Clinical Psychology:
Title: Emotion dys/regulation and self-esteem
Submission code: VP_038
Authors: Luisa Puddu, Martina Fabbrizzi, & Rosalba Raffagnino
Abstract: The present paper aims to study the association between emotion regulation and a personality trait such as self-esteem. In fact the empirical literature evidenced that both emotion regulation and self- esteem may be protective factors for our psychological and emotional health and well-being. 150 Italian subjects completed two tools, one about emotion regulation (DERS, Gratz & Roemer, 2004) and the other about self-esteem (Basic SE, Forsman et al., 2003). Findings indicate that a low level of self-esteem is related to difficulties in some emotion regulation strategies; and that there are gender differences about this association. The authors suggest further research improvements taking into account their findings.
Keywords: emotion regulation, emotion dysregulation, self-esteem, well-being, risk factors.
File Extension: MP4 Video (.mp4)
Title: Sex differences in the perception of love and sex among Polish young adults
Submission code: VP_088
Authors: Katarzyna Adamczyk & Monika Wysota
Abstract: Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate sex differences in the perception of love and sex among Polish young adults. Basing on the study performed by Hendrick and Hendrick (2002), it was hypothesized that women and men would not differ in perception of love and sex. Design: The study design comprised of correlational study in which participants were asked to fill in the questionnaires. Methods: Perception of Love and Sex Scale (Hendrick & Hendrick, 2002) was administered to the sample of 494 young adults (327 females and 167 males) aged 20-28 years, with the average age of participants being 21.30 (SD = 1.93). The questionnaire was distributed across different courses. A one-way ANOVA was used to analyse the data. Findings: The results indicated that women reported lower level of Love is Most Important, F(1, 492) = 6.50, p = .011, lower level of Sex Demonstrates Love, F(1, 492) = 8.20, p = .004, and lower level of Love Comes Before Sex, F(1, 492) = 20.55, p = .000 than men did. Conclusion: The current study revealed significant sex differences in the perception of love and sex among young women and men in Poland. These differences are not congruent with results obtained in the original study performed by Hendrick and Hendrick (2002).
Keywords: perception of sex, perception of love, sex differences, young adults.
File Extension: MP4 Video (.mp4)
Title: Sex differences in Polish university students’ mental health
Submission code: VP_102
Authors: Katarzyna Adamczyk, Monika Wysota, & Emilia Soroko
Abstract: Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the possible sex differences in the mental health among Polish university students. Based on prior research (e.g., Rymaszewska, Adamowski, Pawłowski & Kiejna, 2005), it was hypothesized that women would report higher level of mental health problems than men would. Design: The study design comprised of a correlational study in which participants were asked to fill in questionnaires. Methods: The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28; Goldberg & Hillier 1979) was administered to a sample of 429 university students (327 females and 102 males) aged 19-25 years, with the average age being 21.79 (SD = 1.72). The questionnaire was distributed across different courses. A Student t test was used to analyse the data. Findings: The results indicated that women reported higher level of somatic symptoms than did men, t(195.24) = 3.51, p = .001, and higher level of anxiety than men did, t(427) = 3.17, p = .002. Women also reported higher level of total mental health problems than men did, t(427) = 2.80, p = .005. Conclusions: The current study revealed significant sex differences in the total mental health problems and in the domain of somatic symptoms and anxiety in Polish university students. This pattern of results may be related to gender roles and different styles of coping with stress, or it can also be connected with social expectations formulated towards women and men or with sex stereotypes.
Keywords: sex differences, mental health, sex stereotypes, university students.
File Extension: MP4 Video (.mp4)
Title: “Salute Allo Specchio”: A complementary therapy for female cancer patients
Submission code: VP_118
Authors: Valentina E. Di Mattei, Letizia Carnelli, Elena Pagani Bagliacca, Paola Zucchi, Luca Lavezzari, & Fabio Madeddu
Abstract: Introduction & Aim: “Salute allo Specchio” is a psychological program for female cancer patients. It was born in June 2013 with the aim to improve patients’ well-being through the realization of group sessions during which a team of fashion and aesthetic consultants illustrates strategies to manage the effects of the disease and its treatments. Psychological variables such as depression, anxiety, quality of life were considered. A preliminary research evaluated variables’ levels before the beginning of the program (t0). The present study shows how they vary during time, particularly at the conclusion of the project (t1) and after three months (t2). Method: Up to now, 39 patients took part to the project. The following questionnaires were administrated: STAI-Y (anxiety), BDI-II (depression), EORTC QLQ-30 (quality of life). Results: A significant decrease (p<0.05) in depression and anxiety levels was found betweent0 and t1. Such differences maintained their significance even after 3 months from the conclusion of the project (t2), reflecting the non-transience of the observed effects. BDI-II mean scores are also influenced by the presence of metastasis; moreover, being subjected to chemotherapy and radiotherapy simultaneously seems to negatively impact on quality of life. Conclusions: The present study seems to confirm that taking part to “Salute allo Specchio” leads to a stable improvement in variables considered. It also suggests the importance of introducing support interventions beside conventional medical therapies, in order to promote a better adaptation to the disease and to improve the quality of life of the patients.
Keywords: psychoncology, female cancer, oncology esthetic, quality of life, body image perception.
File Extension: QuickTime Movie (.mov)
Title: How do home environments contribute to the mental health: Case of Russian adolescents
Submission code: VP_122
Authors: Sofya Nartova-Bochaver, Natalya Dmitrieva, Sofya Reznichenko, & Aleksandra Bochaver
Abstract: One of the most crucial problems of contemporary clinical psychology and psychotherapy is searching for ecological resources of well-being and mental health. Based on the environmental psychology researches (Coolen, 2011; Edgerton, 2014; Kyttä, 2004; Nartova-Bochaver et al., 2015; Nordström, 2014) we assumed the friendliness of home environment to be an important predictor of its inhabitants’ well-being. We define friendliness of home environment (FHE) as extent of how much it satisfies the inhabitants’ needs. FHE combines number of affordances providing by home to its inhabitants and its conformity to their personalities. Our tools were: developed by authors Functionality of Home Environment Questionnaire (2015), The Personal Relevance of Home Environment (2015), Authenticity Scale (Wood et al., 2008), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (Tennant et al., 2007). Participants were 124 adolescents (Mage=14.1, 58 males, 66 females), living in Moscow and rural area in various social contexts (regular school, gymnasium, orphanage, village home). In total, 15 variables were investigated. We have found that: 1) Well-being is stronger predicted by the personal relevance of home than by its functionality; 2) Girls are more sensitive to home friendliness than boys; 3) Moscow school students are more sensitive to anti-predictors than to predictors of well-being. Hypothesis is partly confirmed. In discussion, we consider gender differences and specificity of life plans among adolescents from different social contexts.
Keywords: home environment, well-being, authenticity, inhabitants, friendliness, social context.
File Extension: MP4 Video (.mp4)
Title: Psychological distress and coping strategies among women who undergo cancer genetic testing
Submission code: VP_135
Authors: Valentina E. Di Mattei, Paola Zucchi, Elena Duchini, Rossella Di Pierro, & Fabio Madeddu
Abstract: Carriers of BRCA mutations (BRCA1 and BRCA2) have a higher risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Despite cancer genetic testing is an effective instrument for cancer prevention, little is known about its psychological impact. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of coping strategies on the prediction of psychological distress among women who decided to undergo cancer genetic testing distinguishing them on the reasons for genetic testing. The study included three groups of women: breast and/or ovarian cancer patients (N = 33), breast and/or ovarian cancer survivors (N = 22) and people with strong family histories of breast and/or ovarian cancer (N = 10). All cancer patients (in remission or not) were affected by breast or ovarian cancer. Assessment of psychological distress and coping strategies were respectively obtained with the administration of the SCL-90-R and the COPE-NVI. ANOVA and multiple regression models were run. Groups of participants significantly differ in relation to somatization, depressive symptoms and hostility. In all cases, the use of avoidance coping strategies predicted higher levels of psychological distress. Results from the present study suggested the importance of the coping strategies on the prediction of psychological distress, helping psychologists to draw up appropriate intervention strategies during the cancer genetic testing.
Keywords: cancer, genetic counseling, hostility, coping.
File Extension: QuickTime Movie (.mov)
Title: Psychological aspects of motherhood after cancer
Submission code: VP_179
Authors: Joanna Matuszczak-Swigon & Katarzyna Pyrgiel
Abstract: The aims of a presentation include: 1) a literature review on being a mother after the experience of cancer, 2) the implications for further research. In the first part we would like to discuss the most recent research results in the above field. Moreover, we intend to present a multidimensional tool which measures concerns related to fertility and parenthood for young adult female cancer survivors, the Reproductive Concerns After Cancer Scale designed by Jessica Gorman and researchers from the University of California. Research shows that the experience of cancer can impede the natural development and disturb the fulfilment of developmental tasks of early adulthood (Magelssen, 2008; Pivetta, 2011; Syse, 2007; Cvancarova, 2009; Langeveld, 2002; Stam, 2005; Gurney, 2009; Green, 2009). Women after cancer have less chance for giving birth, although the factors which have influence on this situation are unclear, determined both by biological and psychosocial conditions. Simultaneously, the ability to have children is an important part of quality of life. The second part will be devoted to such implications for further research as: establishing the relationship between concerns about motherhood after the experience of cancer and survivors’ decisions, finding factors which differentiate between those concerns and checking the differences between young mothers and those young women who do not have children.
Keywords: motherhood, cancer, pregnancy.
File Extension: Windows Media Audio/Video file (.wmv)
Educational Psychology:
Title: Constructive and apparent non-conformists in school
Submission code: VP_214
Authors: Ryszarda Ewa Bernacka
Abstract: While non-conformity as a dimension of personality has not yet been unambiguously defined, the knowledge collected so far indicates that this is a relatively permanent tendency of human beings to contradict opinions, judgements, social pressure, and opinions of others. Non-conformity denotes independence and autonomy in thinking, judging, and acting, which stem from an autonomous system of values. Non-conformists are not particularly sensitive to social norms, nor excessively geared towards breaking them. However, if need be, they are set to defend their point of view. Non-conformism has many faces. It may function as a creative force, thus fuelling creativity. What constructive non-conformists clothe in timelessness, apparent ones will express through over-advertised, kitschy and scandalising improvisation. Objectives: The aim of present study was to determine the occurrence of constructive and apparent conformity among students of middle schools, secondary schools, and undergraduate schools. Material and Methods: Studies performed on 2239 school students in Poland employed the Creative Behaviour Questionnaire KANH III (Bernacka, 2009) as a modified version of the KANH I is based concept of creative attitude formulated by Popek (1989). Results: There is a preponderance of constructive non-conformists over apparent ones on all three levels of education. Non-conformists are predominant in middle schools, and there are more constructive non-conformists among girls than boys. Conclusions: The study has shown that personality non-conformity, notably on the middle school level is mechanism if motivation and emotion which stimulates the conduct and mental functioning of adolescent students. The knowledge acquired can be used to diagnose and to develop the student psychological potential with a view to capitalising on the non-conformity.
Keywords: non-conformity, personality, school, student, gender.
File Extension: MP4 Video (.mp4) from Youtube
Title: How do future teachers handle feedback regarding their teaching skills?
Submission code: VP_275
Authors: Kristin Behnke
Abstract: The presented study deals with the attitudes towards and the handling of feedback in the context of German teacher training and education. During their teacher traineeship, future teachers already work at school and are furthermore accompanied by educators focusing on the enhancement of their didactical and methodological teacher skills (Kolbe & Combe, 2008). The traineeship is furthermore accompanied by theoretical seminars led by skilled supervisors. Regular classroom observations take place which are intensively supervised. There is an individual feedback opportunity after each classroom observation which is meant to foster learning and teaching improvement. Research has found that how trainee teachers are treated by their supervisors seems to be an area of critique and discontent (Ulich, 1996). Furthermore, supervisors seem to evaluate the lessons without using standardized criteria (Strietholt & Terhart, 2009). Additionally, the role of the supervisors as evaluator and counselor seems to be critical (Meyerhöfer & Rienits, 2006). In a quantitative study (N = 116 trainee teachers), we investigated, based on the state of the art, how trainee teachers evaluate the feedback which they receive by their supervisors and we analyzed via correlation analysis which character traits define, how well they receive it or whether they dismiss it. Our results show that feedback is generally accepted and seen as a good preparation for the teacher profession, but that there a several factors which hinder a greater acceptance. Also, some risk groups could be identified. Results and consequences are discussed from a social psychological point of view. Creating the practical and psychological precondition that feedback can be seen as a good and valuable learning opportunity is very important, since a negative attitude concerning feedback may lead to its rejection and may therefore hinder professional development.
Keywords: teacher education, feedback, rejection of feedback, character traits.
File Extension: MP4 Video (.mp4)
Title: Before and after inspection: Attitudes of headmasters towards external evaluations
Submission code: VP_276
Authors: Kristin Behnke
Abstract: School inspections have been widely discussed on an international level within the last years (Van Ackeren, 2007). In contrast to European countries such as England or the Netherlands, who already have a long inspection history, school inspections are a rather new phenomenon in Germany. Since schools have been working quite independently and without official external control before, the implementation of an external evaluation instrument may lead to a number of psychological effects (Bitan, 2014; Behnke, 2015; Steins, 2009). Studies on school inspections report a number of undesired side effects, stress, fear and negative attitudes towards school inspections (Brimblecombe, Shaw & Ormston, 1996; De Wolf & Janssens, 2007; Ehren & Visscher, 2006; Ouston, Fidler & Earley, 1997). This study presents results from a longitudinal qualitative research design, investigating the attitudes of headmasters of the German Federal State North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) before and after school inspection between 2009 and 2013. N = 50 headmasters were interviewed in T1 using loosely structured focused interviews as method of data collection. Interviews were transcribed, coded and then analyzed globally based on Grounded Theory and qualitative content analysis (cp. Bortz & Döring, 2006). Due to an organizational slow-down of school inspection in NRW, only N = 20 headmasters could be interviewed in T2. Our results indicate that headmasters experience more positive attitudes towards school inspection after they experienced it. Results and explanations will be discussed from a social psychological point of view. From our study, several implications for the future conduction of evaluations and inspections can be drawn from a psychological viewpoint.
Keywords: evaluation, school inspection, headmasters, attitude change.
File Extension: MP4 Video (.mp4)
Legal Psychology:
Title: The experiences of survivors of human trafficking in Australia and Singapore
Submission code: VP_052
Authors: Wesley Tan & Doris McIlwain
Abstract: Human trafficking is a criminal activity and human rights violation essentially equivalent to slavery (Potocky, 2010). While it may take numerous forms, at the core of the definition of trafficking is the exploitation of an individual through the use of force, deception or coercion for the purposes of harnessing their productive potential without remuneration. While the consequences of trafficking on mental health have been documented, to the authors’ knowledge, no theoretical model which comprehensively explains the development of such psychopathology has been created. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 trafficking survivors in Australia and Singapore. Using Grounded Theory, our interim model will suggest that, while survivors may have experienced developmental or relational trauma, their continued desire to improve their quality of life and that of their family is indicative of resilience. However, upon arrival at their destination, traffickers are able to enact a system of encapsulation that progressively undermines their sense of agency. They had their legal and identifying documentation taken, were placed under constant surveillance with no freedom of communication or movement, and were severely and arbitrarily punished for the most minor of infractions. Their complete dependence upon their traffickers and their lack of civil status was repeatedly evoked to remove any possibility to an alternative to acquiescence. This resulted in a lack of mentalization (Fonagy & Target, 1998), which prevented survivors contextualising their experiences and correctly attributing blame for their exploitation to their traffickers. Finally, the impact of different types of trafficking will be considered, with particular focus on dissociative states that are experienced by survivors of sex trafficking (Holmes et al., 2005).
Keywords: trauma, human trafficking, mentalization, dissociation, resilience.
File Extension: MP4 Video (.mp4)
Social Psychology:
Title: Do sovereign people communicate more efficiently?
Submission code: VP_123
Authors: Sofya Nartova-Bochaver
Abstract: The psychological sovereignty (PS) is a person’s ability to keep his/her boundaries, and to control his/her personal space – body, territory, personal belongings, etc. (Nartova-Bochaver, 2005). This trait is responsible for keeping balance between the person’s needs and other people’s ones. PS is important for preventing transgressions of personal boundaries including unjust treatment, it helps to respect others and protect themselves as well. The opposite pole of this trait is designated deprivedness. In our research, the connection between psychological sovereignty and interpersonal interaction specificity was investigated on a Russian sample. The hypothesis assumed that sovereignty is positively connected with harmonious interpersonal relationships. In total, 399 respondents participated in this survey, 102 males, 297 females, Mage=23 years. The following tools were used: The Psychological Sovereignty-2010, Attachment – Separateness scale of Five Factor Questionnaire by A.B.Khromov, The experiences in Close Relationship Scale by M. Wei et al. Two empirical studies were conducted. In study 1, it was shown that the sovereignty level is positively connected with some attachment facets (warmth, trustfulness, and respect for others). In study 2, we discovered that the sovereignty level is negatively connected with anxiety and avoidance in close relationships. The discovered connections are more pronounced in females. Outcomes mean that people who feel safer have features helping them to establish more friendly attitudes toward others than people who feel vulnerable. Moreover, they communicate more confidently and authentically. Results are of high importance for applied social psychology.
Keywords: personal sovereignty, five factor model, communication, anxiety, avoidance.
File Extension: Windows Media Audio/Video file (.wmv)