Gilbert R. Parra

Clinical relevance of heavy drinking during the college years: cross-sectional and prospective perspectives.

This study investigated the clinical relevance of heavy drinking during the college years and beyond on concurrent and prospective alcohol-related problems in a high-risk sample (N = 377). Measures of heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems were significantly correlated cross-sectionally over the study frame, regardless of how these constructs were operationalized. However, the magnitude of the association between heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems declined substantially over time, with the most pronounced decrease following the college years. Despite this cross-sectional decrease in the association between heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems over time, heavy drinking during the college years significantly and substantially predicted alcohol-use disorders up to 10 years later. Implications for assessment of heavy drinking as well as prevention of problematic alcohol use in college students are discussed.

An Introduction to Latent Variable Mixture Modeling (Part 1): Overview and Cross-Sectional Latent Class and Latent Profile Analyses

OBJECTIVE Pediatric psychologists are often interested in finding patterns in heterogeneous cross-sectional data. Latent variable mixture modeling is an emerging person-centered statistical approach that models heterogeneity by classifying individuals into unobserved groupings (latent classes) with similar (more homogenous) patterns. The purpose of this article is to offer a nontechnical introduction to cross-sectional mixture modeling. METHOD An overview of latent variable mixture modeling is provided and 2 cross-sectional examples are reviewed and distinguished. RESULTS Step-by-step pediatric psychology examples of latent class and latent profile analyses are provided using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 data file. CONCLUSIONS Latent variable mixture modeling is a technique that is useful to pediatric psychologists who wish to find groupings of individuals who share similar data patterns to determine the extent to which these patterns may relate to variables of interest.

An Introduction to Latent Variable Mixture Modeling (Part 2): Longitudinal Latent Class Growth Analysis and Growth Mixture Models

OBJECTIVE Pediatric psychologists are often interested in finding patterns in heterogeneous longitudinal data. Latent variable mixture modeling is an emerging statistical approach that models such heterogeneity by classifying individuals into unobserved groupings (latent classes) with similar (more homogenous) patterns. The purpose of the second of a 2-article set is to offer a nontechnical introduction to longitudinal latent variable mixture modeling. METHODS 3 latent variable approaches to modeling longitudinal data are reviewed and distinguished. RESULTS Step-by-step pediatric psychology examples of latent growth curve modeling, latent class growth analysis, and growth mixture modeling are provided using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 data file. CONCLUSIONS Latent variable mixture modeling is a technique that is useful to pediatric psychologists who wish to find groupings of individuals who share similar longitudinal data patterns to determine the extent to which these patterns may relate to variables of interest.

Factors Influencing Familial Decision-Making Regarding Human Papillomavirus Vaccination

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this review is to summarize the research regarding Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake among families with adolescent/preadolescent daughters. METHODS Literature searches (utilizing PubMed and PsychInfo databases) were conducted and research examining psychological and environmental factors which relate to HPV vaccine uptake and intentions was reviewed. RESULTS Factors such as physician recommendations, perceptions of the beliefs of peers and significant others, history of childhood immunizations, and communication with adolescents regarding sexual topics appear to influence HPV vaccination outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Although primary prevention of cervical and other cancers is available for preadolescent and adolescent girls, rates of HPV vaccine uptake are low. Future interventions should target vaccine intent and physician/family communication as a means to increasing HPV vaccination.

Reliability of self-reported age of substance involvement onset.

The authors investigated the reliability of self-reported age of onset (AO) for alcohol, tobacco (cigarette), and illicit drug involvement. Participants were 410 young adults taking part in an 11-year longitudinal study. A moderate degree of reliability was found for the 3 substances. Despite this level of stability, results illustrate a tendency for reported AOs to increase over time. The trend is more salient for participants who reported younger AOs at the initial assessment. Findings also indicate that, for alcohol and tobacco, more individuals were classified as early onset based on Year 1 compared with Year 11 reports. Despite these systematic changes, at least for alcohol and illicit drugs, age at which onset was assessed did not moderate the association between AO and substance-related outcomes.

Predicting violence in romantic relationships during adolescence and emerging adulthood: A critical review of the mechanisms by which familial and peer influences operate

For three decades, researchers have sought to gain a greater understanding of the developmental antecedents to later perpetration or victimization of violence in romantic relationships. Whereas the majority of early studies focused on family-of-origin factors, attention in recent years has turned to additional ecologies such as peer relationships. This review highlights accomplishments of both family and peer studies that focus on violent romantic relationships in an effort to summarize the current state of knowledge. Attention is given to epidemiology and developmental family and peer factors, with special attention given to mechanisms that mediate and/or moderate the relation between family and peer factors and later participation in violent relationships. A critical approach is taken throughout the review in order to identify limitations of previous studies, and to highlight key findings. A case is made for viewing these developmental antecedents as a result of multiple developmental ecologies that is perhaps best summarized as a culture of violence.

Emotion Regulation as a Mediator of the Relation Between Emotion Socialization and Deliberate Self‐Harm

This study examined (a) whether retrospective reports of specific parent responses to sadness (i.e., reward, punishment, neglect, override, magnification) were related to deliberate self-harm (DSH) and (b) whether difficulties regulating emotions (i.e., difficulties monitoring, evaluating, and modifying emotions) mediated those relations. One hundred eighteen college students completed measures of parental emotion socialization, emotion regulation difficulties, and DSH. Parental reward and override of sadness were directly related to lower DSH scores. Parental punishment and neglect of sadness were related to higher DSH scores, and these associations were mediated by difficulties evaluating emotions. In other words, parental punishment and neglect of sadness may place individuals at risk for DSH by fostering negative evaluations of emotional experiences and the belief that nothing can be done to effectively manage emotions.

Investigation of Profiles of Risk Factors for Adolescent Psychopathology: A Person-Centered Approach.

Latent variable mixture modeling was used to identify subgroups of adolescents with distinct profiles of risk factors from individual, family, peer, and broader contextual domains. Data were drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Four-class models provided the most theoretically meaningful solutions for both 7th (n = 907; 48% boys) and 11th (n = 1039; 51% boys) graders. The 4-class solution for 7th graders included low risk (LR; 66%), socioeconomic disadvantage (SD; 19%), peer high risk (PHR; 9%), and family high risk (FHR; 6%) groups. Similarly, the 4-class model for 11th graders included LR (32%), SD (43%), high risk (HR; 21%), and FHR (4%) groups. Subgroup membership predicted reported levels of depressive symptoms and conduct problems both concurrently and over time. Strengths and potential limitations of using latent variable mixture modeling to investigate risk profiles for adolescent psychopathology are discussed.

Subjective Distress and Emotional Resources in Parents of Children With Food Allergy

This study evaluated emotional functioning in parents of children with food allergy and examined child factors as correlates of caregiver adjustment. Questionnaire data regarding parent subjective distress and emotional resources, allergy characteristics, and child behaviors were gathered from 282 caregivers of food-allergic children. Parents reported experiencing mild-to-moderate distress related to guilt and worry, unresolved anger and sorrow, and long-term uncertainty. Greater distress was associated with caring for a younger child and having a child with emotional or behavioral problems. Parents who perceived having more emotional resources endorsed less distress and had children with fewer emotional or behavioral problems.

Risk Factors for Non-initiation of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine among Adolescent Survivors of Childhood Cancer

Effective vaccination is now available to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection and cause of cervical cancer. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HPV vaccination among childhood cancer survivors and identify factors associated with HPV vaccine initiation and completion. Mothers of daughters of ages 9 to 17 years with/without a history of childhood cancer (n = 235, Mage = 13.2 years, SD = 2.69; n = 70, Mage = 13.3 years, SD = 2.47, respectively) completed surveys querying HPV vaccination initiation and completion along with sociodemographic, medical, HPV knowledge and communication, and health belief factors, which may relate to vaccination outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors that associate with HPV vaccination initiation and completion. Among cancer survivors, 32.6% initiated and 17.9% completed the three-dose vaccine series, whereas 34.3% and 20.0% of controls initiated and completed, respectively. Univariate analyses indicated no differences between cancer/no cancer groups on considered risk factors. Among all participants, multivariate logistic regression analyses found vaccine initiation associated with older age of daughter and physician recommendation, whereas increased perceived barriers associated with a decreased likelihood of initiation (all P < 0.05). Among those having initiated, risk factors for noncompletion included being non-White, increased perceived severity of HPV, and increased perceived barriers to vaccination (all P < 0.05). A minority of adolescents surviving childhood cancer has completed vaccination despite their increased risk for HPV-related complication. These results inform the prioritization of strategies to be included in vaccine promotion efforts. Cancer Prev Res; 6(10); 1101–10. ©2013 AACR.