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This study examined the association between prenatal role overload and maternal responsiveness, with postnatal depressive symptoms as a mediator. Participants were 127 first-time mothers in Hong Kong (M = 32.8, SD = 4.0). Participants completed data collection for self-report on prenatal role overload (Time 1) in the third trimester of pregnancy, postnatal depressive symptoms (Time 2) at 4-month postpartum and maternal responsiveness (Time 3) at 9-month postpartum. The hypothesised mediation model was tested with the Hayes PROCESS macro (model 4). Time 1 prenatal role overload was not directly predictive of later responsiveness (B = −0.06, p =.270). However, the indirect effect of Time 2 postnatal depressive symptoms in the association between Time 1 prenatal role overload and Time 3 responsiveness was significant (unstandardised effect = −0.03, 95% Bootstrapping CI = [−0.081, −0.001]; standardised effect = −0.06, 95% Bootstrapping CI = [−0.152, −0.002]). Findings highlighted that more attention is required to the support provided to first-time expectant mothers to prevent role overload, and that intervention for postnatal depressive symptoms may focus on role overload. The findings also highlighted that postnatal depressive symptoms could be a promising way to increase maternal responsiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-control theory proposes that weak emotional bonds with caregivers are key in the lack of self-control development, that in turn increases the likelihood of externalizing and deviant behaviors. Guided by this theory, the present study tested a mediation model, namely the relationships among adolescent attachment to both parents, self-control, and externalizing behaviors (as measured in aggression and rule-breaking). Moreover, it tested the extent to which this mediation model differed by age, and it compared the relative salience of attachment to mothers versus fathers. Seven hundred and five Chinese adolescents between 13 to 17 years old (353 boys, mean age = 15.02 years) provided self-report data on their attachment to fathers and mothers, self-control, aggression, and rule-breaking behaviors. Mediation model tests showed that attachment to both mothers and fathers were negatively related to aggression and rule-breaking behaviors via self-control. Moderation model tests showed that age moderated the link between attachment to fathers, but not to mothers, and adolescent self-control, with significant effects of attachment on self-control for younger adolescents. Study findings show that although attachment to both mothers and to fathers are important for adolescent self-control, their respective effects differ across developmental periods. Highlight: The relationships among attachment to parents, self-control, and externalizing behavior were tested among Chinese adolescents. Maternal and paternal attachment was linked to self-control, which was further associated with adolescent aggression and rule-breaking behaviors. The association between paternal attachment and self-control was only significant for younger but not for older adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parent-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-P) is a widely used scale that assesses children's and adolescents' strengths and difficulties. The present study applied this scale to Italian adolescents and compared the current results with previous Chinese findings and the United Kingdom norm. Participants were 422 Italian parents and their adolescent children. Parents and adolescents answered the parent-report and the self-report SDQ, respectively. Results showed that the five-factor first-order model was better than other competing models. Cronbach's alpha of emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, prosocial behavior, and total difficulties was .63, .52, .69, .51, .59, and .77 respectively for mother-report measure, and .67, .48, .67, .46, .55, and .79 respectively for father-report measure. Parent-adolescent agreements ranged from low to medium, whereas mother-father agreements were large. Parents did not rate boys and girls as well as early-adolescence and mid-adolescence differently. Italian parents rated their adolescent children to have lower levels of hyperactivity, peer problems, total difficulties, and higher levels of prosocial behavior than Chinese parents; and Italian mothers rated their adolescent children to have lower levels of hyperactivity than United Kingdom parents. In conclusion, the current findings suggest both strengths and inadequacies of the SDQ-P for Italian adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Familism refers to “a culturally grounded way of valuing family that emphasizes an ideal for family relationships to be warm, close, and supportive and that family be prioritized over self”. It is considered a core value of Latino culture and a crucial protective factor of psychological health among Latino populations. However, scant research has addressed the possible value of familism and the association between familism and psychological health and the underpinning mechanisms among Italian adolescents. The current study aimed to test the relation of familism to depressive symptoms and the mediating effect of parental attachment in an Italian adolescent sample. Participants ( N = 513) completed self-report measures assessing familism, parental attachment, and depressive symptoms. Results of the total effect model showed that familism was negatively related to depressive symptoms. In the indirect effect model, it was found that the relationship between familism and depressive symptoms was mediated by both maternal attachment and paternal attachment. Moreover, results of multi-group path analyses revealed that the associations among familism, parental attachment, and depressive symptoms did not differ by sex but by developmental period (i.e., early- vs. middle adolescence). In conclusion, this research suggests the protective role of familism in Italian adolescents' depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to validate the parent-version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS-P) among Chinese and Italian community adolescents and to compare adolescents' anxiety symptoms in these two countries. Chinese (N = 456) and Italian (N = 452) adolescents and their parents participated in the study. Results showed that: (1) the six correlated-factor structure was demonstrated and invariant across countries. (2) The reliability of the total scale was good in both samples, whereas reliabilities of subscales were acceptable and moderate in Chinese and Italian samples, respectively. (3) The SCAS-P showed good convergent and divergent validity. (4) Adolescent-parent agreement was from low to medium while mother-father agreement ranged from medium to high. (5) There were cultural and gender differences in levels of parent-report anxiety symptoms. In conclusion, SCAS-P seems to be a promising parent-report instrument to assess Chinese and Italian adolescents' anxiety symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated a linear relationship between self-control and emotional and behavioural problems. However, some scholars have assumed that both under-control and over-control may result in undesired problems, which implies a U-shaped relationship between them. This issue was reexamined in three Chinese samples in the present study. Self-report measures that conceptually assessed self-control and emotional (i.e. depression and negative emotion) and behavioural (i.e. rule-breaking behaviour, aggression and counterproductive work behaviour) problems were administered to adolescents ( N = 885), university students ( N = 671) and employees ( N = 500). Results of piecewise linear regression show that there were significant quadratic effects of self-control on emotional and behavioural problems in adolescents and on behavioural problems in employees, but no significant U-shaped associations between them were found. Implications for future studies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-consciousness refers to the tendency to direct attention on both interior and exterior aspects of the self. The present study aims at comparing self-consciousness in Chinese ( N = 1,683; years M = 14.78, SD = 1.84) and Italian ( N = 1,729; years M = 14.59, SD = 2.01) adolescents using a multidimensional self-report measure, the Adolescent Self-Consciousness Questionnaire (ASC). Reliability analysis supported the overall suitability of ASC in both samples. Comparisons of item and scale scores were investigated as to detect possible country and gender differences. MANOVA and t-student analyses highlighted some interesting differences in the two groups of adolescents, according to specificities from their cultural backgrounds. Overall, Chinese adolescents, compared to Italian ones, emerge as more concerned about social values, showing more interest in monitoring their own social attitudes and behavior, while Italian adolescents are more focused on personal interests and individual characteristics, like physical appearance and personal satisfaction. Interestingly, different gender patterns emerged in the two countries, suggesting that cultural aspects could influence boys and girls in different ways. A qualitative interpretation of results is advanced. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of studies reveal that self-control is an important preventative factor for aggression. However, the involvement of potential explanatory variables has received less research attention. Drawing upon the feedback-loop model of self-control, the current research assumed that the preventing effect of trait self-control on aggression may be moderated by moral disengagement. Self-reported measures of trait self-control, moral disengagement and aggression were administered to 946 Chinese university students. Results show that trait self-control had a negative effect on physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger and hostility, whereas moral disengagement positively predicted each of these constructs. Of particular importance was a significant interaction between trait self-control and moral disengagement for verbal aggression and hostility. Specifically, the preventing effect of trait self-control on these two types of aggression was more pronounced in individuals with low rather than high moral disengagement. In conclusion, low conditional endorsement of transgressive acts and having high trait self-control are both important individual-difference variables that explain reduced aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Self-consciousness is considered as a multifaceted and hierarchical construct that includes self-evaluation, self-experience, and self-control. This study assumes that self-consciousness is a preventative factor of internalizing and externalizing problems among Chinese adolescents. 1202 Chinese adolescents from grade 7 to grade 12 participated in this study by completing a battery of questionnaires that assessed self-consciousness and internalizing/externalizing problems. The results showed that, after controlling demographic variables, some lower-order factors (i.e., sense of satisfaction, sense of anxiety, social self, self-restraint, self-esteem, and self-monitoring) and higher-order subscales (i.e., self-evaluation and self-experience) of self-consciousness significantly predicted internalizing problems, while externalizing problems were predicted by several lower-order factors (i.e., self-restraint, sense of satisfaction, and self-monitoring) and higher-order subscales (i.e., self-control and self-experience). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Chinese adolescents' internalizing and externalizing problems are related with different aspects of self-consciousness, which sheds light on the prevention into adolescents' problem behaviors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]