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Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin Feb 2024This study investigated correlated change between the Big Five personality traits and perceived social support in old age. Two data waves with an 8-year span from the...
This study investigated correlated change between the Big Five personality traits and perceived social support in old age. Two data waves with an 8-year span from the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study on Adult Development (ILSE) were utilized. The longitudinal sample for this study consisted of 491 older adults (aged 64-68 years at T1). Four different aspects of perceived availability of social support were assessed (emotional support, practical support, social integration, and social strain). The Big Five personality traits were assessed with the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Results show significant latent concurrent correlations and correlated changes between personality traits and social support. Notably, correlated change with social support types differed depending on the Big Five traits being evaluated, with changes in extraversion, neuroticism, and agreeableness being the traits most associated with changes in social support types, and openness being least associated. Results are discussed through a life span development lens in light of past research.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Personality; Personality Inventory; Longitudinal Studies; Neuroticism; Social Support
PubMed: 36149032
DOI: 10.1177/01461672221120493 -
Zeitschrift Fur Gerontologie Und... Jul 2024The ageing female body is particularly exposed to the social gaze. While it should remain fit and durable as well as attractive and desirable, there is the danger of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The ageing female body is particularly exposed to the social gaze. While it should remain fit and durable as well as attractive and desirable, there is the danger of ridicule through supposedly too youthful or too outlandish performance. Women's clothing practices can conform to social expectations, can circumvent them, can actively protest against them, and possibly change social demands. In every part of the process, i.e., the experience of bodily changes, the experience of social expectations, consumer choices, the practices of clothing and reactions to clothing choices, the body and getting dressed becomes a site of new feelings of vulnerability.
OBJECTIVE
This article asks how these vulnerabilities are presented in the clothing practices of older women, are expressed in the materiality of clothes and in the practices of getting dressed.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Data from a study that followed a situational analysis methodology and used semi-structured interviews and photo elicitation, were re-examined through the lens of vulnerability.
RESULTS
Different aspects to vulnerability are presented in this article. Interviewees had to come to terms with bodily changes and made arrangement to the way they dressed that in turn could collide with subjective and social expectations of normative femininity. In this process of acquiescing, new vulnerabilities were produced; however, interviewees developed clothing strategies that provided them with experiences of their own attractiveness. They also had to adapt to changing circumstances to present themselves as fashionable and attractive due to age.
CONCLUSION
Practitioners can address feelings of vulnerabilities when talking about gendered clothing practices, for example through biographical work.
Topics: Humans; Female; Clothing; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Beauty; Body Image; Germany; Negotiating; Middle Aged; Vulnerable Populations
PubMed: 38755331
DOI: 10.1007/s00391-024-02312-5 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023It is believed that personality traits have an impact on the propensity to change and maintain favorable lifestyle habits. This issue has been raised by multiple...
BACKGROUND
It is believed that personality traits have an impact on the propensity to change and maintain favorable lifestyle habits. This issue has been raised by multiple studies, however, none of them appeared to focus on population under severe psychological stress. The aim of the present study was to investigate the link between personality traits and health-related behaviors and measures such as dietary intake of specific food products, physical activity, body-mass index and the use of cigarettes in medical students facing a stressful event.
METHODS
The study included a cohort of third-year medical students from the Medical University of Lodz, Poland, facing a stressful subject exam during the first COVID-19-related lockdown. At baseline, personality traits were evaluated with the use of the Polish version of the Big Five Inventory-Short questionnaire. Then, consumption of selected food products was monitored with the use of seven-day electronic dietary record. Also, some other health-related data was collected (body-mass index, physical activity and the use of cigarettes). General Linear Modeling techniques, logistic regression and exploratory factor analysis were applied to analyze the data.
RESULTS
Four hundred and forty-four students completed the study. A two-factor pattern of food consumption was discovered by the exploratory factor analysis in the study group (34% of the variance explained). Higher conscientiousness, but not the other personality traits, was found to be significantly associated with generally healthier lifestyle manifested by higher consumption of vegetables, wholegrain products, fruits and nuts (adjusted beta 0.16, 95%CI 0.06 to 0.26, pη = 2.3%, = 0.0015) and lower cigarette smoking (adjusted odds ratio 0.84, 95%CI 0.75 to 0.94, = 0.0020), but insignificantly with physical activity and body-mass index.
CONCLUSION
Severely stressed medical students expressing high conscientiousness tend to present healthier behaviors. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving lifestyle habits in students with low conscientiousness might be useful.
Topics: Humans; Students, Medical; Personality; Health Behavior; Diet; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 37900039
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1256883 -
Evaluation and Program Planning Oct 2023The impact on support services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities of the socioeconomic movements and theoretical reformulations of the last...
The impact on support services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities of the socioeconomic movements and theoretical reformulations of the last decades has generated the necessity, in order to guarantee their sustainability, to carry out processes of profound change in their organizational culture, intervening in the elements that compose it. Among them are professional practices as the best way to intervene in culture, with the use of comparative analysis between an organization's current practices and those expected with culture change. In this line, the organizational self-assessment tool "Organizational Effectiveness and Efficiency Scale" (OEES) is applied in a study with 24 organizations, which uses a collaborative assessment approach in the service of a set of evidence-based practices identified as standards in key aspects that guide culture change, specifically, a person-centered approach, participative structures, use of information systems and data management, implementation of quality systems and participative and transformational leadership. The results obtained show that a large majority of organizations have significant discrepancies between their current practices and evidence-based practices. The descriptive analysis allows affirming the usefulness of the scale for an organizational diagnosis and identification of strategies to guide transformational change.
Topics: Humans; Child; Developmental Disabilities; Program Evaluation; Organizational Innovation; Leadership; Organizational Culture; Evidence-Based Practice
PubMed: 37451034
DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2023.102337 -
Journal of Biomedical Informatics Oct 2023Mobile health, or mHealth, is based on mobile information and communication technologies and provides solutions for empowering individuals to participate in healthcare....
INTRODUCTION
Mobile health, or mHealth, is based on mobile information and communication technologies and provides solutions for empowering individuals to participate in healthcare. Personalisation techniques have been used to increase user engagement and adherence to interventions delivered as mHealth solutions. This study aims to explore the current state of personalisation in mHealth, including its current trends and implementation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We conducted a review following PRISMA guidelines. Four databases (PubMed, ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, and APA PsycInfo) were searched for studies on mHealth solutions that integrate personalisation. The retrieved papers were assessed for eligibility and useful information regarding integrated personalisation techniques.
RESULTS
Out of the 1,139 retrieved studies, 62 were included in the narrative synthesis. Research interest in the personalisation of mHealth solutions has increased since 2020. mHealth solutions were mainly applied to endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases; mental, behavioural, or neurodevelopmental diseases; or the promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviours. Its main purposes are to support disease self-management and promote healthy lifestyle behaviours. Mobile applications are the most prevalent technological solution. Although several design models, such as user-centred and patient-centred designs, were used, no specific frameworks or models for personalisation were followed. These solutions rely on behaviour change theories, use gamification or motivational messages, and personalise the content rather than functionality. A broad range of data is used for personalisation purposes. There is a lack of studies assessing the efficacy of these solutions; therefore, further evidence is needed.
DISCUSSION
Personalisation in mHealth has not been well researched. Although several techniques have been integrated, the effects of using a combination of personalisation techniques remain unclear. Although personalisation is considered a persuasive strategy, many mHealth solutions do not employ it.
CONCLUSIONS
Open research questions concern guidelines for successful personalisation techniques in mHealth, design frameworks, and comprehensive studies on the effects and interactions among multiple personalisation techniques.
PubMed: 37722446
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2023.104500 -
Journal of Clinical Psychology Apr 2024Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) is an empirically supported treatment of depression, and an integrative, transdiagnostic therapy approach focusing on transforming emotions... (Review)
Review
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) is an empirically supported treatment of depression, and an integrative, transdiagnostic therapy approach focusing on transforming emotions that are the cause of a person's emotional pain and suffering. In-session experiential work and two-chair interventions are consolidated and expanded by between-session homework which is viewed as a natural extension of in-session work. As the focus on emotion in EFT necessitates the provision of a safe, attuned, empathic relationship and a good collaboration on the tasks and goals of therapy the use of homework is very well-suited to this approach. An EFT case example is discussed to illustrate how homework can be an important ingredient to strengthen and facilitate change in treating a depressed client with a core underlying feeling of shame related to unresolved childhood trauma.
Topics: Humans; Emotion-Focused Therapy; Depression; Emotions; Empathy; Shame
PubMed: 38111154
DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23618 -
Psychology and Aging Mar 2024Prior research has shown that some personality traits are associated with cognitive outcomes and may confirm risk or protection against cognitive decline. The present...
Prior research has shown that some personality traits are associated with cognitive outcomes and may confirm risk or protection against cognitive decline. The present study expands on previous work to examine the association between a more comprehensive set of psychological characteristics and cognitive performance in a diverse cohort of older adults. We also examine whether controlling for brain atrophy influences the association between psychological characteristics and cognitive function. A total of 157 older adults completed a battery of psychological questionnaires (Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Extraversion, positive affect, negative affect-sadness, negative affect-anger, sense of purpose, loneliness, grit, and self-efficacy). Cognitive outcomes were measured across multiple domains: episodic memory, semantic memory, executive function, and spatial ability. Baseline brain (MRI) variables included gray matter, hippocampus, and total white matter hyperintensity volume. Parallel process, multilevel models yielded intercept (individual cognitive domain scores) and linear slope (global cognitive change) random effects for the cognitive outcomes. Positive affect (β = 0.013, SE = 0.005, = .004) and Openness (β = 0.018, SE = 0.007, = .009) were associated with less cognitive change, independent of baseline brain variables and covariates. Greater sadness predicted more cognitive decline when controlling for covariates, but not brain atrophy. A variety of psychological characteristics were associated with the cross-sectional measures of cognition. This study highlights the important impact of positive and negative affect on reducing or enhancing the risk of longitudinal cognitive decline. Such findings are especially important, given the available efficacious interventions that can improve affect. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Humans; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Aging; Personality; Cognition; Cognitive Dysfunction; Memory, Episodic; Atrophy
PubMed: 38330372
DOI: 10.1037/pag0000792 -
The Journals of Gerontology. Series B,... May 2024Conscientiousness is associated with positive health behaviors and outcomes and has been shown to increase as individuals age. Both age and Conscientiousness affect...
OBJECTIVES
Conscientiousness is associated with positive health behaviors and outcomes and has been shown to increase as individuals age. Both age and Conscientiousness affect pain, a highly prevalent correlate of aging. This study investigated the effect of Conscientiousness on the relationship between pain and pain interference and vice versa among older adults, who experience pain and functional limitations disproportionately compared with younger adults.
METHODS
A total of 196 community-dwelling older adults (Mage = 73) provided pain and interference ratings semiannually for up to 10 years. Conscientiousness was assessed at the first visit and, on average, 7.6 years later. Multilevel models tested the effect of Conscientiousness on the relationship between pain and interference. Hierarchical regression modeled changes in Conscientiousness.
RESULTS
Across all pain levels, higher Conscientiousness was associated with less pain interference (γ02 = -0.126, SE = 0.048, p < .01, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) [-0.22, -0.03]). This effect was more pronounced at higher levels of pain and older age. Conscientiousness increased slightly over time, but older baseline age (b = -0.01, 95% CI [-0.03, -0.001], R2 = 0.02) and more mean pain interference over the study period (b = -0.17, 95% CI [-0.30, -0.03], R2 = 0.03) were associated with less increase in Conscientiousness at follow-up.
DISCUSSION
Higher pain and older age are associated with more pain interference, and Conscientiousness provided the most protection for these same individuals-those with higher pain and older age. Conscientiousness facilitated reduced interference, which may feed forward into higher Conscientiousness, potentially shaping a cycle between personality and health that extends through older adulthood.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Personality; Aging; Pain; Health Behavior; Independent Living
PubMed: 38428027
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae024 -
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology :... May 2024Personality change in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) is complicated by the patient and informant factors that confound accurate reporting of...
OBJECTIVE
Personality change in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) is complicated by the patient and informant factors that confound accurate reporting of personality traits. We assessed the impact of caregiver burden on informant report of Big Five personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness) and investigated the regional cortical volumes associated with larger discrepancies in the patient and informant report of the Big Five personality traits.
METHOD
Sixty-four ADRD participants with heterogeneous neurodegenerative clinical phenotypes and their informants completed the Big Five Inventory (BFI). Caregiver burden was measured using the Zarit Burden Interview. Discrepancy scores were computed as the difference between patient and informant ratings for the BFI. Regional gray matter volumes from T1-weighted 3T MRI were normalized to intracranial volume and related to global Big Five discrepancy scores using linear regression.
RESULTS
Higher levels of caregiver burden were associated with higher informant ratings of patient neuroticism (ß = 0.08, p = .012) and with lower informant ratings of patient agreeableness (ß = 0.11, p = .021) and conscientiousness (ß = 0.04, p = .034) independent of disease severity. Patients with greater Big Five discrepancy scores showed smaller cortical volumes in the right medial prefrontal cortex (β = -5.24, p = .045) and right superior temporal gyrus (β = -7.91, p = .028).
CONCLUSIONS
Informant ratings of personality traits in ADRD can be confounded by the caregiver burden, highlighting the need for more objective measures of personality and behavior in dementia samples. Discrepancies between informant and patient ratings of personality may additionally reflect loss of insight secondary to cortical atrophy in the frontal and temporal structures.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Aged; Caregivers; Alzheimer Disease; Dementia; Middle Aged; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Personality; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 37867324
DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acad079 -
Demography Aug 2023For the first time ever, national censuses have begun asking adults to report their sexual orientations. However, because such surveys provide only cross-sectional...
For the first time ever, national censuses have begun asking adults to report their sexual orientations. However, because such surveys provide only cross-sectional snapshots of populations, these data obscure one key complexity: that sexuality can be fluid, with sexual self-identification evolving over time. Drawing on unique, restricted-use data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health, the current study documents the prevalence, correlates, and empirical consequences of sexual fluidity in the contemporary United States. Overall, about 1 in 11 American adults changed sexual identities over five annual surveys, including 6% of cisgender men, 11% of cisgender women, and 35% of gender minorities. Fluidity was particularly pronounced among young adults and among those who had ever identified as bisexual or "something else." Despite the frequency and patterning of sexual fluidity, accounting for fluidity did little to change observed patterns of disadvantage on three measures of sexual minority well-being: mental health, financial insecurity, and substance use. Given these facts, I argue that demographic research should foreground the complexities inherent in quantifying sexuality, focusing less on how many people "are" a given sexual orientation and more on the social dynamics that continue to produce sexual minority disadvantage.
Topics: Young Adult; Female; Humans; Male; United States; Cross-Sectional Studies; Sexual Behavior; Sexuality; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Gender Identity
PubMed: 37489833
DOI: 10.1215/00703370-10898916