Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2020-11-30T00:00:00Z
Objective: To examine (a) the effect of maternal reflective functioning (RF) on precursors of theory of mind (ToM) and executive functioning (EF) in 20-month-old children, (b) the relation between...Show moreObjective: To examine (a) the effect of maternal reflective functioning (RF) on precursors of theory of mind (ToM) and executive functioning (EF) in 20-month-old children, (b) the relation between ToM and EF at 20 months, and (c) the effectiveness of an early intervention program aimed, among others, at improving maternal RF. Method: The sample consisted of 118 mother-child dyads. Maternal RF was assessed during pregnancy using the Pregnancy Interview-Revised and at 20 months using the Parent Development Interview. At 20 months children’s ToM understanding was examined using a simple visual perspective (VP) taking task, a discrepant desires (DD) task and an imitation task; EF performance was assessed using a delay task (inhibition) and a working memory (WM) task called ‘hide the pots’. The Child Behavior Checklist was conducted to assess children’s problem behavior. Results: Children of mothers low on maternal RF, especially child-related RF, showed significantly worse VP-taking capacities compared with children of mothers average/high on RF. A significant moderating effect of children’s problem behavior was present; children with high attention problems or a high withdrawn level were more affected by their mothers’ low RF capacities. No unequivocal and significant effects of maternal RF on DD, imitation and EF performance were found. In addition, only a significant correlation between DD and WM performance was present. The effectiveness of the early intervention program regarding improving RF could not be confirmed. Conclusions: Early intervention programs should focus on improving child-related aspects of maternal RF of mothers at risk for being low on RF, especially when their children show problem behavior. Future research should reexamine both the effect of maternal RF on ToM and EF, and the relationship between ToM and EF at e.g. 2.5 years.Show less
Objective To examine the relationship between maternal reflective functioning (RF) and child aggression and whether this relationship is mediated by child’s precursors of Theory of Mind (ToM). The...Show moreObjective To examine the relationship between maternal reflective functioning (RF) and child aggression and whether this relationship is mediated by child’s precursors of Theory of Mind (ToM). The influence of coaching on maternal reflective functioning and child aggression is also examined. Method The sample consisted of 85 mother-infant dyads. Mothers were allocated to a high or low risk group based on maternal characteristics. Half of the high risk mothers were randomly assigned to a coaching group. Maternal reflective functioning was assessed prenatally and when children were 20 months of age by Pregnancy Interview (PI) and Parental Development Interview (PDI). Mothers were asked to aggressive symptoms in their child. Children’s precursors of ToM were measured at 20 months by an imitation task, a visual perspectives task and a discrepant desires task. Results Maternal prenatal reflective functioning was found to be negatively related to child aggressive behaviour. However maternal postnatal self-related RF was positively related to child aggression. In addition, maternal reflective functioning was found to be positively related to one precursor of ToM, but ToM did not mediate the relationship between maternal reflective functioning and child aggression. No effect of coaching on maternal reflective functioning and child aggression was found. Conclusion The present study provides evidence for the relationship between maternal reflective functioning and child aggression at a young age. This emphasizes the importance of well-developed maternal reflective functioning capacities for the behavioural development of children. This relationship could be mediated by child’s ToM, but this should be further researched. Coaching would be a suitable way to enhance maternal reflective functioning capacities, but the effects of coaching should be investigated after mothers received coaching for a longer period of time.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
This thesis provides a case study of the discourse on sustainability, a much discussed, but elusive concept. It describes and analyses the sustainability discourse in the Dutch municipality of...Show moreThis thesis provides a case study of the discourse on sustainability, a much discussed, but elusive concept. It describes and analyses the sustainability discourse in the Dutch municipality of Leiden, as enacted by different groups of actors within a governmental context. It explains how actors gave meaning to the concept of 'sustainability', by both taking into account the bigger picture and focusing on local issues. Also, it argues that both governmental and non-governmental actors sought and emphasized cooperation and consensus, in their interaction on sustainability. The argument shows which factors made interaction potentially difficult, and how actors reflected upon these factors and sought for solutions.Show less
Feedback related negativity (FRN) is an event related potential (ERP) component that is often linked to the processing of negative feedback. Previous studies indicated different physical reactions...Show moreFeedback related negativity (FRN) is an event related potential (ERP) component that is often linked to the processing of negative feedback. Previous studies indicated different physical reactions during the processing of positive and negative feedback. However, no studies investigated FRN potential differences during the processing of social feedback in young children. The present study examined differences in FRN potentials in children of 4 6 years old (N = 17, M = 5.61, 64,7% boys) during the processing of positive, negative and neutral social feedback. In addition, gender differences in effortful control (EC) and the relation between EC and the FRN difference score were examined. The FRN potentials were recorded during an age appropriate social judgment task accomplished by the participants. The results indicated no significant differences in FRN potentials during the processing of positive, negative and neutral social judgements, suggesting that young children do not differentiate between social judgments yet. According to the EC results, no relation is found between EC and the FRN difference score. These results suggest no relation between EC and FRNd potentials in young children. Also, no gender differences were found in EC, suggesting that young boys and girls have similar levels of inhibition and attentional focusing.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
The theses explains ways of understanding loans, debt, mutuality, and future perceptions within the uncertainty of the Ghanaian economy and the dynamic social, cultural and economic setting of...Show moreThe theses explains ways of understanding loans, debt, mutuality, and future perceptions within the uncertainty of the Ghanaian economy and the dynamic social, cultural and economic setting of Kintampo, a transitional medium-sized town, and its emerging and proliferating financial landscape. The analysis is based on a three months field trip and includes two case studies on government workers and taxi drivers.Show less
The experience of being socially accepted or rejected can elicit different changes in heart rate reactivity of both children and adults. In addition, personal characteristics like aggressive...Show moreThe experience of being socially accepted or rejected can elicit different changes in heart rate reactivity of both children and adults. In addition, personal characteristics like aggressive behavior may influence this reaction. This study examined whether heart rate reactivity of four-to-seven-year-old children differed during the processing of positive, negative and neutral social judgments, and whether aggression levels were related to heart rate reactivity during the processing of social judgments. Heart rate and behavioral data of 29 children was collected during an adjusted version of the Social Judgment Task. Results showed significant differences in the behavioral responses to negative and neutral judgments, compared to the responses to positive judgments. No significant differences were found in heart rate reactivity during the three conditions. These results indicate that children do distinguish between the three conditions, but their heart rate reactivity might not be influenced by the content of the feedback yet. Additionally aggression seems to be related to heart rate reactivity during the positive and negative condition. These findings suggest that heart rate reactivity in response to social judgments might develop throughout childhood, while aggression levels already influence heart rate reactivity in young children.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
This thesis dives into a question of relevance and connection between musical experience and geo-political conflict. Based on fieldwork with the Palestine Community Music Project in the West Bank,...Show moreThis thesis dives into a question of relevance and connection between musical experience and geo-political conflict. Based on fieldwork with the Palestine Community Music Project in the West Bank, it concludes that the musical activities of Palestine Community Music are meaningful in contrast to the participants’ lived experience of the Israeli occupation as a source of relief and an aid in the construction of hope. By choosing a field that does not fit the war-peace framework usually maintained in music and conflict studies, and by exploring the mechanisms behind the constitution of meaning and significance of the musical activities, this thesis ventures towards a more complete understanding of the construction of socio-political significance in music. In addition to the main conclusion of this thesis therefore, light is shed on the dependency of social relevance in music on sensitive dimensions of daily life, as well as on the experience-structuring embracing capacity of musical practices.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2020-08-06T00:00:00Z
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are characterized by communication deficits. Emotions are part of interpersonal communication and adequate use of emotions are vital for successful...Show moreChildren with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are characterized by communication deficits. Emotions are part of interpersonal communication and adequate use of emotions are vital for successful interaction. To see if children with ASD express emotions to the same extent, we compared 17 children with ASD (age range: 3-6 years) to 33 typically developing children of the same age on both on behavioral emotion expression and on psychophysiological arousal. The behavioral expression and psychophysiological parameters of emotion (heart rate and skin conductance level) were continuously measured during rest and a fear inducing paradigm. The groups did not differ on the intensity of negative or positive emotion expression. The ASD group had lower skin conductance levels during rest compared to the typically developing children and a more pronounced increase in psychophysiological arousal in response to a fear paradigm. To integrate these two separate measures of emotion, the concordance between the behavioral and psychophysiological components was evaluated. Negative emotions were related to heart rate in the ASD group and to skin conductance in the control group, but the strength of the correlation did not differ significantly between the two groups. Considering the health and behavioral risks associated with abnormal levels of emotional arousal, the specific effects of deviant emotional arousal in children with ASD need to be further explored. Targeting psychophysiological levels of arousal in interventions might be an effective approach to ameliorate challenging behavior in children with ASD.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
under embargo until 2035-11-28
2035-11-28T00:00:00Z
The aim of this study was to examine whether routines around bedtime mediate the relation between family disorganization and sleep quality. In addition, we explored the moderating role of child...Show moreThe aim of this study was to examine whether routines around bedtime mediate the relation between family disorganization and sleep quality. In addition, we explored the moderating role of child temperament in the relation between bedtime routines and sleep. A moderated mediation model was tested in 52 families with a three to four year old twin. We randomized the two children within the families to create two comparable samples and tested the model in both samples. Parents reported on family disorganization, child temperament, and the child´s bedtime routines and bedtimes. Actigraphy was used to assess sleep duration and sleep onset latency. No associations were found between family disorganization and sleep. Consistent bedtime routines but not consistency in bedtimes itself significantly predicted sleep quality in one of the samples. The relation between bedtime routines and sleep quality was moderated by child characteristics: Children with low levels of self-regulation have lower sleep quality when there are inconsistent routines around bedtime. These findings suggest that implementing a consistent routine around bedtime may be particularly important for children with low levels of self-regulation.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
This thesis is the result of an investigation into the dog meat trade in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Dog meat is a popular dish in this city, with people eating dog for various reasons. The main share...Show moreThis thesis is the result of an investigation into the dog meat trade in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Dog meat is a popular dish in this city, with people eating dog for various reasons. The main share of the dogs processed for food are caught in areas in West and East Java, which brings a health hazard to the Yogyakarta, because there is a risk of the spreading of rabies. In the city some animal activists have mobilized against the dog meat trade, focusing their campaign on both human and animal well-being, and attacking the dog meat trade, mainly because of its cruel characteristics in regard to the way the dogs are treated. The different perspectives and attitudes of all those involved in the dog meat trade and of the activists are taken into account.Show less
The focus of the current study was on brain activities of young children during social judgment processing. We examined, using electro-encephalogram (EEG), amplitude differences of the P3...Show moreThe focus of the current study was on brain activities of young children during social judgment processing. We examined, using electro-encephalogram (EEG), amplitude differences of the P3 components between positive, negative and neutral social judgments in children between the age of four and six. In addition, the relation between individual differences in empathy and the difference score of the P3 amplitude between social acceptance and social rejection was studied. Before the start of the experiment, participants received a self-chosen stuffed animal. During EEG data acquisition participants were presented with same-aged peer judgments referring to their stuffed-animal. Empathy of the participants was measured by using the My Child Questionnaire and by performing the Sally-Anne task. Results showed a clear P3 amplitude between 500 and 800 milliseconds after stimulus onset. However, contrary to what was expected, no significant differences between positive, negative and neutral social judgment processing were found. Furthermore, empathy was not found to be related to P3 amplitude differences between social acceptance and social rejection. Although no statistical results were found, current research provides new hypothesis for further research that refers to social feedback processing in children between four and six years old.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2020-08-10T00:00:00Z
Child factors and contextual factors collectively contribute to the development of (externalizing) behavioral problems. Individual cognition and beliefs are of influence on this interplay. The...Show moreChild factors and contextual factors collectively contribute to the development of (externalizing) behavioral problems. Individual cognition and beliefs are of influence on this interplay. The current study focused on the influence of perceived self-competence on the negative relationship between intelligence (as an important child factor) and externalizing behavioral problems. It was hypothesized that the four aspects of perceived self-competence (cognitive, social, physical and general self-worth) fulfill mediating or moderating roles in the negative relationship between intelligence and externalizing behavioral problems. The sample consisted of 117 children (27 girls, 90 boys) aged 6-14 years old (M = 9.67, SD = 1.65). Intelligence was measured using the Total IQ score of the WISC-IIINL, perceived self-competence was measured using the Competentie Belevingsschaal voor Kinderen, and externalizing behavioral problems were measured using the Externalizing Problem Score of the Teacher’s Report Form. The presence of a negative relationship between intelligence and externalizing behavioral problems was confirmed through a Pearson correlation (r (116) = -.524, p <.001). In addition, a significant, negative association was found between the cognitive aspect of perceived self-competence and externalizing behavioral problems (r (104) = -.273, p <.01). No other associations were found, ruling out the possibility of the aspects of perceived self-competence fulfilling mediating or moderating roles in the relationship between intelligence and externalizing behavioral problems. However, the results of the current study have led to interesting insights, which can be implemented during the development of specifically targeted interventions in order to reduce externalizing behavioral problems.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
under embargo until 2025-09-29
2025-09-29T00:00:00Z
In this study we examined the relations between home literacy environment, reading attitude, self-concept of reading, reading frequency and reading performance. We also tested whether children with...Show moreIn this study we examined the relations between home literacy environment, reading attitude, self-concept of reading, reading frequency and reading performance. We also tested whether children with a negative reading attitude show a resistance to reading. The participants were 428 Dutch fourth and fifth grade primary school students. Questionnaires were assessed to address the reading development and resistance to reading was measured as an attentional bias toward reading stimuli using a visual dot probe test. Results show that the home literacy environment and self-concept of reading were positively related to reading attitude. Reading attitude and reading frequency were both positively related to reading performance. Results did not confirm an attentional bias in children with a negative reading attitude. The results are discussed in light of the existing literature and directions for future research are provided.Show less
This was the first study to concentrate on the relationship between endogenous oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 and whether negative parenting experiences during childhood...Show moreThis was the first study to concentrate on the relationship between endogenous oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 and whether negative parenting experiences during childhood moderated this relationship. The sample consisted of 50 female participants, aged 18-30 years old. First, the relationship between oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 was examined. In addition, the relationship between negative parenting experiences and the effect of emotion on the N170 was examined. Last, the possible moderating effect of negative parenting experiences on the relationship between the natural oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 was examined. The parental love withdrawal questionnaire and an adapted version of the Conflict Tactic Scales (CTS; harsh discipline) were used to measure negative parenting (Huffmeijer, Alink, Tops, Grewen, Light, Bakermans-Kranenburg, Van IJzendoorn, 2013; Straus and Hamby, 1997). To study the effect of emotion on the N170, participants’ ERPs were studied in response to pictures showing emotional faces presented with feedback stimuli during an experimental task. Endogenous oxytocin levels were measured using saliva samples. Results suggested an interaction effect of high parental love withdrawal on the N170, meaning that participants who reported high love withdrawal showed higher amplitudes on the N170 in response to emotional faces than participants who reported low love withdrawal. This was in particular the case for the N170 over the left hemisphere. This may be due to the fact that experiences of love withdrawal may cause higher levels of fear of failure and the emotional faces were presented in combination with feedback stimuli. Differences in endogenous oxytocin levels or harsh discipline did not cause differences in the effect of emotion on the N170.Show less
Previous studies already showed that oxytocin promotes prosocial behavior. In addition, former research suggested that the effect of oxytocin depends on contextual and individual features. The...Show morePrevious studies already showed that oxytocin promotes prosocial behavior. In addition, former research suggested that the effect of oxytocin depends on contextual and individual features. The current study examined the effect of intranasally administered oxytocin on donating money to charity and whether experiences of negative parenting (love withdrawal and harsh discipline) in the past moderated this relationship. It was hypothesized that participants who received oxytocin would donate more money than participants who received a placebo. In addition, it was hypothesized that participants without a history of negative parenting would donate more money than participants who did experience negative parenting in the past and that the effect of oxytocin on donating money was stronger for participants without a history of negative parenting, compared to participants who did experience negative parenting in the past. The sample consisted of 57 female undergraduate students. Participants randomly received either an oxytocin or a placebo nasal spray at the beginning of the session. To measure experiences with negative parenting, questionnaires were used to measure experiences with parental use of love withdrawal and harsh discipline in the past. Because the participants underwent a long experiment, they received 50 Euros afterwards to thank them for their participation. At the end, after they had received the money, participants were shown a video of UNICEF and were asked to donate some money to charity. No main effects of oxytocin, experiences of parental use of love withdrawal and harsh discipline in the past on the amount of money donated were found. Experiences with parental use of harsh discipline as a moderator also failed to reach significance. But experiences with parental use of love withdrawal moderated the relationship between administered oxytocin and donating money. The positive effect of oxytocin (donating more money after oxytocin administration than after placebo administration) was mainly found for participants who experienced less love withdrawal in the past.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2020-04-25T00:00:00Z
Objective: Poor emotion regulation in early development has been related to negative child outcomes and is expected to be influenced by interactions with primary caregivers. This study examines the...Show moreObjective: Poor emotion regulation in early development has been related to negative child outcomes and is expected to be influenced by interactions with primary caregivers. This study examines the relation between infant emotion regulation and maternal self-regulation. Method: The sample consisted of 132 infant-mother dyads. Maternal emotion regulation (ER) problems and executive functioning (EF) problems were assessed during pregnancy by means of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function—Adult version. At six months of age, infant’s behavioral and physiological stress responses were observed during the Still Face Paradigm (SFP). Results: In response to the still face, infants showed an increase in heart rate and negative affect, and a decrease in positive affect and gaze. Infants of mothers with more ER problems showed more reactivity on heart rate, and arching and squirming. During the still face, infant self-soothing behavior increased. In response to the reunion positive affect, gaze, self-soothing behavior and negative affect increased, while arching and squirming behavior decreased. Infants of mothers with more ER problems, but few EF problems, showed less gaze during the still face, and higher levels of negative affect in general. Conclusion: This study underlines that a mother’s capacities to self-regulate influence the infant’s stress system and the emotional development of their infant. Helping mothers to enhance their own ER capacities could possibly decrease the risk for future psychopathology for their infants.Show less
Cases of physical and emotional child abuse and neglect are not uncommon and raise questions about why parents are compelled to use violence and negative disciplining techniques to solve family...Show moreCases of physical and emotional child abuse and neglect are not uncommon and raise questions about why parents are compelled to use violence and negative disciplining techniques to solve family conflict. This study focuses on the possible factors that are involved in the process that leads parents to refrain from using sensitive parenting techniques and instead fall back to negative parenting. The Social Information Model (SIP model) by Milner is used as a basis in explaining the possible moderating and mediating relationships between the variables parental attributions, chaos and negative discipline. In this study 48 mothers with children between the ages of 2 to 5 years old participated. Variables were measured by means of various questionnaires and a computer task to measure parental attributions. Results show that there are significant relationships between chaos and negative (overreactive) discipline and negative parental attributions and negative (overreactive) discipline. There was no mediating role found for parental attributions in the relationship between chaos and negative discipline. There was also no moderating role found for the relationship in the relationship between negative parental attributions and negative overreactive discipline. This study attempted to assess possible moderating and mediating effects that could explain why some parents use negative disciplining when confronted with challenging child behaviors, compared to others. Since negative (overreactive) disciplining is often seen as a predictor for child abuse in general, these results are of great importance in preventing and intervening in cases of (suspected) child abuse. Prevention and intervention programs should focus on the role of negative parental attributions and chaos within the home to help troubled families. Further research is needed to investigate other possible moderating and mediating variables that possibly explain why some parents use negative (overreactive) discipline.Show less
