Negative Life Research Articles

Psychosocial predictors of adverse outcomes in rural heart failure caregivers.

Depressive symptoms, negative life changes, poor self-care, and higher caregiver burden are common in caregivers who assist individuals with heart failure (HF) in managing daily activities and disease-related symptoms. Previous research findings suggest social support, problem solving, and family function may influence these outcomes. However, the influence of these factors on outcomes in rural HF caregivers is unknown. The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to examine whether social support, problem solving, and family function predicted depressive symptoms, caregiving-related life changes, self-care, and caregiver burden in rural HF caregivers; and (2) to compare differences in these variables between rural and urban caregivers. Rural caregivers (n=114) completed an online researcher-developed sociodemographic and clinical survey and standardized (Likert-type) self-report instruments. Participants were recruited locally from south-eastern USA (using face-to-face and telephone contacts, posted flyers, newspaper advertisements, and social media), nationally (newspaper advertisements and social media sites) and internationally (using social media). Potential participants were directed to the study website to complete the online surveys. These methods recruited participants who lived in 24 states within the USA, as well as from Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Demographic statistics and Mann-Whitney U-test, as well as bivariate correlations, multivariate linear modelling, and Roy's largest root, were used to analyse data, controlling for covariates. Rural (n=114) caregivers were primarily Caucasian (84.2%), women (58.8%), and 41.45 (&plusmn;9.013) years old. Social support had significant effects on depressive symptoms (&eta;p2=0.384, p<0.001), self-care (&eta;p2=0.108, p=0.001), and life changes (&eta;p2=0.055, p=0.016), while problem solving showed significant effects on depressive symptoms (&eta;p2= 0.078, p=0.004) and caregiver burden (&eta;p2=0.23, p<0.001). Family function had significant effects on life changes (&eta;p2=0.104, p=0.001), self-care (&eta;p2=0.088, p=0.002), and caregiver burden (&eta;p2=0.116, p<0.001). Compared to urban (n=412) participants, rural caregivers experienced significantly less social support (p=0.001), worse problem-solving skills (p=0.003) and family functioning (p=0.009), and greater depressive symptoms (p&le;0.01) and subjective burden (p=0.001). There were no significant differences in caregiver self-care (p=0.416) and perceived life changes (p=0.346) among rural and urban caregivers. Both social support and problem solving have significant effects on depressive symptoms in rural HF caregivers, while social support and family function influences self-care. Problem solving and family function also affect caregiver burden, while social support and family functioning influences caregiver life changes. Rural caregivers are often separated by long distances, and have transportation issues and limited access to healthcare providers and support services; therefore, innovative strategies are needed to explore the usefulness of these variables in improving caregiver outcomes.

Examination of risky truancy behaviors and gender differences among elementary school children

ABSTRACT There has been a dramatic increase in the rate of truancy cases throughout the United States, and despite truancy reduction efforts, truancy rates remained constant. Truancy is frequently associated with youth’s high-risk behaviors and negative academic and life outcomes. Given the negative impact of truancy, conducting research on school attendance is critical to the success of youth over the life course. The current study examined a sample of 23,459 students referred to the Truancy Assessment and Service Centers (TASC) program to understand the characteristics of elementary school children at risk for truancy by exploring gender differences in the service needs reported by truant children and their families. Results indicate the leading risk factors for truancy include child behavioral problems, educational issues, and parental practices. Also, there were no significant differences between boys and girls related to truancy risk factors nor the types of services children in the TASC program needed.

Promoting subjective well-being through communication savoring

ABSTRACT The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions articulates the merit of positive emotions in promoting well-being. Using an online two-group posttest-only randomized experimental design, this study examined the effects of communication savoring on subjective well-being (i.e., positive and negative affect, happiness, and life satisfaction) among young adults (M age = 20.97, SD = 1.91). After writing about a communication moment they savored and savoring the positive emotions derived from reminiscence, participants in the experimental group (n = 90) reported higher levels of positive affect and lower levels of negative affect compared to participants in the comparison group (n = 87) who wrote about a communication moment they recently experienced. Moreover, results showed that the one-time communication savoring intervention was indirectly related to higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction through both positive and negative affect. Results bolster recent theorizing about communication savoring as a distinctive positive communication construct.

A systematic review of suicidal behaviour in men: A narrative synthesis of risk factors.

Suicides by men outnumber those by women in every country of the world. To date, there has not been a comprehensive systematic review of risk factors for suicidal behaviour in men to better understand the excess deaths by suicide in men. The present systematic review seeks to determine the nature and extent of the risk factors to predict suicidal behaviour in men over time. A range of databases (CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, Pubmed, Embase, and Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection) were searched from inception to January 2020 for eligible articles. The findings were collated through a narrative synthesis of the evidence. An initial 601 studies were identified. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, there were 105 eligible studies (62 prospective and 43 retrospective) identified. Overall, the risk factors with the strongest evidence predicting suicidal behaviour in men were alcohol and/or drug use/dependence; being unmarried, single, divorced, or widowed; and having a diagnosis of depression. In the prospective studies, the most consistent evidence was for sociodemographic factors (19 risk factors), mental health/psychiatric illness (16 risk factors), physical health/illness (13 risk factors), and negative life events/trauma (11 risk factors). There were a small number of psychological factors (6 factors) and characteristics of suicidal behaviour (3 factors) identified. The findings from the retrospective studies provided further evidence for the risk factors identified in the prospective studies. This systematic review has highlighted the wide range of risk factors for suicidal behaviour in men, in this review alone 68 different risk factors were identified. Many factors can interact and change in relevance throughout an individual's life. This review has identified extensive gaps in our knowledge as well as suggestions for future research.

Evaluation of anti-COVID-19 measures taken by the parents of children with celiac disease: a cross-sectional study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes negative life changes brought about through lockdowns, in addition to severe complications and death. Among these changes, asplenism or hyposplenism has been reported in patients with celiac disease. It has been reported that the risk of pneumococcal sepsis is higher in celiac patients with hyposplenism. Moreover, celiac patients present high risk of admission to hospital due to influenza. To determine the degree of awareness of COVID-19 among parents of children with celiac disease and examine the measures that they take. Cross-sectional study at a university hospital in the Middle Anatolian region of Turkey. The diagnosis of celiac disease was confirmed through a survey conducted online among 73 parents between May and July 2020. The mean age was 37.57 ± 6.56 years for the mothers, 41.15 ± 5.56 years for the fathers and 11.36 ± 4.36 years for the children. 90.4% of the parents reported that COVID-19 was transmitted through "speaking, coughing, sneezing and infection of the face after contact with virus-infected surfaces". Moreover, 78.1% indicated that they did not have any difficulty in finding gluten-free foods. These parents of children with celiac disease believed that their children's risk of developing COVID-19 did not differ from that of healthy children. It was also observed that appetite and states of nervousness were higher among these children with celiac disease during lockdowns and that their sleep patterns were affected.

Short-term outcomes of pubertal suppression in a selected cohort of 12 to 15 year old young people with persistent gender dysphoria in the UK.

In adolescents with severe and persistent gender dysphoria (GD), gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) are used from early/middle puberty with the aim of delaying irreversible and unwanted pubertal body changes. Evidence of outcomes of pubertal suppression in GD is limited. We undertook an uncontrolled prospective observational study of GnRHa as monotherapy in 44 12-15 year olds with persistent and severe GD. Prespecified analyses were limited to key outcomes: bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD); Child Behaviour CheckList (CBCL) total t-score; Youth Self-Report (YSR) total t-score; CBCL and YSR self-harm indices; at 12, 24 and 36 months. Semistructured interviews were conducted on GnRHa. 44 patients had data at 12 months follow-up, 24 at 24 months and 14 at 36 months. All had normal karyotype and endocrinology consistent with birth-registered sex. All achieved suppression of gonadotropins by 6 months. At the end of the study one ceased GnRHa and 43 (98%) elected to start cross-sex hormones. There was no change from baseline in spine BMD at 12 months nor in hip BMD at 24 and 36 months, but at 24 months lumbar spine BMC and BMD were higher than at baseline (BMC +6.0 (95% CI: 4.0, 7.9); BMD +0.05 (0.03, 0.07)). There were no changes from baseline to 12 or 24 months in CBCL or YSR total t-scores or for CBCL or YSR self-harm indices, nor for CBCL total t-score or self-harm index at 36 months. Most participants reported positive or a mixture of positive and negative life changes on GnRHa. Anticipated adverse events were common. Overall patient experience of changes on GnRHa treatment was positive. We identified no changes in psychological function. Changes in BMD were consistent with suppression of growth. Larger and longer-term prospective studies using a range of designs are needed to more fully quantify the benefits and harms of pubertal suppression in GD.

Living with paradox: A qualitative study of colorectal cancer patients' experiences in managing their health after cancer treatment.

Managing one's health after colorectal cancer may present specific challenges given long-term impacts to biopsychosocial functioning. Understanding experiences of managing one's health post-treatment is important to informing patient-centred supportive care. A qualitative study with 19 patients who had completed treatment for colorectal cancer to explore the experience of managing one's health. Following Thorne's Interpretive Description, we conducted interviews using either focus groups or individual interviews. Transcribed data were analysed following Thorne's approach. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were also collected. The metaphor of living with paradox was the main theme characterising the experiences of managing one's health in the post-treatment period. Participants described the ambiguity of health, their need to accept the new normal, losing control and taking back control, experiencing positive and negative life changes, and the need to continually reframe their perspectives to focus on the positives. Our findings suggest that providing patient-centred care to colorectal cancer survivors post-treatment involves recognising their changing and sometimes conflicting experiences. Their ability to manage their health may fluctuate and their supportive care needs may not fit with a particular trajectory. Cancer care systems should strive for flexibility in the structure and timing of support available.

Confirmatory factor analyses of the Behavior Assessment System for Children – Third Edition among an Australian sample

ABSTRACT Objective: The Behaviour Assessment System for Children, Third Edition (BASC-3) is a rating scale for screening emotional and behavioural disorders in children and adolescents commonly utilised in Australia but relies on a US normative sample. This study assessed the cross-cultural validity of the BASC-3 by evaluating the original factor structures of the BASC-3 Teacher Rating Scale Children (TRS-C) and Parent Rating Scale Children (PRS-C) with a clinical sample of Australian children. This study hypothesised that the factor structure of the BASC-3 TRS-C and PRS-C would yield acceptable or good fit indices among the Australian sample. Method: Analyses were conducted on parent and teacher ratings of 716 children (298 children for the TRS-C and 418 children for the PRS-C) with a mean age of 8.63 (SD = 1.54) from a psychology training clinic in Melbourne, Australia. Single-factor congeneric modelling and second-order confirmatory factor analyses examined how well the TRS-C and PRS-C factor structure fit the Australian data. Results: Good and acceptable model fit and significant factor loadings were found in the single-factor congeneric modelling and second-order factor modelling. Conclusions: The results provide supporting evidence of the cross-cultural validity of the BASC-3 TRS-C and PRS-C among Australian children presenting with clinical challenges. Key Points What is already known about this topic: (1) Emotional and behavioural disorders (EBD) are associated with a range of negative school and life outcomes. (2) The Behavior Assessment System for Children, Third Edition (BASC-3) is a highly utilised screening tool for emotional and behavioural challenges in children and adolescents. (3) Existing literature suggests that there is a lack of research on the generalisability of the BASC-3 in other societies and cultures. What this topic add: (1) The current research demonstrates the validity of the BASC-3 Teacher Rating Scale Children (TRS-C) and Parent Rating Scale Children (PRS-C) with a clinical sample of Australian children. (2) The current research provided support for the utility of both the TRS-C and PRS-C as screening tools for EBD among Australian children presenting with clinical challenges. (3) Future research is required to demonstrate the validity of the BASC-3 in non-clinical sample of Australian children.

Neurological and Psychological Determinants of Depression, Anxiety, and Life Quality.

Background:This study aimed to determine the major neurological and psychological elements affecting depression, anxiety (DEPXITY), and the overall quality of life.Methods:This analytical descriptive study was carried out on 141 respondents with formal mood disorder diagnosis, with mental illness identity, with current depression and anxiety symptoms of at least moderate severity and people with mild symptoms. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation test, reliability test, and separate regression models. Statistical significant level was set as 0.05.Results:The findings showed that external control by others on one's own life (EC) is the most significant factor (0.45) related to depression and the social conflict (SC) was found to be the most influential factor (0.28) for the anxiety. Internal control over own personal life (IC) is the most significant factor to cure or regulate some of the negative symptoms of the anxiety (−0.66). Good performance in personal life (PP) is a common positive factor to regulate both depression (DEP) and anxiety (XITY). This study shows that DEPXITY is associated with negative life quality.Conclusions:The lack of internal control and the control by others on one's own personal life are associated with impaired cognitive, affective, and behavioral functioning. The results of this study can also be a good indicator and confirmation that the medial prefrontal cortex is able with the support of IC and PP to coordinate self-appraisal processes by regulating activity in the posterior cingulate cortex area of the brain.

Talent in sports is never enough

Sports development of young and talented athletes is a very dynamic process which includes an ample range of chal­lenges and obstacles. The aim of this research is a qualitative analysis of experiences of tennis players’ with a lower-range of efficiency as senior players. The attempt was to identify those factors that prevented efficiency in senior competitions for tennis players who achieved excellent results in junior competitions. A particular emphasis was directed towards three domains which were presented as key factors for a successful athletic career in previous research (specialisation in the chosen sport, environmental impact on sports development and negative life events/circumstances). A series of polystruc­tural interviews with tennis players in senior competitions were conducted (N = 10). The obtained data indicate several factors with a negative impact on the successful development of young and talented tennis players, as follows: premature specialisation, insufficient commitment to the training process, lack of adequate support by the parents and coach, failure to make proper and timely decisions regarding one’s own sports development, injuries and insufficient financial means. The identification of key factors in the sports development of young athletes can be of crucial relevance for quality guid­ance and direction in sports careers of talented athletes.

Overcoming Ethical Challenges in Conducting Research Among Persons With Dementia

By 2060, the number of older adults with Alzhemier’s Disease or related dementias (ADRD) is expected to encompass approximately 13.9 million Americans. Recognizing this, the federal government has prioritized research on ADRD and their effect on the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of persons with dementia (PWD). Such research is complicated by disease-associated decline in cognitive and functional capacity among PWDs which can impair participant ability to process and communicate information, potentially increasing their exposure to negative research-related experiences and compromising the accuracy and reliability of provided data. Nevertheless, as a key stakeholder group, PWD should have the right to participate in research on ADRD. This session will present a case study of ethical issues that emerged in an NIH-funded study utilizing mixed-methods to examine caregiving and care dyad relationships between PWD and their care partners over an 18-month follow-up period. Ethical issues examined will include: (1) PWD capacity to consent to research at baseline and (2) during follow-up visits, (3) Obtaining accurate and reliable data from persons with mild to moderate dementia, (4) Assessing PWD distress while engaging in data collection processes, and (5) Reporting of negative caregiving and life experiences, such as elder mistreatment. The discussion of these topics and presentation of lessons learned holds promise for improving research methodology in studies involving PWD and enabling researchers to increase the involvement of persons with mild to moderate dementia in research on ADRD.

Grandiose narcissism and performance in organizations: mediating role of subjective wellbeing

Narcissism is imbued with emotional dynamism and there is a strong need to assess the linkages with outcomes by analyzing their fusion. The present study examined the relationship between grandiose narcissism and performance through analyzing the mediating role of subjective wellbeing (positive affect, negative affect and life satisfaction). The wholesome assessment of performance was done by considering task performance, team-work and cognitive motivational effectiveness among 293 senior-level Indian employees of a big public sector organization. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 22 and Smart PLS 2.0. The correlation results showed that grandiose narcissism was negatively related to performance, life satisfaction and positively related to negative affect. The indirect pathways (through mediation analyses) revealed that negative affect and life satisfaction mediated the relationship between grandiose narcissism and performance. The study effectively contributes to the narcissism and performance literature by presenting clearer pathways of grandiose narcissism (through self-regulated emotions and subjective wellbeing). Practical implications werealso highlighted beside the theoretical concerns.

Studying the nature of social orphanhood in correlation with status characteristics and personal health

Health is an integral characteristic of a persons quality of life, a primary indicator of their social and familial well-being. The opposite is also true: ones social and familial status and the main aspects of their daily activities can affect their health. When one grows up in conditions of extra-family education, a special habitus is formed among graduates of orphanages, with experiences of negative family life or none at all, adverse models of relationships and social attitudes, as well as distorted ideas about social, professional, and family self-realization.

Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence implementation during COVID-19 challenges in Croatia.

Globally, the Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic situation has affected the education system, forcing students to start distance learning. Consequently, education of students reverted to online platforms or TV station broadcasts. Extracurricular programs have also experienced a setback given the natural prioritization of mandatory school subjects. Meanwhile, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was implementing a teacher-led extracurricular activity for children of age 10-15 years to prevent substance use and other negative life and social consequences (Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence [LQSFA]). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, LQSFA was difficult to sustain, partly as it was considered extracurricular and partly given its interactive requirement that was difficult to apply through distance learning. Nevertheless, schools' facilitators managed to adapt the program information sharing and communication strategies with the student groups and identified essential sessions allowing continuity of program implementation and utilization of critical program skills during COVID-19 pandemic. The practical implication of the facilitators' assessment of the relevance, value, motivation and feasibility of the implementation of the LQSFA program within the current COVID-19 circumstances calls for the eminent need for adaptation of its implementation modality to meet the current educational delivery circumstances. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Association between poor sleep quality and depression symptoms among the elderly in nursing homes in Hunan province, China: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo examine the association between the prevalence of poor sleep quality and depression symptoms among the elderly in the nursing homes of Hunan province in China.Design, Setting and participantsThis was...

본회퍼의 신학과 평화

Dietrich Bonhoeffer who is called a practicing theologian or a martyr, gives us deep theological perspective even though he did not live long. Although he joined a team to assassinate Hitler, he gets high esteem as a Christian and a theologian. Jesus clearly claimed nonviolence through his Sermon on the Mount. However, Bonhoeffer took part in the conspiracy and transgressed the boundary of nonviolence. Is Bonhoeffer an authentic disciple? Is he a terrorist? These questions are the primary questions of this article. Furthermore, this article asks whether his life and theology is continuous or discontinuous.BR This article will examine his books, Nachfolge and Ethics. I will suggest important theological concepts in the two books and try to associate his theology with his practicing life. Furthermore, I will suggest two points for the study of peace.BR I think that key concepts in Nachfolge are costly grace, obedience, faith, and nonviolence. Bonhoeffer clearly claims that God’s grace is costly rather than cheap. Here, one can meet a peacemaker. He identifies obedience with faith. Here one can sense Bonhoeffer’s practicing faith to obey the command of Jesus. Through Bonhoeffer’s explanation about Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, one can meet the aspect of pacifism rather than that of Just War.BR In Bonhoeffer’s Ethics, I choose the concepts of responsibility, vicarious life, and realistic suitability. Bonhoeffer’s notion of responsibility is the life to respond Jesus’s life. He put his concept of life into two classes, positive life and negative life. I regard Hitler’s life as the negative life, and think that Bonhoeffer lived a positive life as a disciple of Jesus. Through Bonhoeffer’ notion of the vicarious life, I suggest that his life is a practice of vicarious life.BR Finally, I suggest two points for the study of peace. 1) Peace is God’s command for Christians. 2) Christian understanding of peace should take the structure of justice/injustice rather than violence/nonviolence.

Traumatic life experiences and religiosity in eight countries

We present two datasets from a project about the relationship between traumatic life experiences and religiosity. These include data from 1,754 individuals in the United States (n = 322), Brazil (n = 205), China (n = 202), India (n = 205), Indonesia (n = 205), Russia (n = 205), Thailand (n = 205), and Turkey (n = 205). Surveys were consistent across samples: they include measures of traumatic life experiences, negative affective traits, existential security, life satisfaction, death anxiety, and various religious beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours. Psychometric evaluations of measures of supernatural belief and death anxiety were conducted.

Association between Subjective Well-Being and Frequent Dental Visits in the German Ageing Survey.

The relationship between subjective well-being (SWB) and frequent attendance is understudied. This study used data from a large German sample of non-institutionalized individuals aged 40+ in 2014 (n = 7264). SWB was measured using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Number of self-reported dental visits in the past twelve months was used to measure the utilization frequency of dental services. Individuals with at least four dental visits in the preceding year (highest decile) were defined as frequent dental visits. Robustness checks were performed using alternative cut-offs to define frequent dental visits. Multiple logistic regressions showed that frequent dental visits (highest decile) were associated with less satisfaction with life [OR: 0.89, 95%-CI: 0.80–0.99] and higher negative affect [OR: 1.41, 95%-CI: 1.22–1.64], whereas it was not significantly associated with positive affect. Both associations depended on the cut-off chosen to define frequent dental visits. The present study highlights the association between SWB (particularly negative affect and low life satisfaction) and frequent dental visits. Further studies evaluating patients’ motivation for high dental service use are necessary to check the robustness of our findings.

Communication with family concerning body donation in Hong Kong: what do we know?

This study aimed to examine three major issues: (a) The extent to which registered donors have communicated with family about body donation; (b) The differences in demographics, life and death attitudes, and quality of relationship with family members between those who communicated their body donation decision and those who did not; (c) The factors associated with the act of communicating with family about body donation. A survey was conducted of people who registered in a body donation programme in Hong Kong. A total of 1,070 registered donors completed an online questionnaire between August and September 2016. The majority of participants (80.1%) reported that they communicated with family members about body donation. About one-third only informed family members of their decisions after registration, and around 15.6% did not communicate with family members. Those who communicated with family were significantly older and married; they also indicated more positive life and death attitudes and a better quality of relationship with family members. Three factors were found to have significant associations with the act of communicating with family members about the decision to donate the body: (a) Age, (b) Quality of life, (c) Quality of relationship with family members. Communication with family members about body donation is still inadequate. Future body donation programmes may focus more on the way body donation decisions can be better communicated with family members. Special attention can be given to younger registered donors who find it difficult to communicate with the older generation, those who indicate more negative life and death attitudes, and who experienced a poorer quality of relationship with family members.

Understanding Parenting Intentions Among Childfree Gay Men: A Comparison With Lesbian Women and Heterosexual Men and Women.

IntroductionThere is a growing interest in the parenting intentions of gay men. Prior research has found that gay men are less likely to become parents compared to their heterosexual and lesbian peers, but we know very little about why this discrepancy exists. Our first aim was to investigate whether the strength of parenting intentions is similar or different among childfree gay men compared to lesbian women, and heterosexual men and women. Our second aim was to explore the extent to which the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model (attitude, subjective norms, and self-efficacy) is universal in predicting the strength of parenting intentions across gender and/or sexual orientation.MethodsThe study was based on a United States cross-sectional, internet-based survey of childfree people who want to become parents in the future. The sample consisted of 58 gay men, 66 lesbian women, 164 heterosexual people (128 women and 36 men).ResultsA Bayesian ANCOVA showed no support for a gender difference in the strength of parenting intentions. Moderate evidence was provided for gay men and lesbian women reporting a similar strength of parenting intentions compared to their heterosexual peers. Bayesian linear regression analyses showed that perceived positive and negative life changes were stronger predictors of the strength of parenting intentions for men than for women. Perceived positive life changes predicted the strength of parenting intentions similarily across sexual orientations. For gay men and lesbian women, perceived parental acceptance of future parenthood was a weaker predictor of the strength of parenting intentions compared to heterosexual people.ConclusionThose who perceived parenthood as bringing positive life changes, especially for men, expressed stronger parenting intentions.