Quality of life and gender identity in Parkinson’s disease

Summary. We examined the correlation between gender identity (perception of masculinity or femininity) and quality of life (QoL) of 124 Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients without dementia (69 men, 55 women, mean age 65.8 ± 10.2 years, mean disease duration 8.5 ± 5.8 years, mean Hoehn and Yahr [H&Y] stage 2.7 ± 0.8). All patients underwent clinical examinations and completed the PDQ-39 and the quality of sexual life questionnaire. Their masculine or feminine stereotypes were determined by the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) modified by Dior. QoL was significantly correlated with disease duration (r = 0.262, p<0.01), H&Y staging (r = 0.330, p<0.001) and disease severity (UPDRS) (r = 0.432, p<0.001). The QoL of androgynous men and women (i.e., with strong feminine and masculine characteristics) was significantly (p<0.05) better than the other gender groups. A significant interaction was found between the sexes to gender identity (p<0.05). Conclusion: Androgynous PD patients cope better with their disease in terms of QoL parameters, especially androgynous women.     

Gender Differentiation of Relationships Between Manifestations of Indirect Self-Destructiveness and Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence

The aim of this study has been to explore the gender differentiation of relationships between individual manifestations of indirect self-destructiveness and particular dimensions of emotional intelligence. A population of 260 individuals (130 women and 130 men) aged 20-30 (mean age of 24.5) was studied by using the Polish version of the Chronic Self-Destructiveness Scale (CS-DS) and INTE, i.e. the Polish version of the Assessing Emotions Scale (AES). Manifestations of indirect self-destructiveness showed significant correlations with INTE variables, and those correlations were mainly negative. Relationships between specific dimensions of emotional intelligence and specific manifestations of self-destructiveness differed between women and men. One of the most important differences was the relationship between transgression and ability to recognize emotions. The knowledge of the differentiation of the above relationships may allow to orient prophylactic and therapeutic actions, and adjust them to the specific gender.     

Sex, gender role orientation, gender role attitudes and suicidal thoughts in three generations

Background Suicide and other suicidal behaviours are markedly (though differently) patterned by gender. The increase in young male suicide rates in many countries has heightened interest in whether suicidal behaviours and ideation (thoughts) are related to masculinity. Relatively little research has explored the relationship between gender role attitudes and orientation and suicidal behaviours and ideation. Most research in this area has been conducted with young people. Objective We investigated whether gender role orientation (masculinity and femininity scores) and gender role attitudes were related to the reporting of serious suicidal thoughts in three generations (early adulthood, and early and late middle age) in a community sample. Methods Subjects (653 men and women aged around 23 years, 754 aged around 43 years, 722 aged around 63 years) completed home interviews with nurses as part of an ongoing longitudinal community-based study of social factors and health. These included measures of suicidal ideation (thoughts), attitudes to traditional gender roles, and a validated measure of gender role orientation (masculinity and femininity scores). Results The prevalence of serious suicidal thoughts was higher in early adulthood (10% men, 15% women) than in early (4% men, 8% women) and late (6% men, 5% women) middle age. In early adulthood only sex was significantly related to suicidal thoughts, with women at higher risk (adjusted OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.01–3.00). In early middle age masculinity scores were negatively related to suicidal thoughts (adjusted OR for each unit increase in score 0.65: 95% CI 0.46–0.93), and more traditional views on gender roles were positively associated with suicidal thoughts (adjusted OR 1.48: 95% CI 1.07–2.04). In late middle age trends were in the same direction as in early middle age, but were not statistically significant. Femininity scores were unrelated to serious suicidal thoughts at any age. Conclusion The high rates of suicidal thoughts amongst men and women in early adulthood point to the importance of understanding mental health problems at this age. The results raise a number of questions and suggest that suicide researchers should pay more attention to gender roles and attitudes in older adults. Ethical approval was obtained from the Glasgow University ethics committee for non clinical research involving human subjects. Funding: the Twenty–07 study is funded by the Medical Research Council of Great Britain. KH, HS and MK are employed by the MRC.     

Women,Femininity, Indirect and Direct Self-Destructiveness. A Review

The aim of this work was to review results of research into direct and indirect self-destructiveness in women. Studied projects covered two populations: individuals who attempted suicide and individuals who did not attempt suicide. The Chronic Self-Destructiveness Scale and Bem Sex Role Inventory were used. Intensity of indirect self-destructiveness is lower in women. A probable explanation of the gender paradox in suicides may be the hypothesis that suicides attempted by men more often end in death as men display stronger indirect self-destructiveness. Masculinity and male sex are factors that predispose to indirect self-destructiveness, while femininity and female sex are factors protecting against it. Gender schema opposite to biological sex is significant to intensity of indirect self-destructiveness.     

Hardiness and psychological distress in a cohort of police officers

Since police officers are frequently exposed to high stress situations, individual differences in the response to stress and trauma are of interest. We examined the association of hardiness components (commitment, control and challenge) with depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and symptoms of general psychological distress in police officers. The random sample included 105 officers (40 women and 65 men) from the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Police Stress (BCOPS) study baseline visit. Components of hardiness were measured using a 15-item hardiness scale. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D), PTSD symptoms were measured using the impact of events scale (IES), and symptoms of general psychological distress were measured using the Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI). Associations were assessed using linear regression analysis. Models were adjusted for age, education and marital status. Because of significant gender interactions, analyses were stratified by gender. The hardiness control dimension was significantly and negatively associated with CES-D for both genders but was not associated with IES. Hardiness commitment was significantly and negatively associated with both CES-D and IES in women. Men had negative but non-significant associations for commitment with CES-D and IES. Hardiness commitment was negatively associated with the overall BSI score for both men and women but the association was only significant for men, though the strength of the association was stronger for women. This is likely a result of the impact of the smaller sample size for women. The magnitude of gender differences in these associations shows that for depressive and PTSD symptoms, the commitment dimension of hardiness may be more protective in female police officers than in male officers.     

Validation analysis of the Polish version of the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire (MusiQoL)

Background and purposeThe aim of this study was to perform a validation analysis of the Polish adaptation of the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire, MusiQoL.Material and methodsValidation analysis included the translation of the original English version into Polish according to translation principles and the analysis of convergent validity, internal reliability and reproducibility of the Polish version of MusiQoL. The study included 150 randomly chosen patients (109 women and 41 men) with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosed according to McDonald criteria. Mean age of patients was 41 ± 10 years and mean disease duration was 11.7 ± 7.2 years. The patients completed the examined MusiQoL, the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS) and the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29). Data regarding sociodemographic status and MS history were collected. The disability of the patients was assessed according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). The examination was repeated after 28 ± 4 days.ResultsThe internal reliability, convergent validity and reproducibility of MusiQoL were satisfactory. The dimensions of the scale exhibited high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha from 0.67 to 0.90). The MusiQoL correlated with FAMS (positive correlations), EDSS and MSIS-29 (negatively).ConclusionsPsychometric-statistical analysis showed that the Polish version of MusiQoL is a valuable measure to examine the health-related quality of life of Polish MS patients.     

Validation of selected aspects of psychometry of the Polish version of the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale 29 (MSIS-29)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Because of the small number of self-reported measures of disease impact on the quality of patients' life used in Poland and specific for multiple sclerosis (MS), the aim of the study was to validate selected aspects of psychometry of the Polish adaptation of the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale 29, MSIS-29. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MSIS-29 was first published by Hobart and Thompson in 2001, and consists of 29 questions, the first 20 of which address the physical impact component and 9 assess the psychological impact. The higher the score, the worse is the impact of the disease on quality of patient's life. Validation analysis consisted of translation of the original English version into Polish according to all necessary translation principles and of assessment of convergent validity and internal reliability of the Polish version of MSIS-29. 104 randomly selected patients with definite MS (according to McDonald criteria) were examined: 77 women and 27 men; mean age was 36.9+/-9.4 years, and the mean disease duration was 9.05+/-6.68 years. The disability of the patients was assessed according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Apart from the examined measure (MSIS-29) subjects were also asked to complete the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). RESULTS: MSIS-29 correlated with EDSS, FAMS, BDI-II and FSS. Internal consistency of MSIS-29 was satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: Psychometric-statistical analysis showed that the Polish version of MSIS-29 is a valuable measure to examine the impact of disease on patients' life. The studies should be continued taking into account other aspects of psychometry.     

Gender role orientation and fearfulness in children with anxiety disorders

Research on gender differences in children's fears has generally shown that girls are more fearful than boys. A common hypothesis offered for this finding is that gender role orientations or expectations may be operating. However, this hypothesis has not been directly investigated in child samples. The present study examined the relation between a self-report measure of gender role orientation (i.e., masculinity/femininity) and the intensity of self-reported fears in a clinic sample of children (N = 66; ages 6-11; 41 boys and 25 girls) with anxiety disorders. Results revealed that masculinity was negatively related to overall levels of fearfulness as well as specific fears of failure and criticism, medical fears, and fears of the unknown. In contrast, no relation was found between femininity and fearfulness. These findings suggest that gender role orientation, especially masculinity, may play a role in the development and/or maintenance of fearfulness in children.     

Indirect Self-Destructiveness and Emotional Intelligence

While emotional intelligence may have a favourable influence on the life and psychological and social functioning of the individual, indirect self-destructiveness exerts a rather negative influence. The aim of this study has been to explore possible relations between indirect self-destructiveness and emotional intelligence. A population of 260 individuals (130 females and 130 males) aged 20–30 (mean age of 24.5) was studied by using the Polish version of the chronic self-destructiveness scale and INTE, i.e., the Polish version of the assessing emotions scale. Indirect self-destructiveness has significant correlations with all variables of INTE (overall score, factor I, factor II), and these correlations are negative. The intensity of indirect self-destructiveness differentiates significantly the height of the emotional intelligence and vice versa: the height of the emotional intelligence differentiates significantly the intensity of indirect self-destructiveness. Indirect self-destructiveness has negative correlations with emotional intelligence as well as its components: the ability to recognize emotions and the ability to utilize emotions. The height of emotional intelligence differentiates the intensity of indirect self-destructiveness, and vice versa: the intensity of indirect self-destructiveness differentiates the height of emotional intelligence. It seems advisable to use emotional intelligence in the prophylactic and therapeutic work with persons with various types of disorders, especially with the syndrome of indirect self-destructiveness.     

Young men in love: the (re)making of heterosexual masculinities through “serious” relationships

In this paper I examine how young men's experience of what they termed “serious” relationships are contexts in which they were engaged in the processes of exploring and, in some important ways, remaking their masculine identities. I refer to data drawn from in-depth interviews with eight middle-class, white young men who are reaching the end of their studies in a Scottish secondary school and planning to enter higher education. I identify and explore aspects of the intimate relationship in which these young men contest culturally patterned discourses of gender difference and show how, in trying to resolve these differences, their sense of masculine identities is altered. I suggest that familiar gendered differences – relating to the ways that sex and love, commitment and independence and emotional expressiveness are linked to heterosexual masculinity and femininity – are three of the distinct fields of which these young men are aware and via which they engage in “gender” work. I argue that how this work is done, the resources employed and the meanings that are generated are independent on specific local and temporal realities of these young men lives.     

Personality dimensions measured using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and NEO-FFI on a Polish sample

The results of two self-administered, paper-and-pencil tests based on biosocial theory of personality have been compared simultaneously: the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). The stability of the personality dimensions was assessed across age, sex and education level samples in a group of 406 Polish adults with major mental diseases excluded by use of PRIME-MD questionnaire. Significant effects of age, sex, and education have been found while comparing personality dimensions in both temperamental (novelty seeking, NS; harm avoidance, HA; reward dependence, RD; persistence, P) and character scales (cooperativeness, C; self-transcendence, ST) in TCI. Among subscales of temperament only NS1, RD4 were stable according to concerning factors. All converted to their age and sex norms NEO-FFI dimensions were stable according to sex. Extraversion scale was changeable depending on age (p = 0.04). Neuroticism dimension was a little higher in lower educated group (p = 0.035).To sum up, it was concluded that sex- and age-specific norms for the dimensions of the Polish version of TCI are necessary considering the established significant differences. Particular personality genetic studies should account for age, sex and also educational differences in their methods of associative studies. CONCLUSIONS: In the exploration of personality dimensions on healthy volunteers the Polish version of NEO-FFI corresponds better than TCI to theory of stability and genetic determinants of human personality. As the study included persons with excluded major mental diseases, the sample is appropriate to provide a control group in the research of psychiatric patients using both TCI and NEO-FFI. SIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES: TCI scores for persons with excluded mental disease are highly changeable depending on age, sex and education. Adjusted to sex and age scores NEO-FFI corresponded better than TCI to stability and genetic determinants of human personality.     

The experience of dysmenorrhea and its relationship to personality variables

The aims of this study were: to relate women's subjective experience of primary dysmenorrhea to psychogenic needs assessed longitudinally at the age of 15 and at the age of 25 in a nonclinical sample; to compare the psychogenic needs of women with severe primary dysmenorrhea with those of other women who never have experienced dysmenorrhea; and to examine whether women with severe dysmenorrhea were less conventionally feminine than women who never have experienced dysmenorrhea. At 25 years, 42% of the women experienced dysmenorrhea and 15% experienced pain that limited their daily activity. Differences in psychogenic needs according to the Cesarec Marke Personality Schedule and in psychological masculinity and femininity according to the Attitude Interest Schedule were found in women with severe primary dysmenorrhea compared with women who never experienced dysmenorrhea. The results indicate that women with severe dysmenorrhea have less self-esteem at 15 years, but compensate for this at 25 years by being more achievement-oriented and aggressive than women who never experienced dysmenorrhea. Further, women with severe dysmenorrhea are more conventionally feminine than women who never have experienced dysmenorrhea.     

At issue: Sex and gender in schizophrenia

Using data collected in a study of sex differences in schizophrenia, I undertook this study to show the utility of distinguishing between sex and gender in the study of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder were combined to yield 213 patients (141 men, 72 women). There were 98 healthy controls (41 men, 57 women). The relative contributions of sex and gender to the prediction of age of first hospitalization and neuropsychological functioning were examined in linear regression analyses. Sex, but not gender, was a significant predictor of age at first hospitalization, even when controlling for illness severity. Among patients, sex and gender significantly contributed to the prediction of neuropsychological performance, beyond the contributions of education, age, and illness severity. Comparable results were found among healthy controls, although gender was significant only for women. For both healthy subjects and patients, more frequent endorsement of female typical social roles predicted better neuropsychological functioning. Being female also predicted higher neuropsychological scores in patients. The findings suggest that some aspects of schizophrenia study, such as the disorder's onset, may be best pursued from a more biological (sex difference) perspective, while a sociocultural (gender difference) perspective may best serve other aspects of study, such as neuropsychological functioning.     

Gender differences in psychological distress in adults with asthma.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to examine whether there were gender differences in the relationship of depressive, anxiety-related, and somatic symptomatology to the presence, severity, and duration of asthma. METHODS: A total of 54 adult asthma patients (24 women, 30 men) and 31 healthy subjects (19 women, 12 men) were studied. Within each gender group, patients' psychological distress levels were compared as a function of severity (mild vs. moderate) and duration of disease (<5 vs. 5+ years), to each other and with healthy subjects. Data were collected in Ukraine utilizing the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), the best-validated psychological assessment instrument in Eastern European populations. RESULTS: Relative to healthy women, women with both mild and moderate asthma showed elevated distress in multiple domains reflecting somatic and psychological complaints. In contrast, only men with relatively more severe disease of longer duration showed elevated symptomatology relative to healthy men, with depressive symptoms predominating. CONCLUSION: To the extent that distress in response to asthma takes a more diffuse form and may be expressed at milder and earlier stages of the disease in women than men, the findings suggest the need to tailor asthma education and behavioral interventions to the unique psychological needs of women and men in order to be maximally effective.     

Dimensions de personnalité, style d’attachement et schémas précoces d’inadaptation chez des patients alcoolo-dépendants : quelles sont les spécificités liées au sexe ?

AimLiterature reports particularities in certain psychological dimensions, such as personality traits, early maladaptive schemas and attachment styles among patients dependent on alcohol. Several international studies have also emphasized significant gender differences in psychological profiles. However, in France, only a few studies have dealt with this subject. Our aim was on the one hand to study the characteristics of alcohol-dependent patients in these variables, and on the other hand to search for gender differences.MethodThe personality dimensions were assessed with the French Big Five Inventory (Fr-BFI), the attachment style with Bartholomew's Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ), and early maladaptive schemas with the short version of Young's questionnaire (YSQ-S1). Seventy-three subjects were included: 39 alcohol-dependent patients (19 men and 20 women) and 34 healthy control subjects (17 men and 17 women). The scores of alcohol-dependent patients were compared with those of a healthy control group (n = 34, 17 men, 17 women) and available standards. We also compared the scores of men and women with alcohol dependence between them, and we compared the scores of men and women to those of the control group and those of the reference sample of the same sex.ResultsThis is an ongoing study and we publish here the first results. Compared with control subjects, and the reference sample, alcohol-dependent patients showed significantly higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of extraversion. Furthermore, differences in attachment styles were observed compared to the control group: alcohol-dependent patients presented a less secure attachment, seemed more fearful and detached, but the results remained within the normal standards. Compared to the control subjects, alcohol-dependent patients showed a significant increase in scores regarding many schemas: emotional deprivation, abandonment, abuse/mistrust, isolation, imperfection, dependence, symbiotic relationship, subjugation, and emotional inhibition. Men and women with alcohol dependence did not show a significant difference between them concerning the dimensions of personality, the schemas, and attachment styles. In addition, the comparison of each sub-group (male/female) with the control group of the same sex and standards available showed specific features: for dimensions of personality, alcohol-dependent men presented a high level of neuroticism and a low level of extraversion, while the women showed no specific features. Concerning attachment, both men and women differed from the control group. Their attachment was more fearful and men showed a less secure and more detached attachment. As for patterns, three are higher among men and women with alcohol dependence compared to controls of the same sex: emotional deprivation, abuse/mistrust, and imperfection. In addition, these schemas seem to be more specific according to gender: alcoholic women differed from controls of the same sex at the subjugation schema, which was not the case for men, while only men differed from men of the control group by higher scores in insufficient self-control, dependency and symbiotic relationship.DiscussionThis study shows not only particularities in patients with alcohol dependence concerning personality dimensions, styles of attachment and early maladaptive schemas, but also gender differences when comparing each subgroup (men and women) with controls of the same sex. Even if these results need to be confirmed by using a larger sample, the particularities deserve consideration, especially gender differences in view of appropriate psychotherapeutic strategies.     

Examining the sex difference in lateralisation for processing facial emotion: Does biological sex or psychological gender identity matter?

The research examining sex differences in functional lateralisation has shown varying results. While some provide evidence for males being more strongly lateralised than females, a number have shown either no relationship or the opposite pattern of findings. In this study we consider whether psychological gender identity might clarify some of the conflicting results in this area of research. Eight five participants (39 males) aged from 18 to 49 years old were tested. We found that psychological masculinity was associated with stronger patterns of lateralisation for the processing of a range of emotional expressions. We also found an interaction between biological sex and psychological gender identity, with a positive relationship between psychological masculinity and lateralisation found for males, but a negative relationship found for females. The possible role of hormonal exposure in this relationship is discussed.     

HPA axis responses to laboratory psychosocial stress in healthy elderly adults, younger adults, and children: impact of age and gender

Data from five independent studies were reanalyzed in order to investigate the impact of age and gender on HPA axis responses to an acute psychosocial laboratory stress task. The total sample consisted of 102 healthy subjects with 30 older adults (mean age: 67.3 y), 41 young adults (mean age: 23.5 y), and 31 children (mean age: 12.1 y). All participants were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST).The stress protocol caused highly significant ACTH and total plasma cortisol responses in older and younger male and female adults (all p<0.0001) as well as salivary free cortisol responses in all six age and gender groups (all p<0.0001). Three-way ANOVAs for repeated measurement were applied to investigate the impact of age and gender on ACTH and cortisol responses. Results showed that the ACTH response to stress was higher in younger adults compared to older adults (main effect: p=0.009, interaction: p=0.06). Post hoc analyses revealed that there was no age effect in the subgroup of women (p=n.s.), while younger men had higher ACTH responses compared to older men (p=0.01). For total plasma cortisol, ANOVA results showed that the pattern of reactivity did not differ between age and gender groups (all interactional effects p=n.s.), although older females had hightened overall cortisol levels compared to the other groups, as proofed in post hoc analyses (all p<0.05). For free salivary cortisol, a significant main effect of gender (p=0.05) and an almost significant three-way-interaction (p=0.09) emerged. Post hoc analyses showed an elevated overall free salivary cortisol response in elderly men compared to elderly women (p=0.006), while no gender differences emerged in neither young adults nor children (both p=n.s.).In sum, the stressor induced significant HPA axis responses in all age and gender groups. The observed ACTH response patterns in young and elderly adults may suggest that a heightened hypothalamic drive in young men decreases with age, resulting in similar ACTH responses in elderly men and women. Alternative interpretations are also discussed. The data also supports the idea of a greater adrenal cortex sensitivity to ACTH signals in young females. Free salivary cortisol responses were elevated in elderly men compared to elderly women, an effect which cannot be explained by gender differences in perceived stress responses to the TSST. It can be speculated if corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) and/or sex steroids are important modulators of these effects.     

Psychological distress and infectious disease mortality in the general population

There is a paucity of studies examining the relation between high psychological distress and infectious disease in the general population. We examined this association in a large multi-cohort study drawn from the general population. The analytic sample comprised 104,923 men and women (age, 47.3 ± 17.4 year; 45.7% men) in which psychological distress symptoms was assessed using the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire. There were 1535 deaths attributed to infectious diseases during 971,220 person-years of follow up (mean 9.3; range 0.1–17.1 years). A dose-response association between GHQ-12 score and all infectious disease mortality was observed after adjusting for age, sex, survey year, occupational social class, longstanding illness, smoking, alcohol, and physical activity (per SD increase, hazard ratio = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.20–1.28). A similar pattern was apparent for viral infections (1.23; 1.14, 1.33) and pneumonia (1.20; 1.13, 1.28), but weaker for bacterial infections (1.09; 1.00, 1.19). In conclusion, psychological distress is associated with higher risk of infectious disease.     

Cross-sectional associations between gender-linked personality traits and use of weight-loss and muscle-building products among U.S. young adults

This study examined the cross-sectional associations between gender-linked personality traits and use of products for weight loss and muscle building using data from young adults participating in Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health who completed the short-form Bem Sex-Role Inventory (n = 3,343). Among men, a higher score on the masculinity scale was associated with greater odds of diet pill use, legal performance-enhancing substance (PES) use, and illicit PES use, while a higher score on the femininity scale was associated with lower odds of illicit PES use. These findings can inform interventions for men with weight/shape concerns.