Papers by Margarete Vollrath
Objective: To determine rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms in mothers and... more Objective: To determine rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms in mothers and fathers of children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Methods: Parents of 38 children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes were assessed with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale 6 weeks after diagnosis. Results: Twenty-four percent of the mothers and 22% of the fathers met full diagnostic criteria
Journal of pediatric psychology, Jan 23, 2015
Child-related stress following the birth of a child with special health care needs (SHCN) can ta... more Child-related stress following the birth of a child with special health care needs (SHCN) can take a toll on parental health. This study examined how the risk of sick leave due to psychiatric disorders (PD) among mothers of children with SHCN compares with that of mothers of children without SHCN during early motherhood. METHODS: Responses from 58,532 mothers participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study were linked to national registries and monitored for physician-certified sick leave from the month of their child's first birthday until the month of their child's fourth birthday. RESULTS: As compared with mothers of children without SHCN, mothers of children with mild and moderate/severe care needs were at substantial risk of a long-term sick leave due to PD in general and due to depression more specifically. CONCLUSIONS: Extensive childhood care needs are strongly associated with impaired mental health in maternal caregivers during early motherhood.
Swiss Journal of Psychology, 2004
... evidence regarding the “categorical” (diagnosis) versus “non-categorical” (diagnosis-independ... more ... evidence regarding the “categorical” (diagnosis) versus “non-categorical” (diagnosis-independent dimensions) position is mixed, with different studies reporting con-flicting findings (Gartstein, Short, Vannatta, & Noll, 1999; Thompson, Gustafson, Gil, Godfrey, & Bennett Murphy ...
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 2008
Typological research has received increasing interest in recent years, but is still regarded as s... more Typological research has received increasing interest in recent years, but is still regarded as substandard by personality psychologists. The current investigation shows how a typological approach can enhance our understanding of the influence of personality on risky health behaviors. We focused on Torgersen's eight personality types that represent unique configurations of high and low Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Constraint . Participants were 606 Norwegian university students. Measures assessed personality factors, smoking, abuse of drugs and alcohol, drunk driving, and risky sexual behaviors. Results replicated earlier research showing that types combining either high Extraversion and low Constraint (Hedonists, Impulsives) or high Neuroticism and low Constraint (Insecures) engage in more risky health behaviors. The discussion focuses on demonstrating that the study of types is a valuable supplement to the dimensional tradition in personality psychology.
Quality of Life Research, 2012
Purpose This study compared the well-being among mothers of children with congenital heart defect... more Purpose This study compared the well-being among mothers of children with congenital heart defects (CHD) with mothers of children without CHD (controls), at pregnancy and at 6 months postpartum. Methods We linked prospective data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, with a nationwide medical CHD registry. In the MoBa cohort of 61,456 mothers, we identified 212 mothers of infants with mild (n = 92), moderate (n = 50), or severe CHD (n = 70).
Personality and Individual Differences, 1995
Personality and Individual Differences, 2000
In recent years, it has been well established that the basic personality factors of Neuroticism, ... more In recent years, it has been well established that the basic personality factors of Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Conscientiousness are associated with stress experience and coping. However, little is known about their combined eects. To address this question, we studied eight personality types Ð unique combinations of Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Conscientiousness Ð in a sample of 683 university students. Participants reported daily hassles, positive and negative emotions, and coping strategies. The eight types related dierentially to these measures. Types combining low Neuroticism with high Conscientiousness featured the most favourable pro®le of stress and coping, whereas types combining high Neuroticism with low Conscientiousness showed high vulnerability to stress and poor coping. The eects of Extraversion were more ambiguous and appeared to depend on the speci®c combinations of Neuroticism and Conscientiousness. The ®ndings suggest that this typology represents a useful approach to addressing the question of how individuals with dierent combinations of personality traits experience and manage stress. 7
Personal Relationships, 2010
This study prospectively examined dyadic influences of parental personality on levels and change ... more This study prospectively examined dyadic influences of parental personality on levels and change of family functioning in parents of a newly hospitalized child. A total of 183 couples whose child sought treatment for Type 1 diabetes, cancer, or an unintentional injury were assessed at 1 and 6 months posthospitalization with tests measuring personality, and family functioning. Analyses used structural equation modeling based on the actor-partner interdependence model. Family functioning in both parents showed substantial differential stability and interdependence. Mothers' Neuroticism and Agreeableness and fathers' Openness and Conscientiousness influenced their own family functioning. Fathers' Conscientiousness influenced their spouse's family functioning. Both parents' personalities influenced their family functioning over time, underlining that the parents' perspectives should be studied jointly.
Maternal & Child Nutrition, 2012
The aims of the current study were to (1) identify dietary patterns in 3-year-old children; (2) i... more The aims of the current study were to (1) identify dietary patterns in 3-year-old children; (2) investigate the extent to which negative affectivity, external parental locus of control and control-oriented child-feeding practices (pressure to eat and restriction) relate to these dietary patterns; and (3) to examine to what extent external parental locus of control and control-oriented child-feeding practices serve as mediators for these effects. This study was part of the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, comprising 14 122 mothers completing assessments at 6 months, 18 months and 3 years post-partum. Factor analysis of the children's diet identified two weakly correlated dietary patterns, labeled 'unhealthy' and 'wholesome'. Mothers high in negative affectivity perceived they had little control over their child's behaviour, which in turn was associated with both pressuring their child to eat and restricting the child's food intake and a less wholesome and a more unhealthy diet in the child. Pressuring the child to eat was independently associated with a less wholesome and a more unhealthy diet. Restricting the child's diet was associated with a more wholesome and a less unhealthy diet. These findings held after controlling for maternal smoking, education, age, body mass index, marital status, homemaker status and child gender.
Maternal & Child Nutrition, 2009
Early dietary habits are formative for dietary habits later in life. Maternal personality might b... more Early dietary habits are formative for dietary habits later in life. Maternal personality might be an important factor in unhealthy feeding of children. The current study aims to assess the degree to which the personality trait of negative affectivity in mothers predicts their child's diet at age 18 months. This study is a part of the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study conducted at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. A total of 27 763 mothers completed 3 repeated assessments of negative affectivity before and after childbirth and of the child's diet when the child was 18 months old. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the dietary patterns, and structural equation modeling was used to investigate the relationship with negative affectivity adjusted for socio-demographical variables. Exploratory factor analysis of a foods frequency questionnaire revealed two dietary patterns in the child, labeled unhealthy diet and wholesome diet. The unhealthy diet comprised foods rich in sugar and fat; the wholesome diet comprised foods rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals. Mothers high in negative affectivity were more inclined to feed their child an unhealthy diet. The results were adjusted for maternal age, years of education, relative income, marital status, number of children, having the child in daycare, maternal smoking, maternal body mass index, and child gender. This study shows that a maternal personality trait, negative affectivity, is related to feeding the child an unhealthy diet after controlling for key socio-demographic variables.
Kindheit und Entwicklung, 2003
... psychosoziale Konsequenzen haben und zu einer verminderten Lebensqualität führen, sondern auc... more ... psychosoziale Konsequenzen haben und zu einer verminderten Lebensqualität führen, sondern auch die Compliance mit der medizinischen Be-handlung entscheidend beeinträchtigen (Aaron et al ... Kindheit und Entwicklung 12 (3), 184ą192 Hogrefe-Verlag, Göttingen 2003 ...
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2009
Objective: The relation between prenatal smoking and child behavioral problems has been investiga... more Objective: The relation between prenatal smoking and child behavioral problems has been investigated in children of school age and older, but prospective studies in younger children are lacking. Using the population-based prospective Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, we examined the risk for externalizing behaviors among 18-month-old children after exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Method: Participants were 22,545 mothers and their 18-month-old children. Mothers reported their smoking habits at the 17th week of gestation and their child's externalizing behavior at 18 months of age by means of standardized questionnaires. Data were analyzed using logistic regression, with scores of externalizing behavior above the 88.6th percentile as the dependent variable and self-reported smoking as the independent variable. We examined the child's sex as a possible moderator. Results: We documented a threshold effect of smoking 10 cigarettes or more per day during pregnancy on subsequent externalizing behaviors among 18-month-old children, even after adjusting for relevant confounders (odds ratio 1.32, 95% confidence interval 1.03Y1.70). The child's sex did not moderate these effects (odds ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.83Y1.16). Conclusions: Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases offspring's subsequent risk for externalizing behavior problems at 18 months of age. The pattern of risk does not differ between boys and girls. Our findings suggest a population attributable risk of 17.5% (i.e., the proportion of externalizing cases that could potentially be avoided if prenatal smoking was eliminated or reduced to fewer than 10 cigarettes per day).
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2005
Objective: To prospectively assess the prevalence, course, and predictors of posttraumatic stress... more Objective: To prospectively assess the prevalence, course, and predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) in children after road traffic accidents (RTAs). Method: Sixty-eight children (6.5-14.5 years old) were interviewed 4-6 weeks and 12 months after an RTA with the Child PTSD Reaction Index (response rate 58.6%). Their mothers (n = 60) and fathers (n = 53) were assessed with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale. Results: The prevalence of moderate to severe PTSSs in children was 16.2% at 4-6 weeks, and 17.6% at 12 months. Mean PTSS scores did not decrease between the two assessments. Five children showed a delayed onset of PTSSs. Twelve mothers (20%) and six fathers (11.3%) met criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at 4 to 6 weeks. At 12 months, three mothers (5.7%) and no fathers met diagnostic criteria. Child PTSSs at 12 months was significantly predicted by PTSS at 4-6 weeks and by severity of father's PTSD. Age, sex, injury severity, threat appraisal, and maternal PTSD did not significantly contribute to child PTSSs at follow-up.
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2005
Objective: To determine the prevalence, course, and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (... more Objective: To determine the prevalence, course, and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in mothers and fathers of children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Method: Forty-nine mothers and 48 fathers of 52 children (response rate 65%) with newly diagnosed diabetes (age 6.5-15 years) were assessed at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after the diagnosis with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale. Results: The prevalence of current PTSD in mothers was 22.4% at 6 weeks, 16.3% at 6 months, and 20.4% at 12 months. In fathers, PTSD was found in 14.6%, 10.4%, and 8.3%, respectively. Mothers endorsed more symptoms of PTSD at all assessments. Multivariate analyses controlling for demographics, metabolic control, and threat appraisals revealed that in mothers, the number of preceding life events and PTSD symptoms at 6 months predicted PTSD at 12 months. In fathers, PTSD severity at 6 months was the only significant predictor for PTSD at 12 months. Conclusions: The results suggest that the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in their child constitute traumatic events for parents. The findings confirm the applicability of a posttraumatic stress model for investigating the psychological impact of diabetes on parents. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 2005;44 :682-689.
Journal of Research in Personality, 2007
Since resources Xow to those at the top of the hierarchy in all known groups, "getting ahead" is ... more Since resources Xow to those at the top of the hierarchy in all known groups, "getting ahead" is assumed to be one of the central human motivations. The present research project was designed to assess tactics of hierarchy negotiation, identify the robustness of their factor structure, and relate tactics use with personality traits, values, and salary. The participants were 315 professionals in two work settings. Measures included assessments of tactics of hierarchy negotiation, personality traits, life values, and work-related variables. The results established the robustness of three factors of hierarchy negotiation: Deception/Manipulation, Social Display/Networking, and Industriousness/ Knowledge. These factors showed coherent links with personality traits and values and predicted salary above and beyond the eVects of personality traits. The discussion focuses on implications of the results and directions for future research.
The Journal of Pediatrics, 2008
Objective To assess the degree to which mothers' prepartum personality traits predict breastfeedi... more Objective To assess the degree to which mothers' prepartum personality traits predict breastfeeding status at 6 months postpartum.
The Journal of Pediatrics, 2010
Objective To assess whether the development of children with varying severity of congenital heart... more Objective To assess whether the development of children with varying severity of congenital heart defect (CHD) differs from that of children without CHD at age 6 months.
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2005
Objective Few studies have charted the course of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pediat... more Objective Few studies have charted the course of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pediatric injury patients, and no studies so far have examined the extent to which variations in HRQoL 1 month and 1 year after injury are influenced by the child's personality. Method One hundred and seven pediatric injury victims (6-14 years old) completed an interview on HRQoL and were rated on the personality domains of the Five-Factor Model by their mothers 1 month and 1 year after the incident. Results HRQoL was compromised after 1 month, particularly in the physical domain, but improved significantly after 1 year. Lower HRQoL after 1 month was predicted by female gender, injury severity, functional status, and neuroticism. After 1 year, lower HRQoL was predicted by concurrent functional status and neuroticism. Conclusions Even if HRQoL in children with unintentional injuries returns to normal levels after 1 year, significant variations remain, which are in part explained by personality.
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2011
To examine the relationship between the severity of infants&a... more To examine the relationship between the severity of infants' congenital heart defects (CHD) and their mothers' symptoms of depression and anxiety from pregnancy to 18 months postpartum. Mothers of infants with mild, moderate, or severe CHD (n=162) and mothers (n=44,400) within the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study were assessed with an eight-item short version (SCL-8) of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 at the 30th week of gestation and at 6 and 18 months postpartum. Only the postpartum mental health trajectory of mothers of infants with severe CHD deviated from the mental health trajectory of the cohort at 6 and 18 months postpartum, showing significantly elevated levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. The results elucidate the relationship between infants' CHD severity and maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety, possibly identifying a specifically vulnerable patient dyad in need of postoperative interventions.
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Papers by Margarete Vollrath