Psychometric Properties of the General Belongingness Scale in Turkish Youth

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of Turkish version of the General Belongingness Scale (GBS; Malone et al. in Personality and Individual Differences, 52(3):311–316, 2012). The adaptation process was carried out with four independent studies, examining the data from two Turkish universities. In study 1, linguistic equivalence of the scale was examined. In study 2, after ensuring the linguistic equivalence, construct, convergent and concurrent validity of the GBS were analyzed. In study 3, predictive validity of the GBS was examined in order to provide additional evidence for the construct validity of the scale. In study 4, the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the GBS were investigated. The results of this study revealed that both two-factor structure (Acceptance/Inclusion and Rejection/Exclusion) and one-factor structure of the GBS were acceptable. The GBS demonstrated positive relations with social connectedness, social safeness, life satisfaction and subjective happiness while negative relations with loneliness. Results also revealed that extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, life satisfaction and subjective happiness were all positive predictors of the GBS. Finally, the results of the study indicated high levels of internal consistency and test retest reliability. These findings suggest that The GBS is suitable for use among Turkish youth. Suggestions for future research and for the use of the GBS were offered.     

Ambivalent Sexism, Belief in a Just World, and Empathy as Predictors of Turkish Students’ Attitudes Toward Rape Victims

The present study investigated whether hostile sexism, benevolent sexism, belief in a just world and empathy predict attitudes toward rape victims in a Turkish sample. Turkish college students (N = 425, mean age = 22) completed scales assessing Ambivalent Sexism, Belief in a Just World and Rape Victim Empathy as predictors of a general measure of attitudes toward rape victims. Male (as compared to female) participants had significantly less positive attitudes toward rape victims. Correlational analyses showed that, for both male and female participants, benevolent as well as hostile sexism, and belief in a just world each predicted less positive attitudes toward rape victims, but empathy predicted more positive attitudes.     

Being tolerated and being discriminated against: Links to psychological well-being through threatened social identity needs

We investigated whether and how the experience of being tolerated and of being discriminated against are associated with psychological well-being in three correlational studies among three stigmatized groups in Turkey (LGBTI group members, people with disabilities, and ethnic Kurds, total N = 862). Perceived threat to social identity needs (esteem, meaning, belonging, efficacy, and continuity) was examined as a mediator in these associations. Structural equation models showed evidence for the detrimental role of both toleration and discrimination experiences on positive and negative psychological well-being through higher levels of threatened social identity needs. A mini-meta analysis showed small to moderate effect sizes and toleration was associated with lower positive well-being through threatened needs among all three stigmatized groups.     

Attitudes towards women managers: Development and validation of a new measure with Turkish samples

This study reports the development of a new instrument measuring attitudes towards women managers (ATWoM). To test its reliability and validity data were collected from 456 Turkish employees from 23 organizations. Reliability and validitiy of ATWoM's final version were also tested with a separate sample comprised 312 students enrolled in junior–senior undergraduate and MBA programmes. ATWoM's psychometric properties were superior to one of the most widely used instruments measuring the same construct, Women as Managers Scale (WAMS). ATWoM was negatively correlated with traditional attitudes towards gender roles and positively correlated with respondents' report of quality in their interaction with women managers and general preference to work with women managers.     

Social problem‐solving,perceived stress,depression and life‐satisfaction in patients suffering from tension type and migraine headaches

This study aimed at investigating social problem solving, perceived stress, depression, and life‐satisfaction in patients with tension type and migraine headaches. Forty‐nine migraine and 42 tension type headache patients (n = 91) consenting to participate were compared to a total of 49 matched healthy control group. Participants filled in a questionnaire consisting self‐report measures of problem solving, perceived stress, depression and life satisfaction. They were also asked about headache duration, frequency, pain severity, psychiatric treatment and sense of control in one's life. T‐tests, chi‐square, analysis of variance, logistic regression analysis and Pearson product moment correlation coefficient procedures were used to analyze the data. Tension type headache patients reported having had more frequent headaches than the migraine patients but migraine patients reported having had more intense pain than the tension type headache patients. Instances of psychiatric treatment were more common among tension type headache patients than the migraine and the control group. Compared to the healthy controls, headache patients displayed a deficiency in problem solving, higher levels of perceived stress and depression. Levels of problem solving skills in headache patients were related inversely to depression, perceived stress and the number of negative life events but problem solving skills of headache patients was related positively to life‐satisfaction. The findings from this study suggested that cognitive behavioral problem solving therapy or training might be a viable option for reducing levels of stress and depression, and to increase life‐satisfaction in patients suffering from primary headache.     

Gender,Religiosity, Sexual Activity,Sexual Knowledge,and Attitudes Toward Controversial Aspects of Sexuality

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of gender, religiosity, sexual activity, and sexual knowledge in predicting attitudes toward controversial aspects of sexuality among Turkish university students. Participants were 162 female and 135 male undergraduate students who were recruited on a volunteer basis from an urban state university in Turkey. The SKAT-A Attitude Scale along with background information form, sexual activities inventory, and sexual knowledge scale were administered to the participants. Simultaneous multiple regression analyses revealed that religiosity, particularly attendance to religious services was the most significant predictor in explaining university students’ attitudes toward masturbation, abortion, homosexuality, pornography, and sexual coercion.     

Coping and Post-traumatic Growth Among COVID-19 Patients: A Qualitative Study

Journal of Adult Development - Pandemic diseases have caused dramatic changes in people’s lives throughout history. Today, the COVID-19 virus spreads rapidly and affects human beings around...     

Knowledge creation in consumer research: Multiple routes,multiple criteria

The modal scientific approach in consumer research is to deduce hypotheses from existing theory about relationships between theoretic constructs, test those relationships experimentally, and then show “process” evidence via moderation and mediation. This approach has its advantages, but other styles of research also have much to offer. We distinguish among alternative research styles in terms of their philosophical orientation (theory-driven vs. phenomenon-driven) and their intended contribution (understanding a substantive phenomenon vs. building or expanding theory). Our basic premise is that authors who deviate from the dominant paradigm are hindered by reviewers who apply an unvarying set of evaluative criteria. We discuss the merits of different styles of research and suggest appropriate evaluative criteria for each.     

Psychoeducation and expressed emotion by parents of children with learning disorders

The present study assessed use of a psychoeducation group program on expressed emotion, family functioning, and child behavior by parents of children with learning disorders. 81 parents of children with learning disorders were randomly assigned to a psychoeducation group program (n=46) or to a regular treatment group (n=35). A semistructured interview for parental expressed emotion, self-reports of family functioning, and child behavior were utilized at baseline and after an 8-session psychoeducation group program. Parents who attended the program differed significantly from parents in the regular treatment group on measures of criticism, warmth, and positive remarks, and overall expressed emotion, but not on measures of perceived family functioning and child behavior. Findings indicate a psychoeducation group program could be effective in helping parents to establish a more positive emotional climate in their relationships with their children who have learning disorders.