The mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between Big five personality and depressive symptoms among Chinese unemployed population: a cross-sectional study

The effects of big five personality traits on sub-health in a Chinese young adults: A moderated mediation model

BACKGROUND

Sub-health can have an impact on the physical condition of the young adults, and this study aimed to investigate the influencing factors of sub-health related to the Big Five personality in Chinese young adults.

METHODS

A multi-stage random sampling method was used to survey the Chinese young adults. A moderated mediation analysis was conducted to investigate how sleep quality and family health influenced the relationship between diverse personalities and sub-health in young adults.

RESULTS

A total of 6165 young adults were included in this study. The results of the mediation analysis indicated that sleep quality partially mediated the relationship between neurotic, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness of young adults and sub-health. Family health played a moderating role between the sleep quality and agreeableness of young adults.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional study limits conclusions about causal relationships between factors.

CONCLUSION

Family health and sleep quality can influence sub-health in Chinese young adults with different personality traits.

Relationship between personality traits and postpartum depression in Pakistani fathers

The previous studies have found an association between Big Five personality traits and postpartum depression in women. The present study aimed to find out an association between Big Five personality traits and postpartum depression in a sample of Pakistani fathers. A total of 400 Pakistani fathers who had birth of a child in the past 1 month to 1 year period and had been living with their married partners were recruited purposively by using Google Form based survey from the major cities of Pakistan. The Urdu translated versions of Big Five Personality Inventory (BFI) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used as the main outcome measures to assess the relationship between personality traits and postpartum depression. The results found a significant negative and moderate association between Big Five personality traits and paternal postpartum depression except openness which had a weak association and neuroticism which had a positive and moderate association with PPPD (r(398) = .45). The multiple linear regression analysis found that Big Five personality traits significantly predicted paternal postpartum depression (F(5, 394) = 53.33, p = .001) except openness (B = .007, p = .98). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) found significant differences in paternal postpartum depression for age of father (F(2, 397) = 6.65, p = .001, ηp2 = .03), spouse age (F(2, 393) = 5.97, p = .003, ηp2 = .02), employment type (F(2, 395) = 9.69, p = .001, ηp2 = .04) and time spent at home (F(2, 397) = 6.23, p = .002, ηp2 = .03) while there were found no significant differences for education (F(2, 397) = 1.29, p = .27, ηp2 = .006), marital duration (F(2, 397) = 2.17, p = .11, ηp2 = .01), and birth number of recent child (F(2, 397) = 1.48, p = .22, ηp2 = .007). The study concluded that Big Five personality traits are significantly correlated with and predict paternal postpartum depression except openness which did not predict paternal postpartum depression. The occurrence of paternal postpartum depression varied significantly for age of father, age of spouse, type of employment and time spent at home.

The effect of social support, diabetes management self-efficacy, and diabetes distress on resilience among patients with type 2 diabetes: a moderated mediation analysis

BACKGROUND

Diabetes can result in distress. Improving Resilience is important in managing these conditions. It is also important to consider the mediating role of diabetes management self-efficacy (DMSE) between diabetes distress (DD) and Resilience. Likewise, understanding how social support (SS) buffers the impact of diabetes distress on Resilience is equally important.

METHODS

The present study used a cross-sectional design and included 403 participants diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The study was conducted in the south of Iran. The participants were selected through convenience sampling from July 2022 to January 2023. Self-reported questionnaires, namely the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale (DMSE), Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), and Resilience Scale, were used for data collection in the present study. Structural equation modelling was used for moderated mediation analysis.

RESULTS

The results of the Pearson correlation analysis were indicative of a significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) between diabetes distress and diabetes management self-efficacy (r = - 0.607), social support (r = - 0.417), and Resilience (r = - 0.552). The findings further revealed that diabetes management self-efficacy had fully mediated the correlation between diabetes distress and Resilience. Moreover, the results indicated that social support had a moderating role in the DD-resilience link.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study's findings offer a new theoretical framework for T2DM that can benefit intervention designers. The results further suggest that promoting diabetes management self-efficacy can be an effective strategy to enhance Resilience and decrease diabetes distress. Also, nurses and other healthcare providers must pay close attention to support resources to improve the patients' Resilience and evaluate the distress associated with diabetes.

Clinical and psychological aspects in a group of allergic asthma patients and the impact on their health status perception

BACKGROUND

The interplay between physical and psychological symptoms frequently affects the health-related quality of life of asthma patients.

PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE

This research aimed at assessing the psychological status of 60 patients attending their first/second doctor visit at which they were diagnosed with allergic asthma. Information on psychological distress was collected through the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ), personality traits were described through Cattell's 16-Personality Factor Questionnaire (16-PF), stress-related behavior was detected through the P Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), and the perceived quality of life was described with the Rhinasthma questionnaire.

RESULTS

The SQ revealed anxiety levels above the clinical cut-off in 71.7% of patients, levels of depression in 46.7%, anger-hostility in 53.3%, and somatic symptoms in 65%. No significant differences were observed after three months. The 16-PF scores were also suggestive of specific personality traits associated with the predisposition towards psychosomatic disorders. However, no stress-related behaviors were observed with the PSQ. Rhinasthma highlighted a certain degree of the perceived quality of life. Additionally, the quality of life correlated with age, all psychological distress scales, a few personality traits, vigor, and stress disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Allergic asthma patients present a higher-than-average level of psychological distress and impaired perceived quality of life at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to assess the psychological status in addition to the respiratory function.

Anxiety-associated factors among employees with different personality profiles: a cross-sectional study in China

Introduction

Anxiety not only harms employees' work efficiency and satisfaction but also presents as a hazard to their mental health. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anxiety among Chinese employees, identify their personality profiles and explore the anxiety-related factors in different personality profiles.

Methods

This national investigation adopted the multistage random sampling method to recruit employees. A total of 3,875 employees were enrolled in this study, and 39.1% (1,515/3,875) of them were experiencing anxiety at the time of the study. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify personality subgroups among Chinese employees based on their BFI-10 scores.

Results

LPA identified a three-profile solution among Chinese employees: average, resilient, and introverted. Employees in the resilient profile had the lowest anxiety rate (16.1%, 132/822), and those in the average profile had the highest rate (46.8%, 1,166/2,494). Multivariate analysis results showed that for all personality profiles, self-efficacy was positively associated with anxiety, and work-family conflict was negatively associated with anxiety. High levels of perceived social support and self-efficacy reduced the risk of anxiety and higher work-family conflict and no partner increased the odds of anxiety in the average profile. For the introverted profile, female gender, and living in a city increased the chances of suffering from anxiety.

Discussion

This study identified that each personality profile of Chinese employees had its own set of factors associated with anxiety, which could facilitate employers to provide targeted interventions to alleviate employees' anxiety.

Intolerance to uncertainty and self-efficacy as mediators between personality traits and adjustment disorder in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic

In April 2020, early in the COVID-19 outbreak, governments restricted public gatherings and ordered social distancing. These demands led to challenging adaptations, which in some cases resulted in mental health issues, including adjustment disorder. Guided by the transactional stress model, the current study aimed to examine the relations between personality traits and adjustment disorder in crisis situations and vagueness and the role of intolerance to uncertainty and self-efficacy in these relations. During Israel's first lockdown, 673 Israeli adults completed self-reported e-version questionnaires regarding Big Five personality traits, adjustment disorder, intolerance to uncertainty, self-efficacy, and background variables. The study was designed to examine the association between personality traits and adjustment disorder and the potential mediation of intolerance to uncertainty and self-efficacy in associations. The findings revealed that intolerance to uncertainty and self-efficacy mediated the association between personality traits and adjustment disorder. The results are consistent with the transactional stress model. They shed light on the role of intolerance to uncertainty and self-efficacy as cognitive mechanisms that promote the development of adjustment disorder. Recommendations for future studies and practice are discussed.

The self-medication behaviors of residents and the factors related to the consideration of drug efficacy and safety-A cross-sectional study in China

Background: Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs facilitates residents self-medication. However, inappropriate self-medications have become a serious problem in China and even all over the world. Objectives: To make an investigation on the current status of Chinese residents' self-medication behaviors and important considerations, and to explore the factors related to the considerations of drug efficacy and safety. Design: A quantitative, cross-sectional study. Methods: Multi-stage sampling was used to conduct a cross-sectional investigation in China 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions and 4 municipalities directly under the Central Government. State that an interviewer-administrated questionnaire, was used for data collection. The questionnaire that was used in the investigation included demographic sociological characteristics, health literacy scale-short form (HLS-SF), the 10-item Big Five Inventory (BFI-10), the EuroQol-5D visual analogue scale (EQ-5D VAS), self-medication status and important considerations when self-medicating. Descriptive statistics were performed, and the Chi-square test was used for univariate analysis. Log-binomial regression was used for multivariate analysis on whether residents regard drug efficacy or safety as an important consideration. Results: 9256 respondents were included in the data analysis. The self-medication rate of Chinese adults was as high as 99.1%. Paracetamol and other analgesics were the most common types of OTC medication that respondents purchased, followed by vitamins/minerals. Medical staff recommendations, drug safety and efficacy were the top three important considerations. The residents in the east, central and western regions who consider safety is 63.5%, 61.5%, and 66.8% respectively. The proportion of curative effect was 60.2%, 55.7%, and 61.4% respectively. Log-binomial regression showed that western respondents, retired people, those who mainly used ways including basic medical insurance for employees, commercial medical insurance, free medical treatment to cover their medical cost, respondents with high neuroticism, high health literacy were more likely to consider drug safety as an important factor (p < 0.05). Eastern respondents, employed, main way of medical expenses borne was Out-of-pocket Payment, those with chronic disease were more likely to consider drug efficacy as an important factor (p < 0.05). Female, respondents with high levels of agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, and self-rated health status were more likely to regard both drug safety and efficacy as important considerations (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Self-medication is practiced by most Chinese adults. Whether Chinese adults take drug efficacy or safety as an important consideration is related to their demographic and sociological characteristics, Big Five personality characteristics, health literacy and self-assessed health status. There is a need to strengthen the management of OTC drugs and public education about self-medication.

The relation between college students' neuroticism and loneliness: The chain mediating roles of self-efficacy, social avoidance and distress

Background

Recently, identifying the psychological mechanism of college students' loneliness has attracted wide attention because the maladjustment caused by college students' loneliness is increasingly common. This study explored the relationship and potential mechanism between college students' neuroticism and loneliness in a large sample.

Methods

A total of 4,600 college students completed the Big Five Personality Scale, Loneliness Scale, Self-efficacy Scale and Social Avoidance and Distress Scale.

Results

By examining the chain mediating roles of self-efficacy, social avoidance and distress (SAD) in the relation between neuroticism and loneliness, the present study found that college students' neuroticism was positively associated with loneliness via self-efficacy and SAD, respectively, and sequentially.

Conclusions

The results suggest a significant positive association between neuroticism and loneliness, which is influenced by the mediating effects of both self-efficacy and social avoidance and distress (SAD), as well as the chained mediating effects of self-efficacy and SAD.

Personality traits as mediators in the association between SIRT1 rs12415800 polymorphism and depressive symptoms among Chinese college students

Background

Previous research has linked polymorphisms in the SIRT1 gene to depressive symptoms, particularly in Chinese individuals. However, it is not clear how personality traits may contribute to this association.

Methods

To explore the potential mediating effect of personality traits, we utilized a mediation model to examine the relationship between the SIRT1 rs12415800 polymorphism and depressive symptoms in 787 Chinese college students. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale, while personality traits were measured using the Big Five Inventory (BFI).

Results

Our analysis indicated a significant association between the SIRT1 rs12415800 polymorphism and depressive symptoms, with this relationship partially mediated by the personality traits of neuroticism and conscientiousness. Specifically, individuals who were heterozygous for the rs12415800 polymorphism and had higher levels of conscientiousness were less likely to experience depressive symptoms. Conversely, those who were homozygous for the rs12415800 polymorphism and had higher levels of neuroticism were more likely to experience depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that personality traits, particularly neuroticism and conscientiousness, may play a critical role in the association between the SIRT1 rs12415800 polymorphism and depressive symptoms among Chinese college students. These findings highlight the importance of considering both genetic factors and personality traits when exploring the etiology of depressive symptoms in this population.

Previous School Bullying-Associated Depression in Chinese College Students: The Mediation of Personality

Previous school bullying was associated with increased risk of depression in students. However, little was known about the role of the Big Five personality traits in this association. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible mediation by the Big Five personality traits in this association in a large group of Chinese college students, and to provide help for educators to prevent students from serious psychological and mental diseases caused by school bullying. Random stratified cluster sampling was used to survey 2152 college students ranging from freshmen to seniors at three universities in Qiqihar city, Heilongjiang Province, China. The risk factors for previous school bullying included gender, living expenses per month, caregivers, parents often quarreling, and divorced parents. Males were more likely to be bullied at school than females. The influencing factors of depression include gender, caregivers, living expenses per month, frequent parents quarreling, and parental divorce. Females were more prone to depression than males. Depression was significantly correlated with all dimensions of school bullying and the Big Five personality traits (p < 0.05). The Big Five personality traits were found to play a significant mediating role between depression and school bullying in up to 45% of cases involving depression. Our major findings highlighted the promising role of personality-based intervention measures in reducing the risk of depression associated with school bullying in Chinese students.

Moderating role of observing the five precepts of Buddhism on neuroticism, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms

PURPOSE

Evidence has shown that the Five precepts significantly affect the relationship between attachment and resilience; however, little is known whether observing the Five Precepts would help reduce depressive symptoms among those who experience risks. The aim of this study was to examine the moderating role of the Five Precepts in the mediation model relationship among neuroticism, perceived stress, and depression.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study employed a cross-sectional survey design and data were collected from the end of 2019 to September 2022 in Thailand. In all, 644 general participants completed questionnaires on the Neuroticism Inventory (NI), the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Depression Subscale, and the Five-Precept Subscale of the Inner Strength-based Inventory (SBI-PP). Mediation and moderation analyses with 5000 bootstrapping methods were used.

RESULTS

Among all, 74.2% were female, and the mean age totalled 28.28 years (SD = 10.6). SBI-PP was shown to have a moderation effect on the relationship between NI, PSS and depressive symptoms. The moderating effect between SBI-PP and PSS was significant, whereas SBI-PP and NI was not. The index of moderated mediation from the Five Precepts was significant (b = -0.019 (95%CI -0.029, -0.009)). The moderated mediation model increased the percent variance explaining depressive symptoms to 47.6%, compared with 32.6% from the mediation model alone.

CONCLUSION

Observing the Five Precepts offers evidence that it buffers the effect of perceived stress on depression. People with high levels of observing the Five Precepts are less likely to develop depressive symptoms. Implications as well as possible future research are discussed.

The current status and factors related to the preparation of home first-aid kits in China

Background

Home first-aid kits can play an important role when residents are injured, suddenly become seriously ill or suffer from disasters.

Purpose

To explore the home first-aid kit preparedness of Chinese residents and the relationship between demographic sociological characteristics, self-efficacy, Big Five personality, health literacy and home first-aid kit preparation behavior.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted. Information was collected through a self-designed questionnaire consisting of sociological characteristics, the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSES), the Health Literacy Scale Short-Form (HLS-SF12), and the 10-item short version of Big Five Inventory (BFI-10). Rank sum test, Chi-square test, and logistic regression were used to explore the relationship between independent variables and home first-aid kit preparation behavior.

Results

A total of 9,344 respondents were included, and 2,156 (23.07%) prepared home first-aid kits. Among the respondents who had prepared their home first-aid kits, disinfection supplies (85.20%), medical masks (84.51%), commonly used drugs (82.79%) were the most frequently available. The respondents whose geographic area was Central and Western China, permanent residence in the urban area, secondary education or above, monthly income of 3,000 RMB or above, health care cost-bearing method mainly resident health insurance, high subgroup of self-efficacy, high subgroup of health care dimension in health literacy, and whose openness and conscientiousness was high subgroup were more likely to prepare home first-aid kits (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The preparation rate for home first-aid kits in China is less than a quarter. The public's home first-aid kit preparation behavior is related to demographic characteristics, self-efficacy, health literacy, and the openness of the Big Five personality. A multi-level linked national emergency literacy education system should be established to enhance the residents' attention to home first-aid kits and improve the residents' ability to prevent emergencies.

The Mediating Role of Extra-family Social Relationship Between Personality and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Adults

Objectives: This study aims to explore the associations of personality traits and extra-family social relationship with depressive symptoms among Chinese adults.

Methods: A nationally representative sample of 29,810 adults aged 16 and above were selected from 2018 CFPS. Personality and depressive symptoms were measured using CBF-PI-15 and the CES-D8 scale. Extra-family social relationship was assessed through the self-rated evaluation. The multiple regression analysis and the PROCESS macro were used for the mediation analysis.

Results: Extraversion (OR = 0.807, 95% CI = 0.773, 0.842), agreeableness (OR = 0.795, 95% CI = 0.756, 0.835) and extra-family social relationship (OR = 0.927, 95% CI = 0.913, 0.941) had negative associations with depressive symptoms. Extra-family social relationship could mediate between extraversion and depressive symptoms (Indirect effect = −0.049,95% CI = −0.060, −0.039) as well as agreeableness (Indirect effect = −0.056, 95% CI = −0.068, −0.046) and depressive symptoms. Comparing to females, the indirect effect accounts for a higher proportion of total effect in males.

Conclusion: Extra-family social relationship might mediate the association between extraversion and depressive symptoms as well as agreeableness and depressive symptoms.

Do Personality, Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy, and Depressive Symptomatology Affect Abstinence Status in Treatment-Seeking Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder?

Given the high global incidence and disabling nature of alcohol use disorders, alongside high relapse rates, we sought to investigate potential predictors of abstinence, considered a prerequisite of full remission. With an aim to examine (i) the effect of personality, alcohol abstinence self-efficacy, and depressive symptomatology on abstinence status as our primary objective, and (ii) interactions between these three factors, as well as (iii) their changes over time as two secondary objectives, we recruited 51 inpatients at an alcohol rehabilitation center to complete the International Personality Item Pool, the Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory, and to provide information on abstinence attainment 2 months post-treatment. Although regression analyses revealed no evidence for the effect of the investigated factors (personality, self-efficacy, or depressive symptoms) on post-therapy abstinence, other findings emerged, demonstrating (i) a significant reduction in the severity of depressive symptoms, (ii) the effect of personality and alcohol abstinence self-efficacy on depressive symptom severity, and (iii) the role of personality in predicting the temptation to use alcohol in recovering drinkers. These preliminary indications of links between personality, self-efficacy, and subjective well-being mark a promising area for future research on powerful and relevant cues of relapse and abstinence efficacy.

Current Status and Influencing Factors of Eating Behavior in Residents at the Age of 18~60: A Cross-Sectional Study in China

As eating behavior is important to health, this cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the factors influencing the eating behavior related to overweight and obesity of Chinese residents aged 18~60 based on the Ecological Model of Health Behavior. The short-form of the Eating Behavior Scale (EBS-SF) was applied to evaluate eating behavior. The multivariable linear stepwise regression analysis was used to identify and analyze the influence factors, and the receiver operating characteristic curves analysis to validate the predictive capability of the EBS-SF score in differentiating overweight and obesity. A total of 8623 participants were enrolled. In the personal characteristics, male (β = −0.03), older [36–45 years (β = −0.06) or 46–60 years (β = −0.07)], higher scores of Agreeableness (β = −0.04), Conscientiousness (β = −0.14) or Openness (β = −0.03) contributed to healthy eating behavior. In the individual behaviors, those who smoked (β = 0.04), drank alcohol (β = 0.05), exercised frequently (β = 0.07), had higher PHQ-9 scores (β = 0.29) may have improper eating habits. As for the interpersonal networks, the residents who were married (β = −0.04) behaved well when eating, while those who had offspring or siblings tended to have unhealthy eating behavior. At the community level, living in Western China (β = −0.03), having a monthly household income of 6001–9000 yuan per capita (β = −0.04), having no debt (β = −0.02), being retired (β = −0.03), or having lower PSSS scores (β = −0.03) led to lower EBS-SF scores. And the EBS-SF score demonstrated a moderate-high accuracy in predicting overweight and obesity.

Stress in emergency telephone number operators during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of self-efficacy and Big Five personality traits

Background

Emergency telephone number operators experience many challenges in their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their personality traits and self-efficacy may act as important factors in their level of perceived stress. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between Big Five personality traits, self-efficacy and perceived stress among emergency tele-phone number operators during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participants and procedure

One hundred emergency telephone number operators participated in the study. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) and Generalized Self Efficacy Scale (GSES) were used.

Results

Emergency telephone number operators experienced a moderate level of perceived stress. The level of perceived stress was associated with all Big Five personality traits and self-efficacy. Stepwise regression showed that self-efficacy and emotional stability were significant predictors of perceived stress in a tested sample of emergency telephone number operators. Self-efficacy acted as a mediator between the 4 Big Five personality traits (except extraversion) and perceived stress.

Conclusions

Self-efficacy can be a very important resource during the struggle of emergency telephone number operators with the suc-cessive waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Operators with a high level of this resource can more effectively cope with the changes and perceive stress as lower. Individuals’ personality traits may affect the level of self-efficacy that determines how stress is perceived. It is important to strengthen the self-efficacy of those involved in the fight against the COVID-19 pan-demic.

Embitterment among the unemployed: A multiple mediation model of belief in a just world

BACKGROUND: The negative consequences of job loss on financial and psychological quality of life have been well documented. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the level of unemployed individuals’ embitterment and the mechanism by which negative life experiences increase embitterment by lowering the belief in a just world (BJW). METHODS: A survey was administered to 1,074 unemployed Korean adults who visited a regional Center for Employment and Welfare. Question items included the Korean version of posttraumatic embitterment disorder (PTED) self-rating scale, the BJW (personal and general) scale, negative life events, and sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Only 45.9% of the participants were categorized as being in a ‘normal state,’ indicating that many of the unemployed were emotionally embittered. There was a positive direct effect of an increase in negative life events on embitterment. Negative life events also significantly and indirectly affected embitterment through personal BJW. CONCLUSIONS: Embitterment was prevalent among the unemployed participants and embitterment was a reactive emotion following personal downgrading, not so much related to conditions in the world at large. Thus, we recommend developing a screening program to detect extreme embitterment and an interventional program to help people better cope with emotional stress due to job loss. Efforts should be made to restore their violated expectation and trust that they would be treated in a just and fair way.

The Big Five Personality Traits and Positive Orientation in Polish Adults with Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of Meaning in Life

Scientific achievements concerning the direct relation between personality traits and positive orientation among patients with multiple sclerosis do not explain the role of potential mediators. In fact, some researchers argue that the traits–positivity association is much more complex than it seems to be. For this reason, we made an attempt to analyze the indirect relationship between the above-mentioned variables, including meaning in life as a mediator. In total, 618 patients with MS took part in the study. The NEO Five-Factor Inventory, the Positive Orientation Scale, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire were used. The results showed that positive orientation/the presence of meaning/searching for meaning correlated positively with extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, and were negatively associated with neuroticism. Moreover, meaning in life in both its dimensions acted as a mediator in 9 of 10 models. It can be assumed that a propensity to establish interpersonal relationships (extraversion), use active imagination (openness), inspire confidence among others (agreeableness), and take responsibility (conscientiousness) can have an impact on someone’s positive attitude toward oneself and the surrounding world (positive orientation) when people have meaning in life and when they are seeking it.

Depression and Perceived Social Support among Unemployed Youths in China: Investigating the Roles of Emotion-Regulation Difficulties and Self-Efficacy

In recent years, the issue of youth unemployment has begun to emerge in China. Unemployed young people are at high risk of depression and other mental health problems. The present study investigates influential factors related to depression and examines the possible mediating effects of difficulties in emotion regulation and self-efficacy between perceived social support and depressive symptoms among unemployed youths in China. Through community recruitment, 511 unemployed young people from Shanghai participated in this cross-sectional survey. The results demonstrate that the prevalence of probable depression in the sample was 49.3% (95% CI: 45.0-53.7%). Moreover, we found that both the perceived social support and self-efficacy were significant negative predictors of depression, whereas difficulties in emotion regulation were positive predictors of depression. In addition, the analysis results indicate that difficulties in emotion regulation and self-efficacy partially mediate the relationship between perceived social support and depression. Overall, this cross-sectional study reveals that depression and mental health problems among China's unemployed youths are concerning while identifying emotion-regulation difficulties as a risk factor for these and social support and self-efficacy as protective factors, all of which warrant our attention in preventing and intervening with cases of youth depression.

Social support and depressive symptoms: exploring stigma and self-efficacy in a moderated mediation model

BACKGROUND

Although some psychological processes, such as stigma and self-efficacy, affect the complicated relationship between social support and depressive symptoms, few studies explored a similar psychological mechanism among individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). Hence, this research investigates the mediating effects of stigma and the moderating effects of self-efficacy among the psychological mechanism that social support affects depressive symptoms.

METHODS

The study included 1040 Chinese participants with SUDs and completed a series of self-report questionnaires. R software was used to organize and clean up data sets and analyze mediation and moderation effects.

RESULTS

The result showed that stigma partially mediated depressive symptoms, while self-efficacy moderated this relationship. More specifically, less social support increased depression symptoms by bringing about higher stigma. Besides, subjects with higher self-efficacy are less susceptible to stigma and therefore have mild depressive symptoms. Furthermore, clinical and theoretical implications are discussed in our study.

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese SUDs patients' depressive symptoms were indirectly affected by perceived social support via stigma and less affected by stigma with improved self-efficacy. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

Adolescent Self-Efficacy for Diet and Exercise Following a School-Based Multicomponent Lifestyle Intervention

Self-efficacy is perhaps the most important parameter associated with behavioral changes. The main aim of this study was to provide insight into the diet and exercise self-efficacy of Greek adolescents and how they could be modified via a multilevel multicomponent school-based lifestyle intervention. Secondary aims were to study the associations of students’ dietary and exercise self-efficacy indices with their anthropometric and sociodemographic parameters. A representative sample of the adolescent population in Attica, consisting of 1610 adolescents aged 12–17 years, recruited from 23 public high schools in three municipalities of the Attica area in Greece, received a three-component lifestyle educational intervention for health promotion and underwent screening for characteristics of metabolic syndrome with the use of portable telemedicine. All assessments and anthropometric measurements were performed at baseline and after the 6-month intervention. Anthropometric measurements included body mass index, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Assessment tools included the Self-efficacy for Diet and the Self-efficacy for Exercise questionnaires, as well as the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in Children and Adolescents (KIDMED). Analysis included 1020 adolescent students (421 males and 599 females), who completed the self-efficacy questionnaires pre- and post-intervention. Overall, the dietary (p < 0.001) and exercise (p < 0.001) self-efficacy increased significantly post-intervention. Post-intervention, all adolescents decreased their abdominal obesity indices (WC, WHtR, WHR), and this improvement was even more pronounced and significant (p = 0.019, p = 0.019, p = 0.023 respectively) in the adolescents with overweight/obesity. Post-intervention, the proportion of adolescents with normal weight increased from 73.9% to 78.6%, whereas the proportion of adolescents with overweight and obesity decreased from 20.4% to 15.9% and from 5.7% to 5.5%, respectively. Abdominal obesity also decreased from 10.4% to 9.0%. Female adolescents achieved significantly (p = 0.010) higher changes in diet self-efficacy than males. Other sociodemographic characteristics such as family structure, parental age, parental educational level and family income showed non-significant differences. Adolescents with higher KIDMED scores manifested significantly higher dietary and exercise self-efficacy than those with lower KIDMED scores. Both adolescents with normal weight and overweight/obesity manifested a reciprocal relation between diet and exercise self-efficacy. Multicomponent lifestyle interventions in the school environment may provide a first step in students’ behavior changes and provide grounds for future prevention programs in youth.

Medication Adherence and Associated Factors in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Structural Equation Model

Background: The number of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing. Medication treatment is of great importance to stabilize blood glucose. Previous studies have reported that neuroticism, self-efficacy, and social support are factors associated with medication adherence, but few studies have fully investigated the mechanisms between these factors and medication adherence in patients with T2D. Purpose: To explore the prevalence of medication adherence and the factors associated with medication adherence in patients with T2D. Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of 483 patients with T2D was conducted from July to December 2020. Questionnaires containing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8), the neuroticism subscale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised Short Scale (EPQ-RS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Diabetes Management Self-efficacy Scale (DMSES) were used to collect data. The structural equation model (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. Results: This study included 305 (63.1%) medication adherence and 178 (36.9%) medication non-adherence patients with T2D. Social support directly influenced medication adherence (β = 0.115, P = 0.029) and indirectly influenced medication adherence through self-efficacy (β = 0.044, P = 0.016). Self-efficacy directly influenced medication adherence (β = 0.139, P = 0.023). Neuroticism indirectly affected medication adherence through social support (β = -0.027, P = 0.023) and self-efficacy (β = -0.019, P = 0.014). Moreover, there was a sequential mediating effect of social support and self-efficacy on the relationship between neuroticism and medication adherence (β = -0.010, P = 0.012). After controlling for age and gender, similar results were obtained. The model fit indices showed a good fit. Conclusions: The medication adherence of patients with T2D needs to be improved. Neuroticism, social support, and self-efficacy had direct or indirect effects on medication adherence in patients with T2D. Healthcare providers should comprehensively develop intervention programs based on neuroticism, social support, and self-efficacy to improve medication adherence in patients with T2D.

Role of Equanimity on the Mediation Model of Neuroticism, Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms

Background: Equanimity is widely and commonly practiced, but few have investigated the concept in clinical research. While the mediation model of neuroticism, perceived stress and depression have been demonstrated, it remains unclear whether equanimity mediates the relationship of these variables in parallel, serial or moderated mediation models. This study aimed to investigate the role of equanimity among those models. Methods: In all, 644 general participants (74.2% female, mean age = 28.28 (SD = 10.6)) provided data on the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Neuroticism Inventory (NI), depression subscale of the Core Symptom Index, and the equanimity subscale of the inner Strength-based Inventory. Mediation and moderation analyses with the 5000 bootstrapping method were applied. Results: Equanimity was shown to moderate the relationship between NI/PSS and depressive symptom. Statistical evaluation supported all parallel, serial and moderated mediation models. Equanimity as a moderator provided a higher amount of percent variance explained by depressive symptoms than parallel and serial mediation models. Conclusions: Results suggest that the effect of perceived stress and neuroticism on depression can be mitigated by increasing levels of equanimity. The results demonstrated one potential benefit from practicing equanimity; enabling its extension to mental health problems could constitute an interesting focus for future research.

Childhood trauma and personality explain more variance in depression scores than sociodemographic and lifestyle factors - Results from the BiDirect Study

OBJECTIVE

Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, childhood adversities, and personality aspects have been identified as contributing to the onset and course of depression. However, only few studies examined all aspects concomitantly in different populations. This was the objective of the study presented here.

METHODS

The BiDirect Study includes three distinct cohorts: Cross-sectional data for 670 patients with depression (DEP), 283 patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), and 787 population controls (POP) were available for the present analysis. Participants answered interviews and filled in questionnaires assessing depression details, childhood trauma, the Big Five personality traits, trait resilience as well as socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical linear regression analyses were employed to identify those factors, which contributed significantly to the explanation of depression severity scores (assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, CESD).

RESULTS

In all three cohorts, the psychological variables explained most variance in depression scores (35-44%), while sociodemographic and lifestyle factors explained only very little variance (1-2%). When all postulated predictors were entered in the same regression model, higher neuroticism and lower resilience scores were associated with higher depression severity levels in all three cohorts, while higher childhood trauma proved significant in the cardiovascular and population cohort.

CONCLUSION

Childhood trauma, neuroticism, and low resilience are significantly associated with depression in different populations. Although a considerable part of the variance in depression severity levels was explained by the variables studied here, more research on the impact of lifestyle and social factors on depression is needed.

The Influence of Post-Traumatic Growth on College Students' Creativity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of General Self-Efficacy and the Moderating Role of Deliberate Rumination

Purpose: This study used a moderated mediation model to test the mediating effect of general self-efficacy on the relationship between post-traumatic growth (PTG) and creativity and the moderating effect of deliberate rumination in the second path of the indirect mediation path during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A sample of 881 university students from Guangdong Province, China, was surveyed with the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Runco Ideational Behavior Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Deliberate Rumination Inventory. SPSS (23 version) and PROCESS (3.3 version) were used for correlation analyses, mediation analysis, and moderated mediation analysis. Results: (1) PTG was positively correlated with creativity, self-efficacy, and deliberate rumination. Creativity was positively correlated with self-efficacy and deliberate rumination. Deliberate rumination was positively correlated with self-efficacy. (2) Self-efficacy mediated the relationship between PTG and creativity. (3) Deliberate rumination moderated the second half of the path of "PTG → self-efficacy → creativity." Conclusions: PTG affected creativity directly and also indirectly through self-efficacy. In particular, deliberate rumination moderated the relationship between self-efficacy and creativity, such that the association was stronger when the incidence of deliberate rumination was low. These results provide a more comprehensive understanding of the positive link between PTG and creativity.

Well Done! Effects of Positive Feedback on Perceived Self-Efficacy, Flow and Performance in a Mental Arithmetic Task

Self-efficacy is a well-known psychological resource, being positively associated with increased performance. Furthermore, results from field studies suggest a positive impact of self-efficacy on flow experience, which has not yet been tested experimentally. In this study, we manipulated self-efficacy by means of positive feedback and investigated whether self-efficacy serves as a mediator in the relationship between positive feedback and flow and in the relationship between positive feedback and performance. Our sample consisted of 102 participants (63 female, 39 male). The experimental group received positive feedback after completing 5 min of mental arithmetic tasks on a computer, whereas the control group received no feedback. A second session of a mental arithmetic task was then completed for 5 min. Mediation analyses confirmed that specific self-efficacy mediated a positive effect of positive feedback on flow as well as on both performance measures (quality and quantity) in a subsequent task. However, direct effects of feedback on flow and on performance were not significant, which suggests the presence of other mechanisms that remain to be investigated.

Psychological Capital Mediates the Association Between Perceived Organizational Support and Work Engagement Among Chinese Doctors

Background: As experts studying occupational health psychology know, low level of work engagement leads to higher turnover intentions. Some researchers have put a focus on the association between organizational support and work engagement. However, little has been done concerning the mediating effect of psychological capital (PsyCap) on the association between perceived organizational support (POS) and work engagement (vigor, dedication, absorption) among Chinese doctors. Methods: A cross-sectional study has been carried out from November to December in 2017, in Liaoning Province, China. The questionnaire consists of Survey of Perceived Organizational Support, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Psychological Capital Questionnaire, and demographic and working variables. The self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 1,009 doctors. Effective responses were collected from 836 participants (82.85%). Hierarchical multiple regression and the asymptotic and resampling strategies were used to examine the association between POS and work engagement mediated by PsyCap. Results: After controlling the demographic and working variables, POS was positively related to vigor (β = 0.402, P < 0.01), dedication (β = 0.413, P < 0.01), and absorption (β = 0.373, P < 0.01). Psychological capital was positively associated with vigor (β = 0.442, P < 0.001), dedication (β = 0.413, P < 0.001), and absorption (β = 0.395, P < 0.001). Thus, PsyCap [a × b = 0.1895, bias-corrected and accelerated 95% confidence interval (BCa 95% CI) = 0.1524, 0.2290]; a × b = 0.1517, BCa 95% CI = 0.1180, 0.1875; a × b = 0.1693, BCa 95% CI = 0.1299, 0.2099] significantly mediated the association between POS and vigor, dedication, and absorption, respectively. Conclusion: There was a low level of work engagement among Chinese doctors. Perceived organizational support could indirectly improve vigor, dedication, and absorption, partially through mediator PsyCap. Perceived organizational support intervention, education, and training in PsyCap should be carried out to cope with work engagement.

Personality traits are related to functional dyspepsia in a large sample of Iranian adults

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Few studies have evaluated the association of personality traits with functional dyspepsia (FD). In the present study, we aimed to explore the relationship between different personality traits and FD in a sample of Iranian adults.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 4763 adults. FD was evaluated using a modified and validated Persian version of the Rome III questionnaire for the diagnosis of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Personality traits were assessed using the five-factor model. Logistic regression was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

After controlling for various potential confounders, neuroticism (OR = 1.043; 95% CI: 1.028, 1.059), agreeableness (OR = 0.965; 95% CI: 0.952, 0.978), extraversion (OR = 0.985; 95% CI: 0.970, 0.990), openness (OR = 0.981; 95% CI: 0.966, 0.996), and conscientious (OR = 0.980; 95% CI: 0.968, 0.991) scores were associated with risk of FD. Similar significant associations were observed in stratified analyses by sex, except for openness which tended to decrease the risk of FD marginally in women (OR = 0.983, 95% CI: 0.966, 1.001) and in men (OR = 0.979, 95% CI: 0.955, 1.003) after adjusting for multiple confounding variables.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that the higher scores of extraversion, conscientiousness, openness, and agreeableness are independently associated with a lower risk of FD in Iranian general population while higher scores of neuroticism increase the risk of FD.

Associations of psychological distress with positive psychological variables and activities of daily living among stroke patients: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety result in psychological distress, which can further affect mental status and quality of life in stroke patients. Exploring the associations between positive psychological variables and symptoms of psychological distress following stroke is of great significance for further psychological interventions.

METHODS

A total of 710 stroke patients from the five largest cities in Liaoning Province in China were enrolled into the present study in July 2014. All patients independently completed the questionnaires with respect to psychological distress and positive psychological variables. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were evaluated using Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, respectively. Positive psychological variables were evaluated using Perceived Social Support Scale, Adult Hope Scale (AHS), General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale and Resilience Scale-14 (RS-14). Activities of Daily Living (ADL) was measured using Barthel Index. Factors associated with psychological variables and depressive and anxiety symptoms were identified using t-test, ANOVA, correlation and hierarchical linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

Depressive and anxiety symptoms were present in 600 of 710 (84.51%) and 537 of 710 (75.63%) stroke patients enrolled, respectively. Social support (β = - 0.111, p < 0.001) and hope (β = - 0.120, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with both depressive and anxiety symptoms. Resilience (β = - 0.179, p < 0.001) was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Self-efficacy (β = - 0.135, p < 0.001) was negatively associated with anxiety symptoms. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that ADL accounted for 10.0 and 6.0% of the variance of depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Social support, resilience, self-efficacy and hope as a whole accounted for 7.5 and 5.3% of the variance of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The high frequency of depressive and anxiety symptoms among Chinese stroke survivors should receive attentions from all stakeholders. Findings suggested that intervention strategies on ADL, social support, hope, resilience and self-efficacy could be developed to improve psychosocial outcomes for stroke survivors.

The Effect of Workplace Violence on Depressive Symptoms and the Mediating Role of Psychological Capital in Chinese Township General Practitioners and Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

The most existing research has predominantly focused on city rather than township hospitals. This study aimed to explore depressive symptoms and its associated factors among general practitioners and nurses in Chinese township hospitals.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out in Liaoning, China in 2016. 2,000 general practitioners and nurses in Chinese township hospitals were recruited and 1,736 of them became final subjects (effective response rate: 86.8%). Data on depressive symptoms, workplace violence (WPV), psychological capital (PsyCap), and demographic factors were collected through questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to explore the factors related to depressive symptoms. Asymptotic and resampling strategies were applied to examine the potential mediating effect of PsyCap.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the participants was 49.9%. Workplace violence was positively associated with depressive symptoms, whereas psychological capital and its components of hope, optimism and resilience were negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Psychological capital and its components of hope, optimism and resilience all played partial mediating roles between workplace violence and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Nearly half of general practitioners and nurses surveyed suffered from depressive symptoms. Reduction of workplace violence and development of psychological capital can be targeted for interventions to combat depressive symptoms.

Personality Traits and Postnatal Depression: The Mediated Role of Postnatal Anxiety and Moderated Role of Type of Birth

This study investigated how personality traits are related to postnatal depression 2 weeks after giving birth and whether these relations are mediated by postnatal anxiety, measured after 3–4 days after giving birth and moderated by the type of birth. New mothers (N = 672, Mage = 29.33) completed scales assessing their personality traits, postnatal anxiety, and postnatal depression 3 or 4 days after giving birth (T1). They also reported postnatal depression 2 weeks after giving birth (T2). Path analysis indicated that postnatal anxiety explained the link between personality traits (i.e., neuroticism) and postnatal depression 2 weeks after childbirth. The type of birth moderated the relation among, personality traits, postnatal anxiety and depression. Neuroticism and consciousness, in the natural birth’s group, and neuroticism and agreeableness, in the cesarean birth’s group, were associated with postnatal depression. Further, anxiety explained the relation between neuroticism and postnatal depression in both natural and cesarean birth groups. In addition, postnatal anxiety mediated the relation between extraversion and postnatal depression in the cesarean birth group. Our findings highlight that postnatal anxiety is a potential mechanism explaining how personality traits (i.e., neuroticism, extraversion) are related to postnatal depression, and that these relations may depend on the type of childbirth.

The mediating role of psychological capital on the association between workplace violence and professional identity among Chinese doctors: a cross-sectional study

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) and psychological capital (PsyCap) are linked to professional identity, however, little research has examined how WPV is associated with professional identity via PsyCap. This study is aimed to examine the association between WPV and professional identity, and to further explore whether PsyCap can serve as a mediator between WPV and professional identity among Chinese doctors.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December in Liaoning Province in China, in 2017. The study used a questionnaire consisting of Workplace Violence Scale (WVS), Occupational Identity Scale (OIS), Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), as well as questions about demographic characteristics. Out of 1200 doctors, 995 (effective response rate of 82.92%) completed the questionnaire survey and became our final subjects. Hierarchical multiple regression and the asymptotic and resampling strategies were conducted to explore the mediating role of PsyCap in the relationship between WPV and professional identity.

Results: After adjusting for demographic characteristics, WPV was negatively associated with professional identity (β=−0.37; P<0.01). Mediation analysis indicated that PsyCap was a mediator in the relationship between WPV and professional identity. Two dimensions of PsyCap: self-efficacy (a*b =−0.04, BCa 95% CI: (−0.08, −0.01); P<0.01) and hope (a*b =−0.04, BCa 95% CI: (−0.08, −0.01); P<0.01) also did exhibit mediating effects in the relationship between WPV and professional identity. The proportion of self-efficacy, hope and PsyCap mediation was 10.73%, 10.77%, 36.22% for professional identity respectively.

Conclusion: These results provided evidence that PsyCap could mediate the association between WPV and professional identity. To increase the level of professional identity, positive interventions targeting PsyCap should be taken, with a focus on self-efficacy and hope.

Burnout and Engagement: Personality Profiles in Nursing Professionals

The burnout syndrome, which affects many healthcare workers, has recently attracted wide interest due to the severe repercussions related to its effects. Although job factors determine its development, not all individuals exposed to the same work conditions show burnout, which demonstrates the importance of individual variables, such as personality. The purpose of this study was to determine the personality characteristics of a sample of nursing professionals based on the Big Five model. After having determined the personality profiles, we aimed to analyze the differences in burnout and engagement based on those profiles. The sample was made up of 1236 nurses. An ad hoc questionnaire was prepared to collect the sociodemographic data and the Brief Burnout Questionnaire, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and the Big Five Inventory-10 were used. The results showed that the existence of burnout in this group of workers is associated negatively with extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience, and it is associated positively with the neuroticism personality trait. These personality factors showed the opposite patterns with regard to engagement. Three different personality profiles were also found in nursing personnel, in which professionals who had a profile marked by strong neuroticism and low scores on the rest of the personality traits were the most affected by burnout.

Negative associations between general self-efficacy and anxiety/depression among newly HIV-diagnosed men who have sex with men in Beijing, China

To evaluate the association between general self-efficacy and depression/anxiety among newly HIV-diagnosed Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) in Beijing, our study evaluated the baseline survey data of MSM taking part in a clinical trial among Chinese MSM in Beijing. The baseline survey of the trial was conducted between March 2013 and March 2014. General self-efficacy and depression/anxiety were measured using standard scales. Logistic regression and cumulative logistic regression were used to evaluate the associations between general self-efficacy and depression/anxiety. A total of 367 newly HIV-diagnosed Chinese MSM in Beijing were recruited. There were negative associations between general self-efficacy and depression/anxiety among the study population. As general self-efficacy increased by one unit, the odds of "likely" or "borderline" depression versus normal, or "likely" depression versus "borderline" depression or normal decreased by 12% [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85-0.92] after adjusting for potential confounders. Similarly, general self-efficacy was negatively associated with anxiety (AOR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.86-0.93). A higher level of general self-efficacy was associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety among newly HIV-diagnosed Chinese MSM. Interventions promoting overall health and wellness should address self-efficacy, depression and anxiety.

Symptoms of depression and anxiety in cancer outpatients: predictive variables

Objectives: The objectives of the present study are to investigate the association among symptoms of depression and anxiety, sociodemographic variables and personality factors and also verify the predictive power of these variables in cancer outpatients. Method: The sample was composed by 220 individuals, 138 (62.7%) women and 82 (37.3%) men. The instruments used were: Questionnaire on sociodemographic and clinical data; NEO-FFI Personality Inventory Revised (NEO-FFI-R) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The t test and the Spearman correlation were used to verify the relation between sociodemographic and clinic variables and symptoms of anxiety and depression. A Multiple Linear Regression analysis was made to verify the predictive power of sociodemographic and clinic variables and personality factors. Results: The personality factor neuroticism was predictor of anxiety symptoms. The variable previous psychiatric history and the personality factors neuroticism and extraversion were predictors of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Depression and anxiety symptoms are associated with some sociodemographic variables and personality factors, and these variables can be deemed risk factors for the development of these symptoms. It is important that health professionals who follow-up this population design strategies to collect this information, in order to help patients manage treatment the best way possible.

The traffic climate in China: The mediating effect of traffic safety climate between personality and dangerous driving behavior

Traffic safety climate is defined as road users' attitudes and perceptions of traffic in a specific context at a given point in time. The current study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the Traffic Climate Scale (TCS) and to explore its relation to drivers' personality and dangerous driving behavior. A sample of 413 drivers completed the Big Five Inventory (BFI), the Chinese version of the TCS, the Dula Dangerous Driving Index (DDDI) and a demographic questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed to confirm a three-factor (external affective demands, internal requirements and functionality) solution of the TCS. The reliability and validity of the Chinese version of TCS were verified. More importantly, the results showed that the effect of personality on dangerous driving behavior was mediated by traffic climate. Specifically, the functionality of the TCS mediated the effect of neuroticism on negative cognitive/emotional driving and drunk driving, while openness had an indirect impact on aggressive driving, risky driving and drunk driving based on the internal requirements of the TCS. Additionally, agreeableness had a negative direct impact on four factors of the DDDI, while neuroticism had a positive direct impact on negative cognitive/emotional driving, drunk driving and risky driving. In conclusion, the Chinese version of the TCS will be useful to evaluate drivers' attitudes towards and perceptions of the requirements of traffic environment in which they participate and will also be valuable for comparing traffic cultures and environments in different countries.

Aging perceptions and self-efficacy mediate the association between personality traits and depressive symptoms in older adults

OBJECTIVE

Personality traits have been shown to be predictors of depressive symptoms in late life. Thus, we examined whether other more modifiable sources of individual differences such as self-efficacy and self-perceptions of aging would mediate the association between personality traits and depressive symptoms in older adults.

METHOD

Data were obtained from 3,507 older adult participants who took part in the 2012 Health and Retirement Study. The "Big Five" personality traits, self-efficacy, aging perceptions, and depressive symptoms were assessed. Mediation analyses tested the hypothesis that self-efficacy and aging perceptions would mediate the relationship between personality traits and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

All five personality traits were significant predictors of depressive symptoms. Neuroticism was positively associated with depressive symptoms and had the greatest effect compared with the other personality traits. There was a significant indirect effect of neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness on depressive symptoms (including both mediators). The mediating effect of aging perceptions on the relationship between neuroticism and depressive symptoms was the strongest compared with self-efficacy, accounting for approximately 80% of the total indirect effect.

CONCLUSION

Our results provide support for interventions aimed at improving self-perceptions related to efficacy and aging in order to reduce depressive symptoms in older adults. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The joint effect of personality traits and perceived stress on pedestrian behavior in a Chinese sample

While improper pedestrian behavior has become an important factor related to road traffic fatalities, especially in developing countries, the effects of personality traits and/or stress on pedestrian behavior have been rarely reported. The current study explored the joint effects of five personality traits (i.e., extraversion, openness, neuroticism, normlessness and altruism) and global perceived stress (measured with the Perceived Stress Scale-10) on pedestrian behavior (measured with the Pedestrian Behavior Scale) in 311 Chinese individuals. Results showed that altruism, neuroticism and openness significantly affected different pedestrian behavior dimensions, while global perceived stress also significantly and positively predicted positive behavior. Moreover, the effect of neuroticism on positive behavior was fully mediated by stress. Some explanations and implications are provided in the discussion section.

Heart Failure and Exercise: A Narrative Review of the Role of Self-Efficacy

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a common, debilitating condition associated with significant health and economic burden. CHF management is multidisciplinary, however, achieving better health relies on a collaborative effort and patient engagement in self-care. Despite the importance of self-care in CHF, many patients have poor adherence to their medical and lifestyle regimens, in particular with regards to engaging in physical exercise. The patient's confidence in their ability, otherwise known as self-efficacy, is an important determinant of CHF health outcomes, most likely due to its effect on the uptake of CHF self-care activities especially exercise initiation and maintenance. Self-efficacy is responsive to experience such as exercise training, however the critical components of exercise interventions to improve self-efficacy have yet to be determined. This narrative review provides an overview of the role of self-efficacy in exercise adherence in CHF.

Childhood abuse, personality traits, and depressive symptoms in adulthood

This study examined associations among childhood abuse, personality traits, and depressive symptoms in adulthood, and whether and how the effects of childhood abuse on depressive symptoms are mediated by the Big Five personality traits (i.e., extraversion, conscientiousness, emotional stability, agreeableness, and openness). The data were drawn from the 2012 Korean General Social Survey, a nationally representative survey using a multistage area proportional probability sampling method. Random effects regression and the Sobel test were used. Random effects models showed that physical and emotional abuse in childhood significantly increased depressive symptoms in adulthood, even after controlling for personality traits and socio-demographic factors. The coefficients of childhood abuse slightly decreased when personality traits were controlled, suggesting that personality traits mediated the relationship between childhood abuse and depressive symptoms. Among the personality traits, extraversion and emotional stability were negatively associated with depressive symptoms whereas agreeableness was positively associated with depressive symptoms. The results of the Sobel test showed that only emotional stability significantly mediated the effects of childhood abuse on depressive symptoms. Those who were exposed to childhood abuse had lower levels of emotional stability, which, in turn, led to depressive symptoms in adulthood. The findings suggest that childhood abuse may have a long lasting effect on mental health over the life course by influencing the formation of personality traits through developmental periods.

Associations between empathy and big five personality traits among Chinese undergraduate medical students

Background

Empathy promotes positive physician-patient communication and is associated with improved patient satisfaction, treatment adherence and clinical outcomes. It has been suggested that personality traits should be taken into consideration in programs designed to enhance empathy in medical education due to the association found between personality and empathy among medical students. However, the associations between empathy and big five personality traits in medical education are still underrepresented in the existing literature and relevant studies have not been conducted among medical students in China, where tensions in the physician-patient relationship have been reported as outstanding problems in the context of China’s current medical reform. Thus, the main objective of this study was to examine the associations between empathy and big five personality traits among Chinese medical students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a medical university in Northeast China in June 2016. Self-reported questionnaires including the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and Big Five Inventory (BFI) and demographic characteristics were distributed. A total of 530 clinical medical students became our final subjects. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to explore the effects of big five personality traits on empathy.

Results

Results of this study showed that big five personality traits accounted for 19.4%, 18.1%, 30.2% of the variance in three dimensions of empathy, namely, perspective taking, empathic concern and personal distress, respectively. Specifically, agreeableness had a strong positive association with empathic concern (β = 0.477, P<0.01), and a moderate association with perspective taking (β = 0.349, P<0.01). Neuroticism was strongly associated with personal distress (β = 0.526, P<0.01) and modestly associated with perspective taking (β = 0.149, P<0.01). Openness to experience had modest associations with perspective taking (β = 0.150, P<0.01) and personal distress (β = -0.160, P<0.01). Conscientiousness had a modest association with perspective taking (β = 0.173, P<0.01).

Conclusion

This study revealed that big five personality traits were important predictors of self-reported measures of both cognitive and affective empathy among Chinese medical students. Therefore, individualized intervention strategies based on personality traits could be integrated into programs to enhance empathy in medical education.

Costs and benefits of self-efficacy: Differences of the stress response and clinical implications

Encounters with stressors induce diverse idiosyncratic neuroendocrine, behavioral and psychological reactions across people. Perceived self-efficacy can alter autonomic responses and their effects on mental health. The beneficial effects of self-efficacy in buffering physiological arousal, enhancing performance, and diminishing psychopathological symptoms have been observed in diverse contexts. We show that the role of self-efficacy is not uniformly beneficial, and that higher levels of self-efficacy can sometimes lead to increases in neuroendocrine and psychological stress responses and decreases in performance, a phenomenon that has been widely neglected. We discuss specific conditions under which self-efficacy effects do not uniformly ameliorate or prevent the consequences of stress. These conditions suggest that therapeutic interventions need not always promote self-efficacy in principal. Simultaneously, they to do suggest that keeping self-efficacy high might be disadvantageous or detrimental.

General Self-Efficacy and Mortality in the USA; Racial Differences

PURPOSE

General self-efficacy has been historically assumed to have universal health implications. However, less is known about population differences in long-term health effects of general self-efficacy across diverse populations. This study compared black and white American adults for (1) the association between psychosocial and health factors and general self-efficacy at baseline, and (2) the association between baseline self-efficacy and long-term risk of all-cause mortality over 25 years.

METHODS

The Americans' Changing Lives (ACL) study, 1986-2011, is a nationally representative longitudinal cohort of US adults. The study followed 3361 black (n = 1156) and white (n = 2205) adults for up to 25 years. General self-efficacy as well as demographics, socioeconomics, stressful life events, health behaviors, obesity, depressive symptoms, and self-rated health were measured at baseline in 1986. The outcome was time to all-cause mortality since 1986. Race was the focal moderator. Logistic regression and proportional hazards models were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Although blacks had lower general self-efficacy, this association was fully explained by socioeconomic factors (education and income). Our logistic regression suggested interactions between race and education, self-rated health, and stress on general self-efficacy at baseline. Baseline general self-efficacy was associated with risk of mortality in the pooled sample. Race interacted with baseline general self-efficacy on mortality risk, suggesting stronger association for whites than blacks.

CONCLUSION

Black-white differences exist in psychosocial and health factors associated with self-efficacy in the USA. Low general self-efficacy does not increase mortality risk for blacks. Future research should test whether socioeconomic status, race-related attitudes, world views, attributions, and locus of control can potentially explain why low self-efficacy is not associated with higher risk of mortality among American blacks.

The Relationship between Personality, Sense of Efficacy, and Stress in Korean Teachers

Several studies have linked teachers' personality characteristics and sense of efficacy to stress. However, investigating the relationship between these three constructs in this context was limited. This study aims to investigate the relationship between personality, sense of efficacy and perceived stress among Korean teachers. A total of 137 teachers working in elementary, middle, and high schools located in Seoul, South Korea were recruited for the study. The participants were administered Temperament and Character Inventory, Teacher's Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES), and Perceived Stress Scale. The TSES was negatively correlated with harm avoidance and positively correlated with persistence, self-directedness, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence. Perceived stress was positively correlated with harm avoidance and negatively correlated with persistence and self-directedness. The path analysis showed that harm avoidance directly predicted perceived stress (β=0.37, 95% CI=0.21-0.53, p=0.002), and self-directedness and persistence predicted one's sense of efficacy (β=0.18, 95% CI=0.01-0.39 and β=0.31, 95% CI=0.10-0.47), which predicted perceived stress (β=-0.21, 95% CI=-0.39 to -0.02). The results of the present study indicate that harm avoidance might be associated with stress-proneness, while persistence, self-directedness, and sense of efficacy might act as protective resources against stress in Korean teachers.