Aversive Feelings Research Articles

EFL teachers’ perceptions of emotional exhaustion and associated regulation strategies: a phenomenological analysis

ABSTRACT Teaching, particularly in a second/foreign language (L2) context, is an emotionally demanding profession, often leading to negative outcomes for educators. Teaching, particularly in a second/foreign language (L2) context, is an emotionally demanding profession, often leading to negative outcomes for educators. To fill the gap, this phenomenological study examined the causes, consequences, and regulation strategies of Chinese EFL teachers’ emotional exhaustion. A semi-structured interview was held with 58 teachers. The results of thematic analysis revealed that this emotional state had different causes and consequences. The most frequent causes were ‘occupational pressures’, ‘identity conflicts and mismatches’, ‘stressful classroom climate’, ‘high expectations’, and ‘students’ poor performance and cooperation’. Additionally, it was found that teachers’ emotional exhaustion can mostly lead to ‘poor teaching quality’, ‘job burnout’, ‘low work engagement’, ‘low teaching enthusiasm’, and ‘various other negative emotions and outcomes’. To regulate such an aversive feeling, the participants used a range of preventive and responsive strategies before and after its occurrence. The study discusses the findings and presents some conclusions and implications for Chinese L2 teachers, teacher trainers, and policy-makers to raise their understanding of the nature and mechanism of emotional exhaustion in teaching English and its regulation.

The unpleasantness of thinking: A meta-analytic review of the association between mental effort and negative affect.

Influential theories in psychology, neuroscience, and economics assume that the exertion of mental effort should feel aversive. Yet, this assumption is usually untested, and it is challenged by casual observations and previous studies. Here, we meta-analyze (a) whether mental effort is generally experienced as aversive and (b) whether the association between mental effort and aversive feelings depends on population and task characteristics. We meta-analyzed a set of 170 studies (from 125 articles published in 2019-2020; 358 different tasks; 4,670 unique subjects). These studies were conducted in a variety of populations (e.g., health care employees, military employees, amateur athletes, college students; data were collected in 29 different countries) and used a variety of tasks (e.g., equipment testing tasks, virtual reality tasks, cognitive performance tasks). Despite this diversity, these studies had one crucial common feature: All used the NASA Task Load Index to examine participants' experiences of effort and negative affect. As expected, we found a strong positive association between mental effort and negative affect. Surprisingly, just one of our 15 moderators had a significant effect (effort felt somewhat less aversive in studies from Asia vs. Europe and North America). Overall, mental effort felt aversive in different types of tasks (e.g., tasks with and without feedback), in different types of populations (e.g., university-educated populations and non-university-educated populations), and on different continents. Supporting theories that conceptualize effort as a cost, we suggest that mental effort is inherently aversive. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

SARS-CoV-2 specific sIgA in saliva increases after disease-related video stimulation

Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in saliva is the most important immunoglobulin fighting pathogens in the respiratory tract and may thus play a role in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections. To gain a better understanding of the plasticity in the mucosal antibody, we investigated the proactive change in secretion of salivary SARS-CoV-2-specific sIgA in 45 vaccinated and/or previously infected, generally healthy persons (18 to 35 years, 22 women). Participants were exposed to a disease video displaying humans with several respiratory symptoms typical for COVID-19 in realistic situations of increased contagion risk. The disease video triggered an increase in spike-specific sIgA, which was absent after a similar control video with healthy people. The increase further correlated inversely with revulsion and aversive feelings while watching sick people. In contrast, the receptor binding domain-specific sIgA did not increase after the disease video. This may indicate differential roles of the two salivary antibodies in response to predictors of airborne contagion. The observed plasticity of spike-specific salivary antibody release after visual simulation of enhanced contagion risk suggests a role in immune exclusion.

Preliminary efficacy of an acceptance-based diabetes education (ACT-DE) programme for people with type 2 diabetes on diabetes distress and self-care behaviours: A pilot randomised controlled trial

BackgroundDiabetes distress is often characterised by aversive feelings about diabetes and avoidance of diabetes self-care, leading to suboptimal blood glucose control, diabetes complications and depression. Evidence from a recent review has indicated the potential efficacy of acceptance-based diabetic self-management programmes for improving blood glucose levels and mental health outcomes by fostering psychological flexibility. MethodsWe conducted a two-arm and assessor-blinded pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) with 48 participants aged 18–64 with type 2 diabetes and moderate distress levels, in which we compared a 6-week acceptance and commitment therapy and diabetes education (ACT-DE) programme intervention with diabetes education. Diabetes distress (the primary outcome), self-care behaviour, self-efficacy in diabetes management, and psychological inflexibility were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Focus group interviews were conducted to explore the intervention group's perceptions of the benefits and limitations of the intervention. ResultsResults of ANCOVA test showed that the intervention group exhibited significantly greater decrease in diabetes distress (effect size [Cohen's d] = 0.65), and increase in exercise frequency (d = 1.16), and foot-care frequency (d = 0.59) than the diabetes education group. The qualitative feedback of the intervention group revealed that the learnt ACT skills can be effectively applied in self-care and highlighted the utility of some of the intervention's therapeutic components, primarily mindfulness practices, metaphors, and interactive diabetes education. The intervention was well-accepted, with an 87.5% completion rate, but caution is needed due to a low recruitment rate (28.1%) during COVID-19 pandemic peak. ConclusionThis pilot study confirmed that ACT-DE programme is an acceptable intervention for people with type 2 diabetes. It demonstrated preliminary efficacy with medium-to-large effect sizes in alleviating the participants’ diabetes distress and improving their self-care. Recruitment strategies can be improved to enhance the feasibility. Moreover, a full-scale RCT with longer-term follow-up is warranted to examine the intervention effects on diabetes distress, blood glucose control and other health outcomes.

From distal to proximal to interactive: behavioral and brain synchrony during attraction, courtship, and sexual interaction-implications for clinical assessments of relationship style and quality.

Synchronous behaviors between individuals are nonverbal signs of closeness and common purpose. In the flow from initial attraction to intimate sexual interaction, attention and synchrony move from distal to proximal to interactive and are mediated by sensitized activation of neural systems for sexual motivation, arousal, and desire and those that recognize and mimic common facial and body movements between individuals. When reinforced by sexual pleasure and other relationship rewards, this results in the strengthening of attraction and bonding and the display of more common motor patterns. As relationships falter, nonverbal behaviors likely become asynchronous. To define behavioral, romantic, and sexual synchrony during phases of attraction and how their disruption can be observed and utilized by clinicians to assess individual relationship styles and quality. We review the literature on behavioral and attentional synchrony in humans and animals in an effort to understand experiential and innate mechanisms of synchrony and asynchrony and how they develop, as well as implications for attraction, relationship initiation, maintenance of romantic and sexual closeness, and relationship disintegration. Evidence is presented that behavioral synchrony and the neural mechanisms that underlie it are vital to relationship formation and satisfaction. Behavioral synchrony helps to create feelings of sexual and romantic synergy, cohesion, and arousal among individuals. Asynchrony is aversive and can spark feelings of discontent, aversion, and jealousy. Thus, observing patterns of nonverbal sexual and romantic synchrony between individuals offers insights into the potential quality of their relationships.

Prebiotics for depression: how does the gut microbiota play a role?

Depression, a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and aversion to activity that can interfere with daily life, is a condition of great concern. Prebiotics, which are non-digestible substances selectively utilized by host microorganisms for health benefits, have gained attention for their potential to improve overall wellness and alleviate various disorders including depression. This study aims to review clinical trials utilizing carbohydrate-type prebiotics such as inulin-type fructans, galactooligosaccharides (GOS), human milk oligosaccharides, resistant starch, prebiotic phytochemicals including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), chlorogenic acids, resveratrol, and prebiotic lipids (n-3 polysaturated fatty acids) to determine their effects on depression. Our findings suggest that GOS at a daily dosage of 5 g and eicosapentaenoic acid at or less than 1 g can effectively mitigate depressive symptoms. While EGCG exhibits potential antidepressant properties, a higher dosage of 3 g/d may be necessary to elicit significant effects. The plausible mechanisms underlying the impact of prebiotics on depression include the synthesis of neurotransmitters, production of short-chain fatty acids, and regulation of inflammation.

Ugly Book Feelings: Materiality and Negative Affect in Late Medieval Women’s Writing

Abstract Drawing on the work of Sianne Ngai in Ugly Feelings (2005), in this essay we focus on two examples from early fifteenth-century medieval literature that represent medieval books as ‘ugly’ either because they arouse negative feelings of aversion or disgust or because they are considered in some way aesthetically lacking or inadequate. Christine de Pizan’s Livre de la cité des dames and Margery Kempe’s Book of Margery Kempe present women’s involvement with troubling or difficult books. The ‘ugly book feelings’ which both narrators encounter challenge not only their authority as writers, but their very sense of self. Such feelings, however, are transitory when placed in narrative context: in the two examples we discuss, a single material text serves as the catalyst for a moment of emotional transformation which may be spiritual and/or intellectual. Attending to literary representations of ugly book feelings, we argue, complements existing scholarship on late medieval women’s relationship to material textual culture by placing such feelings at the centre of a broad emotional spectrum.

The prevalence of breastfeeding aversion response in Australia: A national cross-sectional survey.

Some women who breastfeed will experience complex ongoing difficulties, such as breastfeeding aversion response (BAR). This recently named breastfeeding challenge is defined as feelings of aversion while breastfeeding for the entire time that the child is latched. This study provides the first prevalence data for the experience of BAR in Australian breastfeeding women. A national online survey investigated the breastfeeding experience of Australian women including data on (1) participant demographics, (2) breastfeeding experience with up to four children, (3) breastfeeding challenges and prevalence of BAR, and (4) the value of available breastfeeding support. This study found that of the Australian breastfeeding women who participated (n = 5511), just over one in five self-identified as having experienced a BAR (n = 1227, 22.6%). Most reported experiencing some breastfeeding challenges, with only 4.5% (n = 247) having had no breastfeeding complications. Importantly, despite these difficulties, 86.9% of the total women in this study rated their overall breastfeeding experience as good (n = 2052, 37.6%), or very good (n = 2690, 49.3%), and 82.5% of those who experience BAR as good (n = 471, 38.7%) or very good (n = 533, 43.8%). BAR reporting was decreased in higher education and income groups. Women who are breastfeeding for the first time are more likely to encounter difficulties with breastfeeding such as BAR. Complications with breastfeeding are pervasive, but women who can overcome breastfeeding issues often report a positive overall breastfeeding experience.

Breastfeeding Aversion Response (BAR): A Descriptive Study.

For many women, breastfeeding their infant is an enjoyable experience. Some, however, have reported negative sensations such as an overwhelming need to unlatch while breastfeeding. This phenomenon is known as breastfeeding aversion response (BAR). The incidence of BAR is unknown and literature on this experience is limited. This study therefore aimed to expand the understanding of BAR using an online survey targeting those who have experienced feelings of aversion while breastfeeding. An online survey was distributed within Australia using purposive sampling to those who self-identified as experiencing BAR. This survey contained 5 sections: (1) demographics and health-related characteristics, (2) breastfeeding difficulties and onset of BAR, (3) the experience of BAR, (4) birth and breastfeeding experience, and (5) coping with BAR and support. Questions were included to test the generalizability of previous qualitative findings on BAR. Participants (N = 210) predominantly were aged between 25 and 35 years (69.2%), were in a relationship (96.2%), and had one child (80%). BAR was more commonly experienced when feeding the first-born child (44.8%), breastfeeding while pregnant (31%), or tandem feeding (10%). The feelings of aversion were experienced by most respondents throughout the feed while the child was latched (76.7%). More than half (52.4%) of participants reported that BAR had caused them to end breastfeeding sessions before their child was ready to stop feeding. Almost half of the participants (48.6%) reported receiving no support from a health care provider for BAR. This study contributes new information about the experience of BAR, including when it commonly happens and who may be at greater risk. More support is needed for women who want to breastfeed while experiencing BAR. New public health policies which promote breastfeeding are needed to help women achieve satisfying breastfeeding experiences and meet their own breastfeeding goals.

The bittersweet smell of success: Malicious online responses to others achievements.

A prominent recurring theme in social comparison is the concept that individuals are not indifferent to the results that others achieve, and typically seek pleasure while avoiding pain. However, in some cases they behave atypically-counter to this principle. The purpose of this research is to investigate one atypical response, namely gluckschmerz-a negative response to information about others' success (feeling bad at others' fortunes). To advance objectives, a mixed-mode of two studies were conducted using a combination of primary and secondary analyzes, and qualitative and quantitative methods. Findings reveal that this aversive feeling encourages consumers to share online "positive" information with others but using negative malicious word-of-mouth narratives. They provide compelling evidence supporting the theory that some of the positive commercial information conveyed through electronic media triggers negative word-of mouth in the form of online firestorms driven by the discordant atypical sentiment of gluckschmerz.

Probing into the boredom of online instruction among Chinese English language teachers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Although researching emotions in language education has dramatically increased during the past decades, little is written about the effects of aversive feelings like teacher boredom in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context, especially in the context of online instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Against this shortcoming, this study examined the causes of and solutions to teacher boredom experienced by 216 Chinese EFL teachers, including both genders with their ages ranging from 19 to 58. In so doing, the researcher used maximum variation sampling to gather the data via an open-ended questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The gleaned data were then thematically analyzed by MAXQDA (Version 2020) whose results indicated that most participants consider the online mode of delivery more boring than the face-to-face mode. Additionally, the findings demonstrated that both the antecedents of and the solutions to teacher boredom come under the macro-categories of student-related, task-related, IT-related, and teacher-related factors and solutions. Out of these, IT-related factors and teacher-related solutions were the most frequently raised themes extracted from the data. The study presents some practical implications and directions for future research.

Perception about pollinating insects at Federal Rural University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Pollination is an essential ecosystem service, threatened by the decline of insect populations, the major pollinators. It is caused by factors such as habitat loss through urbanization. Another obstacle to be overcome is society perception, influenced by social and cultural constructions. Thus, diagnosis of public perception is necessary for developing awareness actions. The aim of this Project was to do a survey of the perception of the university community and visitors to the Botanical Garden of Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (JB-UFRRJ) on pollinating insects. The survey was applied via Google Forms, divided in four sections: 1. Profile; 2. Contact with nature; 3 e 4. Pollination/Pollinators. 92 answers were obtained. Despite having found a certain contact with nature and knowledge about pollination, there were negative responses. Flies and wasps had negative feedback, whereas bees and butterflies had positive responses, reinforcing flies and wasps’ great rejection. Damages stood out among the given responses. This exposes the tendency of directing feelings of aversion to animals characterized as insects, especially to the non-charismatic ones. The data indicates the need of divulgation actions, involving multimedia tools (e.g.: photographs; social networks) and extension actions aiming to reverse this context.

The predictive ability of school refusal on high social anxiety in Chilean adolescents

There is a growing interest in quantifying the risk of presenting maladaptive behaviors through the use of multivariate prediction algorithms such as logistic regressions. The objective of this study was to analyze the predictive capacity of school refusal behavior on high levels of social anxiety. The study used a sample of 895 Chilean adolescents (54.3% girls) aged between 14 and 17 years. The School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised (SRAS-R) and the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) were administered. The results revealed that adolescents with school refusal presented significantly higher scores in social anxiety than their peers with low scores in school refusal. This is due to feelings of social aversion, negative affectivity, fear of evaluation, or the use of this behavior to pursue the attention of significant others. This type of school refusal was found to be a positive and statistically significant predictor of high scores for social anxiety. On the contrary, when school refusal is based on obtaining tangible reinforcement outside the school, this factor acts as a negative and statistically significant predictor of high scores for social anxiety. These findings are discussed with reference to the differences found according to the type of school refusal behavior and its impact on the appearance of high levels of social anxiety.

Coping with loneliness through consumption

AbstractLoneliness is a complex set of aversive feelings that arises when people perceive that their belongingness needs are not being met. Usually, these feelings of loneliness are temporary because people successfully cope with their loneliness by connecting with others. However, for some people, their attempts to cope with loneliness are unsuccessful, and their loneliness becomes chronic, which can have severe consequences for their mental and physical health. Understanding the causes and consequences of loneliness is critical for developing interventions to reduce loneliness, a need made more urgent by the dramatic rise in reported loneliness over the last few decades. In this review, we provide a synthesis of the research on how people cope with loneliness through consumption situations and the extent to which these coping strategies are successful. We also provide a discussion of how the marketplace has responded to the rapidly increasing levels of chronic loneliness worldwide. We conclude with an agenda for future research to answer both basic and applied research questions regarding the causes, consequences, and underlying processes of loneliness.

“Do you consider animal welfare to be important?” activating cognitive dissonance via value activation can promote vegetarian choices

Reducing global meat consumption can improve animal welfare, environmental and health issues. Although many people recognize this, they also continue eating meat. When people become aware of their conflicting cognitions regarding meat consumption, such as finding both animal welfare and eating meat important, it can result in aversive feelings, known as cognitive dissonance. We add to the literature by exploring whether cognitive dissonance can be used to support desired behavioral choices. More specifically, we examine whether activating peoples' pre-existing animal welfare values, by stimulating them to reflect on whether they consider animal welfare to be important, can trigger cognitive dissonance and in turn promote the choice for vegetarian meals. An online study showed that our value activation strategy indeed increased the amount of cognitive dissonance people experience when thinking of consuming meat, which in turn increased their intention to eat a vegetarian meal, especially among those with a strong pro-environmental self-identity. A subsequent field study in a restaurant showed that our value activation strategy (almost) doubled the percentage of vegetarian burgers ordered. Our findings show that stimulating people to reflect on whether they consider animal welfare to be important can force people to face their inner conflict regarding meat consumption and channel that into choosing a vegetarian meal.

Measuring brand hate in a cross-cultural context: Emic and Etic scale development and validation

This study investigates the emerging concept of brand hate in a cross-cultural context. Based on prior studies, we develop and validate a two-dimensional scale of brand hate that includes feelings of aversion and deep resentment. Using qualitative studies and three quantitative surveys (n = 977), we develop Emic (country-specific) scales for France, the United Kingdom, and the United States and an Etic scale (common items). Results demonstrate that the scales’ psychometric properties support discriminant and predictive validities. In addition, results show that the hypothesized antecedents (i.e., trust erosion and perceived unethicality) and consequences (i.e., brand avoidance and protest/boycott) of hate are significantly linked with hate. The findings also reveal that the three countries vary in the Emic and Etic models. Brand practitioners can apply these scales to monitor the consumer–brand relationship, and they can ultimately prevent a negative downward spiral in this relationship.

Measuring Parent Rated Interest and Deprivation Type Curiosity in Swedish Young Children - Are they Meaningfully Distinct?

BackgroundProxy ratings of young children’s curiosity has the potential to be useful for research in Sweden. One such proxy rating is the parent-rating Interest/Deprivation Young Children scale. This scale has previously only been validated in Dutch samples, where it differentiated curiosity dimensions of interest (joyful exploration) and deprivation (reduction of aversive feelings of not knowing).ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate internal and construct validity of the Swedish version of the Interest/Deprivation Young Children scale.MethodA translation of the Interest/Deprivation Young Children scale was conducted and then administered to 266 parents in Sweden, who rated their children (4-6-years old) on 10 items, with 5 items each for subscales of interest and deprivation dimensions of epistemic curiosity. Responses were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis.ResultsResults indicate acceptable internal reliability for deprivation-curiosity items (α = 0.78) and for interest-curiosity items (α = 0.79). For the combined scale score alpha was found good (α = 0.84). However, confirmatory factor analysis failed to differentiate interest and deprivation dimensions of curiosity.ConclusionsItem revisions are suggested which could be implemented for further investigations. Also, the possibility of using the I/D-YC total score as a more general measure of child curiosity is argued for. An open question is how other dimensions of curiosity might be more viable for proxy ratings of child curiosity.

Does Insect Aversion Lead to Increased Household Pesticide Use?

Simple SummaryDomestic pesticides are commonly used for killing insect pests such as cockroaches and ants, despite the potential health risks associated with pesticide exposure, especially for young children. If feelings of fear and disgust toward insect pests are motivators that can encourage people to use more pesticides than they should, it may be worthwhile to try and mitigate such feelings in both children and adults, in order to lower current and future unnecessary exposure to domestic pesticides. Since there are no studies on the possible link between the common aversion to insects and domestic pesticide use, we tested the level of aversion and recorded pesticide use among volunteers. Surprisingly, we did not find such a connection, possibly due to other, more dominant factors that affect peoples’ decisions. We did, however, identify several other attributes such as fear of toxic chemicals, vegetarianism and infestation levels, which clearly affected pesticide use patterns. Our findings may be culture-specific and relevant to the population we sampled, but future studies that should be conducted in other societies may identify different motivations for using pesticides. Such insights may improve the efforts of public health authorities to lower the non-dietary exposure to pesticides in the home environment.In many human societies, domestic insect pests often evoke feelings of disgust, fear and aversion. These common feelings may translate to increased use of household pesticides. No study has ever explored this possibility and consequently, efforts to mitigate public exposure to domestic pesticides typically focus on addressing knowledge gaps. We tested the hypothesis that negative emotions toward insects may motivate people to use pesticides, by interviewing 70 participants and assessing their insect aversion levels using a computerized test. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found no effect of insect aversion on pesticide use. However, we did find that personal attributes and preferences such as wishing to avoid exposure to toxic chemicals, being vegetarian and taking frequent nature walks reduced pesticide use, in addition to low infestation levels and physical attributes of the housing unit. We emphasize the importance of conducting future studies in various societies, where insect aversion and other factors may have different effects on household pesticide use. Such studies may provide culture-specific insights that could foster the development of next-generation urban IPM (Integrated Pest Management) public education programs, which will address not only knowledge gaps, but also emotional aspects and personal attributes that lead to unnecessary or excessive use of household pesticides.

“A painter, A very poor talker”: Affective experiences of trauma and coping mechanisms in Hisako Hibi’s internment artwork

ABSTRACT This work explores the affective or felt experiences of trauma that artwork creates for audiences. The author analyzed 63 oil paintings from the Japanese American National Museum Hisako Hibi Oil Painting Collection to uncover themes of coping mechanisms within the collective race-based trauma of internment. The author concluded that the paintings evoke feelings of dissociation, aversion, and maternal disruption/continuity for viewers. The trauma conveyed and the emotions elicited from the paintings speak to the collective experience of Japanese American internees, Isseis (first-generation immigrants), and mothers, as well as the individual story of artist Hisako Hibi.

Too great to be guilty? Individuals high in collective narcissism demand closure regarding the past to attenuate collective guilt

AbstractWhile the Holocaust is widely regarded by Germans as one of the worst human atrocities, they differ in their readiness to express collective guilt or, in contrast, in their demand to close this chapter of history. We propose that such a demand for historical closure (HC) is particularly pronounced among individuals high in collective narcissism, and is systematically related to reduced collective guilt. Across three studies (N = 1,383), collective narcissism was significantly related to demand for HC, even when controlling for national identification and national pride. Moreover, collective narcissism was associated with reduced guilt only via demand for HC, but not via the defensive strategies of moral delegitimization of the victims or demand for recognition of the perpetrator group's suffering. Yet collective narcissism was associated via all three defensive strategies with fewer actual donations to support Holocaust survivors. We discuss how demanding HC helps group members to shield their ingroup from its negative past, thus alleviating aversive feelings of collective guilt.