Type of motion in inverted self-motion perception induced by a foreground stimulus

Slowly moving foreground induces an illusory self-motion perception in the same direction as its motion direction (inverted vection). In this study, the effects of motion type of the foreground stimulus on inverted vection were investigated using a sample of 3 men and 1 woman. As indices of perceived strength of the inverted vection, duration and estimated magnitude were measured. Analysis of the psychophysical experiment indicated that a translating foreground induced inverted linear vection in the same direction as the stimulus motion. However, a rotating foreground did not induce an inverted roll vection. Statistical analyses indicate that there is a significant difference between two foreground motion conditions (Duration: t3=14.54, p <.01; Estimation: t3=16.92, p<.01). This result supports the hypothesis that eye-movement information is responsible for the occurrence of inverted vection.     

Benefits of negative thinking and negative affect: analyses of answers to an open-ended question by Japanese undergraduates

What are the benefits of negative thinking and negative affect? Although previous studies in evolutionary psychology, social psychology, and clinical psychology have clarified the question, there has been no definitive study asking people directly about the perceived benefits. In the present study, 119 Japanese undergraduates were asked how they recognized the benefits of negative thinking and negative affect. Their answers were analyzed qualitatively. The answers were arranged into 30 smaller categories and 12 superordinate ones. The benefits were divided into "benefits to the self" and "benefits to interpersonal relations". Finally, the conditions necessary for the negative thinking and negative affect being benign, and possible cultural differences, were discussed.     

The transfer of abstract principles governing complex adaptive systems

Four experiments explored participants' understanding of the abstract principles governing computer simulations of complex adaptive systems. Experiments 1, 2, and 3 showed better transfer of abstract principles across simulations that were relatively dissimilar, and that this effect was due to participants who performed relatively poorly on the initial simulation. In Experiment 4, participants showed better abstract understanding of a simulation when it was depicted with concrete rather than idealized graphical elements. However, for poor performers, the idealized version of the simulation transferred better to a new simulation governed by the same abstraction. The results are interpreted in terms of competition between abstract and concrete construals of the simulations. Individuals prone toward concrete construals tend to overlook abstractions when concrete properties or superficial similarities are salient.     

A Pilot Study Addressing the Impact of Religious Practice on Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients During Chemotherapy

The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate whether religious practice can modify quality of life (QoL) in BC patients during chemotherapy. QoL and religion practice questionnaire (RPQ) scores were evaluated in a sample of BC patients in different moments. Before chemotherapy initiation, women with lower physical and social functional scores displayed higher RPQ scores. On the other hand, low RPQ patients worsened some QoL scores over time. Body image acceptance was positively correlated with religious practice and specifically praying activity. This preliminary study suggests the importance of religion in coping with cancer chemotherapy.     

The recognized benefits of negative thinking/affect in depression and anxiety: Developing a scale

Negative thinking/affect (NTA) in depression and anxiety is an important target of clinical intervention. However, individuals recognize the benefit of NTA. There is a need to develop a scale for empirical studies of NTA. Two‐hundred and fifty‐nine Japanese university students were assigned to answer: (a) the state in the past week (positive affect (PA) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), (b) the current state (PA and State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory‐State (STAI‐S)), and (c) the usual state (PA and STAI‐Trait), after completing the Recognized Benefit of NTA Scale (RBNTA). Another 291 students completed the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale and the Revised Life Orientation Test, after completing the RBNTA. Two weeks later, 76 participants completed the RBNTA. The RBNTA with nine subscales was developed after comparing the indices of fitness from 14 different factor solutions. The internal and test‐retest reliability and content validity were confirmed. Correlation analyses revealed that the recognition of trying to obtain benefits/avoid costs tends to associate with positive/negative affect and that most of such recognitions did not associate with self‐esteem and optimism.     

The Impact of Religiosity and Individual Prayer Activities on Advanced Cancer Patients’ Health: Is There Any Difference in Function of Whether or Not Receiving Palliative Anti-neoplastic Therapy?

Consecutive patients (n = 221) presenting for initial consultation at a palliative care outpatient clinic were prospectively interviewed and then followed until death. Individual prayer activity (IPA) and global religion scores were associated with quality of life, symptoms, inflammatory markers, and survival. Analyses were adjusted for whether patients were still receiving anti-neoplastic therapies (ANTs) or not. Higher religion scores were associated with lower levels of inflammation in advanced cancer patients still undergoing ANTs. Additionally, higher IPA was an independent good prognostic factor in patients on active ANTs. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings and to investigate possible biological mechanisms involved.     

High Self-Deceivers Internalize Self-Presentation of Extraversion Through Biased Evaluation of Their Performance1

This study examined whether high self-deceivers form their overly positive perception of their traits through overestimating their performance of self-presentation where they need to impress others as being extraverted/introverted, exhibiting more internalization of self-presentation (IOSP) of the trait. Participants were instructed to give either an extraverted or introverted impression through an oral (Study 1, N = 39) or written (Study 2, N = 62) self-presentation. Participants reported dispositional self-deception, self-presentation efficacy, and extraversion before and after self-presentation. Independent raters provided other-reported extraversion by examining the self-presentation. Across the two studies, two-way mixed ANOVA revealed that predicted change in extraversion occurred only for participants who made extraverted self-presentation. With the change in extraversion as an index of IOSP, mediation analyses revealed indirect effects of dispositional self-deception on IOSP via self-presentation efficacy but not other-reported extraversion. These results suggested that (a) people only internalize socially desirable traits like extraversion but not introversion, (b) writing to others is sufficient to cause IOSP, and (c) high self-deceivers internalize extraverted self-presentation not through actual performance but its subjective evaluation.     

Bidirectional influences between maternal parenting and children's peer problems: a longitudinal monozygotic twin difference study

This twin study examined the bidirectional relationship between maternal parenting behaviors and children's peer problems that were not confounded by genetic and family environmental factors. Mothers of 259 monozygotic twin pairs reported parenting behaviors and peer problems when twins were 42 and 48 months. Path analyses on monozygotic twin difference scores revealed that authoritative parenting (the presence of consistent discipline and lack of harsh parenting) and peer problems simultaneously influenced each other. Authoritative parenting reduced peer problems, and peer problems increased authoritative parenting. Neither consistent discipline nor harsh parenting alone was associated with peer problems. These results suggest that maternal authoritative parenting works protectively in regard to children's peer problems, and peer problems can evoke such effective parenting.     

Deliberate Self‐Harm in Adolescents Aged 12–18: A Cross‐Sectional Survey of 18,104 Students

Little is known about accurate prevalence and associated factors of deliberate self‐harm (DSH) among adolescents in Asian countries. In this study, the prevalence and associated factors of DSH among adolescents in Japan were examined. Data were derived from a cross‐sectional survey using an anonymous self‐report questionnaire and enrolling 8,620 adolescents aged 12–15 and 9,484 aged 15–18. DSH in the previous 12 months was reported by 3.3% (95% CI, 2.9–3.7) of junior and 4.3% (3.9%–4.7%) of senior high school respondents. The prevalence was more than four times as high among girls as among boys for both age groups. DSH was further strongly associated with having suicidal thoughts, having depression/anxiety symptoms, and having used recreational drugs. These associated factors were similar for both sexes and for both older and younger teenagers. A substantial minority of adolescents present with DSH, even among those aged 12–15. The prevalence of DSH in Japan was in the lower ranges of those reported for Western countries. The identified associated factors were not dissimilar from those reported in the West.     

Work Engagement in Japan: Validation of the Japanese Version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale

The purpose of this study was to validate the Japanese version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES‐J). Employees from three independent samples completed the questionnaire (total N= 2,334). Confirmatory factor analyses using the multiple‐group method revealed that, instead of the original three‐factor model, a one‐factor model that assumes that all engagement items load on one single factor fitted the data. Moreover, the one‐factor structure was invariant across all three samples. Internal consistency of the scale was sufficiently high (α= .92) and the test–retest reliability with an interval of two months was .66. A series of second‐order confirmatory factor analyses to examine construct validity confirmed the hypothesised model, indicating that work engagement was positively related to job satisfaction whereas it was negatively related to strain and burnout. However, as in previous studies, professional efficacy, a component of burnout, loaded on the engagement factor. These results, in general, suggest the reliability (internal consistency and stability), factorial invariance, and construct validity of the UWES‐J in three independent samples. Cette étude avait pour objectif de valider la version japonaise de l’Echelle d’Implication au Travail d’Utrecht (UWES‐J). 2,334 salariés provenant de trois échantillons indépendants ont rempli le questionnaire. Une analyse factorielle confirmatoire faisant appel à la méthode des groupes multiples a montré que le modèle originel en trois facteurs devait laisser la place à un modèle unifactoriel puisque tous les items d’implication étaient saturés sur un unique facteur qui rendait compte à lui seul des données. En outre, la structure monofactorielle restait identique à elle‐même sur les trois échantillons. La consistance interne de l’échelle était suffisamment élevée (α= .92) et la fidélité test‐retest après une période de deux mois était de .66. Une série d’analyses factorielles confirmatoires de second ordre destinées àétudier la validité de construction ont confirmé le modèle hypothétique, indiquant que l’implication dans le travail était en corrélation positive avec la satisfaction professionnelle tandis qu’elle était en relation négative avec la tension nerveuse et le burnout. Comme dans des travaux antérieurs, l’efficacité professionnelle, une composante du burnout, était saturée dans le facteur d’implication. Ces résultats, vont dans le sens de la fidélité (consistance interne et stabilité), de la solidité factorielle et de la validité de construction de l’UWES‐J dans ces trois échantillons indépendants.