Cognitive distortions as mediators between life stress and depression in adolescents

This research examined the possibility that cognitive distortions mediate between life stress and depression in an adolescent population. Measures of cognitive distortion, life stress, and depressive tendencies were administered to 103 ninth- to twelfth-grade high school students. It was predicted that measures of cognitive distortion would be better predictors of depressive tendencies than measures of life stress. It was also predicted that cognitive distortions would affect the perceived stressfulness of life events. In addition, it was predicted that three measures of cognitive distortion would be correlated and that the measure of immediate negative thinking would be a better predictor of depressive tendencies than the measures of dysfunctional attitudes and irrational beliefs. Findings from correlation and regression analyses were consistent with the predictions.     

Relationships between catastrophic cognitions and body sensations in anxiety disordered, mixed diagnosis, and normal subjects

Clark's (Behaviour Research and Therapy, 24, 461-470, 1986) cognitive model proposes that panic attacks result from the catastrophic misinterpretation of certain body sensations. The present study examined correlations between feared body sensations and catastrophic cognitions. It was hypothesized that regardless of diagnostic status meaningful correlations between sensations and cognitions would be obtained. Three groups--anxiety disordered patients (n = 33), nonanxiety disordered patients (n = 57), and normals (n = 60)--completed the Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire and the Body Sensations Questionnaire. Results generally supported the hypothesis and the cognitive model of panic and anxiety. Limitations of the correlational methodology are discussed, and treatment implications are noted.     

Cognitions and courage in the avoidance behavior of acrophobics.

Fifty subjects (29 fearless and 21 fearful) were tested in a potentially acrophobia-inducing situation, and their avoidance behavior and self-reported fear were noted. Subjects also completed various scales intended to measure their fearfulness and thoughts in hypothetical height-phobic, social-phobic and nonphobic situations. Interviews conducted immediately after the behavioral test, evaluated their thinking, fearfulness and tactics designed to deal with any fear they experienced. Analyses indicated that catastrophic thinking is more evident than irrational thinking in height situations and that such thinking was the best predictor of behavior among the measures used. The results are discussed in terms of their relevance for cognitive views of acrophobia and in terms of their relevance for treatment.     

The role of learning history in current sick-role behavior and assertion

It has previously been suggested that sick-role or illness behavior has learned components which may contribute to the maintenance of an individual's negative physical condition. The present study was designed as an elaboration on the role of learning history in the production of current sick-role behavior. A total of 180 college students responded to an inventory which consisted of 15 questions. The inventory looked at parents as role models for assertion and illness behavior, as well as the individual's own history of assertiveness, illness and positive reinforcement for illness behavior. Multiple stepwise regressions were performed on the data. The results indicated the best predictors of current work or school avoidance were their own history of stopping work and absence from school as a child, their fathers' work history of work avoidance, and low assertion. The best predictors for an individual's self report of positive reinforcement for illness behavior were a history of similar reinforcement as a child and their mothers history of attention for illness behavior. The fathers' work avoidance when ill was the third predictor for positive reinforcement for illness behaviour in the females. Finally, the best predictors for the male Ss' current assertion were assertion as a child, the mothers' assertion and a low frequency of school absence and work avoidance as a child. For females, the best predictors of current assertion were assertion as a child and a high frequency of current work and school avoidance. Discussion focuses on the implications of these results for future research.     

Controlled prospective study of postpartum mood disorders: psychological, environmental, and hormonal variables

Demographic, psychiatric, social, cognitive, and life stress variables were used to determine the etiology of depression in childbearing (CB; n = 182) and nonchildbearing (NCB; n = 179) women. Hormonal variables in postpartum depression were also evaluated. In the CB group predictors of depression diagnosis were previous depression, depression during pregnancy, and a Vulnerability (V) x Life Stress (LS) interaction; predictors of depressive symptomatology were previous depression, depressive symptoms during pregnancy, life events, and V x LS. Only estradiol was associated with postpartum depression diagnosis. In the NCB group V X LS was the only predictor of depression diagnosis; depressive symptoms during pregnancy and life events were predictors of depressive symptomatology. Previous findings about depression vulnerability were replicated. The significant V x LS interactions support the vulnerability-stress model of postpartum depression.     

Agoraphobic avoidance and panic frequency as predictors of laboratory induced panic reactions

This study examined the importance of agoraphobic avoidance and frequency of panic as predictors of psychological and physiological responses of panic sufferers to a laboratory based provocation procedure. Psychophysiologic comparisons were made between 22 panic disorder patients and 15 controls, at baseline and across three periods of carbon dioxide gas inhalations (1, 3, 5%; balance oxygen). Subjective measures of anxiety, frightening cognitions and body sensations were obtained across the phases. Physiological measures of minute ventilation, breathing rate, tidal volume, end tidal CO₂ and heart rate were also obtained. Between group comparisons revealed significant differences between the groups on the subjective measures with no significant differences occurring on the physiological measures. Within group analyses revealed that pre-session questionnaire measures of agoraphobia avoidance and panic frequency predicted the degree of anxiety, frightening sensations and cognitions during baseline and 5% CO₂ inhalation. The results indicated that both self-reported agoraphobic avoidance and panic frequency are strong clinical predictors of psychological reactions of panic sufferers during laboratory provocation.     

The Prediction of Negative Events Associated with Anxiety and Dietary Restraint: A Test of the Content Specificity Hypothesis

The prediction of future negative events was studied in a sample of undergraduate students varying on measures of anxiety and dietary restraint. Cognitive theories of psychopathology hypothesize that the emotional concerns of an individual determine which types of information are most often cognitively processed with a biased interpretation. This prediction has generally been called the content specificity hypothesis. Based upon this aspect of cognitive theory, we hypothesized that a high level of trait anxiety would be associated with higher ratings of the probability of future physically threatening events. In addition, it was hypothesized that a high level of dietary restraint would be associated with lower ratings of the probability of future occurrences of overeating. The results of the study supported these hypotheses. These prediction biases were found to be more pronounced in women, as compared to men. The findings were interpreted as supportive of the content specificity hypothesis.     

Changing interests: A longitudinal study of intrinsic motivation for personally salient activities

The present longitudinal study extends the findings of earlier cross-sectional studies (Waterman, Schwartz, Green, Miller, & Philip, 2003) on the subjective experience of intrinsic motivation. University students generated lists of personally salient (identity-related) activities at the beginning of an academic semester and were asked to evaluate these activities at three points during the semester. Drawing on theories of intrinsic motivation, three subjective indices of intrinsic motivation (interest, flow experiences, and feelings of personal expressiveness) and three theoretically derived predictor variables (self-determination, the balance of challenges and skills, and self-realization values) were used in the present study. Cross-sectional relationships between the predictors and subjective experience indices at each timepoint replicated those observed in previous research. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to demonstrate that, as hypothesized, increases or decreases in the predictor variables between timepoints were associated with corresponding increases or decreases in the subjective experience indices. Implications for the study of intrinsic motivation are discussed.     

Transformational leadership, initiating structure, and substitutes for leadership: a longitudinal study of research and development project team performance

Transformational leadership, initiating structure, and selected substitutes for leadership were studied as longitudinal predictors of performance in 118 research and development (R&D) project teams from 5 firms. As hypothesized, transformational leadership predicted 1-year-later technical quality, schedule performance, and cost performance and 5-year-later profitability and speed to market. Initiating structure predicted all the performance measures. The substitutes of subordinate ability and an intrinsically satisfying task each predicted technical quality and profitability, and ability predicted speed to market. Moderator effects for type of R&D work were hypothesized and found whereby transformational leadership was a stronger predictor of technical quality in research projects, whereas initiating structure was a stronger predictor of technical quality in development projects. Implications for leadership theory and research are discussed.     

The effects of cognitive style and training on performance ratings' validity

This study investigated how personal cognitive style and training effect rating validity with two different rating tasks. Male undergraduate volunteers (n = 53) served as raters and rated videotaped lecturers. Using the Embedded Figures Test to measure cognitive style, two groups of raters were formed: those who tend to structure information presented (articulated) and those who do not (global). Half of each cognitive style received observational training designed to be congruent with the behavioral rating task. All raters completed two rating tasks: one requiring an evaluative judgment and one requiring a judgment of behavior frequency. It was hypothesized that with the evaluative rating task, cognitive style would be and training would not be a significant predictor of validity, because the training was not relevant to the task. It was also hypothesized that with the observational task training would improve rating validity (overcoming cognitive style), because the training was relevant to the rating task. Both hypotheses were supported.I wish to thank Dr. Kevin Murphy for the use of the videotapes.     

中小幼教师职业倦怠对心理生活质量的影响:主观幸福感与人生意义的中介作用

为了解中小学、幼儿园教师职业倦怠的现状,探讨主观幸福感和人生意义在职业倦怠对心理生活质量影响的中介作用机制,采用“中小学教师职业倦怠问卷”“心理生活质量评价问卷”“主观幸福感量表”和“人生意义感量表”对广东省581名中小学和幼儿园教师实施调查。结果表明:(1)中小幼教师职业倦怠、主观幸福感、人生意义和心理生活质量两两间存在显著的相关关系;(2)中小幼教师职业倦怠能显著负向预测心理生活质量和主观幸福感; 主观幸福感能显著正向预测心理生活质量、人生意义; 人生意义能显著正向预测心理生活质量;(3)主观幸福感与人生意义在职业倦怠对中小幼教师心理生活质量影响间的链式中介作用成立。     

Eating at Fast-Food Restaurants: An Analysis Using Two Behavioral Intention Models

Eating at fast-food restaurants is becoming increasingly popular. However, little research has been conducted examining the determinants of this behavior. A subjective probability model and Fishbein's behavioral intention model were used to examine this behavior. Both models were significant predictors of the individual's intention to eat at these restaurants and both were used to identify psychologically important beliefs that determine this behavior. Intention was found to be a significant and sufficient predictor of behavior. Finally, the use of these findings for both applied and basic researchers is presented.     

What is the revised Fear Survey Schedule for Children measuring?

This study was designed to investigate parameters of children's fear in terms of frequency of fearful thoughts and avoidance behaviour. It is suggested that current measures such as the Fear Survey Schedule for Children--Revised (FSSC-R) do not assess fearful behaviour in the sense of the occurrence of fearful responding in daily life, but rather reflect a negative affective response to the thought of occurrence of specific events. A modified version of the FSSC-R examined the frequency of fearful thoughts/feelings and avoidance activities amongst 376 children aged 7-12 yr. Contrary to predictions, it was found that children reported high levels of fearful thoughts and avoidance behaviour to those items identified as the greatest fears on the FSSC-R, namely fears of injury, illness, death and danger. These events were typically of low probability (e.g. earthquakes) and the question was raised as to what children are responding to when they are asked to rate their fearful responses. The same pattern of results was reflected in older compared to younger children. It is suggested that even when children are asked to rate frequency of fearful thoughts or avoidance behaviour, they tend to respond to fear questionnaire items according to their affective response to the image or thought of the stimulus situation rather than their actual fear responses. Both the FSSC-R and the modified version were found to discriminate between teacher nominated high and low fearful children and to correlate significantly with a self report measure of anxiety.     

The generality of cognitive bias in acute stress disorder

Cognitive bias was investigated in acutely traumatised civilians with either acute stress disorder (ASD; n = 26) or no ASD (n = 24). Participants completed the Acute Stress Disorder Interview, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Impact of Event Scale (IES), and an Event Probability Questionnaire and an Event Cost Questionnaire that comprised items pertaining to (a) external harm, (b) somatic sensations and (c) social events. ASD participants exaggerated both the probability of negative external harm, somatic and social events occurring, and the adverse cost of those events more than non-ASD participants. Elevated probability and cost estimates were predicted by BAI and IES-Avoidance scores, respectively. These findings are discussed in the context of different patterns observed in other anxiety disorders, and interpreted in terms of network theories of posttraumatic stress.     

大学生自我价值感的领域权变性与应对方式

对124名大学本科生进行了问卷调查,结果表明:(1)总的来说,大学生的自我价值感更多地权变于道德原则,在应对方式的使用频度上依次是解决问题、求助、幻想、合理化、退避、自责。在人际接纳权变性以及解决问题和退避应对方式上存在显著的性别差异;(2)在控制了自我价值感的情况下,多元线性回归分析表明,人际接纳权变性能够负向预测解决问题,正向预测求助、自责、退避、幻想;而个人目标权变性能负向预测解决问题、求助,正向预测自责;道德原则权变性正向预测解决问题。     

A sampling approach to biases in conditional probability judgments: beyond base rate neglect and statistical format

Conditional probability judgments of rare events are often inflated. Early accounts assumed a general deficit in using statistical base rates. More recent approaches predict improvement when problems are presented in frequency format or refer to natural categories. The present theory focuses on sampling processes. Experiment 1 showed that a seeming advantage of frequency over probability formats is due to a confounded factor, the need to mentally transform stimulus samples. An information search paradigm was used in Experiment 2. When sampling by the predictor, the probability to be estimated, p(criterion/predictor), was conserved in the samples and judgments were quite accurate. However, when sampling by the criterion, the low base-rate event was strongly overrepresented, accounting for the entire bias. Judgments were quite sensitive to the sampled data, but failed to take sampling constraints into account, as shown in Experiments 3 and 4.     

The relation between worrying and concerns: the importance of perceived probability and cost

The relation between worrying and individuals' concerns was examined in a sample of 197 college students. Participants described the five undesirable outcomes that they thought about most often, indicated how likely they thought the outcomes were, and how upset they would be by them. Worry severity was measured using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire. The relation between worry severity and the life domains about which individuals were concerned was quite weak. In contrast, as predicted, greater worry was associated with higher probability and cost estimates. In addition, cost estimates moderated the relation between worry severity and probability estimates. The potential importance of perceived threat for understanding worrying is discussed.     

Field dependence-independence and social traditionalism

Three independent variables—ethnicity, sex, and urbanism—were used to investigate differences in the cognitive style, field dependence-independence, among six ethnic subcultures of Trinidad. It was assumed that differences in field dependence-independence reflected differences in adherence to values of social traditionalism among the six subcultures. The major hypothesis of the study was that a field-dependent cognitive style would be functional for the maintenance of social traditionalism, whereas a field-independent cognitive style would facilitate modernization. It was found that ethnicity, sex and urbanism were significant predictors of field dependence-independence, but because of a significant interaction effect, the results were not uniform. Ethnicity was the strongest predictor of cognitive style, for example, but whether it did, in fact, significantly predict field dependence-independence depended on the sex and the urbanism of the subjects. Consequently, the hypothesized rank order of ethnic groups by field dependence-independence held only for urban males.