http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26006 2013-05-25T13:52:41Z http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26638 Title: Estimating adolescent sleep patterns: parent reports versus adolescent self-report surveys, sleep diaries, and actigraphy Authors: Short, Michelle A; Gradisar, Michael Shane; Lack, Leon Colburn; Wright, Helen Ruth; Chatburn, Alex Abstract: In research and clinical contexts, parent reports are often used to gain information about the sleep patterns of their adolescents; however, the degree of concordance between parent reports and adolescent-derived measures is unclear. The present study compares parent estimates of adolescent sleep patterns with adolescent self-reports from surveys and sleep diaries, together with actigraphy. Methods: A total of 308 adolescents (59% male) aged 13–17 years completed a school sleep habits survey during class time at school, followed by a 7-day sleep diary and wrist actigraphy. Parents completed the Sleep, Medical, Education and Family History Survey. Results: Parents reported an idealized version of their adolescent’s sleep, estimating significantly earlier bedtimes on both school nights and weekends, significantly later wake times on weekends, and significantly more sleep than either the adolescent self-reported survey, sleep diary, or actigraphic estimates. Conclusion: Parent reports indicate that the adolescent averages a near-optimal amount of sleep on school nights and a more than optimal amount of sleep on weekends. However, adolescent-derived averages indicate patterns of greater sleep restriction. These results illustrate the importance of using adolescent-derived estimates of sleep patterns in this age group and the importance of sleep education for both adolescents and their parents. 2013-02-11T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26506 Title: A Study of Changes in Genetic and Environmental Influences on Weight and Shape Concern Across Adolescence Authors: Wade, Tracey Diane; Hansell, Narelle; Crosby, Ross; Bryant-Waugh, Rachel; Treasure, Janet; Nixon, Reginald; Byrne, Susan; Martin, Nicholas G Abstract: The goal of the current study was to examine whether genetic and environmental influences on an important risk factor for disordered eating, weight and shape concern (WSC), remained stable over adolescence. This stability was assessed in two ways: whether new sources of latent variance were introduced over development, and whether the magnitude of variance contributing to the risk factor changed. We examined an 8-item WSC sub-scale derived from the Eating Disorder Examination using telephone interviews with female adolescents. From three waves of data collected from female-female same sex twin pairs from the Australian Twin Registry, a subset of the data (which included 351 pairs at Wave 1) was used to examine three age cohorts: 12-13, 13-15, and 14-16 years. The best fitting model contained genetic and environmental influences, both shared and non-shared. Biometric model fitting indicated that non-shared environmental influences were largely specific to each age cohort, and results suggested that latent shared environmental and genetic influences that were influential at 12-13 years continued to contribute to subsequent age cohorts, with independent sources of both emerging at ages 13-15. The magnitude of all three latent influences could be constrained to be the same across adolescence. Ages 13-15 was indicated as a time of risk for the development of high levels of WSC given that most specific environmental risk factors were significant at this time (e.g., peer teasing about weight, adverse life events), and indications of the emergence of new sources of latent genetic and environmental variance over this period. 2012-10-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26082 Title: Treatment of adult post-traumatic stress disorder using a future-oriented writing therapy approach Authors: Nixon, Reginald David; Kling, Leonard Wayne Abstract: The aim of this pilot study was to test whether a future-oriented expressive writing intervention is able to reduce post-traumatic stress disorder severity and associated symptoms such as depression and unhelpful trauma-related beliefs. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26081 Title: An investigation of temperament endophenotype candidates for early emergence of the core cognitive component of eating disorders Authors: Wilksch, Simon Mark; Wade, Tracey Diane Abstract: This study was designed to investigate potential temperament endophenotypes for clinically significant importance of shape and weight. Seven temperament risk factors for eating disorders and the Eating Disorder Examination were assessed in 699 female twins aged 12–15 years. Each variable was evaluated against the following endophenotype criteria : associated with illness in the general population ; found in non-affected family members at a higher rate than in the general population ; and, heritable. All seven variables were significantly associated with clinically significant importance of shape and weight, while thin-ideal internalization, ineffectiveness, body dissatisfaction and sensitivity to punishment were found at significantly elevated levels in non-affected twins, when controlling for sister’s temperament score. These four variables had genetic correlations with importance of shape and weight, ranging from 0.48 to 0.95. Future research should evaluate the stability of the identified endophenotypes and their utility for predicting significant growth in importance of shape and weight, and also whether different endophenotypes emerge when the importance of weight and shape reaches its peak in adolescents, around 15 to 16 years of age. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z