Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Disengagement Coping: Associations with Emotions of Youth At-Risk for Huntington's
Kelly H Watson1, Abagail E Ciriegio2, Anna C Pfalzer1
1Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Background:
Families in which a parent has Huntington's disease (HD) are faced with significant stressors that can contribute to difficulties in communicating together about illness-related concerns. Family members who use more disengagement coping strategies, including denial and avoidance, to deal with illness-related stressors may have the greatest challenges to effective communication.
Objective:
The current study examined the associations of intrapersonal and interpersonal disengagement coping responses with observed and reported emotions of adolescents and young adults (AYA) at genetic risk for HD.
Methods:
Families included 42 AYA (n = 26 females) ages 10 to 34 (M = 19 years, 11 months; SD = 7 years, 6 months) and their parent with HD (n = 22 females, M age = 46 years, 10 months; SD = 9 years, 2 months). Dyads participated in observations of communication and completed questionnaires about disengagement coping and internalizing symptoms.
Results:
Disengagement coping of AYA was unrelated to their observed and reported emotional difficulties (intrapersonal coping). However, there was evidence for the importance of interpersonal disengagement coping, as AYA's negative affect was observed and reported to be highest when both AYA and their parents reported using high levels of avoidance, denial, and wishful thinking to cope with HD-related stress.
Conclusion:
The findings underscore the importance of a family-oriented approach to coping and communication in families affected by HD.
More Related Videos
09:14Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: March 14, 2025
07:01Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
Published on: March 1, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Horney's Sociocultural Approach
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
Coping Strategies: Problem Focused
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia