Browsing by Author "Becker, Stephen P."
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Item Disentangling the effects of attentional difficulties on fears of social evaluation and social anxiety symptoms: Unique interactions with sluggish cognitive tempo(Pergamon, 2020) Fredrick, Joseph W.; Becker, Stephen P.; Kofler, Michael J.; Jarrett, Matthew A.; Burns, G. Leonard; Luebbe, Aaron M.; Miami University; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; University of Cincinnati; Florida State University; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa; Washington State UniversityAlthough fears of negative and positive social evaluation are hallmark cognitive features of social anxiety, attentional difficulties may exacerbate the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety. Thus, the goal of the current study was to test whether two different types of self-reported attentional difficulties, specifically sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) inattention symptoms, moderate the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety. Participants (N = 4756; Mage = 19.28 years; 72.7% female) enrolled in five universities across the United States completed self-report measures of fears of negative and positive evaluation and psychopathology symptoms. Results indicated a significant two-way interaction of fear of negative evaluation and SCT in relation to social anxiety symptoms, as well as a significant two-way interaction of fear of positive evaluation and SCT in relation to social anxiety symptoms. In both instances, the associations between fears of negative and positive evaluation in relation to social anxiety became increasingly stronger at higher levels of SCT. Conversely, the interactions between fears of negative and positive evaluation with ADHD inattentive symptoms were non-significant. These results are the first to report that self-reported SCT, but not ADHD inattentive symptoms, exacerbate the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety, and suggest that attentional difficulties characteristic of SCT may prolong engagement in fears.Item Factor Structure and Criterion Validity of the Five Cs Model of Positive Youth Development in a Multi-University Sample of College Students(Springer, 2019) Dvorsky, Melissa R.; Kofler, Michael J.; Burns, G. Leonard; Luebbe, Aaron M.; Garner, Annie A.; Jarrett, Matthew A.; Soto, Elia F.; Becker, Stephen P.; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; University of California San Francisco; Florida State University; Washington State University; Miami University; Saint Louis University; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa; University of CincinnatiThere is growing recognition that clinical and developmental outcomes will be optimized by interventions that harness strengths in addition to ameliorating deficits. Although empirically-supported methods for identifying strengths are available for children and adolescents, this framework has yet to be applied to emerging adulthood. This study evaluates the nature of the Five Cs model of Positive Youth Development (PYD) - character, confidence, competence, connection, and caring - in a sample of emerging adults from six universities (N=4654; 70% female; 81% White). Historically, PYD has been modeled as either separate correlated factors or a second-order factor structure. More recently, the bifactor model has been recommended to determine the degree to which PYD is unidimensional versus multidimensional. The present study examined the multidimensionality of PYD by comparing the model fit of a one-factor, five-correlated factor model, and second-order factor structure with a bifactor model and found support for the bifactor model with evidence of invariance across sex. Criterion validity was also assessed using three criterion measures particularly relevant for adjustment during emerging adulthood: anxiety, depressive symptoms, and emotion regulation difficulties. PYD and the residual Cs tended to correlate negatively with indicators of maladaptive development. Future directions including applications of the PYD framework as a measure of thriving across emerging adulthood are discussed.Item The Internal, External, and Diagnostic Validity of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo: A Meta-Analysis and Critical Review(Elsevier, 2016) Becker, Stephen P.; Leopold, Daniel R.; Burns, G. Leonard; Jarrett, Matthew A.; Langberg, Joshua M.; Marshall, Stephen A.; McBurnett, Keith; Waschbusch, Daniel A.; Willcutt, Erik G.; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; University of Cincinnati; University of Colorado Boulder; Washington State University; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa; Virginia Commonwealth University; Ohio University; University of California San Francisco; Pennsylvania State University; Penn State HealthObjective: To conduct the first meta-analysis evaluating the internal and external validity of the sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) construct as related to or distinct from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and as associated with functional impairment and neuropsychological functioning. Method: Electronic databases were searched through September 2015 for studies examining the factor structure and/or correlates of SCT in children or adults. The search procedures identified 73 papers. The core SCT behaviors included across studies, as well as factor loadings and reliability estimates, were reviewed to evaluate internal validity. Pooled correlation effect sizes using random effects models were used to evaluate SCT in relation to external validity domains (i.e., demographics, other psychopathologies, functional impairment, and neuropsychological functioning). Results: Strong support was found for the internal validity of the SCT construct. Specifically, across factor analytic studies including more than 19,000 individuals, 13 SCT items loaded consistently on an SCT factor as opposed to an ADHD factor. Findings also support the reliability (i.e., internal consistency, test retest reliability, interrater reliability) of SCT. In terms of external validity, there is some indication that SCT may increase with age (r = 0.11) and be associated with lower socioeconomic status (r = 0.10). Modest (potentially negligible) support was found for SCT symptoms being higher in males than females in children (r = 0.05) but not in adults. SCT is more strongly associated with ADHD inattention (r=0.63 in children, r = 0.72 in adults) than with ADHD hyperactivity-impulsivity (r = 0.32 in children, r = 0.46 in adults), and it likewise appears that SCT is more strongly associated with internalizing symptoms than with externalizing symptoms. SCT is associated with significant global, social, and academic impairment (r = 0.38-0.44). Effects for neuropsychological functioning are mixed, although there is initial support for SCT being associated with processing speed, sustained attention, and meta cognitive deficits. Conclusion: This meta-analytic review provides strong support for the internal validity of SCT and preliminary support for the external validity of SCT. In terms of diagnostic validity, there is currently not enough evidence to describe SCT in diagnostic terms. Key directions for future research are discussed, including evaluating the conceptualization of SCT as a transdiagnostic construct and the need for longitudinal research.Item Sleep in a large, multi-university sample of college students: sleep problem prevalence, sex differences, and mental health correlates(Elsevier, 2018) Becker, Stephen P.; Jarrett, Matthew A.; Luebbe, Aaron M.; Garner, Annie A.; Burns, G. Leonard; Kofler, Michael J.; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; University of Cincinnati; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa; Miami University; Saint Louis University; Washington State University; Florida State UniversityObjectives: To (1) describe sleep problems in a large, multi-university sample of college students; (2) evaluate sex differences; and (3) examine the unique associations of mental health symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder inattention [ADHD-IN], ADHD hyperactivity-impulsivity [ADHD-HI]) in relation to sleep problems. Methods: 7,626 students (70% female; 81% White) ages 18-29 years (M = 19.14, SD = 1.42) from six universities completed measures assessing mental health symptoms and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: A substantial minority of students endorsed sleep problems across specific sleep components. Specifically, 27% described their sleep quality as poor, 36% reported obtaining less than 7 hours of sleep per night, and 43% reported that it takes >30 minutes to fall asleep at least once per week. 62% of participants met cut-off criteria for poor sleep, though rates differed between females (64%) and males (57%). In structural regression models, both anxiety and depression symptoms were uniquely associated with disruptions in most PSQI sleep component domains. However, anxiety (but not depression) symptoms were uniquely associated with more sleep disturbances and sleep medication use, whereas depression (but not anxiety) symptoms were uniquely associated with increased daytime dysfunction. ADHD-IN symptoms were uniquely associatedwith poorer sleep quality and increased daytime dysfunction, whereas ADHD-HI symptoms were uniquely associated with more sleep disturbances and less daytime dysfunction. Lastly, ADHD-IN, anxiety, and depression symptoms were each independently associated with poor sleep status. Conclusions: This study documents a high prevalence of poor sleep among college students, some sex differences, and distinct patterns of mental health symptoms in relation to sleep problems. (c) 2018 National Sleep Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Item Sluggish cognitive tempo and ADHD symptoms in relation to task-unrelated thought: Examining unique links with mind-wandering and rumination(Pergamon, 2020) Fredrick, Joseph W.; Kofler, Michael J.; Jarrett, Matthew A.; Burns, G. Leonard; Luebbe, Aaron M.; Garner, Annie A.; Harmon, Sherelle L.; Becker, Stephen P.; Miami University; Florida State University; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa; Washington State University; Saint Louis University; Harvard University; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; University of CincinnatiRecent theoretical and empirical evidence highlights associations between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and task-unrelated thought, including mind-wandering and rumination. However, it has been hypothesized that sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT), characterized by daydreaming and staring behaviors, may uniquely relate to task-unrelated thought. The purpose of the present study was to test whether SCT symptoms are associated with greater mind-wandering and rumination, and whether this association remains when controlling for ADHD and internalizing symptoms. Participants (N = 4679; 18-29 years; 69% female; 80.9% White) enrolled in six universities in the United States completed measures of SCT, ADHD symptoms, internalizing symptoms, and rumination, as well as two scales used to assess mind-wandering. Although ADHD symptoms were correlated with greater self-reported mind-wandering and rumination, relations with mind-wandering on the daydreaming frequency scale, reflective rumination, and brooding rumination were attenuated when controlling for SCT and internalizing symptoms. Above and beyond other psychopathology dimensions, SCT symptoms were uniquely associated with greater self-reported mind-wandering and both reflective and brooding rumination. Additionally, SCT symptoms were more strongly associated than other psychopathology dimensions with the mind-wandering measure of daydreaming frequency. Results provide the first empirical support for unique and robust associations between SCT symptoms and task-unrelated thought, while suggesting that the link between ADHD and mind-wandering may be less robust than previously suggested.Item Sluggish cognitive tempo and personality: Links to BIS/BAS sensitivity and the five factor model(Elsevier, 2018) Becker, Stephen P.; Schmitt, Aidan P.; Jarrett, Matthew A.; Luebbe, Aaron M.; Garner, Annie A.; Epstein, Jeffery N.; Burns, G. Leonard; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; University of Cincinnati; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa; Miami University; Saint Louis University; Washington State UniversityWe evaluated sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptoms in relation to personality as assessed via both the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (BIS/BAS) and Five Factor (Big 5) Model of personality. 3172 students from five universities completed psychopathology, BIS/BAS, and Big 5 measures. Correlations and path models with SCT, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) dimensions, and anxiety/depression in relation to personality were examined. SCT evidenced a different pattern of relations to adult personality than ADHD and anxiety/depression. SCT was significantly uniquely associated with higher BIS and Neuroticism, as well as higher BAS Fun-Seeking. SCT was uniquely associated with lower Extraversion and Conscientiousness. This study provides the first evidence linking SCT to adult personality and underscores the importance of differentiating SCT from both ADHD and anxiety/depression. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Item Sluggish Cognitive Tempo in Adults: Psychometric Validation of the Adult Concentration Inventory(American Psychological Association, 2018) Becker, Stephen P.; Burns, G. Leonard; Garner, Annie A.; Jarrett, Matthew A.; Luebbe, Aaron M.; Epstein, Jeffery N.; Willcutt, Erik G.; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; University of Cincinnati; Washington State University; Saint Louis University; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa; Miami University; University of Colorado BoulderAs interest in sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) increases, a primary limitation for the field is the lack of a unified set of symptoms for assessing SCT. No existing SCT measure includes all items identified in a recent meta-analysis as optimal for distinguishing between SCT and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) inattention. This study evaluates a new self-report measure for assessing SCT in adulthood, the Adult Concentration Inventory (ACI), which was developed in response to the meta-analytic findings for assessing SCT. Using a large, multiuniversity sample (N = 3,172), we evaluated the convergent and discriminant validity and reliability of the ACI. We also evaluated the ACI measure of SCT in relation to self-reported demographic characteristics, daily life executive functioning, socioemotional adjustment (i.e., anxiety/depression, loneliness, emotion dysregulation, self-esteem), and functional impairment. Exploratory confirmatory factor analyses resulted in 10 ACI items demonstrating strong convergent and discriminant validity from both anxiety/depressive and ADHD inattentive symptom dimensions. SCT was moderately to-strongly correlated with daily life EF deficits, poorer socioemotional adjustment, and greater global functional impairment. Moreover, SCT remained uniquely associated in structural regression analyses with most of these external criterion domains above and beyond ADHD. Finally, when internalizing symptoms were also covaried, SCT, but not ADHD inattention, remained significantly associated with poorer socioemotional adjustment. These findings support the use of the ACI in future studies examining SCT in adulthood and make a major contribution in moving the field toward a unified set of SCT items that can be used across studies. Public Significance Statement This study provides initial validation of a new self-report measure for assessing sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptoms in adults, the Adult Concentration Inventory (ACI), and moves the field toward a unified set of SCT items that can be used in both research and clinical settings.