Pet loss and continuing bonds in children and adolescents.

There is little research available regarding the impact of pet loss on children. In the current mixed-methods study, we explored the different ways that children use continuing bonds (CB) to cope following the death of a pet. We studied 32 children (5-18 years) and their parents. Children answered four questionnaires and the Continuing Bonds Interview. Parents answered a demographic questionnaire. Results suggest that all children utilize CB while grieving the loss of a pet, although CB expression varies depending on the age of the child, the level of grief following the loss, and the strength of attachment to the pet.

Four- and five-factor models of the WAIS-IV in a clinical sample: Variations in indicator configuration and factor correlational structure.

A growing body of research supports the validity of 5-factor models for interpreting the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV). The majority of these studies have utilized the WAIS-IV normative or clinical sample, the latter of which differs in its diagnostic composition from the referrals seen at outpatient neuropsychology clinics. To address this concern, 2 related studies were conducted on a sample of 322 American military Veterans who were referred for outpatient neuropsychological assessment. In Study 1, 4 hierarchical models with varying indicator configurations were evaluated: 3 extant 5-factor models from the literature and the traditional 4-factor model. In Study 2, we evaluated 3 variations in correlation structure in the models from Study 1: indirect hierarchical (i.e., higher-order g), bifactor (direct hierarchical), and oblique models. The results from Study 1 suggested that both 4- and 5-factor models showed acceptable fit. The results from Study 2 showed that bifactor and oblique models offer improved fit over the typically specified indirect hierarchical model, and the oblique models outperformed the orthogonal bifactor models. An exploratory analysis found improved fit when bifactor models were specified with oblique rather than orthogonal latent factors. (PsycINFO Database Record

Factor structure of the Benton Visual retention tests: dimensionalization of the Benton Visual retention test, Benton Visual retention test - multiple choice, and the Visual Form Discrimination Test.

Six sequential experiments were conducted on archival data of 610 U.S. Veterans seen at the Palo Alto Veteran's Affairs Hospital, to understand the dimensionalization of the Benton Visual retention test in both the recall (BVRT) and multiple-choice (BVRT-MC) format as well as the Visual Form Discrimination Test (VFDT). These tests were dimensionalized by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) revealing a four-component model that explains 81.04% of the shared variance: the moderately difficult items (BVRT-MC and VFDT items 13-16) loaded with the WAIS-R Perceptual Organization, the easiest items (VFDT items 1-12, BVRT-MC items 1-12, and BVRT items 1-4) loaded separately with both WAIS-R Verbal Comprehension and Freedom from Distractibility, and the most difficult items (BVRT items 3-10) loaded weakly with WAIS-R Perceptual Organization.

Interactive influences on BVRT performance level: geriatric considerations.

We examined the interactive influence of specific demographic and diagnostic variables on Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) performance in three commonly presenting groups of older adults. Cross-sectional data from three archival samples were utilized: "normals" (n=156), "normals with memory concerns" (n=435), and a "mixed neurologic" group (n=196). In both normal groups, as well as in a "no/low deficit" neurologic subgroup, we confirmed that the higher one's age, the lower their BVRT accuracy, while the higher one's level of education, the greater their BVRT accuracy (at least through age 84). For normal subjects, gender had no impact on BVRT performance. Variability in BVRT performance increased consistently, but not significantly, through age 85.