Caroline Heary

Factors associated with acceptance of peers with mental health problems in childhood and adolescence

BACKGROUND Research suggests that childrens reactions to peers with mental health problems are related to the maintenance and outcomes of these problems. However, childrens perceptions of such peers, particularly those with internalising problems, are neither well researched nor understood. The present study aimed to test a series of models relating socio-demographic and attributional variables to the acceptance of hypothetical boys and girls with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression. METHODS A sample of 595 participants, drawn from five different age-groups spanning early childhood to late adolescence, completed a booklet of questions in response to two vignettes describing the behaviour of hypothetical target peers with depression and ADHD. The sample was drawn from schools randomly selected in the east of Ireland. RESULTS The models indicated that age and gender of the participant, and the perceived responsibility of the target character for his/her condition, were the three most important predictors of acceptance in all models. However, the relationship between these variables and acceptance varied depending on the gender of the target child and the condition (depression or ADHD) in the models tested. CONCLUSIONS The findings of the study suggest that the relationships between socio-demographic and attributional variables and acceptance of peers with mental health problems depend on the type of mental health problem under consideration. The findings have implications for the development of information and education programmes to improve the integration of children with mental health problems.

Focus Groups Versus Individual Interviews with Children: A Comparison of Data

Abstract In recent years there has been an increase in the use of qualitative data collection techniques in research with children. Among the most common of these methods are focus groups and individual interviews. While many authors claim that focus groups have advantages over individual interviews, these claims have not been tested empirically with children. The present study reports on the use of focus groups and interviews to collect qualitative data from 116 children in three age groups, with mean ages of 8.4, 11.5 and 14.3 years. The children were randomly allocated to participate in either focus groups or individual interviews where they were presented with identical material and questions relating to their beliefs about peers with psychological disorders. In line with previous research, the interviews produced significantly more relevant and unique ideas about the causes of these disorders than the focus groups, but the latter gave rise to greater elaboration of ideas. The participating children s...

Adolescents' beliefs about the fairness of exclusion of peers with mental health problems

Stigma research suggests that exclusion of peers with mental health problems is acceptable, however, no research has explored young peoples beliefs about the fairness of exclusion. Group interviews with 148 adolescents explored judgements about the fairness of excluding peers with ADHD or depression from dyads and groups. Young people evaluated exclusion of peers with ADHD or depression from dyads and groups, with the exception of group exclusion of the peer with ADHD, as mostly unfair. Beliefs about the fairness of exclusion were influenced by the attributions that they applied to the target peers behaviour, social obligations and loyalty within friendships and concerns about the adverse psychological effects of exclusion. Furthermore, their evaluations were influenced by personal beliefs about the social and personal costs of including the target peer. Evaluations of exclusion highlight novel avenues for to develop knowledge on the stigma of mental health problems.

An Evaluation of the Measurement Properties of the Five Cs Model of Positive Youth Development

There is growing recognition of the need to develop acceptable measures of adolescents positive attributes in diverse contexts. The current study evaluated the measurement properties of the Five Cs model of Positive Youth Development (PYD) scale (Lerner et al., 2005) using a sample of 672 Irish adolescents. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a five-factor model provided a good fit to the data. The internal reliability and construct validity of the Five Cs model were supported, with character the strongest predictor of contribution, while connection was the strongest predictor of risky-behaviors. Notably, confidence was significantly negatively related to contribution, and positively related to risky-behaviors. Multi-group hierarchical nested models supported measurement invariance across early- (11–14 years) and late- (15–19 years) adolescent age groups, with partial invariance found across gender. Younger adolescents evinced higher PYD, while PYD was associated with higher contribution and lower depression and risk-behaviors across all groups. The application of the PYD framework as a measure of positive functioning across adolescence is discussed.

Patterns of sedentary behaviours in Irish female adolescents.

Engagement in excessive sedentary behaviour represents a health risk for adolescents. The current study aimed to investigate patterns of sedentary behaviour amongst Irish female adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years old. 314 adolescents completed a questionnaire on their sedentary behaviour habits, health behaviours (physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use), enjoyment of sedentary behaviour, value on health, and sedentary facilitators in their home. Parents provided information on parental education, the childs weight and height, and parental sedentary behaviour habits. Cluster analysis found that five distinct sedentary clusters existed in this sample: Unproductive/Social Sedentary, Reading/Productive Behaviours, Mixed Sedentary Interests, Restricted Interests/High Television, and Academic Sedentary. The clusters differed on smoking and alcohol use, enjoyment of sedentary behaviour, and parental engagement in sedentary behaviour. The findings from this study support the use of a socio-ecological framework for investigating the development of sedentary behaviour patterns.

Retrospective accounts of self-stigma experienced by young people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or depression.

OBJECTIVE Little is known about self-stigma experienced by young people with mental health problems, despite the fact that research has demonstrated its existence. In the present study, we sought to investigate the experiences of self-stigma in childhood and adolescence, and particularly the nature of change in self-stigma across this developmental period. Young adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or depression before their 18th birthdays were interviewed about their experiences within their peer groups during childhood and adolescence. METHODS This qualitative study involved open-ended interviews with 16 young adults aged 18-30 years. Interviews focused on the experience of stigmatization, responses to stigma, and how these changed over time. RESULTS Three main themes pertaining to self-stigma emerged: (a) being different, (b) peer stigmatization and associated experiences of self-stigma, and (c) selective disclosure and a move toward greater openness. The findings also suggested that the passing of time and changes in young peoples social networks and/or degrees of recovery were associated with changes in their experiences of self-stigma. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE During childhood and adolescence, self-stigma is characterized by a sense of being different from peers and negative self-evaluation as a consequence of that difference. However, our findings also demonstrated that some young people were prepared to challenge the stigma they experienced. Further research is needed to understand the factors that contribute to these differing responses and to develop antistigma interventions that facilitate the inclusion of young people with mental health problems in their peer groups.

Adolescents’ Explanations for the Exclusion of Peers With Mental Health Problems An Insight Into Stigma

Young people with mental health problems are often excluded from their peer group; however, research has not specifically explored their peers’ explanations for this exclusion. Drawing on data from group interviews with Irish adolescents (N = 148), this study explores the reasons offered for rejecting young people with mental health problems. Such reasons include perceived violation of expectations of friendships, and perceived social and personal risks to members of the peer group. The implications of these findings for the development of interventions to combat the stigma of mental health problems are discussed.

Using implicit measures to explore children’s intergroup attitudes: methodological and practical considerations for researchers

In recent years, implicit measures of attitude have emerged as increasingly important methods in research with adults; however, they have been used less often in research with children or adolescents. The present article seeks to initiate wider discussion on the potential for using implicit measures with young people by providing readers with an introduction to their use in child and adolescent research on intergroup attitudes and offering some guidance to researchers who are considering their use. The article initially explains the nature of implicit measures and then discusses in greater depth three measures that have been used with children. Psychometric and ethical issues (e.g. reliability, validity and use of deception) relevant to utilising implicit measures are then discussed and this is followed by a section detailing some practical considerations when using implicit measures. The final section of the article considers the current standing of implicit measures in work with children and makes suggestions for future research directions.

How Do Individuals Develop Alcohol Use Disorder After Bariatric Surgery? A Grounded Theory Exploration

BackgroundBariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity. However, following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, a small minority of patients develop new-onset alcohol use disorder (AUD), the aetiology of which is poorly understood.AimThe aim is to construct a theory to explain the development of AUD among a sample of individuals who reported problematic drinking following RYGB.MethodSemi-structured interviews were conducted with eight RYGB patients diagnosed with AUD attending a multi-disciplinary outpatient weight management service at a public hospital in the Republic of Ireland. A constructivist grounded theory methodology was used to analyse interview transcripts.ResultsParticipants’ main concern was identified as ‘unresolved psychological issues’ which were managed by ‘external coping mechanisms’, namely, ‘eating to cope’. After RYGB, comfort eating was no longer possible to the same extent. Following a ‘honeymoon period’, participants’ need for an external coping mechanism resurfaced. ‘Filling the void’ provides a framework to explain how participants managed the symptoms of their unresolved psychological issues through ‘behavioural substitution’, that is, drinking alcohol instead of eating.ConclusionThe theoretical framework of ‘filling the void’ adds to contemporary research that conceptualises AUD behavioural substitution as ‘addiction transfer’ by describing the process by which the phenomenon occurs as well as the characteristics of participants. The clinical implication of this research is to advocate for a reshaping of treatment of RYGB patients, with increased psychological input following surgery.

Causal information on children's attitudes and behavioural intentions toward a peer with obesity.

Background: This study examined the effect of types of causal information about overweight on childrens attitudes and intentions toward a peer presented as overweight. Methods: Participants (N = 176) were randomly assigned to read a vignette of an overweight peer in one of three conditions, which varied in the explanatory information provided for the aetiology of the peers overweight condition: biological, environmental or no causal information, along with a vignette of an average-weight peer. Results: The provision of information that the overweight was the result of biological factors and of no causal information yielded more positive attitudes toward the overweight peer compared to those who were provided with environmental information. Information on overweight had no impact on behavioural intentions. A social desirability bias was found for each of the three experimental conditions and for the average weight condition. Conclusion: Information explaining overweight had a minimal positive effect on attitudes and no effect on intentions toward an overweight peer.