Search

The purpose of the study was to describe trajectories of relationship satisfaction across the transition to parenthood, and identify predictors of these trajectories. This study is based on the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Mothers (N = 43,517) reported on their relationship satisfaction at five timepoints from 17 weeks gestation to 5 years postpartum, as well as sociodemographic, psychological, and behavioral covariates. Latent Trajectory Modeling revealed 5 trajectories of relationship satisfaction: "stable very high" (18.05%), "stable high" (43.47%); "stable moderate" (17.21%); "high falling" (3.38%); and "low falling" (4.02%). Predictors of group membership were identified using multinomial logistic regression. Significant predictors included unplanned pregnancy, maternal social support, maternal history of depression, maternal history of abuse, postnatal depression, financial stress, sexual satisfaction, and child negative emotionality. These results may help identify families at risk of declining relationship satisfaction, and aid in targeting interventions aimed at improving satisfaction during this vulnerable transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: First, we test for differences in various cognitive abilities across trajectories of body mass index (BMI) over the later life course. Second, we examine whether genetic risk factors for unhealthy BMIs—assessed via polygenic risk scores (PRS)—predict cognitive abilities in late-life. Methods: The study used a longitudinal sample of Vietnam veteran males to explore the associations between BMI trajectories, measured across four time points, and later cognitive abilities. The sample of 977 individuals was drawn from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. Cognitive abilities evaluated included executive function, abstract reasoning, episodic memory, processing speed, verbal fluency, and visual spatial ability. Multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate the associations between BMI trajectories and cognitive abilities. Then, BMI PRS was added to the models to evaluate polygenic associations with cognitive abilities. Results: There were no significant differences in cognitive ability between any of the BMI trajectory groups. There was a significant inverse relationship between BMI-PRS and several cognitive ability measures. Discussion: While no associations emerged for BMI trajectories and cognitive abilities at the phenotypic levels, BMI PRS measures did correlate with key cognitive domains. Our results suggest possible polygenic linkages cutting across key components of the central and peripheral nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have long been interested in stability and changes in offending patterns between and within individuals during the life-course. Using data from the Oregon Department of Corrections and the Oregon State Police, the current study explores misconduct trajectories and also attempts to determine whether certain preprison inmate characteristics specified in the importation model are associated with various misconduct trajectories. Results indicate that there are subgroups of inmates engaged in different patterns of institutional misconduct during the course of years of imprisonment. In addition, certain inmate characteristics can be used to explain the identified heterogeneity in inmate misconduct. Findings from trajectory analyses can be useful to prison officials and policy makers when planning prison services, assistance, and programming for subgroups of inmates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of self-control represents a recently popular empirical topic; however, little attention has been paid to the stability of the underlying constructs of Gottfredson and Hirschi's conception of self-control. The present study uses longitudinal data on youth residing in the northeastern United States and employs trajectory analysis to explore the presence of varying developmental trends in these constructs. The findings indicate that these constructs follow unique and varied trajectories that may help to elucidate issues with our understanding of the stability of self-control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability hypothesis of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s general theory of crime has received limited support in the literature. However, recent research on the dimensions of self-control suggests varied developmental trends that may conflate the idea of stability. Using a sample of more than 300 individuals from the northeastern United States, this study examines the stability hypothesis across early adulthood and expands the current literature by considering the early childhood risk factors that may distinguish between longitudinal trajectories of self-control. Finally, a reduced, multidimensional version of the behavior problem index for measuring self-control is introduced. Results show evidence of relative stability in three dimensions of self-control, and that sex predicts trajectory group membership. Theoretical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study extends research on recidivism by examining the phenomenon via a survival mixture modeling approach, a method that is analogous to mixture modeling approaches used in trajectory analyses. Using this approach, the authors discover that multiple recidivism profiles are identifiable within a random sample of inmates released from Florida prisons between January 1998 and June 2001. Findings revealed that certain covariates predicted class membership and operated differently across the groups in predicting the hazard of recidivism, suggesting that a unilateral approach to reducing recidivism risk is an ineffective strategy. The Discussion section presents the findings in the context of theory, research, and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study that analyzed the varied experiences of prisoners with visitation and the effect of the experiences on their behavior after they are released, that found lower rates of reoffending in individuals who maintained connections with social networks outside prison. The study also showed criminal behavior to be affected by timing and consistency of visitations, and less likelihood of recidivation for those visited early and who experienced sustained visitation pattern.

A number of methodological techniques and theoretical propositions have been used in the extant literature on specialization/versatility. These various methodologies and theories have created an ongoing debate that has revealed several areas of focus that need to be addressed. The current study applies Moffitt’s (1993) taxonomy and uses a series of random effects logistic regression models to estimate the impact of a violent, property, drug, or other prior offense on the commission of a subsequent offense across different types of criminal careers. Specifically, we attempt to determine the odds a prior offense has on predicting a subsequent offense among four offender trajectories, controlling for various aspects of the criminal career and demographic characteristics. Findings suggest that the odds of committing any offense type over the life course are greater if the prior offense was of the same type. This relationship remains consistent across offender trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]