The role of executive functions and psychiatric symptom severity in the Allen Cognitive Levels.

This study examined the relationship between Allen Cognitive Level (ACL) and psychiatric symptom severity, level of nursing support required to complete activities of daily living (ADLs), and post-hospitalization discharge disposition in a sample of 193 acute psychiatric inpatients. A subsample of 31 participants with acute psychotic disorders were administered three measures of executive functioning in order to examine the convergent validity between ACL and basic sequencing and shifting, phonemic fluency, and visuospatial construction. Findings indicated significant moderate positive correlations between ACL and motor processing speed, basic sequencing and shifting, and phonemic fluency, and a nonsignificant relationship with visuospatial construction.

Filling the void: spiritual development among adolescents of the affluent.

Building on both the spiritual development and affluent youth literature, the current study explores spiritual development and health outcomes in a sample of upper-middle-class youth. Exploratory analyses indicate long-term stability in religiosity and spirituality from late adolescence (mean age 18) well into emerging adulthood (mean age 24); specifically, a strong personal relationship with a Higher Power, that carries into the broader arena of life, appears to be the primary source of spiritual life in adolescence that transitions into young adulthood. Moreover, cross-sectional associations at age 24 suggest spiritual development may have important implications for increased mental health and life satisfaction, as well as decreased antisocial behaviors.

"I can, therefore I must": fragility in the upper-middle classes.

We review evidence on a group recently identified as "at risk," that is, youth in upwardly mobile, upper-middle class community contexts. These youngsters are statistically more likely than normative samples to show serious disturbance across several domains including drug and alcohol use, as well as internalizing and externalizing problems. Extant data on these problems are reviewed with attention to gender-specific patterns, presenting quantitative developmental research findings along with relevant evidence across other disciplines.

Are affluent youth truly "at risk"? Vulnerability and resilience across three diverse samples.

Building upon prior findings of elevated problems among East Coast suburban youth through the 11th grade, this study establishes disproportionately high incidence of maladjustment across three disparate samples: East Coast Suburban youth at the end of their senior year in high school, and 11th and 12th graders in (a) a Northwest suburb and (b) an East Coast city. Both East Coast samples showed pronounced elevations in substance use, whereas the Northwest suburban sample showed marked vulnerability in serious internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Across all samples, parents' low perceived containment for substance use (lax repercussions on discovering use) was a major vulnerability factor, followed by parents' knowledge of their teens' activities.