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Regulatory focus and the p factor: Evidence for self-regulatory dysfunction as a transdiagnostic feature of general psychopathology.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Romer, AL; Hariri, AR; Strauman, TJ
Published in: Journal of psychiatric research
May 2021

A general psychopathology ('p') factor captures transdiagnostic features of mental illness; however, the meaning of the p factor remains unclear. Regulatory focus theory postulates that individuals regulate goal pursuit either by maximizing gains (promotion) or minimizing losses (prevention). As maladaptive goal pursuit has been associated with multiple categorical disorders, we examined whether individual differences in promotion and prevention goal pursuit are associated with p as well as internalizing- and externalizing-specific factors using structural equation modeling of data from 1330 volunteers aged 18-22. Unsuccessful attainment of promotion and prevention goals was related to increased levels of p. Over and above relations with the p factor, unsuccessful attainment of promotion goals was associated with higher internalizing-specific psychopathology, whereas unsuccessful attainment of prevention goals was related to higher externalizing-specific psychopathology. These associations also were separable from related personality traits. After controlling for sex differences in the composition of the psychopathology factors, there were no sex differences in the relations between promotion and prevention goal pursuit and p and specific internalizing and externalizing factors. These findings suggest higher general psychopathology reflects poorer overall self-regulation of goal pursuit and that maladaptive promotion and prevention orientations also are associated with internalizing- and externalizing-specific psychopathology, respectively.

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Published In

Journal of psychiatric research

DOI

EISSN

1879-1379

ISSN

0022-3956

Publication Date

May 2021

Volume

137

Start / End Page

178 / 185

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Psychopathology
  • Psychiatry
  • Mental Disorders
  • Male
  • Latent Class Analysis
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Adult
  • Adolescent
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Romer, A. L., Hariri, A. R., & Strauman, T. J. (2021). Regulatory focus and the p factor: Evidence for self-regulatory dysfunction as a transdiagnostic feature of general psychopathology. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 137, 178–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.02.051
Romer, Adrienne L., Ahmad R. Hariri, and Timothy J. Strauman. “Regulatory focus and the p factor: Evidence for self-regulatory dysfunction as a transdiagnostic feature of general psychopathology.Journal of Psychiatric Research 137 (May 2021): 178–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.02.051.
Romer AL, Hariri AR, Strauman TJ. Regulatory focus and the p factor: Evidence for self-regulatory dysfunction as a transdiagnostic feature of general psychopathology. Journal of psychiatric research. 2021 May;137:178–85.
Romer, Adrienne L., et al. “Regulatory focus and the p factor: Evidence for self-regulatory dysfunction as a transdiagnostic feature of general psychopathology.Journal of Psychiatric Research, vol. 137, May 2021, pp. 178–85. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.02.051.
Romer AL, Hariri AR, Strauman TJ. Regulatory focus and the p factor: Evidence for self-regulatory dysfunction as a transdiagnostic feature of general psychopathology. Journal of psychiatric research. 2021 May;137:178–185.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of psychiatric research

DOI

EISSN

1879-1379

ISSN

0022-3956

Publication Date

May 2021

Volume

137

Start / End Page

178 / 185

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Psychopathology
  • Psychiatry
  • Mental Disorders
  • Male
  • Latent Class Analysis
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Adult
  • Adolescent