Contrast effects of background stimulus person on attitude similarity judgement and interpersonal attraction: a study of topic familiarity effect

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a background stimulus person on attitude similarity judgement and interpersonal attraction. Mascaro and Graves (1973) argued that a contrast effect on perception of similarity mediated interpersonal attraction. In the present experiment, it was hypothesized that topic familiarity moderated the effects of a background stimulus person on attitude similarity judgement and interpersonal attraction. One hundred twenty-two (122) female students were randomly assigned to four groups, formed by two levels of topic familiarity and two levels of similarity for the background stimulus person. They saw the attitudes of two stimulus persons together, and were asked to rate perceived similarity and interpersonal attraction. Results showed that in familiar topic condition, contrast effect was not found for attitude similarity judgement, but it was found for interpersonal attraction. The finding suggested that presence of a background stimulus person immediately led to the contrast effect on interpersonal attraction.     

Ethnic differences in the links between benefit finding and psychological adjustment in people living with HIV

Experiencing growth after the diagnosis of a life threatening illness is commonly reported among people living with HIV (PLWH). The links between benefit finding and better adjustment in PLWH have been identified, but it is less clear whether these links vary by ethnicity. Minority stress theory suggests that individuals from minority populations may have unique stress experiences, which can have negative health implications but may also provide opportunity for growth. We hypothesized that the association between benefit finding and psychological adjustment would be stronger for Black (n = 80) than White (n = 87) PLWH. Contrary to predictions, the relationship between benefit finding and better adjustment was significant for White but not Black PLWH. Post-hoc analyses suggested that sexual orientation played role in this relationship. The relationship between benefit finding and psychological adjustment may be complex for Black PLWH, or they may achieve adjustment using other resources.     

Daily interpersonal events in pain patients: applying action theory to chronic illness

Action theory proposes that individuals actively shape and then respond to their environments, highlighting the role of stable person characteristics in the development and maintenance of life's interpersonal difficulties. In this study, the authors adopt the action perspective in their examination of predictors of daily interpersonal events among chronic pain patients with rheumatoid arthritis. They probe the extent to which stable symptoms of illness explained between-person variation, and fluctuating symptoms explain day-to-day variation in both positive and negative events. Their evaluation of patients' daily diary reports indicate that between-person differences accounted for more variance in the occurrence of positive events relative to negative events (48% vs. 31%, respectively). Likewise, between-person factors accounted for more variance in appraisals of positive compared to negative events across relationship domains. Both intractable illness symptoms and disability, and daily fluctuations in pain and fatigue, were only weakly related to patients' reports of their interpersonal experiences. Consistent with action theory, these results suggest that stable person characteristics are strongly related to daily stressors and particularly daily positive events in pain patients, but still account for less than 50% of the variance in events and their appraisals. In contrast, elevations in illness-related features, both between individuals and within individuals from day-to-day, are not robust predictors of positive or negative social exchanges. These findings point to the value of capturing the experiences of individuals intensively over time, an approach that can help to elaborate the contributions of both stable factors and circumstance in shaping social contexts in chronic illness.     

Validating a Measure of Friends’ Responses to Self-Disclosure in Adolescent Obese and Public School Samples

The goal of the current study was to validate a new measure of the friendship self-disclosure process that assesses the likelihood of disclosing a negative peer experience and expectations for friends’ responses to disclosure (EFRD) of this experience. Participants for Study 1 were 572 adolescents (age M = 14.82; 53% female; 66% Caucasian) from a public school sample who completed the self-disclosure survey and a measures of depressive symptoms at one time point. Participants of Study 2 comprised 180 obese adolescents (age M = 12.78; 67% female; 58% African American) from an urban children’s hospital. The obese sample completed the self-disclosure survey, as well as measures of friendship quality, peer victimization, and depressive symptoms at two time points, 6 months apart. For both studies, 3 dimensions of EFRD were examined: protection, blame, and negative responses. Each EFRD dimension was replicated across 2 samples, over time, and had good interitem reliability as well as convergent and discriminant validity. In Study 2, high rates of expected negativity (only for boys) and blame (for boys and girls) predicted increases in depressive symptoms. In addition, victimization led to increases in depression for obese adolescents who expected little in the way of protective responses from their friends. In contrast, changes in depression were not predictable from victimization for those who expected friends to use protective responses. EFRD are clearly important mechanisms in the self-disclosure process that may serve to protect against changes in adjustment in response to negative peer experiences, such as peer victimization.     

Expanding our understanding of the relationship between negative life events and depressive symptoms in black and white adolescent girls

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the extent to which negative life events predict depressive symptoms in ethnically diverse groups or whether this relationship is proximal or enduring. METHOD: The relationship between negative life events in adolescence and depressive symptoms in young adulthood was studied in a sample of over 1300 black and white female adolescents. Five domains of life events were assessed at age 16 years and depressive symptoms were measured at age 18 and again at age 21 years. Questions of interest included whether the association continued over time and whether there were specific domains of life events that predicted symptoms better than others. RESULTS: The total number of negative life events at time 1 predicted depressive symptoms at both time 2 and time 3. Interpersonal loss events and other adversities, however, predicted depressive symptoms only at time 2, whereas at time 3, only interpersonal trauma was a significant predictor. No ethnic differences were found, indicating that the relationship between life events and depressive symptoms appears to be similar for black and white adolescent girls. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that negative life events and some specific type of stressorsincrease the likelihood of the onset of depression symptoms in future years, for both black and white girls. Early preventive efforts should be directed at adolescents who experience loss due to death of a significant other, traumatic events, and psychosocial adversities to forestall the development of depressive symptoms.     

Therapist self-disclosure in the treatment of eating disorders: A personal perspective

Eating disorders are associated with high rates of comorbidity, extreme medical complications, and decreased quality of life, and have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Treatment outcomes, however, remain concerningly dire and there is a lack of research examining the effectiveness of factors like therapeutic rapport that have yielded positive outcomes in other patient populations. This article focuses on the potential benefits of therapist self-disclosure about past lived experiences of eating disorder with individuals struggling with the disease. It examines existing models of treatment in which disclosure-fueled rapport is harnessed and draws from the personal experience of the author as an eating disorder survivor and practitioner. Research evidence and theoretical rationale from a psychodynamic perspective are used to support the argument for increasing the practice of therapist disclosure about lived eating disorder experience with this patient population.     

在封闭式住院环境中体验密集型团体音乐治疗的真实感受:一项基于患者视角的质性研究

目的:因COVID-19疫情防控需要,原本开放模式的病房转为封闭式管理,导致部分患者产生焦虑等负性体验。本研究旨在从患者的真实感受出发,探讨密集型团体音乐治疗(Group Music Therapy,GMT)在封闭式住院环境中的可行性。方法:采用方便取样的方法招募并筛选符合条件的男性患者,在为期2周、共计10次的密集型GMT后,对其中18名患者进行访谈并做质性分析。结果:所有受访者均表示自己在情绪体验、住院生活、自身状态、睡眠质量及人际沟通中的一个或多个方面得到了改善。结论:密集型GMT在封闭式住院环境中是可行的,获得了该环境中非重性男性精神障碍患者的积极反馈,尤其是在情绪、睡眠、人际交往等方面的主观感受。     

Intense personal experiences: Subjective effects,interpretations, and after-effects

Following leads by Maslow (1964, 1968) and others who described peak experiences, this study was designed to learn more about the (1) subjective effects; (2) after-effects; and (3) interpretations of intense positive and negative experiences. Comparisons were made between respondents' “most positive” and “most negative” experiences and between these positive experiences and those of members of a yoga ashram. It was found that except for the differences in affect, positive and negative experiences were similar in subjective effects and impact on later life. The most positive experience of most respondents fell short of peak experience as described by Maslow. On the other hand, the most positive experience of ashram respondents showed evidence of a genuine alternation of consciousness and lasting life change afterward. The results suggest that only in rare instances is therapeutic change or self-actualization initiated by peak experiences. Implications are discussed.     

Changes in Daily Event Frequency Precede Episodes of Physical Symptoms

Abstract

Although numerous reports show a direct relationship between life stress and various physical and psychological symptoms, methodological shortcomings have limited the significance of these studies. We present data from a prospective investigation of daily life experiences to provide more convincing evidence about this relationship. Undesirable events increased and desirable events decreased in frequency three to four days prior to the onset of an episode of symptoms. This finding and other physiological reports suggest mediation of this effect by suppression of secretory IgA.     

The role of mutual empathy in relational/cultural therapy

Central to the notion of healing in connection is the power of mutual empathy in the therapeutic relationship. Isolation is a major source of human suffering and is often accompanied by immobilization, which prevents movement back into relationship after disconnections. Healing is seen as occurring in connection with others. In order for patients to relinquish strategies of disconnection and shift their negative expectations in relationships, they must actually experience a sense of relational efficacy, of having an impact on the other person, the therapist. This happens when the therapist is emotionally present, attuned, therapeutically authentic, and working with the connections and disconnections in the therapy relationship itself. In this way, people begin to move back into growth-fostering relationships, expecting that others may respond empathically and finding that they can be effective in shifting and moving relationships in ways that allow them to bring themselves more fully into relationship, to be more whole and authentic.     

The role of self-disclosure by peer mentors: Using personal narratives in depression care

ObjectiveSelf-disclosure is recognized as an important aspect of peer support, but little is known about its use by peers. This study aimed to qualitatively understand peer self-disclosure in the context of depression care delivery to older adults.Methods69 audio-recordings of peer-client meetings were coded for self-disclosure using the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). Peer self-disclosure was defined as a statement describing personal life experience with physical and/or emotional relevance for the client. A total of 3421 discrete statements were organized into 770 disclosure episodes. The episodes were qualitatively analyzed to identify themes related to the content and function of self-disclosure within the peer-counseling context.ResultsPeer self-disclosure was used to 1) counsel through reframing perspectives, modeling positive behaviors, offering coping skills, and sharing mental health resources and health information; 2) establish rapport by emphasizing similarities unrelated to depression; and 3) show empathy and understanding of personal struggles. In addition, self-disclosure rarely only focused on the peer experience without relevance for the client.Conclusions & practice implicationsPeer self-disclosure can be purposively used in depression care delivery with older adults. Training and supervision in appropriate self-disclosure should be provided to peers to ensure purposive use.     

The effects of cognitive pretraining on cohesion and self-disclosure in small groups: An analog study

This study examined the effects of written, cognitive pretraining on the development of cohesion and self-disclosure in interpersonal learning groups. Subjects in the experimental condition received a written introduction to the group experience, and subjects in the control condition received written information on the history of group psychotherapy. Results demonstrated that the experimental groups had a higher level of group cohesion than the control groups, p < 0.0001, but were not different on self-disclosure. The correlation between cohesion and self-disclosure was not statistically significant. The results were discussed as an extension of the empirical support for cognitive pretraining.     

应对方式在硕士研究生生活满意度与生命意义关系中的中介作用

目的探讨应对方式在研究生生命意义与生活满意度关系中的中介作用。方法采用生命意义感量表、特质应对方式问卷和大学生生活满意度评定量表对514名在校研究生进行问卷调查。结果 1女生的生活满意度显著高于男生(t=-3.56,P0.001);2生活满意度与生命意义体验、生命意义寻求和积极应对方式存在显著的正相关(r=0.33,0.09,0.23,P0.05),与消极应对方式存在显著的负相关(r=-0.16,P0.001);生命意义寻求与消极应对方式成正相关(r=0.12,P0.01);3生命意义感不仅对生活满意度有直接预测作用,还可以通过积极应对方式和消极应对方式起间接预测作用。结论应对方式是研究生生命意义与生活满意度关系的中介变量。     

Interpersonal relatedness and self-definition: Two prototypes for depression

This paper reviews recent research that indicates the importance of differentiating subtypes of depression based on two types of experiences that lead individuals to become depressed: (a) disruptions of interpersonal relations and (b) threats to self-integrity and self-esteem. We review research with clinical and nonclinical samples that investigated the relationships of these distinctions to the quality of current interpersonal relationships and to differential sensitivity to various types of stressful life events, as well as to aspects of early life experiences, especially the quality of the parent-child relationship. We also evaluate research evidence that considers the role of these two dimensions in clinical depression. In addition to proposing an etiologic model about aspects of the onset and recurrence of depression based on the interaction between personality predispositions and types of stressful life events, we place these observations about depression in a broad theoretical context of contemporary personality theory which defines two primary dimensions of personality development and psychopathology.     

Effects of gender and physical distance with an old friend on same-sex friendship]

This study examined the differences between interpersonal relationship of same-sex old friends (OF) and that of new friends (NF). It also investigated the effects of physical distance with an old friend and gender on the friendship. Respondents were 208 undergraduates, 86 men and 122 women, who chose one of most intimate person each from same-sex friends they had made before and after they entered a university, and answered questions to describe their relationship. Results showed that relationship satisfaction and tired feeling were higher for OF than NF. Spending time together and talking over telephone were more frequent for NF than OF, but for each occasion together or over telephone, OF spent longer time than NF. OF expected more self-disclosure between them than NF. Gender differences in friendship expectation were similar to previous findings (Wada, 1993, 1996). Furthermore, gender and physical distance both influenced the frequencies of OF spending time together and over telephone. These findings are discussed in terms of gender differences in friendship.     

Target personality characteristics and self-disclosure: An exploratory study

This study investigated the influence of target personality characteristics on self-disclosure. Using the Bem Q-Sort Technique, the subjects (71 male and 73 female undergraduate students) described the personality of the person to whom they disclose the most and the personality of the person to whom they disclose the least, as well as their own personality. Factor analysis revealed that there were several personality types to whom people disclose the most and the least. The various types are described and discussed. Results supported the hypothesis that both males and females prefer disclosing to individuals who are perceived as similar to themselves in personality. This finding has important implications for the therapeutic relationship with regard to matching therapist and client.     

Finding meaning through caregiving: development of an instrument for family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease

Systematic assessment of the positive aspects of caregiving has been limited by the lack of comprehensive, theoretically based, and psychometrically sound measures. This study developed and tested a measure primarily designed to assess positive aspects and ways that caregivers find meaning through their experience of caring for a person with dementia. The measure has three subscales: Loss/Powerlessness, which identifies difficult aspects of caregiving; Provisional Meaning, which identifies how caregivers find day-to-day meaning; and Ultimate Meaning, which identifies philosophical/religious/spiritual attributions associated with the experience of caregiving. The measure is useful for understanding the close relationship between both the difficult and positive aspects of caregiving and also may be used to identify a caregiver's strengths in clinical and research settings.     

Psychotherapy sabotage revisited: the better half of individual psychotherapy.

This study examined the amount of actual client self-disclosure emitted and the pattern of its occurrence within and across individual therapy sessions. An earlier finding showed that many clients avoided self-disclosure until the session's closing minutes early in therapy. These data revealed that in the middle stages of short-term therapy for a university population (N = 26) clients continue to engage in the highest proportion of self-disclosure during the latter half of the therapy hour. The position that there are ways in which psychotherapy sabotage can be reduced was discussed.     

The effects of forgiveness therapy on depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress for women after spousal emotional abuse

Emotionally abused women experience negative psychological outcomes long after the abusive spousal relationship has ended. This study compares forgiveness therapy (FT) with an alternative treatment (AT; anger validation, assertiveness, interpersonal skill building) for emotionally abused women who had been permanently separated for 2 or more years (M = 5.00 years, SD = 2.61; n = 10 per group). Participants, who were matched, yoked, and randomized to treatment group, met individually with the intervener. Mean intervention time was 7.95 months (SD = 2.61). The relative efficacy of FT and AT was assessed at p < .05. Participants in FT experienced significantly greater improvement than AT participants in depression, trait anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, self-esteem, forgiveness, environmental mastery, and finding meaning in suffering, with gains maintained at follow-up (M = 8.35 months, SD = 1.53). FT has implications for the long-term recovery of postrelationship emotionally abused women.