Cross-cultural research shows that cultural frameworks provide guidance on what to feel and when, and how to express emotions from a young age. These cultural variations can cause misinterpretation... Show moreCross-cultural research shows that cultural frameworks provide guidance on what to feel and when, and how to express emotions from a young age. These cultural variations can cause misinterpretation and misunderstanding and are especially relevant for ethnic minority groups, who may be described as living ‘in between’ cultures. This thesis examines the extent to which Moroccan-Dutch adolescents’ emotional functioning can be considered in between cultures. Their emotion awareness, acknowledgment of social emotions, anger regulation, and anger communication was compared with those of their Dutch peers and with those of their peers living in Morocco. The thesis also addresses the adaptiveness of these aspects of emotional functioning in terms of psychological functioning. The results reveal that, overall, Moroccan-Dutch adolescents’ emotional functioning shows more similarities with that of their Dutch than their Moroccan peers. Although these ‘Dutch’ emotion patterns do not always seem adaptive for Moroccan-Dutch adolescents’ psychological wellbeing, the findings suggest that their emotional functioning in peer situations is a product of the Dutch culture. Show less
This thesis attempted to contribute to the quest of practitioners and researchers to find guidelines on how to establish a healthy motivational orientation in the classroom. This is not an easy... Show moreThis thesis attempted to contribute to the quest of practitioners and researchers to find guidelines on how to establish a healthy motivational orientation in the classroom. This is not an easy objective. There are many theories and concepts regarding motivation. We provided an overview in Chapter 2 of 36 motivation theories to gain more insight into what motivation is and how it works in the classroom. In Chapter 3 we highlighted motivation constructs derived from different motivation perspectives that can predict classroom performance together. Further, we presented the effects of a motivational intervention on intrinsic motivation, persistence, self-regulatory skills and performance (Chapter 4); we distinguished between the effects for boys and girls (Chapter 5); and investigated the applicability of self-determination theory across situations (Chapter 6). This chapter will start by presenting and elaborating on our results. We use the metaphor of the motivation cake that was introduced in the first chapter of this thesis to illustrate our conclusions. Subsequently, we discuss study limitations and present our suggestions for future research as well as the theoretical and practical implications of the present thesis. Show less
Maric, M.; Heyne, D.A.; Widenfelt, B.M. van; Westenberg, P.M. 2011
The Children’s Negative Cognitive Error Questionnaire (CNCEQ) is commonly used to measure four errors in young people’s thinking, but research has failed to support the factorial validity of the... Show moreThe Children’s Negative Cognitive Error Questionnaire (CNCEQ) is commonly used to measure four errors in young people’s thinking, but research has failed to support the factorial validity of the measure. The primary objective of the present study was to examine the factor structure of a refined and extended version of the CNCEQ. Revision of the CNCEQ involved the exclusion of items rated as contaminated, and the addition of items measuring cognitive errors closely associated with anxiety (‘threat conclusion’ and ‘underestimation of the ability to cope’). A secondary objective was to determine the relation between the negative cognitive errors and anxiety. Principal component analysis of data from 481 children and adolescents indicated five distinct negative cognitive error subscales labeled ‘underestimation of the ability to cope’, ‘personalizing without mind reading’, ‘selective abstraction’, ‘overgeneralizing’, and ‘mind reading’ which contained the new ‘threat conclusion’ items. Confirmatory factor analysis in an independent sample of 295 children and adolescents yielded further support for the five-factor solution. All cognitive errors except ‘selective abstraction’ were correlated with anxiety. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the strongest predictors of anxiety were the two subscales containing new items, namely ‘underestimation of the ability to cope’ and ‘mind reading’. The results are discussed with respect to further development of the instrument so as to advance the assessment of distorted cognitive processing in young people with internalizing symptoms. Show less
Celiac disease is an intolerance to dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals, leading to alterations of the small bowel mucosa. The treatment consists of a life-long, gluten-free diet.... Show moreCeliac disease is an intolerance to dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals, leading to alterations of the small bowel mucosa. The treatment consists of a life-long, gluten-free diet. The aims of this thesis were to measure some of the environmental factors considered to play a role in the prevention of celiac disease. For that purpose breast milk was studied on the presence of glutenpeptides and a food frequency questionnaire was developed and validated to quantify gluten intake in young infants. Furthermore, the current treatment at different ages and the ability to develop gluten tolerance were studied. It became clear that the nutrient intake of adolescents on a gluten-free diet can be ameliorated, and that the rather new naturally gluten-free cereal tef is frequently used by Dutch celiac patients and a wide majority of them can consume tef without clinical symptoms. Therefore tef can be a valuable addition to their diet. Although celiac disease is considered to be a permanent condition, we made an attempt to find patients who have become tolerant to gluten. We found 2 of these exceptional patients and found that one of them had HLA-typing different from HLA-DQ2/DQ8, suggesting that genetic factors may play a role in the development of tolerance. The underlying mechanisms leading to prevention, disease development or tolerance to gluten are complex and need to be further studied. Show less
The aim of this thesis was twofold: Firstly to create a reliable and valid new instrument to measure maladaptive social behaviour (MSB) of students in secondary vocational education, and secondly... Show moreThe aim of this thesis was twofold: Firstly to create a reliable and valid new instrument to measure maladaptive social behaviour (MSB) of students in secondary vocational education, and secondly to assess which school context variables could predict MSB at school. Three data-waves were conducted between December 2001 and July 2003. At the first data-wave 1800, at the second 931, and at the third 642 students participated from several schools, several departments, and several courses, spread over the Netherlands. Using several pilot-studies a new instrument was developed: The Questionnaire for Maladaptive Social Behaviour (QMSB). It consists of 49 items referring to five categories of behaviour: MSB toward Schoolwork and Rules, Delinquent Behaviour, Unfriendly Behaviour, Withdrawn Behaviour and Impolite Behaviour. Three studies were conducted to explore external validity of the instrument. Boys reported more MSB for all categories than girls. When controlled for gender, no differences in MSB were found between students with different ethnic origin, course level, or educational level of parents. School context variables predicted a small amount of variance of MSB. For Boys, feeling alienated from school appeared the most important predictor for their MSB at school; it predicted each type of MSB. For girls, the perception of a competitive school environment predicted their MSB best. Show less
Th e DISABKIDS project is a European collaboration of clinicians and investigators that received funding from the European Commission in 2001. Over the last four years the DISABKIDS project's aim... Show moreTh e DISABKIDS project is a European collaboration of clinicians and investigators that received funding from the European Commission in 2001. Over the last four years the DISABKIDS project's aim was to cross-nationally develop a new European health related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument for children and adolescents with a chronic medical condition 1(Box 1). Some of the steps taken during the developmental process of the European DISABKIDS HRQoL instrument for children and adolescents with a chronic medical condition are described in this thesis. Data from the asthma population is a recurring theme in most chapters as the Dutch DISABKIDS centre operated as asthma consultant Show less
The first study of this thesis (Chapter 2) showed that the majority of the internationally adopted children are well adjusted, although a relatively large minority of adopted children had behavior... Show moreThe first study of this thesis (Chapter 2) showed that the majority of the internationally adopted children are well adjusted, although a relatively large minority of adopted children had behavior problems of clinical significance or were referred to mental health services compared with non-adopted children. Nevertheless, adoption may often be the best solution for a child who would otherwise be raised in an institution or in other adverse environments (see also Juffer, 2002; Van IJzendoorn et al., 2005). The second and third study (Chapters 3 and 4) showed several longitudinal and concurrent influences on the behavioral and social development of adopted adolescents. The second study (Chapter 3) showed that early-onset delinquency was associated with stress hyporeactivity. The differentiation between delinquency and aggression, and between childhood-onset and adolescence-onset delinquency (Moffitt, 1993) appeared to be important for our understanding of the development of externalizing problem behaviors. The third study (Chapter 4) showed that individual development from infancy through middle childhood to adolescence was rather stable and that concurrent environmental experiences and child characteristics were essential influences on middle childhood and adolescent social development. Early parent-child relationships did not determine in final form social development in adolescence, but they provided the basis for healthy social development through the influence on earlier social development, even in the absence of genetic similarities between children and parents. Bowlby__s (1973, 1980) thesis that adaptation is always a product of both developmental history and current circumstances was supported. Show less
