Use Of Self-report Questionnaires Research Articles

Exercise And Geriatric Depression: A Scoping Review Of The Research Evidence

Geriatric depression is a common late-life mental health disorder that increases morbidity and mortality. It has been shown that exercise is effective in alleviating symptoms of geriatric depression. However, inconsistencies across studies and lack of optimal dose-response of exercise for improving geriatric depression have made it challenging to draw solid conclusions on the effectiveness of exercise in late-life depression. PURPOSE: To further investigate the moderators of the effectiveness of exercise on geriatric depression across the current body of evidence. METHODS: Based on the Arksey and O’Malley framework, an extensive search strategy was performed by exploring PubMed, Scopus, Sport Discus, PsycInfo, ERIC, and IBSS without limitations in the time frame. Eight systematic reviews with empirical results and evaluated the effect of exercise on depression among people aged 60 years and older were identified, and their individual studies were screened for inclusion. One additional study was found through the hand searching of reference lists. After full-text screening and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 studies were retained. RESULTS: The review revealed high variability in characteristics of the exercise interventions and outcome measures. Sample characteristics, nature of comparators, main outcome assessment, and baseline severity of depression also varied notably. Mind-body and aerobic exercises were found to significantly reduce geriatric depression. However, results on the relationship between resistance training and improvements in geriatric depression were inconsistent, and results of the intensity-related antidepressant effects of exercise interventions were mixed. Extensive use of self-reported questionnaires for the main outcome assessment and lack of evidence on the relationship between depression severity and observed effect were of the other important highlights of the review. CONCLUSION: Several literature gaps were found regarding the potential effect modifiers of exercise and geriatric depression. While acknowledging the complexity of establishing recommendations on the exercise variables and geriatric depression, future studies are required to understand the threshold effect of exercise for treating geriatric depression.

Companion Animals and Religion: A Survey of Attitudes among Omani Students

Abstract Prompted by the scarcity of studies on the attitudes of people towards pet (companion) animals in most Arab countries and inspired by their previous research on the attitudes towards animals in Palestine and Norway, the researchers conducted this study to measure the attitudes of university students in Oman with reference to religious observance. A total of 217 students at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman responded to the Pet Attitude Scale (PAS) combined with questions regarding religious observance. The findings revealed somewhat less positive attitudes toward companion animals among the Omani students than the Palestinian students. Despite the general high degree of religious observance among Omani students, the study showed no significant correlation between religiosity and attitudes towards animals among Omani students. Some difficulties connected with the use of self-report questionnaires and the possibilities to investigate attitudes versus actual behavior are also discussed.

Validation of self-reported measures of periodontitis in a Spanish Population.

Use of self-reported questionnaires in Dentistry may be useful to estimate the prevalence of periodontitis in epidemiological studies. This study aims to assess the accuracy of self-reporting for predicting the prevalence of periodontitis in a Spanish population participating in a diabetes incidence study. Data were collected from 231 patients participating in the Di@bet.es study. Eight questions about periodontal health were included in a health patient-reported questionnaire. The outcomes from self-reporting were validated against a full-mouth periodontal examination. Multivariable logistic regression predictive modeling was used to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROCC). Self-reported gum health, loose teeth, tooth appearance, and use of dental floss were associated with different definitions of severe periodontitis. Correlations between responses to the questions were weak. The question "Do you think you might have gum disease?" combined with demographic and well-established risk factors resulted in an AUC value of 0.75, sensitivity of 75.2%, and specificity of 60.6% for severe periodontitis. The answer to 4 questions combined with age, educational level, smoking status, and tooth loss was 76.4% sensitive and 63.5% specific, with an AUC of 0.75 in predicting prevalence of ≥25% of teeth with probing pocket depth (PPD) ≥6mm. Predictive models, combining self-reporting on oral health status with demographic and risk factors, were useful for estimating the prevalence of severe periodontitis in the Spanish population.

An Exploratory Study on the Use of Event-Related Potentials as an Objective Measure of Auditory Processing and Therapy Effect in Patients With Tinnitus: A Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Study.

Treatment effect in tinnitus research is commonly evaluated by use of self-report questionnaires. As this is a solely subjective assessment method, the need for an objective measurement is paramount to genuinely evaluate the effects of therapeutic interventions. The current study explores the value of event-related potentials (ERPs) in the evaluation of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) for tinnitus treatment. Prospective exploratory study. Tertiary referral center. Twenty-two chronic tinnitus patients. HD-tDCS. ERPs. The results show a significant shortening of the N1, P2, N2, and P3 latencies after HD-tDCS treatment. Moreover, the increased amplitude of the P2 and N2 peaks result in more salient and clear peaks, with the amplitude of N2 being significant larger after HD-tDCS. However, the ERP changes are not significantly correlated with the change in tinnitus functional index (TFI) total score. The current study was the first to explore ERPs as objective measure in a study with HD-tDCS in tinnitus patients. Adding ERPs to the outcome measures in tinnitus research may lead to a better understanding of the therapeutic effect in the future. The results showed a shortening of ERP latencies and an increased N2 amplitude, possibly reflecting more effective sound processing with higher recruitment of synchronized neurons in the auditory cortex. Future studies should elaborate on these results, by collecting control data and adding a sham group, to provide a better insight in the underlying mechanism of the ERP changes after tinnitus treatment.

The longitudinal course of pregnancy-related anxiety in parous and nulliparous women and its association with symptoms of social and generalized anxiety

BackgroundThere is evidence that pregnancy-related anxiety (PrA) has a negative impact on birth outcomes and infant development. However, little is known about worrisome levels and individual trajectories of PrA dimensions across pregnancy and their predictive factors, particularly the association of PrA with symptoms of social phobia (SP) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). MethodsA sample of 180 pregnant women was assessed three times during pregnancy with the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire-Revised 2 (PRAQ-R2). Linear mixed model analyses were used to investigate the course of different PrA dimensions across pregnancy, and to relate PrA to symptoms of social and generalized anxiety. Additionally, distinct developmental patterns of PrA were explored by latent class growth analyses. ResultsWhile the PrA total score remained stable, the different dimensions of PrA varied significantly over time. After controlling for obstetric and sociodemographic factors as well as depression, perceived social support and self-efficacy, symptoms of SP significantly predicted higher levels of fear of childbirth, child-related worries and concerns about mother´s appearance. Symptoms of GAD predicted higher child-related worries. Moreover, two distinct groups of women with either consistently higher or lower PrA scores were identified. LimitationsOur results are limited due to the use of self-report questionnaires and would benefit from a larger sample size and replication in high-risk samples. ConclusionOur study suggests that a longitudinal and differentiated investigation of specific forms of prenatal anxiety may improve our understanding of women at high risk for PrA and promote the development of individualized forms of interventions initiated during pregnancy.

The Mismeasure of Culture Self-Report Questionnaires and Positivist Analysis in Intercultural Communication Research

The use of self-report questionnaires has been one of the most prevalent methods of data collection in Intercultural Communication research since as early as the 1950s. Yet, the method has received widespread criticism from a range of academic disciplines. For the field of Intercultural Communication, there is the added concern that self-report data and its epistemological companion, quantitative analysis, succeed only in reducing complex intercultural issues to an overly-simplistic numerical summary. Despite these criticisms, the number and influence of self-report questionnaires in Intercultural Communication research continues to grow. Therefore, this paper seeks to remind researchers of the many problems existing when asking respondents to self-report on complex intercultural issues. By way of an example, Ang et al’s (2007) Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS) will be analysed through a critically interpretive approach.

Health warnings on wine labels: a discrete choice analysis of Italian and French Generation Y consumers

This paper aims to analyse Generation Y consumers' preferences for, interest in and attitudes towards different formats of health warnings on wine labels in two countries with different legal approaches: France and Italy. A Discrete Choice Experiment was realized on a sample of 500 wine consumers. Three warning options were applied: the long-term effect of drinking (brain damage); a short-term effect (car crash) and no warning option. Four attributes composed the choice set: alcohol content; framing of warning statement; warning size and position. Findings reveal that both the general degree of attention to the label and the level of visibility of the warnings are low, as are their effectiveness in changing consumption. Generation Y tend to prefer the "no logo option", short-term effects warnings and a small logo posted on the back label with neutrally framed messages. Results also show some significant differences among preferences in France and Italy, providing inputs to the ongoing debate in the EU on mandatory labelling. Although findings are subject to limitations related to the use of self-reported questionnaire and prone to social-desirability bias, practical implications are clear for private companies interested in implementing marketing strategies focused on enhancing the efficacy and readability of labels.

Cannabinoids, interoception, and anxiety

The use of cannabis is rapidly gaining legal status across North America. Such dramatic legislative shifts have prompted an urgency in elucidating the stimulus effects of cannabis consumption. Cannabis use, though relatively safe compared to other drugs of abuse, has been associated with greater risk of mental health disorders, possibly via its primary psychoactive constituent, Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In this review, we discuss endocannabinoid activation and cannabis constituents from the perspective of subjective interoceptive (internally-perceived) states and how that relates to anxiety. Human studies have examined these subjective effects through use of self-report questionnaires. However, non-human studies use proxy methods of assessing anxiety states, such as elevated plus maze and fear conditioning paradigms. So far, this body of research has demonstrated that both endogenous and exogenous cannabinoid activation generally elicits biphasic effects on expression of the subjective state, with lower doses appearing to have anxiolytic properties and higher doses perceived as anxiogenic. Unfortunately, research with these compounds has been historically limited due to excessively tight regulatory control. Therefore, much work remains regarding the investigation of interactions between cannabinoid receptor activity and cannabis constituents on anxiety. Ongoing changes in legal status will hopefully mitigate the challenges faced by researchers attempting to access cannabis and THC that is inherently built in by federal and international classifications.

Physical activity during early pregnancy and antenatal depression: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundDespite the known health benefits of physical activity, its impact on depression during pregnancy remains inconclusive, especially in Asian populations. A large prospective cohort study was conducted to ascertain the association between total and domain-specific physical activity during early pregnancy and antenatal depression in Chinese women. MethodsInformation was collected prospectively from a cohort of 1440 pregnant women in Chengdu, Western China. Habitual physical activities (total, domain-specific and intensity level) were measured by the validated Chinese version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire during the first trimester. Antenatal depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 32–37 weeks of gestation. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were undertaken, modelling EPDS as both continuous score and binary variable, respectively. ResultsOverall, the mean EPDS score was 9.3 (SD 3.7) and the prevalence of antenatal depression (EPDS ≥13) was 17.5% (n = 252). The mean total physical activity was 149.1 (SD 84.2) MET-hours/week. A high level of occupational activity (>73 MET-hours/week) was associated with a reduced risk of antenatal depression (odds ratio 0.57; 95% CI 0.37 to 0.94). A similar inverse association was evident for the continuous EPDS score. However, no apparent associations with EPDS were observed for total, other domains and intensities of physical activity exposures. LimitationsLack of information on history of major depression. Use of self-reported questionnaires instead of objective measures of physical activity and clinical diagnosis of antenatal depression. ConclusionsBeing active at work during early pregnancy may reduce antenatal depressive symptoms for Chinese women.

Modulación de las respuestas fisiológicas ante estímulos afectivos: una herramienta para investigar procesos psicológicos

El estudio de los procesos psicológicos suele realizarse a partir de medidas de autorreporte y, en algunos casos, a través de tareas conductuales. Sin embargo, cada vez es más necesario obtener medidas más precisas y objetivas de las respuestas psicológicas para fortalecer las conclusiones de los estudios y su alcance. Por lo anterior, el objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar los cambios en distintas respuestas fisiológicas ante estímulos con diferente contenido afectivo, para obtener indicadores fisiológicos de los procesos atencionales, emocionales y motivacionales. Se registraron las respuestas de 40 participantes mientras observaban estímulos apetitivos, neutrales y aversivos. Los resultados muestran que los estímulos apetitivos y aversivos generan mayor respuesta de conductividad de la piel, lo que indica mayor activación simpática y mayor respuesta de orientación, así como mayor desaceleración de la tasa cardiaca y mayor inhibición prepulso, lo que sugiere una mayor respuesta atencional. También se encontró que los estímulos aversivos potencian el reflejo de sobresalto y los apetitivos lo inhiben, lo que lo convierte en un marcador fisiológico de la respuesta motivacional. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre hombres y mujeres. En conjunto, los resultados apoyan el uso de estas metodologías para el estudio de la orientación/atención, la emoción y la motivación.

Associations of Hormonal Biomarkers With Mental Health and Healthy Behaviors Among Mothers of Very-Low-Birthweight Infants.

To examine the concurrent use of self-report questionnaires and hormonal biomarkers, specifically levels of testosterone and cortisol, along with demographic variables and corrected age (CA) in the assessment of mental health and healthy behaviors among mothers of very-low-birthweight (VLBW, BW < 1,500 g) infants at five time points over 2 years post birth. Data on 40 mothers from a neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary medical center in the southeast United States were collected from the medical record, standard questionnaires for the mother (depressive symptoms, perceived stress, anxiety, mental health status, parenting stress, and healthy lifestyle behaviors), and biochemical measurement of maternal testosterone and cortisol using enzyme immunoassay at birth, 40 weeks' postmenstrual age, and 6, 12, and 24 months CA. Maternal self-report of mental health improved from birth to 6 or 12 months then worsened at 24 months. Mixed linear models showed that mothers with higher testosterone levels had more depressive symptoms and smoked more, whereas mothers with higher cortisol levels had healthier behaviors and exercised more. Testosterone levels were negatively correlated with cortisol levels. Marital status, education, and health insurance were the most predictive demographic variables for the levels of hormonal biomarkers, mental health, and healthy behaviors. The use of self-report and biochemical measurement was effective in assessing maternal mental health and healthy behaviors over 2 years post birth, when mothers of VLBW infants tend to experience more mental health problems and parenting difficulties than mothers of normal-BW full-term infants.

Comparison of self-report and clinician-rated schizotypal traits in schizotypal personality disorder and community controls

Given the common use of self-report questionnaires to assess schizotypy in personality pathology and schizophrenia research, it is important to determine the concordance between self-report and clinician ratings. 250 individuals with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) and 116 community controls (CTR) were assessed on schizotypal traits using a clinical interview, the Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality disorders (SIDP), and a self-report questionnaire, the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Ordinal logistic regressions examined concordance between self-reported and clinician-rated scores in CTR and SPD separately. Analyses of variance examined how the SPQ performed on differentiating between CTR with low schizotypy, CTR with high schizotypy, and SPD. For both CTR and SPD, higher SPQ subscale scores were significantly associated with higher clinician ratings on the respective SIDP items for the Ideas of Reference, Magical Thinking, Unusual Perceptual Experience, Suspiciousness, and Social Anxiety items, but not the Odd Speech or Limited Affect items. Higher SPQ subscale scores for Odd Behavior and Lack of Close Friends were significantly associated with the clinician-rated SIDP item scores in CTR but not SPD. CTR with low schizotypy scored lower on all SPQ subscales than CTR with high schizotypy, who did not differ from SPD. Self-report ratings are concordant with clinician ratings for positive schizotypal traits, whereas certain disorganization and interpersonal traits are not, particularly for individuals with SPD. The SPQ can differentiate between high and low schizotypy controls, but not between high schizotypy controls and individuals with SPD. Assessment of schizotypal traits should include both self-report questionnaires and clinician ratings.

What protects at-risk postpartum women from developing depressive and anxiety symptoms? The role of acceptance-focused processes and self-compassion.

Not all women presenting risk factors for postpartum depression (PPD) develop depressive symptoms. Research has shown that acceptance-focused processes (nonjudgmental appraisal of thought content, psychological flexibility) and self-compassion play an important protective role in the development of psychological symptoms. However, considering the perinatal period, little is known about what variables can modify the negative impact of risk. The sample consisted of 185 postpartum women at risk of developing PPD (Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised > 5.5). Data were collected regarding depressive (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and anxiety symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), psychological flexibility (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II), nonjudgmental appraisal of thought content (Postnatal Negative Thoughts Questionnaire) and self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form). Women not presenting depressive and anxiety symptoms reported significantly higher levels of psychological flexibility, nonjudgmental appraisal of thought content and self-compassion than women presenting depressive and anxiety symptoms. Hierarchical logistic regression showed that women with higher levels of psychological flexibility (OR = 1.06, CI: 1.01-1.12) and nonjudgmental appraisal of thought content (OR = 1.33, CI: 1.15-1.53) had a significantly higher likelihood of not presenting depressive and anxiety symptoms. The limitations of this study were the cross-sectional design, the use of self-report questionnaires and the self-selected bias in recruitment. This study emphasizes the important role of acceptance-based processes, suggesting that at-risk women who are more accepting of their private events may be more protected from developing psychological symptoms. Preventive interventions should consider the promotion of these processes to improve women's adjustment to this period.

Social decision making in integrated care: Applying the Motivated Information Processing in Groups MIP-G model to integrative decision making in the context of care

The literature on integrated care IC mainly focuses on institutional and structural aspects of integration. However, understanding the micro-level processes related to integrative decision-making could increase understanding of the factors that facilitate, or in contrast, hinder, IC. In the current study we therefore tested the implications of the Motivated Information Processing in Groups MIP-G model [1] on decision processes and outcomes in the context of social care delivery. According to the MIP-G model, two factors explain the effectiveness of group decision making processes: social and epistemic motivation. Social motivation refers to how individuals weigh their own and others’ interests in decision-making. Pro-self motivation reflects striving for one’s own interests only, pro-social motivation reflects striving for both high own, as well as others’ outcomes. Epistemic motivation refers to the willingness to expend effort to achieve a thorough understanding of the decision problem. When individuals have a high rather than low epistemic motivation, they are more likely to engage in thorough search for and processing of information. The MIP-G model predicts that at the group level, social and epistemic motivation, alone and in combination, affect the quality of group decision processes i.e. generating problem solutions, disseminating information and outcomes results. Specifically, higher levels of prosocial rather than pro-self motivation and of epistemic motivation should relate to more effective decision making processes and outcomes. We tested the model by asking 70 care professionals involved in IC to describe a specific situation in which multiple parties tried to make a joint decision related to the organization of IC delivery in which they either were, or represented, one of the parties n = 63, or which they observed closely n = 7. Respondents rated to what extent they thought the decision-making process and outcome were a success measures on a ten point scale. We then presented them with seven items measuring social motivation of the parties in the described situation adapted from [2], α = .89, and three items that measured parties’ epistemic motivation adapted from [3], α= .81. Preliminary analyses demonstrate that whereas the MIP-G model postulates that social and epistemic motivation are orthogonal factors, they were correlated in the perception of respondents in our study: the more respondents perceived parties to be prosocially motivated, the higher they perceived their epistemic motivation r = .70. Social motivation was positively related to process r = .74 and outcome effectiveness r = .56, as was epistemic motivation respectively, r = .58; r = .46, for all reported r-values: p Although a limitation of this study is that data are based on self-reports, we can cautiously conclude that social and epistemic motivation relate to effective decision-making in the context of care. This knowledge can serve as a basis for designing interventions. An important question for future research is to examine whether the observed correlation between social and epistemic motivation is a methodological artefact due to our use of self-report questionnaires or rather inherent to processes in IC.

Identification with the school predicts better mental health amongst high school students over time

AimThe aim of the current study was to investigate, in line with the ‘Social Cure’ tradition, whether identification with various groups (including the family, school and friends) predicted better psychological wellbeing amongst high school students. While previous research had shown there was a relationship between identification with these groups and mental health in adolescents, this work was cross-sectional, meaning that the direction of the relationship could not be established. The further aim of the current study was therefore to investigate these relationships over time.MethodData were collected via self-report questionnaires from 409 pupils in several Scottish high schools. We measured students’ mental wellbeing via the GHQ-12 questionnaire, as well as identification with their family, school and friend groups.FindingsOf the three groups investigated, only school identification predicted psychological wellbeing over time, indicating that educational practitioners are in a unique position to influence young people’s mental health. Furthermore, the finding that school identification predicts mental health over time supports the theory presented in the social cure literature: that group identification predicts mental wellbeing.LimitationsA potential limitation was the use of self-report questionnaires. However, we feel that the strict policy of anonymity will have reduced socially desirable responses.ConclusionThe findings highlight the importance of the school for young people’s mental health. Future research and interventions should consider the importance of identification with the school when attempting to enhance young people’s mental wellbeing.

Self-report questionnaires, behavioral assessment tasks, and an implicit behavior measure: do they predict social anxiety in everyday life?

Social anxiety is commonly assessed with self-report measures. This study aimed to investigate whether maximum anxiety levels during in vivo and virtual reality behavioral assessment tasks (BATs), and implicit approach-avoidance tendencies during the approach-avoidance task (AAT) explain more variation as predictors of daily social anxiety than self-report measures. A total of 62 university students (Mage = 20.79; SD = 4.91) with high levels of social anxiety completed self-report measures on fear of negative evaluation (FNE-B) as well as fear and avoidance in social situations (Liebowitz social anxiety scale-self report), in vivo and virtual reality BATs, and the AAT (independent variables) in the laboratory. On seven consecutive days, social anxiety, experiential avoidance, and negative social events (dependent variables) were assessed. The results revealed that fear of negative evaluation predicted everyday social anxiety and experiential avoidance. Fear and avoidance in social situations only predicted experiential avoidance. Neither implicit approach-avoidance tendencies during the AAT nor maximum anxiety levels during the in vivo and virtual reality BATs predicted any outcome variable. Our results support the use of self-report questionnaires in the assessment of social anxiety.

Age-Related Differences in Savoring Across Adulthood: The Role of Emotional Goals and Future Time Perspective

Healthy aging is related to increased happiness along with attention and memory biases for positive information, which has led some researchers to suggest that older adults may be better at savoring (i.e., emotion regulation strategies that up-regulate or maintain positive affect). Paradoxically, preliminary empirical findings suggest that savoring is maintained across adulthood or may even decrease with age, but this research has relied solely on the use of self-reported questionnaires. The current study further investigated savoring in adulthood (N = 119; age range = 18–83 years) using self-reported questionnaires and an experimental savoring task where participants were instructed to up-regulate positive affect about a previous positive event. Emotional goals and motivations that might underlie age differences in savoring (hedonic motivation, ideal affect, and future time perspective) were also examined. Overall, results suggest that older adults savor less than adults of younger ages. Older adults reported lower trait savoring using self-reported measures. Similarly, young adults and middle-aged adults randomly assigned to the experimental savoring task experienced more positive affect than those assigned to a neutral control task, but older adults did not experience these same emotional benefits. Relations between age and savoring were mediated by an age-related decrease in hedonic motivation and the desire to experience high arousal positive affect. Together, these findings offer new evidence that older adults may savor less than young adults and middle-aged adults, which may be partially due to age-related differences in emotional goals.

The role of emotion regulation difficulties in the relationship between attachment representations and depressive and anxiety symptoms in the postpartum period

BackgroundInsecure attachment representations have been established as a vulnerability factor for postpartum depressive symptoms. However, there is a lack of studies on the effects of attachment (in)security on postpartum anxiety symptoms, and on the mechanisms through which attachment representations may affect women's postpartum adjustment, namely, emotion regulation difficulties. MethodsThe sample included 450 women in the postpartum period (up to 12 months postpartum), who were recruited both online (advertisements on social media) and in person (study was presented by the researchers during the women's postpartum hospitalization). ResultsApproximately one third of the women with clinically significant symptoms (33.3%) presented comorbid symptoms of anxiety and depression, and these women presented more insecure attachment representations and more emotion regulation difficulties (p < .001) than did women without comorbid symptoms (p < .001). The relationship between more insecure attachment representations and depressive and anxiety symptoms occurred both directly and indirectly through emotional regulation difficulties. LimitationsThe cross-sectional nature of the study, the use of self-report questionnaires that do not allow the establishment of clinical diagnosis and the self-selected bias in recruitment were study limitations. ConclusionsThe results underline the need for attention to anxiety symptomatology, which is a condition that co-occurs frequently in this period. Interventions that focus on promoting adaptive strategies of emotional regulation are relevant rather than more intensive interventions to change attachment representations.

Peer Buddies in the Classroom: The Effects on Spontaneous Conversations in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

To date, research on spontaneous social interactions in mixed and non-mixed groups has not included exchanges with peer buddies. In Study 1, socio-cognitive factors associated with the intention to volunteer to become a peer buddy for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were investigated. In Study 2, spontaneous social interactions in adolescents with ASD and a low level of support with selected peer buddies and with other students were compared. In Study 1, social-cognitive abilities were investigated through the use of self-report questionnaires. Among typically developing students, their willingness to spontaneously volunteer to help a classmate with ASD was evaluated. Moreover, students were required to indicate among their classmates who were competent to volunteer and who were not. In Study 2, social interaction behaviors in mixed and non-mixed groups were observed and opportunely codified. In Study 1, students expressing the intention to volunteer obtained higher scores on empathy scale and displayed more positive attitudes towards ASD than other classmates. Volunteers were, in turn, selected as peer buddies by their classmates. In Study 2, when students interacted with selected peer buddies engaged in the highest number of social positive interaction behaviors than they did in other kinds of groups. The worst social interactions were observed in non-mixed groups. Social behavior displayed by students with ASD appeared strongly influenced by social partners. Students with ASD seemed to more positively benefit from interactions with selected peer buddies compared to other mixed and non-mixed groups.

Psychiatric symptoms experienced by adolescents in Nepal following the 2015 earthquakes

BackgroundIn 2015, Nepal was hit by two major earthquakes, which caused 8900 deaths and displaced more than 450,000 people. We assessed the prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depressive symptoms and explored potential risk factors among adolescents. MethodsThis cross-sectional study comprised 893 students aged 11–17 in school grades 7–10. They lived in two districts affected by the earthquakes: Sindhupalchok and Kathmandu. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using Child PTSD symptom scale and Depression Self-Rating Scale. Multiple logistic regression analysis examined the associations between demographic, earthquake-related factors and psychiatric symptoms. ResultsThe prevalence of PTSS in the Sindhupalchok and Kathmandu districts were 39.5% and 10.7%, and depression symptoms were 40.4% and 23.2% respectively. The moderating effect of gender on the relationship between age and PTSS was significant. In the multivariate logistic analyses, the factors associated with PTSS and depression were: being female, prior exposure to trauma and being directly affected by the earthquakes. LimitationsDue to the lack of pre-earthquake prevalence rates, our estimates may have been due to chronic long-lasting problems of poverty and lack of access to physical and mental health services. The use of self-reported questionnaires might have overestimated the prevalence rates compared to psychiatric interviews. ConclusionsOne year after the earthquakes, adolescents living in Sindhupalchok had a higher prevalence of PTSS and depressive symptoms than those living in Kathmandu. Socio-economic and earthquake-related factors were associated with psychiatric outcomes. The findings indicate the need for early psychosocial interventions, prevention and future research after emergency relief.