Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2016-11-22T00:00:00Z
Sleeping difficulties have a negative influence on cognitive functioning and behavioral problems, in both children and adults (Alhola & Polo-Kantola, 2007; Astill et al., 2012). Studies have...Show moreSleeping difficulties have a negative influence on cognitive functioning and behavioral problems, in both children and adults (Alhola & Polo-Kantola, 2007; Astill et al., 2012). Studies have revealed that temperament might be a predictor of sleep disturbances in children. The aim of the current study was to examine the association between different temperament traits and sleep disturbances, sleep onset latency, sleep duration and subjective sleep quality in children. Participants were 113 children, aged 9 – 11 years (M = 10.47 years; SD = .72). Parents kept track of a sleep diary and both parents and children completed several questionnaires, regarding sleep and temperament. Significant associations were found between the different sleep disturbances and effortful control, high intensity pleasure/surgency, frustration, affiliation, and fear. Sleep duration was related to affiliation and fear. Subjective sleep quality was associated with affiliation and shyness. The current study provides evidence for the association between and sleep and temperament.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2016-01-01T00:00:00Z
This study examined whether temperament is a moderator of the association between sleep duration and the cognitive functions alertness, inhibition, and working memory in 130 children (56 boys and...Show moreThis study examined whether temperament is a moderator of the association between sleep duration and the cognitive functions alertness, inhibition, and working memory in 130 children (56 boys and 74 girls) aged 9 to 11 years. The children completed a short 3-min version of the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT), a GoNogo task and a visual Digit Span test. Furthermore, a questionnaire regarding temperament (EATQ-R) was filled out by the children. Parents kept a sleep log for a week. ANCOVA results showed that the relation between average sleep duration on weekdays and alertness (PVT mean reaction time (RT) and PVT number of lapses) was moderated by the temperament traits extraversion (pPVT_RT = .030, η2 = .05; pPVT_lapses = .076, η2 = .03) and negative affectivity (pPVT_RT = .039, η2 = .04; pPVT_lapses = .057, η2 = .04). Relatively high levels of extraversion or low levels of negative affectivity were associated with more adverse effects of inadequate sleep on alertness. For inhibition and working memory this effect was not found. No significant interaction effects appeared for the other temperament traits: effortful control and affiliativeness. We conclude that the sensitivity for sleep related cognitive decrements in children can be partly explained by differences in temperamental traits.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2017-10-10T00:00:00Z
We investigated the year prevalence of child sexual abuse (CSA) in residential and foster care and compared it with prevalence rates in the general population. We used two approaches to estimate...Show moreWe investigated the year prevalence of child sexual abuse (CSA) in residential and foster care and compared it with prevalence rates in the general population. We used two approaches to estimate the prevalence of CSA. First, 264 professionals working in residential or foster care (sentinels) reported CSA for the children they worked with (N = 6,281). Second, 329 adolescents staying in residential or foster care reported on their own experiences with CSA. Sentinels and adolescents were randomly selected from 82 Dutch youth care facilities. We found that 4.3 per 1000 children had been victims of CSA based on sentinel reports. In addition, 248 per 1000 adolescents reported having experienced CSA. Results based on both sentinel and self-report revealed higher prevalence rates in youth care than in the general population, with the highest prevalence in residential care. Prevalence rates in foster care did not differ from the general population. We conclude that residential placements should remain a last resort. Unfortunately foster care does not effectively protect children against sexual abuse either, and thus its quality needs to be further improved.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2017-09-20T00:00:00Z
One of the dysfunctions associated with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) (47,XXY) are difficulties in social functioning, which may arise as a consequence of executive functioning (EF) and Theory of Mind ...Show moreOne of the dysfunctions associated with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) (47,XXY) are difficulties in social functioning, which may arise as a consequence of executive functioning (EF) and Theory of Mind (ToM) deficits. In this study, the influence of EF on ToM skills in KS boys was examined, as well as how these skills relate to autistic features. ASD traits were assessed with the parent-report Autism-Spectrum Quotient. ToM skills were measured with the Social Cognitive Skills Test. EF skills were measured with the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals and Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks. 28 KS boys (Mage=13.2, SD=3.0) participated in this study, along with 45 ASD boys (Mage=11.9, SD=2.0) and 46 boys from the general population (Mage=12.2, SD=2.9) as control groups. KS boys showed substantially elevated levels of ASD traits compared to the general population, but lower levels than ASD boys. In addition, difficulties regarding ToM and cognitive flexibility were more prominent in KS boys than in ASD boys compared to the general population. ToM task performance could partly be explained by spatial WM and attention switching (as autistic trait) could partly be explained by ToM skills in KS boys. The current study highlights the importance of attention modulation skills and ToM skills in social functioning of individuals with KS, providing promising insights regarding prevention and intervention. Future studies should focus on the effectiveness of enhancing EF skills in KS boys and the role of the X chromosome in vulnerability for autistic traits.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2016-01-01T00:00:00Z
Methylation of the serotonin transporter gene (5HTTLPR) might be one of the underlying molecular mechanisms of epigenetics through which effects of child maltreatment persist into adulthood. We...Show moreMethylation of the serotonin transporter gene (5HTTLPR) might be one of the underlying molecular mechanisms of epigenetics through which effects of child maltreatment persist into adulthood. We investigated how the experience of child maltreatment is associated with methylation density of 5HTTLPR and whether 5HTT genotype moderates this relation. The sample consisted of 22 females selected from the larger TwinPAD study (Out, Pieper, Bakermans-Kranenburg & Van IJzendoorn, 2010). DNA was obtained from buccal cells. The percentage of methylation in the first 245 bps was assessed using quantitative mass spectroscopy. Experiences of child maltreatment were established using the Adult Attachment Interview, coded with the Modified Maltreatment Classification System. We found that maltreatment severity was not significantly related to higher methylation density of 5HTTLPR, but the interaction of genotype with maltreatment severity significantly predicted methylation density. For carriers of the ss and sl genotype, more severe maltreatment was associated with higher methylation density, while for carriers of the ll genotype more severe maltreatment was associated with lower methylation density. We conclude that the relation between maltreatment severity and methylation density of 5HTTLPR is moderated by genotype, with ll carriers being protected against the methylating effects associated with maltreatment experiences. This study suggests that DNA methylation may be one of the molecular mechanism by which child maltreatment affects current and long-term functioning.Show less
De meeste landen in de regio van Latijns-Amerika zijn omstreeks 1980 democratieën geworden (d’Agostino, 2005: 94-99). Theoretici als Diamond beweren dat democratie een goed iets is, doordat de...Show moreDe meeste landen in de regio van Latijns-Amerika zijn omstreeks 1980 democratieën geworden (d’Agostino, 2005: 94-99). Theoretici als Diamond beweren dat democratie een goed iets is, doordat de regering moet luisteren naar het volk om aan de macht te kunnen blijven. Zo worden de wensen van het grootste deel van de bevolking beter gerespecteerd (Diamond, 1999: 3-7). Desalniettemin kost het veel moeite om tot een goed werkende democratie te komen. Ondanks dat er vrije verkiezingen worden gehouden, blijkt er tot aan de eeuwwisseling toch veel te schorten aan de democratieën in Latijns-Amerika (Diamond, 1999: 31-34). Uit cijfers van Freedomhouse blijkt in Centraal-Amerika veelal geen verbetering of zelfs een lichte verslechtering te zijn opgetreden in het functioneren van de democratie . Diamond beweert dat vooruitgang niet goed kan worden bewerkstelligd, doordat de uitvoerende macht te sterk is in deze landen. Deze leiders zouden democratisering tegenhouden voor eigen gewin (Diamond, 1999: 32-35). Wel zijn er organisaties actief in Centraal-Amerika deze jonge democratieën te helpen bij het democratiseringsproces. Deze organisaties leveren hulp in landen die een freedomhouse score lager dan 2.5 hebben . Een ‘freedom’ waardering van 1 is het meest democratisch en een waardering van 7 is het meest dictatoriaal. Alle landen die niet hoger dan 2.5 scoren en dus niet het embleem ‘Free’ krijgen, ontvangen hulp bij de democratisering. Ondanks de geleverde hulp in de landen met lagere ‘Freedom’ waardering, blijkt in vele landen geen vooruitgang te zijn geboekt en in sommige gevallen is zelfs sprake van een achteruitgang in deze waardering . Een van de landen waar de score relatief gelijk is gebleven is Guatemala. In dit paper zal ik Guatemala onderzoeken, omdat dit het grootste land in Centraal-Amerika is en omdat Guatemala samen met Honduras en Nicaragua de laagste ‘Freedom’ waardering van de regio heeft gekregen . Er is dus nog veel ruimte voor verbetering op het gebied van democratisering in dit land. Toch lijkt het land door economische voorspoed een grotere kans te hebben een democratie te blijven.Show less
