Dimensions Of Distress Research Articles

Psychometric properties of Japanese version15D and cultural characteristics of quality of life undergoing patients with hip and knee arthroplasty

BackgroundHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) following total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA) may decline more in Asian countries due to lifestyle and housing factors compared with patients in Western countries. AimsTo evaluate the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of 15D and clarify the characteristics of HRQoL in Japanese patients who underwent THA/TKA compared with Finnish patients. MethodsThis longitudinal study included 182 patients between 2019 and 2021. Patients' HRQoL was measured using the 15D preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Student's t-tests were used to compare lifestyles between Japan and Finland. ResultsThe Japanese version of the 15D showed good internal consistency, reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness. Patients with many steps inside their house had worse HRQoL in the dimensions of mobility, distress, and vitality in Japan. There were significant differences in mobility, distress, vitality, and sexual activity dimensions between Japan and Finland 3 months postoperatively. ConclusionsThe lower HRQoL in Japan in the dimensions of mobility, distress, and vitality is likely due to Japan's traditional housing structure with many steps. Identifying differences in cultural and psychological characteristics, as well as by residential setting, will enable health care providers to help patients improve their HRQoL.

Sister Outsider: Superwoman Schema, Emotion Regulation, and Psychological Distress Among Black College Women

Black women may adhere to the Superwoman Schema (SWS), which may be associated with psychological distress in particular contexts. Emotion regulation may be an important factor in understanding the relationship between SWS and psychological distress. In this cross-sectional study of 167 college Black women, we examined the relationship between dimensions of SWS and psychological distress. We also investigated if two aspects of emotion regulation, expressive suppression, and cognitive reappraisal, mediated these relationships. Findings indicated that all dimensions of SWS were positively associated with psychological distress. Expressive suppression mediated these relationships for all dimensions except for an obligation to suppress emotions and an obligation to help others. However, the intense motivation to succeed, despite limited resources, was positively associated with cognitive reappraisal, which was inversely associated with psychological distress. Findings underscore the complex nature of the Superwoman Schema and highlight the importance of understanding and addressing emotional regulation strategies in clinical settings to support Black women’s mental well-being effectively.

A Phenomenological Exploration of Physicians' Moral Distress: Situating Emotion Within Lived Experiences.

Physicians often experience moral distress from being prevented from taking what they believe to be the right course of action. Although causes and consequences of moral distress have been studied, little research offers insight into the significance of feeling morally challenged, especially in medicine. This study was undertaken to advance understanding of what physicians experience when encountering morally challenging situations and to examine how those experiences influence their interactions with the world of health care. Guided by hermeneutic phenomenology, the authors conducted semistructured interviews with purposefully sampled Canadian physicians from September 2022 to January 2023. Analysis used Van Manen's 6 activities of hermeneutic research and included "story crafting" to sharpen insights. Late in that process, Van Manen's "lived existentials" was determined to provide a strong framework for physicians' experiences of moral distress. Of the 12 physicians interviewed, all experienced varied and long-lasting emotional reactions to morally challenging experiences. The emotions associated with moral distress, reported as inevitable, were experienced in ways that aligned with the lived existentials of body, space, time, and relations. A richer understanding of physicians' lived experiences with moral distress can help mentors and educators more thoughtfully engage in conversations about it with colleagues and learners. This study highlights the core dimensions of moral distress through body, space, time, and relations, thereby providing a means to enrich discussion about emotions and their transformational power. Through such nuanced consideration, calls for emotional candor may be strengthened to enhance practice by acknowledging the scope of impact that efforts to deliver care are likely to provoke.

Mental distress and well-being in geriatric professionals: The role of job satisfaction

BackgroundAs limited evidence is available on health professionals’ experience during the post-pandemic period, the interplay between job satisfaction components, mental distress and well-being was investigated among workers of an Italian geriatric institution. MethodsIn Spring 2022, 205 participants (females =75.6%), primarily healthcare assistants (36.6%), nurses (16.6%), and rehabilitation professionals (14.1%), completed the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF), and the Job Satisfaction Questionnaire. Data analyses comprised Multiple Regressions, Relative Weight Analyses, and ANOVA. FindingsSatisfaction with working conditions and leadership exhibited negative associations with distress, while satisfaction with patients, colleagues, results, and leadership were positively correlated with well-being. Participants with high well-being levels scored significantly lower across mental distress dimensions than participants reporting poor well-being levels. ConclusionsResults showed that specific job satisfaction components relate differently to distress and well-being, suggesting the need for implementing organizational resources, psychological support, and interprofessional collaboration in healthcare services.

Moral foundations, moral emotions, and moral distress in NICU nurses.

Background: Moral distress is common in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between NICU nurses' moral foundations, moral emotions, and moral distress. Research design and method: This is an observational cross-sectional self-report questionnaire study. Participants and research context: One hundred and forty-two (24%) of 585 Level 3-4 NICU nurses completed pen-and-paper self-report measures of moral foundations (harm, fairness, ingroup, authority, and purity) (Moral Foundations Questionnaire-20), proneness to self-conscious moral emotions (guilt and shame) (modified Personal Feelings Questionnaire-2), and moral distress (futile care, compromised care, and untruthful care) (modified Revised Moral Distress Scale). Ethical considerations: Participation was voluntary and anonymous. The ethics committees of the participating hospitals approved the study protocol (HREC Reference: LNR/18/SCHN/316). Results: Non-parametric statistical analyses showed medium to large correlations between moral foundations and moral emotions. Moral foundations and moral emotions had trivial to small correlations with moral distress. Using a liberal p-value of <.10 for statistical significance because of the small sample size, harm (rs = 0.22) and fairness (rs = 0.16) predicted futile care, ingroup predicted compromised care (rs = 0.19) and untruthful care (rs = 0.15), and purity predicted untruthful care (rs = 0.15). Guilt-proneness predicted futile care (rs = 0.15). Shame-proneness did not predict moral distress. Conclusion: The correlations between moral foundations and moral emotions were significant. Moral foundations and guilt-proneness predicted one or more dimensions of moral distress. The smaller than expected effect sizes may have been owing to how moral foundations, moral emotions, and moral distress were conceptualized and measured, or to moral disengagement, including NICU nurses' possible reluctance to countenance aversive but morally warranted feelings of guilt and especially shame. Understanding the nature of these relationships may complement the efforts of NICU administrators, educators, counsellors, and nurses themselves to mitigate moral distress.

"I feel [so alone] nothing" - emotional vulnerability and detachment as transdiagnostic key characteristics of patients with chronic tinnitus: a schema mode model approach.

Gold-standard approaches for chronic tinnitus involve hearing amplification measures and psychological therapy, where applicable. Whilst schema therapy is accumulating evidence as a transdiagnostically useful treatment framework, its applicability for patients with chronic tinnitus has not yet been examined. The present study (a) explores latent dimensions of psychological distress in a sample of chronic tinnitus patients, and (b) examines whether the schema mode model might explain these dimensions - thus constituting a potentially helpful conceptualization and treatment framework. N = 696 patients with chronic tinnitus completed the Tinnitus Questionnaire, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Questionnaire and ICD-10 Symptom Rating. As criterion, patients further completed the Schema Mode Inventory (SMI-r) - which assesses psychological constructs linked to negative self-beliefs ("parent modes"), primary emotions resulting from unmet psychological needs ("child modes"), and secondary emotional or behavioral attempts to reinstate or maintain psychological equilibrium ("coping modes"). A varimax-rotated principal axis factor analysis grouped the primary item pool. Factor scale scores were then correlated with the SMI-r. A three-factor solution explained 37.4% of variance and represented 78% of the included items. Following item content examination, the factors represented (1) General emotional distress, (2) Tinnitus-attributed emotional distress, and (3) Socio-audiological impairment. Factors 1|2 correlated highly (r= 0.70), Factors 2|3 moderately (r = 0.62). Linked to the schema mode model, Factor 1 correlated highly with the "vulnerable child" (r = 0.78), and moderately with the "parent", "angry child", and "detached protector" modes (0.53 < r < 0.65). Factor 2 correlated moderately with the "vulnerable child" (r = 0.53). Factor 3 was largely uncorrelated with SMI-r scores - although a low correlation with the "detached protector" warrants further examination. "General" and "tinnitus-attributed" emotional distress correlate highly - warranting holistic (not symptom-specific) psychological case conceptualization and treatment planning. Viewed from a schema mode perspective, the "vulnerable child" explains substantial variance across both dimensions. Consequently, autobiographically anchored, unmet emotional needs and emotional detachment constitute key treatment targets. Social-audiological impairment should be multimodally conceptualised and treated with hearing aids and psychological support measures, as applicable.

Moral distress among physicians in Norway: a longitudinal study

ObjectivesTo explore and compare physicians’ reported moral distress in 2004 and 2021 and identify factors that could be related to these responses.DesignLongitudinal survey.SettingData were gathered from the Norwegian Physician Panel...

The Predictive Ability of Marital distress in Emotional Divorce among married teachers in Karak Governorate

The study aimed to identify the predictive ability of marital distress in emotional divorce among married teachers in Karak governorate. In order to achieve the study objectives, sample that consisted of (268) married teachers, two scales were also developed and applied (marital distress scale and emotional divorce scale), and their psychometric properties were verified. The results indicated that the level of marital distress and emotional divorce for the sample was moderate and collectively explains the contribution of (78%) of the variation in emotional divorce. As for the contribution of each dimension of marital distress in emotional divorce, the contribution of emotional relationships was (74.3%), while the contribution of the communication and interaction revealed (2.8%), and finally the contribution of the cognitive structure reached (0.09%). The results also found that married female teachers don't differ in marital distress and emotional divorce according to the variables of the number of years of marriage and educational level. The study included a number of recommendations, including holding courses and counseling programs for married and prospective married to develop their awareness to alleviate marital distress and to reduce emotional divorce.

Implications of perceived empathy from spouses during pregnancy for health-related quality of life among pregnant women: a cross-sectional study in Anhui, China

BackgroundEmpathy is a critical component of nursing care, impacting both nurses’ and patients’ outcomes. However, perceived empathy from spouses during pregnancy and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are unclear. This study aimed to examine pregnant women’s perceived empathy from their spouses and assess the relation of perceived empathy on HRQoL.MethodsThis cross-sectional study, performed in the obstetric clinics or wards of four well-known hospitals in Anhui Province, China, included 349 pregnant women in the second or third trimester; participants were recruited by convenience sampling and enrolled from October to December 2021. A general information questionnaire, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), a purpose-designed empathy questionnaire and the Medical Outcomes Study 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) were used to evaluate the pregnant women’s general information, perceptions of empathy and HRQoL. Data were analysed using SPSS 22 at a threshold of P < 0.05. Descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, Student’s t test, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis were used for analysis.ResultsThe pregnant women’s total empathy, physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were 41.6 ± 9.0, 41.6 ± 7.6, and 47.7 ± 9.1, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that the purpose-designed empathy questionnaire items were significantly positively correlated with perspective taking and empathic concern but were not correlated with the personal distress dimension and were only partially correlated with the fantasy dimension. Maternal physical condition during pregnancy, planned pregnancy, and occupational stress were predictors of the PCS score (β = 0.281, P < 0.01; β = 0.132, P = 0.02; β = -0.128, P = 0.02). The behavioural empathy item of our purpose-designed empathy questionnaire and empathic concern were important predictors of the MCS score (β = 0.127, P = 0.02; β = 0.158, P < 0.01), as well as other demographic and obstetric information, explaining 22.0% of the variance in MCS scores totally (F = 12.228, P < 0.01).ConclusionsPregnant women perceived lower empathy from their spouses and reported lower HRQoL. Perceived empathy, particularly behavioural empathy, may significantly impact pregnant women’s MCS scores but has no effect on their PCS scores. Strategies that foster perceived empathy from spouses among pregnant women are essential for facilitating healthy pregnancies and potentially improving maternal and child health.

“Little by little, I go”: Multiple dimensions of distress and support for unaccompanied children in the United States

Unaccompanied children are a vulnerable group of immigrants who arrive to the United States (US) without a parent or caregiver. A growing body of research demonstrates that unaccompanied children experience trauma before, during, and after their arrival to the US. A gap in research in the US is a deeper understanding of how unaccompanied children describe the challenges they experience in resettlement, and what they perceive as most helpful as they adjust to new communities and social settings. This qualitative study is guided by the category fallacy theoretical framework and includes analysis of in-depth interviews with unaccompanied children who resettled in the US (n = 16). Findings reveal that unaccompanied children experience family separation and family reunification as distinct challenges. In addition, unaccompanied children perceive schools and social support as helpful with adjusting to new communities. The findings can inform how service providers design interventions and encourage policy makers to streamline school enrollment procedures.

Uniqueness of auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia and depressive disorder

ABSTRACT Background: While over three-quarters of those suffering from schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like illnesses experience auditory hallucinations, 6% of individuals with depressive disorder report the same. Differentiating between auditory hallucinations in these two illnesses is important both diagnostically and prognostically. Aim: To compare the characteristics of auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia and depressive disorder. Materials and Methods: For both schizophrenia and depressive disorder, 110 patients were selected from inpatients of a tertiary care psychiatric center by purposive sampling. They were assessed with a specially designed proforma containing sociodemographic information, information about clinical features, and characteristics of the Auditory Hallucination Scale. Results: Schizophrenia and depressive disorder patients were matched on age, education, occupation, and socioeconomic status. The patients with schizophrenia rated significantly higher on frequency, clarity, tone, intensity, distractibility, self-control, and distress dimensions of auditory hallucinations as compared to patients with depressive disorder. Conclusion: The characteristics of auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia differ significantly than those in depressive disorder, which bears significant transdiagnostic importance. Clinical evaluation of these differentiating characteristics of auditory hallucinations may aid in diagnostic workup in patients.

Multi-Objective Optimization for Sustainable Pavement Maintenance Decision Making by Integrating Pavement Image Segmentation and TOPSIS Methods

To provide a low-carbon economy maintenance strategy is the most challenging problem faced by pavement management authorities under the restricted budget and significant environmental repercussions. The development of a multi-objective optimization model for pavement maintenance decision making is essential to formulate pavements. Nevertheless, the existing automatic detection can only recognize and classify pavement distress. However, few studies are able to accurately determine the precise dimensions of specific distresses such as cracks and potholes, especially combined with the actual size of the image. This limitation hinders the ability to provide specific maintenance recommendations and make optimal maintenance decisions. Therefore, this paper develops a comprehensive and effective multi-objective decision-making framework for pavement maintenance. This framework consists of four distinct components: (1) recognizing the dimensions of pavement distresses based on the pavement image segmentation technique; (2) compiling a list of viable pavement maintenance strategies; (3) assessing the costs and carbon emissions of these strategies; and (4) optimizing decisions on pavement maintenance. We used the U-Net algorithm to accurately recognize the dimensions of pavement distresses, while an improved entropy-weighted TOPSIS model was proposed to determine the optimal pavement maintenance strategy with the lowest cost and carbon emissions. The results indicated that the pavement distress dimension recognition model achieved a high accuracy of 96.88%, and the TOPSIS model identified the optimal maintenance strategy with a score of 99.16. This maintenance strategy achieved a substantial reduction of 30.80% in carbon emissions and a cost reduction of 20.81% compared to the highest values among all maintenance strategies. This study not only provides a scientifically objective method for making pavement maintenance decisions but also offers specific, quantifiable maintenance programs, marking a stride towards more environmentally friendly and cost-effective road maintenance. It also contributes to the sustainability of pavement maintenance.

Firm Attributes and Corporate Financial Distress of Listed Manufacturing Firms at The Nigeria Exchange Group

This study investigated the effect of firm attributes on corporate financial distress of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The specific objectives of this study was to investigate the relationship between six dimensions of firm characteristics (profitability, financial leverage, tangibility, liquidity, operating capacity and firms size) and corporate financial distress of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Ex-post facto research design and a cross sectional time series secondary data covering the period of one hundred and fifty observations (2018-2022) was extracted from the audited financial statement of thrifty (30) manufacturing firms listed on the floor of Nigerian exchange group. The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) of regression analysis. The result from the regression analysis indicated that profitability does positively and significantly affect corporate financial distress; financial leverage does negatively and significantly affect corporate financial distress; tangibility does positively and insignificantly affect corporate financial distress; liquidity does positively and insignificantly affect corporate financial distress; firm size does positively and insignificantly affect corporate financial distress and operating capacity does positively and insignificantly affect corporate financial distress of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study generally concluded that firm attributes impact on corporate financial distress of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Hence, it was suggested that corporate managers need to determine and maintain the appropriate level of profitability to ensure smooth operation and continual survival of the organization in term of short run but should be careful in evaluating the long term profitability.

Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Cancer Care: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Feasibility Study of ESAS-FS, Assessing Spiritual Pain and Financial Distress in a Spanish-speaking Population with Advanced Cancer

IntroductionSpiritual pain and financial distress are two important dimensions of cancer care that are often overlooked. Both dimensions can have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients with cancer and their families. MethodsThis study conducted a cross-cultural adaptation, feasibility study, and psychometric properties of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-Financial and Spiritual (ESAS-FS) in a Spanish-speaking population with advanced cancer. The ESAS-FS is a patient-reported outcome measure that assesses 12 symptoms, including spiritual pain and financial distress. ResultsIn the cross-cultural adaptation process, the terms “spiritual pain” and “financial distress” were refined to “sufrimiento espiritual” and “preocupación por asuntos económicos” respectively, with strong professional consensus and high patients’ acceptancy (relevant questions 80%, appropriate terms 91%). A cohort of 100 onco-hematologic patients revealed that 70% experienced spiritual pain (mean 2.9/10), while 49% reported financial distress (mean 2.2/10). Symptomatic analyses illustrated significant associations of spiritual pain with various symptoms like fatigue, drowsiness, and depression. Similarly, financial distress correlated notably with drowsiness, depression, and anxiety. Moreover, a distinct correlation was observed between spiritual pain and financial distress. ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that the ESAS-FS is a valuable tool for assessing spiritual pain and financial distress in Spanish-speaking patients with advanced cancer. The tool can be used to identify patients who are experiencing these dimensions of distress and to provide them with appropriate care.

NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA AND CAREGIVERS’ BURDEN

Abstract Informal caregiving (IC) is a major health and social asset although simultaneously a potential burden and depression risk factor for those who care. Neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia are disturbing and may contribute to a negative experience of care. To understand the neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia in caregiving we have two objectives: to know the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms perceived by ICs and if there is an association of neuropsychiatric symptoms and burden and depression of caregiver. We study a community-based sample (N=101) of primary care users with mental health concerns, referred by GPs. Instruments include sociodemographic information; Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-Q), Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS) and Geriatric Depression Scale (ABCDS). The sample mean age was 79.4 (sd=7.7) years, 54 (53.5%) were female and 34 (33.7%) had no formal education. Half of the sample were married and 41 (41.90%) were widowed. The NPI-Q total score and the Distress dimension score were 10.1 (sd=5.6) and 11.9 (sd=9.1), respectively. The more reported symptoms were agitation/aggression (69.3%), and apathy/indifference (65.3%). We found a significant positive association between NPI-Q and caregivers’ burden (0.296) and depression (0.227) and between Distress and caregivers’ burden (0.417) and depression, 0.416. Conclusion: Neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia appear associated with the burden and depression of informal caregivers. Training ICs to cope with care receiver symptoms is a priority to increase the quality of care and reduce burden and depression of caregivers.

Evaluating ergonomics and financial distress in manufacturing organization behavior: resiliency framework from operations and strategic management

PurposeErgonomics usually reciprocate the study about people fitness toward working environment. In addition, financial distress refers a condition of organizations incompetency in generating sufficient revenues or incomes, which thereby refrain them to pay their financial obligations. This study aims to evaluate two independent organizational fields named as ergonomics in first phase and financial distress in manufacturing organization behavior in the second phase. The study presented a resiliency framework for operations and strategic management in the third phase based on various facts received from the distress organizations.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey based on plant-visit is presented. The study embedded two segments to explicate its novelty. In the first segment, the plant-visit case study is presented and in the second segment, an exploratory data related to financial distress is presented. The study tried to communicate observations related to multiple decision-making fields in single umbrella, where multiple concepts like ergonomics and financial distress of organizations as well as employees are presented. DEMATEL-ANP integrated approach is used to represent the critical financial distress dimensions of employees and their ranking.FindingsThe study provided insights toward connecting two independent fields named as ergonomics and financial distress in single umbrella. The study can benefit practitioners in designing policies and procedures in their planning model to effectively achieve organizational goals. The study presented 14 financial distress drivers of employees and advocated the aggregation of ergonomics and financial distress toward developing a holistic framework for attaining organization goals for sustainability.Originality/valueThe study presented a comprehensive understanding about multiple organization decision-making fields toward developing a holistic approach from different aspects for attaining organizational sustainability. The study can be fruitful in stimulating cross-pollination of ideas between researchers and provides a good understandability of ergonomics and financial distress in single roof.

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AS DETERMINANTS OF PROCRASTINATION IN JUNIOR KARATEKAS

Abstract The aim of the conducted research was to examine the contribution of predictor variables (depression, anxiety and stress) in predicting the criterion procrastination. The pertinent sample of adolescents (N =126) included junior karatekas age 16 to 18 (M = 17.5, SD = .83). Two measuring instruments were used: General Procrastination Scale (Lay, 1986) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (Lovibond &amp; Lovibond, 1995).Correlation analysis has determined that there are statistically significant and positive linear connections between the dimensions of psychological distress. The model of hierarchical regression has revealed that the predictor group of variables (depression, anxiety and stress) accounts for 12% of the total criterion variance of procrastination. Only the determinant depression (ß = .41, p ≤ .01) had the maximum positive and statistically relevant partial contribution in predicting the variability of procrastination. The calculated beta coefficient indicates that a higher degree of depression in adolescent karatekas intensifies their procrastination. On the other hand, regression has shown that the independent variables anxiety and stress do not significantly interact with the criterion, and therefore cannot statistically significantly predict the dependent variable procrastination in adolescent karatekas. The obtained results of the constructs examined in this research have theoretical and practical implications in explaining procrastination in adolescent karatekas. Key words: psychological distress, karate, procrastination, adolescent, athletes

Understanding the Association Between Humor and Emotional Distress: The Role of Light and Dark Humor in Predicting Depression, Anxiety, and Stress.

Despite increasing interest in the relationship between humor and psychological distress, investigations have failed to focus on specific categories of humor and negative mental conditions. A sample of 686 Italian participants (187 men and 499 women), aged between 20 and 76 years, completed an online survey, data from which was used to investigate the relationship between eight comic styles, depression, anxiety, and stress. Findings from the multiple linear regression demonstrate benign humor as a protective factor of all three variables considered, while irony was positively associated with anxiety and stress. Wit was a protective factor associated with anxiety, while sarcasm was positively related to depression. No significant correlations emerged between the other variables considered. These findings highlight how specific categories are linked to varying dimensions of emotional distress, which are discussed with reference to the extant literature.

The Influence of Positive and Negative Aspects of Perfectionism on Psychological Distress in Emerging Adulthood: Exploring the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion.

Perfectionism constitutes a multidimensional personality trait. According to the diathesis-stress model, perfectionism may predispose individuals to experience increased psychological distress during stressful periods. Since self-compassion is considered as a protective factor within the context of mental health difficulties, the primary objective of this study was to explore the mediating function of self-compassion in the relationship between positive (i.e., high standards and order) and negative (i.e., discrepancy) aspects of perfectionism and psychological distress among Greek emerging adults. The sample consisted of 410 university students (47.6% males and 52.4% females), with a mean age of 20.61 ± 1.88 years. The Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R), the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), and the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) were used to assess perfectionism, self-compassion, and psychological distress, respectively. The results indicated that self-compassion mediated the association between positive and negative aspects of perfectionism and different dimensions of psychological distress (i.e., somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression). Specifically, discrepancy and increased levels of high standards were related to lower levels of self-compassion, thus leading to greater endorsement of psychological distress. In contrast, order was associated with higher levels of self-compassion, thus leading to lower levels of psychological distress. The findings of the present study highlight that self-compassion is an overall important area to examine in nonclinical populations. These findings have implications for the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in enhancing individuals' self-acceptance and awareness of their perfectionistic tendencies, as well as compassion-focused therapy (CFT) in elevating self-compassion, mindfulness, and overall psychological well-being while reducing psychological distress.

The gender gap in financial distress

ABSTRACT In this study, we investigate the gender gap in personal financial distress within the United States. Our study commences with a rigorous quantification of the gender disparity in financial distress, employing Logit regressions. Additionally, we perform a standard meditation analysis to dissect potential channels of income shocks and financial choices as well as their relative contributions to the gender disparity in financial distress. Leveraging data from the NLSY79 CYA panel, we empirically uncover that women are associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing financial distress than men. Furthermore, we provide evidence that women’s susceptibility to adverse income shocks and tendency towards making suboptimal financial choices are two potential mechanisms, with the latter accounting for a higher proportion in the identified gender gap than the former. Our findings are confirmed by various robustness checks including exploring other financial distress dimensions, accommodating additional personality traits, employing targeted subsample analyses, performing heterogeneity tests, using clustered standard errors at the regional level, and switching to an alternative sample. Our study sheds light on the effect of gender in personal financial fragility and the role of gender gap in economic outcomes.