Significant Unique Relationship Research Articles

Cumulative victimization and number of sexual partners among youth involved with child welfare: Externalizing and internalizing problems as mediators

ObjectivesThere is some evidence linking child maltreatment and higher number of sexual partners. However, limited knowledge exists regarding potential mediating mechanisms linking these two variables, particularly related to child protective services (CPS) involved youth. Compared to youth in the general population, CPS-involved youth are at greater risk of having higher numbers of sexual partners. We examined the unique and cumulative effects of child physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and domestic violence exposure on number of sexual partners. We also examined indirect relationships between cumulative victimization and number of sexual partners, testing externalizing and internalizing problems as potential mediators. MethodWe used three waves of longitudinal data from 11 to 17-year-old youth (n = 1042) who participated in the second cohort of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being. Data were analyzed using path analysis with bias-corrected bootstrapped confidence intervals. Child maltreatment data were collected at Wave 1. Data on number of sexual partners were collected from youth during Waves 1 and 3. Study analyses included the highest number of sexual partners reported in either wave. ResultsWe found no statistically significant unique relationship between any single maltreatment type and number of sexual partners. However, cumulative victimization (experiencing two maltreatment types compared to zero maltreatment type) at Wave 1 was significantly associated with more internalizing, B = 0.30, 95% CI [0.01, 0.59], and externalizing problems at Wave 2, B = 0.66, 95% CI [0.37, 0.96]. Additionally, externalizing problems mediated the association between cumulative victimization and number of sexual partners, unstandardized indirect effect = 0.26, 95% CI [0.06, 0.43]. ConclusionsCPS interventions should target high numbers of sexual partners among youth with cumulative victimizations by targeting externalizing problems.

Cognitive control moderates the health benefits of trait self-regulation in young adults

Separate lines of epidemiological research suggest that individuals with high trait self-regulation (e.g. conscientious individuals) and individuals with higher cognitive ability (e.g. executive control/intelligence) each tend to enjoy superior health and well-being outcomes. However, it remains largely unexplored whether these personological and cognitive contributions to physical health are shared, independent, or interdependent. In the current study, we examined associations between trait self-regulation, cognitive control, self-reported physical health, and subjective well-being. A domain-general model revealed little shared variance between trait self-regulation and cognitive control but revealed significant unique relationships between each predictor and physical health. Results of a latent moderation analysis suggested that cognitive control moderated the contribution of self-regulation to health but not subjective well-being. This moderation effect was characterized by a strengthened relationship between trait self-regulation and health with decreases in cognitive control. Together, our results suggest that self-regulation and cognitive control may independently contribute to health outcomes in young adults and that self-regulation may be increasingly important for individuals lower in cognitive control.

Dimensionality of the Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure and Its Relationship to Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory

Abstract. The aims of this study were, first, to reassess the factor structure of the Iowa-Netherlands Social Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM) and, second, to explore the associations of its factors with the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) of personality. Data from 337 respondents were collected via online questionnaire. Structural equation models were used to assess the factor structure of the INCOM and test for relationships with RST traits. The results confirmed previous findings that the INCOM contains two factors: Ability, which relates to the comparison of performance, and Opinion, which relates to the comparison of thoughts and emotions. The two-factor model was found to be superior to the commonly used one-factor solution. The models further revealed significant relationships with RST factors: positive associations between the Ability factor and the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) and Behavioral Approach System (BAS) Reward Reactivity; positive associations between the Opinion factor and BAS Reward Reactivity and Goal-Drive Persistence, and a negative association with BAS Impulsivity. These findings indicate that using the INCOM as a single scale is likely to miss significant unique relationships. Our findings also provide new insight into how individual differences in personality may influence social comparison behavior.

Autistic traits and adult attachment styles

This study examined the relationship between autistic traits and adult attachment styles in a non-clinical sample of 326 university students. Multiple regression analysis was used to predict both attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety from levels of self-reported autistic traits. A significant unique relationship between autistic traits and attachment avoidance was found after controlling for all Big-Five personality traits, BIS/BAS, gender, and current relationship status. Hence, individuals who report more autistic-like behaviours, especially with respect to communication difficulties, are less likely to report sharing high levels of emotional closeness with romantic partners. On the other hand, no unique relationship between autistic traits and attachment anxiety was present.

Anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty as potential risk factors for cyberchondria

BackgroundOnline medical information seeking has become an increasingly common behavior. Despite the benefits of easily accessible medical information on the Internet, researchers have identified a vicious cycle of increased physical health concerns and online medical information seeking known as “cyberchondria”. Despite proposed theoretical models of cyberchondria, there is a dearth of research investigating risk factors for the development of cyberchondria. Two potential risk factors are anxiety sensitivity (AS) and intolerance of uncertainty (IU). MethodsThe current study investigated the relationships among AS, IU, and cyberchondria in a large community sample. Participants (N=526) completed self-report questionnaires via online crowdsourcing. ResultsStructural equation models utilizing latent variables revealed a significant unique positive relationship between AS, as well as the IU Inhibitory lower-order factor, and cyberchondria, controlling for the effects of health anxiety. Additionally, results revealed a significant unique relationship between the IU Inhibitory factor and mistrust of medical professionals, a proposed cyberchondria-relevant construct. LimitationsThe cross-sectional data in the current study do not offer a true test of AS and IU as risk factors. However, establishing these unique relationships is an important step forward in the literature. ConclusionsThe results of the current study suggest the potential importance of both AS and IU in the development of cyberchondria. Future research is needed to establish the temporal precedence of elevated AS and/or IU to determine if they are true risk factors or simply correlates of cyberchondria.

A multiple deficit model of reading disability and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: searching for shared cognitive deficits

This study tests a multiple cognitive deficit model of reading disability (RD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and their comorbidity. A structural equation model (SEM) of multiple cognitive risk factors and symptom outcome variables was constructed. The model included phonological awareness as a unique predictor of RD and response inhibition as a unique predictor of ADHD. Processing speed, naming speed, and verbal working memory were modeled as potential shared cognitive deficits. Model fit indices from the SEM indicated satisfactory fit. Closer inspection of the path weights revealed that processing speed was the only cognitive variable with significant unique relationships to RD and ADHD dimensions, particularly inattention. Moreover, the significant correlation between reading and inattention was reduced to non-significance when processing speed was included in the model, suggesting that processing speed primarily accounted for the phenotypic correlation (or comorbidity) between reading and inattention. This study illustrates the power of a multiple deficit approach to complex developmental disorders and psychopathologies, particularly for exploring comorbidities. The theoretical role of processing speed in the developmental pathways of RD and ADHD and directions for future research are discussed.

Budgetary fairness and governmental program heads' turnover intention

PurposeEmpirical evidence from governmental budgeting and related organizational decision‐making contexts suggests that program heads will be less likely to leave their governmental unit when they feel that governmental budgeting is fair. The purpose of this study is to examine relationships between three forms of fairness in governmental budgeting – distributive fairness, procedural fairness, and interactional fairness – and program heads' intention to leave the governmental unit.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaire data were gathered from 87 US federal government program heads with budget responsibility and analyzed with multiple regression.FindingsInteractional budgetary fairness had a significant and positive unique relationship with intent to leave after controlling for the other two forms of budgetary fairness and three demographic variables. Neither distributive budgetary fairness nor procedural budgetary fairness had a significant unique relationship with intent to leave.Practical implicationsBudgetary decision makers and budget staff in governmental units can reduce program heads' intention to leave the governmental unit by promoting interactional budgetary fairness through steps such as treating the program heads with kindness and respect during budgeting and providing clear and adequate explanations for budgetary decisions.Originality/valueThis study is the first to examine relationships between the three forms of organizational decision‐making fairness and turnover intention in a governmental budgeting context.

Dimensions of transformational leadership: Conceptual and empirical extensions

This study identified aspects of transformational leadership theory that have resulted in a lack of empirical support for the hypothesized factor structure of the model, and very strong relationships among the leadership components. We proposed five more focused subdimensions of transformational leadership including vision, inspirational communication, intellectual stimulation, supportive leadership, and personal recognition. Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the hypothesized factor structure of the measures selected to assess these subdimensions, and also provided support for the discriminant validity of the subdimensions with each other. After controlling for the effects of common method variance, a number of the subdimensions of transformational leadership demonstrated significant unique relationships with a range of outcomes. Results provided initial support for the five subdimensions of transformational leadership that were identified.

Factors Influencing a Manager's Decision to Discipline Employees for Refusal to Work with an HIV/AIDS Infected Coworker

This research investigates the influence of gender, fear of AIDS, and the likelihood that a manager will share AIDS-related health information about an HIV/AIDS infected coworker with subordinates on a manager's decision to discipline an employee for refusing to work with the HIV/AIDS infected coworker. Data was obtained using questionnaires administered to 194 managers employed in service, manufacturing, and government organizations. Both fear of AIDS and sharing AIDS-related health information exhibited a significant unique negative relationship with the decision to discipline. No significant unique relationship was found between gender and the decision to discipline. However, gender was found to moderate the relationship between fear of AIDS and the decision to discipline. There was a significant negative relationship between fear of AIDS and the decision to discipline among male but not among female managers. Study findings, implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Factors influencing employee beliefs that pay is tied to performance

The unique relationship of perceived pay level equity, perceived appraisal accuracy, merit increase satisfaction, trust in supervisor, and trust in top management to employee beliefs that pay is tied to performance was investigated in a sample of 658 managerial, professional, and clerical employees. Pay level equity, merit increase satisfaction, and trust in top management exhibited a significant unique relationship. Post hoc analysis found appraisal accuracy exhibited a significant unique relationship with belief that pay is tied to performance among employees receiving a lower or higher than expected performance appraisal, but not among employees receiving the expected performance appraisal.

Instrumental and hostile aggression in childhood disruptive behavior disorders.

An analogue task of instrumental and hostile aggression during a competitive game was evaluated in a sample of clinically-referred 8- to 12-year-old aggressive boys. Similar to a prior task in a normative sample (Hoving, Wallace, & La Forme, 1979), both types of aggression increased during provocation as compared to baseline, indicating the success of the provocation manipulation, with moderate correlations between the two aggressive responses. The aggressive group with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the aggressive group without ADHD each had higher rates of instrumental aggression than controls. Only the aggressive/ADHD group had higher rates of hostile aggression than controls. Parent Child Behavior Checklist ratings indicated a modest but significant unique relationship between instrumental aggression and delinquency. The high rate of both types of aggression in the aggressive/ADHD group suggests that comorbid ADHD and aggression may result in qualitative differences in aggressive behavior. The high rate of hostile aggression in the aggressive-ADHD group supports theoretical assumptions regarding the relationship of hostile aggression to poor impulse control.

Economic Hardship and Psychological Distress in Custodial Mothers

The present research examined the relationship between economic hardship and post-divorce psychological distress of custodial mothers. Economic hardship was measured in terms of: (1)current income level; (2) drop in income; and (3) negative economic events. Drop in income was further subdivided into (a) actual amount of drop; (b) ratio of income post-to pre-separation; (c) per person ration of income; and (d) ratio of income per person corrected for reduced financial needs. The HSCL (Derogatis, 1974) measured psychological distress, while four items from the Divorce Events Schedule for Adults (Braver et al., 1987) measured negative economic events. The subjects were 77 custodial mothers, recently separated and either divorced or seeking a divorce. Results documented both an increase in psychological suffering relative to a random sampleand substantial economic declines (about 30%). Further, there were significant unique relationships between the HSCL and both drop in income and the experience of negative ...