Life Appraisal Research Articles

A biopsychosocial perspective of mental health risk in Italy during phase two of the COVID-19 lockdown

Abstract: Introduction: Research into the first phase of the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy showed an association with an increased susceptibility to adverse mental health (MH) in the general population. We investigated in the same population the correlations between the various demographic, socioeconomic, biological/clinical history and psychological dimensions and MH in the second,“opening-up”, phase of the lockdown. Methods: An anonymous online survey collected data from 26 May to 4 July 2020 on demographic, socioeconomic, perceived risk, general health and quality of life appraisals, worry, interference in life, life satisfaction, perceived happiness and MH by using Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5). Results: Of the 300 participants, only 195 responded to MH questions. Older age was positively associated with better MH (r=.15), as was education (r=.19). A negative correlation with MH, with medium-high effect size, was found with quality of life (r=.40) and health (r=.34) appraisals, and the factors “worry about sustenance” (r=.23) and “interference with life” (r=.32). A positive correlation, with strong effect size, was found between MH and life satisfaction (r=.53) and perception of happiness (r=.64). Discussion: During phase two of the lockdown, rather the real impact of COVID-19 restrictions on employment or economic resources, it was worry about finances that was associated with worse MH. Mental distress was associated with the loss of some positive psychological factors. From a homeostatic and biopsychosocial perspective of MH, life satisfaction and perceivedhappiness represent important mental resources for counteracting the effects of lockdown on MH.

Individual differences in the long-term impact of the pandemic: moderators of COVID-related hardship, worry, and social support.

Understanding people's response to the pandemic needs to consider individual differences in priorities and concerns. The present study sought to understand how individual differences in cognitive-appraisal processes might moderate the impact of three COVID-specific factors-hardship, worry, and social support-on reported depression. This longitudinal study of the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic included 771 people with data at three timepoints over 15.5months. Participants were recruited from panels of chronically ill or general population samples. Depression was measured by an itemresponse theoryvalidated depression index created using items from existing measures that reflected similar content to the Patient Health Questionnaire-8. COVID-specific factors of hardship, worry, and social support were assessed with items compiled by the National Institutes of Health. The Quality of Life Appraisal Profilev2 Short-Form assessed cognitive appraisal processes. A series of random effects models examined whether appraisal moderated the effects of hardship, worry, and social support on depression over time. Over time the association between low social support and depression was greater (p = 0.0181). Emphasizing the negative was associated with exacerbated depression, in particular for those with low social support (p = 0.0007). Focusing on demands and habituation was associated with exacerbated depression unless one experienced greater hardship (p = 0.0074). There was a stronger positive connection between recent changes and depression for those people with higher worry scores early in the pandemic as compared to later, but a stronger positive correlation for those with lower worry scores later in the pandemic (p = 0.0015). Increased endorsement of standards of comparison, emphasizing the negative, problem goals, and health goals was associated with worse depression scores (all p < 0.0001). People who were younger, disabled, or had greater difficulty paying bills also reported worse depression (p < 0.0001, 0.0001, and 0.002, respectively). At the aggregate level, COVID-specific stressors changed over the course of the pandemic, whereas depression and social-support resources seemed stable. However, deeper analysis revealed substantial individual differences. Cognitive-appraisal processes showed considerablevariability across individuals and moderated the impact of COVID-specific stressors and resources over time. Future work is needed to investigate whether coaching individuals away from maladaptive cognitive-appraisal processes can reduce depression and lead to better overall well-being.

The five factor model and life satisfaction: Examining the predictive and mediatory role of restorativeness indoors

Prolonged directed attention expends resources needed to perform everyday tasks, making time in restorative environments essential. Most restorativeness research takes place in outdoor settings, however, humans spend most of their waking hours indoors, necessitating a better understanding of restorativeness indoors. This study seeks to replicate relationships found between personality, restorativeness, and life satisfaction in outdoor environments in the indoor context. Additionally, we investigated if restorativeness predicted life satisfaction beyond personality and the mediatory role of restorativeness between personality and life satisfaction. Full-time undergraduate students (N = 615) from a private, Midwestern university completed an online survey assessing life satisfaction, the Big Five, and the restorativeness of 14 campus spaces. Results found all Big Five traits significantly predicted restorativeness (p < .05) and all but openness significantly predicted life satisfaction (p < .001). Hierarchical regression results demonstrated restorativeness significantly predicted life satisfaction beyond personality (p < .001). Structural equation modeling revealed restoration mediated the relationship between two Big Five traits and life satisfaction. Restoration fully mediated agreeableness (p < .001) and partially mediated extraversion (p < .05). Findings extend previous research from outdoor settings in indoor environments and add the understanding that restorativeness appears to be a mechanism through which some personality traits work to enhance cognitive appraisals of life. Given the critical role of directed attention, restorative spaces are essential for successful task completion. This research highlights the need for diverse indoor environments to facilitate the recovery of attention resources for a variety of personalities and to enhance satisfaction with life.

Depression trajectories during the COVID-19 pandemic: a secondary analysis of the impact of cognitive-appraisal processes

PurposeThis study characterized depression trajectories during the COVID pandemic and investigated how appraisal and changes in appraisal over time related to these depression trajectories.MethodsThis longitudinal study of the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic included 771 people with data at three timepoints over 15.5 months. The depression index was validated using item-response-theory methods and receiver-operating-characteristic curve analysis. The Quality of Life (QOL) Appraisal Profilev2 Short-Form assessed cognitive-appraisal processes. Sequence analysis characterized depression-trajectory groups, and random effects models examined appraisal main effects, appraisal-by-group, and appraisal-by-group-by-time interactions.ResultsSequence analysis generated six trajectory groups: Stably Well (n = 241), Stably Depressed (n = 299), Worsening (n = 79), Improving (n = 83), Fluctuating Pattern 1 (No–Yes–No; n = 41), and Fluctuating Pattern 2 (Yes–No–Yes; n = 28). While all groups engaged in negative appraisal processes when they were depressed, the Stably Depressed group consistently focused on negative aspects of their life. Response-shift effects were revealed such that there were differences in the appraisal-depression relationship over time for standards of comparison and recent changes for the Stably Depressed, and in health goals for those Getting Better.ConclusionThe present work is, to our knowledge, the first study of response-shift effects in depression. During these first 15.5 pandemic months, group differences highlighted the connection between negative appraisals and depression, and response-shift effects in these relationships over time. Egregious life circumstances may play a lesser role for the Stably Depressed but a greater role for people who have transient periods of depression as well as for those with improving trajectories (i.e., endogenous vs. reactive depression). How one thinks about QOL is intrinsically linked to mental health, with clear clinical implications.

COST MANAGEMENT OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF REAL ESTATE OBJECTS: EXPERIENCE, PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

The authors of the article address the international experience of implementation and use of the concept of evaluation and cost management of Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Whole Life Appraisal (WLA) of real estate objects. The author’s interpretation of the issues and ways of introduction of this concept in developing countries, in particular in Ukraine, is presented. The article describes the tools and forms of public-private partnership for implementing this concept in the practice of effective functioning of socio-economic systems. Specifics of the managing life cycle costing of real estate objects basing on such approaches/ methods as development, maintenance, surveying, and concession are determined. The paper emphasizes the practical significance for all interested parties in the real estate development market of using methods of a comprehensive and systematic approach to the integrated evaluation of assets in the process of their design, construction, operation, and maintenance. The authors focus on the need for comprehensive accounting of the costs of the whole life cycle of a product (both construction products in the form of buildings and structures, and any high-tech products with a long life cycle from its design to disposal). Notable cost management methods (Kaizen Costing, Standard Costing, and Target costing) are considered, as a significant component of the LCC/WLA concept the development. The authors analyse the role of corporate investment funds, joint investment institutions, professional associations, and asset management companies in the implementation of the LCC/WLA concept in the field of real estate development. The respective statistical data (from Ukrainian practical experience) that can be used to prognosticate the impact of inflation in the construction industry are cited. The significance of database digitalization and BIM technologies in the introduction of the regarded concepts in the practice of construction and development activities is stressed.

Which life domains are people with major depression satisfied or dissatisfied with? An individual patient data meta-analysis

BackgroundPeople with depression tend to score low on measures of subjective quality of life (SQoL) which has been suggested to reflect a general negative bias of perception. However, studies do not tend to investigate specific life domains. This study investigated satisfaction with life domains in people with major depression and explored influential factors. MethodsA one-step individual patient data meta-analysis combined data of 1710 people with major depression from four studies. In all studies, SQoL was measured on the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life, which provides satisfaction ratings with 12 life domains. Associations between individual characteristics and satisfaction ratings were investigated using univariable and multivariable models. ResultsMean satisfaction ratings varied across life domains. Participants expressed dissatisfaction with several domains but expressed satisfaction with others, mainly for domains associated with close relationships. Some of the investigated characteristics were consistently associated with satisfaction ratings across the domains. LimitationsThe primary limitation of this study was in the analysis of individual characteristics, which were chosen based on identification in existing literature and availability in our datasets, and of which several were dichotomised to have sufficiently large numbers which may have resulted in lost nuance in the results. ConclusionsPeople with major depression distinguish between their satisfaction with different life domains and are particularly satisfied with their close relationships. This challenges the notion of a general negative appraisal of life in this group, and highlights the need to evaluate satisfaction with different life domains separately.

Evaluation of quality of life of gastrointestinal cancer patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Quality of life (QOL) appraisal is a meaningful method of outcomes assessment in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. The aim of our study was to evaluate QOL of patients suffering from GI cancer, who underwent treatment at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, Pakistan. It was a cross-sectional study. A total of 158 adults from December 2020 to May 2021 were included in the study. The EORTC QLQ-C30, validated in Urdu (Pakistan) version, was used to assess the QOL of the participants. Mean QOL scores were calculated and compared with threshold of clinical importance (TCI). Multivariate analysis was done to analyse the correlation between independent factors and QOL scores. A p value of <0.05 was considered as significant. Mean age of the study participants was 54.5 ± 13 years. Majority were male, married and living in combined family system. Most common GI cancer was colorectal (61%) followed by stomach (33.5%); and the most frequent stage at presentation was stage III (40%). Global QOL score was found to be 65.48 ± 1.78. Among functioning scales, role functioning, social functioning, emotional functioning and cognitive functioning were found to be above TCI, whereas physical functioning was found to be below TCI. Among symptom scores, fatigue, pain, dyspnoea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation and diarrhoea were found to be below TCI, whereas nausea/vomiting and financial impact were found to be above TCI. Multivariate analysis revealed that history of surgery had a positive association (p < 0.001), while being on treatment (p = 0.001) and having a stoma (p = 0.038) had a negative impact on global QOL. This is the first study to evaluate the QOL scores in GI cancer patients in Pakistan. There is a need to identify the reasons for low physical functioning score and explore means to mitigate symptoms scores above TCI in our population.

Mental health reported in adult invasive home mechanical ventilation through a tracheostomy: A scoping review.

Although people receiving invasive home mechanical ventilation through a tracheostomy are facing both physical and mental health challenges, healthcare services often focus mainly on physical symptoms. To ensure well-functioning treatment and care for people receiving tracheostomy ventilation in a home setting, their mental health needs to be promoted and seen as an integral part of their health in general. This scoping review aimed to provide a summary of the current knowledge on the mental health of people receiving invasive home mechanical ventilation through a tracheostomy. A scoping review of published and gray literature based on the framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley and refined by the JBI was performed. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist was used for reporting the findings. A literature search was conducted by two researchers independently in the PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases. Additional searches for gray literature were conducted in Google, Google Scholar, websites of selected organisations, and the reference lists of included studies. The software system Covidence was used in the study selection process. For critical appraisal, the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used. Thirteen studies were included in this review, of which six used qualitative, six quantitative, and one mixed methods. The majority of studies were authored in Europe (n=10), followed by the Americas (n=2) and the Western Pacific (n=1). Mental health was investigated both directly and indirectly (61.5% vs. 38.5%). Categorizing the reported mental health outcomes, we found that emotional well-being was reported widely across the studies (n=13), while psychological well-being (n=5) and social well-being (n=4) were less widely reported. The mental health of people receiving home tracheostomy ventilation has received some scholarly attention. A heterogeneity of mental health outcomes was reported in the literature with emotional well-being being an important mental health area both in relation to the sub-components positive affect and quality of life appraisal. Mental health outcomes in relation to psychological well-being and social well-being were fragmented and only sparsely investigated.

PTSD Risk Factors and Acute Pain Intensity Predict Length of Hospital Stay in Youth after Unintentional Injury.

Background: Many hospitals have adopted screening tools to assess risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after pediatric unintentional injury in accordance with American College of Surgeons recommendations. The Screening Tool for Early Predictors of PTSD (STEPP) is a measure initially developed to identify youth and parents at high risk for meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD after injury. Acute pain during hospitalization has also been examined as a potential predictor of maladaptive outcomes after injury, including PTSD. We investigated in a retrospective cohort study whether the STEPP, as well as acute pain intensity during hospitalization, would predict maladaptive outcomes during the peri-trauma in addition to the post-trauma period, specifically length of hospitalization. Methods: A total of 1123 youths aged 8–17 (61% male) and their parents were included. Patients and parents were administered the STEPP for clinical reasons while hospitalized. Acute pain intensity and length of stay were collected through retrospective chart review. Results: Adjusting for demographics and injury severity, child but not parent STEPP total predicted length of stay. Acute pain intensity, child threat to life appraisal, and child pulse rate predicted length of stay. Conclusions: Acute pain intensity and child PTSD risk factors, most notably child threat to life appraisal, predicted hospitalization length above and beyond multiple factors, including injury severity. Pain intensity and child appraisals may not only serve as early warning signs for maladaptive outcomes after injury but also indicate a more difficult trajectory during hospitalization. Additional assessment and treatment of these factors may be critical while youth are hospitalized. Utilizing psychology services to support youth and integrating trauma-informed care practices during hospitalization may support improved outcomes for youth experiencing unintentional injury.

Perceived Social Support, Caregiving Appraisal and Quality of Life among Caregivers of Individuals with Parkinson Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, no cure and progressive disease worsens gradually. The caregivers' QOL, support, and caregiving appraisal is essential to ensure the quality of life to the Individuals with Parkinson's disease (IWPD). Hundred three caregivers of IWPD involve in this study. The caregivers' QOL was significantly associated with the caregivers’s comorbidities, duration of caregiving, living arrangement, the IWPD's gender and comorbidities, and found significant correlate with the caregiving appraisal. The importance of identifying the risk factors, education needs, and caregiving appraisal in developing intervention program to improve their QOL among caregivers. Keywords: social support; caregiving appraisal; quality of life; Parkinson's disease. eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning &amp; Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7i19.3132

Gratitude Moderates the Relation between Daily Hassles and Satisfaction with Life in University Students.

Satisfaction with life as a judgmental cognitive process can be negatively influenced by appraisals of daily events such as hassles. Trait-gratitude—a tendency to appraise, recognize and respond to life events through being grateful—is a determinant of mental health and well-being, and has been shown to be related to the positive appraisal of life. The aim of the current study was to investigate the moderating role of trait-gratitude in the relationship between daily hassles and satisfaction with life. In the process of carrying out this study, the French version of the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6) was validated. A total of 328 French undergraduates completed questionnaires measuring gratitude, satisfaction with life, and daily hassles to test the main hypothesis. They also completed optimism, coping strategies, depression, and anxiety questionnaires in order to assess the convergent validity of the French version of the GQ-6. First, the results showed satisfactory psychometric properties of the Gratitude Questionnaire. Second, the results indicated the moderating role of trait-gratitude in the relationship between daily hassles disturbance and satisfaction with life. This study further documents the role of gratitude as a determinant of well-being and provides French-speaking clinicians and researchers with a useful tool to measure grateful disposition.

Awareness of Age-Related Change as a Behavioral Determinant of Survival Time in Very Old Age.

Although research on the association between subjective views of aging (VOA) and survival is scarce, more negative VOA have been found to be associated with increased all-cause mortality, even after controlling for possible confounders. Longitudinal studies on the predictive association of VOA with survival in individuals aged 80 years or older are, however, very limited. Thus, the aim of this study was to link adults’ awareness of age-related change (AARC), a multidimensional measure of adults’ subjective VOA, to survival time across a 3.5-year observation interval in advanced old age. To put the AARC construct in context, the study also considered related psychosocial concepts (i.e., perceived control and appraisal of life) essential for coping with late-life challenges as potential behavioral predictors of longevity. Data came from a representative panel study that included persons living in community and institutional settings. A total of 1,863 interviews were conducted at wave 1. This study used meta-data from wave 2 fieldwork 2 years after the initial assessment and death records obtained during panel maintenance after 3.5 years to estimate determinants of survival. Results showed that loss-related VOA indicated increased risk to survival, whereas gain-related VOA were predictive of longer survival. Both perceived age-related losses and perceived age-related gains exerted a significant independent effect on late-life mortality over and above socio-demographic background characteristics, perceived control, engagement with life, as well as health status. These findings suggest that the multidimensional examination of very old adults’ VOA may help to better understand successful longevity in the Fourth Age.

Psychological factors influencing motivation, cooperation, participation, satisfaction, self appraisal, and individual quality of life in adolescents and adults undergoing Orthodontic treatment

Introduction: To bring the best outcome from both the sides i.e. the orthodontist and the patient , it is of prime importance to understand certain psychological factors, and to treat every patient with an individualistic approach. The need was to study all such psychological factors and to find a method to deal with the same; to evaluate the psychological factors that influences the self appraisal and individual Quality of life. To compare psychological factor affecting the self appraisal and individual quality of life before treatment and after treatment, to study psychological factors of patients which influences the treatment outcome and to find a method to manage them. Materials and Method: This In-vivo study, includes case study and survey. Two separate sets of questionnaires (before and after undergoing orthodontic treatment) were given to patients. The study also included psychological test scales like OHIP-14 and 12-CSES. The sample size of patient was 150. Result: The study revealed that esthetics (95%) is the main concern for getting treatment especially for female (56%). There is improvement in OHIP and CSES (interval of 12.63, 14.66) score of patients before and after treatment. Patients’ satisfaction (94.7%) increases on having healthy orthodontist-patient relationship. Conclusion: Esthetics is the main concern. Most patients wants improvement in smile. Lack of awareness and lack of financial supports is the main reason for delay in getting treatment. The main discomfort about the treatment reported by participants was pain after activation appointments, ulcers and change in food eating habit. The orthodontic therapy improves confidence, satisfaction, individuals’ appraisal and quality of life. There were no variations in response for patients’ satisfaction by gender, age, education or by treatment duration.

Leisure and Quality of Life among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder – A Review Based Analysis

Purpose: Owing to the time-consuming job of caring for their child's family and friends, parents of children with autism spectrum disorder risk losing family relationships. The main aim was to identify and intervene in the quality of life of parents, the interventions offered to parents as primary caregivers of children with ASD. To explore parents' perspectives on beneficent for children with autism in connection with formative years, resources, and to confront the consequences of upraising a child with ASD. Design/Methodology/Approach: Systematic literature, resulting in the publication of 27 studies that focused on the living standards of parents of children with ASD. Systematic literature scrutiny was performed using the search words "autism spectrum disorder," ‘primary caregiver/ parents/ mother” and "Quality of life" in the electronic databases Research gate, Academia, Google Scholar, and PsycInfo. Findings/Result: QOL autism-specific assessment tools were limited and hence, most studies have employed a general measure tool to assess the influence of the diagnosed disorder on the physical and psychological well-being of parents/caregivers. Originality/Value: The sequel of this study advocate that to date, the appraisal of quality life in parents of children with ASD into clinical practice has been rationalized by the shortage of autism-specific scales. As generically do not catch all pertinent aspects of living with ASD raising the need for immediate measures. Implementing parental interventions in parallel with the child’s interventions may raise QOL. Paper Type: Systematic literature review.

The multiple mediating effects of cancer threat appraisal and quality of life on the association between mindfulness and depression for colorectal cancer survivors.

This study explored the multiple mediating effects of cancer threat appraisal, functional status, and symptom distress on the association between mindfulness and depression in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients at the transition stage after completing cancer treatments. A total of 90 CRC survivors who received cancer treatments within 3months participated in this cross-sectional study. The functional status and symptom distress (EORTC-C30 and EORTC CR29), dispositional mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire), cancer threat appraisal ( Constructed Meaning Scale), and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II scale) were collected. The mediation and moderation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macros for SPSS. Survivors' dispositional mindfulness (γ=-0.49, p<0.001) and cancer threat appraisal (γ=-0.59, p<0.001) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Simple mediation analysis indicated that cancer threat appraisal mediated the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and depression (β=-0.02, 95% CI=-0.04 to -0.001). The multiple mediated analysis identified the path between dispositional mindfulness and depression via cancer threat appraisal and colorectal symptom distress (β=-0.01, 95% CI=-0.03 to -0.01). In the mediated moderation model, the path between dispositional mindfulness and depression via colorectal function was moderated by cancer threat appraisal (β=-0.02, 95% CI=-0.05 to -0.004). The two cognitive mechanisms of reducing CRC survivors' depression are as follows: (1) dispositional mindfulness reducing the appraisal of cancer as a threat and increasing positive perceptions of CRC symptoms and (2) the cancer threat appraisal buffered the impacts of CRC's mindfulness and colorectal function on depressive symptoms. Developing mindfulness with cognitive training is recommended for improving depressive symptoms among CRC patients in the transition period.

Fatigue Life Appraisal and Its Corrected Stress Intensity Factor for Repaired Off-CentrallyCracked Aluminum Plates.

This paper presents an experimental study on the fatigue life estimation of off-centrally cracked aluminum plates. Typical theoretical equations for off-central, central and edge cracks were reviewed and compared in terms of their sensitive parameters and applicability. A finite element model has been validated in its capacity in modelling the influences of eccentricity and crack size on the boundary correction coefficients. The Forman equation has been employed along with numerical results for the prediction of fatigue lives. Based on the test data, the fatigue life results of aluminum plates with and without patched laminate repair have been compared with codified fatigue classes. It is demonstrated that the repair at the crack tip close to the plate edge is effective in the fatigue life improvement for off-centrally crackedaluminum plates.

Psychological Aid to COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mental Health Response to Crises Management.

Catastrophic Pandemics have been adversely impacted the globe throughout human history. As a consequence psychiatrist, psychologist and mental health practitioners performed their role to mitigate the adverse impacts through its scientific and clinical lenses. It was observed that due to advance nature of COVI-19 pandemic, more advance approach of psychological aid is required. This work gives an overview of the multi-dimensional and trans-disciplinary techniques, which can be helpful to cope up with the crises that emerged from the threat of COVID-19 Outbreak for victims, survivors, health care practitioners and community.

Anxiety Buffer Disruption: Self-Evaluation, Death Anxiety, and Stressor Appraisals Among Low and High Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Samples

Objective: Research driven by terror management theory suggests sociocultural anxiety-buffer systems typically protect against existential anxiety, whereas anxiety buffer disruption theory suggests traumatic experiences may disrupt that process. Method: Following posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptom screening (n = 4097), individuals with low (n = 149) and high (n = 120) PTS engaged in either negative or positive self-evaluations, then reported death anxiety and appraised life's stressors as negative/threatening or positive/challenging. Results: When low PTS participants contemplated their worst (vs. best) selves, they experienced moderately heightened death anxiety yet appraised life's stressors as more positive/challenging than harmful/threatening, reflecting effective existential anxiety buffers. However, high PTS participants reported high death anxiety in both the best-self and worst-self conditions—indicating anxiety buffer disruption—and the worst-self (vs. best self) prompt increased their appraisal of life's stresses as a harmful threat and decreased appraisal as positive/challenging opportunities for growth and well-being. Discussion: Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the World Health Organization quality of life-old module (WHOQOL-OLD) for Persian-speaking populations

BackgroundReliable quality of life assessment is important for identification of health problems, evaluation of health interventions and planning of optimal health policies and care packages. Due to lack of a psychometrically robust measurement tool for quality of life appraisal among the Iranian older population, this study was aimed to investigate psychometric properties of the Persian version of the World Health Organization quality of life-old module (WHOQOL-OLD-P) for use on the Iranian and other Persian-speaking aged populations.MethodsThe standard translate/back-translate procedure was applied to convert the English version of the WHOQOL-OLD into Persian. The face and content validities were assessed by a panel of experts including 15 specialists in geriatrics and allied fields. The Cronbach’s alpha and intra-class correlation (ICC) coefficients were estimated to assess internal validity and reliability of the translated version. Factorial structure of the WHOQOL-OLD-P was also tested using confirmatory factor analyses in a sample of 400 Persian-speaking older adults (aged 60 years of old and above) residing in the city of Yazd, the capital city of Yazd province, center of Iran.ResultsThe internal consistency and reliability indices of the WHOQOL-OLD-P were in the vicinity of acceptable range (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.65–0.82 and ICC: 0.90–0.98). The confirmatory factor analysis outputs confirmed the six-factor solution of the WHOQOL-OLD-P (RMSEA = 0.04, CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.93, SRMR = 0.06).ConclusionThe study findings support validity and reliability of the WHOQOL-OLD-P for use on Iranian and possibly other Persian-speaking older populations. Further cross-cultural and comparative multinational studies are recommended to provide more vigorous evidence about feasibility and acceptability of the translated tool in diverse and multicultural Persian-speaking communities.

Gelişimsel Hedefler ve İyilik Halinin Beliren Yetişkinlerde İncelenmesi

Araştırmanın temel amacı gelişimsel düzenleme modeli çerçevesinde beliren yetişkinlik dönemini hedef belirleme perspektifinden incelemektir. Çalışmanın örneklemi, yaşları 18 ile 30 arasında değişen 396 katılımcıdan oluşmaktadır. Katılımcılara Benlik Saygısı, Yaşam Doyumu, Yalnızlık Ölçeği ve Kısa Semptom Envanteri ile yaşam hedefleri ve bu hedeflere ilişkin değerlendirmelerini içeren bir form uygulanmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında bireylerin hem gelecekteki hem de geçmişteki hedefleri değerlendirilmiştir. Yürütülen niteliksel veri analizi sonucunda, beliren yetişkinlerin geleceğe yönelik en çok meslek, eğitim ve aileyle; geçmişte ise en çok eğitim ve meslek yaşamlarıyla ilgili hedeflere sahip oldukları ortaya konulmuştur. Çalışma kapsamında geçmişte belirlediği hedefe ulaşan grubun yaşam doyumunun hedefi elde etmek için çaba harcamaya devam eden grubunkinden anlamlı olarak daha yüksek olduğu ortaya konulmuştur. Gelişimsel hedefler açısından elde edilen sonuçlar, genç bireylerin içinde bulundukları gelişimsel dönemin özelliklerine uygun hedefler belirlediklerine işaret etmektedir. Sonuçlar ayrıca, hedefe ilişkin değerlendirmeler ve hedefe ulaşmanın beliren yetişkinlerin iyilik hali açısından önemine işaret etmektedir.