James R. Clopton

Parenting Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Couple’s Relationship

Balancing the roles of parent and partner is challenging for most people and may be especially challenging when extra time and effort are required in the parenting role. The current research compared 25 couples whose children have autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with 20 couples whose children do not have developmental disorders. Comparisons were made for both stressor (e.g., childs behavior problems) and relational (e.g., relationship satisfaction) variables. Results indicated that parents of children with ASD experienced more intense child behavior problems, greater parenting stress, and lower relationship satisfaction. In contrast, the two groups of couples did not differ on perceived spousal support, respect for their partners, and commitment. The implications of the findings of this study and other related research are discussed.

Bulimic women's perceptions of their family relationships

This study examined the relationship between bulimia and family variables. Eight hundred twenty female college students completed a personal history questionnaire, the Bulimia Test, and the Eating Disorders Inventory. Twenty-four subjects who met the DSM-III-R criteria for bulimia were compared with 24 subclinical bulimics and 24 symptom-free subjects on demographic and family variables, including subscales from the Family Environment Scale and the Parental Bonding Instrument. Significant group differences indicated that the families of bulimics differ from other families. However, in contrast to the findings of research done in treatment settings, bulimics in this nonclinical setting did not report more family conflict or less caring from their parents than did symptom-free subjects.

Understanding Gender Differences in Referral of Children to Mental Health Services

In this study, gender differences in the referral of children to mental health services were investigated. A total of 135 first-, second-, and third-grade teachers read vignettes describing girls and boys with either externalizing or internalizing problems, and then evaluated the child described in each vignette concerning possible referral for mental health services. Results of this study identified three factors that help explain gender differences in referral. First, teachers are more likely to believe that boys need referral because boys tend to have the types of problems (externalizing) that teachers regard as being more in need of referral. Second, teachers are generally less likely to regard a child with problems as needing referral if that child is doing well academically (a pattern more common for girls). Third, teachers are less likely to believe that girls need referral because they are more optimistic that girls with problems will improve as they mature and that internalizing problems (the type girls tend to have) will improve through maturation. The implications of these findings for teacher training are discussed.

Bulimia: A comparison of psychological adjustment and familial characteristics in a nonclinical sample

This study examined the relation of eating attitudes and behaviors to family dynamics and psychological adjustment in a nonclinical group of female university freshmen. Family dynamics variables, which were measured by the Family Environment Scale (FES), included Control, Cohesion, Conflict, Organization, Expressiveness, Independence, Achievement-Orientation, Intellectual-Cultural Orientation, Active-Recreational Orientation, and Moral Religious Emphasis. Psychological adjustment was measured by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSC). Variables on this scale included Anxiety, Depression, Somatization, Obsessive-Compulsive, and Interpersonal Sensitivity. Eating attitudes and behaviors were measured by the Bulimia Test (BULIT), a 32-item self-report inventory. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated that bulimics, subclinical bulimics, and normals could be differentiated on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist. Univariate analyses revealed differences between the groups on all of the HSC measures and the Organization scale of the FES. The results suggest that conclusions about the causal relationships between maladaptive family patterns and bulimia presented in previous research should be viewed with caution.

Social support and suicidal ideation in college students.

The present study examined the link between social support and suicidal ideation among 305 university students (90 men and 215 women) whose ages ranged from 18 to 24 years. Social support was significantly correlated with suicidal ideation (r = –.38), but social support did not contribute to the variation in suicidal ideation scores beyond the joint contribution of scores on the Beck Depression Inventory and scores on the Hopelessness Scale. A stronger relationship between social support and suicidal ideation might be found if investigators assessed different aspects of social support and if they examined the interaction of social support and level of reported stress.

Identification of suicide attempters by means of MMPI profiles

Used multivariate procedures to determine whether psychiatric patients who had made a suicide attempt immediately prior to hospitalization (N = 161) could be differentiated from nonsuicidal psychiatric patients (N = 161). Multivariate analysis of variance and cluster analysis failed to identify differences in the MMPI data of suicidal and nonsuicidal patients. In contrast, discriminant analysis produced a modest degree of differentiation that generally was maintained in the cross-validation.

Disordered Eating Behavior and Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms in College Students: Cognitive and Affective Similarities

Few studies have examined the psychological similarities between disordered eating behavior and obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. The present study examined relationships among disordered eating, OC symptoms, and three cognitive and affective variables (perfectionism, obsessive beliefs, and negative affect). The cognitive and affective variables were significantly associated with disordered eating and with OC symptoms in a sample of 160 college women. Results also indicated that perfectionism is an important link between disordered eating behavior and OC symptoms, although the nature of perfectionism differs somewhat for the two types of behavior. Implications of the current results and directions for future research are discussed.

The effects of movement, relaxation, and education on the stress levels of women with subclinical levels of bulimia

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a multidisciplinary intervention program on the attitudes and symptoms associated with bulimia nervosa (BN). The Bulimia Test (BULIT) and subscales from the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) associated with BN were administered to 373 females to determine eligibility for participation in the study. In order to qualify for the study, participants had to be female, not be anorexic, and meet one of four criteria indicating that they had some of the symptoms of BN. Following the screening, 12 females were randomly assigned to a control group (C, n=6) or an intervention group (I, n=6). The I group then participated in an 8-week multidisciplinary intervention program consisting of small group discussions, movement improvisation, and relaxation techniques. Dependent variables consisted of scores from standardized instruments for anxiety, self-esteem, and BN. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) on the difference score from post- to pretest was calculated for state and trait anxiety. That analysis indicated that compared to the C group, which showed no reduction in anxiety, the I group had a significant reduction in anxiety following the intervention program. No significant differences were found between groups for self-esteem or symptoms of BN. Conclusions were that anxiety levels were lowered in the I group; however, attitudes or behaviors associated with BN were not affected by the intervention.

Explanatory variance in bulimia nervosa.

ABSTRACT In order to prevent disease, one must understand the factors that contribute to the variance of the illness. In an effort to better understand factors that contribute to bulimia nervosa (BN), a study was designed to investigate explanatory factors in BN. Of particular interest to the researchers in the study was the effect of the Hispanic subculture on the variance of BN. Female participants (n = 372) and male participants (n = 109) from the ages of 17–49 agreed to serve in the study. A self-report scale designed to assess the symptoms of BN was the criterion variable in the study. Predictor variables included in the regression model were drive for thinness, body mass index (BMI), age, and ethnicity (Hispanic or Anglo). Separate analyses were run for males and females. Based on the results of the analysis it seems that the desire to be thinner and an individuals BMI contribute to the variance in BN for females, but not for males. There was no difference in the attitudes associated with BN between Hispanic (n = 27) and Anglo (n = 321) females.

Generalized Locus of Control and Health Locus of Control of Surgical Patients

The relationship of generalized locus of control expectancies and specific health locus of control beliefs was explored in a sample of 24 cholecystectomy patients prior to surgery. The Internality, Powerful Others, and Chance scales were used to assess generalized locus of control expectancies, and specific health locus of control beliefs were assessed by the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales. The results question the theoretical commonality between the two locus of control measures and suggest that the alternate forms of the health locus of control scales are not equivalent. Cross-validation on a larger sample is required.