Emotion regulation mediates the relationship between personality and sleep quality

Objective: Despite a long history of interest in personality as well as in the mechanisms that regulate sleep, the relationship between personality and sleep is not yet well understood. The purpose of this study was to explore how personality affects sleep.

Design: The present cross-sectional study, based on a sample of 1291 participants with a mean age of 31.16 years (SD = 12.77), investigates the impact of personality styles, assessed by the Personality Adjectives Checklist (PACL), on subjective sleep quality, as well as the possible mediation of this relationship by dispositional emotion regulation (ER) styles.

Results: The dispositional use of suppression was a quite consistent predictor of poor subjective sleep quality for individuals scoring high on Confident, Cooperative or Introversive personality traits, but low on Respectful personality traits. Although a positive relationship between reappraisal and subjective sleep quality was found, there was only little evidence for a relationship between the assessed personality styles and the use of cognitive reappraisal.

Conclusion: The present results indicate that in the evaluation of subjective sleep, the impact of personality and ER processes, such as emotion suppression, should be taken into account.     

Self-reported stress and psychophysiological reactivity in paramedics

Background: As an important group of health care professionals, paramedics accomplish sophisticated and frequently stressful tasks.

Design: The study investigated self-reported stress burden, self-reported health status, coping strategies, personality traits and psychophysiological reactivity in paramedics.

Methods: 30 paramedics were compared with 30 professionals from other disciplines, in terms of self-reported stress, physical complaints, coping strategies, personality traits and psychophysiological reactivity during aversive visual and acoustic stimuli, and cognitive challenge. Regression analyses were performed for the prediction of stress burden and physical complaints in paramedics according to coping and personality factors.

Results: Paramedics reported lower stress and less somatic complaints, and exhibited reduced electrodermal activity and heart rate responses to experimental stimuli, as well as higher respiratory sinus arrhythmia. They indicated less negative coping strategies, reduced empathy, and higher conscientiousness and sensation seeking. Higher self-reported stress burden and more physical symptoms were associated inter alia with more negative coping strategies, less conscientiousness and lower empathy.

Conclusion: The findings support the notion of reduced self-reported stress burden, and improved general health and stress resistance in paramedics. In addition to health benefits, stress tolerance may contribute to the prevention of performance decline during situations in which health and life are at stake.     

Personality traits and body mass index: Modifiers and mechanisms

Objective: To identify how demographic factors (sex, age, ethnicity) modify the association between personality traits and body mass index (BMI) and to test the extent that diet and physical activity account for the personality-BMI relations.

Design: Cross-sectional study with a diverse sample (N = 5150, 50% female, 19% African American, 15% Hispanic). Participants completed a measure of the five major dimensions of personality and reported on their physical activity, diet and food intake behaviour, and height and weight.

Main Outcome Measures: BMI and obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Results: High Neuroticism was associated with higher BMI and risk for obesity, whereas Conscientiousness and, to a lesser extent, Extraversion and Openness were protective. These associations were generally stronger among women and older participants; there was less evidence for ethnicity as a moderator. Personality had similar relations with the behavioural factors, and physical activity, diet and regular meal rhythms accounted for approximately 50% of the association between Neuroticism and Conscientiousness and BMI.

Conclusion: This study supports the links between personality traits and BMI and suggests that physical activity, more than diet, is a key factor in these associations.     

Personality,hedonic balance and the quality and quantity of sleep in adulthood

Objective: Sufficient and good-quality sleep is important for individual functioning. This study explored associations between personality and sleep duration and sleep quality in adulthood. The mediating role of hedonic balance and the moderating roles of age and sex were also explored.

Method: A nationally representative sample of Australian adults (n = 14,065; M_age = 44.4 years; 53.1% women) completed self-report measures of personality, sleep, hedonic balance and demographic variables (e.g. health status, employment status) in late 2013.

Results: After controlling for demographic variables, we found that high neuroticism was associated with poorer sleep quality, and both long and short sleep durations (a curvilinear relationship). Small effects were also observed relating high extraversion and low openness to better sleep quality. Hedonic balance mediated all linear and non-linear associations between personality and sleep. Additional moderator analyses showed that high openness was more strongly related to poor sleep quality among men and young adults. High neuroticism was more strongly related to poor sleep quality among men.

Conclusion: Findings indicate that personality is important for sleep in adulthood and that hedonic balance features a prominent role in this association.     

Investigating the outcome of the initial assessment at a national transgender health service: Time to review the process?

Background: Globally, there is a lack of a standardized assessment process prior to the initiation of gender affirming medical interventions and consequently there is a discrepancy in this process among different transgender health services.

Aim: The main objective of this study is to investigate the outcome of the initial assessment process at a national transgender health service.

Method: The outcome of people over the age of 17 years, assessed at a large national transgender health service in the United Kingdom during a 2-year period was categorized into: (1) recommendation for cross-sex hormone treatment, or (2) no recommendation for cross-sex hormone treatment. In addition, 200 case notes were reviewed in order to investigate the level of agreement between the two clinicians involved in the assessment process.

Results: During the study period, a total number of 617 people completed their assessment at the service. Following assessment 380 (61.6%) patients were recommended for cross-sex hormone treatment, leaving 237 (38.4%) patients who required a longer assessment period or were discharged. The factors associated with being recommended for cross-sex hormone treatment were having socially transitioned, not smoking, having initiated cross-sex hormones prior to assessment, being older, and assigned male at birth. Out of the 200 case notes reviewed, agreement between assessor 1 and 2 (3 months apart) was found in 88% (n = 176) of the cases.

Discussion: Although the results of the study may not be generalizable to other international centers, questioning the assessment process and the role of the assessors is important to ensure treatment is offered in a timely and efficient manner. The findings from this study suggest that the routine inclusion of two assessors needs to be reviewed.     

On the origin of worries about modern health hazards: Experimental evidence for a conjoint influence of media reports and personality traits

Objective: Worries about health threatening effects of potential health hazards of modern life (e.g. electric devices and pollution) represent a growing phenomenon in Western countries. Yet, little is known about the causes of this growing special case of affective risk perceptions termed Modern Health Worries (MHW). The purpose of this study is to examine a possible role of biased media reports in the formation of MHW.

Design: In two experiments, we investigated whether typical television reports affect MHW. In Study 1, 130 participants were randomly assigned to a film on idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI) or a control film about cystic fibrosis. In Study 2, 82 participants were randomly assigned to either a film on the dangers of electromagnetic fields or a control condition.

Main outcome measures: Increases in MHW after sensational media reports.

Results: In Study 1, only participants high on the personality trait of absorption revealed increased MHW after watching the IEI film. In Study 2, specifically worries about radiation were found to be elevated after watching the film on the dangers of electromagnetic fields compared to the control film.

Conclusion: The results of both studies reveal a significant and specific influence of sensational short mass media reports on MHW. The influence of potential moderators such as absorption remains to be clarified.     

Hostility and the clinical course of outpatients with congestive heart failure

Objective: The role of depression and quality of life on clinical outcomes of congestive heart failure (CHF) is well recognised. However, there are fewer studies investigating the prognostic role of subclinical psychological distress and well-being impairments. The aims of this study were to evaluate clinical/subclinical psychological distress and well-being in CHF outpatients, and the influence of these psychological factors on adverse cardiac events (re-hospitalisation, cardiac death), at 4-year follow-up.

Design: Sixty-eight CHF outpatients underwent psychological assessment at baseline and, after 4 years, information about cardiac events was collected in 60 patients by means of clinical records.

Main outcome measures: Psychological assessment included structured clinical interview for DSM (major/minor depression), Interview for diagnostic criteria for psychosomatic research (demoralisation), symptom questionnaire, psychological well-being scales.

Results: At follow-up, 39.7% of the baseline sample reported cardiovascular events (14 CHF-related re-hospitalisations and 13 cardiac deaths) and 5.9% other causes for death. Among the variables examined as potential risk factors for adverse cardiovascular outcomes, only hostility was significant, even after controlling for disease severity (hazard ratio = 2.38, 95%confidence interval: 1.04–5.45, p = .040).

Conclusion: In outpatients with CHF, psychological assessment should include both clinical and subclinical distress such as hostility, in order to better address psychological risk factors for cardiac outcomes.     

Book reviews and books received

Seeking convergence SAVICKAS, M.L. & LENT, R. W. (Eds), 1994 Convergence in Career Development Theories: Implications for Science and Practice Palo Alto, CA: CPP Books ISBN 0-89106-066-9 $32

Reviewed by John Killeen, University of Hertfordshire and National Institute for Careers Education and Counselling

Careers in the classroom BARNES, A. & ANDREWS, D. (Eds), 1995 Developing Careers Education and Guidance in the Curriculum London: Fulton ISBN 1-85346-323-X £13.99

Reviewed by Sheila M. Sloney, National Foundation for Educational Research

Painful questions LAGO, C. & THOMPSON, J. 1996 Race, Culture and Counselling Milton Keynes: Open University Press ISBN 0-335-19294-7 £12.99

Reviewed by Alan Home, Principal Psychotherapist, Central Manchester Healthcare Trust

Skills training INSKIPP, F. 1996 Skills Training for Counsellors London: Cassell ISBN 0-304-32920-7 (hardback); 0-304-32918-5 (paperback) £35 (hardback); £11.99 (paperback)

Reviewed by Maggie Robson, School of Education, University of Durham

Therapy for psychosis CHADWICK, B. BIRCHWOOD, N. & TROWER, P. 1996 Cognitive Therapy for Delusions, Voices and Paranoia Chichester: Wiley ISBN 0-71-96173-6 £15.99

Reviewed by Frank Margison, Consultant Psychotherapist, Manchester Royal Infirmary

Demonstrating REBT DRYDEN, W. 1996 Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy: Learning from Demonstration Sessions London: Whurr ISBN 1-897-635-443 £12.95

Reviewed by Michael Gopfert, Consultant Psychotherapist, Liverpool Psychotherapy and Consultation Service, Mossley Hill Hospital, Liverpool

Promoting mental health TUDOR, K. 1996 Mental Health Promotion: Paradigms and Practice London: Routledge ISBN 0-415-10106-9 £16.99

Reviewed by Mike McNulty, Department of Primary Health Care, University College of St Martin, Carlisle

Incest therapy COURTOIS, C.A. 1988 Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy New York: Norton ISBN 0-393-31356-5 £13.95

Reviewed by Helen Bridges, Senior Lecturer in Counselling and Psychology, University College of St Martin, Lancaster     

Personality and sexuality in older adults

Objective: This study explored cross-time associations between personality and multiple components of sexual functioning and behaviour in a large cohort of older adults (n = 5745).

Design: Participants (M_age = 65.57 ± 8.28 years) completed questionnaires in 2010 and 2012.

Main outcome measures: Outcomes explored included sexual attitudes, sexual activity, sexual satisfaction, lifetime sexual partners, sexual orientation and sexual dysfunction.

Results: We found that higher levels of openness and lower levels of agreeableness were related to more liberal attitudes toward sex, a greater number of sexual partners, a higher sex drive, more frequent sexual activity, lower levels of sexual dysfunction and (for women) a greater tendency towards homosexuality. Higher levels of conscientiousness were also related to more conservative attitudes towards sex, lower levels of sexual dysfunction and a greater tendency towards heterosexuality. For sexually active older adults, higher levels of extraversion and lower levels of neuroticism were related to greater sexual satisfaction. Higher levels of extraversion and lower levels of conscientiousness were also related to a greater number of sexual partners in men but not women.

Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that personality is an important correlate of sexual functioning and behaviour in older adults.     

Psycho-ophthalmology: Contributions of Health psychology to the assessment and treatment of glaucoma

Background: Asymptomatic in its early stages, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. While psychosocial factors are taken into consideration for a host of diseases such as cancer, heart disease and autoimmune conditions, to date, psychological issues have been ignored in the clinical management of glaucoma.

Objective: This work reviews the most relevant contributions from a health psychology perspective for the assessment and treatment of glaucoma, which is emerging in the field of psycho-ophthalmology.

Method: To provide scientific evidence regarding contributions of psychology to the comprehension of glaucoma, a bibliographic review of three databases (Psicodoc, PsycInfo and Medline) was conducted, spanning the period between 1940 and 2016.

Results: This review yielded a total of 66 studies published in the period analysed and identified three areas where health psychology has made substantive contributions to glaucoma screening, monitoring and treatment: the emotional impact on patients suffering from glaucoma, the adherence to treatment and the effects of stress on intraocular pressure.

Conclusions: A health psychology approach for research and therapy of glaucoma must focus on the management of the negative affect associated with the diagnosis, the optimisation of treatment adherence and the stress management of the intraocular pressure measurements.     

Psychic determinism: Leibniz and Freud

You ask me to say a number, any number, and I say ‘127’. Have I answered freely?

“Of course”, says Hume: no‐one compelled me—the fact that my choice was necessitated is irrelevant.

“Yes”, says Leibniz: my choice was not necessitated—the fact that it was determined ( = ‘inclined') is not enough to make it unfree.

“No”, says Freud: my choice was determined—the fact that it was not necessitated is not enough to make it free.

The paper examines the interplay between these answers.     

Book notes

Ruchy Pogranicza Religii i Nauki. Jako Zjawisko Socjopsychologiczne [Movements on the Border of Science and Religion as Socio‐Psychological Phenomenon]

Tadeusz Doktor, ed, 1996 Warsav: Wydawnictwa University Warsav 274 pp. ISBN 83–230–9829–8

Religion: North American Style, 3rd edn. Thomas E. Dowdy & Patrick H. McNamara, eds, 1996 New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press 221 pp., US$48.00 (hb), US$16.95 (pb) ISBN 0–8135–2343–5 (hb), ISBN 0–8135–2344–3 (pb)

Islam in a World of Diverse Faiths. Dan Cohn‐Sherbok, ed, 1997 Houndsmill, Basingstoke: Macmillan Press 218 pp., £45.00 (hb), £15.99 (pb) ISBN 0–333–52612–0 (hb), ISBN 0–333–69067–2 (pb)

Spirituality and Culture: The Case of Celtic Christianity. Oliver Davies, 1996 Oxford: Religious Experience Research Centre, Westminster College 10 pp., £2.00 ISBN 0–906165–13‐X

Christianity and New Age Thought. Frank Whaling, 1996 Oxford: Religious Experience Research Centre, Westminster College 11 pp., £2.00 ISBN 0–906165–08–3

Religious Experience: A Sociological Perspective. Bryan Wilson Oxford: Religious Experience Research Centre, Westminster College 15 pp., £2.00 ISBN 0–906165–09–1

Searching for the Truth around the Next Twist: Why Do We Like The X‐Files Mark Fox. Oxford: Religious Experience Research Centre, Westminster College 9 pp., £2.00 ISBN 0–906165–11–3

Sexual Morality in the World's Religions. Geoffrey Parrinder, 1996 Oxford: Oneworld Publications 276 pp., £8.95 (pb) ISBN 1–85168–108–6

The Sacred Thread: Hinduism in its Continuity and Diversity, 2nd edn John I. Brockington, 1996 Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press 222 pp., £10.95 (pb) ISBN 0–7486–0830–3

Behind the Crystal Ball: Magic and Science from Antiquity to the New Age. Anthony Aveni, 1996 London: Newleaf 406 pp., £20.00 ISBN 0–7522–0549–8

Historical Dictionary of Methodism. Charles Yrigoyen, Jr. & Susan E. Warrick, 1996 Lanham: Scarecrow Press 299 pp., £44.65 ISBN 0–8108–3140–6

Historical Dictionary of the Orthodox Church. Michael Prokurat, Alexander Golitzin & Michael D. Peterson, 1996 Lanham, Maryland, London: Scarecrow Press 440 pp., £80.40 ISBN 0–8108–3081–7

God's Straggler: Religion in the Writings of Nikos Kazantzakis. Darren J. N. Middleton & Peter Bien, eds, 1996 Macon, Georgia: Mercer University Press 236 pp., US$32.95 ISBN 0–86554–499–9

Apocalypticism in the Dead Sea Scrolls. John J. Collins, 1997 London: Routledge 187 pp., £37.50 (hb), £11.99 (pb) ISBN 0–415–14636–4 (hb), ISBN 0–415–14637–2 (pb)

The Word Made Strange: Theology, Language, Culture. John Milbank, 1996 Oxford; Cambridge, MA: Blackwell 298 pp., £45.00, US$59.95 (hb), £14.99, US$23.95 (pb) ISBN 0631–20335–4 (hb), ISBN 0631–20336–2 (pb)

The Simple Guide to the Roman Catholic Church. Edmund Hartley, 1997 Folkestone, Kent: Global Books 144 pp., £5.99 ISBN 1–86034–023–7

The Simple Guide to Judaism. David Starr‐Glass, 1997 Folkestone, Kent: Global Books 120 pp., £5.99 ISBN 1–86034–008–3

The Simple Guide to Hinduism. Venika Mehra Klngsland, 1997 Folkestone, Kent: Global Books 117 pp., £5.99 ISBN 1–86034–018–0

Mission on the Margins. Mary Beasley, 1997 Cambridge: The Lutterworth Press 110 pp., £7.99 ISBN 0–7188–2966–2     

Trait anxiety and attenuated negative affect differentiation: a vulnerability factor to consider?

Background and Objectives: Describing emotional experiences using distinct terms, or affect differentiation, has been associated with emotion regulation and adaptive behavior under stress. There is little data, however, examining the association between differentiation and dispositional factors underlying psychopathology. The current study examines the association between differentiation and trait anxiety (TA) given prior evidence of cognitive biases in TA relevant to higher order processing of emotional experiences.

Design: We examined cross-sectionally, via lab-based repeated assessment, the association between differentiation of negative and positive experiences and TA.

Methods: Two hundred twenty-two adults completed an emotion reactivity task including repeated assessments of affect. We hypothesized that individuals higher in trait anxiety (HTA) would have greater difficulty differentiating their experiences.

Results: HTA individuals exhibited lower levels of negative affect (NA) differentiation even when controlling for depression. Although negative emotion intensity was consistently associated with lower differentiation, this did not account for the influence of HTA on differentiation.

Conclusions: These data suggest that HTA individuals have greater difficulty differentiating negative emotions, regardless of negative emotion intensity and depression. As HTA is common to many emotional disorders; this evidence suggests that poor differentiation may also be an important transdiagnostic consideration in models of risk and of affective disease.     

Psychoanalytic inpatient psychotherapy of depression – Two naturalistic samples throughout the course of a decade

Background: While the general effectiveness of psychodynamic inpatient psychotherapy has been established, very few studies have specifically investigated the effectiveness of psychodynamic inpatient treatment of depression, though depressed patients represent the largest group of inpatients.

Method : This study investigated two naturalistic samples of depressed patients regarding treatment outcome as well as clinical and treatment characteristics. Patients were treated in a psychoanalytical psychosomatic hospital unit. Data was collected from 2000 to 2002 (N=234) and from 2008 to 2010 (N=514). Data was acquired at admission and discharge.

Results: The findings reveal high pre-post effect sizes for symptom reduction (SCL-90-R), general functioning (GAF) and medium changes of interpersonal problems (IIP). The improvement on the IIP was significantly higher for patients with comorbid personality disorder. Based on therapist ratings, the sample treated from 2008-2010 showed higher levels of impairment on several levels: chronic, complex, functional (GAF) and structural (OPD).

Conclusion: Findings indicate that patients show substantial short-term benefit following psychoanalytic inpatient psychotherapy, as practiced under naturalistic conditions. Open questions remain regarding the long-term nature of these benefits and the possible influence of placebo-effects.     

Blood pressure responses of defensive hostile women when facing a real stress task

Objective: This study investigated the importance of the combination of the hostility and defensiveness variables as psychosocial factors that predict the risk of cardiovascular dysfunction. We examined the impact of a stressful situation on blood pressure responses, using a continuous psychophysiological assessment approach.

Design: We measured the evolution of these responses over three experimental phases (adaptation, task and recovery), also considering a minute-by-minute analysis within each phase.

Main Outcome Measures: We used the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale and the Social Desirability Questionnaire to form four groups (high hostility and high defensiveness, high hostility and low defensiveness, low hostility and high defensiveness, and low hostility and low defensiveness).

Results: We expected the group of hostile defensive women to record higher activation (task phase: an academic exam) and slower habituation (recovery phase) compared to the other groups. The results confirmed our hypothesis, as the profile of the hostile defensive individuals was one of constant or sensitization during the task phase, while during the recovery phase those individuals underwent a slow recovery.

Conclusion: Therefore, it can be indicated that the low hostility and low defensive group is the most adaptive, as recorded very little activation in response, and rapid recovery.     

Book Reviews

The Living Skills Pack BOB WYCHERLEY (Ed.) South East Thames Regional Health Authority (1987) £45.00 per pack (inclusive of postage and packing)

Joining Together: group theory and group skills D. W. JOHNSON & F. P. JOHNSON Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice-Hall International, 1987 493 pp., £15.95

Modern Applied Psychology ARNOLD P. GOLDSTEIN & LEONARD KRASNER New York, Pergamon, 1987 286 pp., £10.50 (paperback)

Teaching Without Stress HARRY GRAY & ANDERA FREEMAN London, Paul Chapman, 1988 vii+226 pp. £8.95

When Spring Comes: Awakenings in Clinical Psychoanalysis M. MASUD KHAN London, Chatto & Windus, 1988 212 pp., £16.95

Assessment in Action JENNIFER M. KIDD Leicester, NIACE, 1988 62 pp., £4.50     

Book reviews and books received

Helping interventions John Heron: Helping the Client: a Creative Practical Guide. London: Sage, 1990. £9.95.

A person-centred perspective on school counselling John McGuiness: A Whole School Approach to Pastoral Care. London: Kogan Page, 1989. £8.95.

How to relate effectively Richard Nelson-Jones: Human Relationship Skills (2nd edition). London: Cassell, 1990. £11.95.

Ripe for research? Dave Mearns and Windy Dryden: Experiences of Counselling in Action. London: Sage, 1989. £9.95.

Issues in action Windy Dryden (ed.): Key Issues for Counselling in Action. London: Sage, 1989. £7.95.

The meaning of death Rosemary Dinnage: The Ruffian on the Stair: Reflections on Death. London: Viking, 1990. £14.99.

The empty cradle Irving G. Leon: When a Baby Dies: Psychotherapy for Pregnancy and Newborn Loss. London: Yale University Press, 1990. £20.

Children against themselves Israel Orbach: Children Who Don't Want to Live: Understanding and Treating the Suicidal Child. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1988. £17.95.     

Book reviews

Laughing Gods, Weeping Virgins: Laughter in the History of Religion. Ingvild Sæud Gilhus, 1997 London, New York: Routledge 173 pp., £45.00 (hb) ISBN 0–415–16197–5

Questioning the Secular State: The Worldwide Resurgence of Religion in Politics. David Westerlund, ed., 1996 London: Hurst & Companyμ xii +428 pp., £14.95 ISBN 1–85065–241–4 (pb.)

Religion and Resistance Politics in South Africa. Lyn S. Graybill, 1996 Westport, Connecticut: Praeger/Greenwood Press 157 pp., £44.95 (hb) ISBN 0–275–95141–3

Engaged Buddhism: Buddhist Liberation Movements in Asia Christopher S. Queen & Sallie B. King, eds., 1996 Albany, NY: State University of New York Press 446 pp., US$24.95 ISBN 0–7914–2844–3

Religious Pluralism and Christian Truth. Joseph S. O'Leary, 1996 Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press xiii + 269 pp., £45.00 ISBN 0–7486–0727–7

Church, State and Religious Minorities. Tariq Modood, ed., 1997 London: Policy Studies Institute 96 pp., £10.95 ISBN 0 85374 724 5

The Coming Deliverer: Millennial Themes in World Religions. Fiona Bowie, ed., 1997 Cardiff: University of Wales Press 264 pp., £9.95 (pb) ISBN 0–7083–1338–8

Zoroastrians in Britain. John R. Hinnells, 1996 Oxford, Clarendon Press xiv + 336 pp., £42.00 (hb) ISBN 0–19–826193–4

From the Holy Mountain: A Journey in the Shadow of Byzantium. William Dalrymple, 1997 London, Harper Collins 484 pp., illustrated, £18.00 ISBN 0–0025–5509–3

Jerusalem Today: What Future for the Peace Process?. Ghada Karmi, edv 1996 Reading: Ithaca Press xix +191 pp., £25.00 ISBN 0–86372–204–0

Judaism Since Gender. Miriam Peskowitz & Laura Levitt, eds., 1997 London: Routledge 229 pp., £14.99 (pb), £45.00 (hb) ISBN 0–415–91461–2 (pb), ISBN 0–415–91460–4 (hb)

Muslim Communities in the New Europe. Gerd Nonneman, Tim Niblock & Bogdan Szajkowski, eds., 1996 Reading: Ithaca Press 346 pp, £35.00 (hb) ISBN 0–86372–192–3

Congregation and Community. Nancy Tatom Ammerman, 1997 New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press xvi + 434 pp., US$55.00 (hb), US$24.00 (pb) ISBN 0–81352–334–6 (hb), ISBN 0–81352–335–4 (pb)

Against the Stream: The Adoption of Traditional Christian Faiths by Young Adults. Richard P. Cimino, 1997 Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America & Religion Watch 128 pp., US$46,00 (hb), US$26,00 (pb) ISBN 0–7618–0574–5 (hb), ISBN 0–7618–0575–3 (pb)

Polygamous Families in Contemporary Society. Irwin Altman & Joseph Ginat, 1996 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press xv + 512 pp., £55.00 (hb), £19.95 (pb) ISBN 0–521–56169–8 (hb), 0–521–56731–9 (pb)

Fertility, Class and Gender in Britain: 1860–1940. Simon Szreter, 1996 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 710 pp., £50.00 ISBN 0–521–34343–7

Implicit Religion in Contemporary Society. Edward I. Bailey, 1997 Kampen, Netherlands: Kok Pharos Publishing House; Weinheim, Germany: Deutscher Studien Verlag 302 pp., Dfl.69.00, £23.00 ISBN (Kok) 90–390–0581–8; ISBN (DSV) 3–89271–694–3

Geography of Religions in Russia. Alexei D. Krindatch, 1996 Decatur, Georgia: Glenmary Research Center 72 pp., 47 maps, US$29.95 (Paper/Spiral Bound) ISBN 0–914422–25–1

Believing in Australia: A Cultural History of Religions". Hilary M. Carey, 1996 St Leonards, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin xviii + 270p., £16.95 (pb) ISBN 1–86373–950–5

Icelandic Spiritualism: Mediumship and Modernity in Iceland. William H. Swatos, jr. & Loftur Reímar Gíssurarson, 1997 New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers 269 pp., US$32.95 (hb) ISBN 1–56000–273–5

The Channeling Zone: American Spirituality in an Anxious Age. Michael F. Brown, 1997 Cambridge, Massachusetts & London, England: Harvard University Press 214 pp., £14.50 (hb) ISBN 0–674–10882–5

Listening People, Speaking Earth: Contemporary Paganism. Graham Harvey, 1997 London: Hurst & Co. 250 pp., £27.50 (hb), £9.95 (pb) ISBN 1–85065–271–6 (hb), ISBN 1–85065–272–4 (pb)     

Book notes

Apocalyptic Bodies: The Biblical End of the World in Text and Image Tina Pippin, 1999 London, New York: Routledge 160 pp., £14.99 ISBN 0–415–18248–4

The Picture in Question: Mark Tansey and the Ends of Representation Marc C. Taylor, 1999 Chicago, London: University of Chicago Press 144 pp., US$30.00, £23.95 (hb), US$12.00, £9.50 (pb) ISBN 0–226–79128–9 (hb), ISBN 0–226–79129–7

Religion in the Twenty‐first Century Mary Pat Fisher, 1999 London: Routledge 128 pp., £6.99 (pb) ISBN 0–415–21166–2

Religion im Wandel der Kosmologien Religionswissenschaft Vol. 10 Dieter Zeixer, ed., 1999 Frankfurt a.M., Berlin, Berne, New York, Paris, Vienna: Peter Lang 305 pp., £33.00 (pb) ISBN 3–631–33138‐X

Pluralism and the Religions: The Theological and Political Dimensions John D'Arcy May, ed., 1998 London: Cassell 99 pp., £30 (hb), £9.99 (pb) ISBN 0–304–70258–7 (hb), ISBN 0–304–70259–5 (pb)

Sharing Shalom: A Process for Local Interfaith Dialogue between Christians and Jews Philip A. Cunningham & Arthur F. Starr, eds., 1998 New York; Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press/Stimulus Books 120 pp., US$7.95 (pb) ISBN 0–8091–3835–2

What Price Prejudice? Christian Antisemitism in America Frank E. Eakin, Jr., 1998 New York; Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press/Stimulus Books 208 pp., US$9.95 (pb) ISBN 0–8091–3822–0

Christian Theology: A Brief Introduction Gareth Jones, 1999 Oxford: Polity Press 178 pp., £45.00 (hb), £14.99 (pb) ISBN 0–7456–1062–5 (hb), ISBN 0–7456–1063–3 (pb)

Holy Smoke. Religion and Roots: A Personal Memoir LiBBY PURVES, 1998 London: Hodder & Stoughton 199 pp., £14.99 (pb) ISBN 0–340–72151–0

Animal Gospel: Christian Faith as though Animals Mattered Andrew Linzey, 1998 London: Hodder & Stoughton 212 pp., £6.99 (pb) ISBN 0–340–62150–8

Vocations in Kerala: A Study on the Changes in the Social Determinants of Vocations to Priesthood and Religious Life in the Catholic Community in Kerala Jose Kuriedath, 1998 Thevara, Kochi, India: Sacred Heart College 144 pp., Rs 50/‐ no ISBN indicated

Jim Bakker: Miscarriage of Justice? James A. Albert, 1997 Chicago; La Salle, Illinois: Open Court Publishing 532 pp., £31.95 (hb), £14.50 (pb) ISBN 0–8126–9369–8 (hb), ISBN 0–8126–9370–1 (pb)

Buddhism and the Mythology of Evil: A Study in Theravada Buddhism Trevor Ling, 1997 Oxford: Oneworld Publications 179 pp., £11.99 (pb) ISBN 1–85168–132–9

Jung on Mythology Robert A. Segal, ed., 1998 London: Routledge 275 pp., £15.99 (pb) ISBN 0–415–19944–1

Islam: A Concise Introduction Neal Robinson, 1999 Richmond, Surrey: Curzon 197 pp., £40.00 (hb), £14.99 (pb) ISBN 0–7007–1103–1 (hb), ISBN 0–7007–1100–7 (pb)

Der Koran: Zugänge und Lesarten Hans Zirker, 1999 Darmstadt: Primus Verlag 230 pp., DM 39.80, SFR 37.00, 6S 291.00 (pb) ISBN 3–89678–121–9

On Faith Nathan Rotenstreich/Paul Mendes‐Flohr, 1998 Chicago, London: University of Chicago Press xii +169 pp., £27.95, US$35.00 (hb), £11.95, US$15.00 (pb) ISBN 0–226–72875–7 (hb), ISBN 0–226–72876–5 (pb)

Hegel's Idea of a Phenomenology of Spirit Michael N. Forster, 1998 Chicago: University of Chicago Press 661 pp., £59.95, US$75 (hb), £23.95, US$30.00 (pb) ISBN 0–226–25740–1 (hb), ISBN 0–226–25742–8 (pb)

Cartesian Questions: Method and Metaphysics Jean‐Luc Marion, 1999 Chicago, London: University of Chicago Press 215 pp., US$25.00, £19.95 (pb) ISBN 0–226–50544–8