On the protective effect of resilience in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Research on the contribution of positive personality traits to the progression of coronary heart disease (CHD) is notably absent. Resilience is the capacity to develop oneself successfully despite adverse circumstances. In a study of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the authors investigated the effect of resilience on indicators of CV severity and the physiological mechanisms underlying this effect. Patients (n = 134) completed a scale measuring resilience. The authors measured troponin-I and myoglobin as indicators of ACS severity, and white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophils as inflammatory markers. Results showed that self-efficacy-a component of resilience-was negatively related to both myoglobin and troponin after the acute coronary event. The relationship between resilience and these prognostic markers was mediated by the WBC count. Importantly, this result held significant after controlling for the effect of classic CV risk factors and demographics. The authors conclude that resilience decreases the extent of the myocardial infarction by affecting the inflammatory response, showing a protective effect.     

Psychological and socio-demographic variables associated with sexual risk behavior for sexually transmitted infections/HIV

New diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are rising in the adult population. The main objective of this study was to analyze whether knowledge of STIs/HIV, worry about STIs/HIV and pregnancy, and self-efficacy to refuse sex are predictors of sexual risk behaviors among Spanish young and adults. The study sample was composed of 1,106 young and adults of both sexes aged between 17 and 55 years. Results showed that being single, homosexual, having been tested for HIV, having previously contracted an STI, having a college education and earning a monthly income of €900 or more were the characteristics associated with higher scores in knowledge of STIs/HIV. Self-efficacy to refuse sex predicted most vaginal and anal sexual behaviors (i.e., age at vaginal and anal sex initiation and the number of couples that have remained vaginal sex). We also found that participants with greater knowledge of STIs/HIV reported older age at vaginal sex initiation and higher condom use in the first vaginal sexual contact. We consider that these findings can be useful for the development of STI/HIV prevention programs.     

The wastefulness principle. A burden-sharing principle for climate change

The prominent burden-sharing principles in the emerging literature of the political theory of climate change fail to sufficiently tackle the task they set out to solve. This paper sets out properties that an alternative principle should aim to meet. Based on these properties, it develops a consequentialist moral principle – the wastefulness principle. This principle holds that it is wrong to waste a shared, scarce resource. The paper argues that this principle can be used to solve the question of who should bear the burdens of anthropogenic climate change in a more suitable way than existing principles. After developing the wastefulness principle, this paper discusses in a non-exhaustive manner how it can be employed in the real world, which challenges it might meet, and how additional principles might solve them.     

Moral Dilemma in the War against Terror: Political Attitudes and Regular Versus Reserve Military Service

The current study examines moral dilemmas related to the war against terror: the amounts of force used to arrest or harm a “most wanted” terrorist: the greater the use of force, the higher the risk for harming civilians and the lower the risk to the soldiers and vice versa. The study focuses on the association between moral decisions, confidence, and level of difficulty in making the decisions and political attitudes among Israeli Defense Forces soldiers. In addition, the study examines the differences between regular (202) and reserve (144) combat infantry soldiers regarding these variables. According to study hypotheses results indicate (a) more right-wing political attitudes predicted greater use of force and fewer difficulties in making moral decisions, and (b) reserve soldiers reported higher use of fire, higher confidence, and lower level of difficulty in making moral decisions compared with regular soldiers.     

Measuring slips and lapses when they occur – Ambulatory assessment in application to cognitive failures

Cognitive failures are lapses in attention, cognition, and actions that everybody experiences in everyday life. Self-reports are mainly used for assessment but those instruments are memory-biased and more related to personality aspects than to actual behavior. Ambulatory assessment is already used for capturing emotions or addictive behavior, but not yet for cognitive failures. The newly developed Questionnaire for Cognitive Failures in Everyday Life (KFA) was applied via mobile phones (electronic KFA) wherein an acoustic signal asked participants (N = 91, 60–76 years) 4 times daily to answer 13 questions for 1 week. The new instrument showed satisfying reliability and was compared with a self-report method (Cognitive Failures Questionnaire; Broadbent, Cooper, Fitzgerald, and Parkes, 1982) in terms of correlations with cognitive abilities (working memory capacity, short-term memory, switching ability, and reasoning), personality traits, and demographical aspects. Although further validation is needed, first results are promising and eKFA enriches cognitive failures research.     

高中到大学阶段学生的压力应对变化：一项追踪研究

本研究通过对178名高三学生为期一年的追踪访谈和调查,探讨了当前青少年从高中到大学生阶段所面临的压力源及应对方式的转变。结果显示：压力源存在五种类型,分别是学业压力、未来发展压力、家庭-经济压力、自我评价压力和人际关系压力。学业压力及未来发展压力不管是对高中生还是对大学生都是主要的压力来源。应对方式存在显著的性别差异。与高中阶段相比,大学阶段个体面临的人际关系压力、自我评价压力与家庭-经济压力更高,他们也更倾向于采取相对消极的应对方式。不同阶段压力与应对的关系存在差异。     

家庭收入与生活满意感的动态关系检验:基于某省21县市2004～2010年的面板研究

本研究通过对2004年至2010年21县市的面板研究验证在县市水平上家庭收入与生活满意感的动态关系。多元多层增长模型的检验结果表明,在县市水平上平均家庭收入与平均生活满意感有显著正相关,初始家庭收入与生活满意感的增长速度呈现负相关,家庭收入增长速度与生活满意感增长速度呈现负相关。最后指出在中国经济持续高速发展的背景下,该研究对提升民众整体幸福感的启示意义。     

大学生性别角色形成研究——双性化与未分化个案的对比

采用刘电芝编制的中国大学生性别角色量表(CSRI-50),甄别出双性化、未分化和单性化被试。在此基础上,对双性化和未分化个案进行深度访谈,以探究影响大学生性别角色形成的主要因素。结果表明父母教养方式、父母个性特点、父母期待、亲子关系、玩伴和自我期待是性别角色的六大影响因素。其中家庭因素最为重要,在家庭因素中父母处于核心地位。通过双性化和未分化个案的比较研究,表明教养者的温柔、鼓励,民主型教养方式,良好的家庭气氛,兄弟姐妹间友好关爱,积极的自我调节有利于双性化的发展;反之,则加剧未分化的形成。     

Exploring the role of social influence in promise beliefs and information acquisition among newcomers

This study investigates the role of social influence in newcomer promise beliefs and promise-related information by co-workers. During their first month on the job, 85 new recruits completed both a one-shot questionnaire and a diary booklet for 10 consecutive workdays. We examined two information sources: contract makers (e.g., managers) and facilitators (e.g., senior colleagues). Two information-gathering processes that newcomers use were also assessed: direct communications and monitoring. Newcomer's reciprocation ideologies (creditor ideology and reciprocation wariness) were also assessed. Participants reported daily the promises received along with their sources and the information-gathering processes involved. A total of 601 promissory interactions were assessed. Analysis using multilevel random coefficient modelling demonstrated the importance of line managers and direct communication in promise beliefs. Both reciprocation ideologies related negatively to employer promises. Implications for theory, research, and practice are discussed.     

Development through interruptions and reparations – A case study of a dual challenging psychotherapy

The aim of this study was to understand how relational difficulties in psychotherapy may be handled to represent possibilities for change. Temporary interruptions and subsequent reestablishment of contact were chosen as the strategic focus in one severely challenging case of long term psychodynamic psychotherapy where outcome was known to be good. Interruptions and reestablishments were conceptualised by how the informants gave meaning to them. The choice of focus represented a strategic selection of events in the course of therapy where the regulation of the alliance by the therapist as well as by the patient was at stake. A detailed case record was studied and interviews with patient and therapist were conducted. A hermeneutical-phenomenological approach was used to analyse the material. The narrative dimension was important in structuring and interpreting the data. It was shown how important relational difficulties, such as mutual incompatible expectations and demands was handled both on a structural and interpersonal level, and some important steps and hallmarks of the healing process was identified. Close inspection of the course of events in psychotherapies is seen as a promising method for bringing a better understanding of how change processes unfold.