Depressive Cognitions Impact On A Latent Growth Curve Model Of Depressive Symptoms In Caregiving Grandmothers

Grandmothers caring for grandchildren have elevated levels of depressive symptoms compared to grandmothers who do not provide care. While the CES-D measures the somatic, positive and negative affect, and interpersonal strain symptoms experienced with depression, the Depressive CognitionScale © captures the change in cognitive thinking that often precedes depression. Depressive symptoms, on the other hand, are state like in nature and describe depressive symptoms that have happened recently. While depressive cognitions, according to Beck’s theory of depression, are the first negative thought processes to appear, these typically lead to other, more serious symptoms of depression. Specifically, depressive cognitions reflect negative thinking patterns and not depression. Data were collected on 343 participants in a longitudinal nationwide online research study of caregiving grandmothers. A latent growth curve model was used to track the trajectory of depressive symptoms at four time points (baseline, 2 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks). As depressive cognitions are the precursor to the development of depressive symptoms, a latent growth curve model was tested to gain an understanding of how depressive cognitions impacts the trajectory of depressive symptoms over time. The model fit the data well (Chi Square=21.025; df=9; p=.013; TLI=.976; CFI=.985; RMSEA=.063). Baseline depressive cognitions had a strong impact on the intercept (Standardized Beta=.76, p<.001) and the slope of depressive symptoms (Standardized Beta=-.67, p<.001). The continued impact of depressive cognitions over 24 weeks indicates the need for potential interventions to further address depressive cognitions as a way to decrease depressive symptoms in grandmother caregivers.

Aerobic Responses to FES-Assisted and Volitional Cycling in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Recumbent stationary cycling is a potential exercise modality for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) that lack the postural control needed for upright exercises. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) of lower extremity muscles can help such individuals reach the cycling intensities that are required for aerobic benefits. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of cycling with and without FES assistance to that of a no-intervention control group on the cardiorespiratory fitness of children with CP. Thirty-nine participants were randomized to a FES group that underwent an 8-week FES-assisted cycling program, the volitional group (VOL), who cycled without FES, or a no-intervention control group (CON) (15 FES, 11 VOL, 13 CON). Cadence, peak VO2, and net rise in heart rate were assessed at baseline, end of training, and washout (8-weeks after cessation of training). Latent growth curve modeling was used for analysis. The FES group showed significantly higher cycling cadences than the VOL and CON groups at POST and WO. There were no differences in improvements in the peak VO2 and peak net HR between groups. FES-assisted cycling may help children with CP attain higher cycling cadences and to retain these gains after training cessation. Higher training intensities may be necessary to obtain improvements in peak VO2 and heart rate.

Sexual Consent Perceptions of a Fictional Vignette: A Latent Growth Curve Model

Sexual consent can be conceptualized as a process of accumulating cues that build toward and continue throughout a consensual sexual encounter. How people perceive the cues of others during this process is an important aspect of consent. However, previous research has not investigated the trajectories of people’s consent perceptions throughout such a process. Using a novel staggered vignette protocol, we examined participants’ (N = 1218; 64.4% female) perceptions of fictional targets’ sexual consent at 11 time points. We tested latent growth curve models using multilevel structural equation modeling to examine trajectories in consent perceptions over the course of the vignette. We hypothesized that mean differences and rates of change would be associated with several constructs relevant to sexual consent. We found that initial consent perceptions and trends over the course of the vignette varied by whether the participant was a university student, by an alcohol manipulation in the vignette, by the fictional target’s sex, and by type of sexual behavior. Researchers should examine whether our findings on consent perceptions of a fictional vignette extend to people’s actual sexual encounters, including potential associations between the three primary aspects of sexual consent: perceptions, feelings, and communication.