Albert Ksinan | University of Kentucky (original) (raw)

Papers by Albert Ksinan

Research paper thumbnail of To Grit or not to Grit, that is the Question!

Journal of Research in Personality, 2019

The current study tested the validity of grit, operationalized by Duckworth and colleagues (2007;... more The current study tested the validity of grit, operationalized by Duckworth and colleagues (2007; 2009) as a non-cognitive construct related to, yet distinct from self-control. Data were collected from N = 1,907 adults spanning the life-course (53.1% female, M age = 41.4 years). Associations between grit and present and past goals were very similar to the ones observed with self-control. Based on extensive model tests in structural equation modeling, substantial overlap between these two constructs was found, calling into question the conceptual and empirical distinctiveness of grit vis-à-vis self-control, as well as the importance of grit as a unique and independent characteristic salient for the pursuit and achievement of long-term goals. Study implications for grit-investment are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Swiping away the moments that make up a dull day: Narcissism, boredom, and compulsive smartphone use

Current Psychology, 2019

Research has shown a relationship between two types of narcissism (grandiose and vulnerable) and ... more Research has shown a relationship between two types of narcissism (grandiose and vulnerable) and social media use, often in the context of using smartphones. This work has also provided evidence that narcissists might be more prone to feelings of boredom. However, few studies have tested the association between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and smartphone use. In the present study, it was hypothesized that both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism would be associated with greater compulsive smartphone use. Further, it was hypothesized that experiencing boredom might partially explain this association. Based on self-report data from late adolescents and early adults (N = 532), findings from structural equation modeling showed that grandiose narcissism was positively associated with compulsive smartphone use, while the effect of vulnerable narcissism was fully mediated by boredom. Both types of narcissism and boredom explained 28.5% of variance in compulsive smartphone use. Findings provide novel insights into the link between narcissism, boredom, and the compulsive use of smartphones, with differential effects for grandiose versus vulnerable narcissism.

Research paper thumbnail of Routine activities and adolescent deviance across 28 cultures

A B S T R A C T Purpose: The current study tested the links between routine activities and devian... more A B S T R A C T Purpose: The current study tested the links between routine activities and deviance across twenty-eight countries , thus, the potential generalizability of the routine activities framework. Methods: Data were collected as part of the Second International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD-2) from 28 cultures, from seventh, eighth, and ninth grade adolescents (N = 66,859). Routine activities were oper-ationalized as family, peer, solitary, and community activities. Country-level predictors included unemployment rate, prison population, life expectancy, and educational attainment. Results: Three-level, hierarchical linear modeling (individual, school, and country) was used to test both individual and country-level effects on deviance. Findings supported predictions by the routine activities framework , where routine activities explained 3.1% unique variance in deviance, above and beyond effects by background variables as well as low self-control. Models showed that the effects of family activities, solitary activities, and peer activities were stronger in countries with higher life expectancies. In addition, mean educational attainment increased the effect of solitary activities on deviance, while the effect of family activities on deviance was lower in countries with higher levels of unemployment. Conclusions: The routine activities framework generalized across these 28 countries in how it explains deviance; some unique country-level effects were found that conditioned person-context links.

Research paper thumbnail of Longitudinal Associations between Parental Monitoring Discrepancy and Delinquency: An Application of the Latent Congruency Model

Studies have shown that discrepancies (relative concordance or discordance) between parent and ad... more Studies have shown that discrepancies (relative concordance or discordance) between parent and adolescent ratings are predictive of problem behaviors; monitoring, in particular, has been consistently linked to them. The current study tested whether discrepancies in perceptions of maternal monitoring, rated by mothers and youth at age 12, foretold delinquency (rule breaking) at age 15, and whether parental closeness and conflict predicted higher discrepancies, and indirectly, higher delinquency. The final study sample used the NICHD longitudinal dataset with N = 966 youth (50.1% female) and their mothers (80.1% European American, 12.9% African American, 7% other ethnicity). The analytic approach consisted of an extension and application of the Latent Congruency Model (LCM) to estimate monitoring discrepancies as well as age 15 delinquency scores. Findings showed that age 12 monitoring discrepancy was predictive of age 15 delinquency for both boys and girls based on youth reports, but not for maternal reports. Age 11 closeness predicted age 12 monitoring discrepancy, which served as a mediator for its effect on age 15 adolescent-reported delinquency. Thus, based on the rigorous LCM analytic approach which seeks to minimize the effects by competing explanations and to maximize precision in providing robust estimates, rates of perceived discordance in parenting behaviors during early adolescence matter in understanding variability in adolescent delinquency during middle adolescence.

Research paper thumbnail of Online and Offline Bullying Perpetration in a Rural Developmental Context: The Impact by Social Media Use

The Internet and social media have become an important part of adolescents’ lives today. While so... more The Internet and social media have become an important part of adolescents’ lives today. While social media may provide positive experiences for adolescents, they may also constitute a risk as they gave a rise to new forms of aggressive behavior, including cyberbullying perpetration. The current study investigated the relationships between low self-control (LSC), social media use, and online as well as offline bullying perpetration. More specifically, a model was specified which tested (a) direct links of LSC on social media use, cyberbullying and offline bullying perpetration; (b) indirect links of LSC on online and offline bullying perpetration via social media use. Models were also tested for male and female youth. Results showed that LSC predicted both subscales of newly developed social media scale (social media compulsion and social media relationship problems) in both male and female adolescents as well as both online and offline bullying perpetration among male youth. Social media use predicted online bullying perpetration in male youth and offline bullying perpetration in female youth. Importantly, significant overlap between offline and online bullying was found, suggesting that social media provides an additional opportunity for bullying perpetrators to reach their victims.

Research paper thumbnail of The effect of weight controllability belief on anti-fat attitudes: An experimental manipulation

Revue Européenne de Psychologie Appliquée, 2017

Abstract: Introduction: Anti-fat attitudes reflect a type of discrimination on the basis of body ... more Abstract: Introduction: Anti-fat attitudes reflect a type of discrimination on the basis of body weight and are one of the last accepted types of social stigma. Objective: To evaluate the effect of exposure to priming messages about the causes of obesity on attitudes toward fat people. Method: Participants (N = 580, M age = 22.19, 64.1% female) were randomly assigned to one of three possible conditions and then provided responses on three AFA subscales: Dislike, Fear of fat, and Willpower. Results: Priming participants with messages confirming/challenging the weight controllability belief was associated with higher/lower levels on Willpower respectively compared to the control group. Unexpectedly, participants in both confirming and challenging groups showed significantly higher scores on Fear of fat. No differences were found on scores indicating Dislike. Conclusion: The current findings emphasize the effect of exposure to information about the causes of obesity on weight controllability beliefs.

Research paper thumbnail of An Empirical Test of Self-Control Theory in Roma Adolescents

Purpose: The current study tested the applicability of self-control theory in Roma adolescents, o... more Purpose: The current study tested the applicability of self-control theory in Roma adolescents, one of the largest ethnic minorities in Europe; it compared mean levels of deviance measures and correlates (parenting and low self-control) in Roma versus non-Roma Czech youth.
Methods: Questionnaire data were collected from Roma (n = 239, 47.5% female, Mage = 14.02) and non-Roma (n = 130, 47.7% female, Mage = 14.71) adolescents residing in the Czech Republic. Measures included maternal parenting processes, low self-control, and deviance (alcohol use, school misconduct, and theft).
Results: Findings from SEM analyses provided evidence that perceived maternal support predicted lower deviance both directly and indirectly via low self-control, while perceived maternal conflict predicted lower self-control and higher deviance. No differences were found between Roma and non-Roma adolescents in mean deviance scores or in the links between parenting, low self-control, and deviance.
Conclusion: Roma adolescents did not differ from ethnic Czech adolescents in rates of deviance or the developmental processes focused on age-appropriate indicators of deviance. Thus, this evidence further extends the reach of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s seminal theoretical work to ethnic minorities outside of North America.

Research paper thumbnail of Understanding Deviance through the Dual Systems Model: Converging Evidence for Criminology and Developmental Sciences

According to the dual systems model, adolescent risk-taking is related to asynchronous developmen... more According to the dual systems model, adolescent risk-taking is related to asynchronous development of two distinct neurobiological subsystems; this difference leads to a discrepancy or gap that is responsible for an increased propensity towards risky behaviors among youth. The current study a) replicated Steinberg et al.’s (2008) findings based on a large, cross-cultural sample; b) tested for potential sex differences in the development of sensation seeking and impulsivity over time; c) tested whether the discrepancy (or gap) between the two traits was associated with deviant behaviors. Based on over 15,000 adolescents from eleven countries, findings largely confirm basic tenets of the model, among them (1) the sudden increase in sensation seeking in adolescence, (2) important differences in the quasi-developmental course of risk seeking and impulsivity (impulse control) in male versus female youth, and (3) that the gap between the two is strongly associated with deviance. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the age-crime curve and associated conceptual work in criminology focused on maturational reform or crime desistance.

Research paper thumbnail of An empirical test of self-control theory in Roma adolescents

Journal of Criminal Justice, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Narcissism, Internet, and social relations: A study of two tales

Much scholarly literature has investigated the connection of narcissism and Internet use, specifi... more Much scholarly literature has investigated the connection of narcissism and Internet use, specifically focused on online social networks. However, there is no consensus about how the narcissists’ Internet use impacts their social relations. In part, mixed findings might be explained by failure to account for two distinct types of narcissism, namely a grandiose type and a vulnerable type. In the present study, we expected these two facets of narcissism to show different patterns of associations with Internet behaviors and social outcomes. Anonymous, self-report data were collected from N = 532 late adolescent/young adult participants (mean age = 23.33, 54.9% female). Findings from SEM analyses showed that the links between narcissism and social anxiety/social self-efficacy were partially mediated by preference for online social interactions (POSI); however, the two types of narcissism show distinct links to the two outcomes. Vulnerable narcissism was positively associated with POSI, which indirectly predicted problems for both measures of social relations; in contrast, grandiose narcissism was only directly and positively associated with social self-efficacy and negatively with social anxiety.

Research paper thumbnail of The Big Five and adolescent adjustment: An empirical test across six cultures

Personality and Individual Differences

The current cross-cultural study tested the measurement of the Big Five personality dimensions an... more The current cross-cultural study tested the measurement of the Big Five personality dimensions and the relationships between them and four measures of adjustment and well-being, namely measures of depression, anxiety, well-being, and self-esteem. Anonymous data were collected on 5,835 middle and late adolescents from six different cultural contexts, namely China, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Taiwan, and Turkey. Based on an ESEM approach, which fit the data better than a CFA, configural invariance was found for a 28-item short form of the BFI, suggesting that the Big Five model fit adequately across cultures. Findings from path analyses provided evidence that the Big Five factors explained from an average of 21% of the variance in anxiety to 26 % in low well-being, net any effects by background variables. Consistent with some previous work, the study provides new evidence on the links between the Big Five and four measures of adolescent adjustment and well-being across six distinct cultural contexts. It also illustrates some of the inherent challenges of modeling the structure and psychometric properties of the Big Five in a cross-national comparative framework.

Drafts by Albert Ksinan

Research paper thumbnail of Religion mediated by commit and inequality on marital quality

A growing body of evidence documents positive contribution of religious and spiritual involvement... more A growing body of evidence documents positive contribution of religious and spiritual involvement (religiousness) to marital quality (MQ). Yet, historically religion produces inequality via traditionalism in household labor that limits the wife’s access to economic, educational, and social resources thus supposedly negatively affects MQ. To that end using the relational spirituality framework the purpose of this study was to examine a model assessing the effects of spouses’ religiousness on MQ as mediated by the intervening variables of commitment (as positive) and equality (as negative). Several small to medium sizes direct, indirect, and total effects were found to explain the relationships under investigation. Seven hypothesis testing results revealed that effects of religiousness on MQ are mediated by commitment positively for both seses, it did not have a meaningful mediation effect by equality neither for men or women, suggesting that not equality, but other processes explain variability in individual levels of MQ. Therapists, social workers, and clergy working with couples may benefit from educating their clients about how effects of religious participation may influence marital relationship quality.

Research paper thumbnail of To Grit or not to Grit, that is the Question!

Journal of Research in Personality, 2019

The current study tested the validity of grit, operationalized by Duckworth and colleagues (2007;... more The current study tested the validity of grit, operationalized by Duckworth and colleagues (2007; 2009) as a non-cognitive construct related to, yet distinct from self-control. Data were collected from N = 1,907 adults spanning the life-course (53.1% female, M age = 41.4 years). Associations between grit and present and past goals were very similar to the ones observed with self-control. Based on extensive model tests in structural equation modeling, substantial overlap between these two constructs was found, calling into question the conceptual and empirical distinctiveness of grit vis-à-vis self-control, as well as the importance of grit as a unique and independent characteristic salient for the pursuit and achievement of long-term goals. Study implications for grit-investment are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Swiping away the moments that make up a dull day: Narcissism, boredom, and compulsive smartphone use

Current Psychology, 2019

Research has shown a relationship between two types of narcissism (grandiose and vulnerable) and ... more Research has shown a relationship between two types of narcissism (grandiose and vulnerable) and social media use, often in the context of using smartphones. This work has also provided evidence that narcissists might be more prone to feelings of boredom. However, few studies have tested the association between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and smartphone use. In the present study, it was hypothesized that both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism would be associated with greater compulsive smartphone use. Further, it was hypothesized that experiencing boredom might partially explain this association. Based on self-report data from late adolescents and early adults (N = 532), findings from structural equation modeling showed that grandiose narcissism was positively associated with compulsive smartphone use, while the effect of vulnerable narcissism was fully mediated by boredom. Both types of narcissism and boredom explained 28.5% of variance in compulsive smartphone use. Findings provide novel insights into the link between narcissism, boredom, and the compulsive use of smartphones, with differential effects for grandiose versus vulnerable narcissism.

Research paper thumbnail of Routine activities and adolescent deviance across 28 cultures

A B S T R A C T Purpose: The current study tested the links between routine activities and devian... more A B S T R A C T Purpose: The current study tested the links between routine activities and deviance across twenty-eight countries , thus, the potential generalizability of the routine activities framework. Methods: Data were collected as part of the Second International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD-2) from 28 cultures, from seventh, eighth, and ninth grade adolescents (N = 66,859). Routine activities were oper-ationalized as family, peer, solitary, and community activities. Country-level predictors included unemployment rate, prison population, life expectancy, and educational attainment. Results: Three-level, hierarchical linear modeling (individual, school, and country) was used to test both individual and country-level effects on deviance. Findings supported predictions by the routine activities framework , where routine activities explained 3.1% unique variance in deviance, above and beyond effects by background variables as well as low self-control. Models showed that the effects of family activities, solitary activities, and peer activities were stronger in countries with higher life expectancies. In addition, mean educational attainment increased the effect of solitary activities on deviance, while the effect of family activities on deviance was lower in countries with higher levels of unemployment. Conclusions: The routine activities framework generalized across these 28 countries in how it explains deviance; some unique country-level effects were found that conditioned person-context links.

Research paper thumbnail of Longitudinal Associations between Parental Monitoring Discrepancy and Delinquency: An Application of the Latent Congruency Model

Studies have shown that discrepancies (relative concordance or discordance) between parent and ad... more Studies have shown that discrepancies (relative concordance or discordance) between parent and adolescent ratings are predictive of problem behaviors; monitoring, in particular, has been consistently linked to them. The current study tested whether discrepancies in perceptions of maternal monitoring, rated by mothers and youth at age 12, foretold delinquency (rule breaking) at age 15, and whether parental closeness and conflict predicted higher discrepancies, and indirectly, higher delinquency. The final study sample used the NICHD longitudinal dataset with N = 966 youth (50.1% female) and their mothers (80.1% European American, 12.9% African American, 7% other ethnicity). The analytic approach consisted of an extension and application of the Latent Congruency Model (LCM) to estimate monitoring discrepancies as well as age 15 delinquency scores. Findings showed that age 12 monitoring discrepancy was predictive of age 15 delinquency for both boys and girls based on youth reports, but not for maternal reports. Age 11 closeness predicted age 12 monitoring discrepancy, which served as a mediator for its effect on age 15 adolescent-reported delinquency. Thus, based on the rigorous LCM analytic approach which seeks to minimize the effects by competing explanations and to maximize precision in providing robust estimates, rates of perceived discordance in parenting behaviors during early adolescence matter in understanding variability in adolescent delinquency during middle adolescence.

Research paper thumbnail of Online and Offline Bullying Perpetration in a Rural Developmental Context: The Impact by Social Media Use

The Internet and social media have become an important part of adolescents’ lives today. While so... more The Internet and social media have become an important part of adolescents’ lives today. While social media may provide positive experiences for adolescents, they may also constitute a risk as they gave a rise to new forms of aggressive behavior, including cyberbullying perpetration. The current study investigated the relationships between low self-control (LSC), social media use, and online as well as offline bullying perpetration. More specifically, a model was specified which tested (a) direct links of LSC on social media use, cyberbullying and offline bullying perpetration; (b) indirect links of LSC on online and offline bullying perpetration via social media use. Models were also tested for male and female youth. Results showed that LSC predicted both subscales of newly developed social media scale (social media compulsion and social media relationship problems) in both male and female adolescents as well as both online and offline bullying perpetration among male youth. Social media use predicted online bullying perpetration in male youth and offline bullying perpetration in female youth. Importantly, significant overlap between offline and online bullying was found, suggesting that social media provides an additional opportunity for bullying perpetrators to reach their victims.

Research paper thumbnail of The effect of weight controllability belief on anti-fat attitudes: An experimental manipulation

Revue Européenne de Psychologie Appliquée, 2017

Abstract: Introduction: Anti-fat attitudes reflect a type of discrimination on the basis of body ... more Abstract: Introduction: Anti-fat attitudes reflect a type of discrimination on the basis of body weight and are one of the last accepted types of social stigma. Objective: To evaluate the effect of exposure to priming messages about the causes of obesity on attitudes toward fat people. Method: Participants (N = 580, M age = 22.19, 64.1% female) were randomly assigned to one of three possible conditions and then provided responses on three AFA subscales: Dislike, Fear of fat, and Willpower. Results: Priming participants with messages confirming/challenging the weight controllability belief was associated with higher/lower levels on Willpower respectively compared to the control group. Unexpectedly, participants in both confirming and challenging groups showed significantly higher scores on Fear of fat. No differences were found on scores indicating Dislike. Conclusion: The current findings emphasize the effect of exposure to information about the causes of obesity on weight controllability beliefs.

Research paper thumbnail of An Empirical Test of Self-Control Theory in Roma Adolescents

Purpose: The current study tested the applicability of self-control theory in Roma adolescents, o... more Purpose: The current study tested the applicability of self-control theory in Roma adolescents, one of the largest ethnic minorities in Europe; it compared mean levels of deviance measures and correlates (parenting and low self-control) in Roma versus non-Roma Czech youth.
Methods: Questionnaire data were collected from Roma (n = 239, 47.5% female, Mage = 14.02) and non-Roma (n = 130, 47.7% female, Mage = 14.71) adolescents residing in the Czech Republic. Measures included maternal parenting processes, low self-control, and deviance (alcohol use, school misconduct, and theft).
Results: Findings from SEM analyses provided evidence that perceived maternal support predicted lower deviance both directly and indirectly via low self-control, while perceived maternal conflict predicted lower self-control and higher deviance. No differences were found between Roma and non-Roma adolescents in mean deviance scores or in the links between parenting, low self-control, and deviance.
Conclusion: Roma adolescents did not differ from ethnic Czech adolescents in rates of deviance or the developmental processes focused on age-appropriate indicators of deviance. Thus, this evidence further extends the reach of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s seminal theoretical work to ethnic minorities outside of North America.

Research paper thumbnail of Understanding Deviance through the Dual Systems Model: Converging Evidence for Criminology and Developmental Sciences

According to the dual systems model, adolescent risk-taking is related to asynchronous developmen... more According to the dual systems model, adolescent risk-taking is related to asynchronous development of two distinct neurobiological subsystems; this difference leads to a discrepancy or gap that is responsible for an increased propensity towards risky behaviors among youth. The current study a) replicated Steinberg et al.’s (2008) findings based on a large, cross-cultural sample; b) tested for potential sex differences in the development of sensation seeking and impulsivity over time; c) tested whether the discrepancy (or gap) between the two traits was associated with deviant behaviors. Based on over 15,000 adolescents from eleven countries, findings largely confirm basic tenets of the model, among them (1) the sudden increase in sensation seeking in adolescence, (2) important differences in the quasi-developmental course of risk seeking and impulsivity (impulse control) in male versus female youth, and (3) that the gap between the two is strongly associated with deviance. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the age-crime curve and associated conceptual work in criminology focused on maturational reform or crime desistance.

Research paper thumbnail of An empirical test of self-control theory in Roma adolescents

Journal of Criminal Justice, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Narcissism, Internet, and social relations: A study of two tales

Much scholarly literature has investigated the connection of narcissism and Internet use, specifi... more Much scholarly literature has investigated the connection of narcissism and Internet use, specifically focused on online social networks. However, there is no consensus about how the narcissists’ Internet use impacts their social relations. In part, mixed findings might be explained by failure to account for two distinct types of narcissism, namely a grandiose type and a vulnerable type. In the present study, we expected these two facets of narcissism to show different patterns of associations with Internet behaviors and social outcomes. Anonymous, self-report data were collected from N = 532 late adolescent/young adult participants (mean age = 23.33, 54.9% female). Findings from SEM analyses showed that the links between narcissism and social anxiety/social self-efficacy were partially mediated by preference for online social interactions (POSI); however, the two types of narcissism show distinct links to the two outcomes. Vulnerable narcissism was positively associated with POSI, which indirectly predicted problems for both measures of social relations; in contrast, grandiose narcissism was only directly and positively associated with social self-efficacy and negatively with social anxiety.

Research paper thumbnail of The Big Five and adolescent adjustment: An empirical test across six cultures

Personality and Individual Differences

The current cross-cultural study tested the measurement of the Big Five personality dimensions an... more The current cross-cultural study tested the measurement of the Big Five personality dimensions and the relationships between them and four measures of adjustment and well-being, namely measures of depression, anxiety, well-being, and self-esteem. Anonymous data were collected on 5,835 middle and late adolescents from six different cultural contexts, namely China, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Taiwan, and Turkey. Based on an ESEM approach, which fit the data better than a CFA, configural invariance was found for a 28-item short form of the BFI, suggesting that the Big Five model fit adequately across cultures. Findings from path analyses provided evidence that the Big Five factors explained from an average of 21% of the variance in anxiety to 26 % in low well-being, net any effects by background variables. Consistent with some previous work, the study provides new evidence on the links between the Big Five and four measures of adolescent adjustment and well-being across six distinct cultural contexts. It also illustrates some of the inherent challenges of modeling the structure and psychometric properties of the Big Five in a cross-national comparative framework.

Research paper thumbnail of Religion mediated by commit and inequality on marital quality

A growing body of evidence documents positive contribution of religious and spiritual involvement... more A growing body of evidence documents positive contribution of religious and spiritual involvement (religiousness) to marital quality (MQ). Yet, historically religion produces inequality via traditionalism in household labor that limits the wife’s access to economic, educational, and social resources thus supposedly negatively affects MQ. To that end using the relational spirituality framework the purpose of this study was to examine a model assessing the effects of spouses’ religiousness on MQ as mediated by the intervening variables of commitment (as positive) and equality (as negative). Several small to medium sizes direct, indirect, and total effects were found to explain the relationships under investigation. Seven hypothesis testing results revealed that effects of religiousness on MQ are mediated by commitment positively for both seses, it did not have a meaningful mediation effect by equality neither for men or women, suggesting that not equality, but other processes explain variability in individual levels of MQ. Therapists, social workers, and clergy working with couples may benefit from educating their clients about how effects of religious participation may influence marital relationship quality.