John P. Vincent

A behavioral analysis of problem solving in distressed and nondistressed married and stranger dyads.

The present study compared the problem solving behavior of distressed andnondistressed married couples, and explored the “state” vs. “trait” nature of problem solving behavior through comparison of married and stranger dyads. Behavioral codings obtained from spouse and stranger interactions around a standard conflict eliciting task provided the measure of problem solving behavior. Distressed married couples, relative to nondistressed married couples, emitted a significantly greater proportion of negative problem solving behavior, and a significantly smaller proportion of positive problem solving behavior. As compared with stranger dyads, the problem solving behavior of nondistressed marital dyads tended to be more negative and more positive, whereas distressed marital dyads were more negative and less positive. The implications of these finding for marital therapy and research were discussed.

Physical Violence and Other Forms of Marital Aggression: Links With Children's Behavior Problems

Two studies examined whether physical marital violence and other forms of marital aggression (e.g., threats, throwing objects) correlate with childrens behavior problems in families marked by recent spousal violence. Study 1 included 55 families seeking marital therapy. Study 2 included 199 families at battered womens shelters. In the marital therapy sample, both physical marital violence and other forms of marital aggression correlated positively with childrens externalizing problems. In the womens shelter sample, physical violence and other forms of marital aggression correlated positively with childrens externalizing and internalizing problems. After accounting for the frequency of physical marital violence, forms of marital aggression other than physical violence still related to childrens externalizing problems in the marital therapy sample and to childrens internalizing problems in the womens shelter sample.

Examining the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide in an inpatient veteran sample.

Suicide among veterans is a pressing public health concern. The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide proposes that perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness lead to suicidal desire, whereas the acquired capability for suicide leads to suicide attempt in the presence of suicidal desire (Joiner, 2005). Two hypotheses derived from the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide were tested in 185 veterans (96 women) entering inpatient psychiatric treatment. Burdensomeness and its interaction with belongingness significantly predicted current suicidal ideation. The three-way interaction between burdensomeness, belongingness, and acquired capability did not significantly predict number of past suicide attempts. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Quality of Life in Mexican-American Children Following a Weight Management Program

Objective: The objective was to evaluate quality of life (QOL) in at‐risk‐for‐overweight and overweight Mexican‐American children after participating in 6 months of intensive weight management or self‐help.

Ethnic differences in symptom presentation of sexually abused girls

ABSTRACT Although researchers have begun to examine the issue of ethnic and cultural factors in childhood sexual abuse (CSA), relatively little has been done to look at possible ethnic and cultural differences in psychological symptoms related to CSA. This study investigated the relationship between ethnicity and symptom presentation among Hispanic, African American, and Caucasian sexually abused girls. The study examined the relationship between ethnicity and depression, ethnicity and post-trauma intrusive symptoms, and ethnicity and post-trauma avoidance symptoms. Results indicated that African American girls had significantly higher levels of post-trauma avoidance symptoms than Hispanic girls, but not Caucasian girls. No significant differences were found between ethnic groups for depression or intrusive symptoms.

Characterization and Prediction of Sexual and Nonsexual Recidivism Among Adjudicated Juvenile Sex Offenders

Estimating the risk of sexual recidivism for a juvenile sex offender is essential in order to protect public safety by identifying and evaluating high risk adolescents and to ensure the rights and welfare of juvenile offenders who will not likely reoffend. Empirically validated risk assessment methods are needed to aid in the classification and treatment of juvenile sex offenders. The present study utilized a dataset collected by Maricopa County, AZ, and aggregated by the National Juvenile Court Data Archive. The purpose of the study was to evaluate and characterize risk factors for juveniles who have been charged with a sexual offense in order to determine the predictive utility of these factors for subsequent offending, as well as offense trajectory, and to evaluate risk factors for nonsexual offenders who have committed crimes of various severities. The results of the present study show the strongest individual predictors of sexual recidivism to be prior nonsexual offending, prior sexual offending, hands-off offending, offending against a child, younger school grade/age at time of initial offense, Asian or Hispanic ethnicity, and not attending school. A preliminary screening measure was developed from the seven positive risk factors, and ROC analysis produced an AUC indicating moderate predictive utility in discriminating between juvenile sex offenders who would sexually reoffend and those who would not.

The use of symptom severity measured just before termination to predict child treatment dropout.

The current study examined indices of trauma-related symptom severity as predictors of dropout from exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy in a sample of 99 child and adolescent trauma victims. The investigation incorporated measures of symptom severity at two time points: pretreatment and just before termination. The results indicated that a model with symptom severity measured just before termination was significantly associated with the number of attended sessions; however, a model with the symptom-severity indices measured at pretreatment was nonsignificant. In addition, a significant main effect indicated that increased avoidance behavior measured just before termination was related to fewer treatment sessions. Further analyses also suggested that higher severity of intrusion and depression measured just before termination was correlated with fewer treatment sessions. The results support the idea that more immediate distress may be related to treatment dropout. Implications for the research and practice of exposure therapy for child trauma are discussed.

Response Patterns on the Parent–Child Relationship Inventory in a Simulated Child Custody Evaluation

Custody evaluation likely induces a motivation for parents to distort self-reports of parenting behavior. This study examined thesusceptibility of the Parent–Child Relationship Inventory (PCRI) to exaggeration of positive parenting in an instructional manipulation simulating a custody evaluation versus research study in 64 university students who were parents of children between the ages of 3 and 15. Results suggested that the simulated custody context influenced PCRI scores in the expected direction. However, the social desirability indicator built into the measure was effective at detecting the attempt to present an overly favorable image of the parent–child relationship.

Evaluation of Trauma Characteristics as Predictors of Attrition from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Child Victims of Violence

Little research has investigated psychotherapy attrition among child victims of violence, and no studies have evaluated the role of trauma characteristics (e.g., level of threat or injury, trauma frequency, perpetrator relationship, victim type, and trauma type). The current study evaluated premature psychotherapy termination with 134 child victims (ages 5–19 years) who were referred for exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy. Results indicated that premature treatment termination was associated with children who experienced (a) a single incident of trauma (compared to multiple), (b) neither life threat nor physical injury during the victimization, (c) and an incident that was perpetrated by an older child compared to a parental figure. Certain trauma characteristics may be important factors for identifying children at risk for terminating treatment prematurely.

Examination of the Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (WISDM-68) Factor Structure in a Sample of Pregnant Smokers

INTRODUCTION Smoking during pregnancy poses known risks to fetal and infant development. Women who continue to smoke during pregnancy exhibit higher levels of nicotine dependence than women who quit. Increased understanding of the construct of nicotine dependence in pregnant smokers may aid in the development of effective treatments. Research has suggested that nicotine dependence is a multifaceted construct, driven not only by withdrawal and tolerance processes, but also by reinforcement, sensory, and contextual processes. The Wisconsin inventory of smoking dependence motives (WISDM-68) assesses 13 varied smoking motives in order to assess processes that may lead to nicotine dependence. METHODS The factor structure of the WISDM-68 was explored using an ethnically diverse sample of 294 pregnant women who had been screened and/or enrolled in a smoking cessation treatment study. Confirmatory analyses were conducted with previously published models. An exploratory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were conducted to develop and validate a measurement model for the WISDM-68 in this sample. RESULTS Previously established models were not a good fit for the present data. Using ESEM, a 9-factor model exhibiting both predictive and concurrent validity emerged. Two factors predicted abstinence 6 months posttreatment. Several factors were associated with smoking heaviness, the Fagerström test for cigarette dependence and time to first cigarette. CONCLUSIONS In contrast to previously published studies, a 9-factor model best characterizes the WISDM in the present sample. These findings may reflect smoking motivations unique to young, pregnant women who continue to smoke during pregnancy.