Absence Of Worry Research Articles

Leaving the walls of mental health institutions

This article offers first of all an analysis of the representation of the person suffering from mental disability or mental disorders which is found in the call for deinstitutionalisation aired by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (United Nations). It then shows how this anthropology, which is at the same time demanding and perfectly in sync with the ideals of a society in which personal autonomy is the right and the duty of each individual, is practically negotiated on the field of a mental health residential facility which provides support for its patients when they leave the institution at the end of their stay. The paper takes as empirical object a central feature of this process, the “partner-meetings” and the conversations taking place between the patient and other actors. The paper shows that, far from the abstraction of juridical texts, the care providers’ perception of the patient as a partner is a fragile process. The partnership is always conditioned, for the care providers, by an absence of worries about the persons’ (in)abilities to look after themselves, and by a demonstration of the latter’s desire for and capacities for autonomy. In these negotiations, the patient in mental healthcare is always potentially, but never completely, the partner in the process of leaving the institution.

Conception and experience of well-being in two Ghanaian samples: Implications for Positive Psychology

We conducted two studies to explore Ghanaian understandings of well-being through a situation sampling method in which participants described situations that increased and decreased their well-being. Participants in Study 1 were 80 community members (Mean Age = 41.962; SD=13.900; 40 women, 40 men) who responded in the context of interviews through the medium of local languages. Coding analyses revealed that these situation descriptions emphasized sustainability-oriented themes of materiality (tangible support, economic hardship) and peace of mind (presence or absence of worry or strife) with greater frequency than growth-oriented themes of psychologization (growth, meaning, achievement) and affect (happiness, sadness). Participants in Study 2 were 125 students (Mean Age = 21.592; SD=2.759; 68 women, 57 men) at three universities in Ghana who responded via questionnaire in the medium of English. In contrast to the community sample, coding analyses revealed that the students’ situations emphasized growth-oriented themes of affect and psychologization with greater frequency than sustainability-oriented themes of materiality and peace of mind. We interpret these results within a theoretical framework that emphasizes the cultural-psychological foundations of well-being, and we consider implications for hegemonic perspectives of positive psychology.

How does happiness affects women entrepreneurs’ success?

<p>This study intends to see the meaning of happiness of women entrepreneurs in the business. This research was conducted in the city of Surakarta using qualitative methods with a phenomenological approach and social constructivist perspective. The results showed that happiness that is in line with a successful business is accompanied by a calm heart and mental condition and away from worry and sadness. In achieving happiness, there are supports influenced by both material and non-material aspects. Women entrepreneurs in Surakarta interpret success not only from the material side but also from the peace of mind, such as the absence of worry and fear, which shows that happiness goes in the same direction with success.</p>

The Penn State Worry Questionnaire Is Invariant Across Age Groups

Prevalence of GAD is between 3 to 5% with onset in the early to mid-twenties (Kessler et al. 2009). The Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) is a 16-item self-report instrument assessing generalized anxiety symptoms (Meyers, et al., 1990; Molina & Borkovec, 1994). Brown (2003) and Olatunji et al. (2007) conducted Confirmatory Factor Analyses identifying a two factor model of Worry Engagement and Absence of Worry. No published studies have examined the factor structure of the PSWQ across age groups. The current study presents data from 612 people across three groups: 221 young adults (Mage = 19.31, SD = 1.21), 283 middle-age adults (Mage = 48.27, SD = 5.13), and 108 older adults (Mage = 72.95, SD = 7.19). An ordinal confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using robust weighted least squares (WLSMV) tested for invariance across groups. Results showed CFI/TLI values of .983/.981, 984/.983, and .981/.984 for Configural (CI), Metric (MI), and Scalar (SI) models. The RMSEA for CI, MI, and SI models was .064, .061, and .059. Based upon Cheung and Rensvold (2002), Sass (2011), and Chen (2007), a cutoff of ΔCFI ≥ 0.01 was established as evidence of invariance. The ΔCFI between CI and MI models was < .01 so analysis continued with the SI test. The ΔCFI between MI and SI models was < 0.01 and did not justify rejection of the null hypothesis. These analyses suggest PSWQ scores are valid across age groups and provide additional support for the multidimensional nature of the PSWQ.

Η Αξιολόγηση της Παραγοντικής Δομής και των Ψυχομετρικών Χαρακτηριστικών του Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) στον Ελληνικό Πληθυσμό

The aim of this study was the adaptation of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) in the Greek language. Particularly, we were interested in investigating the factor structure of the scale, using a non-clinical sample (N = 184), aged 16-80 years old. In order to investigate the factorial structure of the measure we used confirmatory factor analysis. We tested three different models: the one-factor model (all items loading on one general worry factor), the two-factor model (two independent factors: Worry Engagement and Absence of Worry), and the three-factor model. The results showed that the three-factor model fitted the Greek data better, confirming the results from previous studies which suggested that PSWQ is a uni-dimensional worry instrument, in spite the fact that method effects appear to be associated with positively and negatively keyed items. Finally, the instrument demonstrated excellent internal consistency and mean inter-item correlations, which provide sound evidence regarding the consistency and homogeneity of the items in measuring the construct of worry.

Acute Exercise Effects among Young Adults with Analogue Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

This study replicated initial findings of positive effects of acute vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise on worry, state anxiety, and feelings of energy and fatigue among young adult women with analogue GAD, examined responses among young adult men with analogue GAD, and explored sex-related differences and moderation by physical activity level, trait anxiety, depression, and poor sleep status. Thirty-five young adults (21.4 ± 2.3 yr; 19 males; 16 females) with Penn State Worry Questionnaire scores ≥45 (60 ± 8) completed two counterbalanced 30-min conditions: treadmill running at ~71.2% ± 0.04% HR reserve and seated quiet rest. Outcomes included worry, worry engagement, absence of worry, state anxiety, and feelings of energy and fatigue. No outcome or moderator differed at baseline between sexes. Exercise significantly improved state anxiety (P < 0.04; d = 0.27) and feelings of energy (P < 0.001; d = 1.09). Small nonsignificant improvements were found for worry (d = 0.22), worry engagement (d = 0.18), and feelings of fatigue (d = 0.21). The magnitude of improvements in worry, worry engagement, absence of worry, and feelings of energy were stronger among females. Significant large, potentially clinically meaningful increases in feelings of energy were found among women (d = 1.35) and men (d = 0.92). A nonsignificant, but potentially clinically meaningful, moderate reduction in worry (d = 0.53) was found among women. High-trait anxiety and poor sleep quality were supported as moderators. Findings replicated positive effects of acute aerobic exercise among young adult women with analogue GAD, and extended to support for positive effects among young adult men with analogue GAD.

Short article: Willingness to undergo colonoscopy with virtual reality instead of procedural sedation and analgesia.

This study explored the willingness of patients to start colonoscopy with virtual reality (VR) instead of procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA), as well as their motives and characteristics. There is a growing interest in colonoscopy without PSA. Offering VR as a distraction technique instead of PSA may increase the percentage of colonoscopies without PSA. A survey with demographic, colonoscopy-related and psychology-related questions was completed by 326 adults referred for colonoscopy with PSA. Overall, 25.7% reported to be willing to start with VR instead of PSA. Main reasons for this choice were receiving as little medication as possible, resuming daily life activities faster and participating in traffic independently afterwards. Logistic regression analysis showed that significant predictors of the willingness to use VR were male sex, higher educational level and absence of worries about the outcome of the colonoscopy. If VR turns out to be effective in the future, present results may be useful to customize patient information to help patients choosing VR.

Exploring Filipino adolescents’ conception of happiness

The current paper aimed to explore the meaning and conception of happiness among selected Filipino adolescents. Ten Filipino college students whose ages range between 16 and 20 were selected through purposive sampling. The study employed qualitative-descriptive research design. Findings showed that happiness is a multifaceted construct that involved the following major themes: satisfaction of wants, absence of worries, expression of positive emotions, motivational drive, and fulfillment of relational needs. Distinct personal characteristics and positive behavioral strategies predictive of happiness were identified as well. Enhancing positive emotions, positive traits and behavioral strategies of individuals from this developmental phase may be a good step to increase their social, psychological and occupational functioning in the form of academic, extra-curricular, co-curricular endeavours.

A Taxometric Investigation of the Latent Structure of Worry: Dimensionality and Associations With Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

Worry has been described as a core feature of several disorders, particularly generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The present study examined the latent structure of worry by applying 3 taxometric procedures (MAXEIG, MAMBAC, and L-Mode) to data collected from 2 large samples. Worry in the first sample (Study 1) of community participants ( n = 1,355) was operationalized by worry engagement, absence of worry, and the worry feature of trait anxiety. Worry in the second sample (Study 2) of undergraduate participants ( n = 1,171) was operationalized by the tendency to experience worry, intolerance of uncertainty, beliefs about worry, and symptoms of GAD. Results across both samples provided converging evidence that worry is best conceptualized as a dimensional construct, present to a greater or lesser extent in all individuals. Findings from Study 2 also indicated that the latent dimension of worry generally has an equal association with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress across the entire continuum. These findings are discussed in relation to the conceptualization and assessment of worry in GAD and related disorders.

Validación española del cuestionario de preocupación PSWQ : estructura factorial y propiedades psicométricas

The present study validated the Spanish version of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ; Meyer, Miller, Metzger &amp; Borkovec, 1990) in a nonclinical sample (N = 1052). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the PSWQ indicated a structure of two correlated factors consistent with the dimensions “worry engagement” and “absence of worry”.. The PSWQ demonstrated good internal consistence and test-retest reliability. Correlations with variables of personality, anxiety and depression provided evidence of good convergent and discriminant validity of the questionnaire. Also, data support the hypothesis that the second factor, which was associated with inversely worded items, could represent more a method effects phenomenon than a substantive factor. The PSWQ-11, an abbreviated version of the PSWQ with the 5 inversely formulated items removed, possesses excellent psychometric properties and is proposed as an instrument to be preferred to the complete PSWQ for assessment of pathological worry. Normative data as to both the PSWQ and the PSWQ-11 are provided.

Penn State Worry Questionnaire: structure and psychometric properties of the Chinese version

The Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) is a measure of worry phenomena and has been demonstrated valid in cross-cultural populations. The present study examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Chinese version of PSWQ (Ch-PSWQ) in a Chinese college sample (n=1243). Exploratory factor analysis of the Ch-PSWQ revealed a two-factor solution (engagement of worry and absence of worry). Confirmatory factor analysis and model comparison supported that the model of one factor with method effect provided the best fit to the data. The Ch-PSWQ and its factors evidenced good internal consistency and both convergent and discriminate validity. The present study supports the opinion that the second factor of PSWQ not only contains the component of evaluating pathological worry, but also might represent other traits.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire

Worry is often assessed with the 16-item Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ; Meyer, Miller, Metzger, & Borkovec, 1990. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 28, 487–495 ), but the factor structure of the PSWQ is not well articulated. Three factor analyses of the PSWQ have been conducted, with two ( Brown, Antony, & Barlow, 1992. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 30, 33–37 ; van Rijsoort, Emmelkamp, & Vervaeke, 1999) retaining a unifactorial solution and one ( Stöber, 1995) retaining a two-factor solution. We sought to determine the relative strengths of these solutions. Seven hundred eighty-eight undergraduates completed the PSWQ and measures of depression and anxiety. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the two-factor solution provided a better fit to the data. There was also evidence for a higher order worry factor. Multiple regression analyses revealed that factor 1 (Worry Engagement) explained the majority of the variance in the symptom measures. The higher order worry factor also accounted for variance in some measures. Compared to the PSWQ total score, Worry Engagement demonstrated slightly higher internal consistency and significantly stronger correlations with most measures of depression and anxiety. Factor 2 (Absence of Worry) demonstrated moderate negative correlations with Worry Engagement and the PSWQ Total Score but only modest correlations with depression and anxiety.