Background: the vascular hypothesis of apathy suggests a link between vascular factors like cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and apathy symptoms, through lesions in the brain’s reward network....Show moreBackground: the vascular hypothesis of apathy suggests a link between vascular factors like cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and apathy symptoms, through lesions in the brain’s reward network. Previous studies found a cross-sectional association between lower blood pressure (BP) and symptoms of apathy in older persons with more CSVD, potentially through reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF). However, longitudinal research on these associations is lacking. This thesis investigated whether structural and dynamic vascular factors are associated with apathy symptoms over time in older persons. Methods: this longitudinal cohort study used participants of the Discontinuation of ANtihypertensive Treatment in the Elderly (DANTE)-Leiden, community-dwelling older persons on antihypertensive treatment with mild cognitive deficits. BP was measured at baseline and apathy was assessed with the Apathy Scale at baseline and after four years of follow-up (n=178). Additionally, a baseline MRI sub-study (n=109) was conducted to measure CSVD and CBF. Results: the mean age of the sample was 80 years (SD 4) and 63% was female. No significant association was found between the summary CSVD scores (β(95% CI)=0.018(-1.089-1.125), p=.975) or its separate features; WMH (β(95%CI)=0.012(-0.011-0.035), p=.318), CMB (β(95%CI)=-0.017(-0.605-0.572), p=.956), lacunar infarctions (β(95% CI)=-0.413(-1.266-0.440), p=.339), and a change in Apathy Scale score. Additionally, no significant association was found between the dynamic vascular factors; CBF (β(95% CI)=-0.029(-0.152-0.094), p=.640), systolic BP (β(95% CI)=-0.019(-0.056-0.018), p=.310) and diastolic BP (β(95%CI) =-0.029(-0.099-0.042), p=.425), and change in Apathy Scale score. The multiple linear regression model, incorporating all the structural and dynamic vascular parameters, was not significant (F(7,90)=1.32 , p=.250, R2=.093). Conclusions: in older persons with mild cognitive deficits, structural and dynamic vascular factors were not associated with apathy symptoms over time, in contrast to previous cross-sectional studies. Our findings did not support the vascular apathy hypothesis. Other factors, such as lifestyle, might confound the cross-sectional association between vascular factors and apathy. This study highlights the importance of further research into vascular factors and apathy, which acknowledge our limitations, or into other possible mechanisms for apathy.Show less
Aim: Effective self-management is essential for managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and can enhance patients’ functioning and wellbeing. This study aims to examine the relationship between...Show moreAim: Effective self-management is essential for managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and can enhance patients’ functioning and wellbeing. This study aims to examine the relationship between illness perceptions and self-management behaviors of CKD patients, as to whether illness perceptions are associated with improvements in self-management behaviors over time. Method: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to test an online self-management program with 121 participants, the majority of whom had received a kidney transplant (65.3%). Illness perceptions (helplessness, acceptance, emotional response, timeline and perceived control) were assessed using the ICQ and B-IPQ. Baseline self-management behaviors (medication adherence, healthy diet, physical activity, weight maintenance, and non-smoking) were measured with the PPPQ-self-management and the reported improvements or deterioration with regard to patients self-selected self-management goals with the PPPQ-self-management improvements at 6-months follow-up. Regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between illness perceptions and self-management behaviors at baseline, as well as between illness perceptions at baseline and the reported improvements in self-management goals at 6-months follow-up. Analysis were controlled for the confounding variables gender, comorbidities, kidney transplantation, and participation in the E-GOAL study. Results: Helplessness showed a significant relationship with the reported self-management improvements at 6-months follow-up (R2= .040, β = -.20, p = .036), which remained significant after controlling for confounders. Patients who experienced greater helplessness at baseline reported smaller improvements in their self-management goals at 6- months follow-up. Conclusion: Helplessness was found to be significantly related to self- management improvements, yet no other significant relationships were found between the other illness perceptions and the self-management behaviors or their improvements in CKD patients. These findings suggest that addressing feelings of helplessness in self-management programs may be crucial, as it can interfere with self-management improvements. Healthcare providers could assess patients’ levels of helplessness and incorporate psychological interventions into self-management programs to reduce these feelings and support patients in improving their self-management behaviors, ultimately leading to better overall patient wellbeing.Show less
Previous studies on pro-environmentalism have highlighted the roles of friend’s pro environmental social norms and the experience of eco-anger as strong predictors of young adults’ pro...Show morePrevious studies on pro-environmentalism have highlighted the roles of friend’s pro environmental social norms and the experience of eco-anger as strong predictors of young adults’ pro-environmental behaviour (PEB). Substantial evidence supports the influential role of emotions, specifically eco-anger, in social influence processes within interpersonal relationships. While the unique effects of social norms and emotioanal responses on PEB are well-documented, the interaction between these factors, particularly in the context of environmental activism among adolescents and young adults, has not been explored. To address this gap, this study investigated the complex interplay between these factors, examining how friends’ pro-environmental social norms and eco-anger together influence young adults’ PEB. A sample of 216 young adults, aged 17-29 years, completed self-report questionnaires in a computer laboratory setting. Pro-environmental behaviour was measured using the Adolescents’ Environmental Behavior scale (AEB), friends' descriptive social norms through an adjusted version of the AEB scale, and self and friend’s eco-anger through self created scales. A moderation model was employed to test the main and interaction effects of friends’ social norms, self and friend’s eco-anger on PEB. Our findings revealed that both friends’ descriptive social norms (b = .27, t(210)= 5.65, p< .001, 95% CI [0.17, 0.36]) and self experienced eco-anger (b= .20, t(210)= 4.70, p < .001, 95% CI [0.12, 0.28]) were significant predictors of PEB. However, friends’ eco-anger did not significantly predict PEB, and the anticipated moderating effects of both self and friends’ eco-anger on the positive relationship between social norms and PEB were not supported. While the direct impact of friend’s social norms and self eco-anger was evident, the interaction between these factors did not enhance pro-environmental behavior as hypothesized. This suggests that eco-anger may drive proenvironmental actions through personal motivations rather than amplifying the effects of peer influence. Future studies should delve deeper into the nuances of these interactions, considering possible intermediate factors. The robust influence of friends’ social norms and eco-anger highlights the importance of leveraging both social networks and emotional engagement in designing effective pro-environmental campaigns and promoting sustainable behaviour.Show less
Problematic behaviour remains a problem within healthcare of individuals with dementia, especially as its patient group is set to expand. Problematic behaviour is often caused by pain and places a...Show moreProblematic behaviour remains a problem within healthcare of individuals with dementia, especially as its patient group is set to expand. Problematic behaviour is often caused by pain and places a heavy burden on both professional and family caregivers. Especially since family caregivers are often overlooked as a factor in care. This study therefore investigates the effectiveness of the STA OP! method (SOM), a stepwise approach to address problematic behaviour and pain in individuals with dementia, as well as how the efficacy of SOM is moderated by family involvement. The study, conducted within the CARED-4 project, utilizes a quasi-experimental longitudinal design with measurements at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after implementing SOM. It included 84 residents with dementia from 10 Dutch nursing homes units paired with their family caregivers. Problematic behaviour was examined using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) and family involvement was examined through a tailored questionnaire. Analysis was performed with RM Anova for problematic behaviour and family involvement and a general linear model for the moderation of SOM by family involvement. Results indicated that SOM effectively reduces problematic behaviour overall (F(2,55) = 3.81, p = 0.028), after 3 months (Mean Difference = 5.47 SE= 1.97, p = 0.007), but not after 6 months (Mean Difference = 5.70 SE = 3.36, p = 0.095). Family involvement did not change overall (F(1.62,30) = 2.12, p = 0.138). Accordingly, family involvement did not moderate the impact of SOM on problematic behaviour (F(2) = 1.43, p = 0.243). Despite methodological challenges mainly due to missing data, the study takes a first step towards understanding how the effectiveness of SOM interacts with family involvement. So, although family involvement did not moderate a significant reduction in problematic behaviour, the efficacy of SOM has further been established.Show less
In multiple studies, the evening chronotype have been associated with poor sleep quality and other negative health outcomes. This study investigates the relationship between chronotype, sleep...Show moreIn multiple studies, the evening chronotype have been associated with poor sleep quality and other negative health outcomes. This study investigates the relationship between chronotype, sleep quality, total sleep time, and misalignment through five hypotheses. We hypothesized that a later chronotype would predict poorer sleep quality (H1), shorter total sleep time (H2), and higher misalignment (H3). Additionally, we predicted that higher misalignment would be linked with poor sleep quality (H4) and mediate the relationship between later chronotypes and sleep quality (H5). The study utilized the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to measure sleep quality and the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) for chronotype assessment. Misalignment was assessed using items from both the PSQI and MEQ. The findings supported all hypotheses except for the mediation role of misalignment. These results replicate previous findings on the impact of chronotype on sleep quality and contribute to the literature by employing subjective measures of misalignment and testing its potential mediator role. Future research should focus on improving the measurement of misalignment and exploring other potential mediators.Show less
Eerdere studies hebben aangetoond dat een kritische ouderschapsstijl kan leiden tot symptomen van anxiety bij adolescenten. Om in te kunnen spelen op dit effect is het belangrijk om de...Show moreEerdere studies hebben aangetoond dat een kritische ouderschapsstijl kan leiden tot symptomen van anxiety bij adolescenten. Om in te kunnen spelen op dit effect is het belangrijk om de onderliggende processen hiervan te begrijpen. In deze cross-sectionele studie, waaraan 80 gezonde adolescenten (M_leeftijd = 15.9, 63.7% = meisje) en hun ouders deelnamen, is onderzocht wat de mogelijke modererende rol is van de cognitieve emotieregulatie strategie ‘catastroferen’ in de relatie tussen ouderlijke kritiek en anxiety bij adolescenten. Er werd geen verband gevonden tussen de door adolescenten ervaren ouderlijke kritiek tijdens de interactietaak en de hoeveelheid anxiety die zij ervaren. Ook leek de emotieregulatie strategie catastroferen geen rol te spelen in de relatie tussen ouderlijke kritiek en anxiety bij adolescenten. De resultaten spreken eerdere bevindingen tegen, waardoor het relevant is om verder te onderzoeken wat de onderliggende processen zijn van de relatie tussen ouderlijke kritiek en anxiety bij adolescenten en de mogelijke rol van de emotieregulatie strategie catastroferen in deze relatie.Show less
Uit onderzoek is al gebleken dat mensen met een lage sociaaleconomische status (SES) minder informatiezoekend gedrag vertonen ten opzichte van mensen met een hoge SES. Daarnaast gaan mensen,...Show moreUit onderzoek is al gebleken dat mensen met een lage sociaaleconomische status (SES) minder informatiezoekend gedrag vertonen ten opzichte van mensen met een hoge SES. Daarnaast gaan mensen, ongeacht hun SES, meer op zoek naar positieve informatie dan naar negatieve informatie. In hoeverre SES minder informatiezoekend gedrag vertoont voor specifieke informatie is onduidelijk. In dit paper werd onderzocht of de SES variabelen inkomen en opleiding invloed hebben op informatiezoekend gedrag én of dit afhankelijk is van de valentie van de informatie, positief of negatief. Om deze hoofdeffecten en het interactie effect van SES en valentie te onderzoeken hebben de participanten (N = 130) een informatie zoektaak uitgevoerd, waarin de valentie (positief, negatief) van informatie werd gemanipuleerd en een vragenlijsten ingevuld over inkomen en opleiding. De resultaten toonden een hoofdeffect van valentie aan, waarbij participanten een hogere motivatie hadden voor positieve informatie in vergelijking met negatieve informatie. De hoofdeffecten van SES waren niet significant. De interactie tussen valentie en SES inkomen, en valentie en SES opleiding waren ook niet significant. Hieruit kan geconcludeerd worden dat de valentie van informatie invloed heeft op het informatiezoekend gedrag van mensen, maar dat SES geen invloed heeft op het informatiezoekend gedrag van mensen. Echter is er in dit onderzoek niet naar een breed scala aan SES variabelen gekeken, alleen naar inkomen en opleiding. In dit onderzoek is er alleen gekeken naar informatiezoekend gedrag in een financiële context, terwijl veel van het huidige bewijs in de medische context is gevonden.Show less
Insomnia is highly prevalent in patients with long-term medical conditions. Although fatigue is the most common daytime symptom of insomnia, it is still largely unknown which underlying components...Show moreInsomnia is highly prevalent in patients with long-term medical conditions. Although fatigue is the most common daytime symptom of insomnia, it is still largely unknown which underlying components are associated with fatigue in a broader population of insomnia patients. Previous literature stated that dysfunctional sleep-related beliefs (DSRB) and pre-sleep arousal (PSA) could explain the relationship between insomnia and fatigue. Additionally, subjective sleep characteristics, such as insomnia severity, number of nocturnal awakenings (NoA) and sleep efficiency might also be components of this relationship. This study aimed to investigate how these factors affect fatigue in a broad medical population with insomnia. It was hypothesized that more disturbed sleep-related psychological factors and subjective sleep characteristics were associated with increased fatigue. This cross-sectional study, derived from the ongoing TIMELAPSE study, consisted of 154 participants. Participants completed questionnaires assessing fatigue (Checklist Individual Strength-20), DSRB (Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep-16), PSA (Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale), and insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index). The Consensus Sleep Diary tracked NoA and sleep efficiency daily for one week. Two multiple regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between sleep-related psychological factors (DSRB, PSA), subjective sleep characteristics (insomnia severity, NoA, sleep efficiency) and fatigue. Age, gender, and depression were included as controlling variables. Results showed that DSRB (β = .174, p = .027), PSA (β = -.160, p = .036), and insomnia severity (β = .243, p = .002) were factors associated with fatigue in insomnia patients. More severe DSRB and higher insomnia severity predicted elevated levels of fatigue. Contrary to expectations, PSA was negatively associated with fatigue. Lastly, NoA and sleep efficiency were not related to fatigue. This study uncovered connections between more severe DSRB, lower PSA, and higher insomnia severity that led to higher levels of fatigue. The current study suggests that improvements in DSRB and reducing insomnia severity may reduce fatigue of insomnia patients with long-term medical conditions. Sleep interventions should emphasize on challenging these DSRB. Future research is needed to examine the complex relationship between PSA and fatigue, as well as whether changes in DSRB during CBT-I treatment reduce fatigue symptoms in this population.Show less
This study investigates the influence of thinking styles on decision-making under uncertainty, focusing on information sampling patterns, confidence and decision accuracy. A sample of 214...Show moreThis study investigates the influence of thinking styles on decision-making under uncertainty, focusing on information sampling patterns, confidence and decision accuracy. A sample of 214 participants completed the Rational-Experiential Inventory (REI-10) questionnaire to determine a preference for analytical or intuitive thinking. Participants completed an online information sampling task where they had to determine the color of majority after turning tiles. Participants rated their confidence in each decision. The statistical analysis showed no significant relationship between thinking style and information sampling, nor between thinking style and confidence. Thinking style was not directly related to decision accuracy either, but both confidence and information sampling were associated with better decision-accuracy. Potential limitations of this study include the use of a shortened questionnaire, which may have failed to capture differences between thinking styles or the content-neutral nature of the task may not have encouraged participants to engage in their preferred thinking style. Future research should explore task variations, contextual factors and moderating variables. Understanding thinking styles' role in decision-making under uncertainty is valuable for education and professional development.Show less
This Dutch study examined whether having a mentally ill family member influences adolescent psychosocial health and resilience, focusing on social support, assertiveness, and parental relation...Show moreThis Dutch study examined whether having a mentally ill family member influences adolescent psychosocial health and resilience, focusing on social support, assertiveness, and parental relation quality. A total of 421 adolescents with a mentally ill family member (target group) were compared to 9504 adolescents without familial mental illness (control group), using data from the Youth Health Monitor, conducted by the Dutch Public Health Service Gelderland North East (GGD GNE) based on ANCOVA and linear regression (n=9925; 51.4% girls; mean age=14.2). Results revealed that social support did not show group differences, but the target groups scored lower on assertiveness and parental relation quality. Moreover, parental relationship quality emerged as a positive moderator on adolescent psychosocial health. These findings highlight potential targets for future interventions aimed at enhancing parental relationships and assertiveness skills to improve the psychosocial health of adolescents with a mentally ill family member.Show less
Climate change is a serious threat to the future ecological environment, and household behaviors contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Engaging young people in sustainable household...Show moreClimate change is a serious threat to the future ecological environment, and household behaviors contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Engaging young people in sustainable household behaviors is crucial to reduce their carbon footprints. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether young adults’ perceived need for autonomy, relatedness, and competence vary across different living situations (Deci & Ryan, 2000) and if these needs, in turn, promote their motivation to perform pro-environmental behavior (PEB). The hypothesis was that students living in peer co-residentials experience higher levels of these needs, leading to increased PEB. Methods: This observational and cross-sectional study was part of the Horizons research project. The participants included students (N = 214), aged 16 to 26. The Needs-satisfaction Scale (Sheldon et al., 2001) was used to measure perceived autonomy, relatedness and competence for PEB. A modified version of the Behavior-based Environmental Attitude Scale for adolescents (Kaiser et al., 2007) was used to assess PEB. Living situations were categorized as peer co-residentials, parental homes, and other households. One-way ANOVAs were performed to analyse the levels of the needs across the household types. A between-subject ANCOVA was performed to analyse the main effects of household, autonomy, relatedness and competence on PEB, including interaction effects. Results: No significant differences were found in the levels of perceived needs across the household types, p >. 05. Similarly, no main effects on PEB were identified, p >. 05. However, a significant interaction effect between perceived competence and household type on PEB was observed, F(3, 204) = 4.55, p < .001. Regression analysis revealed an interaction between perceived competence and PEB within in parental households, F(1, 74) = 4.39, p = .04, with competence having a significant and positive effect on PEB, b = .77, t(75) = 2.09, p < .001. Conclusion: Within parental homes, students who perceived more competence while performing PEB were more inclined to engage in PEB. Except for this effect, the findings revealed no significant differences in perceived needs or levels of PEB across household types. This study highlights that young adults’ perceived competence in parental homes plays a role in their environmental engagement. Future research may explore how parent-child relationships continue to shape young adult’s perceived needs after they move out. Understanding these dynamics can inform programs aimed at engaging young adults’ pro-environmental behavior, leading to reduced household carbon footprints over time.Show less
This thesis explores the impact of gain-framed messages on psychological detachment from work among self-employed workers, considering the moderating effects of financial stress and message trust....Show moreThis thesis explores the impact of gain-framed messages on psychological detachment from work among self-employed workers, considering the moderating effects of financial stress and message trust. Using an experimental between-subject design with online surveys, 225 UK-based participants were randomly assigned to control or gain-framed message conditions. The gain-framed message conditions included health-gain and work-performance-gain. Surprisingly, participants in the control group showed more detachment than those in the message conditions, challenging previous literature. Contrary to the expectations, the moderating effects of financial stress and message trust were not found. Despite limitations, such as a sample limited to the UK and the use of a questionnaire, the research contributes new insights into messaging effects on preventive behaviors. It underscores the importance of context and individual differences in message reception and behavior, and urges future research to consider the effectiveness of gain-framed messages in motivating people to adopt certain behavior.Show less
Met de vergrijzing van de bevolking groeit ook het belang van een vroege en nauwkeurige diagnose van neurodegeneratieve aandoeningen zoals de ziekte van Alzheimer (AD). Dit onderzoek richt zich...Show moreMet de vergrijzing van de bevolking groeit ook het belang van een vroege en nauwkeurige diagnose van neurodegeneratieve aandoeningen zoals de ziekte van Alzheimer (AD). Dit onderzoek richt zich specifiek op het verkennen van de verschillen tussen twee vormen van AD, namelijk Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease (EOAD) en Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD), met als doel het verbeteren van classificatiemodellen. We hebben vier classificatiemodellen ontworpen, elk gericht op specifieke hersengebieden die mogelijk atrofie vertonen, met Model 1 en 2 gericht op respectievelijk LOAD en EOAD, Model 3 als een gecombineerd model en Model 4 dat de algehele hersenatrofie omvat. Deze modellen zijn geanalyseerd aan de hand van Area Under the Curve (AUC) en zijn ontwikkeld met behulp van logistische regressie en LASSO om de meest relevante variabelen te selecteren. Onze bevindingen suggereren dat EOAD en LOAD verschillende neuropathologische patronen vertonen, waarbij EOAD mogelijk wordt gekenmerkt door specifiekere neuropathogenese patronen, terwijl LOAD meer uniforme hersenveranderingen vertoont. Model 3, dat specifieke hersengebieden combineerde, presteerde het beste bij het classificeren van beide groepen, terwijl Model 4, dat alle hersengebieden omvatte, een lagere classificatie-accuratesse vertoonde voor EOAD. Deze resultaten benadrukken dat AD patiënten geen homogene groep zijn en benadrukken het belang van gedifferentieerde diagnostische benaderingen om rekening te houden met de heterogeniteit binnen deze aandoening.Show less
Prosocial behavior, defined as any action taken to benefit another, has maintained persistent interest in regarding its intricate relationship with loneliness and apathy. Loneliness, conceptualized...Show moreProsocial behavior, defined as any action taken to benefit another, has maintained persistent interest in regarding its intricate relationship with loneliness and apathy. Loneliness, conceptualized as a subjective feeling of social isolation is often found comorbid with apathy; one’s reduced motivation to put in effort for others’ benefit relative to one’s own benefit. Although all three variables demonstrate a relationship to one another, research remains scarce regarding their shared impact. However, findings show a positive influence of prosocial behaviors on social connections, consequently decreasing experiences of isolation as well as apathy. This investigation aims to uncover the potential mediating effect of prosocial behavior on the bidirectional relationship of loneliness and apathy. To fill the gap in the literature, assessing both models helps highlight intervention approaches aiming to effectively break the cycle – ultimately improving well-being. Higher levels of loneliness are expected to indicate higher levels of apathy, whereas prosocial behaviors may mediate and limit the negative affect. Ultimately, it is also expected higher levels of apathy lead to higher levels of loneliness, with prosocial behavior possibly mitigating this negative affect. 287 participants underwent a behavioral task assessing their prosocial tendencies, as well as questionnaires measuring their level of loneliness and apathy. Both mediation analyses revealed a significant total effect between the variables. This was indicative of a negligible mediating role of prosocial acts. These results underline the specific gaps left for future research, ranging from exploring the nuanced relationships and contextual factors involved affecting the constructs over time.Show less
Research suggests a prominent relationship between self-esteem and social evaluation, such that individuals with low self-esteem may show biased perceptions of social evaluation. This study...Show moreResearch suggests a prominent relationship between self-esteem and social evaluation, such that individuals with low self-esteem may show biased perceptions of social evaluation. This study examines interactions between self-esteem, attachment styles, and neural sensitivity to social feedback using electroencephalography (EEG). The focus was on the Feedback-Related Negativity (FRN) component, indicative of neural sensitivity to expectancy violations in social feedback. It was hypothesized that low self-esteem would predict greater FRN during the SELF-Profile task, with insecure attachment styles adding to the variance of this relationship. Individuals with insecure attachment styles were also predicted to underestimate proportions of acceptance feedback received during the task, with low self-esteem and an insecure attachment predicting a lower proportion of expected acceptance feedback. Eighty adolescents aged 12-to-18 years (60 females, 20 males) participated in this study. Participants completed the SELF-Profile task, involving receiving probabilistic feedback from peers on social-media-like profiles, mimicking real-word scenarios of social feedback and potential uncertainties around these interactions. Participants indicated their perception of the interaction, reporting percentages of perceived social acceptance from peers. EEG recordings were conducted throughout this task. Results demonstrated that participants with low self-esteem exhibited heightened FRN amplitudes in response to positive incongruent feedback, suggesting increased sensitivity to unexpected positive social feedback. Moreover, individuals with insecure attachment styles show trends of amplified neural reactivity to social feedback which was visible in FRN outputs. Regression analyses additionally found significant correlations between self-esteem, attachment style and overall expectation of social feedback (positive and negative), with self-esteem explaining most of the variance. These findings elucidate neural mechanisms underlying feedback processing in relation to self-esteem and attachment, suggesting that low self-esteem and insecure attachment styles influence our social feedback sensitivity and expectation. Results provide insights for clinical practice suggesting the importance of improving self-esteem when working on client difficulties in social settings through positive feedback reinforcement.Show less
Steun die vanuit ouders wordt ontvangen blijkt uit onderzoek negatief samen te hangen met depressie symptomen in adolescenten. Uit onderzoek blijkt daarnaast dat adolescenten die lage steun vanuit...Show moreSteun die vanuit ouders wordt ontvangen blijkt uit onderzoek negatief samen te hangen met depressie symptomen in adolescenten. Uit onderzoek blijkt daarnaast dat adolescenten die lage steun vanuit ouders, maar hoge steun vanuit vrienden ontvangen, meer depressie symptomen laten zien dan adolescenten die vanuit beide groepen lage steun ontvangen. In dit cross-sectionele onderzoek is gekeken of dit effect ook te vinden is in een gedeeltelijk klinische steekproef. Gezonde (N = 80) en depressieve adolescenten (N = 35) voerden een gesprek met hun ouders over een emotionele gebeurtenis. Hierna werd de steun vanuit de ouders tijdens het gesprek beoordeeld door de adolescenten. Deze steun vanuit ouders was negatief gecorreleerd met depressie symptomen bij de adolescenten. Steun vanuit vrienden bleek deze negatieve relatie niet significant te beïnvloeden. Er zal meer onderzoek gedaan moeten worden in welke context steun vanuit vrienden wel of niet deze relatie tussen steun vanuit ouders en depressie beïnvloedt.Show less
Pediatric oncology patients with tumors outside their central nervous system may be at risk for neuropsychological impairments, such as executive dysfunctions, which can manifest shortly after...Show morePediatric oncology patients with tumors outside their central nervous system may be at risk for neuropsychological impairments, such as executive dysfunctions, which can manifest shortly after diagnosis. Oncology treatments can induce peripheral neuropathy, characterized by damaged nerves, which can result in sensory and motor complaints. Previously, peripheral neuropathy has been associated with cognitive impairments, including executive dysfunctions. Understanding the progression of executive dysfunctions and identifying associated risk factors, such as neuropathy, is crucial for early intervention. This longitudinal study investigated executive functioning in pediatric non-CNS oncology patients over the first two years post-diagnosis. Participants (N = 110), aged 6-18 years at diagnosis (M = 11.7; SD = 3.7), were assessed at three time-points (3-6, 6-12, and 12-18 months) post-diagnosis. 40 participants (36%) experienced peripheral neuropathy. Executive functions were measured using neuropsychological tests and a questionnaire. Linear Mixed Models, examining the change over time in executive functions, revealed significant improvements on the neuropsychological tests of working memory (p < .001) and the reaction times of planning (p < .001), inhibition (p = .010), and cognitive flexibility (p < .001) over the first years post-diagnosis. Older age at diagnosis was associated with better cognitive flexibility (p = .042). Males made fewer errors in cognitive flexibility (p = .016). After correcting for multiple testing, improvements over time in working memory and planning and flexibility reaction times remained significant. No significant interaction effects were found between peripheral neuropathy and time on executive functioning. Contrary to hypotheses, executive functioning did not deteriorate over time; instead, improvements were observed in some domains. The hypothesis that neuropathy would exacerbate declines in executive functioning was not supported. Although these findings contrasted with some previous long-term survivors’ studies, they aligned with research showing initial improvements post-diagnosis. Practice effects due to repeated exposure to the same tests may explain some of the observed improvements. The study's strengths include its longitudinal design and comprehensive assessment approach, but limitations such as potential sample heterogeneity were noted. Future research should consider factors such as socio-economic status and the severity and duration of treatments and neuropathy to better understand their impacts on executive functioning.Show less
