Adaptive midlife defense mechanisms and late-life health

A growing body of research suggests that personality characteristics relate to physical health; however, this relationship has primarily been tested in cross-sectional studies that have not followed the participants into old age. The present study utilizes data from a 70-year longitudinal study to prospectively examine the relationship between the adaptive defense mechanisms in midlife and objectively assessed physical health in late life. In addition to examining the direct effect, we test whether social support mediates this relationship. The sample consisted of 90 men who were followed for over seven decades beginning in late adolescence. Health ratings from medical records were made at three time points (ages 70, 75, and 80). Defense mechanisms were coded from narratives by trained independent raters (Vaillant, Bond, & Vaillant, 1986). Independent raters assessed social supports between ages 50 and 70. More adaptive defenses in midlife were associated with better physical health at all three time points in late life. These relationships were partially mediated by social support. Findings are consistent with the theory that defense maturity is important for building social relationships, which in turn contribute to better late-life physical health. Psychological interventions aimed at improving these domains may be beneficial for physical health.     

In-Group Favoritism in International Justice Concerns: Power,Involvement, and Attitudes toward the Iraq War and the Cross Straits Relationship in Five Societies

Surveys in the USA, New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan, and China examined attitudes toward the Iraq War and the Cross-Straits Relationship between China and Taiwan. Factor analyses revealed a four-factor solution of justice concerns: (a) national mandate for military intervention, (b) international mandate against military action, (c) procedural justice, and (d) distributive justice issues. Americans and mainland Chinese were significantly different in an in-group favoring direction compared to other societies regarding justice concerns involving their nation. Taiwan, the low-powered society in the Cross-Straits Relationship, was like the uninvolved societies. Justice in international relations is filtered through in-group favoritism for powerful states.     

金钱竞拍任务上的风险偏好:自尊水平和性别的作用

基于金钱-自尊交换理论,针对以往研究遗留的问题,本研究采用改编自著名的1美元竞拍游戏的实验任务,通过两个实验探索了自尊水平、竞拍者性别和竞拍对手性别对金钱竞拍中风险偏好的影响。结果表明:(1)自尊水平对金钱竞拍中的风险偏好有显著影响,中等水平自尊者表现出较高的风险偏好;(2)竞拍者性别的主效应及其与自尊水平的交互作用均不显著;(3)竞拍对手性别的主效应不显著,而与自尊水平及竞拍者性别之间的交互作用显著。依据相关的文献对上述发现进行了分析和讨论。     

Identifying Differences of Environmental Ethics and Place Attachment Among Visitors and Managers at State Parks

ABSTRACT

Understanding place attachment and environmental ethic variables may improve management of natural areas, including enhanced communication related to management practices, managing various natural resources for specific or designated uses, and mediating significant differences between visitors and managers. Bridging any gaps of knowledge and understanding between visitors and those taking care of these natural places may enhance use and management of those areas into the future. This study elicited place attachment, environmental ethics, and demographic information from visitors to four state parks in Oklahoma. State park managers and state park visitors were found to be significantly different in their levels of place attachment and environmental ethics. Using t tests and discriminant analysis, researchers were able to use proenvironmental ethics and place identity to explain and predict the significant differences between the two groups. Implications for natural resource management include improved resource conservation and sustainability through enhanced education, interpretation efforts, and specific programming to connect people to natural places.     

The Relationship Among Child Maltreatment,Parental Bonding,and a Lifetime History of Major Depressive Disorder in Latino College Students

This study examined the relationship among child maltreatment, parental bonding, and a lifetime history of major depressive disorder (MDD) in a sample of 119 Latino students. Forty-five students reported a lifetime history of MDD and 74 reported not having a lifetime history of MDD. The results indicated that emotional abuse and maternal overprotection were significantly associated with having a lifetime history of MDD. The findings support the importance of examining these factors among depressed Latinos. Future research should continue to explore both the role of child maltreatment and parental bonding in relation to a lifetime history of MDD in this population.     

Cumulative Contribution of Child Maltreatment to Emotional Experience and Regulatory Intent in Intimate Adult Interactions

This study examined the link between experiencing multiple types of child maltreatment and intentions to control emotion during charged discussions with intimate partners in adulthood, and whether the link is mediated by intensity of negative emotions. Using video recall, 97 couples rated their levels of emotions and intentions to control emotion during charged discussions with partners. Number of types of child maltreatment reported was linked with effort to control emotion, and the relationship was partially mediated by intensity of participants’ feelings of hostility. For men, the link was also partially mediated by self-reported sadness and anxiety. Findings underscore the importance of attending to abuse survivors’ experiences of and attempts to manage intense emotions in treatment, particularly in couples therapy.     

Measuring Intrinsic Religiosity: scales for use in mental health studies in China – a research report

While Hoge Intrinsic Religiosity Scale and the Duke University Religion Index have gained popularity in the field of religion and mental health, it remains unknown whether these scales are optimal measures of religiosity in the Chinese culture. This study is to provide some evidence to support the use of the Chinese versions of Hoge Intrinsic Religiosity Scale and the Duke University Religion Index. The data were from a community-based sample of 1039 Chinese women, 18–34 years old, in rural China. Reliability tests were performed on the two religiosity scales. Internal consistency analysis showed excellent correlation coefficients for most of the items. In addition, factor analysis produced two factors for the Hoge Intrinsic Religiosity Scale, a result consistent with previous findings in the Western, predominantly Christian cultures and societies. Moreover, our findings showed statistically significant correlations between the two religiosity scales and mental health outcomes, even though the strength of correlation between the Hoge Intrinsic Religiosity Scale and mental health outcomes appeared to be stronger. In sum, this study suggests that both the Hoge Intrinsic Religiosity Scale and the Duke University Religion Index should be appropriate instruments for detecting and measuring religiosity in the Chinese context.     

物象化与物化:马克思物化理论的再思考

历史唯物主义的"物化"概念一直隐含着一些需要进一步讨论的问题:是应该仅仅在肯定的层面上理解它,还是应该更多关注其批判性的意义?从德文用词的角度看,Verdinglichung(物化)与Versachlichung(物象化或事化)是否应该予以区别?是应该仅仅关注文本及其思想,还是应该首先     

高校教师人格对心理资本与心理健康的影响研究

该研究探讨高校教师人格对心理资本与心理健康状况的影响。研究对南昌三所高校270名教师进行了心理资本、症状自评量表和人格测验,分别用SPSSl7．0和LISREL$．71进行了t检验和建构了结构方程模型。结果表明,心理资本、心理健康和人格测验分数的性别差异、职称差异不显著,t值在0．11到1．28之间,均有P〉0．05。大学教师人格的三个维度均对其心理健康与心理资本有中等程度的影响,E维度和P雏度对心理健康的影响系数为-0．39和0．52;E雏度、N维度和P维度对心理资本的影响系数为0．54、-0．43和0．52;人格E、N、P维度经心理资本的部分中介作用,时心理健康的间接效应是-0．23、0．18和O．23,t值分别为-3．25、2．96和3．25,P值均小于O．01。结论：大学教师的人格与其心理资本和心理健康问题具有紧密的关联性。关注大学教师的心理健康问题。必须同时关注他们的人格与心理资本的问题。