Civic Engagement and Well-Being: Examining a Mediational Model Across Gender.

PURPOSE: The relationship between civic engagement and mental health is generally positive, yet particularly complex among those from low socioeconomic backgrounds and women. The current study examined pathways between civic engagement and well-being to clarify its merit as a health promotional tool for young adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional design using an online questionnaire. SETTING: Participants were recruited at a mid-sized Northeastern US university. SAMPLE: Participants (N = 438) were primarily White (78%) and female (72%). MEASURES: Demographics, socioeconomic status, civic engagement behavior, well-being, meaning in life, self-efficacy toward service, and social support. ANALYSIS: Structural equation modeling to test an a priori model of civic engagement behavior and well-being in young adults. Models were conducted across men and women, covarying for social support. RESULTS: The full effects model fit well, demonstrating positive relationships between civic engagement and well-being for both men and women with mediation by service self-efficacy and meaning in life (χ2(2) = 1.05, p = .59; CFI = 1.0; RMSEA = .00, 90%CI [.00, .07]; R2 = .46). Type of engagement (civic, electoral, sociopolitical) showed mixed results in relation to well-being. CONCLUSION: Civic activity was associated with well-being when mediated by service self-efficacy while sociopolitical voice correlated to stronger well-being when mediated by meaning in life. Future longitudinal studies should be conducted among more socioeconomically diverse populations to verify the role of civic engagement in health promotion.

A Tribute to the Mind, Methodology and Mentoring of Wayne Velicer.

Wayne Velicer is remembered for a mind where mathematical concepts and calculations intrigued him, behavioral science beckoned him, and people fascinated him. Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin on March 4, 1944, he was raised on a farm, although early influences extended far beyond that beginning. His Mathematics BS and Psychology minor at Wisconsin State University in Oshkosh, and his PhD in Quantitative Psychology from Purdue led him to a fruitful and far-reaching career. He was honored several times as a high-impact author, was a renowned scholar in quantitative and health psychology, and had more than 300 scholarly publications and 54,000+ citations of his work, advancing the arenas of quantitative methodology and behavioral health. In his methodological work, Velicer sought out ways to measure, synthesize, categorize, and assess people and constructs across behaviors and time, largely through principal components analysis, time series, and cluster analysis. Further, he and several colleagues developed a method called Testing Theory-based Quantitative Predictions, successfully applied to predicting outcomes and effect sizes in smoking cessation, diet behavior, and sun protection, with the potential for wider applications. With $60,000,000 in external funding, Velicer also helped engage a large cadre of students and other colleagues to study methodological models for a myriad of health behaviors in a widely applied Transtheoretical Model of Change. Unwittingly, he has engendered indelible memories and gratitude to all who crossed his path. Although Wayne Velicer left this world on October 15, 2017 after battling an aggressive cancer, he is still very present among us.

Comparative Profiling of Serum Protein Biomarkers in Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a frequent complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), occurring in up to 40% of patients during the course of their disease. Early diagnosis is critical, particularly given the shared clinicoepidemiologic features between advanced rheumatoid arthritis-associated ILD (RA-ILD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This study was undertaken to define the molecular basis of this overlap through comparative profiling of serum proteins in RA-ILD and IPF. METHODS: Multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to profile 45 protein biomarkers encompassing cytokines/chemokines, growth factors, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in sera obtained from RA patients with ILD and those without, individuals with IPF, and healthy controls. Levels of selected serum proteins were compared between patient subgroups using adjusted linear regression, principal component analysis (PCA), and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) modeling. RESULTS: Multiplex ELISA-based assessment of sera from 2 independent cohorts (Veterans Affairs [VA] and Non-VA) revealed a number of non-overlapping biomarkers distinguishing RA-ILD from RA without ILD (RA-no ILD) in adjusted regression models. Parallel analysis of sera from IPF patients also yielded a discriminatory panel of protein markers in models adjusted for age/sex/smoking, which showed differential overlap with profiles linked to RA-ILD in the VA cohort versus the Non-VA cohort. PCA revealed several distinct functional groups of RA-ILD-associated markers that, in the VA cohort, encompassed proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines as well as 2 different subsets of MMPs. Finally, LASSO regression modeling in the Non-VA and VA cohorts revealed distinct biomarker combinations capable of discriminating RA-ILD from RA-no ILD. CONCLUSION: Comparative serum protein biomarker profiling represents a viable method for distinguishing RA-ILD from RA-no ILD and identifying population-specific mediators shared with IPF.

The Brief Situational Confidence Questionnaire for alcohol: A psychometric assessment with incarcerated youth.

The factor structure, measurement invariance, validity, reliability, and stability of scores on the Brief Situational Confidence Questionnaire (BSCQ) were evaluated for use with incarcerated youth. The BSCQ is an 8-item measure that assesses self-efficacy to resist alcohol use in tempting situations. The brevity of the measure may make it a useful tool for clinicians and researchers in a forensic setting. Analyses were conducted with 2 separate samples (N = 205 and N = 189) of incarcerated youth (M age = 16.90 and 17.12 years, respectively; 88% and 86% male). Based on prior theory and confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs), results indicated that a correlated 2-factor model best fit the data. Multisample CFAs suggested that BSCQ scores demonstrated configural and metric invariance across our 2 samples. Further, the BSCQ scores demonstrated sufficient test-retest stability in Samples 1 and 2 (Pearson's r = .66, .55) and internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .84 and .86, respectively). Negative binomial regressions showed that the overall BSCQ scores were significantly associated with concurrent alcohol use (number of drinking days, number of heavy drinking days, average drinks per week) and significantly predicted future alcohol use. Scores on the BSCQ demonstrated sufficient stability, internal consistency, and validity, and the 2-factor structure was largely invariant across 2 separate samples of incarcerated youth. Given its brevity, the BSCQ may provide valid and reliable scores to use with this population when time and resources are scarce. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Longitudinal analysis of intervention effects on temptations and stages of change for dietary fat using parallel process latent growth modeling.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend a 20-35 percent daily intake of fat. Resisting the temptation to eat high-fat foods, in conjunction with stage of readiness to avoid these foods, has been shown to influence healthy behavior change. Data ( N = 6516) from three randomized controlled trials were pooled to examine the relationships among direct intervention effects on temptations and stage of change for limiting high-fat foods. Findings demonstrate separate simultaneous growth processes in which baseline level of temptations, but not the rate of change in temptations, was significantly related to the change in readiness to avoid high-fat foods.

Keep Your Stats in the Cloud! Evaluating the Use of Google Sheets to Teach Quantitative Methods.

Teaching quantitative methods at the undergraduate level is a difficult yet rewarding endeavor due to the challenges instructors face in presenting the material. One way to bolster student learning is through the use of statistical software packages. Google Sheets is a cloud-based spreadsheet program capable of many basic statistical procedures, which has yet to be evaluated for use in quantitative methods courses. This article contains pros and cons to using Google Sheets in the classroom, and provides an evaluation of student attitudes towards using Google Sheets in an introductory quantitative methods class. The results suggest favorable student attitudes towards Google Sheets and, that attitudes towards Google Sheets show a positive relationship with quantitative self-efficacy. Thus, based on the positive student attitudes and the unique features of Google Sheets, it is a viable program to use in introductory methods classes. However, due to limited functionality, Google Sheets may not be useful for more advanced courses. Future research may want to evaluate the use of third-party Google Sheets applications, which can increase functionality, and the use of Google Sheets in online classes.

A readability analysis of online mental health resources.

Analyzing the reading grade level of online mental health information is an important first step in ensuring that information is largely accessible by the general public, so as not to perpetuate existing health disparities across socioeconomic groups. The present study systematically examined grade-level readability of mental health information related to various psychiatric diagnoses, obtained from 6 highly utilized mental health websites, using a generalized estimating equations approach. Results suggest that, in general, the readability of mental health information is largely well above the 6th-to-8th grade level recommended by several national health organizations, including the CDC and NIH (Kutner, Greenberg, Jin, & Paulsen, 2006; National Institutes of Health, 2001, 2017), with reading-grade-level estimates from the model ranging from 5.62 to 17.9. Further efforts are required to ensure that writers of online health information do not exacerbate existing health disparities by ignoring these guidelines. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Creation and validation of the barriers to alcohol reduction (BAR) scale using classical test theory and item response theory.

Those who binge drink are at increased risk for alcohol-related consequences when compared to non-binge drinkers. Research shows individuals may face barriers to reducing their drinking behavior, but few measures exist to assess these barriers. This study created and validated the Barriers to Alcohol Reduction (BAR) scale. Participants were college students (n = 230) who endorsed at least one instance of past-month binge drinking (4+ drinks for women or 5+ drinks for men). Using classical test theory, exploratory structural equation modeling found a two-factor structure of personal/psychosocial barriers and perceived program barriers. The sub-factors, and full scale had reasonable internal consistency (i.e., coefficient omega = 0.78 (personal/psychosocial), 0.82 (program barriers), and 0.83 (full measure)). The BAR also showed evidence for convergent validity with the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (r = 0.39, p < .001) and discriminant validity with Barriers to Physical Activity (r = -0.02, p = .81). Item Response Theory (IRT) analysis showed the two factors separately met the unidimensionality assumption, and provided further evidence for severity of the items on the two factors. Results suggest that the BAR measure appears reliable and valid for use in an undergraduate student population of binge drinkers. Future studies may want to re-examine this measure in a more diverse sample.

Modeling multiple health behaviors and general health.

Multiple Health Behavior Change assumes health behaviors are related to one another, although research evidence is mixed. More research is needed to understand which behaviors are most closely related and how they collectively predict health. Principle component analysis and structural equation modeling were used to establish a model showing relations between health behaviors, including fruit/vegetable consumption, aerobic and strength exercise, alcohol intake, and smoking, and how these behaviors relate to general physical and mental health functioning in a large, national sample. Although health behaviors were found to coalesce into a health-promoting factor of diet, and exercise, a better overall model fit was found when all behaviors were modeled as separate independent variables. Results suggest that health behaviors relate to one another in complex ways, with perceived health status serving as a mediating variable between specific health behaviors and a factor of physical and mental health. Future research should further investigate how other health behaviors relate to perceptions and overall health, especially among subpopulations.

Reporting Practices and Use of Quantitative Methods in Canadian Journal Articles in Psychology.

With recent focus on the state of research in psychology, it is essential to assess the nature of the statistical methods and analyses used and reported by psychological researchers. To that end, we investigated the prevalence of different statistical procedures and the nature of statistical reporting practices in recent articles from the four major Canadian psychology journals. The majority of authors evaluated their research hypotheses through the use of analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-tests, and multiple regression. Multivariate approaches were less common. Null hypothesis significance testing remains a popular strategy, but the majority of authors reported a standardized or unstandardized effect size measure alongside their significance test results. Confidence intervals on effect sizes were infrequently employed. Many authors provided minimal details about their statistical analyses and less than a third of the articles presented on data complications such as missing data and violations of statistical assumptions. Strengths of and areas needing improvement for reporting quantitative results are highlighted. The paper concludes with recommendations for how researchers and reviewers can improve comprehension and transparency in statistical reporting.

Cluster reduction in patients in a pilot treatment trial for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.

INTRODUCTION: The present study examined seizure clusters as a primary outcome in patients receiving treatment for PNES. Cluster reduction is examined longitudinally using frequency threshold and statistical definitions of seizure cluster for patients. Possible risk factors for clustering will be examined along with clustering as a risk factor for poorer secondary outcomes. METHODS: Participants were from a pilot randomized treatment trial for PNES where they received cognitive behavioral therapy-informed psychotherapy (CBT-ip), sertraline, combination therapy, or treatment as usual. Seizure data are from patients' seizure dairies. RESULTS: Cluster reduction was observed for those receiving CBT-ip or combination treatment using all definitions of daily clusters and weekly clusters. No risk factors of clustering were observed. Those who were identified as having clusters during the trial had poorer secondary outcomes on several measures at baseline relative to those who were not identified as having clusters. DISCUSSION: This is the first study known to the authors to not only examined seizure clusters as a primary outcome for those with PNES, but also the first study to suggest that CBT-ip and combination therapy may be effective in reducing the frequency of clusters.

Identifying seizure clusters in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.

The present study explored how seizure clusters may be defined for those with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), a topic for which there is a paucity of literature. The sample was drawn from a multisite randomized clinical trial for PNES; seizure data are from participants' seizure diaries. Three possible cluster definitions were examined: 1) common clinical definition, where ≥3 seizures in a day is considered a cluster, along with two novel statistical definitions, where ≥3 seizures in a day are considered a cluster if the observed number of seizures statistically exceeds what would be expected relative to a patient's: 1) average seizure rate prior to the trial, 2) observed seizure rate for the previous seven days. Prevalence of clusters was 62-68% depending on cluster definition used, and occurrence rate of clusters was 6-19% depending on cluster definition. Based on these data, clusters seem to be common in patients with PNES, and more research is needed to identify if clusters are related to triggers and outcomes.

Intervention Effects on Stage of Change Membership and Transitions among Adolescent Energy Balance Behaviors.

The transition from childhood to adolescence is a crucial period for the development of healthy behaviors to be sustained later in life. With obesity a leading public health problem, the promotion of healthy behaviors has the potential to make a huge impact. The current study evaluated Stage of Change progression in a large (N = 4158) computer-delivered, Transtheoretical Model-tailored intervention focusing on physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption (FV). Markov models were used to explore stage transitions and patterns of discrete change from sixth to ninth grade. Nested model comparisons examined the consistency of these patterns across time and intervention condition. Major findings supported models in which participants were free to transition forward and backward to any of the stages, but higher probabilities were observed for remaining in the same stage or for transitioning one or two stages forward. Participants in the intervention group had higher probabilities of transitioning toward Maintenance, with more change occurring relative to the comparison group during transitions from grades six to eight but not for grades eight to nine.

The making of Psychological Methods.

Psychological Methods celebrated its 20-year anniversary recently, having published its first quarterly issue in March 1996. It seemed time to provide a brief overview of the history, the highlights over the years, and the current state of the journal, along with tips for submissions. The article is organized to discuss (a) the background and development of the journal; (b) the top articles, authors, and topics over the years; (c) an overview of the journal today; and (d) a summary of the features of successful articles that usually entail rigorous and novel methodology described in clear and understandable writing and that can be applied in meaningful and relevant areas of psychological research. (PsycINFO Database Record

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase (CDK) Inhibitors: Structure-Activity Relationships and Insights into the CDK-2 Selectivity of 6-Substituted 2-Arylaminopurines.

Purines and related heterocycles substituted at C-2 with 4'-sulfamoylanilino and at C-6 with a variety of groups have been synthesized with the aim of achieving selectivity of binding to CDK2 over CDK1. 6-Substituents that favor competitive inhibition at the ATP binding site of CDK2 were identified and typically exhibited 10-80-fold greater inhibition of CDK2 compared to CDK1. Most impressive was 4-((6-([1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-9H-purin-2-yl)amino) benzenesulfonamide (73) that exhibited high potency toward CDK2 (IC50 0.044 µM) but was ∼2000-fold less active toward CDK1 (IC50 86 µM). This compound is therefore a useful tool for studies of cell cycle regulation. Crystal structures of inhibitor-kinase complexes showed that the inhibitor stabilizes a glycine-rich loop conformation that shapes the ATP ribose binding pocket and that is preferred in CDK2 but has not been observed in CDK1. This aspect of the active site may be exploited for the design of inhibitors that distinguish between CDK1 and CDK2.

Big data in psychology: Introduction to the special issue.

The introduction to this special issue on psychological research involving big data summarizes the highlights of 10 articles that address a number of important and inspiring perspectives, issues, and applications. Four common themes that emerge in the articles with respect to psychological research conducted in the area of big data are mentioned, including: (a) The benefits of collaboration across disciplines, such as those in the social sciences, applied statistics, and computer science. Doing so assists in grounding big data research in sound theory and practice, as well as in affording effective data retrieval and analysis. (b) Availability of large data sets on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites that provide a psychological window into the attitudes and behaviors of a broad spectrum of the population. (c) Identifying, addressing, and being sensitive to ethical considerations when analyzing large data sets gained from public or private sources. (d) The unavoidable necessity of validating predictive models in big data by applying a model developed on 1 dataset to a separate set of data or hold-out sample. Translational abstracts that summarize the articles in very clear and understandable terms are included in Appendix A, and a glossary of terms relevant to big data research discussed in the articles is presented in Appendix B. (PsycINFO Database Record

Extensive Citrullination Promotes Immunogenicity of HSP90 through Protein Unfolding and Exposure of Cryptic Epitopes.

Post-translational protein modifications such as citrullination have been linked to the breach of immune tolerance and clinical autoimmunity. Previous studies from our laboratory support this concept, demonstrating that autoantibodies targeting citrullinated isoforms of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) are associated with rheumatoid arthritis complicated by interstitial lung disease. To further explore the relationship between citrullination and structural determinants of HSP90 immunogenicity, we employed a combination of ELISA-based epitope profiling, computational modeling, and mass-spectrometric sequencing of peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD)-modified protein. Remarkably, ELISAs involving selected citrullinated HSP90ß/α peptides identified a key epitope corresponding to an internal Arg residue (R502 [HSP90ß]/R510 [HSP90α]) that is normally buried within the crystal structure of native/unmodified HSP90. In vitro time/dose-response experiments reveal an ordered pattern of PAD-mediated deimination events culminating in citrullination of R502/R510. Conventional as well as scaled molecular dynamics simulations further demonstrate that citrullination of selected Arg residues leads to progressive disruption of HSP90 tertiary structure, promoting exposure of R502/R510 to PAD modification and subsequent autoantibody binding. Consistent with this process, ELISAs incorporating variably deiminated HSP90 as substrate Ag indicate a direct relationship between the degree of citrullination and the level of ex vivo Ab recognition. Overall, these data support a novel structural paradigm whereby citrullination-induced shifts in protein structure generate cryptic epitopes capable of bypassing B cell tolerance in the appropriate genetic context.

Increasing Literacy in Quantitative Methods: The Key to the Future of Canadian Psychology.

Quantitative methods (QM) dominate empirical research in psychology. Unfortunately most researchers in psychology receive inadequate training in QM. This creates a challenge for researchers who require advanced statistical methods to appropriately analyze their data. Many of the recent concerns about research quality, replicability, and reporting practices are directly tied to the problematic use of QM. As such, improving quantitative literacy in psychology is an important step towards eliminating these concerns. The current paper will include two main sections that discuss quantitative challenges and opportunities. The first section discusses training and resources for students and presents descriptive results on the number of quantitative courses required and available to graduate students in Canadian psychology departments. In the second section, we discuss ways of improving quantitative literacy for faculty, researchers, and clinicians. This includes a strong focus on the importance of collaboration. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for improving quantitative skills and literacy for students and researchers in Canada.

Anti-citrullinated heat shock protein 90 antibodies identified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are a marker of lung-specific immune responses.

Previous work has demonstrated a correlation between serum anti-citrullinated HSP90 antibodies and rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD). To further investigate this potential pathogenic relationship, we used ELISA-based techniques to assess anti-citrullinated HSP90 antibody profiles in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with different stages of RA-ILD. 9/21 RA-derived BALF specimens demonstrated IgG and/or IgA antibodies targeting citrullinated HSP90 proteins/peptides, highlighting disease specific responses (with a predilection for RA-ILD) that did not occur in IPF patients (0/5) or healthy control subjects (0/5). Comparison of antibody profiles between BALF and matching serum specimens revealed various recognition patterns favoring predominant production of anti-citrullinated HSP90 antibodies within the lung microenvironment-further supporting the connection between this antibody specificity and parenchymal lung disease. Equally important, qualitative as well as quantitative differences in anti-citrullinated HSP90 profiles between BALF and serum indicate that the lung plays a direct role in shaping the immune repertoire of RA/RA-ILD.