Adjustment In Young Adulthood Research Articles

Promotive and Buffering Effects of Protective and Compensatory Experiences on Mental Health and Adjustment in Young Adults

Adverse childhood Experiences (ACEs) are considered a major public health crisis. Protective and Compensatory Experiences (PACEs) may help to ameliorate the effects of ACEs on young adult well-being. This study examined the moderating role of childhood PACEs on the effects of ACEs on depression, anxiety, substance use, and emotion regulation (ER) difficulties in a sample of 550 (73% female, m age = 20 yrs.) undergraduate students. ACEs were associated with greater symptoms of anxiety and depression, substance use, and ER difficulties whereas PACEs were associated with fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, substance use, and ER difficulties. Protective and compensatory experiences significantly moderated the relationship between ACEs and depression, such that greater PACEs weakened the relationship between ACES and depression. Protective and compensatory experiences did not significantly moderate relationships between ACEs and anxiety, substance use, or ER difficulties. These findings suggest PACEs promote adjustment in young adults and can buffer the deleterious effects of ACEs.

Negative Career Goal Discrepancy and Goal Adjustment in Young Adults: The Underlying Mechanism of Negative Emotions

Internal dissonance and disagreement with significant others over career goals can disrupt career progress. Based on goal setting and self-regulation theories, this study tested the relationships between self and parent career goal discrepancy (gap between what is desired and what is achieved) and career goal adjustment (career compromise and goal revision intentions) directly and indirectly via negative emotions (self- and parent-referenced career distress and regret). We surveyed 315 young adult students (76.5% women; MAge 19.52 years) recruited from a single multi-campus Australian university. Using structural equation modelling (maximum likelihood estimation), we found that higher self and parent career goal discrepancies were associated with higher compromise and intention to downgrade career goals. Further, self- and parent-referenced emotional responses partially explained the discrepancy to goal adjustment relationships. The findings have implications for how career theories incorporate self- and other-set career goal disruptions and should help counsellors assist young people, particularly in a strongly individualist, but multicultural, country such as Australia, to understand and manage their tendencies to compromise or downgrade their career goals.

Role of Psychoeducation in Enhancing Young Adults’ Mental Health and Life Adjustment during the Covid-19 Pandemic Research

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has a severe impact on people's lifestyles and health all around the world, including Bangladesh. The current study sought to determine if psychoeducation can improve the mental health and life adjustment of young adults in Bangladesh during the COVID- 19 crisis. 30 undergraduate students with high GFQ scores, from two public universities in Dhaka city, were purposefully sampled for the study using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group. The participants were divided into two groups: the experimental group and the control group, each with 15 respondents. The findings of the present study showed the benefits of psychoeducation on the young adults’ mental health and life adjustment. The experimental group's mental health and life adjustment both significantly improved as a result of the psychoeducation intervention, which accounted for 88.8% of the variance in the former and 80.2% in the latter. However, participants who did not receive intervention showed no significant differences in either their mental health or life adjustment. The results may help mental health experts create programs to help young adults who are having problems with their mental health and adjustment. 
 Jagannath University Journal of Science, Volume 10, Number I, Jun 2023, pp. 11−18

Developmental pathways of repetitive non-suicidal self-injury: predictors in adolescence and psychological outcomes in young adulthood

BackgroundMuch longitudinal research has been carried out on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) during the last decades, but there still is a lack of studies of the individual developmental pathways of NSSI from adolescence into young adulthood. The aim of the present study was to investigate individual developmental pathways of repetitive non-suicidal self-injury (repNSSI) from adolescence into young adulthood, including adolescent predictors and psychological outcomes in young adulthood. Three developmental pathways were targeted: stable adolescence-limited repNSSI; repNSSI prolonged into young adulthood; and late-onset repNSSI; with no repNSSI as comparison.MethodsData were taken from a cohort of compulsory school students (N = 1064) in grades 7–8 in a Swedish municipality. The cohort was followed longitudinally, and this study included all individuals (n = 475) with NSSI data from three waves: T1 (when they were 13–15 years old); T2 (one year later); and T3 (ten years later). RepNSSI was operationalized as self-reports of at least 5 instances of NSSI during the past six/twelve months.ResultsThe two pathways that involved stable repNSSI were observed significantly more often than expected by chance, with the strongest overrepresentation for the Prolonged RepNSSI pathway. Still, most adolescents who engaged in stable repNSSI stopped this before reaching young adulthood. Those who stopped did not, however, show a significantly better psychological adjustment in young adulthood than those who continued. Compared to participants with no repNSSI, participants who had stopped still reported significantly more stress, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation. As to the prediction of late onset NSSI, the findings were less robust, but sporadic NSSI at T1 and poor sleep at T2 were significant predictors, whereas depressive symptoms fell just short of significance at both timepoints.ConclusionsThe present results indicate that among adolescents who engage in stable adolescent repNSSI (1) significantly more individuals than expected by chance still engage in repNSSI ten years later, and (2) those who stop engaging in repNSSI do not show significantly better psychological adjustment than those who still engage in it. The present findings also indicate that late onset of repNSSI as reported in young adulthood to some extent is predictable from symptom measures ten years earlier.

Gender Typicality, Social Self-Efficacy, and Adjustment in Italian Sexual Minority Young Adults

The present study focuses on the relationship between gender typicality, social self-efficacy, and adjustment in a sample of 522 lesbian women, gay men, bisexual, and other non-heterosexual sexual orientation participants. Participants (78.2% women; Mage = 23.8, SD = 3.63) reported their similarity to same- and other-gender peers as a way to assess their gender typicality, social self-efficacy, satisfaction with life, and perceived social safeness. The Path Analysis model showed that - controlling for participants’ gender and sexual orientation- higher same- and other-gender typicality was associated with higher perceived social safeness and higher satisfaction with life, both directly and indirectly through social self-efficacy. The present study contributed to the debate on gender studies by testing same and other gender typicality as independent dimensions of gender typicality in sexual minority young adults, focusing on positive adjustment. Furthermore, the results suggested the role of social self-efficacy as a critical mechanism in the association between gender typicality and sexual minority psychosocial adjustment.

Profiles of Adoptee Adjustment in Young Adulthood

The developmental stage of young adulthood, the period from one’s late 20s through 30s, has grown in attention and research focus among general populations. However, little is known about the adjustment of adopted individuals during this phase. The present study sought to expand our understanding of the various patterns of adoptee adjustment in young adulthood. Latent profile analysis was used to identify profiles across eight domains of functioning spanning physical and mental health to relationships, achievement, and engagement. Three profiles were identified, demonstrating varying levels of adult functioning. Adoption-related and non-adoption-related variables were explored using a series of multinomial logistic regressions to determine which factors differentiated between profiles. It appears that, although some adoption-related variables remain significant in young adulthood, non-adoption-related variables are more strongly linked to adoptee adjustment at this developmental stage. Implications and future directions for clinical care and research are discussed.

School Disengagement Predicts Accelerated Aging among Black American Youth: Mediation by Psychological Maladjustment and Moderation by Supportive Parenting.

Early experiences of school disengagement may serve as a warning sign for later young adult adjustment difficulties and eventually contribute to accelerated aging among Black American youth. At the same time, supportive parenting may play a protective role. Using longitudinal data from the Family and Community Health Study (FACHS), we examined psychological maladjustment (comprising depression, lack of self-regulation, and low self-esteem) as a mediator of the relationship between school disengagement and accelerated aging. We also examined the effect of supportive parenting in buffering the impact of school disengagement on adulthood outcomes by controlling for covariates. Hypotheses were examined in a sample of 386 (Mean age = 28.68; Females = 62.7%; Males = 37.3%) Black American youth who were followed into young adulthood. Path modeling was used to test hypothesized relationships. We found school disengagement, i.e., problems with school attendance, performance, and engagement, reported across ages 10–18, predicted psychological maladjustment, which, in turn, predicted accelerated aging at age 29. We also found a buffering effect for supportive parenting. No significant gender difference in the indirect effect or buffering effect was found. This study highlights the potential importance of greater attention to school disengagement to identify and potentially influence long-term health trajectories and adult outcomes for Black American youth.

Psychosocial health and psychological adjustment in adolescents and young adults with congenital melanocytic nevi: Analysis of self-reports.

This study assessed self-reported health-related quality of life and psychological adjustment in 43 adolescents and young adults (ages in years: 14–24, M = 17.6, SD = 2.2) with congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) and examined associations with sociodemographic variables, characteristics of the CMN, perceived social reactions, and cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Outcome measures included the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Findings suggest impaired psychosocial health and psychological adjustment in youth with CMN compared to community norms. Impairments were associated with higher age of participants, lower socioeconomic status, visibility of the skin lesion, perceived stigmatization, poorer perceived social support, and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (self-blame, rumination, and catastrophizing), but not with sex of participants, extent of the skin lesion, and surgical removal of the nevus. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

Sense of personal agency in adolescence and young adulthood: A preliminary assessment model

Although there is a growing interest in the concept of sense of personal agency in adolescence and young adulthood, its operationalization and assessment have been inconsistent. We propose and test a preliminary assessment model of sense of agency combining four of the most relevant indicators suggested by the literature for its assessment (setting goals, optimism, decision-making, and self-efficacy). We conducted three independent studies with young adults [study 1 = 692; study 2 = 410] and adolescents [study 3 = 481] to analyze its psychometric properties. The CFA results revealed a good fit to the data in all three studies. The results of studies 1 and 2 indicate that even though the four dimensions share a significant proportion of variance, they do not assess the overlapping aspects of sense of agency. The findings of study 1 clarified that the proposed measurement model is invariant across sex and different levels of psychosocial risk. The results of study 2 suggest that, as expected, the latent construct of sense of agency is linked to different dimensions of psycho-emotional adjustment of young adults. Lastly, the findings of study 3 revealed that our preliminary model is invariant across three assessment points establishing the measurement longitudinal invariance.

Targeting treatment-resistant effects of trauma for promoting social adjustment: An intervention mapping protocol augmented by empirical pilot studies.

Interventions that are successful in improving posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are not necessarily effective for promoting social adjustment of traumatized individuals. The lack of specific evidence-based interventions for treatment-resistant effects of trauma on social adjustment is an important research gap. This study proposes the protocol of a theory-and evidence-based intervention based on a series of literature reviews, meta-analytical and pilot mixed methods studies. The intervention mapping protocol was utilized to develop a short-term intensive intervention for social adjustment of young adults with a history of trauma. The process of intervention mapping consists of 6 steps: (1) explaining the logic and needs for the intervention, (2) determining change objectives, (3) selecting effective theory/evidence-based strategies, (4) developing the protocol of the intervention, (5) planning for intervention implementation, (6) planning for evaluation strategies. Following the intervention mapping protocol and the results of our empirical pilot studies, we developed an integrative short-term intervention (consisting of approximately 20 sessions). The main purpose of this intervention is to rebuild the psychological capacities of social adjustment that have been impaired due to experiencing trauma. We introduced a plan to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention with the flexibility for further development and tailoring. Based on preliminary evaluation, the intervention is feasible to be implemented within regular mental health services for youth with a trauma history. The preliminary intervention protocol needs further testing and modification through rigorous evaluation.

Main and interactive retrospective associations between parental rearing behavior and psychological adjustment in young adulthood

Main and interactive retrospective associations between parental rearing behavior and psychological adjustment in young adulthood

Effects of Familial Relationships on School Adjustment of Adolescents and Young Adults With Congenital Heart Disease.

As more than 85% of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) have grown to adulthood through improvement in treatment and surgery, the difficulties they experience are expanding into areas related to daily life. Accordingly, adjustment to school in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with CHD is of increasing interest and is influenced by familial factors. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study to examine the effects of parental positive emotional expressiveness and sibling relationships on school adjustment of AYAs with CHD. In this study, a self-reported questionnaire survey was used to collect the data. The participants were 104 AYAs with CHD aged 13 to 21 years who were attending school and had siblings. Maternal positive emotional expressiveness ( r = 0.584, P < .01), paternal positive emotional expressiveness ( r = 0.584, P < .01), and sibling warmth/closeness ( r = 0.478, P < .01) were significantly correlated with school adjustment. However, the results of multiple regression analysis showed that only maternal positive emotional expressiveness (ß = 0.459, P < .05) and sibling warmth/closeness (ß = 0.236, P < .05) were significantly associated with school adjustment. Adolescents and young adults with CHD who reported higher maternal positive emotional expressiveness and sibling warmth/closeness exhibited better school adjustment. Findings suggest that intervention programs to increase parental positive expressiveness and enhance warmth/closeness of sibling relationships may contribute to improving school adjustment.

Examining the distinction between self-enhancement and self-protection in young adults: The roles of basic need satisfaction and psychological adjustment

The current study explores the distinction between self-enhancement and self-protection as regards basic need satisfaction (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and psychological adjustment (i.e., global and contingent types of self-esteem and intolerance of uncertainty) in young adults. 531 undergraduates (365 females and 166 males) completed questionnaires assessing self-enhancement and self-protection, basic need satisfaction, global self-esteem, contingent self-esteem, and intolerance of uncertainty tendencies. Correlation, partial correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses were used. The results revealed that self-enhancement and self-protection were differently associated with basic need satisfaction and the other indicators of psychological adjustment. Accordingly, self-enhancement was positively predicted by need satisfaction and global self-esteem. However, self-protection was negatively predicted by these variables but positively predicted by the contingent type of self-esteem and intolerance of uncertainty. The results suggest that self-enhancement and self-protection are distinct motives. Self-enhancement is linked to psychological adjustment; whereas, self-protection is related to psychological maladjustment.

Psychosocial adjustment in young and middle-aged adults after coronary stent implantation: A mixed-method study

Currently, the status and principal factors of psychosocial adjustment of young and middle-aged patients after coronary stent implantation (CSI) are understudied. To investigate the psychosocial adjustment and the life experiences of young and middle-aged patients after CSI and the corresponding support necessary to maintain psychosocial health for this patient population. This is a mixed-method study. Self-reported questionnaires were used to survey 236 patients after CSI from November 2019 to November 2020 in Guangdong, China. Eight of these patients were purposefully invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. The mean score of psychosocial adjustment were 55.25 (SD=19.96), 55.91 (SD=17.99) for the young and middle-aged patients after CSI respectively. The results of regression analysis showed that resilience, social support, and having diabetes were predictors of psychosocial adjustment of young patients after CSI (R2=0.703, P<0.001). Resilience, social support, current cardiac function, and need to care for parents with chronic diseases were identified as predictors of psychosocial adjustment among middle-aged patients after CSI (R2=0.640, P<0.001). Two themes and six sub-themes related to adjustment challenges and adjustment efforts were identified from the in-depth interviews. Psychosocial adjustment of young and middle-aged patients after CSI still needs to be improved. Higher level of social support and resilience would promote patient's psychosocial adjustment after CSI. Diabetes was a negative factor of psychosocial adjustment in young patients, whereas limited cardiac function, need to take care of parents with chronic diseases were negative factors in middle-aged patients. After CSI, both young and middle-aged patients faced various challenges of adjustment.

The Impact of Social Network Site Use on Young Adult Development: Extending the Research Beyond Time Use and Considering the Role of Self-Disclosure Motivations.

Young adults spend a good deal of time using social network sites (SNSs), and the consequences of this activity have come under considerable scrutiny in research. There is some evidence that SNSs offer a context for young adults to engage in self-disclosure, and that such behavior may contribute to their development. In the current study, self-disclosure motivations were explored as a moderator of the relationship between SNS time use and indicators of adjustment. It was hypothesized that the relationships between SNS time use and three indicators of young adult adjustment (belonging, self-concept clarity, and flourishing) would be moderated by self-disclosure motivations. Data were collected using a cross-sectional survey of 524 young adults aged 17-25 years (Mean age = 19.75; SD = 2.16) who used at least one social network site daily (Mean hours of daily use = 3.25; SD = 1.67). The relationships between SNS time use and both belonging and flourishing were moderated by self-disclosure motivations. Specifically, when participants were low or moderately motivated to self-disclose (for relationship maintenance or self-presentation purposes) SNS time use was negatively related to belonging and flourishing. Whereas when participants were highly motivated to self-disclose there was no significant relationship between SNS time use and belonging and SNS time use and flourishing. Additionally, there was no significant moderation of the relationship between SNS time use and self-concept clarity. Based on these findings, we recommend that in order for young adults to reap potential benefits of spending time online they should endeavor to use SNSs for purposes that promote positive self and relational development.

Long-term stability of hypoglossal nerve stimulation for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome

ImportanceObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs in 55–97% of people with Down syndrome (DS). Even after adenotonsillectomy, residual OSA often persists into adulthood due, in part, to tongue base collapse. Implantable hypoglossal nerve stimulators are being investigated in children and young adults with DS and persistent, moderate to severe OSA. However, the long-term necessity for such an intervention—especially as patients mature and voltage adjustment becomes warranted—has not been previously reported in the pediatric DS population. ObjectiveTo assess the long-term need for implantable hypoglossal nerve stimulators and the necessity for voltage adjustment in children and young adults with Down syndrome. DesignThis is a case series from an ongoing clinical trial assessing safety and efficacy of hypoglossal nerve stimulation among 42 children and young adults with DS and persistent OSA, despite adenotonsillectomy and trialed positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. We focus here on the first 4 participants who have undergone implantation by age 13 and have completed at least 44 months of follow-up. Participants4 participants (2 male, 2 female; ages 10–13 years) with DS and persistent, severe OSA (AHI > 10 events/h) underwent hypoglossal nerve stimulator implantation and were followed for 44–58 months. SettingParticipants completed in-lab sleep studies at baseline (before implantation), 1 year postoperatively, and 44–58 months postoperatively. During their most recent follow-up, 2 participants completed split-night sleep studies in which assessment was done with the device both on and off. InterventionsHypoglossal nerve stimulator implantation. Main outcomes and measuresStability in titrated and untitrated OSA as measured by the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI); growth measures including BMI; and quality of life as measured by the OSA-18 questionnaire. ResultsCompared to baseline, all 4 participants maintained reductions of at least 50% in AHI over the course of follow-up. At recent follow-up, two participants had persistent, moderate OSA despite stimulation therapy. The other two participants achieved 100% reductions in AHI with stimulation therapy; when they underwent split-night sleep studies, the severe OSA persisted with the device turned off. Improvement in OSA-18 quality of life scores was observed in three of the four participants. Conclusionand Relevance: Hypoglossal nerve stimulation continues to effectively control OSA in children with DS as they mature, while their underlying untitrated OSA appears to persist into adulthood. Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT2344108.

Illness unpredictability and psychosocial adjustment of adolescent and young adults impacted by parental cancer: the mediating role of unmet needs

PurposeGiven the large number of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) impacted by parental cancer and the potential for negative psychosocial outcomes in this vulnerable population, this study examined the mediating role of offspring unmet needs with regard to parental cancer and the relation between AYAs psychosocial adjustment and perceived illness unpredictability.MethodsA total of 113 AYAs (aged 11–24 years) living with a parent diagnosed with cancer completed a questionnaire assessing illness unpredictability, offspring unmet needs, and psychosocial adjustment (i.e., health-related quality of life and internalizing problems).ResultsHigher offspring unmet needs were associated with lower health-related quality of life (r = –0.24**) and higher internalizing problems (r = 0.21*). Offspring unmet needs mediated the relation between illness unpredictability and health-related quality of life (standardized indirect effect = –0.100* [–0.183, –0.018]) but not internalizing problems (standardized indirect effect = 0.067 [–0.015, 0.148]). In particular, higher illness unpredictability was related to higher unmet needs (β = 0.351**) which, in turn, predicted lower health-related quality of life (β = –0.286**).ConclusionThese findings identify offspring unmet needs and illness unpredictability as implicated in AYAs positive psychosocial adjustment to parental cancer. Given that AYAs are at greater risk of elevated psychosocial difficulties, interventions should target offspring unmet needs and perception of illness unpredictability to mitigate the adverse effects of parental cancer.

Influence of Birth Order on Personality and Adjustment in Young Adults

Birth order refers to the order in which a child is born in the family. This order differs within families and affects an individual’s life. The present study aims to assess the influence of birth order on personality and adjustment in young adults. Two psychological tools NEO-FFI and Adjustment Inventory for College Students (AICS) were used to measure the variables. 120-college going students (60 first born and 60 second born) in the age group of 18-25 years were selected from different colleges of Delhi-NCR. The results showed that first born and second born have no difference in terms of personality traits. The study also found that there is no difference in adjustment of first born and second born. Gender differences were found in first born male and female in personality and adjustment. Whereas in second born male and female only slight differences were seen.

Relations Between Bicultural Attitudes, Paternal Versus Maternal Acceptance, and Psychological Adjustment of Ethnic Minority Youth in Bangladesh

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of perceived paternal and maternal acceptance on the bicultural orientations and psychological adjustment of ethnic-minority young adults in Bangladesh. The study was based on a sample of 412 young adults (mean age 22 years), consisting of 40% women and 60% men from 18 tribal subgroups in Bangladesh. Measures used were Parental Acceptance–Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ), Bicultural Attitude Scale (BAS) and Personality Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ). Results showed that there are significant positive correlations between perceived parental (paternal and maternal) acceptance, heritage culture, and psychological adjustment of the respondents. Results further showed that perceived paternal acceptance has independent and stronger effect than perceived maternal acceptance on the bicultural orientations and psychological adjustment of the minority young adults in Bangladesh.

Effect of COVID-19 disruptions on young adults' affect and substance use in daily life.

Guided by accounts of adjustment in daily life as a key indicator of health, the current study examined prospective changes in young adults' emotions and substance behaviors assessed during a normative baseline period and during the acute COVID-19 disruption period in late March/early April 2020. The COVID-19 assessment also collected psychosocial risk factors expected to moderate changes in adjustment across time. Participants included 295 young adults (70.8% female; ages 18-21 at baseline), drawn from an ongoing study of daily behaviors and health in college life that oversampled for recent substance behaviors, who completed both the baseline and COVID-19 assessments. Hypotheses were tested using analyses of repeated-measures data that included covariates of length of time between assessments and sampling group status. Direct tests in support of hypotheses indicated an increase in negative affect (d = .67, p < .001), and greater alcohol use (d = .75, p < .001) and marijuana use (d = .58, p < .001), in daily life across time. Levels of positive affect (d = .08, p > .05), nicotine use (d = .01, p > .05), and prescription drug misuse (d = .003, p > .05) did not reliably change in tests of direct models. Moderation tests indicated several risk factors for experiencing steeper increases in negative affect, and increased likelihood of marijuana and nicotine use, in daily life across time. Findings offer implications for future research and clinical efforts to improve young adult adjustment in response to the pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).