Introducing the brief version of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS-14) based on a large clinical sample

Theoretical background: The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) is a measurement tool that is commonly used to detect dysfunctional beliefs contributing to the emergence and onset of depressive symptoms. Although it has been primarily used for testing clinical populations, and various forms of the scale have been created, only a small body of literature has proved its psychometric adequacy on a clinical sample. Goals: Therefore, the current study aims to construct an updated, reliable and brief version of the DAS. Methods: For this purpose, besides the normal samples of adolescents (n = 195) and adults (n = 270), a heterogeneous clinical sample (n = 1077) was involved in cross-sectional research. Results: The overall results of parallel analysis and exploratory factor analysis suggested a bifactor structure with a general factor and three extracted subfactors (Dependence, Perfectionism and Entitlement), comprising 14 items altogether (χ2 = 157.26, DF = 63, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.970, TLI = 0.957, RMSEA = 0.036, RMSEA CI90 = 0.029–0.044). Convergent validity was tested by correlations with Beck Depression Inventory (r = 0.36, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study was based on the largest clinical sample in the field of psychometric analysis of the DAS so far. The findings suggest that DAS14 as a brief version of the original DAS has good psychometric properties, and it can be widely used as a measurement tool in the assessment of mood disorders.Elméleti háttér: A Diszfunkcionális Attitűd Skála (DAS) egy olyan pszichológiai kérdőíves eljárás, amely azon diszfunkcionális hiedelmek mérésére alkalmas, amelyek hozzájárulnak a depresszív tünetek kialakulásához és fennmaradásához. Annak ellenére, hogy már számos változata létezik és elsődleges használati területét a klinikai populáció jelenti, pszichometriai mutatóit klinikai mintán a kutatások szűk köre vizsgálta. Cél: Jelen tanulmány célja a DAS aktualizálása, rövidítése, megbízhatóságának és validitásának vizsgálata. Módszer: Keresztmetszeti kérdőíves vizsgálatunk keretében egészséges serdülő (n = 195) és felnőtt (n = 270) minta mellett heterogén klinikai mintát (n = 1077) alkalmaztunk. Eredmények: A parallelelemzés és a feltáró faktoranalízis eredményei a bifaktoros struktúrát igazolják. A 14 itemre egy általános és három alfaktor (Dependencia, Perfekcionizmus és Elvárások) illeszthető (χ2 = 157,26, DF = 63, p < 0.001; CFI = 0,970; TLI = 0,957; RMSEA = 0,036, RMSEA 90% CI = 0.029 – 0.044). A skála konvergens validitását a Beck Depresszió Kérdőívvel való korrelációja alátámasztja (r = 0,36;p < 0,001). Konklúzió: A DAS pszichometriai vizsgálatai közül ez idáig alkalmazott legnagyobb klinikai elemszámú vizsgálatát mutatja be a ta nulmány. Az eredmények alapján a DAS rövidített változata, a DAS-14 megfelelő pszicho metriai tulajdonságokkal rendelkezik alkalmazható a hangulatzavarok diagnosz tikájában.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitutions and Psychological Determinants of Depression among University Students in Malaysia: A Pilot Study

Depression is commonly observed in university students, who are a high risk group for developing psychiatric disorders during adulthood. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and its traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions and psychological determinants among university students in Malaysia. A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted between 9 and 28 September 2020 among 80 university students in Malaysia. Participants completed online survey questionnaires, including the validated Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CMCQ), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) stress subscale, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), which assess depression, body constitution, dysfunctional attitude, stress, perceived stress, and self-esteem. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the associated risk factors for depression. The overall prevalence of depression among university students was 33.8%. The multiple regression analysis showed a significant relationship between depression and qi-stagnation constitution (B = 0.089, p = 0.011), balanced constitution (B = −0.077, p = 0.049), and self-esteem (B = −0.325, p = 0.001). Our findings suggest that some traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions and self-esteem are significant risk factors affecting depression among university students. Identifying risk factors of depression is vital to aid in the early detection of depression among university students.

Employees’ sabotage formation in upscale hotels based on conservation of resources theory (COR): antecedents and strategies of attachment intervention

Purpose Rooted in conservation of resources (COR) theory (frequently applied to conflict and stress). The purpose of this study is to classify customer stressors into dysfunctional attitude and behavior and proposes strategies, such as parent and colleague attachment, as a resource pool to prevent employees’ sabotage behavior. Design/methodology/approach A two-step method was adopted by the suggestion from Anderson and Gerbing (1998) with an on-site survey carried out within ten upscale hotels. Findings Study results indicated that dysfunctional customers significantly influence service sabotage through job burnout and depression. In addition, attachment was demonstrated as an effective strategy by examining its moderating effects. Research limitations/implications Theoretically, the mechanism of sabotage formation was clarified as external customers’ factors (i.e. dysfunctional attitude and behavior) as well as internal psychological factors (i.e. negative states such as burnout and depression). Practically, the attachment (i.e. colleagues and parents) was identified as an effective moderator for preventing sabotage, although only in the early stage (i.e. depression stage). Originality/value For the first time, the current study attempts to explain the sabotage formation process by using COR with the integration of intervention.

The impacts of maternal separation experience and its pattern on depression and dysfunctional attitude in middle school students in rural China

Background: In China, because of the growth of economically driven rural-to-urban migration, there are lots of children in rural area who are separating or have separation experience with their parents. Until now, few studies focused on solely maternal separation and no research studied whether its pattern will affect children’s later psychological status. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether early or late maternal separation affects depression and dysfunctional attitude in middle school students and what is the role of cumulative duration and meeting frequency. Methods: Maternal separation experience was obtained by using questionnaires. We got early maternal separation group first. Then, late maternal separation and control group were obtained with the same number by matching grade, sex and family socioeconomic status. All the students in the three groups completed the scales of Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS). Results: Both CDI and DAS scores of early separation group are higher than the other two groups. When we split the data by sex, only females presented the same results. When cumulative duration is short, there is significant difference in both scores of CDI and DAS among the three groups, which showed the scores of early separation group are higher than the other two groups. When the cumulative duration is long, there is no significant difference among the three groups. When meeting frequency is high, there is no significant difference among the three groups. When it is low, there is significant difference among the three groups, which showed the CDI and DAS scores of early separation group are higher than the other two groups. Furthermore, the same results are also found in females. Conclusion: Early maternal separation may exert negative influence on student’s depression and dysfunctional attitude. The sex, cumulative duration and meeting frequency may also play important roles in the effect.

ADAPTATION AU COLLÉGIAL ET VULNÉRABILITÉS DURANT LA TRANSITION SECONDAIRE-COLLÉGIAL

Cette étude longitudinale examine si l’adaptation au collège des étudiants est influencée par la présence des vulnérabilités cognitives et des symptômes dépressifs avant et pendant cette transition. Deux cent onze étudiants ont complété les versions françaises des questionnaires Beck Depression Inventory — Second Edition, Dysfunctional Attitude Scale et Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire. En 1re année au collège, 6,2 % des étudiants de l’échantillon rapportent présenter des symptômes dépressifs modérés à sévères. Malgré le nombre plus élevé d’étudiantes dépressives, les résultats n’indiquent aucune différence reliée au genre quant à l’adaptation académique et sociale. Lors des deux années au collège, la présence de certaines distorsions cognitives et de symptômes dépressifs contribue à prédire ces formes d’adaptation. Une discussion des résultats est présentée.

Relationship between BMI, overweight preoccupation, dysfunctional attitude and social avoidance

Adolescents generally have egocentrism. They always believe that they are the centre of attraction everywhere. This leads to their worries regarding their body weight and shape. This paper explores different correlates of body image in adolescents. The data was collected from a total of 397 adolescents. On the basis of BMI, this sample was then divided into three groups: underweight, normal weight and overweight. Tools used to study these variables included Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, Dysfunctional Attitude Scale and Social Avoidance Scale. After collecting data one way ANOVA and correlation was computed. Results revealed that there were significant differences between the groups on social avoidance and dysfunctional attitudes. Underweight people are more socially avoidant in comparison to overweight and normal weight people. Underweight people also had low scores on Dysfunctional attitude (social approval, avoidance and dependency) in comparison to normal weight people. Overweight preoccupation is positively correlated to social avoidance and negatively related to dysfunctional attitudes social approval. BMI is negatively related to social avoidance and positively related with Dysfunctional attitude (dependency, avoidance, social approval). Social avoidance is negatively related with dysfunctional attitudes.