The present study adds to the evolving literature on the relationship between social mindfulness (SoMi) and environmental concern (EC) on an individual level. Investigating this relationship is...Show moreThe present study adds to the evolving literature on the relationship between social mindfulness (SoMi) and environmental concern (EC) on an individual level. Investigating this relationship is valuable given the suggested implications of SoMi fluctuations for societal and environmental outcomes (e.g., scarcity and natural resources affecting future generations). Building on existing literature by Van Doesum et al. (2021) and Kirkland et al. (2022), we hypothesized a positive correlation between SoMi and EC on an individual level. We operationalized environmental concern across three dimensions based on the Theory of Planned Behavior: Attitude, behavior and intent (i.e., all towards being environmentally conscious), and investigated the expected SoMi-EC relationship per facet separately. Additionally, we examined the potential connection between SoMi and environmentally friendly consumer behavior, also expecting a positive correlation. Results from a survey of N = 108 participants revealed that greater levels of social mindfulness correspond to increased intentions to behave more environmentally conscious, emphasizing the importance of promoting these concepts to mitigate environmental harm. However, we did not observe a similar relationship between social mindfulness and the facets attitude and (consumer)behavior, indicating a gap between the three dimensions. Future research should focus on addressing this gap to gain a more nuanced understanding of the complete SoMi-EC relationship. As environmental concerns grow increasingly urgent, understanding these dynamics are imperative for future decision-making and the development of effective interventions.Show less
This study (N = 178) investigates the optimal timing for negotiators to expand the pie by introducing optional issues to the negotiation. I conducted two-person role-play negotiations and...Show moreThis study (N = 178) investigates the optimal timing for negotiators to expand the pie by introducing optional issues to the negotiation. I conducted two-person role-play negotiations and differentiated between adding issues at the beginning, middle and end by manipulating the order on the pay-off schedules. Specifically, I tested if introducing optional issues at the beginning results in a higher collective benefit than introducing them at the end, and if introducing optional issues in the middle leads to the highest collective benefit. Despite the absence of compelling evidence supporting an effect of issue order on collective benefit, the observed patterns in collective benefit suggests the need for further exploration. Additionally, I explore if relationships and first impressions are improved when pairs introduce optional issues in the middle.Show less
Background: Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been associated with dysfunctional cogni-tions and depression. Cognitive reactivity (CR) is the change in dysfunctional cognitions re-activated by mild...Show moreBackground: Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been associated with dysfunctional cogni-tions and depression. Cognitive reactivity (CR) is the change in dysfunctional cognitions re-activated by mild dysphoria and is a vulnerability marker for depression. Past research sup-ports the hypothesis that CM is also associated with higher CR. Aim: To assess whether CM associates with higher CR and to identify the relationship be-tween CR subscales and CM subscales. Methods: The data were from a longitudinal cohort study (n=1780) , Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). CM (emotional/physical/ sexual abuse and emotion-al/physical neglect), depression, LEIDS, Neuroticism, and Extraversion were assessed at wave 4. The association between CM and CR was assessed with a linear regression analysis. The association of the CM subscales with LEIDS, Neuroticism, Extraversion, and the LEIDS subscales (hopelessness, aggression, rumination) with multiple regression analysis. Results: Higher CM scores significantly related to higher CR scores, Neuroticism, and Ex-traversion. Though only emotional maltreatment was consistently significant on all varia-bles and the LEIDS subscales (p<.01). RUM associated with the most maltreatment types (emotional/ sexual abuse and emotional/physical neglect), then HOP (emotional abuse and emotional/physical neglect), and then AGG (emotional abuse and emotional neglect). Conclusions: Present study found support for an association between CM and CR, but also Extraversion and Neuroticism. Especially emotional maltreatment was significant for all the variables and subscales. Looking at the LEIDS subscales, RUM associated with the most CM types. Physical abuse was the only type that was not significant on the LEIDS or its sub-scales.Show less
This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the influence of stress on atypical symptom amelioration to first-choice psychostimulant medication in individuals with attention deficit...Show moreThis retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the influence of stress on atypical symptom amelioration to first-choice psychostimulant medication in individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Understanding the impact of stress on the effectiveness of psychostimulant medications is crucial, given the high prevalence of stress-related psychiatric comorbidity in ADHD and the potential stress effects on psychostimulant effectivity. It was hypothesized that cardiovascular stress and stress-related psychiatric comorbidity are related to atypical symptom amelioration and that these two characteristics are interrelated. Additionally, the effect of medication and time will be explored. A unique subset from the SOPHISTICATE cohort was analysed, comprising of 460 patients diagnosed with ADHD who exhibited atypical treatment response following first-choice medication registration and were switched to a second-choice medication within 3 weeks. The adult version of the Quantified Behavioral Test (QbTest), a computerized tool that quantifies the core symptoms of ADHD was used to determine baseline symptom severity and treatment response, i.e. QbActivity (QbAct); QbImpulsivity (QbImp); and QbInattention (QbIna). Patients were divided into groups based on stresscharacteristics, and linear mixed models were employed to examine the impact of stresscharacteristics, first-choice medication and time on symptom amelioration (i.e. QbTest score after first- or second-choice medication – QbTest score at baseline; ∆). The results reveal that stress-characteristics were not related to atypical symptom amelioration after first-choice medication. However, patients with stress related psychiatric comorbidity show more inattentive symptom amelioration after second-choice medication registration β=.21, SE=.10, 95% CI [.02, .41], p=.031. Importantly, the effect of time was significant for all three symptom domainssuggesting a role of time to enable a typical response, i.e. ∆QbAct (F(1,462) = 387.818, p < .001), ∆QbImp (F(1, 462) = 235.224, p < .001) and on ∆QbIna (F(1, 463) = 319.655, p = .242). Additionally it was found that baseline symptom severity confounds the medication effect for ∆QbImp and for ∆QbAct. In conclusion, the results indicate that stress characteristics nor medication is related to an atypical response pattern to first-choice medication. The current study did reveal an important role of time to enable a ‘typical’ response. Limitations of the study included the lack of a reference group, the possibility of random effects, and quality of the cardiovascular data. In conclusion, while the impact of stress on treatment response could not be definitively determined based on the available data, future research should explore the complex interplay between stress, psychiatric comorbidity, and medication types to optimize treatment strategies and improve outcomes for patientsShow less
Background: Previous studies found that patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) perform worse on executive functioning (EF) compared to healthy controls (HC’s). EF plays an important role in the...Show moreBackground: Previous studies found that patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) perform worse on executive functioning (EF) compared to healthy controls (HC’s). EF plays an important role in the regulation of behaviour in daily life. EF impairment can therefore lead to problems with functioning in daily life. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference between AN patients and HC’s in EF. In addition, it was investigated whether there is a correlation between EF, eating habits and BMI-SDS. The final aim of this study was to investigate whether EF improves in patients with AN after a one-year follow-up. In each case, the total EF scores and the scores on the 12 subscales of EF were examined. Methods: The study population consisted of 126 girls aged 12-22 years (M= 18.42; SD=2.35), 57 girls belonged to the AN group and 69 to the HC group (M age AN=17.98; M age HC= 18.84). The participants completed the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) and the Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated for the baseline measurements and for the follow-up one year later. Several independentsamples t-tests, linear regression analyses and a linear mixed model analysis were performed as analyses for the results. Results: No differences were found between the AN group and the HC’s with regard to total score of EF, but the AN group did show significantly lower flexibility (p< .001), emotion regulation (p< .001) and taking initiative (p= .001) compared to the HC. However, the AN group did report significantly more orderliness and neatness (p< .001) than the HC. BMISDS and eating habits were not associated with the total score of EF, even after adjusting for the confounders depression and age of onset. The subscales taking initiative (p= .029, inhibition (p= .006) and working memory (p= .010) turned out to be negatively associated with BMI-SDS and eating habits. Finally, there appeared to be no significant change in the total score of EF between the baseline measurement and the follow-up after one year for patients with AN. No significant change was found for the subscales either. Conclusion: AN patients showed impairment on certain subscales of EF, but the overall EF score was not different from the HC’s. The impairment found in subscales of EF did not change from baseline measurement after one year of follow-up. However, the participants in this study were all diagnosed with AN less than a year ago. Further research with a longer follow-up time is needed to find out whether this conclusion is the same for patients with chronic AN or patients who have recovered.Show less
The present study experimentally investigates the effect of language, through vocabulary, on visual perception using an adapted version of the famous Memory Game (MG). We compare younger children...Show moreThe present study experimentally investigates the effect of language, through vocabulary, on visual perception using an adapted version of the famous Memory Game (MG). We compare younger children aged 7-9 (n = 19), older children 10-13 (n = 47) and adults (n = 81) on a modified Memory Game. We use both abstract figures (squares, triangles) and hand-drawn pictures from the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) as stimuli. All participants, including the younger children, performed better on our modified MG with hand-drawn pictures than with abstract figures. Older children showed that they knew the word and the location for a certain picture more often than younger children. Hence, there was a developmental effect on MG performance, but no separate effect of vocabulary size. Not knowing the name of a picture did affect its visual detection positively in the MG for that picture, this applied only for younger children. Future research should further investigate vocabulary effects and the effects of combinatoriality of language on visual perception, using larger populations of younger children.Show less
This study examined differences in prosocial giving behavior of gifted and nongifted young adolescents towards five targets (a friend, disliked person, a stranger, and the participant’s father and...Show moreThis study examined differences in prosocial giving behavior of gifted and nongifted young adolescents towards five targets (a friend, disliked person, a stranger, and the participant’s father and mother), and the effects of perspective taking. 93 Dutch students between the ages of 9 and 12 were assessed using the Perspective Taking scale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and the Prosocial Donation task, a donation game in which participants divided ten coins between themselves and various targets. Findings showed that gifted young adolescents showed less prosocial giving towards their mother than nongifted young adolescents. No difference in prosocial giving behavior was found between gifted and nongifted young adolescents towards the other targets (a friend, a disliked person, a stranger, and the participant’s father). Gifted young adolescents overall donated an equal number of coins as their nongifted peers, despite differentiating differently across targets. Furthermore, participants showed more prosocial giving behavior towards friends than strangers, which supports previous findings involving prosocial giving behavior and ingroup-outgroup differentiation. Contrary to expectations, perspective taking did not have an effect on the level of prosocial giving in young adolescents – neither gifted nor nongifted, and no difference in perspective taking was found between gifted and nongifted young adolescents. These findings show that gifted young adolescents are not so dissimilar from their nongifted peers. Our results challenge false stereotypes of gifted youth as possessing characteristic social and emotional problems. This study expanded on previous research by including giftedness and examining prosocial giving behavior to parents. Future research into prosocial giving behavior of early adolescents could include even more detailed assessments of interpersonal relationships between participants and their parents.Show less
Introduction: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic multisystem disorder characterized by the widespread growth of benign hamartomas in multiple organ systems, leading to very diverse ...Show moreIntroduction: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic multisystem disorder characterized by the widespread growth of benign hamartomas in multiple organ systems, leading to very diverse (neuropsychiatric) manifestations, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study aimed to examine the prevalence of clinically assessed ASD in children with TSC visiting a specialized TSC outpatient clinic. The influence of gender, age, intellectual functioning, and mutation type on a clinical ASD diagnosis was investigated. Secondly, the predictive value of using both a screening instrument and an observational assessment in relation to a clinical DSM-IV/-V ASD diagnosis in the group of children with TSC was examined. Methods: The data sample consisted of 110 children (50% male) between 1 and 17 years old (mean age = 9.65, SD = 4.61) diagnosed with a genetically and/or clinically confirmed diagnosis of TSC and a filled out ADOS and/or SRS. They were assessed as part of standard (mental) health care and longitudinal follow-up. The independent variables were gender, age, IQ/DQ, and mutation type, which associations with clinical ASD diagnoses were examined with Chi-Square Tests of Association or independent sample t-tests. The dependent variables were ASD classifications according to the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS/SRS-2) scores, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-second edition (ADOS-2) scores, and DSM-IV/-V diagnoses. Results: A clinical ASD prevalence rate of 52.7% was found, substantially higher than in the general population. Children with a clinical ASD diagnosis had significantly lower intelligence scores (p = .01). No gender, age, or mutation type effects were found. The combined use of screening and observational- based classifications showed the highest positive predictive value for DSM-IV/-V ASD diagnosis. Discussion: The results showed a substantially higher ASD prevalence rate compared to the general population, underlining the importance of ASD assessment in children with TSC. Furthermore, these results highlighted the relevance of using both a screening instrument and an observational assessment to accurately classify children with TSC as having ASD. A better ASD prediction and classification may lead to earlier diagnosis and appropriate, personalized interventions, potentially alleviating some of the burden for both patients and their families or caregivers.Show less
This study aims to examine whether having a family member with mental illness is associated with stress, alcohol use, drug use and substance use in adolescents. Additionally, we aim to investigate...Show moreThis study aims to examine whether having a family member with mental illness is associated with stress, alcohol use, drug use and substance use in adolescents. Additionally, we aim to investigate whether stress mediates the relationship between having a mentally ill family member and adolescent substance use. A health monitor (N = 14,878) was conducted by Public Health Services North and East Gelderland (GGD NEG) from October 2019 until December 2019 among 2nd and 4th year high school students. The target group, adolescents with a mentally ill family member (n = 1,683), was compared to the control group, adolescents without a mentally ill family member (n = 12,842). The target group had a mean (± SD) age of 14.5 (1.3) years, 59% was female, 42.6% was highly educated and 33.5% was religious. The control group had a mean (± SD) age of 14.2 (1.2), 51% was female, 46.7% was highly educated and 32% was religious. Stress, alcohol use, drug use and substance use were measured by means of a self-report questionnaire. An ANCOVA, controlling for age, gender and educational level and a mediation analysis were performed. The results showed that the target group scored higher on stress, alcohol use, drug use and substance use than the control group. In addition, stress mediated the relation between adolescents having a family member with mental illness and substance use. However, effect sizes were small. We recommend further research on this topic considering stress and substance use could have adverse effect on overall health and well-being.Show less
Lockdowns hebben tot een hogere mate van depressiviteit geleid onder de bevolking. Ook komt uit onderzoek naar voren dat depressiviteit in taalgebruik terug te vinden is. In dit onderzoek gaan we...Show moreLockdowns hebben tot een hogere mate van depressiviteit geleid onder de bevolking. Ook komt uit onderzoek naar voren dat depressiviteit in taalgebruik terug te vinden is. In dit onderzoek gaan we na of tijdens de eerste lockdown in Engeland het taalgebruik geassocieerd met depressiviteit ook veranderd is. In dit onderzoek zijn brieven die zijn geschreven voor de eerste lockdown (in de periode één januari tot en met 30 april 2019 en één januari tot en met 22 maart 2020) vergeleken met brieven die zijn geschreven tijdens de lockdown (in de periode 23 maart tot en met 30 april 2020; N = 1946). Deze brieven zijn verworven uit de nieuwsbron ‘The Guardian’. Taalgebruik geassocieerd met depressiviteit wordt in de huidige studie opgedeeld in zeven verschillende betekenisvolle woordcategorieën opgesteld door het ‘Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count’. Deze woordcategorieën betreffen ‘eerste persoon enkelvoud’, ‘absoluut taalgebruik’, ‘positieve emoties’, ‘negatieve emoties’, ‘angst’, ‘boosheid’ en ‘verdriet’. De resultaten laten zien dat het taalgebruik geassocieerd met depressiviteit op verschillende woordcategorieën veranderd is. De briefschrijvers gebruiken ten tijde van de lockdown relatief meer woorden geschreven in de eerste persoon enkelvoud, woorden gerelateerd aan angst en marginaal meer woorden gerelateerd aan verdriet. Tevens gebruiken de briefschrijvers tijdens de lockdown relatief minder woorden met een positieve lading en woorden gerelateerd aan boosheid. Er is bij de briefschrijvers geen verandering gevonden in de mate van woordgebruik gerelateerd aan negatieve emoties en absoluut taalgebruik. De data laten dus zien dat er tijdens de lockdown een verandering is opgetreden in taalgebruik. We bediscussiëren dat achter taalgebruik psychologische processen kunnen meespelen en wijzen voorzichtig in de richting dat taalgebruik dit bloot kan leggen. We gaan in op de aard van de levensgebeurtenissen in relatie tot taalgebruik, waarbij we noemen dat vervolgonderzoek hier meer zicht in kan bieden.Show less
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relation between parental empathic accuracy (positive and negative emotions) and parental autonomy support towards adolescent children in the...Show moreThe purpose of the present study was to investigate the relation between parental empathic accuracy (positive and negative emotions) and parental autonomy support towards adolescent children in the context of a problem-solving task. In addition, the parent-child bond was researched to determine whether it could have a positive moderating effect on the previously mentioned relation. The present study used data from the healthy control group of the RE-PAIR study, which consisted of 77 adolescents (50 female, 27 male), between the age of 12-17 years old and their 134 parent(s) (73 female, 61 male), between the age of 33-62 years old. Results revealed that parental empathic accuracy of positive or negative emotions is not related to higher levels of observed parental autonomy support. In addition, the moderator analyses have shown that a stronger parent/child-reported bond does not influence this relation. However, an interesting explorative finding was that parents who can infer their children’s emotions can recognize positive and negative emotions. In addition, parents and their children have the same view on their emotional relationship. Furthermore, the present study found that children who are more satisfied with the relationship with their parents, have parents who infer their positive emotions more accurately. Lastly, the study found some exploratory results about the individual perspective that influences the relationship satisfaction. Given these points, we can conclude that parents’ ability to infer their children’s emotions accurately is no indicator of displaying parental autonomy support. The implications of the insignificant study results are discussed in detail.Show less
Sexual harassment is a major problem in today’s society. It can cause psychological problems to victims. One of those problems is that victims may blame themselves for being harassed. This can...Show moreSexual harassment is a major problem in today’s society. It can cause psychological problems to victims. One of those problems is that victims may blame themselves for being harassed. This can eventually cause PTSD. Factors that might affect self-blame are social information and a perception of control. This study aims to determine if the perception of control can backfire if the victim is unable to stand up to the harassment. Furthermore, we try to find out if social information, conveyed by the behaviour of bystanders, can influence self-blame as well. The study sample comprised 240 women, aged 18-29. The women were divided between two self-efficacy (perceived control) conditions and four different bystander behaviour conditions. Eventually we had eight different groups. The results didn’t show that self-efficacy or bystander behaviour had any significant effect on self-blame. In our exploratory analysis we did find significant effects on sexual harassment myth acceptation. Those who were less likely to believe myths regarding harassment also scored lower on self-blame. This study was conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, research methods were limited. After the pandemic, new methods can be used to study the effect of self-efficacy and bystander behaviour on self-blame. Regarding myth acceptation, giving a potential victim insight in the suffering of those being harassed, may reduce self-blame during future events of harassment.Show less
Background: Previous research has identified a perceived lack of social support after a traumatic event and female gender as risk factors for the development of PTSD and depression up to 40 months...Show moreBackground: Previous research has identified a perceived lack of social support after a traumatic event and female gender as risk factors for the development of PTSD and depression up to 40 months after the experience of the event. Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether a perceived lack of social support in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event predicts PTSD and depressive symptoms at 15 years post-trauma, and whether gender moderates these relationships. Subsequently, the associations between a lack of various subtypes of social support and PTSD and depressive symptoms at 15 years were investigated. Method: This study contained N=88 participants, all being part of the cohort of a multicenter prospective cohort study consisting of N=852 suspected serious injury victims. The perceived lack of social support was measured using the SSL-D questionnaire, the PTSD scores with the CAPS-5 and the depressive scores with the QIDS. The research questions were answered by carrying out stepwise multivariate linear regression analyses. Results: Early perceived lack of social support did not predict 15-year PTSD and depression symptoms in the whole sample. Male gender moderated the relationship between the perceived lack of social support shortly after trauma and PTSD symptoms at 15 years. Finally, people who perceived more lack of informative social support, had more depressive symptoms at 15 years. Discussion: These findings indicated that the known predictors for PTSD and depression up to 40 months were not in the same way related to PTSD and depression at 15 years. Future research is required, in which a wider range of participants is advised.Show less
Greatly inspired by Pierro et al.’s (2013) study on need for closure, the current study investigated whether high need for closure individuals outsource economic decisions in an influencer...Show moreGreatly inspired by Pierro et al.’s (2013) study on need for closure, the current study investigated whether high need for closure individuals outsource economic decisions in an influencer marketing context, similar to how Pierro et al.’s (2013) found high need for closure individuals to outsource organizational decisions to opinion leaders. Based on previous scientific literature a research model was developed to test the following two hypotheses: social media influencer credibility has a positive effect on purchase intentions towards influencer-promoted products, and the positive relation between social media influencer credibility and purchase intentions is moderated by need for closure, in a way that high NFC individuals have greater purchase intentions compared to low NFC individuals. A simple linear regression and a process model 1 moderation analysis were performed to test the hypotheses. Social media influencer credibility was found to have a significant positive effect on purchase intentions. Need for closure was not found to moderate this positive relation. The former finding replicated, strengthened, and extended findings from previous research to an influencer marketing context. Limitations, theoretical and practical implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed as well.Show less
