Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vvkck Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T15:06:21.400Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Psychological profiles and adolescent adjustment: A person-centered approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2006

LISA J. CROCKETT ,
KRISTIN L. MOILANEN ,
MARCELA RAFFAELLI  and
BRANDY A. RANDALL
LISA J. CROCKETT
Affiliation:
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
KRISTIN L. MOILANEN
Affiliation:
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
MARCELA RAFFAELLI
Affiliation:
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
BRANDY A. RANDALL
Affiliation:
North Dakota State University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The association between young adolescents' psychological profiles and their subsequent adjustment was examined in a sample of 606 adolescents (ages 12–13) drawn from the mother–child data set of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Cluster analysis was used to identify distinct groups of youth based on self-regulation, proneness to risk, self-worth, and perceived academic competence. Five replicable clusters were identified corresponding to optimal, average, behavioral risk, low self-regulation, and emotional risk groups. These clusters were associated with distinct patterns of adjustment 4 years later. At ages 16–17, youth in the optimal group tended to report better academic performance, less problem behavior, and less depression than youth in the three risk groups; however, their functioning did not differ significantly from youth in the average group. The three risk groups differed in self-reported depression symptoms and academic performance but not in levels of problem behavior. Differences among the five groups persisted when demographic and contextual variables were controlled. These results support the existence of different groups of youth who follow distinct developmental trajectories and may experience different patterns of adjustment.This research was funded by a grant to M. Raffaelli and L. Crockett from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01-MH62977). We thank Rebecca Colman, Yuh-Ling Shen, Sam Hardy, Rebecca Goodvin, Myesha Albert, Andy Peytchev, Jenenne Geske, Jennifer Bowers, Devan Starks, and Brett Avila for their contributions to the project. We also thank Cal Garbin for his statistical advice and several anonymous reviewers for their suggestions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , March 2006 , pp. 195 - 214
Copyright
© 2006 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Adlenderfer, M. S., & Blashfield, R. K. (1984). Cluster analysis. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.CrossRef
Arnett, J. (1992). Reckless behavior in adolescence: A developmental perspective. Developmental Review, 12, 339–373.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aunola, K., Stattin, H., & Nurmi, J. E. (2000). Adolescents' achievement strategies, school adjustment, and externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 29, 389–306.Google Scholar
Bagozzi, R. P. (1992). The self-regulation of attitudes, intentions, and behavior. Social Psychology Quarterly, 55, 178–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barkley, R. A. (1997). ADHD and the nature of self-control. New York: Guildford Press.
Baumeister, R. F., Leith, K. P., Muraven, M., & Bratslavsky, E. (1998). Self-regulation as a key to success in life. In D. Pushkar, W. M. Bukowski, A. E. Schwartzman, D. M. Stack, & D. R. White (Eds.), Improving competence across the lifespan (pp. 117–132). New York: Plenum Press.
Bergman, L. R., & Magnusson, D. (1997). A person-oriented approach in research on developmental psychopathology. Development and Psychopathology, 9, 291–319.Google Scholar
Block, J. H., & Block, J. (1980). The role of ego-control and ego-resiliency in the organization of behavior. In W. A. Collins (Ed.), Development of cognition, affect and social relations: The Minnesota symposia on child psychology (Vol. 13, pp. 39–101). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Block, J., Block, J. H., & Keyes, S. (1988). Longitudinally foretelling drug usage in adolescence: Early childhood personality and environmental precursors. Child Development, 59, 336–355.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brody, G. H., & Ge, X. (2001). Linking parenting processes and self-regulation to psychological functioning and alcohol use during adolescence. Journal of Family Psychology, 15, 82–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, B. B., Clasen, D. R., & Eicher, S. (1986). Perceptions of peer pressure, peer conformity dispositions, and self-reported behavior among adolescents. Developmental Psychology, 22, 521–530.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caspi, A., Henry, B., McGee, R. O., Moffitt, T. E., & Silva, P. A. (1995). Temperamental origins of child and adolescent behavior problems: From age three to age fifteen. Child Development, 66, 55–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chassin, L., Pitts, S., & Prost, J. (2002). Binge drinking trajectories from adolescence to emerging adulthood in a high-risk sample: Predictors and substance abuse outcomes. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 67–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S. L. (1998). The development of depression in children. American Psychologist, 53, 221–241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Colder, C. R., & Chassin, L. (1997). Affectivity and impulsivity: Temperament risk for adolescent alcohol involvement. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 11, 83–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cole, D. A., Jacquez, F. M., & Maschman, T. L. (2001). Social origins of depressive cognitions: A longitudinal study of self-perceived competence in children. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 25, 377–395.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Costa, F. M., Jessor, R., Donovan, J. E., & Fortenberry, J. D. (1995). Early initiation of sexual intercourse: The influence of psychosocial unconventionality. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 5, 93–121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crockett, L. J., & Crouter, A. C. (1995). Pathways through adolescence: An overview. In L. J. Crockett & A. C. Crouter (Eds.), Pathways through adolescence: Individual development in relation to social contexts (pp. 1–12). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Dornbusch, S. M., Carlsmith, J. M., Bushwall, S. J., Ritter, P. L., Leiderman, H., Hastorf, A. H., et al. (1985). Single parents, extended households, and the control of adolescents. Child Development, 56, 326–341.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dornbusch, S. M., Ritter, P. L., Mont-Reynaud, R., & Chen, Z. (1990). Family decision making and academic performance in a diverse high school population. Journal of Adolescent Research, 5, 143–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dryfoos, J. G. (1997). The prevalence of problems behaviors: Implications for programs. In R. P. Weissberg, T. P. Gullotta, B. L. Hampton, B. A. Ryan, & G. R. Adams (Eds.), Enhancing children's wellness (pp. 17–46). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Eisenberg, N., & Fabes, R. A. (1992). Emotion, regulation, and the development of social competence. In M. S. Clark (Ed.), Emotion and social behavior. Review of personality and social psychology (Vol. 14, pp. 119–150). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Eisenberg, N., Fabes, R. A., Murphy, B., Maszk, P., Smith, M., & Karbon, M. (1995). The role of emotionality and regulation in children's social functioning: A longitudinal study. Child Development, 66, 1360–1384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Epkins, C. C. (1998). Mother- and father-rated competence, child-perceived competence, and cognitive distortions: Unique relations with children's depressive symptoms. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 27, 442–451.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Everitt, B. S., Landau, S., & Leese, M. (2001). Cluster analysis (4th ed.). London: Arnold.
Eysenck, S. B. G., & Eysenck, H. J. (1978). Impulsiveness and venturesomeness: Their position in a dimensional system of personality description. Psychological Reports, 43, 1247–1255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farley, F. (1991). The Type-t personality. In L. P. Lipsitt & L. L. Mitnick (Eds.), Self-regulatory behavior and risk taking: Causes and consequences (pp. 371–382). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
Feldman, S. S., & Brown, N. (1993). Family influences on adolescent male sexuality: The mediational role of self-restraint. Social Development, 2, 15–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ge, X., Best, K. M., Conger, R. D., & Simons, R. L. (1996). Parenting behaviors and the occurrence and co-occurrence of adolescent depressive symptoms and conduct problems. Developmental Psychology, 32, 717–731.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gottfredson, M. R., & Hirschi, T. (1990). A general theory of crime. Chicago, IL: Stanford University Press.
Grunbaum, J. A., Kann, L., Kinchen, S., Ross, J., Hawkins, J., Lowry, R., et al. (2004). Youth risk behavior surveillance—United States, 2003. Surveillance Summaries, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 53(No. SS-2).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hart, D., Atkins, R., & Fegley, S. (2003). Personality and development in childhood: A person-centered approach. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 68(No. 1, Serial No. 272).Google Scholar
Harter, S. (1982). The Perceived Competence Scale for Children. Child Development, 53, 7–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hawkins, J. D., Catalano, R. F., & Miller, J. Y. (1992). Risk and protective factors for alcohol and other drug problems in adolescence and early adulthood: Implications for substance abuse prevention. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 64–105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hirschi, T. (1969). Causes of delinquency. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Jessor, R., & Jessor, S. L. (1977). Problem behavior and psychosocial development: A longitudinal study of youth. New York: Academic Press.
Jessor, R. (1998). New perspectives on adolescent risk behavior. In R. Jessor (Ed.), New perspectives on adolescent risk behavior (pp. 1–10). New York: Cambridge University Press.CrossRef
Johnston, L. D., O'Malley, P. M., & Bachman, J. G. (2003). Monitoring the Future national survey results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 2002 (NIH Publication No. 03-5374). Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Kann, L., Kinchen, S. A., Williams, B. I., Ross, J. G., Lowry, R., Grunbaum, J. A., et al. (2000). Youth risk behavior surveillance—United States, 1999. In Surveillance Summaries, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 49(No. SS-5).Google Scholar
Kaplan, H. B. (1980). Deviant behavior in defense of self. New York: Academic Press.
Kaplan, H. B., Martin, S. S., & Robbins, C. (1982). Application of a general theory of deviant behavior: Self derogation and adolescent drug use. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 23, 274–294.Google Scholar
Kopp, C. B. (1982). Antecedents of self-regulation: A developmental perspective. Developmental Psychology, 18, 199–214.Google Scholar
Kumpulainen, K., & Roine, S. (2002). Depressive symptoms at the age of 12 years and future heavy alcohol use. Addictive Behaviors, 27, 425–436.Google Scholar
Lengua, L. (2002). The contribution of emotionality and self-regulation to the understanding of children's response to multiple risk. Child Development, 73, 144–161.Google Scholar
Lerner, R. M. (1982). Children and adolescents as producers of their own development. Developmental Review, 2, 342–370.Google Scholar
Little Known Variables in the NLS: Risk Tolerance. (2000). NLS News, 00-100, 6–7.
Loeber, R., & Stouthamer-Loeber, M. (1998). Development of juvenile aggression and violence: Some common misconceptions and controversies. American Psychologist, 53, 242–259.Google Scholar
Lynch, C. O. (2001). Risk and protective factors associated with adolescent sexual activity. Adolescent and Family Health, 3, 99–107.Google Scholar
Magnusson, D. (1988). Individual development from an interactional perspective: A longitudinal study. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Mason, W. A. (2001). Self-esteem and delinquency revisited (again): A test of Kaplan's self-derogation theory of delinquency using latent growth curve modeling. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 30, 83–102.Google Scholar
Miller, D. C., & Byrnes, J. P. (1997). The role of contextual and personal factors in children's risk taking. Developmental Psychology, 33, 814–823.Google Scholar
Miller, P., & Plant, M. (2002). Heavy cannabis use among UK teenagers: An exploration. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 65, 235–242.Google Scholar
Mischel, W., Shoda, Y., & Rodriguez, M. L. (1989). Delay of gratification in children. Science, 244, 933–938.Google Scholar
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Girgus, J. S. (1994). The emergence of gender differences in depression during adolescence. Psychological Bulletin, 115, 424–443.Google Scholar
Offer, D., & Schonert-Reichl, K. A. (1992). Debunking the myths of adolescence: Findings from recent research. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 1003–1014.Google Scholar
Ohannessian, C. M., & Crockett, L. J. (1993). A longitudinal investigation of the relation between educational investment and adolescent sexual activity. Journal of Adolescent Research, 8, 167–182.Google Scholar
Ohannessian, C. M., Lerner, R. M., Lerner, J. V., & von Eye, A. (1999). Does self-competence predict gender differences in adolescent depression and anxiety? Journal of Adolescence, 22, 397–411.Google Scholar
Paton, S., Kessler, R. C., & Kandel, D. B. (1977). Depressive mood and illegal drug use: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 131, 267–289.Google Scholar
Peterson, J. L., & Zill, N. (1986). Marital disruption, parent–child relationships, and behavioral problems in children. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 48, 295–307.Google Scholar
Pisecco, S., Wristers, K., Swank, P., Silva, P. A., & Baker, D. B. (2001). The effect of academic self-concept on ADHD and antisocial behaviors in early adolescence. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 34, 450–461.Google Scholar
Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.Google Scholar
Raffaelli, M., & Crockett, L. (2003). Predicting sexual risk-taking: The role of self-regulation and attraction to risk. Developmental Psychology, 39, 1036–1046.Google Scholar
Robins, R. W., & Tracy, J. L. (2003). Commentary: Setting the stage for a person-centered approach to personality development. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 68(No. 1, Serial No. 272), 110–122.Google Scholar
Rutter, M. (1991). Age changes in depressive disorders: Some developmental considerations. In J. Garber & K. A. Dodge (Eds.), The development of emotion regulation and dysregulation. Cambridge studies in social and emotional development. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Sheeber, L., Hops, H., Alpert, A., Davis, B., & Andrews, J. (1997). Family support and conflict: Prospective relations to adolescent depression. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 25, 333–344.Google Scholar
Shunk, D. H., & Zimmerman, B. J. (1997). Social origins of self-regulatory competence. Educational Psychologist, 32, 195–208.Google Scholar
Sroufe, L. A., & Rutter, M. (1984). The domain of developmental psychopathology. Child Development, 55, 17–29.Google Scholar
Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2000). Using multivariate statistics (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Tarter, R. E. (2002). Etiology of adolescent substance abuse: A developmental perspective. The American Journal on Addictions, 11, 171–191.Google Scholar
Tubman, J. G., Lerner, R. M., Lerner, J. V., & von Eye, A. (1992). Temperament and adjustment in young adulthood: A 15-year longitudinal analysis. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 62, 564–573.Google Scholar
Tubman, J. G., Vicary, J. R., von Eye, A., & Lerner, J. V. (1990). Longitudinal substance use and adult adjustment. Journal of Substance Abuse, 2, 317–334.Google Scholar
Tubman, J. G., Vicary, J. R., von Eye, A., & Lerner, J. V. (1991). Qualitative changes in relationships between substance use and adjustment during adolescence. Journal of Substance Abuse, 3, 405–414.Google Scholar
von Eye, A., & Bergman, L. R. (2003). Research strategies in developmental psychopathology: Dimensional identity and the person-oriented approach. Development and Psychopathology, 15, 553–580.Google Scholar
Wulfert, E., Block, J. A., Ana, E. S., Rodriguez, M. L., & Colsman, M. (2002). Delay of gratification: Impulsive choices and problem behaviors in early and late adolescence. Journal of Personality, 70, 533–552.Google Scholar
Zagorsky, J. L., & White, L. (1999). NLSY79 user's guide: A guide to the 1979–1998 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data. Washington, DC: US Department of Labor.
Zill, N. (1990). Behavioral problems index based on parent report (Publication No. 9103). Washington, DC: Child Trends.
Zimmerman, B. J. (2000). Attaining self-regulation: A social cognitive perspective. In M. Boekaerts, P. R. Pintrich, & M. Zeidner (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation (pp. 13–39). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Zuckerman, M. (1979). Sensation seeking: Beyond the optimal level of arousal. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Zuckerman, M. (1991). Sensation seeking: The balance between risk and reward. In L. P. Lipsitt & L. L. Mitnick (Eds.), Self-regulatory behavior and risk taking: Causes and consequences (pp. 143–152). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.