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Research snapshot

Research snapshot : Aggression risk factors for children

June 2019

Early family predictors tracked for development of physical aggression problems in boys and girls.

This research aimed to explore the early family predictors of children on the high physical aggression pathway. Using multitrajectory modelling to identify distinct patterns of physical aggression from 1.5–13 years of age, the researchers examined longitudinal data from a sample of 2223 infants. Seven interviews were undertaken (at ages 1.5–8 years) with the person most knowledgeable about the child (mothers in 99.6% of cases). Teachers assessed the child’s behaviour at ages 6–13 years. Self-reports of any behavioural problems were also taken from the child between ages 10–13 years. Three developmental trajectories of physical aggression were noted for girls, and five for boys. Most family characteristics observed five months after a child’s birth were associated with a high physical aggression trajectory for both boys and girls. Family characteristics at five months after birth could be used to target preschool interventions to prevent the development of chronic physical aggression issues.

doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.6364

Research snapshot : Death risk higher for people with autism

June 2019

People with autism and additional mental and physical health conditions more than twice as likely to die early.

Australian researchers examined the rates and risk factors for mortality and cause of death for 35,929 people on the autism spectrum (age range 5–64). Using linked datasets spanning 2001–2015, they found rates of death for people on the spectrum were 2.06 times that of the general population. Concurrent intellectual disability, epilepsy, mental health conditions and chronic physical health conditions were all associated with the increased risk of death. The leading causes of death were nervous system and sense disorders, including epilepsy, and injury and poisoning including self-harm and suicide. The findings suggest a need for greater health promotion and management of concurrent physical and mental health conditions for people with autism.

doi.org/10.1002/aur.2086

Research snapshot : Quick thinking

June 2019

We use less information than we think we do to make up our minds.

While we may have access to a wide range of information to make judgments such as good or bad, we use less information than expected. This was supported in seven studies which tested whether people can correctly anticipate how much information they and others use when making varied judgments. The researchers consistently found that people were surprised by how quickly they made judgments and how little information they use doing so. They suggested that minds are less curious and less open to information than we assume, which can lead to costly misunderstandings, such as overworking to impress others and overpaying for decision aids. While we may believe that exchanging more information will lead to better informed decisions some of this may be lost on decisions already made.

doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1805327115

Research snapshot : Native language advantage?

June 2019

The language you speak may influence the way you consciously perceive.

A new German study outlines a connection between language structure and consciousness. Using electroencephalography and the attentional-blink paradigm, 28 native Greek speakers, who distinguish categorically between light and dark shades of blue, showed increased perception for that contrast compared with a verbally unmarked green contrast. Electrophysiological signatures of early-visual processing for the task also predicted this advantage. In addition, 29 native German speakers, who have only one category for light and dark shades of blue, displayed no differences in perception between blue and green targets. This was replicated using 46 native Russian speakers. The results suggest that linguistic enhancement of colour contrasts provides an advantage to accessing visual consciousness. Given this, native language may be seen as one of the factors determining the way people consciously perceive.

doi.org/10.1177/0956797618782181

Research snapshot : Calm and coherent

April 2019

One’s confidence in their ability to control events and contribute to anxiety affects anxiety levels.

In a Japanese national online survey (n=2100) the relationship between anxiety and sense of coherence (SOC) was examined. SOC is an individual’s confidence in being able to control events and cope with challenges. Approximately one in five Japanese adults were found to suffer from anxiety, as measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale. The prevalence of anxiety was found to be higher among participants with low SOC, suggesting that SOC is a significant risk factor for anxiety. SOC is hence a promising target for intervention, though further research with a clinically anxious sample is needed. It also needs to be determined which components of SOC have the most impact on anxiety.

doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.08.006

Research snapshot : Is suicidal ideation associated with suicide?

April 2019

Suicide ideation is not a sensitive enough screening test for suicide to be used on its own.

Suicidal ideation is seen as an important warning sign for suicide. The association between suicidal ideation and suicide was examined in a meta-analysis of 71 English language studies. There was a moderately strong association found, but this finding is limited by the wide variation between studies restricting their comparability. Suicide ideation was not found to be sensitive enough to be helpful as a standalone screening test for suicide. The researchers acknowledged that when patients express suicidal ideation they are communicating an important message about their level of distress. However, they cautioned against relying on the absence of ideation to predict that suicide is unlikely.

doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2018.88

Research snapshot : A link between cannabis and depression?

April 2019

Adolescent cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety.

British and Canadian researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 studies to examine whether use of cannabis in adolescence (younger than 18 years) is associated with depression, anxiety and suicidality in young adulthood (18–32 years). Cannabis use in adolescence was associated with a significantly increased risk of depression (odds ratio 1.37) and suicidality (odds ratio 1.18) in adulthood, but not anxiety. The high prevalence of adolescence using cannabis means that there is a large number of young people who could develop depression and suicidality. This research emphasises the value of initiatives educating adolescents on the risks associated with cannabis use and teaching them skills to resist peer pressure.

doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.4500.

Research snapshot : Exercise versus Alzheimer’s

April 2019

A hormone called irisin may improve memory and protect against Alzheimer’s.

Researchers from the USA, Canada and Brazil examined a possible connection between levels of the hormone irisin and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by examining irisin levels in tissue samples of patients with AD and in mouse models of AD. Irisin levels were found to be reduced in human AD patients and in the animal models. Animal experiments further showed irisin in mice protects the brain’s synapses and the animal’s memory. The effect of exercise was also examined in mice. Exercise was found to protect mice against memory impairment. However, when irisin levels were blocked in mice this effect of exercise was eliminated. The research highlights the potential of physical exercise to improve memory and brain function.

doi.org/10.1038/s41591-018-0275-4

Research snapshot : Teen willingness to help victims of bullying

April 2019

Taiwanese adolescents are more willing to help peers who are being bullied if they know them, feel empathy towards them and have a desire to feel connected to others.

Adolescent bystanders’ willingness to help others being bullied by peers was investigated in a study with 730 Taiwanese seventh graders. Each participant was randomly assigned to a vignette, which they read and answered questions about. Adolescent girls were more likely to say they would offer to help a bullying victim when the victim was identified as a friend rather than another classmate or someone they didn’t know. Boys were more likely to say they would help a classmate rather than a friend. Those adolescents who were more empathic with the victim, more focused on feeling connected with others and were less victimised were more likely to report that they would use a specific helping response (e.g., telling the teacher).

doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12565

Research snapshot : Written all over your face

April 2019

We preference our own faces, even when instructed not to do so, and when we do not consciously realise we are seeing an image of our face.

The preferential processing of self-related information was examined in Poland by having 18 participants view a cross symbol with a picture of a face (self or other) appearing in each side of the cross. Participants were told to focus only on the cross and ignore anything else that appeared. Half of the time the faces were clearly visible, while for the remaining time faces were masked in order to present them outside of conscious awareness. Brain activity was monitored. Participants automatically attended to their own faces, even when they were not consciously aware they were seeing them, and despite being instructed to ignore them. Thus, consciousness may not be necessary for recognition of faces. This phenomenon has been observed with simpler stimuli but this research indicates it also occurs with more complex stimuli.

doi.org/10.1177/0956797618822971

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