While growing evidence suggests sibling aggression is associated with a range of negative developmental outcomes, research examining sibling aggression remains limited. Understanding which acts of aggression are most commonly used among siblings may help identify behaviors that place youth at elevated risk for future emotional, behavioral, and social difficulties. Accordingly, the current study examined item-level frequencies of proactive and reactive sibling aggression in a sample of elementary-aged youth as well as evaluated gender and grade-level differences in acts of sibling aggression. Participants were 290 children (54.8
Empathy is a multifaceted capacity commonly assessed through cognitive and affective dimensions, yet traditional measures may insufficiently capture opposite-valence emotional responding. The Affective and Cognitive Measure of Empathy (ACME) was developed to broaden empathy assessment by distinguishing Cognitive Empathy, Affective Resonance, and Affective Dissonance. The present study examined whether this broader representation provides explanatory value beyond established measures of empathy used and whether it generalizes to an Italian adult sample. Participants (N = 542; 18–79 years) completed the ACME and measures of empathy, emotion dysregulation, aggression, and impulsivity. Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the expected three-factor structure and measurement invariance across sex. Internal consistency was good to excellent across ACME subscales. Construct validity was supported by associations with established empathy measures and theoretically coherent links with emotion dysregulation, aggression, and impulsivity, with Affective Dissonance showing the strongest links to externalizing outcomes. Hierarchical regression further indicated that ACME explained significant additional variance beyond a widely used empathy measure across all tested outcomes, with the largest increments observed for Reactive Aggression, Proactive Aggression, and Hostility. Overall, these findings suggest that explicitly modeling Affective Dissonance may improve construct coverage in empathy assessment in research and applied settings.
This study examines the psychometric properties of the Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) subscale of the Scale of Externalizing Behavior Problems in Adults (SEPBA-BPD). This instrument is designed to assess BPD from an integrative perspective, incorporating both continuous and categorical approaches. The sample comprised 749 adult participants, including individuals from the general population and those in confinement. Three factorial models were evaluated to determine the dimensionality of the scale, concluding that a one-dimensional model provided the most parsimonious fit. The findings demonstrated that the scale shows adequate discrimination indices, internal consistency, and convergent validity in relation to external measures of Borderline Personality Disorder. Additionally, guidelines for item dichotomization were established and validated using Item Response Theory to optimize cut-off points based on the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, thereby enhancing the instrument’s clinical utility. The results support the utility of the SEPBA-BPD as a versatile instrument for assessing Borderline Personality Disorder in both clinical and research settings, offering a comprehensive and multimodal approach to personality disorder assessment.
Depression is associated with numerous physical and psychological difficulties. Emerging adults—particularly college students—face developmental and contextual challenges that increase vulnerability to depressive symptoms. Filipino Americans remain underrepresented in both depression research and psychometric evaluations of widely used screening instruments. The present study examined the psychometric properties of scores from the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) in a sample of college students from Southern California (698 Filipino Americans, 945 European Americans). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate the factor structure of PHQ-8 scores, and multigroup CFA was conducted to examine measurement invariance across ethnicity and sex. Evidence relevant to extrapolation inferences was examined through associations with an established depression measure and theoretically related constructs, including anxiety, perceived stress, brooding rumination, self-esteem, and quality of life. Results supported a unidimensional factor structure and measurement invariance of PHQ-8 scores across groups. In addition, PHQ-8 scores demonstrated expected associations with the external validation variables, providing further support for their interpretation as indicators of depressive symptom severity among Filipino American and European American emerging adults.
Problematic social media use (SMU) is an increasing concern for adolescents’ wellbeing worldwide. The nine-item Social Media Disorder Scale (SMD) is widely used to assess problematic social media engagement in youth, yet its longitudinal psychometric properties remain insufficiently examined. Establishing the scale’s robustness across time is crucial for valid developmental inferences and for informing prevention and intervention efforts. This study evaluated the longitudinal measurement invariance, item-level informativeness and test-level precision of the SMD, as well as its criterion and predictive validity. Self-report data were collected from 306 Greek early adolescents (Mage = 13.30, SD = 0.58 at Wave 1; 42.8
Irritability is central to developmental psychopathology, especially in adolescence and young adulthood. However, existing measures do not consistently integrate tonic/phasic manifestations with trait-like and recent state-like assessment frames. This study presents the development and initial psychometric evidence of the Adolescent Trait-State Irritability Reactivity and Regulation Inventory (IRRIT-IJ). Methods: The study included 286 Brazilian participants aged 11 to 24 years. Items were developed through a narrative literature review, expert evaluation, and semantic assessment with the target population. Internal structure was examined using polychoric exploratory procedures, the Correlation Gaussian Mixture Model, and confirmatory model evaluation. Validity evidence was examined using Spearman correlations with external measures and known-groups comparisons based on self-reported gender. Results: Expert evaluation showed high agreement (Gwet’s AC1 = 0.87), and semantic evaluation supported item comprehension. The final reduced version included 26 items: 13 State items and 13 Trait items. Analyses supported a tonic/phasic two-dimensional structure for both subscales, with adequate fit and high internal consistency for State (α = 0.892; ω = 0.891) and Trait (α = 0.891; ω = 0.890). IRRIT-IJ scores were positively associated with measures of irritability, psychological distress, minor mental disorder symptoms, and emotional regulation, with stronger associations for irritability and psychopathological symptoms. Female participants showed higher observed State and Trait scores than male participants. Conclusions: Findings provide initial support for the IRRIT-IJ as a complementary self-report measure for assessing recent state-like and trait-like irritability through tonic and phasic manifestations in adolescents and young adults. Further studies should examine temporal stability, measurement invariance, discriminant validity, and independent cross-validation.
The Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ) is a widely used screening tool for childhood depression, but existing cutoff scores have been derived primarily from older or clinically referred samples of youth. Less is known about score distributions and percentiles in nationally representative samples of younger children. The present study established parent-report MFQ norms and evaluated item characteristics and Differential Item Functioning (DIF) across parent race/ethnicity, and parent and child sex, in a large, population-based sample. Data were collected in February 2024 from 1,000 U.S. parents of children ages 5–12. Parents completed demographic measures and the 34-item long-form MFQ. Item response theory (IRT) analyses evaluated unidimensionality, item discrimination, and DIF across the three largest racial/ethnic groups (White, Black, Latine) and across parent and child sex. Percentile ranks and 95
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can co-occur, yet few studies examine the associations among trauma exposure, OCD symptoms, and self-stigma. This study used self-reported measures to investigate OCD symptom levels and self-stigma in 137 college students across individuals with no trauma exposure (n = 63), trauma exposure only (n = 50), and trauma exposure but with probable PTSD (n = 24). Aim 1 examined average OCD symptom severity across trauma groups. We hypothesized that the probable PTSD and trauma exposure only groups would report greater average OCD symptoms compared to the no trauma exposure group. Aim 2a examined self-stigma across groups, and we predicted that those with probable PTSD would have the highest levels of self-stigma, followed by the trauma exposure only and no trauma exposure groups, respectively. Lastly, Aim 2b took an exploratory approach in investigating OCD symptoms as a potential moderator between the association of trauma exposure and self-stigma. Results indicated the probable PTSD group had higher average OCD symptoms compared to the other groups (p = .001), and self-stigma did not differ significantly between groups (p = .35). Moreover, OCD symptoms moderated the association between the trauma exposure only group and self-stigma, such that the trauma exposure only group was associated with significantly lower self-stigma than the no trauma exposure group when OCD symptoms were low (p = .004). These results underscore the importance of understanding comorbid PTSD and OCD symptoms and the influence of OCD symptoms on the relationship between trauma exposure and self-stigma. Future studies should examine these relationships in larger, more representative samples.
This study aimed to culturally adapt the Family Almost Perfect Scale (FAPS) for Turkish adolescents and young adults and to evaluate its psychometric properties using both Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT) frameworks. Data were collected from 512 participants, including 247 high school students and 265 university students, enrolled in public educational institutions in southwestern Turkey. Following linguistic adaptation, the scale’s construct validity was tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Psychometric precision was further examined via the Graded Response Model (GRM), and measurement invariance was comprehensively evaluated through multi-group CFA and Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analyses. CFA supported the three-factor correlated structure of the FAPS, with theoretically defensible residual covariances and fit indices from the scaled MLR solution: scaled χ²(111) = 410.57, p < .001, scaled CFI = 0.914, scaled TLI = 0.894, scaled RMSEA = 0.073, 90
Aetiological beliefs in the context of social anxiety are beliefs about what has caused one’s social anxiety. These beliefs can potentially influence social anxiety and its treatment, yet it is unclear how individuals with social anxiety might differ in aetiological beliefs and whether any differences in beliefs can be further characterised in terms of clinical and cognitive-behavioural maintaining process outcomes. The current study (not pre-registered) aimed to address these knowledge gaps. An adult community sample with moderate to severe social anxiety (N = 406) completed measures of aetiological beliefs and outcome variables (social anxiety, life interference from social anxiety, depression, maintaining processes). Latent profile analysis divided participants into subgroups (i.e., profiles) based on their aetiological beliefs, and profiles were compared on outcomes. Four profiles emerged and labelled according to perceived causal factors emphasised: Low Diffuse Factors profile (not emphasising any particular factor), High Diffuse Factors profile (emphasising many factors), Parenting Factor profile (emphasising parenting), and Dispositional and Bad Social Experiences Factors profile (emphasising individual tendencies and negative social experiences). The High Diffuse Factors profile had the worst outcomes, followed by the Dispositional and Bad Social Experiences Factors profile, the Parenting Factor profile, and the Low Diffuse Factors profile. Individuals with social anxiety can be differentiated by their aetiological beliefs profile, and profiles differ in clinical and maintaining process outcomes. These findings highlight the clinical relevance of assessing and addressing aetiological beliefs in the treatment of social anxiety.
The use of multiple informants in the evaluation of children’s aggressive behavior is considered a best practice, as it allows a more detailed and holistic understanding of this phenomenon. However, studies conducted exclusively within the scope of aggressive behavior functions are still scarce, and discrepancies between informants’ reports are common in studies that rely on proximal behaviors. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the agreement between parent and teacher ratings of children’s reactive and proactive aggressive behaviors. To this end, elementary school children (n = 95, aged 7–10) were assessed using the Reactive and Proactive Aggression Questionnaire. The results showed that teachers reported higher levels of proactive aggression than parents. Nevertheless, reports from both informants were moderately to strongly related for both reactive and proactive aggression, with stronger agreement observed for reactive aggression. Sex differences also emerged: for girls, agreement was significant for both proactive and reactive aggression, whereas for boys, it was significant only for reactive aggression. The results, limitations, and directions for future studies are discussed.
Theory and empirical evidence suggest the utility of expanding the traditional set of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); however, debate over how ACEs should be conceptualized and measured has intensified. This study examines three conceptualizations of ACE assessment among justice-involved adults: (1) summed composites, (2) a refined reflexive model, and (3) formative latent variable models. Justice-involved individuals provide a valuable population for both impact and insight. Participants were n = 552 adults on probation or parole who were assessed for traumatic and adverse childhood experiences (TRACEs) using original and expanded tools and also completed measures of psychological flexibility and coercive control. Exploratory factor analysis supported an 11-factor solution—physical/emotional abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, household mental illness, household drug/alcohol abuse, physical neglect, separation/divorce, emotional neglect, disasters/war/accidents, lack of community safety, and incarcerated household member—accounting for 84
Social functioning impairments are common among youth with externalizing psychopathology. Yet, questions remain regarding which symptoms drive poorer social and behavioral outcomes. Baseline parent and caregiver ratings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD) were used to examine interconnections among social problems, attention problems, and externalizing problems (i.e., rule-breaking and aggression) using network modeling. Baseline ABCD data were collected in 2017 when youth were 9–10 years and includes a diverse sample (48
Personality traits such as extraversion and conscientiousness play a crucial role in mental health, with higher levels generally acting as protective factors and lower levels increasing vulnerability to psychopathology. Although variable-centered research has highlighted meaningful interactions between these traits, person-centered approaches remain underutilized despite their potential to reveal distinct personality typologies that may better explain individual differences in mental health. Therefore, we applied latent profile analysis (LPA)–a person-centered approachࣧ–to identify personality profiles based on extraversion and conscientiousness and examined their concurrent demographic predictors and mental health outcomes in 469 emerging adults (58.4
Background: Transdiagnostic models which focus on shared mechanisms, such as repetitive negative thinking (RNT), may add different perspective to existing notions of social anxiety disorder (SAD). One such models is Contrast Avoidance Model (CAM) which suggests that persons who are sensitive to negative emotional shifts create and maintain negative emotion (i.e., Negative Emotional Contrast; NEC) through RNTs to prevent further emotional fluctuations. Sensitivity to and avoidance of NEC could also be a shared feature of individuals with SAD who are known for their use of safety behaviors. The current study examined the predictive role of contrast avoidance in social anxiety and its principal maintaining factors; RNTs, safety behaviors and neuroticism. Methods: 250 people completed measures of contrast avoidance, social anxiety symptoms, post event processing, pre-event processing, safety behaviors and neuroticism. Results: Results showed significant predictive role of contrast avoidance across different social phases; before, during and after the social situation. Although being averse to negative emotional changes (Tenet 1 in CAM) was the strongest predictor for anticipatory processing, social anxiety symptoms, safety behaviors and neuroticism, it was post-event processing that was predicted strongly with avoidance of NECs (Tenet 2 and 3). However, avoidance of NECs predicted pre-event processing, safety behaviors and neuroticism in the next step of the regression model. Limitations: The study had a cross-sectional design and relied on a non-clinical sample. Conclusion: Identifying shared mechanisms across SAD and its comorbidities is an important and novel conceptualization to understand the etiology and maintenance of symptoms.
Earlier research showed that a cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS)-only group was higher on anxiety, depression, somatization, sleep difficulties, and social impairment than ADHD-inattention presentation (INP), ADHD-hyperactive/impulsive presentation (HIP), and ADHD-combined presentation (CP) groups within childhood, whereas the four groups were more similar on these measures within adolescence. Our expectation was thus that CDS-only, ADHD-INP-only, ADHD-HIP-only, and ADHD-CP-only groups would show similar levels of anxiety, depression, somatization, sleep difficulties, and impairment within adulthood. A nationally representative sample of Spanish adults (N = 4,003; ages 18 to 59; 51.1
Intrapersonal features are a critical component of personality functioning, yet their relationship to psychopathology remains insufficiently understood, particularly among older adults. The Intrapersonal Problems Rating Scales (IPRS) is a relatively new measure within personality pathology research, originally constructed and validated for use among primarily younger adults. Preliminary evidence supports its use with older adults, but a more comprehensive psychometric evaluation is needed. Community-dwelling older adults (N = 250; 50.4
Parental antisocial behavior (ASB) is a risk factor for ASB in the next generation. While social and environmental mechanisms contribute to this relationship, research also supports the influence of genetic components. A low resting heart rate (RHR) is moderately heritable and a well-established risk factor that may contribute to the intergenerational transmission of ASB. However, research investigating this relationship is limited. The overarching aim of the current study was to examine the influence of RHR in the intergenerational transmission of ASB from parent to child. Three minutes of RHR was collected on 129 girls and boys at age 9–10 years, alongside maternal ASB. At the age of 14–15 years, data on offspring ASB were collected using the externalizing scale of the Youth Self-Report. Results showed that maternal ASB predicted offspring ASB (B = 2.36, β = 0.36, t = 4.28, p < .001). However, offspring RHR did not mediate or moderate this relationship. Findings indicate that RHR is not a biological marker of risk in the intergenerational transmission of ASB in this community sample, although the results may be influenced by low statistical power.
Through centuries and across continents, the singular condition which brings afflicted individuals in conflict with society is what might be broadly regarded as psychopathic disorder. Within the considerable body of knowledge amassed, the investigator who has indisputably made the most substantial contribution is Robert Hare, whose conceptualization of psychopathy is measurable as a superarching dimension and with subdimensions or factors and their facets. The instrument for identifying and measuring psychopathy, the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), commonly regarded as the gold standard for psychopathy research (Westen Weinberger, 2004), is widely used internationally for psychopathy research. Authors from four international domains – Germanic, Italian, Nordic and English – briefly describe the development of concepts of the psychopathic disorder, the influence of psychopathy as defined by Hare, as well as research and practical applications of PCL-R psychopathy and/or specific contributions concerning psychopathy within each of the domains. From the richness and diversity of investigative productivity within each of these domains, one can readily appreciate the impact of Hare’s work both within and between these major domains.
Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) refers to excessive and immersive fantasy activity that detaches individuals from reality and interferes with daily functioning. Although ordinary daydreaming may be adaptive, maladaptive daydreaming is often associated with marked impairments in social, academic, and occupational functioning. However, validated brief screening instruments for MD remain limited in Chinese populations. This national cross-sectional study translated and psychometrically validated the Polish Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale–Short Form (PMDS-5) in Chinese (PMDS-5-CN). A total of 10,691 participants from a nationwide Chinese sample completed the survey. The translation followed Beaton’s cross-cultural adaptation framework to ensure linguistic accuracy and conceptual equivalence. The factor structure was examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha, and convergent validity was examined using both external correlations and internal construct indices. The PMDS-5-CN demonstrated a unidimensional structure with acceptable to excellent model fit (RMSEA = 0.068, GFI = 0.990, NFI = 0.996, TLI = 0.993, CFI = 0.996) and high internal consistency (α = 0.962). In addition, PMDS-5-CN scores were moderately positively correlated with depression (r = 0.555, P < 0.001), positively correlated with adverse childhood experiences (r = 0.132, P < 0.001), and mildly negatively correlated with anxiety (r = -0.135, P < 0.001), The average variance extracted (AVE) was 0.847 and the composite reliability (CR) was 0.965, further supporting the convergent validity of the PMDS-5-CN. In the present sample, 4.5
