scholarly journals Comment: The Emotional Basis of Toxic Affect

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agneta H. Fischer

I focus on some differences between negative emotional states and how they are coped with in explaining different cardiac risks. The different cognitive, motivational, and physiological characteristics of emotions imply different appraisals of the negative event, and different resources to cope with the event. Cardiovascular activity depends on these different appraisals and coping strategies. For example, cortisol levels have shown to be differently associated with anger and fear responses to social stress. In addition, different ways to regulate one’s emotions are also associated with different bodily responses that may increase or decrease cardiac risks. Future research should not only examine different emotions to stressors, but also more long-term regulation strategies and coping resources, such as self-esteem.

Author(s):  
Doni Whitsett ◽  
Helen Land

The relationship among role strain, coping, and marital satisfaction is examined in a cross-sectional sample of 73 stepparents. New information is discussed pertaining to differential types of role strain identified in stepparent groups. The association between types of role strain and differential types of coping strategies and coping resources is analyzed. Results document the association between coping resources of self-esteem and self-efficacy and certain dimensions of role strain. An inverse relationship between role strain and marital satisfaction is noted. Based on study results, the authors identify vulnerable subgroups and suggest implications for practice with stepfamilies.


Author(s):  
Taras Karamushka ◽  
Sergii Shykovets

Personal values in a neoplastic disease have been the subject of numerous psychological studies. The study presented here shows differences in personal values selected by oncologically ill youths (50 people) and healthy youths (40 people), aged 18-20. Results reveal that the value of good health constitutes the most essential difference between the ill/healthy groups. Chronic diseases are diagnosed in people of all ages. Some are flowing smoothly, others are stormy. Some last from birth, others appear unexpectedly at different times of life. The disease violates the spiritual and mental order, because the patients can’t meet their needs, desires, dreams, plans as much as they would like. They are experiencing anxiety, depression, irritability, emptiness and other emotional states. The medical literature defines long-term illnesses as permanent, irreversible, progressive changes that cause damage to the system, permanently reducing its effectiveness and productivity, mainly in acute and chronic conditions, as the same long-term pathological process. Favorite work, profession and successful family life are the most significant values for ill people. Ill people choose the mentioned values more frequently than healthy people. This result is a rebuttal of the assumptions made, so it should be noted that it may be a consequence of the activation of the safeguards (in particular the objection), and it is generally a plausible and expected fact. It would be worthwhile in future research to extend the study group in order to verify and compare the findings.The results can also be influenced by the choice of subjects, their age, stage of treatment, specific cancer, such as bone cancer, too small research group and others. In the future, to test and compare the results, it is worthwhile to prepare a retest and increase the number of subjects, to introduce groups of subjects with other cancers, and to pay attention to the age, emotions and treatment stage of the patients being studied.


Author(s):  
Pratheek R. Kashyap ◽  
Rakesh Kumar Jha ◽  
Praful Patil

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) is a common endocrinal disorder of reproductive age, that cause enlarged ovaries with small cyst on the outer edges with infrequent or prolonged menstrual cycles, excess hair growth, acne and obesity, which is nowadays prevailing among females at adolescent stage. About 5-10% of women among the general population of in the world are affected by PCOS. There is an increase in the prevalence of PCOS among the women and young girls of reproductive age, where they experience depression because of PCOS particularly. The exact cause of PCOS is unknown. The early diagnosis and treatment along with weight loss may reduce the long term complications of PCOS. It is not only a problem associated with reproduction, but also has associated vital metabolic and psychological health risks. Aim: Depression Due to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Adolescents Conclusion: In comparison to safe controls, adolescents with PCOS had lower self-esteem, more anxiety, and more depressive symptoms. Future research is required to look into the psychiatric issues that affect adolescents with PCOS.


1994 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 669-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ed Cairns

The papers presented in this special section provide an introduction to the area of research on the effects of political violence on children. The articles cover a wide range of topics from the well-researched question of stress and coping to the less often investigated questions of the development of aggression, the long-term effects of political violence, and the evaluation of attempts at reconciliation. In addition, they represent those geographical areas which at present dominate work in this area the Middle East, Northern Ireland, and South Africa. They also illustrate emerging debates concerning resilience versus vulnerability and the effectiveness of outsiders versus insiders as investigators. The research reported here also points to the need for more cross-cultural work. Finally, it is argued that there is a need to understand the collective nature of political violence. This has implications not only for future research methods but, more importantly, for the development of a theoretical basis that is needed for work in this area.


2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel D. Muller ◽  
Jason L. Skues ◽  
Lisa Z. Wise

This study explored cyberbullying, coping resources and coping styles in a sample of 107 10- to 12-year-old Australian primary school students. Approximately 13% of participants reported experiencing single episodes of cyberbullying victimisation, while almost half of the participants (48.6%) reported being repeatedly cyberbullied. Technological responses employed by cyberbullying victims included blocking, deleting, and changing passwords. Those who reported a single episode of cyberbullying had higher levels of self-esteem compared to the never cyberbullied or repeatedly cyberbullied groups, but there were no significant differences in attachment, locus of control, and coping styles. These findings have important implications for teachers, parents, school psychologists, and researchers in terms of defining and operationalising cyberbullying, and developing cyberbullying interventions for primary school children.


1989 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary P. Koss ◽  
Barry R. Burkhart

Recent prevalence studies have suggested that 15–22% of women have been raped at some point in their lives, many by close acquaintances, although few victims seek assistance services or professional psychotherapy immediately post-assault. Surveys have revealed that 31–48% of rape victims eventually sought professional psychotherapy, often years after the actual assault. These observations suggest that the primary role of clinicians in the treatment of rape victims is the identification and handling of chronic, post-traumatic responses to a nonrecent experience. However, it is concluded that most of the existing literature on rape treatment addresses only the target symptoms that represent the immediate response to rape. In this article, contemporary theoretical and empirical discussions of stress, cognitive appraisal, cognitive adaptation, and coping are used to conceptualize the long-term impact of rape and the process of resolution. Directions for future research on the clinical treatment of rape are suggested.


Author(s):  
Natal’ya Ye. Kharlamenkova

The investigation results of the disease representation and its relationship with the coping styles in adolescents (n = 43) with tumour of the musculoskeletal system are discussed. The data obtained before and after surgery for the removal of the musculoskeletal tumour were compared. The results expected in accordance with the hypothesis that estimates of physical and emotional states dominate in adolescents disease representations have not been confirmed. It is shown that disease representation correlates with the social support and coping resources (motivation for recovery) and practically does not include the characteristics of the child’s physical and emotional states. A comparison of the relationship between disease representation and coping styles in subgroups of adolescents with different levels of stress revealed the following differences: with a low level of stress, the motivation for recovery as the child’s internal resource is correlated with an active search for social support which at the stage after surgery, begins to be supported by different styles of coping behaviour – solving the problem and reference to others; intense experience of stress significantly limits the possibilities of a teenager which correlates its disease with the physical and emotional problems solved by passively waiting for help from loved ones. Own resources to cope with difficult life situations in adolescents with high levels of stress are not widely available.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (4pt2) ◽  
pp. 1279-1291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania L. Roth

AbstractIn the past decade, there have been exciting advances in the field of behavioral epigenetics that have provided new insights into a biological basis of neural and behavioral effects of gene–environment interactions. It is now understood that changes in the activity of genes established through epigenetic alterations occur as a consequence of exposure to environmental adversity, social stress, and traumatic experiences. DNA methylation in particular has thus emerged as a leading candidate biological pathway linking gene–environment interactions to long-term and even multigenerational trajectories in behavioral development, including the vulnerability and resilience to psychopathology. This paper discusses what we have learned from research using animal models and from studies in which the translation of these findings has been made to humans. Studies concerning the significance of DNA methylation alterations in outcomes associated with stress exposure later in life and dysfunction in the form of neuropsychiatric disorders are highlighted, and several avenues of future research are suggested that promise to advance our understanding of epigenetics both as a mechanism by which the environment can contribute to the development of psychiatric disorders and as an avenue for more effective intervention and treatment strategies.


1993 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fraser N. Watts ◽  
Shernaaz M. Webster ◽  
Colin J. Morley ◽  
John Cohen

Expeditions provide a valuable opportunity for studying processes of coping with a stressful situation. An expedition to India organized by the British Schools Exploring Society has already been reported as being accompanied by positive changes on self‐report personality scales. This paper is concerned with detailed cognitive coping measures completed throughout the 6 weeks of the expedition. It needs to be noted that the results relate to young adults and to those who provided detailed coping information; the generalizability of the result is a matter for future research. The expedition presented a mixture of physical and social stresses. Men enjoyed the physical experience more than women, but women enjoyed the social experience more than men. There was generally greater reliance on personal resources than on social support in coping with stress. This was particularly true for men in coping with physical stress and women in coping with social stress. In general, the physical stresses had been better anticipated than the social ones. Positive reformulations were much more widely used as coping strategies than avoidance/resignation strategies, especially so for physical stresses. However, use of avoidance/resignation strategies was the better predictor of outcome, with those who used them being least likely to show positive personality change as a result of the expedition. The results are related to current research on stress and coping.


Author(s):  
Philip C. Watkins ◽  
Michael Van Gelder ◽  
Araceli Frias

In this chapter, we sought to strengthen the science of gratitude. We suggest effective approaches for studying gratitude, present a theoretical framework for researching gratitude, review recent gratitude research, and suggest directions and questions for future research, all in an attempt to encourage research on this important virtue. After presenting a brief historical background of gratitude, we define state and trait gratitude and describe several useful measurement tools. We review research that has examined traits that are associated with gratitude and show that grateful individuals have many salutary traits. We then overview research strategies that have been used to investigate gratitude and pay particular attention to successful experimental manipulations of gratitude. A number of studies have investigated the advantages of gratitude. Not only is gratitude strongly associated with happiness, but experimental studies have shown that gratitude actually enhances happiness. We propose several mechanisms whereby gratitude might enhance happiness. Gratitude may support happiness through enhancing enjoyment of benefits, relationships, self-esteem, and coping ability. Grateful processing of pleasant events may also enhance the accessibility of pleasant memories. Conversely, gratitude may support happiness by inhibiting envy and preventing depression. We conclude by presenting some concerns and prospects for the future of gratitude research. Continued understanding of this important emotion and virtue will do much to advance our understanding of the critical components of the good life.


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