Social Problem Solving, Mood, and Suicidality Among Inpatient Adolescents

Relationships between social problem solving, mood, and suicidality were examined in a sample of 105 adolescent psychiatric inpatients (ages 12–18). Youth were administered the Social Problem-Solving Inventory—Revised (T. D'Zurilla & A. Maydeu-Olivares, 1995) as well as standardized self-report and interview measures of dysphoria, hopelessness, anxiety, and suicidality. Results indicated that a negative problem orientation as well as an avoidant or impulsive problem-solving style were associated with less favorable scores on all of the latter measures, including greater reported suicidality. By contrast, associations were not observed between utilization of rational problem-solving skills and measures of either mood or suicidality. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that the relationships found between the former measures of social problem solving and suicidality were mediated by more direct associations of less-effective social problem solving with both dysphoria/state-depression and hopelessness.     

Social Problem Solving of Children With and Without Mental Retardation

Social skills and social status are important aspects of development that are likely to be influenced by an individual's ability to appropriately solve social problems. In this investigation, children (9–13 year olds) with and without mental retardation were asked to provide solutions to three types of social problems. Students were first asked to respond to open-ended questions and then were presented with three new problems in a forced-choice format. Children were also rated as liked or not liked by their same sex peers. Our findings indicated small but interesting differences between the children with and without retardation. In the open-ended benign situation (peer entry), students with mental retardation provided fewer assertive solutions and more appeal to authority solutions than their peers. In contrast, in the forced-choice hostile situation, children with mental retardation chose more assertive solutions and fewer appeal to authority than their peers. This same pattern of responses was reflected in a comparison of highly accepted children and less well-accepted children. The less accepted children chose more assertive solutions and fewer appeal to authority than their peers. It is possible that the different tendencies in the social problem solving of students with mental retardation could put them at risk for being less well accepted by their peers without mental retardation.     

Social Problem Solving as a Mediator of the Link Between Stress and Psychological Well-being in Middle-Adulthood

This study had two major objectives: (1) to examine the relationship between stress, social problem solving, and psychological well-being (PWB) in a sample of middle-aged adults (M 46.3 years) and (2) to examine the role of social problem solving as a potential mediator of the link between stress and PWB in this group. Correlational analyses indicated that both stress and social problem solving were significantly involved in PWB. Moreover, results from conducting a path analysis indicated that social problem solving partially mediated the link between stress and PWB. Although stress and negative problem orientation were found to be unique predictors of different dimensions of PWB, other social problem-solving dimensions also emerged as important predictors. Some implications of these findings for enhancing positive psychological functioning in middle-aged adults are discussed.     

Social Problem Solving as a Mediator of Stress-Related Depression and Anxiety in Middle-Aged and Elderly Community Residents

This study examined the relations between everyday problems, social problem solving, and depression and anxiety in middle-aged and elderly community residents, using a multidimensional measure of social problem-solving ability that assesses positive problem orientation, negative problem orientation, rational problem solving, impulsivity/carelessness style, and avoidance style. While problem-solving deficits were found to be significantly related to depression and anxiety in both age samples, no support was found for a moderator hypothesis which assumes that problem-solving ability interacts with everyday problems to reduce depression and anxiety. On the other hand, support was found in both samples for a mediational model which assumes that problem solving is an intervening variable that accounts to a significant degree for the causal relations between everyday problems and depression and anxiety. Although all five problem-solving dimensions were significantly related to depression and anxiety, negative problem orientation was found to contribute most to the significant mediating effect.     

Life Stress, Problem Solving, Perfectionism, and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese

The present investigation sought to examine the roles of perfectionism and problem solving in the relations between stress-related depressive symptoms in a Chinese adult sample. One hundred and thirty-eighty students in an open university in Hong Kong with a mean age of 28 years participated in the study. After controlling the effectsof life stress, problem solving was shown to have significant main effects on both hopelessness and depressive features, whereas perfectionism was found to have main effects only on the latter variable. In addition, the results indicated that two constructs played a moderating role in the relations between life stress and depressive symptoms and hopelessness. The findings revealed that perfectionism and problem solving were important cognitive–behavioral variables in accounting for variances of psychological distress across cultures. Limitations of the study are discussed.     

Perception of Performance as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Social Anxiety and Negative Post-Event Rumination

This study tested D. M. Clark and A. Wells’ (1995) proposition that negative post-event rumination is produced by negative self perceptions formed by socially phobic individuals during anxiety-provoking events. A socially phobic group and a nonanxious control group performed an impromptu speech, and appraised their performance immediately afterwards. One week later, participants were assessed as to how frequently they had had negative thoughts about the speech, how much they engaged with these thoughts, how distressing these thoughts were, and how much control they felt they had over the thoughts. The socially phobic group engaged in more negative rumination than controls on each of these levels, and perceived their performance as worse than controls immediately after the speech. Perception of performance was found to mediate the relationship between social anxiety and post-event rumination, providing support for Clark and Wells’ model.     

Examining the Link Between Perfectionism and Psychological Maladjustment: Social Problem Solving as a Buffer

An integrative model in which perfectionism and social problem solving were hypothesized to have additive and interactive effects in predicting psychological maladjustment (viz., depressive symptoms and suicide ideation) was proposed and tested in a sample of 371 college students. Results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that social problem solving added significant incremental validity in predicting scores on measures of depressive symptoms and suicide ideation beyond what was accounted for by perfectionism. Moreover, a significant Perfectionism × Social Problem Solving interaction was found in predicting each of the maladjustment measures after accounting for the influences of both perfectionism and social problem solving. These results are taken to provide preliminary support for an additive and interactive prediction model of psychological maladjustment involving perfectionism and social problem solving.     

Social problem-solving deficits,dependency, and depressive symptoms

Depressive symptoms have been linked to deficits in social problem solving. We extended earlier work by evaluating the specificity of problem-solving deficits to depressive (vs. anxiety) symptoms and by incorporating another correlate of depression, interpersonal dependency. Specifically, we addressed (a) a prediction that problem-solving skill and dependency would correlate inversely and (b) the question of whether problem-solving skill is associated with depressive symptom severity, controlling for dependency. In an unselected sample (N=115), results varied for different aspects of social problem solving. Problem-solving skills (e.g., generating multiple alternatives, evaluating pros and cons before deciding) were unrelated to depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, or dependency. Problem orientation (a constructive attitude toward problems involving seeing them as manageable challenges) was inversely related to dependency and to both depressive and anxiety symptom severity. The relation between problem orientation and depressive symptoms was reduced but not eliminated by controlling statistically for dependency.     

The Influence of Anger‐arousal Level on Attribution of Hostile Intent and Problem Solving Capability in an Individual with a Mild Intellectual Disability and a History of Difficulties with Aggression

Background Recent studies have suggested that cognitive biases may play an important mediating role in aggressive outbursts from people with mild intellectual disabilities (IDs). Essentially, some individuals may frequently perceive other people as acting towards them in a hostile fashion. This biased perception may develop through repeated adverse experiences, and may make them more likely to respond, likewise, in an aggressive manner. These studies have led to the development of a cognitive behavioural model of aggression, incorporating factors both intrinsic and extrinsic to the individual. This study aimed to explore one facet of this model: a putative relationship between anger‐arousal level, problem‐solving ability and perception of hostile intent in others. Method Single‐case methodology was utilized, and a 44‐year‐old man with a mild ID and a history of difficulties with aggression participated. A series of vignettes, containing potentially provocative social interactions, were read to the participant. His perception of hostile intent, and suggestions of possible behavioural responses were recorded as dependent variables. Anger‐arousal was manipulated, through autobiographical recall, as a dependent variable. Results Although not conclusive, results indicate that anger‐arousal may act in an interactive fashion to increase perception of hostile intent. No effect of anger‐arousal was observed on problem‐solving ability; however, floor‐effects in the task used may provide an explanation for this. Conclusions A high level of anger‐arousal may exacerbate the probability of a frequently aggressive individual perceiving others as acting in a hostile manner. However, future research should take the limitations of this study into account, and continue development of a cognitive model of frequent aggression in those with a mild ID.     

Perceived Social Problem Solving,Perfectionism, and Mindful Awareness in Clinical Depression: An Exploratory Study

Perfectionism, problem solving, and mindfulness have all been variously implicated in the experience and treatment outcomes for depression. Maladaptive perfectionism represents a cognitive set that is believed to exacerbate the symptoms of depression, whereas social problem solving is believed to play a role in potentially buffering the effects of perfectionism on depressive symptomatology. Little is currently known about the role of mindfulness during a current depressive episode, however a number of studies have shown that mindfulness-based interventions significantly reduce relapse rates in depression. The current study examined the role of social problem solving, adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism, and mindful awareness during a current depressive episode. Participants were 141 inpatients experiencing a clinical depressive episode. No support was found for social problem solving buffering the effects of maladaptive perfectionism on depression severity. Results suggest that mindful awareness mediates the negative association between social problem solving and depression severity and the positive association between maladaptive perfectionism and depression severity. Mindful awareness contributed the greatest amount of variance to depression symptom severity.     

某医学院临床医学专业新生抑郁与自杀意念关系的研究

[目的]了解医学院临床医学专业新生抑郁与自杀意念的发生率及其两者之间的关系,为有效干预自杀意念,预防自杀行为提供依据。[方法]整群随机抽样的方法抽取某医学院340名临床医学专业的新生,采用抑郁自评量表（SDS）和自杀意念自评量表（SIOSS）调查学生抑郁及自杀意念现状。[结果]该医学院临床医学专业新生抑郁的发生率为31．76％,自杀意念发生率为8．82％,有无抑郁新生的自杀意念发生率存在显著性差异（P ＜0．05）,抑郁与自杀意念呈显著正相关（P ＜0．05）,有无自杀意念新生的自杀意念各因子及抑郁特异性症状存在显著性差异（ P ＜0．05）。[结论]该医学院临床医学专业部分新生存在一定程度的抑郁及自杀意念,抑郁与自杀意念两者之间存在显著相关性。     

The Relations of Internalizing Symptoms to Conflict and Interpersonal Problem Solving in Close Relationships

This study examined the relations between interpersonal conflict, interpersonal problem solving, and internalizing symptoms (viz., depression and anxiety symptoms) in a sample of 123 college students. Conflict was assessed in five different close relationships (viz., best friend, second best friend, romantic partner, mother, father). In addition, five dimensions of problem-solving ability were examined (viz., positive and negative problem orientation, rational problem solving, impulsivity/carelessness style, avoidance style). Regression analyses showed negative problem orientation to predict depression above and beyond what was accounted for by mother conflict and romantic conflict. Avoidance style was also found to predict depression beyond what was accounted for by mother conflict alone. Negative problem orientation was also found to be a highly significant moderator of the relationship between romantic partner conflicts and anxiety symptoms. Specifically, the relationship between conflicts and anxiety symptoms was stronger when negative problem orientation was high rather than low. Implications for theory, clinical practice, and future research are discussed.     

Minimizing Seclusion and Restraint in Youth Residential and Day Treatment Through Site-Wide Implementation of Collaborative Problem Solving

ABSTRACT

Despite a growing understanding of the need to reduce seclusion and restraint (S/R) in all types of youth psychiatric facilities, published accounts of success in the psychological literature have been limited to inpatient facilities. Furthermore, existing publications on successful S/R reduction rarely include details about implementation that would be helpful to other agencies looking to follow their lead. This article presents the case of one multiservice agency that reduced S/R rates in youth residential and day treatment programs after adopting the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach. It includes detailed information on implementation, data illustrating the reduction of S/R after CPS implementation, and discussion of possible benefits to youth outcomes and organizational costs.     

Social problem solving as a moderating variable between negative life stress and depressive symptoms

The present study sought to investigate the moderating function that social problem-solving effectiveness serves in relation to negative stressful life events and depressive symptomatology. It was also hypothesized that knowledge of problem solving would improve upon the prediction of level of depressive symptoms beyond the assessment of stressful events. Results involving 462 undergraduate students provide support for both predictions. Specifically, findings from a multiple regression analysis indicated that (1) differences in reported depressive mood between subjects under high and low stress levels were minimal for individuals characterized as effective problem-solvers, relative to those persons with problem-solving scores reflective of ineffective problem solving; and (2) assessment of problem-solving scores and their interaction with stress level provided for an additional three times the amount of explained variance in predicting depression scores beyond life stress scores. Additionally, a cross-validation of the regression analysis was conducted and found to result in a minimal amount of shrinkage that could be due to samplespecific characteristics.We would like to extend our appreciation to two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of this article. The study was supported in part by a grant funded by Fairleigh Dickinson University to the first author.     

Problem perception,technology and effectiveness in medical practice

Rationale, aims and objectives Evidence‐based medicine and clinical guidelines have been found difficult to implement in the clinical practice – mainly because lack of evidence quality and guidelines that, generally, do not account for variations in the medical cases. Variation in the medical cases enhances task uncertainty and uncertainty seems to be further enhanced through clinical guidelines. In this article, concept development is attempted, where task uncertainty is classified into a few medical problem‐solving processes according to differences in medical technology and in the (initial) perception of the medical problem. Furthermore is argued the need for using different strategies in evaluating performance quality in medical health care depending on the variation in the degree of task uncertainty. Method Qualitative data about medical activities related to certain diseases are used to exemplify problem‐solving processes representing different types of task uncertainty. Results It is argued that the main characteristics of medical problem‐solving processes vary according to differences in medical technology and perception of perceived medical problem. Four main medical problem‐solving processes are defined and demonstrated through empirical examples. Conclusion What may be regarded as rational behaviour is different for each type of problem‐solving processes. Consequently, the processes need different organizational settings and need to be evaluated according to different criteria. Furthermore, from a practical point of view, development and education related to problem perception would seem as important as development of medical technology.     

Cultural Differences, Perfectionism, and Suicidal Risk in a College Population: Does Social Problem Solving Still Matter?

The relations between cultural influences,perfectionism, social problem solving, and subsequentsuicidal risk (viz., hopelessness and suicide potential)were examined among 148 college students. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to determinewhether social problem solving predicted suicidal risk(1 month later) beyond what was accounted for by ethnicstatus (Asian American or Caucasian American) and perfectionism. Results of these analysesindicated that ethnic status (Step 1) was a significantpredictor of both hopelessness and suicide potential.Furthermore, perfectionism (Step 2) was found to add significant incremental validity forpredicting variance in both outcome criteria. Incontrast, social problem solving (Step 3) addedsignificant incremental validity for predicting variancein suicide potential, but not for predicting hopelessness.Results indicate that social problem solving is a moreuseful predictor of suicide potential than ofhopelessness. Implications for future research arediscussed.