Department of Psychology / Psykologiska institutionen

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ADHD in Old Age: Self-rated Symptoms and Clinical Information from a Population-Based Swedish Sample Aged 65 and Older
(2013-08-21) Guldberg-Kjär, Taina
DOCTORAL DISSERTATION IN PSYCHOLOGY ABSTRACT Guldberg-Kjär, Taina (2013). ADHD in old age - Self-rated symptoms and Clinical information from a Population-Based Swedish Sample Aged 65 and older. Department of Psychology. University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Our knowledge of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has increased in recent years. However, given sparse information about its course and manifestations in later life the overall aim of the thesis was to explore the frequency with which elderly individuals report childhood and current symptoms that may indicate a history of ADHD. The more specific aims were: 1) to investigate whether gender, age, marital status, number of employments, educational level, perceived problems in childhood, self-reported health and memory were significantly associated with childhood and current ADHD symptoms, 2) to compare scales capturing ADHD symptoms for older individuals’ self-reports about childhood and current ADHD symptomatology and relating these results to the DSM-IV ADHD criteria, and 3) to analyse daily functioning, past psychiatric history, family psychiatric history and overall health history in older individuals meeting criteria for late life ADHD and to illustrate typical life courses through case reports. Study I The 25-item Wender Utah Rating Scale was administered in a population-based sample of 2500 persons aged 65 to 80 to study the prevalence of self-rated childhood ADHD. Demographics, self-ratings of problems in childhood, current health and memory were also investigated. A total of 1599 individuals participated corresponding to a response rate of 64%. The prevalence rate was 3,3% using a cut off score of 36 or more in the WURS-scale. Men rated significantly more ADHD symptoms. Those reporting more childhood ADHD symptoms also claimed general problems in childhood as well as worse current health. In Study II we examined the persistence of ADHD symptomatology across the lifespan by comparing older individuals’ self-reports about current ADHD symptoms and childhood symptoms. Based on the WURS scores (below and above 36) in Study I, two sub-samples were randomly drawn, each with 30 individuals who were clinically worked-up using the Wender Riktad ADHD Symtom Skala (WRASS). Our finding suggests a persistence of self-reported ADHD symptoms over the entire lifespan. In Study III we compared different scales capturing ADHD symptoms for self-reports about childhood and current ADHD symptomatology. We also related these reports to the DSM-IV ADHD criteria using the WRASS and Barkley Scales. The results support the idea of life long persistence of ADHD symptoms. In Study IV we explored problems in daily functioning, past psychiatric history, family psychiatric history, and overall health history in elderly individuals reporting childhood ADHD symptomatology. The Barkley Scales and a clinical interview were used. Three individuals were selected for in depthinterviews about their lifetime experiences and functioning. Our main finding was that of significantly more childhood and current problems in daily functioning in most domains of daily life, and more of past psychiatric history among those reporting more childhood ADHD symptoms. Conclusions: Our findings support the idea that ADHD symptoms may remain across the lifespan although this claim only can be fully confirmed by a longitudinal study design. Future research is therefore needed to identify factors that can alleviate the life span burden of ADHD. Keywords: ADHD, population-based, prevalence, persistency, old people, lifespan, scales ISSN 1101-718X, ISBN 978-91-628-8736-0, ISRN GU/PSYK/AVH--284—SE Taina Guldberg-Kjär, Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, BOX 500, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Phone: +46443092075. E-mail: taina.guldberg@psy.gu.se
Adolescents in a Digital Everyday Environment
(2014-09-11) Hallberg, Jonas
The overall aim of this thesis is to examine different aspects of Swedish adolescents’ everyday environment in a digital world. Drawing on ecological and psychosocial developmental theories I will discuss social, sexual, and biological aspects of the Internet as an everyday environment, an environment in which most adolescents spend a great deal of time. The thesis comprises four studies, all examining different aspects of the developmental stage of adolescence. Study I focused primarily on the extent to which adolescents encounter explicit online content, such as pornographic, violent, and/or hateful material, and how they react to it. What feelings are associated with explicit online content? And how do adolescents deal with those feelings? In study I we analyzed questionnaire data collected from 226 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 15 (47% girls and 53% boys). In line with other studies on the subject, the results showed that many Swedish adolescents are exposed either intentionally or unintentionally to explicit online content. Adolescents in this study showed surprisingly low emotional response to their exposure to explicit content. Their coping strategies center on personal agency, with most choosing to avoid or block unwelcome content rather than turn to parents or siblings for support and advice. Almost no significant gender differences were found in the choice of coping strategies, except that young men were more likely to avoid a site than were young women. Study II focused on the association between various parental and child factors and the parents’ attitudes toward adolescents’ online sexual activities. The study was based on questionnaire data collected from parents (78% mothers) and adolescents (54% girls) in 496 families. Results showed that parental attitudes toward adolescents’ offline and online sexual activities are closely related, although parents are more permissive in the offline setting. Parents’ attitudes toward online sexuality are not only correlated with their attitudes toward sexuality in traditional settings, but also by their preferences on the Internet. Parental attitudes were found to differ by the sex of the parent and the sex and age of the child. The link between fathers’ attitudes and adolescents’ online sexual activities was mediated by parental rules, suggesting that communication is part of the transmission of values. The focus of study III was on the link between adolescent boys’ pubertal timing and their offline and online romantic and sexual activities. The study was based on questionnaire data obtained from 142 early adolescent Swedish boys. Participants reported on stage-normative (physical) and peernormative aspects of pubertal timing, and on offline and online romantic and sexual activities. Both aspects of pubertal timing were related to romantic and sexual activity offline, but only the stage-normative measure was linked to sexual activities online. In study IV the focus was on the relationship between sexual and romantic activity in a traditional offline context and similar activities online. Longitudinal questionnaire data were obtained from 440 adolescents over three years. Results revealed that for all participants both offline and online sexual activity increased over time. We found that results for girls showed a somewhat larger effect, indicating that the link between offline and online sexual activity is largest within the female group. Results also revealed a small but significant increase in the slope for participation in offline sexual activity with online sexual activity as a predictor – but only for boys – indicating that the link between online and offline sexual activity (i.e., the other way around) only exists within the male group. Thus, as boys’ participation in sexual activity increases online, so it also does offline. The article concludes that adolescents’ romantic and sexual activities online are tied to their physical, offline equivalent and so the Internet can be regarded as an important context for sexual development. Taken together, the individual studies suggest that The Internet, as an everyday environment is linked to several aspects of the developmental phase of adolescence. Further studies should continue to explore the effect of the Internet on adolescents’ developmental tasks.
Adolescents' Happiness: The Role of the Affective Temperament Model on Memory and Apprehension of Events, Subjective Well-Being, and Psychological Well-Being
(2011-02-22) Garcia, Danilo
Positive Psychology research suggests personality as a major determinant in adults and adolescents’ happiness and well-being. Personality is probable a key element due to its relationship to individual differences in automatic emotional reactions and habits (i.e., factors concerning temperament). Personality in this framework, however, excludes characteristics of personality related to affective emotional traits. Moreover, positive attitudes toward the self (i.e., Psychological Well-Being; PWB) might help the individual to feel happy with life regardless of how her own temperament makes her feel and react to events. The aim of the present dissertation was to investigate differences among adolescents’ happiness and well-being with respect to temperamental dispositions. The predictive nature of distinctive measures of well-being is also examined. In contrast to current conceptualizations, in the present dissertation temperament is suggested as an interaction of individuals positive (PA) and negative affect (NA). The interaction of the two temperamental dispositions was predicted to facilitate the individual to approach happiness and avoid unhappiness. The Affective Temperament model by Norlander, Bood & Archer (2002; originally called Affective Personalities) was used as a backdrop in four studies. The model yields four different temperaments: self-actualizing (high PA and low NA), high affective (high PA and high NA), low affective (low PA and low NA) and self-destructive (high PA and low NA). In contrast to adolescents with a self-destructive temperament, self-actualizing, high affective and low affective were expected to report higher life satisfaction (LS), higher PWB, to apprehend more positive than negative events (i.e., positivity bias), and to remember events congruent to their temperament, thus showing different tendencies of approach and prevention. Study I examined differences in LS, memory for events and life events relationship to LS. As predicted high affectives and low affectives reported higher LS than self-destructives, despite high levels of NA respectively low levels of PA. Consequentially, only self-destructive adolescents did not show positivity bias. Moreover, life events predicted only LS for adolescents with low PA. Study II examined differences in PWB and the relationship between life events and PWB, and PWB to LS. In concordance to Study I, all temperaments reported higher PWB than the self-destructive temperament and life events predicted PWB only for adolescents with low PA. Moreover, PWB’s subscale of self-acceptance predicted LS for all temperaments. Study III aimed to investigate if temperaments’ reaction to negative words was related to memory of words presented in a short story. Consistent with the predictions, high PA adolescents’ reaction to negative words predicted the number of positive words they had in memory (i.e., promotion focus). In contrast, low affectives’ reaction predicted the number of negative words in memory (i.e., prevention focus). Self-destructive lacked the ability to self-regulate their reaction to negative words. Study IV replicated the results from Study I and II: all temperaments reported higher LS and PWB than the self-destructive temperament. As in Study I, self-acceptance was related to LS for all temperaments. In conclusion, the interaction of the two affective temperamental dispositions probably does part of the work when adolescents create a more pleasant world for themselves. Hence, although at individual level an adolescent may not be blessed with the “right temperament”: most adolescents are able and actually do achieve happy lives. Nevertheless, in regard to adolescents, the promotion of positive emotions should be in focus. It is plausible to suggest that a first step in this direction might be trough self-acceptance. Implications and limitations of the present dissertation are discussed.
Aeronautical decision-making in context: Influence of affect and experience on procedure violations
(2011-11-25) Lindvall, Johan
Although pilots are well trained and there are rules, models and standard operating procedures to use in decision-making situations, aviation accidents do occur. One reason why accidents may occur is because pilots sometimes decide to violate, or deviate from standard operating procedures. The overall aim of the present thesis was to explore possible reasons for violating behavior. In Study I and II, cognitive and affective processes were studied in experimental designs. Study I took place in a laboratory setting where non-pilots made a choice between a sure or uncertain loss. Study II took place in naturalistic settings were car drivers and commercial airline pilots made a choice between either, comply with or violate a rule. In Study I and II participants made the choice either after reading or experience a probability distribution. The conditions were either affect-rich or affect-poor in both studies. Some support was found for underweighting of small probabilities in Study I replicating Hertwig, Baron, Weber and Erev (2004). Overall, the affect rich condition in Study I produced more random choices compared to the affect poor condition. However, no effect of probability presentation format or affect was found in the naturalistic settings of Study II. Data for Study III and IV were collected in connection with Study II. In Study III, other possible reasons for violating procedures among airline pilots were added, such as organizational, social, and individual factors. The result of Study III showed differences between violators and compliers in terms of subjective risk judgment, attitudes and, reasons for violation. In addition, it was found that the majority used experience-based decision-making. In Study IV focused turned towards individual differences in decision-making style, non-technical skills, and overconfidence as possible antecedents to violations. Decision-making styles were measured with the GDMS inventory (Scott & Bruce, 1995). Non-technical skills were measured with the NOTECHS system (Flin et al., 2005). Pilots were found to have a predominantly rational decision-making style. A relation between decision-making style and procedure violation was found were violators are less rational and more spontaneous compared to compliers. The result showed that not all NOTECHS items correlated with the decision-making styles in the expected direction. Furthermore, overconfidence about own non-technical skills were related to procedure violation. The results of Studies I-IV demonstrate that underweighting of probabilities might exist in a laboratory setting and that affect cannot be ignored. However, probabilities were not automatically used when people made decisions about whether to follow a rule or not, in naturalistic settings. Instead organizational, social, and individual factors were more important. The NOTECHS system may be thought of as reflecting systematic, analytic and normatively correct decision-making. The result from Study IV show that this is not always the case and that there might be reason to further develop the NOTECHS system. In conclusion: to take safety a step further and create a resilient system it is necessary to take both an individual and systemic viewpoint, and to acknowledge that these viewpoints may interact.
Affective personality expressed in psychiatric patients
(2009) Zöller, Madeleine E.T.
After the 1995 Swedish Mental Health Care Reform - a follow-up study of a group of severely mentally ill
(Psykologiska institutionen, Göteborgs universitet, 2004) Arvidsson, Hans; Göteborg University. Department of Psychology
Aims: The overall aim of this thesis was to follow up a sample of severely mentally ill persons after the 1995 Swedish mental health care reform and to assess if the observed changes were in accord with the aims of the reform. Methods: In 1995/96, 602 persons were surveyed and identified as severely mentally ill in a defined area of Sweden. In 2000/2001, 828 persons were surveyed using the same method. The surveyed persons were interviewed and their needs were assessed on both occasions. Study I involved the 378 persons surveyed on both occasions. The results of interviews and assessments of needs from the two occasions were compared. In Study II, the results of the interviews and need assessment in 1995/96 and in 2000/2001 were compared. The subset of the group surveyed in 2000/2001 that also was surveyed in 1995/96 (n=378) was compared to the group that was “new” in 2000/2001 (n=450). In study III the persons surveyed in 1995/96 but not in 2000/2001 (n=224) were investigated with respect to recovery. A small sample also participated in an interview particularly focusing on recovery. Study IV was a case register study, assessing the quantity of psychiatric care delivered during the period 1994-2003. Results: In general, the results were in accord with the aims of the reform. The number of met needs had increased and the number of unmet needs had decreased. Furthermore, efforts by psychiatric care and social services had increased for the target group of the reform. The objectives of the reform thus seemed to have been effectuated. There seemed to have been a change in the interpretation and application of the concept severely mentally ill between 1995/96 and 2000/2001. It appeared that the threshold for applying the concept had been lowered on the second survey. Only 14 % were considered to have recovered from being severely mentally ill between the two surveys. Conclusions: The findings were in accord with the aims of the reform. Why then is the reform commonly considered a failure in the public debate? The main argument for dubbing the reform a failure may be the fact that the severely mentally ill as a goup are still very underprivileged and that they are clearly not afforded opportunities equal to those enjoyed by society at large.
Age Differences in Experience and Regulation of Affect
(2014-04-24) Bjälkebring, Pär
The overall aim of the thesis is to investigate differences in how younger and older adults view and control affect. Study I and Study II investigate how participants view their happiness and what factors influence their perception of happiness. In Study I we found weak negative association between age and happiness. In addition, we found a negative association between age and both positive and negative affect. Younger adults anticipated higher levels of happiness in older age compared to their current happiness, while older adults rated their past happiness as higher than their current happiness. The results indicate that people are likely to believe that happiness changes over the lifespan. In Study II an experiment was conducted to elaborate on the finding that younger adults have a more positive view of the future compared with older adults. The analyses show that a difference in wording influenced ratings of happiness differently for older and younger adults. The results suggest that older adults prefer low arousal happiness to high, which is preferred in younger ages. In Study III we investigated the occurrence of regret, as well as regret regulation in the context of everyday life decision-making. Using a web-based diary method, daily life decisions were sampled over eight days. Younger adults reported more experienced and anticipated regret than older adults. Although regret regulation strategies were used by all age groups, older adults more often used strategies to reduce the intensity of experienced as well as anticipated regret. The results suggest that lower levels of regret in older adults, can be accounted for, at least in part, by regret prevention and other regulation strategies. In Study IV we investigated the influence of charitable giving in two experiments. We found support for an age-related positivity bias in monetary donations. This is true for the motivation to make a future donation, as well as affective thinking about a previous donation. We concluded that older adults draw more positive affect from both the planning and outcome of monetary donations and hence benefit more from engaging in monetary charity than their younger counterparts. Together, these studies show that there are systematic differences in how younger and older adults perceive and regulate affect due to various uses of motivation and active emotion regulation strategies. Older adults seem to compensate for an age related decline in deliberate processes, which makes it possible to maintain well-being at old age.
Alcohol-intoxicated eyewitnesses´ memory
(2014-05-12) Hagsand, Angelica
Eyewitnesses are an important source of information in many criminal investigations. However, the memory of an eyewitness is not always accurate, and errors may occur that have serious consequences. Alcohol-related crimes are common and therefore, intoxicated witnesses are common. However, only a handful of published studies have described how alcohol affects eyewitnesses’ memory. The overall aim of the research described in this thesis was to examine how alcohol affects eyewitnesses’ memory. The thesis comprises three studies, which followed similar general procedures. The participants in the studies consumed an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage during a 15-minute period and then witnessed a film that depicting a staged kidnapping. The retention interval and recall format varied between the studies. The aim of Study I was to examine the influence of alcohol on eyewitnesses’ performances in a line-up setting. The participants (N = 123) were randomly assigned to a 3 (Beverage: control [0.0 g/kg] versus lower alcohol dosage [0.4 g/kg] group versus higher alcohol dosage [0.7 g/kg] group) × 2 (Line-up: target-present versus target-absent) between-subject design. One week after alcohol intoxication and the critical event, the participants were exposed to the line-up. The results showed no significant difference between the groups in terms of performance in the line-up, under either the target-present or the target-absent condition. In general, the participants performed better than chance at identifying the culprit. However, all witnesses performed quite poorly. Study II (N = 126) examined the effects of alcohol (Beverage: control [0.0 g/kg] versus lower alcohol dosage [0.4 g/kg] group versus higher alcohol dosage [0.7 g/kg] group) on the amount of information reported (completeness) and accuracy rate. There was no difference in the completeness between the control group and the higher alcohol dosage group or between the control group and the lower alcohol dosage group. When comparing the two alcohol groups, participants in the higher alcohol dosage group remembered fewer details than those in the lower alcohol dosage group. No differences were found between the beverage groups in recall accuracy. The aim of Study III (N = 99) was to elucidate the best time to interview intoxicated witnesses. Participants were randomly assigned to a 2 (Beverage: control [0.0 g/kg] versus alcohol dosage [0.7 g/kg] group) × 2 (Recall: repeatedly, i.e., immediate plus delayed interviews versus single, i.e., delayed interview only) mixed design. Overall, alcohol-intoxicated eyewitnesses produced less accurate testimonies than the sober witnesses. Although the difference was significant, the intoxicated witnesses were only slightly less accurate in their recollections. Both the sober and the intoxicated witnesses recalled details with a relatively high accuracy. There was no difference with regards to the amount of information reported between the intoxicated and the sober witnesses. An immediate interview was more beneficial than a delayed interview. However, the best recall was by witnesses who were interviewed twice, and this was true for both the sober and the intoxicated witnesses. New details provided at the second interview, by either group, were often correct. In summary, this thesis shows that alcohol consumption does not have a negative effect on either witness’s line-up performance (recognition) or on the amount of information reported during investigative interviews (recall). However, the accuracy of their recall was slightly impaired by consumption of alcohol (Study III). This thesis shows that representatives of the legal system may expect that witnesses with low to moderate intoxication (blood alcohol concentration <0.10%) will perform at approximately the same level as sober witnesses. It is however reasonable to assume that more profound memory impairments can be expected for witnesses with higher intoxication levels.
Alcohol-intoxicated witnesses to intimate partner violence: Memory performance and perception of aggression and guilt
(2016-02-25) Hildebrand Karlén, Malin
All Ears: Adults' and Children's Earwitness Testimony
(2013-02-07) Öhman, Lisa
Many crimes are committed under conditions of darkness, by masked perpetrators or over a phone. In such cases the witnesses’ auditory observations may have a vital role in the investigative phase and in court. Nevertheless, earwitness testimony is a neglected research area. The present thesis investigated earwitnesses’ (i) identification performance for an unfamiliar voice, (ii) memory for the perpetrator’s statement, and (iii) ability to describe the voice. All four studies used the same general setup; exposure to an unfamiliar voice for 40 seconds, and an interview including a seven-voice lineup after a two week delay. High ecological validity was a specific aim across all studies. Study I explored the performance of children aged 7–9 (N = 95), 11–13 (N = 78), and adults (N = 91). Half were exposed to a Target-Present lineup (TP), and half to a Target-Absent lineup (TA). For both types of lineups the participants performed poorly. In the TP condition only the 11–13-year olds (27 % correct) performed above chance level. Furthermore, in the TA condition, all age-groups showed a high willingness to make an identification. Study II investigated the influence of presentation format (direct vs. mobile phone recorded voices) on voice recognition accuracy. The participating adults (N = 165) were assigned randomly to one of the four conditions (Initial exposure: direct vs. mobile phone recorded voice; Lineup presentation: direct vs. mobile phone recorded voices). The overall accuracy for correct identification was 13%, which is expected by chance. Further, the results did not reveal any significant effect of presentation format or lineup format. Study III compared three types of interviews intended to enhance witnesses’ voice memory, as well as content recall. Additionally, an interview protocol developed by the Swedish Security Service, for questioning people that have only heard the perpetrator, was evaluated. After exposure, 11–13-year-olds (N = 119) and adults (N = 93) were interviewed, and returned after two weeks for an additional interview and a lineup. Overall performance for correct identifications was poor (children: 20%, adults: 19%), and an interview shortly after the witnessed event did not seem to help. The Cognitive Interview (vs. the Swedish Security Service protocol) was found to be beneficial for recalling the content of a brief conversation. Study IV investigated the effect of the perpetrator’s tone of voice and time delay on voice recognition accuracy. Further, two types of voice description interviews intended to strengthen the encoding of the voice, were tested. Adults (N = 148) and 11–13-year-olds (N = 160) either heard the perpetrator speak in a normal tone both at encoding and in the lineup, or in an angry tone at encoding and in a normal tone in the lineup. Witnesses were then interviewed about the voice, either with global questions, or by rating voice characteristics. Half of the witnesses were presented with a lineup shortly after the interview and the others after two weeks. Overall, neither age-group performed above chance level (children: 13%, adults: 10%) and only time delay affected accuracy significantly. Children tested immediately performed better (21% correct) compared to those children tested after two weeks (9% correct). Further, voice descriptions were found to be poor. In sum, after testing a total of 949 witnesses under a number of different conditions, the message is clear; voice identification under reasonably realistic conditions is a highly difficult task. Actors in the legal system should therefore treat voice identification evidence with caution. For earwitnesses to be really useful we must find ways of improving their performance for voice identification, content recall, and voice descriptions.
An Inquiry into Satisfaction and Variations in User-Oriented Elderly Care
(2015-11-13) Kajonius, Petri
The foundation for this thesis is an ongoing discussion about quality in Swedish elderly care: Which are the most important factors that contribute to elderly care in terms of satisfaction among older persons, and what are the primary reasons for their differences? Aims. The principal aim was to examine what determines satisfaction with elderly care in home care and nursing homes, using the perspective of older persons (Studies I and II). The secondary aim was to analyze why these determinants differ, using the perspective of care workers, managers, and observers (Studies III and IV). Methods. Study I analyzed aggregated statistical data from the level of municipalities and districts (N = 324) based on the Swedish elderly care quality reports “Open Comparisons”, while Study II analyzed individual data based on the original ratings in the annual, nationwide elderly surveys (N = 95,000). Study III describes field observations and interviews with care workers and managers in two municipalities, one with a high rating for user satisfaction and one with an average rating. Study IV describes investigations in these two municipalities concerning their organizing principles and departmental level management climate. Results. The results relating to the principal aim showed that process factors (such as respect, information, and influence) are related considerably more closely than structural factors (such as budget, staffing levels, and training levels) to satisfaction with care. Other process factors (such as treatment, safeness, staff and time availability) were also able to alleviate person factors (such as health, anxiety, and loneliness). Moreover, the results relating to the secondary aim showed that differences in user-oriented elderly care are mainly due to interpersonal factors between the caregiver and the older person. Care workers, however, reported that other factors (such as organizing principles and leadership support) influence the quality of the care process. Overall, older persons who receive home care generally report higher satisfaction with care than those in nursing homes, and feeling less safe. It is possible that differences in the process of aging explain this. Value. This thesis shows that satisfaction with elderly care can be largely explained by psychological quality at the individual level. The sizes of structural resources and organizing principles at the municipal level have minimal effect (< 5%). The thesis also presents a theoretical multiple-level Quality Agents Model to explain the sources of differences in satisfaction with care, and it presents recommendations for elderly care practices. A renewed focus on the psychology of satisfaction may contribute to the development of quality in elderly care.
Asperger Syndrome: Social functioning in relation to behavioural and cognitive traits from infancy to young adulthood
(2011-05-26) Dewrang, Petra
Abstract Dewrang, P. (2011). Asperger syndrome: Social functioning in relation to behavioural and cognitive traits from infancy to young adulthood. Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Asperger syndrome (AS) is a disorder within the autism spectrum and it is a lifelong disability that affects life in an amount of aspects. It is primarily characterized by impairment in social interaction, restricted patterns of interests and behaviour, speech and language peculiarities, and non-verbal communication problems. In this thesis the overall aim was to explore aspects of behavioural and cognitive qualities in a group of 14-24 year old individuals. A more specific aim was to retrospectively find, with help from the parents, if there had been early markers related to the diagnosis. Another was to analyse how the young persons perceive themselves, and a third and fourth, to explore the quality and intensity of repetitive behaviour and obsessive-compulsive features and investigate what impact deficits in attention may have on AS. The final aim was to investigate cognitive traits and understanding of social interaction. Tests, interviews, self- and parental evaluations were used. The results showed that there were significant differences in infancy between the AS group and a comparison group in all measured fields. “Food/feeding and sleep” and “Contact and social activity” were found to be the fields that caused most parental concern. The AS group had showed significant difficulties with repetitive and obsessive-compulsive features during the preschool and school years as reported by the young persons and their parents. This could be noticed in social settings of different kinds but also at home. No signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder or anxiety could be found. The young persons with AS revealed a qualitative different style when describing and discussing themselves. Their statements were more straightforward and less socially adjusted than comparisons. They also revealed lower self-worth and the most problematic area was “Relations to other people”. The AS group showed significant symptoms of attention deficits and executive dysfunction but not on all tests that measured executive functions. The field “Managing frustration and modulating emotions” was considered by the young persons to be without problems but the parental evaluation showed disagreement. On the social cognition tests the AS group revealed social knowledge almost as good as the comparisons with two exceptions; white lie and empathy. In those tasks a relational aspect that seemed difficult to grasp. On the whole it was possible to find the special features of AS in infancy and the features are in many cases also present in adolescence and young adulthood. Social tasks proved to be solved successfully in a “laboratory setting” but in a real life setting other aspects like body language and “hidden” messages are present and complicate the scene. Keywords: Asperger syndrome, attention, early diagnosis, executive function, parental concern, repetitive behaviour, self-perception, social cognition ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Petra Dewrang, Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Box 500, 405 30 Gothenburg, Phone: + 46 31 786 1658, E-mail: Petra.Dewrang@psy.gu.se
Assessing and treating three to twelve-year-olds displaying disruptive behaviour problems
(2007) Axberg, Ulf
The aim of this thesis was (a) to examine a Swedish version of a measure for early identification and treatment evaluation of children with disruptive behaviour problems and (b) to explore the effectiveness, in terms of reduction of children’s disruptive behavioural problems, of interventions not specifically directed towards the children but to their caregivers and other adults in their immediate environment. The focus of this thesis has been on clinical applicability. However, their have been considerable advances in the knowledge of the origins, development and maintenance of disruptive behaviour in children. This has led to corresponding changes in treatment. In line with this, research on phenomenology, prevalence, etiology, treatment and assessment of children that display disruptive behaviour are presented as an introduction to the empirical studies. The aim of study I was to develop and examine a systemic school-based model for detection and early intervention among 4 to 12 year old children who displayed externalizing behaviour problems. The intervention was a combination of the Marte Meo model and Coordination meetings. Treatment effects in the group who had received the intervention (N= 33) were compared with a group (N=16) who had received treatment-as-usual in their ordinary school setting. Assessments were carried out before and two years after the intervention. There was a significant decrease in children’s symptoms for the intervention group, but not for the comparison group. The aim of study II was to evaluate the effectiveness of the structured parent training programme Incredible Years Series in diverse clinical settings in Sweden. Parents of 113 children aged 3 to 9 participated in the study. Pre-data were collected prior to commencement of the parent training groups and post-data immediately after the training group sessions had finished. Significant reduction was found on all symptom-related measures in parents’ ratings. A significant increase in the self-rated well-being of the parents was also found. The aim of study III was to examine the psychometric properties and obtain Swedish norms for the Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory (ECBI). Parents of 841 children aged 3 to 10 participated. The ECBI showed sound psychometric properties and seems to be a very useful measure in a Swedish context. Normative data from the Swedish sample was also presented. The aim of Study IV was to examine a three factor solution of the ECBI in a confirmatory factor analysis based on 22 items in a Swedish sample. The same sample as in study III was used. The results were consistent with the results from an American sample indicating that the 22-item version of the ECBI is a robust and useful alternative that can be used for evaluating and measuring treatment outcome. Preliminary normative data was also presented. Key words: Disruptive Behaviour Problems, Assessment, Early intervention, Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory (ECBI), School based model, Marte Meo, Parent training, Incredible Years Series
Attributes Modulating Affective Profiles in Psychiatric Patients
(2016-11-18) Zöller, Madeleine E. T.
DOCTORAL DISSERTATION Abstract Zöller, M. E. T. (2016). Attributes Modulating Affective Profiles in Psychiatric Patients. Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Psychiatrically disabled individuals (study I and II) as well as those with an additional deafness or are hard-of -hearing (study III and IV) often have the burden of a hidden affective disability. Positive (PA) and negative affects (NA) have emerged as significant independent dimensions in studies of affective structure. From these two systems four affective profiles (AP) are constructed, namely: Self-fulfilling (SF), high affective, low affective, and self-destructive (SD). The aim of Study I was to identify factors predicting PA and NA respectively. Results indicated that the patient group had strong associations between AP, energy, optimism, self-reported health and stress. PA was predicted from optimism, whereas stress was counter-predictive. NA was predicted from stress, whereas optimism, energy and pulse rate were counter-predictive. Individuals expressing SF displayed the healthiest profiles compared with those expressing SD. Study II aimed at investigating to what extent affective state and mood are predictive of stress experience, and to observe gender effects. Results disclosed that psychiatric disorders had a detrimental effect on stress, energy and optimism. Stress was predicted by NA for both genders, but counter -predicted by PA among men only. Study III aimed to clarify the level of communication problems, positive mood, and to identify predisposing and protecting factors in psychiatric health. Results revealed striking communication problems with a high rate of non-fluent sign communication (86%) within the patients’ families, and poor knowledge of the Swedish language by the patients. Self-esteem (S-E) was found to predict positive mood for patients as well as controls. Positive S-E was identified as a protective factor. Patients and the healthy controls were significantly different in stress, analgesics, and energy. Stress was positively related to sleep disturbances and analgesics. Study IV examined the perceived differences between attributes associated with positive mood, and attributes showing a negative association. Results showed that the patient group expressed less optimism, greater external locus of control, identified regulation, external regulation, amotivation, distractiveness, and motor impulsiveness, and lower levels of positive mood than the controls. Furthermore, a positive mood was predicted by optimism and motor impulsiveness, whereas amotivation and distractiveness were counterpredictive. In conclusion, the patients differed markedly from the norm group with regard to all health variables. Data indicate that NA is the most important item predicting stress and that it appears more detrimental for health than stress. Analgesics may be a predisposing factor for the Affective Deaf Syndrome, ADS. These patterns suggest that this group of patients attempt to emerge from a condition of disempowerment, but require suitable interventional therapies to succeed. Further research should focus on intervention strategies that emphasize the acquisition of personal empowerment as well as providing a high degree of benefit.
Being at home in one's body. Body image in light of identity development
(2019-05-14) Kling, Johanna
Although the importance of the body to people’s identities has long been theoretically inferred, research linking body image and identity development is scarce. The objective of this thesis was to address this research gap by exploring body image from an identity perspective. Study I aimed to examine how trajectories of body image development from early adolescence to emerging adulthood are related to young people’s sense of identity. A community sample participated from the age of 10 years (N = 967, 53% females) to the age of 24 (N = 542, 56% females). Results of Study I indicated that body image development is connected to sense of identity in emerging adulthood, such that individuals in trajectories with more negative body image displayed less identity coherence. Results also indicated that girls and women (particularly those with higher body mass index) are more likely to display disadvantageous development in terms of more negative body image and more identity problems. The aim of Study II was to explore the many ways in which people might experience their bodies as salient to their identities. Young adults (N = 121, 51% women; community sample) were interviewed, and a thematic analysis of the interviews identified four main themes: (1) identification with the body, (2) body functionality in performing identity-relevant tasks, (3) appearance and identity in social interactions, and (4) identity-relevant bodily engagement. Both positive and negative ways in which the body is salient to identity were described within all four themes, and descriptions highlighted functionality, embodied experiences, and social environments. Gender differences were generally not found, with one exception: more women than men described experiences of identifying with their bodies. Study III was performed in two parts with the aim of exploring the sociocultural context in which both body image and identity are formed. This was done by investigating young Swedish women’s perceptions of and conformity to feminine norms. In Part 1, a community sample of 317 young women participated in a cross-national comparison, showing that Swedish women generally display less gender role norm conformity than do their counterparts in Canada, the USA, and Slovakia. In Part 2, a focus group study conveyed a more nuanced picture of feminine norms, by showing that even though traditional gender roles might be less pronounced in Sweden, gender role conformity is still a pressing issue. Specifically, appearance norms were considered the most important feminine norms to conform to. In conclusion, the thesis supports theoretical notions of a connection between body image and identity. It also shows that this connection can be experienced in both positive and negative ways and that more women than men experience both negative body image and identification with their bodies, highlighting the importance of the sociocultural context. Furthermore, the thesis opens up the possibility of a new theoretical approach by including and discussing body image as part of developmental psychology in general and identity theory in particular. In this way, the thesis not only offers innovative results about the connection between body image and identity development, but is also of theoretical importance.
Bio-behavioral inquiries regarding cognitive aging and distance to death: The role of gender, APOE, grip strength and subjective memory
(2016-03-17) Praetorius Björk, Marcus
To better understand the nature of cognitive functioning later in life, it is important to gain further knowledge regarding factors that contribute to cognitive aging. Therefore, the overall aim of this thesis was to investigate cognitive change in relation to a select set of bio-behavioral markers (i.e. gender, APOE, grip strength and subjective memory) while taking time to death into account. The studies are all based on the OCTO-Twin study, a Swedish longitudinal population-based study on people aged 80 years and older, assessed every other year, at a maximum of five times. The aim of study I was to examine gender differences in levels and rates of change in cognitive performance in the oldest old in the context of time to death. The study did not show any cognitive differences between men and women, with the exception that men showed a steeper rate of decline in semantic memory. This effect was driven by those who had developed dementia and therefore declined at a faster rate than women. The aim of study II was to explicate the assumed negative association between the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 and levels and rates of cognitive change later in life. We found that there was a negative effect of the APOE ε4 allele prior to death also late in life, especially when it came to episodic memory performance. Notably, the influence of APOE on levels and rates of change was highly influenced by incident dementia. The aim of Study III was to examine potential associations regarding levels and change between cognitive performance and grip strength later in life. The results indicated consistent developmental associations across all cognitive domains in levels and rates of cognitive change and grip strength. In study IV, we investigated level and rate of change in subjective memory in relation to impending death, in addition to its associations with objective memory measurements. The results showed a subjective decline in memory in relation to impending death and that the level and within-person change in subjective memory and objective memory are related. In sum, this thesis shows that gender, APOE, grip strength and subjective memory are related to cognitive decline in relation to impending death. Keywords: levels and rates of change in cognitive performance, oldest old, time to death, APOE, gender, grip strength, subjective memory
Birth cohort differences in cognitive aging: Secular trends in cognitive functioning and decline over 30 years in three population-based Swedish samples
(2018-05-04) Karlsson, Peter
The overarching aim of this thesis was to investigate birth cohort differences in level of cognitive functioning and change in later life in three population-based representative samples drawn from the Gerontological and Geriatric Population Studies in Gothenburg (H70), Sweden. We used data from cohorts, born in 1901-02, 1906-07, and 1930, measured at ages 70, 75, and 79 on the same cognitive measures. In Study I we investigated cohort differences in the proportions of individuals showing cognitive decline, stability, or gain. Our findings revealed significant cohort differences on all outcomes (i.e. logical reasoning, spatial ability, verbal meaning, and perceptual-motor- speed). Later born cohorts consisted of larger proportions of participants showing decline and smaller proportions of participants showing gain. In Study II we investigated cohort differences in level of performance and rate of cognitive change on two measures of fluid ability (i.e. logical reasoning and spatial ability). Estimates from multiple-group latent growth curve models (LGCM) revealed substantial cohort differences in levels of performance were later born cohorts outperformed the earlier born. However, later born cohorts also showed, on average, a steeper decline over the study period than the earlier born. Gender and education partially accounted for the observed cohort differences. In Study III we analyzed data concerning four fluid abilities (i.e. perceptual-motor-speed, long-term picture recognition memory, logical reasoning and spatial ability) and one crystallized ability (i.e. verbal ability). We fitted growth curve models to the data within a Bayesian framework. The results confirmed those reported in Studies I and II indicating, moderate to large cohort differences in levels of performance on all five cognitive outcomes. Later born cohorts showed steeper decline in logical reasoning, spatial ability, and perceptual-motor-speed but we found no differences in rate of decline regarding long-term recognition memory and verbal ability. In Study IV we investigated the moderating effects of birth cohort on the associations between cardiovascular risk (defined as the Framingham Risk Score, FRS) and cognitive functioning and rate of change on two cognitive measures (i.e. spatial ability and logical reasoning). Multiple-group LGCMs revealed relatively weak associations between cardiovascular risk and cognitive functioning and change. These associations were even weaker in the 1930 cohort, especially regarding logical reasoning. The findings that later born cohorts outperform earlier born cohorts in levels of performance are in line with previous findings and further emphasize the importance of environmental factors in shaping life-span cognitive development. The findings that later born cohorts decline at a faster rate compared to earlier born cohorts on fluid measurements are novel. A potential explanation for the cohort differences in rate of cognitive decline relates to differences in the average age of onset of the cognitive decline due to cohort differences in cognitive reserve. To the extent that later born cohorts on average have higher cognitive reserve compared to earlier born, as indicated by their higher level of performance, they should- in line with the cognitive reserve hypothesis- start to decline at a later stage but then they should decline at a faster rate. Another explanation relates to possible cohort differences in selective survival. As life-expectancy has increased in Sweden, since the 19th century, a relatively higher proportion of more frail individuals may have survived to age 70 in later born cohorts.
Blaming victims of rape: Studies on rape myths and beliefs about rape
(2018-10-17) Adolfsson, Kerstin
Rape is a crime characterized by low reporting and conviction rates. Many victims who do report, drop out during the justice process. This is a problem both for the victims themselves and for the legal certainty of societies. One explanation for low reporting rates is victims’ justified fear of being badly treated, mistrusted, and blamed. Victim-blaming attitudes have been extensively studied and reported both among the general public and among professionals in the justice and healthcare systems. Several variables have been investigated to understand victim blaming, both aspects of the rape situation and variables connected to personal beliefs. However, previous studies have predominantly investigated only a few variables at a time. The aim of this thesis was partly to experimentally investigate whether situation-specific variables or participants’ personal beliefs are more important in seeking to understand blame attribution. Possible effects of age, gender, force, and number of perpetrators were also investigated. In addition, the aim was to include the perspective of professionals who meet, treat, and interact with rape victims. All three studies were conducted using a multi-analytical approach incorporating both analyses of variance (ANOVAs) as well as more elaborated and exploratory analyses. In Study I, the effects of victim and participant age, participant gender, sympathy for the victim, trust in the justice system, belief in a just world, and rape myth acceptance (RMA) were investigated in three experiments, employing a vignette methodology. In total, 877 Swedish adolescents and adults read scenarios describing common acquaintance rape situations. Victim age (18 or 31 years) was manipulated, but did not affect attributed blame. Effects of participant age and gender varied markedly across scenarios. Sympathy for the victim and RMA were the best individual predictors of attributed blame, indicating that blame attributions are more affected by personal beliefs than by situation-specific variables. Study II investigated effects of multiple perpetrators and their use of force on blame attributions, in two experiments. A total of 2928 participants read a vignette where number of perpetrators or perpetrators’ use of force was manipulated. Subsequently, they completed items rating blame, RMA, just-world beliefs, sympathy for the victim, perception of consent, and trust in the legal system. No effect of force was found, but the depicted victim of a multiple-perpetrator rape was attributed more blame than the victim of lone-perpetrator rape. The best individual predictors of attributed blame were participants’ perception of consent, sympathy for the victim, and RMA. In line with Study I, the results indicated that participants’ beliefs about rape were more predictive than situational factors. In Study III, the thesis was broadened by including the perspective of professionals encountering victims of rape. A total of 237 police employees, prosecutors, and healthcare personnel responded to a survey concerning barriers and problematic practices as well as questions regarding rape myths, belief in a just world, and trust in the justice system. Profession, age, and RMA affected their estimates of false rape reports, while age and profession affected trust in the justice system. Lack of resources was the most prominent barrier, and detailed and repeated questioning of the victims was the most highlighted problematic practice. The results further identified professionals’ need for more education in order to improve treatment of rape victims. In conclusion, this thesis indicates that personal beliefs are more predictive of blame attributions than are situational factors related to the rape itself. RMA, sympathy for the victim, and perception of consent were the most predictive variables of both victim and perpetrator blame. It also highlights the requirement for more resources and knowledge among professionals in both the justice and healthcare systems. This thesis has implications for future projects to prevent victim blame with the long-term goal of reducing attrition rates. It identifies what to focus on: reducing RMA, increasing sympathy for rape victims, and increasing awareness of the concept of sexual consent.
Body Image in Adolescence: Through the Lenses of Culture, Gender, and Positive Psychology
(2013-11-06) Holmqvist Gattario, Kristina
Adolescents’ body image (i.e., feelings and thoughts about their body and appearance) is central to their health and wellbeing. This thesis, which examined adolescents’ body image, comprised two parts. The first part (including Studies I and II) examined adolescents’ body image from a cultural perspective using questionnaires. Study I was a cross-cultural comparison of 874 Swedish and 358 Argentinean 13-year-old adolescents concerning their body image and body-changing behaviors. The results indicated that Swedish and Argentinean adolescents were similar in their levels of body-esteem, but that dieting and weight loss attempts were more prevalent among Argentinean adolescents, especially among girls. The findings indicate a need to further investigate Argentinean girls’ dieting behavior and to determine whether the low rates of dieting among Swedish adolescents may be due to protective anti-dieting factors embedded in Swedish society. Study II focused on Swedish adolescents and examined the body image of 758 Swedish adolescent girls and boys aged 16 years. Specifically, Study II examined how a set of factors (i.e., BMI, body ideal internalization, pubertal timing, peers’ appearance teasing, and weight loss attempts) was related to Swedish adolescents’ body image. The results indicated that this set of factors predicted the adolescents’ body image, in particular, girls’ feelings about their weight. Body ideal internalization (i.e., the adoption of current body ideals as one’s personal standard of beauty) was the strongest predictive factor. In addition, even in a society as gender egalitarian as that of Sweden, there were well-established gender differences in body image with girls being more dissatisfied than boys. These findings highlight the significance of gender in adolescents’ body image and the importance of understanding the processes by which adolescents internalize media ideals. The second part of this thesis explored adolescents’ body image from a positive psychology perspective, focusing on adolescents’ positive body image. Interviews were conducted with 30 Swedish 14-year-old adolescents with a positive body image recruited from a large longitudinal sample. Study III examined how adolescents with a positive body image reflected on their bodies, their views of exercise, and the influence of family and friends on their body image. The results revealed that the adolescents’ positive body image was characterized by a functional and accepting view of the body. The vast majority of the adolescents were physically active and found exercise joyful and health-promoting. The results indicate the importance of encouraging adolescents to think of their bodies as functional, active, and useful rather than as passive, decorative objects. Study IV investigated how adolescents with a positive body image reflected on the subject of appearance ideals. The results indicated that the adolescents were very critical of current ideals, describing them as unnatural and unrealistic, and criticizing the media for only showing subjects consistent with these ideals and for having ulterior motives for doing so. Instead, the adolescents defined beauty widely and flexibly and stressed the importance of looking like “oneself.” These findings support media literacy interventions and providing adolescents with alternative views of beauty. To conclude, this thesis emphasizes the importance of encouraging adolescents to have functional and accepting views of their bodies, for example, through joyful exercise and media literacy. It is also suggested that the role of culture in weight loss behaviors and gender differences in body image should be further scrutinized.
CCTV, Live and Videotapes: How Presentation Mode Affects the Evaluation of Witnesses
(2008-04-29T07:56:54Z) Landström, Sara
Videotaped and closed circuit testimonies are often used in legal procedures, but little is known about the psychological effects of these courtroom technologies. The present thesis examines how different presentation modes affect observers’ perception, veracity assessment and memory. In Study I truth-telling and lying adult witnesses were interviewed. Mock jurors (N = 122) viewed the testimonies, either live or on video, and rated their perception and assessed the veracity of the witnesses’ statements. Live observers rated the witnesses’ appearance in more positive terms and assessed them as being more honest than did video observers. Furthermore, both live and video observers’ deception detection performance was at chance level (49.2% vs. 50.8%). Live observers incorrectly believed they had a better memory of the witnesses’ statements than video observers. Study ΙΙ was structurally similar to Study I (but used child witnesses). Mock jurors (N = 136) viewed truth-telling and lying children’s testimonies (either live or on video), rated their perception of the children and assessed the children’s veracity. Live observers rated the children’s statements as being more convincing than did video observers. The overall deception detection performance was 59.6%, which was significantly different from the level of chance. Live observers were better than chance, but not better than the video observers, in assessing veracity. Moreover, live observers believed they had a better memory of the children’s statements than video observers, and they also showed a significantly better memory performance. In Study III truth-telling and lying children were viewed and assessed by adult mock jurors (N = 240) either live, via two-way closed-circuit television (CCTV), or via pre-recorded video. The mock jurors rated their perception of the children’s testimonies and assessed the children’s veracity. The results showed that live observers perceived the children in more positive terms than did the CCTV observers, who in turn perceived the children in more positive terms than did the video observers. The observers’ overall deception detection accuracy was mediocre (58.3%). Study IV investigated the effects of different camera perspectives on adults’ perception and assessment of videotaped child testimonies. Truth-telling and lying children were interviewed and videotaped simultaneously by four cameras, each taking a different visual perspective (close-up shot/child only, medium shot/child only, medium shot/child and interviewer, long shot/child and interviewer). Mock jurors (N = 256) rated their perception of the children and assessed the veracity of the statements. Children seen in long shot were perceived in more positive terms, and children seen in close-up were perceived as having to think harder. The adult’s deception detection accuracy was at chance level. Taken together, the results showed that the presentation mode affected the observers’ perception of the witnesses’ testimonies. Thus, the thesis suggests that legal policy-makers should consider the outcome of psycho-legal research on different presentation modes when establishing and/or reforming standards for police interviews and courtroom procedures.

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