AUTHOR=Lin Rong-Mao , Xiong Xia-Xin , Shen Yi-Lin , Lin Nan , Chen Yan-Ping 

TITLE=The heterogeneity of negative problem orientation in Chinese adolescents: A latent profile analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1012455

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1012455

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p>Negative problem orientation (NPO) has become an essential construct for comprehending social problem-solving deficits. However, the heterogeneity of NPO has not yet been explored. With a sample of Chinese adolescents (<italic>N</italic> = 2,174), four latent profiles were identified as <italic>lower NPO</italic>, <italic>moderate NPO</italic>, self-inefficacy and negative outcome expectancy (<italic>SI&amp;NOE</italic>), and <italic>dysfunctional NPO</italic>. Compared to the <italic>lower NPO</italic> and <italic>moderate NPO</italic>, a greater percentage of boys in the <italic>SI&amp;NOE</italic> and <italic>dysfunctional NPO</italic> profiles than were girls. In addition, lower grades and younger adolescents tended to engage in the <italic>moderate NPO</italic> and <italic>SI&amp;NOE</italic> profiles. The <italic>dysfunctional NPO</italic> reported higher levels of worry, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress, and worse sleep quality than the other profiles. The implications of these findings are discussed herein.</p>