Latent classes of posttraumatic stress and growth

Background and Objectives: Potentially traumatic events may lead to different patterns of posttraumatic stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth. The objective of the present study was to identify subgroups with different patterns of posttraumatic reactions, and to determine whether these subgroups differed in terms of personal and social resources and indicators of adjustment. Design: This study used survey data collected 10 months after the 2011 Oslo bombing attack to investigate patterns of reactions among ministerial employees (N = 1970). Methods: We applied latent class analyses with covariates to extract subgroups of individuals. Results: Three classes of individual reactions were extracted, and these were similar among those who were and those who were not physically proximate to the bombing attack: “High stress/high growth” (27% and 11%, respectively), “Low stress/high growth” (74% and 42%, respectively), and “Low stress/low growth” (only among the not physically proximate: 47%). The classes differed in terms of gender, neuroticism, and social support as well as life satisfaction and daily functioning. Conclusions: Heterogeneous patterns of posttraumatic reactions were found. Physical proximity is not necessary to experience posttraumatic stress or growth after political violence. Among individuals with low stress, posttraumatic growth may not encompass higher life satisfaction or functioning.     

Exhaustion is differentiable from depression and anxiety: evidence provided by the SF-36 vitality scale

Stress-related exhaustion is an increasingly focused phenomenon, although scientifically not yet fully conceptualised. This is perhaps partly due to the fact that the distinction between exhaustion and other already established concepts, such as depression, is not clear. This study explores whether exhaustion can be differentiated from depression and anxiety, by means of introducing the SF-36 vitality scale as a strategy for the measurement of exhaustion. The Malm? Shoulder and Neck Study cohort, in this study including 12,607 middle-aged men and women, was utilized. Depression and anxiety were assessed by the general health questionnaire (GHQ). Factor analysis was performed in order to potentially discriminate between the included measures. Factor analysis showed that all four exhaustion items of the (inverted) SF-36 vitality scale loaded on a single factor, separate from the GHQ depression and anxiety factors. These results support the notion that exhaustion can be distinguished from depression and anxiety, providing an empirical foundation for defining exhaustion as a unique concept. Furthermore, since SF-36 has been widely used in clinical and epidemiological studies, the benefits of using the SF-36 vitality scale in the assessment of exhaustion could be substantial.     

“I Feel Lucky” – Gratitude Among Young Adults with Phenylketonuria (PKU)

If persons with phenylketonuria (PKU) do not start a protein restricted diet in early infancy, they will suffer severe brain damage. Previous qualitative research on adults and adolescents with PKU has identified stigmatization, uncertain risk perceptions, considerable time spent on preparing food, and incongruence between the PKU diet and certain lifestyle demands. The aim of this study was to explore young and early treated Norwegian adults’ experiences, by conducting in-depth interviews in 2011 with 11 adults with PKU, aged 20–30. Being the first qualitative study on people with PKU in Norway, the process was inspired by grounded theory. All participants reflected on their own health and existence by expressing positive counterfactual thoughts. They considered themselves lucky to have had parents who had managed the diet, they were grateful for the time and place they were born, and for information and treatment availability, although the results also show some ambiguous attitudes towards the hospital which provided the treatment. The expression of gratitude in association with having PKU suggests a major positive coping strategy. It contributes to a more holistic understanding of the experiences and attitudes of young, Norwegian adults with PKU, as it provides a counterweight to the negative experiences.     

The Effects of Cycling on a Desk Bike on Attention,Retention and Mood during a Video Lecture

This study investigated whether cycling on a desk bike would foster sustained attention in a lecture setting. This was measured by effects on retention, task experience (e.g. self‐reported attention) and affect (i.e. happiness and energy). Participants were 122 students, who watched a two‐part video lecture and made the associated retention tests administered right after each lecture part. In four experimental conditions, students sat still during the first part of the lecture and either cycled or not during the second part of the lecture and the subsequent retention test. Our main hypothesis that cycling would reduce negative time‐on‐task effects on retention of the lecture content, task experience (e.g. self‐reported attention) and affect was only confirmed for energy ratings. The results of this study suggest that desk bikes can be used in educational facilities without negatively affecting memory and positively influencing learners' affective state.Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Overparenting and Young Adults’ Interpersonal Sensitivity: Cultural and Parental Gender-Related Diversity

The first goal of this study was to investigate whether levels of overparenting behavior (anticipatory problem-solving, advice/affect management, tangible assistance, and low levels of child self-direction) differ depending on the context (Arab-Israeli vs. Jewish-Israeli; mothers vs. fathers). Second, we considered whether the association between overparenting and young adults’ interpersonal sensitivity depends on those contexts. Questionnaires were collected from 165 triads (mothers, fathers, and young adults), of which 89 were Jewish-Israeli and 76 Arab-Israeli. Parents reported on their overparenting behaviors and young adults reported on their interpersonal sensitivity. Results indicated that all four dimensions of overparenting behaviors were more prominent in Arab-Israeli culture than in Jewish-Israeli culture, while advice/affect management was lower for mothers than for fathers and fathers provided more child self-direction than mothers. In addition, higher levels of anticipatory problem-solving were significantly associated with higher levels of young adult interpersonal sensitivity, independent of parental gender or cultural background, supporting the general negative association between anticipatory problem-solving and interpersonal sensitivity.     

The influence of positive and negative facial expressions on face familiarity

Recent studies have shown that smiling faces are judged as more familiar than those showing a neutral expression (Baudouin, Gilibert, Sansone, & Tiberghien, 2000). Here we compare judged familiarity of unknown and famous faces when displaying a positive, neutral, or negative expression. Our results confirm a smiling familiarity bias, with positive-expression faces judged as being more familiar. Importantly, we also show significantly reduced familiarity for negative-expression faces, compared with neutral- or positive-expression faces. This difference in judged familiarity is not due to differences in expression intensity, but instead related to expression valence. Results are discussed with regard to the independence of facial identity and expression processing, and in terms of factors that influence face familiarity and memory.     

The challenges and experiences of psychotherapists working remotely during the coronavirus* pandemic

The experiences and challenges of psychotherapists working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic were explored using a mixed‐methods approach. An online survey completed by 335 psychotherapists produced both quantitative and qualitative data with the latter being subject to a reflexive thematic analysis. Large numbers of therapists were using video‐link platforms and the telephone to conduct client sessions. A majority of therapists felt challenged by remote working, with reduced interpersonal cues, feelings of isolation and fatigue, and technical issues frequently cited concerns. At the same time, most therapists considered that remote working had been effective and that clients were comfortable with the process. Two‐thirds of therapists indicated that remote working would now become core business for them. The great majority of therapists thought that remote working skills should be part of formal therapy trainings.     

When views about alternative medicine,nature and god come in the way of people's vaccination intentions

In spite of the safety and efficiency of the COVID-19 vaccines and the many promotion efforts of political and expert authorities, a fair portion of the population remained hesitant if not opposed to vaccination. Public debate and the available literature point to the possible role of people's attitudes towards medical institutions as well as their preference for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) on their motivations and intentions to be vaccinated. Other potential ideological factors are beliefs about environmental laissez-faire and divine providence insofar as they encourage people to let the pandemic unfold without human interference. In three cross-sectional samples (total N = 8214), collected at successive moments during the Belgian vaccination campaign, the present research examines the distal role of these psychological and ideological factors on vaccination intentions via motivational processes. Study 1 gauges the relation between trust in medical institutions and preference for CAM on intentions to get vaccinated via motivations. Study 2 examined the role of beliefs in the desirability of letting nature take its course (‘environmental laissez-faire beliefs’) on vaccination intention via motivations. Study 3 tests whether people's adherence to environmental laissez-faire and beliefs about divine providence are linked to their motivations for vaccination via trust in the medical institutions and CAM. Results show that adherence to CAM has a deleterious effect on vaccination intentions, whereas trust in medical institutions has a positive effect. Both ideological factors pertaining to external control are only moderately related, with environmental laissez-faire beliefs having stronger effects on CAM, medical trust and vaccination motivations. We discuss the importance of this set of results in light of the growing interest in CAM and the increasing presence of messages appealing to the environment.     

Psychometric properties of the Highly Sensitive Child scale across developmental stage,gender, and country

Adolescents differ in their degree of Environmental Sensitivity, that is, the ability to perceive and process information about their environment. The present study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Highly Sensitive Child scale (HSC), a self-report measure of Environmental Sensitivity, in two Belgian and UK samples with a total of 3056 adolescents. First, the factor structure, internal consistency, dimensionality, and construct validity of the HSC scale were examined. Second, measurement invariance of the HSC scale across developmental stage, gender, and country was tested. Results supported a bifactor model with a general sensitivity factor and three group factors: Ease of Excitation (EOE), Low Sensory Threshold (LST), and Aesthetic Sensitivity (AES). Cronbach’s alpha and McDonalds’s (hierarchical) omega indicated that the HSC scale is a reliable measure of Environmental Sensitivity, except for AES. Furthermore, AES was associated with different personality traits than EOE and LST. Second, the HSC scale was partially measurement invariant across developmental stage, gender, and country. The results provide important insights in the psychometrics of a first measurement of Environmental Sensitivity in early to late adolescents. Implications for further research are discussed.