Navigating Both Roles: A Photovoice Exploration of the Young Adult Balancing Daughterhood and Caregiving for a Mother With Young-Onset Dementia.

Young adults thrust into the role of caregiving for parents with young-onset dementia (YOD) face unique challenges during their formative years. While existing research acknowledges the crucial role of young adult caregivers, a gap persists in understanding how this group experiences and redefines their identity amidst these circumstances, along with the psychological and societal challenges encountered. This knowledge deficit hinders the identification of suitable social support, adversely affecting the personal growth and well-being of these young adult caregivers. In this single-case study, we used a combination of a semi-structured interview and photovoice to explore the journey of a 19-year-old caregiver, Alice, whose mother had been diagnosed with dementia in the preceding 3 years. Through this unique perspective, we aimed to illuminate how caregiving for a mother with YOD may profoundly redefine familial roles and relationships. Over 3 months, Alice captured significant life moments through photography, selecting meaningful images for bi-weekly meetings. These images served as pivotal themes, triggering in-depth conversations during subsequent interviews to provide nuanced insights into her life experiences. Findings reveal four major themes faced by a young caregiver: (1) challenges adapting to an unexpected role, (2) navigating the complex emotional terrain of losing a loved one to YOD, (3) prioritizing the well-being of the healthy parent, and (4) expressing a profound desire for both informal and formal support. These results underscore the intricate identity and emotional challenges faced by young adult caregivers, emphasizing the urgency of addressing their unique needs through family-centered systemic support services.

Adolescents' Future Aspirations and Expectations in the Context of a Shifting Rural Economy.

Adolescents' future aspirations and expectations influence the decisions they make as they transition into adulthood. However, less is known about how specific sociocultural factors interact with the formation of future aspirations and expectations and their association with goal attainment in emerging adulthood. The present study begins to fill this gap by using person-centered analysis with high school students (N = 517; 53% female; 92% white) from a rural county undergoing significant economic transition. Its aim was to identify future orientation profiles based on adolescent-reported future aspirations and expectations for success in both education and career. Four latent profiles were identified and labeled: universally high aspirations and expectations; low college aspirations and expectations; lower aspirations than expectations; and universally low aspirations and expectations. Significant gender differences were found. High school males were less likely to be in the universally high profile and more likely to be in the universally low and low college aspirations and expectations profiles. Future orientation profile placement was associated with differences in adolescent experiences in family, school, and community contexts as well as their work and education status and future residential aspirations in emerging adulthood. The findings inform future research and applied efforts focused on rural youth's preparation for adult roles, and on retaining rural youth, a necessity for the vitality of rural communities.

Brief report: Physical health of adolescent perpetrators of sibling aggression.

We describe adolescents' perpetration of sibling aggression and its link to physical health two years later. In-school surveys at Time 1 (N = 331) and Time 2 (two-years later, N = 283) were administered to adolescents (at Time 1, Mage = 15.71 years, SD = .63; 52% female) living in the United States querying about perpetration of aggression toward a sibling closest in age and perceived physical health. The majority of adolescents perpetrated aggression towards their sibling (74%). Adolescents who were part of brother-brother pairs reported the most aggression. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that perpetrating sibling aggression more often at Time 1 was predictive of lower physical health at Time 2 controlling for Time 1 physical health and demographic characteristics. Perpetration of aggression toward a sibling is common and has negative health consequences in late adolescence suggesting this issue should be targeted to improve adolescents' sibling dynamics and physical health.

Breadth of participation in organized and unstructured leisure activities over time and rural adolescents' functioning.

Discretionary time outside of school offers a distinct context that can promote adolescent development; however, potential for growth depends in part on how this time is used. In this study, person-centered analyses were used to examine patterns of breadth of participation in both organized and unstructured leisure activities among rural adolescents (N = 276, 49% female) across grades 7, 8, and 10. Adjusting for self-selection factors, the study associated these patterns with 10th grade outcomes. Three profiles of participation emerged: consistently low breadth, consistently average breadth, and consistently high breadth of involvement in both organized and unstructured leisure activities over time. The most popular activity types across profile groups were hanging out with friends, team sports, and outdoor activities. Adolescents involved in a greater breadth of organized activities reported the greatest breadth of involvement in unstructured leisure and the best functioning. Adolescents with low breadth of involvement in both organized and unstructured leisure activities consistently showed poorer outcomes. Adolescents in the high breadth of involvement profile were engaged in all activity types at higher rates than adolescents in the average and low breadth of involvement profiles. We advocate for continued efforts to increase adolescent participation in a variety of different types of out-of-school activities.

Rural parents' messages to their adolescent sons and daughters to leave their home communities.

The perceptions of 354 seventh and eleventh graders regarding the frequency and nature of their rural parents' messages to them and their closest-in-age sibling to leave their home communities after high school were explored. Survey data showed that almost half (54%) perceived that their parents encouraged them and/or their closest-in-age sibling to leave the area and about 19% of that group reported that their parents' messages to leave were inconsistent between them and their closest sibling. Parents' messages did not differ by youths' sex or age. Consistency of parents' messages between siblings was associated with youths' well-being, family relationship experiences, and future residential preferences. Semi-structured interviews with a subsample of seventh graders and their mothers highlighted parents' and youths' perspectives on parents' messages. This work highlights the familial processes associated with youth future planning and extends the current work on parents' differential treatment of siblings.

Observation of the A-x electronic transition of the isomers and conformers of pentyl peroxy radical using cavity ringdown spectroscopy.

Cavity ringdown spectra of the A-X electronic transition of all eight isomers of the pentyl peroxy radical are reported. Using the corresponding assignments from previously studied smaller alkyl peroxy radicals, assignments of origin bands are made for the pentyl peroxy isomers including some conformer-specific assignments for bands of a given isomer. Ab initio calculations also were performed to aid in the spectral assignments for neopentyl, t-butyl, and t-pentyl peroxies. In addition to the origins, vibrational bands have also been assigned for some species. Using the analyzed spectra, the relative reactivity of the primary, secondary, and tertiary hydrogen atoms in isopentane could be determined semiquantitatively.

A dialectical approach to theoretical integration in developmental-contextual identity research.

Future advances in identity research will depend on integration across major theoretical traditions. Developmental-contextualism has established essential criteria to guide this effort, including specifying the context of identity development, its timing over the life course, and its content. This article assesses 4 major traditions of identity research-identity status, eudaimonic identity, sociocultural theory, and narrative identity-in light of these criteria, and describes the contribution of each tradition to the broader enterprise of developmental-contextual research. This article proposes dialectical integration of the 4 traditions, for the purpose of generating new questions when the tensions and contradictions among theoretical traditions are acknowledged. We provide examples from existing literature of the kinds of research that could address these questions and consider ways of addressing the validity issues involved in developmental-contextual identity research. (PsycINFO Database Record

Proactive and reactive sibling aggression and adjustment in adolescence.

Existing research on aggression tends to narrowly focus on peers; less is known about sibling aggression, most likely due to its historical acceptance. Aggression is characterized by its forms (i.e., physical vs. social or relational aggression) and its functions (i.e., the motivations behind the aggressive act and categorized as proactive vs. reactive aggression). We use data from a two-wave study of middle (n = 197; M age = 12.63 years at Wave 1) and older (n = 159; M age = 16.50 years at Wave 1) adolescents to assess the extent to which proactive and reactive functions of sibling aggression make unique or conditional contributions to adolescent adjustment (i.e., depression, delinquency, and substance use). We find that proactive sibling aggression increases risk for problem substance use and delinquent behavior, reactive sibling aggression increases risk for depressed mood and delinquent behavior, and such results are observed even with statistical adjustments for sociodemographic and family variables, stressful life events, and prior adjustment. Few conditional effects of proactive or reactive sibling aggression by sex or grade are observed; yet, for all three outcomes, the harmful effects of reactive sibling aggression are strongest among adolescents who report low levels of proactive sibling aggression. The results speak to the importance of understanding the proactive and reactive functions of sibling aggressive behaviors for adolescent adjustment.

Predicting substance use behavior among South African adolescents: The role of leisure experiences across time.

Using seven waves of data, collected twice a year from the 8th through the 11th grades in a low-resource community in Cape Town, South Africa, we aimed to describe the developmental trends in three specific leisure experiences (leisure boredom, new leisure interests, and healthy leisure) and substance use (cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana) behaviors and to investigate the ways in which changes in leisure experiences predict changes in substance use behaviors over time. Results indicated that adolescents' substance use increased significantly across adolescence, but that leisure experiences remained fairly stable over time. We also found that adolescent leisure experiences predicted baseline substance use and that changes in leisure experiences predicted changes in substance use behaviors over time, with leisure boredom emerging as the most consistent and strongest predictor of alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use. Implications for interventions that target time use and leisure experiences are discussed.

The structure and spectra of organic peroxy radicals.

Recent spectroscopic and computational work on organic peroxy radicals, RO(2), is reviewed and extended with an emphasis on radicals where R is an alkyl group. Detailed experimental spectral, structural relationships are developed and show the dependence of spectral properties on the number of carbon atoms in the radical, and its isomeric and conformeric structure. These empirical relationships are explored and rationalized with the help of a series of quantum chemistry calculations, which are in turn benchmarked by the experimental data. The application of the spectra as a diagnostic for sensitive and selective measurement of radical concentrations for different RO(2) species in an isomer- and conformer-specific manner is described. Future areas of research including investigation of additional peroxy species and high resolution spectra of cold radicals are discussed.

Rotationally resolved infrared spectroscopy of a jet-cooled phenyl radical in the gas phase.

The first high-resolution IR spectra of a jet-cooled phenyl radical are reported, obtained via direct absorption laser spectroscopy in a slit-jet discharge supersonic expansion. The observed A-type band arises from fundamental excitation of the out-of-phase symmetric CH stretch mode (nu19) of b2 symmetry. Unambiguous spectral assignment of the rotational structure to the phenyl radical is facilitated by comparison with precision 2-line combination differences from Fourier transform microwave and direct absorption mm-wave measurements on the ground state [R. J. McMahon et al., Astrophys. J., 2003, 590, L61]. Least-squares fits to an asymmetric top Hamiltonian permit the upper-state rotational constants to be obtained. The corresponding gas-phase vibrational band origin at 3071.8904 (10) cm(-1) is in remarkably good agreement with previous matrix isolation studies [A. V. Friderichsen et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2001, 123, 1977], and indicates only a relatively minor red shift (approximately 0.9 cm(-1)) between the gas and Ar matrix phase environment. Such studies offer considerable promise for further high resolution IR study of other aromatic radical species of particular relevance to combustion phenomena and interstellar chemistry.

Investigation of ethyl peroxy radical conformers via cavity ringdown spectroscopy of the A-X electronic transition.

Both stable conformers, trans (T) and gauche (G), of the ethyl peroxy radical and its perdeutero analogue have been observed via cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) of the A2A'-X2A' ' electronic transition in the near-IR. Assignments of specific spectral lines to the electronic transition origin (T00), to observed vibrational hot bands, and to the COO bend and the O-O stretch vibrations are given with the help of equation of motion (EOMIP) quantum chemical calculations. In particular, spectral information for the previously unknown/unassigned T conformer of ethyl peroxy is given in this study for the first time and compared to the data for the previously observed G conformer. The conformer assignment is confirmed by an analysis of the partially resolved rotational structures. The electronic origins for the T and G conformers of C2H5O2 are located at 7362(1) and 7592(1) cm-1, respectively.

Gender differences in the self-defining activities and identity experiences of adolescents and emerging adults.

Activity participation provides a unique context for adolescents and emerging adults to explore interests, talents, and skills and for identity work to occur. Research has found consistent gender differences in the types of activities in which males and females participate. The current study drew on Eudaimonistic identity theory to examine the subjective identity-related experiences of personal expressiveness, flow experiences, and goal-directed behaviour [Waterman, 1984; Waterman, 2004. Finding someone to be: Studies on the role of intrinsic motivation in identity formation. Identity, 4, 209-228] within a special type of activity, self-defining activities, or those activities that participants identify as being important to who they are as a person. This study also tested for gender and country differences in a sample of 572 adolescents and emerging adults from the United States, Italy, and Chile. Findings indicate gender and country differences in the types of self-defining activities for males and females, but no gender differences in the reported identity-related experiences within those activities. This finding held across the three countries. Results from Multivariate Analyses of Variance also indicate that identity-related experiences differ significantly across seven broad activity classes. Findings are discussed in the context of the growing literature on adolescent activity involvement and time use, gender, and their relations to identity exploration.

Rovibronic bands of the A<--X transition of CH3OO and CD3OO detected with cavity ringdown absorption near 1.2-1.4 microm.

We have recorded several rovibronic bands of CH3OO and CD3OO in their A<--X transitions in the range of 1.18-1.40 microm with the cavity ringdown technique. While the electronic origins for these species have been reported previously, many newly observed rovibronic bands are described here. The experimental vibrational frequencies (given as nu in the unit cm(-1) in this paper) for the COO bending (nu8) and COO symmetric stretching (nu7) modes in the A state are 378 and 887 cm(-1) for CH3OO, and 348 and 824 cm(-1) for CD3OO, respectively. In addition, two other vibrational frequencies were observed for the A state of CD3OO, namely, nu5 (954 cm(-1)) and nu6 (971 cm(-1)). These experimental vibrational frequencies for the A state of both CH3OO and CD3OO are in good agreement with predictions from quantum-chemical calculations at the UB3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ level. The enhanced activity of the nu5 vibrational mode in CD3OO is rationalized by mode mixing with the nu7 mode, as supported by calculations of multidimensional Franck-Condon factors. In addition, many hot bands involving the methyl torsional mode (nu12) are observed for both normal and deuterated methyl peroxy. These bands include the "typical" sequence transitions and some "atypical" ones due to the nature of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions which are a consequence of the low, but very different, torsional barriers in the X and A states. In addition, the 12(2)2 band in CH3OO and the 12(3)3 band in CD3OO show quite different structures than the origin bands, an effect which results from tunneling splittings comparable to the rotational contour.