Cindy McDowell researches impact of defiant behaviour on physical health in youth
January 24, 2024
Q & A: psychology doctoral student, Cindy McDowell
Topic: a new study that examines the links between irritable behaviour and physical health in youth. Co-authors include from the Department of Psychology, Jonathan Rush and Paweena Sukhawathanakul.
Paper published in Psychology & Health
Please explain the purpose of your study
As researchers, we wanted to know does being irritable, hostile, defiant—symptoms of oppositional defiance disorder (ODS)—impact physical health symptoms like headaches, abdominal and back pain, etc., particularly during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. We found the physical health outcomes of ODS are understudied —particularly within the context of young adulthood.
What are your main goals of your research?
We wanted to know whether oppositional defiant symptoms (ODS) coincided with changes in youths’ physical health functioning. While oppositional defiance is commonly regarded as an adolescent concern, studies have shown that ODS can persist beyond adolescence and extend into adulthood.
The enduring presence of defiant and irritable behaviours can disrupt relationships, personal and professional accomplishments, and overall functioning throughout adult life. These factors and experiences may ultimately have a cascading effect on physical health.
Therefore, our goals for this research were to highlight how ODS can extend beyond adolescence and into adulthood, and to demonstrate the impact that ODS has on physical health. Given the profound effects of defiance and irritability on psychological and social wellbeing, we sought to explore the interconnectedness between ODS and physical health across time, and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the physical manifestations that may arise from ODS.
What were the key findings of your research?
Our study found two primary associations between ODS and physical health symptoms.
First, the individuals who had higher ODS generally reported more physical health symptoms, whereas individuals with lower ODS reported fewer physical health symptoms.
Second these two symptom domains fluctuated within-individuals across time. That is, changes in ODS were linked to subsequent changes in physical health symptoms – highlighting a dynamic interplay between defiant behavior and physical well-being.
To further exemplify, during years when ODS was higher than the individual’s typical level, that individual also reported more physical health symptoms. Likewise, during years in which the individual reported less ODS, their physical health symptoms were also lower. Importantly, changes in ODS resulted in these subsequent changes in physical health, regardless of individual differences in anxiety, depression, and sex.
What action can people take now based on what we learned from your research?
When individuals experience greater defiant symptoms (e.g., irritability, hostility, defiance), they subsequently experience greater physical health symptoms (e.g., headaches, backaches, abdominal pain, dizziness, and sleeping difficulties).
Understanding and shedding light on this relationship may enable clinicians and researchers to better understand the enduring impact and consequences of ODS and help inform preventive efforts aimed at reducing the risk of negative health outcomes later in life through effective health promotion strategies for youth and young adults.
At the individual level, individuals can work towards developing health coping and stress management skills, emphasizing positive emotional outlets to mitigate negative emotions and behaviours. Additionally, seek supportive relationships, professional health, and mental health education to help buffer the broad, negative effects of ODS.
What do we know about the linkages between mental health and physical health?
In our study, we found that ODS is linked to physical health, above and beyond anxious and depressive symptoms. During both adolescence and adulthood, ODS may have significant impacts that may lead to social isolation, difficulty maintaining friendships or romantic relationships, and increased emotional distress.
For adults in particular, ODS may impact employment and financial security. These interpersonal conflicts associated with ODS across various social networks and settings (including peers, parents, and romantic partners), can generate significant chronic stress and emotional distress that create a cascading effect on physical health. This may include compromised cardiovascular health, suppressed immune function, and chronic pain. Youth exhibiting ODS are especially vulnerable to physical health challenges, as these conflicts diminish the quality and availability of essential social support systems needed to cope with daily stressors.
However, while our research provides valuable insights into the relationship between ODS and physical health, there is still much to explore. The specific biological and psychological mechanisms linking mental and physical health in the context of ODS remain an area for future research. Understanding these intricacies will contribute to more targeted interventions and a deeper comprehension of how mental health behaviors impact overall well-being.
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