Marc J. M. H. Delsing

Different types of Internet use, depression, and social anxiety : the role of perceived friendship quality

The current study examined the longitudinal associations of time spent on Internet activities for communication purposes (i.e., IM-ing) versus time spent on Internet activities for non-communication purposes (i.e., surfing) with depression and social anxiety, as well as the moderating role of perceived friendship quality in these associations. Questionnaire data were gathered from 307 Dutch middle adolescents (average age 15 years) on two waves with a one-year interval. For adolescents who perceive low friendship quality, Internet use for communication purposes predicted less depression, whereas Internet use for non-communication purposes predicted more depression and more social anxiety. These results support social compensation effects of IM-ing on depression and poor-get-poorer effects of surfing on depression and social anxiety, respectively.

Linkages Over Time Between Adolescents' Relationships with Parents and Friends

This 5-wave longitudinal study examines linkages over time between adolescents’ perceptions of relationships with parents and friends with respect to support, negative interaction, and power. A total of 575 early adolescents (54.1% boys) and 337 middle adolescents (43.3% boys) participated. Path analyses mainly showed bidirectional associations between adolescents’ perceptions of parent–adolescent relationships and friendships with a predominantly stronger influence from parent–adolescent relationships to friendships than vice versa in early to middle adolescence and an equal mutual influence in middle to late adolescence. The findings support the theoretical ideas that perceptions of relationships with parents generalize to perceptions of relationships with friends and that relationship skills and principles of adolescent friendships generalize to relationships with parents. Furthermore, the results indicate that the influence of parents decreases, whereas the influence of friends increases, and that both social worlds become equally important and overlapping towards late adolescence.

Continuous time modeling of panel data by means of SEM

After a brief history of continuous time modeling and its implementation in panel analysis by means of structural equation modeling (SEM), the problems of discrete time modeling are discussed in detail. This is done by means of the popular cross-lagged panel design. Next, the exact discrete model (EDM) is introduced, which accounts for the exact nonlinear relationship between the underlying continuous time model and the resulting discrete time model for data analysis. In addition, a linear approximation of the EDM is discussed: the approximate discrete model (ADM). It is recommended to apply the ADM-SEM procedure by means of a SEM program such as LISREL in the model building phase and the EDM-SEM procedure by means of Mx in the final model estimation phase. Both procedures are illustrated in detail by two empirical examples: Externalizing and Internalizing Problem Behavior in children; Individualism, Nationalism and Ethnocentrism in the Flemish electorate.

Assessment of bidirectional influences between family relationships and adolescent problem behavior: Discrete versus continuous time analysis

In family research, bidirectional influences between the family and the individual are usually analyzed in discrete time. Results from discrete time analysis, however, have been shown to be highly dependent on the length of the observation interval. Continuous time analysis using stochastic differential equations has been proposed to circumvent this problem. The present study examined the bidirectional influences between family relationships and adolescent problem behavior by means of both discrete- and continuous-time cross-lagged panel analysis. The effect of the length of the observation interval on the results from both procedures was investigated. Data were collected from a community sample of 288 Dutch families consisting of a father, a mother, and two of their adolescent children. Whereas results from discrete time analyses differed considerably when a 2-year instead of a 1-year interval between measurements was used, results from continuous time analysis appeared to be less affected by the length of the observation interval. Continuous time analysis revealed family relationship characteristics and levels of adolescent problem behavior to be highly stable over time. Relatively small cross-lagged effects were found between family relationships and adolescent problem behaviors.

Current and Recollected Perceptions of Family Relationships: The Social Relations Model Approach Applied to Members of Three Generations

Data from 81 three-generation families (comprising 567 participants) were analyzed to assess perceptions of current-family and family-of-origin relationships. The dimensions studied (Restrictiveness, Justice, Affection, and Trust) were derived from the family systems theories as developed by Boszormenyi-Nagy (I. Boszormenyi-Nagy & B. R. Krasner, 1986; I. Boszormenyi-Nagy & G. Spark, 1984; I. Boszormenyi-Nagy & D. N. Ulrich, 1981) and Stierlin (H. Stierlin, 1974, 1978; H. Stierlin, I. Rucker-Embden, N. Wetzel, & M. Wirsching, 1980). The social relations model (SRM) was used to disentangle the perception scores into characteristics of the perceiver (actor component), the target (partner component), and the family as a whole. For both current-family and family-of-origin relationships, significant variances of actor as well as family components were found. Empirical evidence for an association between current-family and (mothers) family-of-origin components was only found on the dimension of Restrictiveness. Clear differences were found between the means of current-family and family-of-origin perceptions, which could be explained by differences between current and past SRM components.

The Epq-R (Junior): A Dutch replication study

A Dutch version of the EPQ-R (junior) (Corulla, Personality and Individual Differences, 11, 65–76, 1990) was applied to 260 school children (143 males and 117 females). The analyses of Corulla were repeated. Substantially the same results were found on both the factor and scale level. The EPQ-R (junior) is, as a result, recommended for use in the Netherlands. For applied research, however, the reliability of the P scale will need amelioration.

Wederkerige verbanden tussen rechtvaardigheid en vertrouwen in gezinnen en probleemgedrag van adolescenten: een longitudinale analyse

SamenvattingGebruik makend van een longitudinaal design met drie jaarlijkse meetmomenten werden in de onderhavige studie de wederkerige verbanden onderzocht tussen de onderling ervaren rechtvaardigheid en vertrouwen in gezinnen en externaliserend en internaliserend probleemgedrag van adolescenten, welke verondersteld worden in de gezinssysteemtheorie van Boszormenyi-Nagy (Boszormenyi-Nagy & Spark, 1984). Gegevens werden verzameld bij 288 gezinnen bestaande uit een vader, moeder en twee van hun adolescente kinderen. Zowel bidirectionele als unidirectionele verbanden werden gevonden tussen kenmerken van het gezinsklimaat en probleemgedrag van adolescenten. De resultaten leveren daarmee gedeeltelijk ondersteuning op voor de theorie van Boszormenyi-Nagy. Er werden alleen effecten van kenmerken van het gezin als geheel op probleemgedrag gevonden, hetgeen in overeenstemming is met het belang dat in Boszormenyi-Nagy’s theorie gehecht wordt aan gezinssysteemkenmerken bij het ontstaan van probleemgedrag. Tot slot lieten onze resultaten zien dat niveaus van rechtvaardigheid en vertrouwen en van externaliserend en internaliserend probleemgedrag zeer stabiel waren over de tijd.

A Measure of the Parent-Team Alliance in Youth Residential Psychiatry: The Revised Short Working Alliance Inventory.

BackgroundThe therapeutic alliance between multidisciplinary teams and parents within youth (semi) residential psychiatry is essential for the treatment process and forms a promising process variable for Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM). No short evaluative instrument, however, is currently available to assess parent-team alliance.ObjectiveIn this study, the Working Alliance Inventory-Short Version (WAV-12), a widely used alliance questionnaire, was adjusted to assess parent-team alliance from both a parent and team perspective within a youth residential setting. Psychometric properties, including factor structure and validity of the subscales, were explored.MethodsA sample of youth with mainly complex developmental disorders admitted to 11 inpatient and day patient units of a child and adolescent psychiatric institute participated in this study. The case manager involved with the youth and the primary caregiver of 87 youth completed the revised WAV-12 (WAV-12R).ResultsThe team version of the WAV-12R showed a good fit to the original conceptualized model, and distinguished Bond, Task and Goal scales. For the parents’ version an adjusted model with Insight, Bond and combined Task/Goal scales had the best fit. The reliability and validity of the scales were shown to be good.ConclusionsThis paper presents preliminary evidence that the parent and treatment team versions of the WAV-12R are psychometrically sound for assessing parent-team alliance within youth (semi) residential psychiatry in the Netherlands. The team and parents’ versions of the WAV-12R are recommended instruments to complement outcome measures in ROM.

Development of Therapist Adherence in Relation to Treatment Outcomes of Adolescents with Behavioral Problems

Therapist adherence to the treatment manual is assumed to be crucial for adequate implementation and subsequent achievement of the intended, positive treatment outcomes. Although adherence has been mostly studied as a static factor, recent studies suggest that adherence might be dynamic and changes over time. We investigated how parent-perceived adherence to the multisystemic therapy (MST) model develops during treatment and how this development is related to treatment outcomes up to 18 months posttreatment, controlling for the effect of alliance. We used routinely collected data from 848 adolescents (66% male and 76% Western, M age = 15.25 years) and their caregivers participating in MST, a family- and community-based intervention for antisocial adolescents. Adherence and alliance were measured monthly through phone interviews with the caregivers using the Therapist Adherence Measure–Revised. Outcomes were assessed at the end of the treatment and at 18 months posttreatment using the scale Rule-Breaking Behavior of the Child Behavior Checklist and two MST Ultimate Outcomes (i.e., police contact and out-of-home placement). On average, adherence showed an increasing and then flattening slope. The initial level of adherence predicted treatment outcomes at the end of treatment but not at 18 months posttreatment. Change in adherence did not predict treatment outcomes after controlling for alliance. We advocate the need to consider the dynamic nature of adherence in research as well as clinical practice. Change in adherence during treatment, as well as its association with outcome, is likely to be dependent on the adherence measure being used.

Music Listening in Adolescence

Adolescents love music; it is the soundtrack of a life phase with rapid changes that are often exciting, confusing, and profound to young people. Dominant themes in pop music lyrics reflect issues that are of utmost importance during this life phase: self-identity and worldview, peer relationships, romance, and sexual expression. This article starts with a general discussion on why music is important to us as humans, and then focuses on the relevance of music for adolescents. Evidence shows that music listening serves important emotional, developmental, and social functions in adolescence. Further, the structure and origins of music taste are discussed and this is followed by a review of the role of listening to and identifying with rebellious or defiant music in relation to adolescent problem behavior.