Avoidance Of Intimacy Research Articles

Orthorexia Nervosa and its Association with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder in a Sample of Egyptian Medical Students

Abstract Background To our knowledge, ON correlation with OCPD has been recently investigated, with many studies supporting a relationship between them, either being a risk factor or a common co-occurrence, which is considered an important contribution to the field of mental health and eating disorders research. Objective To measure the prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa in a sample of Egyptian medical students, to measure the prevalence of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder in the study sample, to study the association between Orthorexia Nervosa and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder in the study sample, and to compare the prevalence of ON and OCPD among students in academic years and clinical years of medical school. Methods This study is a comparative observational cross-sectional study that included 427 medical students will be assessed for orthorexia nervosa symptoms and OCPD traits, conducted between February 2023 and august 2023 in Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Results Orthorexia nervosa had prevalence of (8.7%), tendency (10.8%), with mean (18.1±7.2) which is consistent with prevalence in general population of (7%). There was no correlation between mean age, BMI, gender and orthorexia. The differences were statistically significant between third and fourth grade, yet DOS score was non-significantly higher in academic than clinical grades. OCPD prevalence was (42.2%) - (64.9%), which is higher than general population of (6.5%). OCPD results were significantly higher in academic than clinical grades. ON was significantly correlated to OCPD scores on both PDQ-4 and PID-5, and had significant positive correlations with rigid perfectionism, Intimacy avoidance, perseveration traits. Conclusion Our study showed that Orthorexia Nervosa is significantly higher in patients with obsessive compulsive personality disorder in comparison to negative participants. Furthermore, prevalence of orthorexia showed no correlation to either gender or BMI or study year of the patients. Obsessive compulsive personality disorder is significantly higher in academic than clinical grades of medical school.

Exploring the Associations of Personality and Sexual Health Using the DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders

This study explored the relationships between sexual health indicators (i.e., sexual satisfaction, distress, and function) and the DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders, a promising dimensional framework for assessing personality pathology. A sample of 489 participants seeking help in private practice clinics completed self-report measures of sexual satisfaction, distress, and function, as well as dyadic adjustment, psychological distress, romantic attachment, personality impairment, and pathological personality facets. Results first showed that participants reaching the cutoffs for a personality disorder had significantly higher sexual distress and lower sexual function compared to participants without a personality disorder. Second, path analyses controlling for psychological distress, dyadic adjustment, and romantic attachment revealed that, for women, the Criterion B Intimacy Avoidance facet was consistently linked with higher sexual distress and lower sexual satisfaction and function. For men, result patterns were more complex, linking Criterion B Separation Insecurity with high sexual distress, and Separation Insecurity and Intimacy Avoidance facets with low sexual function. In addition, Criterion B Irresponsibility, Rigid Perfectionism, as well as Criterion A Intimacy impairment were linked with higher sexual satisfaction. These findings improve our understanding of the links between personality and sexual health and provide support for considering personality difficulties in sexual health interventions.

HEALTH ISSUES EXPERIENCED BY POST-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN RURAL AREA OF TENGNOUPAL DISTRICT, MANIPUR

The study was conducted during the year 2022-23 with an aim to study the health related issues among post-menopausal women in Pallel rural area of Tengnoupal district, Manipur. The sample comprised of a total number of 100 rural women in the age group of 55-60 years from Tengnoupal district, Manipur. A pre-structured interview schedule was used for the purpose of studying the post-menopausal health issues. The findings of the study showed that postmenopausal women respondents had felt and experienced changes in their appearance or tone of skin (100%) followed by suffered from backache or mobility problems (90%), easily forgetting things (67%), changes in health and energy (63%), decrease in physical strength (64%), lesser interest in sexual desire (57%), and difficulty in urinating (21%). The factors, avoidance of intimacy with partner, rate of discomforts/problems faced and feelings of health and energy were found to have an association at 5% level of significance on age of the women. The study showed that these requires some educational programs to enhance their quality of life, better health, wellbeing and wellness.

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence in Emerging Adulthood: Exploring Sexual Consent Attitudes as a Target for Sexual Coercion Prevention.

While intimate partner violence is now recognized as a major societal and international issue, sexual violence between partners remains understudied despite its significant prevalence rates and the specific contexts in which it occurs. The aim of this study was to analyze the links between different dimensions of sexual consent and sexual coercion experienced within intimate relationships in order to identify targets for prevention campaigns. The study was carried out during a time of transition in the sociopolitical and legislative context in Belgium linked to the implementation of a reform to the sexual criminal law, which has made the expression of sexual consent central to the qualification of sexual offenses. A total of 431 young adults (88.40% female; Mage = 22.19 years; SDage = 1.79) were recruited from the general population through an online survey to analyze the links between attitudes and beliefs toward sexual consent, attachment style, mental health, and sexual victimization between partners. Results showed that a lack of perceived behavioral control over establishing sexual consent, as well as the avoidance of intimacy, predicted sexual victimization. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed and potential public policy responses for prevention and awareness are suggested. Future research should further investigate and conceptualize sexual consent as it relates to sexual coercion in a more representative sample from an intersectional perspective.

Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 trait correlates with self-reported acts of rape

BackgroundSexual aggression researchers have identified “dark triad” personality traits as potential etiologic contributors to rape perpe-tration. The Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 (PID-5) canvasses trait dimensions that underlie a proposed hybrid diag-nostic model for the personality disorders.Participants and procedureAssociations between PID-5 item/facet/domain scores and self-reported acts of rape were examined in a national survey of men (N = 517) administered on a crowdsourcing platform.ResultsPervasive associations were found between various PID-5 risk indicators and acts of oral, anal, or vaginal physical contact with nonconsenting partner(s). While dimensional correlation coefficients were modest in size, odds ratios for elevated PID-5 facet dimensions were substantial. The odds of self-reported rape increased with the trait elevation count in a graded fash-ion. Selected PID-5 subscale dimensions (callousness, irresponsibility, grandiosity, intimacy avoidance, distractibility, and attention seeking) were significant correlates of self-reported rape. A subset of PID-5 items accounted for unshared variance in the criterion measures. Scores from the PID-5 appeared to provide useful risk indicators of sexual aggressiveness.ConclusionsScores from the PID-5 appeared to provide useful risk indicators of sexual aggressiveness. Men with personality disorder trait elevations appear far more likely to acknowledge past behavior that constitutes sexual assault. These interpretations were limited by the cross-sectional, retrospective, and self-report nature of these data.

Contribution of the alternative model for DSM-5 personality disorders to relationship satisfaction.

Personality is a central factor associated with relationship discord, conflicts, and separation, as well as with dyadic adjustment and relationship stability. The Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) of the DSM-5 offers a hybrid model for understanding personality based on personality dysfunction (Criterion A) and pathological domains and facets (Criterion B). So far, few studies have integrated this model into the understanding of relationship quality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the contribution of Criterion B to relationship satisfaction in individuals involved in an intimate relationship. We also explored the joint contribution of Criteria A and B, as well as their interaction effects, to relationship satisfaction. Participants were drawn from two clinical samples: patients with personality disorders (PD; N = 101) and clients consulting in private practice clinics (PPC; N = 350). They completed self-report questionnaires assessing relationship satisfaction and AMPD Criteria A (only for PPC sample) and B. Hierarchical regressions showed that, for the PD sample, the Detachment and Negative Affectivity domains, especially the pathological facets of Intimacy Avoidance and Separation Insecurity, explained 22.5% of relationship satisfaction's variance. For PPC clients, Detachment, Negative Affectivity, and Antagonism domains, and especially the pathological facets of Intimacy Avoidance, Anxiousness, and Grandiosity, contribute significantly to relationship satisfaction, explaining 14.8% of its variance. Criterion A elements did not evince incremental value to the regression models in the PPC sample, and no Criteria A and B interaction effects were found. Clinical implications as well as limitations of the study are discussed.

Adverse childhood experiences and psychopathology in adolescents from northern Chile: the moderating role of the attachment style

BackgroundIdentifying the underlying mechanisms through which adverse childhood experiences affect (ACEs) the mental health of adolescents is of paramount importance for disease prevention in later stages of life.ObjectiveThe present study examines the relationship between ACEs and psychopathology in adolescents from northern Chile and how attachment style (abandonment anxiety and intimacy avoidance) may moderate this relationship. A total of 154 schooled adolescents aged 12 to 17 (M = 15.08, SD = 1.64) completed a series of self-report questionnaires including the Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire (ACEs), Experiences in Close Relationships- Relationship Structures (ECR-RS), and Youth Self Report (YSR-18).ResultsThe data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 25, which included descriptive analysis, one-way ANOVA, and Spearman correlation analysis. To address moderation analysis, the PROCESS macro extension version 4.1 was employed. In this process, the bootstrap method was applied to construct confidence intervals, and the pick-a-point approach was used to define the levels of the moderating variable. According to the results, 80.3% of the sample experienced one or more ACEs, and 16.4% reported experiencing at least three. Furthermore, the variables under study exhibited significant correlations with each other, except for intimacy avoidance, which showed no correlation with ACEs (rho = -0.10; p = 0.273). When considering abandonment anxiety as a moderating variable, the direct effect of ACEs on externalizing symptoms showed statistically significant changes (β = 0.60, p = 0.03). No other moderating effects were found according to the proposed models.ConclusionIn childhood, the accumulation of ACEs is associated with the development of psychopathology in adolescents from northern Chile, specifically with the presence of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. These findings suggest that lower levels of abandonment anxiety could mitigate the effects of ACEs on adolescent psychopathology, while higher levels of abandonment anxiety could exacerbate these effects on psychopathology.

Psychometric properties of the Hungarian childhood trauma questionnaire short form and its validity in patients with adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or borderline personality disorder

BackgroundCompelling evidence supports the role of childhood traumatization in the etiology of psychiatric disorders, including adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (aADHD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Hungarian version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form (H-CTQ-SF) and to investigate the differences between patients diagnosed with aADHD and BPD in terms of early traumatization.MethodsAltogether 765 (mean age = 32.8 years, 67.7% women) patients and control subjects were enrolled from different areas of Hungary. Principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were carried out to explore the factor structure of H-CTQ-SF and test the validity of the five-factor structure. Discriminative validity was assessed by comparing clinical and non-clinical samples. Subsequently, aADHD and BPD subgroups were compared with healthy controls to test for the role of early trauma in aADHD without comorbid BPD. Convergent validity was explored by measuring correlations with subscales of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5).ResultsThe five scales of the H-CTQ-SF demonstrated adequate internal consistency and reliability values. The five-factor model fitted the Hungarian version well after exclusion of one item from the physical neglect scale because of its cross-loading onto the emotional neglect subscale. The H-CTQ-SF effectively differentiated between the clinical and non-clinical samples. The BPD, but not the aADHD group showed significant differences in each CTQ domain compared with the healthy control group. All CTQ domains, except for physical abuse, demonstrated medium to high correlations with PID-5 emotional lability, anxiousness, separation insecurity, withdrawal, intimacy avoidance, anhedonia, depressivity, suspiciousness, and hostility subscales.ConclusionsOur study confirmed the psychometric properties of the H-CTQ-SF, an easy-to-administer, non-invasive, ethically sound questionnaire. In aADHD patients without comorbid BPD, low levels of traumatization in every CTQ domain were comparable to those of healthy control individuals. Thus, the increased level of traumatization found in previous studies of aADHD might be associated with the presence of comorbid BPD. Our findings also support the role of emotional neglect, emotional abuse and sexual abuse in the development of BPD.

Association between negatively perceived parenting attitudes and dissociation: a cross-sectional study on the general population in Japan.

Many studies have reported that early traumatic experiences, mainly abuse, are associated with forming dangerous attachments and a contributing factor to dissociation. On the other hand, other studies have investigated the association of non-abusive nurturing and attachment styles with dissociation. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of dissociative experiences in the general Japanese population and investigate the effects of "overprotection" and "lack of care" as nurturing styles and "abandonment anxiety" and "avoidance of intimacy" as attachment styles on dissociation. A total of 1,042 residents aged 18 to 69 years were administered with the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), the Japanese version of the WHO-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5-J), the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), and the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory-the-generalized-other-version (ECR-GO). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses on the effects of "overprotection" and "care" as nurturing attitudes "abandonment anxiety" and "avoidance of intimacy" as attachment styles on dissociation (DES-NDI and DES-T) were conducted. Based on the findings of this study, "care" and "overprotection" as nurturing attitudes were shown to be a contributing factor to dissociation (DES-NDI and DES-T). "Avoidance of intimacy" as an attachment style was shown to contribute to pathological dissociation. On the other hand, the influence of attachment style on the relationship between nurturing style and dissociation was not determined. This study provided essential data on the distribution of dissociative experiences in the general Japanese population. It was indicated that nurturing style, particularly overprotection, may be linked to nonfunctional stress coping and interpersonal anxiety and could be a contributing factor to mental disorders, including dissociation. Furthermore, considering that the effect of nurturing styles on dissociation does not vary with attachment styles, the effect of nurturing styles on dissociation may be more profound.

Romantic Relationships from Adolescence to Established Adulthood.

This 15-year longitudinal study investigated with follow-up data how romantic patterns from ages 16 to 24 are associated with romantic involvement and turnover (ages 25-30), romantic dispositions (age 30) and romantic relationships characteristics (age 30). A sample of 255 individuals (60.8% women) identified all their romantic partners between the ages of 16 and 24. Between ages 25 and 30, participants identified all their romantic partners and the length of each relationship. At age 30, they also completed a series of questionnaires regarding romantic dispositions and if it applied, characteristics of their current romantic relationship. Results indicated continuity in the romantic sphere from adolescence to established adulthood. At age 30, romantic patterns were associated with: avoidance of intimacy, jealousy, global romantic satisfaction, relationship status and the duration of the current romantic relationship. Together, these results bring new information on romantic development from adolescence to established adulthood.

Validity of a Revised Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) Trait Profile and Its Relationship with Social Interaction Anxiety and Coping

There is evidence suggesting that the conceptualization and operationalization of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is not satisfactory (Watters et al., 2019). In this study, we used an online sample (N = 1008) to investigate the construct validity of the PID-5 OCPD trait measure. Regression analyses supported our hypothesis that rigid perfectionism captured the core phenomenology of OCPD whereas restricted affectivity and intimacy avoidance were not conceptually related to the OCPD construct. Based on the biosocial theory for overcontrol (Lynch, 2018), we introduced anxiousness and workaholism to the PID-5 OCPD trait profile. In establishing the validity of the revised OCPD trait profile, we investigated, for the first time, the role of social interaction anxiety and maladaptive coping in OCPD. Our revised OCPD profile showed good validity and was characterized by marked social interaction anxiety and dysfunctional coping mechanisms. The findings may lead to a new conceptualization of OCPD which prioritizes deficits in social interaction and coping. We identify areas that need to be prioritized in the evaluation of OCPD by mental health professionals and offer avenues for new clinical research in the field.

Particular body odors matter: Disgust sensitivity differs across attachment groups

Extensive research has highlighted how one's attachment style influences the development and maintenance of romantic relationships. Disgust is a construct that conceptually overlaps with attachment style given both include elements of behavioral avoidance. However, no previous study has examined how one's attachment style may influence disgust-based avoidance of intimacy in romantic relationships. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to determine if adult attachment style is associated with olfactory disgust ratings towards eight body odor (BO) sources from their partner, previous partner, or others. The results revealed that disgust ratings of a partner's BO differed depending on attachment style. Specifically, the participants with a dismissing-avoidant attachment style rated their partner's BO as more disgusting than the secure, fearful-avoidant, or preoccupied styles. Moreover, participants with a dismissing-avoidant attachment style rated their partner's and strangers' BO equally disgusting whereas those in the other attachment groups rated strangers' BO as more disgusting than their partner's.

The alternative model of personality disorder is inadequate for capturing obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

The alternative model of personality disorder (AMPD) included in Section III of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) reconceptualized personality pathology in terms of pathological traits and impairments in functioning. For example, the construct of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) was reconceptualized via the traits of rigid perfectionism as well as at least 2 of perseveration, intimacy avoidance, and restricted affectivity. We review the literature to summarize how effectively the legacy construct of OCPD is captured by the AMPD. We conclude that although the trait of rigid perfectionism is highly related to scores on OCPD measures, the AMPD as a whole fails to adequately account for the broader features of the legacy OCPD construct. Specifically, the AMPD trait model lacks a number of traits, such as workaholism, excessive deliberation, and moral scrupulousness, which are necessary for a fulsome dimensional trait system. These limitations in the inclusion of important traits stem from the AMPD's development process that left out crucial content. We outline how the AMPD could be improved in its ability to account for problems of overcontrolled behavior. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Assessment of adult attachment: Construction and validation of a hybrid self-report measure

The factorial structure of a combined set of items originating from two frequently used adult attachment measures in the field of psychopathology was examined. By employing exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis in a nonclinical sample (N = 1533), an eight-factor model emerged covering four (higher-order) dimensions: (I) avoidance vs. security (avoidance of intimacy, distrust in others, confidence in self and others) (II) anxiety (preoccupation with others, the need for approval and separation anxiety); (III) relationships as secondary; and (IV) independency. In two validation studies, the interpersonal and affective meaning of these newly formed attachment scales were examined by using instruments that accentuate agentic and communal interpersonal orientations in human contact. Multiple regression analyses indicated that almost 40% of variance in depression and 15% of variance in dissociation could be explained by the hybrid attachment scales. The results show that distrust, preoccupation, and separation anxiety may increase the risk for depression, while confidence seems to diminish it. Distrust and relationships as secondary emerged as the only two significant predictors of dissociation. Notably, close inspection of the eight-factor model challenges the original composition of several subscales of the original questionnaires involved. Possibilities to further improve and extend the multi-dimensional assessment of adult attachment are being discussed in detail.

Relational Instability in Couples Seeking Therapy: The Contribution of Attachment, Caregiving and Sex

Attachment theory postulates that three behavioral systems—attachment, caregiving, and sex—are essential for optimal relationship functioning in couples. We examined the contribution of attachment insecurities, perceived partner support, and sexual satisfaction to relational instability in 274 couples seeking relationship therapy. The results underscore the importance of all three systems for relationship stability, showing that for both men and women, avoidance of intimacy, low perceived partner support, and low sexual satisfaction were significant and concurrent predictors of relational instability. As such, intervening on factors associated with all three behavioral systems might help reduce relationship instability in couples experiencing relationship distress.

Enhancing Interpersonal Intimacy in Colombian Gay Men Using Functional Analytic Psychotherapy: An Experimental Nonconcurrent Multiple Baseline Design

A growing body of research suggests that rejection sensitivity, a form of interpersonal guardedness associated with familial rejection and societal bias, is a transdiagnostic risk factor for anxiety and mood disorders in gay men. From a behavioral perspective, rejection sensitivity is conceptualized as avoidance of intimacy as the result of systematic social punishment of vulnerable behaviors. Despite the implications of rejection sensitivity for psychological well-being, clinical psychology lacks specific behavioral interventions for emotional intimacy at the level of the individual. Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) is a therapeutic approach developed to enhance interpersonal behaviors that promote intimacy and closeness through identification of, and contingent responding to, clinically relevant behaviors.A nonconcurrent between-participants design examined the effectiveness of 4 to 8 sessions of FAP on reducing intimacy-avoiding behaviors and increasing intimacy-promoting behaviors in three Colombian gay men.FAP implementation yielded significant increases in intimacy promoting behaviors (β = 65.65, S.E. = 11.48, p = .0004) with a large effect size calculated by the between-case standardized mean difference (BC-SMD (17.01) = 1.66, CI [0.69–2.73]). The increase in intimacy-promoting behaviors occurred without evidence for reduction or elimination of intimacy-avoiding behaviors.Recommendations for future research include (1) the implementation of longitudinal intensive studies to capture participants' out-of-session behavioral changes and (2) further research to determine FAP’s effectiveness for increasing intimacy-promoting behaviors among other sexual or gender minority individuals.

MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG YEMENI WOMEN IN SANA’A CITY

Background: Menopause is a physiological phenomenon that can strongly affect the quality of life (QOL) of women. Objectives: To analyzes the menopausal associated symptoms among contributors and their effect on quality of life. To also investigate sociodemographic factors affecting QOL. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 188 perimenopause and menopausal Yemeni women selected randomly from outpatient clinics of the main public hospitals in Sana'a, Yemen. Data was acquired using the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire. Results: The mean age at menopause was found to be 47±3.4. The majority of participants were postmenopausal (71.27 %), and (71.80 %) were married. The most prevalent symptoms were aching muscles and joints (55%), dissatisfaction with personal life (37.7%), night sweat (35%) and avoidance of intimacy (30%). The total scores of menopausal quality of life for each MENQOL domain revealed that the maximum mean score was recorded for physical domain (42.81± 17.87), followed by psychosocial (14.11±5.72), then sexual (6.93±2.46), and finally vasomotor domain (4.78±3.10). Conclusion: The physical and psychosocial domains had upper mean MENQOL scores than vasomotor and sexual domains. There is a need to educate women about menopause and its symptoms and the need to seek medical advice from specialists and find a center for that. Peer Review History: Received: 1 May 2021; Revised: 12 June; Accepted: 28 June, Available online: 15 July 2021 Academic Editor: Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia, ahmad.najib@umi.ac.id UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewers: Dr. Gulam Mohammed Husain, National Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorders, Hyderabad, India, gmhusain@gmail.com Dr. Salfarina Ramli, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. salfarina2892@uitm.edu.my Dr. Vanina Doris Edo’o, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroun, vanina_edoo@yahoo.com Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al-Haddad, Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hadhramout University, Al-Mukalla, Yemen, alhaddadster@gmail.com alhaddadster@gmail.com Similar Articles: PREVALENCE OF RUBELLA IGG ANTIBODIES AMONG PRODUCTIVE-AGE ‎WOMEN IN AL-MAHWEET GOVERNORATE, YEMEN THE ASSOCIATION OF ADULT MALE AND FEMALE INFERTILITY WITH CELIAC DISEASE PATIENTS IN YEMEN

Effects of a Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Program on Intimate Relationships in a Youth Sample: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Intimate relationship conflicts in young people are crucial experiences for change. They can lead to more or less satisfactory relationships, depending on individuals’ skills to cope with these conflicts. This may or may not lead to violence in couples. Acceptance and self-regulation processes are an effective strategy to address individual factors such as avoidance and anxiety in intimate relationships of people in these age groups, thus preventing violence. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of an eight-session mindfulness and acceptance-based program (MAP). Participants (n = 40), who were aged from 18 to 25 years old, were randomly assigned to a group receiving the MAP or an active control group. Outcome measures were anxiety about abandonment, intimacy avoidance (Experiences in Close Relationships scale), well-being (Psychological Well-being Scale), dispositional mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire) and flexibility (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II). Measures were taken at pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow-up. Results showed that the MAP decreased anxiety (p = 0.025) and avoidance (p = 0.01) and increased mindfulness (p < 0.001) and flexibility (p = 0.001). In general, these improvements persisted at follow-up. Results are discussed in relation to the usefulness of mindfulness-acceptance strategies to cope with non-pathological intimate relationship conflicts.

Developing Preliminary Scales for Assessing the HiTOP Detachment Spectrum.

The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) is an empirical-based classification of psychopathology. Detachment is one of the six spectra in the current HiTOP working model. The aim of this study was to develop preliminary scales for the HiTOP Detachment spectrum that can be used in the next phase of developing a comprehensive measure of HiTOP. We had 456 participants from MTurk (Sample 1) and 266 university students (Sample 2) complete an online survey including a pool of 247 Detachment items assessing 15 consensually defined low-order constructs. Using a stepwise procedure involving factor analyses and ant colony optimization methods, we developed seven 8-item scales that capture unipolar facets of Detachment: anhedonia, suspiciousness, social withdrawal, intimacy avoidance, unassertiveness, risk aversion, and restricted affectivity. Three other 8-item scales emerged that tapped into a Maladaptive Extraversion construct (attention-seeking, thrill-seeking, and domineering), which was mostly unrelated to unipolar Detachment in factor analyses. The 10 scales were unidimensional, reliable, and showed some evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. We discuss challenges of assessing Detachment when moving forward with developing a comprehensive measure of HiTOP.

The relations between pathological personality traits and human values

Pathological personality traits are an important inhibitor of social functioning and well-being. Individual human values also possess important connections to both personality and well-being, but the links between human values and pathological personality traits have not been directly examined. Across two studies (N = 478), we provide the first direct examination of these relations by employing linear and sinusoidal methodologies assessing relations between Schwartz's circular model of human values (Schwartz, 1992) and a series of personality measures, including the Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 (e.g., Callousness, Intimacy avoidance, Rigid perfectionism). Data for Study 1 was collected in Germany and data for Study 2 in the UK. Self-transcendence values buffer against several pathological personality traits that constrain psychological well-being (e.g., callousness). Conversely, self-enhancement values (which are motivationally opposite to self-transcendence values in Schwartz's circular model of human values) were positively associated with these personality traits. Several pathological personality traits were related to the 10 value types in a sinusoidal waveform that was consistent with Schwartz's circular model of human values. Findings were overall consistent across samples from both countries. The results help us move closer to distinguishing between different processes underpinning the associations between personality traits and human values.