Appraisal Style Research Articles

Are the sources of interest the same for everyone? Using multilevel mixture models to explore individual differences in appraisal structures

How does personality influence the relationship between appraisals and emotions? Recent research suggests individual differences in appraisal structures: people may differ in an emotion's appraisal pattern. We explored individual differences in interest's appraisal structure, assessed as the within-person covariance of appraisals with interest. People viewed images of abstract visual art and provided ratings of interest and of interest's appraisals (novelty–complexity and coping potential) for each picture. A multilevel mixture model found two between-person classes that reflected distinct within-person appraisal styles. For people in the larger class (68%), the novelty–complexity appraisal had a stronger effect on interest; for people in the smaller class (32%), the coping potential appraisal had a stronger effect. People in the larger class were significantly higher in appetitive traits related to novelty seeking (e.g., sensation seeking, openness to experience, and trait curiosity), suggesting that the appraisal classes have substantive meaning. We conclude by discussing the value of within-person mixture models for the study of personality and appraisal.

Children's appraisal of moderately stressful situations

This study investigated 2 questions: (1) do children show consistent styles of appraisal across a range of moderately stressful events?, and (2) what are the adjustment and parenting correlates of individual differences in children's appraisal style? Ninety-nine 3rd though 5th grade children and their mothers participated. For each of 6 vignettes involving moderately stressful situations, children responded to 10 items assessing children's appraisal of these events. Mothers completed a self-report measure of parenting practices and children reported on their psychological adjustment. Participants showed moderate levels of consistency in their appraisal of the events across situations, and 6 appraisal styles were identified that reflected the nature of appraisal aggregated across situations. These styles showed meaningful patterns of association with child psychological symptoms and parenting practices. Children showing the victim appraisal style reported the highest levels of anxiety and school dislike, whereas children showing the inconvenience and take responsibility styles reported the lowest level of conduct problems. Parenting style was associated with the appraisal style of boys but not girls. Specifically, boys of authoritative mothers were more likely than other boys to show the inconvenience and take responsibility appraisal styles and less likely to show the victim style.

Self appraisal and behavioural activation in the prediction of hypomanic personality and depressive symptoms

Hypomanic personality is characterised by increased positive mood and energy but also more depression and greater risk of bipolar disorder. It is linked with positive self-appraisals for hypomania-relevant events and Behavioural Activation System (BAS) sensitivity such that hypomanic individuals tend preferentially towards goal-related activities. This study investigated relationships between positive and negative self-appraisal and BAS functioning and hypomanic personality and depressive symptoms. Participants ( N = 231) completed measures of hypomanic personality, mood symptoms, dysfunctional attitudes, self-appraisal and behavioural activation/inhibition. Positive but not negative self-appraisal contributed to prediction of hypomanic personality as did higher BAS fun seeking and lower Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS) scores. Conversely, negative self-appraisal was positively predictive of current depressive mood, whilst BAS reward responsiveness was negatively predictive. There are specific relationships between positive and negative appraisal styles and hypomanic personality and depressive mood, respectively. The findings of complimentary contributions from appraisal style, BAS and BIS to prediction of hypomanic personality are relevant to developing a better understanding of risk factors for bipolar disorder.

Are Women at Higher Risk Than Men? Gender Differences Among Teenagers and Adults in Their Response to Threat of War and Terror

ABSTRACT The present study examined whether women are at higher risk of developing stress reactions in situations of war and terror. The study looked at gender differences within two samples–teenagers (n = 353) and adults (n = 890)–regarding the impact of stress that developed in response to a situation of threat of war and terror as a result of Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon. The study tested: (1) gender differences regarding cognitive appraisal of the stressor, coping styles, psychological symptoms, and life satisfaction; (2) whether cognitive appraisal and coping styles mediated gender differences in psychological symptoms and life satisfaction; and (3) whether the two age groups differed regarding the contribution of gender to the studied variables. The results revealed that among the teenagers, gender differences were found only in cognitive appraisal and psychological symptoms, while among adults, gender differences were found in all the studied variables. The results support the mediating hypothesis with regard to psychological symptoms, but not with regard to life satisfaction. The results also show a different contribution of gender in each of the age groups regarding psychological symptoms, but not regarding life satisfaction, which leaves some doubt regarding the assumptions that women tend to be more affected by stress than men.

The Effect of Type of School Bullying on Threat Appraisal and Coping Style of Adolescent Victims

AbstractThe type of peer victimisation experienced is likely to influence the ways in which young people appraise and cope with school bullying. To examine this possibility, 269 adolescents (137 male, 132 female) aged between 12 and 17 years, completed a victimisation questionnaire, an adapted version of the Threat Appraisal Scale (TAS; Sandler, 1999) and the short-form of the Adolescent Coping Scale (Frydenberg & Lewis, 1996). Results indicated that there is an association between styles of coping and victimisation experiences, with physical and social bullying playing a part in the use of a Non-productive style of coping. Furthermore, the results indicated that there is also an association between threat appraisal and victimisation. Specifically, adolescents who reported greater threat appraisals reported more physical and social bullying.

The role of the Big Five in appraisals

Using Hierarchical Linear Modelling, this study examined individual differences in appraisal styles. Data were collected using Ecological Momentary Assessment from police officers in Singapore who participated while on their work-routines. Average levels of 11 appraisals showed significant individual-difference variability. The Big Five personality traits were examined for whether they accounted for these individual difference variations. Only Neuroticism and Conscientiousness significantly explained individual-difference variability in appraisals. Also, replicating past studies, all Big Five traits except for Openness correlated significantly with daily emotions.

Maternal Appraisal Styles, Family Risk Status and Anger Biases of Children

The present study investigated the relationship between maternal appraisal styles, family risk status, and anger biases in children. Participants included 90 mothers and their children between 3-6 years of age. Eighty families were followed up 1 year later. Maternal appraisal styles were assessed via a naturalistic story-reading method, and Time 1 and Time 2 emotion biases included teacher ratings of anger and aggression, peer ratings of anger, as well as classroom and playground observations of anger. While discussing ambiguous stories with their children, mothers with higher scores on the family risk index utilized more hostile appraisals and fewer prosocial appraisals in their explanations. A higher proportion of hostile-to-prosocial appraisals was also related to higher-risk family status. Prosocial appraisals by mothers were inversely correlated with children's anger biases at school. When the appraisal balance in mothers' talk favored hostile appraisals, children tended to show higher levels of anger biases evidenced at school. Finally, a hostile balance of maternal appraisals was found to predict change in children's anger biases in the school with different effects in high- and low-risk families.

Thought–action fusion: Review of the literature and future directions

Thought–action fusion (TAF) is the tendency for individuals to assume that certain thoughts either imply the immorality of their character or increase the likelihood of catastrophic events. The burgeoning literature on TAF is reviewed. It is not clear whether TAF refers to a specific appraisal style, a more enduring belief, or a combination of both. Inconsistent definitions of magical thinking have hindered better understanding of the relationship between TAF and magical thinking. Much work remains to be done to improve assessment and measurement of TAF. TAF is associated with tendencies towards obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and may contribute to its symptoms. However, the literature investigating TAF and other variables implicated in OCD remains inconclusive. It is suggested that TAF is not specific to OCD, but also prevalent in other anxiety disorders. TAF appears to be moderately related to depressive symptoms and a similar bias may contribute to preoccupations in eating disorders. TAF is also associated with the presence of psychological disorders in children and adolescents. Educational and cognitive therapy approaches to reduce TAF and consequent symptoms are discussed, and suggestions for further research made.

Appraisal and coping as predictors of psychological distress and self-reported physical disability before lung transplantation

Certain appraisals and coping strategies have been associated with increased levels of psychological distress and disability in other medical populations, but no study has examined this relationship with patients who are awaiting lung transplantation. To describe the cognitive appraisal and coping strategies used by patients who are pursuing lung transplantation and to evaluate the extent to which these processes are associated with depression, anxiety, and disability. This is a cross-sectional design with 160 participants (42.5% men) who have end-stage lung disease and were evaluated for lung transplantation at a large medical center. The outcome variables of depression, anxiety, and physical disability were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory, Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Sickness Impact Profile, respectively. The predictor variables, coping and appraisal styles, were measured using the COPE and the Stress Threat Questionnaire, respectively. Demographic variables were also assessed. Patients used a variety of adaptive problem- and emotion-focused coping strategies. Hierarchical multiple regressions demonstrated that harm appraisals and the use of particular types of coping styles; namely, disengagement, avoidance, ruminating and venting emotions, low solicitation of emotional support, and suppressing other activities are maladaptive and were uniquely related to psychological distress and disability. Maladaptive appraisal and coping styles can serve as markers of emotional distress and disability that may help the transplant team identify patients who may benefit from counseling and psychological interventions.

Appraisal and Coping as Predictors of Psychological Distress and Self-Reported Physical Disability before Lung Transplantation

Certain appraisals and coping strategies have been associated with increased levels of psychological distress and disability in other medical populations, but no study has examined this relationship with patients who are awaiting lung transplantation. To describe the cognitive appraisal and coping strategies used by patients who are pursuing lung transplantation and to evaluate the extent to which these processes are associated with depression, anxiety, and disability. This is a cross-sectional design with 160 participants (42.5% men) who have end-stage lung disease and were evaluated for lung transplantation at a large medical center. The outcome variables of depression, anxiety, and physical disability were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory, Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Sickness Impact Profile, respectively. The predictor variables, coping and appraisal styles, were measured using the COPE and the Stress Threat Questionnaire, respectively. Demographic variables were also assessed. Patients used a variety of adaptive problem- and emotion-focused coping strategies. Hierarchical multiple regressions demonstrated that harm appraisals and the use of particular types of coping styles; namely, disengagement, avoidance, ruminating and venting emotions, low solicitation of emotional support, and suppressing other activities are maladaptive and were uniquely related to psychological distress and disability. Maladaptive appraisal and coping styles can serve as markers of emotional distress and disability that may help the transplant team identify patients who may benefit from counseling and psychological interventions.

Well-being, appraisal, and coping in Latina and Caucasian female dementia caregivers: findings from the REACH study

While there has been considerable interest in studying ethnically diverse family caregivers, few studies have investigated the influence of dementia caregiving on Latino families. The current study includes participants from two sites of the REACH (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health) project to compare well-being, appraisal, and religiosity by ethnicity, with specific attention to levels of acculturation. Latina (n = 191) and Caucasian female (n = 229) dementia family caregivers from two regions of the United States (Miami, Florida and Northern California) were compared at baseline on demographics, care recipient characteristics, mental and physical health, and psychosocial resources, including appraisal style and religiosity. Latina caregivers reported lower appraisals of stress, greater perceived benefits of caregiving, and greater use of religious coping than Caucasian caregivers. The relationship of these variables to level of acculturation for the Latina caregivers was also explored. Implications of these results for psychosocial interventions with Latino and Caucasian family caregivers are discussed.

A stress-coping transactional model of low mood following childbirth

The present study was designed to assess whether or not a transactional model of stress could predict low mood following childbirth in a sample of primiparous women. The research used a two-wave longitudinal design--data were collected during the last trimester of pregnancy (n = 306) and at approximately 6 weeks postpartum (n = 223). Depression vulnerability, social support, appraisal and coping style were assessed at Time 1, and concurrent levels of social support, stress and appraisal were assessed at Time 2. The proposed model was generally upheld: High Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scores were predicted by women's predisposition to depression, negative appraisals of an anticipated childcare stressor, perceptions of low antenatal support and a high use of avoidance coping. In addition, a high number of daily hassles reported since the beginning of pregnancy, stressful childcare events, perceptions of low postnatal social support and negative postnatal appraisals contributed to the onset of low postnatal mood. This model extends the utility of the diathesis-stress account of Postnatal Depression (PND) and has important implications for how PND is treated.

Stress, healthiness and health behaviours: An exploration of the role of life events, daily hassles, cognitive appraisal and the coping process

In a study of 220 participants, the relationship between life events, daily hassles, cognitive appraisal and coping, stress and general healthiness was investigated utilizing a self report methodology. The different aspects of healthiness and health behaviour/lifestyle appear to be related to different appraisal and coping styles. The role of daily hassles and life events in the process also vary across different aspects of health, illness and health behaviours. In fact the number of life events experienced appear to contribute more to hardiness than to vulnerability. It is proposed that to understand the process an integrative model is required which allows for flexibility in analysis.

Affect Regulation as a Stylistic Process within Adult Attachment

The literature on adult attachment indicates consistent differences in the emotional experiences of individuals according to their attachment styles. With the idea that these differences in experience are accompanied by systematic differences in the ways people with different attachment styles regulate their affect, a broad range of findings are reviewed and reorganized according to a process-level explanation of affect regulation, including specific mechanisms by which affect is regulated. This reexamination of findings does suggest consistent, or stylistic, ways of regulating affect that are particular to each attachment style. Variation is particularly evident in the management of attention, appraisal styles and the ability to interact with others as agents of affect regulation. Implications for future research are discussed.

Prediction of health patterns from general appraisal, attributions, coping, and trait anxiety

We examined the relationships among general appraisal style, attributional style, trait anxiety, coping styles, and health status (i.e., depression, hostility, and flu-like symptoms) in a study for which we also examined the validity of a trait measure of general appraisal. Participants completed personality measures at the beginning of an academic semester, and health assessments at regular intervals throughout the semester. Consistent with our predictions, after removing the influence of neuroticism and attributional style, general appraisal style led to more negative, and less positive affect 2 weeks later, and to more stressful and threatening appraisals of a life event occurring 3 months later. Multiple regression techniques showed that as predicted, after controlling for baseline health general appraisal style and attributional style predicted hostility and flu-like symptoms, and attributional style also predicted depression. These effects were mediated by trait anxiety. We discuss why both negative general appraisal and attributional styles may be risk factors for ill health.

Development of the feminine gender role stress scale. A cognitive-behavioral measure of stress, appraisal, and coping for women.

The cognitive appraisal of threats and challenges to sterotypical feminine gender role coping behavior was defined as feminine gender role stress (FGRS). This article describes the development of a self-report measure of FGRS. Situations perceived as more stressful for women than for men wer categorized by factor analysis, yielding the following constellation of maladaptive stress responses particularly salient for women: (a) fear of unemotional relationships, (b) fear of being unattractive, (c) fear of victimization, (d) fear of behaving assertively, and (e) fear of not being nurturant. Women demonstrated significantly higher FGRS appraisal scores than men, and scores among women showed good 2-week test-retest reliability. The tendency to appraise situations on the FGRS scale as stressful was associated with the tendency to consider daily hassles stressful but was not related to self-perceived femininity in women. It was predicted that women who tend to exhibit the FGRS appraisal style would have more difficulty in coping with stressors related to depression. Supporting this hypothesis, women with higher FGRS scores reported greater depression than those with lower scores. The assessment of FGRS appraisal and coping style in women provides useful information for devising treatment strategies to improve women's health through promotion of adaptive coping.

Appraisal and coping processes in acute time‐limited stressful situations: A study of police officers

This study focuses on the appraisal and coping process in acute, time‐limited stressful situations in a stress experienced group: 54 Swedish police officers. Each police officer retrospectively reported their thoughts, emotions, and actions during five recent stressful job events. The relations among appraisals of threat and of coping options, seven forms of problem‐ and emotion‐focused coping strategies, and selfrated performance were examined. Compared with previous studies of ordinary people in stressful situations, the police officers felt less threatened, appraised the situations as more solvable, and used considerably more problem‐focused forms of coping. Age had a significant effect on appraisal, while organizational position had a significant effect on coping. Using latent profile analysis, four appraisal styles were obtained. Consistency of cross‐situational appraisal style amongst individuals was high. The functional relationships among variables, i.e. appraisal, coping, and performance, are discussed.