Wim Meeus - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Wim Meeus
International Journal of Behavioral Development, 2014
This longitudinal study explores differences between native Dutch and immigrant Moroccan adolesce... more This longitudinal study explores differences between native Dutch and immigrant Moroccan adolescents in the relationship between internalizing and externalizing problems across time. By using generalized estimating equations (GEE), the strength and stability of associations between internalizing and externalizing problems in 159 Moroccan and 159 Dutch adolescents was studied over a period of 4 years. No differences in strength of co-occurring problems were found between Moroccan and Dutch adolescents. However, for Moroccan adolescents, associations between problems increased over time, whereas in Dutch adolescents, associations remained stable. The increase of co-occurring problems may be a result of undertreatment and increasing complexity of problems in Moroccans during adolescence. The results of this study imply that investigating processes leading to co-occurring problems in subgroups of adolescents, such as immigrant youths, is needed to optimize prevention and intervention ef...
Journal of Psychophysiology, 2017
Many stress-related parameters have been associated with antisocial behavior, including low corti... more Many stress-related parameters have been associated with antisocial behavior, including low cortisol awakening responses (CAR), as well as low cortisol and alpha-amylase reactivity to stress. These parameters reflect different, yet interrelated components of the stress system, yet it remains to be determined whether they exert joint or independent effects. Therefore, this study examined them in concert, as this may offer a better explanation of the psychophysiological mechanism's underlying antisocial behavior. Antisocial behavior was assessed through self-report by 197 general population boys and girls (M age = 17.31, SD = 0.44). The CAR was assessed, as well as cortisol and alphaamylase reactivity to a public speaking task. Neither stress-related parameter was independently related to antisocial behavior. The best explanation was provided by a CAR Â Cortisol reactivity interaction, indicating that in youth with a low CAR, antisocial behavior was positively associated with cortisol reactivity. In youth with a high CAR, no association between antisocial behavior and cortisol reactivity was found. Between cortisol and alpha-amylase reactivity a trend toward an interaction appeared, indicating a negative association between cortisol reactivity and antisocial behavior in those with low alpha-amylase reactivity, and a positive association in those with high alpha-amylase reactivity. These findings indicate that in order to understand the mechanisms underlying antisocial behavior, the stress system should be studied comprehensively rather than focus on single parameters. Particularly cortisol parameters appear to be jointly related to antisocial behavior, the additional value of alpha-amylase reactivity to cortisol reactivity may however be limited.
Wetensch. publicatieFaculteit der Sociale Wetenschappe
The aim of this study was to investigate associations between paternal and maternal relations and... more The aim of this study was to investigate associations between paternal and maternal relations and self-concept clarity in adolescence. Participants were 2113 adolescents (979 boys and 1134 girls), with ages ranging between 11 and 18 years (1023 were junior high school students and 1090 were secondary high school students). Participants completed a self-report questionnaire. Findings indicated that quality of paternal and maternal relationships worsened during adolescence. Parental relationships (in particular the dimensions of trust and alienation) was found to be associated to self-concept clarity, and during adolescence boys formed a self-concept clearer than that of their feminine counterparts. Finally, during high secondary school for females became central the maternal relationship while for males the paternal one
Pedagogiek, Dec 13, 2010
Deze 4-jarige studie bij 309 adolescenten onderzocht of veranderingen in ouder-kind communicatie ... more Deze 4-jarige studie bij 309 adolescenten onderzocht of veranderingen in ouder-kind communicatie en een toename in kleine criminaliteit gerelateerde processen zijn. Adolescenten rapporteerden jaarlijks over hoeveel zij vertelden aan hun ouders en hoeveel vragen, controle en steun ze ervaarden van hun ouders. Ook rapporteerden ze over hun betrokkenheid bij delinquente activiteiten, zoals graffiti, vandalisme en winkeldiefstal. Latente Groei Modellen toonden dat jongeren, naarmate ze ouder worden, steeds minder vertellen aan hun ouders. Ook controle door ouders nam af in de adolescentie. De mate waarin ouders vragen stellen veranderde niet. Een sterkere afname in hoeveel jongeren vertellen was gerelateerd aan een toename in delinquentie. Bij jongeren die veel steun van ouders ervaarden, was er een verband tussen een minder snelle afname in controle en een toename in delinquentie. Bij jongeren die weinig steun ervaarden was dit verband er niet: Bij deze groep werd juist een verband gevonden tussen hoge beginniveaus van delinquentie en een snellere afname in controle door ouders. De discussie bespreekt theoretische en praktische implicaties van deze bevindingen.
The aim of this study was to investigate associations between paternal and maternal relations and... more The aim of this study was to investigate associations between paternal and maternal relations and self-concept clarity in adolescence. Participants were 2113 adolescents (979 boys and 1134 girls), with ages ranging between 11 and 18 years (1023 were junior high school students and 1090 were secondary high school students). Participants completed a self-report questionnaire. Findings indicated that quality of paternal and maternal relationships worsened during adolescence. Parental relationships (in particular the dimensions of trust and alienation) was found to be associated to self-concept clarity, and during adolescence boys formed a self-concept clearer than that of their feminine counterparts. Finally, during high secondary school for females became central the maternal relationship while for males the paternal one
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2010
The present study was aimed at examining one relatively neglected part of the identity formation ... more The present study was aimed at examining one relatively neglected part of the identity formation process: the short-term dynamics of identity formation. The short-term dynamics were assessed by examining (a) the day-today course of 2 key dimensions of identity formation (i.e., commitment and reconsideration) and (b) the impact of fluctuations in commitment and reconsideration on subsequent levels of these 2 dimensions. Longitudinal data on 580 early adolescents (54.8% boys, 45.2% girls) were used to test these assertions. The authors found evidence for a commitment-reconsideration dynamic that operated on a day-today basis. Furthermore, the findings confirmed E. H. Erikson's (1950) assertion that identity reflects a sense of sameness and continuity as a more stable identity (reflected by little day-today fluctuations) was predictive of higher levels of commitment and lower levels of reconsideration. Taken together, the present study underscores the importance of the short-term dynamics of identity formation.
Developmental Psychology, 2009
This 4-wave study among 309 Dutch adolescents and their parents examined changes in adolescent di... more This 4-wave study among 309 Dutch adolescents and their parents examined changes in adolescent disclosure, parental solicitation, and parental control and their links with the development of delinquent activities. Annually, adolescents and both parents reported on adolescent disclosure, parental solicitation, and parental control, and adolescents reported on delinquent activities and parental support. Latent growth curve analyses revealed a linear decline in parental control between ages 13 and 16. Adolescent disclosure decreased gradually in adolescent reports and showed an L-shaped pattern in father reports and a V-shaped pattern in mother reports. A stronger increase in delinquent activities was related to a stronger decrease in disclosure in mother and adolescent reports and to lower levels of disclosure in father reports. The linkages between levels of disclosure and delinquent activities were stronger in families with high parental support than in families with lower support. Furthermore, in lower parental support families, a stronger decrease in paternal control was related to a stronger increase in delinquent activities. In high parental support families, however, a stronger decrease in adolescent-reported parental control was related to a less strong increase in delinquent activities.
Developmental Psychology, 2013
This 3-year, multi-informant study examined whether youths' perceptions of parental privacy invas... more This 3-year, multi-informant study examined whether youths' perceptions of parental privacy invasion predicted lower parental knowledge over time, as a function of increased adolescent secrecy. Participants were 497 Dutch adolescents (Time 1 M ϭ 13 years, SD ϭ 0.5; 57% boys) and both parents. Higher youth-reported invasion predicted lower father-and mother-reported knowledge 1 year later. A link between privacy invasion and youths' increased secrecy mediated the association between privacy invasion and mothers' lower knowledge. Further, mothers' perceptions of adolescent secrecy mediated the association between adolescent-reported secrecy and mothers' knowledge. No mediation existed for father-report models. The results suggest that privacy invasion is counterproductive to parents' efforts to remain knowledgeable about youths, due to increased adolescent secrecy. We discuss the implications for family communication processes and successful privacy negotiations during adolescence.
European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 2010
The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Dutch and Italian versions of the U... more The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Dutch and Italian versions of the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS) in large community samples of adolescents from Italy (N = 1,975) and The Netherlands (N = 1,521). Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the three-factor model, consisting of commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment, provided a better fit to the data than alternative one-and two-factor models. The three-factor model fit equivalently across sex and across age groups (early and middle adolescents). Furthermore, we demonstrated cross-national equivalence of the factor structure of the U-MICS. Additionally, results indicated that the latent means for commitment were higher in the Dutch sample, while latent means for both in-depth exploration and reconsideration of commitment were substantially higher in the Italian sample. The three identity processes were found to be meaningfully related to measures of self-concept, psychosocial problems, and parent-adolescent relations in both countries. These findings suggest that the U-MICS is a reliable tool for assessing identity processes in Italian and Dutch adolescents.
European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 2007
Abstract. The present study examined the internal structure of Bryant&amp... more Abstract. The present study examined the internal structure of Bryant's (1982) Index of Empathy for Children and Adolescents, a 22-item questionnaire measure of dispositional affective empathy. Third graders (n = 817), fourth to sixth graders (n = 82), and eighth graders (n = 1,079) were studied. Factor analyses revealed that the empathy index is multidimensional, encompassing two subscales. The same
European Journal of Personality, 2011
We examined the daily dynamics among self-concept clarity and identity processes, and their effec... more We examined the daily dynamics among self-concept clarity and identity processes, and their effects on distress, among a sample of 580 Dutch adolescents. Participants completed measures of identity, self-concept clarity, anxiety and depression at annual intervals; and daily single-item measures of self-concept clarity, identity commitments and reconsideration across three 5-day weeks. We examined (a) cross-lagged associations of selfconcept clarity to identity commitment and reconsideration and (b) associations of daily fluctuations in self and identity processes to later anxiety and depression. Results indicated that self-concept clarity and identity commitments influence one another reciprocally across days, and that day-to-day fluctuations in identity predicted later anxiety and depression. Results are discussed in terms of self and identity processes and their effects on distress.
European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 2005
Previous research has shown that high quality parent-adolescent attachments are negatively associ... more Previous research has shown that high quality parent-adolescent attachments are negatively associated with juvenile delinquency, while stressful life events are positively related to this form of externalizing problem behaviour. Instead of testing only these direct relationships, the present study examined a model in which emotional disturbance would mediate the effects of parental attachment and life stress on delinquency. Data were used from a national representative sample of 568 adolescents aged 15 -19, who had participated in the second (1994) and third (1997) wave of an ongoing longitudinal survey. Multiple regression and LISREL analyses showed that emotional disturbance significantly predicted subsequent delinquent behaviour, and that emotional disturbance mediated the effects of parental attachment and life stress.
European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 2011
Most researchers have specific expectations concerning their research questions. These may be der... more Most researchers have specific expectations concerning their research questions. These may be derived from theory, empirical evidence, or both. Yet despite these expectations, most investigators still use null hypothesis testing to evaluate their data, that is, when analysing their data they ignore the expectations they have. In the present article, Bayesian model selection is presented as a means to evaluate the expectations researchers have, that is, to evaluate so called informative hypotheses. Although the methodology to do this ...
International Journal of Behavioral Development, 2014
This longitudinal study explores differences between native Dutch and immigrant Moroccan adolesce... more This longitudinal study explores differences between native Dutch and immigrant Moroccan adolescents in the relationship between internalizing and externalizing problems across time. By using generalized estimating equations (GEE), the strength and stability of associations between internalizing and externalizing problems in 159 Moroccan and 159 Dutch adolescents was studied over a period of 4 years. No differences in strength of co-occurring problems were found between Moroccan and Dutch adolescents. However, for Moroccan adolescents, associations between problems increased over time, whereas in Dutch adolescents, associations remained stable. The increase of co-occurring problems may be a result of undertreatment and increasing complexity of problems in Moroccans during adolescence. The results of this study imply that investigating processes leading to co-occurring problems in subgroups of adolescents, such as immigrant youths, is needed to optimize prevention and intervention ef...
Journal of Psychophysiology, 2017
Many stress-related parameters have been associated with antisocial behavior, including low corti... more Many stress-related parameters have been associated with antisocial behavior, including low cortisol awakening responses (CAR), as well as low cortisol and alpha-amylase reactivity to stress. These parameters reflect different, yet interrelated components of the stress system, yet it remains to be determined whether they exert joint or independent effects. Therefore, this study examined them in concert, as this may offer a better explanation of the psychophysiological mechanism's underlying antisocial behavior. Antisocial behavior was assessed through self-report by 197 general population boys and girls (M age = 17.31, SD = 0.44). The CAR was assessed, as well as cortisol and alphaamylase reactivity to a public speaking task. Neither stress-related parameter was independently related to antisocial behavior. The best explanation was provided by a CAR Â Cortisol reactivity interaction, indicating that in youth with a low CAR, antisocial behavior was positively associated with cortisol reactivity. In youth with a high CAR, no association between antisocial behavior and cortisol reactivity was found. Between cortisol and alpha-amylase reactivity a trend toward an interaction appeared, indicating a negative association between cortisol reactivity and antisocial behavior in those with low alpha-amylase reactivity, and a positive association in those with high alpha-amylase reactivity. These findings indicate that in order to understand the mechanisms underlying antisocial behavior, the stress system should be studied comprehensively rather than focus on single parameters. Particularly cortisol parameters appear to be jointly related to antisocial behavior, the additional value of alpha-amylase reactivity to cortisol reactivity may however be limited.
Wetensch. publicatieFaculteit der Sociale Wetenschappe
The aim of this study was to investigate associations between paternal and maternal relations and... more The aim of this study was to investigate associations between paternal and maternal relations and self-concept clarity in adolescence. Participants were 2113 adolescents (979 boys and 1134 girls), with ages ranging between 11 and 18 years (1023 were junior high school students and 1090 were secondary high school students). Participants completed a self-report questionnaire. Findings indicated that quality of paternal and maternal relationships worsened during adolescence. Parental relationships (in particular the dimensions of trust and alienation) was found to be associated to self-concept clarity, and during adolescence boys formed a self-concept clearer than that of their feminine counterparts. Finally, during high secondary school for females became central the maternal relationship while for males the paternal one
Pedagogiek, Dec 13, 2010
Deze 4-jarige studie bij 309 adolescenten onderzocht of veranderingen in ouder-kind communicatie ... more Deze 4-jarige studie bij 309 adolescenten onderzocht of veranderingen in ouder-kind communicatie en een toename in kleine criminaliteit gerelateerde processen zijn. Adolescenten rapporteerden jaarlijks over hoeveel zij vertelden aan hun ouders en hoeveel vragen, controle en steun ze ervaarden van hun ouders. Ook rapporteerden ze over hun betrokkenheid bij delinquente activiteiten, zoals graffiti, vandalisme en winkeldiefstal. Latente Groei Modellen toonden dat jongeren, naarmate ze ouder worden, steeds minder vertellen aan hun ouders. Ook controle door ouders nam af in de adolescentie. De mate waarin ouders vragen stellen veranderde niet. Een sterkere afname in hoeveel jongeren vertellen was gerelateerd aan een toename in delinquentie. Bij jongeren die veel steun van ouders ervaarden, was er een verband tussen een minder snelle afname in controle en een toename in delinquentie. Bij jongeren die weinig steun ervaarden was dit verband er niet: Bij deze groep werd juist een verband gevonden tussen hoge beginniveaus van delinquentie en een snellere afname in controle door ouders. De discussie bespreekt theoretische en praktische implicaties van deze bevindingen.
The aim of this study was to investigate associations between paternal and maternal relations and... more The aim of this study was to investigate associations between paternal and maternal relations and self-concept clarity in adolescence. Participants were 2113 adolescents (979 boys and 1134 girls), with ages ranging between 11 and 18 years (1023 were junior high school students and 1090 were secondary high school students). Participants completed a self-report questionnaire. Findings indicated that quality of paternal and maternal relationships worsened during adolescence. Parental relationships (in particular the dimensions of trust and alienation) was found to be associated to self-concept clarity, and during adolescence boys formed a self-concept clearer than that of their feminine counterparts. Finally, during high secondary school for females became central the maternal relationship while for males the paternal one
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2010
The present study was aimed at examining one relatively neglected part of the identity formation ... more The present study was aimed at examining one relatively neglected part of the identity formation process: the short-term dynamics of identity formation. The short-term dynamics were assessed by examining (a) the day-today course of 2 key dimensions of identity formation (i.e., commitment and reconsideration) and (b) the impact of fluctuations in commitment and reconsideration on subsequent levels of these 2 dimensions. Longitudinal data on 580 early adolescents (54.8% boys, 45.2% girls) were used to test these assertions. The authors found evidence for a commitment-reconsideration dynamic that operated on a day-today basis. Furthermore, the findings confirmed E. H. Erikson's (1950) assertion that identity reflects a sense of sameness and continuity as a more stable identity (reflected by little day-today fluctuations) was predictive of higher levels of commitment and lower levels of reconsideration. Taken together, the present study underscores the importance of the short-term dynamics of identity formation.
Developmental Psychology, 2009
This 4-wave study among 309 Dutch adolescents and their parents examined changes in adolescent di... more This 4-wave study among 309 Dutch adolescents and their parents examined changes in adolescent disclosure, parental solicitation, and parental control and their links with the development of delinquent activities. Annually, adolescents and both parents reported on adolescent disclosure, parental solicitation, and parental control, and adolescents reported on delinquent activities and parental support. Latent growth curve analyses revealed a linear decline in parental control between ages 13 and 16. Adolescent disclosure decreased gradually in adolescent reports and showed an L-shaped pattern in father reports and a V-shaped pattern in mother reports. A stronger increase in delinquent activities was related to a stronger decrease in disclosure in mother and adolescent reports and to lower levels of disclosure in father reports. The linkages between levels of disclosure and delinquent activities were stronger in families with high parental support than in families with lower support. Furthermore, in lower parental support families, a stronger decrease in paternal control was related to a stronger increase in delinquent activities. In high parental support families, however, a stronger decrease in adolescent-reported parental control was related to a less strong increase in delinquent activities.
Developmental Psychology, 2013
This 3-year, multi-informant study examined whether youths' perceptions of parental privacy invas... more This 3-year, multi-informant study examined whether youths' perceptions of parental privacy invasion predicted lower parental knowledge over time, as a function of increased adolescent secrecy. Participants were 497 Dutch adolescents (Time 1 M ϭ 13 years, SD ϭ 0.5; 57% boys) and both parents. Higher youth-reported invasion predicted lower father-and mother-reported knowledge 1 year later. A link between privacy invasion and youths' increased secrecy mediated the association between privacy invasion and mothers' lower knowledge. Further, mothers' perceptions of adolescent secrecy mediated the association between adolescent-reported secrecy and mothers' knowledge. No mediation existed for father-report models. The results suggest that privacy invasion is counterproductive to parents' efforts to remain knowledgeable about youths, due to increased adolescent secrecy. We discuss the implications for family communication processes and successful privacy negotiations during adolescence.
European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 2010
The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Dutch and Italian versions of the U... more The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Dutch and Italian versions of the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS) in large community samples of adolescents from Italy (N = 1,975) and The Netherlands (N = 1,521). Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the three-factor model, consisting of commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment, provided a better fit to the data than alternative one-and two-factor models. The three-factor model fit equivalently across sex and across age groups (early and middle adolescents). Furthermore, we demonstrated cross-national equivalence of the factor structure of the U-MICS. Additionally, results indicated that the latent means for commitment were higher in the Dutch sample, while latent means for both in-depth exploration and reconsideration of commitment were substantially higher in the Italian sample. The three identity processes were found to be meaningfully related to measures of self-concept, psychosocial problems, and parent-adolescent relations in both countries. These findings suggest that the U-MICS is a reliable tool for assessing identity processes in Italian and Dutch adolescents.
European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 2007
Abstract. The present study examined the internal structure of Bryant&amp... more Abstract. The present study examined the internal structure of Bryant's (1982) Index of Empathy for Children and Adolescents, a 22-item questionnaire measure of dispositional affective empathy. Third graders (n = 817), fourth to sixth graders (n = 82), and eighth graders (n = 1,079) were studied. Factor analyses revealed that the empathy index is multidimensional, encompassing two subscales. The same
European Journal of Personality, 2011
We examined the daily dynamics among self-concept clarity and identity processes, and their effec... more We examined the daily dynamics among self-concept clarity and identity processes, and their effects on distress, among a sample of 580 Dutch adolescents. Participants completed measures of identity, self-concept clarity, anxiety and depression at annual intervals; and daily single-item measures of self-concept clarity, identity commitments and reconsideration across three 5-day weeks. We examined (a) cross-lagged associations of selfconcept clarity to identity commitment and reconsideration and (b) associations of daily fluctuations in self and identity processes to later anxiety and depression. Results indicated that self-concept clarity and identity commitments influence one another reciprocally across days, and that day-to-day fluctuations in identity predicted later anxiety and depression. Results are discussed in terms of self and identity processes and their effects on distress.
European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 2005
Previous research has shown that high quality parent-adolescent attachments are negatively associ... more Previous research has shown that high quality parent-adolescent attachments are negatively associated with juvenile delinquency, while stressful life events are positively related to this form of externalizing problem behaviour. Instead of testing only these direct relationships, the present study examined a model in which emotional disturbance would mediate the effects of parental attachment and life stress on delinquency. Data were used from a national representative sample of 568 adolescents aged 15 -19, who had participated in the second (1994) and third (1997) wave of an ongoing longitudinal survey. Multiple regression and LISREL analyses showed that emotional disturbance significantly predicted subsequent delinquent behaviour, and that emotional disturbance mediated the effects of parental attachment and life stress.
European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 2011
Most researchers have specific expectations concerning their research questions. These may be der... more Most researchers have specific expectations concerning their research questions. These may be derived from theory, empirical evidence, or both. Yet despite these expectations, most investigators still use null hypothesis testing to evaluate their data, that is, when analysing their data they ignore the expectations they have. In the present article, Bayesian model selection is presented as a means to evaluate the expectations researchers have, that is, to evaluate so called informative hypotheses. Although the methodology to do this ...