Uniquely Associated Research Articles

Social processes as the missing link: cross-sectionally testing a conceptual model on social mediators of early psychopathological development.

Research suggests that most mental health conditions have their onset in the critically social period of adolescence. Yet, we lack understanding of the potential social processes underlying early psychopathological development. We propose a conceptual model where daily-life social interactions and social skills form an intermediate link between known risk and protective factors (adverse childhood experiences, bullying, social support, maladaptive parenting) and psychopathology in adolescents - that is explored using cross-sectional data. N = 1913 Flemish adolescent participants (Mean age = 13.8; 63% girls) were assessed as part of the SIGMA study, a large-scale, accelerated longitudinal study of adolescent mental health and development. Self-report questionnaires (on risk/protective factors, social skills, and psychopathology) were completed during class time; daily-life social interactions were measured during a subsequent six-day experience-sampling period. Registered uncorrected multilevel linear regression results revealed significant associations between all risk/protective factors and psychopathology, between all risk/protective factors and social processes, and between all social processes and psychopathology. Social processes (social skills, quantity/quality of daily social interactions) were uniquely predicted by each risk/protective factor and were uniquely associated with both general and specific types of psychopathology. For older participants, some relationships between social processes and psychopathology were stronger. Unique associations between risk/protective factors and psychopathology signify the distinct relevance of these factors for youth mental health, whereas the broad associations with social processes support these processes as broad correlates. Results align with the idea of a social pathway toward early psychopathology, although follow-up longitudinal research is required to verify any mediation effect.

PTSD symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and pain outcomes after acute orthopedic injury.

PTSD is associated with greater incidence of chronic pain. Pain catastrophizing often accounts for this association. Less is known about these relationships during the acute phase (1-2 months) following orthopedic traumatic injuries. We sought to understand which orthopedic traumatic injury-related PTSD symptoms were associated with acute pain and physical dysfunction and whether pain catastrophizing accounted for these associations. This secondary analysis uses baseline data from a multisite randomized controlled trial of an intervention for individuals with heightened pain catastrophizing or pain anxiety following acute orthopedic injury. We used partial correlations to examine associations between PTSD symptom clusters (re-experiencing, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and hyperarousal) and pain outcomes (pain intensity and physical dysfunction) controlling for pain catastrophizing. We used hierarchical regressions to evaluate unique associations between PTSD clusters and pain outcomes. In exploratory analysis, we examined the indirect effects of PTSD symptoms on pain outcomes through catastrophizing. Hierarchical linear regressions indicated that hyperarousal was uniquely associated with greater pain intensity with activity (β = 0.39, p < 0.001, ΔR2 =0.06) and physical dysfunction (β = 0.22, p = 0.04 ΔR2 =0.02). PTSD symptoms were still associated with pain with activity even with pain catastrophizing included in the models, and catastrophizing did not have a significant indirect effect on the relationship between PTSD and physical dysfunction (b=0.06, SEBoot=0.04, 95% CIBoot = [-0.003, 0.14]). Pain catastrophizing did largely account for the association between re-experiencing, avoidance, and negative alterations in cognitions and mood symptoms and pain at rest. Pain catastrophizing interventions may be best suited for limiting the impact of PTSD symptoms on pain at rest, but catastrophizing alone may not fully explain the relationship between PTSD symptoms and physical dysfunction after acute orthopedic injury. To prevent the negative association of PTSD symptoms, especially hyperarousal, on physical outcomes in acute pain populations, interventions may require more than solely targeting pain catastrophizing.

Examining ADHD and Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome Symptoms in Relation to Food Insecurity in Early Adolescents.

Approximately 13.8million U.S. households face food insecurity, which severely affects child development, with more than half of these households including children. Research links food insecurity to cognitive deficits and mental health challenges, highlighting the need for thorough understanding and intervention. Although existing studies have explored the association between food insecurity and internalizing symptomatology, less research has examined food insecurity in relation to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Further, no studies have explored the connection between food insecurity and cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) symptoms, closely related to ADHD symptoms. Despite extant research linking CDS to environmental factors, empirical attention to its potential association with food insecurity is notably lacking. Additionally, adolescents, almost twice as likely as younger children to experience household food insecurity, are likely more aware and respond differently to challenges during this developmental period. Accordingly, this study investigated the unique associations of parent-, teacher-, and youth self-reported ADHD dimensions and CDS symptoms in relation to parent-reported food insecurity in early adolescents (N = 136, ages 10-12). Controlling for age, sex, race, and medication use, no informant's ratings of ADHD symptom dimensions were uniquely related to food insecurity. In contrast, higher parent-, teacher-, and youth self-reported CDS symptoms were uniquely associated with greater food insecurity. This finding was robust to additional control of family income for teacher- and youth self-reported CDS symptoms. These findings highlight the complex link between food insecurity and mental health, suggest a connection with CDS symptoms, and stress the need to address food insecurity as a public health priority, especially in early adolescence.

A dyadic assessment of the association between sexual communication and daily sexual satisfaction

Although sexual communication’s association with sexual and relational functioning and satisfaction have been well established, to date only a small number of studies have used dyadic data, and all have used single time-point self-report measures of sexual outcomes. This study examined the unique association between sexual communication quality and daily levels of sexual satisfaction in couples. Participants included 81 couples comprised of mostly mixed-sex dyads of a diverse range of ages and relationship lengths. Using dyadic cross-sectional data on sexual communication quality in couples as well as 21-day daily diary data assessments of sexual satisfaction on days individuals reported having sex, our analyses revealed significant within-partner and cross-partner associations between individual’s perceived sexual communication quality in their relationship and average daily sexual satisfaction. Greater perceived sexual communication quality was also associated with less variability in individuals’ daily reports of sexual satisfaction on days they had sex. Additional models were run adding relationship satisfaction as a covariate and controlling for relationship length. Lastly, similarity in reports of sexual communication between partners did not moderate the association between sexual communication quality and average daily sexual satisfaction. Our findings suggest that greater quality sexual communication may be uniquely associated with better and more consistent daily sexual satisfaction in relationships. This research expands our current understanding of sexual communication’s impact in relationships day to day.

I can't handle my desires: Development and validation of a self-report measure of desire intolerance and associations with distress intolerance.

Desire intolerance is conceptualized as a motivational counterpoint to the transdiagnostic risk factor of distress intolerance and is defined as the inability or unwillingness to "sit with" the motivation to approach a rewarding object or task. The current work describes the development and validation of a novel measure of desire intolerance. After initial item development and exploratory factor analysis (Study 1) and confirmatory factor analysis (Study 2), the 10-item unidimensional Desire Intolerance Questionnaire (DIQ) was created. Desire intolerance was conceptually related to low self-control (Studies 1-4) and both approach and avoidance motivation (Studies 2, 4, 5) and was distinct from delay of gratification (Study 3). Greater desire intolerance was also associated with higher distress intolerance (Studies 4 and 5). In Study 4, we used qualitative coding to explore what people were thinking about when they considered their "desires." Findings revealed that higher desire intolerance was associated with thinking about desired long-term outcomes more than proximal short-term hedonic pleasures. Finally, Study 4 focused on unique and independent associations between desire and distress intolerance with psychopathology, and we found that both distress intolerance were associated with heightened psychological distress and borderline personality symptoms. Only distress intolerance was uniquely associated with uncontrolled eating and self-criticism, whereas only desire intolerance was uniquely associated with aggressive behavior and dichotomous thinking. The current research supports the DIQ as a psychometrically sound indicator of difficulties withstanding desires and allows for a better understanding of intolerance as a transdiagnostic clinical phenomena. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Mechanisms linking proteins and structural brain integrity to biological markers of Alzheimer’s Disease

AbstractBackgroundMedial temporal lobe (MTL) networks, including posterior‐medial (PM) and anterior‐temporal (AT) subnetworks, are early affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathologies (tau, neurodegeneration) and are critical for memory, which declines in AD. The biological pathways linking AD pathology, changes in MTL‐AT‐PM structural connectivity (SC), and cognitive decline, are unknown. Plasma protein levels reflect those in the cerebrospinal fluid, providing a low‐invasive potential means of understanding molecular brain changes that occur in AD. These measures may help explain how AD pathology, MTL‐AT‐PM SC, and cognitive decline are linked at the molecular level. We used predefined aging‐related plasma proteins from a meta‐analysis to explore links between MTL‐AT‐PM SC, AD pathologies, and cognitive decline.MethodMTL‐AT‐PM SC scores and plasma protein levels from 100 participants (Stanford ADRC: mean age = 73.7y, 82 healthy control, 16 mild cognitive impairment, and 2 AD) were entered into an Coupled tensor and matrix factorization algorithm, generating clusters based on shared SC‐protein variance. Linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate cluster relationships with domains of AD (memory, plasma tau, and neurodegeneration by plasma NfL and cortical thickness index).ResultTwo (out of 12 total) SC‐protein clusters significantly related to both tau and neurodegeneration. Both had similar highly contributing proteins (TNFRSF1B.3152.57.1, TNFRSF1B.8368.102.3, GRN.4992.49.1, TNC.4155.3.2, RPS3A.5484.63.3, CD163.5028.59.1, EFNA4.2614.28.2) and SC regions (bilateral: hippocampus, and left: parahippocampal cortex, precuneus, thalamus, and isthmus cingulate). Hippocampal laterality (bilateral vs. opposite directions for left vs. right) and the direction of their relationship to tau/neurodegeneration differentiated these clusters. A 3rd cluster was uniquely associated with composite memory (SC: bilateral: lateral occipital and parahippocampus, left: inferior temporal and hippocampus; proteins: EGFR.2677.1.1, SFRP1.3221.54.1, FAS.9459.7.3, ERBB3.2617.56.35, CFD.13678.169.3, LRP1.8601.167.3, and LPO.4801.13.3).ConclusionProtein‐SC clusters showed both overlapping and unique associations to AD‐associated memory, tau, and neurodegeneration. Two clusters centered on the hippocampus and proteins related to inflammation showed relationships to both tau and neurodegeneration, suggesting they may be important for linking these two aspects of AD pathology. A memory‐related cluster was dominated by neurogenesis related proteins, and occipital/parahippocampal cortex. These findings suggest molecular pathways may differentially affect the left vs. right hippocampus, and AD‐associated pathologies vs. cognition.

Satisfaction with diabetes involvement: Exploring parent and adolescent perspectives.

Both parent and adolescent involvement in type 1 diabetes management are critical during adolescence. The current study sought to understand the factors associated with parent and adolescent satisfaction with their own and one another's involvement in diabetes management. Cross-sectional baseline data from 157 parent-adolescent dyads enrolled in an RCT were used. Adolescent ages ranged from 12 to 19 (Mage = 14.7, SD = 1.89) and were balanced by gender (50.3% male). Paired t-tests examined concordance between parent and adolescent satisfaction, bivariate correlations identified correlates, and regressions examined unique associations. Roughly, 43% of adolescents and 29% of parents were very satisfied with adolescent involvement in diabetes management, whereas 71% of adolescents and 26.1% of parents were very satisfied with parent involvement. Indicators of better glycaemic health (via higher percent time-in-range and lower HbA1c and percent time in hyperglycaemia) and psychosocial functioning (less diabetes distress and depression) were correlated with higher satisfaction. Parent satisfaction with adolescent involvement was higher among older adolescents (R = 0.198, p = 0.013). Non-Hispanic white youth were more satisfied with their own involvement than youth of colour (t(149) = -2.783, p = 0.003). Both percent time-in-range and one's own diabetes distress uniquely related to parent and adolescent satisfaction with adolescent involvement. Conversely, parent satisfaction with their own involvement was only uniquely associated with parent diabetes distress. Both adolescent and parents' satisfaction with adolescents' involvement in self-management are indicators of both glycaemic control and psychosocial well-being, whereas parents' self-evaluations are more closely tied to diabetes-specific distress.

Age-related patterns in high-risk alcohol and cannabis use and their associations with positive and negative affect in young adulthood

ObjectiveWe examined age-varying associations between young adult simultaneous alcohol and marijuana/cannabis use (SAM) and heavy episodic drinking (HED) and positive and negative affect to inform harm reduction efforts. MethodsYoung adults reporting past-year alcohol use (n = 556; ages 19–25) were recruited in a state where alcohol and nonmedical cannabis use was legal for those 21 +. Participants provided 24 repeated monthly assessments. Among those reporting past-month cannabis use on at least one survey, logistic time-varying effect models estimated (1) the age-varying prevalence of and associations between past-month SAM and HED and (2) age-varying unique associations of affect with SAM and HED. ResultsThere was a positive age-varying association between HED and SAM over time that was highest at age 19 (OR = 7.56), decreased until age 20.7 (OR = 3.39), increased until age 23.0 (OR = 4.85), and decreased until the association became non-significant by age 25. Negative affect was positively associated with SAM from ages 20.7 to 23.0, peaking at age 21.8 (OR = 1.36). Positive affect was positively associated with HED from ages 19.4 to 20.4 (peak OR = 1.25) and ages 22.5 to 24.5 (peak OR = 1.38). In contrast, positive affect was not uniquely associated with SAM nor negative affect with HED across ages 19–25. ConclusionsWhile HED and SAM were positively associated throughout young adulthood and interventions could target them in tandem, their associations with affect suggest differential etiologic processes. Preventive intervention and harm reduction efforts should attend to psychological context in which these behaviors occur.

Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Children Are Related to Sensory Sensitivity and to Seeking Proxies for Internal States.

Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder are related to atypical sensory processing, particularly sensory over-responsivity, in both children and adults. In adults, obsessive-compulsive symptoms are also associated with the attenuation of access to the internal state and compensatory reliance on proxies for these states, including fixed rules and rituals. We aimed to examine the associations between sensory over-responsivity, the tendency to seek proxies for internal states, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in children. Parents of 404 children between 5 and 10 years of age completed online measures of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, seeking proxies for internal states, sensory over-responsivity, and anxiety. Linear regression, dominance analysis, and network analysis were used to explore the unique associations between these variables. The tendency to seek proxies for internal states was more strongly associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms than with anxiety symptoms and uniquely associated with all major obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions except obsessing. Both the tendency to seek proxies for internal states and sensory over-responsivity were significantly associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms, but the association was significantly stronger for the tendency to seek proxies for internal states. While limited by the sole reliance on the parent-report, the present study shows that the tendency to seek proxies for internal states could help clarify the developmental processes involved in the onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms during childhood and that sensory sensitivity may be important to consider in this process.

A network analysis on psychopathy and theoretically relevant personality traits

Psychopathy can be divided into primary and secondary psychopathy. However, these variants of psychopathy can be found in other forms of personality and disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Regardless of the substantial overlap, studies have typically investigated bivariate relationships between psychopathy and other personality traits, leaving it an open question how these traits are uniquely associated with each other. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between psychopathy and other theoretically relevant personality and disorders which cover autism, ADHD, alexithymia, Machiavellianism, and trait anxiety. A Japanese-speaking community sample (N = 1000, M = 41.3 ± 11.5 years, and 500 women) completed an online survey. A partial correlation network with regularization was estimated. Results showed that secondary psychopathy (measured by the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale) has unique positive associations with autism, ADHD symptoms, alexithymia, and trait anxiety. On the other hand, primary psychopathy has positive associations with Machiavellianism and alexithymia but negative associations with autism and trait anxiety. These findings suggest that secondary psychopathy is a common feature (or can be seen as a general behavioral problem) shared by other personality traits and symptoms, whereas primary psychopathy may be a more unique variant of psychopathy, albeit significantly overlapping with Machiavellianism and alexithymia.

Influence of betrayal trauma on obsessive-compulsive personality pathology.

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is among the most common forms of personality pathology. Research suggests that among the risk factors for OCPD pathology is trauma, although it is unclear which kinds of trauma are most influential. Of particular relevance may be trauma high in interpersonal betrayal, which research suggests has a unique association with many different forms of personality pathology. However, this has not yet been examined for OCPD specifically. In this study, we examined the differential associations between trauma with varying levels of betrayal and OCPD pathology in a sample of women and men recruited online (N = 300) using a Bayesian approach to structural equation modeling. Results suggest that although general interpersonal trauma was associated with OCPD across the sample, interpersonal trauma high in betrayal was uniquely associated with OCPD for men. These findings have implications for future research on the influence of trauma and personality pathology as well as for the treatment of OCPD specifically. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

A Comparison of Task-Based and Questionnaire Assessments of Executive Control Aspects in Relation to Adolescent Marijuana Initiation

Prior research has linked deficits in executive control (EC) to marijuana use in adolescents but has relied either primarily on adolescent self-report of EC or tasked-based EC, and focused on limited aspects of EC, usually inhibitory control. We examined unique associations of three established aspects of EC (inhibitory control, working memory, and flexible shifting) assessed with both performance on laboratory tasks and self-report in relation to marijuana initiation. Participants were 260 youth (ages 14-18 years) from a small Midwestern city in the United States enrolled in the adolescent phase (beginning in 2017) of an ongoing study of EC development recruited originally between 2006 and 2012 (46% male, 72% European American). The three aspects of executive control were measured in a laboratory setting with well-established performance-based measures and with a psychometrically-sound self-report survey instrument. Youth also provided self-report of marijuana initiation in a phone survey administered during their laboratory visit. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that flexible shifting as measured by a performance-based task was negatively and uniquely associated with marijuana initiation (AOR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.48 - 0.91), and self-reported deficits in inhibitory control were positively associated with marijuana initiation (AOR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.15 - 3.21). Although larger-scale longitudinal research is needed, findings of this study suggest that screening efforts to identify youth at risk of marijuana initiation might rely on more cost-effective self-report assessment of inhibitory control, but further valuable information can come from more resource-intensive but sensitive performance-based assessment of flexible shifting.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder traits are a more important predictor of internalising problems than autistic traits

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are both linked to internalising problems like anxiety and depression. ASD and ADHD also often co-occur, making their individual statistical contributions to internalising disorders difficult to investigate. To address this issue, we explored the unique associations of self-reported ASD traits and ADHD traits with internalising problems using a large general population sample of adults from the United Kingdom (N = 504, 49% male). Classical regression analyses indicated that both ASD traits and ADHD traits were uniquely associated with internalising problems. Dominance and Bayesian analyses confirmed that ADHD traits were a stronger, more important predictor of internalising problems. However, brief depression and anxiety measures may not provide a comprehensive index of internalising problems. Additionally, we focused on recruiting a sample that was representative of the UK population according to age and sex, but not ethnicity, a variable that may be linked to internalising disorders. Nevertheless, our findings indicate that while ASD and ADHD uniquely predict internalising problems, ADHD traits are a more important statistical predictor than ASD traits. We discuss potential mechanisms underlying this pattern of results and the implications for research and clinical practice concerning neurodevelopmental conditions.

The unique association of posttraumatic stress disorder with hypertension among veterans: A replication of Kibler et al. (2009) using Bayesian estimation and data from the United States-Veteran Microbiome Project.

Kibler et al. (2009) reported that hypertension was related to PTSD independent of depression. These two conditions have significant diagnostic overlap. The present study sought to conceptually replicate this work with a veteran sample, using Bayesian estimation to directly update past results, as well as examine symptom severity scores in relation to hypertension. This was a secondary analysis of data obtained from the United States-Veteran Microbiome Project. Lifetime diagnoses of PTSD and major depressive disorder (MDD) were obtained from a structured clinical interview and hypertension diagnoses were extracted from electronic medical records. PTSD and depressive symptom severity were obtained from self-report measures. Logistic regressions with Bayesian estimation were used to estimate the associations between hypertension and (a) psychiatric diagnostic history and (b) symptom severity scores. Compared with veterans without lifetime diagnoses of either disorder, the PTSD-only group was estimated to have a 29% increase in hypertension risk, and the PTSD + MDD group was estimated to have a 66% increase in hypertension risk. Additionally, higher levels of PTSD symptom severity were associated with a higher risk of hypertension. PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity are uniquely associated with hypertension, independent of MDD or depressive symptom severity. These results support previous findings that PTSD might be a modifiable risk factor for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Exploring the Unique Associations of Parent–Adult Child Relationships and Ongoing Parental Romantic Relationships with Adult Children’s Romantic Relationships

The present study is the first to examine whether ongoing parental romantic relationship quality, as well as the adult children’s relationship quality with their parents, are uniquely associated with adult children’s romantic relationship dynamics. We use dyadic data from 3,241 families to assess associations between expressions of emotional intimacy and admiration within parents’ romantic relationships, adult children’s romantic relationships, and adult children’s relationships with their parents. Structural equation modeling showed that ongoing parental romantic responsible actions and parent–adult child relationships are both uniquely associated with responsible actions within adult children’s romantic relationships. Important clinical implications are discussed.

Whom are you mad at? Anger and revenge in obsessive-compulsive symptoms during adolescence

Previous research has extensively explored the role of anxiety, disgust, guilt, and shame in obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, but few studies have investigated anger and associated vengeful motivations, especially during adolescence, when OC symptoms typically onset. This is unfortunate as anger is a key human emotion linked to various aspects of behaviour. Our aim was to explore how anger and revenge motivations were associated with the most common OC subtypes in adolescents. Participants were 1035 high school students who completed a battery of questionnaires including the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Child Version, the Children's Depression Inventory, the Transgression-Related Interpersonal Motivations Inventory-18 and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory for children and adolescents. Even when accounting for different aspects of anger, TRIMs and depression, trait anger (i.e., a stable tendency to experience anger) was uniquely associated with all types of OC symptoms (doubting/checking, obsessing, and ordering). Unique associations were also found between revenge motivations and doubting/checking and obsessing. Our findings show that adolescents with high OC symptoms may experience not only intense anger, but also vengeful feelings and motivations. Future research should examine how anger, vengeful motivations and OC symptoms co-develop over time. Clinicians should be aware that anger and vengeful motivations can be part of the clinical presentation of OCD, which can inform assessment and treatment.

Cognitive Reappraisal as a Protective Factor in the Association between Cyber Intimate Partner Victimization and Depression in Hispanic Emerging Adults

ABSTRACT Cyber intimate partner victimization (cyber IPV) has been associated with mental health problems. The present study hypothesized that cyber IPV types (i.e., psychological, sexual, stalking) uniquely affect depression symptoms in Hispanic emerging adults. In addition, cognitive reappraisal was hypothesized to moderate the unique effects of cyber IPV types on depression symptoms. Participants were 1,129 Hispanic, university-going emerging adults (M = 20.53, SD = 2.44; 72.5% female) in South Texas. Linear regression and moderation analyses were conducted to assess study aims. Psychological and sexual cyber IPV were uniquely associated with symptoms of depression but stalking cyber IPV was not. Victimization of these types of cyber IPV may cause an increase in depression symptoms. Cognitive reappraisal moderated the unique associations of both psychological and sexual cyber IPV with symptoms of depression, such that greater scores on cognitive reappraisal were associated with lower scores on depression symptoms among victims. Reappraising cognitions associated with the negative experience ensuing psychological or sexual cyber IPV may protect against depression symptoms. Findings call for development of culturally sensitive preventative and treatment programs for Hispanic IPV-survivors. Continual research should be conducted to assess the effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal in treating depression symptoms affected by cyber IPV.

High school students' out‐of‐school science participation: A latent class analysis and unique associations with science aspirations and achievement

AbstractStudents' out‐of‐school science participation has been identified as a factor that supports adaptive science outcomes. Researchers have largely investigated students' out‐of‐school science participation in terms of structured science activities (e.g., attending a science camp), with far less consideration of how students' involvement in unstructured out‐of‐school science activities (e.g., using at‐home science kits) may also be associated with students' aspirations and achievement in science. Research in this area has established a conceptual framework by which activities can be categorized by the activity's level of interaction (i.e., whether receptive or active). Although this conceptual framework is useful to understand thetypesof unstructured activities in which students engage, this research has tended to overlook the fact that students often participate in more than one out‐of‐school unstructured activity. The present investigation addressed this dearth of research by examining the extent to which different typologies of student participation in out‐of‐school receptive and active unstructured activities existed. The study also examined if these profiles were uniquely associated with students' aspirations and achievement in science above and beyond the effects of their current level of in‐school participation. The study employed a latent class analysis ofN = 996 Australian high school students (40.60% girls) from six schools serving predominately above average socioeconomic status Australian high school students. Four distinct profiles of out‐of‐school participation in unstructured activities were found: Optimal, Receptive, Active, and Minimal Out‐of‐School Participation (OSP). The Optimal OSP and Receptive OSP profiles were associated with the higher aspirations (beyond students' in‐school participation), and both were significantly higher than the Active OSP and Minimal OSP profiles. Students' in‐school participation was most strongly associated with students' achievement. These findings suggest that encouraging students' participation in unstructured activities, especially receptive unstructured activities, and their in‐school participation may be viable avenues by which to improve students' science aspirations and achievement.

Functional and structural social support in DSM-5 mood and anxiety disorders: A population-based study

BackgroundSocial support has been found to be a key correlate of many psychiatric disorders including several mood and anxiety disorders. However, research on social support is largely investigated in individual disorders, despite the high co-occurrence of these diagnoses, and has typically relied on pre-DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Additionally, differences in structural and functional social support are rarely explored. Thus, the present study investigated the unique association between these two aspects of social support and past-year DSM-5 mood and anxiety disorders while adjusting for comorbidity and socio-demographic variables. MethodsMultivariate regression and relative weights analyses were conducted to determine the association of functional and structural social support with these disorders in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions consisting of 36,309 participants. ResultsResults indicated depression, bipolar I, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder were significantly associated with functional support, while depression and agoraphobia were uniquely associated with structural support. Major depression and persistent depression were the two most important predictors of functional social support. LimitationsThe current study utilized cross-sectional data and does not allow for causal or directional conclusions. Further, additional studies with diverse samples are needed to determine the generalizability of the current results. ConclusionsThis study highlights differences in functional and structural social support in various disorders and explores how this varies when accounting for comorbidity. A deeper understanding of how specific aspects of social support relate to individual psychiatric disorders could inform future prevention and treatment efforts.

Psychological and Physical Intimate Partner Aggression Are Associated with Broad and Specific Internalizing Symptoms during Pregnancy.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has serious consequences, particularly during high-risk periods such as pregnancy, which poses a significant risk to maternal mental health. However, it is unclear whether IPV presents a broad risk for psychopathology or is specific to distinct diagnoses or symptom dimensions (e.g., panic, social anxiety). Further, the relative impact of physical versus psychological aggression remains unclear. Methods: One hundred and fifty-nine pregnant couples completed surveys assessing psychological and physical intimate partner aggression unfolding in the couple relationship, as well as a range of internalizing symptoms. Results: Psychological and physical aggression were each associated with broad negative affectivity, which underlies mood and anxiety disorders; however, only psychological aggression demonstrated a unique association. Further, for pregnant women, aggression was uniquely associated with several symptom dimensions characteristic of PTSD. In contrast, men demonstrated a relatively heterogeneous symptom presentation in relation to aggression. Conclusion: The present study identifies unique symptom manifestations associated with IPV for couples navigating pregnancy and suggests psychological aggression can be more detrimental to mental health than physical aggression. To promote maternal perinatal mental health, clinicians should screen for covert forms of psychological aggression during pregnancy (e.g., raised voices, insults), trauma-related distress, and symptom elevations in women and their partners.