J.D. Bosch

Family functioning and psychosocial adjustment in overweight youngsters.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the relationship between family functioning and psychosocial adjustment in Dutch overweight children and adolescents. METHOD Seventy-three overweight (weight-for-height >P90) and 70 normal-weight youngsters between the ages of 10 and 16 years were recruited by school physicians during routine medical screening. The Family Dimension Scale, the Child Behavior Checklist, the Teacher Report Form, the Self-Perceived Competence Scale, and the Body-Esteem Scale were filled out, as well as a specific weight-related questionnaire. RESULTS Both parents and teachers report more behavior problems in overweight children, particularly in the younger than 13 age group. Lower body-esteem was found in older overweight girls, whereas in older overweight boys higher levels of body-esteem were found. More significant relationships were found with the weight-related Parental Concern Scale than with the Family Dimension Scale. DISCUSSION The results suggest that a developmental psychological approach reveals important age and sex differences. Weight-related instruments may be more useful than general questionnaires.

The Effects of Emotion Regulation, Attribution, and Delay Prompts on Aggressive Boys' Social Problem Solving

Boys with aggressive behavior problems are frequently taught to “stop and think” before they act. In provocative situations, pausing to monitor their own feelings, to consider the feelings of others, or to delay their response is believed to reduce aggressive behavior. This study aimed to test these assumptions. Thirty-two highly aggressive boys in special education and 31 normal comparison boys were presented vignettes concerning provocation by a peer and given specific cognitive assignments. Participants were either asked to (1) monitor and regulate their own emotions, (2) consider the provocateurs emotions and intentions, (3) wait 10 s, or (4) answer a factual question. The cognitive assignments differentially affected response aggressiveness. Monitoring and regulation of own emotions reduced aggressiveness in the aggressive group. Considering the peers emotions and intentions tended to decrease aggressiveness in the normal comparison group and increase aggressiveness in the aggressive group. Delay increased response aggressiveness in the aggressive group as well. Answering factual questions had no effect on response aggressiveness. Implications for cognitive–behavioral interventions for aggressive boys are discussed.

Interaction between emotions and somatic complaints in children who did or did not seek medical care

This study aimed to investigate how emotional functioning can be linked to health problems in children. Three groups were compared: (1) a clinical group, consisting of children with abdominal pain, attending an out-patient clinic; (2) a group from the general population who had high scores on a self-report somatic complaint list; and (3) a group from the general population who reported no or few somatic complaints. It was shown that groups 1 and 2 experienced negative moods and negative emotions with a higher frequency and/or intensity, and had a lower feeling of competence than group 3. They were also more likely to act upon physical complaints in emotionally stressful situations than group 3, although all groups made use of emotion-focused strategies. It is suggested that it is not an impaired capacity to identify emotions (an important feature of alexithymia), but an inability to differentiate between, and cope with, negative emotions that might be an important factor in childrens health problems. Suggestions for future research are made.

Ontwikkelingsamnesie: geheugenstoornissen in de kinderleeftijd

SamenvattingGeheugen is het vermogen herinneringen en ervaringen op te slaan en op te roepen. Het vormt een cruciaal onderdeel in ons bestaan. Het is een soort innerlijke agenda waarmee wij ons leven vorm geven. Wanneer ons geheugen ons in de steek laat, verliezen wij koers. Bij kinderen worden geheugenproblemen vaak vastgesteld, maar zelden als hoofddiagnose. Er is weinig bekend over de aanpak van geheugenproblemen bij kinderen. Beschreven wordt de behandeling van twee kinderen met diffuus klachtgedrag en geheugenproblemen. Bij het uitvoeren van de behandeling is het neuropsychologische vaardigheidsprofiel richtinggevend geweest. De belangrijkste behandelprincipes waren: uitleg geven over de geheugenproblemen, aanpassen van de omgeving, het leren omgaan met hulpmiddelen en strategieën leren toepassen. In beide gevallen werd er nauw samengewerkt met de ouders en de school.