Anxiety and depression in Greek nursing and medical personnel

The relatively low number of nurses compared to physicians in Greece and the few available studies on the psychological problems of the health professionals led to comparison of anxiety and depression for 76 Greek nursing personnel (20 men, M age: 32.8 yr., SD: 3.8 yr., and 56 women, M age: 36.6 yr., SD: 7.7 yr.) and 66 doctors (35 men, M age: 35.9 yr., SD: 8.9 yr. and 31 women, M age: 32.7 yr., SD: 8.1 yr.) using validated translations of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory. Male nurses had the lowest scores on trait anxiety, while female doctors had the highest scores, followed by female nurses. Depression scores were not different between doctors and nurses, regardless of sex. Age and depression scores were positively correlated (Spearman rho = .31) only for the female nurses. The findings suggest that interventions for diagnosis and stress management in the health-care workplace should be equally targeted for nursing and medical personnel.     

Relations of physical self-concept and muscular strength with resistance Exercise-induced Feeling State scores in older women

Formerly sedentary older women (M age = 62 yr.) were recruited for either a wait-list control group (n=40) or a 10-.wk., 3 days/wk. weight-training treatment group (n=48). Only the treatment group demonstrated significant before- to after-exercise improvements on the Exercise-induced Feeling Inventory scales of Positive Engagement, Revitalization, Tranquility, and Physical Exhaustion (ds = /.43/ to /.96/). For the treatment group, scores on Physical Self-concept of the Tennessee Self-concept Scale: 2 were significantly correlated (r = -.28) with after-exercise changes in Physical Exhaustion. Muscular strength was significantly correlated with after-exercise changes in scores on three Exercise-induced Feeling Inventory scales (rs= /.28/ to /.31/). Simultaneous entry of Physical Self-concept scores and muscular strength into multiple regression equations increased the explained variance in Exercise-induced Feeling Inventory score changes for each of its four scales. Statistical significance was only reached, however, on changes in the Physical Exhaustion scale (R2 = .16, p = .02). Limitations and implications for theoretical development and applied use were discussed.     

Pilot study of hormone replacement therapy and menopausal symptoms, depression, and quality of life in Korean climacteric women

This cross-sectional survey compared scores on the Menopausal Symptoms Index, Depression, and the Quality of Life for 65 Korean climacteric women receiving regular hormone replacement therapy (M age=52.8 yr., SD=6.3) and 70 Korean climacteric patients not receiving such therapy (M age =51.6 yr., SD=7.1). Depression scores were positively correlated with the Menopausal Symptoms Index in both groups (r = .58 in the Therapy group and r = .50 in the Control group) and negatively correlated with scores for Quality of Life (r = -.48 in the Therapy group and r = -.68 in the Control group). Scores on the Menopausal Symptoms Index were negatively correlated with ratings of Quality of Life in both groups (r = -.53 in the Therapy group and r = -.45 in the Control group). These results suggest that hormone replacement therapy is associated with reduced Depression scores and higher Quality of Life scores in this sample of Korean climacteric women.     

Relationship between changes in acute exercise-induced feeling states,self-motivation,and adults' adherence to moderate aerobic exercise

A 14-wk. field study was conducted to estimate a correlation between feeling-state changes induced by moderate (50 to 74% VO2 max; 20 to 30 min.) bouts of cardiovascular exercise and attendance in a new exercise program. Three groups of men and women (ns=22 to 24) were formed for comparative analysis based upon participants' self-motivation (high, medium, low), as measured by the Self-motivation Inventory. Analysis indicated that for the low self-motivation group, attendance was positively correlated with before-to-after exercise difference scores in the Exercise-induced Feeling Inventory subscales of Positive Engagement (r(s)=.48), Revitalization (r(s)=.47). and Tranquility (r(s)=.41) and negatively correlated with difference scores in the Physical Exhaustion subscale (r(s)=-.62). Conversely, for the high self-motivated group generally weaker correlations in the opposite direction were found for each subscale. No definitive pattern was found for the medium self-motivation group. Multiple regression analyses conducted with scores on each Exercise-induced Feeling Inventory subscale supported the moderating effect of Self-motivation Inventory score on exercise attendance: Multiple R2s =.20 to .27. Although limited amounts of the total variance in exercise attendance was explained, practical implications are drawn for prescribing exercise by feeling states. Limitations and replication of results using different types samples and types of exercise are discussed.     

Exercise, pain, perceived family support, and quality of life in Korean patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Relations of habitual exercise and pain, perceived family support, and the quality of life in patients with functional class II for ankylosing spondylitis were explored. In a cross-sectional study perceived pain, family support, and quality of life were compared for 30 patients (23 women and 7 men whose mean age was 28.3 yr.+/-8.6 yr.) practicing exercise regularly and for 38 sedentary patients (31 women and 7 men whose mean age was 27.2+/-6.7 yr.). Exercising patients reported significantly lower pain, greater perceived family support, and increased quality of life than their sedentary peers. Pain ratings were significantly negatively correlated with the quality of life in both groups (r = -.26 in exercisers and r = -.50 in sedentary patients) and control group's perceived family support was significantly correlated .44 with quality of life. These results encourage further study of the associations of habitual exercise with perceived pain, family support, and quality of life.     

Early-life education may help bolster declarative memory in old age,especially for women

ABSTRACT

Although declarative memory declines with age, sex and education might moderate these weaknesses. We investigated effects of sex and education on nonverbal declarative (recognition) memory in 704 older adults (aged 58–98, 0–17 years of education). Items were drawings of real and made-up objects. Age negatively impacted declarative memory, though this age effect was moderated by sex and object-type: it was steeper for males than females, but only for real objects. Education was positively associated with memory, but also interacted with sex and object-type: education benefited women more than men (countering the age effects, especially for women), and remembering real more than made-up objects. The findings suggest that nonverbal memory in older adults is associated negatively with age but positively with education; both effects are modulated by sex, and by whether learning relates to preexisting or new information. The study suggests downstream benefits from education, especially for girls.     

Romanticism as a function of age, sex, and ethnicity

This study examined the association between romanticism (operationalized as mean score on the Romantic Beliefs Scale) and age, sex, and ethnicity in a large community sample (N = 436). Age was negatively correlated with romanticism scores; as age increased, romanticism scores decreased. No sex differences were found; men and women had similar, moderate scores. Although ethnicity largely was unrelated to romanticism, Asian/Pacific Islander participants were significantly more romantic than were African-American participants.     

Mental health and thinking styles in Sternberg's theory: an exploratory study

The relationship between thinking styles, as defined in Sternberg's theory of mental self-government, and mental health was investigated. 583 university students (362 women, 221 men; M age = 21.4 yr., SD = 0.9) in Guangzhou, P. R. China, were invited to fill out the Thinking Styles Inventory-Revised and the Symptom Checklist-90 on a voluntary basis. Results indicated that scores on six of Sternberg's 13 thinking styles were significantly correlated with the Mental Health Index. The hierarchical style (one Type I style) negatively predicted the General Severity Index beyond sex and age, whereas the judicial, anarchic, and internal styles did so positively. The specific ways in which the thinking styles and mental health scales were related to one another supported Zhang and Sternberg's (2006) claim that thinking styles are value-laden. Applications of thinking styles in enhancing mental health are discussed.     

Sex differences and effects of aging on visuomotor coordination.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aging on men and women in processing information required to reproduce direction and distance on a visuomotor task. Subjects (45 men and 45 women) selected from three age groups (25-34 yr., 45-54 yr., 65-74 yr.) were required to estimate blindly the exact criterion location of a target-point they had identified under one of the following conditions: visual, kinesthetic, and visuokinesthetic. Errors in direction (degrees) and in distance (cm) were recorded. The analysis of the total variability in responding (E) indicated that the women of the 65- to 74-yr. age group were significantly less accurate in estimating distance than were the men of the two older age groups (45 to 54 yr., 65 to 74 yr.) and less accurate than were the women of the 25- to 34-yr. age group. No significant differences in estimating distance were found among the three age groups of men. No significant differences for direction were found between men and women.     

A revised Emotional Intelligence Scale: factor re-evaluation and item reduction

The original Emotional Intelligence Scale of Fukunishi utilized 65 items measuring 3 basic dimensions: intrapersonal, interpersonal, and situational. 170 psychiatric outpatients (84 men and 86 women) completed the inventory. The mean age of the sample was 41.1 yr. (SD= 12.4). Compared with the 65-item scale, factor re-analysis yielded a new 34-item solution with significant correlations for the Intrapsychic (.97) and Interpersonal dimensions (.96) of the larger scale, but not with the Situational dimension (.43). The correlation between the total inventory scores was also significant (.94).     

Sense of humour and coping styles

This paper reports an investigation on the relationship between sense of humour and coping styles. Svebak's (1974) Sense of Humour Questionnaire (containing three scales for each of his dimensions of the sense of humour) and Lefcourt and Martin's (1986) Situational Humor Response Questionnaire and Coping Humor Scale served as measures of humour, while Plutschik's (1981) Scale for the Measurement of Coping Styles served to assess eight coping styles. A relationship was found between humour and coping for men and women with regard to Minimization and Suppression, and to a smaller extent for Blame, Mapping and Reversal. The relationship was in opposite directions for men and women with regard to Suppression and Replacement. Most humour scales correlated negatively with age for men, and positively for women. Five coping styles correlated negatively with age for men: Suppression, Seeking Succorance, Replacement, Blame and Substitution, the other three positively. For women, however, only two coping styles correlated negatively with age: Suppression and Seeking Succorance, the other six correlated positively. As in other studies on coping, sex proved to be a major moderating variable.     

Further exploration of the Vedic Personality Inventory: validity, reliability and generalizability

The purpose of this study was to explore the validity, reliability, and generalizability of the Vedic Personality Inventory which consists of constructs derived from the Vedic literature of India. There were 57 participants (20 men, 37 women). The mean age was 44.3 yr. (SD= 15.1). The sample was predominantly older, well-educated women who volunteered to participate as respondees to invitations to participate posted in supermarkets, churches, colleges, and on the internet. Analysis yielded statistically significant correlations for scores on the Vedic Personality Inventory and on the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale and the Brief Symptom Inventory, each of which measures domains of interest addressed by the first inventory.     

Development, gender equality, and suicide rates

A component of the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index which measures longevity was negatively associated -.55 with suicide rates in 37 nations for men; the correlation with the suicide sex ratio was also negative (r = -.59). Women's access to social, political, and economic power in a subsample of 26 nations, summarized in the UNDP's Gender Empowerment Measure, was positively correlated with suicide rates (r = .36 for both women and men). UNDP measures of attainment in literacy and income showed no individual relationship with suicide rates. In a multiple regression model, life expectancy was negatively related, and the Gender-related Development index was positively related, to suicide rates.     

Sex differences in sexual fantasy patterns

A detailed sexual fantasy questionnaire was completed anonymously and returned by post by a sample of 90 Londoners stratified by sex and social class and representing a 30% return rate. Men and women were equally likely to accept and return the questionnaires. Information was also collected concerning sexual behaviour, libido and satisfaction. Factor analysis revealed four main types of fantasy: (1) Exploratory (e.g., group sex, promiscuity, homosexuality); (2) Intimate (e.g., kissing, oral sex, outdoor love); (3) Impersonal (e.g., watching others, fetishism, using objects for stimulation); and (4) Sadomasochistic (e.g., whipping or spanking, being forced). These four types of fantasy were positively correlated and were all more commonly reported by men, although women were almost as high on the Intimate factor. Women were also more likely to be passive or receptive in their fantasies, and men active. All fantasies were associated with high libido as indicated by self-rated sex drive and orgasm frequency, especially for women. In general, reports of many fantasies went with satisfaction in women but with dissatisfaction (frustration?) in men. This finding is explained in terms of the higher average level of libido in men than women, with the consequent difficulty experienced by men in acting out their desires.     

Fantasy proneness,creative capacity,and styles of creativity

The Creativity Styles Questionnaire-Revised was used to measure graduate psychology students' (N=173) self-perceptions of creative capacity and styles of creativity (beliefs about and strategies for going about being creative). Participants also completed the Inventory of Childhood Memories and Imaginings, a self-report measure of Fantasy Proneness. The Self-perceived Creative Capacity and Fantasy Proneness scores were significantly correlated (r=.36, p<.001), and these scores were positively correlated with the styles subscale scores of Belief in Unconscious Processes. Use of Techniques, Use of Senses, and negatively correlated with Final Product Orientation. Also, the Fantasy Proneness scores were positively correlated with the Superstition scores and the Environmental Control and Behavioral Self-regulation scores.     

Effects of age and sex on reciprocal tapping performance

Using a reciprocal tapping task (Fitts's task), the speed and accuracy of small-amplitude motor movements of the hand were measured for 62 men and 84 women, 20 to 89 yr. of age. Men and women in their 20s and 30s performed similarly, although men in their 20s displayed a tendency to trade accuracy in favor of speed. Movement time increased noticeably for both men and women beginning with the 40s decade and continued to increase through the 80s decade. Error rates were lower for women than men and were relatively uniform for both men and women across all age decades past 30 yr. Older subjects of both sexes appeared to sacrifice speed (slowed down) to maintain accuracy on the task. The slope of the linear regression relating movement time to task difficulty was steeper for men than for women and increased more for men than women with advancing age, indicating that older men slowed down relatively more than older women on more difficult tasks.     

Associations among job satisfaction, optimism, pessimism, and psychosomatic symptoms for employees in the government sector in Kuwait

The present study examined associations among job satisfaction and optimism, pessimism, and psychosomatic symptoms in a sample of 718 Kuwaiti employees (350 men and 368 women). Men scored significantly higher than women on both the scales of Job Satisfaction and Optimism, while women scored significantly higher than men on both scales for Pessimism and Psychosomatic Symptoms. Job satisfaction scores correlated significantly and positively with Optimism scores and negatively with Pessimism scores. There was also a significant negative correlation between scores on Optimism and Pessimism, and a significant negative correlation between scores on Optimism and Psychosomatic symptoms. Results were discussed within the Kuwaiti context.     

Religiosity, health, and well-being among Kuwaiti personnel

In a sample of 424 Kuwaiti personnel (219 men, 205 women; M age = 37.6 yr., SD = 8.9; M age = 33.4 yr., SD = 7.9, respectively), self-ratings of religiosity were significantly and positively correlated with the self-ratings of physical health, mental health, and happiness, as well as the Oxford Happiness Inventory, the Love of Life Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale among men and women. Principal components analysis of the correlation matrix yielded only one salient factor labeled "Well-being, health and religiosity" that explained 52.7% and 56.5% of the variance for men and women, respectively. Religiosity is an important element in the lives of the majority of the present sample of Kuwaiti Muslim employees.     

Relationships among selected perceptual-motor tests and teachers' rankings as a function of children's age and sex

28 third grade (M = 8.4 yr.) and 28 sixth grade (M = 11.8 yr.) children were administered the Body Coordination Test and Gross Motor Skill Test to assess the relationship between these measures as a function of age, sex, and the subjective ratings (ranks) of their physical education teacher. Scores were significantly correlated (.76) for all as were scores within each grade and sex. The teachers' subjective ranking of younger subjects on their general physical performance was significantly related to scores on both tests but only moderately related to general coordination and unrelated to somatic development. Significant correlations were observed for the older subjects for all ranks on the Gross Motor Skill Test but were only moderately related or unrelated on the Body Coordination Test. These tests may have utility in evaluating motor developmental differences among children.     

Ratio of fourth to second fingertip extensions in relation to serum estradiol and testosterone levels in men and women

Sex differences in second (2D) and fourth (4D) fingertip extensions relative to the middle fingertip and 4D:2D fingertip extension ratios were studied in men and women. Body height positively correlated with index fingertip extensions, not with ring fingertip extensions, nor with their ratio. Mean 2D extension (both hands) was smaller in women than men; mean 4D extension (right hand) was smaller in men than women; 4D:2D fingertip extension ratios from both hands were larger in women than men. Serum estradiol concentration negatively correlated with 2D extensions for both hands (no significant correlation with 4D extensions), but positively correlated with 4D:2D extension ratios for both hands. Serum testosterone concentration positively correlated with 2D extensions of both hands (no significant correlation with 4D extension), but negatively correlated with 4D:2D extension ratios for both hands. These relations were also studied in men and women separately. It was concluded that the 4D:2D extension ratio was greater in women than in men; 2D and 4D extensions and 4D:2D extension ratios may be determined prenatally by sex hormones; fingertip extensions may be predictive of adult and prenatal sex hormone levels.