Affect Consciousness in children with internalizing problems: Assessment of affect integration

Abstract

Affect integration was operationalized through the Affect Consciousness (AC) construct as degrees of awareness, tolerance, nonverbal expression and conceptual expression of 11 affects. These aspects are assessed through a semi-structured Affect Consciousness Interview (ACI) and separate rating scales (Affect Consciousness Scales (ACSs)) developed for use in research and clinical work with adults with psychopathological disorders. Age-adjusted changes were made in the interview and rating system. This study explored the applicability of the adjusted ACI to a sample of 11-year-old children with internalizing problems through examining inter-rater reliability of the adjusted ACI, along with relationships between the AC aspects and aspects of mental health as symptoms of depression, symptoms of anxiety, social competence, besides general intelligence. Satisfactory inter-rater reliability was found, as well as consistent relationships between the AC aspects and the various aspects of mental health, a finding which coincides with previous research. The finding indicates that the attainment of the capacity to deal adaptively with affect is probably an important contributor to the development of adequate social competence and maybe in the prevention of psychopathology in children. The results indicate that the adjusted ACI and rating scales are useful tools in treatment planning with children at least from the age of 11 years.

The Relationship between Affect Integration and Psychopathology in Patients with Personality Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This interpretation fits well with the theoretical propositions by Izard [50], Krystal [51] [19], and Taarvig et al [20]. We believe that support for this conjecture has not previously been so clearly demonstrated in the specific context of PD pathology as in the present study.…”

“…This interpretation fits well with the theoretical propositions by Izard [ 50 ], Krystal [ 51 ], Monsen & Monsen [ 13 ], Solbakken, Hansen, & Monsen [ 15 ], Stolorow, Atwood, & Brandchaft [ 7 ], and Tomkins [ 16 , 17 ] and empirical findings by, e.g., Monsen et al [ 6 ], Solbakken, Hansen, Havik, & Monsen [ 22 ], Solbakken, Hansen, Havik, & Monsen [ 21 ], Solbakken et al [ 19 ], and Taarvig et al [ 20 ]. We believe that support for this conjecture has not previously been so clearly demonstrated in the specific context of PD pathology as in the present study.…”

“…The semistructured Affect Consciousness Interview (ACI) [ 18 ] and the self-reported Affect Integration Inventory (AII) [ 19 ] have been developed to assess the level of adaptiveness of the individual´s affect organization. Previous research has demonstrated good psychometric properties and clinical usefulness of both the ACI [ 13 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ] and the AII [ 19 , 27 , 28 ].…”

Differences in affect integration in children with and without internalizing difficulties

“…The Affect Consciousness Interview Affect integration was assessed using the Affect Consciousness Interview (ACI), a semi-structured clinical interview ( 25) available for children (3). Affect integration in the ACI is operationalized as the "degrees of awareness, tolerance, emotional /nonverbal and conceptual expressivity" across a set of affective states.…”

Tell me how you feel and I will tell you who you are: First validation of the affect integration inventory

“…Consciousness construct and assessed by use of the semi-structured Affect Consciousness Interview (Monsen, Monsen, Hansen, & Solbakken, 2008). Numerous studies have indicated the usefulness of this conceptualization at both clinical and theoretical levels (e.g., Monsen, Ødegård, & Melgård, 1989;Monsen et al, 1996;Monsen & Monsen, 1999;McCullough Vaillant, 1997;Falkenström, Solbakken, Möller, Lech, Sandell, & Holmqvist, 2014;Gude, Monsen, & Hoffart, 2001;Normann-Eide, Johansen, Normann-Eide, Egeland, & Wilberg, 2013;Waller & Scheidt, 2004;Holmqvist, 2008;Lech, Andersson, & Holmqvist, 2008;Choi-Kain & Gunderson, 2008;Solbakken et al, 2011b;Solbakken et al, 2012;Taarvig, Solbakken, Grova, & Monsen, 2014).…”