German and Italian validation of the Dyadic Coping Inventory-Sexual Minority Stress (DCI-SMS) scale

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals (hereafter people with minoritized sexual orientation and/or gender identities) have limited legal rights and access to resources because of their marginalized status in society. These limitations are associated with notable health disparities and increase experiences of minority stress. For those in a romantic relationship, being able to communicate and cope with one's partner-dyadic coping-can help buffer stress' deleterious effects on well-being. Given the promise of understanding how dyadic coping can mitigate experiences of sexual minority stress, the Dyadic Coping Inventory-Sexual Minority Stress (DCI-SMS) was recently created and validated with those living in the United States to assess how partners cope with sexual minority stress. Answering a global call to expand psychological science beyond a U.S. centric perspective, the purpose of this study was to validate the DCI-SMS in German and Italian using samples from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis results, along with tests of convergent and discriminant validity, and measurement invariance, suggest that the DCI-SMS is a valid measure of stress communication and dyadic coping behaviors for those in a same-gender relationship in the countries sampled. Important future directions include examining its efficacy in other countries, such as those with more adverse sociopolitical climates for people with minoritized sexual orientation and/or gender identities in a same-gender relationship. Limitations and future directions for research and clinical practice are presented. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Relationship satisfaction and self-esteem in patients with breast cancer and healthy women: the role of expected and actual personal projects support from the partner

BACKGROUND

For breast cancer patients, the partner's support for personal projects can serve as a means of adaptation. We aimed to investigate the associations between the intimate partner's personal project support and women's well-being.

METHODS

A sample of 274 Hungarian women (breast cancer patients n = 137, control n = 137) took part in the study. Expected and actually received autonomy-, directive- and emotional project support was assessed by the procedure of Personal Project Assessment. Well-being was measured by the Relationship Assessment Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. For investigating the associations between project support and well-being in a multivariate way, structural equation modelling was used.

RESULTS

Except for autonomy support, participants expected more support than they received. A path model indicated multiple associations between types of project support and relationship satisfaction and self-esteem. The partner's emotional project support was predictive of women's relationship satisfaction and self-esteem, while directive support was predictive of self-esteem only. The associations showed similar patterns in the subgroups of patients with breast cancer and control.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight the importance of involving women's subjective perspectives regarding the partner's project support while also have implications for praxis. Teaching women how to communicate their needs to their partner effectively (whether it is the need for autonomy or directive guidance) can help close the gap between expected and received support, which may in turn enhance relationship satisfaction and self-esteem.

[Health goals amongst patients with Crohn's disease.]

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease, have a significant impact on patients' lifestyle, requiring lifelong attention to health behavior.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to investigate health-related goals, emotions related to health goals, the use of infocommunication tools and their associations.

METHOD

79 patients with Crohn's disease (59.5% female, mean age 40.7 years, SD = 11.89) participated in the study. They answered demographic and health behaviour questions and completed the Personal Health Plans Questionnaire, which assessed their personal health goals, positive and negative emotions about health goal(s), support for personal health goals from their physician, negative and positive effects (barriers/support) of achieving health goals, and digital technology and internet use.

RESULTS

70% of patients had at least 1 health goal. The health goals were classified into four categories: physical activity (43.6%), stress management (25.4%), nutrition (18%) and smoking cessation (7%). 71% of participants experienced at least average levels of positive emotions related to the health goal, but about 50% also experienced negative emotions. 51% of those with a health goal regularly use the internet and apps on smartphones. Infocommunication device use showed a medium-strength correlation with perceived health goal-related barrier/support (ρ = 0.55, p<0.01), support from the person's doctor (ρ = 0.45, p<0.05) and physical activity (ρ = 0.40, p<0.01).

DISCUSSION

More than two-thirds of patients had a health goal; most of the goals were related to health behaviours that are also relevant to Crohn's disease, but few had healthy eating and smoking cessation as health goals. Half of those with a health goal regularly use the internet and apps on smartphones. Among health behaviours, physical activity was associated with infocommunication device use.

CONCLUSION

It is recommended to investigate patients' health goals and infocommunication device use in the care of patients with Crohn's disease. This would allow the development of specific interventions to improve their health behaviour, which could increase the quality of life and disease prognosis. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(28): 1102-1110.

Improving disease management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: the potential role of self-concordant health goals

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic gastrointestinal conditions that significantly impact patients' quality of life. Previous research indicates that patients with IBD have a higher prevalence of anxiety compared to the general population and other chronic diseases. This pilot study aimed to investigate the relationships between goal integration, positive and negative emotions, goal self-efficacy, and trait anxiety as the outcome variable, focusing on patients' self-management strategies. Drawing from the Self-Concordance Model (SCM) of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the study explored how goal integration is associated with more fulfilling and enjoyable experiences and fewer negative emotions, ultimately improving psychological well-being. Health-related goals were evaluated using the Personal Project Analysis technique, while the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was utilized to measure general anxiety levels. Among the 141 participants with inflammatory bowel disease, 96 reported having health-related goals. Of these, 66 were female (68.75%), and 30 were male participants (31.25%). Path analysis revealed a moderate negative association between self-concordance (SC) and negative emotions, which, in turn, predicted higher levels of trait anxiety. Furthermore, the alternative model tested indicated that trait anxiety predicted a lower level of self-concordance. Setting well-integrated health goals involves an internal capacity, enabling patients to experience less negative emotions during self-management activities. Anxiety can hinder individuals from accessing their inner needs, resulting in less self-concordant aspirations and more negative emotions. These findings may contribute to developing prevention and intervention programs to enhance IBD patients' adherence to lifestyle changes, ultimately improving their overall well-being.

Flourishing Together: The Longitudinal Effect of Goal Coordination on Goal Progress and Life Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

Goal pursuit shapes people' everyday experiences and is deeply embedded within close relationships. Several studies have shown that goal support from romantic partners facilitates goal progress, and individual goal progress contributes to wellbeing. However, few pieces of research have examined the whole process, how efficient goal coordination in a romantic relationship contributes to life satisfaction through goal progress. In these studies, short time frames were used and only one aspect of goal coordination was examined. To generate more complex, long-term understanding we collected data from 148 married or cohabitating Hungarian heterosexual couples (mean age 39.71 ± 10.40 and 38.57 ± 10.00 years for men and women, respectively) in a two-wave longitudinal study with a year-long time window. Both partners individually completed an adapted version of the Personal Project Assessment and evaluated four chosen projects associated with project coordination (emotional support, communication, and cooperation) at baseline, and project attainment (progress, success, satisfaction) in the follow up. Life satisfaction was assessed during both waves. Results from the actor-partner interdependence mediation modeling revealed complete mediation, where project coordination increased project attainment one year later, and consequently associated with higher life satisfaction for both partners. The direct effect between project coordination and life satisfaction remained nonsignificant. This association indicates that for long-term life satisfaction, it is crucial to experience better goal outcomes as the result of the couple's collaborative effort.

Health Psychology Services for People in Disadvantaged Regions of Hungary: Experiences from the Primary Health Care Development Model Program

BACKGROUND

The importance of community health psychology in providing complex bio-psycho-social care is well documented. We present a mixed-method outcome-monitoring study of health psychology services in the public-health-focused Primary Health Care Development Model Program (2012-2017) in four disadvantaged micro-regions in northeast Hungary.

METHODS

Study 1 assessed the availability of the services using a sample of 17,003 respondents. Study 2 applied a follow-up design to measure the mental health outcomes of the health psychology services on a sample of 132 clients. In Study 3, we conducted focus-group interviews to assess clients' lived experiences.

RESULTS

More mental health issues and higher education predicted a higher probability of service use. Follow-up showed that individual and group-based psychological interventions resulted in less depression and (marginally) higher well-being. Thematic analysis of the focus-group interviews indicated that participants deemed topics such as psychoeducation, greater acceptance of psychological support, and heightened awareness of individual and community support important.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the monitoring study demonstrate the important role health psychology services can play in primary healthcare in disadvantaged regions in Hungary. Community health psychology can improve well-being, reduce inequality, raise the population's health awareness, and address unmet social needs in disadvantaged regions.

[Relationship between cardiovascular risk assessment and health behavior in the light of psychosocial factors.]

INTRODUCTION

Even though preventive measures have been taken to reduce cardiovascular risk, cardiovascular mortality is increasing. Cardiovascular screening can be a population strategy that contributes to the reduction of mortality over the long term when implemented in a systematic, protocol-based, expanded manner.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we examine changes in participants' health behavior between 2012 and 2019 as a follow-up to the Budakalász Epidemiological Study (BEV).

METHOD

A cardiovascular health index was developed to enable effective follow-up. This study included subjects with medium and high cardiovascular risks who participated in the BEV complex cardiovascular risk assessment in 2012 (n = 502). Besides the basic data from the BEV baseline study (demographics, healthy lifestyle, risk behavior, diseases treated by medicine), the 2019 follow-up questionnaire included newly added psychological questionnaires (Perceived Stress, WHO Well-being, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Health-Related Social Support, ABCD Risk Questionnaire).

RESULTS

All factors of the cardiovascular health index created in our analysis showed an improvement of over 70% between 2012 and 2019. 37.6% of the participants did something for their health, according to their confession, by 30.3%, BEV had a big or very big impact on their lives from the 2012 BEV test in the year after the test, and by 24.7%, BEV had and still has a big or very big impact on their lives. The improving health indices show a significant correlation with psychological factors. Psychological factors showed a positive correlation with well-being (tau_b = 0.344) and a negative correlation with perceived stress (tau_b = -0.225) and hopelessness (tau_b = -0.206).

CONCLUSION

The participants in the study showed a significant change in health behavior seven years after the BEV cardiovascular risk assessment. A higher level of mental well-being is associated with improved values. By analyzing the impact of BEV on the health behavior change and the lifestyle, we can conclude that the cardiovascular risk assessment facilitates health behavior change. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(4): 119-131.

Finding a Secure Place in the Home during the First COVID-19 Lockdown: A Pattern-Oriented Analysis

In challenging times, home is frequently the primary basis of environmental self-regulation processes, individual and relational coping, and well-being. This study aimed to identify multiple types of security experiences at home during the first lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used data from 757 Hungarian adults who completed the online, modified form of the Emotional Map of the Home Interview method in 2020 after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants imagined their homes, chose the place of security in their homes and rated their personal experiences (i.e., experiences of agency, communion, self-recovery, and distress) related to these places. Latent profile analysis of personal experiences revealed four types of relational-environmental self-regulation in secure places: "security in active self-recovery," "security in detachment," "security in doing and feeling good enough," and "security in stress and compensation." Profile membership was predicted by age, gender, and indices of psychological support and well-being. Results suggest that finding psychological security in the home is a multifaceted phenomenon that may be partly affected by the perception of the broader social-ecological context. Identifying subpopulations vulnerable to the challenges of the pandemic may help researchers and practitioners provide better support in times of local and global crises.

Validation of the PCQ-5: A Short Form to Measure State Positive Psychological Capital

Positive psychological capital (PsyCap) is a key measure of workplace positivity, yet its organizational impact may be somewhat limited by current measurement practices. Given its state-like and malleable nature, organizations need accurate yet brief measures to allow for repeated measurement of PsyCap. A very short PsyCap instrument could be used in various ways by organizations to measure and track employee positivity, thus enabling management to make decisions with more insight. Similarly, for researchers, a much shorter scale could dramatically improve research efficiency and response rate, opening up new perspectives in PsyCap research. In this paper, initial evidence is provided for the validity of a short PsyCap measure across multiple samples of working adult populations ( N = 1331 in total) from four different countries (United States, China, Germany, and Hungary). Consistent with prior research, we propose a five-item PsyCap measure, the PCQ-5, consisting of one item from the dimensions of self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism and one item for each facet of the hope dimension (agency and pathways). The proposed PCQ-5 shows internal consistency reliability and good fit for a single factor global PsyCap model across all samples. Moreover, like the PCQ-24, the PCQ-5 is associated with meaningful workplace outcomes such as job performance, job satisfaction, OCBs, voice, and helping behaviors, and it is negatively related to deviant behaviors like CWBs.

Intimate Pride: a Tri-Nation Study on Associations between Positive Minority Identity Aspects and Relationship Quality in Sexual Minorities from German-Speaking Countries

Investigations into the intimate relationships of sexual minorities are proliferating, but often adopt a deficit-oriented and US-centered perspective. In this tri-nation online study with sexual minority participants from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland (N = 571), we (i) assessed the construct validity of the German version of a well-known measure for positive minority identity aspects (the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Positive Identity Measure; LGB-PIM), and (ii) explored associations between these aspects (self-awareness, authenticity, community, capacity for intimacy, and social justice) and self-reported relationship quality. Model fit of the German version of the LGB-PIM was deemed acceptable. Higher levels of positive minority identity aspects showed small to moderate associations with higher levels of relationship quality in bivariate analyses, but only capacity for intimacy was linked to relationship quality in higher-order models (controlling for country, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, relationship length, and psychological distress). Results remained robust in several sensitivity analyses. Our results highlight the differential role of positive identity aspects for relationship functioning, with capacity for intimacy as a fruitful leverage point for therapeutic work.

Medical educators' experiences on medically unexplained symptoms and intercultural communication-an expert focus group study

BACKGROUND

Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) are highly prevalent and remain challenging in healthcare and medical education, along with the increase in the importance of intercultural issues regarding MUS. However, less is known about the challenges of professionally addressing patients with MUS in the interprofessional and intercultural contexts. Thus, the present study aims to provide the first exploration of the experiences of medical specialists regarding treating MUS in intercultural contexts and inputs for training development on the intercultural aspects of MUS.

METHODS

Three focus groups (total n = 13) consisting of medical specialists from a Hungarian university who were teaching at the medical faculty in intercultural settings and also worked for the university health services were interviewed. The topics covered the participants' personal experiences on addressing MUS and the challenges of intercultural communication and the intercultural educational context. Thematic analysis was used to yield a qualitative account of the interviews as guided by the research questions.

RESULTS

Representing the different aspects of medical specialists, the study identified three main themes in the experiences of medical specialists, namely, 1) the need to adapt to the personal world of patients and search for common frames to understand MUS, 2) the need to discover methods for adapting to cultural differences and 3) the need to enhance the interprofessional coordination of knowledge and practices.

CONCLUSIONS

The results are in line with the distinct conclusions of previous studies. Moreover, an integrated educational program on the intercultural aspects of MUS may address the main themes separately and, subsequently, support their integration. Therefore, the study discusses the manner in which an integrated educational program on the intercultural aspects of MUS may address the needs recognized in these aspects.

Assessing meaningful work among Hungarian employees: testing psychometric properties of work and meaning inventory in employee subgroups

Background

The construct of meaningful work (MW) has become the subject of various studies. Workers who experience MW have higher career and organizational commitment, report fewer days absent, and are characterized by a higher level of well-being. The aim of this study is to test a measure of MW, the Work and Meaning Inventory by Steger et al. This measure was created on theoretical background, and it constructs MW from three dimensions: psychological meaning, meaning-making, and greater good motivation.

Methods

The analysis was conducted in a Hungarian sample (N = 2,498), using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and multiple-group CFA.

Results

The three-dimensional model of the WAMI was confirmed in the analysis. In our study, the measure proved to be reliable, even in the test–retest analysis. Moreover, the discriminant and convergent validity of the WAMI was tested, with various relevant constructs: the presence and the search for life meaning, life satisfaction, and job satisfaction. Also a multiple-group CFA was conducted with the three-factor model, confirming measurement invariance regarding sex and working position.

Conclusions

In line with the original version of the WAMI, the three-dimensional model was confirmed, with good psychometric properties in the Hungarian working context.

Cooperation and conflict in romantic partners' personal projects: the role of life domains

Personal projects represent a person's pursuits in different life domains. The present study examines the orientations of adults' personal projects and how these orientations are embedded in the dynamics of romantic relationships. Cross-sectional data from 249 married or cohabitating Hungarian heterosexual couples were collected (mean age 42 ± 10.76 and 39.64 ± 10.21 years for male and female partners, respectively). An adapted version of the Personal Project Assessment procedure was completed by both partners individually. Four of their chosen projects were evaluated based on perceived cooperation and conflict regarding these projects and other predefined aspects. First, after applying a person-oriented approach, four meaningful content domains emerged from the thematically coded data using cluster analysis: (1) Practical, (2) Work-Life Balance, (3) Relationships, and (4) Learning and Growth orientations. For both genders, people with Learning and Growth orientation were younger than those with Practical orientation, and among women, the Work-Life Balance orientation group was older. Second, we linked the content domains to relationship experiences on the dyadic level. Both partners with Learning and Growth orientation goals perceived less cooperation. Female partners whose spouses had Work-Life Balance or Learning and Growth orientation goals perceived less conflict regarding their own goals. Overall, Learning and Growth-oriented goals can be considered more distant from the dynamics of romantic relationships because they involve fewer joint experiences and less cooperation and conflict.

[Social anxiety and the use of environmental self-regulation strategies]

INTRODUCTION

The prevention of social anxiety alone and in the prevention of comorbid diseases is key. In the present research, we examine subclinical-level social anxiety from a previously understudied perspective, in its asso ciation with environmental self-regulatory strategies. We use the theory of favorite places to describe environmental self-regulatory processes. The aim of the research is to determine how subclinical level social anxiety is related to the environmental self-regulatory processes taking place in favorite places.

METHODS

In the study, we conducted an online questionnaire survey of 483 adults who were clinically healthy - 329 women (68.11%) and 154 men (31.88%). Respondents' social anxiety was assessed with the Fear of Negative Evaluation Questionnaire (BFNE-S), while environmental self-regulatory strategies were assessed with the Favorite Places Questionnaire.

RESULTS

The extent of social anxiety was correlated with visiting favorite places in positive and negative emotional states, as well as the level of recovering and distressing experiences in the favorite place. Within the subsample characterized by elevated social anxiety, the pattern that visiting a favorite place helps a person regain his or her emotional balance primarily through the regulation of negative experiences was more characteristic. However, we found no correlation between the type of favorite place (e.g., place of residence, natural place) and the person's level of social anxiety.

CONCLUSION

The research highlights that individuals with subclinical-level social anxiety are particularly active in using environmental self-regulatory processes to achieve their emotional balance. In prevention and clinical practice, it is worthwhile to monitor environmental self-regulatory processes and support for related needs, with particular emphasis on place use patterns.

Preferred ways of giving birth in non-pregnant and pregnant nulliparous women: the role of control beliefs

PURPOSE

To explore the association between delivery-specific, health-related control beliefs and preferred ways of delivery in nulliparous Hungarian women. Moreover, since data about the delivery-specific control beliefs and delivery-related preferences of non-pregnant nulliparous women are lacking, the present study also seeks to provide descriptive information in this regard.

METHODS

A total of 984 Hungarian nulliparous women (26.45 ± 5.42 years; 660/77.2% non-pregnant and 224/22.8% pregnant) were included in the present study. The online assessment included measures of delivery-specific (internal-, healthcare professional-, and chance-related) health control beliefs, fears of childbirth, self-esteem, as well as preferences regarding delivery setting (i.e. spontaneous vaginal birth in hospital, planned cesarean birth and home birth).

RESULTS

Healthcare professional-related control beliefs were associated with a stronger preference for spontaneous vaginal birth in hospital (OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.56-2.23) and planned cesarean birth (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.60-2.40), alongside a weaker preference for home birth (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.25-0.39). In contrast, internal delivery-specific control beliefs predicted a weaker preference for planned cesarean (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.55-0.78) and a stronger preference for home birth (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.33-2.00). A general preference index for medicalized ways of delivery was negatively associated with internal - and positively with healthcare professional - and chance-related control beliefs (βs = -.173, .074 and .445, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Delivery-related control beliefs are important psychological characteristics in the prediction of preferences for ways of delivery. Understanding delivery-specific control beliefs may be an important component of supporting women to give birth in a mentally and physically healthy way.

A configural approach to aspirations: The social breadth of aspiration profiles predicts well-being over and above the intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations that comprise the profiles

We conducted a person-centered analysis of the Aspiration Index to identify subgroups that differ in the levels of their specific (wealth, fame and image, personal growth, relationships, community giving, and health) and global intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations. In a Hungarian (N = 3,370; 77% female; age: M = 23.57), an Australian (N = 1,632; 51% female; age: M = 16.6), and an American sample (N = 6,063; 82.2% female; age: M = 21.86), we conducted separate bifactor exploratory structural equation models to disentangle the level of higher-order intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations from the shape of specific aspirations by using the resultant factor scores as indicators in latent profile analyses. The analyses yielded 3 replicable latent profiles: Disengaged from relationships and health (Profile 1); Aspiring for interpersonal relationships more than community relationships (Profile 2); and Aspiring for community relationships more than interpersonal relationships (Profile 3), with Profile 3 reliably experiencing the highest well-being. To demonstrate the incremental value of our approach to more traditional variable-centered methods, we used profile membership to predict well-being while controlling for the aspirations that comprise the profiles. Even in these conservative tests, profile membership explained additional variance in well-being. However, the real-life significance of the size of the incremental value appeared quite small. These studies make a unique contribution to the literature by identifying replicable latent profiles of aspiring, membership to which uniquely predicted well-being, over and above the constituent variables. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

[Attachment style, relationship and sexual satisfaction: comparing breast cancer patients and healthy women]

Introduction: Many studies have investigated attachment styles in adults diagnosed with breast cancer: previous results indicate the importance of considering the associations between attachment style and relationship functioning in order to support better quality of life and optimal healing process in patients. Aim and method: In this study we intend to assess the attachment style (anxiety and avoidance) of Hungarian women diagnosed with breast cancer (n = 135) and to compare it with a group of women not diagnosed with cancer (n = 137). We examined attachment style in relation to self-rated health as well as relational and sexual satisfaction. Results: In the diagnosed group, we found higher level of avoidant attachment as well as poorer self-rated health, and lower relationship and sexual satisfaction. Both higher avoidance and anxiety predicted lower relationship satisfaction, while sexual satisfaction was predicted by having a breast cancer diagnosis and better self-rated health. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the attachment pattern of women diagnosed with cancer can play a role in their relationships and sexual satisfaction, along with their subjective health status. Monitoring and supporting physical, mental and relational characteristics may contribute to the attainment of better quality of life. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(13): 510-518.

[Correlation of social support and healthy lifestyle]

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death accounting for 4 million deaths per year in Europe. Psychosocial factors explain at least 25-40% of the disease's prevalence beyond the well-known lifestyle factors. Isolation in adulthood is one of the main sources of chronic stress that raises the incidence of the disease. The low level of social support and social isolation are increasing the risk of depression and high blood pressure hence the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Aim: Our aim was to observe the correlation between social isolation and health behaviour. Furthermore, we have adapted the earlier validated Multidimensional Social Support Scale to the domain of health. Method: The data from 507 persons were collected online in 2018. Multidimensional Social Support Scale adapted to health, self-rated health, subjective means, short version of Beck Depression, shortened version of WHO Wellbeing, and Perceived Stress Scales were recorded. Results: Factor analysis verified the scale construction of the original 3-subscale structure (Cronbach alpha values = 0.945, 0.950 and 0.905). According to the regression models, social support received from friends we have observed to have moderately positive correlation with intensive exercises (B = 0.205, beta = 0.096, p = 0.093). Logistic regression model revealed that health-connected social support does not correlate with smoking, only education variable was related with it strongly, statistically significantly (B = -1.284, OR = 0.277, p<0.001). Conclusion: Multidimensional Social Support Scale has satisfactory stability and consistency to measure health-related social support. Social support showed correlation with the measures of mental health (depression, stress-level, wellbeing), and moderate association with intense exercises. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(4): 129-138.

Attitudes Toward Technologies of the Near Future: The Role of Technology Readiness in a Hungarian Adult Sample

Past decades’ rapid development of technological innovations can ease individual’s everyday lives, but they can also convey a sense of frustration. The aim of the present study was to investigate attitudes toward technologies that are expected to become widespread in the near future. The Technology Readiness Index was administered to a sample of Hungarian respondents to measure the capacity to adopt technologies. The results add significant novelties about the specific patterns related to perceptions of considerably different future technologies, emphasizing the unique role of optimism. Derivations are further specified by demographic characteristics, future directions and practical implications are also discussed.

Stress and Dyadic Coping in Personal Projects of Couples - A Pattern-Oriented Analysis

Relational accounts of goal striving have barely considered dyadic coping as an element of the process, nor has dyadic coping research utilized the unique advantages of the goal construct (e.g., in form of personal project assessment) so far. Therefore, the primary aim of the present study was to explore stress and dyadic coping experiences associated with the personal projects of partners in a close relationship. Moreover, we approached data analysis in a pattern-oriented way, instead of using variable-centered linear models. We used cross-sectional data from 270 married and cohabiting Hungarian heterosexual couples (mean age 40.1 ± 11.2 and 37.8 ± 10.9 years for male and female partners, respectively). Partners individually completed an adapted version of the Personal Project Assessment procedure. First, they named an important but stressful personal project. Respondents appraised their experiences with the chosen personal project along several predefined aspects. These included: (1) stress experiences; (2) dyadic coping, using the adapted Dyadic Coping Inventory; (3) positive emotions; and (4) sense of community. The Relationship Assessment Scale was also assessed. Cluster analysis of both partners' stress experiences, positive and negative dyadic coping strategies in their own personal projects revealed six relationship-level clusters. Cluster solutions represented typical variations of the stress and dyadic coping patterns of the couples, and could be arranged in a three- (lower, medium, and higher stress) by-two (positively vs. negatively balanced dyadic coping pattern) array. Further analyses indicated the general trend that couples with lower (vs. higher) stress together with more positively (vs. negatively) balanced dyadic coping may have experienced better functioning in projects (more positive emotions and higher sense of community) and higher relationship satisfaction. Results confirm that the partners' pursuit of their personal projects is embedded in their relationship, and their functioning in these projects may partly depend on dyadic coping with the stress that arises during the accomplishment of the project. By using a pattern-oriented approach to dyadic data, we were able to distill stress and coping patterns that capture the specific types of couples' relationships and indicate the non-linear and multidimensional nature of stress and dyadic coping processes.

Strategies of Dyadic Coping and Self-Regulation in the Family Homes of Chronically Ill Persons: A Qualitative Research Study Using the Emotional Map of the Home Interview Method

Environmental and emotional self-regulation skills play a critical role in promoting well-being of individuals and in encouraging healthy relationships. However, occurrence of chronic illness in one family member complicates routine dyadic coping processes for the couple. Additionally, according to environmental psychologists, self-regulation processes are influenced by individuals' perceptions of their socio-physical environments, and during times of chronic illness, the family home is frequently the primary site of dyadic coping. To date, few researchers have investigated the complex relationship among dyadic coping, the family home, and self-regulation processes in the context of chronic illness. The purpose of this paper is to report the results of qualitative research conducted to explore these relationships by analyzing participants' emotionally significant experiences within the family home. We purposively sampled and conducted in depth semi-structured interviews with 23 adults representing 10 families with one chronically ill adult family member. Representative illnesses included epilepsy (4) and chronic back pain (6). We used the Emotional Map of the Home Interview method (EMHI), an elicitation process in which participants are initially asked to place predefined positive and negative experiences on drawn diagrams of their homes. We analyzed the data through grounded theory coding methods, including open, axial and selective coding. Results of data analysis suggest that the family home operated as a critical socio-physical environment and had a profound impact on environmental and emotional self-regulation as well as on dyadic coping when one partner experienced chronic illness. Key selective codes derived from the data that reflect the variation and nuance within this impact included: "stress communication through the home space," "coping by spatial separation" and "coping by joint striving for at-homeness." These results reveal formerly hidden aspects of dyadic coping with chronic illness: the role of environmental cues, represented by the family home in this study, in perceptions of stress; the coordinated use of spatial-environmental contexts to engage the appropriate self-regulatory strategies for coping with illness-related stress. These findings demonstrate the utility of EMHI as an assessment tool and provide meaningful theoretical and practical information about dyadic coping among couples living with chronic disease.

Future orientation and suicide risk in Hungarian college students: Burdensomeness and belongingness as mediators

We tested a model consistent with the notion that perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness mediate the association between future orientation and suicide risk (viz., depressive symptoms and suicide ideation) in college students. The sample was comprised of 195 Hungarian college students. Results indicated that the negative associations found between future orientation and suicide risk outcomes were accounted for by both perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. The present findings highlight the importance of studying positive future cognitions in suicide risk and provide support for perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness as potential proximal mechanisms associated with heighted suicide risk in adults.

Validity of the Frequency of Suicidal Ideation Inventory in Hungarian adults

The present research examined the validity of the Hungarian Frequency of Suicidal Ideation Inventory (FSII-H). In Study 1, among 457 Hungarian college students, confirmatory factor analysis supported a 1-factor model. In Study 2, among 241 Hungarian college students, the FSII-H correlated positively with measures of suicide risk factors, and negatively with suicide protective factors. The present findings are the first to provide promising evidence for the validity of a brief measure of suicide ideation frequency in a Hungarian population.

Lay Definitions of Happiness across Nations: The Primacy of Inner Harmony and Relational Connectedness

In well-being research the term happiness is often used as synonymous with life satisfaction. However, little is known about lay people's understanding of happiness. Building on the available literature, this study explored lay definitions of happiness across nations and cultural dimensions, analyzing their components and relationship with participants' demographic features. Participants were 2799 adults (age range = 30-60, 50% women) living in urban areas of Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Hungary, India, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, and United States. They completed the Eudaimonic and Hedonic Happiness Investigation (EHHI), reporting, among other information, their own definition of happiness. Answers comprised definitions referring to a broad range of life domains, covering both the contextual-social sphere and the psychological sphere. Across countries and with little variation by age and gender, inner harmony predominated among psychological definitions, and family and social relationships among contextual definitions. Whereas relationships are widely acknowledged as basic happiness components, inner harmony is substantially neglected. Nevertheless, its cross-national primacy, together with relations, is consistent with the view of an ontological interconnectedness characterizing living systems, shared by several conceptual frameworks across disciplines and cultures. At the methodological level, these findings suggest the potential of a bottom-up, mixed method approach to contextualize psychological dimensions within culture and lay understanding.

[Psychometric characteristics of the Shortened Hungarian Cloninger Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI55) based by nationwide samples]

INTRODUCTION

The shortened Hungarian 55-item version (TCI55) of the Cloninger Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) is presented in the article. The goal of the examination was testing the psychometric parameters of the shortened questionnaire. The Cloninger TCI based by psychobiological model is the most recent personality inventory. Cloninger divides the personality to temperament dimensions into those that are determined by genetic attributes, and into the character dimensions that evolve by environment. The inventory includes four temperament factors (Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidance, Reward Dependence, and Persistence) and tree character factors (Self- Directedness, Cooperativeness, and Self-Transcendence). The temperament dimensions characterized by automatic answers to emotional stimuli are related on the main neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin and norandrenalin). The character dimensions are based on the concepts of myself, others, and world, and represent the purposes, goals, and attitudes of the person.

METHODS

The validation of the shortened 55-item version inventory was tested by surveys: one on a normative sample consisting 2861 persons (Rozsa, 2002), and two other samples that had been representative by sex, age, education, and habitation, and consisted 5020 and 2000 persons (HEP 2006 and HS 2013, respectively).

RESULTS

The reliability and validity of the shortened inventory had been sufficient, the selected items represent sufficiently the original questionnaire.

CONCLUSION

Based on results, TCI55 is an opportunity to measure the socialbiological model of personality, when the testing of original 240-items version questionnare is not possible.

[Measurement of unemployment-related psychological stress: Validation of the Unemployment Stress (USS)]

BACKGROUND

Nowadays the theme of unemployment and the given answers of it are up to date questions in psychology. In spite of this fact, the psychological methods measuring this phenomenon are often missing. That is why the Unemployment Stress Scale (USS) is presented in this article.

AIM

The aim of our study is to develop a scale called USS and test it's validity and reliability.

METHOD

There were 287 adult unemployed persons asked in this study. Besides the USS we used the Beck Depression Scale, the Spielberger Anxiety Scale (TRAIT), the Sense of Coherence Scale (Hungarian version) and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale.

RESULTS

According to our results, USS has showed an excellent criterion and construct validity. A useful scale has been formed according to test-retest results. (Cronbach-alfa: 0.88 and 0.86 according to the samples). Moreover our scale has a strong correlation with the Spielberger Anxiety Scale (TRAIT) and the Beck Depression Scale. These chracteristics of the new scale proved that we fond a factor, independent from the self esteem and the sense of coherence, which represents the stress level in the situation of unemployment.

CONCLUSIONS

This scale is a professional construction to measure stress contributed to unemployment. The USS can be a useful scale in clinical practice because after measuring with this scale we can protect the personality of the unemployed by representing the actual unemployment stress level. That is why professionals can help earlier in a crisis like this.

Implicit motive profile of treatment-seeking opiate users: high affiliation and low achievement

Research on basic human motives (achievement, affiliation, and power) encoded at the emotional level recently returned to the forefront of scientific research. To date, there are only a few studies on the pattern of implicit motives of substance users, so the present study examined opiate users participating in methadone maintenance treatment (N = 80) along these dimensions, comparing them to 40 non-substance users. Participants were asked to create stories on the basis of the pictures of the Thematic Apperception Test. The stories were analyzed using the content analysis method of David Winter (1991). Like other substance user groups, opiate-dependent persons used less achievement and more affiliation notions in creating stories, while there was no significant difference between the two groups concerning power notions. The results proved to be independent of the presence of anxiety and depression symptoms, despite substance users reporting higher levels of these, and suggest that motivational factors are worth considering in treatment planning.

Autonomic dysfunction and circadian blood pressure variations in people with impaired glucose tolerance

AIMS

To assess circadian blood pressure variability in people with impaired glucose tolerance and a healthy control population.

METHODS

Seventy-five people with impaired glucose tolerance and 40 healthy volunteers (frequency matched on 10-year age bands and sex) underwent a detailed neurological assessment. Autonomic neuropathy was detected by the five standard cardiovascular autonomic tests and heart rate variability was characterized by the triangle index. Diurnal indices were assessed by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Systolic and diastolic diurnal indices were defined as: (mean daytime blood pressure - mean night-time blood pressure) × 100/mean daytime blood pressure.

RESULTS

Mean 24-h systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the group with impaired glucose tolerance compared with the control group [126 ± 12 (mean ± SD) vs. 117 ± 10, 75 ± 7 vs. 71 ± 6 mmHg, both P < 0.05). Systolic and diastolic diurnal indices and heart rate variability triangular index were significantly lower in people with impaired glucose tolerance compared with control subjects (9.1 ± 7.8 vs. 13.2 ± 5.4, 14.5 ± 9.7 vs. 18.4 ± 7.1 mmHg, 28.0 ± 8.4 vs. 39.5 ± 9.3, all P < 0.05). Differences in mean diastolic blood pressure, heart rate variability triangular index and the frequency of non-dippers between those with impaired glucose tolerance and control subjects seemed to be independent of BMI and the presence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy, as simultaneous adjustment for BMI and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy had no major effect on the results.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that people with impaired glucose tolerance have increased diastolic blood pressure and abnormal circadian blood pressure regulation, independent of obesity and the presence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy.

[Dyadic coping and well-being -- the Hungarian version of the Dyadic Coping Inventory]

INTRODUCTION

In studying coping processes, there is often a focus on individual coping while dyadic processes in couples are seldom addressed. Therefore we present here data with the Hungarian version of the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) that was developed to assess dyadic forms of coping (e.g., stress communication, support, delegated and negative coping).

METHODS

473 adult participants, living in committed relationships (176 male and 296 female, aged 34,0 +/- 11,9 years) were involved in a questionnaire study. Along with the Hungarian version of the Dyadic Coping Inventory we assessed satisfaction with life (SWLS) and marital satisfaction (Marital Stress Scale).

RESULTS

Subscales of the Dyadic Coping Inventory were found reliable and the expected factor structure for both the dyadic coping of oneself and the partner were replicable. Moreover, specific forms of dyadic coping accounted for significant amount of explained variance in life satisfaction (31,8 and 27,7% for male and female respondents) and marital satisfaction (1,8 and 48,5%). Results imply possible gender differences, since marital satisfaction of women was negatively predicted both by negative coping of oneself and the partner (betas=-0,174 and -0,152), and positively by the support of the partner and the evaluation of the common dyadic coping (betas= 0,255 and 0,187), whereas there was only one significant link in male respondents, supportive coping of oneself (beta= 0,320).

CONCLUSIONS

Results show that 1. the Hungarian version of the DCI is a reliable and valid measure, and 2. there may be specific gender differences in dyadic coping that has to be considered when planning further research, training programs and therapeutic interventions for couples.

[Psychometric properties of the Hungarian version of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire]

OBJECTIVE

The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) measures conscious attentional and thinking processes that people often use to regulate their emotions. The English version of the CERQ - consisting of nine subscales: self-blame, rumination, catastrophizing, other blame, acceptance, positive refocusing, planning, positive reappraisal and putting into perspective - showed excellent psychometric properties in previous investigations and is widely used in current research and clinical practice. The present study describes the psychometric properties of the Hungarian version of the CERQ.

METHOD

The forward and back-translation method was used for the adaptation. 261 undergraduate and graduate students completed the Hungarian version of the CERQ, the Shortened Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-S), the 5-item version of the WHO Well-being Index (WBS-5) and a short demographical form.

RESULTS

CERQ subscales showed acceptable to very good internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas ranging from 0.68 to 0.88) and strong test-retest reliability (Pearson's correlations ranging from 0.58 to 0.85, p<0.001 ). No associations were found between the emotion regulation strategies and gender and socioeconomic status. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis supported the theoretical model with nine independent factors. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed significant relationships between BDI-S and self-blame, acceptance, planning, positive reappraisal and catastrophizing (F=14,28 p<0,001, adjusted R2=0,320), and WBI-5 and self-blame, rumination, positive refocusing and positive reappraisal (F=5,89 p<0,001; adjusted R2=0,26).

CONCLUSION

Results indicate that the Hungarian version of the CERQ is a reliable and useful instrument for assessment of cognitive emotion regulation strategies.

Health Aspirations in the Context of Age and Self-rated Health

The present research examined the respondents’ preferences for approach and avoidance health aspirations (i.e. health related life goals) in relation to their age and self-rated health (SRH) in a representative Hungarian sample ( N = 4841). Higher age predicted stronger preference for both orientations of health aspirations while SRH attenuated this relationship for approach and amplified it for avoidance health aspiration. Bad SRH predicted elevated preference for approach health aspirations in younger age while it predicted greater preference for avoidance aspirations in older age. Results and implications are discussed with reference to aging and health.

[Key issues in researching spirituality and religiosity in the light of the ASPIRES instrument (Assessment of Spirituality and Religious Sentiments) Developed by Ralph Piedmont]

Our article reviews the major questions raised by the psychological research of spirituality and religion, as well as the historical background of this research area. In our view the scientific exploration of spirituality and religion constitutes a process that allows for both empirical and hermeneutical approaches and as such it is open for a dialogue with other branches of social sciences. The most important topics addressed by the article include: 1. possible conceptualizations of the terms spirituality and religion; the connection between the two; similarities and differences; 2. the interpretation of spirituality as a dimension of the personality; 3. the question of measurement of spirituality and tools of its measurement; 4. the effects of spirituality; and 5. the culture relatedness of research data. Finally we demonstrate how the ASPIRES scale recently developed by R. Piedmont, its theoretical approach, development process, and empirical results try to answer these key questions.

New data for the application of the Post Critical Belief Scale – Theory and methodology

A Kritika Utáni Vallásosság Skála (Horváth-Szabó , 2003; Hutsebaut , 1996) a vallásosság mérőeszköze, mely a valláshoz való viszonyt két dimenzióban, a Transzcendens Bevonása vs. Kizárása és a Szimbolikus vs. Konkrét értelmezésmód szerint helyezi el. A skálát egyre gyakrabban alkalmazzák olyan módon, hogy főkomponens-elemzéssel kinyerik a két alapvető és független dimenziót, majd ezt a két dimenziót hozzák összefüggésbe további változókkal. A tanulmányban bemutatjuk az ezzel kapcsolatos újabb külföldi eredményeket, valamint az eljárás elméletét és gyakorlatát, melynek hazai alkalmazhatóságát 1820 fős magyar minta adatain ellenőriztük. Eredményeink szerint a flamand és a magyar változat tételeinek struktúrája jelentős mértékben megegyezik. A két alapdimenzió megléte nemtől, vallási hovatartozástól függetlenül a magyar mintán is kimutatható volt, és az egyes mintákban magas volt a kérdőív belső struktúrájának stabilitása. A tanulmányban javaslatot teszünk egy 18 tételes rövidített változatra is, mely jól helyettesítheti a 33 tételes eredeti változatot. Összességében azt találtuk, hogy Kritika Utáni Vallásosság Skála kétdimenziós kiértékelése megbízható eljárás, mely új szempontokkal gazdagíthatja a vallásossággal kapcsolatos pszichológiai kutatásokat.

Meaning in life: does it play a role in smoking?

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a relationship exists between a decreased level of meaning in life and smoking. In 2006, 341 Hungarian respondents (48.1% males, 51.9% females) completed a questionnaire that included the Purpose in Life test, a shortened version of the Aspiration Index and the Beck Depression Inventory, as well as questions about sociodemographic characteristics, past year alcohol and illicit drug consumption, and smoking behavior. The mean age of the participants was 33.0 years (SD = 14.6), while the average years of education of the respondents was 14.5 (SD = 2.7). According to the results of the regression analysis, meaning in life proved to be significant in differentiating between nonsmokers and daily smokers. With regard to the nonsmoker vs. occasional smoker and the daily vs. occasional smoker relationship, level of life meaning was not a significant predictor. The gender-meaning in life interaction was insignificant in all three relations. Limitations of this explorative investigation are noted.