Community Sample Of Adults Research Articles

Sexuality myth endorsement is linked with poorer sexual and relational outcomes across demographic groups in a large and diverse sample

ABSTRACT Due to differences in access to sexual information, some people may be more likely to endorse sexuality myths, which could be linked to poorer sexual and relational outcomes. The goals of this study were to: 1) investigate predictors of sexuality myth endorsement; 2) examine links between endorsing myths and sexual and relational outcomes; and 3) assess whether group membership strengthened associations between myth endorsement and sexual and relational outcomes. A large and diverse sample of undergraduate students (N = 1,077) and community adults (N = 3,359) completed an online survey assessing their demographics, sexuality myth endorsement, and sexual and relational outcomes. Being assigned male at birth, identifying as cisgender, identifying as heterosexual, being younger, holding more conservative political views, being more religious, living in an urban locality during childhood, and not receiving sex education predicted greater sexuality myth endorsement. Greater sexuality myth endorsement predicted lower sexual satisfaction, lower sexual function (among people with vulvas), higher sexual distress, and lower relationship satisfaction. Generally, the strength of associations between myth endorsement and sexual and relational outcomes did not differ across demographic factors. Overall, findings provide insight into groups more likely to endorse sexuality myths, who thus may be at risk of poorer sexual and relational outcomes.

Urban Environmental Threat Moderates the Relationship Between Depression and Insulin Resistance Among Latinxs With Type 2 Diabetes.

As the largest minoritised ethnic group in the United States, Latinxs face a greater risk for type 2 diabetes and depression. The aim of the present study was to explore whether the relationship between depressive symptoms and insulin resistance among Latinxs with type 2 diabetes was moderated by toxic stressors arising from urban environmental threat (i.e., uncomfortable or unsafe aspects of city life). A community sample of Latinx adults with type 2 diabetes (n=121) was recruited from Hartford, Connecticut. Participants self-reported depressive symptoms and exposure to urban environmental threat using items from the Patient Health Questionnaire and Urban Hassles Index, respectively. Insulin and glucose levels assessed via fasting blood draw were used to calculate insulin resistance using the HOMA-IR formula. After controlling for demographic, financial and health-related factors, results from a regression analysis revealed a significant interaction between depressive symptoms and urban environmental threat; more severe symptoms of depression predicted greater insulin resistance, but only amongst those with frequent exposure to urban environmental threats. Findings from the current study suggest that improving urban living conditions may offer an alternate avenue for attenuating the deleterious impacts of depression on type 2 diabetes progression in Latinxs.

Psychometric properties of the Specific Phobia Dimensional Scale in an Australian adult community sample

ABSTRACT Objective The Specific Phobia Dimensional Scale (SP-D) is a 10-item scale developed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (Fifth Edition) Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum, Posttraumatic and Dissociative Disorder work group to supplement current categorical approaches to Specific Phobia (SP) assessment. The aim of the current study was to examine the psychometric properties of the SP-D in an Australian community sample. Method A total of 285 participants (74% female) aged 18–76 years (M = 28.15; SD = 12.01) completed the study. A smaller subsample (n = 18) completed the measures of interest a second time to examine test–retest reliability. Results Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a unidimensional factor structure of the SP-D (root mean square error of approximation [RMSE] = 0.13; comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.94). Internal consistency and test–retest reliability was high (a = 0.95 and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient [ICC] = 0.95, respectively). The measure demonstrated adequate convergent validity with the Specific Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ; r s = 0.54), and unsatisfactory divergent validity with the Fear Questionnaire – Agoraphobia subscale (FQ-Ag; r s = 0.45). Conclusions Overall, the findings suggest that the SP-D can reliably and briefly measure SP symptoms within an Australian community sample. Further research is required to investigate divergent validity. Replication of the test–retest results are required due to small sample size. Overall, this study is limited in its female-biased convenience sample and recruitment methodologies.

Exploring the effect of gender and culture on the relationship between self-silencing and depressive symptoms

ABSTRACT Objective The self-silencing theory explains how cultural norms can expect women to maintain their relationships by silencing their self, which can restrict voice and power in relationships, thereby potentially leading to depression. However, the literature regarding gender differences in self-silencing is inconsistent. In this study, we aimed to investigate gender and cultural differences in self-silencing in an adult community sample. Method Iranians residing in Australia (men n = 60, women n = 58) and European Australians (men n = 53, women n = 59) completed measures of self-silencing, depression and self-reported gender. Results There were no cultural or gender differences in self-silencing. Aspects of self-silencing (i.e. greater levels of divided self, r = .33, p < .001, and greater levels of externalised self-perception, r = .40, p < .001) were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Gender moderated the association between care as a self-sacrifice and depressive symptoms, B = .31, SE= .14, 95%CI [.04−,58], t = 2.24, p = .026. Follow-up analyses showed that for women, higher levels of care as self-sacrifice were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, B = 0.17, SE = 0.09, t = 1.88, p = .06, 95% CI [<−.001,0.35]. However, for men, higher levels of care as self-sacrifice were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms, B = −0.13, SE = 0.10, t = 1.32, p = .18, 95% CI [−0.34, 0.67]. Cultural group did not moderate any of the associations. Conclusions This cross-cultural study offers further insights regarding self-silencing in the context of depressive symptoms and provides initial insights for clinical practice.

Attenuated melanopsin-mediated post-illumination pupillary response (PIPR) is associated with reduced actigraphic amplitude and mesor in older adults.

This study aimed to explore the relationship between post-illumination pupillary response (PIPR) with sleep and circadian measures in a community sample of healthy older adults. Eligible participants were invited to complete a one-week sleep diary, actigraphy and provide an overnight urine sample to measure urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s). PIPR was defined as the as the pupil constriction at 6s post-stimulus (PIPR-6s), and ii) for 30s beginning 10s after stimulus (PIPR-30s) normalized as a percentage to the baseline pupil diameter, after 1s of blue and 1s of red-light stimulus, respectively. The Net-PIPRs were reported by subtracting the PIPR to red stimulus from the PIPR to blue stimulus. The relationship between PIPR metrics to aMT6s and actigraphic rest-activity rhythm parameters was examined by generalized linear models. A total of 48 participants were recruited (Mean age: 62.6 ± 7.1 years, Male: 44%). Both Net PIPR-6s and Net PIPR-30s were significantly associated with actigraphic rest-activity amplitude (B=0.03, p=0.001 and B=0.03, p=0.01, respectively), and actigraphic rest-activity mesor (B=0.02, p=0.001 and B=0.03, p=0.004, respectively). Additionally, the Net PIPR-30s were positively associated with overnight aMT6s level (B=0.04, p=0.03), and negatively associated with actigraphic rest-activity acrophase (B=-0.01, p=0.004) in the fully adjusted models. Attenuated PIPR is associated with a reduced actigraphic amplitude and mesor. The reduced retinal light responsivity may be a potential pathway contributing to impaired photic input to the circadian clock and resulted in the age-related circadian changes in older adults.

The Interrelationship between Stress, Sugar Consumption and Depression.

Depression is a leading cause of disability in the United States. Previous research has shown that added sugar consumption and stress are both risk factors for depression. Despite evidence that stress predicts added sugar consumption, and both affect the HPA axis, no research has explored how stress, added sugar consumption and depression are related. In this study, we investigated the possible effects of total added sugar and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption on depression, as well as their potential interactions with chronic stress. Measures of sugar consumption, chronic stress and depression were taken in an adult community sample at two time points. We hypothesized that high sugar consumption would predict more depression even after stress was statistically adjusted for, but that stress would moderate the relationship between added sugar consumption and depressive symptoms, amplifying the effect. We found that both total sugar consumption and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption at baseline predicted depressive symptoms one month later. However, only sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was a significant predictor of depression after controlling for stress, possibly because stress is related to diet quality. Stress did not moderate the relationship between added sugar consumption and depressive symptoms. These results suggest that stress should be included in future research on sugar and depression.

The Usefulness of the Regression-Based Normed SKT Short Cognitive Performance Test in Detecting Cognitive Impairment in a Community Sample.

Background: The SKT is a short cognitive performance test designed to assess impairments in memory and cognitive abilities such as attention and speed of information processing. In 2019, new regression-based norms for the English version of the SKT were calculated. This study has two aims: to establish valid cut-offs for distinguishing between no cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia (1) and to cross-validate the new norms for detecting MCI and dementia in a community sample of older adults with clinical diagnoses (2). Methods: The validation sample included 143 older adults (mean age = 87.7, SD = 3.55) from the Sydney Memory and Aging Study (MAS Study). Participants were classified as having normal cognition, MCI, or dementia solely based on a consensus diagnosis; in addition, three tests (SKT, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III)) to measure cognitive impairment were applied. Sensitivity and specificity for all three tests, as well as bivariate correlations, were calculated. Results: The sensitivity of the SKT for the differentiation of cognitive impairment (MCI or dementia) from normal cognition was 80.6%. The convergence between the SKT and the consensus diagnoses was 70.3% for all three diagnostic groups. All correlations between the three tests and the consensus diagnosis were significant (p < 0.01). Conclusions: In sum, it can be stated that the SKT is a valid tool for detecting early stages of cognitive impairment, performing very well in discriminating between no cognitive impairment and cognitive impairment (MCI or dementia).

How I think about how I feel: Personal beliefs about emotion prospectively predict suicide-related outcomes and depression symptoms

One transdiagnostic process that may be critical to depression and suicidal ideation is beliefs about the nature of one's own emotions, both concurrently and longitudinally. In a sample of community adults (n = 143), we assessed personal emotion beliefs about the degree to which one's own emotions are malleable, unique, and last a long time. There were significant associations between stronger views that one's own emotions were fixed, unique to you, and had a longer duration and higher clinical symptom severity, including higher levels of current suicidal ideation, and less adaptive emotion regulation. Mediation analyses using longitudinal data clarified that the differential engagement in emotion regulation, specifically rumination, represented the link tying specific personal emotion beliefs to clinical symptoms and that, in certain cases, the opposite pathway is also significant – differences in clinical symptoms mediated the relationship between specific personal emotion beliefs and emotion regulation (rumination) longitudinally. Additionally, personal emotion beliefs varied based on depression status, as determined using a semi-structured clinical interview. For example, individuals meeting current criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) held stronger views that their emotions were unique to them compared to individuals with remitted MDD or no history of MDD. The current study's findings highlight the important role of specific personal emotion beliefs in clinical symptoms concurrently and longitudinally and mechanisms in these relationships. These results could guide future research on interventions to promote more adaptive beliefs about emotion to improve clinical outcomes.

Understanding the Emergence of Comorbidity between Problematic Online Gaming and Gambling: A Network Analysis Approach.

Problematic online gaming and gambling tend to co-occur. The exact mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and the potential effects of gender differences remain unknown. This study aimed to identify the early clustering patterns of problematic online gaming and gambling in a community sample of young adults without a lifetime history of psychiatric treatment. Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed using partial correlations and Bayesian networks. Altogether, 1441 individuals (aged 18-40 years, 51.4% females) participated in the survey. Both problematic online behaviors were weakly interrelated, suggesting that they serve as distinct constructs. Men's networks appeared to be more complex and had significantly higher global connectivity. Moreover, men and women differed with respect to the specific nodes that bridged both constructs. In men, the bridge nodes were "being criticized because of betting or being told about gambling problems", "loss of previous interests due to gaming", "deceiving other people because of gaming", and "health consequences of gambling". Among women, the bridge nodes were "feeling guilty because of gambling", "loss of previous interests because of gaming", "social consequences of gaming", and "continued gaming problems with other people". In men, the strongest edge was found between "borrowing money/selling anything to gamble" and "financial problems because of gambling", while in women, the strongest edge appeared between "betting more than afforded to be lost" and "tolerance symptoms of gambling". The findings indicate that problematic online gaming and gambling tend to emerge in different ways among men and women. Therapeutic interventions should be planned considering gender differences.

The psychometric properties of the Swahili version of the Primary Care Post Traumatic Stress Disorder screen for DSM-5 among adults in Kenya.

The psychometric properties of the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) are undocumented in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) at large. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Swahili version of the tool, S-PC-PTSD-5, in a community sample of adults 18 years and older drawn from Nairobi, Mombasa and Kwale counties in Kenya. Analysis of cross-sectional data from 1431 adults from the community was conducted, examining the reliability, factorial structure, measurement invariance, and convergent and divergent validity of the interviewer-administered S-PC-PTSD-5. Out of 1431 adults who completed the S-PC-PTSD-5, 666 (46.5%) reported experiencing at least one traumatic event. Internal consistency of the S-PC-PTSD-5 was good overall, with alpha and omega values above 0.7. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results indicated a one-factor structure of the S-PC-PTSD-5 for the overall sample. Multigroup CFA also demonstrated factorial invariance for sex for the one-factor structure of S-PC-PTSD-5. Scores for S-PC-PTSD-5 significantly correlated (positively) with those of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD7) and depressive symptoms (PHQ9), indicating convergent validity. S-PC-PTSD-5 scores also significantly correlated (negatively) with the WHO-5 wellbeing index, supporting divergent validity. The S-PC-PTSD-5 is a reliable and valid unidimensional measure. It appears to be a valuable screening measure for probable PTSD in both urban and rural community settings in Kenya. Nonetheless, to confidently identify those who may need treatment/additional support, further research on the reliability and validity of S-PC-PTSD-5 is required, especially its diagnostic accuracy at different cutoff scores.

Clinical correlates of irritability, anger, hostility, and aggression in posttraumatic stress disorder.

Although irritability, anger, and aggression are diagnostic symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), their clinical significance and associations with psychopathology remain unclear. In a sample of community adults with probable PTSD (n = 151), we measured irritability, physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and hostility with the Brief Irritability Test and the Brief Aggression Questionnaire. Participants' psychopathology, including depression, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), psychotic-like experiences, insomnia, as well as suicidal behaviors were also assessed. Correlation analysis showed that irritability and anger were modestly related to all PTSD dimensions; physical aggression was related to avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood (NACM), and hyperarousal; hostility was related to reexperiencing, NACM, and hyperarousal; while verbal aggression was not significantly related to any PTSD dimensions. After adjustment for trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms, irritability was associated with almost all psychopathology and suicidal behaviors, however, anger, hostility, and aggression were sparsely related to some psychopathology or suicidal behaviors. Particularly, anger was only related to ADHD and insomnia. Latent profile analysis based on PTSD, irritability, anger, hostility, and aggression indicated two discrete subgroups: the high severity group (33.8%) and the low severity group (66.2%), with high severity group reporting higher rates of comorbidity and suicidal behaviors. The findings support irritability, aggression, anger, and hostility as separate constructs; moreover, irritability, anger, and aggression should be independently measured in PTSD. Our findings also suggest the significance of irritability as a separate hallmark of PTSD and the need to incorporate PTSD dimensions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Abstract P140: Social Determinants of Health and Biologic Measures Differ by Hypertension Treatment Status Between Participants in Two Similar Clinical Trials

Background: A disproportionate number of Black adults do not receive hypertension (HTN) treatment. Identifying the social determinants of health (SDoH) and biologic measures related to HTN treatment among Black adults may inform clinical strategies that promote HTN control. Objective: To identify SDoH and physical measures associated with HTN treatment among participants of two community-based trials. We hypothesized that SDoH and biologic measures would be associated with HTN treatment. Methods: GoFresh (NCT05121337) and GoFreshRx (NCT05393232) are two randomized controlled trials with a shared recruitment drive, investigating the effectiveness of home-delivered DASH-patterned groceries on blood pressure among Black adults with untreated and treated HTN, respectively. HTN treatment was self-reported during prescreening. We examined the association of SDoH and biologic measures with HTN treatment, using logistic regression adjusted for age and sex. Results: All participants were Black with mean age 45.8 (SD 16.1) yr and 36.9% on stable HTN treatment. Age, having a primary care physician, higher depressive symptoms, higher body mass index, and higher triglycerides were associated with hypertension treatment, while home ownership and higher high density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with lower odds of HTN treatment ( Table ). Other factors did not significantly differ among participants in the two trials (notably, household income, insurance status, education, and food insecurity). Conclusion: In this community sample of Black adults, multiple SDoH and biologic factors were associated with HTN treatment. Future research should examine whether interventions addressing these factors can improve treatment rates.

The relationship between morningness-eveningness and naturalness bias

ABSTRACT The naturalness bias in which people perceive natural items to be safer, healthier, and better than synthetic alternatives has been found to be associated with numerous individual difference variables (e.g. connectedness to nature and religiosity). However, no research has examined the role of morningness-eveningness in influencing preferences for naturalness. Here, we propose that evening individuals may exhibit a weaker preference for naturalness compared to morning individuals due to their greater exposure to artificial lighting, technology, and stimuli. To systematically test our theoretical perspective, we conducted three complementary and high-powered studies. In an online survey (Study 1), student participants with a stronger evening orientation displayed a diminished preference for natural drugs compared to those with a morning orientation. Using a sample of community adults, Study 2 replicated the findings of Study 1 in a real-world, behavioral context. Study 3 examined the relationship between morningness-eveningness and preference for naturalness within the domain of beverages. The results revealed that individuals with an evening-orientation had decreased odds of selecting natural water without minerals. Taken together, the findings suggest that an individual’s diurnal preference toward eveningness may have implications for their bias toward and perception of naturalness across various domains.

Opioid Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale (OPBSS): Development and psychometric evaluation.

Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are behaviors that individuals use to mitigate harm related to risky behaviors. Though measures have been validated to assess alcohol- and cannabis-specific PBS use, an opioid-specific PBS measure has yet to be validated. The present study developed and validated a tool to assess the extent of PBS employed by individuals who use licit and/or illicit opioids. We recruited a community sample of adults who endorsed past-month opioid use (n = 345) via online platforms to complete a baseline survey, and 277 participants (80.2%) also completed the 1-month follow-up survey. From PBS measures of other substances, harm reduction strategies found in the literature, and expert feedback, we developed the 60-item Opioid Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale (OPBSS). We removed 14 items based on item and exploratory factor analyses, resulting in 46 retained items. A two-factor solution was supported: strategies focused on managing opioid use (Controlled Opioid Use) and preventing opioid-related harm (Serious Harm Reduction). The OPBSS subscales demonstrated high internal consistencies, fair-to-excellent test-retest reliability, significant positive associations with PBS measures for other substances, and robust associations with risky opioid use and opioid-related negative consequences, both concurrently and prospectively when controlling for other opioid characteristics. The 46-item OPBSS has promising psychometric properties. Importantly, more opioid PBS predicted less risky opioid use and related consequences, suggesting that opioid PBS may be a beneficial opioid prevention effort. However, additional psychometric work is needed to determine which PBS are most suitable for populations with distinct opioid use patterns. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Individual Resilience and Disaster-Specific Adaptation and Resilience Following a Bushfire Event in Regional Queensland

Natural disasters such as bushfires are a test of individual and group resilience, and in extreme cases, threaten the sustainability of communities. Bushfires have long been common in Australia, although anthropogenic climate change has exacerbated their prevalence and severity. The aim of the present study was to assess the individual resilience and disaster-specific adaptation and resilience of community members in the wake of a bushfire event. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, an adult community sample of 165 residents of Noosa Shire in regional Queensland, Australia completed the 25-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC©) and the 43-item Disaster Adaptation and Resilience Scale (DARS). Mean scores for the CD-RISC© indicated significantly greater resilience (p &lt; 0.001) than reported previously for a large Australian community cohort. Similarly, the DARS scores indicated significantly greater adaptation and resilience (p &lt; 0.001) than that of a comparable cohort in the USA. The two oldest groups of residents (66+ years and 51–65 years) reported significantly greater adaptation and resilience than the group of younger residents (≤50 years; p &lt; 0.001). The study findings provide the Noosa Shire community with an objective baseline from which they can assess the efficacy of future resilience-building initiatives and, more broadly, offer a valuable point of reference for future disaster-related research.

Acceptability and Engagement of a Smartphone-Delivered Interpretation Bias Intervention in a Sample of Black and Latinx Adults: Open Trial.

Access to evidence-based interventions is urgently required, especially for individuals of minoritized identities who experience unique barriers to mental health care. Digital mental health interventions have the potential to increase accessibility. Previous pilot studies testing HabitWorks, a smartphone app providing an interpretation bias intervention, have found strong engagement and adherence for HabitWorks; however, previous trials' samples consisted of predominantly non-Hispanic, White individuals. This study conducted an open trial of HabitWorks in a community sample of adults who identified as Black, Hispanic or Latinx, or both. This study aims to test safety, acceptability, and engagement with the HabitWorks app for Black and Latinx adults. Black, Hispanic or Latinx adults (mean age 32.83, SD 11.06 y; 22/31, 71% women) who endorsed symptoms of anxiety or depression were asked to complete interpretation modification exercises via HabitWorks 3 times per week for 1 month. Interpretation bias and anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed at baseline and posttreatment assessments. Participants completed qualitative interviews to assess overall perceptions of HabitWorks. Of the 31 participants that downloaded the app, 27 (87%) used HabitWorks all 4 weeks. On average, participants completed 15.74 (SD 7.43) exercises out of the 12 prescribed, demonstrating high engagement. Acceptability ratings met all a priori benchmarks except for relevancy. Qualitative interviews also demonstrated high acceptability and few negative experiences. Significant improvements were found in interpretation style (t30=2.29; P<.001), with a large effect size (Cohen d=1.53); anxiety symptoms (t30=2.29; P=.03), with a small effect size (Cohen d=0.41); and depression symptoms (t30=3.065; P=.005), with a medium effect size (Cohen d=0.55). This study adds to the literature evaluating digital mental health interventions in Black and Latinx adults. Preliminary results further support a future controlled trial testing the effectiveness of HabitWorks as an intervention.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms as a Function of Arousal and Executive Vigilance: Testing Halperin and Schulz’s Neurodevelopmental Model in a Sample of Community Adults

Halperin and Schulz’s neurodevelopmental model postulates that the onset of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in childhood is due to subcortical alterations, whereas the disorder’s trajectory into adulthood depends on the development of executive functions. Based on a dimensional framework of ADHD, Coll-Martín et al. (2021) found support for the model in an adult community sample assessed on arousal and executive vigilance. The present study is a preregistered (https://osf.io/tkdq7) close replication of Coll-Martín et al. expressly aimed to test the two predictions of the model. A sample of college students (N = 292 valid; 49% women; 18–30 years, M = 21.7) from a Spanish university completed self-reports of ADHD symptoms in childhood (retrospectively) and adulthood and performed the online version of an attentional task (the ANTI-Vea). Our preregistered hypotheses achieved an acceptable statistical power for the effects of interest, even after accounting for random measurement error. Despite this, none of them replicated the findings of the original study: Only the unexpected negative correlation between executive vigilance and symptoms in childhood was significant, thereby not supporting the theoretical predictions. The lack of support for the dissociation pattern hypothesized by the neurodevelopmental model was robust to multiverse and exploratory analyses. At least in terms of vigilance, ADHD symptoms seem to share altered neurocognitive pathways across the lifespan, regardless of their time of onset. This challenges the notion of late-onset ADHD as a condition neuropsychologically distinct from child-onset ADHD. Future studies need to include complementary assessment methods and clinical groups.

Improved Scoring of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale – Revised: An Item Response Theory Analysis

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale – Revised (CESD-R) is a popular self-report screening measure for depression. A 20-item questionnaire with scores ranging from 0 to 4 for each item, the CESD-R can produce total scores ranging from 0 to 80. However, the typical scoring protocol for the CESD-R restricts the range of possible scores to between 0 and 60 to retain the same range and clinical cutoff scores as the original CES-D. Despite the widespread adoption of this scoring approach, the psychometric impact has never been systematically examined. In an undergraduate and community adult sample (n = 869), item response theory analyses indicated that scoring the CESD-R with all 5 response options (CESD-R5opt) provided nearly twice as much information about a person’s latent depression for individuals with high levels of depression than did scoring the CESD-R with 4 response options per item (CESD-R4opt). The CESD-R5opt retained the strong reliability and factor structure of the CESD-R4opt and was more sensitive to individual differences for participants at high levels of depression compared to the CESD-R4opt. Results provide preliminary evidence that researchers and clinicians should score the CESD-R using the full 0-to-80 scale and a clinical cutoff score of 29.

The Revised Sexual Experiences Survey Victimization Version (SES-V): Conceptualization, Modifications, Items and Scoring

ABSTRACT The Sexual Experiences Survey [SES] is considered the gold standard measure of non-consensual sexual experiences. This article introduces a new victimization version [SES-V] developed by a multidisciplinary collaboration, the first revision since 2007. The 2024 SES-V is designed to measure the construct of sexual exploitation since the 14th birthday. Notable revisions are adoption of a freely given permission standard for non-consent, introduction of new tactics and acts, including made to perform or to penetrate another person’s body, tactics-first wording order, and emphasis on gender and sexual orientation inclusivity. The SES-V is modularized to allow whole or partial administration. Modules include Non-contact, Technology-facilitated, Illegal (largely penetrative), and Verbally pressured sexual exploitation. Tables provide item text, multiple scoring approaches, module follow-up, specific incident description and demographics. Future plans include developing a scoring algorithm based on weighting our hypothesized dimensions of sexual exploitation severity: invasiveness, pressure, and norm violation combined with frequency. This article is the first in a special issue on the SES-V. Subsequent articles focus on the taxonomies and literature that informed each module. The issue concludes with two empirical papers demonstrating the feasibility and validity of the SES-V: (1) psychometric comparison with the 2007 SES-SFV; and (2) prevalence data from a census-matched adult community sample.

Examining the proximal relationship between religious coping and depression among trauma-exposed adults

ABSTRACT Depression is a common consequence of sexual victimisation. Although religious coping has been previously studied within the context of sexual victimisation, there is a dearth of research examining the potential reciprocal relationships between religious coping and depression among adults with a history of sexual victimisation at the daily level. The current study addresses this important gap by leveraging an intensive longitudinal design and data analysis to explore bidirectional daily relations between religious coping and depression symptoms in a community sample of adults with a history of sexual victimisation. Participants were 84 individuals with a history of sexual assault who self-identified as religious (M age = 37.43, 67.5% women, 83.1% White). Cross-lagged models showed that prior-day religious coping positively predicted next-day depression symptoms, whereas prior-day depression did not predict next-day religious coping. Findings underscore the potential utility of religious coping in the detection and treatment of depression in this population.