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Prior studies on coparenting have primarily focused on mothers and fathers, neglecting coparenting dynamics in multi-generational families. This study aimed to investigate coparenting perceptions among mothers, fathers and grandparents, and explore the associations between the coparenting relationship and adolescent problem behavior, as well as demographic characteristics. The sample included 1163 families with children aged 10–13 years. Mothers (n = 997) and fathers (n = 863) provided ratings of their coparenting relationship toward their partners and one grandparent, while grandparents (n = 249) reported on the coparenting relationship with mothers. Results showed that compared to mothers, fathers reported more undermining of their own parenting by their partner. They were more supportive of their partner's parenting and more positive about the division of labor. Fathers rated the overall coparenting relationship more positively than mothers, as indicated by the General Coparenting Scale. Notably, grandparents reported significantly more positive coparenting relations with mothers than mothers' reports of coparenting with grandparents, expressing affirmation of parental competency and alignment with parenting practices. More positive coparenting was associated with less problem behaviors, which was true for coparenting across parents and grandparents. Furthermore, older adolescent age and higher socioeconomic status were significantly correlated with increased coparenting agreement and closeness. Maternal and paternal grandmothers did not differ in their ratings of the coparenting relationship with the child's mother. These findings underscore the significance of recognizing differential perceptions among family members regarding coparenting behaviors, providing valuable insights for tailoring specific recommendations to enhance coparenting quality within diverse families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction"Recidivism" is used ubiquitously in juvenile justice research and typically describes repeat legal contact; however, researchers, policymakers, and clinicians operationalize it in various ways. Despite assuming each measure is a proxy for continued delinquent behavior leading to further legal contact, few have examined the association between youth delinquent behavior and self-reported and official records of legal contact. Furthermore, systemic bias against ethnoracial and gender minoritized youth often results in more harsh treatment by the legal system, which could influence recidivism measurement. Latent variable modeling of legal contact is understudied; thus, it is important to examine the feasibility of measuring this construct as a latent variable, including measurement invariance by gender.MethodsAmong 401 youth ages 12-18 years at first ever court contact, we examined three metrics of legal contact over a 2-year follow-up period: youth-report of arrest, caregiver-report of their adolescent's arrest, and official records of the number of new court charges. We examined between-group differences on each metric based on gender and ethnoracial identity. We then measured: (1) the association between youths' self-reported delinquency and each metric, (2) gender-specific associations between self-reported delinquency and each metric, and (3) gender-based measurement invariance for a latent recidivism variable using confirmatory factor analysis.ResultsYouth were consistent reporters of their own delinquent behavior and prospective legal contact measured by arrests. There were no between-group differences based on gender or ethnoracial identity for any legal contact measures. Delinquency and all legal contact variables were positively intercorrelated for the overall sample and the male subsample. For females, delinquency was not associated with caregiver-reported youth arrest or number of new charges. The latent legal contact variable had unique factor structures for male and female subsamples, suggesting no measurement invariance.DiscussionYouth-reported delinquency at first ever legal contact was most strongly associated with youth-reported arrest during a 2-year follow-up period, followed by caregiver-reported arrest, and the number of new charges. Unique latent variable factor structures for male and female subsamples suggests the inter-relation between legal contact variables is gender-specific. Stakeholders should consider prioritizing youth-reported delinquency since it is most strongly related to prospective youth-reported arrest.

Introduction: Short-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy (STPP) is an evidencebased treatment for adolescents with depression, but like all treatment approaches, not all patients benefit from it. Previous investigations of the process of STPP have mostly focused on successful cases, and only a few studies have included the perspectives of young people, their parents, and therapists in the understanding of treatment non-response. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with young people who were considered "non-responders" to STPP, as well as with their parents and therapists. These cases were analyzed using a descriptive-interpretative approach. Results: The data analysis revealed three themes: (1) Therapy as a safe space; (2) Can short-term psychotherapy ever be enough?; and (3) Therapists making links and connections that did not make sense to the young people. Discussion: This study's findings indicate that "poor outcome" psychotherapy does not necessarily equate to a "poor experience" of psychotherapy, with different stakeholders appreciating the treatment setting as a "safe space." However, they also suggest that some felt that a relatively short-term treatment could not lead to substantial change and that young people in STPP might have a more negative view of their outcomes compared to their parents and therapists. Finally, the findings indicate that some interventions made by clinicians in STPP feel wrong or do not make sense to young people, potentially affecting the therapy process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from multiple informants has long been considered best practice in education. However, multiple informants often disagree on similar constructs, complicating decision-making. Polynomial regression and response-surface analysis (PRA) is often used to test the congruence effect between multiple informants on an outcome. However, PRA assumes the congruence effect on the outcome is homogeneous across individuals. To investigate unknown heterogeneity in the congruence effect, we introduce polynomial regression mixture modeling (PRMix). We demonstrate how PRMix enhances congruence research by allowing researchers to investigate individual differences in the congruence effect. The differential congruence effects between latent classes are illustrated with response-surface plots. We provide practical suggestions for using PRMix and discuss future research directions in methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes congruence and incongruence between mothers and adolescents on perceived maternal rejection as a predictor of externalizing and internalizing problems. The sample comprised 162 Spanish families (adolescent, father, and mother). The children (38.3% males, 98.8% Caucasian) were between the ages of 12 and 16 years old (M = 13.27, Sd = 1.23). Mothers and adolescents completed specific versions of the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire, and fathers completed the Child Behavior Checklist. Polynomial regressions, including the quadratic and interaction terms of the predictors and response surface analysis, were conducted. The results indicate a congruent effect in predicting externalizing problems from mothers' and adolescents' reports on perceived maternal rejection. Thus, congruence between adolescents and mothers on high perceived maternal rejection is associated with the highest levels of adolescent psychological maladjustment, and congruence between adolescents and mothers on low perceived maternal rejection is associated with the lowest levels of adolescent psychological maladjustment. In contrast, the magnitude—but not the direction—of incongruence in perceptions between mothers and adolescents has a positive effect, as it is associated with a decreased risk of externalizing problems. This study contributes to existing knowledge surrounding the importance of employing multiple-informant assessment and using appropriate approaches to study discrepant reporting by mothers and adolescents on family variables, and its effect on adolescent mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionShort-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy (STPP) is an evidence-based treatment for adolescents with depression, but like all treatment approaches, not all patients benefit from it. Previous investigations of the process of STPP have mostly focused on successful cases, and only a few studies have included the perspectives of young people, their parents, and therapists in the understanding of treatment non-response.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were carried out with young people who were considered “non-responders” to STPP, as well as with their parents and therapists. These cases were analyzed using a descriptive-interpretative approach.ResultsThe data analysis revealed three themes: (1) Therapy as a safe space; (2) Can short-term psychotherapy ever be enough?; and (3) Therapists making links and connections that did not make sense to the young people.DiscussionThis study’s findings indicate that “poor outcome” psychotherapy does not necessarily equate to a “poor experience” of psychotherapy, with different stakeholders appreciating the treatment setting as a “safe space.” However, they also suggest that some felt that a relatively short-term treatment could not lead to substantial change and that young people in STPP might have a more negative view of their outcomes compared to their parents and therapists. Finally, the findings indicate that some interventions made by clinicians in STPP feel wrong or do not make sense to young people, potentially affecting the therapy process.

Aggression in youth is a transdiagnostic indicator and associated with a variety of serious, maladaptive outcomes. Theoretically, aggression is linked to individual differences in empathy (i.e., the capacity to understand, resonate with, and experience others' emotions); yet the empirical research is mixed. To clarify this literature, this pre-registered study examined unique associations between subtypes of empathy (cognitive, affective, somatic, positive, and negative) and aggression (reactive, proactive) among a diverse sample of high-risk adolescents (N = 103; Mage=16.1 years, 53% female; 60% racial/ethnic minoritized groups). Empathy was assessed via youth-report at baseline and aggression was assessed at baseline and 9-month follow-up across multiple informants (youth-, parent-, and teacher). Associations were examined simultaneously while controlling for theoretically relevant covariates (age, sex, minoritized status, receipt of public assistance) and emotional reactivity. Somatic empathy was the most consistent predictor of aggression. Specifically, youth reporting higher somatic empathy had lower levels of youth- and teacher-reported reactive and proactive aggression at baseline and 9-month follow-up. Additionally, youth who endorsed higher affective empathy also reported more reactive aggression at baseline and at follow-up after accounting for individual differences in emotional reactivity. Results highlight the importance of considering subtypes of both empathy and aggression when examining risk and resilience pathways and point to the potential role of somatic empathy as a protective factor. Taken together, findings enhance our understanding of etiological mechanisms for aggression and suggest that interventions that encourage youth to upregulate their emotional sensitivity or interoceptive awareness may reduce aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most analyses of children's well-being in separated families are based on reports provided by parents. Thus, the question arises whether discrepancies between parents' proxy reports and children's self-reports exist and whether they impact explanatory models of children's well-being. Since a family's physical custody arrangement could systematically affect parents' ratings of their children's mental health, and this association has not been examined before, this study investigates parent-child discrepancies in reporting children's mental health problems in separated families with different physical custody arrangements. Drawing on data from the German Family Panel (pairfam), multinomial logistic regression and multilevel mixed-effects models were estimated for 786 parent-child dyads nested in 622 families with children between the ages of 9 and 17. To measure children's mental health, we used two subscales (emotional and conduct problems) of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The findings suggested that the relationship between physical custody arrangements and children's mental health differs depending on whether the children's or the parents' data are used. Physical custody arrangements and informant discrepancies were not associated. Parents' mental health and the quality of parent-child relationships appear more relevant in understanding informant discrepancies than physical custody arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: "Recidivism" is used ubiquitously in juvenile justice research and typically describes repeat legal contact; however, researchers, policymakers, and clinicians operationalize it in various ways. Despite assuming each measure is a proxy for continued delinquent behavior leading to further legal contact, few have examined the association between youth delinquent behavior and self-reported and official records of legal contact. Furthermore, systemic bias against ethnoracial and gender minoritized youth often results in more harsh treatment by the legal system, which could influence recidivism measurement. Latent variable modeling of legal contact is understudied; thus, it is important to examine the feasibility of measuring this construct as a latent variable, including measurement invariance by gender. Methods: Among 401 youth ages 12--18 years at first ever court contact, we examined three metrics of legal contact over a 2-year follow-up period: youthreport of arrest, caregiver-report of their adolescent's arrest, and official records of the number of new court charges. We examined between-group differences on each metric based on gender and ethnoracial identity. We then measured: (1) the association between youths' self-reported delinquency and each metric, (2) gender-specific associations between self-reported delinquency and each metric, and (3) gender-based measurement invariance for a latent recidivism variable using confirmatory factor analysis. Results: Youth were consistent reporters of their own delinquent behavior and prospective legal contact measured by arrests. There were no betweengroup differences based on gender or ethnoracial identity for any legal contact measures. Delinquency and all legal contact variables were positively intercorrelated for the overall sample and the male subsample. For females, delinquency was not associated with caregiver-reported youth arrest or number of new charges. The latent legal contact variable had unique factor structures for male and female subsamples, suggesting no measurement invariance. Discussion: Youth-reported delinquency at first ever legal contact was most strongly associated with youth-reported arrest during a 2-year follow-up period, followed by caregiver-reported arrest, and the number of new charges. Unique latent variable factor structures for male and female subsamples suggests the inter-relation between legal contact variables is gender-specific. Stakeholders should consider prioritizing youth-reported delinquency since it is most strongly related to prospective youth-reported arrest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction“Recidivism” is used ubiquitously in juvenile justice research and typically describes repeat legal contact; however, researchers, policymakers, and clinicians operationalize it in various ways. Despite assuming each measure is a proxy for continued delinquent behavior leading to further legal contact, few have examined the association between youth delinquent behavior and self-reported and official records of legal contact. Furthermore, systemic bias against ethnoracial and gender minoritized youth often results in more harsh treatment by the legal system, which could influence recidivism measurement. Latent variable modeling of legal contact is understudied; thus, it is important to examine the feasibility of measuring this construct as a latent variable, including measurement invariance by gender.MethodsAmong 401 youth ages 12–18 years at first ever court contact, we examined three metrics of legal contact over a 2-year follow-up period: youth-report of arrest, caregiver-report of their adolescent’s arrest, and official records of the number of new court charges. We examined between-group differences on each metric based on gender and ethnoracial identity. We then measured: (1) the association between youths’ self-reported delinquency and each metric, (2) gender-specific associations between self-reported delinquency and each metric, and (3) gender-based measurement invariance for a latent recidivism variable using confirmatory factor analysis.ResultsYouth were consistent reporters of their own delinquent behavior and prospective legal contact measured by arrests. There were no between-group differences based on gender or ethnoracial identity for any legal contact measures. Delinquency and all legal contact variables were positively intercorrelated for the overall sample and the male subsample. For females, delinquency was not associated with caregiver-reported youth arrest or number of new charges. The latent legal contact variable had unique factor structures for male and female subsamples, suggesting no measurement invariance.DiscussionYouth-reported delinquency at first ever legal contact was most strongly associated with youth-reported arrest during a 2-year follow-up period, followed by caregiver-reported arrest, and the number of new charges. Unique latent variable factor structures for male and female subsamples suggests the inter-relation between legal contact variables is gender-specific. Stakeholders should consider prioritizing youth-reported delinquency since it is most strongly related to prospective youth-reported arrest.

The type and frequency of children's exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) are considered as key variables in understanding children's heightened risk of externalizing symptoms. Notably, children's exposure to IPV has been primarily measured using mothers' reports of their own victimization. However, mothers and children might differently perceive children's exposure to physical IPV. To date, no research has investigated multi-rater reporting discrepancies in child's exposure to physical IPV and whether such discrepancies would be linked to externalizing symptoms. This study aimed to identify patterns of mother–child discrepancies in child's exposure to physical IPV and examine whether those patterns would be associated with children's externalizing symptoms. Participants were mothers who have experienced police-reported male-perpetrated IPV and their children (n = 153; 4–10 years). Latent profile analysis identified three profiles of mother–child discrepancies: a concordant group reporting high IPV exposure; a discordant group with mothers and children reporting high and low child's IPV exposure, respectively; a second discordant group with mothers and children reporting low and moderate IPV exposure, respectively. Profiles of mother–child discrepancies were differentially associated with children's externalizing symptoms. Findings suggest that discrepancies among informants' ratings of children's IPV exposure might have important implications for measurement, assessment, and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The tremendous growth of internet use during past few decades has been primarily led by young people. Despite a plenitude of studies reporting the pros and cons of excessive internet use by adolescents, the internet use of primary school-aged children is under-researched. First, there is lack of reliable and valid cultural invariant self-report instruments for children younger than 11-years-old. Secondly, there is no consensus on whether primary school-aged children can reliably report on their internet use. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) as reported by primary school-aged children in three different countries/regions. Methods: Paper-pencil format CIUS questionnaires were completed by a total of 691 children aged 8 to 10years old, 236 of them Latvian, 207 Lithuanian, and 248 Taiwanese, as well as by one of their parents, at two-time points, separated by a one-year interval. The parents also reported on the child's emotional and behavioral difficulties. Result: Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that for the child self-report, a 10-item CIUS showed the best fit and good psychometric properties: solid structural validity; very good internal consistency; appropriate stability and predictive validity after 1 year; as well as sound sensitivity and specificity when compared to the 14-item CIUS parent-report form. Child self-report CIUS ratings correlated with time online reported by the child and parent and with emotional and behavioral problems reported by the parent. Discussion: This study indicates that children as young as 8-10years old can reliably and consistently provide valuable information on their problematic use of the internet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective emotion regulation (ER) strategies are linked with healthy psychosocial functioning, and parenting behaviours and parents' own ER have been linked to the development of their children's own ER. The present study examined relations between emerging adults' perceived parenting dimensions (warmth, psychological control, and behavioural control), their caregivers' self-reported parenting dimensions, and emerging adults' ER. We also examined how caregivers' ER relates to their emerging adult children's ER. Two dimensions of ER (cognitive reappraisal and emotional suppression) were examined. Participants included 466 emerging adults, and a subsample of 102 emerging adult-primary caregiver dyads, and 51 emerging adult-secondary caregiver dyads. Findings from analyses on emerging adults suggest that only perceived main and secondary caregivers' warmth influenced their use of cognitive reappraisal (CR). In contrast, caregivers' reported parenting did not influence emerging adults' emotion suppression (ES) use. In addition, caregivers' reported use of CR influenced emerging adults' own use of CR, but caregivers' use of ES did not. These findings suggest that it is the perception of parenting rather than what caregivers report doing that influences emerging adults' ER. Limitations and directions for future research are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early research on fatherhood in South Africa emphasize the prevalence of absent fathers and the detrimental impact thereof on families. More recent research on fatherhood, however, has shown a shift in fathering practices, where contemporary men engage in more involved and complicated fathering practices, which include nurturing and caring activities. Although local studies have begun to identify nurturing and caring activities in fathering, they have not comprehensively explored these caring ideas and practices. Furthermore, there has been a call for research providing more contextual knowledge on fathering practices across diverse groups of fathers locally and globally. This study, therefore, explored the ideas and practices of paternal care in a group that is especially under-represented in South African fatherhood literature. We draw on the data of fifteen families, each consisting of a father-figure, a mother-figure and an adolescent child. These 45 individuals were interviewed separately. The thematic analysis of participants' accounts revealed complicated notions of paternal care. Although more contemporary caring ideas and practices of fathering behaviour were reported, these caring masculinity ideas remained intertwined with traditional hegemonic masculinity ideals. Nevertheless, these findings indicate that traditional ideas about fatherhood and masculinity have expanded to incorporate more nurturing, caring and expressive qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been heightened interest in identifying critical windows of exposure for adverse health outcomes; that is, time points during which exposures have the greatest impact on a person's health. Multiple informant models implemented using generalized estimating equations (MIM GEEs) have been applied to address this research question because they enable statistical comparisons of differences in associations across exposure windows. As interest rises in using MIMs, the feasibility and appropriateness of their application under settings of correlated exposures and partially missing exposure measurements requires further examination. We evaluated the impact of correlation between exposure measurements and missing exposure data on the power and differences in association estimated by the MIM GEE and an inverse probability weighted extension to account for informatively missing exposures. We assessed these operating characteristics under a variety of correlation structures, sample sizes, and missing data mechanisms considering various exposure‐outcome scenarios. We showed that applying MIM GEEs maintains higher power when there is a single critical window of exposure and exposure measures are not highly correlated, but may result in low power and bias under other settings. We applied these methods to a study of pregnant women living with HIV to explore differences in association between trimester‐specific viral load and infant neurodevelopment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to examine measurement invariance and psychometric properties of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale-Short Version (SCAS-S) in Chinese children. The measurement invariance across different informants (i.e., self-report and mother-report), as well as gender and longitudinal (i.e., one year) measurement invariance were tested for a sample of Chinese youth, using a series of confirmatory factor analyses (N = 462, Mage = 10.45, SDage =.85). Results indicated that the scores of the SCAS-S had strict measurement invariance across gender and a one-year time interval, and weak measurement invariance across informants. Additionally, correlations with the external variables showed that the self-report version SCAS-S had good construct validity. Furthermore, the internal consistencies for the SCAS-S subscales were acceptable across informants, gender, and time points. In conclusion, the findings suggest that the SCAS-S has satisfactory psychometric properties and can be a reliable tool to measure anxiety in Chinese children aged 9 to 13 years old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescence is associated with functional impairment in several domains of life. To enable development of interventions that more effectively target functional impairment in this age group, the associations between clinical characteristics and impairment need to be clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between ADHD and functional impairment, if they varied by sex, and the potential impact of comorbid psychiatric symptoms on the associations. Methods This was a cross-sectional study including adolescents with ADHD (n = 164) and a reference group of adolescents without ADHD (n = 106). Self-ratings and parental ratings of functional impairment in different life domains were used as outcomes in all analyses. Differences between groups were investigated with comparative analyses. General linear models (GLMs) were used to explore associations between ADHD symptoms and functional impairment in adolescents with ADHD, while adjusting for of comorbid symptoms, sex, and medication. Results Adolescents with ADHD displayed higher levels of functional impairment than peers without ADHD, and girls with ADHD rated higher impairment than their male counterparts. The combined ADHD presentation was associated with the highest levels of self-reported impairment, while parental ratings indicated comparable levels of overall impairment across presentations. In the adjusted GLMs, symptoms of inattention were strongly associated with self- and parent-rated impairment in school, but symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity were not, whereas symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity were modestly associated with self-rated impairment with friends. Further, both emotional and conduct problems were associated with impairment in daily life. Conclusions Our results suggest that attention difficulties, in particular, seem to impair academic functioning in adolescents with ADHD, and interventions targeting such difficulties are warranted. In addition, comorbid symptoms need to be assessed and treated, and self-reports of functioning should be included in research and clinical practice involving adolescents.

IntroductionThe tremendous growth of internet use during past few decades has been primarily led by young people. Despite a plenitude of studies reporting the pros and cons of excessive internet use by adolescents, the internet use of primary school-aged children is under-researched. First, there is lack of reliable and valid cultural invariant self-report instruments for children younger than 11-years-old. Secondly, there is no consensus on whether primary school-aged children can reliably report on their internet use. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) as reported by primary school-aged children in three different countries/regions.MethodsPaper-pencil format CIUS questionnaires were completed by a total of 691 children aged 8 to 10 years old, 236 of them Latvian, 207 Lithuanian, and 248 Taiwanese, as well as by one of their parents, at two-time points, separated by a one-year interval. The parents also reported on the child’s emotional and behavioral difficulties.MethodsConfirmatory factor analysis indicated that for the child self-report, a 10-item CIUS showed the best fit and good psychometric properties: solid structural validity; very good internal consistency; appropriate stability and predictive validity after 1 year; as well as sound sensitivity and specificity when compared to the 14-item CIUS parent-report form. Child self-report CIUS ratings correlated with time online reported by the child and parent and with emotional and behavioral problems reported by the parent.DiscussionThis study indicates that children as young as 8–10 years old can reliably and consistently provide valuable information on their problematic use of the internet.

In a previously published multiple case study in which 10 children on the autism spectrum were offered the "Papageno Music Therapy Program" (PMTP), a favorable development was found with regard to social interaction. As an extension of our previous study, we investigate if the progress can also be observed in a larger group, and whether these developments are generalized to other situations. A non-experimental, pre-post measurement, multiple-informant design was used to monitor the development of these children in different social contexts. The observers were therapists, parents, family members and teachers. Forty children were observed over a 20-week period. The study shows an improvement in the social interaction of children on the autism spectrum and supports the findings of our previous 10 children multiple case study. The agreement between the different informants was high. The Reliable Change Index (RCI), which examined the results at an individual level, confirmed a positive improvement for more than 32 participants (RCI > 1.96). All the informants saw progress, so it seemed that the development was also generalized to other situations. This study confirmed earlier research into the effects of PMTP on this group: Improvements in social interaction were visible during the course of the therapy. Informants observed this improvement not only within, but also outside the therapeutic setting. Overall, there were sufficient indications for PMTP having a positive effect on social behavior that warrant further evaluation through a controlled study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socially anxious adolescents often endure anxiety-provoking situations using safety behaviors : strategies for minimizing in-the-moment distress (e.g., avoiding eye contact, rehearsing statements before entering a conversation). Studies linking safety behaviors to impaired functioning have largely focused on adults. In a sample of one hundred thirty-four 14 to 15 year-old adolescents, we tested whether levels of safety behaviors among socially anxious adolescents relate to multiple domains of impaired functioning. Adolescents, parents, and research personnel completed survey measures of safety behaviors and social anxiety, adolescents and parents reported about adolescents' evaluative fears and psychosocial impairments, and adolescents participated in a set of tasks designed to simulate social interactions with same-age, unfamiliar peers. Relative to other adolescents in the sample, adolescents high on both safety behaviors and social anxiety displayed greater psychosocial impairments, evaluative fears, and observed social skills deficits within social interactions. These findings have important implications for assessing and treating adolescent social anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The important role of parenting is widely acknowledged, but as most studies have understood and examined it as a stable attribute (e.g., parenting style), the stability of and changes in parenting are less well understood. Using longitudinal person-oriented approaches (i.e., latent profile analyses and latent transition analyses), this study aimed to examine the stability of and changes in autonomy-related parenting profiles and their effects on adolescents' academic and psychological development. Four autonomy-related dimensions (i.e., autonomy support, warmth, psychological control, conditional regard) were chosen to identify parenting profiles on the basis of Self-Determination Theory. Using five-year longitudinal data from 789 German secondary school students (50.06% female, Mage at T1 = 10.82 years, age span = 10–17), four autonomy-related parenting profiles were found: Supportive (~17%), Controlling (~31%), Unsupportive-Uncontrolling (~17%), and Limited Supportive (~35%). The results suggest that the Supportive profile contributes to adolescents' positive academic and psychological development, whereas the Controlling profile, which thwarts autonomy development, exacerbates the development of psychopathology, and impairs academic achievement. More importantly, the Limited Supportive profile is as maladaptive as the Unsupportive-Uncontrolling profile. Regarding parenting profiles' stability and changes, the results showed that about half of each profile stayed in the same group. Overall, it could be observed that parents became more supportive and less controlling over time. However, the findings also indicate that parenting profiles are less stable than expected and can still change during early-to-mid adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescence is associated with functional impairment in several domains of life. To enable development of interventions that more effectively target functional impairment in this age group, the associations between clinical characteristics and impairment need to be clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between ADHD and functional impairment, if they varied by sex, and the potential impact of comorbid psychiatric symptoms on the associations. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including adolescents with ADHD (n = 164) and a reference group of adolescents without ADHD (n = 106). Self-ratings and parental ratings of functional impairment in different life domains were used as outcomes in all analyses. Differences between groups were investigated with comparative analyses. General linear models (GLMs) were used to explore associations between ADHD symptoms and functional impairment in adolescents with ADHD, while adjusting for of comorbid symptoms, sex, and medication. Results: Adolescents with ADHD displayed higher levels of functional impairment than peers without ADHD, and girls with ADHD rated higher impairment than their male counterparts. The combined ADHD presentation was associated with the highest levels of self-reported impairment, while parental ratings indicated comparable levels of overall impairment across presentations. In the adjusted GLMs, symptoms of inattention were strongly associated with self- and parent-rated impairment in school, but symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity were not, whereas symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity were modestly associated with self-rated impairment with friends. Further, both emotional and conduct problems were associated with impairment in daily life. Conclusions: Our results suggest that attention difficulties, in particular, seem to impair academic functioning in adolescents with ADHD, and interventions targeting such difficulties are warranted. In addition, comorbid symptoms need to be assessed and treated, and self-reports of functioning should be included in research and clinical practice involving adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background To measure the effects of using different combinations of multiple informants and the impact score on the estimated prevalence of mental health problems in Chinese schoolchildren. Methods Complete information on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were obtained from students (S), parents (P), and teachers (T) for 4986 schoolchildren (11–17 years-old). We used 3 criteria to determine the prevalence of mental health problems: SDQ cut-off value (previously established in the United Kingdom), SDQ cut-off value plus an impact score of 1 or more, or plus an impact score of 2 or more. A student was defined as having a mental health problem if any informant (S, P, or T) classified the child as ‘abnormal’. We compared the prevalence of mental health problems determined from 1 informant, 2 informants, and 3 informants. Results The prevalence of overall mental health problems increased with rising number of informants, but decreased with increasing impact score. When the impact score was not considered, the prevalence was 8.2% to 14.2% when rated by 1 informant, 18.8% to 24.7% when rated by 2 informants, and 28.3% when rated by all 3 informants. Failure to measure the impact score led to a two to threefold greater estimate of the prevalence of mental health problems. Conclusions The types, number, and combinations of multiple informants and use of the impact score must be considered when comparing the results of different studies. It is preferable to use multiple informants and have the impact score taken the impact into account to reflect the real burden of mental health burden in children and adolescent.

Evidence suggests young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have lower levels of emotion regulation than typically developing peers and struggle to modulate the frequency and intensity of their emotions. It may be that these emotion regulation difficulties are a result of co-occurring alexithymia rather than being a core symptom of ASD. We explored the associations between alexithymia and emotion regulation in 43 young people with ASD, aged 10 – 18 years, through self and parent report questionnaires. Parents completed questionnaires measuring the young person's emotion regulation skills and ASD symptom severity. The young people completed measures of emotion regulation and alexithymia. Correlational analysis and linear regression were used to investigate the relationships between ASD severity, alexithymia and emotion regulation. As predicted, high levels of alexithymia and high level of emotion dysregulation were reported by the young people. Parents also scored the young people as being high on emotion dysregulation. We found statistically significant correlations between alexithymia and emotion regulation, as reported by young people themselves, with some large effect sizes. Parental report of emotion regulation did not correlate with the measure of alexithymia. The source of discrepancies between parent and adolescent perceptions of emotion regulation and emotion recognition are discussed. These results highlighted the key role emotion regulation difficulties play in the lives of young people with ASD and the association with alexithymia. High levels of alexithymia are likely to impinge on the selection of appropriate emotion regulation strategies. The clinical implications for treatment are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study sought to investigate the agreement between teachers and parents about the mental health of first-grade students, the factors that affected this agreement and the associations between measures completed by students, parents and teachers. The investigation used baseline data collected during the PAX Good Behavior Game (PAX GBG) effectiveness study in 42 Estonian schools (N = 708). Information was collected about externalizing and internalizing difficulties and prosocial behaviour, and about inhibitory control. Our research showed higher agreement between parents and teachers about externalizing behaviour and lower agreement regarding prosocial behavior and emotional problems. Inhibition was correlated with teacher-rated questionnaires, but not with parents' responses. Sociodemographic factors influenced the agreement between teachers and parents somewhat differently. This study highlights the importance of a multi-informant approach in students' mental health assessments, as some problems might be less observable in certain environments or by some respondents. The practical implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions are provided for the development of a school-based mental health screening system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goals of the current study were to use a three-reporter methodology and multi-level Latent Profile Analysis: (a) to determine the victim groups that emerge; (b) to evaluate the stability of victim groups over one school year; and (c) to examine differences among victim groups across the adjustment constructs of aggression, depression, anxiety, and negative peer relations. Our sample included 1440 racially/ethnically diverse 4th- and 5th-grade children (Mage = 10.15; 50% female). At the beginning (T1) and end (T2) of the school year, children completed both self and peer reports of victimization, teachers reported on students' victimization, and we collected data from multiple reporters on aggression, depression, anxiety, and negative peer relations. At T1, two groups emerged: non-victims (low across all reporters) and victims (high across all reporters). At T2, four groups emerged: non-victims (low across all reporters), moderate victims (moderate across all reporters), discordant high victims (high on self report, very high on peer report, moderate on teacher report), and concordant high victims (high across all reporters). The stability of victim groups from T1 to T2 was largely driven by non-victims; T1 victims dispersed fairly evenly across the four groups at T2. In term of adjustment, non-victims fared best across time points and adjustment constructs. At T2, the three victim groups increased in maladjustment from moderate victims to discordant high victims to concordant high victims. These findings support the use of three-reporter assessment and a multi-level LPA approach to identify children victimized by their peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, there remains no consensus about the best evidence-based method for integrating multiple informant data in the diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Several approaches exist, including the psychometrically sound approach of averaging scores, as well as the use of "OR" and "AND" algorithms, which are still commonly used in research. The current study tested these major integration methods in their concurrent and longitudinal prediction of clinician-rated impairment, teacher-rated academic, and parent- and self-rated social skill ratings in children overrecruited for ADHD across a 6-year span from childhood to adolescence. The sample included a total of 800 children, 480 with ADHD, ages 6 to 13, who completed a "gold standard" assessment of ADHD and associated impairment. Overall, the "OR," "AND," and average integration approaches showed significantly high interrelations with one another (r range from.78 to.96) and were all significantly and strongly related to impairment measures concurrently and longitudinally. Multivariate regressions demonstrated that the average integration approach concurrently and longitudinally out predicted the other two approaches. Results demonstrated that the average approach slightly outperformed the other two in its prediction of concurrent and longitudinal clinician-rated impairment, teacher-rated academic skills, and parent- and self-rated child social skills across childhood and adolescence. Evidence-based assessment integration of parent and teacher ratings of ADHD in childhood might best utilize an averaging approach, as it is most related to later impairment ratings, particularly if such findings are replicated by other groups. Public Significance Statement: An average approach to integrating parent and teacher ratings of ADHD slightly outperforms other, more complicated integration approaches in prediction of later clinician-rated impairment, teacher-rated academic skills, and parent- and self-rated social skills. Therefore, average integration of ADHD symptom ratings may be the best and easiest integration approach for use in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents experiencing social anxiety often engage in safety behaviors-covert avoidance strategies for managing distress (e.g., avoiding eye contact)-that factor into the development and maintenance of their concerns. Prior work supports the psychometric properties of the Subtle Avoidance Frequency Examination (SAFE), a self-report survey of safety behaviors. Yet, we need complementary methods for assessing these behaviors within contexts where adolescents often experience concerns, namely, interactions with unfamiliar peers. Recent work indicates that, based on short, direct social interactions with adolescents, individuals posing as unfamiliar peers (i.e., peer confederates) and without assessment training can capably report about adolescent social anxiety. We built on prior work by testing whether we could gather valid SAFE reports from unfamiliar untrained observers (UUOs), who observed adolescents within archived recordings of these short social interactions. A mixed clinical/community sample of 105 adolescents self-reported on their functioning and participated in a series of social interaction tasks with peer confederates, who also provided social anxiety reports about the adolescent. Based on video recordings of these tasks, trained independent observers rated adolescents' observed social skills, and an additional set of UUOs completed SAFE reports of these same adolescents. Unfamiliar untrained observers' SAFE reports (a) related to adolescents' SAFE self-reports, (b) distinguished adolescents on clinically elevated social anxiety concerns, (c) related to trained independent observers' ratings of adolescent social skills within interactions with peer confederates, and (d) related to adolescents' self-reported arousal within these same interactions. Our findings support use of unfamiliar observers' perspectives to understand socially anxious adolescents' interpersonal functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trend toward large-scale collaborative studies gives rise to the challenge of combining data from different sources efficiently. Here, we demonstrate how Bayesian evidence synthesis can be used to quantify and compare support for competing hypotheses and to aggregate this support over studies. We applied this method to study the ordering of multi-informant scores on the ASEBA Self Control Scale (ASCS), employing a multi-cohort design with data from four Dutch cohorts. Self-control reports were collected from mothers, fathers, teachers and children themselves. The available set of reporters differed between cohorts, so in each cohort varying components of the overarching hypotheses were evaluated. We found consistent support for the partial hypothesis that parents reported more self-control problems than teachers. Furthermore, the aggregated results indicate most support for the combined hypothesis that children report most problem behaviors, followed by their mothers and fathers, and that teachers report the fewest problems. However, there was considerable inconsistency across cohorts regarding the rank order of children’s reports. This article illustrates Bayesian evidence synthesis as a method when some of the cohorts only have data to evaluate a partial hypothesis. With Bayesian evidence synthesis, these cohorts can still contribute to the aggregated results.

Correlated trait–correlated method minus one was used to evaluate convergent and discriminant validity of Social Competence Behavior Evaluation questionnaire (Social Competence, Anger-Aggression, Anxiety-Withdrawal) between multiple raters. A total of 369 children (173 boys and 196 girls; Mage = 55.85, SDage = 11.54) were rated by their mothers, fathers, and teachers. Results showed more convergence between parents than parent-teacher ratings. Mother-teacher share a common view of child behavior that is not shared with father. Parents had more difficulty distinguishing internalizing and externalizing behaviors (especially fathers). Measurement invariance across child sex was explored, results imply that differences between boys and girls were not due to measure. Girls (compare to boys) were described as more social competent by their fathers and teachers, while boys as more aggressive by mothers and teachers.

Classroom social networks are influential to young children’s cognitive, social–emotional, and language development, but assessment and analyses of social networks are complex. Findings have been mixed regarding whether different informants (teachers, children, researchers) are congruent in perceiving classroom social networks. There is also a lack of discussion about the roles of network transformation (converting value networks into binary networks), a required data step for widely used statistical network analyses. This study addressed these issues based on network data of 16 preschool children containing 240 potential dyadic interactions collected from teacher ratings, child nominations, and researcher observations across 44 observation cycles over four school days. Results showed that the three informants were congruent in perceiving the classroom social network, whereas the level of congruency between the teacher-report and the researcher-report networks was the highest. Binary transformation of social networks tended to decrease the level of congruency across informants, although the level of congruency tended to be higher when more stringent binary transformation thresholds were selected.

Abstract Background Family health history (FHH) inherently involves collecting proxy reports of health statuses of related family members. Traditionally, such information has been collected from a single informant. More recently, research has suggested that a multiple informant approach to collecting FHH results in improved individual risk assessments. Likewise, recent work has emphasized the importance of incorporating health-related behaviors into FHH-based risk calculations. Integrating both multiple accounts of FHH with behavioral information on family members represents a significant methodological challenge as such FHH data is hierarchical in nature and arises from potentially error-prone processes. Methods In this paper, we introduce a statistical model that addresses these challenges using informative priors for background variation in disease prevalence and the effect of other, potentially correlated, variables while accounting for the nested structure of these data. Our empirical example is drawn from previously published data on families with a history of diabetes. Results The results of the comparative model assessment suggest that simply accounting for the structured nature of multiple informant FHH data improves classification accuracy over the baseline and that incorporating family member health-related behavioral information into the model is preferred over alternative specifications. Conclusions The proposed modelling framework is a flexible solution to integrate multiple informant FHH for risk prediction purposes.

The current study aimed to assess the influence of learning disability (LD) symptoms on mother–child relationships using a multiple-informant approach. Children with LD aged between 7 and 14 (N = 90), their mothers, and teachers participated in the study. Mothers completed a sociodemographic information form, the Parent–Child Relationship Scale, and the Specific Learning Disability Symptom Check List (Mother Form); teachers completed the Specific Learning Disability Symptom Check List (Teacher Form); and children completed the Two-Field Map to assess their perceptions of closeness to their mothers. Pearson correlation, t-test, and path analyses were conducted. Overall, LD symptoms predicted mother–child positivity, negativity, and children's perceived closeness to their mothers. Results indicated both agreement and disagreement between mother–teacher and mother–child dyads. The current study assessed differential perspectives in evaluating LD and mother–child relationships to guide researchers in order to develop more comprehensive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correlated trait–correlated method minus one was used to evaluate convergent and discriminant validity of Social Competence Behavior Evaluation questionnaire (Social Competence, Anger-Aggression, Anxiety-Withdrawal) between multiple raters. A total of 369 children (173 boys and 196 girls; M age = 55.85, SD age = 11.54) were rated by their mothers, fathers, and teachers. Results showed more convergence between parents than parent-teacher ratings. Mother-teacher share a common view of child behavior that is not shared with father. Parents had more difficulty distinguishing internalizing and externalizing behaviors (especially fathers). Measurement invariance across child sex was explored, results imply that differences between boys and girls were not due to measure. Girls (compare to boys) were described as more social competent by their fathers and teachers, while boys as more aggressive by mothers and teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring and understanding the nature of informant/rater effects and differences (Level 1) on a common trait when the target of measurement is at the organizational level (Level 2) involves a number of methodological considerations. Although previous research has discussed single-level latent variable applications of the correlated trait-correlated method minus one (CT-C(M-1)) model for multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) designs, only recently was the CT-C(M-1) model derived for multilevel data structures. The current paper examines research on the development of multilevel latent variable measurement models when both structurally different and interchangeable raters are involved in measuring Level 2 constructs. In so doing, we review and articulate often overlooked design and interpretive considerations unique to these models. We describe these elements within the context of a real-world multilevel CT-C(M-1) latent variable model that measures school climate for 294 public high schools using individual-level ratings from students (N = 58,018), teachers (N = 12,236), and health professionals (N = 742). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, both parents and grandparents play an important role in child-rearing. However, it is unclear whether parenting behaviors reported by early adolescents, parents, and grandparents are comparable. Therefore, this study investigated (a) cross-generational validity of reporting (grand)parenting behavior based on perspectives of adolescents, parents, and grandparents; (b) mean differences in parenting across informants; and (c) how (grand)parenting is related to adolescent's problem behaviors. The sample included 1,149 early adolescents, 1,038 mothers, 926 fathers, and 248 grandparents. Confirmatory factor analyses showed scalar measurement invariance for a five-factor parenting model, including parental support, proactive control, punitive control, harsh punitive control, and psychological control, across informants. Pearson correlations indicated evidence for agreement between informant dyads. Paired samples t -tests showed the lowest scores for grandparents on all parenting variables. By comparing covariance matrices, the results suggested that interrelations of parenting dimensions and associations between parenting and problem behaviors differ for different family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classroom social networks are influential to young children's cognitive, social–emotional, and language development, but assessment and analyses of social networks are complex. Findings have been mixed regarding whether different informants (teachers, children, researchers) are congruent in perceiving classroom social networks. There is also a lack of discussion about the roles of network transformation (converting value networks into binary networks), a required data step for widely used statistical network analyses. This study addressed these issues based on network data of 16 preschool children containing 240 potential dyadic interactions collected from teacher ratings, child nominations, and researcher observations across 44 observation cycles over four school days. Results showed that the three informants were congruent in perceiving the classroom social network, whereas the level of congruency between the teacher-report and the researcher-report networks was the highest. Binary transformation of social networks tended to decrease the level of congruency across informants, although the level of congruency tended to be higher when more stringent binary transformation thresholds were selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood internalizing symptoms can be associated with adolescent internalizing symptoms, but only a small proportion of symptomatic children are at long-term risk. Our objectives were to (1) distinguish between typical and atypical levels of internalizing symptoms using mother- and teacher-assessments and (2) test the association between childhood internalizing symptoms and adolescent generalized anxiety, depression, and social phobia symptoms in boys and girls.Methods: Multi-trajectory models were used to estimate the evolution of mother- and teacher-reported internalizing symptoms across childhood (1.5 to 12 years) in a large population-based cohort (n = 1431). Multiple linear regression models were implemented to estimate the association between childhood group membership of internalizing symptoms and self-reported specific internalizing symptoms at 15 years by sex.Results: Five groups of childhood internalizing symptoms were identified: Mother & teacher low (22.6%), Mother moderate/teacher low (37.9%), Mother moderate/teacher high (18.3%), Mother high/teacher low (11.8%) and Mother & teacher high (9.5%). Multiple linear regression models showed that compared to the low group, (1) boys in the high group reported higher social phobia symptoms (p = 0.04), (2) girls in the high group reported higher depression (p = 0.01) and generalized anxiety (p < 0.01) symptoms, and (3) girls in the moderate/high group reported higher generalized anxiety symptoms (p = 0.02) in adolescence.Limitations: The main limitation is that mothers' and teachers' assessments mostly covered different developmental periods.Conclusions: A multi-informant assessment of childhood internalizing symptoms improves adolescent specific internalizing symptoms identification in a general population sample over reliance on a single informant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: An emerging literature documents substantial mental-health disparities by sexual orientation amongst adolescents, with sexual-minority youth exhibiting poorer mental health than heterosexual youth. This brief report provides the first empirical account of how the association between sexual-minority status and adolescent mental health differs depending on who assesses adolescents' mental health (child/mother/father/teacher), and how informant discrepancies in assessments of adolescent mental health differ by adolescents' sexual orientation.Methods: Data come from an Australian national sample of 14-/15-year-old adolescents (Longitudinal Study of Australian Children; n~3,000). Adolescent mental health is measured using multiple measures from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and modelled using multivariable linear regression models.Results: Mental-health disparities between sexual-minority and heterosexual adolescents emerged irrespective of who assessed the child's mental health. However, their magnitude varied substantially by informant, being largest when mental-health was reported by adolescents (~0.7 standard deviations) and smallest when reported by teachers (~0.2 standard deviations). Discrepancies between mental-health scores collected from the child and other informants were largest for internalising than externalising behaviours, and in child-father than child-mother comparisons.Conclusions: Understanding informant discrepancies and their meaning is pivotal to designing surveys that generate robust insights into the health of sexual-minority adolescents, as well as appropriate policy interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of studies have used variable-centered approaches to examine informant discrepancies on children's behavior problems; however, few such studies have used person-centered approaches to explore patterns of informant discrepancies or correlates of discrepancies in informant symptom ratings. The present study addressed these gaps by examining profiles of informant agreement on internalizing and externalizing symptoms and examining whether two important contextual factors, parenting and school engagement, are associated with profile membership. Data from an at-risk, urban sample of youth participants (N= 346, M age = 12.47 ± 0.60 years, 56% male, and 75% Black), their caregivers, and one of their teachers were analyzed in the current study. Youth from 20 schools in a Mid-Atlantic state were screened for elevated levels of aggression and were selected to participate in the Early Adolescent Coping Power study. At baseline, youth, caregivers, and teachers reported on youth's internalizing symptoms and caregivers and teachers reported on youth's externalizing symptoms. Caregivers reported on their parenting; youth reported on their school engagement. Two internalizing symptoms profiles were identified: Low Symptoms Agreement and Youth-Reported High Somatization and Anxiety. Three externalizing symptoms profiles were identified: Low Symptoms Agreement, Teacher-Reported High Externalizing, and Caregiver-Reported High Externalizing. These profiles differed significantly on parenting behaviors and school engagement, shedding light on factors that may underlie informant discrepancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study examined parent‐teacher agreement and discrepancy when assessing kindergarten children's behavioral and emotional problems, social‐emotional skills, and developmental status. Method: Parents and teachers of overall n = 922 kindergarten children (Mage = 3.99; 449 girls) rated the children using the Conners Early Childhood, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Questionnaire for Assessing Preschool Children's Behavior. Results: Agreement was moderate for problem behaviors and social‐emotional skills and substantial for developmental status. Agreement was stronger for externalizing than for internalizing problems. Agreement on the clinical relevance of problem behaviors and of social‐emotional skills was stronger for children with a clinical diagnosis than for those without. Parents tended to report more problems, but also greater social‐emotional skills and developmental status, than teachers. Conclusions: The findings corroborate the importance of situational specificity for understanding interrater agreement and discrepancy. Future teacher questionnaires should more specifically assess children's functioning in kindergarten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attempts to understand subjectivity have historically involved distinguishing the strengths of subjective methods (e.g., survey ratings from informants) from those of alternative methods (e.g., observational/performance-based tasks). Yet a movement is underway in Psychology that considers the merits of intersubjectivity: Understanding the space between two or more informant's subjective impressions of a common person or phenomenon. In mental health research, understanding differences between subjective impressions have less to do with informants' characteristics and more to do with the social environments or contexts germane to the people or phenomena examined. Our article focuses on one relatively understudied social environment: the cultural context. We draw from seminal work on psychological universals, as well as emerging work on cultural norms (i.e., cultural tightness) to understand intersubjectivity effects through a cross-cultural lens. We report a meta-analysis of 314 studies of intersubjectivity effects in mental health, revealing that (a) this work involves independent research teams in more than 30 countries, (b) informants rating a target person's mental health (e.g., parent and teacher ratings of a child's behavior) commonly provide diverging estimates of that person's mental health, and (c) greater convergence between subjective reports relates to a "tighter" or more norms-bound culture. Our article illustrates strategies for understanding divergence between subjective reports. In particular, we highlight theoretical and methodological frameworks for examining patterns of divergence between subjective reports in relation to data from nonsubjective methods. We also describe how research on intersubjectivity informs efforts to improve the interpretability of subjective assessments in multiple subdisciplines in Psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]