Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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Both youth with a substance use disorder (SUD) and youth who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) show heightened vulnerability to psychopathology. We aimed to quantify the risk of...Show moreBoth youth with a substance use disorder (SUD) and youth who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) show heightened vulnerability to psychopathology. We aimed to quantify the risk of comorbid disorders in SUD youth with ACE-history. Additionally, we aimed to examine relations between ACEs, overall household experience, and general distress. We used cross-sectional YIT-study data from interviews with Dutch youth (aged 16-22) upon SUD treatment entry for cannabis, alcohol, or stimulant use. We measured ACE-types experienced up until 15 years of age, past-year DSM-5 disorders, general distress (DASS-21), and overall household experience rating. Logistic regressions quantified relations between ACE sum score and anxiety, depressive, behavior, and any disorder. Higher ACE sum scores related to increased risks for a(n) anxiety (OR = 1.12, highest odds = 2.84; χ2(1) = 6.71, p < .010; Nagelkerke R2 = 0.2), depressive (OR = 1.21, highest odds = 5.43; χ2(1) = 18.11, p < .001; Nagelkerke R2 = 0.6), behavior (OR = 1.20, highest odds = 5.24; χ2(1) = 17.41, p < .001; Nagelkerke R2 = 0.6), and any (OR = 1.25, highest odds = 7.58; χ2(1) = 17.26, p < .001; Nagelkerke R2 = 0.7) disorder. Exploratory analyses revealed that frequency of parental fighting, being hit/abused, getting belittled, emotional neglect, physical neglect, insufficient household income, long parental sickness, and overall household experience positively related to DASS-21. In a hierarchical regression analysis with all ACEs and overall household experience, only emotional neglect related to DASS-21 (B = 3.68, t(373) = 2.41, p = .017). Overall household experience did not improve the model (F(12) = 3.51, p < .001; R2change < .001). In hierarchical regression analyses containing ACE sum score and overall household experience, overall household experience was not uniquely related to DASS-21 (t = -0.22, p = .824; R2change < .01). In conclusion, ACEs relate to comorbid disorders in SUD youth. Our exploratory research suggests that ACE frequency might influence this relation, while overall household experience does not further explain this relation. Further research should investigate which ACE measures (a.o., type, frequency) strongly relate to SUDs and psychopathology and examine improved treatment options.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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Theory of Mind (ToM) is a central topic in psychology and neuroscience. Nevertheless, debates persist regarding the validity and reliability of ToM measurement. Recent documentation of numerous...Show moreTheory of Mind (ToM) is a central topic in psychology and neuroscience. Nevertheless, debates persist regarding the validity and reliability of ToM measurement. Recent documentation of numerous failed replications in ToM research, involving both children and adults, highlights the need for establishing effective methods for measuring ToM across the lifespan. In response to this challenge, an international multi-lab collaboration named Many Babies 2 (MB2) has been launched, with Leiden University Babylab participating in this project. This thesis discusses preliminary findings related to the 16 adults tested at our lab. Following the MB2 protocol, an eye-tracker attached to a screen recorded participants’ looking behavior (first look [FL] and differential looking scores [DLS]) in an anticipatory looking task. We had two main goals. First, we aimed to find evidence of an automatic and implicit form of ToM in adults, by investigating whether participants’ looking behavior varied depending on a character’s mental state (i.e. whether the character was knowledgeable (condition 1) or ignorant (condition 2) about a specific situation). Contrary to our expectations, neither FL nor DLS differed between the experimental conditions. Second, we examined whether participants’ looking behavior was affected by (a) the selection of the anticipatory period, and (b) participants’ simultaneous activation of a conscious and explicit form of ToM, which had been measured with a debriefing questionnaire. We concluded that none of these factors significantly impacted participants’ looking behavior at a group level. However, FL and DLS of individual participants randomly varied when processed with different anticipatory periods; therefore, further research is needed to determine which anticipatory period minimizes the presence of noise in the data. While recognizing the preliminary nature of our findings, our insights contribute to the ongoing efforts to refine ToM assessment methods, underscoring the importance of addressing challenges in measuring this fundamental aspect of human cognition.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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The number of Dutch children who require psychological help keeps growing, and therefore, it is essential to consider their perspective on improving their mental and physical health. The concept of...Show moreThe number of Dutch children who require psychological help keeps growing, and therefore, it is essential to consider their perspective on improving their mental and physical health. The concept of agency contributes to how children experience their health; allowing children to express agency can positively impact their well-being and increase their health (Robertson et al., 2015). The current study aimed to explore and map the role of agency and Emotion Regulation (ER) in children's (10-12 years) view on improving their mental and physical health. This was done using a thematic analysis process of the transcripts. The thematic analysis was conducted on data from previously conducted focus groups on children’s views on health. The results showed several vital themes identified from the data. The central concept of agency was found in children’s constant attempt/wish to change their feelings and thoughts. Within this central concept, three different approaches to ER were identified: “self-talk”, “practical solutions”, and “seeking support”. Especially “self-talk” was often mentioned by the children. The children's different approaches were found to be ways to apply one of three adaptive ER strategies: “reappraisal”, “acceptance”, or “problem-solving”. Children applied these strategies directly or indirectly. Although this study adds knowledge to the understanding of agency in children, much remains to be discovered about agency and its relationship with ER strategies. Follow-up research should be done to gain further insights into the role of agency in improving children’s health, with a particular focus on self-talk and seeking distraction.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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Background: Empathy deficits are evident in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Conduct Disorder (CD), and are linked to distinct brain structural abnormalities. Criticisms over the years highlight...Show moreBackground: Empathy deficits are evident in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Conduct Disorder (CD), and are linked to distinct brain structural abnormalities. Criticisms over the years highlight that the DSM classifications of psychiatric disorders are primarily based on observable signs and symptoms, insufficiently based on causes and (neuro)biology, and rather ignorant of heterogeneity and overlap in symptoms. The current study therefore aimed for classification of ASD and CD in adolescents, based on brain morphology (BM) and social-emotional functioning (SEF). Methods: The sample included boys with ASD (n = 23) or CD (n = 51), and typically developing boys (TD; n = 36), aged 15-19 years. Participants’ empathy, aggression, psychopathy, problem behaviours, social function/cognition, and brain morphology (using an MRI scanning) were assessed. For the prediction of ASD and CD, a predictive regression with cross-validation comparing three models was performed, followed by several LASSO regressions. For clustering participants, K-means clustering was used with three clusters and K determined by the CH-index and ARI, followed by ANOVAs, T-tests and checking nestedness with crosstabs. Results: ASD and CD DSM-5 diagnoses can most accurately be predicted with a model based on SEF data, and least accurately with a model based on BM data. When using only SEF data, similar to the DSM, classification is erroneous in approximately one fifth of the participants. For an optimal prediction of ASD and CD, a combination of background, SEF, and BM variables is necessary. None of the cluster-solutions, theory-driven (three clusters) or data-driven (SEF data: four clusters; BM data: five clusters), were congruent with the original DSM clustering (ASD, CD, and TD). Conclusion: The current study shows that data-driven classification, based on BM and/or SEF, is not sufficiently accurate or congruent with the DSM classifications. This suggests that the DSM classifications, which are mainly based on SEF data, do not capture ASD and CD well enough. In order to better capture these disorders, combining factors across multiple domains (including background and BM data), is necessary. On top of that, this study shows less explored ways of analysing data in the field of social sciences. As such, this study may represent a stepping stone for the development of more accurate classifications with less negative implications.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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Coregulation does not seem to come naturally to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), putting them at risk of persistent emotional and behavioral dysregulation. However, little is known...Show moreCoregulation does not seem to come naturally to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), putting them at risk of persistent emotional and behavioral dysregulation. However, little is known about factors related to the ability of parents to provide coregulatory support and the responsiveness of children with ASD to their attempts. The current study used the state space grid (SSG) methodology to provide insight into the patterns of coregulation between twelve children with ASD (3-6 years) and their parent who spent most time with them (11 mothers, 1 father). In search of characteristics of children and parents that may hinder coregulation, the association with the severity of ASD symptoms and behavioral problems in children, as well as the self-regulation abilities, parenting stress and psychopathology in parents was examined. A free play task was used to elicit interactions between parents and children that were later coded for emotional engagement of both to measure coregulation. Child and parent characteristics were assessed by administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS-2) to children and completion of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function for Adults (BRIEF-A), Parenting Stress Questionnaire (OBVL) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) by their parents. Children with ASD generally had emotionally flexible interactions with their parents, indicating that they frequently changed between emotional engagement states when playing together. Their play interactions were mainly positive in nature and all parent-child dyads were able to repair the interaction following negativity or disengagement. More perceived externalizing behavior problems in children was related to less time to reengage in positive interactions with their parents and longer maintained mutual positivity. No association was found for the other characteristics of children and parents. These findings point to the added value of focusing in detail on parent-child interactions for future research and clinical practice.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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This thesis is part of a multi-lab eye-tracking project investigating implicit Theory of Mind (ToM) in toddlers and adults (ManyBabies2). Given the recent number of unsuccessful replications in...Show moreThis thesis is part of a multi-lab eye-tracking project investigating implicit Theory of Mind (ToM) in toddlers and adults (ManyBabies2). Given the recent number of unsuccessful replications in this field, the focus of this thesis lies in investigating the impact of methodological considerations regarding data quality on the obtained results. Specifically, this thesis addresses differences in eye-tracking data quality (accuracy, precision, and data loss) between toddlers and adults. Further, it examines how differences in data quality (precision and data loss) affect the dependent variables in an anticipatory looking (AL) task to measure ToM, and whether the results of the AL task change by adjusting the parameters of a standard fixation classification algorithm (i.e., the Tobii I-VT filter) to account for low data quality. A total of 16 adults and 16 toddlers (N = 32) participated in the ManyBabies2 study at the Leiden University lab. The AL task included two test trials with an ignorance and knowledge condition, during which participants’ looking behavior (first look and proportion differential looking score [DLS]) was measured. The results showed a significant difference in average data quality between toddlers and adults, with toddlers having lower accuracy and precision and higher data loss than adults. Moreover, the results indicated that data loss significantly affects proportion DLS in the ignorance and knowledge condition. However, no differences in AL looking behavior were found between the Tobii I-VT default and adjusted parameters. The findings of this thesis emphasize the need for consistent reporting of data quality. Future research should conduct larger-scale studies to validate and expand upon the findings in this thesis, and focus on refining the fixation classification algorithm parameters of the Tobii I-VT filter to adjust for differences in data quality.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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Prediction-based and repetition-based learning are two learning strategies, differing most profoundly in their depth of processing. In repetition-based learning, students repeat information shortly...Show morePrediction-based and repetition-based learning are two learning strategies, differing most profoundly in their depth of processing. In repetition-based learning, students repeat information shortly after learning it, while in prediction-based learning, students make a prediction before learning the information. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of the two learning strategies for memory recall, as well as consider the influence of age, the magnitude of the prediction errors, and the involved brain areas. It seeks to enhance the educational debate on these learning strategies by uncovering the strategies' mechanisms and guiding educators on their effective use. To accomplish this, 28 young adolescents and 46 young adults were scanned in an MRI scanner while learning numerical facts using both strategies: predicting and repeating. The study explored the influence of strategy, age group, and prediction error on memory recall. Furthermore, it investigated strategy-specific and age-specific differences in the medial temporal lobe (MTL), striatum, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). While it was expected that prediction-based learning would result in better learning for both age groups as it requires deeper processing, results showed that adults had improved memory for repetition compared to prediction, whereas adolescents did not show a significant difference between the two learning strategies. Within prediction-based learning, adults showed increased memory for small and large prediction errors, while adolescents only did for large prediction errors. Lastly, among the investigated brain areas, the ACC, which is involved in error detection, showed the most prominent role in prediction-based learning.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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Eating problems and emotional eating in childhood are associated with eating disorders in adolescence. Eating problems and emotional eating can develop due to problems with mood and stress...Show moreEating problems and emotional eating in childhood are associated with eating disorders in adolescence. Eating problems and emotional eating can develop due to problems with mood and stress regulation or appetite regulation. External factors, such as maternal caregiving, can also play a role. Mood, stress and appetite regulation are regulated by the brain but also by the gut. In recent research, the gut has been linked to depression and anxiety, but more research is needed on its role in eating disorders and their precursors. In this study, we explored the link between two precursors of eating disorders, eating problems and emotional eating, and the gut microbiota as well as the moderating role of maternal caregiving. We analysed longitudinal data from the BIBO (Basale Invloeden op de Baby Ontwikkeling) study of Nijmegen university. The data was used to look at whether clusters of bacteria in infancy predict eating problems at 2.5 and 6 years old and emotional eating at 6 and 14 years old. Furthermore, maternal caregiving was added as a moderator to see its role in the potential relationship between the gut and eating problems and emotional eating. Results revealed that there were no significant differences in eating problems (at 2.5 and 6 years old) and emotional eating (at 6 and 14 years old) between the clusters. Furthermore, there was no moderating effect of maternal caregiving on the relationship between microbiota cluster and eating problems and emotional eating. This study suggests that infant microbiota does not predict eating problems and emotional eating in childhood and adolescence in this sample. However, these findings open new paths for future research; with higher taxonomic resolution rather than clusters of bacteria, larger sample sizes, and finally the addition of measures of relevant variables, such as emotion regulation strategies and measures of parent-child relations, such as attachment and parental feeding practices.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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Background and objective: Sex Chromosome Trisomy (SCT) refers to having an extra X or Y chromosome (XXX, XXY, XYY), which occurs in approximately 1-2 of 1000 children. In this study, social...Show moreBackground and objective: Sex Chromosome Trisomy (SCT) refers to having an extra X or Y chromosome (XXX, XXY, XYY), which occurs in approximately 1-2 of 1000 children. In this study, social attention, Theory of Mind (ToM) and neurobehavioral outcomes are investigated in preschool aged children with SCT compared to typically developing controls. Furthermore, the study aims to explore with a longitudinal design whether social attention and ToM in preschool aged children with SCT can be predictive of neurobehavioral outcomes one year later. Methods: In this study 71 children with SCT (aged 3-7) and 71 typically developing age matched controls participated. The Social Interaction Scanning (SIS) eye tracking paradigm was used to investigate social attention. ToM skills were measured with the ToM subtest of the Developmental NEuroPSYchological Assessment, second edition (NEPSY-II). Neurobehavioral outcomes were measured with the Social Responsiveness Scale, second edition (SRS-2), Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD and Normal behavior (SWAN) and the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL) parental questionnaires respectively. Results: Results of the current study show a vulnerability for children with SCT in the domain of social attention to faces and eyes and ToM compared to typically developing controls. Findings are more pronounced for children aged 5-7 years old. Furthermore, children with SCT appear at increased risk for poorer neurobehavioral outcomes. Finally, results of the current study suggest that ToM may have a unique predictive value for social impairment over time, specifically in the domain of social communication and interaction. Secondly, social attention may have a unique predictive value for ADHD symptoms over time. Conclusions: Results indicate that screening of social cognitive functions (around the age of 5-7) and monitoring of neurodevelopmental pathways is important for clinical practice in SCT. In future research the efficacy of early tailored interventions targeting social cognitive skills in SCT can be investigated, to positively influence developmental outcomes of children with SCT.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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Children that show high levels of persistent aggressive and transgressive behavior have found to be at serious risk of exhibiting delinquent and criminal behavior during later adolescence and...Show moreChildren that show high levels of persistent aggressive and transgressive behavior have found to be at serious risk of exhibiting delinquent and criminal behavior during later adolescence and adulthood. However, a clear explanation of possible underlying neurocognitive mechanisms contributing to the increased risk of developing criminal behavior is lacking. Therefore, this thesis aims to contribute to, and encourage comprehensive and nuanced analysis of the issue of children at risk of later onset of criminal and delinquent behavior, and to offer insight into the most effective ways of promoting positive outcomes for both individual children and society. Specifically, in the current study self-efficacy served as a proxy for childhood agency, whereby the relation between self-efficacy, social competence, and the possible mediating role of Theory of Mind (ToM) was investigated. The data in this study was derived from a sample of 425 children, aged eight to twelve, from the Preventive Intervention Trajectory (PIT) project. Overall, the results of the present study did not offer substantiation for the proposed mediation model. In addition, the comparative analysis of self-efficacy based on gender revealed a relatively equal distribution and there was no significant difference in mean self-efficacy scores between boys and girls. Total IQ did however show significant relations, as it was associated with higher ToM scores and less social problems. This finding is consistent with previous studies and suggests that intelligence should be taken into consideration in research and intervention of children with transgressive and aggressive behavior problems. The results do not necessarily rule out the underlying influences of self-efficacy, ToM, and social problems on transgression and aggression. More research is necessary to confirm the results of this study an identify the underlying neurocognitive constituents of childhood agency.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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One in 650-1000 individuals has sex chromosome trisomy (SCT), being born with an extra X or Y chromosome (XXX; XXY; XYY). SCT comes with various developmental risks. The present study was designed...Show moreOne in 650-1000 individuals has sex chromosome trisomy (SCT), being born with an extra X or Y chromosome (XXX; XXY; XYY). SCT comes with various developmental risks. The present study was designed to evaluate the relation between parental factors (parenting skills (parental reflective functioning, sensitivity, and intrusiveness) and family functioning) and the social cognitive skills and its rate of development of children with SCT. Literature suggests that parenting skills and family functioning influence social cognitive development in typical children, but this has not been researched in children with SCT. Included in this study were 106 children with SCT and 102 controls (age M = 3.65, SD = 1.78 range = .98-7.66). A free play task, the parental developmental interview, and a questionnaire were used for evaluating parental factors, and the social cognitive skills of the child were measured using the ASIEP-3. Children with SCT showed significant impairments in social cognitive skills while the rate of development of social cognitive skills proved identical to controls. Parental sensitivity, intrusiveness, and reflective functioning were similar across groups and were found to not significantly influence social cognitive development. Family functioning was found to be positively related to the social cognitive skills of SCT children. However, family functioning did not influence the rate of social cognitive development of either SCT or control groups. The findings imply other factors to be of more importance in the social cognitive development of children with SCT at the average ages of 1-2 years and 3-6 years. It is recommended to research other factors, namely brain maturation and timing of diagnosis. Further knowledge about which factors stimulate the development of the social cognitive abilities of children with SCT, to what extent and at what age, is of importance as this may help to develop and personalize prevention and intervention programs.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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Individual differences in behavior are best explained through a multisystem approach by integrating neurobiological, neurocognitive, and social environmental factors. This longitudinal study...Show moreIndividual differences in behavior are best explained through a multisystem approach by integrating neurobiological, neurocognitive, and social environmental factors. This longitudinal study examined whether early physical aggression could be predicted by stress regulation, inhibitory control, risk background, and sex. In addition, this study is among the first to investigate whether the four stress response patterns of the Adaptive Calibration Model (Del Giudice et al., 2011) could be generalized to 12-month-old children by studying: autonomic nervous system (ANS), sympathetic nervous system (SNS), parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. ANS was indexed by heart rate, SNS by salivary alpha-amylase and pre-ejection period, PNS by respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and HPA axis by salivary cortisol. The sample consisted of 214 mother-child dyads (116 boys) with an equal number of high- and low-risk backgrounds. Physical aggression was assessed through maternal reports at 12, 20, and 30 months of age. At 12 months, children performed an inhibitory control task and the fear task (robot paradigm) was used to measure baseline, response, and recovery levels of the stress systems. Latent profile analysis revealed three profiles: (1) ANS Responders, (2) Moderate Arousal, and (3) Hormonal Responders. No significant differences were found between the profiles with regard to inhibitory control, average age of mother and child, number of boys and girls, and number of high- and low-risk children. Results showed that higher physical aggression scores were associated at 12 months with ANS Responders and lower inhibitory control, at 20 months with Hormonal Responders, boys and high-risk, and at 30 months with boys and high-risk. In addition, an interaction effect was found at 20 months: higher inhibitory control in girls was associated with lower physical aggression scores, but not in the Hormonal Responders. The discussion highlights the importance of using a multisystem approach to explain individual differences in early physical aggression.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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The use of harsh caregiving behaviour is related to a range of negative outcomes on the development of children. Therefore, it is important to get a more thorough understanding of the determinants...Show moreThe use of harsh caregiving behaviour is related to a range of negative outcomes on the development of children. Therefore, it is important to get a more thorough understanding of the determinants of such caregiving behaviours. Researchers have consistently found an association between high levels of environmental chaos in the household and negative parenting behaviours. However, this relation has never been investigated in an experimental setting before so no causal inferences could be made. Therefore, the present study used an experimental within-subjects design to investigate whether (observed) harsh caregiving behaviour is predicted by an (experimentally manipulated) chaotic home environment. In addition, self-regulatory skills, measured with a delay discounting task and a Go/Nogo task, were examined as a potential moderator in this relation. A total of 96 women aged between 18 and 25 years participated in the two lab-visits. The laboratory (furnished like a living room) was calm and organized in the neutral condition, and chaotic and unorganized in the chaos condition. Contrary to what was hypothesized, results of the multilevel analysis showed no causal relation between chaos and harsh caregiving in the present study. Also, no moderating effect of self-regulatory skills on the relation between environmental chaos and harsh caregiving behaviours was found. Possible explanations for not finding the expected results and directions for future research are addressed in the discussion.Show less
