Steven C. Pitts

A longitudinal study of children of alcoholics : Predicting young adult substance use disorders, anxiety, and depression

This study tested the specificity of parent alcoholism effects on young adult alcohol and drug abuse/dependence, anxiety, and depression, and tested whether adolescent symptomatology and substance use mediated parent alcoholism effects. Participants were from a longitudinal study in which a target child was assessed in adolescence and young adulthood with structured interview measures (N = 454 families at Time 1). Results showed unique effects of parent alcoholism on young adult substance abuse/dependence diagnoses over and above the effects of other parental psychopathology. There was some evidence of parent alcoholism effects on young adult depression and of maternal alcoholism effects on young adult anxiety, although these were not found consistently across subsamples. Mediational models suggested that parent alcoholism effects could be partially (but not totally) explained by adolescent externalizing symptoms.

Longitudinal Measurement Models in Evaluation Research: Examining Stability and Change.

Abstract This article provides an introduction to the use of Confirmatory Factor Analysis to test measurement invariance and stability in longitudinal research. The approach is illustrated through examples representing: (a) one construct, two measurement waves; (b) one construct, three waves; (c) two constructs, two waves; and (d) comparison of treatment and control groups in pre-post designs. Basic issues in establishing measurement invariance over time, across treatment groups, and within measurement waves are discussed. Estimates of the stability coefficients that are corrected for measurement error and method variance associated with each specific measured variable are provided. Establishing measurement invariance is a critical requirement for making inferences about treatment effects and changes in constructs over time.

Measurement of three major subtypes of child neglect

This study examines the relationships among three major subtypes of neglect (physical, psychological, and environmental), a summary measure of neglect, and neglect as defined by Child Protective Services (CPS). The predictive validity of the subtypes of neglect assessed when children were 5 years of age was examined using children’s behavior at age 6. Study findings include modest to moderate correlations among the neglect subtypes, CPS neglect, and children’s behavior. After controlling for CPS neglect, the subtypes remained predictive of children’s behavior. The set of three subtypes was more strongly related to children’s behavior, particularly maternal report of internalizing problems, than was the summary neglect measure. These findings suggest that considering the subtypes of neglect may enhance our understanding of neglect and lead to interventions tailored to families’ specific needs.

The relation of adolescent substance use to young adult autonomy, positive activity involvement, and perceived competence

The current paper uses data from a longitudinal study of a high-risk sample to test the relation between adolescent alcohol and drug use and later young adult autonomy, positive activity involvement, and perceived competence. Participants (children of alcoholics and demographically matched controls) were assessed in three annual interviews in adolescence (mean age: 12.7 years at Time 1) and then again 5-7 years later, in young adulthood (median age: 20 years). Path analyses and latent growth curve models tested the effects of adolescent substance use on both self-reported and collateral-reported outcomes, controlling for correlated risk factors (parental alcoholism, adolescent psychopathology, and parental support), preexisting levels of the outcome, and concurrent young adult substance use. Results showed that adolescent drug use had a significant, unique negative effect on later autonomy and perceived competence. Alcohol use effects were more complex. Adolescent heavy drinking was associated with less positive adult outcomes, but more so in collateral reports than in self-reported outcomes. Moreover, young adult heavy drinking was either uncorrelated with or positively correlated with higher levels of perceived competence, suggesting different developmental significance of alcohol use in adolescence than in young adulthood.

Psychosis risk screening in youth: A validation study of three self-report measures of attenuated psychosis symptoms

Brief self-report questionnaires that assess attenuated psychosis symptoms have the potential to quickly and effectively screen many people who may benefit from clinical monitoring or early intervention. The current study sought to examine and compare the criterion validities of attenuated symptoms screening tools with diagnoses obtained from the clinician-administered Structured Interview for Psychosis Risk Syndromes (SIPS). Three screening questionnaires (Prime Screen, Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief, and Youth Psychosis At-Risk Questionnaire-Brief) were administered just prior to the SIPS interview in a sample of adolescents and young adults seeking mental health services. Using thresholds recommended by instrument authors as well as empirically derived optimal thresholds, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and overall accuracy of each self-report measure with regard to SIPS diagnosis were obtained. Screeners correlated highly with the SIPS and demonstrated equivalent overall efficiency in capturing psychosis risk status. All three screeners appear to be useful and valid assessment tools for attenuated symptoms, with each instrument demonstrating relative benefits. The validation of attenuated symptoms screening tools is an important step toward enabling early, wide-reaching identification of individuals on a course toward psychotic illness.

Longitudinal Investigation of the Relationship Among Maternal Victimization, Depressive Symptoms, Social Support, and Children’s Behavior and Development

This article is a longitudinal investigation of the relationships between maternal victimization, maternal functioning, and children’s behavior and development. Participants include 203 mother-child dyads from a low-income population recruited from pediatric primary care clinics. Data are collected when children are 4 and 8 years of age. Child outcomes are evaluated using maternal, teacher, and child self-report and objective measures of cognitive and academic functioning. Maternal victimization history is associated with maternal depressive symptoms, low levels of maternal social support, child internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, and low levels of child socialization. Child behavior problems identified at age 4 are enduring and persist to age 8. The effects of maternal victimization history on both internalizing behavior problems and socialization are mediated by maternal depressive symptoms. The effects of maternal depressive symptoms on externalizing behavior problems, socialization, and anger are mediated by maternal social support. Clinical implications of findings are discussed.

Multiple Linear Regression

Multiple regression analysis (MR) is a highly flexible system for examining the relationship of a collection of independent variables (or predictors) to a single dependent variable (or criterion). The independent variables may be quantitative (e.g., personality traits, family income) or categorical (e.g., ethnic group, treatment conditions in an experiment). The present chapter explores ordinary least-squares regression with a continuous dependent variable. The chapter has two foci: (1) testing of theoretical predictions through multiple regression and (2) identification of problems with implementation of regression analysis, both from the perspectives of model specification and the data themselves. The structure of MR is described, including the regression equation, estimation of partial regression coefficients, measures of overall model fit, and the contribution of individual predictors and sets of predictors to prediction accuracy. The treatment of categorical predictors through effects, dummy, and contrast coding is explained. Polynomial regression for capturing curvilinear relationships is explored. The specification and testing of interactions between continuous variables and between a continuous and a categorical variable are explicated. Assumptions of MR and detection of violations are explained, as is the use of regression diagnostics to identify problematic cases. The chapter illustrates the interplay between theory and empirical findings in the specification, testing, and revision of regression models. Keywords: interactions in regression; model testing; multiple regression; ordinary least squares; polynomial regression; regression diagnostics; variable coding

Convergent and discriminant validity of attenuated psychosis screening tools.

Brief self-report questionnaires that assess attenuated psychotic symptoms have the potential to screen many people who may benefit from clinical monitoring, further evaluation, or early intervention. The extent to which recently developed screening instruments demonstrate sound psychometric properties is an important issue toward the implementation of these measures in clinical practice. This study examines the convergent validity, discriminant validity, and test-retest reliability of four recently developed screening instruments. Screening instruments were included in an assessment battery and administered to a sample of 355 college students. Screening scores support the convergent and discriminant validity and the test-retest reliability of these measures.

Schizotypy, psychotic-like experiences and distress: an interaction model.

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) have been found to exist on a continuum in both general and clinical populations. Such experiences may characterize normal and abnormal variations in personality, as well as prodromal or high risk states for the development of psychotic disorders. High risk paradigms tend to emphasize distress and impairment associated with PLEs, yet the extent to which individuals find PLEs to be distressing likely depends on moderating factors. In particular, individuals high in trait schizotypy may differ in their appraisal and reaction to PLEs. The current study examines the relationship between schizotypy, PLEs, and distress associated with PLEs in a college sample. Participants (N=355) completed the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire - Brief Version (SPQ-B), which assesses schizotypal traits, and the Prodromal Questionnaire - Brief Version (PQ-B), which assesses both PLEs and associated distress. Schizotypy was found to significantly moderate the association between PLEs and subjective distress. Individuals high in trait schizotypy reported more PLEs, yet less distress associated with PLEs, relative to individuals low in trait schizotypy. Implications for high-risk state assessment are discussed.

Substance Use Problems, Treatment Engagement, and Outcomes in Partner Violent Men

Objectives: This study examined predictive associations of substance abuse with treatment engagement variables and partner abuse outcomes and explored the extent to which treatment engagement and ongoing alcohol consumption mediated the association between pretreatment substance use and posttreatment abuse. Method: Data were collected from 145 partner abusive men in treatment and partners using standardized measures of violence, alcohol and drug use at baseline, posttreatment, and follow-up assessments. Results: Men who screened positive for alcohol or drug problems at baseline had significantly lower treatment engagement and higher self-reports of partner abuse before and during treatment. Partial support was found for the mediation model. Conclusions: The implications for social work practitioners who work in interdisciplinary settings with intimate partner violence perpetrators and survivors are discussed.