Association of Cancer Caregiver Stress and Negative Attribution Style With Depressive Symptoms and Cortisol: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose. We examined the effect of cancer caregiver stress and negative attribution style (NAS) on depressive symptoms and salivary cortisol. Method. The sample came from a hospital bone marrow unit and caregiver support organizations and included 60 informal cancer caregivers (51.7% partners) of cancer patients (provided care for a median of 27.5 hours per week for 12 months) and 46 non-caregiver participants. In this cross-sectional study, participants completed questionnaires assessing NAS and depressive symptoms and provided saliva samples to measure cortisol. Results. Linear regressions demonstrated that cancer caregiver stress (p=0.001) and the cancer caregiver stress by NAS interaction (p=0.017), but not NAS alone (p=0.152), predicted depressive symptoms. Caregivers independent of their NAS and non-caregivers high in NAS reported high depression while non-caregivers low in NAS reported low depression. Neither cancer caregiver stress (p=0.920) nor NAS alone (p=0.114), but their interaction, predicted cortisol (p=0.036). Higher NAS was associated with a higher cortisol in both groups while non-caregivers had higher cortisol than caregivers. Conclusions. If the findings can be replicated, the implementation of interventions to support informal caregivers in managing their chronic stress and modify their NAS appears warranted.

Narrow Specificity of Pessimistic Attribution Style and other Attribution Styles in Clinically Diagnosed Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review

Objective: Research has established that cognitive vulnerability has a role in mood disorder. Researchers have taken a keen interest in exploring the role of pessimistic attribution style (PAS) found in depression, expecting that it can also explain comorbid disorders to depression. The objectives of this systematic review are to explore the narrow specificity of PAS, and to search for other attribution style, if any, in anxiety disorders. Method: PubMed, Research4Life and APA PsycArticles® databases were searched for relevant articles recorded up to May 18, 2021. All published empirical articles, systematic review or meta-analysis, which included at least any of the anxiety disorders diagnosed using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM, APA) or International Classification of Disease (ICD, WHO) in the context of attribution bias, were included. Title, abstract and methodology of the publications were screened for potential selection. Risk of bias in the reviewed articles was assessed using the GRADE system. Result: Total 628 records were screened, out of which 19 were found eligible for inclusion. Result suggests narrow specificity of PAS has limited evidence and studies lack a rigorous methodology to establish it. Conclusion: There is indication that various attribution biases can be present in different anxiety disorders including those reported in depression.

ATTRIBUTION STYLES AS CORRELATES OF TECHNICAL DRAWING TASK-PERSISTENCE AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE

Technical drawing is a means of communicating between the designer and the manufacturers to bring ideas into reality by means of drafting. This study investigated attribution styles as collates of students’ technical drawing task-persistence and academic performance using correlational research design. The population for this study consisted of 864 students of year II and the sample study comprised of 150 (93 males and 57 females) randomly selected from six technical colleges in Edo State, Nigeria. Three instruments, Academic Performance Attribution Style Questionnaire (APASQ), Technical Drawing Task-persistent Rating Scale (TDTPRS); and Technical Drawing Performance Test (TDPT) were developed and used for data collection. Cronbach Alpha reliability method was used to determine the reliability of the instruments and the results were obtained: SAASQ = .87; TDTPRS=.79; AND TDAT=.85. The findings of the study revealed that the technical drawing task-persistence of students was positively correlated by functional attribution style; and was negatively correlated by dysfunctional attribution style; functional attribution style positively correlated academic performance of students. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that technical drawing teachers should model and teach the students the right attribution style that will enhance their learning of technical drawing.

CHILDREN SOCIAL ATTRIBUTION BASED ON GENDER PERSPECTIVE

Social attribution can appear spontaneously or through long considerations and thinking process. Factors influencing attribution is the attribution style; planned and unplanned attribution. This kind of behavior can arise due to emotional factors. Meanwhile, children's social attributions arise because of stereotypes or labeling that have been attached to society, thus it has an impact on children's understanding of gender since they were born. The existence of social construction regarding gender roles cannot be separated from how the paradigm views the labeling of the characteristics of women and men is. In children, this social attribution usually occurs because of the stereotype of gender roles taught to children. This stereotype is a labeling that begins based on the perception or point of view of a person. While gender role stereotypes are part of the discussion about gender "sex", namely social expectations that define how men and women think, feel, and act, which are part of the product of the stereotype itself.

Workplace accountabilities: worthy challenge or potential threat?

PurposeCombining early and untested accountability perspectives with stress research, the authors examined the degree to which employees perceive workplace accountabilities as either worthy challenges to be overcome or potential threats to be avoided.Design/methodology/approachThe authors utilized structural equation modeling to evaluate our hypotheses and tested them across two data samples, using two different sampling techniques collected four years apart.FindingsEmployees' individual differences of attribution style, negative affectivity and core self-evaluations influenced how subjects approached accountability pressures in their workplace, which in turn, was associated with job satisfaction and turnover intentions.Originality/valueBy examining how employees evaluate accountability pressures, this investigation advances existing research by exploring the different ways in which employees perceive workplace accountabilities.