Reliability and Validity of Scores on a Measure of Stigma of Loneliness

The purpose of this study was to validate the use and interpretation of scores derived from the Stigma of Loneliness Scale (SLS) with a sample of college students from a large, Midwestern university. A two-factor oblique solution with 10 items was selected through exploratory factor analysis and cross-validated through confirmatory factor analysis. Correlational evidence was demonstrated through positive correlations with loneliness and shame scores, and a negative correlation with social connectedness scores. Construct evidence was demonstrated through positive correlations with self-concealment and depression scores, and a negative association with distress disclosure scores. For incremental validity, items on the SLS accounted for additional variance in predicting contingent self-worth based on approval from others, shame, self-esteem, and social self-efficacy above and beyond scores on a measure of loneliness. The internal structure of the SLS was invariant across gender groups and across Time 1 and Time 2 assessments.

The Effect of an Online Live Group Program with Greek Traditional Dances on State Anxiety and Self-Esteem

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of an online live group program with Greek traditional dances on the self-esteem and anxiety of the participants. The research involved 147 people, 43 men and 104 women, aged 49,73±8,141 years old, members of Cultural Clubs. The participants were randomly divided into the experimental group (N=75) and the control group (N=72). The experimental group participated in online live group lessons of Greek traditional dances, through the online platform ZOOM, twice a week. Each lesson had a 45-minute duration and the program lasted 12 weeks, during the quarantine imposed due to COVID-19. During the same period of 12 weeks, the control group continued its daily life in quarantine. The participants in both groups completed the Heatherton and Polivy (1991) State Self-Esteem Scale to measure performance self-esteem, social self-esteem and appearance self-esteem, as well as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-FORM X-1 by Spielberger et al. (1970) for the measurement of state anxiety, before and after the 12-week period. The processing of the data showed that after participating in the online live group program of Greek traditional dances, the participants in the experimental group significantly increased their performance self-esteem (t=-7,75, p<0,001), social self-esteem (t=-5,23, p<0,001), and appearance self-esteem (t=-5,67, p<0,001), but they significantly reduced their state anxiety (t=7,33, p<0,001). Regarding the participants in the control group, after the 12-week period, the studied variables moved in the undesirable direction, as evidenced by the reduction in self-esteem factors and the increase in state anxiety. The results show that participating in Greek traditional dance group programs, which are conducted live online, affects positively the self-esteem and state anxiety of the participants. Consequently, during these difficult health times that the whole world is experiencing, participating in online live group programs of Greek traditional dance may improve the participants’ psychological state, offering at the same time the solution on the one hand to distance oneself from other people and on the other hand to come in contact with people.

Non-hormonal options for the relief of menopausal disorders

Woman’s nature is unique. Taking into account some historical milestones, it can be noted that the role of women in society has undergone large-scale changes. The woman took a confident position in society. Its main function remains unchanged and it consists in procreation and procreation. A woman’s activity is consistent with the work of her reproductive system (RS). The gradual decrease, and then the cessation of the work of the ovaries, contributes to the life order and health of the fair sex. Menopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life, which corresponds to the peak of social self-realization. However, in some cases, hormonal changes characteristic of this period can serve as a favorable background for the formation of a number of pathological changes. The growing estrogen deficiency is becoming a pathogenetic impetus for the development of a wide range of climacteric disorders. Vasomotor symptoms and hyperhidrosis are the most frequent companions of women during the perimenopausal transition and early postmenopause. Maintaining optimal activity and the full quality of life of patients should be the goal of correcting the negative manifestations of estrogen deficiency and the complications associated with it. Compensating for estrogen deficiency with menopausal hormone therapy (HRT) is the benchmark for menopausal problems. However, there are a number of patients who have contraindications to prescribing HRT or who refuse to receive it for some reason. For this category of patients, alternative methods of diet correction. Combinations of plant extracts with vitamins and minerals have been successfully used in clinical practice for a long time. The article will provide information on the most studied phytoestrogens contained in soy.

Late-onset or chronic overweight/obesity predicts low self-esteem in early adolescence: a longitudinal cohort study

Background How weight status changes with time may affect self-esteem was seldom studied. We identified the distinct trajectories of overweight/obesity over age and assessed their associations with different domains of self-esteem in Hong Kong Chinese children. Methods Territory-wide longitudinal data of 48,558 children (girls: 50.0%; 6.3 ± 0.51 years) studying Primary 1 in the academic cohorts of 1995/96 and 1996/97 followed till Primary 6 were obtained from the Student Health Service of Hong Kong. Weight was annually measured and categorized as underweight/normal and overweight/obese and self-esteem was measured in Primary 6. Distinct trajectories of weight status were first identified using growth mixture modeling and their associations with low self-esteem were assessed by logistic regression. Results Four distinct overweight/obesity trajectories were identified: never (76.8%), late-onset (8.1%), early-onset (4.2%) and chronic (10.9%) overweight/obesity. Compared with children who were never overweight/obese, more of those in the late-onset or chronic overweight/obesity group showed low self-esteem and specific domains including general, social and academic/school-related (adjusted odds ratios: 1.20 - 1.43, all P < 0.001) except parent/home-related self-esteem (P = 0.36), whereas children being in the early-onset overweight/obesity group showed no significant difference (P ≥ 0.53) except a lower risk of low social self-esteem (adjusted odds ratio = 0.82, P = 0.03). Conclusions Late-onset or chronic overweight/obesity predicted low general, social and academic/school-related self-esteem. Children who successfully reduced weight may have equal levels of self-esteem or even better social self-esteem than those being always underweight/normal weight. Overweight/obese children had a vulnerability to self-esteem in non-domestic environments.

Automated Personal Thesaurus TEZAL: Reconstructing the Psychosemantic Foundations of Interpersonal Relations

The present research featured the psychosemantic foundation of interpersonal relations, the latter represented as a three-level system. The psychosemantic foundation contains implicit models of interpersonal relations; the regulatory level regulates interpersonal relationships in various contexts; the behavioral level manifests itself in direct interpersonal behavior. The research was based on the method of semantic differential. However, the method proved too sensitive to various kinds of heterogeneity of the test subjects, which rendered it impossible to identify the factor structure. As a result, the semantic differential was converted to factorial personality systems through the Automated Personal Thesaurus TEZAL. In this research, the semantic differential vocabulary profile was converted to 16PF personality profile. The semantic differential and converted data underwent statistical and comparative analyses, which singled out the general structures of perception in the system of interpersonal relations. The procedure revealed two bipolar factors. The factor of social self-organization reflected the degree of orderliness of social activity and behavior. The factor of social interaction demonstrated the flexibility, activity and initiative of social behavior. A regression analysis of the psychosemantic foundations revealed a more complex system, when interpersonal relations are perceived through the role image of mother and friend. Thus, initial data conversion provided a more detailed reconstruction of the psychosemantic foundation of interpersonal relations.

S/he styles: narcissistic fashion apparel consumption in India

Purpose This research aims to investigate if consuming fashion apparel brands for the purpose of social appearance expressiveness may garner calculative brand commitment, through the mediation of narcissistic brand love. It also tests moderation of gender for the aforementioned mediated relationship. Design/methodology/approach The research has a core qualitative component (Study 1), which focuses on an interpretivist approach using a grounded theory paradigm to analyze data (N = 37) collected from semi-structured depth interviews. It is followed by a positivist survey based enquiry (study 2), and the data (N = 245) were analyzed using Haye’s (2017) process macro. Findings Analysis reveals that Indian consumers fall in narcissistic love with those apparel brands that aid their quest for maintaining desirable social appearances and develop a calculative commitment toward the brands, which aid this quest. The effect of social appearance expressiveness of apparel brand on consumers’ narcissistic brand love is moderated by gender, such that female consumers (as compared to males) are more invested in consuming fashion apparel brands as a means to enhance their social appearances. Originality/value The value of this study lies in extending self-presentation theory to understand the role of consumer narcissism in shaping Indian consumers’ fashion apparel consumption. The authors investigate the narcissistic consumption orientation that evolves as a result of consumers’ desire for social self-expression, irrespective of possessing narcissism as an enduring personality trait. Thus, the findings are relevant for possibly all consumers who, given certain conditions, may temporarily develop narcissistic brand love.

Factor Structure of the AUDIM-M Dimensional Self-Concept Questionnaire in Mexican Adolescents

Self-concept is one of the most relevant variables in the field of personality, and a negative self-perception can pose a risk to the adolescent’s development. The present study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties proposed by Aguirre and collaborators for the dimensional self-concept questionnaire (AUDIM-M). The total sample was 560 adolescents from the city of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, with a mean age of 12.96 ± 0.88 years. The factor structure of the questionnaire was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis. The analyses show that a four-factor structure is viable and adequate (GFI 0.964; RMSEA 0.057; CFI 0.950). The four-factor structure (personal self-concept, physical self-concept, social self-concept, and academic self-concept), according to statistical and substantive criteria, shows adequate indicators of reliability and validity adjustment. The model obtained coincides with that proposed by Aguirre et al. Improving adolescents’ self-concept undoubtedly contributes to their quality of life, hence the need for valid and reliable instruments for its measurement; this study could be a first approach for future research.

Knowledge and experiences of abortion among adolescent girls in Asia: a scoping review from 2010 to 2020

It has been estimated that 5.6 million abortions occur each year among adolescent girls aged 15 - 19 years, of which 3.9 million are unsafe. The situation in Asia is particularly complicated compared to other regions due to the distinction in socio-cultural characteristics. This study aimed to describe abortion knowledge and experiences of adolescent girls in Asian countries in the period 2010 - 2020. Among 22 included publications, 41% of the studies were conducted in South-East Asia. The percentage of girls lacked knowledge and had improper perceptions of abortion could be as high as 95.7%. Common reasons for abortion were health conditions and socio-economic pressures, such as poverty and the need to maintain social self-sufficiency. Medical and surgical abortion was common, and while many girls went to hospitals and legitimate health providers, some did it themselves or went to clandestine abortion. Physical complications included menstrual disorders, pain, fever, vaginal bleeding or even septic shock, while feeling guilty and stressed was flagged as emotional consequences. To improve the situation of teenage abortion in Asia, adolescents should be provided with adequate knowledge on abortion laws and care, parents should be more open to this issue and governments should consider permitting legal abortion among adolescents.

Przedsiębiorczość jako fundament dynamicznej analizy gospodarczej

One of the more significant methodological errors in economic analysis consists in treating the concept of equilibrium — be it general or partial — as either a real state of affairs obtaining in the economy in a stable manner or a normative ideal that an optimally functioning economy should be able to reach. The purpose of the present article is to demonstrate that, in contrast to the above two views, a free economy is a process of incessant social self-development aimed at the attainment of ever more qualitatively advanced (and always temporary) states of equilibrium, whose main driving force are entrepreneurial prudence, alertness, and innovativeness. The successive sections of the present article describe several characteristic examples of supposed states of permanent stagnation or suboptimal equilibrium, which, on closer inspection, turn out to be strictly transitory, provided that a given situation is characterized by conditions conducive to the operation of entrepreneurial activities. In other words, the present article is an attempt at illustrating the thesis that entrepreneurship constitutes the foundation of dynamic economic analysis — i.e., the kind of analysis that fully incorporates the creative character of human action taking place in the context of large-scale social cooperation.