PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

I Seiffge-Krenke

Publications and source records attributed to I Seiffge-Krenke.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Adolescent romance: between experience and relationships.

This concluding and integrative paper calls attention to several features and conceptual issues addressed by the contributors of this special issue. The first issue pertains to developmental perspectives in the study of how adolescent romance evolves. The second deals with the various features and concepts of adolescent romance. The third topic discusses the association of adolescent romance with other close relationships occurring during this time span. The fourth topic highlights the importance of the diversity of developmental contexts in shaping romantic relationships. Finally, conceptual issues in the study of adolescent romance are reviewed and the need for future studies of early adolescent romantic experiences is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Coping with stress in different phases of romantic development.

The degree to which coping with stress in romantic relationships is related to relationship development was examined longitudinally in a sample of early adolescents (n=107). Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed a significant decrease in romantic stress over time, while at the same time active coping with romantic stress increased. Concurrently, the quality of romantic relationships changed towards greater intimacy and affection. The results provide some support for recent theories of a developmental sequence in romantic relationships, according to which relationships progress from a more casual initial stage towards a more committed affection phase. In addition, the study illustrates that the multiple functions romantic activity can serve at different stages of development are accompanied by various types of stressors.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2001

[Can differences in stress perception and coping explain sex differences in depressive symptoms in adolescents?].

A four-year longitudinal study explored the different contribution of low self-esteem, different types of stressors, conflict in close relationships and avoidant coping to the explanation of depressive symptomatology in adolescents. One hundred and ninety adolescents, 101 females and 89 males, participated in four annual assessments using diverse instruments. ANOVAs repeated measurements revealed a higher stress level, more conflicts with mothers and more avoidant coping in females as compared to males at the age of 14 years. Males showed fewer depressive symptoms and higher positive self-esteem at all times. Multiple regression analysis revealed that stress and avoidant coping in early and mid-adolescence explained a significant proportion of depressive symptoms among females in late adolescence. Among males, only the level of conflicts with friends in early adolescence contributed to their level of depressive outcome in late adolescence.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2001

["Dear Kitty, you asked me...": imaginary companions and real friends in adolescence].

Based on semistructured interviews and the analyses of diary entries, frequency and function of imaginary companions, compared to real friendships, were investigated in an adolescent sample. Results suggest that while imaginary companions fulfill a number of different functions for the identity development, which supplement experiences with close friends, they do not compensate for the lack of close friendships. Real and fantasized comparisons with a highly similar significant other are most important. Interestingly, as an adult, writers hardly remember these positive functions for their own developmental progression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Causal links between stressful events, coping style, and adolescent symptomatology.

In a longitudinal study, the causal links between different types of stressors, coping styles and adolescent symptomatology were investigated. A total of 94 adolescents and their mothers participated in three annual assessments of critical life events, daily stressors and coping styles. The longitudinal associations between life events, everyday stressors, a dysfunctional coping style and symptomatology were analyzed via a path-analytic model. Critical life events and daily stressors were found to be strongly related over time; however, the type of stressor was not consistently linked with adolescent symptomatology. In contrast, withdrawal, a form of avoidant coping, emerged as a significant predictor of adolescent symptomatology across all times. Further, emotional and behavioral problems led to a time-lagged increase in withdrawal, creating a vicious circle. The results are discussed with reference to the coping-skill deficit model.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

[A very special friend. The imaginary playmate].

Imaginary companions are common in childhood and adolescence. However, little research has been conducted on this phenomenon, and the significance and functions of imaginary companions remain poorly understood. Conceptions about the psychopathological consequences of having an imaginary companion predominate. This contribution provides an overview of the current state of research and an analysis of five different functions a child's or adolescent's imaginary companion may fulfill. Developmental changes in reality-testing, fantasies, and creativity are linked with this phenomenon as are changes in socio-emotional development and in friendship conceptions. The positive, stimulating function of an imaginary companion for further development is emphasized.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Call for papers

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

[Importance of developmental perspective for the construction of a diagnostic test battery for children and adolescents (OPD-KJ)].

In the following contribution, developmental aspects are highlighted which served as a framework for developing an diagnostic instrument for child and adolescent psychiatry. In operationalizing a psychodynamic instrument for assessing children and adolescent symptomatology, a developmental perspective is critically important. Compared to adult, developmental changes occur on most dimensions measured, for example with respect to coping with the illness and dealing with stressors and conflicts. In addition, relationships with parents and peers changed over time as well as the capacity of self-reflexion and empathy. Two important conceptualizations are presented, which deal with these changes, the concept of developmental lines and the theory of developmental tasks. These conceptualizations, together with the theory of cognitive development, served as a framework for an approach, which distinguish diagnostically between infants, pre-school children, schools aged children and adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Brief report of the working group OPD-CA (children and adolescents) Axis III: conflict].

Conflict according to the OPD is understood as a lasting and unconscious inner conflict, which should be described on the background of the child's or adolescent's developmental state. In accordance with the adult OPD the following seven conflicts can be differentiated: Dependence versus autonomy, submission versus control, desire for care versus autarchy, conflicts of self-value (narcissistic conflicts, self-value versus object-value), conflicts of loyalty (guilt conflicts, egoistic versus pro-social tendencies), oedipal sexual conflicts, identity conflicts (identity versus dissonance). These conflicts have been operationalized for 6 domain of daily living--family, peers, kindergarten/school, property, play and illness--for the developmental phases (2-5, 6-11, and older than 12 years) separately.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Chronic disease and perceived developmental progression in adolescence.

This study examined whether chronic illness causes delays in adolescents' perceived developmental status. Longitudinal data were obtained from 86 adolescents afflicted with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 103 healthy adolescents. The adolescents annually completed a questionnaire pertaining to their current developmental status and their desired future developmental status in 11 age-specific developmental tasks. Health status and physical maturity were also determined. In the first year of the study, the diabetics reported delays compared with their healthy peers in some developmental tasks, particularly physical maturity and an independent lifestyle. However, the overall developmental progression perceived by chronically ill adolescents was impressive. The difficulty of balancing normative development with the demands of chronic illness is discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1998

The highly structured climate in families of adolescents with diabetes: functional or dysfunctional for metabolic control?

OBJECTIVE: Compare changes in perceived family climate over time in families with healthy adolescents and families with adolescents with diabetes and analyze the links to metabolic control. METHOD: In a total of four annually conducted surveys, 89 German adolescents with diabetes and 106 healthy adolescents as well as their parents completed the Family Environment Scale (FES). Metabolic control was determined by physicians' reports of adolescents' hemoglobin (HbA1) levels. RESULTS: Compared to families with healthy adolescents, families caring for an adolescent with diabetes portrayed their family interactions as considerably more structured and less cohesive and stimulating. Family climate was not associated with metabolic control and varied little with time, illness duration, and adolescents' gender. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that continued parental monitoring is necessary for good metabolic control. However, a balance must be found between medical adaptation to illness and the adolescent's developmental needs.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

Discrepancies between mothers' and fathers' perceptions of sons' and daughters' problem behaviour: a longitudinal analysis of parent-adolescent agreement on internalising and externalising problem behaviour.

One hundred and ninety-eight adolescents and their mothers (N = 189) and fathers (N = 136) participated in a 4-year longitudinal study. Adolescent problem behaviour was assessed by the Youth Self-Report (YSR) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). In addition, parental stress and marital adjustment were determined. Results showed that mothers and fathers showed high agreement, especially about their daughters, whereas parents and adolescents showed little agreement. Agreement was higher for internalising than for externalising behaviours. In general, adolescents reported more symptomatology than their parents did. However, mothers' ratings of their children's behaviours were significantly correlated with adolescents' self-ratings, but fathers' ratings were not. Statistical tests of correlations showed that mothers experiencing stress caused by marital problems perceived more problem behaviours in their children. Fathers' perceptions were relatively unaffected by personal adjustment. However, poor marital adjustment perceived by both parents showed a significant negative relation to adolescent externalising problem behaviour.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Imaginary companions in adolescence: sign of a deficient or positive development.

The present study was designed to find out to what extent imaginary companions are created in the diaries of adolescents. A total of 241 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years were investigated to determine the incidence as well as the characteristics and functions of such fictitious individuals in this age group. Content analysis of data obtained from questionnaires revealed that the imaginary companion was similar to the writer in many aspects. The imaginary companion supported the adolescent during the process of developing his/her identity. The relative influence of self-concept, creativity, role-taking ability, coping behavior, and egocentrism was then investigated using a hierarchical regression model. Three hypotheses were tested: (1) the deficit hypothesis, i.e. only adolescents with a deficit in social interaction create an imaginary companion, (2) the giftedness hypothesis, i.e. especially creative adolescents invent such a companion and (3) the egocentrism hypothesis, i.e. the construction of an imaginary companion is the result of perceived uniqueness and related to personal fable and imaginary audience behaviour. The results showed that the imaginary companion was not the result of an egocentric orientation, and by no means was a substitute for other trustworthy partners such as family members or friends. On the contrary, socially competent and creative adolescents with good coping abilities were particularly prone to create such a "very special friend".

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

"One body for two". The problem of boundaries between chronically ill adolescents and their mothers.

The problem of boundaries between chronically ill adolescents and their mothers is reviewed from psychoanalytic and developmental perspectives. In general, the transition to adulthood encompasses several processes that are especially important for chronically ill adolescents, including the differentiation and fusion of self and others, the integration of the mature genitals into the body concept, and the acceptance of a defective body. In particular, the constant vigilance over and care of the body prescribed for adolescents afflicted with diabetes, as well as the necessity of repeatedly injuring their bodies by injecting insulin, have no correlate in normal development. The difficulties of balancing the need for boundaries and the wish for fusion and merger are illustrated by a case study from a longitudinal study on diabetic and healthy adolescents and their families.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Siblings of chronically ill adolescents: does chronic illness have effects on their development potentials?].

Sibling relationships have been studied by developmental psychologists for a long time. Whereas previous research on this topic was focused on examining variables such as gender, age differences and sibling sequence, recent research efforts have directed more attention towards understanding the functions siblings perform for one another and what kinds of emotional relationships exist between them. In this regard, we became interested in identifying the special burdens which siblings of chronically sick children and adolescents must deal with. Two case studies are presented here selected from the research findings obtained from investigation in our research project. Coping with chronic illness as seen in juvenile diabetes. These case studies demonstrate that healthy siblings of chronically sick adolescents may be subjected to considerable burdens and illustrate, as well, the kinds of coping mechanisms siblings adopt in order to deal with them.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

[Psychopathology, self concept and developmental delay in healthy and chronically ill adolescents. Results of a 4 1/2 year longitudinal study].

Psychopathology, self-concept and developmental delays in healthy and chronically ill adolescents: Results of a 4-1/2-year follow-up study. This contribution presents results obtained in a 4-1/2-year longitudinal study on 91 adolescents with diabetes and 107 healthy adolescents. We addressed the question of whether chronically ill adolescents show more psychopathological behaviors than healthy adolescents, and if so, whether there are changes within a time span of 4-1/2-years. In addition, we investigated whether adolescents with diabetes differ from healthy adolescents in their feelings of self-esteem and in their developmental status. The self-concept of healthy and diabetic adolescents proved to be very similar, and stable over time as well. As regards developmental status, the developmental delays seen in the diabetic subjects at the beginning of the study had disappeared by the end of the study. Throughout the study the diabetic adolescents appeared to be more "normal", showing significantly fewer symptoms of psychopathology than the healthy control group. Furthermore, the consistently higher values in social desirability among the diabetic subjects show that the strong denial in these subjects was stable over the 4-1/2-year period.

Adolescent↗