Differential Emotions Research Articles

Harmony in the brain: A narrative review on the shared neural substrates of emotion regulation and creativity.

The contribution of creativity in overall well-being through regulating emotions has sparkled research interest in employing artistic interventions recently for the improvement of mental health. Although the behavioural links between emotion regulation and creativity have been established, the neural networks reflecting these relations are yet to be investigated. In this mini review, we describe the neural underpinnings of all forms of creativity and of the emotion regulation strategies. Given the complexity of both of these constructs, we separate creativity in its various forms and report the regions and the neural networks involved. Similarly, we distinguish between the differential emotion regulation strategies and describe the relevant brain areas and networks. We then proceed to a critical exploration of common regions of interest and of neural pathways among these important functions. The studies included in this review point towards certain brain regions that are shared among creativity and affective control, such as the prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the medial temporal lobe and the inferior parietal lobule. The common neural networks of emotion regulation and creativity mainly focus on the default mode, the executive control and the salience networks. We then suggest a shared neural mechanism that may underlie emotion regulation and creativity, involving both control and affective processing. Drawing on the limitations of the studies reviewed, directions for future research are suggested that could significantly inform the field.

“Powered by emotions”: Exploring emotion induction in out‐of‐school authentic science learning

AbstractThis study explored the impact of authentic out‐of‐school learning on students' beliefs about their science learning efficacy and career aspirations. The learning activity, designed following an authentic learning framework, was led by research scientists. We examined how students' emotions, induced in an authentic scientific activity, mediated the connection between the perceived authenticity and the self‐efficacy/aspiration beliefs. Data were gathered from 177 secondary science students participating in an out‐of‐school activity using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Three questionnaires were applied: (1) Perceived authenticity (Post, 7 items, Likert scale); (2) Semantic differential emotion questionnaire (SDEQ) (Pre‐Post, 5 items); and (3) Beliefs questionnaire in two parts: Self‐efficacy and science aspirations (pre‐post, 7 + 5 items, Likert scale). The collected data were integrated into quantitative models of affect with authenticity as an independent variable, the differences in the pre‐post belief structures as the dependent variable, and the emotions as mediators. Multiple regression analyses were performed to develop the models by evaluating the size and significance of the relationships between the variables. The results indicated the perceived authenticity significantly predicted both self‐efficacy and the career aspiration pre‐post differences. However, emotions behaved as a mediating variable only for self‐efficacy growth. An additional model evaluated the connection between students' emotions learning science in school and their experience of authenticity and emotions in the out‐of‐school activity. The study contributes to the literature by revealing underlying affective mechanisms related to out‐of‐school authentic science activities and suggesting theoretical and empirical justifications.

Meta-analysis of Face Perception in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: Evidence for Differential Impairment in Emotion Face Perception.

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are associated with face perception impairments. It is unclear whether impairments are equal across aspects of face perception or larger-indicating a differential impairment-for perceiving emotions relative to other characteristics (eg, identity, age). While many studies have attempted to compare emotion and non-emotion face perception in SSD, they have varied in design and produced conflicting findings. Additionally, prior meta-analyses on this topic were not designed to disentangle differential emotion impairments from broader impairments in face perception or cognition. We hypothesize that SSD-related impairments are larger for emotion than non-emotion face perception, but study characteristics moderate this differential impairment. We meta-analyzed 313 effect sizes from 104 articles to investigate if SSD-related impairments are significantly greater for emotion than non-emotion face perception. We tested whether key study characteristics moderated these impairments, including SSD severity, sample intelligence matching, task difficulty, and task memory dependency. We found significantly greater impairments for emotion (Cohen's d = 0.74) than non-emotion face perception (d = 0.55) in SSD relative to control samples, regardless of SSD severity, intelligence matching, or task difficulty. Importantly, this effect was obscured when non-emotion tasks used a memory-dependent design. This is the first meta-analysis to demonstrate a differential emotion impairment in SSD that cannot be explained by broader impairments in face perception or cognition. The findings also underscore the critical role of task matching in studies of face perception impairments; to prevent confounding influences from memory-dependent task designs.

Ascertaining the Peculiarities of Athletes’ Adaptation Course to Post-Sports Life

Objectives. The purpose of the study was to identify the peculiarities of athletes’ adaptation to post-sport life under modern conditions of reality. Materials and methods. The study involved 36 athletes, Masters of Sports, aged 25 to 40 years, who had finished their professional sports careers in disciplines such as ballroom dancing, artistic gymnastics, football, swimming, and judo. The study used methods of analysis and generalization obtained from scientific-methodical literature and internet data, surveys, and psychodiagnostics: the “Differential Emotions Scale” by C. Izard, adapted by A. Leonova, the “Meaningful Life Orientations” method by D. A. Leontiev, an adapted version of the “Purpose-in-Life Test” (PIL) by James Crumbaugh and Leonard Maholick, as well as the “Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory” (ZTPI) by Zimbardo, P. G., & Boyd, J. N. During the study results’ analysis, the following methods were used: frequency analysis — identification of the frequency of each emotion category (absolute frequencies), and a calculation of percentage values (relative frequencies) for each category relative to the total number of participants. This was also applied to determine the number of athletes belonging to each category of future plans and to define the components of the time perspective; descriptive statistics — calculation of the mean value for each survey scale; these values were used to compare mean values between different scales and to analyze the variability of responses by calculating the standard deviation; percentage calculation. Results. This study examined the post-sport adaptation of 36 athletes using psychodiagnostic methods, thereby uncovering a complex emotional landscape and a variety of future perspectives. The survey results showed that 43% of the respondents had not yet decided what they wanted to become in their post-sports life, indicating significant stress, negative emotions, and physical and psychological problems that require attention and support. A significant portion (40%) of respondents affirmed that they could envisage their future without sports, with 25% choosing to become coaches and 15% interested in sports-related professions. Only 17% of respondents considered their future in other fields. The study also found that 42% of athletes reported having a strongly negative attitude towards leaving professional sports, experiencing feelings such as despair, grief, anger, disgust, and confusion. Another 36% of athletes characterized their emotional state as anxious-depressive, which also requires attention. Meanwhile, 22% of respondents stated a positive emotional attitude towards ending their careers, demonstrating interest in new circumstances and their future, which helps them to transition effectively into new lives. The study results on life orientations revealed that athletes tended to be more focused on past achievements and current goals than on the future, which may complicate their adaptation to post-sports life. Nevertheless, 37% of athletes are oriented towards a positive future and are willing to make efforts to achieve the necessary goals. Therefore, the findings clearly indicate the need for post-sports support and increased attention to the large proportion of former athletes (79%), whose mental health depends on the timeliness and speed of measures taken by specialists. Conclusions. The transition process for athletes after ending their professional careers to a life without sports is defined as individually nuanced, complex, and prolonged; it depends on past career success, is accompanied by stressful situations and negative emotions, and often requires a sudden conclusion to preserve the sense of being a champion.

Stability and change in maternal wellbeing and illbeing from pregnancy to three years postpartum

PurposeMotherhood affects women’s mental health, encompassing aspects of both wellbeing and illbeing. This study investigated stability and change in wellbeing (i.e., relationship satisfaction and positive affect) and illbeing (i.e., depressive and anxiety symptoms) from pregnancy to three years postpartum. We further investigated the mutual and dynamic relations between these constructs over time and the role of genetic propensities in their time-invariant stability.Data and methodsThis four-wave longitudinal study included 83,124 women from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) linked to the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Data were collected during pregnancy (30 weeks) and at 6, 18 and 36 months postpartum. Wellbeing and illbeing were based on the Relationship Satisfaction Scale, the Differential Emotions Scale and Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-8. Genetics were measured by the wellbeing spectrum polygenic index. Analyses were based on random intercept cross-lagged panel models using R.ResultsAll four outcomes showed high stability and were mutually interconnected over time, with abundant cross-lagged predictions. The period of greatest instability was from pregnancy to 6 months postpartum, followed by increasing stability. Prenatal relationship satisfaction played a crucial role in maternal mental health postpartum. Women’s genetic propensity to wellbeing contributed to time-invariant stability of all four constructs.ConclusionUnderstanding the mutual relationship between different aspects of wellbeing and illbeing allows for identifying potential targets for health promotion interventions. Time-invariant stability was partially explained by genetics. Maternal wellbeing and illbeing develop in an interdependent way from pregnancy to 36 months postpartum.

Relationship between social cognition and emotional markers and acoustic-verbal hallucination in youth with post-traumatic stress disorder: Protocol for a prospective, 2-year, longitudinal case-control study.

Auditory-verbal hallucinatory experiences (AVH) have a 12% prevalence in the general pediatric population. Literature reports a higher risk of developing AVH in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The persistence of AVHs during adolescence represents a risk of evolution into psychotic disorders. Social cognition and emotional markers could be considered prodromes markers of this evolution. The objectives of this prospective observational study are to observe social cognition and emotional markers correlation with the presence and persistence of AVH over two years and with the evolution of PTSD and psychotic diagnosis. This prospective case-control study, longitudinal over two years (with an interim reassessment at six months and one year), will include 40 participants aged 8 to 16 years old with a diagnosis of PTSD and without a diagnosis of psychosis according to the criteria of DSM-5 (K-SADS-PL). Subjects included are divided into two groups with AVH and without AVH matched by gender, age and diagnosis. The primary outcome measure will be the correlation between social cognition and emotional makers and the presence of AVH in the PTSD pediatric population without psychotic disorders. The social cognition marker is assessed with the NEPSY II test. The emotional marker is assessed with the Differential Emotion Scale IV and the Revised Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures are the correlation of these markers with the persistence of AVH and the evolution of the patient's initial diagnosis two years later. The originality of our protocol is to explore the potential progression to psychosis from PTSD by cognitive biases. This study supports the hypothesis of connections between PTSD and AVH through sensory, emotional and cognitive biases. It proposes a continuum model from PTSD to psychotic disorder due to impaired perception like AVH. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03356028.

Diagnosis of post-traumatic syndrome: functional-vegetative analysis of sensory systems

Background. The article analyzes the relationship between emotional states and the psycho-vegetative status of the respondents using functional-vegetative diagnosis, which is important for medical practice. The study was based on the use of functional-vegetative diagnosis, including the analysis of the parameters of the autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular reactivity and other indicators characterizing the psycho-vegetative status of the individual. The purpose: to justify the functional-vegetative diagnosis of sensory systems in the context of the organization of the psychological health of the individual. Materials and methods. The following theoretical methods were used: comparison of existing psychophysiological concepts, structural and genetic analysis of sensory systems, synthesis of theoretical and methodological approaches of the fields of psychophysiology, inductive-deductive approach to the study of the problem. Empirical methods include: measurements according to the functional-vegetative method of V. Makats on the comparison by quantitative signs of the dynamics of each participant in the experiment and comparison of the relative optimal coefficient of vegetative balance and integrated generalization of data in groups with the same initial level of vegetative balance and surveys to determine emotional psychological background on the Izard’s Differential Emotions Scale, according to the results of which an increase in positive emotions and preservation of a moderate level of positive dynamics due to the influence of a psycho-emotional stimulus was recorded. Conclusions. It is noted that the influence of the psycho-emotional factor is a rehabilitation aspect that has a normalizing effect on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and functional-vegetative homeostasis. The obtained results open perspectives for further research on diagnosis and correction of mental and physical health.

Perception of Emotions and Colours Among Ukrainians

The study presents research results on the associative connection between emotions and colours among Ukrainian-speaking and non-Ukrainian-speaking Ukrainians. It aims to confirm or refute the constancy of associations between the ten differential emotions identified by C. Izard and different colours, as well as the specificity of the relationship of these associations for the Ukrainian-speaking audience compared to the non-Ukrainian-speaking one. The survey questionnaire comprised a socio-demographic section, which incorporated a query regarding the language that the respondents learned to speak initially. The methodology was based on the free association method, where the stimulus material consisted of the names of ten specified emotions, and the respondents were expected to provide the colours that came to mind first. The study involved 127 participants aged between 18 and 60, of whom 109 were female and 18 were male. The study showed a constant associative relationship ratio between emotions and colours. In contrast, this ratio's specificity in the Ukrainian sample was not supported compared to the non-Ukrainian sample. This finding highlights the need for further research into the influence of language, culture, and individuality on colour perception in modern conditions. The second result shows that some emotions have more associative colours than others, indicating the existence of emotion colour attributes. It allows for the analysis of the uniqueness of each individual's experience of different emotions.

Exploring the Psychological Impact of Quarantine: An Investigation into Eating Patterns, Emotions, and Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece.

The implementation of quarantine measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges linked to adverse psychological effects, notably affecting individuals' eating patterns. This study aimed to investigate the eating patterns of individuals during lockdowns compared across sex, age, and income levels, and examine the influence of positive and negative emotions, as well as loneliness, on these patterns. Across-sectional online studywas conducted with 450 participants (aged 18-74 years old). One questionnaire about demographics, the Demographic Questionnaire, and three validated self-report scales (Eating Attitudes Test, comprising the Dieting, Bulimia, and Food Preoccupation, and Oral Control subscales, the Modified Differential Emotions Scale, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale) were employed. Convenience and snowball sampling were used. The data were collected between April and May 2021, primarily through social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The survey questionnaire was shared via these platforms and users could answer if they wanted. Also, they were asked to send the questionnaire to their closecontacts. Additionally, the survey questionnairewas distributedface-to-face to 80 participants. The statistical analyses included linear regression and mediation analyses. Abnormal eating patterns (e.g. eating behaviors that tend to have signs of diet such as constant avoidance of fattening foods, the individual's involvement with becoming leaner, extreme control or preoccupation with food, overeating and purging methods)were identified in 25% of the 450 participants participated in this survey, aged 18-74 years. Moderate levels of negative/positive emotions and loneliness were predominantly reported.Female sexwas significantly associated withabnormal eating patterns (p=0.010), particularly dietary behaviors (p=0.029).Negative emotions (p=0.032) and loneliness (p=0.001) emerged as predictive factors for overall eating patterns and bulimic behaviors. Negative emotions exhibited a direct correlation with eating patterns, while loneliness played a significant mediating role (p=0.032). Furthermore, the association between negative emotions and bulimia was partially mediated by loneliness (p=0.018). This study underscores the pivotal roles of negative emotions and loneliness in shaping eating patterns during quarantine.Multilevel public health interventionsare needed to address the negative effects of quarantine and pandemics in general. Screening tests for mental health in the school and job environments could highlight the need for shaping interventions, such as counseling, group empowerment, and family support in order to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating behaviors and mental health in general.

Emotional Experiences and Their Connection With Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Gender Differences

The study was conducted in Ukraine during the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. The sample contained 232 individuals. The aim was to study emotional experiences and their connection with coping strategies in the context of gender differences. The research was based on the concept of differential emotions, and on the understanding of the accumulation strategies as a dynamic process, which is determined by personal prepositions and situational factors. Measures used in the study were the Differential Emotions Scale and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. The growth of negative experiences and stress at the beginning of the pandemic among men and women was confirmed. We described the differences regarding emotions and coping strategies. Women use emotion-focused strategies of social support, strategies of positive reappraisal of the situation, and avoidance, the acceptance of responsibility among women is associated with negative emotions. We found that women more frequently use two or more coping strategies compared to men. A different emotional basis of coping strategies, expressed at high levels of tension among men and women, was revealed. The defined features of coping behavior among men and women may help to determine the main goals for the development of preventive and psychotherapeutic interventions.

Взаимосвязь психологического и соматического благополучия у пациентов

Background. Understanding of emotional aspects of painful experiences can significantly expand the therapeutic tools for both doctors and psychologists. Objective. The focus is placed on the study of the relationship between psychological and somatic well-being of patients with pain syndrome. Study Participants. Sample included 119 people: 57 men (average age 47.9 years) and 62 women (average age 46.5 years) from the number of outpatients of the treatment and prevention institution “City Health Center #12” (Minsk). Methods. The study used: the Subjective Well-being Scale, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), the Differential Emotion Scale, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Giessen Subjective Complaints List, GBB. Results. The analysis of the correlations of emotional state and somatic complaints has revealed similarities and specificity of subjective experiences of patients in different conditions. The correlation analysis showed a certain relationship between emotional state and well-being, which is closely related to subjective well-being. Conclusion. Subjective well-being of patients is related to psychoemotional state, health and somatic complaints, as well as, to some extent, to the level of alexithymia. Patients' well-being is related to their emotional state and negative emotions. Practical application of the results. Understanding the psychological state of the patient can be useful for developing a personalized approach to treatment and successful rehabilitation through intrapersonal resources.

How Ukrainians Perceive Emotions and Colours: An Analysis of Specific Features

The study presents research results on the associative connection between emotions and colours among Ukrainian-speaking and non-Ukrainian-speaking Ukrainians. It aims to confirm or refute the constancy of associations between the ten differential emotions identified by C. Izard and different colours, as well as the specificity of the relationship of these associations for the Ukrainian-speaking audience compared to the non-Ukrainian-speaking one. The survey questionnaire comprised a socio-demographic section, which incorporated a query regarding the language that the respondents learned to speak initially. The methodology was based on the free association method, where the stimulus material consisted of the names of ten specified emotions, and the respondents were expected to provide the colours that came to mind first. The study involved 127 participants aged between 18 and 60, of whom 109 were female and 18 were male. The study showed a constant associative relationship ratio between emotions and colours. In contrast, this ratio's specificity in the Ukrainian sample was not supported compared to the non-Ukrainian sample. This finding highlights the need for further research into the influence of language, culture, and individuality on colour perception in modern conditions. The second result shows that some emotions have more associative colours than others, indicating the existence of emotion colour attributes. It allows for the analysis of the uniqueness of each individual's experience of different emotions.

Роль социально-демографических, клинических и психоэмоциональных характеристик в формировании мотивации к изменению и лечению у больных с алкогольной зависимостью

Introduction. Motivation for treatment is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon significantly impacting the effectiveness of medical assistance for patients with addictive disorders. An integrative assessment of biopsychosocial functioning and systematic analysis of the factors determining readiness for treatment are important directions of research aimed at understanding the formation of motivational processes in patients with alcohol dependence. Aim of the study is to determine sociodemographic, clinical, psychological and emotional characteristics of patients with alcohol dependence and with varying levels of motivation for treatment, as well as to identify predictors of readiness for change and treatment. Methods and Materials. A total of 138 patients with alcohol use disorder (F10.20; F10.21) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Research instruments included: patients’ clinical charts, «The Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale» (SOCRATES), Differential Emotions Scale (DES), The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), Attitude toward the disorder (TOBOL), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), Tests of anticipatory validity (TASPK), and Purpose-in-Life test (PIL). Results. The median age of the subjects was 27.0 years [20.0; 35.0]. Patients with low motivation for treatment (LMT), compared to subjects with medium (MMT) and high (HMT) motivation scores, were younger, displayed greater negative attitudes toward relatives, had shorter durations of substance use disorder and withdrawal symptoms, and reported fewer treatments and spontaneous remissions (p≤0.05). HMT patients had skilled jobs, longer duration of remission after treatment, and a higher ratio of remission duration to disease duration compared to LMT and MMT patients (p≤0.05). In contrast to the MMT group, the LMT participants demonstrated significantly higher levels of the emotion of contempt, alexithymia and a neurasthenic attitude toward the disorder (p≤0.05). Subjects with HMT, as opposed to LMT and MMT, had significantly lower levels of «depression», «trait anger», «trait anxiety»; while the levels of the emotion «surprise», «trait-situational anticipatory validity», «general anticipatory validity», «life performance», «I-locus of control» were significantly higher (p≤0.05). The following predictors for the readiness for change and treatment were identified: ratio of remission duration to disease duration (B1 = 57.05), skilled occupation (B2 = 2.10), emotions «surprise» (DES) (B3 = 1.81) and «contempt» (DES) (B4 = -1, 11), «trait anger» (STAXI) (B5 = -1, 72), neurasthenic attitude toward the disorder (TOBOL) (B6 = – 0.31), «general anticipatory validity» (TASPK) (B7 = 1.93), (B1, B2, .... , Bn – numbers and coefficients of predictors; multiple regression equation constant B0 = 92.35; adjusted R2 = 0.753). Conclusion. A benign course of alcohol use disorder progression, employment in a skilled job, prognostic abilities in assessing the development of life situations, and personal responsibility for one's life, as well as higher level of the emotion of surprise and low levels of anxiety, depression, anger, contempt, alexithymia, and neurasthenia, increase motivation for change and treatment in individuals with alcohol dependence.

Психологические аспекты профессиональной деятельности и благополучие женщин в сфере образования: возрастная динамика и гендерное сравнительное корреляционное исследование

The problem of the psychological well-being of women employed in the educational field currently still has a fairly wide range of unexplored issues. In this paper, well-being is considered in connection with the components of professional satisfaction and motivation, taking into account gender and age aspects. The study involved 140 people, including 103 women aged 20 to 75 years. The study was carried out using theoretical analysis of scientific literature, the Method for diagnosing the subjective well-being of a person (Shamionov & Beskova), Motivation Sources Inventory (version of Sidorenko), Job Satisfaction Survey (P. Spektor), Maslach Burnout Inventory (version by Vodopyanova & Starchenkova), Izard's Differential Emotions Scale adapted by Leonov and Kapitsa, test “Personal differential” (adapted at the Bekhterev Research Institute). Statistical methods: Shapiro-Wilk test, non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test, pairwise comparison using the Dunn method, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, Cohen's q and z- test for comparing two sample correlation coefficients. As a result, differences between different age groups of women were revealed in terms of professional stress, well-being and burnout, as well as differences for women and men in relationship between the psychological aspects of their professional activities and personality traits, emotions and well-being.

Psychometric Analysis of the Modified Differential Emotions Scale and the Six-Item Life Orientation Test-Revised in a Cohort of Older Women from the Women's Health Initiative.

Background: Positive affect and emotional resources, such as optimism, may play a major role in women's health and promote healthy well-being later in life. However, positive affect and optimism measures have not been psychometrically assessed in older women, despite relations to health. Therefore, the objective of this study was to psychometrically assess measures of positive affect and optimism and test their association with other measures of well-being. Methods: In a Women's Health Initiative subcohort of 58,810 women (mean age [standard deviation] 79.0 [6.1]; 89% White), positive affect and optimism were measured using the modified Differential Emotions Scale (mDES) and Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), respectively. Reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. Performance was assessed using item response theory. Factor analysis was used to explore the construct validity of the LOT-R. Convergent and divergent validity with other well-being measures was tested. Results: Results suggest good reliability (mDES: Cronbach's alpha = 0.90 and omega total = 0.92; LOT-R: Cronbach's alpha = 0.79, omega hierarchical = 0.61, and omega total = 0.83). Item response analyses indicate mDES's ability to discriminate across positive affect; LOT-R was skewed toward lower optimism levels. Exploratory factor analyses suggest a two-factor solution for the LOT-R. Significant, but small correlations in expected directions to well-being measures confirmed validity hypotheses. Conclusions: The mDES and LOT-R measured positive affect and optimism with good reliability, item performance, and validity in a large sample of older postmenopausal women, supporting use of these measures to quantify effects of positive affect and optimism-promoting interventions.

Emotional Experiences of Vulnerable Groups During COVID-19

Abstract: Introduction: The study focuses on the prevalent emotions and specific experiences of three particularly vulnerable groups in the Bulgarian pandemic context. The target groups include working parents with small children (0–12 years), people who lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 crisis, and people with chronic diseases. Methods: To determine the experiences and sources of stress, we conducted semistructured in-depth calendar interviews ( N = 45) in late 2021. Narratives of representatives of the three groups generated authentic retrospective textual data, amounting to 221,883 words. To identify prevalent emotions in their speech, we did an automated qualitative data analysis of the three text corpuses and built a 10-category dictionary for basic emotions in accordance with Carroll Izard’s (1991) differential emotions theory, including synonyms, similar, and related words. Results: Content analysis showed that the most prominent emotion was fear, followed by interest, sadness and enjoyment. Lack of consistent and reliable information, the feeling of uncertainty, fear of the unknown and constant changes in the restrictive measures were significant sources of stress for all groups included in the study. At the same time, the three vulnerable groups differed both in the sources and in the content of the expressed fears. Discussion: Both practical and future research implications are discussed. Perhaps, these findings are valid for other types of crises and can serve as a central line for elaborating specific measures and crisis communication strategies targeting concrete vulnerable groups in society. Conclusion: Although the prevalent emotion in the narratives was fear, both the sources and the content of the fears were very different for the three groups. Findings suggest that specific measures and policies for the different vulnerable groups might be more effective in case of crisis.

Patterns of childhood maltreatment influence sleep quality: The role of emotion regulation.

Childhood maltreatment exerts long-term consequences on sleep health, and different subtypes could constitute maltreatment patterns. However, how naturally occurring patterns of childhood maltreatment affect subsequent sleep quality and the underlying mechanisms remain relatively unclear, particularly in youths undergoing a transitional period and in the Chinese cultural context. In this study, we identified childhood maltreatment patterns and explored how these patterns predicted sleep problems through differential emotion regulation strategies. We tracked 1929 Chinese youths (M age = 18.49; 63.1% females) for one year. Three latent profiles were identified: low maltreatment exposure, high physical and emotional maltreatment, and high sexual abuse. Compared with "low maltreatment exposure," youths in "high physical and emotional maltreatment" used fewer cognitive reappraisal strategies, and those in "high sexual abuse" used more expressive suppression, and then leading to more sleep problems. This study reveals new insights into the patterns of childhood maltreatment in Chinese youths and implies that individuals exposed to sexual abuse or a combination of physical and emotional maltreatment experience sleep problems through the impairment of differential emotion regulation processes. It also highlights the necessity of setting differential targets on emotion regulation strategies for distinct groups of maltreatment and considering the co-occurrence of physical and emotional maltreatment.

The Role of Gratitude in a Positive Psychology Group Intervention Program Implemented for Undergraduate Engineering Students.

Over the past decades, research on positive psychology for building strengths has proliferated. The present study aimed to explore the effect of gratitude in a 5-week positive psychology group program for undergraduate engineering students which included an intermediary 2-week gratitude intervention. In a mixed-design, 69 students from three engineering departments of the School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE), assigned to the intervention (N = 34) and the control group (N = 35), with an average age of 21.52 years (SD = 4.63), were administered the Gratitude Questionnaire-six item form (GQ-6), the Modified Differential Emotions Scale (mDES), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), and the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R). The condition experimental vs. control group was designated as the between-subjects factor, and time, that is, baseline vs. post intervention, was set as the within-subjects factor. Students who received the intervention reported significantly higher levels of gratitude. The increase in gratitude was due to the positive psychology group program. In addition, gratitude showed a significant effect on happiness and optimism, but failed to attain a significant impact on positive and negative emotions and resilience. Further research is needed to elucidate the effectiveness of positive psychology programs for undergraduate engineering students and the intervening cognitive processes.

Beyond Positive Affect: Discrete Positive Emotions Differentiate Major Depression from Social Anxiety Disorder

BackgroundSocial anxiety disorder (SAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are both associated with diminished global positive affect. However, little is known about which specific positive emotions are affected, and which positive emotions differentiate MDD from SAD.MethodsFour groups of adults recruited from the community were examined (N = 272): control group (no psychiatric history; n = 76), SAD without MDD group (n = 76), MDD without SAD group (n = 46), and comorbid group (diagnoses of both SAD and MDD; n = 74). Discrete positive emotions were measured with the Modified Differential Emotions Scale, which asked about the frequency of 10 different positive emotions experienced during the past week.ResultsThe control group had higher scores on all positive emotions compared to all three clinical groups. The SAD group had higher scores on awe, inspiration, interest, and joy compared to the MDD group, and higher scores on those emotions, as well as amusement, hope, love, pride, and contentment, than the comorbid group. MDD and comorbid groups did not differ on any positive emotions. Gratitude did not differ significantly between clinical groups.ConclusionAdopting a discrete positive emotion approach revealed shared and distinct features across SAD, MDD, and their comorbidity. We consider possible mechanisms underlying transdiagnostic vs. disorder-specific emotion deficits.

Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Optimism and Positive Affect in Older Women

Psychological well-being is linked to healthy aging in older women, but associations with health behaviors are not well understood. Our study aims to evaluate the relationships between objectively-measured physical behavior (including physical activity and sedentary behavior) with optimism and positive affect in a diverse sample of older women. Our cross-sectional study of 4168 American women (aged 63–99) with accelerometer-measured physical behavior from the Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health Study assessed associations using multiple linear regression. Effect modification by age, race and ethnicity, social support, and number of chronic conditions was examined as well. In unadjusted models, positive associations for physical activity and negative associations for sedentary behaviors were generally linear for optimism and positive affect. In adjusted models, every one-hour increment in weekly moderate-vigorous physical activity was associated with higher optimism by 0.4 score points [Revised 6-item Life Orientation Test, 95% CI = 0.2, 0.6] and positive affect by 0.6 score points [modified Differential Emotions Scale, 95% CI = 0.2, 0.9]. One-hour increments in light physical activity were associated with higher positive affect [0.2 score points; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.33] while one-hour increments in sedentary behavior patterns were associated with lower positive affect [-0.1 score points; 95% CI = − 0.10, − 0.02). Effect modification by age, race and ethnicity, social support, and number of chronic conditions was not observed. In conclusion, associations between physical behavior with optimism and positive affect were modest but suggest greater activity and less sedentary time are associated with greater psychological well-being in older women.