Efficacy of an adaptation of the Best Possible Self intervention implemented through positive technology: a randomized control trial

Best possible Self (BPS) is a positive psychological intervention based on positive future thinking. It has been shown to be effective in improving well-being and depressive symptoms over short periods of time. Positive technology is a scientific approach designed to increase well-being through Information and Communication Technologies. To assess the efficacy of the BPS implemented through a positive technology application in improving optimistic thinking, affect and depressive symptoms, during a one-month period, with two follow-ups one and three months later. Randomized, single-blind control trial. Central randomization was performed by an independent researcher using computer software to generate lists allocating participants to treatments. Recruitment was carried out through advertisements at two universities. Randomized participants were 78 young adults who were assigned to the e-BPS condition (n = 38) or to a control group (n = 40). Participants were asked to visualize their BPS each day using a Positive Technology Application. The Control condition consisted of thinking and writing about daily activities, also through technologies. Affect, future expectations, and depressive symptoms were measured in different time frames. 78 participants were analyzed using intention-to-treat analyses. Results showed that BPS was effective in improving future expectations measures and reducing depressive symptoms until the post-training. However, these effects were not maintained in the three-month follow-up period. This study indicates that BPS can be effectively adapted for implementation through positive technologies. Factors such as the variety of exercises and the instructions can play a role in maintaining the changes in the long term. Trial registration clinicaltrails.gov Identifier: NCT02321605.     

心理学本土化的后现代反思

心理学本土化目前在我国的发展面临很多困惑,究其原因,主要在于现代心理学的科学主义倾向明显,导致很多研究者在对心理学学科性质、研究方法、研究对象等根本问题上存在严重的认识偏颇。要解决心理学本土化过程中的困惑,需要重新对心理学的学科性质、研究方法、研究对象等基本问题进行反思。后现代主义心理学在一定程度上能够给予本土心理学研究者以思考,帮助其重拾学术自信,促进研究者在未来的心理学本土化研究中更好的开展相关的工作,进而产生更多的学术创新。     

High-Risk Palliative Care Patients’ Knowledge and Attitudes about Hereditary Cancer Testing and DNA Banking

Even at the end of life, testing cancer patients for inherited susceptibility may provide life-saving information to their relatives. Prior research suggests palliative care inpatients have suboptimal understanding of genetic importance, and testing may be underutilized in this clinical setting. These conclusions are based on limited research. This study aimed to estimate genetic testing prevalence among high-risk palliative care patients in a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. We also aimed to understand these patients’ understanding of, and attitudes toward, hereditary cancer testing and DNA banking. Palliative care in-patients with cancer completed structured interviews, and their medical records were reviewed. Among patients at high risk for hereditary cancer, we assessed history of genetic testing/DNA banking; and related knowledge and attitudes. Among 24 high-risk patients, 14 (58.3%) said they/their relatives had genetic testing or they had been referred for a genetics consultation. Of the remaining 10 patients, seven (70%) said they would “probably” or “definitely” get tested. Patients who had not had testing were least concerned about the impact of future testing on their family relationships; two (20%) said they were “extremely concerned” about privacy related to genetic testing. Of patients without prior testing, five (50%) said they had heard or read “a fair amount” about genetic testing. No high-risk patients had banked DNA. Overall, 23 (95.8%) said they had heard or read “almost nothing” or “relatively little” about DNA banking. Written materials and clinician discussion were most preferred ways to learn about genetic testing and DNA banking. Overall, this study demonstrates underutilization of genetics services at the end of life continues to be problematic, despite high patient interest.     

Learning Large Q-Matrix by Restricted Boltzmann Machines

Psychometrika - Estimation of the large Q-matrix in cognitive diagnosis models (CDMs) with many items and latent attributes from observational data has been a huge challenge due to its high...     

A Proof-Theoretic Approach to Negative Translations in Intuitionistic Tense Logics

Studia Logica - A cut-free Gentzen sequent calculus for Ewald’s intuitionistic tense logic $$\mathsf {IK}_t$$ is established. By the proof-theoretic method, we prove that, for every set of...     

Behavioral and Emotional Functioning of Children and Adolescents at the End of Treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Compared to Healthy Peers

Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings - This study describes the behavioral and emotional adjustment of 77 children and adolescents 3 months post-treatment for acute lymphoblastic...     

Environmental Correlates of Adolescent’ Materialism: Interpersonal Role Models,Media Exposure,and Family Socio-economic Status

Journal of Child and Family Studies - The present study examined how adolescents’ materialism relates to interpersonal materialism role models (i.e., mothers’, fathers’,...     

Scan the QR Code of Happiness: Can Mobile Payment Adoption Make People Happier?

This research note investigates the association between mobile payment adoption and happiness. We employ the conditional mixed process model to address the selection bias and estimate the open-access 2017 Chinese General Social Survey data. Our findings reveal that mobile payment adoption significantly improves rural residents’ happiness but does not significantly influence urban residents’ happiness. Exploring gendered differences finds that regardless of urban or rural residence, females are happier than males when adopting mobile payment. Our findings suggest that promoting mobile payment adoption could bring favourable well-being returns.

     

集体主义原则的公正性探析

必须坚持集体主义原则的公正价值向度,这是集体主义自身的内生性需要,也是社会对它的外源性要求。集体主义原则的公正性是较为复杂的,既有其绝对性的一面,又有其相对性的一面,这加剧了集体主义公正性落实上的困难。必须全面把握集体主义的公正性,在集体和个人的相互作用中推动集体主义的实现。     

On the neurobiological redefinition of psychiatric symptoms: elimination,reduction, or what?

Synthese - Because biologization of psychiatric constructs does not involve derivation of laws, or reduce the number of entities involved, the traditional term of ‘reduction’ should be...