Emotion recognition and social skills in child and adolescent offspring of parents with schizophrenia

Introduction: Emotion recognition, a social cognition domain, is impaired in people with schizophrenia and contributes to social dysfunction. Whether impaired emotion recognition emerges as a manifestation of illness or predates symptoms is unclear. Findings from studies of emotion recognition impairments in first-degree relatives of people with schizophrenia are mixed and, to our knowledge, no studies have investigated the link between emotion recognition and social functioning in that population.

Methods: This study examined facial affect recognition and social skills in 16 offspring of parents with schizophrenia (familial high-risk/FHR) compared to 34 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC), ages 7–19.

Results: As hypothesised, FHR children exhibited impaired overall accuracy, accuracy in identifying fearful faces, and overall recognition speed relative to controls. Age-adjusted facial affect recognition accuracy scores predicted parent’s overall rating of their child’s social skills for both groups.

Conclusions: This study supports the presence of facial affect recognition deficits in FHR children. Importantly, as the first known study to suggest the presence of these deficits in young, asymptomatic FHR children, it extends findings to a developmental stage predating symptoms. Further, findings point to a relationship between early emotion recognition and social skills. Improved characterisation of deficits in FHR children could inform early intervention.     

Whether, how, and when social anxiety shapes positive experiences and events: a self-regulatory framework and treatment implications

Although neglected in diagnostic criteria lists, theoretical models, and treatment approaches, attenuated positive emotions and cognitions distinguish social anxiety and social anxiety disorder from other anxiety conditions (and cannot be accounted for by comorbidity with depression). We present a self-control resource depletion model to explain how the intense self-regulatory efforts of high socially anxious individuals dampen positive experiences and events. We review existing research on individuals with social anxiety difficulties, focusing on impoverished positive experiences and quality of life, atypical reactions to overtly positive social outcomes, the absence of a normative bias toward the positive in social situations, and a meaningful subset of individuals who show signs of impulsive, short-lived positive events. We also discuss findings from the social psychology literature for how to enhance positive experiences, positive events, and self-regulatory capacity in individuals with social anxiety difficulties. The aim of the review is to broaden theory, research, and treatment efforts to the positive spectrum of human functioning.     

Brief periods of positive peer interactions mitigate the effects of total social isolation in young Octodon degus

We investigated whether positive daily peer‐interactions counteract the effects of isolation in Octodon degus. Twenty‐five‐day‐old degus were either isolated (ISO), socially housed (SOCIAL), or isolated and allowed 1‐hr daily peer interaction (PARTIAL‐ISO). The animals were observed over 4 weeks. Just prior to isolation and after 2 weeks of individual housing, the subjects were assessed for response to pleasant stimuli via a sucrose preference test and to fearful situations in open field and startle tests. Two weeks after the previous tests, the subjects were retested as above and observed in novelty and sociability tests. Only the ISO group showed significant alterations in sensitivity to reward and increased risk‐taking behavior in fearful situations. The ISO group consumed more sucrose, spent less time freezing in the startle test and exhibited increased exploration in open field and novelty tests compared to PARTIAL‐ISO and SOCIAL groups. In the sociability test, the SOCIAL group vocalized more than the other two groups during encounters with an unfamiliar degus. Our findings suggest that (i) chronic isolation induces alteration of hedonic, emotional and social profiles, with a maturational delay in fear‐related responses; (ii) friendly interaction attenuates most behavioral changes induced by total social isolation. However, the positive effects of daily social interactions did not fully counteract deficits in social vocalizations. Our study represents one of the few available studies focused not only on the consequences of negative life events in this species, but also the protective role of relatively short periods of positive social activity on subsequent emotional development. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 53:280–290, 2011.     

Odd one out: social ostracism affects self‐reported needs in both sleep‐deprived and well‐rested persons

Previous research suggests that sleep deprivation may heighten normal reactions to an aversive social encounter. In this study, we explored how 24 h of sleep deprivation may influence responses to ostracism. Ninety‐six healthy young adults were randomly allocated to either the sleep‐deprivation or well‐rested condition, wherein they engaged in two rounds of a ball‐tossing game (Cyberball) programmed so that they would be included or ostracized. As compared with being included, being ostracized reduced participants' fulfillment of four essential needs (to belong; to have control; to have self‐esteem; and to have a meaningful existence); participants also showed poorer mood and had poorer perceptions of their co‐players. These effects were not influenced by sleep deprivation. Taken together, our findings suggest that sleep deprivation does not influence immediate distress responses to ostracism.     

正负性情感量表儿童版(PANAS-C)的信效度初探

目的:对Laurent等人编制的正负性情感量表儿童版进行初步信效度检验,考察该量表在中国文化背景下的适用性。方法:选取上海市652名4-7年级儿童,并通过项目分析、验证性因素分析等方法检验该量表的项目鉴别力、结构效度、效标效度和信度。结果:1正负性情感量表儿童版的各项目鉴别力较好;2正负性情感量表儿童版的结构效度较好,符合情感理论的两因素模型;3正负性情感量表儿童版的各维度与孤独感、抑郁感、自尊和同伴接纳显著相关,效标效度良好;4正负性情感量表儿童版具有较好的内部一致性信度,两个维度的克隆巴赫α系数分别为0.92和0.93。结论:正负性情感量表儿童版在中国文化背景下具有良好的信度和效度。     

大学生体育锻炼对正、负性情绪体验的影响

目的:考察大学生体育锻炼现状及体育锻炼对个体正负性情绪体验的影响。方法:采用大学生体育锻炼调查问卷和正负性情绪量表对300名在校大学生进行问卷调查。结果:跑步是大学生选择最多的锻炼项目(70.3%);强身健体是大学生锻炼的主要目的(80.7%);制约大学生参加体育锻炼既有主观因素也有客观因素;大学生主要选择与朋友、同学一起锻炼(65.7%);以中等以下强度的锻炼为主(50.3%);每次锻炼时间在30分钟以上的人数较多(51.0%);每月锻炼2~3次的人数最多(32.7%)。方差分析表明,不同体育锻炼方式大学生在正、负性情绪体验上有显著差异(F=8.912,4.254;P0.01)。不同体育锻炼强度大学生在正、负性情绪体验上无差异。不同锻炼时间大学生在正、负性情绪体验有显著差异(F=11.619,P0.01;F=2.968,P0.05)。不同锻炼频率大学生在正性情绪体验上有显著差异(F=7.291,P0.01),在负性情绪体验上无差异。结论:体育锻炼可以同时提高正性情绪体验和降低负性情绪体验。     

大学生的压力、情绪与心理弹性

目的:研究不同压力水平下大学生积极情绪和消极情绪的关系以及心理弹性在压力与情绪间的中介效应.方法:选取726名大学生,用大学生压力量表(CSS)、积极情绪和消极情绪量表(PANA)以及大学生心理弹性量表(CRS)施测,按CSS平均值将受试者分为高压力组(CSS≥29.9分,n=325)和低压力组(CSS＜ 29.9分,n=401).结果:本组大学生CSS平均得分为(29.9±10.1)分.高压力组积极情绪得分与消极情绪得分呈负相关(r=-0.34,P＜0.001),低压力组两者的相关无统计学意义(r=-0.06,P＞0.05).心理弹性在压力和积极情绪间起完全中介效应(中介效应为-0.16),在压力和消极情绪间起部分中介效应(中介效应为0.09).结论:本研究提示,保持适当的积极情绪和消极情绪水平有助于压力适应;增进心理弹性可能提升大学生压力下的积极情绪,也可能缓解消极情绪.     

Solitude and cortisol: associations with state and trait affect in daily life

The social context can impact psychological and physiological functioning. Being alone, in particular, is experienced as more negative on average than being with others, in both normative and pathological populations. This study investigates whether daily solitude is associated with changes in cortisol and, if so, whether momentary and trait affect can explain this relationship. Forty-four female college students used the Experience Sampling Method during a week, completing questionnaires and collecting saliva 8 times daily. Effects of current solitude, affect, and trait affectivity on cortisol were tested with multilevel regression. Cortisol levels were significantly higher when individuals were alone. Although momentary affective states changed during solitude and were also associated with cortisol, they did not fully explain the effects of solitude on cortisol. Trait affectivity moderated the association between solitude and cortisol. Findings may help clarify how daily experience may heighten risk of depression or other negative health outcomes in vulnerable individuals.     

Effects of positive and negative affect on electromyographic activity over zygomaticus major and corrugator supercilii

Pleasant stimuli typically elicit greater electromyographic (EMG) activity over zygomaticus major and less activity over corrugator supercilii than do unpleasant stimuli. To provide a systematic comparison of these 2 measures, the authors examined the relative form and strength of affective influences on activity over zygomaticus major and corrugator supercilii. Self-reported positive and negative affective reactions and facial EMG were collected as women (n = 68) were exposed to series of affective pictures, sounds, and words. Consistent with speculations based on known properties of the neurophysiology of the facial musculature, results revealed a stronger linear effect of valence on activity over corrugator supercilii versus zygomaticus major. In addition, positive and negative affect ratings indicated that positive and negative affect have reciprocal effects on activity over corrugator supercilii, but not zygomaticus major.     

Trait and state positive affect and cardiovascular recovery from experimental academic stress

As compared to negative affect, only a small number of studies have examined influences of positive affect on cardiovascular stress responses, of which only a few were concerned with cardiovascular recovery. In this study, heart rate, low- and high-frequency heart rate variability, blood pressure, and levels of subjectively experienced stress were obtained in 65 students before, during and after exposure to academic stress in an ecologically valid setting. Higher trait positive affect was associated with more complete cardiovascular and subjective post-stress recovery. This effect was independent of negative affect and of affective state during anticipation of the stressor. In contrast, a more positive affective state during anticipation of the challenge was related to poor post-stress recovery. The findings suggest that a temporally stable positive affect disposition may be related to adaptive responses, whereas positive emotional states in the context of stressful events can also contribute to prolonged post-stress recovery.     

The relationship among social support,self‐esteem,affect balance and loneliness in individuals with substance use disorders in China

This study analyzed the potential mediating role of self‐esteem and affect balance on the relationship between social support and loneliness. Respondents were 426 substabce use disorders from the Shifosi and Dalianshan rehab facilities in China who had completed the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Scales, and UCLA Loneliness Scale. The results indicated that self‐esteem and affect balance fully mediated the relationship between perceived social support and loneliness and all the paths, ranging from social support through self‐esteem and affect balance to loneliness, were significant. Finally, we analyzed possible approaches to decreasing individuals with substance use disorders' loneliness.     

某部新兵集训期心理弹性与应激水平和情绪体验的关系

目的:对某部新兵集训期心理弹性与应激水平和情绪体验的关系研究。方法:某部新兵集训2个月时,采用成人心理弹性量表(RSA)、军人心理应激自评问卷(PSET)和正负性情绪量表(PANAS)对1600名新兵进行调查。结果:1新兵集训期心理弹性总分为(119.55±21.70);2心理弹性与正性情绪呈显著正相关(r=0.642,P0.01),与负性情绪、心理应激水平呈显著负相关(r=-0.107,-0.329;P0.01);3心理弹性高分组在正性情绪得分上显著高于低分组(P0.01),在负性情绪、心理应激水平得分上显著低于低分组(P0.01);4正性情绪、负性情绪和心理应激水平能有效预测心理弹性,总解释率为43.8%。结论:某部新兵集训期心理弹性与正性情绪、负性情绪、心理应激水平密切相关。提升心理弹性训练,有望降低新训时负性情绪体验和心理应激水平,促进心理健康。     

Frontal brain asymmetry and affective flexibility in an emotional contagion paradigm

This study was aimed at examining the relation of an individual's EEG asymmetry in the lateral frontal cortex, assessed in resting conditions, to affective flexibility. An auditory paradigm was used to induce negative (sad) and positive (cheerful) affective states, and state-dependent shifts of dorsolateral EEG asymmetry in response to and after the emotional provocations were observed. A Left>Right activation pattern at rest was associated with a shift to the right during negative and a shift to the left during positive stimulation, and efficient recovery after negative stimulation. Right>Left participants appeared unresponsive to both sounds. Distinct and differentiated responses to provocation with negative and positive affect and efficient recovery suggest that Left>Right prefrontal activity at rest is related to a flexible pattern of affective responding, which has been linked to adaptive emotional processing in the relevant literature.     

大学生外倾性与生活满意度的关系:情绪和自尊的链式中介作用

目的:探讨大学生外倾性、积极情绪、消极情绪、自尊和生活满意度之间的关系。方法:采用简式大五人格量表的外倾性分量表、积极和消极情感量表、Rosenberg自尊量表和生活满意度量表对348名大学生进行调查。结果:①相关分析显示,外倾性、积极情绪、自尊和生活满意度两两显著正相关;外倾性、自尊和生活满意度与消极情绪显著负相关。②结构方程模型分析表明,外倾性不仅直接影响个体的生活满意度,而且还通过自尊的中介作用与积极情绪-自尊中介链和消极情绪-自尊中介链的中介作用对生活满意度产生间接效应。结论:外倾性既通过直接路径,也通过自尊的中介作用和情绪-自尊的链式中介作用等间接路径影响个体的生活满意度。     

The role of affect and rumination in cardiovascular recovery from stress

This study examined the psychological processes that may impede or facilitate cardiovascular recovery. It was hypothesized that cardiovascular recovery would be hampered by negative affect and rumination, and facilitated by positive affect. In an experimental study, stress was elicited by exposing participants (N = 110) to a mental arithmetic task with harassment. After the stress task, affective levels were manipulated via a movie scene with negative, neutral, or positive emotional valence, or without an affect manipulation (control condition). During the entire experiment, heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were measured continuously. Results indicated that blood pressure recovery was hampered by the negative affect manipulation and by rumination. However, the positive affect manipulation did not facilitate blood pressure recovery. No effects were found on heart rate recovery. In sum, the findings emphasize the importance of negative affect and rumination in stress recovery.