@article{BuchmannHellwegRietscheletal.2013, author = {Buchmann, Arlette F. and Hellweg, Rainer and Rietschel, Marcella and Treutlein, Jens and Witt, Stephanie H. and Zimmermann, Ulrich S. and Schmidt, Martin H. and Esser, G{\"u}nter and Banaschewski, Tobias and Laucht, Manfred and Deuschle, Michael}, title = {BDNF Val 66 Met and 5-HTTLPR genotype moderate the impact of early psychosocial adversity on plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor and depressive symptoms - a prospective study}, series = {European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology}, volume = {23}, journal = {European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology}, number = {8}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0924-977X}, doi = {10.1016/j.euroneuro.2012.09.003}, pages = {902 -- 909}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Recent studies have emphasized an important role for neurotrophins, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), in regulating the plasticity of neural circuits involved in the pathophysiology of stress-related diseases. The aim of the present study was to examine the interplay of the BDNF Val(66)Met and the serotonin transporter promoter (5-HTTLPR) polymorphisms in moderating the impact of early-life adversity on BDNF plasma concentration and depressive symptoms. Participants were taken from an epidemiological cohort study following the long-term outcome of early risk factors from birth into young adulthood. In 259 individuals (119 males, 140 females), genotyped for the BDNF Val(66)Met and the 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms, plasma BDNF was assessed at the age of 19 years. In addition, participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Early adversity was determined according to a family adversity index assessed at 3 months of age. Results indicated that individuals homozygous for both the BDNF Val and the 5-HTTLPR L allele showed significantly reduced BDNF levels following exposure to high adversity. In contrast, BDNF levels appeared to be unaffected by early psychosocial adversity in carriers of the BDNF Met or the 5-HTTLPR S allele. While the former group appeared to be most susceptible to depressive symptoms, the impact of early adversity was less pronounced in the latter group. This is the first preliminary evidence indicating that early-life adverse experiences may have lasting sequelae for plasma BDNF levels in humans, highlighting that the susceptibility to this effect is moderated by BDNF Val(66)Met and 5-HTTLPR genotype.}, language = {en} } @article{SperlichMeixnerLaubrock2016, author = {Sperlich, Anja and Meixner, Johannes and Laubrock, Jochen}, title = {Development of the perceptual span in reading}, series = {Journal of experimental child psychology}, volume = {146}, journal = {Journal of experimental child psychology}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {New York}, issn = {0022-0965}, doi = {10.1016/j.jecp.2016.02.007}, pages = {181 -- 201}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The perceptual span is a standard measure of parafoveal processing, which is considered highly important for efficient reading. Is the perceptual span a stable indicator of reading performance? What drives its development? Do initially slower and faster readers converge or diverge over development? Here we present the first longitudinal data on the development of the perceptual span in elementary school children. Using the moving window technique, eye movements of 127 German children in three age groups (Grades 1, 2, and 3 in Year 1) were recorded at two time points (T1 and T2) 1 year apart. Introducing a new measure of the perceptual span, nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was used to separate window size effects from asymptotic reading performance. Cross-sectional differences were well replicated longitudinally. Asymptotic reading rate increased monotonously with grade, but in a decelerating fashion. A significant change in the perceptual span was observed only between Grades 2 and 3. Together with results from a cross-lagged panel model, this suggests that the perceptual span increases as a consequence of relatively well established word reading. Stabilities of observed and predicted reading rates were high after Grade 1, whereas the perceptual span was only moderately stable for all grades. Comparing faster and slower readers as assessed at T1, in general, a pattern of stable between-group differences emerged rather than a compensatory pattern; second and third graders even showed a Matthew effect in reading rate and the perceptual span, respectively. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{MoellerKraheBuschingetal.2012, author = {Moeller, Ingrid and Krah{\´e}, Barbara and Busching, Robert and Krause, Christina}, title = {Efficacy of an intervention to reduce the use of media violence and aggression an experimental evaluation with adolescents in Germany}, series = {Journal of youth and adolescence : a multidisciplinary research publication}, volume = {41}, journal = {Journal of youth and adolescence : a multidisciplinary research publication}, number = {2}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {0047-2891}, doi = {10.1007/s10964-011-9654-6}, pages = {105 -- 120}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Several longitudinal studies and meta-analytic reviews have demonstrated that exposure to violent media is linked to aggression over time. However, evidence on effective interventions to reduce the use of violent media and promote critical viewing skills is limited. The current study examined the efficacy of an intervention designed to reduce the use of media violence and aggression in adolescence, covering a total period of about 12 months. A sample of 683 7th and 8th graders in Germany (50.1\% girls) were assigned to two conditions: a 5-week intervention and a no-intervention control group. Measures of exposure to media violence and aggressive behavior were obtained about 3 months prior to the intervention (T1) and about 7 months post-intervention (T2). The intervention group showed a significantly larger decrease in the use of violent media from T1 to T2 than the control group. Participants in the intervention group also scored significantly lower on self-reported aggressive behavior (physical aggression and relational aggression) at T2 than those in the control group, but the effect was limited to those with high levels of initial aggression. This effect was mediated by an intervention-induced decrease in the normative acceptance of aggression. No gender differences in program efficacy were found. The results show that a 5-week school-based intervention can produce changes in the use of media violence, aggressive norms, and behaviors sustained over several months.}, language = {en} } @article{SchiefeleStutzSchaffner2016, author = {Schiefele, Ulrich and Stutz, Franziska and Schaffner, Ellen}, title = {Longitudinal relations between reading motivation and reading comprehension in the early elementary grades}, series = {Learning and individual differences}, volume = {51}, journal = {Learning and individual differences}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1041-6080}, doi = {10.1016/j.lindif.2016.08.031}, pages = {49 -- 58}, year = {2016}, language = {en} } @article{SchmidBlomeyerBuchmannetal.2011, author = {Schmid, Brigitte and Blomeyer, Dorothea and Buchmann, Arlette F. and Trautmann-Villalba, Patricia and Zimmermann, Ulrich S. and Schmidt, Martin H. and Esser, G{\"u}nter and Banaschewski, Tobias and Laucht, Manfred}, title = {Quality of early mother-child interaction associated with depressive psychopathology in the offspring - a prospective study from infancy to adulthood}, series = {Journal of psychiatric research}, volume = {45}, journal = {Journal of psychiatric research}, number = {10}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0022-3956}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpsychires.2011.05.010}, pages = {1387 -- 1394}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Evidence from animal research has revealed that less maternal care results in disturbed emotionality in the offspring. In the present study, the long-term impact of maternal responsiveness and stimulation during early mother child interaction on depressive psychopathology was examined until adulthood. Data are from an epidemiological cohort study of the long-term outcome of early risk factors assessed at birth. At age 3 months, mothers and infants were videotaped during a nursing and playing situation. Maternal responsiveness and stimulation as well as infant responsiveness were evaluated by trained raters. At age 19 years, 314 participants (145 males, 169 females) were characterized on measures of depression through interview and questionnaire. In addition, measures of depression and anxiety were available from assessments in childhood. Results indicated that less maternal stimulation during early interaction was associated with a higher risk of depression in the offspring until the age of 19 years. In addition, children of less stimulating mothers showed more depressive symptoms at age 19 years and displayed more anxiety and depressive symptoms between the ages of 4.5 and 15 years. In contrast, maternal responsiveness was unrelated to children's outcome. In accordance with findings from animal research, the present study provides first longitudinal evidence in humans of a continuous and long-term influence of early maternal interaction behavior on the offspring's psychological adjustment until adulthood. The results suggest that the amount of maternally initiated contact behavior in a very early developmental stage may be crucial for children's mental health, regardless of child and maternal responsiveness.}, language = {en} } @article{SoemerSchiefele2018, author = {Soemer, Alexander and Schiefele, Ulrich}, title = {Reading amount as a mediator between intrinsic reading motivation and reading comprehension in the early elementary grades}, series = {Learning and individual differences}, volume = {67}, journal = {Learning and individual differences}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1041-6080}, doi = {10.1016/j.lindif.2018.06.006}, pages = {1 -- 11}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Previous research suggests that children's growth in reading abilities is positively related to their intrinsic reading motivation and the amount of spare time reading. Furthermore, a number of previous studies point to the possibility that spare time reading amount mediates the positive association between intrinsic reading motivation and reading comprehension. However, to date, most of the available evidence for a mediation model is either cross-sectional and/or limited to late elementary and secondary school students, whereas the early elementary grades have only rarely been targeted in longitudinal studies. Accordingly, the present study investigated longitudinal relations between intrinsic reading motivation, reading amount, and reading comprehension in the early elementary grades with a particular focus on the potential mediator role of reading amount. Evidence was found for partial mediation by reading amount between reading comprehension and later intrinsic reading motivation. However, there was no evidence for (partial or full) mediation by reading amount between intrinsic reading motivation and later reading comprehension. It is concluded that in the process of becoming more sophisticated readers, early elementary students read more frequently in their spare time, and this makes reading more rewarding for them in the long run. In contrast, the potentially positive effect of spare time reading on later reading comprehension seems to be either non-existent or too weak to be reliably detected over longer time frames.}, language = {en} } @article{MillenetLauchtHohmetal.2018, author = {Millenet, Sabina and Laucht, Manfred and Hohm, Erika and Jennen-Steinmetz, Christine and Hohmann, Sarah and Schmidt, Martin H. and Esser, G{\"u}nter and Banaschewski, Tobias and Brandeis, Daniel and Zohsel, Katrin}, title = {Sex-specific trajectories of ADHD symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood}, series = {European child and adolescent psychiatry : offical journal of the European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry}, volume = {27}, journal = {European child and adolescent psychiatry : offical journal of the European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry}, number = {8}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {1018-8827}, doi = {10.1007/s00787-018-1129-9}, pages = {1067 -- 1075}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Reports of current ADHD symptoms in adults with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD are often discrepant: While one subgroup reports a particularly high level of current ADHD symptoms, another reports—in contrast—a very low level. The reasons for this difference remain unclear. Although sex might play a moderating role, it has not yet been examined in this regard. In an epidemiological cohort study from birth to young adulthood, childhood ADHD diagnoses were assessed at the ages of 4.5, 8, and 11 years based on parent ratings. Sex-specific development of ADHD symptoms was analyzed from the age of 15 to 25 years via self-reported ADHD symptoms in participants with (n = 47) and without childhood ADHD (n = 289) using a random coefficient regression model. The congruence between parent reports and adolescents' self-ratings was examined, and the role of childhood ADHD diagnosis, childhood OCC/CD, and childhood internalizing disorder as possible sex-specific predictors of self-reported ADHD symptoms at age 25 years was investigated. With regard to self-reported ADHD symptoms, females with a childhood ADHD diagnosis reported significantly more ADHD symptoms compared to females without childhood ADHD and males with and without ADHD throughout adolescence and young adulthood. In contrast, males with childhood ADHD did not differ from control males either at age 15 or at age 25 years. Only in females did a childhood diagnosis of an externalizing disorder (ADHD and CD/ODD) predict self-reported ADHD symptoms by age 25 years. Our findings suggest that self-reports of young adults with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD are influenced by sex. Specifically, females with childhood ADHD report increased levels of ADHD symptoms upon reaching adulthood. To correctly evaluate symptoms and impairment in this subgroup, other, more objective, sources of information may be advisable, such as neurophysiological measures.}, language = {en} }