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Evidence for specific effects of childhood sexual abuse on mental well-being and physical self-esteem.

Women who are sexually abused are at increased risk for having mental health problems long after the abuse. Other nonexploitive experiences can also be psychologically detrimental, may coexist with sexual abuse, and may explain some portion of subsequent mental health problems. This study addresses the association between childhood sexual abuse and a woman's psychological functioning, independent of the quality of parental nurturance received during childhood and other variables which may influence mental health. Of 609 women completing mental health and self-concept measures, 98 reported sexual abuse; 110 of the remaining women were selected as comparisons. Women sexually abused as children scored lower on measures of mental health status. Both sexual abuse and fewer years of education were related to lower scores on a psychological well-being scale after variance accounted for by family and demographic variables was removed. Sexual abuse was not a predictor of general self-concept scores after the removal of family and demographic variables, but sexual abuse was independently associated with the subscale measuring the physical aspect of self-concept. These findings lend support to theorized causal links between child sexual abuse and some aspects of later psychological difficulties.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Metabolic control in adolescent girls: links to relationality and the female sense of self.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether intimacy and autonomy in mother-daughter interactions and relational aspects of the self are associated with metabolic control in adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 88 girls with diabetes (mean age 14.9 +/- 2.2 years, diabetes duration 7.1 +/- 3.9 years, and HbA1c 8.9 +/- 1.6%) from the Diabetes Clinic at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and their mothers. Teens completed a self-report measure assessing self-concept in eight domain-specific areas. Mothers and daughters engaged in a 7-min, videotaped, problem-solving task involving a diabetes-related conflict issue. Interactions were rated using a macroanalytic rating system to assess intimacy and autonomy in parent-teen relationships. Metabolic control was measured using HbA1c. RESULTS: Self-concept in domains of perceived behavioral conduct (P=0.003), social acceptance (P=0.03), romantic appeal (P=0.03), and close friendships (P=0.04) independently predicted HbA1c levels, together accounting for 30% of the variance. Also, the experience of emotional closeness (i.e., intimacy) rather than separateness (i.e., autonomy) in mother-daughter relationships was associated with lower HbA1c (P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Relational aspects of the self and the experience of emotional closeness in relationships are associated with metabolic control in adolescent girls. Efforts to improve metabolic control in girls should include enhancing the self-concept and the experience of relatedness in familial, peer, and patient-caregiver relationships.

Adolescent↗

Physical and psychological effects of aerobic exercise in delinquent adolescent males.

Aerobic exercise has been associated with improved psychological status and physical fitness in adults, but its effects in adolescents have been less clear. This study evaluated the effects of aerobic exercise on the self-concept, depression level, and physical fitness of juvenile delinquents. Ninety-eight incarcerated youths who volunteered to participate were assigned in a blind fashion to one of two exercise programs lasting three months. Sixty-nine completed all phases of the study and are the subjects of this report. One exercise program (32 subjects) emphasized aerobic exercise; the other (37 subjects), limited exertion. Before and after participating, each subject underwent measurement of self-concept, mood, and physical fitness. While the aerobic and comparison groups were initially similar, the data demonstrated an association between participation in the aerobic exercise program and improved self-concept, mood, and fitness. Improvement in psychological variables was not dependent on improved physical fitness and was not related to preintervention measures.

Adolescent↗

Adaptation problems with nursing home application for elderly persons: an application of the Roy adaptation nursing model.

This study sought to identify adaptation problems on the part of elderly persons and significant others that were associated with nursing home applications for elderly persons. Within the framework of the Roy Adaptation Nursing Model, an ex post facto research design was utilized to identify these adaptation problems. The four adaptive modes in this model are: physiological, self-concept, role function, and interdependence. The study group (n = 22) and a control group of elderly persons living in Calgary, as well as their significant others, were administered a structured questionnaire. Five hypotheses relating to overall adaptation problems, powerlessness, role reversal, guilt, and knowledge and utilization of services were formulated and tested. Only the hypothesis indicating role reversal on the part of the significant others was accepted. Adaptation problems encountered by the elderly which were associated with nursing home applications occurred in the self-concept and interdependence adaptive modes. The adaptation problems perceived by the significant others, which were associated with nursing home applications for their elderly, occurred in the self-concept, role function, and interdependence modes. Adaptation problems from the significant others' perception rather than from the elderly persons' perception appear to be more significantly associated with nursing home applications.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Coping strategies used by adolescents in dealing with family relocation overseas.

This study investigated: (a) the types of coping strategies adolescents commonly employ in response to family relocation overseas; and (b) whether sex, age, self-concept, behavioral adjustment, and previous history of moves affect the types of strategies used by these sojourners. For this purpose, we selected a widely used model of coping which distinguishes between approach and avoidance strategies and a sample of teenagers whose families had recently relocated in Belgium. Four assessment instruments were utilized: the Background Information Data Sheet, the Stress Response Scale, the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, and the Coping Responses Inventory--Youth Form. Results indicated that adolescent sojourners selected both approach and avoidance strategies to cope with family relocation overseas. Correlational analyses further showed that females and older teenagers tended to rely significantly more on approach strategies than on avoidance strategies. Self-concept and behavioral adjustment were also found to be related to the type coping strategies employed, while the history of previous relocation was not.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Sibling adjustment to pediatric traumatic brain injury: a case-controlled pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess depressive symptoms, self-concept, and behavior in non-affected siblings of children with severe pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with case controls. SETTING: Children's hospital tertiary care center. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve siblings of children consecutively admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation unit after a severe TBI. Case controls were randomly selected from the sibling's classmates. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Teacher's Report Form of the CBCL (TRF-CBCL), the Self-Perception Profile for Children and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). RESULTS: No statistical differences were found in depressive symptoms, self-concept, or behavior between the siblings and their classmates 3 to 18 months after injury. Poorer functional outcomes in the child with a TBI were found to correlate significantly with lower self-concept and more symptoms of depression in the siblings. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to evaluate the potential impact on sibling adjustment after pediatric TBI.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Self-image and social-image factors in adolescent alcohol use.

To investigate the social image of adolescent drinking, high-school students were asked to rate slides of drinking and nondrinking peer models. The image was ambivalent, with both social liabilities and possible social benefits (including toughness and precocity). This image was then related to adolescent drinking behavior. It was hypothesized that adolescents might be more likely to drink if their self-concepts were consistent with a drinking image (consistency theory), if their ideal self-concepts were consistent with a drinking image (self-enhancement) or if their friends admired a drinking image (impression management). Analyses of subjects' current drinking behavior supported both the consistency and self-enhancement hypotheses. Moreover, boys' intentions to drink in the future were related to consistency and impression-management variables (controlling for current drinking). Girls' intentions were not related to any of these self-image and social-image factors. Implications for adolescent alcohol use and misuse are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Resilient students' goals and motivation.

This paper presents the results of an exploratory analysis, description, and comparison of the self-concept and motivational patterns of academically resilient, non-resilient students, advantaged achievers, and advantaged low-achievers. Resilient students are defined as coming from an impoverished and stressful environment, yet achieving a 2.75 or greater grade point average (GPA). Non-resilient students come from the same background, yet do not have the requisite GPA. There are 17 resilient students and there are 19 non-resilient students. The advantaged achievers come from a low-stress, high-SES background and have a 2.75 or greater GPA. The advantaged low-achievers come from a low-stress, high-SES background, but their GPA falls below 2.75. There are 19 advantaged achievers and nine advantaged low-achievers. Goals, self-concept, and environmental support beliefs are measured by the Assessment of Personal Agency Beliefs and the High School Assessment of Academic Self-Concept. The results show significant results in the cognitive beliefs subscale, social beliefs subscale, general extra-curricular beliefs subscale, and the personal trust subscale.

Achievement↗

A therapist's guide to children's self-esteem.

The term self-esteem is frequently used by occupational therapists and other health care professionals who work with children. There are differing interpretations as to what this term actually means. In this article, we use Susan Harter's model of self-esteem to define the nature of self-esteem and apply it to clinical practice. We outline the developmental characteristics important to consider when addressing the self-esteem of young children, such as the findings that young children's self-esteem is often more related to their perceptions of parental acceptance than perceptions of competence and that children are generally unable to accurately verbalize their level of self-esteem until 8 years of age. Specific implications for occupational therapy evaluation include whether the use of self-report or observer-report measures is preferable and whether self-esteem or self-concept should be measured. We discuss when to address self-esteem and which dimensions of self-esteem should be treated. The dimensions of self-esteem that are identified as low during the evaluation and that the child perceives to be important are addressed. The reevaluation issue of what specifically should be measured after intervention is also discussed. For example, it is recommended that the reevaluation instrument be sensitive to the domains of self-concept targeted for intervention.

Child↗

Possible selves in major depression.

Ratings of possible selves and resultant self-concept discrepancies were examined in 25 patients diagnosed with major depression and 25 control subjects. Self-concept discrepancies significantly discriminated patients from controls. The presence of negative features in the self-schema was a stronger indicator of depressive symptomatology than was the absence of positive self-appraisal. Depressives' future projections of self were less pessimistic than predicted by cognitive theories of depression.

Adult↗

Psychological adaptation in children with idiopathic short stature treated with growth hormone or placebo.

The influence of short stature on psychological adaptation in childhood and adolescence is controversial. GH is currently used to treat children with idiopathic short stature (ISS, also known as non-GH-deficient short stature). This study represents the first double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the effects of GH on the psychological adaptation of children and adolescents with ISS, treated with GH until adult height was attained.Sixty-eight children (53 males, 15 females), 9-16 yr old, with marked ISS (measured height or predicted adult height -2.5 sd or less) received either GH 0.074 mg/kg or placebo sc three times per week until height velocity decreased to less than 1.5 cm/yr. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and children the Self-Perception Profile (SPP) and Silhouette Apperception Technique at baseline and annually thereafter. Baseline behavioral/emotional adjustment (CBCL) and self-concept (SPP) scores for children with ISS were within the normative range. The two study groups exhibited similar behavioral and self-concept profiles (CBCL) during the first 2 yr of the study. However, CBCL behavior problems (internalizing, externalizing, and total problems) appeared to decline, in yr 3 and 4, in the GH-treated group relative to the placebo-treated group. Group differences in CBCL competency domains and the SPP were not observed at any point during the study. Short stature among children with ISS enrolled in this long-term, placebo-controlled study was not associated with problems in psychological adaptation or self-concept with the psychological instruments employed. GH treatment was associated with a trend toward improvement in problem behaviors, as measured by questionnaires (CBCL) completed by study participants' parents. It remains to be determined whether GH treatment significantly impacts adaptation, psychosocial function, or quality of life in children with ISS.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Social sensitivity in adolescents and adults with learning disabilities.

This study investigated social sensitivity and self-concept in students with learning disabilities (LD) and their non-learning-disabled (non-LD) peers. Thirty students each from public junior and senior high schools and a community college participated in the study; at each grade level, half were identified as learning disabled and half experienced no learning problem. Students were individually assessed in 30-minute interviews for their accuracy in interpreting the thoughts and feelings of actors in tape-recorded stories depicting two adults in happy angry, anxious, and sad interactions. A questionnaire assessing four dimensions of self-concept in learning situations (motivation, task orientation, problem-solving ability, and class membership) was also administered. LD students at all grade levels were significantly less accurate at interpreting social situations than were their non-LD peers, and had significantly lower self-concepts. These results support the need for remediation efforts specifically aimed at social skills for overcoming social deficits in adulthood.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Subject's perceptions of the crew interaction dynamics under prolonged isolation.

BACKGROUND: The interactions of individuals participating in space simulation studies can give us valuable information about ways that space crew members relate with one another. A promising method of investigating such interactions is based on the Kelly repertory grid technique. HYPOTHESES: We predicted that in a space simulation crew: 1) one's personal self-concept would become closer to concepts about other crew members in a cohesive crew, and vice-versa, and 2) the similarity of one's ego images in the past, present and future influences that person's position in the group. METHOD: Crews from two isolation studies lasting 135 and 90 days at the Institute for Biomedical Problems in Moscow were evaluated using a modification of the Kelly repertory grid technique. Members assessed each other on a monthly basis and during off-nominal simulated docking periods. RESULTS: During both isolations, crew members were unsuccessful in making their personal self-concepts move closer to their concepts about fellow crew members. Crew disintegration resulted, with one member becoming an outsider whose personality was characterized by a disintegrated ego-image and an infantile type of the present ego. CONCLUSIONS: In small isolated groups, failure to make personal self-concepts become more like concepts about other crew members can lead to group disintegration and tension and can result in the appearance of an outsider who has a disintegrated ego-image and an infantile present ego.

Adult↗

The effects of stigma on the psychological well-being and life satisfaction of persons with mental illness.

Building on modified labeling theory, I examine the relationships between stigma, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction among persons with mental illness. The study uses longitudinal data from 610 individuals in self-help groups and outpatient treatment. Results from cross-sectional and lagged regression models show adverse effects of stigma on the outcomes considered. However, much of the effects of anticipated rejection are due to discriminatory experiences. The results also indicate that stigma is related to depressive-anxiety types of symptoms but not psychotic symptoms. Although the findings show that the negative effect of stigma on life satisfaction is partly mediated by self-concept, reciprocal effects models indicate that the relationship between self-concept and life satisfaction is bi-directional. The study suggests ways in which stigma processes need to be explored in greater detail.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Study on self-consciousness of children with learning disabilities and related factors.

OBJECTIVE: To study the self-consciousness of children with learning disabilities (LD) and to identify related factors. METHODS: Five hundred and sixty pupils graded from 1 to 6 in an elementary school were investigated. According to the pupil rating scale revised screening for learning disabilities (PRS), combined Raven's test (CRT) and achievement of main courses, 35 of 560 pupils were diagnosed as LD children. Thirty-five children were selected from the average children and 35 from advanced children in academic achievement equally matched in class, gender, and age with LD children as control groups. The three groups were tested by Piers-Harris children's self-concept scale. Basic information of each subject was collected by self-made questionnaire. RESULTS: Compared with the average and advanced children, LD children got significantly lower scores in self-concept scale. Based on logistic regression analysis, 3 factors were identified, including family income per month, single child and delivery model. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that self-consciousness of children with LD is lower than that of normal children.

Child↗

Self-pluralism: assessment and relations to adjustment, life changes, and age.

Individuals differ in the degree to which they see themselves as behaving and feeling similarly or differently in different situations and at different times. This dimension of the self-concept, which is conceived to extend from strong constancy of the self-concept at one extreme to marked variability at the opposite pole, is designated as self-pluralism. An inventory for the assessment of degree of self-pluralism--the Self-Pluralism Scale (SPS)--is presented, and the correlations of this scale with other relevant personality measures are reported. Several studies utilizing the SPS are presented. The results indicate that self-pluralism is negatively related to psychological adjustment, positively related to long-term real-life variability, and negatively related to age.

Age Factors↗

Intimates as agents of social support: sources of consolation or despair?

We proposed that people's intimates may insulate them against self-discrepant feedback. Individuals who possessed low or high self-esteem (targets) reported to the laboratory accompanied by persons with whom they were involved in intimate relationships (intimates). Some intimates perceived targets in a manner that was congruent with targets' self-conceptions; others perceived targets in a manner that was incongruent with targets' self-conceptions. Targets received bogus feedback that was discrepant with their self-esteem and interacted with either their intimate or a stranger. Targets then completed a measure of self-esteem. As expected, targets changed their self-ratings in the direction of the discrepant feedback when they interacted with either an incongruent intimate or a stranger but not when they interacted with a congruent intimate. Moreover, congruent intimates were just as effective in insulating low self-esteem targets against positive feedback as they were in insulating high self-esteem individuals against negative feedback. Finally, the more targets discussed the feedback, the less self-rating change they experienced. Implications for social support processes and attempts to cope with traumatic events are discussed.

Adolescent↗