Profiles of Early Family Risk and the Socioemotional Functioning of Infants and Toddlers

Research consistently indicates that exposure to a range of early family risk factors is associated with compromised social and emotional functioning in early childhood, but less is known about configurations of multiple risk factors within families. The present study investigated a range of risk factors representing family structure (marital status, child\u27s father in the home), sociodemographic context (maternal age, household income, maternal education, and insurance status), and maternal psychosocial functioning (maternal postnatal depression and prenatal physical and psychological relationship conflict) from a person-centered approach in a diverse, urban sample of 819 mothers. Latent variable mixture modeling was used to identify subgroups of families with similar profiles across the risk factors, a seven class solution emerged as statistically and conceptually supported. In addition to larger SESOnly Risk (30%) and Low Risk (31%) classes, a Cohabitating Middle Income (13%) class emerged, as well as a class of Single Mothers (6%), a class characterized by low SESand physical conflict (Low SES-Physical Conflict; 11%), and a low SESclass characterized by very elevated postnatal depression (Low SES-Depressed; 4%). When socioemotional functioning at 12 and 24 months was compared between classes, results indicated that the Low SES-Depressed class was at high risk for elevated ratings across domains and time points, and the Low SES-Physical Conflict, SESOnly, and Cohabitating Middle classes were also at more moderate increased risk with differential links to different BITSEAdomains. For example, the SES Only class was at elevated risk across domains at 12 months, and particular risk for Internalizing difficulties at 24 months, whereas the Low SES-Physical Conflict class was at significant risk for Externalizing difficulties at 24 months. The Cohabitating Middle class was at increased risk for Internalizing difficulties at 12 months only. These results are discussed in the context of early family development with a discussion of clinical and prevention-based implications

Architecture as an Allusion: The Work of Herman Hiller

It isn’t really clear who happened to start the game off. And it really makes no difference since, in the last analysis, you always need several people to play a game. What is more important is what is being played

Patterns of Change in Children’s Loneliness: Trajectories from Third Through Fifth Grades

Latent growth-mixture modeling was used to investigate patterns of change in loneliness for 170 children from third through fifth grades. A three-class model representing unique trajectories of loneliness provided the best overall fit to the data, including a Stable Low group (65%), as well as groups of Increasers (23%) and Decreasers (12%). Groups were then compared on aspects of peer functioning, including peer optimism, classroom sociometric ratings, and peer behavior nominations that were also collected in third, fourth, and fifth grades. The Stable Low group was characterized by positive peer functioning (elevated peer optimism, below-average victimization and passive social withdrawal nominations, and above-average mutual friendships). The Increasers had elevated passive social withdrawal and later victimization nominations, and possibly represent a subgroup of children at risk for developing later internalizing symptomatology. The Decreasers had a less clear pattern of peer functioning in third grade but were indistinguishable from the Stable Low group by fourth and fifth grades. Findings are discussed in the context of the development of loneliness in middle childhood

A Typology of Middle School Girls: Audience Segmentation Related to Physical Activity

The Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG) combines social ecological and social marketing approaches to promote girls’ participation in physical activity programs implemented at 18 middle schools throughout the United States. Key to the TAAG approach is targeting materials to a variety of audience segments. TAAG segments are individuals who share one or more common characteristic that is expected to correlate with physical activity. Thirteen focus groups with seventh and eighth grade girls were conducted to identify and characterize segments. Potential messages and channels of communication were discussed for each segment. Based on participant responses, six primary segments were identified: athletic, preppy, quiet, rebel, smart, and tough. The focus group information was used to develop targeted promotional tools to appeal to a diversity of girls. Using audience segmentation for targeting persuasive communication is potentially useful for intervention programs but may be sensitive; therefore, ethical issues must be critically examined

Evaluating Treatments and Interventions: What Constitutes “Evidence-based” Treatment?

This chapter provides an overview of the evidence-based treatment (EBT) paradigm, beginning with definitional issues, followed by a discussion on use of the iterative process and the importance of strong academic–practice partnerships to inform the development, selection, and implementation of EBTs. The discussion then turns to the importance of attaining, measuring, and sustaining fidelity to the treatment models; and identifying common barriers to sustained EBT use. Drawing from our expertise related to interventions for children and adolescents, a few dissemination/implementation models are highlighted as examples of current efforts to achieve sustained use of EBTs among practitioners, within agencies, and across communities. This involves keeping up to date with the research and integrating the available evidence base with clinical expertise and patient characteristics, including cultural considerations and client preferences for treatment. The chapter concludes with directions for the future, including considerations for practitioners, referring agents, and agency senior leaders to promote, support, and sustain EBTs

Adolescent Reactions to Maternal Responsiveness and Internalizing Symptomatology: A Daily Diary Investigation

A daily diary methodology was employed to gather teens’ perceptions of maternal responsiveness to daily stressful events and teens’ reactions to maternal responsiveness in a diverse sample (792 entries from 104 teens; 81% African American, mean age 13.7 years). Additionally, parents and teens completed baseline reports of internalizing symptoms. Diary findings were congruent with prior studies employing self-report measures of global maternal responses to emotion (e.g., higher probability of Accepting reactions to supportive responses, higher probabilities of Attack, Avoid-Withdraw reactions to non-supportive responses). Elevated baseline internalizing symptoms were related to perception of elevated Punish and Magnify responses during the week, and more Avoidant (Avoid-Withdraw and Avoid-Protect) reactions to responsiveness. Results are discussed in the context of reciprocal emotion socialization processes

Oral dosing for antenatal corticosteroids in the Rhesus macaque.

Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) are standard of care for women at risk of preterm delivery, although choice of drug, dose or route have not been systematically evaluated. Further, ACS are infrequently used in low resource environments where most of the mortality from prematurity occurs. We report proof of principle experiments to test betamethasone-phosphate (Beta-P) or dexamethasone-phosphate (Dex-P) given orally in comparison to the clinical treatment with the intramuscular combination drug beta-phosphate plus beta-acetate in a Rhesus Macaque model. First, we performed pharmacokinetic studies in non-pregnant monkeys to compare blood levels of the steroids using oral dosing with Beta-P, Dex-P and an effective maternal intramuscular dose of the beta-acetate component of the clinical treatment. We then evaluated maternal and fetal blood steroid levels with limited fetal sampling under ultrasound guidance in pregnant macaques. We found that oral Beta is more slowly cleared from plasma than oral Dex. The blood levels of both drugs were lower in maternal plasma of pregnant than in non-pregnant macaques. Using the pharmacokinetic data, we treated groups of 6-8 pregnant monkeys with oral Beta-P, oral Dex-P, or the maternal intramuscular clinical treatment and saline controls and measured pressure-volume curves to assess corticosteroid effects on lung maturation at 5d. Oral Beta-P improved the pressure-volume curves similarly to the clinical treatment. Oral Dex-P gave more variable and nonsignificant responses. We then compared gene expression in the fetal lung, liver and hippocampus between oral Beta-P and the clinical treatment by RNA-sequencing. The transcriptomes were largely similar with small gene expression differences in the lung and liver, and no differences in the hippocampus between the groups. As proof of principle, ACS therapy can be effective using inexpensive and widely available oral drugs. Clinical dosing strategies must carefully consider the pharmacokinetics of oral Beta-P or Dex-P to minimize fetal exposure while achieving the desired treatment responses

The Grizzly, September 3, 2010

Students Enjoy Summer Vacation Abroad • Campus Activities Board Brings Fresh Ideas for Fall \u2710 • A Freshman\u27s Take on the First-Year Orientation Experience • Ursinus Enrollment Finally Under Control, Freshmen Move in with Ease • Greek Life Rushes into Fall Season with New Regulations • Speed Dating with New UC Professors • Summer Fellows: Taking Undergrad Research One Step Further • Ursinus College Alphabet • Opinions: Allow Citizens to Build Mosque in New York City; Build the Ground Zero Mosque Somewhere Else • Book Review: A Student\u27s Brief Take on Oscar Wao • McNamara Enjoys Unique Wrestling Trip to Siberia, Russia • Ursinus Trio Teams up for New Jersey Triathlonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1815/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, February 18, 2010

Every Ending Starts with a Beginning • Record-Breaking Blizzard Evokes Varied Reactions • Could Watching the Super Bowl Damage Your Heart? • Snow Storm Photos • Senior Class Gift Drive • SPINTfest \u2710 Brings New Themes for Houses • UC Goes Red to Raise Awareness About the Risks of Heart Disease • Opinion: Teenage Pregnancy TV Shows are a Big Hit, But What\u27s the Effect? • Tragedy Strikes in Early Hours of Winter Olympics • Men\u27s Basketball Shuts Down McDanielhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1806/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, April 14, 2011

Ursinus Enjoys Sixth Annual CoSA Event • Students Participate in 30 Hour Famine • Haverford Professor Guest Lectures on Physics Theory • Dr. Ruth Rosenberg Speaks on Holocaust Remembrance • Ursinus Welcomes Patti Smith • Tips on Surviving and Salvaging Bad Internships • Hypnotist Brings Laughs • How to Avoid Allergy Season • Linking Up with LinkedIn • Internship Spotlight: Lindsay Budnick • Opinions: Response to Article Segregation in the 21st Century ; Verizon\u27s DroidX-R2D2 has Cool Features But is Not for Me; President Obama Sends CIA Agents to Libya • How Far Ursinus Goes to Keep Students Safe on Main Street • New Coach and New Outlook Lead UC Softball • Gymnasts Named All-Americans at Championshipshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1834/thumbnail.jp