Implicit and explicit self-esteem as predictors of reactive and proactive aggression in adolescent boys and girls

This study aims at examining gender differences and their association with implicit and explicit self-esteem (SE), and reactive and proactive aggression in adolescents. Hundred and eighteen adolescents (60 boys and 58 girls) performed the Implicit Association Test assessing implicit SE. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale was used to measure explicit SE. Reactive and proactive aggression were assessed with the self-report Reactive and Proactive Aggression Scale. Results showed that girls characterized by both low explicit and implicit SE (insecure SE), or by high explicit but low implicit SE (defensive SE), showed more reactive aggression than girls reporting high explicit and implicit SE (secure SE) or low explicit but high implicit SE (anxious SE). In contrast, none of these SE types were associated to reactive aggression in boys. Finally, no significant association was found between the different types of SE and proactive aggression, for both genders

French version of reactive-proactive aggression questionnaire ::psychometrics properties in adolescents

This study examined the psychometric properties of the French version of the reactive-proactive aggression questionnaire (RPQ). A total of 124 adolescents from the general population and 134 institutionalised adolescents completed the French version of the RPQ, along with other measures of externalising behaviours (aggression and delinquency), psychopathic traits and impulsivity. A confirmatory factor analysis supports the two-factor structure, namely proactive and reactive. Good internal consistency in both samples was observed. The construct validity was adequate with correlations between (1) both forms of aggression and externalising behaviours, (2) reactive aggression and impulsivity, and (3) proactive aggression and psychopathic traits. Moreover, the institutionalised group reported higher proactive and reactive aggression compared with the community one whereas boys reported higher proactive aggression than girls. The French version of the RPQ had adequate psychometric properties indicating its validity and utility

Cognitive and Emotional Deficits Associated with Minor and Serious Delinquency in High-Risk Adolescents

This study aims at evaluating how minor and serious delinquency relates to cognitive and emotional functioning in high-risk adolescents, taking problematic substance use into account. In 80 high-risk adolescent males (13-19 years), the frequency of minor and serious offences committed over the last year was predicted, in multiple regression analyses, from problematic substance use, intellectual efficiency, trait impulsivity, alexithymia (inability to express feelings in words), and cognitive coping strategies. Both minor and serious delinquency were more frequent in adolescents with more problematic substance use and higher intellectual efficacy. Minor delinquency was further related to a tendency to act out when experiencing negative emotions, and difficulties in focusing energy on instrumental action when under stress; while serious delinquency was predominantly and strongly related to rigid and dichotomous thinking. The results underline the heterogeneous nature of delinquency, minor offences being primarily associated with emotional regulation deficits, while major offences are related with a lack of cognitive flexibility

Contribution of Implicit/Explicit Self-Esteem and Gender in Psychopathic Traits at Adolescence

The present study aimed to investigate gender-specific combinations of implicit and explicit self-esteem, helping to understand psychopathic traits (lifestyle, affective, and interpersonal) in adolescents at risk of delinquency. Two hundred thirty-one adolescent boys and girls (from public schools and child welfare and juvenile justice institutions) completed questionnaires measuring explicit self-esteem and psychopathic traits, as well as a computerized Implicit Association Test (IAT) assessing implicit self-esteem. Boys at risk of delinquent behaviors with anxious self-esteem (high implicit/low explicit) as well as at-risk girls with defensive self-esteem (low implicit/high explicit) displayed the highest scores in interpersonal and lifestyle traits. No relationship was found between gender-specific combinations of self-esteem and affective traits. Two gender-specific profiles were identified among the group at risk of delinquent behaviors: Girls with a defensive self-esteem (low implicit/high explicit) and boys with an anxious (or damaged) self-esteem (high implicit/low explicit) presented more interpersonal and lifestyle traits than other groups

Psychometric properties of the french translation of the constructive thinking inventory in a sample of adolescents and young adults

The Constructive Thinking Inventory (CTI) measures cognitive coping strategies used in everyday problem solving. The main objective of this study was to assess the factorial structure, the internal consistency, the correspondence with the American normative values, and the discriminant validity of the French translation. A community sample of 777 students aged 12 to 26 years, recruited from schools, colleges and universities, answered the 108item selfreport CTI questionnaire during a class period. A sample of 60 male adolescent offenders aged 13 to 18 years, recruited from two institutions for juvenile offenders, answered the CTI during an individual interview. Results show that the French translation of the CTI follows an identical factorial structure as the Epstein's American version in both adolescents and young adults, and that its internal consistency is satisfactory. Differences in Constructive Thinking profiles according to gender and age and between Swiss and American samples, are discussed. Juvenile offenders differed from community youths on most of the scales, speaking for a good discriminant validity of the CTI. In conclusion, the French translation of the CTI appears to preserve the original version's psychometric properties. The present study provides normative values from a community sample of Swiss adolescents and young adults

Constructive Thinking Skills and Impulsivity Dimensions in Conduct and Substance Use Disorders: Differences and Relationships in an Adolescents' Sample

Impact of conduct disorder (CD) and substance use disorder (SUD) on constructive thinking skills and impulsivity was explored. 71 offending adolescents were assessed for CD and SUD. Furthermore, the constructive thinking inventory, the immediate and delayed memory tasks and the UPPS impulsive behaviour scale were administered. Results showed that youths with CD, independently from SUD, presented higher personality impulsivity (urgency) and altered constructive thinking skills (categorical thinking and personal superstitious thinking). Furthermore, trait-impulsivity explained variation in constructive thinking skills. The implications of these results were discussed

Évaluation de la Pensée Constructive chez les adolescents délinquants: une approche pour comprendre les réponses inadaptées au stress

Objective: This pilot study aims at assessing Constructive Thinking in a sample of adolescent offenders and in a normative sample of adolescents. Method: 66 adolescent offenders (12-18 years) were compared to 540 control adolescents on the different subscales of the "Constructive Thinking Inventory". Results and Conclusion: Adolescent offenders show a less efficient Constructive Thinking: they show cognitive styles that may hamper their ability to take appropriate decisions when facing stressful situations, increasing self-defeating behaviors. Interventions may focus on improving adequate coping with stress