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Feasibility of present-centered therapy for prolonged grief disorder: results of a pilot study
(2021)
Present-centered therapy (PCT) was originally developed as a strong comparator for the non-specific effects of psychotherapy in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. PCT qualifies as a not strictly supportive treatment as it is structured and homework is assigned between sessions. It does not focus on cognitive restructuring or exposure. A growing body of literature supports its beneficial effects. For example, it demonstrated only slightly inferior effect sizes and lower dropout rates compared to that of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy in several trials with patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. The current study is the first to evaluate the feasibility and the treatment effects of PCT in adults with prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Meta-analyses on psychotherapy for PGD have yielded moderate effect sizes. N = 20 individuals suffering from PGD were treated with PCT by novice therapists as part of a preparation phase for an upcoming RCT in an outpatient setting. Treatment consisted of 20–24 sessions á 50 min. All outcomes were assessed before treatment, at post-treatment, and at the 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome, PGD symptom severity, was assessed using the Interview for Prolonged Grief-13. Secondary outcomes were self-reported PGD severity, depression, general psychological distress, and somatic symptom severity. Furthermore, therapists evaluated their experiences with their first PCT patient and the treatment manual. In intent-to-treat analyses of all patients we found a significant decrease in interview-based PGD symptom severity at post-treatment (d = 1.26). Decreases were maintained up to the 3-month follow-up assessment (d = 1.25). There were also significant decreases in self-reported PGD symptoms, depression, and general psychological distress. No changes were observed for somatic symptoms. The completion rate was 85%. Therapists deemed PCT to be a learnable treatment program that can be adapted to the patient's individual needs. The preliminary results of PCT as a treatment for PGD demonstrate large effects and indicate good feasibility in outpatient settings. The treatment effects were larger than those reported in meta-analyses. Thus, PCT is a promising treatment for PGD. Possible future research directions are discussed.
In memory of Edward Diener: reflections on his career, contributions and the science of happiness
(2021)
Prof. Edward (Ed) Diener (1946-2021), a pioneer in positive psychology, passed away on the 27th of April 2021 at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake City Tribune, 2021). As one of the most influential psychologists of the discipline, Ed Diener pushed the boundaries of our understanding of positive psychological functioning, subjective well-being, and happiness (Layous, 2020). As one of the Top 200 most cited researchers across all disciplines and fields, he will be most remembered for founding the scientific study of subjective well-being (SWB) and happiness (Bakshi, 2019). Diener developed the concept of subjective well-being by exploring the factors that influence people's life satisfaction (Diener et al., 2017a). He studied the individual causes of subjective well-being, such as close social relationships, income, meaning and purpose, personality, and societal causes, such as economic development, low corruption and crime, and a healthy environment (Diener et al., 2018). His research has discovered both universal and culture-specific causes and consequences of SWB and influenced governmental policy (Oishi et al., 1999). In respect of his memory, the purpose of this paper is threefold: (a) to reflect upon his career journey, (b) to celebrate his significant contributions to the discipline, and (c) to provide personal reflections of those who worked closely with him over the past 50 years.
Disentangling age and schooling effects on inhibitory control development: An fNIRS investigation
(2021)
Children show marked improvements in executive functioning (EF) between 4 and 7 years of age. In many societies, this time period coincides with the start of formal school education, in which children are required to follow rules in a structured environment, drawing heavily on EF processes such as inhibitory control. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal development of two aspects of inhibitory control, namely response inhibition and response monitoring and their neural correlates. Specifically, we examined how their longitudinal development may differ by schooling experience, and their potential significance in predicting academic outcomes. Longitudinal data were collected in two groups of children at their homes. At T1, all children were roughly 4.5 years of age and neither group had attended formal schooling. One year later at T2, one group (P1, n = 40) had completed one full year of schooling while the other group (KG, n = 40) had stayed in kindergarten. Behavioural and brain activation data (measured with functional near-infrared spectroscopy, fNIRS) in response to a Go/No-Go task and measures of academic achievement were collected. We found that P1 children, compared to KG children, showed a greater change over time in activation related to response monitoring in the bilateral frontal cortex. The change in left frontal activation difference showed a small positive association with math performance. Overall, the school environment is important in shaping the development of the brain functions underlying the monitoring of one own's performance.
Pathological grief has received increasing attention in recent years, as about 10% of the bereaved suffer from one kind of it. Pathological grief in the form of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a relatively new diagnostic category which will be included into the upcoming ICD-11. To date, various risk and protective factors, as well as treatment options for pathological grief, have been proposed. Nevertheless, empirical evidence in that area is still scarce. Our aim was to identify the association of interpersonal closeness with the deceased and bereavement outcome. Interpersonal closeness with the deceased in 54 participants (27 patients suffering from PGD and 27 bereaved healthy controls) was assessed as the overlap of pictured identities via the inclusion of the other in the self scale (IOS scale). In addition to that, data on PGD symptomatology, general mental distress and depression were collected. Patients suffering from PGD reported higher inclusion of the deceased in the self. By contrast, they reported feeling less close towards another living close person. Results of the IOS scale were associated with PGD severity, general mental distress and depression. Inclusion of the deceased in the self is a significant statistical predictor for PGD caseness.
Governments have restricted public life during the COVID-19 pandemic, inter alia closing sports facilities and gyms. As regular exercise is essential for health, this study examined the effect of pandemic-related confinements on physical activity (PA) levels. A multinational survey was performed in 14 countries. Times spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as well as in vigorous physical activity only (VPA) were assessed using the Nordic Physical Activity Questionnaire (short form). Data were obtained for leisure and occupational PA pre- and during restrictions. Compliance with PA guidelines was calculated based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). In total, n = 13,503 respondents (39 ± 15 years, 59% females) were surveyed. Compared to pre-restrictions, overall self-reported PA declined by 41% (MVPA) and 42.2% (VPA). Reductions were higher for occupational vs. leisure time, young and old vs. middle-aged persons, previously more active vs. less active individuals, but similar between men and women. Compared to pre-pandemic, compliance with WHO guidelines decreased from 80.9% (95% CI: 80.3–81.7) to 62.5% (95% CI: 61.6–63.3). Results suggest PA levels have substantially decreased globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key stakeholders should consider strategies to mitigate loss in PA in order to preserve health during the pandemic.
Most countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have repeatedly restricted public life to control the contagion. However, the health impact of confinement measures is hitherto unclear. We performed a multinational survey investigating changes in mental and physical well-being (MWB/PWB) during the first wave of the pandemic. A total of 14,975 individuals from 14 countries provided valid responses. Compared to pre-restrictions, MWB, as measured by the WHO-5 questionnaire, decreased considerably during restrictions (68.1 ± 16.9 to 51.9 ± 21.0 points). Whereas 14.2% of the participants met the cutoff for depression screening pre-restrictions, this share tripled to 45.2% during restrictions. Factors associated with clinically relevant decreases in MWB were female sex (odds ratio/OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.11–1.29), high physical activity levels pre-restrictions (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.16–1.42), decreased vigorous physical activity during restrictions (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.05–1.23), and working (partially) outside the home vs. working remotely (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.16–1.44/OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.23–1.47). Reductions, although smaller, were also seen for PWB. Scores in the SF-36 bodily pain subscale decreased from 85.8 ± 18.7% pre-restrictions to 81.3 ± 21.9% during restrictions. Clinically relevant decrements of PWB were associated with female sex (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.50–1.75), high levels of public life restrictions (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.18–1.36), and young age (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.03–1.19). Study findings suggest lockdowns instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic may have had substantial adverse public health effects. The development of interventions mitigating losses in MWB and PWB is, thus, paramount when preparing for forthcoming waves of COVID-19 or future public life restrictions.
The present study aimed to investigate the affect-cognition interplay in young and older adults by studying prospective memory (PM), the realisation of delayed intentions. While most previous studies on the topic were conducted in the laboratory, we examined the influence of naturally occurring affect on PM tasks carried out in participants' everyday lives. For seven consecutive days, participants were asked to rate their affective state nine times per day and send text messages either at specific times (time-based PM) or when a particular event occurred (event-based PM). Results showed that within-participants changes in valence from more positive to more negative affect were associated with decreased PM performance. This was similarly true for young and older adults. The design used allowed linkage of within-participants fluctuations of affect and cognitive functions, constituting a methodological advancement. Results suggest that positive affect has the potential to improve cognitive functioning in everyday life.
As knowledge derived from scientific theory can be helpful for teachers to reflect on their everyday teaching, universities have the challenging task of teaching this knowledge in such a way that pre-service teachers are able to apply it to their later teaching. Case-based learning has emerged as a promising method to foster pre-service teachers’ scientific knowledge application throughout university teacher education. However, surprisingly, empirical evidence for its effectiveness as compared to more traditional instructional interventions in teacher education is still inconclusive, partly being due to constraints concerning the employed comparison groups. The present quasi-experimental study (conducted in the field of classroom management) investigated the effect of studying exactly the same theoretical content with and without text-based cases on scientific knowledge application (as measured by a vignette test) in a sample of 101 pre-service teachers. Although the study found a small advantage for the case-based learning group, it demonstrated that scientific knowledge application may also be effectively fostered in a more traditional instructional course. The findings and their implications are discussed against the background of cognitive theories on inert knowledge and how to prevent it in teacher education.
As knowledge derived from scientific theory can be helpful for teachers to reflect on their everyday teaching, universities have the challenging task of teaching this knowledge in such a way that pre-service teachers are able to apply it to their later teaching. Case-based learning has emerged as a promising method to foster pre-service teachers’ scientific knowledge application throughout university teacher education. However, surprisingly, empirical evidence for its effectiveness as compared to more traditional instructional interventions in teacher education is still inconclusive, partly being due to constraints concerning the employed comparison groups. The present quasi-experimental study (conducted in the field of classroom management) investigated the effect of studying exactly the same theoretical content with and without text-based cases on scientific knowledge application (as measured by a vignette test) in a sample of 101 pre-service teachers. Although the study found a small advantage for the case-based learning group, it demonstrated that scientific knowledge application may also be effectively fostered in a more traditional instructional course. The findings and their implications are discussed against the background of cognitive theories on inert knowledge and how to prevent it in teacher education.
The spread of the COVID-19 virus was met by a strict lockdown in many countries around the world, with the closure of all physical activity (PA) facilities and limitations on moving around freely. The aim of the present online survey was to assess the effect of lockdown on physical activity in Italy. Physical activity was assessed using the European Health Interview Survey questionnaire. A total of 1500 datasets were analyzed. Differences between conditions were tested with a chi2-based (χ2) test for categorical variables, and with the Student’s t-test for paired data. A fixed effects binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify relevant predictor variables to explain the compliance with World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations. We found a substantial decline in all physical activity measures. Mean differences in walking and cycling metabolic equivalent of task minutes per week (METmin/week), respectively, were 344.4 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 306.6–382.2; p < 0.001) and 148.5 (95% CI: 123.6–173.5; p < 0.001). Time spent in leisure time decreased from 160.8 to 112.6 min/week (mean difference 48.2; 95% CI: 40.4–56.0; p < 0.001). Compliance with WHO recommendations decreased from 34.9% to 24.6% (chi2 (1, 3000) = 38.306, p < 0.001, V = 0.11). Logistic regression showed a reduced chance (OR 0.640, 95% CI: 0.484–0.845; p = 0.001) to comply with WHO PA recommendations under lockdown conditions. Measures to promote physical activity should be intensified to limit detrimental health effects.
With our research, we contribute to the research on proactive work behavior in two ways. First, we examine a person's gender as a boundary condition for proactive behavior at work. Based on social role theory, we argue that women are less likely to receive credit for showing personal initiative (PI) than men. Second, we examine agency and communion as underlying mechanisms that translate PI into a person's evaluation and drive backlash effects. The hypotheses were tested in two complementary experimental studies (Study 1; N = 114, Study 2: N = 163) using simulated job interviews. Our results show that PI relates to better evaluations (likeability, perceived competence, performance evaluations, expected success and hireability) of the job applicant and that these effects are mediated by agency and communion. Further, we find backlash effects for women high in agency and men high in communion on likeability (Study 2). The implications of these results for organizations and future research are discussed.
Beneficial acute effects of resistance exercise on cognitive functions may be modified by exercise intensity or by habitual physical activity. Twenty-six participants (9 female and 17 male; 25.5 ± 3.4 years) completed four resistance exercise interventions in a randomized order on separate days (≥48 h washout). The intensities were set at 60%, 75%, and 90% of the one repetition maximum (1RM). Three interventions had matched workloads (equal resistance*nrepetitions). One intervention applied 75% of the 1RM and a 50% reduced workload (resistance*nrepetitions = 50%). Cognitive attention (Trail Making Test A—TMTA), task switching (Trail Making Test B—TMTB), and working memory (Digit Reading Spans Backward) were assessed before and immediately after exercise. Habitual activity was assessed as MET hours per week using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. TMTB time to completion was significantly shorter after exercise with an intensity of 60% 1RM and 75% 1RM and 100% workload. Friedman test indicated a significant effect of exercise intensity in favor of 60% 1RM. TMTA performance was significantly shorter after exercise with an intensity of 60% 1RM, 90% 1RM, and 75% 1RM (50% workload). Habitual activity with vigorous intensity correlated positively with the baseline TMTB and Digit Span Forward performance but not with pre- to post-intervention changes. Task switching, based on working memory, mental flexibility, and inhibition, was beneficially influenced by acute exercise with moderate intensity whereas attention performance was increased after exercise with moderate and vigorous intensity. The effect of regular activity had no impact on acute exercise effects.
Background: Associations between age, concerns or history of falling, and various gait parameters are evident. Limited research, however, exists on how such variables moderate the age-related decline in gait characteristics. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the moderating effects of concerns of falling (formerly referred to as fear of falling), history of falls & diseases, and sociodemographic characteristics on changes in gait characteristics with increasing age in the elderly. Methods: In this individual participant level data re-analysis, data from 198 participants (n = 125 females) from 60 to 94 years of age were analysed (mean 73.9, standard deviation 7.7 years). Dependent variables were major spatiotemporal gait characteristics, assessed using a capacitive force measurement platform (zebris FDM-T). Age (independent variable) and the moderating variables concerns of falling (FES-I), gender/sex, history of falls and fall-related medical records, number of drugs daily taken, and body mass index were used in the statistical analysis. Hierarchical linear mixed moderation models (multilevel analysis) with stepwise (forward) modelling were performed. Results: Decreases of gait speed (estimate = −.03, equals a decrease of 0.03 m/s per year of ageing), absolute (− 1.4) and gait speed-normalized (−.52) stride length, step width (−.08), as well as increases in speed normalized cadence (.65) and gait speed variability (.15) are all age-related (each p < .05). Overall and specific situation-related concerns of falling (estimates: −.0012 to −.07) were significant moderators. History of potentially gait- and/or falls-affecting diseases accelerated the age-related decline in gait speed (−.002) and its variability (.03). History of falls was, although non-significant, a relevant moderator (in view of increasing the model fit) for cadence (.058) and gait speed (−.0027). Sociodemographics and anthropometrics showed further moderating effects (sex moderated the ageing effect on stride length, .08; height moderated the effect on the normalised stride length, .26; BMI moderated the effects on step width, .003). Conclusion: Age-related decline in spatiotemporal gait characteristics is moderated by concerns of falling, (non-significantly) by history of falls, significantly by history of diseases, and sociodemographic characteristics in 60–94 years old adults. Knowing the interactive contributions to gait impairments could be helpful for tailoring interventions for the prevention of falls. Trial registration: Re-analysis of [21–24].
Investigation of the sympathetic regulation in delayed onset muscle soreness: results of an RCT
(2021)
Sports-related pain and injury is directly linked to tissue inflammation, thus involving the autonomic nervous system (ANS). In the present experimental study, we disable the sympathetic part of the ANS by applying a stellate ganglion block (SGB) in an experimental model of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) of the biceps muscle. We included 45 healthy participants (female 11, male 34, age 24.16 ± 6.67 years [range 18–53], BMI 23.22 ± 2.09 kg/m2) who were equally randomized to receive either (i) an SGB prior to exercise-induced DOMS (preventive), (ii) sham intervention in addition to DOMS (control/sham), or (iii) SGB after the induction of DOMS (rehabilitative). The aim of the study was to determine whether and to what extent sympathetically maintained pain (SMP) is involved in DOMS processing. Focusing on the muscular area with the greatest eccentric load (biceps distal fifth), a significant time × group interaction on the pressure pain threshold was observed between preventive SGB and sham (p = 0.034). There was a significant effect on pain at motion (p = 0.048), with post hoc statistical difference at 48 h (preventive SGB Δ1.09 ± 0.82 cm VAS vs. sham Δ2.05 ± 1.51 cm VAS; p = 0.04). DOMS mediated an increase in venous cfDNA -as a potential molecular/inflammatory marker of DOMS- within the first 24 h after eccentric exercise (time effect p = 0.018), with a peak at 20 and 60 min. After 60 min, cfDNA levels were significantly decreased comparing preventive SGB to sham (unpaired t-test p = 0.008). At both times, 20 and 60 min, cfDNA significantly correlated with observed changes in PPT. The 20-min increase was more sensitive, as it tended toward significance at 48 h (r = 0.44; p = 0.1) and predicted the early decrease of PPT following preventive stellate blocks at 24 h (r = 0.53; p = 0.04). Our study reveals the broad impact of the ANS on DOMS and exercise-induced pain. For the first time, we have obtained insights into the sympathetic regulation of pain and inflammation following exercise overload. As this study is of a translational pilot character, further research is encouraged to confirm and specify our observations.
Objectives: Current treatments for chronic depression have focused on reducing interpersonal problems and negative affect, but paid little attention to promoting prosocial motivation and positive affect. Following this treatment focus, the objective of the present study was to examine whether the combination of metta (Loving Kindness) group meditation and subsequent tailored individual therapy focusing on kindness towards oneself and others (metta-based therapy, MBT) shows greater improvements in depressive symptoms than a wait list control group in patients with chronic depression. Methods: Forty-eight patients with DSM-5 persistent depressive disorder were randomly assigned to MBT or a wait list control condition. Outcome was assessed after group meditation, after subsequent individual therapy, and at 6-month follow-up. The primary outcome measure was an independent blind rating of depressive symptoms at post-test. Secondary outcome included changes in self-reported depression, behavioral activation, rumination, social functioning, mindfulness, compassion, and clinician-rated emotion regulation. Results: Mixed-design analyses showed significant differences between MBT and WLC in changes from pre- to post-test in clinician-rated and self-rated depression, behavioral activation, rumination, social functioning, mindfulness, and emotion regulation. Most of the changes occurred during group meditation and were associated with large effect sizes. Improvements were maintained at 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: The results provide preliminary support for the effectiveness of MBT in treating chronic depression. Trial Registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN97264476.
Do leaders who build a sense of shared social identity in their teams thereby protect them from the adverse effects of workplace stress? This is a question that the present paper explores by testing the hypothesis that identity leadership contributes to stronger team identification among employees and, through this, is associated with reduced burnout. We tested this model with unique datasets from the Global Identity Leadership Development (GILD) project with participants from all inhabited continents. We compared two datasets from 2016/2017 (n = 5290; 20 countries) and 2020/2021 (n = 7294; 28 countries) and found very similar levels of identity leadership, team identification and burnout across the five years. An inspection of the 2020/2021 data at the onset of and later in the COVID-19 pandemic showed stable identity leadership levels and slightly higher levels of both burnout and team identification. Supporting our hypotheses, we found almost identical indirect effects (2016/2017, b = −0.132; 2020/2021, b = −0.133) across the five-year span in both datasets. Using a subset of n = 111 German participants surveyed over two waves, we found the indirect effect confirmed over time with identity leadership (at T1) predicting team identification and, in turn, burnout, three months later. Finally, we explored whether there could be a “too-much-of-a-good-thing” effect for identity leadership. Speaking against this, we found a u-shaped quadratic effect whereby ratings of identity leadership at the upper end of the distribution were related to even stronger team identification and a stronger indirect effect on reduced burnout.
Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht die Bedeutung von individuellen Merkmalen (Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept und Leistungsängstlichkeit) sowie von konstruktiver Unterstützung durch Lehrkräfte für die soziale Integration von Schülerinnen und Schülern in der Sekundarstufe. Bezüglich des Unterrichtsqualitätsmerkmals der konstruktiven Unterstützung wird zwischen zwei Facetten unterschieden, nämlich einer sozio-emotionalen Unterstützung sowie einer fachlich-inhaltlichen Unterstützung durch die Lehrkraft. Dabei wird erstmals die Bedeutung dieser Facetten für die von Schülerinnen und Schülern erlebte soziale Integration untersucht und ebenso geprüft, welche differenziellen Zusammenhänge sich für Lernende mit individuellen Risikofaktoren schulischer Entwicklung zeigen. Es wurden Befragungsdaten aus zwei Erhebungszeitpunkten (mittlerer Abstand: 8 Wochen) von 1.116 Schülerinnen und Schülern in 49 Mathematikklassen der Sekundarstufe mehrebenen-analytisch ausgewertet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass beide Facetten konstruktiver Unterstützung mit dem Erleben sozialer Integration zusammenhingen. Schülerinnen und Schüler mit niedrigem Mathematik-Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept bzw. hoher Leistungsängstlichkeit fühlten sich weniger gut in die Klassengemeinschaft integriert. Die Facetten konstruktiver Unterstützung spielten für diese Zusammenhänge eine besondere Rolle: Der Zusammenhang zwischen Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept und sozialer Integration wurde durch eine fachlich-inhaltliche Unterstützung moderiert, sodass sich Lernende mit niedrigem Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept in Klassen mit hoher fachlich-inhaltlicher Unterstützung vergleichbar gut sozial integriert fühlten wie die anderen Lernenden. Der Zusammenhang von Leistungsängstlichkeit und sozialer Integration wurde durch beide Facetten konstruktiver Unterstützung moderiert, sodass in Klassen mit hoher konstruktiver Unterstützung Lernende mit hoher Leistungsängstlichkeit sich genauso sozial integriert erlebten wie ihre weniger leistungsängstlichen Mitschülerinnen und Mitschüler. Der Beitrag untermauert somit die hohe Bedeutung von Beziehungsqualität im schulischen Kontext und bringt neue Erkenntnisse zu differenziellen Zusammenhängen von Unterricht und schulischen Outcomes in Abhängigkeit von den Lernvoraussetzungen der Schülerinnen und Schüler.
Auditory and visual percepts are integrated even when they are not perfectly temporally aligned with each other, especially when the visual signal precedes the auditory signal. This window of temporal integration for asynchronous audiovisual stimuli is relatively well examined in the case of speech, while other natural action-induced sounds have been widely neglected. Here, we studied the detection of audiovisual asynchrony in three different whole-body actions with natural action-induced sounds–hurdling, tap dancing and drumming. In Study 1, we examined whether audiovisual asynchrony detection, assessed by a simultaneity judgment task, differs as a function of sound production intentionality. Based on previous findings, we expected that auditory and visual signals should be integrated over a wider temporal window for actions creating sounds intentionally (tap dancing), compared to actions creating sounds incidentally (hurdling). While percentages of perceived synchrony differed in the expected way, we identified two further factors, namely high event density and low rhythmicity, to induce higher synchrony ratings as well. Therefore, we systematically varied event density and rhythmicity in Study 2, this time using drumming stimuli to exert full control over these variables, and the same simultaneity judgment tasks. Results suggest that high event density leads to a bias to integrate rather than segregate auditory and visual signals, even at relatively large asynchronies. Rhythmicity had a similar, albeit weaker effect, when event density was low. Our findings demonstrate that shorter asynchronies and visual-first asynchronies lead to higher synchrony ratings of whole-body action, pointing to clear parallels with audiovisual integration in speech perception. Overconfidence in the naturally expected, that is, synchrony of sound and sight, was stronger for intentional (vs. incidental) sound production and for movements with high (vs. low) rhythmicity, presumably because both encourage predictive processes. In contrast, high event density appears to increase synchronicity judgments simply because it makes the detection of audiovisual asynchrony more difficult. More studies using real-life audiovisual stimuli with varying event densities and rhythmicities are needed to fully uncover the general mechanisms of audiovisual integration.
Muscular fatigue can affect postural control processes by impacting on the neuromuscular and somatosensory system. It is assumed that this leads to an increased risk of injury, especially in sports such as alpine skiing that expose the body to strong and rapidly changing external forces. In this context, posture constraints and contraction-related muscular pressure may lead to muscular deoxygenation. This study investigates whether these constraints and pressure affect static and dynamic postural control. To simulate impaired blood flow in sports within a laboratory task, oxygen saturation was manipulated locally by using an inflatable cuff to induce blood flow restriction (BFR). Twenty-three subjects were asked to stand on a perturbatable platform used to assess postural-related movements. Using a 2 × 2 within-subject design, each participant performed postural control tasks both with and without BFR. BFR resulted in lower oxygenation of the m. quadriceps femoris (p = 0.024) and was associated with a significantly lower time to exhaustion (TTE) compared to the non-restricted condition [F(1,19) = 16.22, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.46]. Perturbation resulted in a significantly increased TTE [F(1,19) = 7.28, p = 0.014, ηp2 = 0.277]. There were no significant effects on static and dynamic postural control within the saturation conditions. The present data indicate that BFR conditions leads to deoxygenation and a reduced TTE. Postural control and the ability to regain stability after perturbation were not affected within this investigation.
Background: Protection against airborne infection is currently, due to the COVID-19-associated restrictions, ubiquitously applied during public transport use, work and leisure time. Increased carbon dioxide re-inhalation and breathing resistance may result thereof and, in turn, may negatively impact metabolism and performance.
Objectives: To deduce the impact of the surgical mask and filtering face piece type 2 (FFP2) or N95 respirator application on gas exchange (pulse-derived oxygen saturation (SpO2), carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO2), carbon dioxide exhalation (VCO2) and oxygen uptake (VO2)), pulmonary function (respiratory rate and ventilation) and physical performance (heart rate HR, peak power output Wpeak).
Methods: Systematic review with meta-analysis. Literature available in Medline/Pubmed, the Cochrane Library and the Web of Knowledge with the last search on the 6th of May 2021. Eligibility criteria: Randomised controlled parallel group or crossover trials (RCT), full-text availability, comparison of the acute effects of ≥ 1 intervention (surgical mask or FFP2/N95 application) to a control/comparator condition (i.e. no mask wearing). Participants were required to be healthy humans and > 16 years of age without conditions or illnesses influencing pulmonary function or metabolism. Risk of bias was rated using the crossover extension of the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool II. Standardised mean differences (SMD, Hedges' g) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, overall and for subgroups based on mask and exercise type, as pooled effect size estimators in our random-effects meta-analysis.
Results: Of the 1499 records retrieved, 14 RCTs (all crossover trials, high risk of bias) with 25 independent intervention arms (effect sizes per outcome) on 246 participants were included. Masks led to a decrease in SpO2 during vigorous intensity exercise (6 effect sizes; SMD = − 0.40 [95% CI: − 0.70, − 0.09], mostly attributed to FFP2/N95) and to a SpO2-increase during rest (5 effect sizes; SMD = 0.34 [95% CI: 0.04, 0.64]); no general effect of mask wearing on SpO2 occurred (21 effect sizes, SMD = 0.34 [95% CI: 0.04, 0.64]). Wearing a mask led to a general oxygen uptake decrease (5 effect sizes, SMD = − 0.44 [95% CI: − 0.75, − 0.14]), to slower respiratory rates (15 effect sizes, SMD = − 0.25 [95% CI: − 0.44, − 0.06]) and to a decreased ventilation (11 effect sizes, SMD = − 0.43 [95% CI: − 0.74, − 0.12]). Heart rate (25 effect sizes; SMD = 0.05 [95% CI: − 0.09, 0.19]), Wpeak (9 effect sizes; SMD = − 0.12 [95% CI: − 0.39, 0.15]), PCO2 (11 effect sizes; SMD = 0.07 [95% CI: − 0.14, 0.29]) and VCO2 (4 effect sizes, SMD = − 0.30 [95% CI: − 0.71, 0.10]) were not different to the control, either in total or dependent on mask type or physical activity status.
Conclusion: The number of crossover-RCT studies was low and the designs displayed a high risk of bias. The within-mask- and -intensity-homogeneous effects on gas exchange kinetics indicated larger detrimental effects during exhausting physical activities. Pulse-derived oxygen saturation was increased during rest when a mask was applied, whereas wearing a mask during exhausting exercise led to decreased oxygen saturation. Breathing frequency and ventilation adaptations were not related to exercise intensity. FFP2/N95 and, to a lesser extent, surgical mask application negatively impacted the capacity for gas exchange and pulmonary function but not the peak physical performance.
Registration: Prospero registration number: CRD42021244634
The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effects of genetic variations and polymorphisms on endurance performance, muscle strength and injury susceptibility in competitive sports. The electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science were searched for eligible studies. The study quality was assessed using the RoBANS tool. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: (1) human study in English or German; (2) published in the period 2015–2019; (3) investigation of an association between genetic variants and endurance performance and/or muscle strength and/or endurance/strength training status as well as ligament, tendon, or muscle injuries; (4) participants aged 18–60 years and national or international competition participation; (5) comparison with a control group. Nineteen studies and one replication study were identified. Results revealed that the IGF-1R 275124 A>C rs1464430 polymorphism was overrepresented in endurance trained athletes. Further, genotypes of PPARGC1A polymorphism correlated with performance in endurance exercise capacity tests in athletes. Moreover, the RR genotype of ACTN3 R577X polymorphism, the C allele of IGF-1R polymorphism and the gene variant FTO T>A rs9939609 and/or their AA genotype were linked to muscle strength. In addition, gene variants of MCT1 (T1470A rs1049434) and ACVR1B (rs2854464) were also positively associated with strength athletes. Among others, the gene variants of the MMP group (rs591058 and rs679620) as well as the polymorphism COL5A1 rs13946 were associated with susceptibility to injuries of competitive athletes. Based on the identified gene variants, individualized training programs for injury prevention and optimization of athletic performance could be created for competitive athletes using gene profiling techniques.
Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht die Bedeutung von individuellen Merkmalen (Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept und Leistungsängstlichkeit) sowie von konstruktiver Unterstützung durch Lehrkräfte für die soziale Integration von Schülerinnen und Schülern in der Sekundarstufe. Bezüglich des Unterrichtsqualitätsmerkmals der konstruktiven Unterstützung wird zwischen zwei Facetten unterschieden, nämlich einer sozio-emotionalen Unterstützung sowie einer fachlich-inhaltlichen Unterstützung durch die Lehrkraft. Dabei wird erstmals die Bedeutung dieser Facetten für die von Schülerinnen und Schülern erlebte soziale Integration untersucht und ebenso geprüft, welche differenziellen Zusammenhänge sich für Lernende mit individuellen Risikofaktoren schulischer Entwicklung zeigen. Es wurden Befragungsdaten aus zwei Erhebungszeitpunkten (mittlerer Abstand: 8 Wochen) von 1.116 Schülerinnen und Schülern in 49 Mathematikklassen der Sekundarstufe mehrebenen-analytisch ausgewertet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass beide Facetten konstruktiver Unterstützung mit dem Erleben sozialer Integration zusammenhingen. Schülerinnen und Schüler mit niedrigem Mathematik-Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept bzw. hoher Leistungsängstlichkeit fühlten sich weniger gut in die Klassengemeinschaft integriert. Die Facetten konstruktiver Unterstützung spielten für diese Zusammenhänge eine besondere Rolle: Der Zusammenhang zwischen Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept und sozialer Integration wurde durch eine fachlich-inhaltliche Unterstützung moderiert, sodass sich Lernende mit niedrigem Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept in Klassen mit hoher fachlich-inhaltlicher Unterstützung vergleichbar gut sozial integriert fühlten wie die anderen Lernenden. Der Zusammenhang von Leistungsängstlichkeit und sozialer Integration wurde durch beide Facetten konstruktiver Unterstützung moderiert, sodass in Klassen mit hoher konstruktiver Unterstützung Lernende mit hoher Leistungsängstlichkeit sich genauso sozial integriert erlebten wie ihre weniger leistungsängstlichen Mitschülerinnen und Mitschüler. Der Beitrag untermauert somit die hohe Bedeutung von Beziehungsqualität im schulischen Kontext und bringt neue Erkenntnisse zu differenziellen Zusammenhängen von Unterricht und schulischen Outcomes in Abhängigkeit von den Lernvoraussetzungen der Schülerinnen und Schüler.
This software demonstration presents the possibilities for the construction, administration, and evaluation of criterion- referenced, computerized adaptive and nonadaptive tests with the R-based open-source KAT-HS app. This app enables users to apply the continuous item calibration strategy of Fink, Born, Spoden, and Frey (2018).
The intergroup sensitivity effect in mergers and acquisitions: testing the role of merger motives
(2021)
Research has shown that people are more defensive to criticism when it stems from an outgroup member, compared to an ingroup member (the intergroup sensitivity effect: ISE). We conducted two online vignette experiments to examine the ISE in the context of an organizational merger and the role of merger motives for the ISE. We predicted that the ISE would also emerge in mergers and acquisitions (M&As), but people would respond less negatively to criticism from the outgroup when the motive for the merger is described as achieving synergies rather than growth. In Experiment 1 (N = 452), which did not mention any motives behind the acquisition, a significant ISE emerged. Experiment 2 (N = 587) again showed an ISE regardless of the merger motive. In both experiments, the ISE was mediated by perceptions of the outgroup criticism as less legitimate and constructive. Overall, this research points to the intergroup sensitivity effect as a relevant phenomenon during post-merger integration.
Reasoning may help solving problems and understanding personal experiences. Ruminative reasoning, however, is inconclusive, repetitive, and usually regards negative thoughts. We asked how reasoning as manifested in oral autobiographical narratives might differ when it is ruminative versus when it is adaptive by comparing two constructs from the fields of psychotherapy research and narrative research that are potentially beneficial: innovative moments (IMs) and autobiographical reasoning (AR). IMs captures statements in that elaborate on changes regarding an earlier personal previous problem of the narrator, and AR capture the connecting of past events with other parts of the narrator’s life or enduring aspects of the narrator. A total of N = 94 university students had been selected from 492 students to differ maximally on trait rumination and trait adaptive reflection, and were grouped as ruminators (N = 38), reflectors (N = 37), and a group with little ruminative and reflective tendencies (“unconcerned,” N = 19). Participants narrated three negative personal experiences (disappointing oneself, harming someone, and being rejected) and two self-related experiences of more mixed valence (turning point and lesson learnt). Reflectors used more IMs and more negative than positive autobiographical arguments (AAs), but not more overall AAs than ruminators. Group differences were not moderated by the valence of memories, and groups did not differ in the positive effect of narrating on mood. Trait depression/anxiety was predicted negatively by IMs and positively by AAs. Thus, IMs are typical for reflectors but not ruminators, whereas the construct of AR appears to capture reasoning processes irrespective of their ruminative versus adaptive uses.
Objective: To compare narrative coping with physical and psychological ambiguous loss (AL) and definite loss in terms of distancing (vs. narrative immersion), meaning-making, and subjective biographical consequences.
Methods: Thirty adults who had lost a parent to death, to going missing, or to Alzheimer disease (N = 90, 67 females; mean age 36.73 years, SD = 7.27; mean time since loss 9.0 years) narrated two loss-related and three control memories.
Results: Individuals with AL were not more immersed in the loss experience, but less successful in finding meaning and in evaluating the loss and its consequences positively compared to those with a definite loss. These group differences were not due to differences in depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and protracted grief.
Conclusions: Ambiguity of loss renders meaning-making and coherently narrating loss more difficult, leading to more negative affect, suggesting interventions that help narrating loss coherently in a self-accepting way.
Measuring teaching cross-culturally - the issue of measurement invariance and sources of bias
(2021)
Im Kontext der Globalisierung nimmt das Interesse daran, Unterricht vergleichend zwischen Bildungssystemen der ganzen Welt zu untersuchen, kontinuierlich zu (Paine et al., 2016). Unterricht ist einer der stärksten Prädiktoren für Lernergebnisse von Schülerinnen und Schülern (Hattie, 2009). Folglich bieten internationale Vergleiche die einmalige Möglichkeit von besonders erfolgreichen Bildungssystemen zu lernen und geben Auskunft über die Generalisierbarkeit beziehungsweise über die kulturellen Variationen von Unterricht und dessen Wirksamkeit. Gleichzeitig sind sie richtungsweisend für bildungspolitische Entscheidungen (Klieme, 2020). Zur Erfassung von Unterrichtsmerkmalen aus der Perspektive der beteiligten Lehrkräfte und Schülerinnen und Schüler werden häufig Fragebögen in internationalen Schulleistungsstudien eingesetzt. Erste empirische Befunde weisen jedoch daraufhin, dass die Fragebogenskalen oftmals nicht messinvariant sind (z.B. Desa, 2014; He & Kubacka, 2015; Nilsen & Gustafsson, 2016). Das bedeutet, dass Unterschiede in den Messwerten zwischen Bildungssystemen nicht automatisch genuine Unterschiede im gemessenen Konstrukt, wie beispielsweise Unterschiede in der Klassenführung, reflektieren. Stattdessen entstehen diese teilweise durch nicht intendierte kulturelle Variationen im Antwortprozess (Bias), beispielsweise durch kulturelle Unterschiede in der Bedeutung der Items zur Messung von Klassenführung oder durch kulturspezifische Antworttendenzen (van de Vijver & Leung, 1997). Eine fehlende Messinvarianz hat folgenreiche Konsequenzen, da valide (Mittelwerts-)Vergleiche von Unterrichtsmerkmalen zwischen Bildungssystemen nicht möglich sind und somit die umfangreichen Datensätze internationaler Studien nicht ausgeschöpft werden können (Davidov et al., 2018a). Dennoch mangelt es in der international vergleichenden Bildungsforschung bisher an empirischen Studien, die mit fortgeschrittenen Analysemethoden die Messinvarianz von Unterrichtsmerkmalen prüfen, sowie an empirisch-fundierten Erkenntnissen zu den Ursachen der oftmals fehlenden Invarianz. Mit einer Kombination aus quantitativen und qualitativen Methoden widmet sich die vorliegende Dissertation in drei Beiträgen der Aufarbeitung dieser Forschungslücke. Sie konzentriert sich auf Fragebogenskalen zur Messung von zwei generischen Unterrichtsmerkmalen aus der Perspektive von Schülerinnen und Schülern, der Unterrichtsqualität mit den Dimensionen Klassenführung, konstruktive Unterstützung und kognitive Aktivierung und den Unterrichtsmethoden mit den Dimensionen lehrerzentrierte und schülerzentrierte Methoden und Methoden des Assessments.
Beitrag I prüft die Messinvarianz von PISA Skalen zur Erfassung der drei Basisdimensionen der Unterrichtsqualität zwischen 15 Bildungssystemen. Zusätzlich wird untersucht, ob die kulturelle Ähnlichkeit (operationalisiert als ähnliche oder identische Sprache) der Bildungssysteme einen Einfluss auf das Ausmaß der Messinvarianz besitzt. Da die Modellannahmen der häufig eingesetzten konfirmatorischen Faktorenanalyse zunehmend als zu strikt für Messinvarianzprüfungen im interkulturellen Kontext kritisiert werden (Rutkowski & Svetina, 2014), wird mit Alignment (Asparouhov & Muthén, 2014) eine flexiblere und angemessenere Methode verwendet. Dennoch erreichen die drei Basisdimensionen nur metrische (identische Faktorenladungen) und nicht skalare Invarianz (identische Intercepts) zwischen den 15 Bildungssystemen. Folglich sind valide Vergleiche von Mittelwertsunterschieden in der Unterrichtsqualität zwischen den 15 Bildungssystemen nicht möglich. Innerhalb der fünf Cluster, bestehend aus jeweils drei Bildungssystemen mit ähnlicher oder identischer Sprache, wird im Gegensatz dazu skalare Invarianz bestätigt. Die Ergebnisse aus Beitrag I legen nahe, dass die untersuchten Fragebogenskalen zur Messung von Unterrichtsqualität unterschiedlich zwischen Bildungssystemen funktionieren. Eine höhere Vergleichbarkeit scheint jedoch mit einer kulturellen und sprachlichen Ähnlichkeit der Befragten einherzugehen. Wird diese Ähnlichkeit bei der Analyse berücksichtigt, sind valide Vergleiche von Mittelwertsunterschieden für eine Teilmenge an Bildungssystemen mit invarianter Messung möglich.
Beitrag II knüpft an Ergebnisse aus Beitrag I an und untersucht potenzielle Ursachen der fehlenden Invarianz. Der Fokus liegt auf kulturellen Variationen im Antwortprozess, die zu einer eingeschränkten Datenvergleichbarkeit führen können (z.B. Schwarz et al., 2010). Beitrag II konzentriert sich auf die erste und zweite Stufe des Antwortprozesses, der Item-Interpretation und der Assoziation des Item-Inhaltes mit persönlichen Erfahrungen (Tourangeau, 1984). Mit Hilfe von kognitiven Interviews wird untersucht, wie Schülerinnen und Schüler aus China (Shanghai) und Deutschland PISA Items zur Messung konstruktiver Unterstützung interpretieren und welche Unterrichtserfahrungen sie mit den Items assoziieren. Die Ergebnisse der strukturierenden qualitativen Inhaltanalyse nach Kuckartz (2018) zeigen zwar, dass sowohl chinesische als auch deutsche Schülerinnen und Schüler die Items mehrheitlich mit Unterrichtsmethoden assoziieren, die zur Kompetenzunterstützung beitragen (beispielsweise Methoden zur Beseitigung von Verständnisproblemen). Es zeigen sich jedoch auch deutliche interpretative Variationen, sowohl für statistisch nicht messinvariante (nicht vergleichbare) Items als auch für messinvariante (vergleichbare) Items. Diese können zum einen auf Eigenschaften der Messung zurückgeführt werden. Hierzu zählt eine unterschiedliche Übersetzung des Terms Lernen (in Deutschland Lernfortschritt in China Lernstand). Zudem finden sich Hinweise, dass komplexe und uneindeutige Itemformulierungen mehr Spielraum für kulturspezifische Interpretationen zulassen. Die zweite Ursache der interpretativen Variationen ist ein unterschiedliches Verständnis von konstruktiver Unterstützung, das durch kulturelle Unterschiede in der Unterrichtsgestaltung und -zielsetzung erklärt werden kann (Leung, 2001). Neben der Kompetenzunterstützung assoziieren die deutschen Schülerinnen und Schüler die Items mehrheitlich mit Methoden zur Unterstützung ihrer Autonomie und ihres sozial-emotionalen Erlebens im Unterricht, wohingegen die chinesischen Schülerinnen und Schüler die Items mehrheitlich mit Methoden zur Unterstützung ihrer akademischen Produktivität (z.B. ihrer Aufmerksamkeit) assoziieren. Die Ergebnisse aus Beitrag II legen nahe, dass die Interpretation von Fragebogenitems variieren kann, je nach dem in welchem kulturellen Kontext die Frage gestellt wird. Sie betonen zudem, dass quantitative und qualitative Methoden miteinander kombiniert werden sollten, um verlässliche Information über die interkulturelle Vergleichbarkeit von Fragebogenitems zu erhalten ...
Fragestellung: Es existiert eine Vielzahl von Begriffen für Verhaltenssüchte, die Mängel in Operationalisierung, Bezug zum Verhalten, Kompatibilität mit internationalen Klassifikationen sowie nicht stigmatisierender Nutzung aufweisen. Daher werden einheitliche Begriffe für Verhaltenssüchte benötigt. Methode: Im Rahmen einer Leitlinie zur Diagnostik und Behandlung Internetbezogener Störungen wurden Lösungen in Form eines Expertenkonsens entwickelt. Ergebnisse: Als Grundlage wurde die Einteilung von Verhaltenssüchten in der 11. Revision der International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) genutzt. Es wurden die Begriffe Computerspielstörung (CSS) und Glücksspielstörung (GSS) für die beiden in ICD-11 enthaltenen Verhaltenssüchte gewählt sowie drei weitere spezifizierte Verhaltenssüchte vorgeschlagen: Soziale-Netzwerke-Nutzungsstörung (SNS), Shoppingstörung (ShS) und Pornografie-Nutzungsstörung (PNS). Für CSS, GSS und ShS wird weiterhin zwischen vorwiegend online oder vorwiegend offline unterschieden. Als Oberbegriff wird Störungen aufgrund von Verhaltenssüchten vorgeschlagen. Für Störungen aufgrund von Verhaltenssüchten, die sich vorwiegend auf online ausgeübte Verhaltensweisen beziehen, kann alternativ der Oberbegriff Internetnutzungsstörungen verwendet werden. Schlussfolgerung: Die vorgeschlagenen Termini weisen Verbesserungen im Vergleich zu uneindeutigen oder aus anderen Gründen ungünstigen Begriffen dar. Gleichzeitig konnte eine Kompatibilität mit der ICD-11 ermöglicht werden.
Although resilience is a multi-level process, research largely focuses on the individual and little is known about how resilience may distinctly present at the group level. Even less is known about subjective conceptualizations of resilience at either level. Therefore, two studies sought to better understand how individuals conceptualize resilience both as an individual and as a group. Study 1 (N = 123) experimentally manipulated whether participants reported on either individual or group-based responses to real stressors and analysed their qualitative responses. For individual responses, subjective resilience featured active coping most prominently, whereas social support was the focus for group-based responses. As these differences might be attributable to the different stressors people remembered in either condition, Study 2 (N = 171) held a hypothetical stressor (i.e., natural disaster) constant. As expected, resilience at the group level emphasized maintaining group cohesion. Surprisingly, the group condition also reported increased likelihood to engage in blame, denial, and behavioural disengagement. Contrary to expectations, participants in the individual condition reported stronger desire to seek out new groups. The combined findings are discussed within the framework of resilience and social identity and highlight the necessity of accounting for multiple levels and subjective conceptualizations of resilience.
Research on collective resilience processes still lacks a detailed understanding of psychological mechanisms at work when groups cope with adverse conditions, i.e., long-term processes, and how such mechanisms affect physical and mental well-being. As collective resilience will play a crucial part in facing looming climate change-related events such as floods, it is important to investigate these processes further. To this end, this study takes a novel holistic approach by combining resilience research, social psychology, and an archeological perspective to investigate the role of social identity as a collective resilience factor in the past and present. We hypothesize that social identification buffers against the negative effects of environmental threats in participants, which increases somatic symptoms related to stress, in a North Sea region historically prone to floods. A cross-sectional study (N = 182) was conducted to analyze the moderating effects of social identification on the relations between perceived threat of North Sea floods and both well-being and life satisfaction. The results support our hypothesis that social identification attenuates the relationship between threat perception and well-being, such that the relation is weaker for more strongly identified individuals. Contrary to our expectations, we did not find this buffering effect to be present for life satisfaction. Future resilience studies should further explore social identity as a resilience factor and how it operates in reducing environmental stress put on individuals and groups. Further, to help communities living in flood-prone areas better cope with future environmental stress, we recommend implementing interventions strengthening their social identities and hence collective resilience.
Background: Teachers often face high job demands that might elicit strong stress responses. This can increase risks of adverse strain outcomes such as mental and physical health impairment. Psychological detachment has been suggested as a recovery experience that counteracts the stressor-strain relationship. However, psychological detachment is often difficult when job demands are high. The aims of this study were, first, to gain information on the prevalence of difficulties detaching from work among German teachers, second, to identify potential person-related/individual (i.e., age, sex), occupational (e.g., tenure, leadership position), and work-related (e.g., overload, cognitive, emotional, and physical demands) risk factors and, third, to examine relationships with mental and physical health impairment and sickness absence.
Methods: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from a national and representative survey of German employees was conducted (BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey 2018). For the analyses data from two groups of teachers (primary/secondary school teachers: n = 901, other teachers: n = 641) were used and compared with prevalence estimates of employees from other occupations (n = 16,266).
Results: Primary/secondary school teachers (41.5%) and other teachers (30.3%) reported more difficulties detaching from work than employees from other occupations (21.3%). Emotional demands and deadline/performance pressure were the most severe risk factors in both groups of teachers. In the group of primary/secondary school teachers multitasking demands were further risk factors for difficulties to detach from work whereas support from colleagues reduced risks. In both groups of teachers detachment difficulties can be linked to an increase in psychosomatic and musculoskeletal complaints and, additionally, to a higher risk of sickness absence among primary/secondary school teachers.
Conclusions: Difficulties detaching from work are highly prevalent among German teachers. In order to protect them from related risks of health impairment, interventions are needed which aim at optimizing job demands and contextual resources (i.e., work-directed approaches) or at improving coping strategies (i.e., person-directed approaches).
It is important to understand the processes behind how and why individuals emerge as leaders, so that the best and most capable individuals may occupy leadership positions. So far, most literature in this area has focused on individual characteristics, such as personality or cognitive ability. While interactions between individuals and context do get research attention, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of how the social context at work may help individuals to emerge as leaders. Such knowledge could make an important contribution toward getting the most capable, rather than the most dominant or narcissistic individuals, into leadership positions. In the present work, we contribute toward closing this gap by testing a mediation chain linking a leader's leader self-awareness to a follower's leadership emergence with two time-lagged studies (nstudy1 = 449, nstudy2 = 355). We found that the leader's leader self-awareness was positively related to (a) the follower's leadership emergence and (b) the follower's nomination for promotion and that both relationships were serially mediated by the follower's self-leadership and the follower's leader self-efficacy. We critically discuss our findings and provide ideas for future research.
A Corrigendum on Take a “Selfie”: Examining How Leaders Emerge From Leader Self-Awareness, Self-Leadership, and Self-Efficacy by Bracht, E. M., Keng-Highberger, F. T., Avolio, B. J., and Huang, Y. (2021). Front. Psychol. 12:635085. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.635085 In the original article, there was an error. The Ethics Statement incorrectly stated that “Ethical review and approval was not required for the study on human participants in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.” A correction has been made to the Ethics Statement. The corrected statement is shown below. The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Institutional Review Board (IRB-2020-04-004). The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study. The authors apologize for this error and state that this does not change the scientific conclusions of the article in any way. The original article has been updated.
Background: Many refugees have experienced multiple traumatic events in their country of origin and/or during flight. Trauma-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex PTSD (CPTSD) are prevalent in this population, which highlights the need for accessible and effective treatment. Imagery Rescripting (ImRs), an imagery-based treat- ment that does not use formal exposure and that has received growing interest as an innovative treatment for PTSD, appears to be a promising approach.
Objective: This randomized-controlled trial aims to investigate the efficacy of ImRs for refugees compared to Usual Care and Treatment Advice (UC+TA) on (C)PTSD remission and reduction in other related symptoms.
Method: Subjects are 90 refugees to Germany with a diagnosis of PTSD according to DSM-5. They will be randomly allocated to receive either UC+TA (n = 45) or 10 sessions of ImRs (n = 45). Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, three-month follow- up, and 12-month follow-up. Primary outcome is the (C)PTSD remission rate. Secondary outcomes are severity of PTSD and CPTSD symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, dissociative symptoms, quality of sleep, and treatment satisfaction. Economic analyses will investigate health-related quality of life and costs. Additional measures will assess migration and stress- related factors, predictors of dropout, therapeutic alliance and session-by-session changes in trauma-related symptoms.
Results and Conclusions: Emerging evidence suggests the suitability of ImRs in the treat- ment of refugees with PTSD. After positive evaluation, this short and culturally adaptable treatment can contribute to close the treatment gap for refugees in high-income countries such as Germany.
Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register under trial number DRKS00019876, regis- tered prospectively on 28 April 2020.
Background: Researchers who wish to study stress-related disorders need to use valid, reliable, and sensitive instruments and the Clinician-administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) con- stitutes the gold standard in the assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While the CAPS corresponds with PTSD criteria according to the DSM-5, researchers face a challenge with the forthcoming ICD-11: ICD-11 introduces the new diagnosis Complex PTSD (CPTSD) that does not exist in DSM-5.
Objective: Researchers as well as clinicians will need to assess the incidence and prevalence of CPTSD and will want to evaluate treatment effects according to both criteria sets. However, using two clinician-rated interviews is often not feasible and a burden to patients, particularly in psychotherapy research.
Method & Results: We have therefore developed the Complex PTSD Item Set additional to the CAPS (COPISAC). This clinician rating is an easy-to-use and economic addition to the CAPS that permits assessing diagnosis and evaluating symptom severity of CPTSD. COPISAC consists of three items that assess disturbances in self-regulation including prompts for symptom description and frequency, and two additional items assessing impairment. Diagnostic status and severity ratings for CPTSD are possible. Items that account for the specific forms of trauma which the ICD-11 describes as precursors of CPTSD (e.g. torture, being enslaved) are further suggested as additions to the Life Events Checklist. Conclusion: With an introduction of COPISAC at this point, we aim at suggesting an easy transition into diagnosing CPTSD and evaluating its course over treatment.
Development and preliminary validation of the Emotions while Learning an Instrument Scale (ELIS)
(2021)
Learning to play a musical instrument is associated with different, partially conflicting emotions. This paper describes the development and psychometric properties of the Emotions while Learning an Instrument Scale (ELIS). In a longitudinal study with 545 German elementary school children factorial structure and psychometric properties were evaluated. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed a two-factor solution measuring Positive musical Emotions while Learning an Instrument (PELI) and Negative Emotions while Learning an Instrument (NELI). Both subscales yielded scores with adequate internal reliability (Cronbach’s α = .74, .86) and relatively stable retest reliabilities over 18 months (r = .11 -.56). Preliminary evidence of congruent and divergent validity of the subscales is provided. Implications for future research of musical emotional experiences in children are discussed.
Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been included in the DSM-5 as a diagnosis for further study, and Gaming Disorder as a new diagnosis in the ICD-11. Nonetheless, little is known about the clinical prevalence of IGD in children and adolescents. Additionally, it is unclear if patients with IGD are already identified in routine psychotherapy, using the ICD-10 diagnosis F 63.8 (recommended classification of IGD in ICD-10). This study investigated N = 358 children and adolescents (self and parental rating) of an outpatient psychotherapy centre in Germany using the Video Game Dependency Scale. According to self-report 4.0% of the 11- to 17-year-old patients met criteria for a tentative IGD diagnosis and 14.0% according to the parental report. Of the 5- to 10-year-old patients, 4.1% were diagnosed with tentative IGD according to parental report. Patients meeting IGD criteria were most frequently diagnosed with hyperkinetic disorders, followed by anxiety disorders, F 63.8, conduct disorders, mood disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders (descending order) as primary clinical diagnoses. Consequently, this study indicates that a significant amount of the clinical population presents IGD. Meaning, appropriate diagnostics should be included in routine psychological diagnostics in order to avoid “hidden” cases of IGD in the future.
Objective: The problematic use of computer games was included in the DSM-5 and in the ICD-11. Initial research revealed associa- tions between problematic gaming (PG) and quality of life (QoL). However, clarification is needed concerning which dimensions of the multidi- mensional construct QoL are particularly relevant for PG. Method: To answer this question empirically, we asked 503 parents (mean age: 47.63 years) to rate their 503 children (average age: 14.60 years) regarding QoL and PG, using validated questionnaires on parental assessments of adolescent PG and health-related QoL to collect the data. Correlation analyses were calculated to determine bivariate relations, and a multiple linear regression was used to conduct a multivariable analysis. Results: In the bivariate analyses, a higher severity of PG was associated with a lower health-related QoL in all five surveyed dimensions. In the multivariable model (corrected R2 = 0.35), we observed statistically significant associations between higher severity of PG and male sex and lower age of the adolescent as well as lower QoL in the dimensions of physical well-being and school environment. Conclusions: According to the findings of the present study, physical well-being and school environment should be especially focused on in preventive approaches against the development of PG in youth.
Defensive decision making occurs when the decision-maker does not choose the option that is in the best interest of an organization or client but instead chooses a less effective but lower risk alternative that protects him or her in case something goes wrong. Such decisions are widespread across occupations and sectors and cause substantive damage to organizations. In a first step, we developed a scale to measure defensive decision making and test its validity. The scale covers two distinct but related dimensions: avoidance and approach. In a subsequent, two-wave study, we examined the antecedents of defensive decision making using conservation of resources theory as a theoretical lens. An environment characterized by higher psychological safety can reduce resource depletion and diminishes defensive decision making. In contrast, job insecurity can result in a threat to personal resources, which increases the likelihood that employees choose defensive decisions.
Practitioners points:
People engage in defensive decision making as a means to protect their own resources from exhaustion.
Organizations can reduce the number of defensive decisions by enhancing situational resources such as psychological safety.
The short and preliminarily validated scale we developed can be used to make defensive decisions visible in organizations.
Despite the increasing interest in leaders’ health-promoting behavior, the employees’ role in the effectiveness of such behavior and the mechanisms underlying how such leadership behavior affects their well-being have largely been ignored. Drawing on implicit leadership theories, we advance the health-oriented leadership literature by examining employees’ ideals, that is, their expectations regarding such leader behavior, as a moderating factor. We propose that higher expectations increase the association between actual health-oriented leader behavior and employee-rated leader-member relationships (LMX) and health-oriented behaviors by employees, which, in turn, positively relate to their well-being (here: exhaustion and work engagement). We tested our theoretical model in three studies, using a cross-sectional design (Study 1, N = 307), a two-wave time-lagged design (Study 2, N = 144) and an experimental design (Study 3, N = 173). We found that the effect of actual health-oriented leader behavior on LMX is contingent on employees’ ideal health-oriented leader behavior. Yet, for employees’ self-care behavior, the proposed moderation was only significant in Study 1. High expectations strengthened the relationship between actual health-oriented leader behavior with LMX and self-care behavior, which, in turn, were associated with less exhaustion and more work engagement (only LMX), supporting most of our mediation hypotheses. Our results highlight the pivotal role of employees’ expectations regarding leaders’ health support and help in building practical interventions with regard to leaders’ health promotion.
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered health-related anxiety in ways that undermine peoples’ mental and physical health. Contextual factors such as living in a high-risk area might further increase the risk of health deterioration. Based on the Social Identity Approach, we argue that social identities can not only be local that are characterized by social interactions, but also be global that are characterized by a symbolic sense of togetherness and that both of these can be a basis for health. In line with these ideas, we tested how identification with one’s family and with humankind relates to stress and physical symptoms while experiencing health-related anxiety and being exposed to contextual risk factors. We tested our assumptions in a representative sample (N = 974) two-wave survey study with a 4-week time lag. The results show that anxiety at Time 1 was positively related to stress and physical symptoms at Time 2. Feeling exposed to risk factors related to lower physical health, but was unrelated to stress. Family identification and identification with humankind were both negatively associated with subsequent stress and family identification was negatively associated with subsequent physical symptoms. These findings suggest that for social identities to be beneficial for mental health, they can be embodied as well as symbolic.
Trajectories of internalizing disorders and behavioral addictions are still largely unknown. Research shows that both disorders are highly comorbid. Previous longitudinal studies have focused on associations between internalizing disorders and behavioral addictions using screening instruments. Our aim was to develop and examine a theory-based model of trajectories, according to which internalizing disorders foster symptoms of Internet use disorders, mediated by a reward deprivation and maladaptive emotion regulation. We applied clinically relevant measures for depression and social anxiety in a prospective longitudinal study with a 12-month follow-up investigation. On the basis of an at-risk population of 476 students (mean age = 14.99 years, SD = 1.99), we investigated the predictive influence of clinically relevant depression and social anxiety at baseline (t1) on Internet use disorder symptoms at 12-month follow-up (t2) using multiple linear regression analyses. Our results showed that both clinically relevant depression and social anxiety significantly predicted symptom severity of Internet use disorders one year later after controlling for baseline symptoms of Internet use disorders, gender and age. These results remained robust after including both depression and social anxiety simultaneously in the model, indicating an independent influence of both predictors on Internet use disorder symptoms. The present study enhances knowledge going beyond a mere association between internalizing disorders and Internet use disorders. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating clinically relevant depression and social anxiety to predict future Internet use disorder symptoms at 12-month follow-up. In line with our model of trajectories, a significant temporal relationship between clinically relevant internalizing disorders and Internet use disorder symptoms at 12-month follow-up was confirmed. Further studies should investigate the mediating role of reward deprivation and maladaptive emotion regulation, as postulated in our model. One implication of these findings is that clinicians should pay particular attention to the increased risk of developing behavioral addictions for adolescents with depression and social anxiety.
The ability to respond appropriately to employees' work-related well-being requires leaders to pay attention to their employees' well-being in the first place. We propose that leaders' stress mindset, that is, the belief that stress is enhancing versus debilitating, may bias their perception of employees' well-being. We further propose that this judgment then influences leaders' intention to engage in or refrain from health-oriented leadership behavior, to express higher performance expectations, or to promote their employees. We expect this process to be stronger if leaders strongly identify with their team, increasing their perceived similarity with their employees. In three experiments (N1 = 198, N2 = 292, N3 = 250), we tested the effect of participants' stress mindset on their intention to show certain leadership behaviors, mediated by their perception of employee well-being (emotional exhaustion, somatic symptoms, work engagement) and moderated by their team identification. Our findings largely support the association between stress mindset and the perception of well-being. The results for the proposed mediation and the moderating function of identification were mixed. Overall, the results emphasize the critical role of leaders' stress mindset and may, thus, improve health promotion in organizations by helping leaders to adequately recognize employees' well-being and respond appropriately.
Mental imagery is a transdiagnostic feature that has been increasingly researched in mental disorders in the past years. This study is the first to investigate mental imagery in individuals suffering from Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), a new disorder which will be included into the new edition of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11).
Our objective was to find out to what extent patients suffering from PGD differ from healthy, but equally bereaved, controls in terms of mental imagery, and how mental imagery is related to psychopathology. Patients with PGD and matched bereaved healthy controls (n = 54) completed a mental imagery questionnaire specifically designed for the study, and other established measures of psychopathology. Patients suffering from PGD reported mental images more frequently, had less control over them, and described negative images as more vivid than did healthy controls. Also, in reaction to mental images, patients less frequently experienced joy, but more often grief, anger and guilt. Besides these group differences, significant correlations between mental imagery other psychopathological measures could be found. Mental imagery is clearly related to PGD. The underlying mechanisms on whether it is a developing or maintaining factor need to be addressed in future studies. Future research should also investigate in what way mental imagery might be used in therapeutic approaches.
We extended the job demand–control model by including a social comparison perspective and hypothesised that an employee's work-related well-being is to some degree relative to the perceived work environment of coworkers rather than absolute (in terms of isolated effects of individual work characteristics). Hence, we account for the social context when examining the effects of individual job characteristics. Using a lagged study design with two measurement times eight weeks apart, we examined the effects of the (in)congruence between one´s own job demands and job control with the perceived job demands and job control of coworkers on job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficiency. Findings from polynomial regression analyses and response surface methodology revealed that perceiving coworkers as having either higher or lower demands than oneself is associated with lower job satisfaction and higher levels of emotional exhaustion. This provides partial support for our hypotheses. We found first-time evidence that social comparison processes regarding job demands can influence employees´ well-being.
Background: ICD-11 features Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) as a new diagnosis. To date, very few studies have investigated CPTSD in young patients, and there is a need for evidence on effective treatment.
Objective: The present study evaluates the applicability of developmentally adapted cognitive processing therapy (D-CPT) for CPTSD in young patients in a secondary analysis of the treatment condition of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating the efficacy of D-CPT.
Methods: The D-CPT treatment group in the original study included 44 patients (14–21 years) with DSM-IV PTSD after childhood abuse. We used the ICD-11 algorithm to divide the sample into a probable CPTSD and a non-CPTSD group. We performed multilevel models for interviewer-rated and self-rated PTSD symptoms with fixed effects of group (CPTSD, non-CPTSD) and time (up to 12 months follow-up) and their interaction. Treatment response rates for both groups were calculated.
Results: Nineteen (43.2%) patients fulfilled criteria for probable ICD-11 CPTSD while 25 (56.8%) did not. Both CPTSD and non-CPTSD groups showed symptom reduction over time. The CPTSD group reported higher symptom severity before and after treatment. Linear improvement and treatment response rates were similar for both groups. D-CPT reduced symptoms of disturbances in self-regulation in both groups.
Discussion: Both, patients with and without probable ICD-11 CPTSD seemed to benefit from D-CPT and the treatment also reduced disturbances in self-regulation.
Conclusion: This study presents initial evidence of the applicability of D-CPT in clinical practice for young patients with CPTSD. It remains debatable whether CPTSD implies different treatment needs as opposed to PTSD.
Hintergrund: Das Kindesalter wurde bei der Entwicklung von wirksamen Präventions- und Interventionsprogrammen bei Computerspiel- und Internetabhängigkeit bisher kaum berücksichtigt. PROTECTdissonanz wurde daher als 1-stündiges dissonanzbasiertes universelles Primärpräventionsprogramm für die Klassenstufe 5 konzipiert. Die vorliegende Pilotstudie überprüft die unmittelbaren Effekte der Dissonanzinduktion auf die Einstellung zum Gaming. Methodik: In einem einarmigen A+B-Design mit drei Messzeitpunkten (T0, T1, T2) wurde die Einstellung zum Gaming anhand des Gaming Attitude Test (GAT) erfasst. In die Baselinesequenz (Sequenz A, T0 bis T1, Teilstichprobe) wurden N = 83 Schüler_innen eingeschlossen (Alter: M = 10.27; SD = 0.48) und in die Interventionssequenz (Sequenz B, T1 bis T2, Gesamtstichprobe) N = 200 Schüler_innen (Alter: M = 10.24; SD = 0.47). Akzeptanz und Zufriedenheit wurden nach der Intervention erfasst. Ergebnisse: Hierarchisch lineare Wachstumsmodelle zeigten eine signifikante Reduktion der GAT-Symptome durch die Intervention, sowohl im Gesamtwert des GAT als auch auf der Subskala „Bagatellisierung negativer Konsequenzen“. Im natürlichen Verlauf (Baselinesequenz A) zeigten sich keine Veränderungen. Die Schüler_innen bewerteten PROTECTdissonanz zudem mit einer hohen Zufriedenheit. Schlussfolgerungen: Eine kurze, gezielte übung zur Dissonanzinduktion zeigt unmittelbare Effekte auf ein Einstellungsmaß zum Gaming. Zur Weiterverfolgung dieses vielversprechenden Ansatzes sollte in künftigen Studien untersucht werden, ob sich eine verringerte Bagatellisierung negativer Konsequenzen von Gaming im Sinne der kognitiven Dissonanztheorie auch tatsächlich in einer Verhaltensänderung widerspiegelt.
The reading acceleration phenomenon refers to the effect that experimentally induced time constraints can generate instantaneous improvements of reading rate, accuracy and comprehension among typical and reading impaired readers of different age groups. An overview of studies applying the fading manipulation (i.e., letters are erased in reading direction), which induces the time constraints causing the acceleration phenomenon, is provided in the first part of this review. The second part summarises the outcomes of studies using a training approach called the reading acceleration program (RAP) that integrated core principles of the acceleration phenomenon to generate persistent reading performance improvements. Our review shows ample evidence for the validity of the acceleration phenomenon, since it has been replicated across various languages and populations. However, although there are several explanatory approaches for underlying mechanisms, none of them is well substantiated by empirical evidence so far. Similarly, although generally positive effects of RAP training were reported for several languages and groups of readers, the exact mechanisms causing improved reading rates and comprehension are not well understood. Our critical discussion points out several limitations of RAP that call for further research. However, we also highlight several benefits regarding RAP's potential as an intervention approach for enhancements in reading performance. Video abstract link: https://youtu.be/wO6aEXavk8w
Resilience has been defined as the maintenance or quick recovery of mental health during and after times of adversity. How to operationalize resilience and to determine the factors and processes that lead to good long-term mental health outcomes in stressor-exposed individuals is a matter of ongoing debate and of critical importance for the advancement of the field. One of the biggest challenges for implementing an outcome-based definition of resilience in longitudinal observational study designs lies in the fact that real-life adversity is usually unpredictable and that its substantial qualitative as well as temporal variability between subjects often precludes defining circumscribed time windows of inter-individually comparable stressor exposure relative to which the maintenance or recovery of mental health can be determined. To address this pertinent issue, we propose to frequently and regularly monitor stressor exposure (E) and mental health problems (P) throughout a study's observation period [Frequent Stressor and Mental Health Monitoring (FRESHMO)-paradigm]. On this basis, a subject's deviation at any single monitoring time point from the study sample's normative E–P relationship (the regression residual) can be used to calculate that subject's current mental health reactivity to stressor exposure (“stressor reactivity,” SR). The SR score takes into account the individual extent of experienced adversity and is comparable between and within subjects. Individual SR time courses across monitoring time points reflect intra-individual temporal variability in SR, where periods of under-reactivity (negative SR score) are associated with accumulation of fewer mental health problems than is normal for the sample. If FRESHMO is accompanied by regular measurement of potential resilience factors, temporal changes in resilience factors can be used to predict SR time courses. An increase in a resilience factor measurement explaining a lagged decrease in SR can then be considered to index a process of adaptation to stressor exposure that promotes a resilient outcome (an allostatic resilience process). This design principle allows resilience research to move beyond merely determining baseline predictors of resilience outcomes, which cannot inform about how individuals successfully adjust and adapt when confronted with adversity. Hence, FRESHMO plus regular resilience factor monitoring incorporates a dynamic-systems perspective into resilience research.
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to clarify whether blood-flow restriction during resting intervals [resting blood-flow restriction (rBFR)] is comparable to a continuous BFR (cBFR) training regarding its effects on maximum strength, hypertrophy, fatigue resistance, and perceived discomfort.
Materials and Methods: Nineteen recreationally trained participants performed four sets (30-15-15-15 repetitions) with 20% 1RM on a 45° leg press twice a week for 6 weeks (cBFR, n = 10; rBFR, n = 9). Maximum strength, fatigue resistance, muscle thickness, and girth were assessed at three timepoints (pre, mid, and post). Subjective pain and perceived exertion were determined immediately after training at two timepoints (mid and post).
Results: Maximum strength (p < 0.001), fatigue resistance (p < 0.001), muscle thickness (p < 0.001), and girth (p = 0.008) increased in both groups over time with no differences between groups (p > 0.05). During the intervention, the rBFR group exposed significantly lower perceived pain and exertion values compared to cBFR (p < 0.05).
Discussion: Resting blood-flow restriction training led to similar gains in strength, fatigue resistance, and muscle hypertrophy as cBFR training while provoking less discomfort and perceived exertion in participants. In summary, rBFR training could provide a meaningful alternative to cBFR as this study showed similar functional and structural changes as well as less discomfort.
Transcranial alternating-current stimulation (tACS) in the frequency range of 1–100 Hz has come to be used routinely in electroencephalogram (EEG) studies of brain function through entrainment of neuronal oscillations. It turned out, however, to be highly non-trivial to remove the strong stimulation signal, including its harmonic and non-harmonic distortions, as well as various induced higher-order artifacts from the EEG data recorded during the stimulation. In this paper, we discuss some of the problems encountered and present methodological approaches aimed at overcoming them. To illustrate the mechanisms of artifact induction and the proposed removal strategies, we use data obtained with the help of a schematic demonstrator setup as well as human-subject data.
Children often perform worse than adults on tasks that require focused attention. While this is commonly regarded as a sign of incomplete cognitive development, a broader attentional focus could also endow children with the ability to find novel solutions to a given task. To test this idea, we investigated children’s ability to discover and use novel aspects of the environment that allowed them to improve their decision-making strategy. Participants were given a simple choice task in which the possibility of strategy improvement was neither mentioned by instructions nor encouraged by explicit error feedback. Among 47 children (8—10 years of age) who were instructed to perform the choice task across two experiments, 27.5% showed a full strategy change. This closely matched the proportion of adults who had the same insight (28.2% of n = 39). The amount of erroneous choices, working memory capacity and inhibitory control, in contrast, indicated substantial disadvantages of children in task execution and cognitive control. A task difficulty manipulation did not affect the results. The stark contrast between age-differences in different aspects of cognitive performance might offer a unique opportunity for educators in fostering learning in children.
Humans accumulate knowledge throughout their entire lives. In what ways does this accumulation of knowledge influence learning of new information? Are there age-related differences in the way prior knowledge is leveraged for remembering new information? We review studies that have investigated these questions, focusing on those that have used the memory congruency effect, which provides a quantitative measure of memory advantage because of prior knowledge. Regarding the first question, evidence suggests that the accumulation of knowledge is a key factor promoting the development of memory across childhood and counteracting some of the decline in older age. Regarding the second question, evidence suggests that, if available knowledge is controlled for, age-related differences in the memory congruency effect largely disappear. These results point to an age-invariance in the way prior knowledge is leveraged for learning new information. Research on neural mechanisms and implications for application are discussed.
Personal values are considered as guiding principles for humans’ attitudes and behavior, what makes them an essential component of mental health. Although these notions are widely recognized, investigations in clinical samples examining the link between values and mental health are lacking. We assessed n = 209 patients with affective disorders, neurotic disorders, reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders and personality disorders and compared them to a stratified random sample (n = 209) drawn from the European Social Survey. Personal values were assessed using the Portraits Value Questionnaire. Severity of psychopathology was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory and the Brief Symptom Inventory. Clinical participants showed a higher preference for the values power, achievement and tradition/conformity and a lower preference for hedonism compared to controls. Patients exhibited more incompatible value patterns than controls. Across diagnostic groups, patients with neurotic disorders reported incompatible values most frequently. Value priorities and value conflicts may have the potential to contribute to a better understanding of current and future actions and experiences in patients with mental disorders.
Background: Hebb repetition learning is a form of long-term serial order learning that can occur when sequences of items in an immediate serial recall task are repeated. Repetition improves performance because of the gradual integration of serial order information from short-term memory into a more stable long-term memory trace.
Aims: The current study assessed whether adolescents with non-specific intellectual disabilities showed Hebb repetition effects, and if their magnitude was equivalent to those of children with typical development, matched for mental age.
Methods: Two immediate serial recall Hebb repetition learning tasks using verbal and visuospatial materials were presented to 47 adolescents with intellectual disabilities (11–15 years) and 47 individually mental age-matched children with typical development (4–10 years).
Results: Both groups showed Hebb repetition learning effects of similar magnitude, albeit with some reservations. Evidence for Hebb repetition learning was found for both verbal and visuospatial materials; for our measure of Hebb learning the effects were larger for verbal than visuospatial materials.
Conclusions: The findings suggested that adolescents with intellectual disabilities may show implicit long-term serial-order learning broadly commensurate with mental age level. The benefits of using repetition in educational contexts for adolescents with intellectual disabilities are considered.
Cross-sectional findings suggest that volumes of specific hippocampal subfields increase in middle childhood and early adolescence. In contrast, a small number of available longitudinal studies reported decreased volumes in most subfields over this age range. Further, it remains unknown whether structural changes in development are associated with corresponding gains in children’s memory. Here we report cross-sectional age differences in children’s hippocampal subfield volumes together with longitudinal developmental trajectories and their relationships with memory performance. In two waves, 109 participants aged 6–10 years (wave 1: MAge=7.25, wave 2: MAge=9.27) underwent high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging to assess hippocampal subfield volumes (imaging data available at both waves for 65 participants) and completed tasks assessing hippocampus dependent memory processes. We found that cross-sectional age-associations and longitudinal developmental trends in hippocampal subfield volumes were discrepant, both by subfields and in direction. Further, volumetric changes were largely unrelated to changes in memory, with the exception that increase in subiculum volume was associated with gains in spatial memory. Longitudinal and cross-sectional patterns of brain-cognition couplings were also discrepant. We discuss potential sources of these discrepancies. This study underscores that children’s structural brain development and its relationship to cognition cannot be inferred from cross-sectional age comparisons.
Based on the stressor-detachment model, previous research has assumed that work-related ICT use in the evening impairs psychological detachment. However, since most of the studies to date have assessed cross-sectional relationships, little is known about the actual direction of effects. In this 5-day diary study, we implemented a day-level longitudinal model to shed light on the causal relationships between work-related ICT use, detachment, and task progress (N = 340 employees, N = 1289 day-level cases). We also investigated the role of unfinished work tasks because we assumed, based on boundary theory, that they are a driving force leading to impaired detachment and work-related ICT use in the evening. Contrary to current research consensus but in line with our expectations, we found that low psychological detachment increased work-related ICT use and task progress. We found no evidence for reversed lagged effects. These results applied both to planned and unplanned ICT use. Furthermore, our results support the notion that unfinished work tasks precede ICT use and detachment. Thus, our findings suggest that work-related ICT use should not be treated as a stressor in its own right in the stressor-detachment model. Instead, it needs to be investigated as a behavioral outcome that employees engage in when they cannot detach from work.
Lexical access speed and the development of phonological recoding during immediate serial recall
(2022)
A recent Registered Replication Report (RRR) of the development of verbal rehearsal during serial recall revealed that children verbalized at younger ages than previously thought, but did not identify sources of individual differences. Here, we use mediation analysis to reanalyze data from the 934 children ranging from 5 to 10 years old from the RRR for that purpose. From ages 5 to 7, the time taken for a child to label pictures (i.e. isolated naming speed) predicted the child’s spontaneous use of labels during a visually presented serial reconstruction task, despite no need for spoken responses. For 6- and 7-year-olds, isolated naming speed also predicted recall. The degree to which verbalization mediated the relation between isolated naming speed and recall changed across development. All relations dissipated by age 10. The same general pattern was observed in an exploratory analysis of delayed recall for which greater demands are placed on rehearsal for item maintenance. Overall, our findings suggest that spontaneous phonological recoding during a standard short-term memory task emerges around age 5, increases in efficiency during the early elementary school years, and is sufficiently automatic by age 10 to support immediate serial recall in most children. Moreover, the findings highlight the need to distinguish between phonological recoding and rehearsal in developmental studies of short-term memory.
Innovation is considered essential for today's organizations to survive and thrive. Researchers have also stressed the importance of leadership as a driver of followers' innovative work behavior (FIB). Yet, despite a large amount of research, three areas remain understudied: (a) The relative importance of different forms of leadership for FIB; (b) the mechanisms through which leadership impacts FIB; and (c) the degree to which relationships between leadership and FIB are generalizable across cultures. To address these lacunae, we propose an integrated model connecting four types of positive leadership behaviors, two types of identification (as mediating variables), and FIB. We tested our model in a global data set comprising responses of N = 7,225 participants from 23 countries, grouped into nine cultural clusters. Our results indicate that perceived LMX quality was the strongest relative predictor of FIB. Furthermore, the relationships between both perceived LMX quality and identity leadership with FIB were mediated by social identification. The indirect effect of LMX on FIB via social identification was stable across clusters, whereas the indirect effects of the other forms of leadership on FIB via social identification were stronger in countries high versus low on collectivism. Power distance did not influence the relations.
Despite its popularity in practice, the Grit-O Scale has shown inconsistent factorial structures and differing levels of internal consistency in samples outside the USA. The validity of the Grit-O Scale in different contexts is, therefore, questionable. As such, the purpose of this paper was to determine whether the Grit-O Scale could be used as a valid and reliable measure to compare grit across different nations. Specifically, the aim was to investigate the factorial validity, reliability, and concurrent validity of the Grit-O Scale and to investigate measurement invariance across three national cohorts (Europe, the USA, and Hong Kong). Data were gathered from 1888 respondents stemming from one USA- (n = 471), two Hong Kong- (n = 361) and four European (n = 1056) universities. A series of traditional CFA and less restrictive ESEM models were estimated and systematically compared to determine the best factorial form of the Grit-O Scale. The results showed that a bifactor ESEM model, with one general factor of overall grit and two specific factors (consistency of interest and perseverance of effort), fitted the data best, showed strong measurement invariance across the three samples, and showed itself to be a reliable measure. Furthermore, concurrent validity was established by showing that the three grit factors were directly and positively related to task performance. Meaningful latent comparisons between the three cultural cohorts could therefore be made. The results imply that cross-national comparisons of grit may only be problematic when traditional CFA approaches are favoured. In contrast, ESEM modelling approaches may compensate for cross-national differences in understanding grit and control for differences in the interpretation of the scale’s items. Therefore, the bifactor ESEM approach may be more appropriate for cross-cultural and cross-national comparison studies, as it allows for these differences to be meaningfully captured, modelled, and controlled for.
Als Ausgangspunkt dieser Arbeit dienen Ansätze, die eine narrative Perspektive für das Verständnis von Psychopathologie und die psychotherapeutische Praxis vorschlagen. Im Hinblick auf die Fragen, welche Vorteile die Analyse von Patient*innenerzählungen bieten kann, und durch welche Merkmale psychopathologische Narrative sich auszeichnen, wird ein Überblick über ausgewählte Fallberichte, empirische Untersuchungen und theoretische Überlegungen gegeben. Diese werden unter den drei Kategorien Kohärenz, „Agency“ und Perspektiven beschrieben. Die Arbeit mag einen Impuls geben, ein tieferes Verständnis für narrative Dysfunktionen zu entwickeln und ihre Ursprünge sowie ihre Bedeutung für psychische Störungen und deren Behandlung vermitteln.
Aims: This study aims to: (1) explore the links between past exposure to potentially traumatic events, fear of contracting COVID-19 and perceived stress; (2) investigate how the exposure to traumagenic experiences affects one's locus of control over their health; and (3) examine fear, stress reactions and differences in health locus of control across three different sociocultural contexts.
Methods: A total of 524 adult participants were recruited from Egypt, Germany, and Italy through online channels. Self-reporting instruments were used to assess previous exposure to potentially traumatic events, PTSD symptoms, fear of COVID-19, perceived stress, and health locus of control.
Results: Our findings highlight differences in reaction to COVID-19 in relation to past exposure to potentially traumatic events and country of residence, both of which may inform tailored community-based intervention practices.
Conclusion: The impact of COVID-19 might be particularly disruptive for people who survived potentially traumatic experiences. Nevertheless, the mass mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic varies across different sociocultural contexts.
Objectives: Interpersonal factors, such as impairments in social interaction or lack of social support, have an important share when it comes to the development, maintenance, and progression of various mental disorders.
Methods: Individuals suffering from prolonged grief disorder (PGD) and matched bereaved healthy controls (n = 54) underwent a thorough diagnostic procedure, further completed the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-D-32), and participated in a finitely iterated prisoner's dilemma (FIPD).
Results: Individuals suffering from PGD reported significantly more interpersonal problems. Both groups behaved differently in the FIPD with healthy controls being more carefully, adapting their behavior more flexible, whereas PGD patients displayed a lower responsiveness, which may indicate an inability to adapt to changes in relationships.
Conclusion: We conclude that interpersonal problems appear to be a relevant feature of PGD. Future studies need to clarify the causal relation behind this link, and should also include measures of attachment, social support, and disconnectedness.
The papers in this Special Issue Part I “Revisioning, Rethinking, Restructuring Gender at Work: Quo Vadis Gender Stereotypes?” focus on the current state of gender inequality, particularly stereotypes. We present studies showing that differences in gender stereotypes still exist, confirm disadvantages for women in male-dominated roles and sectors and when the employment sector is not specified, but also disadvantages for men in female-dominated roles and sectors. In contrast to this general trend, one paper in Part II of this Special Issue found a preference for women over men as job candidates in their study. Incongruence emerged as a striking common theme to explain these gender differences, whereby some studies focused on the perceived incongruence from the actor's perspective and how external factors contribute to these perceptions, whereas others looked at the perceived incongruence from the observer's perspective. We summarize the papers and briefly discuss the key points of Part I at the end of this editorial.
Fitness and exercise may counteract the detrimental metabolic and mood adaptations during prolonged sitting. This study distinguishes the immediate effects of a single bout vs. work-load and intensity-matched repeated exercise breaks on subjective well-being, blood glucose, and insulin response (analyzed as area under the curve) during sedentary time; and assesses the influence of fitness and caloric intake on metabolic alterations during sedentariness. Eighteen women underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing and three 4 h sitting interventions: two exercise interventions (70% VO2max, 30 min, cycle ergometer: (1) cycling prior to sitting; (2) sitting interrupted by 5 × 6 min cycling), and one control condition (sitting). Participants consumed one meal with ad libitum quantity (caloric intake), but standardized macronutrient proportion. Exercise breaks (4057 ± 2079 μU/mL·min) reduced insulin values compared to a single bout of exercise (5346 ± 5000 μU/mL·min) and the control condition (6037 ± 3571 μU/mL·min) (p ≤ 0.05). ANCOVA revealed moderating effects of caloric intake (519 ± 211 kilocalories) (p ≤ 0.01), but no effects of cardiorespiratory fitness (41.3 ± 4.2 mL/kg/min). Breaks also led to lower depression, but higher arousal compared to a no exercise control (p ≤ 0.05). Both exercise trials led to decreased agitation (p ≤ 0.05). Exercise prior to sitting led to greater peace of mind during sedentary behavior (p ≤ 0.05). Just being fit or exercising prior to sedentary behavior are not feasible to cope with acute detrimental metabolic changes during sedentary behavior. Exercise breaks reduce the insulin response to a meal. Despite their vigorous intensity, breaks are perceived as positive stimulus. Detrimental metabolic changes during sedentary time could also be minimized by limiting caloric intake.
Many sports employ caloric restriction (CR) to reduce athletes’ body mass. During these phases, resistance training (RT) volume is often reduced to accommodate recovery demands. Since RT volume is a well-known anabolic stimulus, this review investigates whether a higher training volume helps to spare lean mass during CR. A total of 15 studies met inclusion criteria. The extracted data allowed calculation of total tonnage lifted (repetitions × sets × intensity load) or weekly sets per muscle group for only 4 of the 15 studies, with RT volume being highly dependent on the examined muscle group as well as weekly training frequency per muscle group. Studies involving high RT volume programs (≥ 10 weekly sets per muscle group) revealed low-to-no (mostly female) lean mass loss. Additionally, studies increasing RT volume during CR over time appeared to demonstrate no-to-low lean mass loss when compared to studies reducing RT volume. Since data regarding RT variables applied were incomplete in most of the included studies, evidence is insufficient to conclude that a higher RT volume is better suited to spare lean mass during CR, although data seem to favor higher volumes in female athletes during CR. Moreover, the data appear to suggest that increasing RT volume during CR over time might be more effective in ameliorating CR-induced atrophy in both male and female resistance-trained athletes when compared to studies reducing RT volume. The effects of CR on lean mass sparing seem to be mediated by training experience, pre-diet volume, and energy deficit, with, on average, women tending to spare more lean mass than men. Potential explanatory mechanisms for enhanced lean mass sparing include a preserved endocrine milieu as well as heightened anabolic signaling.
The implications of telework are discussed controversially and research on its positive and negative effects has produced contradictory results. We explore voluntariness of employee telework as a boundary condition which may underpin these contradictory findings. Under normal circumstances, individuals who do more telework should perceive fewer disadvantages. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, employees could no longer voluntarily choose to telecommute, as many organizations were forced to introduce telework by governmental regulations. In two studies, we examine whether the voluntary nature of telework moderates the association between the amount of telework and perceptions of disadvantage. In Study 1, we collected data before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 327). Results show that pre-pandemic participants (who were more likely to voluntarily choose this form of work) reported fewer disadvantages the more telework they did, but this was not the case for employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. To validate these findings, we measured employees’ voluntariness of telework in Study 2 (N = 220). Results support the importance of voluntariness: Individuals who experience a high degree of voluntariness in choosing telework perceive fewer disadvantages the more they telework. However, the amount of telework was not related to reduced perceptions of disadvantages for those who experienced low voluntariness regarding the telecommuting arrangement. Our findings help to understand when telework is related to the perception of disadvantages and they can provide organizations with starting points for practical interventions to reduce the negative effects of telework.
The implications of telework are discussed controversially and research on its positive and negative effects has produced contradictory results. We explore voluntariness of employee telework as a boundary condition which may underpin these contradictory findings. Under normal circumstances, individuals who do more telework should perceive fewer disadvantages. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, employees could no longer voluntarily choose to telecommute, as many organizations were forced to introduce telework by governmental regulations. In two studies, we examine whether the voluntary nature of telework moderates the association between the amount of telework and perceptions of disadvantage. In Study 1, we collected data before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 327). Results show that pre-pandemic participants (who were more likely to voluntarily choose this form of work) reported fewer disadvantages the more telework they did, but this was not the case for employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. To validate these findings, we measured employees’ voluntariness of telework in Study 2 (N = 220). Results support the importance of voluntariness: Individuals who experience a high degree of voluntariness in choosing telework perceive fewer disadvantages the more they telework. However, the amount of telework was not related to reduced perceptions of disadvantages for those who experienced low voluntariness regarding the telecommuting arrangement. Our findings help to understand when telework is related to the perception of disadvantages and they can provide organizations with starting points for practical interventions to reduce the negative effects of telework.
Mask induced airway resistance and carbon dioxide rebreathing is discussed to impact gas exchange and to induce discomfort and impairments in cognitive performance. N = 23 healthy humans (13 females, 10 males; 23.5 ± 2.1 years) participated in this randomized crossover trial (3 arms, 48-h washout periods). During interventions participants wore either a surgical face mask (SM), a filtering face piece (FFP2) or no mask (NM). Interventions included a 20-min siting period and 20 min steady state cycling on an ergometer at 77% of the maximal heart rate (HR). Hemodynamic data (HR, blood pressure), metabolic outcomes (pulse derived oxygen saturation, capillary carbon dioxide (pCO2), and oxygen partial pressure (pO2), lactate, pH, base excess), subjective response (ability to concentrate, arousal, perceived exertion) and cognitive performance (Stroop Test) were assessed. Compared to NM, both masks increased pCO2 (NM 31.9 ± 3.3 mmHg, SM = 35.2 ± 4.0 mmHg, FFP2 = 34.5 ± 3.8 mmHg, F = 12.670, p < 0.001) and decreased pH (NM = 7.42 ± 0.03, SM = 7.39 ± 0.03, FFP2 = 7.39 ± 0.04, F = 11.4, p < 0.001) during exercise. The FFP2 increased blood pressure during exercise (NM = 158 ± 15 mmHg, SM = 159 ± 16 mmHg, FFP2 = 162 ± 17 mmHg, F = 3.21, p = 0.050), the SM increased HR during sitting (NM = 70 ± 8 bpm, SM = 74 ± 8 bpm, FFP2 = 73 ± 8 bpm, F = 4.70, p = 0.014). No mask showed any comparative effect on other hemodynamic, metabolic, subjective, or cognitive outcomes. Mask wearing leads to slightly increased cardiovascular stress and elevated carbon dioxide levels during exercise but did not affect cognitive performance or wellbeing.
Mit der zunehmenden Relevanz des Internets in den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten geht auch die Gefahr einer dysfunktionalen, suchtartigen Nutzung von verschiedenen Internetanwendungen und insbesondere von digitalen Spielen einher. Jugendliche sind von Internetbezogenen Störungen (IbS) in besonderem Maße betroffen. Die vorliegende Dissertation leistet in vier Einzelstudien einen Beitrag zur Beantwortung offener Forschungsfragen auf dem Gebiet der IbS. Studie 1 setzt sich damit auseinander, ob und inwiefern die Aufnahme der „Gaming Disorder“ in die Neuauflage der internationalen Klassifikation der Krankheiten der WHO (ICD-11) gerechtfertigt ist und kommt zu dem Schluss, dass die neue Diagnose sowohl für die Forschung als auch für die klinische Praxis mehr Vor- als Nachteile bietet. Der Gefahr einer Überpathologisierung und Stigmatisierung kann durch eine gründliche Diagnosestellung durch geschulte Fachpersonen begegnet werden. Studie 2 untersucht schulbezogene Risikofaktoren von IbS. Dazu wurden N=418 Jugendliche und junge Erwachsene im Alter von 11 bis 21 Jahren, die vorab auf ein erhöhtes Risiko für IbS gescreent wurden, per Fragebogen nach ihrem Internetnutzungsverhalten, nach IbS-Symptomen, nach Schulnoten und Fehltagen, nach ihrem Lern- und Sozialverhalten sowie nach Prokrastinationstendenzen befragt. Die Daten entstammen dem ersten Messzeitpunkt der PROTECT-Studie (Professioneller Umgang mit technischen Medien). Aufgrund der hierarchischen Datenstruktur wurde zur Analyse ein Mehrebenenansatz gewählt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Online-Zeit, vermehrtes Gaming und Prokrastination auf der Individualebene sowie Sozialverhalten auf der Schulebene Symptome einer IbS vorhersagen. Studie 3 und Studie 4 befassen sich mit der Prävention von IbS. Studie 3 gibt einen Überblick über den internationalen Stand der Forschung im Bereich der Prävention und Frühintervention und stellt die derzeit verfügbaren deutschsprachigen Präventionsprogramme vor.
Während in den westlichen Ländern vor allem gruppenbasierte, verhaltensorientierte Programme zur Anwendung kommen, werden im ostasiatischen Raum auch verhältnispräventive Maßnahmen eingesetzt, wie etwa Spielzeitbeschränkungen für Minderjährige. In Deutschland sind derzeit 12 Präventionsprogramme für IbS verfügbar.
Für zwei dieser Programme wurde die Wirksamkeit in randomisiert-kontrollierten Studien nachgewiesen. Studie 4 ist eine dieser Untersuchungen. Sie stellt die Ergebnisse der Wirksamkeitsprüfung für das von unserer Arbeitsgruppe entwickelte PROTECT-Präventionsprogramm dar. Dazu wurden N=422 Schülerinnen und Schüler, die vorab auf ein erhöhtes Risiko für IbS gescreent wurden, nach Clustern (Schulen) randomisiert in eine Interventions- und eine Beobachtungsgruppe eingeteilt. Während in der Interventionsgruppe das kognitiv-verhaltenstherapeutisch orientierte 4-wöchige PROTECT-Programm in Kleingruppen durchgeführt wurde, füllten die Teilnehmenden der Beobachtungsgruppe lediglich zu vier Messzeitpunkten (vor und nach der Intervention, nach 4 Monaten und nach 12 Monaten)
diagnostische Fragebögen zur Soziodemografie, zur Internetnutzung, zur IbS-Symptomatik, zu komorbiden psychischen Störungen, zur Emotionsregulation, zum Sozial- und Lernverhalten, zu Prokrastinationstendenzen sowie zum Selbstwertgefühl aus. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung zeigen eine Reduktion der IbSSymptomatik in beiden Gruppen. Die Reduktion ist jedoch in der Interventionsgruppe signifikant stärker, was für die Wirksamkeit des PROTECT-Programms spricht. Die Ergebnisse von Studie 1-4 ergänzen bisherige Forschungsbefunde zu IbS im Bereich der Diagnostik, Entstehung und Prävention.
Background: Multiple traumata such as child sexual and/or physical abuse often result in complex psychopathologies and a range of associated dysfunctional behaviors. Although evidence-based interventions exist, some therapists are concerned that trauma-focused psychotherapy with exposure-based elements may lead to the deterioration of associated dysfunctional behaviors in adolescents and young adults. Therefore, we examined the course of suicidal ideation, self-injury, aggressive behavior and substance use in a group of abuse-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients during phase-based, trauma-focused PTSD treatment.
Methods: Daily assessments from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Developmentally adapted Cognitive Processing Therapy (D-CPT) were analyzed to test for differences in the stated dysfunctional behaviors between the four treatment phases. We conducted multilevel modeling and repeated measure ANOVAs.
Results: We did not find any significant differences between the treatment phases concerning the stated dysfunctional behaviors, either at the level of urge or at the level of actual actions. On the contrary, in some primary outcomes (self-injury, aggressive behavior), as well as secondary outcomes (distress caused by trauma, joy), we observed significant improvements.
Discussion: Overall, during D-CPT, adolescents and young adults showed no deterioration in dysfunctional behaviors, while even showing improvements in some, suggesting that trauma-focused treatment preceded by skills building was not deleterious to this population. Hence, the dissemination of effective interventions such as D-CPT should be fostered, whilst the concerns of the therapists regarding exposure-based components need to be addressed during appropriate training. Nevertheless, further studies with momentary assessment, extended measurement methods, a control group and larger sample sizes are needed to confirm our preliminary findings.
Trial registration: The trial was registered at the German Clinical Trial Registry (GCTR), DRKS00004787, 18 March 2013, https://www.drks.de/DRKS00004787.
Background: Intrusive mental imagery (MI) plays a crucial role in the maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. Evidence on the characteristics of MI in adolescents suffering from PTSD is sparse. The aim of this study was to thoroughly assess MI in an adolescent sample suffering from PTSD after the experience of childhood sexual abuse and/or childhood physical abuse (CA).
Methods: Thirty-two adolescents with a primary diagnosis of PTSD after CA and 32 adolescents without any mental disorder and without a history of CA, matched for age and gender, completed questionnaires assessing the characteristics of negative and positive MI, as well as images of injury and death that lead to positive emotions (ID-images).
Results: The PTSD group reported significantly more frequent, more vivid, more distressing and more strongly autobiographically linked negative MI compared to the control group. Although positive MI was highly present in both groups (PTSD: 65.6%; controls: 71.9%), no significant differences emerged between the two groups regarding the distinct characteristics of positive MI. The frequency of the ID-images did not significantly differ between the two groups (PTSD: 21.9%; controls: 9.4%), although the ID-images were more vivid in the PTSD group.
Discussion: Negative MI appears to be crucial in adolescent PTSD, whilst positive MI are unexpectedly common in both the PTSD and the control group. The role of positive MI as well as that of ID-images remain unclear. Specific interventions for changing negative MI that are tailored to the developmental challenges in adolescents with PTSD should be developed.
Trial registration: Some of the PTSD patients in this study were also part of a randomized controlled trial on Developmentally adapted Cognitive Processing Therapy (D-CPT). This trial was registered at the German Clinical Trial Registry (GCTR), DRKS00004787, 18 March 2013.
Im Rahmen der fortschreitenden Digitalisierung der Hochschullehre finden auch verstärkt elektronische Prüfungsformate Eingang in den Alltag von Hochschulen. Insbesondere elektronische Abschlussklausuren (E-Klausuren) bieten hier die Möglichkeit, die Prüfungsbelastung Hochschulehrender durch die Automatisierung weiter Teile der Klausurkonstruktion, -administration und -auswertung zu reduzieren. Die Integration digitaler Technologien in die Prüfungspraxis deutscher Hochschulen ermöglicht dabei nicht nur eine ökonomische Klausurkonstruktion, realitätsnähere Klausuren (z. B. durch die Nutzung fachspezifischer Standardsoftware), und den Einsatz innovativer Testbausteine (z. B. Integration von Multimediadateien in Items), sondern auch die Nutzung aktueller psychometrischer Methoden. Insbesondere die Konstruktion von Hochschulklausuren als kriteriumsorientierte, adaptive Tests (z. B. Spoden & Frey, 2021), hat das Potential Hochschulklausuren individualisierter, messpräzisier und fairer zu machen, sowie die Validität der aus der Klausurbearbeitung abgeleiteten Testwertinterpretationen zu steigern. Um kriteriumsorientierte, adaptive Hochschulklausuren in der Breite nutzbar zu machen, müssen allerdings zuvor einige Herausforderungen gemeistert werden, denen sich diese Arbeit widmet. Die in den vier Einzelarbeiten dieser Dissertation betrachteten Herausforderungen lassen sich auf einer psychometrischen, einer personalen und einer technischen Ebene verorten.
Auf der psychometrischen Ebene ist eine zentrale Herausforderung die ökonomische Kalibrierung des Itempools. Üblicherweise wird bei der Konstruktion adaptiver Tests eine dreistellige Anzahl an Items konstruiert und mittels einer separaten Kalibrierungsstudie im Vorlauf der operationalen Testanwendung mit mehreren hundert Testpersonen kalibriert. Die massierte Konstruktion vieler Items und die Durchführung einer zusätzlichen empirischen Studie lässt sich im Rahmen von Hochschulklausuren nur schwer realisieren. Im ersten Einzelbeitrag wird daher eine neuartige kontinuierliche Kalibrierungsstrategie (KKS) vorgestellt und im Rahmen einer Monte-Carlo-Simulation hinsichtlich ihrer psychometrischen Eigenschaften geprüft. Zusammenfassend ermöglicht die KKS, adaptive Tests während wiederkehrender Testanwendungen bei konstanter Berichtsmetrik, Kontrolle von Itemparameter-Drift und fortlaufender Ergänzung des Itempools zu kalibrieren. Es zeigt sich, dass die KKS selbst für sehr kleine Stichproben eine geeignete Methode darstellt, den Itempool über mehrere Testanwendungen hinweg fortlaufend zu kalibrieren.
Um die Berichtsmetrik dabei über die verschiedenen Testanwendungen hinweg konstant zu halten, und somit Vergleichbarkeit der Ergebnisse verschiedener Testzeitpunkte (z. B. Semester) zu gewährleisten, nutzt die KKS Equating-Methoden (z. B. Kolen & Brennan, 2014) zum Herstellen einer statistischen Verbindung zwischen Klausurdurchläufen. Die Qualität dieser statistischen Verbindung hängt dabei von verschiedenen Parametern ab. Im zweiten Einzelbeitrag werden daher verschiedene Konfigurationen der in die KKS implementierten Equating-Prozedur hinsichtlich ihres Einflusses auf die Qualität der Parameterschätzungen im Rahmen einer Monte-Carlo-Simulation untersucht und auf Basis der Ergebnisse praktische Empfehlungen abgleitet. Hierfür werden unter anderem die Schwierigkeitsverteilung der genutzten Linkitems sowie die verwendete Skalentransformationsmethode variiert. Es zeigt sich, dass die KKS unter verschiedenen Konfigurationen in der Lage ist, die Skala über mehrere Testzyklen hinweg konstant zu halten. Normal- beziehungsweise gleichverteile Schwierigkeitsverteilungen der Linkitems sowie die Stocking-Lord-Skalentransformationsmethode (Stocking & Lord, 1983) erweisen sich hierbei am vorteilhaftesten.
Auf personaler Ebene stellt die Akzeptanz seitens der Hochschullehrenden einen kritischen Erfolgsfaktor für die Implementation neuer E-Learning Systeme in Lehrveranstaltungen dar. Angelehnt an Technologieakzeptanzmodellen (z. B. Technology Acceptance Model; Davis, 1989) wird im dritten Einzelbeitrag ein empirisch prüfbares Modell – das Technology-based Exams Acceptance Model (TEAM) – zur Vorhersage der Intention zur Nutzung von adaptiven und nicht-adaptiven E-Klausursystemen seitens Hochschullehrender vorgeschlagen und anhand der Daten von N = 993 deutschen Hochschullehrenden empirisch geprüft. Das postulierte Modell weist einen guten Modellfit auf. Die Ergebnisse weisen die wahrgenommene Nützlichkeit als Schlüsselprädiktor für die Nutzungsintention aus. Medienbezogene Variablen haben indirekte Effekte auf die wahrgenommene Nützlichkeit, mediiert über vorherige Nutzungserfahrungen mit Bildungstechnologien. Darüber hinaus spielt die subjektive Norm eine wichtige Rolle bei der Erklärung der Akzeptanz von E-Klausuren...
Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on education worldwide. There is increased discussion of possible negative effects on students’ learning outcomes and the need for targeted support. We examined fourth graders’ reading achievement based on a school panel study, representative on the student level, with N = 111 elementary schools in Germany (total: N = 4,290 students, age: 9–10 years). The students were tested with the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study instruments in 2016 and 2021. The analysis focused on (1) total average differences in reading achievement between 2016 and 2021, (2) average differences controlling for student composition, and (3) changes in achievement gaps between student subgroups (i.e., immigration background, socio-cultural capital, and gender). The methodological approach met international standards for the analysis of large-scale assessments (i.e., multiple multi-level imputation, plausible values, and clustered mixed-effect regression). The results showed a substantial decline in mean reading achievement. The decline corresponds to one-third of a year of learning, even after controlling for changes in student composition. We found no statistically significant changes of achievement gaps between student subgroups, despite numerical tendencies toward a widening of achievement gaps between students with and without immigration background. It is likely that this sharp achievement decline was related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings are discussed in terms of further research needs, practical implications for educating current student cohorts, and educational policy decisions regarding actions in crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The present diary study was conducted for the purpose of bridging and integrating empirical research on the antecedents and consequences of work-related ruminative processes in the evening. Based on the control theory, unfinished tasks and fatigue in the afternoon were considered as antecedents of affective rumination, while vitality was investigated as the outcome observed in the next morning to test for cyclical processes. During a 5-day diary study (including 3 weekdays and the weekend), 74 beginning teachers completed three diary entries per day. A total of 795 diary entries were obtained. Using multilevel structural equation modeling, the study supported that both fatigue and unfinished tasks explained unique shares of variance of affective rumination in the evening at the between- and within-person levels. Furthermore, affective rumination mediated the relationship between unfinished tasks and vitality as well as fatigue and vitality. However, this only held true at the between- and not the within-person level, as neither affective rumination nor fatigue and unfinished tasks predicted the following morning’s vitality at this level. The results offer insights into the antecedents of affective rumination and add to extant research on the negative consequences of affective rumination considering vitality as an outcome.
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic prompted people and institutions to turn to online virtual environments for a wide variety of social gatherings. In this perspectives article, we draw upon our previous work and interviews with Ghanaian Christian leaders to consider implications of this shift. Specifically, we propose that the shift from physical to virtual interactions mimics and amplifies the neoliberal individualist experience of abstraction from place associated with Eurocentric modernity. On the positive side, the shift from physical to virtual environments liberates people to selectively pursue the most fulfilling interactions, free from constraints of physical distance. On the negative side, the move from physical to virtual space necessitates a shift from material care and tangible engagement with the local community to the psychologization of care and pursuit of emotional intimacy in relations of one’s choosing—a dynamic that further marginalizes people who are already on the margins. The disruptions of the pandemic provide an opportunity to re-set social relations, to design ways of being that better promote sustainable collective well-being rather than fleeting personal fulfillment.
Based on stereotype threat and stereotype lift theory, this study explores implicit stereotype threat effects of gender stereotypes on the performance of primary school children in mathematics. Moreover, effects of implicit gender stereotypical cues (gender-specific task material) on motivational aspects were explored, which have revealed mixed results in stereotype threat research in the past. N = 151 German primary school children (47.7% female; mean age: M = 9.81, SD = 0.60) calculated either stereotypical or neutral mathematical text problems before motivational aspects were assessed. Contradicting our expectations, results neither revealed a stereotype threat effect on girls’ performance nor a lift effect on the boys. Instead, girls calculating stereotypical tasks outperformed girls in the control group, whereas boys’ performance did not significantly differ compared to the control group. Regarding motivational aspects, only traditional gender differences emerged as girls reported significantly more pressure and tension calculating the mathematical tasks. The discussion focuses on the way in which stereotypes can affect children’s cognitive performance and in turn, their mathematical performance.
Individualization can be defined as the adaptation of instructional parameters to relevant characteristics of a specific learner. This definition raises several questions, however: Which characteristics are actually relevant? Which parameters of instruction need to be adjusted, and in which way, to positively interact with those characteristics? In a classroom context, additional questions arise: how can information about the relevant learner characteristics be delivered to the teacher? How can individualized instruction be delivered to each learner in a context that has originally been designed for whole-class instruction? By focusing on the measurement and modelling of learner characteristics and instructional adaptations, this dissertation aims to provide an insight into each of these issues.
This dissertation is divided into two parts. The first part is concerned with the theoretical (Paper 1) and statistical (Paper 2) modeling of learner characteristics in the context of individualized instruction. The second part is concerned with the measurement (Paper 3) and implementation (Paper 4) of individualized instruction in the classroom context.
Paper 1 summarizes existing research on individualization from different research traditions. From this summary I derive the need for a dynamic conceptualization of learner characteristics (acknowledging that learners change during and in interaction with the learning process) and synthesize a dynamic framework that details the opportunities for individualization on three different timescales. Paper 2 reports results from an exploratory study that investigated the potential benefits of utilizing person-centered analysis for the assessment of multivariate learner prerequisites and their interaction with instruction. We found that latent profiles over several reading related abilities could explain differential effectiveness of self-reported teaching foci in German third grade reading lessons. These findings indicate not just a need for stronger individualization of teaching but also an advantage of multivariate conceptualizations of learner characteristics. Additionally, they show the utility of person-centered approaches for the investigation of such multivariate learner characteristics and their interaction with instruction.
In the second part, I investigate possible approaches to the implementation and measurement of individualization in a classroom context. Paper 3 investigates whether teacher-, student- and observer perspectives converge when rating the amount of individualization present in regular classroom instruction. We found considerable agreement between the perspectives, indicating a common understanding of the construct at the classroom level as well as providing some evidence for the validity of the used measurement instruments. Paper 4 replicates findings concerning the effectiveness of formative assessment procedures for fostering reading education, supplemented by a moderator analysis showing that only children with low performance at the beginning of the school-year profited from its implementation. This indicates that the information provided by formative assessment procedures helps teachers to identify struggling readers but does not seem to be utilized for adapting instruction to specific deficits of average or high performing children.
In sum, this dissertation contributes to research on individualized instruction by demonstrating necessary conditions for its effectiveness. It posits the need for a dynamic conceptualization of learner characteristics, demonstrates the advantage of multivariate learner profiles, and points out ways towards the successful implementation of individualized instruction in the classroom.
Systemic therapy considers the complex dynamics of relational factors and resources contributing to psychological symptoms. Negative maintaining factors have been well researched for people suffering from Alcohol-use Disorders (AUD). However, we know little about the complex dynamics of these negative factors and resources. We interviewed fifty-five participants suffering or fully remitted from Alcohol-use disorders in this cross-sectional study (M = 52 years; 33% female). The interviews focused on relational factors (e.g., social support and social negativity) referring to a Support Social Network and a Craving Social Network (CSN). The CSN included all significant others who were associated with craving situations. We compared the network characteristics of the group suffering from Alcohol-use Disorders (n = 38) to a fully remitted control group (n = 17). The abstinent group with full remission named on average fewer individuals in the CSNs. They had lower social negativity mean scores in the Support Social Network compared to the non-remitted group (d = 0.74). In the CSN, the mean scores of social support were significantly higher than the median for both groups (d = 2.50). These findings reveal the complex interplay of relational patterns contributing to the etiology, maintenance, and recovery from Alcohol-use disorders. A successful recovery can be linked to increased social resources and reduced relations associated with craving. However, craving-associated relations represent an important source of social support. Future research should investigate this ambivalence for the systemic perspective on the explanation and treatment of Alcohol-use disorders.
Cultural and biographical influences on the expression of emotions manifest themselves in so-called “display rules.” These rules determine the time, intensity, and situations in which an emotion is expressed. To date, only a small number of empirical studies deal with this transformation of how migrants, who are faced with a new culture, may change their emotional expression. The present, cross-sectional study focuses on changes in anger expression as part of a complex acculturation process among Iranian migrants. To this end, Iranian citizens in Iran (n = 61), German citizens (n = 61), and Iranian migrants in Germany (n = 60) were compared in terms of anger expression behavior and acculturation strategy (assimilation, separation, integration, marginalization) was assessed among the migrants, using the Frankfurt Acculturation Scale (FRACC). A questionnaire developed in a preliminary study was used to measure anger expression via subjective anger experience and anger expression within 16 hypothetical situations. Multivariate Analyses of Variance (MANOVA) revealed that Iranians and Iranian migrants reported higher anger experience ratings than Germans and directed their anger more often inward (anger-in). Further findings suggest that transformation processes may have affected Iranian migrants in terms of suppressed anger (anger-in): Iranian migrants with a higher orientation toward German culture reported lower average anger-in scores. These results suggest that there was different emotional expression among Iranian migrants, depending on their acculturation. The results provide new insight into socio-cultural and individual adjustment processes.
Über zwei Drittel aller Menschen erleben in ihrem Leben mindestens ein traumatisches Ereignis (Kessler et al., 2017). Gerade nach interpersonellen Traumatisierungen ist die Rate der Betroffenen, welche eine posttraumatische Belastungsstörung (PTBS) entwickeln, sehr hoch (z. B. ca. 50% nach sexuellem Missbrauch; Hauffa et al., 2011). In der Vergangenheit wurden Angst- und Ohnmachtsgefühle als zentrale der PTBS zu Grunde liegende Emotionen aufgefasst (Foa & Kozak, 1986). Neuere Forschungsbefunde legen jedoch nahe, dass traumabezogene Schuld- und Schamgefühle auch eine wichtige Rolle bei der Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung der PTBS spielen (z. B. Badour et al., 2017). Dabei leiden besonders Betroffene von interpersonellen Gewalterfahrungen unter diesen Gefühlen (z. B. Badour et al., 2017).
Im Hinblick auf die psychotherapeutische Behandlung der PTBS haben sich traumafokussierte Verfahren als wirksam erwiesen (z. B. Lewis et al., 2020). Hohe Drop-out (z. B. Swift & Greenberg, 2014) und Nonresponse Raten (Fonzo et al., 2020) geben jedoch Hinweise darauf, dass nicht allen PTBS Patient*innen mit diesen Verfahren ausreichend geholfen werden kann, wobei insbesondere Patient*innen mit interpersonellen Traumatisierungen weniger gut davon zu profitieren scheinen (z. B. Karatzias et al., 2019). Zudem hat sich gezeigt, dass Schuldgefühle auch nach einer erfolgreichen PTBS Behandlung weiter persistieren (Larsen et al., 2019). Demnach besteht ein Bedarf an alternativen Therapieverfahren für Patient*innen mit interpersonellen Traumatisierungen und/oder Schuld- und Schamgefühlen.
Besonders vielversprechend sind hierbei achtsamkeitsbasierte Interventionen, die bereits in der PTBS Behandlung eine zunehmend bedeutsame Rolle spielen (Hopwood & Schutte, 2017). Eine wichtige Voraussetzung für die weitere Erforschung dieser Interventionen sind valide und reliable Verfahren zur Veränderungsmessung von Achtsamkeit (Isbel et al., 2020). So scheinen bisherige Studien jedoch hauptsächlich fragebogenbasierte Maße zur Erfassung von Veränderungen in Trait-Achtsamkeit eingesetzt zu haben, obwohl diese Interventionen eher auf die Steigerung von State-Achtsamkeit abzielen (Goodman et al., 2017). Darüber hinaus kristallisierten sich methodische Kritikpunkte in Bezug auf die Validität von Fragebögen zur Erfassung von Trait-Achtsamkeit heraus (van Dam et al., 2018). Demgegenüber erfassen Experience-Sampling Ansätze (z. B. Mindful-Breathing Exercise, MBE; Burg & Michalak, 2011) eher Aspekte der State-Achtsamkeit, sind jedoch in klinischen Untersuchungsstichproben bisher kaum untersucht worden. Darauf aufbauend fokussierte die erste Forschungsfrage der Dissertation die Untersuchung der MBE im klinischen Kontext. Ein Hauptbefund der Studie zeigte, dass die MBE bei PTBS Patient*innen hinsichtlich ihres Prädiktionswertes für die PTBS Symptome Übererregung und Intrusionen gegenüber fragebogenbasierter Trait-Achtsamkeit überlegen war. Mögliche Wirkmechanismen achtsamkeitsbasierter Interventionen könnten demnach durch den Einsatz der MBE besonders gut abgebildet werden.
Innerhalb der achtsamkeitsbasierten Interventionen kommt in der Behandlung der PTBS am häufigsten die Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR; Kabat-Zinn, 2013) als standardisierte Gruppenintervention zum Einsatz (Boyd et al., 2018). Jedoch scheint die MBSR insbesondere für PTBS Patient*innen mit interpersonellen Traumatisierungen nicht eins-zu-eins anwendbar zu sein (Müller-Engelmann et al., 2017). Buddhistische Metta-Meditationen (dt.: Liebende Güte; Salzberg, 2002) sind vor diesem Hintergrund eine vielversprechende Ergänzung zu achtsamkeitsbasierten Interventionen. Metta-Meditationen zielen darauf ab, sich selbst sowie allen anderen Lebewesen bedingungsloses Wohlwollen und Freundlichkeit entgegen zu bringen (Bodhi, 2010). Metta-Meditationen sind noch weniger gut in der klinischen Forschung etabliert. Erste Befunde deuten jedoch darauf hin, dass sie bei PTBS Patient*innen zu einer Reduktion der PTBS Symptomatik führen können (z. B. Kearney et al., 2021). Folglich wurde im Rahmen der zweiten Forschungsfrage eine neue Intervention entwickelt und evaluiert, welche sich an den Bedürfnissen von PTBS Patient*innen mit interpersonellen Traumatisierungen orientiert. Sie kombiniert kürzere, PTBS spezifische Achtsamkeitsübungen mit angepassten Übungen aus MBSR sowie Metta-Meditationen (= Trauma-MILOKI). Trauma-MILOKI zeigte sich in einer multiplen Baseline Studie wirksam zur Reduktion der PTBS Symptome sowie zur Steigerung des Wohlbefindens.
Ein Wirkmechanismus von Metta-Meditationen ist die Förderung positiver Emotionen sowie des Gefühls sozialer Verbundenheit (Salzberg, 2002), weswegen sie auch besonders gut geeignet scheinen, traumabezogene Schuld- und Schamgefühle zu reduzieren. Darüber hinaus haben sich unter den etablierten Therapieverfahren v. a. kognitive Ansätze zur Reduktion von Schuldgefühlen als wirksam erwiesen (Resick et al., 2008)...
Stress influences health not only directly, but also indirectly through changes in health-related behaviours, such as diet. Research has shown that stress influences individuals’ eating behaviour in different ways: Some increase, some decrease food intake, while others show no change. Identifying individuals at risk for stress-induced eating is essential for the development of tailored strategies for the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity. The individual-difference model of stress-induced eating suggests that individual differences in the dietary response to stress are determined by differences in learning history, attitudes, or biology. Even though many studies have tried to identify person-characteristics that explain individual differences in the dietary response to stress, evidence remains inconclusive. Considering that eating is a repeated-occurrence health behaviour which is performed multiple times a day, Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) seems particularly promising to study the complex relationship between stress and food intake when and where it naturally occurs. Despite its potential, the number of studies applying EMA to assess the stress and eating relationship is limited. Furthermore, previous EMA studies show two limitations: (1) Actual food intake is not assessed and (2) inappropriate data analysis approaches are applied to semicontinuous outcomes. Therefore, the first aim of the present dissertation was to address the lack of an EMA tool that allows the assessment of stress and actual food intake by developing and evaluating the APPetite-mobile-app. Feasibility and usability of the APPetite-mobile-app as well as validity of the incorporated food record were empirically examined (Paper 1). Given the lack of an appropriate data analysis procedure, the second aim of the present dissertation was the introduction of a sophisticated statistical approach for semicontinuous data (Paper 2): Multilevel two-part modelling allows studying the influence of stress on the occurrence (i.e., whether individuals eat) as well as the amount of food intake (i.e., how much individuals eat) while accounting for the potential dependency between the two. Lastly, the novel EMA tool and the advanced data analysis procedure were integrated in order to gain novel insights into individual differences in the dietary response to stress and thereby identify individuals at risk for stress-induced eating in daily life (Paper 3). Results of Paper 1 showed good feasibility and acceptable usability of the APPetite-mobile-app as well as validity of the incorporated food record. Findings of Paper 2 highlight that multilevel two-part models offer novel and distinct insights in terms of the occurrence and the amount of food intake and are therefore not only methodologically but also conceptually promising. Paper 3 provides first evidence that the dietary response to stress might not be as stable as yet assumed. Time-varying factors might moderate the relationship between stress and actual food intake. Therefore, an expansion of the individual-difference model is proposed which accounts for time-varying factors. Further EMA studies are needed to verify the expanded model and identify time-varying factors which influence the dietary response to stress. Beyond that, improvements in the dietary assessment are required in order to allow prolonged EMA periods as well as larger samples. The present dissertation contributes to the research on the stress and eating relationship as it overcomes limitations of previous EMA studies and yields novel insights into the relationship between stress and actual food intake in daily life. Not only identifying individuals at risk for stress-induced eating, but also the identification of situations with an increased risk for stress-induced eating appears to be important for the development of targeted strategies for the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity.
This cross-sectional study examined gender differences between male- and female-typed housework during the early COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. Participants in Germany, India, Nigeria, and South Africa (N = 823) rated their housework share before and during the lockdown, then speculated about the division of housework performed by men and women in general, before and post-lockdown. Women spent more time on female-typed tasks and men (in Nigeria and South Africa) on male-typed tasks before and during the lockdown. Irrespective of participants’ gender, they speculated that men's and women's housework was more pronounced post-lockdown than before, but we only found gender differences in South Africa and India. Gender role ideology (GRI) moderated the gender‒housework relationship in Germany, but gender did not moderate the paid work hours and housework relationship in any country. Our findings suggest that gendered housework persisted in these countries and raises concerns that this pattern is likely to continue post-lockdown.
Previous research has demonstrated the efficacy of psychological interventions to foster resilience. However, little is known about whether the cultural context in which resilience interventions are implemented affects their efficacy on mental health. Studies performed in Western (k = 175) and Eastern countries (k = 46) regarding different aspects of interventions (setting, mode of delivery, target population, underlying theoretical approach, duration, control group design) and their efficacy on resilience, anxiety, depressive symptoms, quality of life, perceived stress, and social support were compared. Interventions in Eastern countries were longer in duration and tended to be more often conducted in group settings with a focus on family caregivers. We found evidence for larger effect sizes of resilience interventions in Eastern countries for improving resilience (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28 to 0.67; p < 0.0001; 43 studies; 6248 participants; I2 = 97.4%). Intercultural differences should receive more attention in resilience intervention research. Future studies could directly compare interventions in different cultural contexts to explain possible underlying causes for differences in their efficacy on mental health outcomes.
Objectives: To investigate whether citizens’ adherence to health-protective non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic is predicted by identity leadership, wherein leaders are perceived to create a sense of shared national identity.
Design: Observational two-wave study. Hypotheses testing was conducted with structural equation modelling.
Setting: Data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic in China, Germany, Israel and the USA in April/May 2020 and four weeks later.
Participants: Adults in China (n=548, 66.6% women), Germany (n=182, 78% women), Israel (n=198, 51.0% women) and the USA (n=108, 58.3% women).
Measures: Identity leadership (assessed by the four-item Identity Leadership Inventory Short-Form) at Time 1, perceived shared national identification (PSNI; assessed with four items) and adherence to health-protective NPIs (assessed with 10 items that describe different health-protective interventions; for example, wearing face masks) at Time 2.
Results: Identity leadership was positively associated with PSNI (95% CI0.11 to 0.30, p<0.001) in all countries. This, in turn, was related to more adherence to health-protective NPIs in all countries (95% CI 0.03 to 0.36, 0.001≤p≤0.017) except Israel (95% CI−0.03 to 0.27, p=0.119). In Germany, the more people saw Chancellor Merkel as engaging in identity leadership, the more they adhered to health-protective NPIs (95% CI 0.04 to 0.18, p=0.002). In the USA, in contrast, the more people perceived President Trump as engaging in identity leadership, the less they adhered to health-protective NPIs (95% CI−0.17 to −0.04, p=0.002).
Conclusions: National leaders can make a difference by promoting a sense of shared identity among their citizens because people are more inclined to follow health-protective NPIs to the extent that they feel part of a united ‘us’. However, the content of identity leadership (perceptions of what it means to be a nation’s citizen) is essential, because this can also encourage people to disregard such recommendations.
Growing up in cities is associated with increased risk for developing mental health problems. Stress exposure and altered stress regulation have been proposed as mechanisms linking urbanicity and psychopathology, with most research conducted in adult populations. Here, we focus on early childhood, and investigate urbanicity, behavior problems and the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a central circuit of the stress system, in a sample of N = 399 preschoolers aged 45 months. Urbanicity was coded dichotomously distinguishing between residences with more or less than 100,000 inhabitants. Behavior problems were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) 1½ - 5. Cortisol stress reactivity was assessed using an age-appropriated game-like stress task, and cortisol in the first morning urine was measured to assess nocturnal HPA axis activity. Urbanicity was not associated with behavior problems, urinary cortisol or the cortisol stress response. Neither urinary cortisol nor salivary cortisol response after stress exposure were identified as mediators of the relationship between urbanicity and behavior problems. The findings suggest no strong association of urbanicity with behavior problems and HPA axis regulation in preschool age. To our knowledge, this is the youngest sample to date studying the relationship between urbanicity and behavior problems as well as HPA axis regulation. Future research should examine at which age associations can first be identified and which mechanisms contribute to these relationships.
Background: Standardized neuropsychological testing serves to quantify cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, the exact mechanism underlying the translation of cognitive dysfunction into difficulties in everyday tasks has remained unclear. To answer this question, we tested if MS patients with intact vs. impaired information processing speed measured by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) differ in their visual search behavior during ecologically valid tasks reflecting everyday activities.
Methods: Forty-three patients with relapsing-remitting MS enrolled in an eye-tracking experiment consisting of a visual search task with naturalistic images. Patients were grouped into “impaired” and “unimpaired” according to their SDMT performance. Reaction time, accuracy and eye-tracking parameters were measured.
Results: The groups did not differ regarding age, gender, and visual acuity. Patients with impaired SDMT (cut-off SDMT-z-score < −1.5) performance needed more time to find and fixate the target (q = 0.006). They spent less time fixating the target (q = 0.042). Impaired patients had slower reaction times and were less accurate (both q = 0.0495) even after controlling for patients' upper extremity function. Exploratory analysis revealed that unimpaired patients had higher accuracy than impaired patients particularly when the announced target was in unexpected location (p = 0.037). Correlational analysis suggested that SDMT performance is inversely linked to the time to first fixation of the target only if the announced target was in its expected location (r = −0.498, p = 0.003 vs. r = −0.212, p = 0.229).
Conclusion: Dysfunctional visual search behavior may be one of the mechanisms translating cognitive deficits into difficulties in everyday tasks in MS patients. Our results suggest that cognitively impaired patients search their visual environment less efficiently and this is particularly evident when top-down processes have to be employed.
Background: The assessment of therapeutic adherence and competence is essential to understand mechanisms that contribute to treatment outcome. Nevertheless, their assessment is often neglected in psychotherapy research.
Aims/Objective: To develop an adherence and a treatment-specific competence rating scale for Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (DBT-PTSD), and to examine their psychometric properties. Global cognitive behavioural therapeutic competence and disorder-specific therapeutic competence were assessed using already existing scales to confirm their psychometric properties in our sample of patients with PTSD and emotion regulation difficulties.
Method: Two rating scales were developed using an inductive procedure. 155 videotaped therapy sessions from a multicenter randomised controlled trial were rated by trained raters using these scales, 40 randomly chosen videotapes involving eleven therapists and fourteen patients were doubly rated by two raters.
Results: Both the adherence scale (Patient-level ICC = .98; αs = .65; αp = .75) and the treatment-specific competence scale (Patient-level ICC = .98; αs = .78; αp = .82) for DBT-PTSD showed excellent interrater – and good reliability on the patient level. Content validity, including relevance and appropriateness of all items, was confirmed by experts in DBT-PTSD for the new treatment-specific competence scale.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that both scales are reliable instruments. They will be useful to examine possible effects of adherence and treatment-specific competence on DBT-PTSD treatment outcome.
Understanding the brain's proactive nature and its ability to anticipate the future has been a longstanding pursuit in philosophy and scientific research. The predictive processing framework explains how the brain generates predictions based on environmental regularities and adapts to both predicted and unpredicted events. Prediction errors (PE) occur when sensory evidence deviates from predictions, triggering cognitive and neural processes that enhance learning and subsequent memory. However, the effects of PE on episodic memory have not been clearly explained. This dissertation aims to address three key questions to advance our understanding of PE and episodic memory. First, how does the degree of PE influence episodic memory, and how do expected and unexpected events interact in this process? Second, what insights can be gained from studying the electrophysiological activity associated with prediction violations, and what role does PE play in subsequent memory benefits? Lastly, how do memory processes change across the lifespan, and how does this impact the brain's ability to remember events? By answering these questions, this dissertation contributes to advancing our understanding of the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying the relationship PE and episodic memory.