Daily Identity Dynamics in Adolescence Shaping Identity in Emerging Adulthood: An 11-Year Longitudinal Study on Continuity in Development

English Trans-Adaptation and Content Validity Testing of the Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PPQ-E) Among Rural Youth

BACKGROUND

Psychological capital (PsyCap), the combination of hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism, is gaining relevance for understanding youth life satisfaction and wellbeing. Typically a variety of unidimensional scales are used to measure PsyCap in mental health studies with English-speaking youth, limiting the ability to compare results across studies. The Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PPQ) is a multi-dimensional tool developed with Asian youth to measure general PsyCap. The purpose of this study is to describe the trans-adaptation process and content validity testing of the PPQ in English (PPQ-E) and to describe how rural US youth feel about discussing items on the scale.

METHODS

An iterative process of trans-adaptation was utilized to establish content validity, including forward-backward translation by the original scale developer, advisory forums with a diverse rural teen council, and expert panel review. Written notes and dictated field notes were taken during and following the teen advisory council (TAC) meeting. Content validity index scores for item and total scale clarity and relevance were computed using frequencies.

RESULTS

The majority of items on the 26-item PPQ-E received minor modifications based on TAC feedback. Qualitative feedback demonstrated validity of items and that this activity was a positive experience.

CONCLUSION

This study describes a rigorous process of trans-adaptation of a scale to measure general PsyCap for use with rural US youth. The next step for the PPQ-E is to further test the scale with a large sample of rural US youth.

Genetic Contributions on Attachment in Emerging Adults: Cumulative Effects of Serotonergic Polymorphisms

Attachment in emerging adults is closely intertwined with emotion regulation, stress coping, and social bonding during the transition from childhood to early adulthood. Due to the critical roles of serotonin in these mental functions, this research explored whether the cumulative genetic effects of serotonergic polymorphisms are associated with individual differences and contextual variations in attachment dimensions over time in emerging adults. Study 1 utilized a cross-sectional design in college students (N = 1088, mean age = 22.71 ± 2.86 years). The results showed significant correlations between a higher cumulative genetic score and elevated levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance. Study 2 employed a three-wave longitudinal design in a cohort of freshmen (N = 523, mean age = 19.54 ± 1.86 years at wave 1). The results demonstrated that a higher genetic score was associated with both higher levels and greater variability in attachment dimensions compared to a lower genetic score. These findings suggest that the cumulative genetic effects of serotonergic polymorphisms contribute to individual differences and dynamic processes in attachment dimensions in emerging adults.

Emotional and Behavioural Problems in Spanish University Students: Association with Lifestyle Habits and Mental Well-Being

Emotional health represents a significant burden on the mental health of university students. Adapting to a new learning environment and facing increased academic pressure make this period particularly vulnerable for their emotional health and well-being. The objective of the study was to analyse the prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems in university students and their association with lifestyle habits, and mental and physical health indicators. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1268 students (23.65 ± 7.84 years) from a university in northern Spain during November 2020 and March 2021. An online questionnaire was administered, comprising the self-report Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire, the Trait Meta-Mood Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the SENTIA-Brief Scale, the KIDMED questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and the Compulsive Internet Use Scale. 27.60% of students exhibited some form of emotional and behavioural problem. Students who did not present emotional and behavioural problems showed lower perceived stress, reduced suicidal behaviour and emotional intelligence deficits, as well as lower alcohol consumption and compulsive internet use (p < 0.001). Additionally, they reported higher engagement in physical activity and greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet (p < 0.001). The study shows that emotional and behavioural problems are recurring among university students, and given that modifiable psychosocial and lifestyle factors are associated with these issues, it underscores the need to develop multidisciplinary intervention strategies.

From cross-lagged effects to feedback effects: Further insights into the estimation and interpretation of bidirectional relations

Bidirectional relations have long been of interest in psychology and other social behavioral sciences. In recent years, the widespread use of intensive longitudinal data has provided new opportunities to examine dynamic bidirectional relations between variables. However, most previous studies have focused on the effect of one variable on the other (i.e., cross-lagged effects) rather than the overall effect representing the dynamic interplay between two variables (i.e., feedback effects), which we believe may be due to a lack of relevant methodological guidance. To quantify bidirectional relations as a whole, this study attempted to provide guidance for the estimation and interpretation of feedback effects based on dynamic structural equation models. First, we illustrated the estimation procedure for the average and person-specific feedback effects. Then, to facilitate the interpretation of feedback effects, we established an empirical benchmark by quantitatively synthesizing the results of relevant empirical studies. Finally, we used a set of empirical data to demonstrate how feedback effects can help (a) test theories based on bidirectional relations and (b) reveal correlates of individual differences in bidirectional relations. We also discussed the broad application prospects of feedback effects from a dynamic systems perspective. This study provides guidance for applied researchers interested in further examining feedback effects in bidirectional relations, and the shift from focusing on cross-lagged effects only to a comprehensive consideration of feedback effects may provide new insights into the study of bidirectional relations.

Longitudinal processes among humility, social justice activism, transcendence, and well-being

Introduction

Existing research shows positive associations between humility and well-being, and between civic engagement and well-being. Rarely have humility, civic engagement, and well-being been examined together. We build off of previous cross-sectional findings and a prior longitudinal study that used three waves of data and found significant positive bivariate correlations between humility and the presence of life purpose across time points.

Methods

Extending these previous findings, we used six waves of data obtained from graduate students at 18 seminaries across North America (N = 574; Mage = 31.54; 46.7% female; 65.3% White) to explore the dynamic associations among humility and life purpose, along with horizontal transcendence (an indicator of the attitudinal dimension of civic engagement) and social justice activism (an indicator for the behavioral dimension). We explored reciprocal short-run processes and dynamic long-run effects using a general cross-lagged panel model.

Results and discussion

We found robust evidence for a reciprocal influence between the presence of life purpose and horizontal transcendence, and long-run effects for initial levels of life purpose to influence later levels of horizontal transcendence. We also found long-run effects for the influence of initial levels of life purpose on later levels of humility, and initial levels of social justice activism on later levels of horizontal transcendence. Implications center on the use of the findings for planning future one-time life purpose and social justice interventions to affect changes in humility and horizontal transcendence.

What is in the news today? How media-related affect shapes adolescents' stance towards the EU

INTRODUCTION

Adolescence is regarded as a formative period for political development. One important developmental context is media. Negatively perceived political media content can foster populistic attitudes, which in turn decreases support of political institutions, such as the European Union (EU). As media valence effects are short-lived, this study examined intra-individual associations of media valence with European identity commitment and affect towards the EU, as well as indirect effects via populistic attitudes across 10 days.

METHODS

We implemented a 10-day daily diary study with 371 adolescents from Germany (January to February 2022). Adolescents were on average 14.24 years old (SD = 0.55) and 60.4% were female. We estimated the hypothesized associations using multilevel structural equation models and dynamic structural equation models.

RESULTS

We found significant associations between populistic attitudes and negative affect towards the EU on the same day and the next day. The lagged effect became nonsignificant, when including both same day and lagged effects into one model. Populistic attitudes were not significantly associated with European identity commitment within days or across days. Negative media content was associated with higher populistic attitudes on the same day and indirectly associated with negative affect towards the EU (b = -.01, 95% credible interval [-0.010, -0.004]).

CONCLUSION

Negatively perceived political media content was associated with higher populistic attitudes and more negative affect towards the EU concurrently. Our results imply that media plays an important role for adolescents' development.

An integrated smoking cessation and alcohol intervention among Hong Kong Chinese young people: Study protocol for a feasibility randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Young smokers always partake in both smoking and drinking. However, drinking undermines their likelihood to attempt quitting smoking or to successfully abstain from smoking. Hence, this trial will examine the feasibility of implementing an integrated smoking cessation and alcohol intervention in young Hong Kong Chinese people. Effect sizes of the integrated intervention (II) on self-reported and biochemically validated quit rates will also be calculated.

METHODS

The study will be a three-arm randomized controlled trial in a convenience sample of 150 smokers aged 18-25 years with alcohol drinking. Participants will be randomized into a standard treatment (ST), II, or control arm. The ST group will receive a brief smoking cessation intervention based on the 5A (Ask, Assess, Advice, Assist, Arrange) and 5R (Relevance, Risks, Rewards, Roadblocks, Repetition) models. The II group will receive brief advice on alcohol use based on the FRAMES (Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu, Empathy, Efficacy) model in addition to the brief smoking cessation intervention. Both the ST and II groups will receive booster interventions at 1-week, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up. The control group will receive leaflets on smoking cessation and alcohol reduction. Self-reported quitters at 6-month follow-up will be invited for biochemical validation. The primary outcomes are feasibility measures. The secondary outcomes are effect size of II on self-reported and biochemically validated quit rates at 6 months relative to control and ST. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 1-week, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups.

ANALYSIS

Descriptive statistics will be used to calculate the feasibility measures. The three arms will be compared using analysis of variance for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables. Effect sizes of II for self-reported and biochemically validated quit rates at 6 months will be determined using the generalized estimating equation model.

Neurocircuitry of Personality Traits and Intent in Decision-Making

Even though most personality features are moderately stable throughout life, changes can be observed, which influence one's behavioral patterns. A variety of subjective assessments can be performed to track these changes; however, the subjective characteristic of these assessments may lead to questions about intentions and values. The use of neuroimaging techniques may aid the investigation of personality traits through a more objective lens, overcoming the barriers imposed by confounders. Here, neurocircuits associated with changes in personality domains were investigated to address this issue. Cortical systems involved in traits such as extraversion and neuroticism were found to share multiple components, as did traits of agreeableness and conscientiousness, with these four features revolving around the activation and structural integrity of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The attribute of openness appears scattered throughout cortical and subcortical regions, being discussed here as a possible reflection of intent, at the same time modulating and being governed by other traits. Insights on how systems operate on personality may increase comprehension on factors acting on the evolution, development, and consolidation of personality traits through life, as in neurocognitive disorders.

The Role of Parental Socio-Economic Status and Perceived Career-Related Behaviors in Developmental Trajectories of Educational Identity in Adolescence: A Four-Wave Study

Personal identity formation is a key developmental task of adolescence, with the educational domain being a core life domain. Parents are gatekeepers of adolescent career development but their role in facilitating educational identity formation still needs to be uncovered. The present study investigated developmental trajectories of educational identity processes (commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment) across two academic years. Educational identity processes, parental socio-economic status, and parental career-related behaviors (support, interference, lack of engagement) were appraised through a four-wave longitudinal study with 5- to 6-month intervals ( N = 744; M age = 15.2 years, 55% girls). Results of the latent class growth analysis revealed five educational identity trajectories (i.e., Undifferentiated, Searching moratorium, Foreclosed, Diffusion, and Achievement). Commitment and in-depth exploration processes were stable for all five trajectories. The undifferentiated trajectory (medium stable levels for all identity processes) was the most prevalent. Parental socio-economic status and perceived parental support correlated positively with achievement and searching moratorium trajectories and negatively with diffused and undifferentiated trajectories. Foreclosed adolescents perceived their parents as the most engaged. Trajectories characterized by high reconsideration of commitment also correlated the most with perceived parental interference. The results bring forward valuable insights into the role parents play in their adolescents’ educational identity development.

Mass media pressure on physical build, psychological well-being and physical-healthy profile. An explanatory model in adulthood

Background

The pressure exerted by the media on mental image, psychological well-being and the physical-dietary sphere is of vital interest in understanding human behavioral patterns at different stages of development. The present research reflects the objectives of developing an explanatory model of the associations between media pressure and physical build on psychological well-being, physical activity and the Mediterranean diet and testing the structural model using a multi-group model according to participants' stage of adulthood development.

Methods

A descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 634 participants aged between 18 and 65 years (35.18 ± 9.68). An ad hoc socio-demographic questionnaire, Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questtionnaire-4, Psychological Well-Being Scale, Predimed questtionnaire and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form were used for data collection.

Results

Participants in early adulthood show higher scores for media pressure and for pressure on physical build. It is also observed that participants in middle adulthood show higher scores for psychological well-being and physical activity levels.

Conclusions

In conclusion, it can be seen that there are a large number of physical, physical-health and psychological differences in each of the phases of adulthood.

Pre-Occupation: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression of Gender Differences in Adolescent Vocational Interests

Vocational interests have important implications for a range of life outcomes, such as satisfaction with career choice. Extending research on gender differences in vocational interests with adult samples, we sought to evaluate whether a similar pattern emerged during adolescence in a meta-analysis and explored moderators via meta-regression. Examining 41 studies using 3-level meta-analysis, gender differences in vocational interests are substantially accounted for using Holland’s RIASEC framework. Male adolescents have higher interests in Realistic and Investigative careers and female adolescents have higher interests in Social and Artistic careers. The differences were not moderated by year, national gender inequality ratings, or scale type. The study highlights that there are patterns in gender differences in the vocational interests of adolescents, that these differences reflect those found with adult samples, and that the differences have been stable over the past 80 years.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, tell me that I have succeeded at it all: Self-esteem and the defensive mechanisms against failure

Students face frequent formal and informal tests, both in the academic context and social life. On each of these occasions, they risk falling short of their own or others’ expectations. Facing failure is a psychological challenge, and people can react with defensive strategies, which may have negative consequences. Here we investigated the role of self-esteem as a possible buffer against these defensive strategies. Previous research has demonstrated that, in the face of failure, individuals with discrepant (fragile: high explicit and low implicit, or damaged: high implicit and low explicit) self-esteem are more likely to engage in defensive mechanisms than individuals with consistent implicit and explicit self-esteem. Two studies investigate the relationship between implicit and explicit self-esteem and two defensive strategies against the threat of failure: subjective overachievement and retroactive excuses. In Study 1 (N = 176 high school students), we find an association between fragile self-esteem and subjective overachievement. In Study 2 (N = 101 university students), damaged self-esteem is related to the increased use of retroactive excuses as a form of self-serving bias. These results add to the growing body of evidence documenting the maladaptive nature of fragile and damaged self-esteem.

Lifestyle, psychological well-being, and body mass index of indigenous women

Lifestyle, psychological well-being, and body mass index of indigenous women. Introduction. Obesity is more common in women and has also been found to be present in indigenous populations. During university studies, obesity-related lifestyles are in the process of consolidation, and although this is known, research is limited to addressing physical activity and diet, ignoring other lifestyle components, such as life appreciation. Additionally, there is a need to corroborate whether psychological well-being contributes to excess weight in indigenous women. Objective. To determine whether there is an association between lifestyle, psychological well-being, and body mass index (BMI) in indigenous women. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 female Zapotec university students in Juchitán, Oaxaca, Mexico. The Psychological Well-Being Scale, the Healthy Lifestyle Scale for University Students, and a questionnaire about personal data were used. Body weight and height were measured to calculate BMI. Results. There was a negative correlation between BMI, self-acceptance (r = -0.33; p < 0.01), and life appreciation (r = -0.22; p < 0.05). Positive correlations were found between lifestyle and psychological well-being dimensions, with the strongest correlations being observed between life appreciation and purpose in life (r = 0.55) and self-acceptance (r = 0.48). The multivariable models determined that life appreciation and self-acceptance are associated with BMI. Conclusion. Life appreciation and self-acceptance are predictors of BMI and are even more strongly associated than exercise and nutrition behaviors.

Using temporal network methods to reveal the idiographic nature of development

Averages dominate developmental science: There are representative groups, mean trajectories, and generalizations to typical children. Nearly all parents and teachers, however, eagerly proclaim that few youth are average; each child, adolescent, and young adult is unique. Indeed, individual youth are the focus of many eminent developmental theories, yet there is a shocking paucity of developmental methods-including study designs and analysis techniques-that truly afford individual-level inferences. Thus, the goal of this chapter is to explicate the advantages of an idiographic approach to developmental science, that is, an approach that provides insight into individual youth, often by studying within-person variation in intensive longitudinal data, such as densely coded observations, repeated daily or momentary assessments, and functional neuroimages. In three domains across development, the chapter illustrates the benefits of an idiographic approach by comparing empirical conclusions offered by traditional mean-based analysis techniques versus techniques that leverage the temporal and individualized nature of intensive longitudinal data. The chapter then concentrates on group iterative multiple model estimation (GIMME), which is an analysis technique that uses intensive longitudinal data to create youth-specific temporal networks, detailing how brain regions or behaviors are directionally related across time. The promise of GIMME is exemplified by applications to three different domains across development. The chapter closes by encouraging future idiographic developmental science to consider how research questions, study designs, and data analyses can be formed, implemented, and conducted in ways that optimize inferences about individual-not average-youth.

Developmental Interplay between Ethnic, National, and Personal Identity in Immigrant Adolescents

Developing a personal identity is a core developmental task for all adolescents. Immigrant adolescents need to integrate the meaning that their belonging to their ethnic group and the receiving nation has for them into their personal identity. The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal interplay between personal, ethnic, and national identities of a middle school sample of immigrant youth (N = 765, Mage = 12.7 years, SD = 0.6 at T1; 46% girls) enroled in Greek schools. Data were collected in three waves with repeated measures. To test the link between these identities, two trivariate Cross-Lagged Panel Models were ran, one examining identity exploration and the other examining identity commitment. The results revealed robust within time positive links between ethnic, national and personal identities for both exploration and commitment at all three time-points. There was some evidence that ethnic and national identities were negatively linked longitudinally, and limited support for longitudinal associations between these domains and personal identity. Follow-up analyses suggest that these processes may be specific to second generation youth and that findings may differ by ethnic background. Finally, the findings that emerged are discussed with attention to the socio-political climate in the receiving nation.