Ego Strength Research Articles

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in American Indian and Alaska Native Adolescents.

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have consistently exhibited suicide rates that surpass all other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. However, not much has been published regarding the epidemiology of AI/AN youth suicides. The objectives of this study on AI/AN adolescents were to assess the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors by age and gender, assess the number of years of life lost to suicide before the age of 80, and assess the most common methods used to commit suicide by AI/AN adolescents. Data utilized for this study were from the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys and the Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive analysis of the suicide-related data from years 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021. We found AI/AN adolescents averaged one in four contemplated suicides, one in five planned suicides, and one in six attempted suicides. A total of 257 adolescents committed suicide during the study period where the majority (62.5%) were observed in males and suicides were more common in older adolescents. AI/AN adolescents had the highest crude suicide death rate of any racial or ethnic group and the most common methods used to commit suicide were suffocation (57.5%) and firearms (35.5%). AI/ AN adolescents lost almost 16,000 years of potential life during the four years of the study and the majority were lost by males. Professionals and policymakers desiring to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors among AI/AN adolescents need to focus more of their efforts on providing youths with resilience factors to establish sufficient ego strength in them to deal with all types of stressors. Concurrently, federal, state, and tribal leaders need to work together to improve the social and economic circumstances faced by many AI/AN families and children.

Making Life Choices: An Evaluation of a University-Based Identity Intervention Program

ABSTRACT This paper reports on the evaluation of a university-based identity intervention program aimed at helping college students identify and resolve their unique identity issues. The intervention is delivered as a personal growth psychology course that is entirely online and asynchronous, and it is rooted in Erikson’s theory of life-span development. Still, it borrows heavily from the influences of existentialism, critical theory and pragmatism. Intervention outcomes from 2015 through 2023 (N = 984) are evaluated. Improvements in identity exploration and commitment were related to decreased identity distress and positive changes in self-esteem, purpose in life, locus of control, self-actualization, and ego strength. The intervention was partially based on the premise that encouraging the value of accepting personal agency and taking responsibility for one’s life would foster positive change. Improvements in feelings of control and responsibility were associated with positive movement in stages of change. Further analyses and their implications are discussed.

Pathological narcissism, psychic pain and sadistic tendencies: the mediating effect of ego strength

Pathological narcissism, psychic pain and sadistic tendencies: the mediating effect of ego strength

Prevalence of recurrent aphthous ulcers among dentistry students and its association with anxiety

Objective: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common ulcerative inflammatory condition of the oral mucosa. Considering the contradictory findings of previous research about the association between anxiety and RAS, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of RAS and its association with anxiety among dentistry students.
 Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, a total of 241 dentistry students of G. University were divided into two groups (those with a history of RAS and healthy subjects) after recording their demographic and required information. Also, Cattell’s questionnaire was used to evaluate the level of anxiety. The results were analyzed using SPSS v.21 software, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
 Results: 2.40% of subjects suffered from RAS. This condition was more prevalent in winter, and its incidence was significantly different between the two groups in terms of the presence of a family history of RAS (p=0.01), food allergy (p=0.05), and regular exercise (p=0.040). Subjects with RAS had a significantly higher anxiety intensity in the areas of lack of ego strength, superego susceptibility, and ergic tension compared to subjects without RAS (p<0.0001).
 Conclusion: The results showed that some areas of anxiety, including lack of ego strength, can be predictors of RAS. Therefore, teaching life skills such as anxiety management and its timely diagnosis and treatment can play an essential role in the prevention and treatment of RAS.

Examining the Role of Stressful Events, Behavioral Brain Systems, and Ego Strength with the Mediating Role of Impulsivity in the Tendency Toward Addiction Among Youth in Yasuj

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the mediating role of impulsivity in the relationship between stressful events, behavioral brain systems, and ego strength with the tendency toward addiction among the youth in Yasuj. Methods and Materials: This study employed a descriptive-correlational design and used structural equation modeling. The statistical population comprised all youths aged 18 to 30 years in Yasuj in 2022. Based on the Krejcie and Morgan (1987) table and using multi-stage cluster random sampling, 384 youths from Yasuj were selected for the study. Data were collected using the Holmes and Rahe (1960) Life Stress Events Questionnaire, the Markstrom et al. (1997) Ego Strength Psychosocial Scale, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (1950), the Carver and White (1994) Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Systems Scale, and the Waid and Butcher (1992) Addiction Proneness Scale. After data collection and extraction, participants' scores were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, multiple regression, and path analysis via SPSS-24 and AMOS software. Findings: Pearson's correlation coefficient results showed a significant positive relationship between life stress events and the tendency toward addiction among the youth in Yasuj (P < 0.01). There was a significant negative relationship between the behavioral inhibition system and the tendency toward addiction among the youth in Yasuj (P < 0.01). There was a significant positive relationship between ego strength and its components and the tendency toward addiction among the youth in Yasuj (P < 0.01). There was a significant positive relationship between the behavioral activation system and the tendency toward addiction among the youth in Yasuj (P < 0.01). There was a significant positive relationship between impulsivity and the tendency toward addiction among the youth in Yasuj (P < 0.01). Additionally, the results of the path analysis for the study's indirect hypothesis indicated that the mediating role of impulsivity in the relationship between the independent variables (stressful events, behavioral brain systems, and ego strength) and the dependent variable (tendency toward addiction) was confirmed. Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, strategies can be developed to prevent the youth from tending toward addiction by enhancing ego strength and identifying life stressors and behavioral activation systems.

Structural Model Presentation of Psychological Maladjustment Based on Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms with the Mediating Role of Ego Strength in Individuals with Chronic Pain

Objective: The present study aimed to present a structural model of psychological maladjustment based on post-traumatic stress symptoms with the mediating role of ego strength in individuals suffering from chronic pain. Methods: The research method was descriptive, correlational, and structural equation modeling was used. The study population included all patients suffering from chronic pain who had visited specialized pain clinics in Tehran from February 2021 to May 2021. Using the Tabachnick and Fidell (2007) formula, the sample size was determined to be 330, selected through convenience sampling. Research instruments included the Psychological Adjustment Questionnaire (Rohner & Khaleque, 2005), the Mississippi Scale for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (1998), and the Psychological Ego Strength Scale (Markstrom et al., 1997). Data analysis was conducted in two parts: descriptive (central and dispersion indices, skewness, and kurtosis) and inferential (structural equation modeling) using SPSS-V23 and LISREL-V8.8 software. Findings: The results indicated that the model has a good fit. Additionally, the results showed that there is a significant direct and indirect relationship (mediated by ego strength) between post-traumatic stress and psychological maladjustment in individuals with chronic pain. The results suggest that the effect of post-traumatic stress indirectly influences psychological maladjustment positively through ego strength, with a magnitude of 0.81. Conclusion: Therefore, through individual and group therapy sessions, assistance should be provided to patients with chronic pain suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, enabling them to fairly assess their functioning in life, free the individual from potential guilt at the time of the incident, and the lack of positive individual performance. Thus, by increasing ego strength and reducing avoidance behaviors, a lesser degree of psychological maladjustment can be expected in the individual.

Structural Modeling of Psychological Maladjustment Based on Resilience with the Mediating Role of Ego Strength in Patients with Chronic Pain

Objective: This study aimed to model the structure of psychological maladjustment based on resilience with the mediating role of ego strength in patients suffering from chronic pain. Methods and Materials: Given its purpose, this research is applied in nature, quantitative in its data collection method, and descriptive in its analysis, employing correlational design and structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques. The study population comprised all patients with chronic pain who visited specialized pain clinics in Tehran from February 2021 to May 2022. Using the Tabachnick and Fidell (2007) formula, a sample size of 330 was determined and selected via convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Psychological Adjustment Questionnaire (Rohner & Khaleque, 2005), the Resilience Scale (Connor-Davidson, 2003), and the Psychological Ego Strength Questionnaire (Marcia et al., 1997). Data analysis was performed in two stages: descriptive (central tendency and dispersion indices, skewness, and kurtosis) and inferential (structural equation modeling), using SPSS-V23 and LISREL-V8.8 software. Findings: The results showed that the model fits well. Additionally, the results indicated a significant direct and indirect (through the mediating role of ego strength) relationship between resilience and psychological maladjustment in patients with chronic pain. The impact of resilience on psychological maladjustment, mediated by ego strength, was negatively significant at a rate of 0.95. Conclusion: Considering the findings of this study, it can be concluded that ego strength, as a psychological capacity, and resilience are effective on social interactions and functioning. It is suggested that to improve the psychological adjustment of patients with chronic pain, efforts should be made to foster ego strength and resilience training.

Explaining the Model of Marital Commitment Based on Object Relations with the Mediating Role of Ego Strength

Marriage is the greatest and most significant event in an individual's life, and a healthy marriage requires several elements, including intimacy, commitment, and satisfaction. This study aimed to explain a model predicting marital commitment based on object relations with the mediating role of ego strength. The statistical population of the present study included all married couples residing in the city of Qom in 2023, totaling 7,634 individuals. Of these, 258 individuals (148 women and 110 men) were selected through purposive sampling. This study used a descriptive-correlational research design and structural equation modeling. Participants completed the Marital Commitment Inventory (DCI) by Adams and Jones (1997), the Object Relations Inventory by Bell et al. (1995), and the Ego Strength Inventory by Markstrom et al. (1997). Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using SPSS-28 and AMOS-24 software. The relationships among variables were examined using Pearson correlation and path analysis, and the mediating role was tested using the Sobel method. The findings of this study confirmed the mediating role of ego strength in the relationship between object relations and marital commitment (p < .05). The indirect effect of object relations on marital commitment was -0.062. The results indicate that considering the complex interplay of issues that arise in couples' interactions and experiences, as well as the role of ego strength, can provide valuable insights into the factors that contribute to the success and longevity of relationships.

The model for explaining the addiction attitude of clients who are quitting based on emotion regulation strategies and attachment styles with the mediating role of ego capacity

The present study was carried out with the aim of determining the model for explaining the attitude towards addiction of clients who are quitting based on emotion regulation strategies and attachment styles with the mediating role of ego capacity. The method of this study was descriptive-correlation based on the structural equation model. The statistical population of this research included all drug addicts in the process of withdrawal who referred to addiction treatment centers in the 1st district of Tehran, and a sample of 214 people was selected using random cluster sampling method (n = 214). The data collection tool was Markstrom et al.'s (1997) psycho-social ego strength inventory, theoretical addiction attitude questionnaire (1379), Gross and John's (2003) emotion regulation strategies questionnaire, and Hazan and Shaver's (1987) adult attachment questionnaire. Data analysis using structural equation modeling showed that due to the fact that the effect of the direct path is less than the indirect paths, the presence of the mediating variable of ego capacity increases the effect and the mediating role of ego capacity in the present hypothesis was confirmed. Therefore, there is a relationship between attachment styles and emotion regulation strategies with attitude towards addiction of clients who are quitting with the mediation of ego capacity. Knowing the effective factors in a positive attitude towards drug abuse and its consequences is one of the first and most important actions in drug abuse prevention programs. Practical suggestions were presented based on the interrelationships of research variables.

Predicting the Desire for Remarriage based on Self-Differentiation and Ego Strength Mediated by Irrational Beliefs in Divorced Youth

Predicting the Desire for Remarriage based on Self-Differentiation and Ego Strength Mediated by Irrational Beliefs in Divorced Youth

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Fear of Self Questionnaire.

The aim of the study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the 20-item Fear of Self Questionnaire (FSQ) in Iranian samples. A cross-sectional, descriptive survey design was used. Students in universities of Tehran were invited to participate. Participants were asked to complete the Persian versions of the FSQ, Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (VOCI), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Ego Strength Scale (ESS), and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RES). Face, content, and construct validity, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), and test-retest reliability of the FSQ were assessed. Face and content validity of the FSQ were confirmed. Analysis of the principal components using the inclined rotation method showed that there were two factors with an eigenvalue >1, which explained 80.5% of the total variance. The first factor had 12 items and the second factor had 8 items. The internal consistency was 0.975, 0.981, and 0.941 for the total score and the first and second factor, respectively, whereas the test-retest reliability was 0.732, 0.729, and 0.714, respectively (all p ≤ 0.01). For convergent validity of the FSQ, correlations of the total score and the two factors of the FSQ with the scores of VOCI, RES, ESS, and DASS-21 were all significant (p ≤ 0.01). The FSQ can be used in Iranian samples for clinical practice and research.

How the Workplace Influences Teachers’ Creativity: A Two-Wave Study on Workplace Bullying, Organisational Bullying Risk Factors and Creativity

Based on affective events theory, the present two-wave study investigated the predictive role of organisational features and exposure to workplace bullying in generating decreased creativity. Although several inhibitors of creativity at work have been identified, few longitudinal studies have aimed to determine whether affective events such as workplace bullying impact employees’ creativity. In the present two-wave, time-lagged panel design study (N = 261), teachers. completed the Negative Activities Questionnaire, the Risk Assessment of Workplace Bullying Questionnaire and the Creative Behavior Questionnaire twice, with a six-month interval between waves. The results indicate that specific negative workplace conditions – that is, workplace bullying risk factors – in the first wave were related to exposure to workplace bullying in the first and second waves and also led to a decrease in individual creativity in the second wave. Moreover, exposure to workplace bullying in the first wave predicted a drop in two creativity facets, self-realisation and ego strength, in the second wave. However, when organisational factors were included in the model, exposure to bullying no longer predicted a decrease in creative aspects. It is suggested that to promote teachers’ creativity, it is essential to prevent workplace bullying by building a constructive social climate and fostering proper leadership practices.

The Effectiveness of Integrative Therapy (Short-Term Psychodynamic and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) in Enhancing the Ego Strength and Treating Depression (Case Study), with Follow-Up

Depression is a common and serious disorder that has negative effects on the way a person thinks and functions. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of integrative therapy (short-term psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy) in increasing ego strength and treating depression in a case of major depressive disorder. In this study, a single-subject research design (A-B-A-B design) was used and the client was evaluated during the four stages of beginning, middle, and end of treatment and six months of follow-up by the Beck Depression Inventory and Inventory of Ego Strengths. The results showed the effectiveness of integrative therapy in increasing ego strength, reducing depression, and improving the quality of life of the client.

Psychosocial Development in Saudi Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Descriptive Comparative Study.

Background Diabetes mellitus imposes a significant psychological and social burden on the affected individuals. The impact of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) on psychosocial development has not been well investigated in the literature. We aim to fill the aforementioned gap by conducting a comparative study to accurately assess the impact of this chronic disease on psychosocial development among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Methodology This structured, phone-based, comparative, and cross-sectional study targets adolescents with T1DM and those without diabetes in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Our study utilized a validated instrument psychosocial inventory of ego strengths (PIES), to assess the psychosocial development among the participants. An IRB approval has been granted for this study. The data were analyzed using SPSS. The data collection spanned the duration from November 1, 2020, until June 8, 2021. Results A total of 310 individuals were included in the study, 90 of whom were adolescents living with diabetes, and 220 were adolescents not living with diabetes. This study indicates that the individuals with diabetes showed significantly lower development in the Hope and Care subscales compared to the control group. We found no significant correlation between HbA1C levels and scores on the psychosocial development subscales. With regards to comorbidities, adolescents living with T1DM had significantly higher rates than the control group, with asthma being the most frequently reported comorbidity. Conclusion This study in Saudi Arabia found that adolescents living with diabetes demonstrated lower scores in Hope and Care subscales compared to adolescents not living with diabetes. It highlights the importance of healthcare professionals monitoring and addressing the psychosocial needs of T1DM patients through a multidisciplinary approach and referral to specialized support services when necessary. Further research and interventions are needed to promote the psychosocial well-being of individuals with T1DM.

The Effectiveness of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy on the Alexithymia, Defense Styles, and Ego Strength in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Quasi-Experimental Study

The Effectiveness of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy on the Alexithymia, Defense Styles, and Ego Strength in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Early school-age child-mother's attachment stability and the mediating effect of ego strength in the relationship with life satisfaction

연구목적: 학령초기 아동-어머니의 애착안정성과 아동의 삶의 만족도와의 관계에서 자아강도의 매개효과를 살펴보고, 이를 통해 학령초기 아동의 적응과 성장을 도와 행복하고 건강한 삶을 살아가는 데 도움을 주고자 한다. 방법: 경기도의 초등학교 1-3학년 총 861명(편의표집)을 대상으로 하였다. 아동의 애착안정성, 자아강도 및 삶의 만족도를 측정하기 위해 어머니 보고용 척도를 사용하였다. 수집된 자료는 SPSS 22, AMOS 22 프로그램을 통해 분석하였다. 결과: 어머니와의 애착안정성, 자아강도(유능성, 주도성, 탄력성, 사회성) 및 삶의 만족도는 학년에 따라 유의한 차이가 있으며, 학년별로 자아강도의 구성요인 중 애착안정성과 삶의 만족도에 영향을 주는 요인에 차이가 있었다. 1학년은 사회성, 주도성과 탄력성, 2학년은 사회성과 탄력성, 3학년은 사회성이 어머니와의 애착안정성과 삶의 만족도를 매개하는 것으로 검증되었다. 결론: 아동의 삶의 만족도를 높이기 위해 아동의 애착안정성 증진을 도모하는 중재가 근본적으로 도움이 될 수 있으며, 학년별로는 각각의 특성을 반영한 자아강도 강화 전략이 고려 될 필요가 있음을 의미한다.Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effect of ego strength in the relationship between early school-age child-mother attachment stability and child's life satisfaction. Methods: The subjects of this study were a total of 861 students from the 1st to 3rd grade of two elementary schools in Gyeonggi-do. The measurement tools used mother-reported scales. The collected data were analyzed through SPSS 22 and AMOS 22. Results: There were significant differences in child-mother attachment stability, ego strength (competency, initiative, resilience, sociability) and life satisfaction according to grade level. Among the sub-factors of ego strength, there were differences in the variables that affect attachment stability and life satisfaction by grade. Specifically, sociability, initiative and resilience of 1st graders, sociability and resilience of 2nd graders, and sociability of 3rd graders mediated child-mother attachment stability and life satisfaction. Conclusions: In order to increase children's life satisfaction, interventions that increase children's attachment stability can be fundamentally effective. In addition, for effective intervention, counseling and education should be conducted to increase the ego strength of children by reflecting the characteristics of the grade.

Why Do Music Students Attend Counseling? A Longitudinal Study of Reasons in One UK Conservatoire

Music students in tertiary education struggle with a range of health-related problems. We investigated students’ self-referrals for counseling at a UK conservatoire to explore trends in students’ attendance at counseling sessions over time and identify their reasons for seeking and continuing to attend counseling. We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected from 645 students by two in-house counselors at the conservatoire between 2000 and 2016. We obtained analogous data on all students registered during the same period for comparison and conducted nonparametric tests of association between the groups. A total of 645 students attended a mean of eight ( Mdn = 4) counseling sessions over the 16-year period: 63% were female, 79% were from the UK, and 72.5% were undergraduate students. The percentages of students attending counseling increased from 2 (1%) in 2000–2001 to 71 (13%) in 2015–2016. The presenting concerns of almost one in 10 students who sought counseling were related to self-esteem, self-confidence, ego strength, and coping ability. Their main reasons for continuing to attend counseling were also to do with self and identity, relationships, academic concerns, loss, abuse, and anxiety. Female students, postgraduate students, and those studying singing were most likely to attend counseling sessions.

Transformation and representation in the clinical space

So a lot has transpired in the world. These last few years have highlighted the ways in which Black and Brown bodies are historically underrepresented, misunderstood and dismissed. As two Black Caribbean clinicians, we worked with various Black Caribbean people in an acute care setting over five years; this article focuses on how representation impacted their care. Black and Brown people often receive inadequate care, care that does not speak to the wholeness of their humanity. We sought to create a methodology that represented our patients’ cultural identities and allowed them to feel seen. We did this by transforming the clinical space into a culturally relevant play space and explored adaptive social skills in preparation for community reintegration and to build ego strength through creative reflection. This work breathed life into us as we explored what it means to be seen in an oppressive system.

Some Arguments About Free Association as a Technique.

Freud, early in psychoanalytic history, modified hypnotic technique and recommended, in its stead, free association. This paper takes a close look at the theoretical foundations of that technique in light of theoretical developments over the past hundred plus years. It is argued that free association is similar to an asymptote, which is never quite reached. Moreover, it is argued that the direction to free associate is contraindicated in many, if not most, psychological disturbances. Guided association or avoidance of free association is sometimes required. For a limited group of patients, whose major ego functions (abstraction, integration, and reality testing), ego strengths (impulse control, affect tolerance, and containing primary process), object relations (capacities for empathy, trust, and closeness), and superego (shame/guilt) are intact, the direction to use the couch and attempt to free associate may still be quite useful. For most people who present for treatment, however, this approach is likely not beneficial. The complex arguments about the decision-making process regarding free association are discussed.

The Effectiveness of Treatment Based on an Integrative Self-Analysis Approach on Psychological Capital, Psychological Well-Being, Ego Strength, and Difficulty in Regulating Emotion in People Suffering from Covid-19 Bereavement

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of treatment based on an integrative self-analysis approach on psychological capital, psychological well-being, ego strength, and difficulty in regulating emotion in people suffering from covid-19 bereavement. Research method: The current research method is quasi-experimental and the design used in this research is a pre-test-post-test design with a control group and a two-month follow-up. A pre-test-post-test plan was designed with a control group and an experimental group. Using the purposeful sampling method, 30 eligible people were selected and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. After that, the experimental group received treatment based on the integrative self-analysis approach (Atashpour et al., 2021), but the control group did not receive any intervention. Data collection tools included Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale Short Form (1980), Garnefski and Kraaij's Emotion Regulation Scale (2006) and Ego Empowerment Scale (PIES). In order to statistically analyze the data, descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (mixed variance analysis test with repeated measurements) were used. In this research, SPSS-26 software was used to perform statistical tests Findings: For the effect of the intergroup factor, the F value calculated for the group effect is significant at the level of 0.05 (P<0.05). As a result, there is a significant difference between the average scores of pre-test, post-test and follow-up scores of psychological capital in the two experimental and control groups. Also, the results of the follow-up Bonferroni test showed that there is a significant difference between the scores of psychological capital, psychological well-being, ego strength, and difficulty in emotional regulation in the stages of pre-test and post-test, pre-test and follow-up (P<0.05). Also, the results of the follow-up test showed that there is no significant difference between the scores of the research variables in the post-test stage compared to the follow-up stage (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that the treatment based on the integrative self-analysis approach was significantly effective on psychological capital, psychological well-being, ego strength and difficulty in emotion regulation, and these effects were stable in the follow-up phase.