Dysfunctional Attitudes Research Articles

The relationship between university students’ academic discipline and dysfunctional sleep attitudes on sleep quality and quantity

The relationship between university students’ academic discipline and dysfunctional sleep attitudes on sleep quality and quantity

14-18 Yaş Arası Ergenler için Bozulmuş Yeme Ölçeği’nin Geliştirilmesi

This study aimed to develop a scale for evaluating disordered eating attitudes and behaviors among adolescents aged 14 to 18. The scale’s factor structure was examined with a total of 1379 participants, revealing 14 items and three sub-dimensions that accounted for 58.46% of the total variance. The scale demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .86) and test-retest reliability (r = .90). Regarding criterion validity, the correlation between the Disordered Eating Scale (DES) and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) was found to be .86. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis results indicated a sensitivity of .930 and a specificity of .91 for the ≥31 cut-off point. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted, and the model fit indexes for both applications were as follows: x2 = 287.43, df = 73, x2/df = 3.94, RMSEA = 0.079, CFI = 0.938, TLI = 0.922, and SRMR = 0.045. These findings supported the three-dimensional model, suggesting that disordered eating can be measured through restriction, weight anxiety, and extraction-control behaviors dimensions with a total of 14 items. The DES is deemed suitable for screening and evaluating negative eating behaviors and potential psychopathology in adolescents, including those with and without clinical eating disorder symptoms.

Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence and Coping Attitudes in Women With and Without Incontinence in Turkey

Aim: Coping strategies are thought to be important in dealing with a problem that affects women's well-being and quality of life, such as incontinence (UI). This study was done to investigate the incidence of UI and coping attitudes in women without and with UI in Turkey. 
 Material and Methods: The descriptive study was carried out with 417 women who were applied in a Healthy Life Center located in Turkey. The study data were obtained using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (Short Form) (ICIQ-SF) and Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE). 
 Results: It was found that 34.8% of women had UI. It was determined that women used more common problem and emotion-focused coping attitudes” which are functional coping attitudes. It was found that women with UI used "withdrawal" which are problem-functional coping attitude "acceptance" which are emotion-functional coping attitude and "denial" and "behavioral disengagement" which are dysfunctional coping attitudes more than women without UI. 
 Conclusion: It was determined that one third of the women had UI and they used more common problem-and emotion-focused coping attitudes. Although urinary incontinence has a chance of being treated, it is a condition that has major physical, psychosocial and economic effects on society, and is often reported to the health institution by women, and treatment is delayed.

Internalizing psychopathology and its links to suicidal ideation, dysfunctional attitudes, and help-seeking readiness in a national sample of college students

BackgroundRecent evidence suggests that multiple emotional disorders may be better assessed using dimensional models of psychopathology. The current study utilized a cross-sectional population survey of college students (N = 8613 participants) to examine the extent to which broad psychopathology factors accounted for specific associations between emotional problems and clinical and behavioral validators: suicidality, dysfunctional attitudes, and treatment seeking. MethodsConfirmatory factor models were estimated to identify the best structure of psychopathology. Models were then estimated to examine the broad and specific associations between each psychopathology indicator and the clinical and behavioral validators. ResultsThe hierarchical model of psychopathology with internalizing problems at the top, fear, and distress at the second level, and five specific symptom dimensions at the third level evidenced the best fit. The associations between symptom indicators of psychopathology and clinical and behavioral validators were relatively small and inconsistent. Instead, much of the association between clinical and behavioral validators and emotional problems operated at a higher-order level. LimitationsThe cross-sectional nature of the survey precludes the ability to make conclusions regarding causality. ConclusionsResearchers should focus on investigating the shared or common components across emotional disorders, particularly concerning individuals presenting with higher rates of suicidal ideation dysfunctional attitudes, and help-seeking behavior. Using higher-order dimensions of psychopathology could simplify the complex presentation of multiple co-occurring disorders and suggest valid constructs for future investigations.

Automatic Self Recriminations: Development and Validation of a Measure of Self-Condemnatory Internal Dialogue

This article introduces a measure of self-condemnatory internal dialogue as an element of the relationship with the self: The Automatic Self-Recrimination Scale (ASRS). Using the construct validation approach to test construction, we describe the initial development of items and report on findings from a clinical and nonclinical sample showing the ASRS is best understood as a multidimensional measure of self-critical internal dialogue composed of one higher-order factor and four lower-order facets: Not Mattering, Self as Failure, Undeserving Self, and Loathsomeness. The overall scale and four subscales demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Moreover, there was evidence of good convergent and incremental validity of the ASRS subscales with measures of perfectionism, self-criticism, and dysfunctional attitudes. Overall, the ASRS appears to be a reliable and valid measure of an automatic self-recriminatory internal dialogue.

The differing relationships between academic discipline, sleep hygiene, and dysfunctional sleep attitudes on sleep quality and duration in Canadian university students.

This study sought to understand how university student's academic discipline relates to sleep factors including attitudes, hygiene, quality, and duration. Using a cross-sectional approach, a 30-min survey was advertised to students at two Canadian universities in March of 2022. Sleep measures included the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes Scale, the Sleep Hygiene Index, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Insomnia Severity Index. Academic discipline was categorized into four groups: Health, Arts, Sciences, and Engineering. Multiple linear regressions were used to investigate (1) the effect of academic discipline on sleep measures, and (2) the effect of academic discipline, dysfunctional sleep attitudes, and sleep hygiene practices on insomnia, sleep quality and duration. 1,566 students completed the survey (69.4% women; 80.3% undergraduates). Compared to Health students, Art students had worse dysfunctional sleep attitudes, hygiene, quality, and insomnia severity (p < 0.001). This relationship disappeared after controlling for differences in mental health (p ≥ 0.05). Art students had longer sleep durations (p < 0.01), whereas Engineering students had shorter sleep durations (p < 0.05). When dysfunctional sleep attitudes and hygiene were included in the model, both academic discipline (p < 0.05) and sleep hygiene (p < 0.001) were associated with sleep duration. Sleep hygiene and attitudes were also associated with sleep quality and insomnia severity (p < 0.001), while academic discipline was not (p ≥ 0.05). These results suggest differences in sleep quality across academic discipline are impacted by dysfunctional sleep attitudes, sleep hygiene, and mental health, whereas differences in sleep duration appear to be independent of these factors. Overall, students in different academic disciplines have unique relationships with sleep and thus may require targeted approaches to improve their sleep. Future interventions should focus on supporting sleep hygiene and attitudes to improve students' sleep and well-being.

Providing a Model for Predicting Children's Differentiation Based on Communication Patterns and Personality Structure with the Mediation of Dysfunctional Attitudes in Parents Attending Counseling Centers in Tehran

Background and Objective: Most spouses in marital life use different communication patterns in interactions with family members, depending on their personality structure. The presence of dysfunctional communication patterns and underdeveloped personalities can cause destructive effects in relationships and lead to a lack of differentiation in children. This study aims to provide a model for predicting children's differentiation based on communication patterns and personality structure with the mediation of dysfunctional attitudes in parents attending counseling centers in Tehran. Methods and Materials: Considering the indices and objectives of the research, the study was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population of this research included all parents attending counseling centers in Tehran during 2021-2022. In this research, the sampling method was multi-stage random sampling, and the sample size was determined to be 350 people based on the Sample Power software. Data collection was carried out using the Differentiation Inventory by Skowron and Friedlander (1998), the Couples' Communication Patterns Questionnaire by Christensen and Sullaway (1991), the NEO Personality Inventory by McCrae and Costa (1985), and the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale by Weissman and Beck (1978) on the selected sample. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and SmartPLS structural equation modeling. Findings: The findings of this study indicated that the proposed model for predicting children's differentiation based on communication patterns and personality structure with the mediation of dysfunctional attitudes in parents attending counseling centers in Tehran had a good fit. Examination of the results based on the direct path showed a significant relationship between the components of communication patterns, personality structure, and dysfunctional attitudes with children's differentiation. The results of the indirect path also showed a significant relationship between the components of communication patterns, personality structure, with the partial mediation role of dysfunctional attitudes and children's differentiation. Conclusion: The findings suggest that understanding the communication patterns and personality structure of each parent based on the mutual understanding of children's needs can predict the level of children's differentiation based on dysfunctional attitudes within the context of family relationships and interpersonal interactions.

Cognitive-behavioral statuses in depression and internet gaming disorder of adolescents: A transdiagnostic approach.

To investigate the comorbidity of adolescent depression and Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and their shared and unique cognitive-behavioral factors (i.e., self-esteem, dysfunctional attitudes, hopelessness, and coping), a large-scale school-based survey was conducted among 3147 Chinese secondary school students in Hong Kong. Probable depression and IGD were screened using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale and DSM-5 IGD checklist, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to identify the associations between different condition statuses and cognitive-behavioral factors. Four groups were identified, including comorbidity group (having probable depression and IGD), IGD group (having probable IGD alone), depression group (probable depression alone), and healthy group (neither condition). Comorbidity group showed the worst cognitive-behavioral statuses, followed by depression group and then IGD group. Compared with healthy group, those with lower self-esteem and higher hopelessness and dysfunctional attitudes were more likely to be classified into depression group and comorbidity group, while maladaptive coping was positively associated with all three disorder groups. The results suggest that depression and IGD may share common cognitive-behavioral mechanisms (e.g., maladaptive coping) but also own their uniqueness regarding specific factors (e.g., hopelessness and self-esteem). A transdiagnostic intervention approach targeting the common factors may effectively address the comorbidity.

Risk Prediction Model for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Chinese Adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder Based on Machine Learning.

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a significant social issue, especially among adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aimed to construct a risk prediction model using machine learning (ML) algorithms, such as XGBoost and random forest, to identify interventions for healthcare professionals working with adolescents with MDD. This study investigated 488 adolescents with MDD. Adolescents was randomly divided into 75% training set and 25% test set to testify the predictive value of risk prediction model. The prediction model was constructed using XGBoost and random forest algorithms. We evaluated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, recall, F Score of the two models for comparing the performance of the two models. There were 161 (33.00%) participants having NSSI. Compared without NSSI, there were statistically significant differences in gender (P=0.035), age (P=0.036), depressive symptoms (P=0.042), sleep quality (P=0.030), dysfunctional attitudes (P=0.048), childhood trauma (P=0.046), interpersonal problems (P=0.047), psychoticism (P) (P=0.049), neuroticism (N) (P=0.044), punishing and Severe (F2) (P=0.045) and Overly-intervening and Protecting (M2) (P=0.047) with NSSI. The AUC values for random forest and XGBoost were 0.780 and 0.807, respectively. The top five most important risk predictors identified by both machine learning methods were dysfunctional attitude, childhood trauma, depressive symptoms, F2 and M2. The study demonstrates the suitability of prediction models for predicting NSSI behavior in Chinese adolescents with MDD based on ML. This model improves the assessment of NSSI in adolescents with MDD by health care professionals working. This provides a foundation for focused prevention and interventions by health care professionals working with these adolescents.

Dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors among French elite athletes: the impact of psychological characteristics and the sporting calendar.

Research on sport psychology suggests that athletes are at risk of developing dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors (DEAB), however the origins of these behaviors remain largely unexplored. The present study aims to identify factors (i.e., personality traits, anxiety levels, eating attitudes and behaviors, the internalization of sport thinness norms, and resilience) associated with the development of DEAB among female endurance athletes, in training and competition. A longitudinal follow-up study was conducted among 14 elite female athletes who were tested daily, weekly, and quarterly over 12 months in 2022, for a total of 545 measures. Participants completed questionnaires assessing personality traits, anxiety levels, eating attitudes and behaviors, the internalization of sport thinness norms, and resilience. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all study data, and odds ratios were conducted to compare the variance of psychological factors and sporting factors depending on the level of DEAB and the sport period. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Overall, 28% of our sample of athletes were identified with DEAB. Among those with DEAB, scores for agreeableness, anxiety, and competitive anxiety were significantly higher, while scores for resilience were significantly lower than those without DEAB. During the competitive season, scores for self-regulatory eating attitudes and the internalization of thinness norms were significantly higher than during the training period. Our results suggest a greater probability of DEAB among athletes who exhibit the trait of agreeableness, experience anxiety during competition, and lack resilience. The competitive season was also identified as a period conducive for developing DEAB compared with the training period. Based on these results our study suggests preventive measures that can be implemented with athletes displaying these traits, with a particular emphasis during the competitive phase.

The relationship between childhood trauma and dysfunctional attitudes in individuals with unipolar depression

The relationship between childhood trauma and dysfunctional attitudes in individuals with unipolar depression

Higher degree of dysfunctional attitudes and beliefs and higher scores of frustration intolerance in women with unsuccessful weight loss

Background/Aim. Obesity is a chronic and relapsing condition, and since recently, it has been considered a global epidemic. Current guidelines for tripartite treatment of obesity emphasize a program of lifestyle modifications such as medical nutrition therapy, aerobic exercise, and behavioral intervention. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether specific psychological factors (general attitudes and beliefs and frustration tolerance) could be predictors of successful weight loss, i.e., factors that can be further addressed as part of the integrated therapy approach. Methods. A total of 84 consecutive overweight and obese female participants who were apparently healthy and homogeneous in age, level of education, and marital or employment status were prescribed the same medical nutrition therapy protocol as a single six-month therapeutic intervention. Prior to starting the therapy, the General Attitude and Belief Scale (GABS) and the Frustration Discomfort Scale (FDS) were administered. The participants were divided into two groups: successful (group A) and unsuccessful (group B). Group A, or the successful group [with the mean body mass index (BMI) ? standard deviation (SD) of 24.1 ? 5.81 kg/m2], consisted of 40 participants who have reached the corresponding loss, i.e., they lost ? 10% of the starting body weight (BW). Group B, or the unsuccessful group (with the mean BMI ? SD of 28.51 ? 2.74 kg/m2), consisted of 44 participants who have not reached the corresponding loss, i.e., they lost &lt; 10% of the starting BW. Results. Participants in group B had significantly higher scores (p &lt; 0.05) on the GABS subscales for the Need for Approval, Need for Comfort, and Other Downing. A statistically significant difference between groups (p &lt; 0.05) was shown for FDS subscales of Emotional Intolerance, Entitlement, and Achievement Frustration. Conclusion. Results of our study showed that participants who were unsuccessful in medical nutrition therapy had a higher degree of dysfunctional attitudes and beliefs and higher scores of frustration intolerance when compared to successful participants. The recommendation, based on our results, would be to include psychotherapeutic techniques in the integrative obesity treatment, aimed at cognitive changes and increasing frustration tolerance.

The Effectiveness of Metacognitive Therapy on Dysfunctionalities in Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of metacognitive therapy on dysfunctions in women suffering from premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Method: This quasi-experimental research used a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group. The population consisted of female dentistry students at the Islamic Azad University diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder in 2022. A sample of 30 women was selected through convenience sampling. The experimental group received metacognitive training over 12 sessions lasting 60 minutes each week, while the control group was placed on a waiting list. Data were collected using the Weisman and Beck Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (1987) and analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA through SPSS software. Findings: Results indicated that metacognitive therapy was effective in reducing dysfunctions. The eta-squared statistic also suggested that approximately 24.3% of the reduction in dysfunctions was attributable to the effectiveness of metacognitive therapy. Conclusions: Metacognitive therapy can be deemed effective in treating dysfunctions in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and can be used to alleviate psychological problems in these patients.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive Bias Modification Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Cognitive Avoidance and Ineffective Attitudes in University Students with Social Anxiety

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive bias modification therapy (CBM) and mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy (MCBT) on cognitive avoidance and ineffective attitudes in university students with social anxiety. Methods and Materials: This research employed a semi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and control group. The statistical population included all university students with social anxiety disorder at Shiraz University of Teachers during the academic years 2022-2023. A sample of 60 individuals was selected using convenience sampling method, randomly assigned to three groups (20 participants per group). The interventions consisted of cognitive bias modification therapy (7 sessions of 90 minutes each) and mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy (8 sessions of 90 minutes each). Data collection tools included the Connor Social Anxiety Scale (2000), the Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire by Sexton and Dugas (2004), and the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale by Weissman and Beck (1978). Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics (analysis of covariance). Findings: Results indicated significant differences among the three groups in cognitive avoidance, and mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy showed comparable effectiveness to cognitive bias modification therapy. However, there were significant differences in the mean scores of ineffective attitudes and its components between the experimental and control groups, with mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy demonstrating greater effectiveness compared to cognitive bias modification therapy. Conclusion: The results indicated significant differences among the three groups. This finding also shows that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness did not have significantly different effectiveness in terms of cognitive avoidance and its components (except for thought substitution).

Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia reduces actigraphy and diary measured sleep discrepancy for individuals with comorbid insomnia and major depressive disorder: A report from the TRIAD study

Objective/BackgroundDiscrepancies between sleep diaries and actigraphy occur among individuals with insomnia. Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) improves insomnia but the impact on discrepancy is unclear. This study examined CBT-I's effects on actigraphy-diary discrepancy and explored sleep-related beliefs and attitudes as a mediator. Patients/MethodsParticipants were 108 (age M±SD = 47.23 ± 12.42, 67.60 % female) adults with insomnia and major depressive disorder from the Treatment of Insomnia and Depression study. They were randomized to 7 sessions of CBT-I or sham Quasi-Desensitization Therapy for Insomnia (DTI), plus 16 weeks of antidepressants. Two weeks of actigraphy and sleep diary were collected at baseline, mid-treatment, end-treatment. Differences between sleep diary and actigraphy total sleep time (TST), sleep onset latency (SOL), wake after sleep onset (WASO), and sleep efficiency (SE) were calculated. Participants completed Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale (DBAS) at baseline and mid-treatment. ResultsAt baseline, diary (versus actigraphy) TST was shorter (1.1 ± 1.41h), whilst SOL (21.64 ± 41.25min) and WASO (17.45 ± 61.99min) were longer. Mixed effects models using daily data showed that after adjusting for age and sex, participants in the CBT-I group (versus DTI) showed greater reduction in all actigraphy-diary discrepancy domains (all p-values<.01), reductions evident from mid-treatment. Group differences on actigraphy-diary discrepancy reductions in TST, SOL, and SE (not WASO) were mediated by changes in DBAS from baseline to mid-treatment (all p-values<.05). Changes in discrepancy did not mediate insomnia symptom changes (p-values>.39). ConclusionsCBT-I reduced actigraphy-diary discrepancy in individuals with comorbid insomnia and depression; this reduction was associated with improved sleep-related attitudes, a therapeutic target of CBT-I. Clinical trial registrationTRIAD (Treatment of Insomnia and Depression): Improving Depression Outcome by Adding Insomnia Therapy to Antidepressants. Prospectively registered with Clinical Trials (NCT00767624). Support (if any)MH078924, MH078961, MH079256.

Self-Compassion Mediates the Relationships Between University Students’ Mindfulness, Dysfunctional Attitudes, and Various Distress and Well-Being Indicators

Objective. The current study intended to model the relationships between mindfulness, dysfunctional attitudes, and self-compassion in predicting university students’ various indicators of emotional distress and well-being of university students. We aimed to examine the mediative role of self-compassion and the mediative roles of self-coldness and self-warmth in these relationships. Methods. Applying a correlational design, validated instruments were used to measure mindfulness, dysfunctional attitudes, self-compassion (and its two main components: self-warmth and self-coldness), various indicators of emotional distress (i.e., negative affect, depression, anxiety, stress), and well-being (i.e., soothing positive affect, activating positive affect, satisfaction with life). The final sample consisted of N = 176 university students. The proposed models were tested by SEM (structural equation modeling) using SPSS AMOS 20. Results. The main results obtained were consistent with the hypotheses. As expected, higher levels of mindfulness led to higher well-being and lower emotional distress through increased self-compassion, and higher levels of dysfunctional attitudes led to lower well-being and higher emotional distress through decreased self-compassion. However, the results also indicated that self-coldness was more important than self-warmth in all of these relationships. Conclusion. The results of the proposed current study supported the models for the relationships between dysfunctional attitudes, mindfulness, and self-compassion (and its positive and negative components) in predicting the various indicators of emotional distress and well-being of university students. These findings support the use of self-compassion interventions, particularly those aimed at reducing self-coldness, to improve well-being and reduce distress among university students.

Dysfunctional Attitudes Versus Metacognitive Beliefs as Within-Person Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Over Time

Understanding within-person variation between theorized mechanisms of disorder and depressive symptoms can help identify targets for interventions. Cognitive models of depression hypothesize dysfunctional attitudes as underlying vulnerability factors, while the metacognitive model places emphasis on dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs. However, no previous study has tested the relative importance of change in dysfunctional attitudes and metacognitive beliefs as predictors of change in depressive symptoms within individuals. In a sample of 1,418 individuals measured at four time-points separated by 5-week intervals, a multilevel model approach was used to test the relative importance of change in dysfunctional attitudes and metacognitive beliefs as predictors of change in depressive symptoms. Change in dysfunctional attitudes and metacognitive beliefs predicted change in depressive symptoms over time. However, change in metacognitive beliefs and in particular negative metacognitive beliefs and judgements of cognitive confidence were significantly stronger predictors of change in depressive symptoms compared to dysfunctional attitudes. Furthermore, change in metacognitive beliefs predicted change in dysfunctional attitudes beyond change in depressive symptoms. These results suggest that metacognitive beliefs rather than dysfunctional attitudes might be more important for depressive symptoms over time within persons and that metacognitive change may also influence dysfunctional attitudes over time. Metacognitive beliefs are therefore a promising target for treatment and prevention aiming to reduce depressive symptoms, but replication of our results in clinical samples is warranted before more clear conclusions can be drawn.

Identifying the insomnia-related psychological issues associated with hyperarousal: A network perspective

Hyperarousal, recognized as a fundamental characteristic of insomnia for decades, has yielded limited evidence concerning its direct psychological associations. This study aimed to explore the psychological factors linked to hyperarousal within the framework of interrelated variables. Two independent samples, comprising n = 917 and n = 652 young adults, were included in the study. Employing the first dataset as a discovery sample and the second dataset as a replication sample, network analyses were conducted using 26 variables derived from 17 scales. The objective was to estimate the direct and indirect associations between psychological issues, including hyperarousal and insomnia. Additionally, linear regression analysis was employed to assess the convergence of findings obtained from the network analysis. Network analyses in both samples converged to reveal direct associations between insomnia severity and several psychological factors, including negative sleep beliefs, physical fatigue, insomnia response to stress, hyperarousal, self-reported depression, and mental fatigue. Notably, the nodes with relative importance within the network include trait anxiety, depressive rumination, hyperarousal, perfectionism sub-dimension of concern over mistakes, and private self-consciousness. Hyperarousal is one of the key factors linking insomnia with a variety of psychological issues, including emotion-related factors (rumination, perveived stress), sleep-related factors (dysfunctional sleep beliefs and attitudes, insomnia response to stress, fatigue, chronotype), and self-related factors (self-consciousness, perfectionism). The results suggest that forthcoming strategies for enhancing the treatment efficacy of insomnia could consider supplementary interventions that specifically address hyperarousal, other factors directly linked to insomnia, or the hub nodes within the network.

The relationship between personality traits and dysfunctional attitudes in individuals with or without major depressive disorder: a case control study

BackgroundDysfunctional attitudes, which are characterized by distorted self-cognitions, were considered to be linked to personality traits. It was found that certain personality traits may predict dysfunctional attitudes in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Nonetheless, the relationship between personality traits and dysfunctional attitudes remains under-researched.AimsThe aim of this study is to examine the relationship between specific domains of Sixteen Personality Factor (16PF) and dysfunctional attitudes in Chinese participants with or without MDD. In addition, the present study explores the associations between 16PF and eight subtypes of dysfunctional attitudes, based on the proposed eight-factor structure of the Chinese version of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale-Form A (C-DAS-A).MethodsOne hundred and sixty-eight participants with MDD and 130 healthy participants were included in the study (Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR1800014591). Personality was assessed using the 16PF Questionnaire. Dysfunctional attitudes were measured through the C-DAS-A.ResultsThe 16PF dimensions associated with dysfunctional attitudes and the eight subtypes were mainly concentrated in the four anxiety facets including factors C, L, O, and Q4, in both MDD and HC groups. There were significant differences in the 16 PF dimensions that would explain dysfunctional attitudes between the two groups, which were as follows: factors C, G, and O in the MDD group, and factors L and Q4 in the HC group.ConclusionsPersonality traits, especially the anxiety-related personality traits, were distinctly associated with the development of dysfunctional attitudes in people with or without MDD.

69 Poor Sleep is Associated with Bias for Negative Sleep-Related Images: Development of the Sleep Approach-Avoidance Task (SAAT)

Objective:Insomnia affects 30-45% of the world population, is related to mortality (i.e., auto accidents and job-related accidents), and is related to mood and affect disorders such as anxiety and depression. Better understanding of insomnia via increased research will decrease the burden on insomnia. The neurocognitive model of sleep proposes that conditioned somatic and cognitive hyperarousal develop in response to repeated pairings of sleep-related stimuli with insomnia-related wakefulness. The purpose of this study was to examine the neurocognitive model of sleep using a novel laboratory paradigm, the Sleep Approach Avoidance Task (SAAT). It was hypothesized that individuals who report symptoms of insomnia will display a bias for negative sleep-related images from the SAAT, which is presumably a reflection of cognitive, behavioral and physiological processes associated with hyperarousal. It was also hypothesized that participants who report poor sleep would provide different subjective ratings for negative images (i.e., stronger valence and arousal) than individuals who reported better sleep.Participants and Methods:An initial sample of 66 healthy college-aged participants completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) the Dysfunctional Attitudes and Beliefs about Sleep (DBAS) scale and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Participants also completed the SAAT. The SAAT was developed to assess sleep-related bias in adults. The SAAT is a visual, joystick controlled reaction time task that measures implicit bias for positive and negative sleep-related images. At the end of the task the participants are also asked to rate each image along three dimensions included valence, arousal and dominance.Results:There was a positive correlation between the SAAT and the ISI [r(61) = .30, p = .01], indicating that symptoms of insomnia are related to negative approach-related bias for sleep-related images. No other correlations were observed between the SAAT and self-report sleep measures. With regard to rating of images, higher dominance ratings for negative images were correlated with the SAAT [r(62) = .24, p = .03], which indicates that the approach bias for negative images is associated with “being in control.” Multiple linear regression was used to test if ISI scores and dominance ratings for negative images significantly predicted SAAT bias scores. The overall regression was statistically significant [r2 = .13, F(2, 58) = 4.15, p = .02]. ISI scores significantly predicted SAAT scores (ß = .27, p = .04), whereas dominance ratings for negative images did not significantly predict SAAT scores (ß = .20, p = .11). Exploratory correlational analyses were also completed for ratings of images and other sleep self-report measures. Valence ratings for positive sleep-related images were positively correlated with the ESS [r(64) = .36, p = .01], whereas valence ratings for negative sleep-related images were negatively correlated with the ESS [r(64) = -.24, p = .03].Conclusions:Hypotheses were partially supported with the ISI being the only self-report measure associated with negative bias for sleep-related images. While ratings of dominance are associated with bias for negative sleep-related images, these ratings do not provide unique variance. These findings indicate a cognitive processing bias for sleep-related stimuli among young adult poor sleepers. Limitations, implications for assessment and intervention are discussed.