Social Adjustment Problems Research Articles

Stanley Nattel.

Stanley Nattel.

Peer victimization through a trauma lens: Identifying who is at risk for negative outcomes.

Peer victimization is a chronic stressor that occurs within the context of peer interactions and has been robustly associated with numerous negative psychological and social adjustment problems. Although increased frequency of peer victimization has been linked to psychosocial problems, few researchers have studied the role of duration and pervasiveness of victimization (i.e., number of places it occurs). The objective of this study was to examine how frequency, duration, and pervasiveness of peer victimization are associated with youth adjustment. Canadian adolescents (N = 879), ages 12-18 completed an online survey about experiences with peer victimization. Youth also answered questions about internalizing problems, distress, relationship quality with family, friends, and adults in their school and community, as well as academic functioning. Data were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression modeling. Both duration and pervasiveness of peer victimization were predictive of increased internalizing problems, distress, relationship problems, and academic difficulties. Duration and pervasiveness of peer victimization were identified as important factors to consider when predicting youth psychosocial adjustment. By asking questions about these situational factors, parents, teachers, and healthcare providers may more effectively identify youth who are at risk for experiencing mental health problems associated with peer victimization.

THE SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT OF CHILDREN FROM HOMELESS SHELTERS: AN AREA OF APPLICATION OF CRITICAL REFLEXIVITY IN SOCIAL WORK

On a global scale, the number of families with homeless children is growing. Foreign research shows that homelessness is linked to social adjustment problems. In the Czech Republic there are no surveys on social adjustment in the homeless children population. This article presents partial data from a research survey focused on the situation of homeless mothers with children residing in shelters. The article aims to find out how mothers residing with their children in homeless shelters in the city of Ostrava interpret the social adjustment of their children. The research strategy is qualitative, based on a participatory approach (cooperation with two peer researchers). 33 interviews and 6 focus groups were implemented as part of the research. The research findings also point to a close link between the situation of homelessness and social adjustment of homeless children in the Czech environment, namely as a result of the necessity of socialization in a specific environment with negative consequences on the parenting style and success in school of the children combined with their experience of domestic violence. The research findings imply in practice the need to apply the concept of critical reflexivity in social work with children from homeless shelters.

Boys' and girls' latent profiles of behavior and social adjustment in school: Longitudinal links with later student behavioral engagement and academic achievement?

Using a person-centered approach, this study identified profiles of students exhibiting behavior and social adjustment problems in school. We conducted Latent Profile Analysis to identify these subgroups in a sample of 582 fifth and sixth graders. We found four profiles among girls—well-adjusted girls (66.10%); girls displaying externalizing behaviors and student–teacher conflict (4.75%); girls exhibiting internalizing behaviors and isolation from peers (10.17%); and girls with student–teacher nonclose interactions and nonprosocial behaviors toward peers (18.98%). We found three profiles among boys—well-adjusted boys (78.05%); boys displaying externalizing behaviors and student–teacher conflict (10.10%); and boys with externalizing, internalizing, and social problems with peers and teachers (11.85%). Next, we investigated longitudinal associations between these profiles and student behavioral engagement and academic achievement. Path analysis revealed that, compared to students with a well-adjusted profile, having a non-adjusted profile was associated with negative changes in teacher-reported behavioral engagement. Girls with an Externalizing Problem/Student–teacher Conflict profile or an Internalizing Problems/Peer Isolation profile also showed negative changes throughout the school year in their self-reported behavioral engagement and in academic achievement. We discussed these results and their practical implications in light of existing literature.

Orientation and Mobility Training in Special Education Curriculum for Social Adjustment Problems of Visually Impaired Children in Pakistan

Orientation and Mobility Training in Special Education Curriculum for Social Adjustment Problems of Visually Impaired Children in Pakistan

Acculturative Stress and Disengagement: Learning from the Adjustment Challenges faced by East Asian International Graduate Students

International graduate students meet TOEFL, GPA, and other admissions criteria to gain entry into US colleges and universities. During their stay in the USA, they provide educational and economic contributions for their host country. In contrast to their educational and economic potential, international students often demonstrate poor academic and social integration at their host institutions. Grounded theory methodology was used to investigate what accounts for the academic, cultural, and social adjustment problems faced by East Asian graduate students pursuing studies at an elite private not-for-profit university in the USA. Findings revealed that students experienced lowered self-confidence and acculturative stress as a result of challenges encountered during their first year, language barriers, different teaching styles and teaching environments, and their interactions with professors. Raising faculty sensitivity to cultural differences among international students, early adjustment counseling and obtaining regular feedback are recommended.Keywords: college student experience, student engagement, international students, adjustment, acculturative stress

Excess weight gain prevention in adolescents: Three-year outcome following a randomized controlled trial.

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) prevents weight gain in adults with obesity and binge-eating-disorder, and is especially effective among those with increased psychosocial problems. However, IPT was not superior to health education (HE) to prevent excess weight gain at 1-year follow-up in 113 adolescent girls at high-risk for excess weight gain because of loss-of-control eating and high body mass index (BMI; kg/m2; Tanofsky-Kraff et al., 2014). Participants from the original trial were recontacted 3 years later for assessment. At baseline, adolescent- and parent-reported social-adjustment problems and trait anxiety were evaluated. At baseline and follow-ups, BMIz and adiposity by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry were obtained. Nearly 60% were reassessed at 3 years, with no group differences in participation (ps ≥ .70). Consistent with 1 year, there was no main effect of group on change in BMIz/adiposity (ps ≥ .18). In exploratory analyses, baseline social-adjustment problems and trait-anxiety moderated outcome (ps < .01). Among girls with high self-reported baseline social-adjustment problems or anxiety, IPT, compared to HE, was associated with the steepest declines in BMIz (p < .001). For adiposity, girls with high or low anxiety in HE and girls with low anxiety in IPT experienced gains (ps ≤ .03), while girls in IPT with high anxiety stabilized. Parent-reports yielded complementary findings. In obesity-prone adolescent girls, IPT was not superior to HE in preventing excess weight gain at 3 years. Consistent with theory, exploratory analyses suggested that IPT was associated with improvements in BMIz over 3 years among youth with high social-adjustment problems or trait anxiety. Future studies should test the efficacy of IPT for obesity prevention among at-risk girls with social-adjustment problems and/or anxiety. (PsycINFO Database Record

Comparing three forms of early intervention for youth with borderline personality disorder (the MOBY study): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BackgroundBorderline personality disorder is a severe mental disorder that usually has its onset in youth, but its diagnosis and treatment are often delayed. Psychosocial ‘early intervention’ is effective in improving symptoms and behaviours, but no trial has studied adaptive functioning as a primary outcome, even though this remains the major persistent impairment in this patient group. Also, the degree of complexity of treatment and requirements for implementation in mainstream health services are unclear.The primary aim of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of three forms of early intervention for borderline personality disorder in terms of adaptive functioning. Each treatment is defined by combining either a specialised or a general service delivery model with either an individual psychotherapy or a control psychotherapy condition.Methods/designThe study is a parallel-group, single-blind, randomised controlled trial, which has randomised permuted blocking, stratified by depression score, sex and age. The treatments are: (1) the specialised Helping Young People Early service model plus up to 16 sessions of individual cognitive analytic therapy; (2) the Helping Young People Early service plus up to 16 sessions of a control psychotherapy condition known as ‘befriending’; (3) a general youth mental health care model plus up to 16 sessions of befriending. Participants will comprise 135 help-seeking youth aged 15–25 years with borderline personality disorder. After baseline assessment, staff blind to the study design and treatment group allocation will conduct assessments at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. At the 12-month primary endpoint, the primary outcome is adaptive functioning (measures of social adjustment and interpersonal problems); secondary outcomes include measures of client satisfaction, borderline personality disorder features, depression and substance use.DiscussionThe results of this trial will help to clarify the comparative effectiveness of a specialised early intervention service model over and above general youth mental health care, along with the contribution of individual cognitive analytic therapy over and above specialised general clinical care in early intervention for borderline personality disorder. Consequently, the findings will also inform the level of training and competency required for effective delivery of early intervention services.Trial registrationRegistered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12610000100099 on 1 February 2010.

Comorbid Development of Disruptive Behaviors from age 1½ to 5Years in a Population Birth-Cohort and Association with School Adjustment in First Grade.

Comorbidity is frequent among disruptive behaviors (DB) and leads to mental health problems during adolescence and adulthood. However, the early developmental origins of this comorbidity have so far received little attention. This study investigated the developmental comorbidity of three DB categories during early childhood: hyperactivity-impulsivity, non-compliance, and physical aggression. Joint developmental trajectories of DB were identified based on annual mother interviews from age 1½ to 5years, in a population-representative birth-cohort (N=2045). A significant proportion of children (13% to 21%, depending on the type of DB) consistently displayed high levels of hyperactivity-impulsivity, non-compliance, or physical aggression from age 1½ to 5years. Developmental comorbidity was frequent, especially for boys: 10% of boys and 3.7% of girls were on a stable trajectory with high levels of symptoms for the three categories of DB. Significant associations were observed between preschool joint-trajectories of DB and indicators of DB and school adjustment assessed by teachers in first grade. Preschoolers who maintained high levels of hyperactivity-impulsivity, non-compliance, and physical aggression, displayed the highest number of DB symptoms in first grade for all categories according to their teacher. They were also among the most disadvantaged of their class for school adjustment indicators. Thus, DB manifestations and developmental comorbidity of DB are highly prevalent in infancy. Early childhood appears to be a critical period to prevent persistent and comorbid DB that leads to impairment at the very beginning of school attendance and to long-term serious health and social adjustment problems.

Rejection Reactivity, Executive Function Skills, and Social Adjustment Problems of Inattentive and Hyperactive Kindergarteners

This study examined emotional reactivity to rejection and executive function (EF) skills as potential mediators of the social behavior problems of inattentive and hyperactive kindergarteners. Participants included 171 children, including 107 with clinical levels of ADHD symptoms, 23 with sub-clinical levels of ADHD symptoms, and 41 typically-developing children (63% male; 73% Caucasian, 11% African American, 4% Latino/Hispanic, 1% Asian, and 11% multiracial; Mage = 5.2 years). Inattention (but not hyperactivity) was uniquely associated with poor EF, social withdrawal, and aggression. In structural equation models, EF skills mediated the associations between inattention and both aggression and social withdrawal. Hyperactivity (but not inattention) was uniquely associated with rejection reactivity and each contributed uniquely to aggression. Findings suggest that difficulties with emotion regulation may warrant more attention in early interventions planned for children with high levels of ADHD symptoms.

Permasalahan yang Dialami Lansia dalam Melakukan Penyesuaian Diri di Panti Sosial dan Implikasinya terhadap Layanan Bimbingan dan Konseling (Studi Deskriptif terhadap Lansia di PSTW Sabai Nan Aluih Sicincin)

Changes that occur when entering old age requires a new kind of adjustment, that adjustments to themselves and to the environment. For the elderly who live in social institutions they require the ability to adjust to life in social institutions. In fact there are elderly people who do not have the ability to adapt in the social institutions. This study aims to determine the problems in the elderly make adjustments in social institutions. This research is descriptive. The sample of 31 people. The findings show that 1) 21.75% of elderly have problems in personal adjustment includes adjustments to the physical changes, and adjustments to the psychological condition, 2) 22.81% of elderly have problems in social adjustment includes adjustment of relationships with fellow residents, adjusting relationships with nursing board, adjustment of relationships with family, and adjustments to regulation of social institutions.

Peer Acceptance of Highly Gifted Children in Elementary School

The variables associated with peer acceptance and rejection have been the subject of considerable investigation over the past few years. In a recent review of the literature, Lindzey and Borgatta (5) concluded that intelligence is positively related to social acceptance along with such variables as proximity in the classroom, socioeconomic status, and membership in religious and ethnic groups. But do these findings hold for all levels of intellectual ability? Is there possibly a point high on the intellectual scale where the difference between the gifted and the average child becomes too great for peer acceptance or social interaction? Terman's studies of gifted children (9) indicated that as a group they are socially accepted by their peers. Self-ratings as well as teacher-ratings supported this finding. However, the more highly gifted children had more problems of social adjustment than the less highly gifted. Hollingworth (3) supported this conclusion and suggested that gifted children whose intelligence quotients range from 125 to 155 showed the best peer adjustment. She felt that children who score higher have social difficulty because the complexity of their play behavior and the high level of their interests may alienate their peer group. Kerstetter (4) studied twenty-five children whose intelligence quotients on the Stanford-Binet Scale ranged from 160 to 202. These boys and girls, who were in Grades II through VIII, had been placed in classes for gifted children in New York City. In these classes the highly gifted children were, on the whole, socially well adjusted, and there seemed to be no relation between increased intelligence and social adjustment. Mann (6) investigated the social adjustment of 67 gifted children whose intelligence quotient on the Stanford-Binet Scale was 130 or above. These gifted pupils attended a workshop for a half-day and remained in the regular classroom for the other half-day. Mann found that the gifted children in Grades IV, V, and VI chose one another for friends more frequently than they chose from the 214 children of typical intelligence. Similarly, the children of typical intelligence tended to choose among themselves, generally ignoring the gifted children. It should be noted, however, that the children were asked to make their choice of friends while in their separate half-day programs. This may account in part for the few choices between the two groups. Miller (7) compared the social status and the socioempathic differences between 40 mentally superior (intelligence quotient 190-140), 40 retarded children (intelligence quotient 60-80,) and 40 randomly selected students in Grades IV and VI. He found that the gifted children in both grades were significantly the most popular of the three groups. The gifted children were also able to predict the social status of other children more successfully than could the children in the other two groups.

The developmental origins of chronic physical aggression: biological pathways triggered by early life adversity.

Longitudinal epidemiological studies with birth cohorts have shown that physical aggression in humans does not appear suddenly in adolescence as commonly thought. In fact, physically aggressive behaviour is observed as early as 12 months after birth, its frequency peaks around 2-4 years of age and decreases in frequency until early adulthood. However, a minority of children (3-7%) maintain a high frequency of physical aggression from childhood to adolescence and develop serious social adjustment problems during adulthood. Genetic factors and early social experiences, as well as their interaction, have been shown to play an important role in the development of chronic aggressive behaviour. However, the biological mechanisms underlying these associations are just beginning to be uncovered. Recent evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms are responsive to adverse environments and could be involved in the development of chronic aggression. Using both gene candidate and genomic approaches, recent studies have identified epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation alterations in genes involved in the stress response and the serotonin and immune systems to be partly responsible for the long-lasting effects of early adversity. Further longitudinal studies with biological, environmental and behavioural assessments from birth onwards are needed to elucidate the sequence of events that leads to these long-lasting epigenetic marks associated with early adversity and aggression.

Teaching Social Skills Students with Learning Difficulties and Behavioral Problems in the Inclusive Classroom

Systematic and multiple studies (Hackett, et all, 2010, Schnitzer, Andries, &Lebeer, 2007), have shown that learning disabilities are a complex problem and beyond the effects on the cognitive-learning sector, may adversely affect the emotional and social development of children. Students with learning difficulties feel emotional distress in accordance to particular difficulties. Generally, they tend to have more emotional problems, low self-esteem, depressive symptoms, feelings of loneliness, anxiety, aggression and present social withdrawal compared to peers who do not have learning difficulties (Casserly, 2013). The contribution of education in addressing social adjustment problems faced by children with learning disabilities is essential. The method of intervention that a child may follow (a child) in school or special education, must have the support and active participation of parents (Broomhead, 2014). In our study we intend to present evidence showing the importance of research in the teaching of social skills through a program adressed to a student with learning disabilities and behavioral problems. We will also investigate the relationship between behavioral problems and difficulties in writing. The methodology comprises quantitative and qualitative data. The tools for qualitative data collection are the observation (through informal educational assessment), the intervention (with the form of didactic interaction), the Individual Structured Integrative Program of Special Education and the semi-structured interview. The tools for quantitative data collection are the experiment, the questionnaire with close-type questions which was filled by 20 students and the questionnaire with Likert questions which was filled by 20 adults.

Relations of growth in effortful control to family income, cumulative risk, and adjustment in preschool-age children.

The study examined growth in effortful control (executive control, delay ability) in relation to income, cumulative risk (aggregate of demographic and psychosocial risk factors), and adjustment in 306 preschool-age children (50% girls, 50% boys) from families representing a range of income (29% at- or near-poverty; 28% lower-income; 25% middle-income; 18% upper-income), with 4 assessments starting at 36-40 month. Income was directly related to levels of executive control and delay ability. Cumulative risk accounted for the effects of income on delay ability but not executive control. Higher initial executive control and slope of executive control and delay ability predicted academic readiness, whereas levels, but not growth, of executive control and delay ability predicted social competence and adjustment problems. Low income is a marker for lower effortful control, which demonstrates additive or mediating effects in the relation of income to children's preschool adjustment.

Turning Defects to Advantages: The Discourse of Labour in the Autobiographies of Soviet Blinded Second World War Veterans

This article explores how blinded Soviet Second World War veterans faced the problem of social reintegration and adjustment to peacetime civilian life. Their suddenly acquired blindness compelled these men to craft new subjectivities. To give legitimacy to their desires for inclusion and equality, many blind veterans advocated integration through labour. While these men chose to operate within the hegemonic discourses of labour and ability, their status as blind veterans also altered the Soviet idiom of productive work and exemplary subjectivity. Using the highly scripted genre of autobiography, disabled individuals engaged with the standards of fitness promoted by the socialist culture of labour, but also reconceived work as a source of happiness and proposed an alternative model of Soviet subjectivity.

Socio- Economic and Psychological Causes of Female Prostitution in Punjab (A Case Study of District Sahiwal)

Prostitution has been going on for many centuries. Many studies have gone on, researching and trying to understand on why women get involved with prostitution and the main effects it has on them. Present Research gives an overview of the major Socio- Economic and Psychological causes of prostitution in Punjab, Pakistan. It has also examines the social adjustment problems of prostitutes within the society and violence against female prostitutes carried out by male buyers and pimps. A sample of 10 respondents was selected for the case study from District Sahiwal, Punjab by using purposive sampling technique. Check List was designed and qualitative data was collected through face to face interview. In conclusion, the present research suggests some strategies to combat prostitution. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n3p391

Impacto econômico da obesidade no Brasil

Medical expenditures increased more significantly than other sectors of world economy. Obesity is a worldwide epidemic and a serious public health problem with consequences for society and health systems. The economic consequences of obesity are not limited to medical costs, but also include indirect or social costs, such as decreased quality of life, social adjustment problems, productivity loss, premature retirement and death. Cost-of illness studies try to estimate the total costs of a disease to health systems (public and/or private), to society, or to individuals/families. With the knowledge of the costs related to obesity, economic analyses can be performed in local reality, helping managers and policy makers to better understand the dimension of the problem and to develop strategies to improve access and treatment of these individuals, as well as how to invest in preventive measures.

Childhood physical punishment or maltreatment and partnership outcomes at age 30.

Childhood physical abuse is known to be associated with impaired outcomes in adulthood (e.g., particularly for mental and physical health). However, relatively little is known about adult partnership outcomes for those exposed to childhood physical punishment or maltreatment. This study aims to examine the associations between childhood physical punishment or maltreatment and partnership outcomes at age 30. This investigation analyzed data from a birth cohort of more than 900 New Zealand adults studied to age 30. At ages 18 and 21, cohort members reported on the extent of exposure to childhood physical punishment or maltreatment prior to age 16. Measures of partner relations were collected up to age 30. After adjustment for childhood social, family, and related factors, increasing exposure to childhood physical punishment or maltreatment was associated with greater negative partner relationships (p=.002), partner social adjustment problems (p=.006), interpartner violence victimization (p=.010), and interpartner violence perpetration (p=.019). However, after adjustment, the association between childhood physical punishment or maltreatment and the number of cohabiting relationships was no longer statistically significant (p=.151). Interactions between childhood physical punishment or maltreatment and gender were tested for each of the outcomes. This analysis showed an interactive relationship between childhood physical punishment or maltreatment and partner social adjustment problems in which childhood physical punishment or maltreatment for females, but not males, was associated with partner social adjustment problems. These findings suggest that increasing exposure to childhood physical punishment or maltreatment is associated with impaired partnership outcomes: more negative partner relations, increased reports of a partner with social adjustment problems, and higher levels of interpartner violence.

A Follow-Up Study of Treated and Untreated Greek Adolescents with a History of Specific Developmental Language Disorder

Research has shown that specific developmental language disorders (SDLD) may develop over time into other impairments or disorders. For instance, children with these diagnoses often show learning, social adjustment or behaviour disorders in adolescence. On the other hand, many professionals claim that early intervention has a significant effect on these disorders. The question which arises is whether early intervention can forestall the development of these more serious consequences in adolescence. The aim of this study is to examine adolescents who had been diagnosed with SDLD in childhood and who had attended during their preschool years an Early Intervention Programme (EIP) within a Community Mental Health Centre. These adolescents’ outcomes are compared with those of adolescents who had also been diagnosed with SDLD, but who had not complied with therapy. The experimental group (N=44), now have a mean age of 13 years, whereas the control group (N=52), who had not accepted therapy, have a mean age of 14 years. The parameters which were investigated were school achievement, social and emotional adjustment, behaviour, language skills, and their parents’ attitudes. Statistical analysis shows that although some of the treated adolescents now exhibit learning difficulties, those who began their therapy before the age of 5 are presently showing significantly better concentration and behaviour than all the other groups. In conclusion, early intervention seems to be effective for children with SDLD and may restrict the appearance of more serious social adjustment and behavioural problems in adolescence. Keywords: social, behavioural, academic outcomes, SLI, early intervention, adolescence. Read more →