Child Ability and Parental Attributions: Development and Validation of the Reasons for Children's Behavior Scale.

Parent attributions for children's behavior affect parenting practices and emotional reactions. The current study aimed to create a new measure of parental attributions, called the Reasons for Children's Behavior (RCB), to capture how parents take developmental ability into account when making attributions for specific behaviors. A 224-item survey was completed by 836 participants, including original items and established parent attribution and parenting construct scales. Exploratory factor analyses and item-response theory analyses were utilized to develop the RCB, which includes 30 items comprising seven subscales. The RCB demonstrated an extremely stable factor structure, high levels of internal consistency across 25 demographic groups, reasonable test-retest correlations across 2 weeks, appropriate convergent and discriminant validity, and unique predictive validity (i.e., incremental validity). The RCB offers researchers and clinicians a novel tool to better understand how parent attributions for child behavior impact parenting and larger family dynamics.

Focusing the Conceptualization of Erotophilia and Erotophobia on Global Attitudes Toward Sex: Development and Validation of the Sex Positivity-Negativity Scale.

Previous measures of erotophobia/erotophilia like the Sexual Opinion Survey (SOS) assessed gut-level positive-negative affective and evaluative reactions to a wide range of sexual stimuli, resulting in purposefully diverse item content. Although an effective strategy, the item content of existing erotophilia/erotophobia scales is now potentially too generalized, encompassing what have since developed as an array of more focused constructs in the current literature like attitudes toward (1) casual sex, (2) pornography, (3) non-heterosexual orientations (e.g., homophobia), and (4) masturbation. The current study therefore sought to evaluate existing scales and to develop a conceptually focused measure of sex-positivity and sex-negativity using a distinct strategy designed to obviate the need for overly generalized (and potentially imbalanced or confounding) item content. Using responses from 2205 online respondents (82% Caucasian, 66% heterosexual, and 50% female) completing an item pool of 158 items, the current study employed a combination of classic test-theory analyses (e.g., exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses) and item response theory analyses to develop a psychometrically optimized scale-the Sex Positivity-Negativity (SPN) scale. The SPN scale demonstrated: (1) a stable 2-subscale structure distinguishing sex-negativity from sex-positivity, (2) consistently high levels of internal consistency across 31 demographic subsamples, (3) more discriminant than convergent validity with existing erotophilia scales given its novel focus, (4) discriminant validity with more specific sexual attitudes, (5) greater levels of power and precision for detecting differences between individuals, (6) stronger links to individual, sexual, and relationship functioning than existing scales, and (7) incremental validity over the SOS for predicting change in relationship dynamics over 6 months. The findings therefore suggested that the SPN scale is a conceptually focused measure of sex-positivity and sex-negativity offering researchers a comparatively short and effective tool. Implications are discussed.

Clarifying Anticipated Feelings of Jealousy: Development and Validation of the Anticipated Jealousy Scale.

This study examined the construct of anticipated jealousy, conceptually clarifying the components of this construct and creating an optimized scale. Total of 18 items from three widely used self-report measures of jealousy (Multidimensional Jealousy Scale-Emotional Subscale, Anticipated Sexual Jealousy Scale, and Chronic Jealousy Scale) and additional 11 potential anticipated jealousy items were given to 1852 individuals in relationships. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and item response theory (IRT) analyses were used to develop and evaluate the Anticipated Jealousy Scale (AJS). By augmenting the item pool, the results highlighted that anticipated jealousy could take two distinct forms: (1) sexual-getting upset over thoughts of a partner engaging in sexual activity with someone else and (2) possessive-getting upset over a partner forming friendships and emotional bonds with others. IRT analyses helped identify the five most effective items for assessing each of those domains to create the AJS. Results suggested that the subscales of the AJS offered greater precision and power in detecting meaningful differences among respondents than the existing measures, representing short yet psychometrically optimized scales. The AJS subscales demonstrated strong convergent validity with other measures of anticipated sexual and possessive jealousy, and excellent construct and discriminant validity with anchor scales from the nomological net surrounding the construct. Finally, regression analyses demonstrated distinct predictors and correlates for anticipated sexual jealousy, anticipated possessive jealousy, and chronic jealousy. Given the potential utility in distinguishing between the many forms of jealousy, AJS offers an optimized scale measuring anticipated sexual and possessive jealousy.

Love in the Time of COVID-19: A Multi-Wave Study Examining the Salience of Sexual and Relationship Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The current study used Family Systems Theory as a framework to clarify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual, romantic, and individual functioning. Specifically, sexual and romantic functioning were modeled as key mechanisms linking COVID-19 related stressors (as predictors) to aspects of individual functioning over time (as outcomes). A sample of 1,241 sexually active adults in relationships (47% married/engaged) was recruited from March 5 to May 5, 2020: 82% White, 66% women, M = 34 years old, 58% heterosexual. All participants completed a baseline survey and 642 participants completed at least one of the six, monthly, follow-up surveys. Multilevel SEM models evaluated the model both at the level of stable between-person differences (i.e., level 2) and at the level of within-person change across time (i.e., level 1). The findings suggested that COVID-19 related stress was predictive of lower sexual, romantic, and individual functioning in both levels of the model. Significant indirect paths supported the proposed mediation at the level of within-person change across time: elevations in COVID-19 stress within specific months predicted corresponding drops in sexual functioning, which in turn predicted corresponding drops in romantic functioning, which in turn predicted corresponding drops in individual well-being (highlighting points of intervention). In contrast, at the level of between-person differences, stable levels of sexual and relationship satisfaction across the 6 months of the study were not associated with stable levels of COVID-19 stressors (representing sources of resilience that promoted well-being) and stable levels of stress from social isolation predicted stably higher amounts of communicating affection to one's loved ones (suggesting a need for affiliation in the face of chronic stress) whereas stable difficulties with orgasms were linked to stable irritability toward partners and depressive symptoms. Multigroup analyses suggested that the findings generalized across gender, age, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, relationship stage, and cohabitation groups. Spillover effects within a Family Systems Theory framework clarify how upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic could have impacted sexual, romantic, and individual functioning in a process-oriented framework, highlighting sources of resilience (sexual satisfaction, communicating affection) and risk (orgasm difficulties).

The Couple Flourishing Measure.

Couple satisfaction has been extensively investigated, but little attention has been paid to the nature and assessment of high-quality, flourishing couple relationships. Particularly, current measures of relationship quality are insensitive at the upper end of the continuum, which in turn hinders progress toward understanding and facilitating flourishing couple relationships. Drawing on concepts developed in positive psychology, we proposed a theoretical framework of couple flourishing that incorporates hedonic and eudemonic components. Items to assess these aspects of couple flourishing were generated and administered online to a sample of 1,116 participants. Using combined methods of classical test theory and item response theory (IRT), we selected the most informative items to form 4-, 8-, 16-item versions of a Couple Flourishing Measure (CFM). IRT analyses show that the CFM discriminated variation at the upper range of relationship quality better than widely used measures of relationship satisfaction. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that couple flourishing was related to, but distinguishable from, relationship satisfaction. In an independent sample of 330 participants, we replicated the unifactorial structure of the CFM, and the distinguishability of couple flourishing from couple satisfaction. This research offers new insight into the concept of relationship flourishing. The sensitivity of the CFM at the high end of relationship quality makes it possible to test for predictors of relationship flourishing and evaluate interventions that seek to enhance flourishing.

La satisfacción en la pareja se ha investigado exhaustivamente, pero se ha prestado poca atención a la índole y a la evaluación de las relaciones de pareja de alta calidad y prósperas. Particularmente, los instrumentos de medición actuales de la calidad de las relaciones no captan el extremo superior del proceso, lo cual a su vez obstaculiza el avance hacia la comprensión y la facilitación de las relaciones de pareja prósperas. Utilizando conceptos desarrollados en la psicología positiva, propusimos un marco teórico de prosperidad de la pareja que incorpora componentes hedónicos y eudemónicos. Los ítems para evaluar estos aspectos de la prosperidad de la pareja se generaron y se administraron en línea a una muestra de 1116 participantes. Utilizando métodos combinados de la teoría clásica de las evaluaciones y la teoría de respuesta a ítems, elegimos los ítems más informativos para formar versiones de 4, 8 y 16 ítems de un instrumento de medición de la prosperidad de la pareja. Los análisis de la teoría de respuesta a ítems indican que el instrumento de medición de la prosperidad de la pareja discriminó mejor la variación en el rango superior de la calidad de la relación que los instrumentos de medición de la satisfacción en la relación de uso generalizado. El análisis factorial confirmatorio indicó que la prosperidad de la pareja estuvo relacionada con la satisfacción en la relación, pero se diferenció de ella. En una muestra independiente de 330 participantes, reprodujimos la estructura unifactorial del instrumento de medición de la prosperidad de la pareja, y la diferenciación de la prosperidad de la pareja respecto de la satisfacción en la pareja. Esta investigación ofrece nuevos conocimientos sobre el concepto de prosperidad de la relación. La sensibilidad del instrumento de medición de la prosperidad de la pareja en el extremo superior de la calidad de la relación hace posible analizar los predictores de la prosperidad de la relación y evaluar las intervenciones orientadas a mejorar la prosperidad.

Is Tinder-Grindr Use Risky? Distinguishing Venue from Individuals' Behavior as Unique Predictors of Sexual Risk.

Geosocial networking apps (GSN; e.g., Tinder, Grindr) have rapidly increased in popularity, showing associations with greater sexual risk-taking. This study sought to distinguish between risks associated with intensive partner-seeking (i.e., individuals seeking out casual sex frequently across many venues) and risks associated with specific venues (e.g., GSNs, dating websites, offline activities). Expanding upon a literature predominantly focused on the population of men who have sex with men (MSM), we recruited a broader range of sexual identities. A convenience sample of 3180 participants from the U.S. (18-75 years old, 69% female, 75% Caucasian, 68% heterosexual) completed an anonymous, cross-sectional online survey. Logistic regressions yielded adjusted odds ratios highlighting the unique links between each predictor and sexual risk-taking. MSM/WSW indicators, quantity of partner-seeking and specific venues-particularly GSN use-emerged as robust predictors of sexual risk, increasing the odds of reporting all six outcomes examined: (1) having three or more sex partners in the last year, (2) having hookups in the last 2 months, (3) having hookups involving alcohol or (4) drug use, (5) condomless sexual activity with new partners in the last 2 months, and (6) ever having had a sexually transmitted infection. Although a large portion of risk originated from the proclivities of the individuals seeking casual sex, both online and offline methods of partner-seeking also contributed significant risk, suggesting that specific venues like GSN apps could be used as methods of targeting higher-risk behaviors. The results also highlight the importance of moving beyond MSM when addressing sexual risk.

Identifying Basic Classes of Sexual Orientation with Latent Profile Analysis: Developing the Multivariate Sexual Orientation Classification System.

Despite considerable progress, research on sexual minorities has been hindered by a lack of clarity and consistency in defining sexual minority groups. Further, despite recent recommendations to assess the three main dimensions of sexual orientation-identity, behavior, and attraction-it remains unclear how best to integrate such multivariate information to define discrete sexual orientation groups, particularly when identity and behavior fail to match. The current study used a data-driven approach to identify a parsimonious set of sexual orientation classes. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was run within a large (N = 3182) and sexually diverse sample, using dimensions of sexual identity, behavior, and attraction as predictors. LPAs supported four fundamental sexual orientation classes not only in the overall sample, but also when conducted separately in men (n = 980) and women (n = 2175): heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, and heteroflexible (a class representing individuals who self-identify as heterosexual or mostly heterosexual but report moderate same-sex sexual behavior and attraction). Heterosexuals reported the highest levels of psychological functioning and lowest risk behaviors. Homosexuals showed similarly high levels of psychological functioning to heterosexuals, but higher levels of risk behaviors. Bisexuals and heteroflexibles showed similarly low levels of psychological functioning and high risk taking. To facilitate applications of this classification approach, the study developed the Multivariate Sexual Orientation Classification System, reproducing the four LPA groups with 97% accuracy (kappa = .95) using just two items. Implications of this classification approach are discussed.

Out Drinking the Joneses: Neighborhood Factors Moderating the Effects of Drinking on Relationship Quality over the First Four Years of Marriage.

Neighborhood quality has been cross-sectionally linked to both relationship behaviors and relationship well-being. Consistent with the Vulnerability Stress-Adaptation model of relationship functioning (Karney & Bradbury, 1995), we hypothesized that associations between social behaviors (e.g., drinking) and relationship quality could be moderated by neighborhood factors. Specifically, we characterized neighborhoods along multiple dimensions using multiple methods (self-report, census) to investigate how neighborhood factors might clarify ambiguous effects of alcohol use on marital functioning. A nationally recruited sample of 303 newlywed couples completed a baseline assessment around the time of marriage and was then assessed yearly across the first 4 years of marriage (94% retention). Three level HLM slope-intercept models were used to model changes in relationship satisfaction across the first 4 years of marriage. Results suggested that, for couples living in highly disordered neighborhoods, positive shifts in overall levels of drinking within specific waves of assessment were associated with corresponding negative shifts in satisfaction whereas in neighborhoods without perceived disorder, this effect was reversed. For couples living in neighborhoods with low levels of domestic structures (high census rates of single renters without children), within-couple discrepancies favoring higher rates of husband drinking in specific waves predicted poorer relationship quality for both partners in those same waves whereas those same discrepancies predicted higher satisfaction in high domesticity neighborhoods (high census rates of married homeowners with children). The findings provide insight into the different roles of alcohol use in relationship maintenance and highlight the importance of using external context to understand intradyadic processes.

Evaluating and Refining the Construct of Sexual Quality With Item Response Theory: Development of the Quality of Sex Inventory.

This study took a critical look at the construct of sexual quality. The 65 items of four well-validated self-report measures of sexual satisfaction (the Index of Sexual Satisfaction [ISS], Hudson, Harrison, & Crosscup, 1981; the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction [GMSEX], Lawrance & Byers, 1995; the Pinney Sexual Satisfaction Inventory [PSSI], Pinney, Gerrard, & Denney, 1987; the Young Sexual Satisfaction Scale [YSSS], Young, Denny, Luquis, & Young, 1998) and an additional 74 potential sexual quality items were given to 3060 online participants. Using Item Response Theory (IRT), we demonstrated that the ISS, YSSS, and PSSI scales provided suboptimal levels of precision in assessing sexual quality, particularly given the length of those scales. Exploratory factor analyses, IRT, differential item functioning analyses, and longitudinal responsiveness analyses were used to develop and evaluate the Quality of Sex Inventory. Results suggested that, in comparison to existing scales, the QSI (1) offers investigators and clinicians more theoretically focused scales, (2) distinguishes sexual satisfaction from sexual dissatisfaction, and (3) offers greater precision and power for detecting differences with (4) comparably high levels of responsiveness for detecting change over time despite being notably shorter than most of the existing scales. The QSI-satisfaction subscales demonstrated strong convergent validity with other measures of sexual satisfaction and excellent construct validity with anchor scales from the nomological net surrounding that construct, suggesting that they continue to assess the same theoretical construct as prior scales. Implications for research are discussed.

Delving Beyond Conscious Attitudes: Validation of an Innovative Tool for Assessing Parental Implicit Attitudes toward Physical Punishment.

Parenting scholars have long been interested in understanding the prevalence, determinants, and child outcomes associated with the use of physical discipline. To date, much of the empirical research in this area has utilized self-report measures to assess this construct. However, the subjective nature of participants' explicit reports presents an important confound to studying this issue. Thus, the overarching aim of this study was to provide the first test of an implicit assessment of physical discipline through using a Go/No-go Association Task (GNAT). A GNAT-Physical Discipline was developed and examined in two separate studies of mothers and their 2-3 year old child. One study was conducted in an online format and the second within a laboratory design. Across both studies, findings suggested that the GNAT-Physical Discipline distinguished between positive and negative implicit attitudes towards the use of physical discipline. In addition, negative implicit attitudes were uniquely linked to maternal reports of physical discipline when compared to other discipline practices. Results suggest the potential for the GNAT paradigm in research on parental attitudes around the use of physical discipline in parenting contexts. In addition, our use of an online format (with implicit assessments of key constructs) demonstrates that child and family researchers may be able to explore their hypotheses in larger, geographically diverse samples.

Examining domains of psychological flexibility and inflexibility as treatment mechanisms in acceptance and commitment therapy: A comprehensive systematic and meta-analytic review.

The current systematic and meta-analytic review sought to integrate a growing number of studies examining dimensions of psychological flexibility as treatment mechanisms for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Analyses of 77 records (67 unique studies; Ntotal = 9123 participants) from comprehensive searches of multiple databases suggested that ACT interventions led to reduced inflexibility (i.e., lowered global inflexibility, lack of present moment awareness, cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance, self-as-content, & inaction) and increased flexibility (i.e., committed action/contact with values, global flexibility/acceptance, & defusion). Those changes remained significant when ACT was compared with waitlist or active treatments and were significantly linked to corresponding drops in psychological distress, supporting their roles as ACT treatment mechanisms. Moderation analyses revealed that the use of student samples, exclusion of clinically symptomatic individuals, and comparisons of ACT with other active treatments weakened these effects whereas offering ACT as an individual therapy and excluding individuals in extreme crisis (i.e., with suicidal ideation) strengthened them. The meta-analytic findings and systematic review suggested specific recommendations for future clinical work and research on ACT mechanisms: (1) Evaluate both psychological flexibility and inflexibility as distinct treatment mechanisms, (2) Evaluate specific dimensions of psychological flexibility/inflexibility as mechanisms with multidimensional scales (CompACT, MPFI), (3) Broaden treatment outcomes to include forms of wellbeing (peace of mind, vitality, connectedness), (4) Assess mechanisms and outcomes repeatedly throughout treatment to model the process of therapeutic change, (5) Investigate non-specific factors (therapeutic alliance, treatment adherence) as mechanisms, and (6) Explore treatment mechanisms in effectiveness studies.

Connection at your fingertips: A first look at the Agapé app's contributions to healthy relationships.

Although a range of relationship enhancement interventions have shown benefits, programs involving trained facilitators are difficult to scale and self-directed programs tend to suffer from low rates of adherence (i.e., nonuse/disuse attrition). The present study evaluated Agapé, a relationship wellness smartphone app optimized for broad dissemination through 4 years of persuasive system design driven by user feedback. Agapé builds moments of connection by providing daily prompts to couples and then showing them one another's answers when both partners have responded. To evaluate Agapé, a single-arm, pilot study followed 405 couples (n = 810 partners; 68% non-Latinx White; 50% female; Mage = 29; 50% cohabiting; 31% married; 33% dissatisfied/distressed) through their first month of using the app. Agapé had high engagement (99%, completing M = 27 daily prompts dyadically) and 88% of couples provided follow-up data. The results among completers supported the acceptability, feasibility, and utility of Agapé, suggesting that partners found the app easy (74%) and enjoyable (93%) to use, particularly if they perceived their partners to be responsive. Most partners saw improvement in their relationships (80%) and in their individual well-being (70%). Repeated-measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) revealed significant within-person improvement on relationship functioning (decreases in relationship negative qualities and increases in relationship satisfaction, relationship positive qualities, and dedication) and on individual functioning (increases in vitality and quality of life with decreases in psychological distress and depressive symptoms) among completers (Cohen's ds ranging from |.14 to .42|). Dosage effects demonstrated that gains in relationship quality were stronger for couples completing more daily prompts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Characterizing Life Stress Exposure Among Sexual Minority Adolescents: Temporality, Content, And Mediating Role in Mental Health Disparities.

Though sexual minority adolescents face a wide array of deleterious stressors, few studies have examined the role of specific types of stress exposure (i.e., chronic vs. episodic, interpersonal vs. non-interpersonal) on mental health disparities. This study utilizes a contextual threat-based assessment to (a) compare levels of stress exposure types between sexual minority and non-sexual minority adolescents, and (b) examine stress type as a mediator between sexual orientation and two outcomes: depressive symptoms and emotion dysregulation. Data comes from a longitudinal sample (14-17 years-old, N = 241; 17.6% sexual minority; 54% assigned female at birth; 73.9% White), with two time-points (T1 and T2) utilized. Sexual minority adolescents reported higher chronic interpersonal stress, but no differences in non-interpersonal chronic or episodic stress, relative to non-sexual minority adolescents. Chronic interpersonal stress exposure mediated the link between membership in an oppressed group (i.e., sexual minority teens) and the primary outcomes (emotion dysregulation and depressive symptoms) at both T1 and T2. Findings demonstrate the utility of contextual threat-based assessments within sexual minority research.

COVID-related stressors and their impact on parental sleep, parenting behaviors, and child functioning.

This longitudinal study examined the impact on families of multiple stressors that emerged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, we modeled the indirect effects of three stressors (i.e., the stress of new childcare and work demands, financial stress, and health-related stress assessed within the first month of the pandemic in the United States) on children's functioning over the next 8 weeks via the mediating pathways of parental sleep quality and two forms of parenting (i.e., angry/hostile, constructive). The longitudinal sample of 701 parents (81.5% female; Mage = 41.7, SD = 8.2) reported an average of 1.8 children (SD = 1.0) living in the home (Mage = 9.8 years old, SD = 5.8 years). Multilevel results suggested that, at the within-families level (Level 1), drops in parental sleep on a specific week predicted corresponding increases in angry/hostile parenting, which predicted increases in children's distress during that same week. At the between-families level (Level 2), baseline levels of stress from new demands were predictive of stably higher levels of angry/hostile parenting, which predicted stably higher levels of children's distress across the 8 weeks of the study. Furthermore, baseline health-related stress and financial stress predicted lower stable levels of parental sleep quality, which predicted higher stable levels of children's distress. Finally, health-related stress predicted lower levels of parental sleep quality, which predicted higher levels of angry/hostile parenting, which predicted higher levels of children's distress. Findings highlight the important role that parents' sleep plays in both parenting and children's functioning during periods of high stress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

The impact of psychological flexibility on family dynamics amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal perspective.

Background: Health risks associated with contracting COVID-19, stay-at-home orders, and pandemic-related economic and social hardships created unique challenges for individuals throughout the pandemic, and in particular for families whose daily routines were disrupted at the start of the pandemic. This study applied a contextual behavioral science lens to Family Systems Theory to examine the impact of COVID-19 stressors on family and individual functioning. Methods: A sample of 742 coparents (86% married/engaged; 84% Caucasian; 71% female; M = 40.7 years old, SD = 8.1; M income = $82,435, SD income = $27,604) of school-aged children (5-18 years old) completed a baseline survey from late March to late April 2020. Of the initial sample, 556 coparents completed weekly diaries for 8 weeks. Results: Mediation models were tested within a multilevel path modeling framework to evaluate both the stable, between-family differences (i.e., at level 2) and the within-family changes from week to week (i.e., at level 1). Across both levels of the model, parent psychological inflexibility was robustly linked to poorer functioning across all levels of the family system, showing direct links to a majority of the processes assessed. The results further supported a top-down spillover cascade in which parent inflexibility was proximally linked to greater COVID-19 related stress and parent depressive symptoms, which were proximally linked to poorer romantic functioning (greater negative conflict, lower satisfaction), which were proximally linked to poorer family functioning (greater coparent discord and family chaos), which were proximally linked to poorer parenting (greater angry/reactive parenting), which was proximally linked to greater child distress. Multi-group models suggested that the results were largely stable across (1) parent race (white vs non-white), (2) family size (1 child vs 2 or more), (3) child age (less than 10 years old vs 10 or older), (4) parent age (under 40 vs. 40 or older), (5) perceived COVID-19 risk, (6) parent gender (mothers vs fathers), (7) household income groups (less than $100k vs $100k or more), and (8) perceived economic stress/uncertainty (low vs high). However, a handful of moderated effects emerged from those multi-group models suggesting that fathers might be slightly more prone to negative spillover effects across the family systems and that wealthier families might have experienced the stress of new demands (e.g., homeschooling, remote working) as more disruptive. Conclusions: Results highlight the crucial role parental psychological flexibility and inflexibility play in families managing the stress of COVID-19, as well as key mechanisms for how those stressors may either reverberate or become dampened throughout the family system.

The development of a scale to assess children's and adolescents' sleep environments.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To develop a measure of children's sleep environments and to assess its initial reliability and validity. METHODS: This cross-sectional study consisted of an online survey for parents of children ages 5-18 years across the United States. A total of 840 parents/caregivers (Mage = 40.6 years, standard deviation = 8.6; 72.0% female) completed surveys regarding a target child (Mage = 10.4 years, standard deviation = 3.8). The items on the scale that was developed were evaluated with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in separate random sample halves of the dataset. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were calculated to assess internal consistency across multiple demographic groups. We explored convergent and discriminant validity by examining associations with measures from the nomological net of constructs surrounding the children's sleep environment. Finally, we examined incremental/unique predictive validity of the full scale and its subscales through regression analyses. RESULTS: The Children's and Adolescents' Sleep Environment Scale (13 items) produced 3 factors: general environmental hazards (7 items), availability of bedding materials (2 items), and presence of electronics (4 items). The full scale and its subscales showed strong discriminant validity, and analyses suggested that the Children's and Adolescents' Sleep Environment Scale and its subscales were generalizable across diverse demographic groups. Finally, after controlling for children's sleep hygiene, sleep disturbances, behavioral problems, and family functioning, the full-scale Children's and Adolescents' Sleep Environment Scale significantly predicted children's sleepiness, as did the general environmental hazards and presence of electronics subscales in a separate regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The Children's and Adolescents' Sleep Environment Scale shows strong psychometric properties and has emerged as both a reliable and valid indicator of children's and adolescents' sleep environments and their potential impact on children's sleep and sleep-related behavior. CITATION: Peltz JS, Rogge RD, Elmore-Staton L, Spilsbury J, Buckhalt JA. The development of a scale to assess children's and adolescents' sleep environments. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(10):2353-2365.

Low levels of discriminant validity between self-report measures of self-esteem, shame, and self-criticism: Implications for the measurement of self-evaluation and creation of the Negative Self-Evaluation Scale.

This article examined the discriminant and convergent validity of commonly used self-report measures of self-criticism, self-esteem, and shame. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using multiple self-report measures of each construct showed low levels of discriminant validity between self-reported self-esteem, shame, and self-criticism and instead demonstrated correspondingly high levels of shared variance. However, bifactor analyses on the items across each measure suggested that self-report measures of self-esteem, shame, and self-criticism may contain distinct characteristics that are underrepresented in current measures of each construct. Based on the factor loadings in item-level bifactor analyses, a new measure, the Negative Self-Evaluation Scale (NSES), was constructed to improve the assessment of the unique characteristics of shame, self-esteem, and self-criticism. Implications for current and future practices concerning the measurement of each construct are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Toward an optimized measure of perceived partner responsiveness: Development and validation of the perceived responsiveness and insensitivity scale.

Perceived partner responsiveness (PPR; Reis & Shaver, Handbook of personal relationships, 1988, Wiley)-the belief that one's partner will attend to core concerns-is a construct in basic relationship research that can help evaluate intimacy in couple therapy. However, research into PPR is hampered by a lack of standardized measurement. Three studies were undertaken to develop and evaluate an optimized self-report PPR measure. In Study 1, n = 2,334 respondents completed 246 candidate items derived from 19 PPR measures. Exploratory factor analyses identified two underlying dimensions, Responsiveness and Insensitivity. Item response theory was used to develop two 8-item subscales for the Perceived Responsiveness and Insensitivity scale (PRI), both of which showed incremental prediction over global satisfaction. In Study 2, n = 173 respondents completed the brief PRI along with measures of global relationship evaluations and concrete relationship behaviors every other week for 8 weeks. Random intercept cross-lagged panel models found the PRI subscales were more sensitive than global evaluations to fluctuations in support and conflict. In Study 3, n = 161 heterosexual couples completed the brief PRI along with self-reports of responsive and insensitive behaviors. Actor-partner interdependence models demonstrated the PRI subscales were associated with partners' self-reported behaviors even after controlling for own behaviors. Thus, the PRI offers a PPR measure that demonstrates desirable properties for treatment research including (a) incremental validity over global satisfaction, (b) ability to detect meaningful change over time, and (c) sensitivity to partners' behaviors in the relationship. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Shocks to the system: The influence of COVID-19-related stressors on coparental and family functioning.

In addition to the fears associated with contracting COVID-19, the pandemic has forced families across the United States to quickly transition to new patterns of living. These transitions present new stressors, including health-related concerns, new demands placed on families by lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, and the possibility of losing a job or inability to pay bills. Such stressors have the potential to disrupt collaboration between coparents in addition to basic family functioning. Drawing upon a family systems perspective, the current study thus sought to examine links between COVID-19-related stressors and family cohesion through coparental functioning. A total of 1,003 parent/caregivers (97% from the United States; 82% Caucasian, 74% female; M = 40.9 years old, SD = 8.5; Mincome = $83,631, SDincome = $36,320) of school-age children completed an initial online survey from the end of March to the end of April of 2020. Of the initial sample, a total of 685 parents/caregivers completed weekly diaries for a month. Based on multilevel modeling, results suggested that, at the between-family level, coparental conflict mediated the impact of the stress of parenting/work demands and financial stress on family cohesion. At the within-family level, weekly spikes in health-related stress were associated with corresponding spikes in coparental conflict, which, in turn, were associated with drops in family cohesion. Results from the current study suggest that beyond the fears associated with contracting the COVID-19 virus, other key stressors associated with the emerging pandemic played a role in increasing coparental conflict, ultimately exacerbating family functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The role of financial strain in college students' work hours, sleep, and mental health.

OBJECTIVE: To examine poor sleep quality as a potential mediator between college students' employment hours and depressive symptoms, and to examine if this mediation model might differ across students reporting different levels of financial strain. Participants: The sample was collected through a multi-site study during the Spring of 2019 and included 792 undergraduates (M = 20.1, SD = 1.9) in Upstate New York. Methods: Moderated mediation analyses based on cross-sectional self-report, online questionnaires. Results: Increased work hours predicted greater sleep disturbance, which, in turn, predicted more depressive symptoms. Compared to students in more comfortable financial situations, this mediation model only emerged for students reporting more financial strain and lower family socio-economic status. Conclusions: Student employment hours are a significant predictor of students' mental well-being when considering their potential impact on their sleep. Furthermore, students reporting higher levels of financial stress are most at risk of being impacted by this process.