The Intolerance to Uncertainty Scale (IUS) was developed to measure a dispositional tendency to react negatively to uncertain events, regardless of the occurrence probability of those events. Recent evidence suggests a 2-factor structure underlying the IUS; 1 factor measuring a prospective aspect (i.e., desire for predictability) and the other assessing an inhibitory aspect (i.e., uncertainty paralysis). The factorial and construct validity of the IUS test scores among undergraduate students in Singapore were examined in the present research using exploratory (n = 565) and confirmatory (n = 898) factor analyses. Results indicated that a 2-factor model was preferred over a unitary-factor model. The construct validity of the IUS (and subscale) scores was examined using a comprehensive nomological network of psychopathology and personality/affectivity variables. Differential relations were observed for the prospective and inhibitory components, providing support that the 2 subscales assessed unique aspects of the intolerance of uncertainty construct. An 18-item modified version of IUS was also proposed and its test scores had stronger validity evidence than scores from the widely used 12-item version.

The developmental trajectories of maladaptive perfectionism, along with their consequences and origins, were examined in middle childhood. A sample of Singaporean children and their parents (N 5 302) were recruited for a longitudinal study when the children were 7 years old. Subsequent follow-up assessments were made at ages 8, 9, and 11. A multimethod approach was adopted where parent reports, child reports, and observational data on a dyadic interaction task were obtained. Using latent class growth modeling, four distinct classes were obtained for critical self-oriented perfectionism (SOP-C), whereas two classes emerged for socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP). Children with high and/or increasing SOP-C and SPP trajectories constituted 60% and 78% of the sample, respectively. For both SOP-C and SPP, trajectories with high initial status were associated with higher internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Parental intrusiveness and negative parenting predicted high and/or increasing SOP-C trajectories, whereas the child temperament dimension of surgency predicted high SPP trajectory. Both SOP-C and SPP trajectories tended to co-occur, suggesting a mutually reinforcing process. This study yields important findings that help advance current understanding of the emergence and developmental pathways of maladaptive perfectionism in children.

Cognitive theories of psychopathology posit that the way individuals encode, interpret, and recall information can confer vulnerability to the development of psychological symptoms (Riskind & Alloy, 2006). A large body of literature has accrued on the potentially etiologic role of several cognitive vulnerabilities that contribute to the onset and maintenance of depression and anxiety in adults.

SYNOPSISObjective. This study examined the main and interactive effects of parental personality and (mother reported) child temperament on reported parenting behavior and family cohesion in Singaporean families. Design. A community sample of families (n = 268) was involved in this one-year longitudinal study. Both parents described themselves on the Big Five personality traits, their parenting behavior, and perceptions of family cohesion. Mothers rated their children's temperament characteristics. The outcome variables, and their changes over time, were predicted over the 1-year period. Results. Maternal reported child temperament moderated the links between specific parental personality traits and parenting behaviors (e.g., low effortful control children evoked lower levels of positive support from high neuroticism fathers). Similar interactions appeared to influence family cohesiveness. Conclusions. In some instances, child temperament assumes a moderating role on the association between parental personality and parenting behaviors (and family cohesiveness).

This study examined the intergenerational transmission of parental invalidation and whether parental difficulties in emotion regulation mediated the association between past experiences of invalidation and current invalidating parenting practices. We also aimed to investigate whether gender might influence the transmission of parental invalidation. We recruited a community sample of 293 dual-parent families (adolescent and their parents) based in Singapore. Parents and adolescents each completed measures of childhood invalidation, whereas parents additionally reported on their difficulties in emotion regulation. Results based on path analyses demonstrated that past parental invalidation experienced by fathers positively predicted current perceived invalidation by their children. The association between mothers’ childhood invalidation and current invalidating practices was fully mediated by mothers’ difficulties with emotion regulation. Further analyses revealed that parents’ current invalidating behaviors were not predicted by their past experiences of paternal or maternal invalidation. These findings point to the importance of considering the family invalidating environment as a whole when examining the influence of past experienced parental invalidation on emotion regulation and invalidating behaviors of second-generation parents. Our study provides empirical support for the intergenerational transmission of parental invalidation and highlights the need to address childhood experiences of parental invalidation in parenting programs.