Although the link between substance use and criminal behavior is well-established, associations between the use of specific substances and specific criminal charges remains unclear. That is, there are mixed findings in the literature, and... more
Although the link between substance use and criminal behavior is well-established, associations between the use of specific substances and specific criminal charges remains unclear. That is, there are mixed findings in the literature, and the majority of extant literature focuses only on associations between alcohol and marijuana use and a limited range of charges. The current study examined 30-day frequency of use of various substances (i.e., traditional tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, e-cigarettes, and prescription drugs) prior to detainment, percentages of youth charged with various offenses, and whether certain offenses were associated with more frequent use of particular substances prior to detainment among detained youth. Additionally, differences in substance-charge associations among Black and White youth were evaluated. Detained youth (N = 235; 71.9% male; M age = 15.59 years) from two facilities self-reported on their substance use and the facilities provided charge data. Marijuana was the most frequent substance used and violent-related offenses were the most common charge received. Interestingly, several charges (i.e., sex-, weapon-, and violent-related offenses) were associated with less frequent use of tobacco and/or marijuana use, but youth who were detained for non-criminal reasons (i.e., children in need of care) reported more frequent use of various substances than youth detained for criminal charges. Findings were more similar than different for Black and White youth, with very few differences evident. Children in need of care appear more at risk for certain substances than those detained for criminal offenses, with associations similar for detained Black and White youth.
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There are limited studies examining associations between callous-unemotional (CU) traits and peer victimization, with some research suggesting a positive association between these two constructs and other studies indicating no... more
There are limited studies examining associations between callous-unemotional (CU) traits and peer victimization, with some research suggesting a positive association between these two constructs and other studies indicating no association. However, no research to date has examined these associations among justice-involved youth, and CU traits may operate differently for youth who are involved in activity that results in detainment. The current study attempts to further clarify these associations by examining links between CU traits and peer victimization and examining CU traits as a moderator of associations between each form of victimization and depression symptoms, a common adjustment outcome associated with peer victimization. Finally sex differences in associations were considered. Self-reported measures were collected from 269 detained youth (75% male). Regression analyses indicated that CU traits were negatively associated with relational victimization. In contrast, CU traits were either unrelated or positively related to physical victimization, depending on whether the variance associated with relational victimization was considered. CU traits did not moderate links between both forms of victimization and depression symptoms for males or females. Findings suggest that CU traits may operate differently with various forms of victimization among justice-involved youth, with CU traits consistently linked to lower levels of relational victimization. It may be that the impact of CU traits depends on contextual/situational factors.
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Emotional/behavioral concerns are common among children with ADHD. Familial factors (e.g., parental adjustment, parenting behaviors) are linked to the presence of comorbid internalizing/externalizing symptoms among children with ADHD. The... more
Emotional/behavioral concerns are common among children with ADHD. Familial factors (e.g., parental adjustment, parenting behaviors) are linked to the presence of comorbid internalizing/externalizing symptoms among children with ADHD. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a model that includes multiple familial variables and their direct and indirect effects on child emotional and behavioral problems among children with ADHD. Participants included parents of children (6–12 years of age; M = 8.87, SD = 1.92) with a diagnosis of ADHD ( N = 300). Participants completed measures of child emotional/behavioral concerns, parental distress, routines, and parenting behaviors. Path analyses revealed direct effects for parental distress, parent behavior and routines on child adjustment, after controlling for the other variables. A significant indirect relation between parental distress, routines, and externalizing behavior was observed. These findings highlight one specific path through which parental distress appears to influence specific behavioral concerns that are commonly observed in children with ADHD.
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The current study examined associations between sibling victimization and anxiety and depression symptoms while also considering peer victimization within time and six months later among elementary school-age youth. Both sibling and peer... more
The current study examined associations between sibling victimization and anxiety and depression symptoms while also considering peer victimization within time and six months later among elementary school-age youth. Both sibling and peer victimization were associated with depression symptoms within as well as across time when considered independently. However, when examined together, peer victimization was only uniquely associated with depression symptoms within time and sibling victimization was only uniquely associated with depression symptoms across time. Sibling and peer victimization were associated with anxiety symptoms within, but not across, time when examined independently, and no associations were evident when sibling and peer victimization were examined simultaneously. No interactive effects of sibling and peer victimization were evident for depression or anxiety symptoms, indicating unique rather than cumulative contributions. Findings suggest that the impact of sibling victimization on depression symptoms is more robust than effects of peer victimization over time.
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Childhood aggression is associated with many deleterious outcomes and is a common reason for psychiatric referral (Card & Little, 2006; Gurnani et al., 2016). One factor associated with childhood aggression is Adverse Childhood... more
Childhood aggression is associated with many deleterious outcomes and is a common reason for psychiatric referral (Card & Little, 2006; Gurnani et al., 2016). One factor associated with childhood aggression is Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs; Felitti et al., 1998). However, existing research remains equivocal on which characteristics of ACEs (e.g., cumulative impact, typology, etc.) are significantly elated to aggression, especially when considering differential effects of ACEs on proactive aggression (PA) and reactive aggression (RA; Dodge & Coie, 1987). Post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are a common negative sequalae of ACEs and are characterized by disruptions in several cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes similar to those associated with both RA and PA (e.g., Marsee, 2008). As such, the examination of PTSS as an underlying mechanism of influence on the relation between ACEs, PA, and RA is warranted. The present study fills several gaps in the literature by examining ACE characteristics that might be related to PTSS, PA, and RA while also examining direct and indirect effects on the relation between ACEs, PTSS and PA and RA. Results indicated the type of ACE, specifically child maltreatment ACEs (CM-ACEs), was most strongly related to all outcome variables. Therefore, CM-ACEs were included in a path analysis with PTSS, PA, and RA. Results indicated a significant indirect effect for PTSS on the relation between CM-ACEs and RA (β = .18, p < .01) but not PA. Findings have several implications for future research and clinical practice, especially for children with an extensive history of CM-ACEs.
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ABSTRACT Background: Extant literature suggests that associations between aggression and substance use differ based on proactive and reactive functions of aggression and the specific substance use outcomes examined. To date, no research... more
ABSTRACT Background: Extant literature suggests that associations between aggression and substance use differ based on proactive and reactive functions of aggression and the specific substance use outcomes examined. To date, no research has examined links between these functions of aggression and e-cigarette use specifically, which could aid in developing prevention and intervention efforts of this substance that is gaining popularity among youth. Methods: The current study examines associations between youth reports of proactive and reactive aggression and lifetime e-cigarette use in a sample of middle school-age youth, during a developmental time in which risk for e-cigarette use increases. Results: Findings suggested that while both proactive and reactive aggression are associated with lifetime e-cigarette use, reactive aggression is more robustly linked to e-cigarette use (as well as lifetime alcohol use) than proactive aggression. Further, these associations were not moderated by youth perceptions of parental approval of e-cigarette use. Conclusions: Reactive aggression appears to be most strongly associated with e-cigarette use in middle school. Findings and their implications are further discussed.
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Objective: Substance use peaks in emerging adulthood, with evidence suggesting that college-attending emerging adults have a higher rate of substance use than their non-college attending peers. More insight into the factors that might... more
Objective: Substance use peaks in emerging adulthood, with evidence suggesting that college-attending emerging adults have a higher rate of substance use than their non-college attending peers. More insight into the factors that might contribute to substance use among college-attending emerging adults is needed. The current study examined the moderating role of emotion reactivity in the link between perceived importance of reasons for not using substances and lifetime marijuana and alcohol use. Participants: 440 undergraduate students under the age of 21 (M = 18.67, 47.7% Male) from a large Midwestern university participated in the study. Methods Participants responded survey items assessing reasons for not using, lifetime marijuana and alcohol use, and emotion reactivity. Results: Emotion reactivity only moderated the link between reasons for not using alcohol (i.e., reasons related to self-control) and lifetime alcohol use. Conclusions: Future research on reasons for not using is warranted. Implications for preventative interventions are discussed.
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ABSTRACT E-cigarette use among adolescents continues to rise. However, little research has examined factors that influence adolescent e-cigarette use. The goal of the current study was to better understand family influences (i.e.,... more
ABSTRACT E-cigarette use among adolescents continues to rise. However, little research has examined factors that influence adolescent e-cigarette use. The goal of the current study was to better understand family influences (i.e., perceptions of parental attitudes and sibling use) of e-cigarette use and determine how these influences on e-cigarette use compared to their influence on other substances (i.e., alcohol, traditional tobacco, and marijuana). A sample of 279 9th to 12th graders completed surveys, and results indicated that adolescents perceive that their parents feel that e-cigarettes are less wrong than traditional tobacco use and similarly wrong to marijuana use. Siblings used traditional tobacco at a higher rate than e-cigarettes and marijuana, which siblings have used at similar rates. Alcohol was perceived to be the substance that parents felt was least wrong to use and the most used substance by siblings. Perceptions of parental attitudes toward substances were related to adolescent use of all substances. Sibling use was positively associated with traditional tobacco, e-cigarette, and marijuana use, but not alcohol use. Thus, it appears that adolescent e-cigarette use is influenced by both parental attitudes and sibling use.
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ABSTRACT Background: Middle school age youth are increasing their use of e-cigarettes, which creates a major public health concern. However, more research examining e-cigarette use in this age group is needed. Methods: The current study... more
ABSTRACT Background: Middle school age youth are increasing their use of e-cigarettes, which creates a major public health concern. However, more research examining e-cigarette use in this age group is needed. Methods: The current study examines trends in e-cigarette use, perceptions of parental attitudes regarding e-cigarettes, and sibling use over a three-year period (Fall 2016 to Spring 2019) and how these rates compared to other substances (traditional tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana) within time in a sample of middle school age youth residing in the Midwest United States. Results: Findings indicate an increase in youth endorsing lifetime e-cigarette use in 2018 and 2019, with percentages of youth reporting e-cigarette use higher than traditional tobacco use and marijuana use. Further, more youth are indicating more favorable parental attitudes regarding their use of e-cigarettes in 2018 and 2019, with similar perceptions of parental attitudes regarding alcohol use. The percentage of youth who endorsed sibling use of e-cigarettes did not change over the three years. Conclusions: Findings suggest that more work is needed to prevent the initiation of e-cigarettes among middle school age youth, and one avenue may include parents communicating their disapproval as well as the harms associated with use.
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There is growing evidence indicating that a lack of perceived containment, or youth's beliefs about whether adults can control their behavior, is associated with problem behavior. However, little research has examined factors that may... more
There is growing evidence indicating that a lack of perceived containment, or youth's beliefs about whether adults can control their behavior, is associated with problem behavior. However, little research has examined factors that may contribute to perceived containment, which would be helpful in further tailoring prevention and intervention efforts for problem behavior. The current study evaluated associations between callous-unemotional (C/U) traits, peer delinquency, neighborhood problems, and perceived containment. Associations were examined using a sample of detained youth. Findings indicated that while all three factors were correlated with perceived containment, only C/U traits (particularly the callousness and uncaring subscales) and peer delinquency were uniquely associated with perceived containment. Further, C/U traits did not moderate the links between peer delinquency or neighborhood problems and perceived containment. This study supports the influence of both individual and contextual factors on perceived containment, suggesting multiple factors to target for prevention and intervention.
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Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) appears to be distinct from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and unique patterns of association between SCT and comorbid symptoms have been reported in the literature. The current study... more
Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) appears to be distinct from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and unique patterns of association between SCT and comorbid symptoms have been reported in the literature. The current study examined the relation between environmental supports and comorbid concerns among children with high SCT. Parents of children (ages 6–12) with a diagnosis of ADHD and clinically elevated SCT (N = 126) completed measures of emotional/behavioral functioning, child routines, and parental adjustment. Regression analyses revealed that after controlling for child age and parental adjustment, Household and Daily Living routines were associated with lower levels of externalizing symptoms while Discipline routines were associated with higher levels of these symptoms, accounting for nearly 20% of the variance in the equation. The findings suggest that for children with ADHD and high SCT routines may play an important role as an environmental support for externalizing symptoms.
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There is preliminary research indicating that perceived containment, or one’s perception that adults can control one’s behavior, is associated with aggression and other problem behavior. However, more research is needed to understand the... more
There is preliminary research indicating that perceived containment, or one’s perception that adults can control one’s behavior, is associated with aggression and other problem behavior. However, more research is needed to understand the construct of perceived containment. To this end, the current study sought to assess the following aims in a sample of middle childhood-age youth: 1) Evaluate the stability of perceived containment over a 6-month period, 2) Examine whether perceived containment is associated with proactive and reactive aggression and disciplinary actions within as well as across time, and 3) Evaluate sex differences in these associations. Youth self-reports of perceived containment, teacher reports of proactive and reactive aggression, and school records of disciplinary actions at time 1 (Spring 2017) and 6 months later (Fall 2017) were collected. Findings indicated that perceived containment is stable over a 6-month period and is associated with problem behavior, most robustly disciplinary actions, but findings were not consistent across time points. At time 1, high levels of perceived containment were associated with decreased risk for disciplinary actions for girls, but not boys; no other sex differences were evident. Implications for findings and future directions are discussed.
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BackgroundAlthough there are concerns regarding the use of restrictive housing with detained youth, little research has examined factors that contribute to youth risk for restrictive housing.ObjectiveThe current study examined whether... more
BackgroundAlthough there are concerns regarding the use of restrictive housing with detained youth, little research has examined factors that contribute to youth risk for restrictive housing.ObjectiveThe current study examined whether perceived containment and contextual factors (i.e., peer delinquency, neighborhood problems, stressful life events, and parental psychological control) were predictive of levels of restrictive housing (i.e., Tier 2 and Tier 3) in a sample of detained youth.MethodYouth self-reports of constructs were examined as predictors of levels of restrictive housing.ResultsAnalyses indicated that while peer delinquency was only associated with Tier 2 intervention (i.e., day room restriction), perceived containment and neighborhood problems were only associated with Tier 3 intervention (i.e., lockdowns and restraints). Neither stressful life events nor parental psychological control were associated with any restrictive housing outcome. Finally, the number of days in detention were robustly positively associated with all restrictive housing outcomes examined.ConclusionsFindings suggest that factors beyond the facility (e.g., neighborhood environment, peer groups) may have a meaningful impact on behavior while detained.
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BackgroundThere is limited research examining outcomes associated with cyber victimization among middle school age youth, which is a time of increased online usage and risk for problem behaviors.ObjectiveThe current study evaluated... more
BackgroundThere is limited research examining outcomes associated with cyber victimization among middle school age youth, which is a time of increased online usage and risk for problem behaviors.ObjectiveThe current study evaluated associations between cyber victimization, lifetime substance use, and anxiety and depression symptoms over an academic year while also considering physical and relational victimization.MethodSurveys were completed by 260 students (53% male, ages 11–15) in middle school within a small, rural area in the fall and spring of an academic year.ResultsRegression analyzes indicated that cyber victimization was linked to increased risk for substance use concurrently and prospectively. Cyber victimization, however, was not related to anxiety or depression symptoms at either time point when also considering physical and relational victimization.ConclusionsCyber victimization is evident in middle school and increases the risk for substance use.
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Further research is needed to understand factors contributing to reactive and proactive functions of aggression in order to develop more targeted prevention and intervention strategies. Perceived containment, or one’s perception that... more
Further research is needed to understand factors contributing to reactive and proactive functions of aggression in order to develop more targeted prevention and intervention strategies. Perceived containment, or one’s perception that authority figures have the ability to set limits on their behavior, has been linked to aggression. However, it is not known how perceived containment is linked to these specific functions of aggression. Additionally, it is not clear how behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation motivational systems may impact these links. The current study evaluated these associations in a sample of 134 detained youth (73.1% male; M age = 15.94 years). Regression analyses indicated that perceived containment was more robustly associated with reactive than proactive aggression; however behavioral inhibition moderated associations for both proactive and reactive aggression. At high levels of behavioral inhibition, levels of reactive aggression were consistently high regardless of levels of perceived containment. In contrast, low levels of behavioral inhibition combined with high levels of perceived containment were associated with the lowest levels of reactive aggression. Additionally, low levels of perceived containment combined with high levels of behavioral inhibition were associated with the highest levels of proactive aggression. Implications for findings are discussed.
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ObjectiveUnderstanding factors that impact child adjustment is imperative. Parental adjustment, parenting behaviors, and environmental factors (e.g., child routines) have been linked to child behavior. In clinical child populations, these... more
ObjectiveUnderstanding factors that impact child adjustment is imperative. Parental adjustment, parenting behaviors, and environmental factors (e.g., child routines) have been linked to child behavior. In clinical child populations, these factors are particularly important given the increased demands the child’s disorder often places on caregivers. Furthermore, children in clinical populations often engage in increased levels of internalizing and externalizing behaviors both related to and in addition to the core symptoms of their disorder. Two such clinical child populations are Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).PurposeThe first goal of the present study was to elucidate parental and environmental factors that predicted child behavior in ADHD and ASD. Based on Sameroff’s Transactional Model of Development (2009), it was hypothesized that parental adjustment, parenting behaviors and child routines would collectively predict child behavior. A second goal was to examine differences in patterns of association between ADHD and ASD groups. Due to differences in the core symptoms of each disorder, it was hypothesized that the strength of associations would vary between groups.MethodResearchers examined the impact of parental adjustment, parenting behaviors, and child routines on internalizing and externalizing child behavior using parent-report measures (CBCL, CRQ, HSCL-25, APQ) of children ages 6 to 12.ResultsResults indicated that for both groups, poor parental adjustment directly predicted externalizing child behavior and indirectly through harsh/disengaged parenting behavior. Fewer warm/supportive parenting behaviors predicted internalizing behavior, and more harsh/disengaged parenting predicted externalizing behavior. Higher levels of child routines predicted internalizing behavior for both groups but had a significantly stronger effect for children with ASD than ADHD.Clinical SignificanceFindings have important implications for interventions on several levels (e.g., parental adjustment, parenting behaviors, and environmental supports) in both the ADHD and ASD populations.
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A large literature documents that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration among adults. However, research on this relationship among adolescents and young adults has... more
A large literature documents that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration among adults. However, research on this relationship among adolescents and young adults has been plagued by methodological flaws (e.g., cross-sectional designs). Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine the longitudinal and bidirectional associations between PTSD symptoms and psychological and physical IPV perpetration from adolesence to young adulthood. A sample of racially and ethnically diverse high school students ( N = 1,042; 56% female) were assessed annually for 6 years (from 2010 to 2015 in Southeastern Texas). At each assessment, participants completed measures of PTSD symptoms and psychological and physical IPV perpetration. The mean age of the sample at the first assessment was 15.09 ( SD = .79). Structural equation modeling demonstrated that PTSD symptoms at Years 2, 3, and 4 predicted increases in psychological IPV...
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Parental adjustment, parenting behaviors, and child routines have been linked to internalizing and externalizing child behavior. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a comprehensive model examining relations among these... more
Parental adjustment, parenting behaviors, and child routines have been linked to internalizing and externalizing child behavior. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a comprehensive model examining relations among these variables in children with ASD and their parents. Based on Sameroff's Transactional Model of Development (Sameroff in: The transactional model of development: How children and contexts shape each other, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, 2009), researchers hypothesized that these factors would collectively predict child behavior. Parents (n = 67) completed measures of parental adjustment, parenting behaviors, child routines, and child behavior using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, Child Routines Inventory, and Child Behavior Checklist, respectively. Results indicated that parental adjustment predicted harsh/disengaged parenting (B = 0.17, p < .01) and internalizing behavior (B = 0.32, p < .01). Ha...
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The failure model posits that peer rejection and poor academic performance are dual pathways in the association between early aggressive behavior and subsequent depressive symptoms. We examined this model using an accelerated longitudinal... more
The failure model posits that peer rejection and poor academic performance are dual pathways in the association between early aggressive behavior and subsequent depressive symptoms. We examined this model using an accelerated longitudinal design while also incorporating proactive and reactive aggression and gender moderation. Children in 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades (n = 912; ages 6-12; 48% female) were rated three times annually by their primary teachers on measures of proactive and reactive aggression, peer rejection, academic performance, and depressive symptoms. Using Bayesian cross-classified estimation to account for nested and planned-missing data, path models were estimated to examine whether early reactive aggression predicted subsequent peer rejection and academic performance, and whether these, in turn, predicted subsequent depressive symptoms. From 1st to 3rd grade, reactive aggression predicted peer rejection (not academic performance), proactive aggression predicted academ...
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Evidence supports the distinctions between forms (relational vs. physical) and functions (proactive vs. reactive) of aggression; however, little research has investigated these two subtype frameworks simultaneously or by teacher-report in... more
Evidence supports the distinctions between forms (relational vs. physical) and functions (proactive vs. reactive) of aggression; however, little research has investigated these two subtype frameworks simultaneously or by teacher-report in early childhood. We examined the factor structures, interrelations, and longitudinal associations of teacher-reported forms and functions of aggression in young children. Preschool and kindergarten students (N = 133; ages 3-6 years; 58.6% male) were rated by their teachers during the spring semester and on two subsequent occasions over the following school year (a three-wave cross-sequential design). Bayesian confirmatory factor analyses and path models were estimated, controlling for covariates and cross-classification of students within classrooms. Correlated two-factor models showed acceptable measurement characteristics for both aggression frameworks. Within and between frameworks, aggression subtypes were highly correlated with one another. Ph...
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Postsecondary students in Western countries exhibit a high prevalence of cannabis and tobacco use disorders. The etiology of these problems is contributed by several psychosocial factors, including childhood adversity and trauma; however,... more
Postsecondary students in Western countries exhibit a high prevalence of cannabis and tobacco use disorders. The etiology of these problems is contributed by several psychosocial factors, including childhood adversity and trauma; however, the mechanisms whereby these environmental determinants predispose to the use of these substances remain elusive, due to our poor knowledge of genetic and biological moderators. Converging evidence points to the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene as a moderator of the effects of lifetime stress on the initiation of substance use. Building on these premises, in this study, we analyzed whether MAOA upstream variable number tandem repeat (uVNTR) alleles interact with child maltreatment history to predict for lifetime cannabis and tobacco consumption. Five hundred college students (age: 18-25 years) from a large Midwestern University were surveyed for their child maltreatment history (encompassing emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, as well as emotiona...
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The first study of growth hormone receptor (GHR) genotypes in healthy young adults in the United States attending a Midwestern university and impact on selected growth parameters. To describe the frequency of GHR genotypes in a sample of... more
The first study of growth hormone receptor (GHR) genotypes in healthy young adults in the United States attending a Midwestern university and impact on selected growth parameters. To describe the frequency of GHR genotypes in a sample of healthy young adults from the United States attending a university in the Midwest and analyze the relationship between GHR genotypes and selected growth parameters. Saliva was collected from 459 healthy young adults (237 females, 222 males; age range = 18-25 y) and DNA isolated for genotyping of GHR alleles (fl/fl, fl/d3, or d3/d3). Selected growth parameters were collected and GHR genotype data examined for previously reported associations (e.g., height, weight or bone mass density) or novel findings (e.g., % body water and index finger length). We found 219 participants (48%) homozygous for fl/fl, 203 (44%), heterozygous fl/d3 and 37 (8%) homozygous d3/d3. The distribution of GHR genotypes in our participants was consistent with previous reports o...
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The objective of this study was to examine the stability of physical and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration from adolescence to emerging adulthood among sexual minorities. Adolescents who identified as a sexual minority... more
The objective of this study was to examine the stability of physical and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration from adolescence to emerging adulthood among sexual minorities. Adolescents who identified as a sexual minority (N = 135; 71.1% female; mean age = 15.02, standard deviation=.77; 34.1% African-American/black, 26.7% white, 22.2% Hispanic) from southeast Texas were assessed annually for 6 years on their IPV perpetration. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that physical IPV perpetration was modestly stable across years 1-4 (24.6%, 24.6%, 26.4%, and 21.6%, respectively), decreased in year 5 (18.6%), and increased in year 6 (24.5%). The stability of sexual IPV perpetration was high across all 6 years (14.3%, 13%, 14.9%, 10.8%, 12.4%, and 14.4%). This is the first study to examine the stability of IPV perpetration among sexual minority adolescents. Findings suggest that the development of interventions for IPV among sexual minority adolescents is needed, as IP...
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Research has previously demonstrated that perceptions of peer's teen dating violence (TDV) is associated with one's own perpetration of TDV, although little research has examined whether this relationship is consistent across... more
Research has previously demonstrated that perceptions of peer's teen dating violence (TDV) is associated with one's own perpetration of TDV, although little research has examined whether this relationship is consistent across developmental time periods (i.e., mid-to-late adolescence). The present study examined whether changes in perceptions of peer's TDV predicted change in one's own perpetration of TDV in a sample of ethnically diverse adolescents from ages 15 to 18 (N = 1,042). Parallel process modeling demonstrated that decreases in perceptions of peer's TDV predicted decreases in TDV perpetration over time, and this relationship was more pronounced for males than females. These findings lend further support to the need for TDV prevention and intervention programs to include peer influence in their programs.
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Teen dating violence (TDV) is a serious and prevalent public health problem. TDV is associated with a number of negative health consequences for victims and predicts violence in adult relationships. Thus, efforts should be devoted to the... more
Teen dating violence (TDV) is a serious and prevalent public health problem. TDV is associated with a number of negative health consequences for victims and predicts violence in adult relationships. Thus, efforts should be devoted to the primary prevention of TDV. However, only a few studies have examined when the risk for the first occurrence of TDV is greatest. Continued research in this area would inform the timing of, as well as developmentally appropriate strategies for, TDV primary prevention efforts. The current study examined at which age(s) the risk for TDV perpetration onset was greatest. Utilizing a panel-based design, a sample of racially/ethnically diverse high school students (N=872; 56% female) from the Southwestern United States completed self-report surveys on physical and sexual TDV perpetration annually for six years (2010 to 2016). Findings suggested that the physical TDV risk of onset was at or before ages 15 to 16 for females and at or before age 18 for males. ...
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Preventive medicine, Adolescent, Medicine, Intimate Partner Violence, Humans, and 10 moreFemale, Male, Sexual Behavior, Interpersonal Relations, Public health systems and services research, Curriculum and Pedagogy, Southwestern United States, Adolescent Behavior, Age of Onset, and Surveys and Questionnaires
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The current short-term longitudinal study evaluated whether anxiety symptoms moderated the bidirectional associations between forms (i.e., physical and relational) of aggression and peer victimization over a 1-year period during middle... more
The current short-term longitudinal study evaluated whether anxiety symptoms moderated the bidirectional associations between forms (i.e., physical and relational) of aggression and peer victimization over a 1-year period during middle childhood. Participants were 228 predominantly Caucasian children (50.4% boys; M = 8.32 years, SD = .95 years) in the second through fourth grades and their homeroom teachers. Children completed a self-report measure of anxiety symptoms at Time 1. Peer victimization was assessed using self-reports at Time 1 and approximately 1 year later (Time 2), and teachers provided ratings of children&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s aggressive behavior at both time points. A series of cross-lagged path analysis models indicated that high (+1 SD) initial levels of anxiety symptoms exacerbated the prospective link from Time 1 relational aggression to Time 2 peer victimization; conversely, when initial levels of anxiety symptoms were low (-1 SD), relational aggression predicted lower levels of subsequent peer victimization. Time 1 peer victimization was also found to predict lower levels of Time 2 physical aggression when initial levels of anxiety symptoms were low, and Time 1 anxiety symptoms were uniquely related to higher levels of relational aggression over a 1-year period. Regions of significance were calculated to further decompose significant interactions, which did not differ according to gender. Study findings are discussed within a social information processing theoretical framework, and directions for future research and implications for practice are reviewed. Specifically, co-occurring anxiety symptoms may need to be addressed in interventions for both aggression and peer victimization during middle childhood.
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Child maltreatment has emerged as an important risk factor for adult obesity (Danese & Tan, 2014; Hemmingsson et al., 2014). However, there is a need for research delineating the factors that play a role in this association. Impulsivity... more
Child maltreatment has emerged as an important risk factor for adult obesity (Danese & Tan, 2014; Hemmingsson et al., 2014). However, there is a need for research delineating the factors that play a role in this association. Impulsivity has been shown to be associated with both child maltreatment (Brodsky et al., 2001) and body mass index (BMI; Cortese et al., 2008; Thamotharan et al., 2013). Further, given previous research showing that adverse events interact with impulsivity to predict hazardous drinking behaviors (Fox et al., 2010), there is reason to hypothesize that child maltreatment might interact with impulsivity to predict other adverse health outcomes, such as elevated BMI. Accordingly, the current study examined whether impulsivity moderated the association between child maltreatment types (i.e., physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and emotional neglect) and BMI. The sample was comprised of 500 undergraduate students (49.6% male) between the ...
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Child maltreatment, specifically emotional maltreatment (i.e., an act, such as belittling, blaming, or rejection, that is potentially harmful to a child's emotional development), has emerged as an important correlate of alexithymia.... more
Child maltreatment, specifically emotional maltreatment (i.e., an act, such as belittling, blaming, or rejection, that is potentially harmful to a child's emotional development), has emerged as an important correlate of alexithymia. However, the evidence is mixed with regard to how emotional abuse and neglect might relate to dimensions of alexithymia (i.e., externally oriented thinking, difficulty describing feelings, and difficulty identifying feelings). Furthermore, research is needed to identify individual factors that might influence these associations. The current study examined the links between emotional abuse and neglect and externally oriented thinking, difficulty describing feelings, and difficulty identifying feelings and evaluated whether sex moderated these associations. Participants included 500 emerging adults (49.6% male) who completed an online battery of questionnaires assessing history of child maltreatment and dimensions of alexithymia. Regression analyses re...
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In preparation for the World Health Organization's development of the Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11) chapter on Mental and Behavioral Disorders, this article... more
In preparation for the World Health Organization's development of the Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11) chapter on Mental and Behavioral Disorders, this article reviews the literature pertaining to severe irritability in child and adolescent psychopathology. First, research on severe mood dysregulation suggests that youth with irritability and temper outbursts, among other features of hyperactivity and arousal, demonstrate cross-sectional correlates and developmental outcomes that distinguish them from youth with bipolar disorder. Second, other evidence points to an irritable dimension of Oppositional Defiant Disorder symptomatology, which is uniquely associated with concurrent and subsequent internalizing problems. In contrast to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders' (5th ed.) Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, our review of the literature supports a different solution: a subtype,...
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Teen pregnancy remains a public health concern particularly among Latinos, whose pregnancy rate of 83.5 per 1000 girls constitutes one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy among all ethnic and racial groups in the United States. To... more
Teen pregnancy remains a public health concern particularly among Latinos, whose pregnancy rate of 83.5 per 1000 girls constitutes one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy among all ethnic and racial groups in the United States. To enhance the effectiveness of interventions for diverse Latino populations in the US, it is crucial to assess the community's understanding of the etiology of the problem of adolescent pregnancy and to implement programs that reflect the local community's beliefs and preferences. We present findings from six focus groups held with parents (n = 18), teachers (n = 23) and school stakeholders (n = 8) regarding teen pregnancy prevention among Latino youth at a high school located in a large, Midwestern city. Two investigators analyzed data iteratively using a template organizing approach. A consensus emerged across the groups regarding content that emphasized respect for oneself and one's family, a focus on personal and shared responsibility in r...
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Limited research has examined the relation between exposure to stressors and internalizing symptoms among Latino adolescents, including factors that account for this relation. This study examined whether sleep played a role in the... more
Limited research has examined the relation between exposure to stressors and internalizing symptoms among Latino adolescents, including factors that account for this relation. This study examined whether sleep played a role in the relation between exposure to neighborhood- (i.e., neighborhood disadvantage) and individual-level (i.e., negative life events) stressors and symptoms of anxiety and depression among a sample of 144 low-income, Latino adolescents (54% males, mean age = 16.25, SD = 1.46) attending a charter high school in a large, Midwestern city. The bias corrected bootstrap method was used to evaluate indirect effects. Significant findings indicated an indirect effect via sleep problems in the link between negative life events and anxiety. Alternative models were also explored. Results suggest that sleep problems are important to consider for interventions among Latino youth, particularly those exposed to neighborhood and individual stressors, as this may also have implications for reducing internalizing symptoms among this population. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Research Interests:
Psychology and Medicine
This study investigated the relationship between self-reported time in bed and sleep quality in association with self-reported internalizing and externalizing symptoms in a sample of 285 elementary school students (52 % female) recruited... more
This study investigated the relationship between self-reported time in bed and sleep quality in association with self-reported internalizing and externalizing symptoms in a sample of 285 elementary school students (52 % female) recruited from a rural Midwestern elementary school. Path models were used to estimate proposed associations, controlling for grade level and gender. Curvilinear associations were found between time in bed and anxiety, depressive symptoms, and irritability. Marginal curvilinear trends were found between time in bed and emotion dysregulation, reactive aggression, and proactive aggression. Sleep quality was negatively associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, irritability, reactive aggression, and delinquency engagement. Gender and grade differences were found across models. Findings suggest that examining self-reported time in bed (both linear and quadratic) and sleep quality is important for understanding internalizing and externalizing symptoms associate...
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Although identified as a significant public health concern, few studies have examined correlates of suicide risk in school-aged children. Recent studies show a relation between sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptoms and a range of... more
Although identified as a significant public health concern, few studies have examined correlates of suicide risk in school-aged children. Recent studies show a relation between sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptoms and a range of adverse outcomes linked to suicidal ideation, including depression, emotion dysregulation, lowered self-esteem, and peer problems/social withdrawal, yet no study to date has examined SCT in relation to suicide risk. We tested the hypothesis that SCT would be associated with suicide risk in a sample of 95 psychiatrically hospitalized children (74% male; 62% black) between the ages of 8 and 12 (M = 10.01, SD = 1.50). Parents completed measures of their child's psychiatric symptoms, including SCT and depression, as well as a measure of their own psychopathology. Children completed measures assessing loneliness and depression. Both parents and children completed measures of suicide risk. White children reported greater suicide risk than nonwhite children....
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Psychiatric inpatient hospitalization is a costly intervention for youth. With rates of hospitalization rising, efforts to refine prevention and intervention are necessary. Aggression often precedes severe internalizing behaviors, and... more
Psychiatric inpatient hospitalization is a costly intervention for youth. With rates of hospitalization rising, efforts to refine prevention and intervention are necessary. Aggression often precedes severe internalizing behaviors, and proactive and reactive functions of aggression are differentially associated with internalizing symptomatology. Thus, further understanding of the links between functions of aggression and internalizing symptomatology could aid in the improvement of interventions for hospitalized youth. The current study examined parenting styles, gender, and age as potential moderators of the relations between proactive and reactive aggression and internalizing symptoms. Participants included 392 children, 6-12 years of age admitted consecutively to a psychiatric inpatient unit. Reactive aggression was uniquely associated with anxiety symptoms. However, proactive aggression was associated with internalizing problems only when specific parenting styles and demographic factors were present. Although both proactive and reactive subtypes of aggression were associated with internalizing symptoms, differential associations were evident. Implications of findings are discussed.
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Drawing upon the recent resurgence of biological criminology, several studies have highlighted a critical role for genetic factors in the ontogeny of antisocial and violent conduct. In particular, converging lines of evidence have... more
Drawing upon the recent resurgence of biological criminology, several studies have highlighted a critical role for genetic factors in the ontogeny of antisocial and violent conduct. In particular, converging lines of evidence have documented that these maladaptive manifestations of aggression are influenced by monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), the enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of brain serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. The interest on the link between MAOA and aggression was originally sparked by Han Brunner&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s discovery of a syndrome characterized by marked antisocial behaviors in male carriers of a nonsense mutation of this gene. Subsequent studies showed that MAOA allelic variants associated with low enzyme activity moderate the impact of early-life maltreatment on aggression propensity. In spite of overwhelming evidence pointing to the relationship between MAOA and aggression, the neurobiological substrates of this link remain surprisingly elusive; very little is also known about the interventions that may reduce the severity of pathological aggression in genetically predisposed subjects. Animal models offer a unique experimental tool to investigate these issues; in particular, several lines of transgenic mice harboring total or partial loss-of-function Maoa mutations have been shown to recapitulate numerous psychological and neurofunctional endophenotypes observed in humans. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the link between MAOA and aggression; in particular, we will emphasize how an integrated translational strategy coordinating clinical and preclinical research may prove critical to elucidate important aspects of the pathophysiology of aggression, and identify potential targets for its diagnosis, prevention and treatment.
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Internalizing difficulties are one of the most widely documented consequences of child maltreatment. However, there is a need for studies delineating the factors that account for this association. Despite research showing that alexithymia... more
Internalizing difficulties are one of the most widely documented consequences of child maltreatment. However, there is a need for studies delineating the factors that account for this association. Despite research showing that alexithymia is associated with both child maltreatment and internalizing problems, the role of alexithymia in the link between child maltreatment and internalizing problems has not received much attention in the literature. The current study evaluated whether a history of child maltreatment was associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness in emerging adulthood, and whether alexithymia partially accounted for these associations. Participants included 339 emerging adults ranging between 18 and 25 years of age (M=19.00, SD=1.26, 51.3% male). Exposure to child maltreatment (i.e., physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and emotional neglect) was positively associated with depression, anxiety, and loneliness symptoms. Tests of indirect effects suggested that associations between emotional neglect and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness were partially explained by alexithymia. However, alexithymia did not account for any other associations between the remaining four maltreatment types and internalizing problems. Findings highlight the need for further evaluation of the factors that might account for associations between child maltreatment and internalizing difficulties. Future directions and implications for interventions are reviewed.
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Previous research has demonstrated that symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with higher levels of victimization, but little is known about protective factors. The purpose of the study was to examine... more
Previous research has demonstrated that symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with higher levels of victimization, but little is known about protective factors. The purpose of the study was to examine whether physical activity attenuated the associations among ADHD symptoms and physical and relational victimization 1.5 years later. Participants included 168 s through fourth grade students (M age = 8.43; 52.4 % boys) who completed self-reports of physical activity and victimization; teachers provided ratings of ADHD symptoms. ADHD symptoms predicted subsequent increases in physical, but not relational, victimization among children who reported engaging in moderate/high levels of physical activity, especially out of the school context (moderate: β = .26, p = .03; high: β = .55, p < .001). Findings suggest that children with ADHD symptoms may benefit from being taught the skills necessary to appropriately engage in physical activity and from bein...