Development and Validation of the Satisfaction in Couple Relationship Scale (SCR)

The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Satisfaction in Couple Relationship Scale (SCR) in order to provide a tool that is clear and useful for research and professional practice with couples. The sample was made up of 620 participants in a couple relationship (57.7% women and 42.3% men). Most of participants were aged 32 or older (51.6%), were not married (54%), lived with their partner (66.1%) and did not have children (57.9%). The sample was randomly divided in two subsamples in order to study the factor structure or construct validity; a cross-validation strategy was used consisting of an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on the first one, and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the second one. Findings resulted in a 10-items scale made up of a single factor that explained 54.14% of the variance, and had excellent internal consistency reliability (α?=?0.93).     

Kinetic study of static recrystallization in an Fe–Al–O ultra-fine-grained nanocomposite

A nearly abrupt coarsening of grains is observed in a newly developed Fe–Al–O ultra-fine-grained nanocomposite with a significant volume fraction (4%) of alumina nano-precipitates. The microstructure of the alloy was analysed in different states (as-received and annealed) by means of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and hardness. The initial grain size 150–200 nm increases up to 50 μm during annealing 1000 °C/8 h and thereafter demonstrates saturation. A linear correlation between volume fraction of coarse grains and hardness was found. It was identified by TEM that alumina nano-precipitates stabilize the dislocation microstructure against recovery very effectively and the grain coarsening is due to fast growth of very few dislocation free grains. Thus, the observed grain coarsening has the attributes of static recrystallization.     

Cornell Realism,Explanation, and Natural Properties

The claim that ordinary ethical discourse is typically true and that ethical facts are typically knowable (ethical conservativism) seems in tension with the claim that ordinary ethical discourse is about features of reality friendly to a scientific worldview (ethical naturalism). Cornell Realism attempts to dispel this tension by claiming that ordinary ethical discourse is, in fact, discourse about the same kinds of things that scientific discourse is about: natural properties. We offer two novel arguments in reply. First, we identify a key assumption that we find unlikely to be true. Second, we identify two features of typical natural properties that ethical properties lack. We conclude that Cornell Realism falls short of dispelling the tension between ethical conservativism and ethical naturalism.     

Creative Self-Efficacy: The Influence of Affective States and Social Persuasion as Antecedents and Imagination and Divergent Thinking as Consequences

Two studies examined the influence of encouragement for creativity, curiosity, harmonious passion, and autonomy support as antecedents of creative self-efficacy and imagination and divergent thinking as consequences. College students completed a battery of questionnaires. Structural equation modeling treating the variables as latent and not normally distributed was used to test our hypotheses. Results from study 1 showed a positive influence of encouragement for creativity and curiosity on creative self-efficacy. Similarly, creative self-efficacy was a positive predictor of reproductive and creative imagination. Results from study 2 showed a positive effect of harmonious passion on creative self-efficacy. Creative self-efficacy was a positive predictor of fluency and originality scores from a divergent thinking task. The theoretical and applied implications of the results were discussed.     

Dissociative Experiences and Vividness of Auditory Imagery

The relationship between dissociation and auditory imagery were assessed, 2 variables that sometime influence on artistic creativity. A total of 170 fine arts undergraduates (94 women and 76 men) received 2 dissociation questionnaires—the Dissociative Ability Scale (DAS), and the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES)—and 2 auditory imagery questionnaires—the Auditory Imagery Questionnaire (AIQ) and the Clarity of Auditory Imagery Scale (CAIS). Significant differences on the auditory imagery (CAIS) have been found between individuals scoring high or low on the DES and DAS. In this study, however, significant differences were only observed on the Auditory Imagery Questionnaire (AIQ) between individuals scoring high or low on the DAS. Moreover, conflicting results have been obtained on the influence of dissociative experiences on dissociative skills in 2 auditory imagery tests. The discrepancies in the results only lead to more questions being asked than answered. Several lines of research are proposed.     

Cooperation Induces an Increase in Emotional Response,as Measured by Electrodermal Activity and Mood

Humans need social interaction with others for survival. Competition and cooperation are two somewhat opposed interpersonal strategies that help us to achieve both individual and shared aims and objectives. The aim of this research was to study whether autonomic activity is a good indicator of emotional activation in response to social interaction (cooperation, competition) or working alone, considering gender and outcome obtained in tasks (positive or negative) as moderating variables. We tested electrodermal activity (EDA) and mood before, during and after social (cooperation, competition) or working alone in men (64) and women (60), young-adult students from the University of Valencia. Higher EDA was observed in individuals taking part the cooperative than the competitive task. Further, men who competed showed lower SCLs than men who performed the other type of task. In contrast, women who cooperated demonstrated lower NSCRs than women who competed and men who cooperated. Participants with negative outcomes and women were found to have worse mood states. Our results may be generalizable to situations in which negotiation, mediation and cooperative strategies are relevant for decision making and/or problem solving.     

The natural course of anxiety symptoms in early adolescence: factors related to persistence

Background and objectives: Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problems during childhood and adolescence. This study examined the course of anxiety symptoms in early adolescents from the general population over three phases.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-two participants (mean-age of 13.52) from a baseline sample of 1514 (mean-age of 10.23) were followed up three times. Of the 1514 children, those with emotional risk and controls without risk constituted the second-phase sample (n?=?562; mean-age of 11.25). The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders-SCARED was administered in all three phases.

Results: Fifty-six percent and 32% of respondents showed total scores above the SCARED cutoff point at one and three years follow-up, respectively. Eight percent showed fluctuating symptoms. Fifty-five percent of respondents showed high scores for any subtype of anxiety over three years. Social phobia and generalized anxiety symptoms were the most prevalent and persistent. Participants with persistent separation anxiety showed the highest co-occurrence with symptoms of other psychopathological disorders. Participants with persistent anxiety showed lower academic performance. Being male was a protective factor against persistence.

Conclusions: The data support anxiety maintenance during early adolescence. Early adolescence is a critical period which may involve other serious academic, social, and family problems.     

Clinicians' Observations of Family Interactions in the Reunification Process: The Parent Child Checklist

The present article employed a sample of 365 families of children in foster care to conduct a validation test of a newly developed instrument, the Parent Child Checklist (PCC). The PCC is a 54-item direct observation measure assessing parent–child interactions in the context of a family session. The PCC was developed to support the effective implementation of an evidence-based intervention, Parent Management Training-Oregon model, in the Kansas child welfare system. The PCC was designed to capture two scales of child behavior (prosocial and problem behavior) and five parenting domains (encouragement, positive involvement, problem solving, communication skill, and effective discipline). A combination of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used in this first stage validation of the checklist. Results indicated the PCC scales obtained adequate internal consistency and interrater reliability. The confirmatory factor analysis supported 6 of the 7 expected scale domains; however, a two-factor solution was better - supported among the discipline items, labeled as effective and ineffective discipline. Test–retest reliability ranged from 0.45 to 0.80 across child behavior and parenting domains with alpha levels ranging from 0.65 to 0.88. A behavioral observation rating scale for clinicians that is reliable and feasible to implement can represent a significant improvement to practice-as-usual.     

Factors related to the comorbidity between oppositional defiant disorder and anxiety disorders in preschool children

Background and objectives: The aim of the study is to identify factors related to comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and anxiety disorders (ADs). Design: A sample of 622 children was assessed longitudinally at 3 and 5 years of age. Methods: At baseline, there were 310 boys (49.8%), most participants were of Caucasian–white ethnicity (89.1%) and attended to public school (64.0%), and families’ socioeconomic status was 64.3% medium-high, 14.1% medium and 20.5% medium-low. Children diagnosed with ODD and/or AD were selected: n?=?103 at 3 years of age (44 ODD, 42 AD and 17 ODD?+?AD) and n?=?106 at 5 years of age (31 ODD, 60 AD and 15 ODD?+?AD). Results: High levels of the child’s negative affectivity and the mother’s aggressive behavior (versus AD), and high scores in the father’s psychopathology measurements (versus ODD) were related to the presence of comorbid ODD?+?AD at 3 years of age. High scores in approach-positive anticipation, fears (only in boys, in girls the reverse effect occurred) compared to ODD and AD independently and aggressive behavior (versus AD), and low scores for smiling and laughter (versus ODD only and AD only) were predictive of comorbidity at the 5 years of age. Conclusions: Temperament traits may be a common factor in explaining longitudinal ODD?+?AD comorbidity.