Psychological Criteria Research Articles

The ‘mixed bag’ of segregation—On positive and negative associations with migrants’ acculturation

AbstractMany researchers and practitioners consider ethnic segregation in neighbourhoods or schools detrimental to migrants’ acculturation in host societies. Empirically, however, segregation is a 'mixed bag' and its effects depend crucially on the investigated acculturation domain (e.g., negative for language skills, positive for well‐being). As most prior studies have focused on a restricted spectrum of acculturation, a comprehensive assessment within one single study is needed to establish comparability across different acculturation domains. Among over 8000 immigrant‐background students from four countries, we investigated the association of classroom segregation, defined as opportunities for contact with natives and other migrants, with a broad spectrum of acculturation (academic, attitude‐related, identity‐related, social, health‐related, and psychological criteria). Some findings were consistent (e.g., academic acculturation), some were contrary to prior research (e.g., social acculturation). In sum, our results shed light on the 'mixed bag' of segregation and contribute to the understanding of a crucial social issue.

Research and Evidence Regarding the Validation of the Psychological Evaluation for Selection of Future Officers

Abstract The purpose of this study is to present some scientifically validated evidence on the usefulness scales designed to assess the skills and predictors of the psychological profiles of military services/specialties in relation to psychological criteria. The procedures performed ensure that the used predictors and psychological assessment tools optimally participate to the selection of future officers, substantiating the best decision regarding the correspondence between the psychological profile of the person and the psychological profile of the function/military specialty in which it can develop.

Dietary assessment and effect of Pilates exercises on quality of life, body composition, and physical fitness in Iranian postmenopausal women

Menopause is an important period of life for women, all of whom experience this natural state. However, awareness of the bodily changes during this period is of great significance. Hence, not paying attention to the dietary, physical, and psychological criteria can reduce the quality of women’s lives. This study aimed to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL), body composition, and physical fitness in postmenopausal women after Pilates exercises. Thirty postmenopausal Iranian women were randomly divided into Pilates (performed for 8 weeks) and control groups. The HRQoL Questionnaire (SF-12) was filled out, and a three-day record of food intake was also kept for dietary assessment. The diet of the women consisted of mean values of 1,923 Kcal daily energy, 16% protein, 72% carbohydrate, 12% fat, and 11.32 mg iron. Calcium, zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin E intake were respectively 73, 87.5, 81.7 and 83.53% of the recommended daily allowance. Pilates exercises had a significant effect on flexibility (P=0.002), endurance (P=0.001), muscle strength (P=0.001), body mass index (P=0.001), lean mass (P=0.003), body fat percentage (P=0.001), and quality of life (P=0.001). Therefore, Pilates is an appropriate training to increase body fitness and improve body composition, lean mass, and quality of life in postmenopausal women.

Starving to death and the anorexic frame of mind.

Because some forms of self-starvation such as hunger striking are exempt from attributions of pathology, and due to incomplete understanding of its etiology, anorexia nervosa (AN) is and must presently be defined by psychological criteria as well as behavioral and bodily measures. Although opaque, typical motivational frames of mind in AN lack the apparent cognitive and volitional dysfunction usually indicating disorder. In contrast to other conditions that exhibit more evident dysfunction, this distinguishes AN from the perspective of medical epistemology: the opacity of AN motivation jeopardizing the epistemic warrant for assigning it to the category of a mental disorder (and so influencing decisions over diagnosis and recovery). This seems to invite non-medical approaches to its prevention and care.

Psychological criteria in the structure of public administration models in the conditions of globalization and European integration of Ukraine

Psychological criteria in the structure of public administration models in the conditions of globalization and European integration of Ukraine

Study on the Favorable Appearance of Farmers’ Restaurants

Farmers’ restaurants refer to the restaurants where the farmers use ingredients produced in-house or locally. The farmers’ restaurants are expected to play a social role such as increasing agricultural income, so they need increase the number of customers. This research focused on the appearance of the restaurant as one of the important factors for attracting customers and considered the psychological criteria and physical components of the favorable appearance of a farmer’s restaurant. In addition, this research also found that the criteria for judging the favorable appearance differ depending on the purpose of visiting the farmer’s restaurant. By utilizing the results of this research to achieve the favorable appearance, it is expected that the farmer’s restaurant will be able to attract more people, increase the number of customers and play the expected social role.

Does Environmental and Social Standards Influence Workers Psychology? A Cognitive Analytics Management as A Strategic Factor

Background: The desire to contribute to sustainable development was translated into a search for the broadest possible consensus, at the international level, on the means of integrating responsible behavior into the company, by providing operational guidelines on dialogue with stakeholders. In spite of the complexity of challenges of environmental and societal standards effect on workers psychology, there has been limited research which explains this relationship. Therefore, the goal of this article is to explore the ripple effect generated by employment of environmental management criteria (ISO 14000) combined with social responsibility standard (ISO 26000) as integrated system designed to cope with cognitive analytics management (CAM) on employees psychology and behavior. Method: The study is based on survey instrument and it was targeted a sample of 300 companies from Tunisian industrial sector. The quantitative and qualitative exploratory research design was adopted through the structural equation model (PLS-SEM). Results: The findings showed that there is an indirect relationship between organizational effectiveness as a determinant of ISO standards and intention, sense of self-efficacy as a workers psychology criteria. The causality path of different constructs has been approved via CAM which played the mediator role and ensured the establishment of ISO practices and its effects to employees’ behavior by extracting tacit knowledge to explicit. Conclusion: The organizational effectiveness induced through the coding of knowledge towards the decoding of employee behavior through loyalty, commitment, pride, trust, belief in personal effectiveness, promote the role gives by the manager to his employees in achieving the strategic ambitions of the organization, and more specifically in their confidence ability to coordinate voluntarily in the interests of the company.

Post-traumatic stress disorder: A biopsychosocial case-control study investigating peripheral blood protein biomarkers

Experiencing traumatic events is unfortunately commonplace and, in some cases, may lead to the onset of debilitating mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Current diagnostic criteria for PTSD results in high depression and anxiety comorbidity. Better understanding of biological mechanisms and pathways underlying PTSD could aid in more accurate case identification and stratification of treatments. Recent meta-analysis has identified chronic PTSD to be associated with increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and alterations in neuronal structures which contribute to an overall reduction in brain volume. Despite this, there are currently no biological markers in clinical use to identify PTSD or monitor treatment. This case-control study (n = 40) aimed to identify differences in peripheral blood biomarkers, and biomarker combinations, able to distinguish PTSD participants from controls, and examine in a biopsychosocial framework. The levels of 5/37 biomarkers investigated were significantly altered in the serum of PTSD participants: HDL and LDL cholesterol, tPA, IL-8 and EGF. Biomarkers could be used in combination with psychological criteria, in a biopsychosocial model, to support clinical management decisions and ensure appropriate individual treatment pathways. • Overlapping symptomology of PTSD with depression and anxiety presents diagnostic challenges. • EGF, tPA and IL-8 were differentially expressed in PTSD vs. control participants. • Using a biopsychosocial approach may improve PTSD diagnosis and treatment management.

Somatic symptom disorder: a scoping review on the empirical evidence of a new diagnosis.

In 2013, the diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder (SSD) was introduced into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This review aims to comprehensively synthesize contemporary evidence related to SSD. A scoping review was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. The main inclusion criteria were SSD and publication in the English language between 01/2009 and 05/2020. Systematic search terms also included subheadings for the DSM-5 text sections; i.e., diagnostic features, prevalence, development and course, risk and prognostic factors, culture, gender, suicide risk, functional consequences, differential diagnosis, and comorbidity. Eight hundred and eighty-two articles were identified, of which 59 full texts were included for analysis. Empirical evidence supports the reliability, validity, and clinical utility of SSD diagnostic criteria, but the further specification of the psychological SSD B-criteria criteria seems necessary. General population studies using self-report questionnaires reported mean frequencies for SSD of 12.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 12.5-13.3%], while prevalence studies based on criterion standard interviews are lacking. SSD was associated with increased functional impairment, decreased quality of life, and high comorbidity with anxiety and depressive disorders. Relevant research gaps remain regarding developmental aspects, risk and prognostic factors, suicide risk as well as culture- and gender-associated issues. Strengths of the SSD diagnosis are its good reliability, validity, and clinical utility, which substantially improved on its predecessors. SSD characterizes a specific patient population that is significantly impaired both physically and psychologically. However, substantial research gaps exist, e.g., regarding SSD prevalence assessed with criterion standard diagnostic interviews.

Психологические механизмы формирования и профилактика индивидуально-психологической дезадаптации личности

Relevance. Maladaptive personality behavior is one of the research subjects of deviant behavior, and from the point of view of the social-normative criterion contradicts the tasks of harmonious adaptation of a person. This makes it difficult to perform professional functions, causes industrial conflicts, disorganization of all kinds of activity and crises being an urgent problem of a psychological, social and personal nature. The study of individual psychological mechanisms and criteria for disadaptation makes it possible to determine the psychological mechanisms of its formation and to prevent the negative consequences of maladjustment using a multilevel integral analysis of its different variations.
 Objectives. The aim of the article is to establish the actual characteristics of individual psychological maladjustment and to determine the mechanisms of its formation as a condition for prevention.
 Research progress. The research specifies the current risks of personality maladjustment associated with the factors of the virtual space, isolation of the individual from the conditions of real interaction, the duration of the pandemic. The analysis of the factors determining individual psychological maladjustment, the stability of the genesis of which is noted in the overwhelming majority of studies is carried out. The study clarifies the concept of the psychological mechanism of the formation of deviant behavior in general and maladjustment in various specific spheres of human activity.
 Conclusions. The formation of individual psychological maladjustment of the personality is subject to the action of multilevel universal mechanisms, which are practically not discussed in current empirical works. Further studies will be needed to examine private and general mechanisms of behavior deviating from the norm as well as its consequence, that is the formation of maladaptive individual psychological characteristics. The system of multilevel integral connections being activated in accordance with the principles of consistency, stability and differentiation, acts as a mechanism of individual psychological maladjustment.
 To carry out the tasks of preventing individual psychological maladjustment, it is necessary to study the methodology of analyzing causal and teleological relations.

PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONALITY OF PROFESSIONAL REFLECTION AND BEHAVIORAL STRATEGIES IN SITUATIONS OF PROBLEMATIC INTERACTION

The article analyzes the problem of interpersonal interaction in the process of joint activity, which has been and remains one of the most important problems in social, organizational and management psychology. Based on the classifications of the partners in the joint activity (“unwanted”, “complex”, “viral”, etc.) were identified characteristics and evaluation criteria for the indicated types and behavioral strategies. The aim of the study was supposed to develop, based on the characteristics of the manifesttation of the process of professional reflection in conditions of problematic interaction, a two-sided universal model for correcting self-awareness, evaluating and choosing a strategy for behavior in such situations. Comparison of psychological criteria for assessing personal manifestations and behavioral strategies in the face of overcoming problematic interactions has allowed the development and testing of training that helps to build the skill of self-regulation, evaluation, and identification of “problematic” partners, with a further search for an individual behavior strategy.

A DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPETENCE MATRIX ON THE BASIS OF COMPARISON OF LEVELS OF PROFESSIONALISM AND FORMATION OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE

As you know, professionalism can be described through the ratio of the motivational component of a person (professional values, goals, self-esteem, etc.) and its operational component (ability to learn, mastering techniques and technologies, professional abilities, etc.). As professionalism can be shown both in high indicators of results of activity, and in emotional and physical states of the person, it is necessary to allocate two groups of criteria of efficiency: 1) external (objective) criteria that focus on assessing the effectiveness of the professional task; 2) internal, psychological criteria for evaluating activities. If we talk about skills and abilities, then first they are acquired as separate components (actions), then they are “honed”, combined and form integral structures (so-called skill systems), and then – are generalized to the level of “secondary skills” which are characterized by flexibility, variability, indirectness of knowledge. However, any skills can not only be improved, but also subjected to destructive processes under the influence of subjective and objective factors. These processes are accompanied by the destruction of the structure of activity, which is manifested in various types of occupational deformities. For example, a programmer who has not worked with a programming language for a long time eventually loses the level of work achieved in it, and to return to the proper level of work, must spend some time to remember and improve previously acquired skills and abilities. In today’s conditions, this can be critical, because quite often the result is required immediately. The article defines qualitative evaluation criteria and quantitative indicators that meet them and which should be quantified to form a clear picture of the level of professionalism of the individual in decision-making in a given situation. The paper presents the criteria and levels of professionalism, stages of professional development, which describe the professional growth from a low level of professional competence to the highest, and formulates the goal to be met by the person (candidate). A matrix of competencies is also built on the basis of comparing the levels of professionalism and the formation of professional competence.

184. Psychological distress in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery: two-year outcomes of a randomized controlled trial

<h3>BACKGROUND CONTEXT</h3> Recent studies have suggested that in patients with neck pain, both psychological and physical symptoms need to be addressed. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) works to address risk factors through education about pain, modification of maladaptive beliefs, and increasing patient's self-efficacy. <h3>PURPOSE</h3> To determine the long-term effectiveness of brief psychological intervention on psychological outcomes in cervical spine surgery. <h3>STUDY DESIGN/SETTING</h3> Prospective, blinded, and placebo-controlled trial. <h3>PATIENT SAMPLE</h3> Forty-eight patients undergoing cervical spine surgery. <h3>OUTCOME MEASURES</h3> Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA), visual analog scale (VAS), EuroQol Five Dimensions (EQ5D), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for neck and arm pain. <h3>METHODS</h3> To date, 48 patients age >18yrs with symptomatic cervical degenerative disease have been enrolled in the RCT. All patients underwent elective cervical surgery of ≤5 levels, and had an NDI >20%. Patients who met psychological distress criteria [DRAM >17 and <33, FABQ >49 and <66, PCS >30 and <52, or OEQ ≤2] were randomized to a treatment group (CBT or placebo [Sham]). Patients exceeding these criteria were assigned to the DRAM Observational group. The remaining patients were considered controls. CBT and Sham treatment groups each received 6 sessions prior to surgery. The Control and DRAM Observational groups had no intervention prior to surgery. Baseline (BL) to 2-year (2Y) changes in HRQLs were assessed by randomization group. <h3>RESULTS</h3> A total of 48 patients enrolled (53.6yrs±10.7yrs, 49% female, 29.6±5.9kg/m2), and underwent surgical correction (levels fused 2.2±1.5, EBL: 111mL, operative time: 177min). By surgical approach, 80% underwent anterior-only, 16% posterior-only, and 4% combined. By randomization group: 17 (35.4%) CBT, 12 (25.0%) Sham, 10 (20.8%) Control, and 9 (18.8%) DRAM. All patients had HRQL data collected preoperatively; 33 patients (68.8%) completed 2Y follow-up. Overall, the following number of patients improved from BL to 2Y in each HRQL: PCS – 21, FABQ – 16, mJOA – 18, NDI – 24, EQ5D – 17, VAS – 21, NRS Neck – 20, NRS Arm – 21 patients. Univariate analysis showed that patients in the CBT group trended toward a higher rate of improvement in PCS (56% vs other groups: 41%, p=0.338), FABQ (50% vs 28%, p=0.133), NDI (69% vs 45%, p=0.124), EQ5D (50% vs 31%, p=0.209), VAS (63% vs 38%, p=0.114), NRS Neck (56% vs 38%, p=0.236), and NRS Back (63% vs 38%, p=0.114). These trends were maintained when comparing the CBT group with each of the Control, Sham, or DRAM Observational groups individually. <h3>CONCLUSIONS</h3> While limited by sample size, clear trends in our cohort of operative cervical spine patients show that improved psychological and functional outcomes may be achieved with preoperative CBT intervention. Further investigation is warranted to validate these findings. <h3>FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS</h3> This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

Coronavirus (Covid19) and Consuming Behavior Based on Psychological Criteria and Quality of Life Perceptions-A Quantitative Research

The spread of the Covid-19 pandemic changed significantly our everyday life. Many established habits have altered and people were imposed to live more distant than before. These brought notable shifts in the way we feel, behave, and consequently in our purchasing ways. This paper aims to investigate whether perceived differences in quality of life, stress, and depression led to different ways of adapting to new imposed behavioral patterns. Furthermore, we tried to identify if these perceptions affected our purchasing ways, during the quarantine period.

Structuring a Videolecture: Psychological Criteria and Efficiency Factors

The present research feature the content structure of public and extracurricular videolectures compiled by university professors (n=30) and assessed by university students (n=543). The research included such parameters as interaction, presentation, and illustration. The students evaluated videolectures performed by unfamiliar lecturers according to the following parameters: content, professional applicability, interest, and readiness for further independent study. The students’ assessments of the lectures content and usefulness were most sensitive to the way the content was organized. An extracurricular videolecture was rated higher if it was aimed at conveying information and included minimal amount of terminology and references to the lecturer’s own professional experience, while a public videolecture was rated higher if the lecturers saturated it with scientific terminology and examples from their professional experience. The public and extracurricular videolectures were analyzed from the point of view of their applicability for higher education.

Психологические особенности формирования предубеждения присяжных заседателей в отношении подсудимого

This article provides a theoretical analysis of the conditions and specifics of the consideration of criminal cases with the participation of jury. The aspect of the provision of psychological influence by the participants in the trial on the jury by means of a system of psychological techniques that form the prejudice of the jury against the defendant is disclosed. Currently, the selection of candidates for jurors does not include psychological evaluation criteria. But, in order to avoid making erroneous decisions by the jury, they need to be prepared to confrontation psychological pressure from opposite sides, to teach them the ability to resist manipulation.&#x0D; During the trial the defense and prosecution parties try to form the attitude of the jury towards the defendant, which corresponds to their position. The methods of forming the convictions of jurors correspond to the modern direction of applied psychology.&#x0D; The degree of awareness of the jury about the evidence examined and the rules for its assessment is a cognitive condition for overcoming the formation of the necessary conviction in the jury, because the defendant and the prosecutor and defense parties of the trial use manipulative techniques as methods of influence, mechanisms of covert control: deception, intimidation, etc.&#x0D; It is advisable, prior to participating in a trial, to give the jury the foundations of the psychological knowledge they need. At the same time, it is hardly realistic, in the existing normative conditions, to form their knowledge of the general laws of the functioning of mental processes, the characteristics of the individual’s activity and his personal characteristics that determine the productivity of the implementation of mental cognitive processes in the framework of a specific situation that has legal significance. But you can pay special attention to the emotional stability of the individual, aggressiveness, introversion, rigidity in the spheres of interpersonal relationships and the resolution of difficult situations of professional activity.

Management of maternal depression: Qualitative exploration of perceptions of healthcare professionals from a public tertiary care hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

The lack of implementation and routine screening of management techniques at tertiary care hospitals leads to an increased burden of maternal depression. The consequences are borne emotionally, physically, and mentally by the mother, the child, the overall family, and society. Hence, it is vital to contextualize this mental disorder to design and implement effective healthcare interventions. The study is aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of healthcare professionals, in a tertiary care setting, who deal with depressive symptoms amongst mothers. It gauges whether a psychological screening criterion is being implemented by the clinical staff during prenatal and postnatal visits to recommend steps that can help develop a service framework. A qualitative, exploratory study design was implemented for this research. With purposive sampling, eight in-depth interviews (three nurses and five doctors) at a single tertiary care hospital were conducted categorically using a semi-structured (open and close-ended questions) interview toolkit. Content Analysis was carried out using information gathered from the unit of analysis. The study provided evidence of the existing gaps in one particular tertiary healthcare system, within Pakistan, concerning diagnosis and management of maternal depression. Results highlighted that providers were well-versed with explanations of maternal depression, the aftermath of it, and the current status of healthcare; however, they were minimally educated about the specifics and levels of treatment. The gathered information assisted in recommending steps to develop a service framework.

Feel-Good Requirements: Neurophysiological and Psychological Design Criteria of Affective Touch for (Assistive) Robots.

Previous research has shown the value of the sense of embodiment, i.e., being able to integrate objects into one's bodily self-representation, and its connection to (assistive) robotics. Especially, tactile interfaces seem essential to integrate assistive robots into one's body model. Beyond functional feedback, such as tactile force sensing, the human sense of touch comprises specialized nerves for affective signals, which transmit positive sensations during slow and low-force tactile stimulations. Since these signals are extremely relevant for body experience as well as social and emotional contacts but scarcely considered in recent assistive devices, this review provides a requirement analysis to consider affective touch in engineering design. By analyzing quantitative and qualitative information from engineering, cognitive psychology, and neuroscienctific research, requirements are gathered and structured. The resulting requirements comprise technical data such as desired motion or force/torque patterns and an evaluation of potential stimulation modalities as well as their relations to overall user experience, e.g., pleasantness and realism of the sensations. This review systematically considers the very specific characteristics of affective touch and the corresponding parts of the neural system to define design goals and criteria. Based on the analysis, design recommendations for interfaces mediating affective touch are derived. This includes a consideration of biological principles and human perception thresholds which are complemented by an analysis of technical possibilities. Finally, we outline which psychological factors can be satisfied by the mediation of affective touch to increase acceptance of assistive devices and outline demands for further research and development.

Predicting positive organizational behavior based on structural and psychological empowerment among nurses

BackgroundPositive Organizational Behavior (POB) as an application of positive psychology provides the opportunity to nurses to deliver an effective and high-quality service. This study aims to predict positive organizational behavior based on structural and psychological empowerment among Nurses.MethodIn this descriptive-analytical study, the selected population was the nurses working in university hospitals affiliated to Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, of which 152 people were selected using quota sampling strategy and according to the set entry criteria. The research data were collected using the standard questionnaires of Kanter’s Structural Empowerment, Spreitzer’s Psychological Empowerment, and Luthans’ Positive Organizational Behavior, and were then entered into SPSS16 software.ResultsThere are significant and direct relationships between the elements of structural empowerment with positive organizational behavior (r = 1.496), and psychological empowerment with positive organizational behavior (r = 1.379). Overall structural and psychological empowerment criteria predict 29% of variance in positive organizational behavior among nurses.ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of structural and psychological empowerment as strong predictors for positive organizational behavior.

Combining Traffic Microsimulation Modeling and Multi-Criteria Analysis for Sustainable Spatial-Traffic Planning

Spatial and traffic planning is important in order to achieve a quality, safe, functional, and integrated urban environment. Different tools and expert models were developed that are aimed at a more objective view of the consequences of reconstruction in different spatial and temporal ranges while respecting selection criteria. In this paper we analyze the application of the multi-criteria analysis method when choosing sustainable traffic solutions in the center of a small town, in this case Belišće, Croatia. The goal of this paper is to examine the possibility of improving the methodology for selecting an optimal spatial–traffic solution by combining the quantifiable results of the traffic microsimulation and the method of multi-criteria optimization. Socially sensitive design should include psychological and social evaluation criteria that are included in this paper as qualitative spatial–urban criteria. In the optimization process, different stakeholder groups (experts, students, and citizens) were actively involved in evaluating the importance of selected criteria. The analysis of stakeholders’ survey results showed statistically significant differences in criteria preference among three groups. The AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) multi-criteria analysis method was used; a total of five criteria groups (functional, safety, economic, environmental, and spatial–urban) were developed, which contain 21 criteria and 7 sub-criteria; and the weights of criteria groups were varied based on stakeholders’ preferences. The application of the developed methodology enabled the selection of an optimal solution for the improvement of traffic conditions in a small city with the potential to also be applied to other types of traffic–spatial problems and assure sustainable traffic planning.