescent Prosocial Behavior: Mediation of Cognitive Empathy and Moderations of OXTR and DRD2.

Peers are important socializers of adolescent prosocial behavior. Still, the proximal cognitive and emotional process underlying this link and the sources of individual differences in sensitivity to peer influence have yet to be explored. Utilizing the gene-gene-environment (G × G × E) approach and multi-informant measurement, this study investigated how peer relationships operate to influence adolescent prosocial behavior by examining the mediating role of cognitive and emotional empathy, and the moderating role of the OXTR and DRD2 genes. The study utilized longitudinal data from a community sample of Chinese adolescents (N = 1080, Mage = 13.32 years at T1). Results showed that cognitive empathy rather than emotional empathy mediated the link between peer acceptance/rejection and prosocial behavior. Furthermore, the association among peer acceptance, cognitive empathy, and prosocial behavior was moderated by OXTR and DRD2. Specifically, adolescents with the combinations of AA/AA or G/G genotypes of OXTR/DRD2 benefited more from peer acceptance compared to their counterparts carrying other combined genotypes. The findings highlight cognitive empathy as a proximal process linking peer interaction to prosocial behavior and lend support to the interaction between oxytocinergic and dopaminergic systems on environmental sensitivity.

Non-suicidal self-injury motivation scale in a community sample of adolescents: a methodological study

BackgroundThe prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury among South Korean adolescents has increased significantly, requiring academic attention. This methodological study aims to develop a non-suicidal self-injury motivation scale for adolescents and evaluate its validity and reliability.MethodsIn the first phase of scale development, the factors constituting self-injury motivation were identified through a literature review and analysis of online counseling data from self-injuring adolescents. In the second phase, 45 initial preliminary items were derived based on the identified factors, and 38 preliminary items were selected through content validation by experts. In the scale validation phase, the survey was conducted using 38 items. Data were collected from adolescents with a history of self-injury, using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) involving 715 participants and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) involving 537 participants. The EFA involved 27.0% male and 73.0% female participants, with a mean age of 16.83 years, and the CFA involved 20.7% male and 79.3% female participants, with a mean age of 16.15 years. The data collected were tested for validity and reliability using SPSS 28.0 and M-plus.ResultsThe EFA yielded four factors and 24 items. The factors were named interpersonal influence, emotion regulation, sensation seeking, and anti-suicide, and the scale had an explanatory power of 55.8%. In the CFA, the fit of the 23-item model after deleting one item with low standardized factor loadings was x2 = 1081.52 (p < .001), CFI = 0.829, RMSEA = 0.084, and SRMR = 0.075, confirming the acceptability of the self-injury motivation scale for adolescents. The scale evaluation results for convergent validity and discriminant validity met the criteria. The reliability test results showed that the overall reliability (Cronbach’s α) was 0.88, and the reliability (Cronbach’s α) of each factor was 0.89 for interpersonal influence, 0.83 for emotion regulation, 0.63 for sensation seeking, and 0.80 for anti-suicide, satisfying internal consistency.ConclusionIn this study, the self-injury motivation scale for adolescents in the community comprised four factors and 23 items. The scale can be used to examine self-injury motivation among adolescents in the community and to develop self-injury prevention intervention programs.

Symptom Checklist-90-Revised: Factor structure and relevance as a measure for the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology model

The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) is a recently proposed dimensional model of psychopathology that aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the organization of mental disorders. The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) is a widely used self-report questionnaire that assesses nine broad dimensions of psychopathologies. The current study reexamined the optimum factor structure of the SCL-90-R (first aim), and its usefulness for the assessment of psychological dimensions from a HiTOP perspective (second aim). These were examined in a community sample of adolescents from Cyprus. A total of 839 adolescents (males = 352, females = 485; no response = 2) with ages ranging from 14 to 18 years [mean (SD) = 15.52 years (0.64 years)] completed the SCL-90-R and the Fünf-Faktoren-Fragebogen für Kinder (FFFK), a personality measure of the Five-Factor Model of personality. Relevant to the first aim, the findings showed the most support for an exploratory structural equal model, with the nine theorized SCL-90-R factors/dimensions. Relevant to the second aim, the SCL-90 dimensions of somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, and phobic anxiety were associated with the five factors in the FFFK as theoretically predicated by the HiTOP model. The SCL-90-R dimensions for paranoid ideation and psychoticism did not. The findings indicated reasonable support for the theorized nine-factor SCL-90 model; and the use of the SCL-90-R dimension scales of somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, and phobic anxiety for measuring the dimensions with similar names in the HiTOP model.

Joint trajectories of bullying victimization and sexual harassment victimization as predictors of adolescent alcohol use.

The present study examined the independent and joint effects of bullying victimization and sexual harassment victimization on adolescent alcohol use over time within a community sample of adolescents. Adolescents aged 13-15 years old at baseline (N = 800, Mage = 14.42, SD = 0.83; 57.5% female) recruited from Western New York State made five online survey reports of peer victimization and alcohol use over a 2-year period. Latent class growth analysis was used to identify trajectory classes of victimization from bullying and sexual harassment over time, and regression modeling was used to examine the associations with later alcohol use. Three developmental courses were identified for bullying victimization (moderate/decreasing, high/decreasing, never or low) and for sexual harassment victimization (moderate/decreasing, moderate/increasing, never or low). Adolescents in the moderate/decreasing group of bullying victimization subsequently consumed more alcoholic drinks when they drank. Belonging to the moderate/increasing group of sexual harassment was associated with increased later alcohol intoxication and number of drinks. Bullying victimization and sexual harassment victimization were concurrently correlated over time. Adolescents who followed the joint trajectory group of moderately decreasing bullying and increasing sexual harassment were more likely to report increased later alcohol intoxication and number of drinks. Moderate levels of bullying victimization along with increasing sexual harassment victimization are associated prospectively with greater alcohol use in adolescence. Findings highlight the importance of considering the cumulative, joint effects of multiple types of peer victimization on adolescent health outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Understanding eating disorder symptoms in adolescents: testing a cognitive-behavioural model of eating disorders in a community sample

ABSTRACT Clinical perfectionism, self-esteem, mood intolerance, and interpersonal difficulties are associated with eating disorder symptoms in clinical samples. The aim of the current study was to test a model including clinical perfectionism, self-esteem, mood intolerance, and interpersonal difficulties to understand eating disorder symptoms in an adolescent community sample. Adolescents (N = 446, M age = 16.25 years, SD = 1.64; 74.2% female) completed measures of clinical perfectionism, self-esteem, mood intolerance, interpersonal difficulties, and eating disorder symptoms. Path analysis indicated clinical perfectionism, self-esteem, mood intolerance, and interpersonal difficulties were all directly associated with symptoms of eating disorders, and that clinical perfectionism was indirectly associated with eating disorders through self-esteem, mood intolerance, and interpersonal difficulties. The results indicate the cognitive-behavioural model of eating disorders can be applied to adolescents in the community with symptoms of eating disorders. Directional causality between constructs should be established to understand whether increased clinical perfectionism, and reduced self-esteem, mood intolerance, and interpersonal difficulties are vulnerabilities to the development and maintenance of eating disorders.

‘Interesting’ or ‘boring’: Modifying the implicit association task to measure implicit fire interest in an adolescent community sample

The efficacy of explicit measures in assessing fire interest is often compromised by social desirability biases, presenting a challenge for early intervention programs aimed at preventing firesetting behaviour. The current study aimed to validate a novel fire interest Implicit Association Task (IAT), as a more reliable measure of implicit fire interest in adolescents. An Australian community adolescent sample of 85 participants, aged 10-17 (M=13.65, SD=1.81), completed a series of questionnaires, and the novel fire interest IAT. Based on self-reports, participants were classified as firelighters (n=52) or non-firelighters (n=33). IAT outcomes revealed an inclination towards associating "fire" with "interesting." Notably, firelighters, compared to non-firelighters, performed significantly quicker during hypothesis-consistent trials of the IAT where fire-images were paired with interesting-words. Moreover, a weak correlation emerged between the speed of responses in these hypothesis-consistent IAT trials and self-reported fire interest. This investigation is one of the few that examined the efficacy of implicit measures of fire interest and is the first to do so using a modified IAT. With continued refinement, the fire interest IAT could be successfully used to assist with early intervention programs aimed at preventing child firesetting behaviour. PsychINFO Code: 3230.

Adolescent social learning within supportive friendships: Self-disclosure and relationship quality from adolescence to adulthood.

This study examines links between self-disclosure and relationship quality with close friends from adolescence to adulthood. A diverse community sample of adolescents (N = 184) participated in survey and observational measures annually from ages 13 through 29, along with their close friends and romantic partners. Random intercept cross-lagged panel modeling (RICLPM) was used to parse markers of within-individual change from age 13 to 18. Long-term longitudinal path models also investigated cascading associations among self-disclosure and relationship quality, on aggregate, from adolescence to adulthood. Adolescents who reported a higher-quality friendship in a given year demonstrated greater-than-expected increases in self-disclosure the following year, and an adolescent demonstrated high self-disclosure one year reported greater-than-expected increases in friendship quality the following year. Higher mean self-disclosure in adolescence predicted higher mean self-disclosure in adulthood. Results are interpreted as identifying high-quality adolescent friendships as key contexts for developing intimacy-building capacities (i.e. self-disclosure), which sets the stage for satisfying close relationships in adulthood.

Factor Structure of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale among Early Adolescents: Results from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study

IntroductionEmotion regulation (ER) deficits in early adolescence are associated with subsequent negative health consequences, including anxiety and depression. Yet, limited work has evaluated the factor structure of measures of ER deficits in early adolescents, leaving a methodological gap for at-risk youths.MethodThis study examined the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) factor structure in early adolescents (N = 2300) recruited from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. We randomly split the sample into two sub-samples (n = 1150 each) and implemented an a-priori three-pronged approach: (1) A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) assessed the fit of the six-factor DERS in Sample 1; (2) An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) identified an alternative factor structure in Sample 1; and (3) A second CFA assessed the new model in Sample 2. A bi-factor model was also used to assess the global structure of the DERS total and subscales.ResultsThe original six-factor model yielded poor-to-adequate fit. EFA results supported an alternative five-factor model with different item mappings and ten omitted items. CFA results supported the five-factor solution with good fit. The bi-factor model, estimating a general factor with the five subscales, also demonstrated good fit.DiscussionA five-factor structure of the DERS appears supported in a large community sample of early adolescents. Items from the former Awareness and Clarity subscales were combined into a single factor. Nearly all items from the former Strategies subscale were omitted, suggesting there may be developmental considerations rendering those items less relevant.