Albert Reijntjes

Peer victimization and internalizing problems in children: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies

OBJECTIVE A recent meta-analytic review of cross-sectional studies examining correlations between peer victimization and indices of internalizing problems indicates that victims of bullying are highly distressed. However, the reliance on cross-sectional studies precludes interpretation of the direction of effects. The present study was designed to investigate if internalizing problems are antecedents of victimization, consequences of victimization, or both. METHOD This paper provides a meta-analysis of 18 longitudinal studies examining prospective linkages between peer victimization and internalizing problems (n=13,978). Two prospective paths were examined: the extent to which peer victimization at baseline predicts changes in internalizing problems, as well as the extent to which internalizing problems at baseline predict changes in peer victimization. RESULTS Results revealed significant associations between peer victimization and subsequent changes in internalizing problems, as well as significant associations between internalizing problems and subsequent changes in peer victimization. Several moderator effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS Internalizing problems function as both antecedents and consequences of peer victimization. These reciprocal influences suggest a vicious cycle that contributes to the high stability of peer victimization. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS This study should further encourage steps to reduce bullying at schools.

The relations between parents’ big five personality factors and parenting: a meta-analytic review

To investigate the association between Big Five personality factors and three dimensions of parenting-warmth, behavioral control, and autonomy support-the authors conducted meta-analyses using 5,853 parent-child dyads that were included in 30 studies. Effect sizes were significant and robust across mother and father reports and across assessment methods of parenting (self-report versus observations) but were generally small in magnitude. Higher levels of Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness and lower levels of Neuroticism were related to more warmth and behavioral control, whereas higher levels of Agreeableness and lower levels of Neuroticism were related to more autonomy support. Several factors moderated the relationship between specific personality dimensions and parenting: child and parental age, reliability of observational assessment of parenting behavior, and study design. Taken together, these results indicate that personality can be seen as an inner resource that affects parenting.

Prospective linkages between peer victimization and externalizing problems in children: a meta-analysis

Previous meta-analytic research has shown both concurrent and prospective linkages between peer victimization and internalizing problems in youth. However, the linkages between peer victimization and externalizing problems over time have not been systematically examined, and it is therefore unknown if externalizing problems are antecedents of victimization, consequences of victimization, both, or neither. This study provides a meta-analysis of 14 longitudinal studies examining prospective linkages between peer victimization and externalizing problems (n = 7,821). Two prospective paths were examined: the extent to which peer victimization at baseline predicts future residualized changes in externalizing problems, as well as the extent to which externalizing problems at baseline predict future residualized changes in peer victimization. Results revealed significant associations between peer victimization and subsequent residualized changes in externalizing problems, as well as significant associations between externalizing problems and subsequent residualized changes in peer victimization. Hence, externalizing problems function as both antecedents and consequences of peer victimization.

Intolerance of uncertainty and social anxiety

Research has shown that intolerance of uncertainty (IU)--the tendency to react negatively to situations that are uncertain--is involved in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). There is uncertainty about the specificity of IU. Some studies have shown that IU is specific for GAD. Other studies have shown that IU is also involved in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). No studies have yet examined IU in social anxiety, although it is possible that IU plays a role in anxiety responses that can be experienced in social-evaluative situations. This study examined the relationship between IU and social anxiety among 126 adults. Findings revealed that IU explained a significant amount of variance in social anxiety severity when controlling for established cognitive correlates of social anxiety (e.g., fear of negative evaluation) and for neuroticism. Furthermore, it was found that IU was related with symptom levels of GAD, OCD, and social anxiety, but not depression, when controlling the shared variance among these symptoms.

I like me if you like me: on the interpersonal modulation and regulation of preadolescents’ state self-esteem

This experiment tested whether peer approval and disapproval experiences can cause immediate change in childrens state self-esteem. Childrens narcissistic traits and evaluator perceived popularity were examined as potential moderators. A total of 333 preadolescents (M = 10.8 years) completed personal profiles on the Internet that were ostensibly judged by a jury consisting of popular and unpopular peers. Participants randomly received negative, neutral, or positive feedback from the jury. Next, they could examine the feedback that each individual judge gave them. As expected, peer disapproval decreased self-esteem, especially in children high in narcissism. In contrast, peer approval increased self-esteem. Moreover, disapproved childrens self-esteem recovery was dependent on the extent to which they subsequently viewed positive feedback from popular judges. These findings support sociometer theory.

Explaining the Paradoxical Rejection-Aggression Link: The Mediating Effects of Hostile Intent Attributions, Anger, and Decreases in State Self-Esteem on Peer Rejection-Induced Aggression in Youth

People are strongly motivated to feel accepted by others. Yet when faced with acute peer rejection they often aggress against the very peers they desire acceptance from, which may lead to further rejection. The present experiment tests three potential mediators of aggressive responses to acute peer rejection in the critical developmental stage of early adolescence. Participants (N = 185, M age = 11.5 years) completed personal profiles that were allegedly evaluated online by peers. After receiving negative or neutral peer feedback, participants could aggress against the same peers who had evaluated them. Rejected participants attributed more hostile intent to the peers, were angrier, showed a greater reduction in state self-esteem, and were more aggressive. Mediational analyses showed that hostile intent attributions mediated the acute peer rejection—aggression relationship, whereas increases in anger and decreases in state self-esteem did not. Thus, acute peer rejection evokes hostile intent attributions that, in turn, lead to aggressive reactions.

Testing the emotion regulation hypothesis among self-injuring females: evidence for differences across mood states

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is frequently motivated to regulate aversive affective states. Research has been limited to group level analyses that often did not adequately differentiate distinct emotions. The present study examined the course of 5 emotional states immediately before, after, and 1 day after SIB among 106 female members of a Dutch support organization. Psychological descriptors suggested that most participants exhibited borderline features. At group level, all negative mood states were highest immediately before, dropped markedly after, and increased again 1 day after SIB, whereas the reverse pattern was observed for vigor. However, at the individual level significant differences between mood states were observed. Effects were most pronounced for tension; two thirds of participants reported a reliable reduction in psychological tension that was still present the next day. SIB should be conceptualized as a maladaptive emotion regulation strategy that is effective in reducing negative affect, in particular psychological tension.

The Outcast-Lash-Out Effect in Youth: Alienation Increases Aggression Following Peer Rejection

Although there are good theoretical reasons to believe that youth who are high in alienation (i.e., estranged from society, significant others, and themselves) are prone to behave aggressively, empirical evidence is lacking. The present experiment tested whether alienation moderates the effects of acute peer rejection on aggression in youth. Participants (N = 121; mean age = 11.5 years) completed a personal profile (e.g., “How do you describe yourself?”) that was allegedly evaluated online by a panel of peer judges. After randomly receiving negative or positive feedback from peer judges, participants were given the opportunity to aggress against them (i.e., by reducing their monetary reward and by posting negative comments about them online). As predicted, alienation increased participants’ aggression against peers who had rejected them, but not against peers who had praised them, even after controlling for peer-nominated chronic rejection and peer-nominated aggression. Thus, alienated youth are more aggressive than others when they experience acute peer rejection.

Writing therapy for posttraumatic stress: a meta-analysis.

Background: Face-to-face psychological treatments have difficulty meeting today’s growing mental health needs. For the highly prevalent posttraumatic stress (PTS) conditions, accumulating evidence suggests that writing therapy may constitute an efficient treatment modality, especially when administered through the Internet. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy of writing therapies for PTS and comorbid depressive symptoms. Methods: The literature was searched using several structured and unstructured strategies, including key word searches of the PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and PILOTS databases. Six studies met eligibility criteria and were included in the analyses. These studies included a total of 633 participants, of which 304 were assigned to writing therapy. Results: Across 5 direct comparisons of writing therapy to waiting-list control, writing therapy resulted in significant and substantial short-term reductions in PTS and comorbid depressive symptoms. There was no difference in efficacy between writing therapy and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, but we caution that this finding was based on only 2 direct comparisons. Conclusions: Writing therapy is an evidence-based treatment for PTS, and constitutes a useful treatment alternative for patients who do not respond to other evidence-based treatments. Internet adaptations of writing therapy for PTS may be especially useful for reaching trauma survivors in need of evidence-based mental health care who live in remote areas or who prefer to retain their anonymity.

De vragenlijst Non-Productieve Denkprocessen voor Kinderen (NPDK): Piekeren en rumineren

SamenvattingIn dit artikel wordt verslag gedaan van de ontwikkeling van de vragenlijst Non-Productieve Denkprocessen voor Kinderen (npdk). Met behulp van de npdk kunnen de circulaire denkprocessen piekeren en rumineren bij kinderen worden gemeten. De vragenlijst bestaat uit tien items die werden vastgesteld op basis van bestaande vragenlijsten naar piekeren en rumineren bij volwassenen. De interne betrouwbaarheid van de vragenlijst is goed. De validiteit van de vragenlijst vindt eveneens sterke ondersteuning in dit onderzoek. Ten eerste is er een positieve relatie tussen de npdk en cognitieve copingstrategieën waaraan eveneens circulaire denkprocessen ten grondslag liggen. Daarnaast hangt de lijst samen met negatief affect en het ervaren van weinig greep op situaties. Ten slotte blijkt er een relatie te zijn met emotionele problematiek zoals door ouders gerapporteerd.