Trauma Symptoms,Communication, and Relationship Satisfaction in Military Couples

Trauma symptoms are negatively correlated with couple relationship satisfaction, which is of particular importance in the relationships of military personnel who are often exposed to trauma whilst on overseas deployment. This study tested a model in which communication mediated an association between trauma symptoms and low relationship satisfaction. Thirty‐one Australian military couples were observationally assessed during a communication task, and assessed on their relationship satisfaction and individual functioning. As expected, trauma symptoms in the male military spouse were associated with low satisfaction in both spouses. Females’ low positive communication fully mediated the relationship between males’ trauma symptoms and low female satisfaction, but not male relationship satisfaction. Unexpectedly, males’ negative communication behaviors were associated with high male relationship satisfaction, and partially mediated the association between trauma symptoms and male satisfaction. Discussion focused on how some communication usually thought of as negative might be associated with relationship satisfaction in military couples.     

Evaluation of two short-term stress interventions in the context of mobility

ObjectivesIn our lives we experience different types of stress that emanate from a variety of situations. This stress can potentially spill over into unrelated situations, including the operation of a vehicle in a safe manner. It is not well known which types of countermeasures can actually mitigate such stress during driving. For this purpose, one needs valid stress intervention methods for the different types of stress that commonly occur during driving. In this study, it was therefore evaluated whether or not two stress interventions were effective in reducing stress. These two stress interventions were Positive Psychology–i.e., being an activity to reflect about thankful moments–and Biofeedback–i.e., being an activity aimed at continued relaxation based on the display of the participants own stress level.MethodsA study with 41 (n = 21 male) participants was conducted in a stationary vehicle to evaluate the effectiveness of Positive Psychology and Biofeedback on stress reduction. Stress was induced using the Stroop Task. During a Stroop Task high stress is caused by naming color words displayed in another, incongruent color. In the Baseline Condition, participants looked at neutral images, which were expected to have no effect on stress levels. These conditions were then compared.FindingsThe results revealed that participant stress levels were significantly higher during each stress induction period in comparison to each stress intervention period. This indicated that a reduction of stress is possible by administering stress interventions in a stationary setting. Yet, there was no difference between Positive Psychology, Biofeedback, and the Baseline Condition, supposedly due to the short administration, stress-reducing attributes of the Baseline Condition itself, or regression to the mean effects.NoveltyThe overall goal of this research is the development of stress interventions to target different types of stress that can occur in the context of mobility, an application context not yet investigated. These interventions are expected to improve well-being and safety inside the vehicle by improving concentration, attention, and psychomotor control, which can be reduced by high stress. The study took a first step to achieve this goal by developing and evaluating Positive Psychology and Biofeedback as stress intervention activities to mitigate stress in a stationary vehicle–a situation comparable to automated driving. The developed interventions showed stress-reducing effects in the stationary setting whereas looking at neutral pictures–although serving as the baseline–was similarly stress-reducing. This enables the next step–adding the task of manual driving to the interventions to look into both the effectiveness of the interventions during manual driving and driving safety at the same time.     

The Effects of Parental Education and Family Income on Mother–Child Relationships,Father–Child Relationships,and Family Environments in the People's Republic of China

Using a cross‐sectional design with 407 Chinese children aged 3–5 years and their parents, this study examined the effects of socioeconomic status, specifically parents' education and family income, on the children's mother–child relationships, father–child relationships, and the social environment in their families. The results indicated that income negatively predicted conflict in father–child relationships and positively predicted family active‐recreational environments. Income also positively predicted family cohesion among girls but not boys. Maternal education negatively predicted conflict in mother–child relationships and positively predicted closeness in mother–child and father–child relationships, family cohesion, and the intellectual‐cultural and active‐recreational environments in the family. Paternal education positively predicted family cohesion and intellectual‐cultural and active‐recreational environments. Income was found to partially mediate the effects of both maternal and paternal education on family active‐recreational environments. Findings are discussed in the frameworks of the family stress model and the family investment model.     

“Foot-in-the-Mouth” Versus “Door-in-the-Face” Requests

Abstract

According to the attribution-value model, prejudice toward a group stems from 2 interrelated variables: attributions of controllability and cultural value. Thus, prejudice toward gay men and lesbians may stem from others' holding them responsible for their behaviors and perceiving negative cultural value regarding homosexuality. The author tested that model by using the issue of homosexuality. The participants were Turkish undergraduates who completed a homophobia scale and answered questions about the origins of homosexuality, cultural attitudes toward homosexuality, and their own gender and sexual preferences. In general, the participants were prejudiced against gay men and lesbians. As expected, attributions of controllability and negative cultural value regarding homosexuality operated jointly to explain 39% of the variation in homophobia. The participants who thought that homosexuality was controllable had more negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbians than did those who thought that homosexuality was uncontrollable. The female participants were more tolerant of homosexuality than were the male participants.     

Pets as safe havens and secure bases: The moderating role of pet attachment orientations

We examined the extent to which a pet functions as an attachment figure. In Study 1, 165 pet owners performed a goal exploration task, assessing the number of life goals generated and confidence in goal attainment. In Study 2, 120 pet owners performed a distress-eliciting task while assessing blood pressure. In both studies, participants were divided into three conditions: pet physical presence, pet cognitive presence, and no pet presence. As compared to no pet presence, physical or cognitive pet presence increased the number of life goals generated and self-confidence in goal attainment and reduced blood pressure during the distress-eliciting task. The findings confirm the ability of a pet to provide a safe-haven and a secure-base and the moderating role of attachment insecurities.     

心理健康素质测评系统·中国成年人健康信念量表的编制

编制适合中国社会文化特点的成年人健康信念量表。根据健康信念对心理健康影响的大量研究结果,确定健康信念量表包括合理性和可控性两个维度的理论构想;通过访谈相关医务工作者以及在心理学专家中征集项目的方式形成初始问卷,并通过预测筛选,确定量表的最终项目。对天津市387名大学生、事业单位职员、公务员和农民工进行正式施测,检验量表的各项心理测量学指标。结果：健康信念量表包括两个维度,分别是可控性和合理性,量表具有良好的重测信度、内部一致信度、结构效度、内容效度以及校标关联效度。结论：健康信念量表具备令人满意的心理测量     

Coping patterns of in vitro fertilization nurse coordinators: Strategies for combating low outcome effectance

Abstract

Data were gathered concerning coping strategies that nurse coordinators working in the field of in vitro fertilization would use to meet typical work-related stressors. Causality orientation—or tendency to perceive oneself as autonomous, controlled or helpless—was also measured. It was hypothesized that nurses using problem-focused/disengaged strategies, such as thinking about therapeutic successes or trying not to dwell on stressors, and who were high in autonomy, would be most effective in coping with situations where control over outcomes is limited. Statistical analyses revealed a group of nurses following the coping pattern described in the hypothesis. These individuals reported less work-related stress than other nurse coordinators.     

Religion and coping with health-related stress

Abstract

The empirical evidence concerning the association between various aspects of religion and adjustment to health-related stressors is reviewed, including examination of whether religion acts as a stress buffer or deterrent. Considerable literature suggests that some aspects of religion are consistently associated with adjustment to illness, and evidence for religion as a stress buffer and as a stress deterrent were found. Potential pathways by which religion may influence adjustment to illness were also delineated, including: (1) providing an interpretive framework or cognitive schema; (2) enhancing coping resources; and (3) facilitating access to social support and promoting social integration. Design, methodological and measurement limitations in the extant literature were noted. Further research is needed to elucidate how religion functions as a natural resource during health-related crises.     

Evaluating the impact of a worksite stress management programme for distressed student nurses: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

The effectiveness of a stress management intervention designed to reduce affective distress in 79 student nurses who previously reported significant distress, was evaluated by comparing stress management with wait-list control. The intervention had reliable, positive effects on affective outcomes including General Health Questionnaire-30, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and a measure of domestic satisfaction. The intervention also led to an increase in Direct Coping use.

State Anxiety immediately preceding two important examinations, i.e. at 3 and 18 month follow-up, was lower for students receiving stress management. However, no effect was detected on sickness, absence and examination performance following this intervention. Stress management delivered in groups reduces affective distress and increases adaptive coping use in both clinical and academic settings.     

The impact of structuring information in a patient decision aid

The current study aims to investigate the relationship between the components of the Karasek model and burnout, somatic complaints and job satisfaction in teachers. Questionnaires were collected from 166 teachers from six secondary schools in the greater London area. The European reference group consisted of 2017 teachers from 10 other countries who participated in the EUROTEACH Project. Regression analyses show that of the Karasek components, job demands was the most consistent predictor for the study outcomes, whereas control and social support appeared to have less predictive power. The inclusion of other job aspects (e.g. physical exertion, environmental risks, and job meaningfulness) significantly added varying degrees to the explained variance of the outcomes. The addition of coping strategies marginally adds to overall explained variances of the burnout components. The UK teachers were considerably worse off than their European colleagues on all outcome measures, and the majority of the predictor variables. They appear to use different coping strategies, work under worse conditions and report lower levels of psychological and physical well-being.