Exploring the latent cognitive structure in schizophrenia: implications for antipsychotic treatment responses.

BACKGROUND: Individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia present diverse degrees and types of cognitive impairment, leading to variations in responses to antipsychotic treatments. Understanding the underlying cognitive structures is crucial for assessing this heterogeneity. Utilizing latent profile analysis (LPA) enables the delineation of latent categories of cognitive function. Integrating this approach with a dimensional perspective allows for the exploration of the relationship between cognitive function and treatment response. METHODS: This study examined 647 patients from two distinct cohorts. Utilizing LPA within the discovery cohort (n = 333) and the replication cohort (n = 314), latent subtypes were identified categorically. The stability of cognitive structures was evaluated employing Latent Transition Analysis (LTA). The relationship between cognitive function and treatment response were investigated by comparing Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) reduction rates across diverse cognitive subtypes. Furthermore, dimensional insights were gained through correlation analyses between cognitive tests and PANSS reduction rates. RESULTS: In terms of categorical, individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia can be categorized into three distinct subtypes: those 'without cognitive deficit', those 'with mild-moderate cognitive 'eficit', and those 'with moderate-severe cognitive deficit'. There are significant differences in PANSS reduction rates among patients belonging to these subtypes following antipsychotic treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, from a dimensional perspective, processing speed at baseline is positively correlated with PANSS score reduction rates at week 8/week 10 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings have unveiled the latent subtypes of cognitive function in schizophrenia, illuminating the association between cognitive function and responses to antipsychotic treatment from both categorical and dimensional perspectives.

Influence of eye-related behavior on myopia among junior middle school students under the background of double reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the changes in the unhealthy eye-related behaviors of junior middle school students during the COVID-19 pandemic and the double reduction policy and its relationship with myopia. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2019-2022 Tianjin Children and Youth Myopia, Common Diseases and Health Influencing Factors Survey. Latent profile analysis (LPA) and a generalized linear model (GLM) were applied to analyze the effect of eye-related behavior classes on myopia. RESULTS: A total of 2508 junior middle school students were included. The types of eye-related behavior were categorized into the medium-healthy behavior group, heavy academic burden and near-eye behavior group, insufficient lighting group and high-healthy behavior group. Students with heavy academic burdens and near-eye behavior were more likely to develop myopia than were those in the high-healthy group (OR = 1.466, 95% CI = 1.203-1.787; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The dual reduction policy has a positive effect on improving unhealthy eye-related behaviors, and the prevention and control of myopia through the use of different combinations of eye-related behaviors are heterogeneous among junior middle school students. In the post-COVID-19 period, we should continue to implement a double reduction policy and formulate targeted eye-related behavior strategies to provide an important reference for the prevention and control of myopia among children and adolescents during public health emergencies in the future.

School physical activity modes on BMI among adolescents with overweight or obesity: The mediation role of participation willingness.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the mode of school physical activity, the relationship with obesity, and participation willingness and behavior in the relationship between modes of school physical activity and BMI in students with overweight or obesity. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE: Data from the 2014 Physical Fitness and Health Surveillance of Chinese School Students was used, wherein physical measurements and questionnaires of 3476 middle school students were collected. MEASUREMENTS: Physical measurements and questionnaires were completed. Latent profile analysis and mediated effects analysis were conducted using Mplus 8.3 and IBM SPSS 26.0 for data description and statistical analysis. RESULT: After latent profile analysis divided into poor (9.35%), medium (65.16%), and good (25.49%) groups of school physical activity, among junior middle school students, medium (OR = 0.428, 95% CI = 0.259-0.707, p = .001) and good (OR = 0.448, 95% CI = 0.255-0.718, p = .002) groups were positive for controlling overweight. Among students with overweight or obesity, participation willingness mediated the relationship between the mode of school physical activity and BMI, with effect coefficients of -0.120 (95% CI = -0.264 to -0.016) and -0.240 (95% CI = -0.426 to -0.099). CONCLUSIONS: School physical activity modes have a positive effect only on preventing and controlling overweight in junior middle school students. For middle school students with obesity, weight-specific measures should be considered for their prevention and control.

Influence of health-related behaviors patterns on obesity among primary and secondary school students: A latent profile analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the co-existing patterns of health-related behaviors among children and adolescents at different education stages and the association with obesity. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE: A total of 5651 primary and secondary school students were drawn from the National Student Physical Health Survey in 2014 with an average age of 13.53 ± 2.87 years. MEASUREMENTS: Physical measurements and questionnaires were completed, which concluded height, weight, and health-related behaviors (sleep, physical activity, dietary, and screen behavior et al.). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted using Mplus 8.3 and SPSS 26.0 was used for other statistical analysis. RESULTS: Three latent classes of health-related behaviors were fitted for each of the education stages. After adjustment for age, gender, and region, the high-screen behavior group were 2.217 (95%CI = 1.030-4.772, p = .042) times more likely to be obesity than the health-behavior group in primary school, and the poor-diet group and poor-diet and high-screen behavior group were 2.101 (95%CI = 1.396-3.396, p < .001) and 1.788 (95%CI = 1.003-3.190, p = .049) times more likely to be overweight than the health-behavior group in junior middle school respectively. CONCLUSION: Obesity is mainly influenced by screen behavior and dietary patterns among children and adolescents. Health-related behavior patterns should be accurately identified and comprehensive joint interventions should be carried out to prevent obesity.

Status quo and factors influencing dyadic disease appraisal in chronic heart failure based on latent profile analysis in Northern Sichuan Province, China.

PURPOSE: This study explored potential categories of dyadic disease appraisal differences among patients hospitalized with chronic heart failure (CHF) in China and analyzed the main factors influencing these categories. METHODS: A survey was conducted using various tools and scales, including the Chinese version of the Memorial Heart Failure Symptom Appraisal Scale, Heart failure self-care index scale, Social Support Rating Scale, Zarit burden interview, and Self-rating anxiety scale. The data was collected from patients who were hospitalized with CHF in the cardiology department of one of two tertiary hospitals in Nanchong City, China. The dyadic disease appraisal categories were identified using latent profile analysis (LPA). Multiple logistic regression analysis was also employed to analyze the factors influencing the formation of potential categories of differences in dyadic disease appraisal in CHF patients. RESULTS: A total of 262 pairs of hospitalized CHF patients and their caregivers participated in this study. The dyadic disease appraisal of CHF patients was potentially categorized as the "negative difference group" (28 individuals, 10.7%) and the "positive or convergence group" (234 persons, 89.3%). The results showed that the factors influencing the categorization of dyadic disease appraisal differences included the patient's social support, disease progression, and Caregivers anxiety level, burden, gender, educational attainment, and age (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study findings demonstrated heterogeneity between the two groups of CHF patients in the dyadic disease appraisal. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on patients who have a brief duration of illness and limited social support. Specifically, it is important to prioritize support for female caregivers who are 65 years or older, have lower levels of educational attainment, and experience a significant burden and anxiety. Regular implementation of support person-bilateral co-management strategies can effectively reduce differences in how the disease is perceived and enhance the overall well-being of both caregivers and patients.

Nature, implications and determinants of academic motivation profiles among upper elementary and secondary students.

The present study sought to contribute to self-determination theory by examining the nature of adolescents' academic motivation profiles defined while considering its global and specific nature. The construct validity of these profiles was examined by considering their replicability across samples of upper elementary (n = 781) and secondary (n = 467) school students, as well as their associations with predictors (perceived parental need nurturing behaviors) and outcomes (academic achievement and expectations of success). Latent profile analyses revealed four profiles (Non-Motivated, Identified, Amotivated, and Strongly Motivated) characterized by differing levels of global and specific levels of academic motivation. These profiles were fully replicated across educational levels. Most profiles differed from one another in terms of outcomes, although differences in terms of outcomes associations were observed across educational levels. Finally, profile membership was predicted by global levels of need nurturing and by some of the specific need nurturing behaviors in a way that replicated across educational levels. Our results suggest that the specific qualities of academic motivation and the global levels of self-determination are equally important in the identification of academic motivation profiles. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04687-x.

Youth risk profiles and their prediction of distal cannabis and tobacco co-use in the Population Assessment of Tobacco Health (PATH).

Background: Co-use of cannabis and tobacco is common and increases negative behavioral, physical and mental health consequences. This study aimed to describe latent profiles of youth internalizing and externalizing problems, sensation seeking, and family environment in the US and their relationships with substance co-use. Methods: Data come from the Population Assessment of Tobacco Health (PATH). Using latent profile analysis with a distal outcome, we conducted a secondary data analysis examining relationships between latent profiles and the distal outcome of cannabis/tobacco use and co-use one year later. Participants were a nationally representative sample of youth ages 12-17 (N = 13,651). Results: We identified five youth subgroups: (1;11%) Family Risk, (2;32%) Family Protection with Very Low Internalizing, (3;21%) Family Protection with High Youth Risk, (4;24%) Family Protection with Moderate Youth Risk, (5;12%) Family Risk with High Youth Risk. Relationships between group membership and tobacco/cannabis outcomes, one year later, indicated that the least likely tobacco/cannabis users were the Family Protection with Very Low Internalizing class (no lifetime use probability (PR)=0.86, standard error (SE)=0.007; no 30-day use PR = 0.96, SE = 0.004). In contrast, the Family Risk with High Youth Risk class had the highest probability of both co-use (lifetime co-use PR = 0.33; SE = 0.014; 30-day co-use PR = 0.10; SE = 0.010) and single substance use (probability of lifetime single substance use PR = 0.30; SE = 0.013; 30-day single substance use PR = 0.24; SE = 0.014). Conclusions: A "protective but reactive" risk buffering pattern effect of family factors on youth factors was observed in that the lowest rates of co-use were observed in the three classes with family protection. These findings highlight the need for interventions addressing multiple domains and focusing on youth and family risk factors.

The association of different parenting styles among depressed parents and their offspring's depression and anxiety: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Parenting styles play a critical role in children's development, especially for those in families with a depressed parent. To date, no study has explored whether youth perceptions of parenting style are heterogeneous in families with a depressed parent or whether heterogeneous parenting styles are associated with children's internalizing symptoms. METHODS: Participants were children aged 8-16 years who had a parent with major depressive disorder; they were enrolled through their parents, who were outpatients at two hospitals in Ningxia. Parenting styles were measured using the Parental Bonding Instrument. Youth depression and anxiety were measured using the Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children and the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders, respectively. We applied latent profile analysis to identify the subtypes of parenting styles with similar patterns. Differences between subtypes in relation to demographic variables and parenting style scores were calculated using one-way ANOVAs, Wilcoxon rank sum tests, and chi-squared tests. Bivariate logistic analyses were conducted to examine the associations between parental bonding subtypes and children's depression and anxiety. RESULTS: Four parenting styles were identified through latent profile analysis: care-autonomy, overprotection-indifference, indifference, and undifferentiated parenting. Youth with care-autonomy parents had a lower risk of depression (OR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.06-0.41) and anxiety (OR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.10-0.48), while indifference parenting increased children's risk of depression (OR: 5.29; 95% CI: 1.30-21.54) more than undifferentiated parenting. CONCLUSIONS: Children with a depressed parent had heterogeneous perceptions of parenting styles. Mothers' and fathers' parenting styles were largely congruent. Care-autonomy parenting (high care and high autonomy) may decrease children's risk of depression, whereas indifference parenting (low care and autonomy) may increase their risk of depression.

Predictors and outcomes of core and peripheral sport motivation profiles: A person-centered study.

While previous studies highlighted the importance of the different motivations for doing sports as proposed by self-determination theory, less emphasis has been put on the simultaneous presence of multiple motivations within the same individual. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the complex interaction of sport motivations and to identify core (common) and peripheral (uncommon) profiles of people engaged in sports based on a combination of motivations. To achieve this goal, latent profile analysis, a person-centered approach, was performed on responses from 506 participants engaged in sports. For better understanding the extracted profiles, basic psychological need fulfillment was included as profile predictor, while subjective vitality and various engagement-related indicators as outcomes. Four core and peripheral profiles were identified: Moderately Motivated, Highly Motivated, Amotivated, and Poorly Motivated. Contrary to theory, introjected regulation clustered more closely with self-determined motivations. Profile membership was significantly predicted by global need fulfillment, autonomy satisfaction as well as, to a smaller extent, autonomy, relatedness, and competence frustration. The four profiles differed along vitality and some, but not all, engagement-related outcomes.

Are there distinct cognitive and motivational sub-groups of children with ADHD?

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is proposed to be a neuropsychologically heterogeneous disorder that encompasses two distinct sub-groups, one with executive function (EF) deficits and one with delay aversion (DA). However, such claims have often been based on studies that have operationalized neuropsychological deficits using a categorical approach - using intuitive but rather arbitrary, clinical cut-offs. The current study applied an alternative empirical approach to sub-grouping in ADHD, latent profile analysis (LPA), and attempted to validate emerging subgroups through clinically relevant correlates. METHODS: One-hundred medication-naïve children with ADHD and 96 typically developing children (6-14 years) completed nine EF and three DA tasks as well as an odor identification test. Parents and teachers provided reports of the children's behavior (ADHD and EF). Models of the latent structure of scores on EF and DA tests were contrasted using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). LPA was carried out based on factor scores from the CFA and sub-groups were compared in terms of odor identification and behavior. RESULTS: A model with one DA and two EF factors best fit the data. LPA resulted in four sub-groups that differed in terms of general level of neuropsychological performance (ranging from high to very low), odor identification, and behavior. The sub-groups did not differ in terms of the relative EF and DA performance. Results in the ADHD group were replicated in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: While EF and DA appear to be dissociable constructs; they do not yield distinct sub-groups when sub-grouping is based on a statistical approach such as LPA.

Affective super-traits and/or individual patterns: a variable-centered and a person-centered approach of primary emotional aspects of personality.

Theoretical approaches of personality structure are diverse. We examine the primary emotional aspects of personality as the correspondence of two mainstream constructs: the lexically-based Big Five (BIG5) and the biologically-based Affective Neuroscience Theory (ANT) within two approaches. In the variable-centered approach (VCA), our aim is to identify affective super-traits; while in the person-centered approach (PCA) to uncover latent profile patterns. 240 participants (177 women, 63 men) completed the 112-item affective neuroscience personality scales (ANPS), and the 44-item Big Five Inventory (BFI). We identified four super-traits: Negative emotions (FEAR, SADNESS, Emotional instability), Positive emotions and stimulation (SEEK, Extraversion), Affiliation and social bonds (reversed ANGER, CARE, Agreeableness), Self-regulation (PLAY, Conscientiousness. Based on the VCA, we conclude that the four super-traits represent two main affective tendencies (Positive emotions and approaching, Negative emotions and avoidance), interpersonal (Affiliation) and intrapersonal (Self-regulation) dynamics of personality. As a result of Latent Profile Analysis in the PCA, we explored three latent groups with different patterns of primary emotional traits based on their responsiveness (Highly emotional, Balanced, Low emotional). Our findings provide a holistic approach to emotional aspects of personality, and might have further implications for clinical psychology, neuroscience, and cross-cultural studies on emotions.

Relationship between social inequality perception patterns and depressive symptoms among Chinese adults: A national representative longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The rising prevalence of depressive symptoms presents a pressing global public health concern, exacerbated by prevailing social inequality. AIM: This study seeks to identify latent profiles of social inequality perception and explore their associations with depressive symptoms. METHODS: Data were obtained from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) involving 10,529 residents aged 18 years and above. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify different patterns of social inequality perception. Multiple linear regression analysis examined the links between these patterns and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Three distinct patterns of social inequality perception were identified: the disappointed pattern (TDP), the neutral pattern (TNP), and the positive pattern (TPP). Perceived social inequality was significantly associated with short-term and long-term depressive symptoms (ß = .51, 95% CI [0.29, 0.72] vs. ß = .51, 95% CI [0.27, 0.74]). Increases in social inequality perception patterns were also related to more severe depressive symptoms (ß = .55, 95% CI [0.36, 0.74]). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing perceived social inequality is closely linked to elevated depressive symptoms in Chinese adults. This underscores the need for tailored strategies aimed at addressing heightened perceptions of social inequality to reduce the risk of depressive symptoms.

All that glitters is not gold! Job insecurity and well-being in STEM research fellows: a latent profile analysis.

Job insecurity is now one of the major stressors affecting well-being at work. In academia, researchers appear to be in the most precarious position. To explore the relationship between job insecurity and well-being at work, we analyzed a sample of research fellows belonging to STEM disciplines in Italy. Using a latent profile approach, we identified three "hidden" subgroups: "Safe & Sound"; "Safe not so Sound" and "Neither Safe or Sound." Compared to previous studies, our results show that even within a population of STEM researchers that tends to have good levels of employability and mobility, there are subgroups of people characterized by greater job insecurity and low work commitment, who suffer from emotional exhaustion and cynicism at work level, i.e., more exposed to the risk of burnout.

Social determinants of health and their relation to suboptimal health status in the context of 3PM: a latent profile analysis.

Background: Suboptimal health is identified as a reversible phase occurring before chronic diseases manifest, emphasizing the significance of early detection and intervention in predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM). While the biological and genetic factors associated with suboptimal health have received considerable attention, the influence of social determinants of health (SDH) remains relatively understudied. By comprehensively understanding the SDH influencing suboptimal health, healthcare providers can tailor interventions to address individual needs, improving health outcomes and facilitating the transition to optimal well-being. This study aimed to identify distinct profiles within SDH indicators and examine their association with suboptimal health status. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 16 to September 23, 2023, in five regions of China. Various SDH indicators, such as family health, economic status, eHealth literacy, mental disorder, social support, health behavior, and sleep quality, were examined in this study. Latent profile analysis was employed to identify distinct profiles based on these SDH indicators. Logistic regression analysis by profile was used to investigate the association between these profiles and suboptimal health status. Results: The analysis included 4918 individuals. Latent profile analysis revealed three distinct profiles (prevalence): the Adversely Burdened Vulnerability Group (37.6%), the Adversity-Driven Struggle Group (11.7%), and the Advantaged Resilience Group (50.7%). These profiles exhibited significant differences in suboptimal health status (p < 0.001). The Adversely Burdened Vulnerability Group had the highest risk of suboptimal health, followed by the Adversity-Driven Struggle Group, while the Advantaged Resilience Group had the lowest risk. Conclusions and relevance: Distinct profiles based on SDH indicators are associated with suboptimal health status. Healthcare providers should integrate SDH assessment into routine clinical practice to customize interventions and address specific needs. This study reveals that the group with the highest risk of suboptimal health stands out as the youngest among all the groups, underscoring the critical importance of early intervention and targeted prevention strategies within the framework of 3PM. Tailored interventions for the Adversely Burdened Vulnerability Group should focus on economic opportunities, healthcare access, healthy food options, and social support. Leveraging their higher eHealth literacy and resourcefulness, interventions empower the Adversity-Driven Struggle Group. By addressing healthcare utilization, substance use, and social support, targeted interventions effectively reduce suboptimal health risks and improve well-being in vulnerable populations. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-024-00365-5.

High sensitivity groups with distinct personality patterns: a person-centered perspective.

Introduction: Sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) refers to interindividual differences in sensitivity to positive and negative environmental stimuli and reflects the concept of differential susceptibility. The Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) has been utilized to capture the multifaceted experiences of highly sensitive individuals. The scale's total score (i.e., the sum of the subfactors) is an indicator of high sensitivity. However, it cannot differentiate between the contributions of the specific subfactors. Consequently, interpreting the total score cannot help resolve the current theoretical debate about how individuals integrate the positive and negative aspects of sensitivity, whereas a multidimensional profile should be able to offer a more comprehensive understanding. Intriguingly, in variable-centered research, the subfactors' differential associations with external constructs in negative or positive trait spaces have suggested heterogeneity (i.e., interindividual differences) among highly sensitive individuals. Thus, person-centered approaches should be better suited to address this heterogeneity. Methods: To explore heterogeneity within the highly sensitive population, we conducted a three-step Latent Profile Analysis in two independent German-speaking samples (N = 1,102; N = 526). Subsequently, we employed the Five-Factor Model of personality to provide a detailed description of the latent sensitivity groups. Results: Beyond the frequently identified quantitative three-class differentiation of sensitivity groups, we obtained a four-class model that included two qualitatively different high-sensitivity groups, each displaying distinct HSPS subfactor and personality patterns that corresponded to prototypical personality profiles. Within these high sensitivity groups, (i) the Confident Sensitivity Group exhibited average Neuroticism, significantly above-average Openness, and slightly above-average Extraversion. By contrast, (ii) the Vulnerable Sensitivity Group displayed the typical personality pattern of significantly above-average Neuroticism, below-average Extraversion, and slightly above-average Openness. Personality analyses revealed that features such as passiveness, internalizing tendencies, giftedness, and aesthetics, often commonly ascribed to all highly sensitive individuals, are features that differ across distinct sensitivity groups. Discussion: To avoid over- or underestimating sensitivity effects, future research should consider these interindividual differences in highly sensitive individuals. For instance, studies could focus on the different associations of sensitivity groups with abilities, health aspects, emotion regulation and intervention outcomes, taking into account the different environmental factors that shape the type of sensitivity.

The Profiles, Predictors, and Intergroup Outcomes of Cultural Attachment.

The recent backlash against cultural globalization has raised a conundrum regarding how individuals should navigate their relationship with their cultural groups to both meet their basic need for belongingness and embrace diversity to fully leverage the benefits of globalization. Here we take an attachment perspective to tackle this issue. Employing both person- and variable-centered approaches in two studies (n1 = 328; n2 = 1,317), we verify that people can develop different cultural attachment styles toward their cultural groups (i.e., secure, preoccupied, dismissing, and fearful), which are influenced by various societal, interpersonal and intrapersonal factors. People who securely attach to their cultures will perceive less out-group threat, exhibit more identity inclusiveness, hold less intergroup biases and excessive collective self-esteem, display a greater willingness to engage in intergroup contact, and demonstrate better psychological functioning. All these effects of cultural attachment are independent from and incremental to those of general and place attachment.

Well-Being Implications of Digital Social Multitasking in Adolescent Friendship: A Latent Profile Analysis.

Adolescents' phone use during face-to-face interactions (i.e., digital social multitasking [DSMT]) has gained increasing attention because of its prevalence as well as implications for well-being. However, most studies have focused on only one dimension of the behavior and relied on variable-centered approaches. Informed by the DSMT framework, we adopted a person-centered approach to identify different groups of adolescents based on their levels, perceptions, and motives of phone use during face-to-face interactions with friends. We also examined how these groups differed in five well-being variables (loneliness, depressive symptoms, digital stress, friendship quality, and satisfaction of basic psychological needs). A total of 517 adolescents (Mage = 14.83, standard deviation [SD] = 1.93; 50 percent female) completed an online survey. Three profiles were identified: the Intentional (low levels, quite positive perceptions, motivated for clear goals), the Embracers (high levels, highly positive perceptions, strong motives), and the Unimpressed (low levels, low positive perceptions, low motives). The Embracers scored the highest on both positive and negative indicators of well-being, whereas the Unimpressed scored the lowest on all well-being scales. The Intentional appeared to be the most adaptive group. Implications are discussed.

Motivations for Social Withdrawal, Mental Health, and Well-Being in Emerging Adulthood: A Person-Oriented Approach.

Emerging adults seek solitude because of different underlying motivational and emotional processes. The current short-term longitudinal study aimed to: (1) identify subgroups of socially withdrawn emerging adults characterized by different motivations for solitude (shyness, unsociability, social avoidance) and affect (positive, negative); and (2) compare these subgroups in terms of indices of internalizing difficulties and life-satisfaction. Participants were N = 348 university students (Mage = 21.85 years, SD = 3.84) from Italy, who completed online questionnaires at two-time points separated by three months. Results from a latent profile analysis (LPA) suggested three distinct subgroups characterized by different social withdrawal motivations (i.e., shy, unsociable, and socially avoidant), as well as a non-withdrawn subgroup (characterized by low social withdrawal motivations, low negative affect, and high positive affect). Among the results, the socially avoidant subgroup reported the highest levels of social anxiety, whereas the avoidant and shy subgroups reported the highest loneliness and lowest life satisfaction. The unsociable subgroup appeared to be the most well-adjusted subgroup of socially withdrawn emerging adults and reported similar levels of life satisfaction as the non-withdrawn subgroup. Our findings confirmed the heterogeneity of emerging adults' experiences of solitude, with different motivations for social withdrawal appearing to confer a differential risk for maladjustment.

The relations between socio-demographic information and negative symptoms, mental health, and quality of life: a latent profile analysis with psychotic patients in Kosovo.

The current study aims to identify meaningful psychotic patients' profiles by examining certain combinations of patient's demographic and socio-economic variables (sex, age, marital status, number of children, cohabitant and level of education). Moreover, we aim to assess whether there is any significant effect of class membership (profile) on negative symptoms, health state, and quality of life among psychotic patients. A convenience sample of 103 patients (age: M = 22, SD = 1.75), was drawn from the clinical populations of Kosovo. Demographic and socio-economic data was obtained through individual interviews, meanwhile a battery of questionnaires was used to assess negative symptoms, mental health, and quality of life of patients. The 4-class solution was selected as the best fitting model and used in subsequent analyses. Results indicated a significant effect of class membership on health state, quality of life and negative symptoms. Practical implications are discussed.

Latent profile analysis of diurnal cortisol patterns at the ages of 2, 3.5, and 5 years: Associations with childcare setting, child individual characteristics, and maternal distress.

This study performed latent profile analysis from more than 4000 saliva cortisol samples collected from children at the ages of 2 (T1), 3.5 (T2), and 5 years (T3). Three clearly different cortisol profiles were identified. The largest group at every age point was the Low/Regular latent profile, in which the cortisol slopes followed typical diurnal variation. A smaller proportion of the children belonged to the latent profile with relatively Low/Flat slope, and a minority belonged to the High/Fluctuating latent group, where the overall cortisol values and variations between the slopes were clearly higher than in the other groups. Most of the children who belonged to the High/Fluctuating group were cared for at home, they had higher temperamental surgency and their mothers had more depressive symptoms than in the other latent profile groups. However, only moderate intraindividual stability in diurnal cortisol profiles was observed across the follow-up period. On average, half of the children moved between the groups from T1 to T3. Neither child temperament, social competence, nor sex explained the stability or movement between the groups across age. Variations in cortisol profiles may be caused by the child's age, and diurnal cortisol rhythm becomes more regular along with development. Methodological issues regarding saliva cortisol research in young children are discussed. Also, more longitudinal research is needed to clarify mechanisms between environmental as well as individual factors and possible dysregulation in a child's HPA axis functioning.