Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health disorders among children and adolescents, significantly impacting various aspects of their lives. Preventative measures are crucial in...Show moreAnxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health disorders among children and adolescents, significantly impacting various aspects of their lives. Preventative measures are crucial in reducing these disorders' incidence and negative outcomes. However, preliminary research on the mechanisms behind anxiety prevention programs is limited. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate a program designed to prevent anxiety development by targeting parents of behaviorally inhibited children, as they are at risk for anxiety. The research question was: What is the moderating effect of the gender of the child and the age of the parent in the mediating relationship of parental anxiety on the effectiveness of the Cool Little Kids (CLK) intervention on child anxiety post-intervention, compared to pre-intervention? A total of 76 parents and their inhibited children aged three to six years were included in this study. The study employed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design to assign them to either the CLK parenting training or a book with general parenting tips. Child anxiety was measured using a condensed version of the Diagnostic Infant and Preschool Assessment (DIPA) interview administered to the parent, and parental anxiety was assessed using the State-Trate Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire. A moderated mediation analysis was conducted for separation anxiety, specific phobias, and social anxiety using the PROCESS plug-in for SPSS. The findings indicated that none of the moderated mediation models nor the individual pathways were significant. All hypotheses were rejected. No significant difference in child anxiety was found pre- to post-intervention in both the CLK intervention and active control condition, and parental anxiety does not mediate this relationship. Child gender and parental age did not significantly moderate the link between child and parental anxiety. Despite excelling in among others its preventive system-oriented approach and credibility, this study has several limitations that warrant further research to firmly conclude the role of parental anxiety in CLK’s effectiveness on child anxiety. Recommendations include employing a larger and more diverse sample and experimenting with different scoring methods for the DIPA interview.Show less
Background. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is high in patients with depression or anxiety, which might explain the higher risk of cardiovascular mortality in this population. Symptoms of...Show moreBackground. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is high in patients with depression or anxiety, which might explain the higher risk of cardiovascular mortality in this population. Symptoms of affective disorders can lead to changes in eating behaviors. However, poor diet quality seems implicated in underlying pathology of behavioral health disorders and could be a risk factor for developing depression and anxiety disorders. Objective. We aim to investigate the association between diet quality and metabolic syndrome in participants with and without anxiety and depressive disorders. Psychotropic medication, symptom severity, and lifestyle factors (i.e. physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use) are investigated as potential moderators. Methods. In the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA), the Mediterranean diet, the metabolic syndrome, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use, severity of symptoms, and medication were assessed among participants with depressive (n = 110), anxiety (n = 149), remitted disorders (n = 761), comorbid disorders (n = 110), and healthy controls (n = 295), in a cross-sectional design. Follow-up data from NESDA wave six is used, nine years after baseline measurement. Results. Participants (n = 1425) were on average 52.4 years old (SD = 13.13) of which 65.2% female. The association between diet quality and metabolic syndrome was the strongest for individuals with current depression (β = -.23 (CI: -.42 ; -.08); t = -2.87; p = .005), comorbid disorders (β = -.20 (CI: -.36 ; -.02); t = -2.22; p = .029), and remitted disorders (β = -.12 (CI: -.19 ; -.06); t = -3.85; p < .001). The association between diet quality and metabolic syndrome was not moderated by medication, symptom severity and lifestyle factors. Limitations. Results cannot be generalized to other cultures and the use of self-report scales could lead to a misclassification bias. Due to the cross-sectional design, it is impossible to provide evidence for temporal or causal relations. Conclusion. Low adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a high score on metabolic syndrome for patients experiencing depression, comorbid depression and anxiety or remitted depression or anxiety. This association is not moderated by medication, symptom severity and lifestyle factors.Show less
Research master thesis | Psychology (research) (MSc)
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Background: Children with social anxiety disorder are known to interpret ambiguous situations negatively. However, are children with social anxiety disorder, for example, able to consider positive...Show moreBackground: Children with social anxiety disorder are known to interpret ambiguous situations negatively. However, are children with social anxiety disorder, for example, able to consider positive and neutral interpretations, or do they only consider the negative interpretations (nuanced flexibility)? And do these children interpret all situations negatively, or are their interpretations dependent on the situation (situational flexibility)? Considering that inflexibility may hinder treatment outcomes, this study examines interpretation flexibility in children with social anxiety disorder. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 132 children aged 7-12. Children with social anxiety disorder (n = 42) were compared to children with other anxiety disorders (n = 40) and children without anxiety disorders (n = 50). Children read ten ambiguous stories about social and separation situations. Following each story, they rated the likelihood of each given positive, neutral, and negative interpretation. Results: All children rated positive interpretations as more likely than negative interpretations. As expected, children without an anxiety disorder showed a significantly stronger preference for positive interpretations than children with an anxiety disorder. Nuanced flexibility was similar for the three groups: all children showed equal openness to alternative interpretations. However, there were differences between the groups in situational flexibility: children with an anxiety disorder demonstrated greater situational flexibility when rating negative interpretations (than children without anxiety disorders), thus adjusting their interpretation based on the context of the situation. Children without an anxiety disorder, on the other hand, provided constantly low ratings for negative interpretations. These differences were only observed for negative interpretations, not for positive or neutral ones. Additionally, no content-specificity was found; flexibility did not differ between social and separation situations. There were also no differences between the two anxiety groups. Conclusion: These findings replicate earlier findings showing that children with an anxiety disorder show a lower preference for positive interpretations than children without an anxiety disorder. In addition, our results suggest that children with an anxiety disorder were open to alternative interpretations and did not consistently interpret situations negatively. Future research is needed to examine whether pre-treatment flexibility can predict treatment outcome, to entail whether it is effective to train flexibility.Show less
Disruptive behaviour in childhood, such as externalizing behavioural problems, has been linked to later antisocial and criminal behaviour. Impairments in social cognition are hypothesized to...Show moreDisruptive behaviour in childhood, such as externalizing behavioural problems, has been linked to later antisocial and criminal behaviour. Impairments in social cognition are hypothesized to contribute to antisocial and criminal behaviour. This study examines a specific element of social cognition impairment: empathy. We hypothesized that children with disruptive behaviour would exhibit impairments in affective empathy rather than impairment of cognitive empathy. We expected that the two different types of empathy would be associated with different levels of severities and types of aggression: proactive and reactive aggression. Eighty-six children (mean age 10.14 years) with disruptive behaviour took part. They participated in a police crime prevention program. The comparison group consists of forty-one typically developing children (mean age 10.15 years). The children with disruptive behaviour showed significant impairments in both cognitive and affective empathy compared to the comparison group. Empathy only predicted externalizing behaviour, proactive and reactive aggression when we considered the interaction effect of cognitive and affective empathy. When interacting with children exhibiting behavioral problems, it is crucial to recognize that they have a deficiency in a key component that influences the regulation of their brain functions. Further research is needed to identify additional factors that may also contribute to the manifestation of behavioral issues.Show less
This bachelor's thesis delves into how the European Union (EU) navigates its energy security objectives alongside sustainability goals in multilateral negotiations with African countries, regarding...Show moreThis bachelor's thesis delves into how the European Union (EU) navigates its energy security objectives alongside sustainability goals in multilateral negotiations with African countries, regarding renewable resources. It scrutinizes whether the EU's pursuit of renewable energy projects in Africa primarily serves its own energy security needs, potentially overshadowing Africa's development, and sustainable development goals. Furthermore, the study underscores the symbiotic relationship between the EU's energy security concerns and Africa's renewable energy potential, while considering the implications of neocolonialist dynamics in EU-Africa energy relations. Hence, the thesis aims to answer the research question of how the EU's negotiations with African countries contribute to enhancing its energy security through diversification and access to renewable resources.Show less
Background. Research shows mixed results regarding executive functioning (EF) deficiencies in adolescent Anorexia Nervosa (AN), contrasting with established EF impairments in adult AN patients....Show moreBackground. Research shows mixed results regarding executive functioning (EF) deficiencies in adolescent Anorexia Nervosa (AN), contrasting with established EF impairments in adult AN patients. This study aimed to assess EF and its association with Body Mass Index (BMI) in adolescent girls with first-onset AN. Method. 79 AN patients were compared to 75 matched healthy controls (HC), all females aged 12-22. EF was assessed using the Central Coherence Index (CCI) of the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF). Standardized BMI scores (BMI-SDS) were used to determine the influence of BMI on EF. Measurements were taken at baseline (T1) and one-year follow-up (T2). Results. Total EF scores showed no differences between AN and HC at baseline or follow-up. Compared to HC, AN patients had significantly worse scores on the BRIEF subscales Flexibility (p < .001; p < .001), Emotion Regulation (p < .001; p = .006), and Initiative (p < .001; p = .006), and significantly better scores on Orderliness and Neatness (p = .002; p < .001). P-values represent T1 and T2 respectively. At baseline, AN patients scored significantly higher on the RCFT CCI (p = .009). There was no significant relation between BMI-SDS and EF. Conclusions. Compared to HC, AN patients had normal EF scores with mild weaknesses in set- shifting, emotion regulation, and initiating skills, and strengths in orderliness and neatness. Changes in EF were unaffected by BMI-SDS. This study enhances understanding of EF in adolescent AN patients, which can aid the development of treatment programs.Show less
Een setback is een tijdelijke terugval bij het streven naar een gedragsdoel. Onderzoek heeft aangetoond dat mensen regelmatig niet optimaal reageren op een terugval. Ondanks veel studies naar self...Show moreEen setback is een tijdelijke terugval bij het streven naar een gedragsdoel. Onderzoek heeft aangetoond dat mensen regelmatig niet optimaal reageren op een terugval. Ondanks veel studies naar self-efficacy en doeloriëntaties bij setbacks, ontbreekt het begrip van hoe deze factoren elkaar beïnvloeden in het specifieke geval van de drie deelconstructen van self-efficacy: taak self-efficacy, onderhoud self-efficacy en herstel self-efficacy. Dit onderzoek onderzocht de invloed van approach- en avoidance-doelen op deze deelconstructen bij mensen die een setback hebben ervaren. Met behulp van een online vragenlijst over gedragsdoelen op het gebied van voeding, alcohol, nicotine, fysieke activiteit, schermtijd, gelduitgave en tijd voor hobby’s of ontspanning, zijn de participanten gevraagd naar hun gedragsdoelen en de setbacks die zij hebben ervaren. De respondenten (N=152) waren tussen de 17-30 jaar en streefden minstens een van deze gedragsdoelen na. Drie afzonderlijke t-testen vergeleken de deelconstructen van self-efficacy tussen approach- en avoidance-doelen. Resultaten toonden aan dat deelnemers met een approach-doel een hogere taak en onderhoud self-efficacy hadden na een setback dan degenen met een avoidance-doel. Herstel self-efficacy werd niet beïnvloed door doeloriëntatie en had een lagere correlatie met taak en onderhoud self-efficacy. De relatie tussen doeloriëntatie en de deelconstructen van self-efficacy bleek daarmee niet eenduidig. Mogelijke verklaringen voor deze bevindingen kunnen liggen bij individuele verschillen en andere psychologische mechanismen die niet zijn onderzocht in deze studie. Deze bevindingen kunnen worden gebruikt voor het ontwikkelen van effectievere interventies. Daarnaast benadrukken deze bevindingen het belang van verder onderzoek naar de afzonderlijke deelconstructen van self-efficacy en hun relatie bij setbacks.Show less
While social media has emerged as one of the primary sources for accessing information over the past decade, this has had the consequence of easily spreading misinformation, including conspiracy...Show moreWhile social media has emerged as one of the primary sources for accessing information over the past decade, this has had the consequence of easily spreading misinformation, including conspiracy theories. This study investigates whether experts are more credible than non-experts in debunking conspiracy theories and whether the use of a warm communication style is more credible in debunking conspiracy theories than the use of a communication style without warmth. Additionally, it investigates the correlation between narcissistic traits in individuals and their susceptibility to conspiracy beliefs. A 2x2 within-subject design was used to research 179 participants who were exposed to a refutation of a conspiracy theory by either experts or non-experts, using either warm communication or communication without warmth. Results show that expertise significantly influences the effectiveness of debunking conspiracy theories. In contrast to our expectations, warmth does not influence this effectiveness. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between narcissistic traits and general belief in conspiracy theories. These results emphasize the importance of expertise, communication style and personality traits in counteracting the spread of misinformation. Future research could explore the impact of different types of expertise and develop strategies to reduce susceptibility to conspiracy theories among individuals with high levels of narcissistic traits.Show less
Empathizing involves the understanding and responding to an individuals’ emotions, while systemizing refers to the understanding and the ability to predict systems. The topics of empathizing and...Show moreEmpathizing involves the understanding and responding to an individuals’ emotions, while systemizing refers to the understanding and the ability to predict systems. The topics of empathizing and systemizing have been studied in children and adults. However, as far as we are aware, no research has investigated these constructs in adolescence, whereas there is a lot of development that takes place during this period. Earlier studies found gender differences in systemizing and empathizing, with males scoring significantly higher on systemizing, while females scored significantly higher on empathizing. This study examined the current gap in research, by examining the relationship between empathizing and systemizing in adolescence and possible gender differences. We did this by estimating network models with partial correlations (Gaussian graphical model) and calculating bridge centrality which identified nodes. These nodes acted as important bridges between one or more communities (e.g., the relationship between understanding of empathizing and motoric systemizing), for both male and female participants. We utilized data from the empathizing and systemizing questionnaire in 6,644 adolescents (2574 males and 4070 females, aged 13-24 years old), which we obtained from the Open-Source Psychometrics Project. We found gender differences in the relationships between empathizing and systemizing nodes in the male and female networks. For instance, in the female network, a correlation was found between the subconstructs feeling of empathizing and natural systems, while in the male network no correlation was found between the two. Moreover, understanding of others’ feelings showed to be highly correlated with all subconstructs of systemizing in all three networks but was not correlated with other subconstructs of empathizing. This study provided a foundation for further exploration of how the constructs of empathizing and systemizing are related and could be used to help guide the design of gender-specific interventions aimed at enhancing both empathizing and systemizing skills in adolescence.Show less
This study examined the relationship between internalizing problem behavior and parental skills in children with sex chromosome trisomy (SCT). Focusing on children aged 1 to 7 years, it compared...Show moreThis study examined the relationship between internalizing problem behavior and parental skills in children with sex chromosome trisomy (SCT). Focusing on children aged 1 to 7 years, it compared them with typically developing peers. The hypothesis that children with SCT exhibit more internalizing problem behavior was confirmed; they scored significantly higher on anxious and withdrawn behavior. No significant difference was found in parental skills between parents of children with SCT and those of the control group, suggesting interventions for internalizing problem behavior may be universally applicable. Results indicate that only parental positive affect was significantly associated with internalizing problem behavior in children with SCT. This finding suggests that parents of children who exhibit a relatively high degree of internalizing problem behavior, may display more positive affect as an adaptive response to their children’s needs. No other parental skills were found to significantly contribute to the explanation of internalizing behavior. Factors other than parental skills, such as biological, psychological or environmental factors, may have a greater impact on the development of internalizing behavior in children with SCT. The study is limited by its cross-sectional nature and the selectivity of the sample, which may affect the generalizability of the results. Nevertheless, this research provides insight into the parenting skills of parents of children with SCT and offers an initial examination of the relationship between these skills and internalizing behavior in children with SCT. Additionally, it contributes to a better understanding of SCT in young children and underscores the importance of early identification and appropriate interventions to prevent more severe internalizing problems later in life.Show less
Numerous lifestyle, cardiovascular, and psychosocial factors have been implicated in the development of cognitive decline and dementia. Using a person-centered approach, this study explored...Show moreNumerous lifestyle, cardiovascular, and psychosocial factors have been implicated in the development of cognitive decline and dementia. Using a person-centered approach, this study explored clustering of modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia and investigated how these clusters are associated with declines in cognition and with dementia risk. Here, cognitive decline was operationalized as declining information processing speed. The sample consisted of 3787 older adults (age 55-85) enrolled in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Latent class analysis was performed over a subset of 14 lifestyle, cardiovascular, and psychosocial risk factors to identify latent subgroups. Latent growth curve modelling associated membership in identified subgroups with trajectories of processing speed. Logistic regression associated group membership with incidence of probable dementia (n=2611). A four-class solution was deemed to optimally represent the sample. Next to a large group with no specific salient features (n=845, 75.1%), other groups reflected pronounced depressive symptoms (n=324, 8.6%), cardiometabolic risk (n=410, 10.8%), and high physical activity (n=208, 5.5%), respectively. Latent growth curve modeling suggested that declines in processing speed accelerated with age, but latent class membership did not seem to affect these declines. Compared to the normative group, the depressed group had lower initial levels of processing speed (β_intercept=-2.38; 95% CI=[-3.38, -1.37]; p<.001), but further trajectory differences between latent classes were not statistically significant at α=5%. No significant differences in odds of probable dementia between the normative and other groups were found. Thus, this study did not find evidence of an effect of membership in identified latent classes on the strength or rate of cognitive decline, nor dementia. To draw implications for clinical and political decision-making, future research could test the robustness of findings by replicating analyses in similar cohorts, examine the utility of other grouping structures, consider inclusion of alternative risk factors, and investigate auxiliary outcome measures of cognitive decline and dementia.Show less
