Latinx adolescents report higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms (i.e., internalizing symptoms) compared to other ethnic groups. Research studies primarily conducted with European American youth have concluded that difficulties in emotion regulation and parent-adolescent conflict are associated with an increased risk for youth internalizing symptoms. Additionally, an important Latinx cultural value, familism, has been identified as a protective factor for internalizing symptoms for Latinx adolescents. Therefore, the current study examined how familism, parent-adolescent conflict, and difficulties in emotion regulation interact to influence the development of internalizing symptoms among Latinx adolescents. It was hypothesized that (a) parent-adolescent conflict and difficulties in emotion regulation would be positively correlated with internalizing symptoms, (b) a mediation model of the association between parent-adolescent conflict and internalizing symptoms through difficulties in emotion regulation would be supported, (c) familism would be negatively correlated with internalizing symptoms, and (e) familism would moderate the relation between parent-adolescent conflict and difficulties in emotion regulation. Lastly, this project explored whether familism would moderate the mediation model of the association between parent-adolescent conflict and internalizing symptoms through difficulties in emotion regulation. To test this, data from the Salud de los Adolescentes Latinos study, which recruited Latinx adolescents (N = 92) from Northern Utah, was analyzed. Results from the study showed that higher levels of parent-adolescent conflict, difficulties in emotion regulation, and the future support subscale of familism were associated with an increased risk for internalizing symptoms among Latinx adolescents. Based on previous research, it was predicted that higher levels of familism would be associated with lower levels of internalizing symptoms, showing a protective effect. However, an association in the opposite direction was found, indicating that in this study familism served as a risk factor. In addition, familism did not moderate the association between parent-adolescent conflict and difficulties in emotion regulation nor the mediation model tested from the second study aim. Future studies should investigate the specific risk and protective properties of familism for Latinx adolescents. Findings also indicated that the association between parent-adolescent conflict and internalizing symptoms was partially explained through difficulties in emotion regulation. In other words, higher parent-adolescent conflict was associated with more adolescent difficulties in emotion regulation, which subsequently increased the risk for internalizing symptoms. These findings suggest that parent-adolescent conflict and difficulties in emotion regulation are risk factors for Latinx youth internalizing problems. Therefore, prevention and intervention efforts should target parent-adolescent conflict and difficulties in emotion regulation to reduce the risk for internalizing symptoms among Latinx adolescents.

abstract: Although researchers often conceptualize shyness as stable across different situations (e.g., Rubin, Coplan, & Bowker, 2009), evidence has suggested that shyness may consist of situation-specific components (e.g., Asendorpf, 1990a; 1990b; Gazelle & Faldowski, 2014; Xu & Farver, 2009). This study was aimed at developing a systematic measurement tool for situational shyness in adolescence, as well as examining the relations between situational shyness and other popular measures of shyness and between situational shyness and adjustment. A sample of Chinese adolescents (N = 492) from an urban school participated in the study during 7th (T1) and 8th (T2) grades. Adolescents self-reported their situational shyness using a new measure of hypothetical scenarios, as well as their general shyness, anxious shyness, regulated shyness, depressive symptoms, and loneliness. Peers reported adolescents’ general and conflicted shyness, and popularity and peer rejection. The school provided records of their academic achievement (exam scores). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the situational shyness measure consistently supported that shyness in the hypothetical scenarios can be separated into three components: shyness with familiar peers, shyness with unfamiliar peers, and shyness in formal situations. These components had differential associations with other measures of shyness. Self-reported general and anxious shyness were related consistently to shyness with unfamiliar peers and in formal situations, and occasionally to shyness with familiar peers. Self-reported regulated shyness was not related to self-reported shyness in any situation. Peer-reported conflicted shyness was associated with shyness with familiar and unfamiliar peers, whereas peer-reported general shyness was associated with shyness with unfamiliar peers and in formal situations. Moreover, situational shyness showed differential relations to maladjustment. Shyness with familiar peers was associated positively with maladjustment in multiple domains, especially academic and peer difficulties. Shyness with unfamiliar peers and shyness in formal situations, in contrast, were associated primarily with internalizing problems. In addition, shyness with unfamiliar peers and in formal situations occasionally related to positive adjustment, suggesting shyness in specific situations may still be protective in contemporary urban China. The findings provided new evidence that the correlates of shyness depend on the situation in which shyness occurs, and may inform future intervention programs. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Family and Human Development 2019

Childhood mental health problems are considered to fall along internalizing and externalizing dimensions; however, this framing does not fully capture the complexity of the relations among these symptoms. Specifically, internalizing problems (Int), conduct problems (CP), and callous/unemotional (CU) behaviors frequently co-occur and may share emotion functioning and contextual correlates that differentially confer risk across these potential symptom profiles. Research is shifting toward testing models of shared vulnerabilities to childhood emotional and behavioral symptoms, but has yet to extensively examine CU behaviors concurrently with these symptoms. The culmination of findings across relevant literature, though sparse, identifies candidate shared child-specific correlates such as emotion function (i.e., recognition, regulation, lability, processing); exposure to community violence; parent emotion socialization practices; and peer processes (e.g., bullying/victimization, social support) as shared correlates of Int, CP, and CU behaviors that may further differentiate profiles that differ in the frequency, type, or severity of symptoms. Such information could facilitate identification of youth at risk for problematic symptoms and outcomes. The current study sought to identify profiles of Int, CP, and CU behaviors in a sample of 104 low-income (69% income < $19,999; all eligible for free school meals) urban youth (M= 9.93 ± 1.22 years old; 50% male; 95% African American). Teachers rated Int, CP, and CU behaviors; and caregivers rated their emotion socialization practices and youth emotion regulation and lability. Youth reported on bullying, peer victimization, social support, and exposure to community violence and completed two lab tasks to assess emotion recognition and processing. A latent profile analysis yielded three teacher-reported profiles: (1) high internalizing, moderate CU, and moderate CP (High-Int/Mod-CU/CP, n = 16; 51.7% male); (2) high generalized anxiety disorder symptoms, CU, and CP (High-GAD/CU/CP, n = 16; 80.9% male); and (3) low problematic behaviors (Low, n = 59; 45.5% male), with the first two profiles rated as having co-occurring presentations of anxiety, depression, and CU behaviors, with different levels of CP. Auxiliary analyses revealed that the High-Int/Mod-CU/CP and High-GAD/CU/CP profiles differed only in levels of recognition of sad facial expressions, whereas the High-GAD/CU/CP and Low profiles differed on witnessing community violence and emotion regulation. The High-GAD/CU/CP profile also reportedly exhibited the greatest engagement in bullying and emotional lability. Current findings add to the growing literature on profiles of youth emotional and behavioral problems that include different constellations with co-occurring CU behaviors among youth in contexts that place them at increased risk for poor functional outcomes. / Psychology

This study utilized an ecological framework to investigate the types of variables that influence adolescent adjustment during middle school and how influences change or stay the same depending on grade level. A cross-sectional approach was taken in which students entering the beginning of their Sixth Grade year and students nearing the end of their Eighth Grade year were administered a comprehensive questionnaire including items about psychological adjustment, parenting characteristics, community support characteristics, ethnic identity, acculturation status, and socio-economic status. Findings suggest that Sixth and Eighth Graders’ experience of emotional and behavioral problems is influenced differently. This is particularly salient as it pertains to parenting support and acculturation variables. Findings support the notion that individualized, multi-systemic style interventions are valuable even within the developmental period of adolescence as important changes in risk and protective factors are taking place as one moves from early- to mid-adolescence.

No description available.

Shyness is highly related to internalizing problems. However, not all shy children develop serious internalizing problems (IP). The aim of the current study was to identify the endogenous factors that might contribute to the resilience process from a self-regulation perspective. Participants included 73 children (33 boys; 40girls) who visited the lab at 6 and 9 years of age. Shyness, attentional control (AC), inhibitory control (IC), frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry were measured at both 6 and 9 years using age appropriate questionnaires and tasks. Results indicated that age 6 shyness did not directly predict age 9 IP; instead it indirectly predicted IP through age 9 shyness. Neither AC, IC, frontal EEG asymmetry, nor the stability of frontal EEG asymmetry moderated the association between age 6 shyness and age 9 IP. However, there was a positive concurrent association between shyness and IP at 9 years. In addition, AC and IC moderated the shyness-IP association at age 9. Shyness was significantly associated with IP only when children had low AC or IC, but not when children had high AC or IC. / Master of Science / Shyness is highly related to internalizing problems. However, not all shy children develop serious internalizing problems (IP). The aim of the current study was to identify the within-individual factors that might protect children away from having IP from a self-regulation perspective. Participants included 73 children (33 boys; 40girls) who visited the lab at 6 and 9 years of age. Shyness, attentional control (AC), inhibitory control (IC), frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry were measured at both 6 and 9 years using age appropriate questionnaires and tasks. Results indicated that children who are shy at 6 years old may not have IP at 9 years old. Instead children who are shy at 6 years old tend to be shy at 9 years old. And those who are shy at 9 years old are more likely to have IP at the same period of time. Neither AC, IC, frontal EEG asymmetry, nor the stability of frontal EEG asymmetry affect the direction or degree of the association between age 6 shyness and age 9 IP. In addition, AC and IC affect the concurrent shyness-IP association at age 9. Shyness was significantly associated with IP only when children had low AC or IC, but not when children had high AC or IC.

Abstract This study focuses on early attachment and its effects on later cognitive development and mental well-being in Finnish twins and singletons. Altogether 84 infants, including both singletons (N = 27) and twins (N = 57), were assessed at 18 months of age to determine their infant–mother and infant–father attachment using the Preschool Assessment of Attachment (PAA), a modification of the Ainsworth infant classification system. In the whole sample, approximately one third (37%) of the children were assessed as using avoidant/defended insecure (Type A), one third (35%) secure/balanced (Type B), one fifth (20%) resistant/coercive insecure (Type C) and the rest insecure other (IO, 8%) attachment strategy with their mothers, while the corresponding percentages of attachment strategies with fathers were 36%, 33%, 28% and 3%, respectively. The results yielded a difference in the maternal attachment between twins and singletons; the twins were more often Type B attached than the singletons. At 36 months the children were tested with the Stanford-Binet test for measuring their intelligence level. Children with Type A or Type B attachment pattern attained the highest IQ. High socio-economic status of the family and mature pregnancy (≥ 37 weeks) were also significantly linked with higher intelligence levels. At the age of 48 months, the children’s mental well-being was assessed by using CBCL (Child Behavior Checklist, Achenbach) questionnaires completed by the mothers of 22 singletons and 51 twins and the fathers of 20 singletons and 60 twins. Type A attachment strategy with the mother among singleton toddlers was significantly associated with higher CBCL scores reported by mothers, concerning withdrawal, somatic problems and total internalizing symptoms, whereas among twins there were no such correlations. In addition, on the basis of the parental reports singletons had significantly more behavioural and emotional symptoms than the twins. / Tiivistelmä Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan suomalaisten yksös- ja kaksoslasten varhaisen kiintymyssuhteen vaikutusta myöhempään lapsuusiän kehitykseen ja psyykkiseen hyvinvointiin. Yhteensä 84 lapsen, 27 yksösen ja 57 kaksosen, kiintymyssuhdestrategia arviointiin 18 kuukauden iässä äitiin ja isään PAA – menetelmällä (Pre¬school Assessment of Attachment), joka on modifikaatio Ainsworthin pikkulasten kiintymyssuhteen luokitusjärjestelmästä. Lapsista noin kolmanneksella (37%) oli suhteessa äitiin välttelevä kiintymyssuhdestrategia (A-tyyppi), toisella kolmanneksella (35%) turvallinen (B-tyyppi), viidenneksellä (20%) vastustava (C-tyyppi) ja loppuosalla muu turvaton (IO, 8%). Vastaavat osuudet lasten ja isien välisissä kiintymyssuhteissa ryhmittäin (A, B, C ja IO) olivat 36%, 33%, 28% ja 3%. Kaksosten kiintymyssuhdestrategia suhteessa äitiin oli yksösiä useammin turvallinen. Lasten kognitiivinen taso arvioitiin Stanford-Binet –testillä 36 kuukauden iässä. Lapset, joiden kiintymyssuhde äitiin tai isään oli joko A- tai B-tyyppinen, menestyivät testissä parhaiten. Korkea sosioekonominen status ja täysiaikaisuus (≥ 37 raskausviikkoa) olivat yhteydessä merkitsevästi parempaan suoriutumiseen testissä. Lasten psyykkistä hyvinvointia arvioitiin 48 kuukauden iässä CBCL-lomakkeella (Child Behavior Checklist), jonka täytti 51 kaksosen ja 22 yksösen äitiä sekä 60 kaksosen ja 20 yksösen isää. Yksösillä, joilla oli A-tyyppinen kiintymyssuhde äitiin, oli äitien raportoimana merkitsevästi enemmän vetäytymistä, somaattisia oireita ja ylipäätään internalisoivia (tunne-elämän) oireita. Lisäksi vanhemmat raportoivat yksösillä olevan merkitsevästi enemmän sekä käyttäytymisen että tunne-elämän oireita kaksosiin verrattuna.

Adolescence is an important developmental period where friendships become important for social emotional adjustment. Given the importance of friendships in adolescence, the current study explored the relation between popularity and internalizing problems and whether friendship qualities mediated this relation. The present study aimed to answer the following research question: What is the mediating role of friendship qualities in the relationship between perceived popularity and internalizing symptoms? Data from the National Institute of Child Health and Development – Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development were analyzed. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results indicate that adolescents who rated themselves as being high in popularity also reported higher levels of positive friendship qualities. A significant relationship was also found among perceived popularity and internalizing problems such that adolescents who rated themselves as being high in popularity were also reported by their mothers as having lower levels of internalizing problems. Contrary to what was expected, validation and caring significantly mediated the relationship between popularity and anxiety/depression and social problems such that as popularity goes up, so does anxiety/depression, and social problems. Results found conflict and betrayal mediates the relation between popularity and thought problems suggesting adolescents that believe they are popular experience less conflict and betrayal and fewer thought problems. Additionally, conflict resolution, companionship, and recreation each mediated the relationship between popularity and social problems. This suggests that having a friend you can rely on for companionship, recreation and conflict resolution serves as a buffer from the negative consequences of social problems. Help and guidance as a mediator resulted in a positive relation between popularity and social problems which was unexpected. Results support claims that popularity relates to having high quality friendships that protect against internalizing problems. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding outcomes for adolescent adjustment in relation to forming and maintaining positive relationships with peers.

<p>Salivary cortisol and electrocardiogram data was collected at baseline and after a stress-anticipation task in extremely low birth weight (ELBW; < 1000 grams) survivors and normal birth weight (NBW) controls, in order to examine the moderating influence of emotion regulation on the relationship between being born at ELBW and internalizing problems in adulthood. The stress manipulation was an adapted Trier Social Stress Task. The participants were told they would have three minutes to create a speech on one of three predetermined topics (i.e., gun control, same sex marriage, or abortion). After three minutes passed, the particpants were told that there would be no speech. All participants showed a decrease in salivary cortisol levels throughout the day, and an increase in heart rate during the stress anticipation task. When a median split was used to create high and low stress reactive cortisol and heart rate groups, an interaction was found between birth status (ELBW vs. NBW) and group (High vs. Low Stress Reactive Cortisol) on self-reported internalizing problems (anxiety, depression, withdrawal). Those born at ELBW who had high stress reactive cortisol self-reported significantly higher levels of internalizing problems compared to ELBWs with low stress reactive cortisol. Those born at NBW did not differ on self-reported internalizing problems based on their stress reactive cortisol levels. When the moderating effect was probed with a linear regression analysis, the ELBW group was driving the relation between stress reactive cortisol levels and internalizing problems. Taken together, the results suggest that emotion regulation, as indexed by the neuroendocrine system, is moderating the relation between being born at ELBW and internalizing problems in adulthood. This is indicative of a differential susceptibility of risk and resilency in ELBW survivors depending on their ability to regulate their emotions, specifically during periods of stress.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

The Environmental Stress Hypothesis (ESH) illustrates the underlying mechanisms of internalizing problems in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), indicating that the relationship between DCD and internalizing problems could be influenced by numerous physical and psychosocial consequences. However, the potential pathways described in this conceptual framework have not been comprehensively examined. Furthermore, given that child development is a dynamic process, these pathways have not been investigated from a developmental perspective. In order to address these gaps in knowledge, this dissertation sought to advance our understanding of the ESH by examining the underlying mediating pathways connecting DCD and internalizing problems in three age groups: early childhood, late childhood/early adolescence, and young adulthood. Study 1 showed that preschool children at risk for DCD (rDCD) experience more internalizing problems than typically developing children. However, physical activity and BMI do not mediate the relationship between rDCD and internalizing problems. Overall, our findings confirm that rDCD and internalizing problems co-occur in early childhood. Nevertheless, as there is no mediation of physical activity or BMI, the underlying mechanisms may be more related to other psychosocial outcomes (e.g., self-concept or perceived social support), suggested in the ESH. Study 2 examined school-aged children and included global self-worth, one of the psychological outcomes identified in the ESH, to address one of the limitations in Study 1. Findings support the ESH by showing a sequential mediating pathway from probable DCD (pDCD), through physical activity/BMI and global self-worth, to self-reported internalizing problems. Sex was found to moderate the underlying mechanisms of internalizing problems, altering the pathways from pDCD to internalizing problems. Study 3 was conducted to test the full ESH in emerging adults. Results support the mediating effects of psychosocial well-being, including stress, global relationships, perceived social support, and self-concept, on the relationship between poor motor coordination and self-reported psychological distress in young adults. However, in this age group, physical inactivity and higher BMI, did not mediate the relationship between motor coordination and internalizing problems. In conclusion, this dissertation highlights the co-occurrence of motor difficulties and internalizing problems across three developmental stages. The underlying mechanisms of internalizing problems may differ by age and sex. It is also worth noting that compared to physical health, psychosocial well-being may play a more important role as a mediator in the relationship between motor coordination and internalizing problems. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) or poor motor coordination has been linked to the higher levels of internalizing problems, such as anxiety and/or depression. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Although the Environmental Stress Hypothesis (ESH) provides a theoretical framework illustrating that physical and psychosocial consequences of DCD may play important roles, this model has not been comprehensively examined. Therefore, this dissertation tested different components of the ESH in three age groups (i.e., preschool age, school age, and young adulthood) in an attempt to provide a better understanding of why motor difficulties cause more internalizing problems from a developmental perspective. Findings confirm that children with DCD and adults with poor motor coordination are at greater risk for internalizing problems, and that perceptions of self may play a more important role explaining the relationship. However, the potential pathways from motor difficulties to internalizing problems may differ by sex and age. In summary, it is recommended that, in order to prevent or improve mental health problems, interventions should target improvements in self-concept, such as self-esteem, through participation in physical activity or weight control, while taking into account sex and age.