Personal changes,dispositional optimism,and psychological adjustment to bone marrow transplantation

We investigated the number and direction of personal changes experienced by long-term survivors of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and the relationships of those changes and dispositional optimism to psychological adjustment (current and future life satisfaction and mood). Surveys were returned by 86.0% (N=135) of all eligible long-term survivors; respondents primarily were young males who were 6 to 149 months post-BMT. Subjects reported more positive changes in the relationship and existential/psychological domains and more negative changes in the physical health domain; there was no difference on the plans/activities domain. Negative changes were more strongly related to adjustment than were positive changes. The number of negative changes reported was significantly related to current and future life satisfaction and negative mood after controlling for demographic and illness variables and dispositional optimism. The interaction term for negative and positive changes was significantly related to future life satisfaction after controlling for all other variables.This research was supported by a Biomedical Research Support Grant (No. 16-88) from The Johns Hopkins University and by grants from the American Cancer Society (PBR-40) and the National Cancer Institute (CA49218).     

婚姻质量与个性、婚姻动因的关系

目的：探讨婚姻质量与个性、婚姻动因的关系。方法：抽取156名在婚者为本研究的对象，其中男77人、女79人，每位受试者接受婚姻动因问卷、艾森克个性问卷和Olson婚姻质量问卷测查。结果：本样本受试者在婚姻质量问卷多数维度上的得分低于美国常模；婚姻质量与神经质和精神质得分呈显著负相关，婚姻质量的某些难度与内外向和掩饰性呈正相关；婚姻质量与人际-情感动因呈显著正相关，与社会-家庭和个人动因呈显著负相关。结论：个体和婚姻动因是影响婚姻质量的重要因素。     

Client personality characteristics predict satisfaction with cognitive behavior therapy

Ratings of treatment satisfaction are a means for cognitive behavior therapy clients to provide their unique personal perspective on their therapy experience. Treatment satisfaction is a variable of growing importance as a predictor of outcome for various medical and psychological treatments including treatments for chronic pain (D. C. Turk et al., 2003). Our goal was to determine whether satisfaction with cognitive behavior therapy sessions varied as a function of patient personality characteristics in a sample of 43 older adults (average age=72.3 years, SD=8.0) participating in a psychosocial pain management therapy program with a cognitive behavioral orientation. Participants completed the NEO Five Factor Inventory (P. T. Costa, Jr. & R. R. McCrae, 1992) prior to the commencement of treatment and a psychometrically valid questionnaire, assessing satisfaction with psychological therapy, after each therapy session. The core personality dimensions of neuroticism, openness, and agreeableness were predictive of aspects of satisfaction with therapy. These findings have the potential of being useful to clinicians concerned with the prediction of response to therapy.     

Where Do We Go From Here? The Goal Perspective in Psychotherapy

During the last three decades personal goals have become an increasingly important research topic. Basic research has documented the relevance of personal goals for well-being and motivation. Furthermore, clinical research has shown that goal characteristics are associated with patients' symptom distress as well as their motivation to become actively engaged in the therapeutic process. In the present article we review central models and findings from basic as well as clinical research. We will examine patients' general personal goals (life goals) with regard to psychopathology as well as treatment motivation. Our discussion of explicit treatment goals will cover their function in therapy, the target-selection process, and the treatment-goal content. Finally, we will describe treatment approaches that focus on clients' goals and discuss therapeutic implications of goal theory and research.     

Remembered Parental Bonding in Adult Twins: Genetic and Environmental Influences

One common assumption in psychology is the impact of parenting and parent-child relationships on the child's adjustment throughout the life span. Studies have indicated that there are genetic influences on memories of parenting, but how these influences are mediated has not typically been investigated. A sample of 150 pairs of monozygotic and 176 pairs of dizygotic Swedish twin women reported on personal characteristics and on remembered relationships with their mother and father using the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Quantitative genetic analyses showed moderate genetic influences for remembered parental warmth, which also was partly explained by genetic influences for optimism, aggression, and humor. The other two PBI scales, authoritarianism and protectiveness, showed only shared and nonshared environmental influences. One interpretation of the findings is that heritable personal characteristics of children elicit parental warmth. However, other explanations such as personality characteristics influencing how experiences with parents are interpreted or circumstances in adult life that affect the recall of experiences could not be ruled out.     

医学院校大学生人格特征对其生活满意度的影响

目的探讨医学院校大学生人格特征对其生活满意度的影响。方法采用艾森克人格问卷简式中国版和大学生生活满意度评定量表对346名医学院校大学生进行问卷调查。结果①精神质与学习成绩呈显著相关（P〈0．05）．外向性和神经质与朋友关系、形象表现、健康状况、经济状况、主观满意度、客观满意度、个人生活满意度均呈显著相关（P〈0．01）；②不同人格类型的生活满意度比较发现，在生活满意度主要成分上，除学习成绩外，其它均存在显著的类型差异；③对朋友关系、形象表现、健康状况、经济状况、主观满意度、客观满意度、个人生活满意度有影响的均为外向性和神经质因子。结论医学院校大学生人格特征对其生活满意度影响较大。     

夫妻性格组合与婚姻质量关系探讨

目的 :探讨性格与婚姻质量的关系。方法 :采用 L OCK- WAL L ANCE婚姻调适测定及艾森克个性问卷 (EPQ)对广州地区 689对中年夫妻进行调查。结果 :由中间型性格男性与内向型性格女性组合的家庭婚姻满意率最高达 70 % ,性格同属中间型的男女组合的家庭婚姻满意率居第二位 ,性格同属内向型男女组合的家庭婚姻满意率最低。结论 :夫妻性格组合对婚姻质量有一定影响。     

Life events, social problems and physical health status as predictors of emotional distress in men and women in a community setting

The main aim of this study was to construct logistic models of emotional distress (defined as a GHQ-30 score of 6 or greater) in a community sample of 226 men and 225 women. The independent variables included were: sociodemographic characteristics, physical health status, social problems and undesirable life events. Univariate comparisons showed that in both sexes undesirable life events and social problems were associated with emotional distress; in men the presence of physical symptoms and widowed, separated or divorced status also showed such an association. Separate logistic regression models for men and women confirmed the importance of undesirable life events and social problems as predictors for emotional distress. In women there was also a significant interaction effect between the two variables on emotional distress. Sociodemographic characteristics and physical health status did not exert a statistically significant effect in these models.     

Posttraumatic growth among children and adolescents: a systematic review

Stress and trauma research has traditionally focused on negative sequelae of adversity. Recently, research has begun to focus on positive outcomes, specifically posttraumatic growth (PTG) - “positive change experienced as a result of the struggle with trauma” - which emphasizes the transformative potential of one's experiences with highly stressful events and circumstances. The positive changes of PTG are generally thought to occur in five domains: new possibilities, relating to others, personal strength, appreciation of life, and spiritual change. The study of PTG has, for the most part, been centered on adults, and not until very recently has there been sufficient research on PTG among children and adolescents to justify a review. The current systematic review of the literature on PTG among children and adolescents included 25 studies that tested associations between PTG and conceptually-relevant variables found to be associated with PTG in adults and hypothesized to play similar roles in young people, including environmental characteristics, distress responses, social processes, psychological processes, positive outcomes, and demographic variables. Links were made between a theoretical model of PTG among youth and findings of the current review. Limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.     

Personality style,psychological adaptation and expectations of trainee clinical psychologists

The literature suggests that personality affects how individuals experience stress, cope, utilize social support and psychologically adapt. This study examined the personality style, psychological adaptation and expectations of 364 UK trainee clinical psychologists. Personality traits characterizing the sample were: enhancing, modifying, extraversing, outgoing, and agreeing. Mean overall personality adjustment was significantly better than the normal population. The sample scored significantly poorer on self‐esteem, anxiety and depression, but well outside the defined range for poor adaptation. A small percentage (8%, n = 31) had ‘poor’ personality adjustment scores, scored worse on indicators of psychological adaptation and reported greater shortfall of course aspects compared with expectations. However, 41% scored as having a significant problem on one or more of: anxiety, depression, low self‐esteem and work adjustment. About one‐third had a probable substance use problem. In regression analyses, poor personality adjustment, and different areas of expectation‐shortfall, especially impact of training on life variously predicted anxiety, depression, and poor work adjustment. Satisfaction with social support was not predictive of adaptation after personality adjustment was accounted for. Implications for clinical psychology training include the need for enhanced expectation‐management through pre‐course marketing, and better attention to trainees' personal and professional development throughout training. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of the benefit finding in multiple sclerosis (MS) caregiving scale: A longitudinal study of relations between benefit finding and adjustment

Benefit finding (BF) is a meaning‐making construct that has been shown to predict carer and care recipient adjustment. Purpose This longitudinal study investigated the dimensions, stability, and validity of the benefit finding in multiple sclerosis caregiving (BFiMSCare) scale. Methods Participants were 232 carers of persons with MS and their care recipients. Questionnaires were completed at Time 1 and 12 months later (Time 2). Results Factor analysis of the BFiMSCare scale revealed six psychometrically sound factors: enriched relationship; spiritual growth; family relations growth; life‐style gains; inspiration; and relationship opportunities. Results of regression analyses indicated that the Time 1 BFiMSCare factors and the total score accounted for significant amounts of variance in each of the Time 1 positive adjustment outcomes (life satisfaction, positive affect, dyadic adjustment) and in Time 2 positive affect and dyadic adjustment. The BFiMSCare total score predicted all Time 2 adjustment domains (positive affect, dyadic adjustment, care recipient adjustment ratings of carer) except life satisfaction and distress, whereas the six factors as a block predicted positive affect and life satisfaction. Conclusions Findings delineate the dimensional structure of BF in caregiving and the differential links between BF dimensions and adjustment, and have implications for the measurement of BF.     

Asthma in relation to personality traits, life satisfaction, and stress: a prospective study among 11,000 adults

BACKGROUND: While patients' personality has been thought to affect allergic diseases, the association of asthma and psychological factors is still debated. Stress is believed to predispose to asthma, but no clear evidence of causality has been found. We have studied the role of psychological factors in prevalent as well as in incident asthma cases among the adult population. METHODS: A total of 11540 adults initially aged 18-45 years responded to three questionnaires in 1975, 1981, and 1990, respectively. The association of psychological factors (including extroversion and neuroticism scales, subjective stress, and life satisfaction) and prevalent asthma was studied, as well as the predisposing effect of these factors on the risk of adult onset asthma. Logistic regression was used for risk calculations. RESULTS: Low life satisfaction was associated with asthma prevalence (age- and sex-adjusted OR=2.27: 1.04-4.93 for prevalent asthma among those with low life satisfaction compared to those with high life satisfaction), as was neuroticism (age and sex-adjusted OR=1.78:1.12-2.84 for those with a high neuroticism score compared to those with a low score). A high extroversion score was significantly associated with the risk of adult onset asthma among women (age-adjusted OR=2.72: 1.44-5.12 for new asthma among those with high score compared to those with a low extroversion score). CONCLUSION: No specific personality type is associated with adult onset asthma, but there is a significant sex difference in the effect of psychological factors in asthma risk. A high extroversion score is a strong predictor of incident asthma among women. Prevalent asthma decreases life satisfaction and is associated with a high neuroticism score.     

Long-term impact of preventive proactivity on quality of life of the old-old

OBJECTIVE: This research explored the long-term benefits of engaging in proactive health promotion efforts among old-old residents of Sunbelt retirement communities to empirically test components of the Preventive and Corrective Proactivity (PCP) Model of Successful Aging. Specifically, we examined the contributions of exercise, tobacco use, moderate alcohol use, and annual medical checkups to multidimensional quality of life indicators of physical health, psychological well-being, and mortality. METHOD: Data were obtained from a longitudinal study of adaptation to aging. Annual in-home interviews were conducted with 1000 older adults over a 9-year period. Whether health promotion behaviors at baseline predicted quality of life outcomes 8 years later was examined, controlling for the baseline outcome, sociodemographic variables, and, as an additional test, baseline health conditions. RESULTS: Exercise was predictive of fewer IADL limitations and greater longevity, positive affect, and meaning in life 8 years later. Avoiding tobacco was predictive of longevity. Before controlling for health conditions, exercise predicted decreased risk of basic activities of daily living limitations and having more goals; moderate alcohol use predicted longevity; annual health checkup predicted more IADL limitations; and having once smoked predicted having more IADL limitations and negative affect. CONCLUSIONS: Among the old-old, exercise had long-term and multifaceted benefits over an 8-year period. Tobacco avoidance also contributed to long-term positive outcomes. These results lend support to the long-term preventive value of health-promoting proactivity spontaneously engaged in by old-old persons proposed in the framework of the PCP model.     

A Path Analysis of Factors Predicting Children's Divorce Adjustment

Eighty-two mother-child pairs from divorced homes completed measures assessing life change events, marital hostility, parenting skills, parent adjustment, child behavior adjustment, and children's self-concept. A path model was constructed to describe direct and indirect effects of causally ordered prior variables on positive and negative child outcomes. Path coefficients suggested the operation of both direct and mediated effects of background factors, postdivorce adjustment of the custodial parent, and current child-rearing environments on adaptive and maladaptive child outcome variables. The impact of age on children's postdivorce adjustment was found to be mediated by the number of major life events they reported. One "causal path" was found to be significant for several child outcomes: Mothers with more children reported better postdivorce adjustment in themselves, which in turn predicted better self-reported parental functioning. More effective parenting was positively associated with better social skills, more involvement in prosocial activities, and less internalized psychopathology in children.     

The influence of serious personal losses or misfortunes on life satisfaction

Most of the research examining the link between life events and adaptation has focused on psychological distress and illness. The present study investigated the influence of serious personal loss or misfortune on life satisfaction. A secondary data analysis was conducted on a subsample of 375 adults obtained from 9,570 respondents to health risk appraisal questionnaires collected in 12 cities across the United States. A significant inverse relationship between serious personal loss or misfortune and life satisfaction was obtained, and coping resource and behavior variables did not moderate this relationship. Results were similar for blacks and whites.     

The role of goal management for successful adaptation to arthritis

Objective

Persons with polyarthritis often experience difficulties in attaining personal goals due to disease symptoms such as pain, fatigue and reduced mobility. This study examines the relationship of goal management strategies – goal maintenance, goal adjustment, goal disengagement, goal reengagement – with indicators of adaptation to polyarthritis, namely, depression, anxiety, purpose in life, positive affect, participation, and work participation.

Methods

305 patients diagnosed with polyarthritis participated in a questionnaire study (62% female, 29% employed, mean age: 62 years). Hierarchical multiple-regression-analyses were conducted to examine the relative importance of the goal management strategies for adaptation. Self-efficacy in relation to goal management was also studied.

Results

For all adaptation indicators, the goal management strategies added substantial explained variance to the models (R²: .07–.27). Goal maintenance and goal adjustment were significant predictors of adaptation to polyarthritis. Self-efficacy partly mediated the influence of goal management strategies.

Conclusion

Goal management strategies were found to be important predictors of successful adaptation to polyarthritis. Overall, adjusting goals to personal ability and circumstances and striving for goals proved to be the most beneficial strategies.

Practice implications

Designing interventions that focus on the effective management of goals may help people to adapt to polyarthritis.     

The Role of the Five‐Factor Model in Personality Assessment and Treatment Planning

Nearly two decades ago, Harkness and Lilienfeld ( 1997 ) published a seminal article in which they articulated the potential roles that personality assessment might play in treatment planning. Four broad areas were outlined, including how personality assessment can (a) inform where to focus change efforts, (b) foster realistic expectations of therapeutic gains, (c) facilitate effective treatment matching, and (d) enhance self‐development. We review the literature examining the role of personality assessment in treatment, using these four recommendations as a framework. We conclude that more research is needed to test (a) whether changes in characteristic adaptations mediate effects of basic personality dispositions on symptom improvement, (b) the effect of personality on treatment motivation and homework compliance, (c) the role of personality in the prediction of various aspects of psychotherapy, and (d) the efficacy of therapeutic assessment techniques using measures of universal personality traits. We also assert, more generally, that although the field has progressed to some extent in the past two decades, clinical psychologists should cultivate and advance a stronger recognition of how personality assessment can be used to enhance treatment interventions. We believe positive treatment is optimized if psychotherapists or other providers of intervention are equipped with information from personality assessment to select treatment modalities and construct treatment plans.     

Psychological mindedness in relation to personality and coping in a sample of young adult psychiatric patients

Psychological mindedness (PM) is a relevant but rarely studied construct in clinical psychology. The aim was to examine the relationships among PM, personality, and coping in young adults with psychological difficulties. Sixty‐three young women and 32 young men who were admitted for intake at a Dutch mental health institute completed relevant questionnaires. PM showed positive associations with the putatively adaptive personality characteristics of extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness and a negative correlation with neuroticism. In addition, PM was associated with problem‐focused coping independently of the effect of personality characteristics. PM seems to be related to adaptive person characteristics in young adults with psychological difficulties. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine the issue of causality. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 66:1–12, 2010.     

Influence of time of residence on the sense of community and satisfaction with life in immigrants in Spain: The moderating effects of sociodemographic characteristics

Migration is an example of adaptation with enduring effects over time and in different cultures. Few studies have analyzed the effect of the sense of community (SOC) on satisfaction with life (SWL) over time while taking into account the moderating effects of sociodemographic characteristics. We propose a model that explains the influence of time of residence on the SOC and SWL. It was hypothesized that the SOC has a positive influence on SWL and that SWL is moderated by sociodemographic characteristics and cultural differences. Participants were 2,211 immigrants residing in Malaga (Spain). Results show a positive association between years of residence and the SOC and the SWL. A positive association was found between the SOC and SWL. This study shows the relevance of analyzing the moderating effects of sociodemographic characteristics in different immigrant groups rather than according to the migration process as a whole to develop specific intervention strategies.     

Clinical and psychosocial factors associated with the outcome of unipolar major depression: a one year prospective study

BACKGROUND: The role of psychosocial and clinical variables in the prediction of major depression is controversial. In a previous paper, we obtained a one-year predictive multivariate model of non-remission for major depression, based on the presence of a personality disorder, a low self-esteem and a low satisfaction with social support. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate more in depth both personality disorders and psychosocial variables as predictors of outcome. METHODS: A prospective study on 57 consecutive outpatients with major depressive episodes were followed-up monthly during one year. Clinical and psychosocial variables were registered, including personality (DSM-IV criteria and IPDE structured interview), previous quality of life, self-esteem, social support and dyadic adjustment. Remission was defined as a HDS score less than 8. Univariate and multivariate (logistic regression) analyses were applied. RESULTS: 68% of the patients reached remission at 12 months. Personality disorder (diagnosed clinically but not according to IPDE), and previous quality of life were the variables more consistently associated to remission at 12 months. Among follow-up variables, remission at 3 months was strongly associated with remission. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the importance of the clinical diagnosis of personality disorder in the major depression outcome. However, more studies are needed to clarify the divergence between clinical and structured interview guided diagnosis. With the exception of quality of life, psychosocial variables had a weak and non consistent relationship with outcome.