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Introduction: Helping others within and beyond the family has been related to living a healthy and long life. Compassion is a prosocial personality trait characterized by concern for another person who is suffering and the motivation to help. The current study examines whether epigenetic aging is a potential biological mechanism that explains the link between prosociality and longevity. Methods: We used data from the Young Finns Study that follows six birth-cohorts from age 3–18 to 19–49. Trait-like compassion for others was measured with the Temperament and Character Inventory in the years 1997 and 2001. Epigenetic age acceleration and telomere length were measured with five DNA methylation (DNAm) indicators (DNAmAgeHorvath, IEAA_Hannum, EEAA_Hannum, DNAmPhenoAge, and DNAmTL) based on blood drawn in 2011. We controlled for sex, socioeconomic status in childhood and adulthood, and body-mass index. Results and discussion: An association between higher compassion in 1997 and a less accelerated DNAmPhenoAge, which builds on previous work on phenotypic aging, approached statistical significance in a sex-adjusted model (n = 1,030; b = −0.34; p = 0.050). Compassion in 1997 predicted less accelerated epigenetic aging over and above the control variables (n = 843; b = −0.47; p = 0.016). There was no relationship between compassion in 2001 (n = 1108/910) and any of the other four studied epigenetic aging indicators. High compassion for others might indeed influence whether an individual’s biological age is lower than their chronological age. The conducted robustness checks partially support this conclusion, yet cannot rule out that there might be a broader prosocial trait behind the findings. The observed associations are interesting but should be interpreted as weak requiring replication.

Background: Low education, low cognitive abilities, and certain cognitive styles are suggested to predispose to social intolerance and prejudices. Evidence is, however, restricted by comparatively small samples, neglect of confounding variables and genetic factors, and a narrow focus on a single sort of prejudice. We investigated the relationships of education, polygenic cognitive potential, cognitive performance, and cognitive styles with social intolerance in adulthood over a 15-year follow-up. Methods: We used data from the prospective population-based Young Finns Study (n = 960‒1679). Social intolerance was evaluated with the Social Intolerance Scale in 1997, 2001, and 2011; cognitive performance with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery in 2011; cognitive styles in 1997; and socioeconomic factors in 1980 (childhood) and 2011 (adulthood); and polygenic cognitive potential was calculated based on genome-wide association studies. Results: We found that nonrational thinking, polygenic cognitive potential, cognitive performance, or socioeconomic factors were not related to social intolerance. Regarding cognitive styles, low flexibility (B = –0.759, p < .001), high perseverance (B = 1.245, p < .001), and low persistence (B = –0.329, p < .001) predicted higher social intolerance consistently in the analyses. Discussion: When developing prejudice-reduction interventions, it should be considered that educational level or cognitive performance may not be crucial for development of social intolerance. Adopting certain cognitive styles may play more important roles in development of social intolerance.

We investigated (a) whether psychosocial factors (experienced stress, anticipatory worry, social detachment, sleeping disturbances, alcohol use) predict the course of paranoid ideation between the ages of 24 to 50 years and (b) whether the predictive relationships are more likely to proceed from the psychosocial factors to paranoid ideation, or vice versa. The participants (N = 1534–1553) came from the population-based Young Finns study. Paranoid ideation and psychosocial factors were assessed by reliable self-report questionnaires in 2001, 2007, and 2011/2012. The data were analyzed using growth curve and structural equation models. High experienced stress, anticipatory worry, social detachment, frequent sleeping disturbances, and frequent alcohol use predicted more paranoid ideation. More risk factors predicted increasing paranoid ideation. There were bidirectional predictive relationships of paranoid ideation with experienced stress, anticipatory worry, social detachment, and sleeping disturbances. The link between alcohol use and paranoid ideation was only correlative. In conclusion, paranoid ideation increases by reciprocal interactions with stress, worry, social detachment, and sleeping disturbances. The findings support the threat–anticipation model of paranoid ideation, providing important implications for treatment of paranoia.

We investigated whether temperament modifies an association between polygenic intelligence potential and cognitive test performance in midlife. The participants (n = 1647, born between 1962 and 1977) were derived from the Young Finns Study. Temperament was assessed with Temperament and Character Inventory over a 15-year follow-up (1997, 2001, 2007, 2012). Polygenic intelligence potential was assessed with a polygenic score for intelligence. Cognitive performance (visual memory, reaction time, sustained attention, spatial working memory) was assessed with CANTAB in midlife. The PGSI was significantly associated with the overall cognitive performance and performance in visual memory, sustained attention and working memory tests but not reaction time test. Temperament did not correlate with polygenic score for intelligence and did not modify an association between the polygenic score and cognitive performance, either. High persistence was associated with higher visual memory (B = 0.092; FDR-adj. p = 0.007) and low harm avoidance with higher overall cognitive performance, specifically better reaction time (B = −0.102; FDR-adj; p = 0.007). The subscales of harm avoidance had different associations with cognitive performance: higher “anticipatory worry,” higher “fatigability,” and lower “shyness with strangers” were associated with lower cognitive performance, while the role of “fear of uncertainty” was subtest-related. In conclusion, temperament does not help or hinder one from realizing their genetic potential for intelligence. The overall modest relationships between temperament and cognitive performance advise caution if utilizing temperament-related information e.g. in working-life recruitments. Cognitive abilities may be influenced by temperament variables, such as the drive for achievement and anxiety about test performance, but they involve distinct systems of learning and memory.

Introduction: There is accumulating evidence for the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in alleviating depressive symptoms. A crucial question is, however, whether mindfulness interventions are more effective for some individuals than others, depending on individual characteristics before a mindfulness intervention. We exploratorily investigated whether the effectiveness of school-based mindfulness intervention against depressive symptoms is modified by executive functions, rumination, and emotion regulation among adolescents. Methods: The longitudinal data included adolescents with at least mild depressive symptoms at the baseline (n = 369, at the 6th–8th grade, 68.4% female) who were randomized into a 9-week school-based mindfulness intervention group, into an active control group receiving relaxation program, or into an inactive control group. Adolescents’ executive functions, rumination, and emotion regulation (i.e., acceptance, catastrophizing, and positive reappraisal) were assessed at the baseline; and depressive symptoms at three time points (at the baseline and at 9-week and 6-month follow-ups). Results and conclusions: In adolescents with at least mild depressive symptoms at the baseline, high catastrophizing, high acceptance, and low executive functions were found to increase the effectiveness of mindfulness-based intervention against depressive symptoms. There seemed to be some sex differences. Thus, when aiming to alleviate depressive symptoms, mindfulness-based intervention may possibly be more effective for adolescents with high catastrophizing, high acceptance, and low executive functioning (than for adolescents with the opposite dispositions). However, as this study was exploratory by nature and corrections for multiple testing were not used, the findings must be regarded as preliminary and need confirmation in further studies.

Objective: To examine the role of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SED) for work engagement. Methods: We used data from Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 Study (n = 3046 to 4356) to analyze self-reported weekly leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), daily leisure-time sitting time (LTST) and work engagement. PA and SED 24-hour were also measured with accelerometer for 14 days. The data were analyzed using linear regression analyses. Results: High self-reported LTPA and sports participation were associated with higher work engagement and its subdimensions. High self-reported ST was associated with lower work engagement, vigor, and absorption. Accelerometer-measured light PA was associated with higher work engagement and vigor, and accelerometer-measured steps were linked to higher vigor. Accelerometer-measured SED was associated with lower work engagement, vigor, and dedication. Conclusions: Self-reported and accelerometer-measured PA and SED may play a role in people’s work engagement.

Background: Although the link between early adversity (EA) and later-life psychiatric disorders is well established, it has yet to be elucidated whether EA is related to distortions in the processing of different facial expressions. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate whether exposure to EA relates to distortions in responses to different facial emotions at three levels: 1) event-related potentials of the P100 and N170, 2) amygdala functional magnetic resonance imaging responses, and 3) accuracy rate or reaction time in behavioral data. Methods: The systematic literature search (PubMed and Web of Science) up to April 2020 resulted in 29 behavioral studies (n = 8555), 32 functional magnetic resonance imaging studies (n = 2771), and 3 electroencephalography studies (n = 197) for random-effect meta-analyses. Results: EA was related to heightened bilateral amygdala reactivity to sad faces (but not other facial emotions). Exposure to EA was related to faster reaction time but a normal accuracy rate in response to angry and sad faces. In response to fearful and happy faces, EA was related to a lower accuracy rate only in individuals with recent EA exposure. This effect was more pronounced in individuals with exposure to EA before (vs. after) the age of 3 years. These findings were independent of psychiatric diagnoses. Because of the low number of eligible electroencephalography studies, no conclusions could be reached regarding the effect of EA on the event-related potentials. Conclusions: EA relates to alterations in behavioral and neurophysiological processing of facial emotions. Our study stresses the importance of assessing age at exposure and time since EA because these factors mediate some EA-related perturbations.

Background: Secure attachment is important in maintaining an individual’s health and well-being. Attachment disturbances increase the risk for developing psychiatric disorders such as affective disorders. Yet, the neurobiological correlates of human attachment are poorly understood at the neurotransmitter level. We investigated whether adult attachment style is linked to functioning of the opioid and serotonergic systems in the human brain. Methods: We used positron emission tomography with radioligands [¹¹C]carfentanil and [¹¹C]MADAM to quantify mu opioid receptor (n = 39) and serotonin transporter (n = 37) availability in volunteers with no current psychiatric disorders. Attachment style was determined according to the Dynamic-Maturational Model of Attachment and Adaptation with the structured Adult Attachment Interview. Results: Secure attachment was associated with higher mu opioid receptor availability in the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex when compared with insecure (i.e., avoidant or ambivalent groups combined) attachment. In contrast, attachment style was not associated with serotonin transporter availability. Conclusions: Our results provide preliminary in vivo evidence that the opioid system may be involved in the neurocircuits associated with individual differences in adult attachment behavior. The results suggest that variation in mu opioid receptor availability may be linked with the individuals’ social relationships and psychosocial well-being and thus contributes to risk for psychiatric morbidity.

The development of compassion for others might be influenced by the social experiences made during childhood and has a genetic component. No research has yet investigated whether the parent–child relationship quality interacts with genetic variation in the oxytocin and dopamine systems in predicting compassion over the life span. In the prospective Young Finns Study (N = 2099, 43.9% men), we examined the interaction between mother-reported emotional warmth and intolerance toward their child assessed in 1980 (age of participants, 3–18 years) and two established genetic risk scores for oxytocin levels and dopamine signaling activity. Dispositional compassion for others was measured with the Temperament and Character Inventory 1997, 2001, and 2012 (age of participants, 20–50 years). We found a gene–environment interaction (p = 0.031) that remained marginally significant after adjustment for multiple testing. In line with the differential susceptibility hypothesis, only participants who carry alleles associated with low dopamine signaling activity had higher levels of compassion when growing up with emotionally warm parents, whereas they had lower levels of compassion when their parents were emotionally cold. Children’s genetic variability in the dopamine system might result in plasticity to early environmental influences that have a long-lasting effect on the development of compassion. However, our findings need replication.

We investigated (i) the predictive relationships of compassion with negative emotionality (a marker of susceptibility to stress) and vital exhaustion (a marker of chronic stress response) and (ii) the effect of compassion on the developmental courses of negative emotionality and vital exhaustion over a follow-up from early adulthood to middle age. We used the prospective Young Finns data (n = 1031–1495, aged 20–50). Compassion was evaluated in 1997, 2001, and 2012; and vital exhaustion and negative emotionality in 2001, 2007, and 2012. The predictive paths from compassion to vital exhaustion and negative emotionality were stronger than vice versa: high compassion predicted lower vital exhaustion and lower negative emotionality. The effect of high compassion on lower vital exhaustion and lower negative emotionality was evident from early adulthood to middle age. Overall, high compassion appears to protect against dimensions of stress from early adulthood to middle age, whereas this study found no evidence that dimensions of stress could reduce disposition to feel compassion for others’ distress over a long-term follow-up.

Background: We define compassion as an enduring disposition that centers upon empathetic concern for another person’s suffering and the motivation to act to alleviate it. The contribution of specific candidate genes to the development of dispositional compassion for others is currently unknown. We examine candidate genes in the oxytocin and dopamine signaling pathways. Methods: In a 32-year follow-up of the Young Finns Study (N = 2,130, 44.0% men), we examined with multiple indicators latent growth curve modeling the molecular genetic underpinnings of dispositional compassion for others across the life span. We selected five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) whose functions are known in humans: rs2268498 (OXTR), rs3796863 (CD38) (related to lower oxytocin levels), rs1800497 (ANKK1/DRD2), rs4680 (COMT), and rs1611115 (DBH) (related to higher dopamine levels). Compassion was measured with Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory on three repeated observations spanning 15 years (1997–2012). Differences between gender were tested. Results: We did not find an effect of the five SNPs in oxytocin and dopamine pathway genes on the initial levels of dispositional compassion for others. Individuals who carry one or two copies of the T-allele of DBH rs1611115, however, tend to increase faster in compassion over time than those homozygotes for the C-allele, b = 0.063 (SE = 0.027; p = 0.018). This effect was largely driven by male participants, 0.206 (SE = 0.046; p < 0.001), and was not significant in female participants when analyzed separately. Conclusions: Men who are known to have, on average, lower compassion than women seem to reduce this difference over time if they carry the T-allele of DBH rs1611115. The direction of the association indicates that dopamine signaling activity rather than overall dopamine levels might drive the development of compassion.

Previously, schizophrenia is found to be related to the variability of the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signal in the white matter. However, evidence about the relationship between genetic vulnerabilities and physiological fluctuation in the brain is lacking. We investigated whether familial risk for psychosis (FR) and polygenic risk score for schizophrenia (PRS) are linked with physiological fluctuation in fMRI data. We used data from the Oulu Brain and Mind study (n = 140−149, aged 20−24 years) that is a substudy of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986. The participants underwent a resting-state fMRI scan. Coefficient of variation (CV) of blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal (CVBOLD) was used as a proxy of physiological fluctuation in the brain. Familial risk was defined to be present if at least one parent had been diagnosed with psychosis previously. PRS was computed based on the results of the prior GWAS by the Schizophrenia Working Group. FR or PRS were not associated with CVBOLD in cerebrospinal fluid, white matter, or grey matter. The findings did not provide evidence for the previous suggestions that genetic vulnerabilities for schizophrenia become apparent in alterations of the variation of the BOLD signal in the brain.

Background: Physiological brain pulsations have been shown to play a critical role in maintaining interstitial homeostasis in the glymphatic brain clearance mechanism. We investigated whether psychotic symptomatology is related to the physiological variation of the human brain using fMRI. Methods: The participants (N = 277) were from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986. Psychotic symptoms were evaluated with the Positive Symptoms Scale of the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes (SIPS). We used the coefficient of variation of BOLD signal (CVBOLD) as a proxy for physiological brain pulsatility. The CVBOLD-analyses were controlled for motion, age, sex, and educational level. The results were also compared with fMRI and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) meta-analyses of schizophrenia patients (data from the Brainmap database). Results: At the global level, participants with psychotic-like symptoms had higher CVBOLD in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and white matter (WM), when compared to participants with no psychotic symptoms. Voxel-wise analyses revealed that CVBOLD was increased, especially in periventricular white matter, basal ganglia, cerebellum and parts of the cortical structures. Those brain regions, which included alterations of physiological fluctuation in symptomatic psychosis risk, overlapped <6% with the regions that were found to be affected in the meta-analyses of previous fMRI and VBM studies in schizophrenia patients. Motion did not vary as a function of SIPS. Conclusions: Psychotic-like symptoms were associated with elevated CVBOLD in a variety of brain regions. The CVBOLD findings may produce new information about cerebral physiological fluctuations that have been out of reach in previous fMRI and VBM studies.

Introduction: Evidence has remained scarce whether teaching practices might be linked to students’ educational equality. This study investigated (i) whether student-oriented teaching practices are associated with students’ learning outcomes in mathematics, and (ii) whether student-oriented teaching might increase equality in learning outcomes between students with different backgrounds. Methods: We used the Finnish PISA 2012 data (N=5052–5660) that provides a nationally representative sample of the Finnish 15-year-old students. The data were analyzed using structural equation models. Results: Frequent student-oriented teaching practices were associated with students’ weaker learning outcomes in mathematics. The effect of frequent student-oriented teaching practices was especially negative among students with risky backgrounds (i.e. risky family structure, low family wealth, low maternal education, immigrant status, student’s previous truancy behavior at school). Our additional analyses showed that also frequent inquiry-based teaching practices were related to weaker learning outcomes in science. Discussion and Conclusions: In conclusion, student-oriented teaching practices appear to be linked with students’ weaker learning outcomes in comprehensive school. Student-oriented teaching may expand the gaps in learning outcomes between students coming from different backgrounds., Resumen Introducción: La evidencia ha sido escasa sobre la posible relación de las prácticas de enseñanza con la igualdad educativa de los estudiantes. Este trabajo investigó (i) si las prácticas de enseñanza orientada al alumno están asociadas con los resultados de aprendizaje en matemáti-cas, y (ii) si la de enseñanza orientada al alumno podría aumentar la igualdad en los resultados de aprendizaje entre estudiantes de diferente trasfondo. Método: Utilizamos los datos finlandeses de PISA 2012 (N = 5052–5660), que proporcionan una muestra representativa a nivel nacional de los estudiantes finlandeses de 15 años. Los datos se analizaron utilizando modelos de ecuaciones estructurales. Resultados: Lapráctica frecuente de la enseñanza orientada al alumno se ha asociado con peor resultados de aprendizaje en matemáticas. El efecto de la práctica frecuente de la enseñanza orientada al alumno fue especialmente negativo entre los estudiantes con factores de riesgo (es decir, familia desestructurada, pobreza familiar, bajo nivel de estudios de la madre, condición de inmigrante, previos comportamientos de absentismo escolar). Nuestros análisis adicionales mostraron que la frecuente práctica de enseñanza basada en la indagación también estaba relacionada con peores resultados de aprendizaje en las ciencias naturales. Discusión y conclusión: En conclusión, las prácticas de enseñanza orientada al alumno pare-cen estar vinculadas con peores resultados de aprendizaje de los estudiantes en centros de educación secundaria. La enseñanza orientada al alumno puede ampliar la brecha en los resultados de aprendizaje entre estudiantes de diferentes trasfondos.

This study examined the quality of social interaction with respect to well-being at work and in higher education. Study I examined the association between student counselors’ interpersonal skills and clients’ emotions indicated by heart rate variability. Study II investigated the role of social skills in engagement and burnout among university students. Study III researched the role of social support at work and in private life for work engagement in middle age. Study I was executed in a laboratory setting with students in a counseling psychology course forming ten counselor-client pairs. Counseling skills were measured by video-based analysis, and heart rate variability was assessed in clients using a heart rate monitoring system. Participants in Study II were university students (n = 351) who answered a questionnaire about social skills, study engagement, and study burnout. Study III utilized participants (n = 5,259–5,376) from the Northern Finland birth cohort 1966 study. We used a 46-year follow-up study in our analyses of social support and work engagement. The results revealed that counseling skills were associated with clients’ increased heart rate variability in Study I. Increased heart rate variability reflects the parasympathetic activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which indicates relaxation. Study II showed that social skills were associated with increased engagement and decreased burnout among university students. Higher engagement was also associated with lower burnout. In Study III, results revealed that higher social support at work and in one’s private life was associated with higher work engagement. This research implies that social skills and social support might act as significant resources for emotional well-being and the development of both work and study-related engagement. Moreover, social skills and social support may buffer the risk of burnout. However, since the study was cross-sectional, causal inferences cannot be mad, Tiivistelmä Väitöstutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin vuorovaikutustaitojen sekä sosiaalisen tuen yhteyttä työn imuun ja uupumukseen työ- ja opiskeluympäristöissä. Tutkimuksessa tätä ilmiötä tarkastellaan ohjausvuorovaikutustilanteessa tarkastelemalla ohjaajan vuorovaikutustaitojen vaikutusta ohjattavan emotionaaliseen tilaan. Lisäksi aihetta tutkitaan arvioimalla opiskelijoiden vuorovaikutustaitoja ja selvittämällä niiden yhteyttä opiskeluintoon ja -uupumukseen. Tutkimus myös selvittää ennustaako työssä ja yksityiselämässä koettu sosiaalinen tuki työn imun kokemista. Osatutkimus I toteutettiin laboratorio-olosuhteissa, jossa asiakkaana toimivilta mitattiin sykevälivaihtelua ja ohjaajilta arvioitiin ohjaustaitoja videoanalyysia hyödyntäen. Osallistujina toimivat ohjauksen psykologian opiskelijat, jotka muodostivat kymmenen ohjaaja-asiakas paria. Osatutkimus II aineisto koostui yliopisto-opiskelijoista (n = 351), joille toteutettiin kyselytutkimus opiskelu-uupumukseen, -intoon ja vuorovaikutustaitoihin liittyen. Osatutkimus III:ssa tutkittavat (n = 5,259–5,376) kuuluivat Pohjois-Suomen syntymäkohorttiin, josta hyödynnettiin sosiaaliseen tukeen ja työn imuun liittyviä mittareita. Tulokset osoittivat ohjaustaitojen olevan yhteydessä asiakkaan korkeampaan sykevälivaihteluun. Onnistuneen ohjauksen aikana asiakas rentoutui, mikä näkyi korkeampana sykevälivaihteluna ja parasympaattisena aktiviteettina autonomisessa hermostossa. Tutkimustulokset esittivät, että vuorovaikutustaidot olivat yhteydessä korkeampaan opiskeluintoon ja matalampaan opiskelu-uupumukseen. Sosiaalinen tuki työssä ja yksityiselämässä oli yhteydessä korkeampaan työn imun kokemiseen. Tämän tutkimuksen perusteella näyttää siltä, että vuorovaikutustaidoilla ja sosiaalisella tuella on merkitystä psyykkiselle hyvinvoinnille niin opiskelu- kuin työympäristöissä. Sosiaalinen tuki näyttäisi myös olevan yhteydessä työn imun kokemiseen. Lisäksi sosiaaliset taidot ja tuki voivat suojata uupumusriskiltä. Työpaikoilla olisi

This study (i) conducted a meta-analysis to examine whether relatives of schizophrenia patients (FRs) have structural or functional abnormalities in the brain when compared to healthy controls, (ii) conducted original studies whether familial, genetic, or symptomatic risk for psychosis is related to physiological fluctuation in the brain, and (iii) examined whether those brain-level abnormalities at risk for psychosis overlap with the regions that exhibit abnormalities in schizophrenia patients (using the BrainMap database). In the meta-analysis, we included altogether 39 studies (1639 FRs; 1734 controls) that examined differences between FRs and healthy controls using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In the original studies, we used the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 data (N=140–277). All the participants underwent fMRI scan at rest. Symptomatic risk for psychosis was assessed with a structured psychiatric interview. Familial risk for psychosis was defined on the basis of parents’ previous psychoses. Polygenic risk score for schizophrenia was computed on the basis of previous genome-wide association studies. Physiological fluctuation was measured with the coefficient of variation of the blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) signal (CVBOLD). In the meta-analysis, no differences were found in the gray matter volume. FRs (vs. healthy controls) had higher activity in the right inferior frontal gyrus during cognitive tasks. The alterations in FRs were very restricted when compared to the brain regions affected in schizophrenia patients. In the original studies, symptomatic risk (but not familial or genetic risk) for psychosis was linked to higher physiological fluctuation in such brain regions that overlapped only slightly with the regions that exhibited alterations in schizophrenia patients in previous fMRI studies (using traditional analyzing methods). There may be functional abnormalities during cognitive, Tiivistelmä Tutkimuksessa (i) selvitettiin meta-analyysillä, onko skitsofreniapotilaiden 1. asteen sukulaisilla rakenteellisia tai toiminnallisia poikkeamia aivoissa verrattuna terveisiin kontrolleihin, (ii) tehtiin alkuperäistutkimusta siitä, liittyykö psykoosin familiaalinen, geneettinen tai oirepohjainen riski aivojen fysiologiseen vaihteluun, ja (iii) tutkittiin, sijoittuvatko ko. psykoosiriskiin liittyvät poikkeamat aivoissa päällekkäin niiden alueiden kanssa, joilla ilmenee poikkeamia skitsofreniapotilailla (käyttäen BrainMap-datakantaa). Meta-analyysiin sisältyi yhteensä 39 tutkimusta (1639 skitsofreniapotilaiden sukulaista; 1734 tervettä kontrollia), joissa tutkittiin eroja ryhmien välillä käyttäen vokselipohjaista morfometriaa (VBM) tai toiminnallista magneettikuvantamista (fMRI). Alkuperäistutkimuksissa käytettiin Pohjois-Suomen vuoden 1986 syntymäkohortti -aineistoa (N = 140–277). Oirepohjainen psykoosiriski arvioitiin strukturoidulla psykiatrisella haastattelulla. Familiaalinen riski psykoosille määriteltiin vanhempien psykoositaustan perusteella. Skitsofrenian polygeeninen riski laskettiin aiempien genomilaajuisten tutkimusten pohjalta. Fysiologisen vaihtelun mittarina käytettiin BOLD-signaalin varianssikerrointa (CVBOLD). Meta-analyysissä eroja ei havaittu harmaan aineen tilavuudessa. Skitsofreniapotilaiden sukulaisilla oli korkeampi aktivaatio oikeanpuoleisessa alemmassa otsalohkopoimussa verrattuna terveisiin kontrolleihin. Skitsofreniapotilaiden sukulaisilla havaitut poikkeamat olivat selvästi suppeampia verrattaessa skitsofreniapotilaisiin. Alkuperäistutkimuksissa psykoosin oirepohjainen riski (mutta ei familiaalinen tai geneettinen riski) liittyi korkeampaan fysiologiseen vaihteluun aivoalueilla, jotka olivat vain niukasti päällekkäisiä niiden alueiden kanssa, joilla on havaittu poikkeamia skitsofreniapotilailla aiemmissa fMRI-tutkimuksissa (käyttäen perinteisiä analyysimenetelmiä). Skitsofreniapotilaiden 1. asteen sukulaisilla (vs. terveillä kont

Compassion is known to predict prosocial behavior and moral judgments related to harm. Despite the centrality of compassion to social life, factors predicting adulthood compassion are largely unknown. We examined whether qualities of parent–child-relationship, namely, emotional warmth and acceptance, predict offspring compassion decades later in adulthood. We used data from the prospective population-based Young Finns Study. Our sample included 2,761 participants (55.5% women). Parent–child-relationship qualities were reported by each participant’s parents at baseline in 1980 (T0) when participants were between 3 and 18 years old. Compassion was self-reported 3 times: in 1997 (T1), 2001 (T2), and 2012 (T3) with the Temperament and Character Inventory (Cloninger, Przybeck, Svrakic, & Wetzel, 1994). By using age at the assessment as a time-variant variable, we applied multilevel modeling for repeated measurements to examine developmental trajectories of compassion from the ages of 20 (the age of the youngest cohort at T1) to 50 (the age of the oldest cohort at T3). On average, compassion increased in a curvilinear pattern with age. Higher acceptance (p = .013) and higher emotional warmth (p < .001) were related to higher compassion in adulthood. After adjusting for childhood confounds (i.e., participant gender, birth cohort, externalizing behavior, parental socioeconomic status, and parental mental health problems), only emotional warmth (p < .001) remained a significant predictor of compassion. Quality of the parent–child-relationship has long-term effects on offspring compassion. An emotionally warm and close relationship, in particular, may contribute to higher offspring compassion in adulthood.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate (i) the direction of the relationships between dispositional compassion for others and depressive symptoms over a 15-year follow-up in adulthood and (ii) the longitudinal associations of dispositional compassion with total depressive symptoms and various depressive subsymptoms (i.e. negative attitude, performance difficulties, and somatic complaints) from early adulthood to middle age. Methods: The participants (N = 1676) came from the prospective Young Finns Study. Dispositional compassion was assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory and depressive symptoms with a modified version of the Beck Depression Inventory. The measurements were conducted between 1997−2012 including three measurement points. The data was analyzed using structural equation models and multilevel models for longitudinal design. Results: The predictive relationships were more likely to proceed from high dispositional compassion for others to lower depressive symptoms than in the opposite direction. Additionally, high dispositional compassion predicted a lower total score of depressive symptoms and also lower scores of various depressive subsymptoms (negative attitude, performance difficulties, somatic complaints) in early adulthood. These associations, however, weakened over years and became non-significant in middle age. All the findings were sustained after controlling for age, gender, and socioeconomic factors in childhood and adulthood. Limitations: Depressive symptoms were mostly mild and non-clinical in our sample. The findings cannot be directly generalized to severe depressive symptomatology. Conclusions: When tailoring psychiatric interventions, it is necessary to be aware that compassion for others may lower the risk for the onset and maintenance of depressive symptoms, especially in early adulthood.

Sociability is a widely studied trait that has been linked both with individual well- and ill-being. Although early childcare has been shown to affect social competence in children, its role in the development of different aspects of adulthood sociability is poorly understood. Using a longitudinal population-based sample (N = 464), this study investigated whether childcare arrangements at ages 3 or 6 are associated with self-reported adulthood sociability at ages 20 to 35 years. A total of five aspects of sociability were measured using three well-established personality inventories (EAS, NEO-FFI, and TCI). Multilevel modeling was applied to examine the association between early care and adulthood sociability, adjusting for several sources of random variation (between-individual variance, within-individual variance between measurement times, variance between used sociability indicators, and error variance that cannot be attributed to the previously mentioned) and potential confounders (disruptive behavior in childhood, parental socio-economic status, parent–child relationship quality, maternal age, and the number of children in the family). Based on our results, in comparison to home care, family daycare and center-based daycare at age 3 and center-based daycare at age 6 were associated with higher sociability later in life. The association was strongest for aspects of sociability that emphasize the willingness to be surrounded by other people and to be attached to them. In other words, characteristics of early care may contribute uniquely to the development of these aspects of sociability with effects that persist into adult life.