Attachment and body representations in adolescents with personality disorder

BACKGROUND

Attachment theory has served as an influential framework for understanding psychopathology, partly due to reliable assessment methodology. The influence of insecure attachment on attitudes toward the body and the impact this might have for the development of psychopathology is however less well elucidated.

METHOD

A total of 123 adolescents (35 with borderline personality disorder or BPD, 25 with other personality disorders [OPD] and 63 comprising a normative control group) were interviewed with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and the Mirror Interview (MI). The MI questions respondents about how they feel about their bodies, as they look in the mirror.

RESULTS

The AAIs from the Borderline group were predominantly insecure-preoccupied and unresolved. These adolescents had significantly lower levels of a positive and integrated sense of self and body than the other groups. Regression results revealed a high loving relationship with fathers, low involving anger with father, high coherence of mind, slight derogation of mother & low levels of unresolved loss uniquely and additively predicted 55% of variance in the summary score assigned to MI responses, that is, the summary score for a Positive and Integrated Body Representation (PIBR).

CONCLUSION

Unfavorable attachment experiences and current states of mind regarding attachment may give rise to problems with establishing PIBRs, and thus play a role in the development of psychopathology, especially BPD.

Predictors of outcome in self-guided internet-delivered cognitive-behavior therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A preliminary investigation

Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy (ICBT) is an effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). ICBT can be delivered in a self-guided or clinician-guided format. While a literature is emerging on the predictors of response to clinician-guided ICBT, there is a lack of research examining the predictors of response to self-guided ICBT. The aim of the present study was to examine predictors of outcome in a large sample of participants with OCD who commenced a self-guided ICBT intervention. One hundred and fifty-seven participants (Mage = 34.82; SD = 10.49; 78% female) were included in the study. Regression analyses were conducted to determine clinical and demographic predictors of (1) posttreatment symptom severity and (2) a clinically meaningful treatment response for both the intention-to-treat (ITT) and completer samples. The regression models significantly predicted posttreatment outcome for both the ITT (F(8, 148) = 15.844, p < .001) and completer sample (F(8, 101) = 5.929, p < .001), explaining 46% and 34% of the variance respectively. Higher baseline OCD severity, younger age, experiencing higher contamination or symmetry symptoms, and a history of past treatment were all found to be significantly associated with higher posttreatment severity in the ITT sample. In the completer sample only higher baseline OCD severity and severity of harm-related obsessions and checking compulsions was significantly associated with higher posttreatment severity. When predicting treatment response the regression models for both the ITT and completer sample were nonsignificant.

Mu-Suppression Neurofeedback Training Targeting the Mirror Neuron System: A Pilot Study

Neurofeedback training (NFT) is a promising adjuvant intervention method. The desynchronization of mu rhythm (8-13 Hz) in the electroencephalogram (EEG) over centro-parietal areas is known as a valid indicator of mirror neuron system (MNS) activation, which has been associated with social skills. Still, the effect of neurofeedback training on the MNS requires to be well investigated. The present study examined the possible impact of NFT with a mu suppression training protocol encompassing 15 NFT sessions (45 min each) on 16 healthy neurotypical participants. In separate pre- and post-training sessions, 64-channel EEG was recorded while participants (1) observed videos with various types of movements (including complex goal-directed hand movements and social interaction scenes) and (2) performed the "Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test" (RMET). EEG source reconstruction analysis revealed statistically significant mu suppression during hand movement observation across MNS-attributed fronto-parietal areas after NFT. The frequency analysis showed no significant mu suppression after NFT, despite the fact that numerical mu suppression appeared to be visible in a majority of participants during goal-directed hand movement observation. At the behavioral level, RMET accuracy scores did not suggest an effect of NFT on the ability to interpret subtle emotional expressions, although RMET response times were reduced after NFT. In conclusion, the present study exhibited preliminary and partial evidence that mu suppression NFT can induce mu suppression in MNS-attributed areas. More powerful experimental designs and longer training may be necessary to induce substantial and consistent mu suppression, particularly while observing social scenarios.

Preoperative pain sensitivity and its correlation with postoperative acute and chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Preoperative pain sensitivity (PPS) can be associated with postsurgical pain. However, estimates of this association are scarce. Confirming this correlation is essential to identifying patients at high risk for severe postoperative pain and for developing analgesic strategy. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarises PPS and assessed its correlation with postoperative pain.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO were searched up to October 1, 2023, for studies reporting the association between PPS and postsurgical pain. Two authors abstracted estimates of the effect of each method independently. A random-effects model was used to combine data. Subgroup analyses were performed to investigate the effect of pain types and surgical procedures on outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 70 prospective observational studies were included. A meta-analysis of 50 studies was performed. Postoperative pain was negatively associated with pressure pain threshold (PPT; r=-0.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.23 to -0.07]) and electrical pain threshold (EPT; r=-0.28, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.14), but positively correlated with temporal summation of pain (TSP; r=0.21, 95% CI 0.12-0.30) and Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ; r=0.25, 95% CI 0.13-0.37). Subgroup analysis showed that only TSP was associated with acute and chronic postoperative pain, whereas PPT, EPT, and PSQ were only associated with acute pain. A multilevel (three-level) meta-analysis showed that PSQ was not associated with postoperative pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower PPT and EPT, and higher TSP are associated with acute postoperative pain while only TSP is associated with chronic postoperative pain. Patients with abnormal preoperative pain sensitivity should be identified by clinicians to adopt early interventions for effective analgesia.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW PROTOCOL

PROSPERO (CRD42023465727).

Testing body-related components of objectification theory: A meta-analysis of the relations between body shame, self-objectification, and body dissatisfaction

Objectification theory has been instrumental in better understanding risk for eating disorders, depression, and sexual dysfunction, with self-objectification and body shame as serial mediators leading to these outcomes. Although originally proposed to explain these mental health outcomes in heterosexual women, researchers have extended objectification theory to individuals of various ages, racial identities, and sexual and gender identities. We conducted a systematic literature review of empirical peer-reviewed published research examining the relationship between the constructs of self-objectification, body dissatisfaction, and body shame in adult, youth, and LGBTQ+ samples. Our search yielded 5200 results, of which 318 met inclusion criteria. Of the papers included in this review, 26 reported correlations with sexual and gender diverse samples, 43 reported correlations with youth samples, and 249 reported correlations with samples of general adults (non-sexual or gender minorities). The meta-analyses yielded significant, moderate, positive correlations between body dissatisfaction and self-objectification, and between body shame and self-objectification, for each of the sub-samples. The majority of samples were predominantly White and cisgender female, suggesting the need for additional research examining these constructs among racial and gender minority populations. Overall, the results of this review highlight the unique contributions of body shame and body dissatisfaction to self-objectifying behaviors, and identify the moderating role of race and gender in these interrelations.

Stress, burnout and coping among nurses working on acute medical wards and in the community: A quantitative study

BACKGROUND

Psychological distress can cause burnout, which affects mental and physical well-being. It is important to identify factors associated with psychological distress and physical discomfort and how nurses deal with these problems.

AIM

The aim was to investigate distress, burnout and coping among community nurses (CN) and hospital nurses (HN).

APPROACH AND METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 409 nurses completed three questionnaires: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and Ways of Coping (WOC).

FINDINGS

Participants younger than 40 demonstrated significantly more distress and burnout than those older than 40 years. Participants who had moderate and high distress on the PSS were significantly more at risk for experiencing personal, work-related and patient-related burnout. A significant positive correlation was found between distress and behavioural escape-avoidance, cognitive escape-avoidance and distancing. Significant positive correlations were also seen between all the subscales of the CBI and behavioural escape-avoidance, cognitive escape-avoidance and distancing. Positive significant correlation was also obtained between staff resources and distress and personal-related and work-related burnout. Negative correlation was demonstrated between staff resources and patient-related burnout. Participants with longer work experience were less likely to report moderate or high distress, and those who scored higher on personal burnout and behavioural escape-avoidance were more likely to have moderate or high distress.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study call for increased attention to the younger generation in the nursing profession. The results also validate the need to investigate further the correlation between distress, burnout and coping and how these issues might influence each other among nurses working in the community and hospitals. Findings should be taken with precaution, they do not describe in detail what underlying factors contribute to distress and discomfort found in this study, they do, however, indicate certain coping strategies nurses use to deal with distress and burnout.

Stochastic resonance in the sensory systems and its applications in neural prosthetics

Noise is generally considered to be detrimental. In the right conditions, however, noise can improve signal detection or information transmission. This counterintuitive phenomenon is called stochastic resonance (SR). SR has generated significant interdisciplinary interest, particularly in physics, engineering, and medical and environmental sciences. In this review, we discuss a growing empirical literature that suggests that noise at the right intensity may improve the detection and processing of auditory, sensorimotor, and visual stimuli. We focus particularly on applications of SR in sensory biology and investigate whether SR-based technologies present a pathway to improve outcomes for individuals living with sensory impairments. We conclude that there is considerable evidence supporting the application of SR in developing sensory prosthetics. However, the progression of SR-based technologies is variable across the sensory modalities. We suggest opportunities for further advancements in each modality, considering the best approaches to maximise benefits and capitalise on progress already made. Overall, SR can offer opportunities to improve existing technologies or to motivate innovations.

Effect of emotional valence on true and false recognition controlling arousal

The aim of our experiment was to analyse the effect of the emotional valence (positive, negative, or neutral) on true and false recognition, matching the arousal, frequency, concreteness, and associative strength of the study and recognition words. Fifty younger adults and 46 healthy older adults performed three study tasks (with words of different valence: positive, negative, neutral) and their corresponding recognition tests. Two weeks later, they performed the three recognition tests again. The results show that words with a negative valence produced less true recognition and less false recognition than words with a positive or neutral valence, in both younger and older adults, on the immediate recognition test. This pattern of results was also found in the younger adults on the delayed recognition test, whereas in the older participants, these differences disappeared. Thus, when arousal is controlled, both younger and older adults tend to recognise negative information worse than positive or neutral information, but they also commit fewer errors. Results would suggest that the greater arousal commonly associated with negative stimuli, rather than their own valence, could explain some of the contradictory results found in the literature.

Heterogeneity in suicide risk: Evidence from personalized dynamic models

Most theories of suicide propose within-person changes in psychological states cause suicidal thoughts/behaviors; however, most studies use between-person analyses. Thus, there are little empirical data exploring current theories in the way they are hypothesized to occur. We used a form of statistical modeling called group iterative multiple model estimation (GIMME) to explore one theory of suicide: The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS). GIMME estimates personalized statistical models for each individual and associations shared across individuals. Data were from a real-time monitoring study of individuals with a history of suicidal thoughts/behavior (adult sample: participants = 111, observations = 25,242; adolescent sample: participants = 145, observations = 26,182). Across both samples, none of theorized IPTS effects (i.e., contemporaneous effect from hopeless to suicidal thinking) were shared at the group level. There was significant heterogeneity in the personalized models, suggesting there are different pathways through which different people come to experience suicidal thoughts/behaviors. These findings highlight the complexity of suicide risk and the need for more personalized approaches to assessment and prediction.

Understanding social cognition in children with cerebral palsy: exploring the relationship with executive functions and the intervention outcomes in a randomized controlled trial

Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) experience Social Cognition (SC) difficulties, which could be related to executive functioning. While motor interventions are common, there is limited knowledge about the impact of cognitive interventions on SC in this population. This study examined the relationship between SC and Executive Function (EF) skills and the effectiveness of an EF intervention that included some SC tasks for improving SC in children with CP. SC and EF domains were assessed in 60 participants with CP (30 females; 8-12 years). The relationship between SC and EF baseline scores was analyzed by bivariate correlations and contingency tables. Participants were matched by age, sex, motor ability, and intelligence quotient and randomized into intervention or control groups. The intervention group underwent a 12-week home-based computerized EF intervention. Analysis of covariance was used to examine differences in SC components between groups at post-intervention and 9 months after. Significant positive correlations were found between the SC and EF scores. The frequencies of impaired and average scores in SC were distributed similarly to the impaired and average scores in EFs. The intervention group showed significant improvements in Affect Recognition performance post-intervention, which were maintained at the follow-up assessment, with a moderate effect size. Long-term improvements in Theory of Mind were observed 9 months after.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the association between SC and EFs. A home-based computerized cognitive intervention program improves SC in children with CP. Including SC tasks in EF interventions may lead to positive short- and long-term effects for children with CP.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04025749 retrospectively registered on 19 July 2019.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Executive functions and social cognition are associated with social and community participation in people with cerebral palsy. • A home-based computerized cognitive intervention can improve the executive functioning of children with cerebral palsy.

WHAT IS NEW

• Social cognition performance is related to core and higher-order executive functions. • A home-based computerized executive function intervention, including social cognition tasks, has positive short- and long-term effects on social cognition skills in children with cerebral palsy.

Practical diagnosis and treatment of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder by psychiatrists and obstetricians/gynecologists in Japan

Aim

To investigate and compare the diagnoses and treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) from the perspectives of psychiatrists and obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYNs) in Japan.

Methods

Between December 2021 and February 2022, a web-based survey was conducted among the members of the Japanese Association of Neuro-Psychiatric Clinics. Data from 262 psychiatrists who responded to the aforementioned survey were compared with data from 409 OB/GYNs from a survey conducted in 2021 among members of the Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Results

Overall, 79.8% of psychiatrists and 97.3% of OB/GYNs were involved in practicing PMS/PMDD diagnosis and treatment. Most psychiatrists believed that PMS should be treated by OB/GYNs (74.4%) and PMDD by psychiatrists (75.6%). Only vague medical interviews were conducted by 86.6% of psychiatrists, and only 9.7% maintained a two-cycle symptom diary. Psychiatrists mostly prescribed selective serotonin/serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SSRI/SNRI) continuous dosing (91.1%), followed by Kampo medicines, especially Kamishoyosan (73.3%); only 2.8% chose oral contraceptive pills, unlike OB/GYNs, while SSRI continuous (32.8%) and luteal phase dosing (20.6%) and Kampo medicine (42.1%) were the most common first-line treatments. Lifestyle guidance was prescribed by 63.6% of psychiatrists, followed by cognitive behavioral therapy (13.8%) and the symptom diary observation method (11.1%), which were similar to OB/GYNs' choices.

Conclusions

Many Japanese psychiatrists and OB/GYNs do not base PMS/PMDD diagnoses on prospective monitoring methods using specific diagnostic criteria and therefore do not provide evidence-based treatment. Moreover, a tendency of being biased toward treatments in which the department specialized was observed.

Local but not global graph theoretic measures of semantic networks generalize across tasks

"Dogs" are connected to "cats" in our minds, and "backyard" to "outdoors." Does the structure of this semantic knowledge differ across people? Network-based approaches are a popular representational scheme for thinking about how relations between different concepts are organized. Recent research uses graph theoretic analyses to examine individual differences in semantic networks for simple concepts and how they relate to other higher-level cognitive processes, such as creativity. However, it remains ambiguous whether individual differences captured via network analyses reflect true differences in measures of the structure of semantic knowledge, or differences in how people strategically approach semantic relatedness tasks. To test this, we examine the reliability of local and global metrics of semantic networks for simple concepts across different semantic relatedness tasks. In four experiments, we find that both weighted and unweighted graph theoretic representations reliably capture individual differences in local measures of semantic networks (e.g., how related pot is to pan versus lion). In contrast, we find that metrics of global structural properties of semantic networks, such as the average clustering coefficient and shortest path length, are less robust across tasks and may not provide reliable individual difference measures of how people represent simple concepts. We discuss the implications of these results and offer recommendations for researchers who seek to apply graph theoretic analyses in the study of individual differences in semantic memory.

Revisiting adolescence as a sensitive period for sociocultural processing

Waves of research and public discourse have characterized adolescence as periods of developmental risk and opportunity. Underlying this discussion is the recognition that adolescence is a period of major biological and social transition when experience may have an outsized effect on development. This article updates and expands upon prior work suggesting that adolescence may be a sensitive period for sociocultural processing specifically. By integrating evidence from developmental psychology and neuroscience, we identify how trajectories of social and neurobiological development may relate to adolescents' ability to adapt to and learn from their social environments. However, we also highlight gaps in the literature, including challenges in attributing developmental change to adolescent experiences. We discuss the importance of better understanding variability in biology (e.g., pubertal development) and cultural environments, as well as distinguishing between sensitive periods and periods of heightened sensitivity. Finally, we look toward future directions and translational implications of this research.

Dimensionality assessment in the presence of wording effects: A network psychometric and factorial approach

This study proposes a procedure for substantive dimensionality estimation in the presence of wording effects, the inconsistent response to regular and reversed self-report items. The procedure developed consists of subtracting an approximate estimate of the wording effects variance from the sample correlation matrix and then estimating the substantive dimensionality on the residual correlation matrix. This is achieved by estimating a random intercept factor with unit loadings for all the regular and unrecoded reversed items. The accuracy of the procedure was evaluated through an extensive simulation study that manipulated nine relevant variables and employed the exploratory graph analysis (EGA) and parallel analysis (PA) retention methods. The results indicated that combining the proposed procedure with EGA or PA achieved high accuracy in estimating the substantive latent dimensionality, but that EGA was superior. Additionally, the present findings shed light on the complex ways that wording effects impact the dimensionality estimates when the response bias in the data is ignored. A tutorial on substantive dimensionality estimation with the R package EGAnet is offered, as well as practical guidelines for applied researchers.

Exoskeleton Usability Questionnaire: a preliminary evaluation questionnaire for the lower limb industrial exoskeletons

Exoskeleton robots are a promising solution to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in different work environments, but a specific usability scale for evaluating them is lacking. This study aimed to develop and verify a preliminary Exoskeleton Usability Questionnaire (EUQ) for the lower limb exoskeletons by creating a draft survey questionnaire from existing questions in prior studies. An experiment was conducted with 20 participants who performed a specific task while wearing three lower limb robots and provided subjective feedback using the developed questionnaire. Data were analysed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), resulting in a usability evaluation questionnaire for exoskeleton robots clustered into four main factors: mobility, adjustability, handling and safety. This study's findings are expected to be useful in evaluating the usability of the lower limb exoskeletons in both general production sites and agricultural work, which can aid in reducing the prevalence of lower limb MSDs.Practitioner Summary: This study developed a preliminary subjective usability evaluation questionnaire for exoskeleton robots. The questionnaire is clustered into four main factors: mobility, adjustability, handling and safety. These findings provide a valuable tool for assessing exoskeleton usability, potentially reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in various work environments.

Effects of Different Resistance Training Frequencies on Body Composition, Muscular Strength, Muscle Quality, and Metabolic Biomarkers in Sarcopenic Older Women

ABSTRACT

Dos Santos, VR, Antunes, M, dos Santos, L, Nascimento, MA, Pina, FLC, Carneiro, NH, Trindade, MCC, Venturini, D, Barbosa, DS, and Cyrino, ES. Effects of different resistance training frequencies on body composition, muscular strength, muscle quality, and metabolic biomarkers in sarcopenic older women. J Strength Cond Res 38(9): e521-e528, 2024-Resistance training (RT) can ameliorate outcomes related to sarcopenia by promoting beneficial changes in muscular strength, skeletal muscle mass (SMM), and muscle quality. This study compared the effects of 12 weeks of RT performed 2 and 3 sessions a week on body composition, muscular strength, muscle quality, and metabolic biomarkers in sarcopenic older women. Thirty-four sarcopenic older women (>60 years) were randomly assigned to perform a whole-body RT program, either 2 (G2X, n = 18) or 3 (G3X, n = 16) sessions a week during 12 weeks (8 exercises, single set of 10-15 repetitions). Body composition, muscular strength, muscle quality, and metabolic biomarkers were assessed before and after the intervention. Both groups increased (p < 0.05) 1 repetition maximum total muscular strength (G2X = +20.4% and G3X = +21.0%), SMM (G2X = +4.0% and G3X = +7.0%), and improved muscle quality (G2X = +16.7% and G3X = +13.6%), with no differences between groups (p > 0.05). No change over time was found for IGF-1 and testosterone (p > 0.05). Our results suggest that 12 weeks of RT performed at a lower weekly frequency is as effective as a higher frequency in improving muscular strength, SMM, and muscle quality in sarcopenic older women.

White matter connectivity and social functioning in survivors of pediatric brain tumor

OBJECTIVE

Survivors of pediatric brain tumors (SPBT) are at risk for social deficits, fewer friendships, and poor peer relations. SPBT also experience reduced brain connectivity via microstructural disruptions to white matter from neurological insults. Research with other populations implicates white matter connectivity as a key contributor to poor social functioning. This case-controlled diffusion-weighted imaging study evaluated structural connectivity in SPBT and typically developing controls (TDC) and associations between metrics of connectivity and social functioning.

METHODS

Diffusion weighted-imaging results from 19 SPBT and 19 TDC were analyzed using probabilistic white matter tractography. Survivors were at least 5 years post-diagnosis and 2 years off treatment. Graph theory statistics measured group differences across several connectivity metrics, including average strength, global efficiency, assortativity, clustering coefficient, modularity, and betweenness centrality. Analyses also evaluated the effects of neurological risk on connectivity among SPBT. Correlational analyses evaluated associations between connectivity and indices of social behavior.

RESULTS

SPBT demonstrated reduced global connectivity compared to TDC. Several medical factors (e.g., chemotherapy, recurrence, multimodal therapy) were related to decreased connectivity across metrics of integration (e.g., average strength, global efficiency) in SPBT. Connectivity metrics were related to peer relationship quality and social challenges in the SPBT group and to social challenges in the total sample.

CONCLUSIONS

Microstructural white matter connectivity is diminished in SPBT and related to neurological risk and peer relationship quality. Additional neuroimaging research is needed to evaluate associations between brain connectivity metrics and social functioning in SPBT.

The relationship between problematic Instagram use and eating disorders psychopathology: an explanatory structural equation model

An emerging body of research has evidenced the negative influence of using and being exposed to social networking sites (SNSs) on body image. Furthermore, it has been postulated that SNS use might be related with onset and persistence of eating disorders (EDs) psychopathology. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the complex interplay between problematic Instagram use (PIU) (conceptualized as a potential behavioral addiction comprising withdrawal, conflict, tolerance, salience, mood modification and relapse) and ED psychopathology, by means of an explanatory structural equation model. We hypothesized that PIU would be associated with ED symptoms through the mediating role of appearance comparison, individual psychological investment in physical appearance, and body uneasiness. A sample of 386 young female participants (Mage = 26.04 ± 6.73) was recruited, of which 152 had received a diagnosis of ED. ED patients used Instagram more than the control group and showed higher levels of PIU. Results from structural equation modeling (fit indices: χ2 = 44.54, df = 19, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.059; CFI = 0.98; SRMR = 0.02) showed that PIU predicted appearance comparison and psychological investment in physical appearance, which in turn predicted body uneasiness. In turn, body uneasiness predicted ED psychopathology and interpersonal difficulties. Our model provides a useful account of how eating disorder symptoms could be triggered and maintained by an addictive use of Instagram.

Cumulative childhood interpersonal trauma and parental stress: The role of partner support

Parents who have experienced cumulative childhood interpersonal trauma (CCIT, i.e., an accumulation of different types of abuse) tend to experience higher parental stress following the birth of a child. As CCIT is associated with lower levels of partner support, which is linked to increased parental stress, partner support could explain the link between CCIT and parental stress. Yet, these variables have never been studied using a dyadic approach. This study examined the role of received and provided partner support in the association between CCIT and parental stress. A randomly selected sample of 1119 couples with infants completed online questionnaires assessing CCIT, partner support, and parental stress. An actor-partner interdependence model path analysis showed that both parents' CCIT were associated with increased paternal stress through fathers' lower received and provided support, and with increased maternal stress through mothers' received and provided support. Overall, the findings highlight the significance of examining the interdependence between both parents' experience and the role of partner support as a key factor explaining the link between CCIT and parental stress, thereby emphasizing its importance as an intervention target.

An Intersectional Exploration of Outness, Encountered Discrimination and Violence, and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among Asexual Youth across Gender Identities

Current research on asexual youth is limited, especially in understanding the impact of their outness and the intersection of sexual orientation with gender minority identities. This study investigates the influence of outness on experiences of harassment, discrimination, violence, and the risk of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among asexual youth, with a focus on those with transgender and non-binary identities. Data for this study were obtained from the 2021 Ace Community Survey, an international online survey designed to assess the needs and health status of the Ace community, targeting respondents aged 13 and older. The analysis involved a subsample of 5574 respondents aged 13 to 24 (mean age = 19.28), including 2361 cisgender (mean age = 19.65), 1,195 transgender (mean age = 18.80), and 2,018 non-binary individuals (mean age = 19.13). The results revealed that experienceds of sexual violence, verbal aggression, and physical harassment and bullying not only correlated with but also completely mediated the relationship between outness and NSSI. Asexual transgender youth experienced heightened levels of discrimination and NSSI but demonstrated notable resilience against the negative effects of identity disclosure, highlighting complex dynamics of vulnerability and protection within these communities.

The Social Comparison Rumination Scale: Development, Psychometric Properties, and Associations With Perfectionism, Narcissism, Burnout, and Distress

In the current article, we describe the development and validation of the Social Comparison Rumination Scale. This measured was developed as a supplement to existing social comparison measures and to enable us to determine its potential relevance to perfectionism and other personality constructs. The Social Comparison Rumination Scale (SCRS) is a six-item inventory assessing the extent to which an individual is cognitively preoccupied and thinking repetitively about social comparison outcomes and information. Three studies with five samples of university students are described. Psychometric analyses established the SCRS consists of one factor assessed with high internal consistency and the measure is reliable and valid. Analyses showed that elevated levels of social comparison rumination are associated with trait perfectionism, perfectionistic automatic thoughts, perfectionistic self-presentation, ruminative brooding, burnout, depression, and fear of negative evaluation. Links were also established between social comparison rumination and both narcissism and dispositional envy. Overall, our findings support the further use of the SCRS and highlight the tendency of many people to think in deleterious ways about social comparisons long after the actual comparisons have taken place. We discuss social comparison rumination within the context of concerns about excessive social media use and young people being exposed to seemingly perfect lives that became a vexing cognitive preoccupation.

Perfectionism, Self-Image Goals and Compassionate Goals in Health and Mental Health: A Longitudinal Analysis

This research focuses on ego-focused self-image goals as central to understanding the vulnerability inherent in perfectionism and the link that perfectionism has with poorer health and emotional well-being. The present study expands theory and research on perfectionism from a unique motivational perspective through a longitudinal investigation of perfectionism, the pursuit of self-image goals related to self-improvement, and mental and physical health among 187 university students. Our central finding was that trait and self-presentational perfectionism were associated longitudinally with self-image goals and poorer mental and physical health. Longitudinal analyses showed that perfectionistic self-presentation predicted subsequent self-image goals, controlling for initial self-image goals. Additionally, self-image goals were associated with worse mental and physical health and greater loneliness and social anxiety. Collectively, our results illustrate the benefits of assessing problematic personal goals in perfectionism and the need to revise existing motivational accounts by recognizing the important role ego-involved goals play in guiding much of what perfectionists do and how they act in their daily lives.

Emotion Regulation Frequency and Self-Efficacy: Differential Associations with Affective Symptoms

Successful emotion regulation is a critical component of mental health, and difficulties with emotion regulation have been associated with a wide range of disorders, including anxiety and depressive disorders. However, although much is known about commonly used forms of emotion regulation such as cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression, the relative contribution of two important facets of emotion regulation-frequency and self-efficacy-is not yet clearly established. To address this issue, we conducted two studies. Study 1 employed a community sample (cross-sectional N = 431; 4- to 5-month longitudinal N = 182). Study 2 employed a clinical sample (cross-sectional N = 132). Both assessed emotion regulation frequency and self-efficacy, as well as affective outcomes (anxiety and depressive symptoms). Findings indicated cognitive reappraisal self-efficacy appears to be a relevant variable understanding negative affect outcomes, cross-sectionally, longitudinally and in the clinical sample. Our findings support the process model of emotion regulation in affective symptomatology. Implications for theory and treatment are discussed.

Meta-prospective memory accuracy in young adults with and without depressive symptoms

Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to remember an intention in the future. Individuals with depression are candidates for PM failures, resulting in detrimental consequences, such as forgetting to take a medication or implement therapeutic techniques; inaccurate assessments of one's PM abilities can exacerbate these issues. The current study examined if appraisals about one's prospective memory (meta-PM) performance differs between healthy and depressed adults. Data were gathered from 137 adults and included self-reported depression, PM beliefs, objective PM, and assessment of executive functions (EFs). Participants were separated into depressed/healthy categories based on a self-report measure. There was a non-significant correlation between self-reported PM and objective PM for both depressed (r = .06, p = .61) and healthy (r = .08, p = .52) groups, suggesting both groups had inaccurate meta-PM. There were non-significant differences in meta-PM between these groups (Fisher's Z = -0.09, p = .93), but exploratory gender analyses revealed women's meta-PM was significantly less accurate than men's. Women had higher reports of depression and PM complaints compared to men. This study lends evidence that depression is not necessarily related to worse meta-PM accuracy, despite depression's association with memory complaints, and that women are at greater risk for inaccurate meta-PM.

Relationship of psychological/mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) history and invalid reporting to self-reported executive function

Individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) often complain of executive functioning (EF) difficulties. There is a discrepancy between self-reported EF impairment and EF deficits on neuropsychological tests, with some arguing that self-report EF is more related to real-world functioning than EF tests. However, research suggests that self-reported EF may be related more to emotional distress and is vulnerable to invalid reporting. We examined the vulnerability of the short form Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS) to invalid reporting, using a simulated mTBI paradigm. We included four groups: individuals simulating mTBI with (N = 24) and without (N = 21) histories of mTBI/other psychological conditions and controls with (N = 21) and without (N = 25) histories of mTBI/other psychological conditions. As hypothesized, simulators performed worse on the BDEFS Total Score and EF Symptom Count relative to controls; however, this effect was larger within those who had no self-reported history of mTBI/other psychological conditions. We identified a preliminary cutoff on the EF Symptom Count that detected 42.8% of simulators, with 95% specificity relative to the controls with histories of mTBI/other psychological conditions. The present study emphasizes the need for validity scales on self-report EF measures such as the BDEFS.

The impact of alcohol consumption on implicit racial bias

OBJECTIVE

Researchers and theorists studying intergroup relations have been interested in the impact of alcohol on interracial responding. Theories predict that alcohol will exacerbate expressions of racial bias by increasing reliance on stereotypes and/or by decreasing controlled processing and self-monitoring. Prior studies testing these theories have often examined alcohol's effects on implicit (i.e., indirect) measures of racial bias with inconsistent results. However, previous research in this area has suffered from several methodological limitations, including small sample sizes and doses of alcohol that may have been too low to induce substantial intoxication.

METHOD

Here, in more than triple the number of alcohol participants than the largest prior study, we tested whether an intoxicating dose of alcohol (target breath alcohol concentration of .08%) exacerbated implicit racial bias. Young adults who identified as races other than Black or African American (N = 207) were randomly assigned to consume an alcoholic or placebo beverage and completed the race-based Implicit Association Test (race IAT) testing implicit preference for White (vs. Black) individuals [or, conversely, bias against Black (vs. White) individuals].

RESULTS

All participants demonstrated an implicit racial bias (i.e., linking traditionally Black names with negative/unpleasant words), with no difference in this implicit racial bias across beverage conditions. Specifically, there were no differences between alcohol participants' race IAT D scores (M = 0.55, SD = 0.39), and placebo participants' race IAT D scores (M = 0.59, SD = 0.35), b = 0.05, 95%CI [-0.07, 0.18], p = .422.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings challenge theories and prior studies suggesting that alcohol increases implicit racial bias. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Acute Eye-Tracking Changes Correlated With Vestibular Symptom Provocation Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

OBJECTIVES

To quantify norms and changes in eye-tracking proficiency, and determine vestibular symptom correlations in varsity college athletes following acute mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). We hypothesized that mTBI impacts central coordination between the vestibular and oculomotor systems with resultant changes in eye-tracking proficiency that are correlated with vestibular symptom provocation.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Sports medicine care at a single institution.

PATIENTS

One hundred and nineteen college athletes diagnosed with mTBI by a physician between 2013 and 2019.

INTERVENTIONS

N/A.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Standard deviation of tangential error, standard deviation of radian error, mean phase error, and horizontal gain from virtual reality-based, circular eye-tracking goggles used at baseline and within 72 hours post-mTBI. Headache, dizziness, nausea, and fogginess provocation after the Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) smooth pursuits subtest compared with pretest baseline, assessed within 72 hours post-mTBI.

RESULTS

One hundred and nineteen college athletes (N = 56 women and 63 men) aged 18 to 24 years sustained a total of 177 mTBI. Forty-four percent of athletes displayed abnormal eye-tracking on at least 1 eye-tracking measure following acute mTBI compared with their baseline. From the VOMS, horizontal gain showed medium-sized to large-sized positive correlations with headache ( r = 0.34) and dizziness ( r = 0.54), respectively. Mean phase error showed a medium-sized negative correlation with nausea ( r = -0.32) on the VOMS.

CONCLUSIONS

Eye-tracking proficiency was impaired and correlated with vestibular symptom provocation following acute mTBI in college athletes. Future research should examine eye-tracking proficiency testing in other acute care settings to support mTBI diagnosis.

Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Reported ADHD Symptoms in Bariatric Patients: Focus on Mood and Anxiety Comorbidity, Disordered Eating, and Temperamental Traits

PURPOSE

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. A positive association between ADHD and obesity has been observed, especially in adult samples. In this study, prevalence and correlates of self-reported symptoms indicative of a positive screening for ADHD were examined in patients seeking bariatric treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study sample was composed of 260 adult patients with obesity referred for bariatric surgery to the Obesity Center of the Endocrinology Unit in Pisa University Hospital between January 2006 and November 2016 (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2; mean ± standard deviation = 46.27 ± 7.45 kg/m2). ADHD symptoms were identified using ADHD Symptom Check-List-90-R Screening Scale. Night-eating, binge-eating/purging behaviors, and temperamental and character traits were assessed in a subsample of 95 patients.

RESULTS

Thirty participants had a positive screening for ADHD (11.5%, 95% CI = 7.9-16.1%). Patients with a positive screening showed significantly higher rates of anxiety disorders (40% vs. 16.5%, χ2 = 7.97, p = 0.005) panic disorder (40% vs. 14.3%, χ2 = 10.48, p = 0.001), and a higher severity of psychopathological symptoms and sleep disturbances than those without. In subsample analyses, ADHD symptoms severity was associated with more bulimic behaviors (r = 0.31-0.46), greater harm avoidance (r = 0.45-0.66), less self-directedness (r =  - 0.44-0.63), and cooperativeness (r =  - 0.26-0.42).

CONCLUSION

ADHD symptoms may be common in patients with obesity seeking bariatric treatment and are positively associated with disordered eating, internalizing features, and maladaptive character traits.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

V, cross sectional descriptive study.

Multicomponent Physical Program: Effects on Physical Fitness of Older Women of Different Age Groups

Purpose: Experimental studies investigating the outcomes of physical exercise among age-stratified groups of older women are still incipient. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a ten-month multicomponent physical program on the physical fitness of older women in three age-stratified groups (60-69 years, 70-79 years, and ≥80 years). Method: Participants (n = 141) were divided into three age groups: GR1 60-69 years (n = 45; 65.2 ± 2.3 years); GR2 70-79 years (n = 67; 72.9 ± 2.9 years), GR3 ≥80 years (n = 29; 83.5 ± 4.5 years). The participants performed the multicomponent physical program and were evaluated before and after the intervention with Senior Fitness Test. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations, Bonferroni test (p ≤.05) and effect size (Cohen's d). Results: For the group factor, there were significant differences in lower limb strength (p = .003), upper limb strength (p < .001), upper limb flexibility (p < .001), balance/agility (p < .001), and cardiorespiratory fitness (p < .001). For the time factor, significant differences were observed in lower limb strength (GR2, p = .014, small effect size), upper limb strength (GR1, p = .003; GR2, p < .001; GR3, p = .017; small effect sizes), lower limb flexibility (GR1, p = .025, non-significant effect size), cardiorespiratory fitness (GR1, p < .001, medium effect size; GR2, p = .002; small effect size). Conclusion: Physical fitness improved with training, but effects differed between age groups. Positive effects were observed for GR1 and GR2, whereas GR3 showed maintenance of physical fitness. Aging interferes more strongly in women aged 80 years and older and it is necessary for specific training programs for this age group.                                                      .

Pregnancy, abortion, and birth control methods' complicity with breast cancer occurrence

Reproductive factors play significantly important roles in determining the breast cancer (BC) risk. The impact of pregnancy, abortion, and birth control methods on tumor development remains unclear. It has been found that early full-term pregnancies in young women can lower their lifetime risk of developing the type of cancer in question. However, having a first full-term pregnancy at an older age can increase this risk. The relationship between pregnancy and breast cancer (BC) is, however, much more complicated. Both induced and spontaneous abortions lead to sudden changes in hormonal balance, which could cause different effects on sensitive breast epithelial cells, making abortion a potential risk factor for breast cancer. The influence of hormonal contraception on carcinogenesis is not comprehensively understood, and therefore, more exhaustive analysis of existing data and further investigation is needed. This review explores how the mentioned reproductive factors affect the risk of breast cancer (BC), focusing on the molecular mechanisms that contribute to its complexity. By comprehending this intricate network of relationships, we can develop new strategies for predicting and treating the disease.

The relationship between racial/ethnic identification and body ideal internalization, hair satisfaction, and skin tone satisfaction in black and black/white biracial women

Eurocentric physical characteristics, including a thin, tall physique, long straight hair, and fair skin, typify Western beauty standards. Past research indicates that for Black women, greater identification with one's racial/ethnic culture may buffer against internalizing Eurocentric beauty standards, specifically the thin ideal. Black/White Biracial women often experience different appearance pressures from each of their racial identity's sociocultural appearance ideals. Unfortunately, body image research is limited among Bi/Multiracial individuals. Participants were recruited online via Prime Panels, a high-quality data recruitment service provided by CloudResearch. Participants, M(SD)Age= 34.64 (12.85), self-reported their racial/ethnic identification, thin and thick/curvy ideal internalization, and hair and skin tone satisfaction. Using linear regression analyses, we assessed whether racial/ethnic identification buffered against monoracial Black (n = 317) and Black/White Biracial (n = 254) women's thin ideal internalization. Additionally, we assessed whether stronger racial/ethnic identity was associated with stronger thick/curvy ideal internalization and hair and skin tone satisfaction. Supporting hypotheses, greater racial/ethnic identification was associated with higher thick/curvy ideal internalization and hair and skin tone satisfaction among both Black and Biracial women. Contrary to hypotheses, greater racial/ethnic identification was not associated with lower thin ideal internalization in either group. Our results stress the need to use racially and culturally sensitive measurements of body image.

The contribution of alexithymia, childhood maltreatment, impulsivity, C-reactive protein, lipid profile, and thyroid hormones to aggression and psychological distress (depression and anxiety) in schizophrenia

There are individual effects of alexithymia, childhood maltreatment, impulsivity, and some biological markers on aggression and psychological distress in schizophrenia. However, the combined effects of these psychological and biological markers have not yet been fully studied. This study therefore aimed to investigate the influence of these psychological and biological markers on aggression and psychological distress (e.g., depression and anxiety) in inpatients with schizophrenia (n = 355). Participants completed self-report and clinician-rated scales, and blood samples were collected. There were no significant differences between patients with and without alexithymia regarding biological markers. Patients with childhood maltreatment exhibited higher levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3) and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as lower total cholesterol (TC) levels, compared to non-traumatized individuals. Aggression was positively predicted by psychological distress, alexithymia, childhood maltreatment, impulsivity, CRP, and FT3, and negatively by TC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Negative symptoms, childhood maltreatment, alexithymia, aggression, and CRP positively, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol negatively emerged as predictors of psychological distress. The study highlights the connections between childhood maltreatment, alexithymia, impulsivity, and potentially related biological dysregulation in explaining aggression and negative mood states as a bio-psychological model of aggression and mood in schizophrenia.

Two-year course of non-suicidal self-injury in an adolescent clinical cohort: The role of childhood adversity in interaction with cortisol secretion

AIM

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a highly prevalent phenomenon during adolescence. Nonetheless, research on predictors of the clinical course of NSSI over time is still scarce. The present study aimed at investigating the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning on the longitudinal course of NSSI.

METHODS

In a sample of n = 51 help-seeking adolescents engaging in NSSI, diurnal cortisol secretion (CAR, cortisol awakening response; DSL, diurnal slope), hair cortisol concentrations and ACE were assessed at baseline. Clinical outcome was defined by change in the frequency of NSSI in the past 6 months measured 12 and 24 months after the baseline assessments. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to test for effects of ACE and HPA axis functioning on the course of NSSI.

RESULTS

ACE and HPA axis functioning did not show main but interaction effects in the prediction of NSSI frequency over time: Adolescents with a low severity of ACE and either an increased CAR or a flattened DSL showed a steep decline of NSSI frequency in the first year followed by a subsequent increase of NSSI frequency in the second year.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings could be interpreted in the sense of high diurnal cortisol concentrations in the absence of ACE being favorable for clinical improvement on the short-term but bearing a risk of allostatic load and subsequent increase of NSSI frequency. In contrast, adolescents with severe ACE may benefit from elevated cortisol concentrations leading to slower but lasting decreases of NSSI frequency.

Validity of the distress tolerance inventory in predicting response to the Cold-Pressor Test

Distress intolerance-a broad band dispositional variable has been shown to serve as a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology. We investigated the predictive validity of the physical and emotional subscales of the Distress Tolerance Inventory (DTI) on behavioral responding (immersion time) and moment-to-moment subjective distress ratings to the Cold-Pressor Test. College students (N = 134) completed self-report questionnaires indexing physical and emotional distress tolerance and then completed a cold pressor challenge. The DTI displayed convergent validity with several well-established self-report measures assessing distress tolerance (i.e. DTS, PCS, DIS). Participants' scores on the DTI physical subscale (but not the DTS or DTI emotional subscale) predicted participants' immersion time on the cold pressor challenge, thus supporting the construct validity of the DTI physical distress subscale. The DIS also predicted immersion time, though its internal consistency was marginal. These data suggest that the DTI is a valid measure for both emotional and physical distress tolerance and should be considered as a viable alternative to the DTS, especially for investigative domains involving physical distress such as chronic pain, or screening personnel for physically demanding tasks.

The exercise intensity-music-tempo preference relationship: A decennial revisit

Tempo is a key determinant of the motivational effects of music during exercise and has been the focus of numerous empirical studies (e.g., Karageorghis & Jones, 2014). The present study sought to address the limitations of previous related work and revisit the relationship between exercise intensity and music-tempo preference using unfamiliar, non-lyrical music (to isolate the tempo manipulation). A within-within experimental design was employed to test hypotheses pertaining to the non-linear relationship and associated psychological outcomes (e.g., core affect and state attention). Twenty-four participants (Mage = 20.6 years, SD = 0.92 years) exercised at five intensities (10% of peak V̇O2 below ventilatory threshold [VT]; 5% of peak V̇O2 below VT, at VT, midway between VT and the respiratory compensation point [RCP], and at RCP) during which they were administered music tracks at four tempi (90 bpm, 110 bpm, 130 bpm and 150 bpm) and a no-music control. A music liking item, measures of core affect (valence and arousal), attentional focus and perceived exertion were recorded during the exercise bouts. Results indicated that unlike previous findings with familiar, lyrical music, there was no discernible relationship between exercise intensity and preference for music tempo. The most positive psychological outcomes were associated with fast-tempo music. In accord with previous findings, slow-tempo music attracted low liking scores and the least desirable psychological outcomes at every exercise intensity. The present findings have implications for the use of unfamiliar, non-lyrical music during exercise. Specifically, that such music should be ∼10 bpm faster than familiar, lyrical music.

Intraindividual variability in post-stroke cognition and its relationship with activities of daily living and social functioning: an ecological momentary assessment approach

INTRODUCTION

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a methodological approach to studying intraindividual variation over time. This study aimed to use EMA to determine the variability of cognition in individuals with chronic stroke, identify the latent classes of cognitive variability, and examine any differences in daily activities, social functioning, and neuropsychological performance between these latent classes.

METHODS

Participants (N = 202) with mild-to-moderate stroke and over 3-month post-stroke completed a study protocol, including smartphone-based EMA and two lab visits. Participants responded to five EMA surveys daily for 14 days to assess cognition. They completed patient-reported measures and neuropsychological assessments during lab visits. Using latent class analysis, we derived four indicators to quantify cognitive variability and identified latent classes among participants. We used ANOVA and Chi-square to test differences between these latent classes in daily activities, social functioning, and neuropsychological performance.

RESULTS

The latent class analysis converged on a three-class model. The moderate and high variability classes demonstrated significantly greater problems in daily activities and social functioning than the low class. They had significantly higher proportions of participants with problems in daily activities and social functioning than the low class. Neuropsychological performance was not statistically different between the three classes, although a trend approaching statistically significant difference was observed in working memory and executive function domains.

DISCUSSION

EMA could capture intraindividual cognitive variability in stroke survivors. It offers a new approach to understanding the impact and mechanism of post-stroke cognitive problems in daily life and identifying individuals benefiting from self-regulation interventions.

Distinct personality profiles associated with disease risk and diagnostic status in eating disorders

BACKGROUND

Personality traits have been associated with eating disorders (EDs) and comorbidities. However, it is unclear which personality profiles are premorbid risk rather than diagnostic markers.

METHODS

We explored associations between personality and ED-related mental health symptoms using canonical correlation analyses. We investigated personality risk profiles in a longitudinal sample, associating personality at age 14 with onset of mental health symptoms at ages 16 or 19. Diagnostic markers were identified in a sample of young adults with anorexia nervosa (AN, n = 58) or bulimia nervosa (BN, n = 63) and healthy controls (n = 47).

RESULTS

Two significant premorbid risk profiles were identified, successively explaining 7.93 % and 5.60 % of shared variance (Rc2). The first combined neuroticism (canonical loading, rs = 0.68), openness (rs = 0.32), impulsivity (rs = 0.29), and conscientiousness (rs = 0.27), with future onset of anxiety symptoms (rs = 0.87) and dieting (rs = 0.58). The other, combined lower agreeableness (rs = -0.60) and lower anxiety sensitivity (rs = -0.47), with future deliberate self-harm (rs = 0.76) and purging (rs = 0.55). Personality profiles associated with "core psychopathology" in both AN (Rc2 = 80.56 %) and BN diagnoses (Rc2 = 64.38 %) comprised hopelessness (rs = 0.95, 0.87) and neuroticism (rs = 0.93, 0.94). For BN, this profile also included impulsivity (rs = 0.60). Additionally, extraversion (rs = 0.41) was associated with lower depressive risk in BN.

LIMITATIONS

The samples were not ethnically diverse. The clinical cohort included only females. There was non-random attrition in the longitudinal sample.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest neuroticism and impulsivity as risk and diagnostic markers for EDs, with neuroticism and hopelessness as shared diagnostic markers. They may inform the design of more personalised prevention and intervention strategies.

Measurement of basic psychological needs for physical activity participation for college students with intellectual disabilities: A validation study

BACKGROUND

Measurement instruments to understand self-determined motivation towards physical activity among college students with intellectual disabilities are needed to develop programs to support physical and psychological health and well-being. The purpose of the current study was to validate a modified questionnaire measuring basic psychological needs towards physical activity among college students with intellectual disabilities.

METHODS

A total of 108 college students with intellectual disabilities completed the modified questionnaire. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire was examined.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a six-factor model had good model fit. Cronbach's alpha values showed acceptable reliability evidence of the instrument as a whole, although some alpha values in subdomains of the instrument were below acceptable values.

CONCLUSION

The modified questionnaire was found to have acceptable validity evidence. Further studies are needed with refinement of answer options and the addition of more questions to increase reliability.

Public Stigmatizing Reactions Toward Nonoffending Pedophilic Individuals Seeking to Relieve Sexual Arousal

People with pedophilia (PWP) can deal with their sexual desires by relieving sexual arousal without sexually exploiting children. Study 1 investigated whether public reactions toward nonoffending pedophilic men are affected by their strategies to relieve sexual arousal (nonsexual pictures vs. child sex dolls) or to reduce their sex drive via testosterone lowering medication in legally nonproblematic ways. A sample of German-speaking participants (N = 143) read three vignettes describing PWP using either of these strategies. Participants' (59.4% females) mean age was 39.7 (SD = 15.6). Although no significant difference was detected between the nonsexual pictures and sex dolls conditions on cognitive (except for dangerousness), affective, and behavioral levels, both consistently elicited more stigmatizing reactions than the testosterone-lowering medication condition. To investigate if this effect was driven by disapproving any relief of sexual arousal or the use of actual child stimuli in particular, Study 2 (N = 151) added two conditions with PWP using adult child-like stimuli to relieve sexual arousal: adult-as-schoolgirl porn and adult partner with childlike appearance. Here, Participants' (57.6% females) mean age was 28.0 (SD = 13.3). Results indicate that stigmatization was driven by disapproving the use of child stimuli rather than the relief of sexual arousal in general. Individuals with a sexual interest in children face strong stigmatizing reactions, which are only alleviated when they are described as undergoing treatment lowering sex drive or - to a lesser extent - being able to mate with an adult partner or using porn with adult actors posing as schoolgirls.

Loneliness, perceived social support, and their changes predict medical adherence over 12 months among patients with coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated whether changes in loneliness and perceived social support predicted medical adherence in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) over 12 months. Moreover, short-term and long-term buffering effects of social support on the association between loneliness and medical adherence were systematically examined.

DESIGN

A three-wave longitudinal study.

METHODS

Participants were 255 CHD patients with a mean age of 63 years. Medical adherence, loneliness, and perceived social support were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the influences of loneliness and social support as well as their changes on medical adherence over 12 months. Moderation analyses were performed to test buffering effects of baseline social support and its changes against loneliness and its changes, respectively.

RESULTS

Changes in loneliness significantly predicted medical adherence at 12 months (β = -.23, p = .001) but not at 3 months (β = -.10, p = .142). Changes in social support predicted medical adherence at both 3 (β = .23, p = .002) and 12 months (β = .26, p = .001). Social support concurrently buffered the adverse impact of loneliness on medical adherence (B = .29, SE = .12, p = .020) at baseline but did not at 3 or 12 months (Bs = -.21 to .40, SEs = .12 to .30, ps = .177 to .847).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the importance of monitoring loneliness and perceived social support continuously over time for CHD patients to promote medical adherence.

Stimulus valence moderates self-learning

Self-relevance has been demonstrated to impair instrumental learning. Compared to unfamiliar symbols associated with a friend, analogous stimuli linked with the self are learned more slowly. What is not yet understood, however, is whether this effect extends beyond arbitrary stimuli to material with intrinsically meaningful properties. Take, for example, stimulus valence an established moderator of self-bias. Does the desirability of to-be-learned material influence self-learning? Here, in conjunction with computational modelling (i.e. Reinforcement Learning Drift Diffusion Model analysis), a probabilistic selection task was used to establish if and how stimulus valence (i.e. desirable/undesirable posters) impacts the acquisition of knowledge relating to object-ownership (i.e. owned-by-self vs. owned-by-friend). Several interesting results were observed. First, undesirable posters were learned more rapidly for self compared to friend, an effect that was reversed for desirable posters. Second, learning rates were accompanied by associated differences in reward sensitivity toward desirable and undesirable choice selections as a function of ownership. Third, decisional caution was greater for self-relevant (vs. friend relevant) responses. Collectively, these findings inform understanding of self-function and how valence and stimulus relevance mutually influence probabilistic learning.

The role of intrinsic reward in adolescent word learning

Relatively little work has focused on why we are motivated to learn words. In adults, recent experiments have shown that intrinsic reward signals accompany successful word learning from context. In addition, the experience of reward facilitated long-term memory for words. In adolescence, developmental changes are seen in reward and motivation systems as well as in reading and language systems. Here, in the face of this developmental change, we ask whether adolescents experience reward from word learning, and how the reward and memory benefit seen in adults is modulated by age. We used a naturalistic reading paradigm, which involved extracting novel word meanings from sentence context without the need for explicit feedback. By exploring ratings of enjoyment during the learning phase, as well as recognition memory for words a day later, we assessed whether adolescents show the same reward and learning patterns as adults. We tested 345 children between the ages of 10-18 (N > 84 in each 2-year age-band) using this paradigm. We found evidence for our first prediction: children aged 10-18 report greater enjoyment for successful word learning. However, we did not find evidence for age-related change in this developmental period, or memory benefits. This work gives us greater insight into the process of language acquisition and sets the stage for further investigations of intrinsic reward in typical and atypical development. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: We constantly learn words from context, even in the absence of explicit rewards or feedback. In adults, intrinsic reward experienced during word learning is linked to a dopaminergic circuit in the brain, which also fuels enhancements in memory for words. We find adolescents also report enhanced reward or enjoyment when they successfully learn words from sentence context. The relationship between reward and learning is maintained between the ages of 10 and 18. Unlike in adults, we did not observe ensuing memory benefits.

Perinatal meaning-making and meaning-focused coping in the COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented levels of stress amongst pregnant women and new mothers. The current qualitative study explored the ways in which perinatal women made meaning of their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Data came from a parent study in which 54 perinatal (pregnant and postpartum) women in the United States completed semi-structured interviews from October 2021 to January 2022 describing their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data was interpreted using a hermeneutic, phenomenological approach to delve deeply into the concept of meaning-making.

RESULTS

Despite high levels of stress and challenging circumstances, participants reported engaging in meaning-making through finding connection, focusing on gratitude, and identifying openings for change. Unique forms of meaning-making amongst this population include a sense of connection to women throughout history, connection to their baby, and recognition of the need for systemic change for perinatal women.

CONCLUSIONS

Perinatal women coped with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic by making meaning from their experiences. Future research should further explore the importance of these aspects of meaning-making to perinatal women and implement these findings to adapt prevention and treatment approaches to address perinatal stress, especially during times of crisis.

Assessing and Evaluating the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model: Social Support, Loneliness, and Distress Among Undergraduate, Law, and Medical Students

The current research evaluates the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model (PSDM) by considering the links between measures of trait perfectionism and perfectionistic self-presentation and measures of social support, loneliness, and distress in cross-sectional research. A particular focus is on perfectionism and levels of social support as assessed by the Social Provisions Scale. The current study also uniquely evaluates levels of perfectionism and perfectionistic self-presentation in undergraduate students, medical students, and law students. The results across samples provided evidence that loneliness mediates the link between interpersonal perfectionism and distress in keeping with the predictions of the PSDM. Correlational results found robust links between loneliness and low levels of social support. Moreover, socially prescribed perfectionism and perfectionistic self-presentation were associated negatively with social support, and this was especially evident in terms of the facet tapping the nondisclosure of imperfections. Group comparisons of perfectionism yielded few significant differences in accordance with expectations. Levels of perfectionism tended to be lower among medical students. However, the links between perfectionism and distress were clearly evident among undergraduates, medical students, and law students, thus attesting to the vulnerability of perfectionistic students in general. Overall, the results further confirm the relevance of perfectionism in distress among students and applicability of the PSDM in various types of students.

Predicting Individual Hearing-Aid Preference From Self-Reported Listening Experiences in Daily Life

OBJECTIVES

The study compared the utility of two approaches for collecting real-world listening experiences to predict hearing-aid preference: a retrospective questionnaire (Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale [SSQ]) and in-situ Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). The rationale being that each approach likely provides different and yet complementary information. In addition, it was examined how self-reported listening activity and hearing-aid data-logging can augment EMAs for individualized and contextualized hearing outcome assessments.

DESIGN

Experienced hearing-aid users (N = 40) with mild-to-moderate symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss completed the SSQ questionnaire and gave repeated EMAs for two wear periods of 2-weeks each with two different hearing-aid models that differed mainly in their noise reduction technology. The EMAs were linked to a self-reported listening activity and sound environment parameters (from hearing-aid data-logging) recorded at the time of EMA completion. Wear order was randomized by hearing-aid model. Linear mixed-effects models and Random Forest models with five-fold cross-validation were used to assess the statistical associations between listening experiences and end-of-trial preferences, and to evaluate how accurately EMAs predicted preference within individuals.

RESULTS

Only 6 of the 49 SSQ items significantly discriminated between responses made for the end-of-trial preferred versus nonpreferred hearing-aid model. For the EMAs, questions related to perception of the sound from the hearing aids were all significantly associated with preference, and these associations were strongest in EMAs completed in sound environments with predominantly low SNR and listening activities related to television, people talking, nonspecific listening, and music listening. Mean differences in listening experiences from SSQ and EMA correctly predicted preference in 71.8% and 72.5% of included participants, respectively. However, a prognostic classification of single EMAs into end-of-trial preference with a Random Forest model achieved a 93.8% accuracy when contextual information was included.

CONCLUSIONS

SSQ and EMA predicted preference equally well when considering mean differences, however, EMAs had a high prognostic classifications accuracy due to the repeated-measures nature, which make them ideal for individualized hearing outcome investigations, especially when responses are combined with contextual information about the sound environment.

A comparative framework for understanding and addressing interpersonal gun violence

Gun violence, often characterized as a singular issue, is not one cohesive problem. Instead, it takes many forms resulting from the complex interplay of multiple factors. Outcomes of gun violence also vary significantly. They may be (a) physically non-injurious (a gun is brandished), (b) injurious but non-lethal, or (c) lethal. To understand and address gun violence effectively, it is essential to consider various risk factors for both non-lethal and lethal gun violence victimization, using a comprehensive, comparative framework. We present a novel comparative framework for better understanding gun violence, and for developing policy responses to this violence. We disaggregate gun violence into its various forms and propose a conceptualization of risk factors in discrete categories, each with important implications for policy intervention. While we emphasize the value of this framework for understanding and combatting interpersonal gun violence in America, the research and policy approaches discussed here should be equally applicable to other international contexts with gun violence as a serious public health issue as well.

A Longitudinal Theory-Based Investigation of How Environmental Aesthetics Predicts Home-Based Exercise

INTRODUCTION

Environmental aesthetics is a recognized macro environmental correlate of physical activity participation. Extrapolating this effect, we hypothesize this variable to also function as a determinant of exercise participation in the microenvironment , such as the home. Specifically, we predict that the environmental aesthetics of the location of cardio and resistance training equipment will predict determinants of exercise participation within the integrated behavior change model.

METHODS

Adult owners of exercise equipment ( N = 231) completed measures on the environmental aesthetics of their cardio and resistance training equipment, exercise time, and constructs from the integrated behavior change model across three consecutive monthly surveys. Study hypotheses were tested using multilevel structural equation modeling with participants (level 2) nested within time (level 1).

RESULTS

The model revealed predictive effects of intention, habit, and planning on exercise participation over time. The findings indicated a total effect of autonomous motivation on intention and habit. In addition, environmental aesthetics of cardio and strength training equipment predicted autonomous motivation, along with habit and intention when accounting for indirect effects. Finally, planning moderated the intention-behavior relationship, indicating that participants who scored higher on planning were more likely to translate their intentions to behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide informative notes for designing effective home-based exercise programs, which have increased in popularity over the past recent years. Specifically, experimental studies that provide exercise equipment should ensure that the location of the equipment is appealing to the participant to increase the likelihood equipment use and exercise engagement.

Association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and length of hospital stay in an acute psychiatric hospital: A cross-sectional study

Aim

The available evidence for predicting length of stay in acute psychiatric hospitals includes demographics, diagnosis, and treatment variables. This study aimed to evaluate the association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and length of hospital stay in an acute psychiatric hospital.

Methods

A total of 116 patients who were admitted to an acute psychiatric ward at Urawa Neuropsychiatric Sanatorium (Saitama, Japan) from August 2022 to December 2022 were eligible for this study. Laboratory data of lymphocytes and neutrophils were assessed on the first day of admission and NLR was calculated based on the data. Participants were categorized into two groups, high NLR and low NLR, which were set as predictor variables, as well as using NLR as a continuous variable. Multiple linear regression was performed to determine the association between NLR and length of hospital stay, adjusting for confounding factors.

Results

A total of 90 participants were included in this study. The association of NLR as a continuous variable and length of hospital stay was not significant. When we categorized participants into high- and low-NLR groups, the association was significant even after adjusting by covariates (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Categorized NLR was positively associated with the length of hospital stay in patients admitted to an acute psychiatric hospital. Categorized NLR may predict the length of hospital stay for patients who are admitted to an acute psychiatric hospital.

Loneliness and social isolation are not associated with executive functioning in a cross-sectional study of cognitively healthy older adults

The literature on the relationship between social interaction and executive functions (EF) in older age is mixed, perhaps stemming from differences in EF measures and the conceptualization/measurement of social interaction. We investigated the relationship between social interaction and EF in 102 cognitively unimpaired older adults (ages 65-90). Participants received an EF battery to measure working memory, inhibition, shifting, and global EF. We measured loneliness subjectively through survey and social isolation objectively through naturalistic observation. Loneliness was not significantly related to any EF measure (p-values = .13-.65), nor was social isolation (p-values = .11-.69). Bayes factors indicated moderate to extremely strong evidence (BF01 = 8.70 to BF01 = 119.49) in support of no relationship..   Overall, these findings suggest that, among cognitively healthy older adults, there may not be a robust cross-sectional relationship between EF and subjective loneliness or objective social isolation.

The impact of stress on the risk decision-making process

The effect of stress on risk-taking or risk-averse behavior in decision-making has been inconclusive in previous research, with few studies revealing the underlying neural mechanisms. This study employed event-related potentials technique and combined a social cold pressor assessment test with a mental arithmetic task to induce stress responses, aiming to investigate the influence of exogenous stress on the risk decision-making process. Stress induction results indicated that, in addition to raising heart rate and blood pressure, stress responses were accompanied by enhanced negative emotions, diminished positive emotions, and alterations in neural activity. The outcomes of risk decision-making showed that stress did not significantly affect risk preference or time of choice but did reduce the feedback-related negativity/reward positivity, with a particularly significant effect observed for large outcomes. Stress also altered the amplitude of the P3 component, with stress decreasing the P3 value for winning outcomes relative to losing outcomes. The study suggests that understanding how stress affects risk preference should consider the emotional valence induced by stress. Contrary to the reward sensitivity hypothesis, stress weakened reward sensitivity. Stress led to changes in the allocation of cognitive resources for outcome evaluation: compared to negative outcomes, stress reduced cognitive resources for positive outcomes, which might be related to the enhanced negative emotions induced by stress. The study highlights the importance of focusing on the subjective emotional experience induced by stress in future research on stress and risk decision-making.