Abnormal illness behavior and Internet addiction severity: The role of disease conviction, irritability, and alexithymia

Author(s): Giuseppe SCIMECA,Antonio Bruno,Manuela Crucitti,Claudia Conti,Diego Quattrone,Gianluca Pandolfo,Rocco Antonio ZOCCALI,Maria Rosaria Anna MUSCATELLO / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2017

While the association between health anxiety and maladaptive Internet use is a well-established finding, no studies have been performed to examine the possible effect of abnormal illness behavior (AIB). AIB is a maladaptive manner of experiencing, evaluating, or acting in response to health and illness that is disproportionate to evident pathology. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between AIB and Internet addiction (IA) severity in a sample of Italian University students. The possible effect of alexithymia, anxiety, and depression was also taken into account. Methods: Participants were 115 men and 163 women (mean age = 23.62 ± 4.38 years); AIB was measured via the Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ), and IA severity by the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Results: The most powerful IBQ factor predicting IA severity scores was disease conviction. Irritability was the only emotional IBQ factor associated with IA severity. Nevertheless, disease conviction and alexithymia remained the only significant predictors of IAT scores when hierarchical regression analysis was executed. Discussion and conclusions: Our results support previous findings showing that those characterized by health anxiety are more prone to an excessive and maladaptive use of Internet. Moreover, this study showed that irritability was the only emotional aspect of AIB predicting IA severity. This finding is consistent with the cognitive model of hypochondria, which states that cognitive factors (dysfunctional beliefs and assumptions) play a major role in the explanation of this psychopathological condition.

Abuse and violence against foreign domestic workers. A case from Hong Kong

Author(s): Akm Ahsan Ullah / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2015

This paper explores various abuses Foreign Domestic Helpers (FDHs) or migrant domestic workers (MDW) in Hong Kong suffer and the strategies they take up to cope with this abuse. Data were collected from 215 domestic helpers (135 from the Philippines, 30 from Thailand, 41 from Indonesia, and 9 from Sri Lanka) all of whom had been in residence for at least six months. Selected by snow-balling technique, respondents were interviewed with structured and non-structured questionnaires. Research shows that sexual abuse is the most common form of abuse against MDWs followed by psychological and physical abuses. Female employers are the main perpetuators of psychological abuse while the male employers are culpable for sexual abuses. Coping strategies varied widely among the MDWs. Many of them endure the violence to keep the job; some quit the job and others struggle with the decision to stay or quit.

Academic integrity “captured” by a personality-based test

Author(s): Predrag Okanovic,Dragana Okanovic,Dušanka Mitrovic,Nebojša Majstorovic / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2013

The main goal of this study was to develop and validate a personality-based academic integrity test which could serve as a predictor of students’ academic dishonesty. A new Academic Integrity Test (AIT), based on methodological principles accepted in the field of work integrity, was created during this study. The test was developed on one student sample (N=350), and then validated on another (N=471). Validation of the AIT confirmed its relations with three dimensions previously found to be consistent correlates of work integrity measures – Conscientiousness, Aggressiveness and Neuroticism, with the addition of Negative Valence. The correlation between the AIT and a cognitive ability measure was not significant, which is in accordance with previous research. The test retained significant relations with the aforementioned personality measures in simulated applicant condition (except with Neuroticism), leading to the conclusion that the AIT maintains construct validity in situations susceptible to self-presentation.

Accepting Test-Anxiety-Related Thoughts Increases Academic Performance Among Undergraduate Students

Author(s): Ibrahim Senay,Mustafa Cetinkaya,Muhammet Usak / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2012

Given that unwanted thoughts are enhanced when suppressed, we tested among college freshmen who were about to take an academic exam if an acceptance strategy consisting of not suppressing intrusive thoughts will improve test performance. This strategy proved superior to students’ own default strategies as much as a modified, alternative strategy, avoiding the antecedents of intrusive thoughts. Moreover, the combination of the two strategies counteracted a stronger, negative effect of test anxiety on test performance as compared with each strategy used alone. The results suggest that not only intrusive thoughts per se but also the suppression of these thoughts can disrupt test performance, and hint that approaching such thoughts with acceptance may not interfere with simultaneously working toward avoiding the antecedents of these thoughts.

Addictive use of social networking sites can be explained by the interaction of Internet use expectancies, Internet literacy, and psychopathological symptoms

Author(s): Elisa Wegmann,Benjamin Stodt,Matthias Brand / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2015

Most people use the Internet in a functional way to achieve certain goals and needs. However, there is an increasing number of people who experience negative consequences like loss of control and distress based on an excessive use of the Internet and its specific online applications. Some approaches postulate similarities with behavioral addictions as well as substance dependencies. They differentiate between a generalized and a specific Internet addiction, such as the pathological use of social networking sites (SIA–SNS). Prior studies particularly identified the use of applications, personal characteristics, and psychopathological symptoms as significant predictors for the development and maintenance of this phenomenon. So far, it remains unclear how psychopathological symptoms like depression and social anxiety interact with individual expectancies of Internet use and capabilities of handling the Internet, summarized as Internet literacy. Methods: The current study (N = 334) investigated the interaction of these components in a structural equation model. Results: The results indicate that the effects of depression and social anxiety on SIA–SNS were mediated by Internet use expectancies and self-regulation. Discussion: Thus, Internet use expectancies seem to be crucial for SIA–SNS, which is in line with prior models. Conclusions: SNS use may be reinforced by experienced gratification and relief from negative feelings. Individual competences in handling the Internet may be preventive for the development of SIA–SNS.

ADDRESSING SERVICE ACCESS BARRIERS FOR HOMELESS YOUTH: A CALL FOR COLLABORATION

Author(s): Jeffrey L. Perron / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2014

Homeless youth are among the most vulnerable individuals in North American society. The day-to-day stressors they face while living on the streets pose a great threat to their mental and physical health. A number of barriers that youth face in accessing care have been identified in the literature. This discussion article highlights work that has been done to apply geographic theory to issues of service access among homeless youth. To date, most such work has been theoretical in nature, with collaborations between geographers and homeless youth researchers to make applied recommendations for the location of services. Urban geographers and homeless youth researchers are implored to collaborate in order to make recommendations that will increase the access to service, particularly for rural homeless youth.

ADHD i choroba Aspergera a wykluczenie społeczne

Author(s): Andrzej Mirski,Natalia Mirska-Tomasz / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 4/2018

The article presents the question of possible forms of social exclusion towards people affected Asperger’s and ADHD. These diseases, although share their considerable differences, are alike in that they seriously hinder interpersonal relationships, which can cause a very negative reactions from the environment, even taking the form of a social exclusion. Their common feature is also the fact that these diseases appear in early childhood, and therefore in a particularly vulnerable period of life when needed for proper development are the best contacts with the social environment. Often, the consequences of psychological trauma caused by social rejection may be more severe and prolonged than the disease itself. For example, ADHD often disappears spontaneously in adolescence (most likely due to the maturation of the brain, especially the frontal cortex areas), and the psychological effects of rejection by peers, teachers and even his own family may persist for a long time, assuming eg. the tendency to form depressive episodes. The article presents the most important symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome and ADHD, which to the greatest extent may contribute to social isolation and the most important forms of therapeutic, pedagogical and educational impacts in order to improve the social relations of these children and provide them with the proper functioning of the social environment.

Adolescent stealing treated with motivational interviewing and imaginal desensitization – Case report

Author(s): Jon E. Grant,Brian L. Odlaug,Christopher B. Donahue / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2012

Adolescent shoplifting occurs in an estimated 15% of the United States population. Although adolescent stealing is associated with significant psychosocial consequences there is limited research concerning efficacious treatments. Case study: A 17-year-old male with a history of compulsive stealing was treated using a six-session, individualized cognitive-behavioral therapy protocol which included motivational interviewing, psycho-education, behavioral modification, and an exposure script using imaginal desensitization. After the six-session therapy, the patient continued for eight further sessions of therapy to maintain treatment gains. His Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale scores dropped from a 22 pre-treatment to a 3 at the end of the 14 sessions of therapy and he remained abstinent from stealing. Discussion: This case reports on the successful use of an individualized, cognitive behavioral therapy on an adolescent with compulsive shoplifting and other antisocial behaviors. This treatment provides a promising step towards the treatment of a relatively common adolescent behavior.

Adolescenti, fertilitet i reproduktivno zdravlje mladih u Republici Srpskoj

Author(s): Milorad Živkovic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 2/2009

This paper presents data which clearly reveal that the behavior model of young people in the Bosnian Serb Republic is characterized by an insufficient degree of information and poor knowledge on reproductive health, an increase in the number of alcohol consumers, drugs and cigarettes which leads to an increase in risky behavior, entering sexual relations and an earlier age, an increase in the number of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies which often result in abortions or premature birth. At the same time young people recognize the necessity for more information, mention competent authorities and expect help from them. At the same time, they show readiness to learn through peer education. On the other hand, the estimated results which we obtained by using available sources, because of the lack of a population census, give us information on the grave demographic situation in the Bosnian Serb Republic and negative tendencies in the future. When we speak of the total fertility rate and compare these data with countries of Europe and the surrounding areas, we can unfortunately only state that many factors – the most important being: war events, insecurity, unfavorable economic and social situation, significant migration of not only young people but of whole families – caused severely low total fertility rate in the Bosnian Serb Republic. Even worse, these tendencies are further decreasing and society is moving towards open depopulation with unforeseeable demographic, economic and national consequences. At the same time, it has been ascertained that young people are getting married at a later age, deciding on becoming parents at a later age and acting more riskily which decreases their fertility capacity and decreases their share in the total fertility capacity, making the already bad demographic picture of the Bosnian Serb Republic even worse.

Adolescents’ Social Emotional Health and Empathy in Lithuanian Sample

Author(s): Ala Petrulyte,Virginija Guogiene / Language(s): English / Issue: 22/2018

Non-decreasing extent of bullying, increasing rates of various dependencies and suicides, high level of adolescents’ behavioural and emotional problems are observed in Lithuanian schools at present. Academic literature sources have revealed that adolescents’ mental health is mainly researched from the deficitoriented perspective, i.e. factors under research are related to various impairments, encountered difficulties or their risk. It is particularly important to conduct research on the positive adolescent development, its strengths, emotional and social areas of health that can be developed. The present research emphasizes a positive development of youth and social emotional aspects of such development. Aim. To investigate differences in adolescents’ social and emotional health and empathy by age and gender in the Lithuanian sample. Method. Social and Emotional Health Survey (Furlong et al., 2014) and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) (Davis, 1980). The sample: 600 adolescents (12–18 year olds) from various Lithuanian schools. Research results and conclusions. The scores of SEHS–S scales of belief-in-self and engaged living are statistically significantly higher in the group of junior adolescents (12–15 year olds) and those of empathy (IRI) are higher among senior adolescents (16–18 year olds); significantly higher scores of empathy scales are observed in the group of girls compared to boys. The results of the conducted research contribute to the development of expression of school learners’ social and emotional health and empathy.

Adventure Therapy

Author(s): Sule Bastemur / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2019

The purpose of this study is to introduce the adventure therapy which emerges with the thought of using heling power of nature in the therapeutic context. In the study, information was given about the historical origins, aims, benefits, features and process of adventure therapy. It is also mentioned about who might be an adventure therapist or client, the limitations of adventure therapy and the research carried out in the field. Finally, suggestions have been made to strengthen adventure therapy in theory and practice.

Affective Avant-gardism

Author(s): Agnieszka Dauksza / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2017

The text is an attempt to redefine current approaches to the avant-garde literature and art, as well as to overcome the dualism in thinking of modern artistic tendencies. The author discusses works which fall outside existing typologies and descriptions. The research proposition, defined as “affective criticism”, is an analysis of modern arts phenomena from the angle of the categories of affect. The proposed model of reading gives an opportunity to single out another, “alternative” modernity, an avant-garde of the avant-garde, specificity of which is included, among other things, in complicating the tensions between what is intellectual, somatic and emotional.

Affective Studies in Poland: Probing the Field

Author(s): Ryszard Nycz / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2017

Introduction to the issue of Teksty Drugie devoted to affective studies in literature, art and culture. The author points to three major characteristics of this approach. First, its manifest-like form (i.e. pursuing a narrow – affective – research project in order to expose the cognitive profit of such an undertaking on the expenses of a partial and biased image. Secondly, it subscribes to a certain methodological “turn”, as descriptive categories turn into analytical procedures transforming traditional shape of the whole discipline in question. Thirdly, it is an inherent element of the generic understanding of culture as a creative activity, which brings to life phenomena which would remain obscure without its external and caring intervention.

Agresszió az iskolában

Author(s): József Mayer,Sára Vígh / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 3/2008

AHİLİK TEŞKİLATINDA ANADOLU TÜRK KADINININ GİRİŞİMCİLİĞİNE SOSYAL- PSİKOLOJİK BİR YAKLAŞIM

Author(s): Kasim Tatlilioglu / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: 4/2012

Giving great importance to science, art and morality, in Akhism, women had also an important place in social,economic and cultural life. With their social, cultural, economic and moral principles, Akhism culture and Akhism organization, gave great importance to the rights and freedom of individuals. The Anatolian women, by the help of “Bacıyan-ı Rum" Organization, were being educated in the direction of the principles; “beware of your husband, your work, your food" namely “help your husband, bind him to the family, beware of your work and living". In order women to be organized and developed, Fatma Bacı, Akhi Evran ’s wife, founded the first woman organization of the world “Bacıyan-ı Rum" organization, today called Anatolian Women Union. The word “Bacı" is still extensively used even today in many towns of Anatolia. As for the word “Rum", it means Anatolia.

AİLE ÇATIŞMALARI, NEDENLERİ ve EN YAYGIN ÇÖZÜMLERİ

Author(s): Hüseyin Rehimirad / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: 8/2010

Aile ve çiftlerin rastladığı sorunlar, uğradığı zararlar, ailede çatışmamazlıklar ve diğer etkili amiller geçmişten günümüze kadar dikkate alınmış ve incelenmiştir. Şu araştırmanın amacı da evlilik çatışmalarının nedenlerini bulmak gibi sosyolojik bir meselenin çözümüne küçük bir katkıda bulunmaktır.

AİLE TERAPİSİ MODELİNDE SATİR’İN KULLANDIĞI KAVRAMLAR VE TEKNİKLER-I

Author(s): Neside YILDIRIM / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: 43/2019

Virginia Satir (1916-1988) was one of the pioneers in developing her own approach to working with families and emphasizing the importance of communication patterns in family therapy. According to her, problematic people form a personality type by moving away from their real identity in the family and taking on different communication patterns such as “accusing”, “calming”, “distracting attention” and “calculating”. Satir firstly created the “Family Sculpture and updated the problem of the family and then focused on the change. She brought the man and woman (parents) to face the landscape and updated the events. Thus, the events in the family were identified, photographs were taken, put in front of individuals, social problems (illnesses) were identified and the family faced with its problems. Then, she focused on change and helped to maintain the family balance. She conceptualized the “Family Map”, “Family Chronology” and “Family Sculpture” for the diagnosis of the problem. She conceptualized what is happening as “Updating”. Then she used the concepts of “Communication Games”, “Talk and Look” and “Touch” for change.

Aleksandra Gruszczyk, Czarne światło. Analiza zjawiska powojennej traumy społecznej w kulturze Stanów Zjednoczonych Ameryki

Author(s): Marcin Lason / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 2/2018

Algılanan Ayrımcılık ve Sosyal Kimlik İlişkisi: Türk ve Kürt Etnik Grupları Üzerine Bir Çalışma

Author(s): Ercan Sen / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: 11/2017

The purpose of the present study is to compare Turks and Kurds in the context of ethnic identification, perceived individual ethnic discrimination against Kurds and perceived group discrimination against Kurds. The sample composed of 224 Turkish and 240 Kurdish participants were asked to answer Importance of Collective Identity Scale and perceived Discrimination Scale. Results were discussed within the framework of Social Identity Theory. According to results, Turkish and Kurdish ethnic groups differed in the context of ethnic identification and perceived discrimination subscales. Comparing to Turkish participants, Kurdish participants show a higher level of ethnic identification, perceived individual ethnic discrimination and perceived group discrimination against Kurds. Ethnic identification level predicted Turkish participants’ perceived individual ethnic discrimination against Kurds and perceived group discrimination against Kurds in the negative direction. Despite that, ethnic identification level predicted in the positive direction for Kurdish participants. Additionally, being affected by conflict in East and Southeast Anatolia significantly predicted perceived individual ethnic discrimination and perceived group discrimination against Kurds in the positive direction for Kurdish participants.

Algılanan Örgütsel Destek ve İşe İlişkin Duyuşsal İyi Oluş Halinin Üretkenlik Karşıtı İş Davranışları Üzerine Etkileri: Hizmet Sektöründe Bir Araştırma

Author(s): Aysen Akbas Tuna,Yasin Boylu / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: 4/2016

This study examines whether perceived organizational support and job-related affective well-being in the service sector impact counterproductive work behaviors exhibited by employees. Multivariate statistical methods such as descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the questionnaire responses. The findings of this study reveal that perceived organizational support impacts job related affective well-being. Accordingly, while a positive impact exists between perceived organizational support and positive emotions, a negative impact exists between perceived organizational support and negative emotions. In addition, perceived organizational support partially impacts counterproductive work behaviors of employees such as theft of organizational property, withdrawal behavior, and abuse. Using employee emotions as a mediating variable as per the Job-related Affective Wellbeing Scale, we found that positive emotions do not impact employee theft, withdrawal behavior, and abuse, whereas negative emotions positively and significantly impact these behaviors. Furthermore, negative emotions play a mediating role in the relationship between perceived organizational support and counterproductive work behaviors.