Social Worry Research Articles

Declining health anxiety throughout medical studies: It is mainly about a more relaxed perception of the health-related concerns

Background: Reports on effects of advancing medical education on health anxiety are scarce and contradictory.Aim: To evaluate a hypothesis that its components could be differently affected.Method: A cross-sectional study assessed the Health Anxiety Questionnaire (HAQ), Anxious Thoughts Inventory, and Somatosensory Amplification Scale scores in medical (n = 214) and law (controls, n = 821) students at different study years.Results: In the controls, all outcomes minimally differed across the study-year levels. Medical scores were similar to control scores at the lower and intermediate level and were significantly lower at higher study years. However, health worry, fear, and reassurance seeking only differed mildly between the medical study levels (adjusted effect sizes ≤0.23), whereas tendency toward amplification, meta-worry, social worry, and the HAQ interference with life score were significantly lower at higher than at the lower years (adjusted effect sizes 0.31–0.47). In the medical students, the HAQ interference with life score was affected mainly by the level of meta-worry, whereas in controls the major impact was that of health-related concerns.Conclusions: Studying medicine does not seem to relevantly affect the level of health-related concerns, but the degree by which they are perceived as disruptive declines as a specific function of advancing stages of education. This is closely related to progressively declining tendency toward amplification and levels of meta-worry.

Classroom goal structures, social achievement goals, and adjustment in middle school

The current study investigated the mediating role of social achievement goals in the relation between classroom goal structures and academic engagement and social adjustment among 373 middle school students (52.8% female). Students’ perceptions of classroom goal structures were measured in Fall; social achievement goals and academic and social outcomes were measured in Spring. Structural equation modeling analysis confirmed that social achievement goals partially mediated the effects of perceived classroom goal structures on academic and social outcomes. Perceived classroom mastery goal structure predicted social development goals positively but social demonstration-approach goals negatively. Perceived classroom performance goal structure positively predicted social demonstration-approach and avoid goals. Subsequently, social development goals were related to adaptive outcomes (e.g., academic engagement and social satisfaction) while social demonstration-approach goals predicted negative outcomes (e.g., disruptive behaviors and social worry). Interestingly, social demonstration-avoid goals predicted high social worry but low disruptive behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Doll Play Narratives About Starting School in Children of Socially Anxious Mothers, and Their Relation to Subsequent Child School-Based Anxiety

Child social anxiety is common, and predicts later emotional and academic impairment. Offspring of socially anxious mothers are at increased risk. It is important to establish whether individual vulnerability to disorder can be identified in young children. The responses of 4.5 year-old children of mothers with social phobia (N = 62) and non-anxious mothers (N = 60) were compared, two months before school entry, using a Doll Play (DP) procedure focused on the social challenge of starting school. DP responses were examined in relation to teacher reports of anxious-depressed symptoms and social worries at the end of the child's first school term. The role of earlier child behavioral inhibition and attachment, assessed at 14 months, was also considered. Compared to children of non-anxious mothers, children of mothers with social phobia were significantly more likely to give anxiously negative responses in their school DP (OR = 2.57). In turn, negative DP predicted teacher reported anxious-depressed and social worry problems. There were no effects of infant behavioral inhibition or attachment. Vulnerability in young children at risk of anxiety can be identified using Doll Play narratives.

Representaciones de género en la publicidad radiofónica. un análisis comparativo

El papel que asumen la publicidad y los medios de comunicación en el proceso de formación del individuo ha suscitado la preocupación social por el tipo de representaciones que éstos vehiculan. Una circunstancia que se hace especialmente patente en el ámbito de las representaciones de género.Este particular tratamiento que la publicidad da a las representaciones femeninas y masculinas ha constituido el objeto de estudio de numerosas investigaciones en las últimas décadas. Investigaciones que han sido abordadas, fundamentalmente, desde la perspectiva de la publicidad televisiva, dejando relegado al medio sonoro.El presente trabajo ha tenido por objeto analizar el tratamiento que la publicidad radiofónica española da a las representaciones de género, con la intención de comparar dichos resultados con aquellos aportados por estudios precedentes sobre la estereotipia sonora en otros ámbitos (Reino Unido y Portugal).

Programa EDUCA. Escuela de padres para el tratamiento de los trastornos del comportamiento perturbador

The perturbing disorders in adolescence and during youth, as well as the aggressive and criminal behavior have increased notably in recent years, generating a great social worry for how to revert this tendency. Conduct problems are one of the most frequent disorders in the child and adolescent mental health units, as much in Spain, that supposes more than one half of the medical appointment, like out of our frontiers. Parenttraining program has been considered by some researchers the first treatment option for child disturbed behavior and it would perform on like primary prevention of other more seriously behavioral disease. The main objective of this experimental study was to design and to prove the effectiveness of a protocolized parent training program in group for the treatment of the disruptive disorders (oppositional defiant disorder and antisocial disorder) in the childhood and the adolescence, as well as for to improve the family satisfaction and the familiar context. The initial sample of our study was composed for31 families (31 mothers and 25 fathers) who were derived to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit of Algeciras for disruptive disorders in theirs children. The results obtained shown that the parent training program (EDUCA) was effective to produce a clinical and significant statistically reduction in the variables: Aggressiveness (p<0,05), hyperactivity (p< 0,02), Cohesion (p<0,01), Moral Religiousness (p<0,03), Organization(p<0,03) and family Satisfaction (p<0,01). CITE AS:Díaz Sibaja, M.A., Comeche Moreno, M.I. & Díaz García, M.I. (2011). Programa EDUCA. Escuela de padres para el tratamiento de los trastornos del comportamiento perturbador. Apuntes de Psicología, 29, 243-258.

FC11-04 - Patterns of depression and trajectories of treatment over the perinatal period

IntroductionPerinatal depression is an important problem with potentially deleterious health outcomes; however, we know little about the trajectories of depression and treatment.PurposeWe report the patterns of maternal depression and trajectories of treatment response in early and late pregnancy and during postpartum in 649 women recruited from the general population of pregnant women in Western Canada. Women who scored ≥ 12 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were classified as depressed.FindingsFifty-two percent of participants were primiparas, 90% were partnered, 83.3% Caucasian, 67% earn more than $40,000 per year, 90% completed high school, and 77% had planned pregnancy. The unadjusted prevalence of depression in early pregnancy (17 weeks) was 14%, late pregnancy (30 weeks) 11.5%, and postpartum (4.1 weeks) was 9.8%. All of the psychosocial factors measured - history of depression, mood instability, lack of social support, relationship problems, worry, and stressors heighten depression symptoms throughout parturition. Our practice of referring women who screened positive for depression changed prevalence rates of women who were depressed and in treatment. The number of women in treatment increased from 12.2% in early pregnancy to 24.8% at postpartum. Women were significantly more likely to get symptom relief counselling in pregnancy compared to psychotropic medication use in postpartum, with the exception of those women with history of depression and treatment engagement.SummaryIncreased understanding of the patterns and nature of maternal depression and treatment response is essential to early identification of women who are depressed and lead to treatment that is more effective.

Assessment of Productive Efficiency in Irrigated Areas of Andalusia

Expansionist policies in irrigation in Andalusia have led to an intensive use of water, which has depleted rivers and aquifers and led to high added costs in terms of hidden subsidies for irrigation farming. Water scarcity has become an increasing social and economic worry for those responsible for regulating water policies and has created problems among users, especially when it is an important factor for production purposes. This empirical study analyses the differences that exist in terms of economic efficiency in the 156 irrigation areas of Andalusia. To achieve rational management of irrigation water it is essential to consider economic efficiency and carry out comparative studies to identify the causes that contribute to differences in terms of efficiency. This paper describes the conclusions of a study into economic rationality in the use of such a scarce resource as water.

Sleep Disorders in Hemodialysis Patients

The prevalence of sleep disorders is higher in patients with kidney failure than the general population. We studied the prevalence of sleep disorders in 88 (mean age; 41.59 +/- 16.3 years) chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients at the Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Egypt over 4-month period. The investigated sleep disorders included insomnia, restless leg syndrome (RLS), obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), narcolepsy and sleep walking, and we used a questionnaire in accordance with those of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group, the Berlin questionnaire, Italian version of Epworth Sleepiness Scale, International Classification of Sleep Disorders, and the specific questions of Hatoum's sleep questionnaire. The prevalence of sleep disorders was 79.5% in our patients, and the most common sleep abnormality was insomnia (65.9%), followed by RLS (42%), OSAS (31.8%), snoring (27.3%), EDS (27.3%), narcolepsy (15.9%), and sleep walking (3.4%). Insomnia correlated with anemia (r=0.31, P= 0.003), anxiety (r=0.279, P= 0.042), depression (r=0.298, P= 0.24) and RLS (r=0.327, P= 0.002). Also, RLS correlated with hypoalbuminemia (r=0.41, P= < 0.0001), anemia (r=0.301 and P= 0.046), hyperphosphatemia (r=0.343 and P= 0.001). EDS correlated with OSAS (r=0.5, P= < 0.0001), snoring (r=0.341, P= 0.001), and social worry (r=0.27, P= 0.011). Sleep disorders are quite common in the HD patients, especially those who are anemic and hypoalbuminemic. Assessment of sleep quality, preferably with polysomnography, is necessary to confirm our results. Interventional studies for management of sleep disorders in HD patients are warranted.

Built Environment Factors, Psychosocial Factors and Diabetes Mellitus: A South Indian Study

We assessed the contribution of selected built environment factors to body weight in a pilot study in urban Visakhapatnam, South India. Participants were 123 men and 60 women (age 16 to 69 years; BMI 17.3–30.5) who had lived in the area for at least 3 years. Individuals with lower BMI tended to be (a) working people (non-home based–-working away from home), (b) non-vegetarians, (c) physically active (activity mostly related to work), and (d) taking afternoon siestas. Psychological stress, quality of life and wellbeing data were used from an earlier study of individuals with diabetes mellitus. The measures included were depression, anxiety, energy, positive wellbeing, satisfaction, impact, and social worry and diabetes worry (Diabetes quality of life). Guttman's Smallest Space Analysis (SSA) suggested the relationships among the psychosocial measures can be accounted for by one facet with three axial sets of variables (a) positive wellbeing and energy, (b) satisfaction, impact, and social worry and diabetes worry, and (c) anxiety and depression. SSAs on male participants suggested that fasting blood glucose and weight were most closely associated with anxiety and energy levels. In female participants, weight and fasting glucose were most closely associated with energy and to a somewhat lesser extent with anxiety. In both sexes, age was closely associated with positive wellbeing. Also in both sexes, age, weight, and fasting glucose levels were closely associated with each other. The results support the importance of understanding the impact of built environment and psychosocial factors on body weight in diabetic individuals for designing prevention strategies.

An exploration of young adolescents' social achievement goals and social adjustment in middle school.

Two studies investigated the proposition that social achievement goals (different orientations toward social competence) are an important aspect of young adolescents' social motivation. Study 1 (N=153 6th-grade students) established that different orientations toward developing or demonstrating social competence can be seen in young adolescents' responses to open-ended questions about their social goals and social competence. Study 2 (N=217 6th-grade students) evaluated a new survey measure of social achievement goals for young adolescents. Exploratory factor analyses indicated a 3-factor model (social development, demonstration-approach, and demonstration-avoid goals). Different social achievement goals were associated with distinct patterns of subsequent self- and teacher-reported social adjustment (prosocial, aggressive, and anxious solitary behaviors, as well as social worry, best-friend quality, and perceived popularity). Effects for social achievement goals were independent of perceived social competence and gender.

Relationships between worry, psychotic experiences and emotional distress in patients with schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses and comparisons with anxious and non-patient groups

Background This study tests the hypothesis that worry is associated with psychotic experiences and examines whether worry would contribute significantly to emotional response independently of the intensity of psychotic experiences. This study also explores differences in worry between patients with a diagnosis of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, patients with anxiety disorders and non-patients. Method Fifty-one patients with psychotic diagnoses, 40 patients with anxiety disorders and 60 non-patients were assessed on measures of psychotic experiences, cognitive components of anxiety and depression. Results Dimensions of worry were associated with dimensions of delusional ideation and with psychotic experiences and social worry predicted emotional responses over and above the intensity of psychotic experiences. Both clinical groups had significantly higher levels of worry in comparison with non-patients. Conclusions These findings suggest that worry may be implicated in psychotic experiences and that people with psychotic diagnoses experience high levels of worry. The clinical implications of the findings are also discussed.

Spirituality, Social Support, and Worry About Health

This survey study examined the relationships between spirituality, social support, and worry about health through interviews of 53 ethnically diverse HIV+ women. The women reported coping with their disease primarily through spirituality and gave personal definitions of spirituality. Results indicate that both spirituality and social support have inverse relationships with worry about one's health, but the relationship between social support and worry disappears when controlling for spirituality and ethnicity. The results have implications for practice with HIV+ women.

Gender differences in living with type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the major form of diabetes prevalent in our country. It demands medical, social, economic and behavioral adjustments. Woman and the girl-child have been shown to have poorer access to medical care. We have therefore evaluated the psychological adjustments in living with diabetes and compared the differences between men and women. Three questionnaires were administered to 226 type 2 diabetes persons: quality of life, well being and psychological adjustment to a diabetes scale. Living with diabetes (LVD) score was obtained by summing up the scores on all three scales. The first quartile on the score were taken as living ineffectively with diabetes (n:56) and those in the last quartile were taken as living effectively (n:55). Men scored higher on LVD scores. They reported higher positive well being, in contrast to women with low LVD who had more anxiety, social worry and decreased ability to cope with the disease. Women must therefore be advised to develop a more positive attitude towards the disease and its management.

Cognitive behavior therapy.

Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapeutic interventions have been empirically validated as effective treatments for patients suffering from anxiety disorders.l Treatment protocols are available describing the details of the cognitive-behavioral treatment strategies applied to each anxiety disorder.2 However, as practicing clinicians have long realized, and what clinical researchers are more recently paying attention to, more often than not, patients with a principal diagnosis of an anxiety disorder suffer from additional comorbid psychiatric disorders as well, especially mood, personality, and other anxiety disorders.3-5 High rates of comorbidity are not limited to patients with anxiety disorders, and are frequently encountered among patients with a principal diagnosis of commonly occurring mood disorders as well.6 Based upon the studies mentioned above, approximately two-thirds of patients are diagnosed with at least one additional disorder. In light of these data, it appears as though protocols describing the treatment of a single disorder are typically not sufficient to address the patient's entire psychopathology. While to date, there are very few studies examining the impact of comorbidity on treatment outcome (traditionally, most studies have focused only on the principal disorder), the available data suggest that anxiety-disorder patients with comorbid Axis I and Axis II psychiatric disorders display more severe symptoms,78 are less responsive to treatment,9-l3 and are more likely to require additional treatment.I4 These findings are certainly corroborated by clinicians. Nevertheless, much of the conceptualization of treatment strategies for patients with anxiety disorders, including both psychological and pharmacological interventions, follows a single-disorder-based model. To a large degree, this way of thinking is influenced by our current classification system. Although the DSM-IViS allows for the assignment of multiple diagnoses, the use of this categorical diagnostic system often provides the clinician with a false sense of patient homogeneity (i.e., all patients with a particular diagnosis are the same). In addition, by focusing on the diagnosis of syndromes, the presence of comorbid symptoms that may not be severe enough to warrant a diagnosis for a syndrome may be missed or downplayed. While, as mentioned above, patients typically suffer from at least two disorders, it is even more common for patients to present with symptom comorbidity. In these instances, patients with a principal diagnosis of a specific disorder may manifest symptoms of one or more other disorders, yet not fulfill diagnostic criteria to warrant a comorbid diagnosis. Features, such as panic attacks, social evaluative fears, worry, phobias, obsessivecompulsive thoughts/behavior, and depression, which are the identifying characteristics of panic disorder, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and major depression/ dysthymia, respectively, are often present to some degree in patients suffering from any one specific anxiety disorder.16 For example, independent of whether diagnostic criteria for a mood disorder are satisfied, the majority of panic-disorder patients report a moderate level of depressive symptomatology.8 The presence of depression, even though not severe enough to warrant the diagnosis of a depressive disorder, is likely to have an impact upon treatment. Considering the emerging data on the extent and significance of syndrome and symptom comorbidity, to offer comprehensive treatment, one must implement an intervention that addresses the patient's full range of symptoms. Thus, it appears as though a more parsimonious approach to the assessment and psychotherapeutic treatment of anxiety-disorder patients is one which is symptom focused, rather than disorder based. Unlike the disorder-based approaches, symptom-focused treatment provides a framework that allows the clinician to tailor his/her treatment to address the specific symptom configuration of each patient, maximizing treatment efficiency. …

Calibration of Invariant Item Parameters in a Continuous Item Response Model Using the Extended Lisrel Measurement Submodel.

This article attempts to study the utility of Sorbom's (1974) Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with mean structures model, to estimate invariant difficulty and discrimination item parameters on a personality scale. A set of items from the Social Worry Scale, belonging to the "Anxious Thoughts Inventory" (Wells, 1994) are administered using a continuous response format. The general sample is split into two groups according to gender and an invariant CFA model with mean structures is fitted simultaneously in both groups. The results suggest that both the format and the model may be of interest for personality scales.

A multi-dimensional measure of worry: Development and preliminary validation of the anxious thoughts inventory

This paper reports the development of a dispositional self-report measure of multiple dimensions of generalised worry. Factor analyses demonstrated a replicable three factor structure indicating that this measure of worry comprises three basic dimensions: social worry, health worry, and meta-worry. The first two factors reflect different content dimensions whereas the meta-worry factor consists of both content and process dimensions of worry. Individual differences in subscale scores show moderate stability over time, and the subscales possess good psychometric properties. Significant correlations were found between worry subscales and personality dimensions of self-consciousness and EPI scores. The role of multi-dimensional measurement in the exploration of worry is discussed.