scholarly journals Associations between defense mechanisms and life satisfaction among North Korean refugees

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Woo Lee ◽  
Jooyoung Lee ◽  
Jin Yong Jun ◽  
So Hee Lee ◽  
So Young Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Defense Style ◽  
Multiple Stepwise Regression Analysis ◽  
Economic Satisfaction ◽  
North Korean Refugees

Abstract Background The present study investigated associations between defense mechanisms and life satisfaction among North Korean refugees living in South Korea. Methods A total of 178 North Korean refugees completed the Korean version of the Defense Style Questionnaire, a revised version of the Ways of Thinking of North Korean Defectors scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was performed to investigate the defense mechanisms associated with North Korean refugees’ life satisfaction in South Korea. Results Among defense mechanisms, denial most strongly predicted higher overall and economic satisfaction among North Korean refugees living in South Korea (β = 0.145, p < 0.01; β = 0.137, p = 0.03, respectively) after controlling for age, gender, anxiety, depression, and number of traumatic events experienced. Furthermore, resignation predicted lower overall (β = −0.206, p < 0.001) and economic satisfaction (β = −0.134, p = 0.02). However, the association between resignation and life satisfaction was not significant after controlling for depression, anxiety, and number of traumatic events experienced. Conclusions Specific defense mechanisms such as high denial and low resignation were associated with life satisfaction in South Korea among North Korean refugees. Our findings suggest that refugees’ psychological defense mechanisms may affect their satisfactory resettlement.

scholarly journals Associations between Defense Mechanisms and Life Satisfaction among North Korean Refugees

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Woo Lee ◽  
Jooyoung Lee ◽  
Jin Yong Jun ◽  
So Hee Lee ◽  
So Young Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Defense Style ◽  
Multiple Stepwise Regression Analysis ◽  
Economic Satisfaction ◽  
North Korean Refugees

Abstract Background The present study investigated associations between defense mechanisms and life satisfaction among North Korean refugees living in South Korea.Methods A total of 178 North Korean refugees completed the Korean version of the Defense Style Questionnaire, a revised version of the Ways of Thinking of North Korean Defectors scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was performed to investigate the defense mechanisms associated with North Korean refugees’ life satisfaction in South Korea. Results Among defense mechanisms, denial most strongly predicted higher overall and economic satisfaction among North Korean refugees living in South Korea (β = 0.145, p < 0.01; β = 0.137, p = 0.03, respectively) after controlling for age, gender, anxiety, depression, and number of traumatic events experienced. Furthermore, resignation predicted lower overall (β = –0.206, p < 0.001) and economic satisfaction (β = –0.134, p = 0.02). However, the association between resignation and life satisfaction was not significant after controlling for depression, anxiety, and number of traumatic events experienced. Conclusions Specific defense mechanisms such as high denial and low resignation were associated with life satisfaction in South Korea among North Korean refugees. Our findings suggest that refugees’ psychological defense mechanisms may affect their satisfactory resettlement.

Measurement invariance of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in parents of individuals with disabilities

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Eun-Young Park ◽  
Joungmin Kim
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Fit Indices ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Invariance Model

We aimed to verify the factor model and measurement invariance of the abbreviated Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale by conducting a confirmatory factor analysis using data from 761 parents of individuals with intellectual disabilities who completed the scale as part of the 2011 Survey on the Actual Conditions of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities, South Korea, and 7,301 participants from the general population who completed the scale as part of the 2011 Welfare Panel Study and Survey by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, South Korea. We used fit indices to assess data reliability and Amos 22.0 for data analysis. According to the results, the 4-factor model had an appropriate fit to the data and the regression coefficients were significant. However, the chi-square difference test result was nonsignificant; therefore, the metric invariance model was the most appropriate measurement invariance model for the data. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Psychological distress in Afghan journalists: a descriptive study

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 115-123
Author(s):  
Jonas Osmann ◽  
Abdul Mujeeb Khalvatgar ◽  
Anthony Feinstein
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Impact Of Event Scale ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Afghanistan is one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists. There are, however, no data on the mental health of Afghan journalists covering conflict in their country. The study aims to determine the degree to which Afghan journalists are exposed to traumatic events, their perceptions of organizational support, their rates of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, their utilization of mental health services and the effectiveness of the treatment received. Design/methodology/approach The entire study was undertaken in Dari (Farsi). Five major Afghan news organizations representing 104 journalists took part of whom 71 (68%) completed a simple eleven-point analog scale rating perceptions of organizational support. Symptoms of PTSD and depression were recorded with the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R) and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), respectively. Behavioral comparisons were undertaken between those journalists who had and had not received mental health therapy. Findings The majority of journalists exceeded cutoff scores for PTSD and major depression and reported high rates for exposure to traumatic events. There were no significant differences in IES-R and CES-D scores between journalists who had and had not received mental health therapy. Most journalists did not view their employers as supportive. Originality/value To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to collect empirical data on the mental health of Afghan journalists. The results highlight the extreme stressors confronted by them, their correspondingly high levels of psychopathology and the relative ineffectiveness of mental health therapy given to a minority of those in distress. The implications of these findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Personality, Defense Mechanisms and Psychological Distress in Women with Fibromyalgia

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Annunziata Romeo ◽  
Agata Benfante ◽  
Giuliano Carlo Geminiani ◽  
Lorys Castelli
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Harm Avoidance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Defense Style ◽  
Defense Styles ◽  
Character Inventory ◽  
Psychopathological Disorders

Background: Previous studies have shown that many personality traits are associated with fibromyalgia (FM), worsening both the quality of life and psychological distress of patients. Despite the high comorbidity of psychopathological disorders in this syndrome and their association with immature defense styles, few studies have examined the defense mechanisms used by FM patients. The main aim of our study was to investigate personality traits and defense mechanisms in FM patients compared to in a healthy control group (HC). Moreover, we investigated the effect of personality traits and defense mechanisms on psychological distress in both FM and HC groups. Methods: A total of 54 women with FM and 54 healthy women completed the (1) Temperament and Character Inventory—Revised; (2) the Toronto Alexithymia Scale; (3) the Defense Style Questionnaire; and (4) the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: The results indicated that FM patients display higher alexithymia, higher harm avoidance, lower self-directedness, lower persistence, and the higher use of a maladaptive defense style compared to HC. We found that alexithymia, harm avoidance, and maladaptive defense style are significant predictors of patients’ psychological distress. Moreover, harm avoidance and adaptive defense style significantly predicted psychological distress in the HC group. Conclusion: The present study is the first to explore the contribution of both defense mechanisms and personality characteristics on the psychological distress of FM patients. Our findings have important clinical implications and may help diagnose and treat FM patients more in depth.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Depressive Symptoms in North Korean Refugees

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 681-687
Author(s):  
Sehyun Jeon ◽  
Jiyoun Lee ◽  
Jin Yong Jun ◽  
Young Su Park ◽  
Jaehee Cho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Impact Of Event Scale ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
North Korean Refugees

Objective Despite the growing need for psychological programs for North Korean refugees, most psychological interventions for these people lack a verification study that tests their effectiveness. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in North Korean refugees.Methods Participants included 38 North Korean refugees, of whom 23 participated in simple relaxation and 15 participated in CBT. The Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised were used to evaluate symptoms pre- and post-intervention.Results Participants had a significant decrease in CES-D scores after treatment (p=0.037). The decrease in CES-D was larger in those who participated in the CBT compared to those in simple relaxation (p=0.023). The superior effects that CBT had on depressive symptoms over simple relaxation were particularly more prominent in those with severe depression (p=0.035). Participants with high levels of anxiety also showed significant decreases in STAI-S scores after treatment, regardless of which type of program they participated in (p=0.023).Conclusion This preliminary findings suggests that CBT is an effective psychiatric approach in treating depressive symptoms in North Korean refugees, especially for those with a higher degree of depressive symptom.

scholarly journals Microaggressions and Psychosocial Adjustment among Greek University Students with Disabilities

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 781
Author(s):  
Eleni Andreou ◽  
Agoritsa Psyllou ◽  
Anastasia Vlachou ◽  
Aristea Fyssa ◽  
Maria Saridaki
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
University Students ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Psychosocial Adjustment ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽  
Negative Consequences

This study investigated differences in experiences of microaggressions between students with different characteristics (type, visibility, severity, and onset of impairment) and associations between the occurrence of microaggressions and specific psychological dimensions, such as stress, depression, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. It also examined how the afore-mentioned psychological factors and microaggressions contribute to students’ adjustment to university. Eighty-nine (89) university students with disabilities (USwDs) completed a series of six questionnaires: the Ableist Microaggression Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the College Adaptation Questionnaire. University students with visual and mobility impairments reported higher levels of ableist microaggressions than those with medical/chronic conditions, while students with visible impairments seemed to experience more ableist microaggressions than their university peers with non-visible impairments. Microaggressive experiences were found to be associated with increased levels of depression and stress as well as having negative consequences for disabled students’ self-esteem and life satisfaction. Students’ overall adaptation to university was predicted by a high level of life satisfaction, low level of depression, and limited experience of microaggressions related to otherization. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for USwDs’ adjustment.

scholarly journals Factors Related to Change in Depression among North Korean Refugee Youths in South Korea

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (23) ◽  
pp. 4624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subin Park ◽  
Soo Yeon Kim ◽  
Eun-Sun Lee ◽  
Jin Yong Jun
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Emotional Regulation ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Expressive Suppression ◽  
North Korean Refugee ◽  
One Year

This study investigated change in depression and revealed factors related to change using one-year follow-up data. A sample of 108 North Korean Refugee Youths (NKRYs) aged 13 to 26 years (66 females) was recruited from two alternative schools for NKRYs in South Korea. Based on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale cut-off score of 16, respondents were grouped based on change in depression score after one year as stable low, alleviated, deteriorated, or prolonged. Multinomial logistic regression assessed the influence of baseline psychological scores (resilience, emotional regulation strategy, and self-esteem), and reported social support (psychological/practical) on the odds of group classification. With the stable low group as the reference category, those with alleviated depression at Time 2 had significantly higher odds of expressive suppression and tended to have lower self-esteem at Time 1. The deteriorated depression group was more likely than the stable low group to have lower resilience and cognitive appraisal scores. Those with prolonged high depression were more likely than the stable low group to have lower resilience, less practical social support, and lower self-esteem. Psychological interventions, particularly those focused on increasing self-esteem and resilience, could be helpful for NKRYs with potential risk of depression. In addition, practical support should be provided on an as-needed basis to prevent chronic depression among NKRYs.

scholarly journals Factor Structure of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in South Korea

2014 ◽  
Vol 03 (04) ◽  
pp. 301-305
Author(s):  
Shuntaro Aoki ◽  
Akira Tsuda ◽  
Satoshi Horiuchi ◽  
Euiyeon Kim ◽  
Mayu Naruse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Factor Structure ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies

scholarly journals Validação da versão portuguesa da Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC)

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Carvalho ◽  
Marina Cunha ◽  
Sónia Cherpe ◽  
Ana Galhardo ◽  
Margarida Couto
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Satisfaction Scale ◽  
Life Satisfaction Scale

Objetivo: A depressão na infância e na adolescência, tal como na população adulta, é uma das perturbações mentais mais comuns. Uma vez que o seu aparecimento nestas faixas etárias se associa a consequências graves na idade adulta, é fundamental identificar os sintomas depressivos precocemente. Desta forma, os instrumentos de autorrelato têm um papel fundamental, uma vez que permitem com facilidade, de forma fidedigna e válida, ter acesso a formas de pensar, sentir e agir dos sujeitos. O objetivo do presente trabalho é avaliar as propriedades psicométricas (fidedignidade e validade) da tradução portuguesa da Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). Métodos: A amostra é constituída por 417 adolescentes, com idades compreendidas entre os 12 e os 18 anos (M = 15,20, DP = 1,72). Foi utilizado o método translate – translate back na obtenção da versão na língua portuguesa. Para o estudo da validade convergente e divergente da CES-DC, foram utilizadas as versões portuguesas da Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS 21), do Children's Depresssion Inventory (CDI) e da Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS) que avaliam, respetivamente, os estados emocionais negativos (depressão, ansiedade e stress), a sintomatologia depressiva e a satisfação global com a vida. Resultados: A análise fatorial exploratória apontou uma solução de três fatores (fator humor, fator interpessoal e fator felicidade) que explicam 54% da variância. Os resultados obtidos mostram que a escala possui uma excelente consistência interna (α = 0,90), uma boa estabilidade temporal (r = 0,72), assim como uma validade convergente e divergente adequada. O sexo e a idade mostraram influenciar os valores médios dos sintomas depressivos. Conclusões: Não obstante poderem ser apontadas algumas limitações ao presente estudo, os resultados confirmam a adequação e robustez da CES-DC na população portuguesa, sugerindo, constituir um questionário útil na avaliação de sintomas depressivos nos adolescentes.

The Effect of Alternative Scoring Procedures on the Measurement Properties of a Self-Administered Depression Scale

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noboru Iwata ◽  
Akizumi Tsutsumi ◽  
Takafumi Wakita ◽  
Ryuichi Kumagai ◽  
Hiroyuki Noguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Classical Test Theory ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Psychometric Testing ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Test Theory ◽  
Measurement Properties ◽  
Irt Model ◽  
Response Alternatives ◽  
Polytomous Item Response ◽  
Θ Point

Abstract. To investigate the effect of response alternatives/scoring procedures on the measurement properties of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) which has the four response alternatives, a polytomous item response theory (IRT) model was applied to the responses of 2,061 workers and university students (1,640 males, 421 females). Test information functions derived from the polytomous IRT analyses on the CES-D data with various scoring procedures indicated that: (1) the CES-D with its standard (0-1-2-3) scoring procedure should be useful for screening to detect subjects with “at high-risk” of depression if the θ point showing the highest information corresponds to the cut-off point, because of its extremely higher information; (2) the CES-D with the 0-1-1-2 scoring procedure could cover wider range of depressive severity, suggesting that this scoring procedure might be useful in cases where more exhaustive discrimination in symptomatology is of interest; and (3) the revised version of CES-D with replacing original positive items into negatively revised items outperformed the original version. These findings have never been demonstrated by the classical test theory analyses, and thus the utility of this kind of psychometric testing should be warranted to further investigation for the standard measures of psychological assessment.

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