Poor Psychological Adjustment Research Articles

Cross Cultural Variation in Emotion Regulation: A Systematic Review

<p>A systematic review of literature on emotion regulation is carried out with the aim to identify, analyze and compare the commonly used emotion regulatory strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) in individualistic and collectivistic cultures including Pakistan and to study outcomes of different emotion regulation strategies in culture specific context. A systematic search has been conducted for required articles which have been published between 1990 and 2015. Only those studies have been included in the review which reported either cognitive reappraisal or expressive suppression in their findings. Review indicates that individualistic cultures prefer emotional expression to regulate emotions while collectivistic cultures, such as in Pakistan, focus more on expressive suppression. Emotional suppression can cause mental disease, physiological illness, and poor social and psychological adjustment. To sum up, culture predicts whether individuals are motivated to express or suppress their emotions. Collectivist culture encourages greatest control on emotion expression while interacting with family and friends with more emphasis on maintaining social harmony. On the other hand, individualistic culture endorses comparatively less expression of negative emotions especially towards strangers. Adjusting one’s emotion to the social environment is more important in cultural context.</p>

Mediated effects of perceived discrimination on adolescent academic achievement: A test of four models

Many adolescents feel they are subjected to acts of discrimination. Research shows that discrimination is associated with adverse outcomes including poor psychological adjustment, school adjustment, and academic achievement. This study investigated alternative pathways through which discrimination affects adolescents' academic achievement. A sample of 244 Year 7–10 Australian secondary school students (65% male; Mage = 13.6 years; SD = 1.24) completed questionnaires measuring discrimination, psychological adjustment, and sense of school membership. Both at the time of questionnaire completion and one semester later, absenteeism data, teacher ratings of classroom behavior, and academic grades were retrieved from school records. The fit of four competing structural models were compared. In the best fitting model, the effects of prior discrimination on academic achievement one semester later were serially mediated, first through psychological adjustment, and then through school adjustment. By elucidating these mechanisms, the study informs theory and practice regarding the effects of discrimination on adolescents.

Psychological Factors in Food Aversions, Nausea, and Vomiting During Pregnancy

The etiology of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) involves many variables that influence its onset, duration, and severity; and it is well known that its occurrence has health implications for the offspring. This review focuses on psychological and psychosocial factors as influences on NVP (“morning sickness”), including cultural, social, and associative variables. Certain foods are more likely to result in NVP than others, and this often stems from women’s experiential history with those food substances, including the potential to form associative-based aversions. Moreover, acknowledging the role of associative factors could influence the magnitude of NVP. Many demographic variables (e.g., geographical regions, age, socio-economic status) are related to NVP, but whether a population has more women with NVP may be due to certain foods being more common or rare in the diet of that population, as predicted by theories of associative processes. Consideration of the role of associative processes on NVP has implications for understanding its cause and magnitude. Also, mood and poorer psychological adjustment can exacerbate NVP. Issues related to management or treatment of the disorder are reviewed.

Psychiatric history, post-discharge distress, and personality characteristics among incident female cases of takotsubo cardiomyopathy: A case–control study

BackgroundThe role of psychological factors in the onset of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is still controversial. Associations with previous psychiatric conditions are registry-based; associations with personality characteristics and psychological sequelae of TC have been largely unexplored. This case–control study sought to study pre-admission psychiatric morbidity, personality traits, and post-discharge distress in incident cases of TC. MethodsTC cases (Mayo clinic criteria) and acute myocardial infarction (MI) controls were recruited among women admitted to two Emergency Departments in New England. Healthy controls (HC) were recruited from a volunteers' registry. Preadmission psychiatric history (DSM-IV-TR) was abstracted from the medical record. PTSD symptoms (Impact of Events Scale); distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale); perceived stress (PS scale) and personality traits (optimism; hostility, type D personality) were collected via phone interview one month after discharge. ResultsFrom March 2013 through October 2015, 107 participants (45 TC, 32 MI and 30 HC) were enrolled. The prevalence of preadmission anxiety disorders was 24.4% in TC, 9.4% in MI, and 0 in HC (p = 0.007) while that of mood disorders was similar across groups. TC had higher psychological distress, perceived stress, and PTSD symptoms post-discharge vs. MI and HC. In adjusted models, PTSD symptoms remained higher in TC vs. MI (b = 0.55, p < 0.05) and vs. HC (b = 0.92, p < 0.01). Optimism and hostility scores were similar across groups, while type D (social inhibition) scores were higher in TC and MI vs. HC. ConclusionsPreadmission anxiety, but not depression, was associated with the occurrence of TC. High distress and PTSD symptoms post-discharge indicate that TC women may be at risk for poor psychological adjustment.

Social Acceptance as a Moderator in the Relationship between Socioeconomic Status and the Psychological Adjustment of Ethnically Diverse Early Adolescents

ABSTRACTResearch suggested that socioeconomic status is related to psychological adjustment in ethnically diverse adolescents. Understanding correlates that may be helpful in mitigating ill effects on diverse adolescents’ psychological adjustment is important, with adolescents’ social acceptance being one correlate of interest. As a result, this study examined the relationships among ethnic identity, SES, social acceptance, and the psychological adjustment of 278 ethnically diverse early adolescents. Results of regression analyses suggested that socioeconomic status and social acceptance are important predictors of psychological adjustment. In addition, results indicated that adolescents’ perceived social acceptance moderates significantly the relationships between their socioeconomic status and depression, anxiety, and self-concept. These results suggested that social workers and other health service providers should identify early adolescents who are not feeling accepted socially for intervention in an effort to mitigate the symptoms of poor psychological adjustment, particularly when these adolescents are facing other struggles related to low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Quality of life among former Soviet Union and Israeli origin methadone users

ABSTRACTA common treatment intervention for heroin addiction is methadone maintenance. In recent years a wider perspective has been adapted to understand and evaluate addiction through quality of life. This article examines quality of life conditions of 170 male former Soviet Union and Israeli origin drug users in methadone maintenance and provides an understanding of conditions linked to the World Health Organization Quality of Life project’s best available techniques reference document. Having a partner or spouse and less chronic illness are positive factors affecting quality of life regardless of country of origin. Israeli born drug users reported better quality of life based on their psychological health and environment domain responses; no difference was found for the physical health and social relationship domains of the Israeli and former Soviet Union origin males. Because heroin addiction is a chronic and relapsing illness, one of the goals of methadone maintenance is to address patients’ health status from a broad perspective. Based on clinical observations, the treatment of special populations may be enhanced if their particular needs are considered and met. Quality of life factors are relevant for assessing high risk groups, including those from different ethnic origins, in poor physical and psychological health, their treatment and personal adjustment, and their service personnel training needs.

The impact of perceived ethnic discrimination on mental health depends on transcultural identity: evidence for a moderator effect.

BackgroundWhile ethnic discrimination emphasizes boundaries between different cultures, the concept of transculturality focuses on the fact that cultures can merge and that individuals integrate novel cultural elements into their identity. This is an exploratory study that investigates the interplay between perceived ethnic discrimination, psychological adjustment and transcultural identity.MethodsStructured interviews were conducted using a sample of 46 adolescents with a Turkish migratory background and 45 adolescents who were native born Germans.ResultsCorrelational and multiple regression analyses revealed that perceived discrimination was clearly associated with a poorer psychological adjustment among adolescents with a migratory background. Transcultural identity moderated this relationship. That is, adolescents who showed higher levels of transcultural identity displayed a better psychological adjustment when compared to adolescents who showed lower levels of transcultural identity—provided that they did not feel discriminated against. This is congruent with the idea that transcultural identity can involve considerable benefits for personality. However, when adolescents perceived higher rates of discrimination, higher levels of transcultural identity came attached to a poorer psychological adjustment.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that perceived discrimination has negative effects on the well-being of immigrant adolescents—particularly for those who describe their identity as transcultural. The findings are discussed considering specific characteristics of transcultural identity, and how they stand in opposition to discrimination.

White-collar offenders and the jail experience: a comparative analysis

The incarceration experiences of white-collar offenders have received relatively little attention among criminological researchers, and the research that has been conducted has focused on offenders’ experiences in prisons rather than jails. The purpose of this study was to fill this gap by examining approximately 6500 inmates incarcerated in local jails, comparing those classified as white-collar offenders to violent and other non-violent offenders. The differences between offender types based on demographics, psychological adjustment (i.e., mental health issues since arrival to jail), and behavioral adjustment (i.e., institutional misconduct) are examined to see whether white-collar inmates have more difficulty than others adjusting to the jail environment (consistent with the special sensitivity hypothesis). Findings suggest that white-collar jail inmates do not appear to experience symptoms indicative of poor psychological or behavioral adjustment to the jail environment. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.

Profiles of dyadic adjustment for advanced prostate cancer to inform couple-based intervention

Objective: The purpose of the study is to describe from a relational perspective, partners’ psychological adjustment, coping and support needs for advanced prostate cancer.Design: A mixed methods design was adopted, employing triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data, to produce dyadic profiles of adjustment for six couples recruited from the urology clinics of local hospitals in Tasmania, Australia.Methods: Dyads completed a video-taped communication task, semi-structured interview and standardised self-report questionnaires.Results: Themes identified were associated with the dyadic challenges of the disease experience (e.g. relationship intimacy, disease progression and carer burden). Couples with poor psychological adjustment profiles had both clinical and global locus of distress, treatment side-effects, carer burden and poor general health. Resilient couples demonstrated relationship closeness and adaptive cognitive and behavioural coping strategies. The themes informed the adaption of an effective program for couples coping with women’s cancers (CanCOPE, to create a program for couples facing advanced prostate cancer (ProCOPE-Adv).Conclusion: Mixed method results inform the development of psychological therapy components for couples coping with advanced prostate cancer. The concomitance of co-morbid health problems may have implications for access and engagement for older adult populations in face-to-face intervention.

The protective and detrimental effects of self-construal on perceived rejection from heritage culture members.

Individuals may perceive themselves as interdependent and similar with close others, or as independent and distinct. Do these differences in self-construal influence perceptions of rejection from those closest to us? Few studies have investigated the antecedents of intragroup marginalization – the perception of rejection from family and friends due to not conforming to the prescribed values and expectations of one’s heritage culture. Furthermore, the implications of perceived intragroup marginalization for psychological adjustment and an integrated bicultural identity are unclear. To gage the effects of self-construals on perceived intragroup marginalization and psychological adjustment (i.e., subjective well-being and flourishing) and an integrated bicultural identity, we increased the cognitive accessibility of independent and interdependent self-construals through a priming manipulation. Participants were recruited via Amazon MTurk and completed the measures online. Our results showed that priming an interdependent self-construal decreased perceived intragroup marginalization from family and, in turn, poor psychological adjustment and bicultural identity conflict. Conversely, participants primed with an independent self-construal reported increased perceptions of intragroup marginalization from their family and, in turn, decreased psychological adjustment and increased identity conflict. These findings support the benefits of an interdependent self and the disadvantages of an independent self for minimizing perceived exclusion from heritage culture members.

Couplelinks - an online intervention for young women with breast cancer and their male partners: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundYoung breast cancer survivors (aged 50 years and under) and their partners are at an elevated risk for relationship distress and poor psychological adjustment relative to older age couples. Limited availability of time and resources and the distance to travel are major barriers to engaging in evidence-based psychosocial support programs. This paper describes the study protocol of a novel, manualized online intervention called Couplelinks that was developed to improve relationship adjustment and psychological wellbeing of young couples affected by breast cancer. Couplelinks is a custom-designed website offering a professionally facilitated, couple-centered intervention that entails informational, experiential, and interactive components.Methods/DesignA total of 80 heterosexual couples from across Canada in which the female partner has been diagnosed with a primary breast cancer will be recruited and randomized to a treatment or waitlist control group. Six dyadic learning modules form the core of the program and will be undertaken on a weekly basis. The manualized online intervention involves psycho-education and experiential exercises to enhance communication, coping ability, mutual empathy, and perspective-taking in relation to cancer. An online facilitator who is a trained mental health professional will guide and support couples throughout the process. Data collection will occur at baseline, at post-treatment or eight weeks into the waiting period, and at the three-month follow-up assessment. Primary outcome measures include the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Survey (RDAS) and Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) scores, and secondary outcome measures include the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Survey (HADS) score.DiscussionCouplelinks is one of the first internet-based psychological interventions to improve the psychosocial adjustment of couples coping with a life-threatening illness such as cancer. If successful, the design of this program as described in this paper makes a valuable contribution to the literature on the delivery of couple-focused psychosocial interventions, both within and outside of oncology.Trial registrationThis trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT01089764) on 17 March 2010.

A nested case–control study: personal, social and environmental correlates of vigorous physical activity in adolescents with asthma

Objective: Physical activity (PA) is associated with health benefits. Children and adolescents with asthma may be limited in their PA, particularly at vigorous intensity due to asthma symptoms or poor psychological adjustment to asthma. We aimed to investigate if self-perceived competence, enjoyment, support from others and social-physical environment were associated with vigorous physical activity (VPA) and secondarily to assess if such associations were modified by asthma and asthma severity. Methods: Data from a nested case–control study at 13 years of age within the birth-cohort Environment and Childhood Asthma Study were compiled from 95 participants with and 79 without asthma. The participants completed a questionnaire designed to capture self-perceived competence, enjoyment, support from others and social-physical environment. VPA, defined as ≥ 6 Metabolic Equivalents, was recorded objectively by SenseWear™ Pro2 Armband. Asthma severity was assessed pragmatically by lung function and use of inhaled glucocorticosteroids and β2-agonists and incidence of exacerbations in the last 14 days. Data were analysed using linear regression analysis. Results: No significant differences between adolescents with and without asthma were identified in terms of VPA, competence-enjoyment, support from others and social-physical environment. Peer support (b = 0.29 (0.05–0.52)) and competence-enjoyment (b = 0.23 (0.01–0.44)) were significantly and positively associated with VPA, and teacher support (b = –0.26 (−0.50 to −0.02)) were inversely associated. The model explained 25% of the variance in VPA. Conclusions: Peer support and competence-enjoyment were positively associated with increased VPN in adolescents irrespectively of asthma and asthma severity.

INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE: PERFECTIONISM IN THE SCHOOL CONTEXT

This article introduces a special issue ofPsychology in the Schoolson the topic of perfectionism intheschoolcontext.Perfectionismdevelopsandexistswithinacontextofrelationshipswithparents, peers, teachers, coaches, and others. Articles in the current issue reveal how perfectionism or dimensions associated with perfectionism (i.e., parental criticism and perfectionistic self-presentational styles) are related to adolescents’ motivational profiles, participation in sports, social perspective taking, and internalizing and externalizing problems. Additional articles suggest how school professionals might intervene with adolescents with perfectionism. Without such intervention, adolescents with perfectionism may be at increased risk for poor psychological adjustment. Walk through the halls and classrooms of middle and high schools and you see posters with slogans to support mistakes and failure as part of the learning process: The worst thing about a mistake is being afraid to make one. You never fail until you stop trying. Nobody’s perfect .B ut actions speak louder than words, particularly for adolescents. Do schools really embrace mistakes and failure? Isn’t it true that students can try hard, make mistakes and still fail? Do we hand out awards at the end of the school year for Best Student Failure? Or do we revere the students who seem perfect—high grades, stellar athletes, and popular among their peers—as model students in the hopes that other students will strive to be like them? If the latter is the case, the current special issue on perfectionism provides additional insight into the psychology of adolescents with perfectionism. And the news is not good. Perfectionism has been defined as unrealistic and exceedingly high personal standards, hypersensitivity to criticism and mistakes, feeling of being overwhelmed by failure, and rigid all-or-none thinking (Blatt, 1995; Flett, Hewitt, Oliver, & Macdonald, 2002; Stoeber & Otto, 2006). To date, the majority of perfectionism research has been conducted with college students; however, revised measures of perfectionisminthelasttwodecades have increased our knowledge about perfectionism in adolescents. Research findings on perfectionism in adolescents has mirrored research findings in adults: fear of failure and concern over mistakes, in combination with high standards for oneself or imposed by others such as parents, has been associated with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and suicide ideation (see Flett & Hewitt, 2012, 2013; Stoeber & Otto, 2006). The research on adolescents reported in the current issue has revealed that perfectionism or diQ1 mensionsassociatedwithperfectionism(i.e.,parentalcriticismandperfectionisticself-presentational styles) are associated with motivational profiles focused on outperforming others (Damian, Stoeber, Negru, & Bu less enjoyment of competitive sports (Mallinson, Hill, Hall, & Gotwals), internalizing problems in low and high socioeconomic status students (Lyman & Luthar), externalizing problems in males (Coren & Luthar), and envy of peers (Lyman & Luthar), perhaps contributing to poor psychological adjustment. Adolescent perfectionists, regardless of dimension held, had higher levels of social perspective taking than did non-perfectionists (Gilman, Rice, & Carboni). These findings indicate that social perspective taking might be a skill that adolescent perfectionists use to check how others view their behavior and performance.

Does self-blame moderate psychological adjustment following intimate partner violence?

This study explored whether self-blame moderates the relationship between exposure to specific types of abuse and both poor general psychological adjustment (i.e., self-esteem) and specific symptomatology (i.e., posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) among women who had experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). Eighty female IPV survivors were involved in this study. Results indicated that self-blame was negatively associated with self-esteem for physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. Self-blame moderated physical abuse, such that high levels of physical abuse interacted with high levels of self-blame in their association with PTSD. Nonsignificant models were noted for psychological and sexual abuse in association with self-blame and PTSD. These findings support the conceptualization that self-blame is associated with both general and specific psychological outcomes in the aftermath of IPV. Future research examining different forms of blame associated with IPV might further untangle inconsistencies in the self-blame literature.

Self-handicapping, perfectionism, locus of control and self-efficacy: A path model

Self-handicapping is a performance-debilitating characteristic, which in student populations has been consistently associated with negative outcomes such as academic underachievement and poor psychological adjustment. Perfectionism, locus of control, and self-efficacy have been linked with self-handicapping but have not been previously examined within one cohesive framework. This study, therefore, examined a model linking maladaptive perfectionism and external locus of control to self-handicapping, both directly and indirectly through their mediated effect on self-efficacy. Participants were 79 university students who completed an online survey comprising measures of perfectionism, locus of control, general self-efficacy, and self-handicapping. It was found that perfectionism and locus of control predicted self-handicapping; and perfectionism, but not external locus of control, predicted low self-efficacy. The mediation analyses found no support for self-efficacy as a mediator of the relationship between perfectionism, locus of control, and self-handicapping. These findings suggest that the interaction of maladaptive social cognitive constructs associated with self-handicapping requires further investigation.

Perinatal grief following a termination of pregnancy for foetal abnormality: the impact of coping strategies

Pregnancy termination for foetal abnormality (TFA) can have significant psychological repercussions, but little is known about the coping strategies involved in dealing with TFA. This study examined the relationships between women's coping strategies and perinatal grief. A total of 166 women completed a survey online. Coping and perinatal grief were measured using the Brief COPE and Short Perinatal Grief Scales. Data were analysed through multiple regression analyses. Despite using mostly adaptive coping strategies, women's levels of grief were high and varied according to obstetric and termination variables. Grief was predicted by behavioural disengagement, venting, planning, religion, self-blame, being recently bereaved, being childless at the time of TFA, not having had children/being pregnant since TFA and uncertainty about the decision to terminate the pregnancy. Acceptance and positive reframing negatively predicted grief. Identifying women vulnerable to poor psychological adjustment and promoting coping strategies associated with lower levels of grief may be beneficial. This could be addressed through information provision and interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

The role of a clinical nurse consultant dementia specialist: A qualitative evaluation

Delay in diagnosis and difficulties in accessing appropriate health care services plague dementia care delivery in the community setting, potentiating the risk for misdiagnosis, inappropriate management, poor psychological adjustment and reduced coping capacity and ability to forward plan. We evaluated a clinical nurse consultant role with a speciality in dementia to provide person-centred pre-diagnosis support in the community. Clients, with a six-month history of cognitive and functional decline in the absence of delirium but no formal diagnosis of dementia, were recruited from a Home Care Nursing Service and an Aged Care Assessment Service located in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The role of a clinical nurse consultant was highly regarded by clients and other health professionals. This paper discussing the CNC role and the outcomes of the role suggests it was successful in providing timely assistance and support for consumers and support for other health professionals.

Parenting Stress Among Caregivers of Children With Chronic Illness: A Systematic Review

To critically review, analyze, and synthesize the literature on parenting stress among caregivers of children with asthma, cancer, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, epilepsy, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and/or sickle cell disease. Method PsychInfo, MEDLINE, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched according to inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of 13 studies and qualitative analysis of 96 studies was conducted. Results Caregivers of children with chronic illness reported significantly greater general parenting stress than caregivers of healthy children (d = .40; p = ≤.0001). Qualitative analysis revealed that greater general parenting stress was associated with greater parental responsibility for treatment management and was unrelated to illness duration and severity across illness populations. Greater parenting stress was associated with poorer psychological adjustment in caregivers and children with chronic illness. Conclusion Parenting stress is an important target for future intervention. General and illness-specific measures of parenting stress should be used in future studies.

Association of Pain Catastrophizing with the Incidence and Severity of Acute and Persistent Perineal Pain after Natural Childbirth: Longitudinal Cohort Study

Background and objectives Vaginal birth delivery may result in acute and persistent perineal pain postpartum. This study evaluated the association between catastrophizing, a phenomenon of poor psychological adjustment to pain leading the individual to magnify the painful experience making it more intense, and the incidence and severity of perineal pain and its relationship to perineal trauma.Method Cohort study conducted with pregnant women in labor. We used the pain catastrophizing scale during hospitalization and assessed the degree of perineal lesion and pain severity in the first 24hours and after 8 weeks of delivery using a numerical pain scale.Results We evaluated 55 women, with acute pain reported by 69.1%, moderate/severe pain by 36.3%, and persistent pain by 14.5%. Catastrophizing mean score was 2.15 ± 1.24. Catastrophizing patients showed a 2.90 relative risk (RR) for perineal pain (95% CI: 1.08-7.75) and RR: 1.31 for developing persistent perineal pain (95% CI: 1.05-1.64). They also showed a RR: 2.2 for developing acute and severe perineal pain (95% CI: 1.11-4.33).Conclusions The incidence of acute and persistent perineal pain after vaginal delivery is high. Catastrophizing pregnant women are at increased risk for developing acute and persistent perineal pain, as well as severe pain. Perineal trauma increased the risk of persistent perineal pain.

Attenuated cortisol response to acute psychosocial stress in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis

We recently reported that individuals at ultra-high risk for the development of psychosis (UHR) have elevated levels of chronic stress and deficits in the putative protective factors self-esteem, social support and coping skills. The aim of the present study was to assess endocrine and autonomic responses to acute psychosocial stress and their associations with self-ratings of stress and protective factors in individuals at UHR.Twenty-one patients diagnosed with an “at risk mental state” (12 male, 9 female; mean age 20.8±3.27) and 21 healthy age and gender matched community controls were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Saliva samples for cortisol assessment and measurements of heart rate and blood pressure were taken throughout the testing period. Levels of perceived chronic stress, protective factors and depression were assessed with reference to the preceding month and year (stress only).Compared to healthy controls, individuals at UHR reported significantly higher levels of depression, deficits in protective factors, and a trend for higher chronic stress levels. Cortisol levels and systolic blood pressure during the TSST were significantly lower in the UHR group, while heart rate changes were comparable to controls. Lower cortisol levels in the UHR group were associated with higher self-ratings of stress in the past year and a lower level of education. Attenuated cortisol responses to acute psychosocial stress in the presence of high chronic stress could indicate a desensitization of the HPA axis. Associated poor metabolic and psychological adjustment to stress might increase vulnerability for the development of psychosis.