Posttraumatic stress and growth in adolescent childhood cancer survivors: Links to quality of life.

Pediatric cancer can be considered an event potentially leading to posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) as well as posttraumatic growth (PTG). While clinically significant levels of PTSS are rare in childhood cancer survivors, PTG is common in this population. However, the relationship of PTG to overall adaptation and quality of life (QOL) in pediatric cancer patients is not clear.

Longitudinal bidirectional effects between sleep quality and internalizing problems.

Introduction: The current study tested the longitudinal bidirectional links between changes in sleep quality and two measures of internalizing problems, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and whether these links differed between males and females.

Methods: Longitudinal data were collected from 570 early adolescents (58.6% female; M  = 12.

Does Self-control Outdo IQ in Predicting Academic Performance?

Duckworth and Seligman's seminal work found that self-discipline (self-control) was more salient for academic achievement than intelligence. Very little replication work exists, including in different cultures; the current study addressed these gaps. Data were collected from 6 and 7 grade cohorts of early adolescents (N = 589; age: Mean = 12.

Concordance of Child Self-Reported and Parent Proxy-Reported Posttraumatic Growth in Childhood Cancer Survivors.

This article aimed to analyze concordance of parent- and child-reported child posttraumatic growth (PTG) following pediatric cancer, the influence of the parents' own level of PTG on the level of concordance and the influence of the parents' and the child's own level of PTG on the parents' proxy reports of PTG in the child. The sample included 127 parent-child dyads. The children provided self-reports of PTG and the parents provided reports of their own as well as the child's PTG.

Sleepless: The developmental significance of sleep quality and quantity among adolescents.

The current study tested the developmental significance of both early adolescent sleep quantity and quality for academic competence and internalizing and externalizing problems over the course of 2 years. As part of an accelerated longitudinal study, data were collected from N = 586 Czech adolescents (Mage = 12.34 years, SD = .

Socialization of Coping in Pediatric Oncology Settings: Theoretical Consideration on Parent-Child Connections in Posttraumatic Growth.

This theoretical article aims to summarize the results of studies relevant to parental influence on coping with childhood cancer and provide implications for future research focused on parent-child connections in posttraumatic growth (PTG) following childhood cancer. Parental influence on child coping described by the socialization of coping and socialization of emotions theories has already been studied in connection with posttraumatic stress, but the role of parents in the process of PTG in the child has not been clearly described yet. Several studies focused on PTG in childhood cancer survivors and their parents simultaneously, but only two studies explicitly included a parent-child connection in PTG in statistical analysis.

Posttraumatic stress and growth in childhood cancer survivors: Considering the pathways for relationship.

Purpose: This study aims to contribute to the clarification of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and growth (PTG) in childhood cancer survivors, taking into account the possibility of a nonlinear relationship and using a clinical approach to analyzing PTSS.

Methods: Childhood cancer survivors (n = 167) aged 11-27 completed measures of posttraumatic stress (UCLA_PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (BFSC). Based on the clinical analysis of UCLA_PTSD symptoms, the sample was divided into three PTSS severity groups (no, mild, moderate).

Neighborhood effects on internalizing and externalizing problems, and academic competence: a comparison of Roma and non-Roma adolescents.

Objectives: The current study tested the extent to which the neighborhood context influenced Roma youth adjustment (internalizing and externalizing problems, and academic competence) and whether ethnicity moderated these links and explained unique variance.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 369 Roma and non-Roma early and middle adolescents.

Results: Roma youth reported significantly lower SES, school grades, and academic aspirations.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging And Tractography In Autistic, Dysphasic, And Healthy Control Children.

Background: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a powerful tool for investigating brain anatomical connectivity. The aim of our study was to compare brain connectivity among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental dysphasia (DD), and healthy controls (HC) in the following tracts: the arcuate fasciculus (AF), inferior frontal occipital fasciculus (IFOF), inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), and uncinate fasciculus (UF).

Methods: Our sample consisted of 113 children with a mean age 8.

Bulimia symptoms in Czech youth: prevalence and association with internalizing problems.

Objective: Although clinical studies suggest that bulimia symptoms are common in youth, research on the prevalence of such symptoms and of their association with comorbid internalizing problems in the general population has been limited. This study aimed to evaluate the gender-specific prevalence of bulimia symptoms in Czech youth and explored the association between a clinical level of self-reported bulimia symptoms (CLBS) and internalizing problems by gender, controlling for age, socio-economic status and puberty status.

Method: The study was conducted on a representative national sample of Czech youth (N = 4430, 57.

Somatic symptoms and internalizing problems in urban youth: a cross-cultural comparison of Czech and Russian adolescents.

Background: Although the association between somatic complaints and internalizing problems (anxiety, somatic anxiety and depression) is well established, it remains unclear whether the pattern of this relationship differs by gender and in different cultures. The aim of this study was to examine cross-cultural and gender-specific differences in the association between somatic complaints and internalizing problems in youth from the Czech Republic and Russia.

Methods: The Social and Health Assessment, a self-report survey, was completed by representative community samples of adolescents, age 12-17 years, from the Czech Republic (N = 4770) and Russia (N = 2728).

Community violence exposure and substance use: cross-cultural and gender perspectives.

The negative effects of community violence exposure on child and adolescent mental health are well documented and exposure to community violence has been linked both to a number of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Our aim was, therefore, to investigate cross-cultural and gender differences in the relationship between community violence exposure and substance abuse. A self-report survey was conducted among 10,575, 12-18 year old adolescents in three different countries, Czech Republic (N = 4537), Russia (N = 2377) and US (N = 3661).

Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress and Posttraumatic Growth in Childhood Cancer Survivors.

This longitudinal study aims to analyze predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among gender, age, objective factors of the disease and its treatment, family environment factors and negative emotionality. The sample consisted of 97 childhood cancer survivors (50 girls and 47 boys) aged 11-25 years who were in remission 1.7 to seven years at T1 and four to 12.

Loneliness and its association with psychological and somatic health problems among Czech, Russian and U.S. adolescents.

Background: Loneliness is common in adolescence and has been linked to various negative outcomes. Until now, however, there has been little cross-country research on this phenomenon. The aim of the present study was to examine which factors are associated with adolescent loneliness in three countries that differ historically and culturally-the Czech Republic, Russia and the United States, and to determine whether adolescent loneliness is associated with poorer psychological and somatic health.

Personality predictors of successful development: toddler temperament and adolescent personality traits predict well-being and career stability in middle adulthood.

The aim of the study was to predict both adaptive psychological functioning (well-being) and adaptive social functioning (career stability) in middle adulthood based on behaviors observed in toddlerhood and personality traits measured in adolescence. 83 people participated in an ongoing longitudinal study started in 1961 (58% women). Based on children's behavior in toddlerhood, three temperamental dimensions were identified - positive affectivity, negative affectivity and disinhibition.

Correlates of weapon carrying in school among adolescents in three countries.

Objectives: To determine the factors associated with weapon carrying in school among Czech, Russian, and US adolescents.

Methods: Logistic regression was used to analyze data drawn from the Social and Health Assessment (SAHA).

Results: Violent behavior (perpetration / victimization) was linked to adolescent weapon carrying in all countries.

Psychometric properties of the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) in Czech adolescent sample.

The psychometric properties of the TCI-R method were investigated in a cohort of 15-year-old adolescents (n = 787). This is the lowest recommended age for using the adult version of the method. A factor analysis of the temperament and character scales was carried out on the basis of Principal Component Analysis with Varimax rotation.

Brief report: significant differences in perceived odor pleasantness found in children with ASD.

The aim of our study was to explore possible differences in estimation of odor pleasantness in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) compared to controls. Thirty-five patients with Asperger's syndrome and high functioning autism (mean age 10.8 ± 3.

Perceptions of aging across 26 cultures and their culture-level associates.

College students (N=3,435) in 26 cultures reported their perceptions of age-related changes in physical, cognitive, and socioemotional areas of functioning and rated societal views of aging within their culture. There was widespread cross-cultural consensus regarding the expected direction of aging trajectories with (a) perceived declines in societal views of aging, physical attractiveness, the ability to perform everyday tasks, and new learning; (b) perceived increases in wisdom, knowledge, and received respect; and (c) perceived stability in family authority and life satisfaction. Cross-cultural variations in aging perceptions were associated with culture-level indicators of population aging, education levels, values, and national character stereotypes.

Weight gain associated with atypical and typical antipsychotics during treatment of adolescent schizophrenic psychoses: A retrospective study.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess weight changes associated with certain atypical (AAP) and typical (TAP) antipsychotic drugs in patients with early-onset schizophrenia and other related psychotic disorders.

Methods: Our retrospective study included 109 patients (52 boys, 57 girls) with a mean age of 15.8 +/- 1.

Subtypes of autism by cluster analysis based on structural MRI data.

The aim of our study was to subcategorize Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) using a multidisciplinary approach. Sixty four autistic patients (mean age 9.4+/-5.

Not EEG abnormalities but epilepsy is associated with autistic regression and mental functioning in childhood autism.

The aim of the study was to investigate the potential association of epilepsy and EEG abnormalities with autistic regression and mental retardation. We examined a group of 77 autistic children (61 boys, 16 girls) with an average age of 9.1 +/- 5.