A Longitudinal Field Investigation of Narcissism and Popularity Over Time: How Agentic and Antagonistic Aspects of Narcissism Shape the Development of Peer Relationships

Grandiose narcissism has been linked to initial popularity but to later unpopularity in peer groups and laboratory contexts. Do these effects on peer relationships also emerge in larger real-life contexts and what are the underlying behavioral processes (i.e., behavioral expressions, interpersonal perceptions)? Using data from the longitudinal CONNECT field study ( N = 126), we investigated effects of agentic and antagonistic aspects of grandiose narcissism on emerging popularity in a complete peer network. A cohort of psychology first-year students was assessed with a quasiexperimental, experience-sampling methodology involving online surveys, diaries, and behavioral observations. In contrast to previous laboratory research, narcissism was unrelated to popularity at the level of zero-order correlations. However, results indicated that (a) an agentic behavioral pathway fostered popularity across time, and an antagonistic behavioral pathway drove the long-term decline in popularity, and (b) the two pathways were differentially related to agentic (admiration) and antagonistic (rivalry) aspects of narcissism.

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Effects of Anti-TNF Alpha Drugs on Disability in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Long-Term Real-Life Data from the Lorhen Registry

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2014/416892 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Matteo Filippini ◽

Chiara Bazzani ◽

Fabiola Atzeni ◽

Piercarlo Sarzi Puttini ◽

Antonio Marchesoni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Marked Improvement ◽

Real Life ◽

Tnf Alpha ◽

First Year ◽

Life Data ◽

Highly Active ◽

Real Life Data ◽

History Of

This study involving 1033 patients with RA confirms the effectiveness of etanercept, adalimumab, and infliximab in reducing RA-related disability even in patients with a history of highly active and longstanding RA. Moreover, we found that the improvement in disability was biphasic, with a marked improvement during the first year of anti-TNF therapy, followed by slower but significant recovery over the subsequent four years.

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Psychological Well-being of First-year Psychology Students Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.18662/wlc2021/01 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Getrude C. AH Gang ◽

Keyword(s):

Real Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychology Students ◽

First Year ◽

Online Classes ◽

First Year Students ◽

First Semester ◽

University Life ◽

Before And After ◽

Social Media Platforms

University life is always colorful, filled with a plethora of memorable moments, both academic and non-academic. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, however, first-year university students’ academic experiences might be slightly different from their expectations due to being fully conducted in online learning. The COVID-19 pandemic denied first year students the opportunity to join the face-to-face classes and become involved in university’s activities in the real setting. All activities were replaced with virtual setting and they could only contact their course mates and lecturers via social media platforms. This derailment of their expectation to experience real-life university settings may dampen their enthusiasm and impact their motivational and happiness levels. To explore the phenomenon, a study was conducted with 143 first-year psychology students to examine their self-reported motivational and happiness levels before and after seven-week of online classes. This study included 113 females (79%) and 30 males (21%) with a mean age of 20.68 (SD=1.88). Data collected revealed that students’ motivation and happiness levels declined significantly after their online classes. According to their extent of agreement with the single statement ‘Overall, I am happy with my university life’, 48 (33.60%) students agreed, 76 (53.10%) were neutral, and 19 (13.30%) indicated dissatisfaction. This study may assist the university and relevant authorities in understanding students’ perceptions of dealing with academic and life challenges through online classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, psychological strategies should be considered to enhance first-year students’ motivation and happiness levels when faced with online classes in their new first semester.

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Gender Differences in Students’ Perceptions of Information Technology as a Career

10.28945/3035 ◽

2006 ◽

Author(s):

Theda Thomas ◽

Alesha Allen

Keyword(s):

Role Models ◽

Real Life ◽

First Year ◽

Technical Issue ◽

It Industry ◽

First Year Students ◽

The Media ◽

Males And Females ◽

Cartoon Characters ◽

Job Prospects

This paper reports on an investigation into first year students’ perceptions of IT as a career. There are many stereotypes of the typical IT professional. These stereotypes are often depicted in the media and affect students’ perceptions of the career and whether they should study IT or not. An exploratory study into male and female first year students’ perceptions of the IT professional is presented. The participants included students studying the Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Information Systems degrees at ACU National in Melbourne, Australia. The study investigated the differences and similarities between the perceptions of males and females as well as where they came by those perceptions. The study found that the majority of students had chosen to drop IT as a subject at school by Year 10 of their schooling. Males and females differ in their reasons for giving up IT, with females listing computer illiteracy and dislike of being called a nerd as their main reasons and males listing boredom, teachers not being encouraging and little creativity as their main reasons for stopping. The students were then asked questions relating to the IT industry. A t-test showed that females were significantly more negative about the industry in their answers to three of the questions, namely “Is it ‘uncool’ to be interested in computers?” “Does the IT industry offer good job prospects?” and “Are people working in the IT industry ‘nerds/computer geeks’?” The survey then went on to look at the technical versus non-technical issue in perceptions of an IT career. The majority of the participants believed that an IT job consists mainly of technical work and working at a computer. This was true for all the students across both genders. The majority of students did not know any females in the IT industry and could not name any female role models from real life or from TV or film. Some of the role models that they did mention were cartoon characters.

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STUDENT TEACHERS’ OPINIONS ABOUT USING AUTHENTIC MATERIALS AND TASKS FOR ACQUIRING ESTONIAN CULTURAL HISTORY

Education and New Developments 2021 ◽

10.36315/2021end120 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kristel Ruutmets ◽

◽

Evi Saluveer ◽

Mari Niitra

Keyword(s):

Student Teachers ◽

Cultural History ◽

Cultural Awareness ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

National Curriculum ◽

Real Life ◽

Cultural Knowledge ◽

First Year ◽

Authentic Materials ◽

First Year Students

According to the Estonian National Curriculum for Basic Schools (2011), students should value their cultural heritage. Therefore, schools should do everything to develop students’ cultural awareness and knowledge. Despite the importance of the topic the curriculum does not specify how and where it should be taught and does not say which material to use. One possibility to address the problem is to use authentic materials and tasks. The latter offer numerous ways to learn about one’s cultural history, and help to create a bridge between the classroom and real life. Authentic materials are not specifically created for pedagogic purposes while authentic tasks require students to learn, practise and evaluate material the same way as they would do in real life. The focus of the use authentic materials has so far been mostly on foreign language teaching and learning. However, they have a huge potential in acquiring cultural knowledge as they offer both current and historical information. The aim of the study was to find out future primary school teachers’ opinions about the authentic materials and tasks used during the course “The Child in Estonian Cultural History”. 25 first-year students who attended the course participated in the study. The data was collected from the students’ written reflection and analysed qualitatively. The results revealed that the students understood the relevance of authentic materials and tasks in acquiring and appreciating one’s cultural history. They believed that authentic materials and tasks enrich the teaching and learning process, and help to make connections to their everyday life. It also became evident that the students needed better instructions of how to find appropriate authentic materials and exploit them effectively in their future teaching career.

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Evaluating changes in student health, wellbeing and social circumstances before and during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in Australia

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.12078 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e12078

Author(s):

Dannielle Post ◽

Agnes Vitry ◽

Katherine L. Baldock

Keyword(s):

Medical Science ◽

Real Life ◽

Global Scale ◽

Student Employment ◽

First Year ◽

Economic Downturn ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Health Course

The impacts of COVID-19 have been felt on a global scale, with associated physical distancing restrictions and economic downturn having flow-on effects for mental health and wellbeing across the community, and for university students in particular. First-year pharmaceutical and medical science students completing a common introductory population health course at an Australian university are routinely surveyed at the beginning of the semester as part of the course. Survey data inform teaching approaches based on understanding the ‘real life’ commitments and health profiles of students, and deidentified data form part of the teaching material. The 2020 student cohort was invited to complete a second follow-up survey during COVID-19 physical distancing restrictions. A total of n = 126 students completed both the initial and follow-up surveys (50.6% response rate), and n = 99 (39.8% of the total cohort) consented for their data to be included in research. There was a non-significant decrease in student employment; however, 22% of all students reported loss of work due to COVID-19. There was a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of students undertaking sufficient levels of physical activity, and a statistically significant increase in reported family stressors associated with loss of employment or an inability to gain employment between March and May 2020. Two-thirds of respondents reported increased stress as an impact of the transition to online learning. Implementation of holistic strategies, incorporating attention to additional factors influencing students’ capacity to engage in study, and which may have long-term impacts across the life of the degree program, should be considered.

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AB0641 MANAGING ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS (AS) WITH SHORT TERM BIOSIMILAR ADALIMUMAB REGIMEN IN A RESOURCE STRAPPED SETTING: A PROTOCOL DRIVEN COMMUNITY CLINIC ORIENTED STUDY

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.3459 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 1615.1-1615

Author(s):

A. Chopra ◽

N. Khadke ◽

M. Saluja ◽

T. Kianifard ◽

A. Venugopalan

Keyword(s):

Stress Reduction ◽

Symptomatic Relief ◽

Real Life ◽

Substantial Improvement ◽

First Year ◽

Short Term ◽

Mean Values ◽

One Year

Background:We were handicapped by the exorbitant cost of innovator anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) drugs. Despite limited use, we sometimes observed long-term benefits following short term induction like use. Emboldened by advent of biosimilars, we carried out an investigational study.Objectives:To evaluate the effectiveness of a short regimen of biosimilar (Bs) Adalimumab in ASMethods:50 consenting patients (86% B27+) naïve for biologics and negative for latent TB screen were enrolled into an observational design study of one year; Baseline mean values for age, duration, ASDAS and CRP was 31 years, 98.8 months, 4.6 and 64 mg per dl respectively. During the first year, patients were begun with 40 mg Bs Adalimumab (Bs-ADL) (Exemptia™), injected fortnight, for 12-16 weeks. No patient received DMARD or steroid in the first year of study. Patients continued standard of care follow up program in the clinic. The ASAS (Assessment Spondyloarthritis International Society) improvement indices were used. Standard intention-to-treat analysis was performed; significant p <0.05.Results:Optimum ASAS 40 improvement was observed at week 12 (68%); substantial improvement lasted till week 36. At one year, the ASAS 40 was 38%; ASAS partial remission 22% patients. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF α and IL-17) showed conspicuous reduction; maximum drop in IL-6 at week 24 (See Figure). 11 patients withdrew in the first year. 30 patients completed two years and 22 patients completed 3 year follow up. Over time, there was substantial loss in the ASAS 20 and 40 responses but patients seemed satisfied with the on-going symptomatic relief and improved function. Admittedly, patients showed more adherences to advice on physical exercise and stress reduction. Flares were more frequent after 1 year requiring short term round the clock NSAID; only 5 patients could afford to repeat a short term Bs-ADL regimen and one patient underwent hip arthroplasty. None received steroids and 5 patients were begun on Sulfasalazine in the second year and monitored. We could not evaluate structural modification (AS). Selected outcomes over 2 and 3 years from the current study will be compared to matched control (derived from the clinic database). None developed TB or any serious drug related toxicity. 2 patients developed recurrent uveitis.Conclusion:This real life documented experience unravelled impressive long term benefits following a kick start short term induction regimen of Biosimilar Adalimumab in AS. Though contrary to standard practice, this seemed a practical solution in our setting. We speculate a psychological and motivational boost rather than a prolonged real time biological effect (Bs-ADL) for this phenomenon. Our study has important socioeconomic bearing and merits validation.Acknowledgement:This was essentially a non-commercial investigator-initiated study. Zydus Cedilla India provided a generous research grant with free of cost Bs_ADL to several patients and a large concession in the cost to the rest.Disclosure of Interests:Arvind Chopra Grant/research support from: Zydus Pharamceutical Ltd India, Nagnath Khadke: None declared, Manjit Saluja: None declared, Toktam Kianifard: None declared, Anuradha Venugopalan: None declared

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Predicting Real-Life Self-Control From Brain Activity Encoding the Value of Anticipated Future Outcomes

Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/0956797619896357 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 268-279 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Klaus-Martin Krönke ◽

Max Wolff ◽

Holger Mohr ◽

Anja Kräplin ◽

Michael N. Smolka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brain Activity ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Community Sample ◽

Real Life ◽

Neural Mechanisms ◽

Self Control ◽

Laboratory Research ◽

Future Outcomes ◽

Future Consequences

Deficient self-control leads to shortsighted decisions and incurs severe personal and societal costs. Although neuroimaging has advanced our understanding of neural mechanisms underlying self-control, the ecological validity of laboratory tasks used to assess self-control remains largely unknown. To increase ecological validity and to test a specific hypothesis about the mechanisms underlying real-life self-control, we combined functional MRI during value-based decision-making with smartphone-based assessment of real-life self-control in a large community sample ( N = 194). Results showed that an increased propensity to make shortsighted decisions and commit self-control failures, both in the laboratory task as well as during real-life conflicts, was associated with a reduced modulation of neural value signals in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in response to anticipated long-term consequences. These results constitute the first evidence that neural mechanisms mediating anticipations of future consequences not only account for self-control in laboratory tasks but also predict real-life self-control, thereby bridging the gap between laboratory research and real-life behavior.

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Back to work: the effect of a long-term career interruption on subsequent wages in Switzerland

Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics ◽

10.1186/s41937-020-00068-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 157 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Amélie Speiser

Keyword(s):

Fixed Effects ◽

Unobserved Heterogeneity ◽

Estimation Method ◽

First Year ◽

Wage Penalty ◽

Career Interruption ◽

Capital Depreciation ◽

Wage Penalties ◽

Using Data

AbstractThis paper measures the effect of a long-term career interruption on wages after re-employment. Using data from the Swiss Household Panel (SHP) and a fixed effects estimation method allows us to account for time-constant unobserved heterogeneity. We find a significant wage penalty of about 7% in the first year after re-employment if a worker takes up a job with the same characteristics as the job previously held. This wage penalty finally vanishes after 5 to 6 years. Conducting subsample analyses for men and women, we uncover underlying heterogeneity of the effect. Compared to women, men tend to suffer more from a long-term career interruption, both in terms of a higher wage penalty during the first year of re-employment and a larger subsequent recovery time. Our findings support the assumption that human capital depreciation is not the only reason for wage penalties after re-employment.

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Epidemiologija problema mentalnog zdravlja u mladih s područja Osijeka, korištenjem upitnika snaga i teškoća (SDQ)

Archives of Psychiatry Research ◽

10.20471/may.2021.57.01.06 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 57 (1) ◽

pp. 61-68

Author(s):

Dubravka Holik ◽

Marija Kribl ◽

Andrea Milostić-Srb ◽

Danijela Nujić

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Peer Relationships ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

First Year ◽

Emotional Symptoms ◽

Prosocial Skills ◽

First Year Students

Introduction: Mental disorders begin at an early age. Screening is the first step in early intervention for the mental health problems of children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence of mental health problems among adolescents from Osijek, to early detect the risks of possible mental disorders, and to analyse gender differences. Materials and methods: The main screening instrument was The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which assesses the emotional and behavioural difficulties of children and adolescents, as well as the prosocial skills. Over 5 school years (2012/13-2016/17), a total of 5787 students were examined. 5514 (95.3%) first-year students from 16 high schools and 273 (4.7%) seventh-grade students from 10 elementary schools were examined in the City of Osijek. Results: 10.4% of students had the borderline or abnormal score on the Total difficulties score. Girls had higher scores on the Total difficulties score (p<0.01), Emotional symptoms subscale (p<0.01), Prosocial behaviour subscale (p<0.01), and on the Hyperactivity/inattention subscale (p<0.01). On the Conduct problems subscale and the Peer relationships problem subscale, boys scored significantly higher than the girls (p<0.01). Conclusion: In the Osijek area, girls are more affected by mental problems than boys, scoring higher on the total scale, as well as on the emotional and hyperactivity scale. Whereas boys scored higher on the conduct and peer relationship scales. The data obtained through this screening allows for further planning of public health measures, preventive activities, treatment, and mental health promotion.

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Self-emergent peer support using online social networking during cross-border transition

Australasian Journal of Educational Technology ◽

10.14742/ajet.2305 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Feng Ding ◽

Paul Stapleton

Keyword(s):

Peer Support ◽

Online Social Networks ◽

Instant Messaging ◽

Mainland China ◽

Vital Role ◽

First Year ◽

First Year Students ◽

Overseas Students ◽

Cross Border ◽

Using Data

<p>Transitioning from school to university is a major development for learners, often accompanied by difficulties. When overseas students arrive at university for the first time these challenges are multiplied. It is suggested, however, that these difficulties can be mitigated to a certain extent via the use of online social networks. The present study, using data generated by a group of 350 first-year students from mainland China (called QQ), explores how an online instant messaging service helped the students adapt to life in a Hong Kong university. Findings reveal that (a) first-year mainland students experienced specific problems at distinct stages; (b) the QQ provided informational, instrumental and emotional support for the students; (c) the QQ was self-emergent and had a clear annual cycle. It is argued that self-initiated peer support among students plays a vital role in higher education, especially at crucial periods such as school-to-university and cross-border transitions.</p>

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