This review examined child sexual abuse in the Nordic countries focusing on prevalence rates and victims' age and relationship to the perpetrator. The results show a prevalence of child sexual abuse...
moreThis review examined child sexual abuse in the Nordic countries focusing on prevalence rates and victims' age and relationship to the perpetrator. The results show a prevalence of child sexual abuse (broadly defined) between 3-23% for boys and 11-36% for girls. The prevalence rates for contact abuse were 1-12% for boys and 6-30% for girls, while 0.3-6.8% of the boys and 1.1-13.5% of the girls reported penetrating abuse. The findings suggest an increased risk of abuse from early adolescence. In adolescence, peers may constitute the largest group of perpetrators. The results highlight the need for preventive efforts also targeting peer abuse. Future research should include cross-national and repeated studies using comparable methodology.
Based on nine waves of data collected during a period of 17 years (1990-2007), the present study explored different developmental trajectories of the following unhealthy behaviors: regular smoking, lack of regular exercise, lack of daily...
moreBased on nine waves of data collected during a period of 17 years (1990-2007), the present study explored different developmental trajectories of the following unhealthy behaviors: regular smoking, lack of regular exercise, lack of daily fruit intake, and drunkenness. A baseline sample of 1195 13-year-old pupils was from 22 randomly selected schools in the Hordaland County in western Norway. Latent class growth analysis revealed three developmental trajectories. The first trajectory was a conventional trajectory, comprising 36.3% of participants, who showed changes in smoking, physical exercise, fruit intake, and drunkenness consistent with the prevailing age specific norms of these behaviors in the Norwegian society at the time. The second trajectory was a passive trajectory, comprising 25.5% of participants, who reported low levels of both healthy and unhealthy behaviors during the 17-year period. The third trajectory was an unhealthy trajectory, comprising 38.2% of participants, ...
Abstract Using a theoretically guided contrast analysis approach (see Furr & Rosenthal, 2003; Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2002) and data from a relatively large community sample (2550 students in grades 7-9), different sets of hypotheses...
moreAbstract Using a theoretically guided contrast analysis approach (see Furr & Rosenthal, 2003; Rosnow & Rosenthal, 2002) and data from a relatively large community sample (2550 students in grades 7-9), different sets of hypotheses dealing with adolescents' adjustment ...
It is well established that adolescents living in father custody are more likely to be involved in antisocial behavior and substance use, as compared to adolescents living in mother custody. This study assessed whether these differences...
moreIt is well established that adolescents living in father custody are more likely to be involved in antisocial behavior and substance use, as compared to adolescents living in mother custody. This study assessed whether these differences also pertain to a wider spectrum of health-related outcomes. A second aim was to investigate the role of a stepparent on adolescents' health-related adjustment.
... smoking is accepted. According to Lynch and Bonnie (1994), the continuous reinforcement of the positive side of smoking is a norm in many so-cieties and accepted among people adolescents aspire to be like. In addition, the ...
The aim of the study was twofold: (1) to examine how psychosocial support provided by teachers and classmates related to students' self-regulated learning as expressed through self-reported academic initiative, and (2) whether...
moreThe aim of the study was twofold: (1) to examine how psychosocial support provided by teachers and classmates related to students' self-regulated learning as expressed through self-reported academic initiative, and (2) whether academic competence and school satisfaction ...
In the present article, we used IRT (graded response) modeling as a useful technology for a detailed and refined study of the psychometric properties of the various items of the Olweus Bullying scale and the scale itself. The sample...
moreIn the present article, we used IRT (graded response) modeling as a useful technology for a detailed and refined study of the psychometric properties of the various items of the Olweus Bullying scale and the scale itself. The sample consisted of a very large number of Norwegian 4th-10th grade students (n = 48 926). The IRT analyses revealed that the scale was essentially unidimensional and had excellent reliability in the upper ranges of the latent bullying tendency trait, as intended and desired. Gender DIF effects were identified with regard to girls' use of indirect bullying by social exclusion and boys' use of physical bullying by hitting and kicking but these effects were small and worked in opposite directions, having negligible effects at the scale level. Also scale scores adjusted for DIF effects differed very little from non-adjusted scores. In conclusion, the empirical data were well characterized by the chosen IRT model and the Olweus Bullying scale was considered well suited for the conduct of fair and reliable comparisons involving different gender-age groups. Information Aggr. Behav. 9999:XX-XX, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
... The quality of the residential and nonresidential parentchild relationship has often been given an especially prominent role in this perspective (Capaldi, DeGarmo, Patterson, & Forgatch, 200213. Capaldi, D., DeGarmo, D.,...
more... The quality of the residential and nonresidential parentchild relationship has often been given an especially prominent role in this perspective (Capaldi, DeGarmo, Patterson, & Forgatch, 200213. Capaldi, D., DeGarmo, D., Patterson, GR and Forgatch, M. 2002. ...
The aim of the study was twofold: (1) to examine how psychosocial support provided by teachers and classmates related to students' self-regulated learning as expressed through self-reported academic initiative, and (2) whether...
moreThe aim of the study was twofold: (1) to examine how psychosocial support provided by teachers and classmates related to students' self-regulated learning as expressed through self-reported academic initiative, and (2) whether academic competence and school satisfaction ...
It is well established that adolescents living in father custody are more likely to be involved in antisocial behavior and substance use, as compared to adolescents living in mother custody. This study assessed whether these differences...
moreIt is well established that adolescents living in father custody are more likely to be involved in antisocial behavior and substance use, as compared to adolescents living in mother custody. This study assessed whether these differences also pertain to a wider spectrum of health-related outcomes. A second aim was to investigate the role of a stepparent on adolescents' health-related adjustment.
Study Design. Cross-sectional design.Objective. To explore 1) the factor structure of the RMDQ, 2) whether there is a dominant factor, and 3) whether the potential factors are unique predictors of other aspects related to back...
moreStudy Design. Cross-sectional design.Objective. To explore 1) the factor structure of the RMDQ, 2) whether there is a dominant factor, and 3) whether the potential factors are unique predictors of other aspects related to back pain.Summary of Background Data. The Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) is one of the most recommended back-specific questionnaires assessing disability. The RMDQ is scored as an unidimensional scale summarizing answers to all 24 questions (yes/no) regarding daily life functioning. However, there are indications that the scale is multidimensional.Methods. Patients (n = 457, aged 18-60) 8-12 weeks due to back pain filled in questionnaires assessing subjective health complaints, emotional distress, instrumental and emotional oriented coping and fear voidance behavior at baseline. 371 (81.7%) filled in the RMDQ. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to examine the factor structure of RMDQ items. Multiple regression analyses were used to assess whether the derived factors predicted relevant problems in back pain differently.Results. EFA showed indices of model fit for a 3-factor solution after removing two items because of low prevalence (19 and 24). Two items were removed because of cross loadings and low loadings (2 and 22). No support for a dominant factor was found as the three factors were only moderately correlated (r = .34-.40), and the ratio between the first to second eigenvalue was 2.6, not supporting essential unidimesionality. Symptoms were the factor that most strongly predicted subjective health complaints, while Avoidance of activity and participation predicted fear avoidance behavior, instrumental and emotional coping. Limitation in daily activities did not predict any of these variables.Conclusions. The main findings of our study are that the RMDQ consists of three independent factors, and not one dominant factor as suggested previously. We believe the time is now ripe to start treating and scoring the RMDQ as a multi-dimensional scale.
Cross-sectional and longitudinal designs within a prospective cohort study. Translation of Hannover Functional Ability Questionnaire (FFbH-R) into Norwegian and examination of its factor structure, internal consistency, reproducibility,...
moreCross-sectional and longitudinal designs within a prospective cohort study. Translation of Hannover Functional Ability Questionnaire (FFbH-R) into Norwegian and examination of its factor structure, internal consistency, reproducibility, construct validity, and responsiveness in patients with long-lasting back pain. Several condition-specific instruments have been developed to evaluate functional status in low back pain, but FFbH-R was the only instrument found to solely measure perceived capability of performing daily activities. Recommended guidelines for translation of questionnaires and quality criteria for validation were followed. A total of 111 patients (aged 18-65 years) with long-lasting back pain were consecutively recruited from an outpatient spine clinic. Two additional samples of patients with long-lasting back pain were added into the exploratory factor analysis, giving a total number of 224 patients. Predefined hypotheses regarding construct and longitudinal validity (responsiveness) were examined. Factor analysis indicated that 2 items should be removed, resulting in a 3-factor solution as the best fit. The factors were related to flexibility, dynamic strength, and posture endurance. Satisfactory internal consistency and reproducibility were demonstrated for the total and subscales of the Norwegian version of FFbH-R. Most of the predefined hypothesis regarding construct and longitudinal validity were confirmed, and discriminate ability was shown. Minor floor and ceiling effects were demonstrated. Psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of FFbH-R were satisfactory in patients with long-lasting back pain, but the dynamic strength and posture endurance subscales might be complemented with additional items.
To examine whether a bifactor model with a general ADHD factor and domain specific factors of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity was supported in a large general population sample of children. We also explored the utility of...
moreTo examine whether a bifactor model with a general ADHD factor and domain specific factors of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity was supported in a large general population sample of children. We also explored the utility of forming subscales based on the domain-specific factors. Child mental health questionnaires were completed by both teachers and parents of all children in grades 2-4 in Bergen, Norway. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the ADHD items of a modified version of the Swanson, Nolan and Pelham Questionnaire-IV (SNAP-IV) for 6,237 children. The bifactor model showed very good model fit with a strong general ADHD factor and specific factors for impulsivity and inattention. The subfactors, especially hyperactivity, generated from the SNAP-IV ADHD items conveyed little unique variance in the model. The findings in this general population sample with a strong general ADHD factor in the bifactor model supports the view on ADHD as a unitary concept with specific domain factors for inattention and impulsivity, but not for hyperactivity. The bifactor model questions the utility of constructing ADHD subscales by the use of a simple sum score when using the SNAP-IV.
