Are valence and arousal related to the development of amodal representations of words? A computational study

In this study, we analyzed the relationship between the amodal (semantic) development of words and two popular emotional norms (emotional valence and arousal) in English and Spanish languages. To do so, we combined the strengths of semantics from vector space models (vector length, semantic diversity, and word maturity measures), and feature-based models of emotions. First, we generated a common vector space representing the meaning of words at different developmental stages (five and four developmental stages for English and Spanish, respectively) using the Word Maturity methodology to align different vector spaces. Second, we analyzed the amodal development of words through mixed-effects models with crossed random effects for words and variables using a continuous time metric. Third, the emotional norms were included as covariates in the statistical models. We evaluated more than 23,000 words, whose emotional norms were available for more than 10,000 words, in each language separately. Results showed a curve of amodal development with an increasing linear effect and a small quadratic deceleration. A relevant influence on the amodal development of words was found only for emotional valence (not for arousal), suggesting that positive words have an earlier amodal development and a less pronounced semantic change across early lifespan.

Strong versus weak embodiment: Spatial iconicity in physical, abstract, and social semantic categories

BACKGROUND

Perceptual and action systems seem to be related to complex cognitive processes, but the scope of grounded or embodied cognition has been questioned. Zwaan and Yaxley (2003) proposed that cognitive processes of making semantic relatedness judgments can be facilitated when word pairs are presented in ways that their referents maintain their iconic configuration rather than their reverse-iconic configuration (the spatial iconicity effect). This effect has been observed in different semantic categories using specific experiments, but it is known that embodiment is highly dependent on task demands.

METHOD

The present study analyzed the spatial iconicity effect in three semantic categories (physical, abstract, and social) using the same experimental criteria to determine the scope of embodied cognition. In this reaction-time experiment, 75 participants judged the semantic relatedness of 384 word pairs whose experimental items were presented in their iconic or reverse-iconic configurations.

RESULTS

Two mixed-effects models with crossed random effects revealed that the interaction between word meaning and spatial position was present only for physical concepts but neither for abstract nor social concepts.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the framework of strong and weak embodiment theories, the data support weak embodiment theory as the most explicative one.

'I feel old and have aging stereotypes'. Internalized aging stereotypes and older adults' mental health: the mediational role of loneliness

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this study was to analyze the role of aging stereotype activation (when older adults with aging stereotypes begin to consider themselves as older persons) in the relationship between ageist stereotypes, depressive, anxiety, loneliness, and comorbid anxiety-depressive symptoms.

METHODS

Participants were 182 autonomous community-dwelling people between 60 and 88 (mean age = 72.30; SD = 5.53). Three path models were tested exploring the role of considering oneself as an older person as a moderator variable. Ageist stereotypes were included as the independent variable, loneliness as the mediating variable, and anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and comorbid anxiety-depressive symptoms as dependent variables for each model.

RESULTS

The results suggest an influence of ageist stereotypes on anxiety, depressive, and comorbid anxiety-depressive symptoms only in older adults who consider themselves as older persons, and mediated by loneliness.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that, when someone considers him or herself as an older person, ageist stereotypes activate loneliness feelings, and this activation is associated with psychological distress, including anxiety, depressive, and comorbid anxiety-depressive symptoms.

Recovering crossed random effects in mixed-effects models using model averaging

Random effects contain crucial information to understand the variability of the processes under study in mixed-effects models with crossed random effects (MEMs-CR). Given that model selection makes all-or-nothing decisions regarding to the inclusion of model parameters, we evaluated if model averaging could deal with model uncertainty to recover random effects of MEMs-CR. Specifically, we analyzed the bias and the root mean squared error (RMSE) of the estimations of the variances of random effects using model averaging with Akaike weights and Bayesian model averaging with BIC posterior probabilities, comparing them with two alternative analytical strategies as benchmarks: AIC and BIC model selection, and fitting a full random structure. A simulation study was conducted manipulating sample sizes for subjects and items, and the variance of random effects. Results showed that model averaging, especially Akaike weights, can adequately recover random variances, given a minimum sample size in the modeled clusters. Thus, we endorse using model averaging to deal with model uncertainty in MEMs-CR. An empirical illustration is provided to ease the usability of model averaging.

Effect of exposure to thinness ideals in social networks on self-esteem and anxiety

Social networks use is related to the occurrence of eating disorders (ED). In this study, we experimentally evaluated the effect of exposure to social networks and stereotypical images of the thinness ideal on ED symptomatology and analyzed the mediator role of anxiety in this process. A sample of 321 young adults of both sexes (166 females) were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions: high and low exposure to the thin ideal. Our results indicate a decrease in self-esteem in the group exposed to the thin images and an increase in anxiety. We found the effect of the images on self-esteem is completely mediated by the increase in anxiety. No changes in body satisfaction or drive for thinness were found. Our study shows how brief exposure to images and profiles representative of the thin ideal seems to influence participants' self-esteem. These results show the need to raise awareness of the possible consequences of social media, as well as to promote a healthy use of social networks.

Efecto de la exposición a ideales de delgadez en las redes sociales sobre la autoestima y la ansiedad

El uso de redes sociales está relacionado con la aparición de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA). Hemos evaluado experimentalmente el efecto de la exposición a redes sociales e imágenes estereotípicas del ideal de delgadez sobre la sintomatología de TCA, analizando el papel mediador de la ansiedad. Trescientos veintiún adultos jóvenes (166 mujeres) fueron asignados aleatoriamente a dos condiciones: de alta y baja carga comparativa con el ideal de delgadez. Encontramos una diminución de la autoestima en el grupo expuesto a imágenes de carga comparativa alta y un aumento de la ansiedad. El efecto de las imágenes sobre la autoestima está completamente mediado por el incremento en la ansiedad. No se encontraron cambios en la satisfacción corporal o la obsesión por la delgadez. Nuestro estudio muestra cómo la exposición breve a imágenes y perfiles representativos del ideal de delgadez parece tener un efecto sobre la autoestima de los participantes. Estos resultados evidencian la necesidad de dar a conocer las posibles consecuencias de las redes sociales, así como de promover un uso sano de las mismas.

Cross-cultural analysis of the role of ambivalent feelings for understanding caregivers' depressive symptoms

OBJECTIVES

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are considered to cause ambivalent feelings in caregivers that may contribute to understanding their depressive symptoms. Transnational research is needed in order to increase our knowledge about the cross-cultural equivalence of theoretical models to understand caregivers' mental health. The aim of this study was to cross-culturally analyze the association between BPSD, ambivalent feelings and depressive symptoms in two samples of family caregivers of people with dementia from Spain and the UK.

METHODS

Participants in this study were 432 caregivers who completed measures of BPSD, ambivalent feelings and depressive symptoms. The association between the assessed variables was tested through path-analysis, with differences between countries tested through multigroup analysis.

RESULTS

The results suggest that the influence of BPSD on caregivers' depressive symptoms is indirect, through ambivalent feelings. The observed associations were equivalent between countries and explained a significant percentage of the variance of depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study provide, for the first time, evidence of equivalent cross-cultural paths analyzing the role of ambivalent feelings for understanding caregivers' depressive symptoms. The practical implications of these results are discussed.

Burnout and Quality of Life in Professionals Working in Nursing Homes: The Moderating Effect of Stereotypes

Objective

This study aimed to analyse how stereotypes towards older people moderate the relationship between burnout and quality of life (QoL) of professionals working in nursing homes.

Method

A total of 312 professionals were asked to complete questionnaires of burnout Maslach Burnout Inventory quality of Life (QPL-35) and aging stereotypes (CENVE). The moderation effects were tested using linear regression models.

Results

A negative association was observed between burnout and QoL. It was also found a statistically significant moderator effect of the total score of stereotypes and the health stereotypes, besides a marginally statistically significant moderator effect for motivational stereotypes. The moderator effects were different for people with low and high negative stereotypes. QoL was more affected under conditions of high burnout, in which people with more negative stereotypes tended to present higher QoL than people with lower negative stereotypes.

Conclusion

Highly burned-out professionals in nursing homes may avoid their negative feelings projecting them to residents through stereotypes, as a way of coping with burnout and increasing their QoL. However, this mechanism is an “aggressive reaction” and may have negative effects for both the older adult and the professional. The comprehension of these variables is essential for developing adequate intervention programs.

Adding maintaining factors to developmental models of anorexia nervosa: An empirical examination in adolescents

OBJECTIVE

A biopsychosocial approach has been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa (AN), despite only a few of the existing etiological models having received empirical support. The aim of this study was to empirically investigate Herpertz-Dahlmann, Seitz, and Konrad (2011, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-011-0246-y)'s developmental model and to consider if interpersonal reactions to the illness might serve as maintaining factors following the model proposed by Treasure and Schmidt (2013, https://doi.org/10.1186/2050-2974-1-13) METHOD: One hundred adolescents and their families were participated in the study: 50 diagnosed with AN, paired by age and parents' socio-economic status with 50 adolescents without a pathology. Biological, psychological and familial variables were assessed using ten questionnaires and a blood analysis test. Additionally, structural equation modeling was conducted to assess two hypothetical models.

RESULTS

The fit of both models was good after the addition of two covariate parameters (e.g., Comparative Fit Index > 0.96 and Tucker-Lewis Index > 0.95). Premorbid traits were linked to body dissatisfaction and to the number of stressful life events; this in turn was linked to AN symptoms. Biological and familial consequences reinforced this pathology.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide support for both models, suggesting that inter relationships between bio-psycho-familial variables can influence the course of AN during adolescence.

Longitudinal correlates of loneliness and psychological distress during the lockdown situation due to COVID-19. Effects of age and self-perceptions of aging

Objectives

To longitudinally analyze the correlates of loneliness and psychological distress in people exposed to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown, exploring the effects of age and self-perceptions of aging (SPA).

Methods

A longitudinal follow-up of 1,549 participants was carried out at four different time points during the lockdown in Spain. Questions about the risk of COVID-19, age, SPA, family and personal resources, loneliness, and psychological distress were measured.

Results

Changes in loneliness showed a linear longitudinal trajectory through time, but changes in psychological distress showed a U-shaped relationship with time. Age was a relevant predictor of differences in distress, with older people reporting less psychological distress. Change in both dependent variables was related to change in different predictors like family and personal variables and also to negative SPA.

Discussion

In a stressful situation such as the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults may be more resilient to adverse mental health outcomes by using more adaptive resources that strengthen their resilience. Support is provided for the importance of stereotyped views of the aging process that, independently of chronological age, may put people at risk of suffering adverse mental health outcomes such as loneliness and psychological distress in times of crisis.