Psychological Tests Research Articles

Dismantling Racism in Research Methods and Practices

Dismantling racism in American psychology has recently emerged as a critical goal of the field accompanied by actionable steps being developed in training, research, and practice. To contribute to this significant undertaking, we offer an exploration of the impact of racism on psychological research methods and practices using the ABC model. First, antecedents to the present manifestation of the problem are identified as an advancement of research topics that supported a hereditary hierarchy based on race, the normalization of White participants as standard in comparative studies, and the use of biased measures to investigate various constructs, particularly as it relates to psychological testing. Second, sampling bias is discussed as a systemic behavior that produces racism in psychological research methods; specifically, issues of omission and commission are described along with the use of WEIRD samples and the role of implicit bias in the limited production of knowledge on people of color. Third, the antecedents and behaviors give way to consequences that include threats to cultural validity, unequal treatment and health disparities, and epistemic oppression in the field. We end with recommendations for avoiding a continuation of the field’s racist legacy in present-day psychology.

Empirical validation of the use of projective techniques in psychological testing using Galois fields

It is shown that the problem of the adequacy of psychological testing methods, which are varieties of “projective techniques”, is far from being universally recognized. To solve this problem, we used an empirical method based on collecting of statistics of respondents’ answers, as well as a method of analyzing this statistics by means of representing permutations through functions taking values in Galois fields. Based on experimental data, it is shown that the distribution of respondents’ answers to a test in which they are asked to rank pictures in accordance with their own preferences is not homogeneous. Experimental data show that there are answer options that are statistically most common. An interpretation of testing is proposed in which passing the test is considered as “connecting” an external additional layer to the neural network formed by the respondent’s brain. In accordance with this interpretation, the most frequently occurring answer options can be considered as the basis for the formation of classification characteristics. It is shown that during using tests of this type it is advisable to take into account the code distances between the answer of a particular respondent and the codes corresponding to the most frequently occurring sequences. The possibilities of generating psychological tests directly based on experimental data and images generated by neural networks are discussed.

Associations between parental rearing style and amygdala and hippocampal subfield abnormalities in drug-naive females with anorexia nervosa

BackgroundAltered volumes in the hippocampus and amygdala have been linked to anorexia nervosa (AN). This study aimed to investigate amygdala and hippocampal subfields volume abnormalities in AN patients, and their associations with parental rearing practices and clinical psychological characteristics.MethodsThis study included twenty-nine drug-naive females with AN from West China Hospital of Sichuan University, China, and fifty-nine age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) recruited through advertisement. All participants underwent T1-weighted imaging. Amygdala and hippocampal subfields volume was calculated using FreeSurfer 7.0. The Core Self-Evaluation Scale (CSES) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were used to assess the psychological characteristics of AN patients. The Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran (EMBU) was employed to evaluate parental rearing practices. Group differences in brain volumes were analyzed with covariates like age and total intracranial volume (TIV). Partial correlation analysis explored the correlations between brain region volumes and clinical psychological characteristics.ResultsAN patients exhibited lower RSES and CSES scores, and more adverse parental rearing style than healthy norms. After adjusting for covariates, AN patients showed decreased gray matter volume (GMV) in the left medial (Me) and cortical (Co) nucleus, as well as in the right hippocampal-amygdala transition area (HATA). GMV in the left Me was correlated with years of education among HCs but not among AN patients. GMV in the right HATA was positively correlated with paternal penalty and severity, as well as maternal overinterference.ConclusionThis study supports structure abnormalities in amygdala and hippocampus in AN patients and suggests that parental rearing practices may be associated with hippocampal abnormalities, potentially contributing to the pathophysiology of AN. Addressing appropriate parental rearing styles may offer a positive impact on AN.

Estimating Students' Academic Success in the Preclinical Stage of Undergraduate Medical Education Using the Admission Test Approach.

Medical schools face substantial challenges in objectively selecting the best applicants, and the admission process can impact medical students' academic performance. This study aimed to estimate the students' academic success in the preclinical stage of undergraduate medical education using admission tests. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,193 students' records from the 2014 to 2019 cohorts. The students' admission data comprised the cohort, sex, admission track, psychological test, and academic tests. The academic success was based on the student's end-year academic evaluation. Data were analyzed using contingency and Kendall's tau b tests with IBM® SPSS® Statistics version 16.0 for Windows. Most of the 1,193 preclinical medical students' records included in the study were females (68.1%), from the regular admission track (78.5%), from the considered psychology test category (52.8%), and had an academic admission test of less than or equal to the median. (51.6%). Most students (89.7%) met all the academic requirements to pass the end-year evaluation. The bivariate analyses showed significant correlations between academic success and cohort (p<0.001), psychology test (p=0.005), and academic test (p<0.001). The analyses showed no significant correlation between academic success and sex (p=0.324), and admission track (p=0.128). This study indicated that cohort and psychology tests could estimate the student's academic success at the preclinical stage of undergraduate medical education. The admission criteria related to the academic tests during the admission process should be re-evaluated, so that the academic tests could select the best students among the applicants.

Assessing the effects of interprofessional education by hospital pharmacists on pharmaceutical students using a self-evaluation scale

BackgroundUnderstanding the roles and competencies of professions outside of one’s specialty is essential for providing efficient healthcare. However, it is difficult for medical professionals to understand the roles and competencies of other related professions while performing their duties. This study examined the impact of clinical practice-based interprofessional education (IPE) on pharmacy students, who are future medical professionals.MethodsSixty-eight pharmaceutical students undergoing clinical practice were divided into non-IPE or IPE groups, with the IPE group attending an educational program with medical students conducted by doctors, pharmacists, and teachers during the clinical practice period. The effect was evaluated through a group survey using self-administered questionnaires focusing on contributing to multidisciplinary team medicine based on the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale. The survey included specific behavioral objectives (SBOs), the Readiness for Interpersonal Learning Scale (RIPLS), and Kikuchi’s Scale of Social Skills (KiSS-18).ResultsRegardless of group, SBOs [non-IPE: 3.2, 95% CI (2.6–3.8), p < 0.001; IPE: 3.7, 95% CI (2.5–4.9), p < 0.001] and social skills [non-IPE: 4.0, 95% CI (2.5–6.1), p < 0.001; IPE: 6.7 95% CI (3.0–10.4), p < 0.001] showed improvement after the clinical practice. In RIPLS Factor 3, pharmacy students with IPE awareness scored significantly higher by 1.5 points [95% CI (0.2–2.8), p = 0.025] post-practice than those without IPE awareness.ConclusionsThis study suggests that IPE for students during clinical practice could enhance their expertise in multidisciplinary medicine and facilitate the development of seamless team care in the future.Trial registrationThis study was retrospectively registered and conducted in compliance with the “Ethical Guidelines for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects” and was approved by The Ethics Committee of Tokushima University Hospital (approval number: 3544).

Effects of Sleep Quality, Acute Sleep Deprivation, and Napping on Facial Emotion Recognition Accuracy and Speed.

To investigate the effects of sleep quality, sleep deprivation, and napping on facial emotion recognition (FER) accuracy and speed. This research included a cross-sectional study (102 qualified participants) and a randomized controlled study (26 in the napping group and 24 in the control group). The stimuli for the FER task were obtained from the Chinese Facial Affective Picture System (CFAPS). Four facial expressions (fearful, disgusted, sad, and angry) were used. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, and Self-Rating Depression Scale were used to measure participants' sleep quality and psychological conditions. In Study 1, FER ability was compared between good and poor sleepers. In Study 2, all participants were sleep-deprived for one night, and completed the FER task before and after sleep deprivation. After different interventions (ie, napping for one hour, or walking around for ten minutes), the participants completed the third FER task. Study 1: Poor sleepers were able to recognize sad expressions more accurately compared with good sleepers. Study 2: 30-h sleep deprivation had no significant effect on the accuracy (ACC). Napping after sleep deprivation improved the FER ACC of upper-face expressions and marginally significantly improved the FER ACC of disgusted expressions. Better sleep quality was linked to lower FER accuracy, particularly in recognizing sad expressions, while no significant differences in recognition speed were observed. Additionally, 30hours of sleep deprivation did not affect FER accuracy, but napping after sleep deprivation improved accuracy for upper-face and marginally for disgusted expressions.

Exploring the Human-Centric Interaction Paradigm: Augmented Reality-Assisted Head-Up Display Design for Collaborative Human-Machine Interface in Cockpit

Human-cybernetic interfaces (HCI) focuses on the integration and synergy of human-centric design, human factors (HFs) and economics, and human–machine interaction (HMI). The scrutiny of single pilot operations (SPO) approval from civil aviation authorities (CAAs) is subject to the aviation safety and pilot capability during exceptional handling and flight emergency. Airliners advocate the possibility from dual pilot operations (DPO) to SPO because of the financial considerations and captain shortage in the post-pandemic era. One could expect that SPO can only realise when reduced crew operations initiative is proven to be safe and airworthy. Public concerns pilot mental workload and potentially low situational awareness (SA) when handling overwhelmed multi-source information from the HMI in a cockpit, leading to degraded skills and flying performance. Advanced head up display (HUD) design, an integrated transparent display, can assist pilots in maintaining their optimal performance when SPO exercised. In this study, we are interested to design a SPO-favoured cockpit design with HUD and investigate the potential of integrating augmented reality (AR) and HUD in SPO in flight operations. An experiment involving 21 pilots was conducted to assess the effectiveness of AR-HUD on SA and workload in DPO, SPO, and SPO with AR-HUD scenarios. The Situation Awareness Present Assessment Method (SPAM) and a self-rated workload scale were used to evaluate SA and workload levels. Eye-tracking data was also collected to analyse behavioural performance. Results indicated that the AR-HUD scenario achieved optimal workload and SA levels and demonstrated superior performance in handling emergencies. Eye-tracking data revealed that AR-HUD facilitated a more equitable distribution of gaze between instruments and external view. In conclusion, the integration of AR in cockpit design introduces a human-centric interaction paradigm, contributing to aviation safety, SPO implementation and adaptive HMI design.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Gynecological Perioperative Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion in managing perioperative anxiety during gynecological surgery. Relevant studies published from the establishment of the databases to March 20, 2023, were searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and CBM. Literature screening and data extraction were independently conducted by two investigators. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool 2.0 was utilized to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. Data analysis was carried out using Stata 15.1 software. The analysis included a total of 3254 patients from twenty studies. It was found that acupuncture and moxibustion therapy resulted in a reduction of postoperative State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) scores (mean difference [MD] = -3.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-6.93 to -0.07], P = 0.046), as well as both preoperative and postoperative Visual Analogue Scale-Anxiety (VAS-anxiety) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) scores (pre-operation: SMD = -1.04, 95% CI [-1.73 to -0.35], P = 0.003; post-operation: SMD = -0.78, 95% CI [-1.21 to -0.35], P < 0.001) in comparison to the control group. Nonetheless, no significant variances were noted between the two groups with regards to preoperative and intraoperative STAI-S scores (pre-operation: MD = -3.38, 95% CI [-9.58 to 2.82], P = 0.286; intraoperative: MD = -1.09, 95% CI [-7.32 to 5.13], P = 0.730), and intraoperative VAS-anxiety and SAS scores (SMD = -0.44, 95% CI [-1.51 to 0.64], P = 0.427). During the perioperative period of gynecological surgery, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy show potential in alleviating anxiety in patients. It is noteworthy that the current level of evidence is limited by the small sample size. Therefore, further validation of these findings is necessary.

The Symptom Structure and Causal Relationships of Comorbid Anxiety and Depression Among Chinese Primary and Middle School Teachers: A Network Analysis.

In China, as educational reforms progress, the characteristics of teachers' work have undergone significant changes, resulting in extremely high levels of stress that can trigger anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression often co-occur, with two mainstream theories explaining this co-existence: the tripartite model and the diathesis-stress model. However, systematic research focusing on this population is relatively scarce, and the applicability of these models has not been thoroughly tested. This study aims to use network analysis methods to examine the interactions between symptoms and analyze the co-existence of anxiety and depression, thereby expanding the research on teachers. Data were provided by the Science Database of People Mental Health, which includes 1670 teachers with a mean age of 30.01. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale were used to estimate the network structures of anxiety and depression, respectively. Shared symptoms between depression and anxiety were identified using network analysis and clique percolation methods. Bayesian Networks was used to estimate causal relationships between symptoms. Data were analyzed using R packages. Network structure was constructed with the qgraph package, node centrality and bridge symptoms were evaluated using the networktools package, and network stability was measured via the bootnet package. The Clique Percolation method was implemented with the CliqurPercolation package, and Bayesian network modeling was performed via the Bnlearn package. Dizziness and Easy Fatigability & Weakness were central symptoms in the network. Bridging strength results showed that, the important bridging symptoms included Tachycardia, Depressed Affect, Fatigue, Crying Spell, Easy Fatigability & Weakness, Nightmares, Face Flushing, and Sweating were the strong bridging symptoms. Additionally, Sleep Disturbance played a key mediating role. Depressed Affect and Dissatisfaction were activation symptoms for anxiety-depression co-existence. Using network analysis, this study elucidated core, bridging, and shared symptoms, as well as potential causal pathways between anxiety and depression. Specifically, somatic symptoms are crucial in maintaining and developing the anxiety-depression network among teachers. Sleep disturbance serves as the sole gateway for mild symptoms to develop into other communities. The Bayesian network identified two key activating symptoms within the teacher anxiety-depression network, validating the applicability of the tripartite model among teachers.

Sleep hygiene efficacy on quality of sleep and mental ability among insomniac patients

ABSTRACT Background: Insomnia affects both quality of life and productivity at work, and it raises the risk of other diseases, such as depression, that coexist with insomnia. Nowadays, it is highly advised to treat insomnia with behavioral and psychological therapeutic methods to ensure the quality of your sleep. Aim: This study aimed to find the efficacy of sleep hygiene techniques in improving sleep quality and mental ability among insomnia clients. Methods: Self-structured questionnaires used to evaluate sleep quality and the McQuaig Mental Ability Test to test mental ability were used to collect data during the study’s six-week duration, which involved the recruitment of 50 participants using a purposive sample technique. A paired sample t-test and Pearson correlation were used for the statistical analysis. Results: Data analysis shows that sleep quality (t = 33.35) (P = 0.0000) and mental ability (t = 35.33) (P = 0.0001) are both highly significant at P =0.0001. Correlation regression data of sleep hygiene elements such as schedule, avoiding caffeine and beverages, relaxation routine, and sleep-stimulating environment shows that there is a positive correlation with the quality of sleep at r = 0.9, 0.89, 0.75, and 0.68, whereas P = 0.000, 0.01, and 0.023, respectively. Similar to this, there is a positive association between mental ability and good sleep habits such as a relaxing routine, a sleep-promoting environment, and a schedule with r = 0.91, 0.88, and 0.92, respectively, with P values of 0.0001, 0.001, and 0.001. Conclusion: The results of the study provide compelling evidence that good sleep hygiene can help enhance insomniacs’ mental ability and sleep quality. Furthermore, those with moderate levels of sleep quality, those between the ages of 18 and 38, and those with higher education benefited more than others.

Sport training of axial rotation affects spatial ability: evidence from behavior and fNIRS

The present study investigated the spatial ability of adolescent athletes with different sport expertise of axial rotation, providing the cognitive characteristics from both behavior and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) tests. 16 basketball and soccer players, 15 freestyle athletes and 15 runners were selected for spatial ability testing with a three-factor mixed experimental design of 3 (sport type: open high-spatial sport, closed high-spatial sport, closed low-spatial sport) × 2 (rotation angle: 45°, 90°) × 3 (rotation axis: horizontal, vertical, longitudinal). Repeated-measures ANOVA was performed to evaluate the behavioral and fNIRS data of the mental rotation test. The behavioral data showed that the closed high-spatial (CH) group showed better performance than the open high-spatial (OH) and closed low-spatial (CL) group for large angle for every rotation axes. The fNIRS results showed the CH group had greater brain activation than the OH and CL group in the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, superior parietal gyrus, left angular gyrus, left precuneus and middle occipital gyrus. The findings provide additional empirical support for relating body rotation experience to spatial cognition performance.

Impact of premenstrual tension syndrome on academic performance among female university students from the United Arab Emirates: A cross-sectional study.

Premenstrual tension syndrome can vary in type and severity among females, potentially affecting their academic performance. This study aims to examine the prevalence and severity of premenstrual tension syndrome symptoms in female university students and their impact on academics. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among female university students from Ras Al Khaimah, UAE over 6 months, from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022. The updated premenstrual tension syndrome self-rating scale questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence and severity of symptoms. A total of 251 respondents were included in the study. The chi-square test was used to determine the association between PMT and academic performance. The results showed that 78.9% of the participants experienced premenstrual tension syndrome, with 16.3% of them reporting premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The majority of participants reported mild to moderate symptoms, with anxiety and depressed mood being the most common psychological symptoms. In terms of behavioral symptoms, physical symptoms and feeling overwhelmed were the most prevalent. Furthermore, 90% of participants reported a negative impact on their academic performance, with paying attention in class being the most affected. The study also found that PMT disorder had a significant impact on physical activities and extracurricular activities. Our study showed a high prevalence of premenstrual disorders among female students and their influence on physical activity and extracurricular participation. The study highlights the importance of implementing therapies for PMT syndrome and providing support to improve academic performance and overall quality of life.

Risk and Protective Factors of Psychosocial Functioning inSurvivors of Childhood Cancer: Results of the DCCSS-LATER Study.

This study examines the association between psychosocial risk and protective factors and a wide range of psychosocial outcomes including emotional, social, cognitive, and physical domains in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). CCS from the Dutch Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (DCCSS)-LATER cohort (diagnosed 1963-2001) part 2 (age≥18years, diagnosed < 18years, ≥ 5years since diagnosis) completed questionnaires on psychosocial risk and protective factors (Benefit and Burden Scale, Illness Cognition Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Impact of Cancer Scale), and psychosocial outcomes (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Self-Rating Scale for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, TNO-AZL Questionnaire for Adult Health-Related Quality of Life, and Short Form-36). Associations were assessed with regression analysis, adjusting for attained age, sex, number of health conditions, and time since diagnosis, while correcting for multiple testing (p< 0.004). A total of 1382 CCS participated, all diagnosed ≥ 15years ago. The mean age of participating CCS was 36years, and 51% were female. Perceived benefit and burden, acceptance, and helplessness, self-esteem and social support were associated with the psychosocial outcomes. In the models including all psychosocial factors, most associations with psychosocial outcomes were seen for self-esteem (10×), and perceived burden (9×). Self-esteem (all β≤ 0.47) and perceived burden (all β≤ 0.38) demonstrated strongest associations of medium/large size. Perceptions of childhood cancer, illness cognitions, self-esteem, and social support play a role in explaining psychosocial functioning in CCS, outweighing the influence of socio-demographic and medical variables. Addressing negative perceptions and reducing feelings of helplessness, while promoting acceptance, self-esteem, and social support, could provide intervention targets for CCS who encounter psychosocial challenges.

SPECIFICITY OF CHILDREN'S SOCIALIZATION IN COMPLETE AND PARENT FAMILIES

The article describes the specifics of the socialization process of children in complete and incomplete families. The research is based on the use of various methods: parental surveys and psychological tests. The main goal was to determine the level of anxiety in children and their individual characteristics influencing the socialization process.The study showed that children from incomplete families are characterized by a higher level of anxiety than children from complete families. During the study of personality traits of children according to R. Kettell's questionnaire, it was found that most children living in incomplete families and for various reasons raised by one parent show significant differences in some traits and behaviour, which may result from the fact that they have an incomplete picture of the family environment, unlike children from complete families. Such traits as emotional stability, normative behaviour and self-control are not characteristic of this category of children.The projective technique "My Family" made it possible to assess the specifics of relations between children and members of complete and incomplete families. Analysis of the research results showed that children with behavioural disorders more often appear in the drawings of children who have experienced a divorce of their parents than children in harmonious interpersonal interaction with their parents. The questionnaire "Analysis of family relations" (Eidemiller, Yustyckis) allowed to diagnose dysfunctions in the system of mutual influence of family members on each other and to detect errors in the parenting style chosen by the parents. Analysis of the answers of complete and incomplete families surveyed using this method and their comparison with the description of parenting styles allows to state that in incomplete families the features of excessively dominant care, excessive protection and excessive indulgence, emotional alienation prevail. Parents who raise their children separately or alone most often choose an "indulgent" parenting style.

Социальная тревога российского студенчества: территориальный аспект

Relevance. The article is focused оn the analysis of social anxiety and social phobia of modern Russian students of six regions of the Russian Federation in the context of a Special Military Operation and the sanctions pressure of the collective West on our state and its citizens. Research problem. The purpose of our research is to study the manifestations of social anxiety and sociоphobia caused by military actions among Russian students as a special socio-demographic group of people of the younger generation exposed to social risks. Methods. The total number of respondents was 991 people. All respondents are students of higher educational institutions. The research methodology is the Questionnaire of social anxiety and sociobia (OSTiSF). The article analyzes the data of psychological testing (face-to-face and online) of the large-scale interregional socio-psychological study “Russian students: assessments and patterns of the present and future as a basis for the formation of civic and value attitudes”. Research results. It was determined that the dominant type of social anxiety is post-situational rumination. The highest level of social anxiety was observed among young people living in the new Russian territories. Respondents from the newly annexed territories of the Russian Federation have a statistically higher level of social anxiety and sociоphobia than respondents from Belgorod and the Rostov region. Also, social anxiety is higher in women than in men. Conclusions. Psychological correction of social anxiety and sociophobia among modern youth is an important sphere of implementation of university youth policy. Its solution is the prerogative of specialised units of university psychological services.

Psychological testing in children with elevated blood lead level: the effect of spirulina

Psychological testing in children with elevated blood lead level: the effect of spirulina

The Issues of Psychological Health Tests in Chinese High Schools

At present, adolescents are facing many challenges in mental health, and there are many problems with psychological test questions, so this paper aims to strengthen mental health education and interventions. There are many problems in the current psychological test questions, including insufficient professionalism, insufficient consideration of cultural differences, insufficient privacy protection, insufficient validity and reliability, excessive reliance on self-report, oversimplification of the interpretation of results, lack of timely updating and revision, suggestiveness of the questions, insufficient verification of reliability and validity, and failure to fully cover important aspects of mental health. These issues may affect the accuracy and reliability of test results and need to be continuously improved and resolved through scientific research and professional practice. When addressing mental health issues, schools should work with professionals to ensure that psychological tests are scientific and culturally appropriate, while updating test questions regularly. In addition, it combines quantitative and qualitative assessments, provides professional training, uses information technology to improve testing convenience, and establishes a feedback mechanism to optimize test questions. Resources and support are also needed after the exam to ensure that tests are designed without bias to help students address mental health challenges. Through these measures, the effectiveness of psychological testing can be improved, and the mental health and well-being of students can be promoted.

Risk Perception versus Risk Preference among Future Financial Market Participants – A Pilot Study

The purpose of the article. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the level of risk measured by the SIRI risk questionnaire and the psychological test from the section ‘People Value Changes, not States’ from the article ‘Aspects of Investor Psychology' by Kahneman and Riepe. Another objective was to evaluate the relationship between the level derived from the tests and the risk attitude of market participants. Methodology. The pilot study was conducted between February and June 2023. A quantitative method was used to verify the hypothesis. A survey tool was used and 36 students of Finance and Accounting major were surveyed. The survey consisted of the SIRI risk questionnaire, the Kahneman and Riepe psychological test, and a metric, which included questions on the socio-demographic characteristics of the sample such as gender, and a year of study. Results of the research. The pilot study found a negative moderate correlation between stimulus risk and instrumental risk, and a negative moderate correlation between instrumental risk, risk aversion and gambling propensity.

Status quo and factors influencing dyadic disease appraisal in chronic heart failure based on latent profile analysis in Northern Sichuan Province, China

PurposeThis study explored potential categories of dyadic disease appraisal differences among patients hospitalized with chronic heart failure (CHF) in China and analyzed the main factors influencing these categories.MethodsA survey was conducted using various tools and scales, including the Chinese version of the Memorial Heart Failure Symptom Appraisal Scale, Heart failure self-care index scale, Social Support Rating Scale, Zarit burden interview, and Self-rating anxiety scale. The data was collected from patients who were hospitalized with CHF in the cardiology department of one of two tertiary hospitals in Nanchong City, China. The dyadic disease appraisal categories were identified using latent profile analysis (LPA). Multiple logistic regression analysis was also employed to analyze the factors influencing the formation of potential categories of differences in dyadic disease appraisal in CHF patients.ResultsA total of 262 pairs of hospitalized CHF patients and their caregivers participated in this study. The dyadic disease appraisal of CHF patients was potentially categorized as the "negative difference group" (28 individuals, 10.7%) and the "positive or convergence group" (234 persons, 89.3%). The results showed that the factors influencing the categorization of dyadic disease appraisal differences included the patient's social support, disease progression, and Caregivers anxiety level, burden, gender, educational attainment, and age (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe study findings demonstrated heterogeneity between the two groups of CHF patients in the dyadic disease appraisal. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on patients who have a brief duration of illness and limited social support. Specifically, it is important to prioritize support for female caregivers who are 65 years or older, have lower levels of educational attainment, and experience a significant burden and anxiety. Regular implementation of support person-bilateral co-management strategies can effectively reduce differences in how the disease is perceived and enhance the overall well-being of both caregivers and patients.

Effect of psychological nursing intervention on anxiety level and quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcer.

Peptic ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disease, and psychological intervention has an important influence on its occurrence and development. To investigate the effect of psychological nursing intervention on the anxiety level and quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcers. Two groups of patients with peptic ulcer were selected from January to December 2012, with 60 cases in each group, and psychological nursing intervention and routine treatment were respectively performed. Psychological nursing interventions include cognitive behavioral therapy, psychological support and relaxation training. Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and quality of life questionnaire were used to evaluate the anxiety level and quality of life of patients before, during and after treatment. The SAS scores of the experimental group significantly decreased over the course of treatment, from 52.3 before treatment to 30.5 after treatment, while SAS scores of the control group did not change significantly. Meanwhile, the experimental group's quality of life score (SF-36) significantly improved over the course of treatment, from 65.2 to 85.2, while the control group remained stable. Further analysis showed that sex and age had no significant influence on the effect of psychotherapy. Both men and women, young and old, showed similar trends in anxiety relief and improved quality of life after treatment. Psychological nursing-based intervention program has a positive effect on the anxiety level and quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcer.