Gender differences in depressive symptomatology: The role played by “anxious somatic depression” associated with gender-related achievement concerns

In the studies reported here, females were more likely than males to report high levels of depression accompanied by anxiety and somatic symptomatology such as disordered eating and headache, but not more likely to report depression unaccompanied by these symptoms. This gender difference in depression prevalence and the symptomatology associated with depression was due to a subgroup of females who scored high on scales comprised of items measuring concerns about the limitations placed on their achievement (sample item: “More people would pay attention to my ideas if I were male”) or on their mothers (sample: “When you were growing up, how much did your mother feel limited by being female?”) due to responses to their gender.     

The effect of alcohol and barbiturate on the frequency of atrial and ventricular premature beats during sleep

Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science - Repeated EEG and ECG monitoring during sleep was carried out in two subjects with ischemic heart disease and one presumably healthy control. All...     

The relationship between role concerns,preferences for slimness,and symptoms of eating problems among college women

Eating problems and body dissatisfaction among women have been associated in the literature with both slim standards of female bodily attractiveness and concerns about success and failure. This study demonstrates that among college women the desire for slim, noncurvaceous bodies associated with dieting and binging is correlated with an emphasis on physical attractiveness, and thus may be related to the desire to match the currently fashionable slim standard of female bodily attractiveness. A similar desire for slim, noncurvaceous bodies associated with purging and underweight is correlated with an emphasis on intelligence or professional success, and thus may be related to a desire to avoid the curvaceous figures that have been found associated in the minds of males and females with a perceived lack of intelligence.     

Academic and Extracurricular Predictors of Peer Victimization: Evidence of Similarities Across Diverse Racial and Ethnic Categories

Scholars of aggression in educational settings have long been interested in studying sanctions against academic achievement. Though many studies focus on minority students’ experiences, research has not tested the relationship between academic success and peer victimization within individual groups of students that are representative of the United States’ racial and ethnic diversity. The same can be said of studies of extracurricular activities and peer victimization, despite the academic involvement and enrichment those activities entail. This study examines how academic success and extracurricular activities impact the risk of being victimized by peers through verbal, physical, and other bullying-related incidents. Further, this relationship is compared across four racial/ethnic categories (Asian, Black, Hispanic, White). The study analyzes data from the most recent racially diverse and nationally representative education data set (the 2002 Education Longitudinal Study) to do so. Multilevel regression analyses indicate that participation in academic extracurricular activities and academic effort put students at increased risks for victimization. White students’ victimization helps to account for these relationships. The findings not only provide evidence of stigma against academically enriching activities, but also provide additional evidence against the assumption that only marginalized minority groups are stigmatized for academic effort and involvement.     

Natural Disasters in Indonesia: Relationships Among Posttraumatic Stress,Resource Loss,Depression, Social Support,and Posttraumatic Growth

ABSTRACT

Indonesia is at significant risk for catastrophic natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. Few studies have examined psychological functioning following disaster exposure in Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world. This study assesses variables associated with posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth following a devastating earthquake in Central Java that ranks as one of the costliest in Indonesia. The participants were 85 men and women living in rural farming villages. Almost all (95%) experienced major home damage or total home destruction. Posttraumatic stress symptoms were associated with resource loss, depression, and concerns about future earthquakes. Participants reported moderate posttraumatic growth. Posttraumatic growth was associated with energy resource loss and social support. The findings support conservation of resources stress theory. The implications of the findings for intervention and recovery programs are discussed.     

Countering negative country of origin effects using imagery processing

A favorable product country of origin (e.g., an automobile made in Germany) is often considered an asset by marketers. Yet a challenge in today's competitive environment is how marketers of products from less favorably regarded countries can counter negative country of origin perceptions. Three studies investigate how mental imagery can be used to reduce the effects of negative country of origin stereotypes. Study 1 reveals that participants exposed to country of origin information exhibit automatic stereotype activation. Study 2 shows that self‐focused counterstereotypical mental imagery (relative to other‐focused mental imagery) significantly inhibits the automatic activation of negative country of origin stereotypes. Study 3 shows that this lessening of automatic negative associations persists when measured one day later. The results offer important implications for marketing theory and practice. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The reliability and validity of the Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire (PSQ) and the Social Comfort Questionnaire (SCQ) among an adult burn survivor sample

In this study, 361 adult burn survivors completed the Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire (PSQ), the Social Comfort Questionnaire (SCQ), and other measures. Both the PSQ and SCQ had good internal consistency indices. Factor analysis of the PSQ yielded 3 factors (absence of friendly behavior, confused/staring behavior, and hostile behavior). The SCQ had 1 factor. Conjoint factor analysis with measures of related constructs (body esteem, body-esteem importance, depression, social support) suggested that PSQ and SCQ measure distinct constructs. Correlations with the related psychosocial constructs and burn characteristics suggested the PSQ and SCQ have good convergent and discriminant validity. Limitations of the study are discussed.     

The intervention selection bias: an underrecognized confound in intervention research

Selection bias can be the most important threat to internal validity in intervention research, but is often insufficiently recognized and controlled. The bias is illustrated in research on parental interventions (punishment, homework assistance); medical interventions (hospitalization); and psychological interventions for suicide risk, sex offending, and juvenile delinquency. The intervention selection bias is most adequately controlled in randomized studies or strong quasi-experimental designs, although recent statistical innovations can enhance weaker designs. The most important points are to increase awareness of the intervention selection bias and to systematically evaluate plausible alternative explanations of data before making causal conclusions.