The role of coping strategies in interpersonal identity development of war-affected immigrant adolescents.

Increasing immigration around the world has affected the lives of children and adolescents. The ability to cope with the stress of migration and adaptation to a new culture likely is an important protective factor for optimal identity development under these conditions. The present study examined the role of coping strategies in interpersonal identity development among immigrant adolescents. The sample consisted of 93 (43% females) first-generation immigrant adolescents who migrated to Turkey due to war in their home countries. They have been living in the suburbs in Ankara and attending regular public schools. A two-wave longitudinal design was employed with a 4-month interval between waves. Identity development was measured using the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale focusing on the dimensions commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment in the domain of interpersonal relations. The coping strategies problem-solving, social support seeking, and avoidance were assessed with the Coping Strategies Scale. Results showed that none of the identity dimensions significantly predicted the use of specific coping strategies. However, different coping strategies predicted relative change in some identity dimensions. These results are discussed in light of previous findings on associations between identity development and coping strategies in different populations, and the difficulties associated with being an immigrant.

[Psychopathology in adolescents from seven countries: What role does controlling identity development and family relationships play?] / Psychopathologie bei Jugendlichen aus sieben Ländern: Welche Bedeutung hat die Kontrolle von Identitätsentwicklung und Familienbeziehungen?

Psychopathology in adolescents from seven countries: What role does controlling identity development and family relationships play? Abstract. This study analyzed the unique effects of gender and culture on psychopathology in adolescents from seven countries, after controlling for factors that might have contributed to variations in psychopathology. In a sample of 2259 adolescents (M = 15 years; 54 % female) from France, Germany, Turkey, Greece, Peru, Pakistan, and Poland, we assessed identity development, maternal parenting (support, psychological control, anxious rearing), and psychopathology (internalizing, externalizing). Using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), we analyzed country, sex, age, and the interaction country x sex as independent variables, while controlling for maternal rearing dimensions and identity development as covariates. This resulted in similar findings for internalizing and externalizing symptoms: Identity rumination and maternal rearing (support, psychological control, anxious rearing) proved to be significant covariates. Further, country, sex, age, and the interaction country x sex were significant. These analyses result in a clearer picture of culture- and gender-specific effects on psychopathology, which is helpful in designing interventions.

Examination of Psychometric Properties of the Need for Closure Scale-Short Form among Turkish College Students.

INTRODUCTION: The need for cognitive closure (NFC), defined as the desire for "an answer on a given topic, any answer … compared to confusion and ambiguity," is a topic that has become increasingly important in behavioral neuroscience. The present study aimed to assess the applicability of a measure of need for cognitive closure, the "Need for Closure Scale-Short Form" (NFC-SF), for Turkish college students. METHODS: Data from a total of 219 participants aged 19-29 years (male n=61, 27.9%; female n=158, 72.1%; Meanage=23.6 years, SD=3.06 years) were used to conduct validity and reliability analyses. Of the participants, 138 (63.0%; Meanage=22.62 years; SD=2.45 years) were university students, and the remainder had graduated from university (n=81; 37%; Meanage=24.16 years; SD=3.24 years). RESULTS: Language validity (r=0.94, p=0.00), confirmatory factor analysis results (χ2/Df=4.07, GFI=0.90, IFI=0.89, CFI=0.90, AGFI=0.88, NNFI=0.90, and RMSEA=0.011), item analysis, and convergent validity results indicated that a single factor solution with 15 items met the criteria for adequacy of fit among Turkish young people. The internal consistency (r=0.74) revealed a moderate to acceptable reliability. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that the NFC-SF can be used in studies that evaluate the need for closure among Turkish young people.

Shedding light on the dark side of identity: Introduction to the special issue.

The aim of this special issue is to shed light in the dark side of identity formation in adolescence and emerging adulthood, that is, to provide some understanding in what exactly can go wrong in identity development. After summarizing the recent developments in identity development literature, in this introduction the main findings of all thirteen empirical papers are summarized into three overarching themes: (1) lack of identity integration as a risk factor, (2) reconsideration of commitment as a sign of identity uncertainty, and (3) ruminative exploration as another risk factor undermining healthy identity development. Finally, given that all papers in this special issue are based on conference presentations at the 14th Biennial Conference of the European Association for Research on Adolescence (EARA), some more information on that conference is included in this introduction.

Identity statuses and psychosocial functioning in Turkish youth: a person-centered approach.

In the present study, we tested whether the five identity statuses of the original Meeus-Crocetti model could be extracted in a Turkish sample. Their three-factor model of identity was used to examine identity formation. Participants were 1201 (59.6% females) youth aged between 12 and 24 years (Mage = 17.53 years, SDage = 3.25). Findings revealed that the five identity statuses extracted in previous studies (Crocetti, Rubini, Luyckx, & Meeus, 2008; Crocetti, Schwartz, Fermani, Klimstra, & Meeus, 2012) also emerged in a sample of Turkish adolescents and emerging adults. Findings indicated that gender and age affected the distribution of the individuals among the five identity statuses. Furthermore, individuals in the five identity statuses represented distinct profiles according to personality and self characteristics, problem behaviors and well-being, and interpersonal and group relationships. Finally, the status × age interactions indicated that the searching moratorium status became more problematic with age. Implications and suggestions for future research are also discussed.

Brief report: the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS): gender and age measurement invariance and convergent validity of the Turkish version.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factor structure and convergent validity of the Turkish version of the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS). Participants were 1201 (59.6% females) youth aged between 12 and 24 years (M(age) = 17.53 years, SD(age) = 3.25). Results indicated that the three-factor model consisting of commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment provided a very good fit to the data and applied equally well to boys and girls as well as to three age groups (early adolescents, middle adolescents, and emerging adults). Significant relations between identity processes and self-concept clarity, personality, internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors, and parental relationships supported convergent validity. Thus, the Turkish version of U-MICS is a reliable tool for assessing identity in Turkish-speaking respondents.

Parenting processes and aggression: the role of self-control among Turkish adolescents.

The present study examined the direct and indirect relationships between parenting processes (parental closeness, parental monitoring, and parental peer approval), low self-control, and aggression. Participants were 546 adolescents aged 14-18 attending state high schools in Turkey. Participants completed a questionnaire that included measures of parenting processes, self-control, and aggression. Findings provided evidence of both direct and indirect effects of maternal and paternal parenting processes on aggression through low self-control. Specifically, results showed that maternal closeness, paternal peer approval and both maternal and paternal monitoring were positively and directly related to low self-control, and indirectly related to aggression through low self-control. Together, parenting processes and low self-control explained 21% of the variance in aggression. Implications for self-control theory and directions for future research are discussed.

Adolescent risk-taking: comparison between adolescents' and adults' opinion / Adoção de comportamentos de risco por adolescentes: uma comparação das opiniões de adolescentes e adultos / Adopción de comportamientos de riesgo por adolescentes: una comparación de las opiniones de los adolescentes y de los adultos

Adolescent risk-taking is one of the most important issues in current research on adolescence. This study aimed to exam the opinion of adolescents and adults regarding adolescent risk-taking. A total of 10 adults aged between 40-50 and 10 adolescents aged between 16-19 from middle socio-economic background residing in Ankara, Turkey, were interviewed. Adults' and adolescents' definitions and examples of risk-taking, and their perspectives regarding its sources were studied. Interviews were transcribed. Results showed that adolescents' beliefs regarding risk-taking lack a long-term perspective as they do not consider consequences of their actions and future results. Adults' beliefs on adolescent risk-taking seem to be more realistic and more related to life events than that of adolescents. Future research comparing views of both groups is needed.(AU)

A adoção de comportamentos de risco pelos adolescentes é uma das principais preocupações na investigação atual sobre adolescência. Este estudo tem como objetivo comparar as perspectivas de adultos e adolescentes sobre adoção de comportamentos de risco pelos adolescentes. Participaram 10 adultos, com idades entre 40 e 50 anos, e 10 adolescentes, na faixa etária de 16 a 19 anos, de nível socioeconômico médio, provenientes da cidade de Ankara, Turquia. As entrevistas transcritas procuraram investigar como adultos e adolescentes definem o comportamento de risco, exemplos e suas causas subjacentes. Os resultados mostraram que as crenças dos adolescentes sobre adoção de comportamentos de risco não incluem uma perspectiva temporal, nem refletem sobre as possíveis conseqüências dos seus atos para o futuro. Em contrapartida, as crenças dos adultos sobre adoção de comportamentos de risco pelos adolescentes parecem ser mais realistas, levando em consideração suas conseqüências para o futuro. São necessários estudos posteriores para comprovar as diferenças entre os dois grupos.(AU)

La adopción de los comportamientos de riesgo por los adolescentes es una de las principales preocupaciones en la investigación actual sobre la adolescencia. Esto estudio tiene como objetivo comparar las perspectivas de los adultos y de los adolescentes sobre la adopción de comportamientos de riesgo pelos adolescentes. En esto estudio participarán 10 adultos, con edades entre 40 y 50 años, y adolescentes, entre 16 y 19 años, provenientes del medio socio económico medio, de la ciudad de Ankara, en la Turquía. Las entrevistas realizadas procuran analizar el modo como los adultos y adolescentes definen el comportamiento de riesgo, los ejemplos que ellos dan y las causas que están en su entorno. Las entrevistas fueron transcritas. Los resultados muestran que las creencias de los adolescentes sobre la adopción de comportamientos de riesgo no incluyen una perspectiva en el tiempo, también no hace reflexión sobre las posibles consecuencias de sus actos para el futuro. En contraposición, las creencias de los adultos sobre la adopción de comportamientos de riesgo pelos adolescentes parecen ser más realistas, teniendo en cuenta sus consecuencias para el futuro. Futuros estudios son necesarios para comprobar las diferencias entre los dos grupos.(AU)

Adolescent risk-taking: comparison between adolescents' and adults' opinion / Adoção de comportamentos de risco por adolescentes: uma comparação das opiniões de adolescentes e adultos / Adopción de comportamientos de riesgo por adolescentes: una comparación de las opiniones de los adolescentes y de los adultos

Adolescent risk-taking is one of the most important issues in current research on adolescence. This study aimed to exam the opinion of adolescents and adults regarding adolescent risk-taking. A total of 10 adults aged between 40-50 and 10 adolescents aged between 16-19 from middle socio-economic background residing in Ankara, Turkey, were interviewed. Adults' and adolescents' definitions and examples of risk-taking, and their perspectives regarding its sources were studied. Interviews were transcribed. Results showed that adolescents' beliefs regarding risk-taking lack a long-term perspective as they do not consider consequences of their actions and future results. Adults' beliefs on adolescent risk-taking seem to be more realistic and more related to life events than that of adolescents. Future research comparing views of both groups is needed.

A adoção de comportamentos de risco pelos adolescentes é uma das principais preocupações na investigação atual sobre adolescência. Este estudo tem como objetivo comparar as perspectivas de adultos e adolescentes sobre adoção de comportamentos de risco pelos adolescentes. Participaram 10 adultos, com idades entre 40 e 50 anos, e 10 adolescentes, na faixa etária de 16 a 19 anos, de nível socioeconômico médio, provenientes da cidade de Ankara, Turquia. As entrevistas transcritas procuraram investigar como adultos e adolescentes definem o comportamento de risco, exemplos e suas causas subjacentes. Os resultados mostraram que as crenças dos adolescentes sobre adoção de comportamentos de risco não incluem uma perspectiva temporal, nem refletem sobre as possíveis conseqüências dos seus atos para o futuro. Em contrapartida, as crenças dos adultos sobre adoção de comportamentos de risco pelos adolescentes parecem ser mais realistas, levando em consideração suas conseqüências para o futuro. São necessários estudos posteriores para comprovar as diferenças entre os dois grupos.

La adopción de los comportamientos de riesgo por los adolescentes es una de las principales preocupaciones en la investigación actual sobre la adolescencia. Esto estudio tiene como objetivo comparar las perspectivas de los adultos y de los adolescentes sobre la adopción de comportamientos de riesgo pelos adolescentes. En esto estudio participarán 10 adultos, con edades entre 40 y 50 años, y adolescentes, entre 16 y 19 años, provenientes del medio socio económico medio, de la ciudad de Ankara, en la Turquía. Las entrevistas realizadas procuran analizar el modo como los adultos y adolescentes definen el comportamiento de riesgo, los ejemplos que ellos dan y las causas que están en su entorno. Las entrevistas fueron transcritas. Los resultados muestran que las creencias de los adolescentes sobre la adopción de comportamientos de riesgo no incluyen una perspectiva en el tiempo, también no hace reflexión sobre las posibles consecuencias de sus actos para el futuro. En contraposición, las creencias de los adultos sobre la adopción de comportamientos de riesgo pelos adolescentes parecen ser más realistas, teniendo en cuenta sus consecuencias para el futuro. Futuros estudios son necesarios para comprobar las diferencias entre los dos grupos.

Perceptions of decisional autonomy of Turkish adolescents and their parents

Estudo objetivou investigar autonomia de decisão de adolescentes turcos de 12-18 anos de idade. Questionário PADM (Perspectivas na Tomada de Decisões por Adolescentes) foi administrado a 372 adolescentes de classe média, alunos de ensino fundamental e médio e a seus pais. O PADM verifica se adolescentes decidem por si mesmos ou se os pais impõe restrições, também se discutem o assunto. Foram usadas análises MANOVA. Os resultados mostraram que respostas afirmativas aumentam com a idade. Na perspectiva de pais e adolescentes a autonomia para tomada de decisões aumenta com a idade, o controle parental diminui, conflitos tendem a diminuir. Houve pequena diferença de gênero: meninas têm maior nível de autonomia decisional, meninos experimentam mais conflitos. As expectativas de autonomia decisional dos adolescentes tendem a ser maiores que as dos pais. Perspectivas de pais e mães sobre autonomia foram bastante similares: os resultados suportam o modelo de família proposto por Kaoytçýbabý.(AU)

Perceptions of decisional uutonomy of Turkish adolescents and their parents

Estudo objetivou investigar autonomia de decisão de adolescentes turcos de 12-18 anos de idade. Questionário PADM (Perspectivas na Tomada de Decisões por Adolescentes) foi administrado a 372 adolescentes de classe média, alunos de ensino fundamental e médio e a seus pais. O PADM verifica se adolescentes decidem por si mesmos ou se os pais impõem restrições, também se discutem o assunto. Foram usadas análises MANOVA. Os resultados mostraram que respostas afirmativas aumentam com a idade. Na perspectiva de pais e adolescentes a autonomia para tomada de decisões aumenta com a idade, o controle parental diminui, conflitos tendem a diminuir. Houve pequena diferença de gênero: meninas têm maior nível de autonomia decisional, meninos experimentam mais conflitos. As expectativas de autonomia decisional dos adolescentes tendem a ser maiores que as dos pais. Perspectivas de pais e mães sobre autonomia foram bastante similares; os resultados suportam o modelo de família proposto por Kaðýtçýbaþý.

This study attempted to investigate decisional autonomy in Turkish adolescents from 12 to 18 years. The Perspectives on Adolescent Decision Making (PADM) questionnaire was administered to 372 middle class adolescents who attend middle and high schools and to their parents. The PADM assess if adolescents decide for themselves, or parents impose restrictions or adolescents and parents have arguments about the topic. MANOVA analyzes were used. Results showed that affirmative answers increased with age. From adolescent and parents' perspectives adolescent decisional autonomy grows with age, parental control decreases, conflicts between them tended to decrease, on the perspective of parents. There was minor gender differences: girls have higher level of decisional autonomy; boys experience more conflict. Adolescents' decisional autonomy expectations tended to be higher than those of parents. Fathers' and mothers' perspectives on decisional autonomy were very similar. The results support the new family model proposed by Kaðýtçýbaþý.

A controlled-study of preventive effects of peer education and single-session lectures on HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes among university students in Turkey.

The goal of this study was to assess the impact of peer education and single-session educational lectures on HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitude change among university students (n = 157 male, n = 230 female; mean age = 20) on the campuses of two metropolitan state universities in Ankara, Turkey. The students were randomly selected to participate in peer education (n = 204), single-session lecture (n = 74) or wait-list control (n = 109) groups. Statistical analyses reveal significant differences in knowledge and attitudes, personal behavior, and awareness of HIV/AIDS. Both the peer education and HIV/AIDS lecture strategies were more effective in eliciting change in student's knowledge and attitudes than the control condition (p > .05). Male and female students in both experimental groups showed higher attitude scores compared with all students in the control group.