Will Life Extension Affect Our Social Judgments? Evidence That the Possibility of Indefinite Life Extension Increases Harshness Toward Social Transgressors

We tested the hypothesis that if indefinite life extension (ILE) through medical technologies were to become a reality, then people may become harsher in their judgment of social transgressors. In support of this hypothesis, we found that higher positive attitudes towards ILE technologies related to harshness in judgment of social transgressions (Study 1), and that making ILE plausible (compared to not plausible) led participants to endorse harsher punishments for social transgressors (Studies 2-3). We replicated this effect and found that it is not amplified by subliminal death primes, although the primes also increased harshness (Study 3). These results may have implications to understanding how social judgment may be affected by the prospect of ILE.

Preparation for Future Care Needs in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: What Promotes Feeling of Preparedness?

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether demographic, dementia-related, and control-related variables predict preparation for future care needs (PFCN) in a sample of middle-aged and older adults. PFCN is defined in this study as a self-perceived sense of preparedness for one's own future care needs, including general awareness of future care needs, gathering relevant information, decision-making about care preferences, concrete planning, and non-avoidance of care planning.

METHODS

Participants (N = 122; age 40 to 88 years: M = 65.83, SD = 9.80) completed self-report measures in an in-person study. Hierarchical multiple regression was calculated to predict PFCN.

RESULTS

Being female, having more positive dementia attitudes, higher attribution to powerful others for health condition(s), and more completed end-of-life (EOL) planning significantly predicted greater PFCN.

CONCLUSION

Findings indicate a positive relationship between objective (completed EOL planning items) and subjective (PFCN) components of planning, thus highlighting the importance of taking concrete steps in EOL planning to yield greater feelings of preparedness, which has been associated with positive psychological outcomes.

EXISTENTIAL ISOLATION, LONELINESS, DEPRESSION, AND SUICIDE IDEATION IN YOUNG ADULTS

Introduction: The relationships between loneliness, depression, and suicide ideation have been well established in the literature. Yet almost no research has examined how feelings of existential isolation (EI; Yalom, 1980), a form of interpersonal isolation conceptually similar, but distinct from loneliness, relates to depressive symptomology or suicide ideation.

Method: Four independent samples of undergraduates completed measures of loneliness, depression (which included a suicide ideation item), and EI.

Results: We find EI and loneliness both independently predict depression and suicide ideation, as well as interact to predict greater depression, such that those who are both existentially isolated and lonely report the greatest depression. Moreover, those with both high loneliness and high EI report an average depression that qualifies them for mild clinical depression according to established clinical cutoffs.

Discussion: Our findings suggest EI and loneliness may be independent antecedents for depression. Implications for interventions are discussed.

Loss and lastingness? Further exploring the relationship between the death of a close other, belief in an everlasting soul, and terror management processes

This research explored the relationship between the death of a close other (DOCO) and terror management processes. In Study 1 (n = 810), university students who experienced DOCO (vs. not) reported higher university and American identification; greater self-esteem and meaning in life; lower death-thought accessibility; greater "death-as-passage" representations; and higher belief in an everlasting soul. We pre-registered Study 2 (n = 497) as an attempt to replicate these findings; although the patterns of means were consistent with Study 1, the tests did not reach statistical significance. However, analyses on the merged data (N = 1,307) supported the present theoretical analysis.

Editorial Foreword: Applying Existential Social Psychology to Mental Health

Human existence is characterized by some rather unique psychological challenges. Because people can reflect on their lives and place in the world, they are regularly confronted with a variety of existential concerns: death and mortality; the burdens of freedom; uncertainty regarding one's identity; isolation from others; and indeterminate meaning in life. Existential social psychology (Greenberg, Koole, & Pyszczynski, 2004; Vail & Routledge, 2020) investigates whether and how such existential concerns shape everyday life and, as highlighted in the present special issue, how such processes impact mental health and social functioning.

Current practice patterns for initial umbilical hernia repair in the United States

PURPOSE

The approach to repairing an initial umbilical hernia (IUH) varies substantially, and this likely depends on hernia size, patient age, sex, BMI, comorbidities including diabetes mellitus, and surgeon preference. Of these, only hernia size has been widely studied. This cross-sectional study aims to look at the practice pattern of umbilical hernia repair in the United States.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed using data from the America Hernia Society Quality Collaborative. Patient characteristics included age, sex, hernia width, BMI, smoking status, and diabetes. Outcomes were use of mesh for repair, as well as surgical approach (open vs minimally invasive). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the independent effect of age, sex, hernia width, BMI, smoking status, and diabetes on use of mesh and approach to repair.

RESULTS

3475 patients were included. 74% were men. Mesh use was more common in men (67% vs 60%, P < 0.001). Mesh was used in 33% of repairs ≤ 1 cm, and 82% of repairs > 1 cm (P < 0.001). Younger patients were less likely to receive a mesh repair (54% if age ≤ 35 vs 67% for age > 35, P < 0.001). However, on multivariate analysis, mesh use was associated with increasing hernia width (OR 5.474, 95% CI 4.7-6.3) as well as BMI (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.5-2.1) but not with age or sex.

CONCLUSION

The majority of IUH are performed open. Patient BMI and hernia defect size contribute to choice of surgical technique including use of mesh. The use of mesh in 33% of hernias below 1 cm demonstrates a gap between evidence and practice. Patient factors including patient age and sex had no impact on operative approach or use of mesh.

Isomer-selected ion–molecule reactions of acetylene cations with propyne and allene

A combined experimental and quantum chemistry study between sympathetically cooled acetylene cations and propyne or allene explains the dramatically different reaction mechanisms.

Women Want the Heavens, Men Want the Earth

Abstract. Efforts are being made in the field of medicine to promote the possibility of indefinite life extension (ILE). Past research on attitudes toward ILE technologies showed that women and more religious individuals usually have more negative attitudes toward ILE. The purpose of this research was to investigate whether gender differences in attitude toward indefinite life extension technologies could be explained by religiosity, afterlife beliefs, and general attitudes toward science. In four studies ( N = 5,000), undergraduate participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring their support for life extension as well as religiosity, afterlife beliefs, and attitude toward science (in Study 3). In all studies, men supported ILE more than women, whereas women reported greater belief in an afterlife. The relationship between gender and attitude toward ILE was only partially mediated by religiosity (Studies 2–4) and by attitudes toward science (Study 3).

Evaluation of an automated process for disclosure of negative noninvasive prenatal test results

We designed and implemented a novel automated negative non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) result disclosure process using a proprietary, HIPAA-compliant web-based portal. High-risk pregnant patients who opted for NIPT from 04/2017 to 12/2018 were given the option to receive their negative result through the automated process. Patients were required to watch a brief educational video and answer evaluative questions before downloading their result. After completing the process, patients completed a survey regarding their opinion of the efficiency and convenience of the process and their satisfaction. A total of 10,170 women registered online during the study period, and 8,965 completed the automated process (88%). Out of 8,965 women, 2,121 women responded to the survey (24%). Most (2,030 of 2,101) strongly agreed/agreed that they could easily navigate the patient portal (97%); 1,852 of 1,966 strongly agreed/agreed that disclosure was efficient and convenient (94%); 1,852 of 1,960 strongly agreed/agreed that they felt informed after watching a short educational video (94%); and 1,903 of 1,967 strongly agreed/agreed that they preferred downloading results rather than waiting for their next doctor's appointment (97%). This study demonstrates high patient satisfaction with this automated and scalable solution in a high-volume health system. As the utilization of genetic testing increases, we predict greater need for innovative healthcare delivery models.

An ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometer with high mass resolution for cold trapped ion experiments

Trapping molecular ions that have been sympathetically cooled with laser-cooled atomic ions is a useful platform for exploring cold ion chemistry. We designed and characterized a new experimental apparatus for probing chemical reaction dynamics between molecular cations and neutral radicals at temperatures below 1 K. The ions are trapped in a linear quadrupole radio-frequency trap and sympathetically cooled by co-trapped, laser-cooled, atomic ions. The ion trap is coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to readily identify product ion species and to accurately determine trapped ion numbers. We discuss, and present in detail, the design of this ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometer and the electronics required for driving the trap and mass spectrometer. Furthermore, we measure the performance of this system, which yields mass resolutions of m/Δm ≥ 1100 over a wide mass range, and discuss its relevance for future measurements in chemical reaction kinetics and dynamics.

Searching for God: Illness-Related Mortality Threats and Religious Search Volume in Google in 16 Nations

We tested predictions about religiosity and terror management processes in 16 nations. Specifically, we examined weekly variation in Google search volume in each nation for 12 years (all weeks for which data were available). In all 16 nations, higher than usual weekly Google search volume for life-threatening illnesses (cancer, diabetes, and hypertension) predicted increases in search volume for religious content (e.g., God, Jesus, prayer) in the following week. This effect held up after controlling for (a) recent past and annual variation in religious search volume, (b) increases in search volume associated with religious holidays, and (c) variation in searches for a non-life-threatening illness ("sore throat"). Terror management threat reduction processes appear to occur across the globe. Furthermore, they may occur over much longer periods than those studied in the laboratory. Managing fears of death via religious belief regulation appears to be culturally pervasive.

The Evil Animal: A Terror Management Theory Perspective on the Human Tendency to Kill Animals

This research tested whether support for the killing of animals serves a terror management function. In five studies, death primes caused participants to support the killing of animals more than control primes, unless the participants' self-esteem had been elevated (Study 4). This effect was not moderated by gender, preexisting attitudes toward killing animals or animal rights, perceived human-animal similarity, religiosity, political orientation, or by the degree to which the killing was justified. Support for killing animals after subliminal death primes was also associated with an increased sense of power and invulnerability (Study 5). Implications and future directions are discussed.

Age Differences in the Effects of Mortality Salience on the Correspondence Bias

According to terror management theory, awareness of death affects diverse aspects of human thought and behavior. Studies have shown that older and younger adults differ in how they respond to reminders of their mortality. The present study investigated one hypothesized explanation for these findings: Age-related differences in the tendency to make correspondent inferences. The correspondence bias was assessed in younger and older samples after death-related, negative, or neutral primes. Younger adults displayed increased correspondent inferences following mortality primes, whereas older adults' inferences were not affected by the reminder of death. As in prior research, age differences were evident in control conditions; however, age differences were eliminated in the death condition. Results support the existence of age-related differences in responses to mortality, with only younger adults displaying increased reliance on simplistic information structuring after a death reminder.