Posters presented at national and international conferences since 2015 are listed below. For more information about a specific poster, click the citation! Abstracts and links to PDF versions of posters are provided when available. Undergraduate poster authors are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Background
Evaluations of women’s participation in the annual meetings of the Association for Behavioral & Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) have consistently found that women are underrepresented in leadership positions and prestigious conference roles. In contrast, women are overrepresented in early-career roles. In 2019, the majority of ABCT’s members (70%) were female. This is consistent with the demographics of the field of clinical psychology, in which 80% of advanced degrees are awarded to women. The continued underrepresentation of women in advanced positions is consistent with the “leaky pipeline” hypothesis: although women enter the field, they are less likely to advance to higher-level roles. Using data from ABCT’s 2019 meeting in Atlanta, GA, we replicated previous assessments of women’s participation across conference roles and evaluated changes in women’s representation over the last five years of annual meetings (2015-2019).
Method
Using the 2019 program guide, we coded the gender of participants in each conference role (e.g., symposium discussant, chair, and author) using first names, supplemented with publicly available autobiographical information when necessary. We compared the proportion of women in each role to the overall proportion of female meeting participants and compared women’s participation in 2019 to previously collected data from the 2015-2018 annual meetings.
Results
The proportion of female participants in the 2019 annual meeting (70%) was comparable to their representation as members of ABCT. In most conference roles, women’s representation did not differ significantly from their overall conference participation. Women were overrepresented as first authors of posters (79%***). However, women were underrepresented in seven roles: symposium authors (65%**), panelists (64%†), workshop leaders (56%†), symposium discussants (53%***), institute leaders (47%*), master clinician seminars (42%*), and invited speakers (20%*). Of the 22 awards conferred in 2019, 41% were awarded to women.
Over time, women have represented a greater proportion of conference participants (2015: 66%, 2016: 68%, 2017: 69%, 2018: 70%, 2019: 70%). However, the increasing representation of women has not been linear or consistent across all conference roles. There has been a significant increase in the proportion of women participating in clinical roundtables (as moderators and panelists) and panels from 2015 through 2019. However, from 2018 to 2019, the proportion of female invited speakers, panel moderators, and leaders of clinical intervention trainings, institutes, and master clinician seminars decreased by 10% or more.
Discussion
Although women comprise an increasing proportion of members of ABCT and clinical psychologists, they continue to be underrepresented in prestigious and advanced roles. ABCT must continue its efforts to support women’s advancement beyond the graduate level. In 2019, two panels addressed issues related to retaining and mentoring women. Despite standing-room-only attendance, there were very few men in the audience. As Dr. Simon Rego Tweeted, “We must continue this important conversation next year — in a bigger room & with more men!”
This meta-analysis investigated age-related differences in flashbulb memories, which are vivid autobiographical memories for the circumstances in which one learns of a distinct event. A systematic literature review identified 17 studies comparing younger adults ( 60 years old). After exclusion of outliers and correction for publication bias, findings suggest a small-to-moderate decrease in overall flashbulb memory scores in older adults compared with younger adults (Hedges’ g = -0.41, p < .001). Effect size was not moderated by study characteristics. Secondary outcomes included canonical categories of flashbulb memories and encoding and rehearsal variables associated with flashbulb memory formation. Age-related differences were found only for memory of ongoing activity (k = 9, Hedges’ g = -0.24, p < .05) and investment in the flashbulb event (k = 4, Hedges’ g = 0.69, p < .001). These findings are consistent with age-related decline in flashbulb memories.
Body dissatisfaction and disordered eating are common concerns among athletes. The Tripartite Influence Model of Body Image and Eating Disturbance proposes that parents, peers, and the media are the three primary sociocultural influences that cause body dissatisfaction and, in turn, disordered eating. However, there may be other sociocultural influences affecting athletic populations (coach, teammate, and sport pressures). We had two main aims for the present study: 1) explore which sociocultural factors most strongly predicted body satisfaction and disordered eating in female athletes, and 2) examine differences between lean sport (e.g., swimming) and non-lean sport (e.g., lacrosse) athletes on sociocultural influences, body satisfaction, and disordered eating. Participants included 211 female undergraduate Division I student-athletes (110 lean sport athletes; 101 non-lean sport athletes) who completed measures on sociocultural influences, body satisfaction, and disordered eating. A factor analysis indicated that coach, teammate, and sport pressures were better represented by one factor: athlete pressures. Subsequent relative weight analyses revealed that parent, peer, media, and athlete pressures were all significant predictors of body satisfaction and disordered eating; however, peer influences emerged as the strongest predictor of those variables. Lean sport athletes had higher scores of athlete pressures than non-lean athletes; however, they did not differ on the other sociocultural influences, body satisfaction, or disordered eating. This study contributes to our understanding of sociocultural predictors’ differential influence on athletes’ body satisfaction and disordered eating and the vulnerabilities of lean sport athletes, which could lead to future interventions.
Background
Women earn approximately 80% of master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, and growth in the field has been more rapid for women than for men. The majority (70%) of members of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) were female in 2017. However, previous research has shown that women are under-represented in leadership positions and less likely to participate in annual meetings in roles with higher prestige. For example, women received 80% of student awards in 2018, but only 38% of non-student awards. This supports the “leaky pipeline” hypothesis: women enter the field, but do not continue to upper-level positions. Using data from ABCT’s 2018 annual meeting, we investigated variation in women’s participation across conference roles and changes in women’s participation over the last 20 years.
Method
Using the 2018 program guide, the gender of participants in each conference role (e.g., symposium author/chair/discussant) was coded on the basis of first name (supplemented with publicly available autobiographical information, when necessary). We compared the proportion of women in each role to the overall proportion of female meeting participants and compared the proportion of women in each role between the 2018, 2008 and 1998 annual meetings.
Results
For the majority (75%) of conference roles, women’s participation was proportionate to their overall participation in the conference. However, women were over-represented as first authors of posters (78%***) and under-represented as symposium discussants (44%***), workshop leaders (52%*), research and professional development panelists (55%*), and panelists (61%**).
Over time, women have represented a greater proportion of participants in annual meetings (1998: 52%, 2008: 63%, 2018: 70%). Compared to both 1998 and 2008, women’s participation increased as first authors of posters, clinical roundtable moderators, and symposium authors, chairs, and discussants. Women were more likely to participate as clinical roundtable panelists from 1998 to 2018, although there was not a significant difference in women’s participation in this role between 2008 and 2018. In addition, women’s participation as institute leaders and panelists increased from 2008 to 2018.
Discussion
Despite the increase in women’s participation in ABCT’s conferences over the past 20 years, women continue to be under-represented in many upper-level roles. This suggests that more needs to be done to support women’s career advancement beyond the graduate level. ABCT has made efforts to support women’s conference participation, such as providing on-site space for nursing parents. However, these efforts have not been sufficient to eradicate gender inequality within ABCT; new initiatives must be explored to remedy this issue.
Background
Undergraduate psychology students are a key constituency for extending the social impact of findings from behavioral research. Engaging in academic courses often represents the earliest stage of the pipeline through which students may decide to pursue further study of psychological science. While quantitative skills are essential in clinical psychology, students often express low quantitative competence and high statistics anxiety. Blended and active learning strategies have been shown to enhance student performance and reduce anxiety. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the impact of three blended learning modules on perceived competence in research methods and statistics, statistics anxiety, and implicit theories of quantitative skills.
Method
Participants included 40 undergraduate students from liberal arts colleges. Students completed questionnaires assessing perceived and objective competence in research methods and statistics, statistics anxiety, and implicit theories of quantitative skills at the beginning and end of the Fall 2018 semester. During the semester, participants completed online blended learning modules addressing mediation/moderation, scale development, and communicating research.
Results
From pre- to post-test, participants reported increased perceived competence in research methods and statistics, t (32) = 4.34, p < .001, d = 0.55, and an increased fixed mindset, t (33), 2.26, p = .031, d = 0.40. However, statistics anxiety did not change, t (31) = 1.98, p = .056, d = 0.23. From pre- to post-test, participants’ objective knowledge of mediation/moderation increased, t (29), 5.24, p < .001, d = 1.13, as did their knowledge of scale development, t (28), 2.86, p = .008, d = 0.64. However, their knowledge of communicating research did not increase, t (32), 1.33, p = .194, d = 0.19. On a scale from 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent), participants rated the quality of the modules as high: mediation/moderation (M = 3.51, SD = 0.43), scale development (M = 3.54, SD = 0.45), and communicating research (M = 3.41, SD = 0.41).
Discussion
The blended learning modules were beneficial in increasing participants’ perceived competence in research methods and statistics and in increasing their knowledge of specific research topics. However, the increase in fixed mindset for quantitative skills and lack of change in statistics anxiety need to be explored further. Future research also should examine the impact of these modules with a larger population and assess any differential impact across demographic groups. Ultimately, these blended learning modules can be made publicly available, which could have a positive social impact on quantitative education in clinical psychology.
Background
Research suggests that adult children of divorce report lower relationship satisfaction than adults from intact families of origin. Divorce may disrupt the parent-child relationship, leading to insecure attachment, which is associated with lower relationship satisfaction. Because the transition to parenthood is associated with a decline in relationship satisfaction, this study examined relationships among parental divorce, adult attachment style, and relationship satisfaction in a sample of first-time parents.
Method
First-time parents of children aged 6 months or younger (N = 94) completed online self-report measures of attachment style (Experiences in Close Relationships Scale: Anxiety & Avoidance subscales), relationship satisfaction (Dyadic Adjustment Scale), and experience of parental divorce/separation.
Results
Adults who experienced parental divorce/separation (n = 26) did not report greater anxiety or avoidance or lower relationship satisfaction than adults from intact families of origin (all ps > .05). Both anxiety and avoidance were significantly associated with decreased relationship satisfaction (ps .05) or indirectly via anxiety or avoidance (all bias-corrected bootstrap 95% CIs included 0).
Discussion
These results suggest that adult attachment style is an important determinant of relationship satisfaction during the transition to parenthood, but that factors other than parental divorce/separation contribute to adult attachment style. Other characteristics of parental relationships, such as conflict or custody arrangements, may play a greater role. Parents’ legal relationship to one another may not matter, as long as the parent-child relationship remains strong.
Background
The Tripartite Influence Model proposes that parents play an important role in risk for disordered eating (DE). Previous studies found that explicit parental comments about weight/shape (direct influence) and parental models of dieting behaviors (indirect influence) are associated with increased DE. Although there are gender differences in the prevalence of DE, previous studies of parental risk factors for DE have only included women. The goals of this study were to assess gender differences in parental influence and the relationships between parental influence and DE.
Method
583 college students (aged 18-24, 64% female) completed online self-report measures assessing direct and indirect parental influence (Parental Influence Questionnaire), eating-related attitudes and behaviors (Eating Attitudes Test), and thin and muscular ideal internalization (Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire).
Results
Men reported lower levels of indirect parental influence than women (p < .001). Among both men and women, direct parental influence was significantly associated with DE attitudes and thin ideal internalization (ps < .05). Both direct (pDIFFERENCE = .049) and indirect (pDIFFERENCE = .039) parental influence were less strongly related to DE behaviors among men (rDIRECT = .11, rINDIRECT = -.02) than women (rDIRECT = .31*, rINDIRECT = .20*).
Discussion
Although direct parental influence is associated with DE and related outcomes among men, this relationship appears to be less strong than for women. These findings suggest that the Tripartite Influence Model may function differently between men and women, and it is important to consider gender differences when studying risk factors for DE.
Background
In clinical psychology, approximately 75% of students at both the undergraduate and doctoral levels are women. Despite this, women are underrepresented in many upper-level roles, such as senior faculty positions and leadership roles. This supports the “leaky pipeline” hypothesis – many women enter the field, but are lost before attaining higher-level positions. Studying ways in which members are active in the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), a major organization in clinical psychology, provides a means to evaluate women’s participation in the field.
In 2017, evaluation criteria for symposia submissions changed to give “special consideration” to submissions from senior researchers/faculty as first authors. Because men are more likely to hold these senior roles, this policy may have disproportionately affected acceptance rates for submissions from female scholars. The goal of this study was to determine if women’s participation in each role at the conference in 2017 was proportionate to their representation as members of ABCT. We also assessed changes in the representation of women in each conference role between 2016 and 2017.
Method
The gender of participants in each conference role (e.g., symposium author, panel moderator), leadership position, and award category at the 2017 annual meeting of ABCT was coded using the program guide. For each participant, we coded the individual as male or female on the basis of first name (supplemented with publicly available autobiographical information, when necessary). We compared the proportion of women in each role to the proportion of women in ABCT in 2017 (3770 members, 70% women) using chi-square tests. We assessed the change from 2016 to 2017 using Z-score tests to compare differences in proportions.
Results
The proportion of women in ABCT increased significantly from 2016 to 2017. Women were significantly underrepresented as symposium discussants (46%), symposium authors (63%), panel moderators (54%), and panelists (57%). However, women were significantly overrepresented as first authors of posters (77%). There were no significant differences in the proportion of women in each conference role between 2016 and 2017. In contrast to previous years, women received the majority of awards (6/9) and held the majority of senior leadership positions (including President, President-Elect, and Past President).
Discussion
Despite the increase in female membership within ABCT, women continue to be underrepresented in many conference roles. However, the new evaluation criteria favoring senior researchers do not appear to have exacerbated this. To address the leaky pipeline, ABCT should promote policies to support women in mid- and later-career stages and provide professional development opportunities to enhance the retention and advancement of women.
Background
While quantitative skills are foundational to clinical psychology, many students express high anxiety and low self-efficacy in this domain. This is particularly true for women, underrepresented minority students, first-generation students, and students with disabilities. The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes related to quantitative skills among undergraduate students in clinical psychology courses.
Method
In Fall 2017 and Spring 2018, students (N = 240) enrolled in non-methods-related clinical psychology courses at three institutions completed pre- and post-course assessments of statistics anxiety, implicit theories of quantitative skills, and perceived competence in research methods and statistics.
Results
Sample characteristics indicated comparable or greater diversity relative to institutional demographics (80% women, 30% underrepresented minority, 14% first-generation, 25% students with disabilities). At both assessments, nearly half of students scored at or above the 75th percentile for statistics anxiety relative to undergraduate norms; one third of students endorsed a fixed mindset for quantitative skills, and most students reported being “somewhat competent” in research methods and statistics. None of these variables changed significantly from pre- to post-course. At both assessments, women reported greater statistics anxiety and lower perceived competence, minority students reported lower perceived competence, and students with disabilities reported greater statistics anxiety.
Discussion
The high and unchanging levels of statistics anxiety and fixed mindsets of students, particularly from underrepresented groups, may prevent students from pursuing further study in clinical psychology. Integrating explicit instruction in quantitative skills into clinical psychology courses could decrease statistics anxiety, increase a growth-oriented mindset, and enhance perceived quantitative competence.
Objective
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is empirically supported for the prevention and treatment of perinatal depression. Previous systematic reviews have not evaluated the effects of IPT on other outcomes, most notably symptoms of anxiety and interpersonal functioning, or assessed moderators of treatment efficacy specific to IPT.
Methods
A systematic review identified 28 studies assessing the efficacy of IPT during pregnancy or the first year postpartum (inclusion criteria: randomized, quasi-randomized or open trial evaluating interpersonal psychotherapy among women; intervention initiated during pregnancy or within 12 months postpartum; outcome(s) assessed using validated measure(s) within 12 months postpartum; reported sufficient data for calculation of effect sizes). Eligible studies were coded for study characteristics, intervention characteristics, sample characteristics, and study quality. Random effects meta-analyses assessed the average change in outcomes (depression, anxiety, relationship quality, social adjustment, and social support) from pre- to post-treatment, the difference in the change in outcomes between treatment and control conditions, and the difference in prevalence of disorders between treatment and control conditions. Study and intervention characteristics were evaluated as potential moderators of effect sizes.
Results
In prevention studies, IPT was effective for reducing depressive symptoms and the prevalence of depressive episodes. Insufficient studies assessed anxiety and related outcomes for the calculation of effect sizes. In treatment studies, IPT reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety and improved relationship quality, social adjustment and social support. The prevalence of depressive episodes was lower in treatment groups than control conditions; this difference was not significant. Few significant moderators were identified and results of moderation analyses were inconsistent across outcomes.
Conclusions
IPT is an effective preventive intervention for perinatal depression. IPT is clearly effective for treating depressive symptoms and promising as a treatment for anxiety and improving interpersonal functioning. Further research is necessary to assess whether adaptations to IPT enhance its efficacy.
Background
Many couples experience reduced relationship satisfaction during the transition to parenthood. Previous research suggests that stable characteristics (e.g., personality traits) may be stronger risk factors for psychological symptoms among perinatal women, while situational factors (e.g., partner’s distress) may be stronger risk factors among men. The goal of this study was to investigate whether there are similar gender differences in predictors of relationship satisfaction in this population.
Method
Data were obtained from previous studies of first-time mothers (Sockol, Epperson, & Barber, 2014) and fathers (Sockol & Allred, 2017). Personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, & neuroticism), psychological symptoms (anxiety & depression), and relationship satisfaction were assessed using self-report measures. We conducted a series of regression analyses to assess the contributions of gender, personality traits, and psychological symptoms to relationship satisfaction, individually and in combination with other risk factors.
Results
Openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness were associated with increased relationship satisfaction; neuroticism and symptoms of anxiety and depression were associated with decreased relationship satisfaction. There were no gender differences in relationship satisfaction. The only significant interaction was for conscientiousness, which was associated with higher relationship satisfaction for men, but not for women.
Discussion
We found that both personality traits and psychological symptoms are related to relationship satisfaction for men and women. The only gender difference was for conscientiousness, which may be related to the degree to which men help with parenting tasks, which predicts relationship satisfaction. Unlike for psychological symptoms, risk factors for relationship distress appear comparable for men and women.
Background
In many fields, gender inequality manifests at the point of field entry. However, in clinical psychology, retaining women during later career stages presents a greater problem. Women earn approximately 80% of doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, yet remain underrepresented in distinguished positions such as senior faculty and leadership roles. Our organization is a microcosm of the field of clinical psychology, so evaluating the ways that women participate in our annual meetings can help us understand how women participate in the field as a whole. Assessments of previous annual meetings have shown that women are best represented in conference roles most characteristic of early career stages. The goal of this study was to update these findings using information from the 50th anniversary meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
Method
Participants in the 2016 annual meeting were coded as male or female on the basis of first names using the program guide. Results were analyzed separately for each conference role (e.g., poster first author, symposium chair, etc.). Chi-square tests were used to compare the proportion of women in each role to the overall proportion of women in ABCT (5093 members, 68% women). Z-score tests for differences in proportions were used to compare the proportion of women in each role in 2016 to the proportion in previous years.
Results
The overall proportion of women in ABCT increased significantly from 2015 to 2016 (+16%***). However, women were significantly underrepresented in many conference roles in 2016. As in previous years, women were significantly underrepresented as symposium discussants (41%*). Women were underrepresented as leaders of Advanced Methodology and Statistics Seminars (0%**) and Institutes (48%*). Women were also underrepresented as symposium authors (61%*) – a position in which they were overrepresented in 2015. As in previous years, women were significantly overrepresented as first authors of posters (78%***).
Since 1998, there has been a significant increase in the representation of women as symposium chairs (+22%**), symposium discussants (+19%**), symposium authors (+15%***), and first authors of posters (+18%***).
Discussion
While women represent an increasing proportion of ABCT’s members, their underrepresentation in many conference roles suggests that it is important to continue to provide resources, support, and opportunities to women – particularly in mid- and advanced-career stages. In 2016, women received several major awards, including Career/Lifetime Achievement, early career and new researcher awards, and dissertation awards. Continued efforts to support and recognize women may help improve the retention of women in ABCT and the field of clinical psychology.
According to the Dalai Lama XIV, “One must be compassionate to one’s self before external compassion” (as cited in Babauta, 2008). Researchers have reasoned that as self-compassion encourages one to be kinder to oneself and to recognize feelings of connectedness to the common human experience, this practice may extend to others and develop empathy. Therefore, the present study investigates the relationship between self-compassion and empathy in college students while exploring the influence of gender roles and pressures that effect the ways in which men and women interact with themselves and others in relation to self-compassion and empathy. A total of 34 undergraduate Davidson College students participated in this study in which, contrary to previous literature, indicated no significant correlation between self-compassion and empathy. However in accordance with previous findings women were significantly less self-compassionate than men. Results also indicated women report significantly greater empathy scores compared to men on one scale of empathy but not another, revealing potential inconsistencies with empathy measures that have been used previously. Results of this study provide insight into a potentially more complicated relationship between empathy and self-compassion, gender-biased measures of empathy and reinforce that in the U.S. gender differences in self-compassion exist.
Maladaptive beliefs about motherhood are associated with increased depression and anxiety during the perinatal period. Demographic characteristics, some of which are also associated with differential risk for depression and anxiety, may be related to differences in maternal attitudes. The goal of this study was to investigate the associations between maternal characteristics (demographic and psychiatric) and maternal attitudes in a community sample of postpartum women.
Women who had given birth to a child in the past 6 months, were between the ages of 18 and 45, and resided in the United States were eligible to participate. Participants were recruited online and completed online measures of maternal attitudes (AToM) and symptoms of depression (EPDS) and anxiety (STAI). Participants also reported demographic characteristics and history of psychiatric diagnosis.
Of the 233 eligible subjects who completed the initial assessment, 168 (72%) completed all measures. The sample was more diverse than in previous studies of maternal attitudes (24% nonwhite, 15% no college degree, 12% unmarried). Scores on the AToM ranged from 4-58 (M = 25.68, SD = 11.17), with higher scores indicating more maladaptive attitudes.
Maternal attitudes were significantly correlated with income (r = -.31**) and level of education (r = -.25**). Married women reported less maladaptive attitudes than cohabitating women, t(170) = -3.00**.
On the basis of self-reported history of psychiatric diagnoses (depression, anxiety, and any diagnosis), we compared women who reported a current diagnosis, women with a history of diagnosis without current diagnosis, and women with no current or history of diagnosis. Overall, women’s self-reported diagnostic status was consistent with their current symptom level.
For depression, we found that the groups differed significantly, F(2, 174) = 9.67***. Post-hoc testing revealed that mothers with either current or past depression reported significantly more maladaptive maternal attitudes than women with no depression, and there was a trend for mothers with current depression to report more maladaptive attitudes than women with past depression. A similar pattern was observed for diagnoses of anxiety disorders and any psychiatric diagnosis.
We identified several characteristics associated with maladaptive maternal attitudes, including marital status, income, education, and psychiatric history. Interestingly, we found that women with a history of a psychiatric diagnosis but without current symptoms reported more maladaptive attitudes. Clinicians should be aware that asymptomatic women with a positive psychiatric history may have maladaptive beliefs that place them at-risk for recurrence in the context of the transition to parenthood.
Women’s beliefs about motherhood predict symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety. When evaluating maternal well-being during the postpartum period, it is important to consider the mother’s relationship with her infant in addition to psychological symptoms. The goal of this study was to assess the relationship between maternal attitudes and mother-infant bonding during the postpartum period.
New mothers were recruited online and completed study materials through an online interface. Women were eligible to participate if they were between the ages of 18 and 45, resided in the United States, and had given birth in the past 6 months. Women completed measures of maternal attitudes (Attitudes Toward Motherhood Scale, AToM), symptoms of depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS) and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI), and mother-infant bonding (Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale, MIBS, and Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire, PBQ).
Of the 230 eligible women who initiated participation in the study, 191 (83%) completed all study measures. Most participants were Caucasian (88%), married (88%), and college-educated (84%).
As in previous research, maladaptive maternal attitudes were significantly associated with symptoms of depression (r = 0.44***) and anxiety (r = 0.48***). Maladaptive maternal attitudes were also significantly associated with impaired mother-infant bonding as assessed by the MIBS (r = 0.15*) and PBQ (r = 0.22**).
Multiple regression was used to assess the contributions of depression, anxiety, and maternal attitudes to mother-infant bonding after controlling for other variables in the model. Maladaptive maternal attitudes did not predict impaired mother-infant bonding as assessed by the MIBS (β = -0.08) or the PBQ (β = -0.07). Symptoms of depression were significantly associated with impaired bonding as assessed by the PBQ (β = 0.32**) but not as assessed by the MIBS (β = 0.11). Symptoms of anxiety were significantly associated with impaired bonding as assessed by both the MIBS (β = 0.43***) and the PBQ (β = 0.37***).
A model in which depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between maternal attitudes and impaired mother-infant bonding best characterized the relationships among these variables (R2 = 0.18***).
We found that maladaptive maternal attitudes are associated, not only with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety, but also with impairments to the mother-infant bond. Our findings also suggest that the relationship between maladaptive maternal attitudes and impairments to the mother-infant bond may be mediated by psychological symptoms. Maladaptive maternal attitudes and mother-infant bonding should be considered when evaluating the psychological well-being of women during the perinatal period.
The proportion of graduate degrees in clinical psychology awarded to women has increased from 50% in 1986 to nearly 80% today. However, there has not been a corresponding increase in women’s representation in distinguished positions, such as leadership roles in professional organizations. A recent study published in The Behavior Therapist found that, in our own conference, women are over-represented in early-career roles such as poster authors but under-represented in leadership positions and as recipients of prestigious awards (Sockol, McGinn & Newman, 2016). The goal of this study was to update these findings with program information from the 2015 annual meeting.
Participation in the meeting was coded using the program guide. Gender was coded on the basis of author first name and supplemented with publicly-available autobiographical information as needed. Percentages of female participants were calculated for each conference role (e.g., symposium chair). We compared the proportion of female authors to overall 2015 ABCT membership statistics (52% female) using chi-square analyses. Change in women’s participation from 1998 to 2015 was assessed using Z-scores to test for differences in proportions.
Women’s participation in most roles in the 2015 annual meeting was comparable to overall membership in the organization. As in 2014, women were significantly over-represented as symposium chairs (63%, p < 0.01) and first authors of posters (75%, p < 0.001) and there was a trend for women to be under-represented as clinical roundtable moderators (31%, p = 0.09) and symposium discussants (45%, p = 0.09). While women were under-represented as symposium authors in 2014, women were over-represented in this role in 2015 (62%, p < 0.001).
Since 1998, there has been a significant increase in the representation of women as symposium chairs (+17%, p = 0.01), symposium discussants (+23%, p < 0.001), master clinician seminar leaders (+48%, p = 0.04), and poster first authors (+15%, p < 0.001). In contrast, there has been a decrease in women’s representation as symposium authors (-16%, p < 0.001).
In 2015, 57% of ABCT awards were awarded to women, including the award for Outstanding Clinician, the President’s New Researcher Award, and both student dissertation awards.
As a leading professional organization for clinical psychologists and professionals from related fields, ABCT can be considered a microcosm of the broader field. Our findings are consistent with greater representation of women at early career stages and decreasing representation at greater levels of responsibility and prestige. Members of ABCT should consider ways in which we can provide further opportunities to support women in more advanced career and organizational roles.
Objective
The relationship between mother and child plays an important role in both maternal and child well-being during the postpartum period. Impairments to the mother-infant bond are associated with insecure infant attachment and increased risk for child abuse and neglect. The goal of this study was to provide a systematic review of the empirical literature assessing predictors of mother-infant bonding.
Methods
A comprehensive literature search identified empirical studies in which self-reported mother-infant bonding was assessed using a validated self-report measure during the first 12 months postpartum. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to determine the average effect size (Cohen’s d or correlation coefficient) for each predictor assessed in at least 3 independent studies.
Results
The initial literature search identified 451 potentially eligible studies; 47 met eligibility criteria and were included in at least 1 meta-analysis. Meta-analyses were conducted for 7 predictors, including demographic (infant sex, maternal education, and parity) and psychological (fetal attachment, depression, anxiety) characteristics and interventions assessing mother-infant bonding as an outcome. Significant predictors of mother-infant bonding included infant sex (male infants > female), maternal education (lower education > higher), depression, and anxiety. Interventions resulted in significant improvement from pre- to post-treatment and were superior to control conditions.
Conclusions
We identified a range of characteristics associated with impaired mother-infant bonding. The strongest predictors of impaired mother-infant bonding were psychological symptoms, including both depression and anxiety. Importantly, interventions in this population were effective for improving mother-infant bonding. Clinicians should consider the potential for impairments to the mother-infant bond when assessing perinatal women.
Background
While women are under-represented in many academic fields, nearly three-quarters of doctoral degrees in clinical psychology are now awarded to women. However, significant gender disparities still exist within the field, such as under-representation in senior faculty positions and lower pay relative to male colleagues. The goal of this study was to investigate women’s participation in the 2014 annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). We assessed whether women’s participation in various roles in the conference differed from the overall membership rates of the organization, and whether there have been changes in women’s participation in these roles from 1998 through 2014.
Method
Participation in the 2014 annual meeting was coded using the program guide. Gender was coded as male, female or unknown based on the author’s first name. In cases of ambiguous first names, we attempted to use additional autobiographical information to code author gender. In cases where additional information could not be located or was insufficient, gender was coded as unknown. Percentages of female participants were calculated for each category of participation in the conference (e.g., poster first author, symposium discussant, etc.). We compared the proportion of female authors to the overall 2014 ABCT membership statistics (52% female, 4859 members) using chi-square analyses. Change in women’s participation in each category was compared between 1998 and 2014 using Z-scores to test for differences in proportions.
Results
Women’s participation in most roles in the 2014 annual meeting was comparable to overall membership in the organization. Women were significantly over-represented as symposium chairs (63% female, p < 0.01) and as first authors of posters (77% female, p < 0.001). Women were significantly under-represented as symposium participants (37% female, p < 0.001) and panel discussion participants (40% female, p < 0.05). There was a trend for women to be under-represented as clinical roundtable moderators (29% female, p = 0.10) and clinical roundtable panelists (40% female, p = 0.07). From 1998 to 2014, women’s participation increased significantly as symposium chairs (p < 0.01), symposium discussants (p < 0.05), and poster first authors (p < 0.001). Prior to 2014, 41% of all awards given by ABCT had been awarded to women. In 2014, 74% of the award recipients were female, and women were awarded both the Outstanding Educator/Trainer and the Outstanding Mentor awards for the first time.
Discussion
Our results suggest that patterns of gender discrepancy that are pervasive in academia and clinical psychology as a field are also present within our own organization. Women are over-represented in roles characteristic of early career stages, such as poster authors, but under-represented in positions associated with later career stages, such as participants in panel discussions and symposia. There is evidence that women’s participation in different roles in the conference has become more representative over time, particularly as recipients of awards. ABCT should consider ways in which the recruitment and retention of women within the organization can be supported, particularly at more advanced career stages.
Background
The relationship between mother and child plays an important role in both maternal and child well-being during the postpartum period. Impairments in the mother-infant bond are associated with insecure infant attachment and increased risk for child abuse and neglect. Maternal psychological symptoms may contribute to impairments in mother-infant bonding. The goal of this study was to provide a systematic review of the empirical literature on the relationship between psychological symptoms and mother-infant bonding and to assess whether interventions targeting maternal symptoms result in improvements in mother-infant bonding.
Method
A literature search identified empirical studies in which self-reported mother-infant bonding was assessed using a validated self-report measure during the first 12 months postpartum. Potential studies were identified through a search of databases using the keyword term mother-infant bonding, review of reference lists of relevant articles, and review of all articles citing published measures of mother-infant bonding. Characteristics of studies and data for calculating effect sizes were coded according to a manual by two raters. Effect sizes for continuous predictors were calculated using correlation coefficients; effect sizes for categorical predictors were calculated using Cohen’s d. Analyses were conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis v. 2.0.
Results
The initial literature search identified 451 potentially eligible studies; 340 full-text articles were obtained and reviewed for eligibility. Of these, 11 studies assessed the relationship between depressive symptoms and mother-infant bonding, four studies compared depressed women to non-depressed women, four studies assessed the relationship between anxiety and mother-infant bonding, and five were intervention studies which assessed mother-infant bonding as an outcome measure.
Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with impaired mother-infant bonding, with an effect size in the moderate range (r = 0.50, p < 0.001). Women with depression reported significantly more impaired bonding compared to non-depressed women, with an effect size in the small to moderate range (d = 0.35, p = 0.01). Symptoms of anxiety were significantly associated with impaired mother-infant bonding, with an effect size in the small range (r = 0.22, p < 0.001).
Among the intervention studies, interventions were associated with significant improvements in mother-infant bonding from pre- to post-treatment within treatment groups, with an effect size in the moderate range (d = 0.47, p < 0.01). At post-treatment, control groups had significantly greater impairments in mother-infant bonding compared to treatment groups, with an effect size in the moderate range (d = 0.45, p < 0.001).
Discussion
These findings provide strong evidence that maternal psychological symptoms are associated with impairments in the mother-infant bond. Maternal depressive symptoms were more strongly associated with impaired bonding than symptoms of anxiety. Interventions targeting maternal symptoms also result in improvements to the mother-infant bond. Clinicians should consider the potential for impairments to the mother-infant bond when assessing psychological symptoms among perinatal women.
Background
While most research on the transition to parenthood has focused on women’s experiences, research suggests that 10% of men experience clinically significant psychological symptoms during the perinatal period. As negative attitudes about motherhood are associated with depression and anxiety among mothers during the transition to parenthood, the goal of this study was to assess first-time fathers’ attitudes about fatherhood and to assess whether these attitudes are associated with psychological symptoms.
Method
Men were eligible to participate if they were between the ages of 18-45, lived in the United States, and their partner was currently pregnant with their first child or had given birth to their first child in the past 6 months. Participants completed a measure of paternal attitudes, the Attitudes Toward Fatherhood Scale (AToF), which was modified from an existing measure of maternal attitudes. Participants also completed measures of general cognitive biases, symptoms of depression and anxiety, marital satisfaction and social support.
Results
Of the 286 eligible individuals who initiated participation, 258 (90%) completed at least one measure and 221 (77%) completed all measures. Participants ranged in age from 20-44 (M = 31). Average gestational age among antenatal participants was 25 weeks; average infant age among postpartum participants was 13 weeks. Participants were predominantly married, Caucasian, employed, and college graduates.
The AToF Scale demonstrated very good internal reliability (α = 0.83). Paternal attitudes were significantly correlated with general cognitive biases (r = 0.50***), depressive symptoms (r = 0.28***), symptoms of anxiety (r = 0.22**), marital dissatisfaction (r = 0.23**), and inadequate social support (r = 0.24***). Paternal attitudes were more strongly associated with general cognitive biases than with symptoms of depression or anxiety (ps < 0.001).
After controlling for demographic variables (pregnant vs. postpartum, age, race/ethnicity, & relationship status), paternal attitudes predicted symptoms of depression (β = 0.32***) and anxiety (β = 0.24***). After controlling for general cognitive biases, paternal attitudes no longer predicted symptoms of depression (β = 0.10) or anxiety (β = 0.04).
After controlling for demographic variables, general cognitive biases predicted symptoms of depression (β = 0.52***) and anxiety (β = 0.43***). After controlling for interpersonal risk factors, general cognitive biases continued to predict symptoms of depression (β = 0.45***) and anxiety (β = 0.37***).
Discussion
These findings suggest that attitudes towards fatherhood are associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, but may simply reflect more general cognitive biases. Unlike among first-time mothers, these attitudes do not have incremental predictive validity beyond general cognitive biases. Among fathers, general cognitive biases are strongly associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, even after controlling for interpersonal risk factors. These findings suggest that targeting general cognitive risk factors for depression and anxiety among new and expectant fathers during the transition to parenthood may be effective for treating and preventing paternal depression.
