Personality correlates of health behaviour in patients with type 1 diabetes and Graves-Basedov disease

WSTĘP. Celem niniejszej pracy było przedstawienie związku między osobowością a zachowaniami zdrowotnymi u osób z cukrzycą typu 1 i chorobą Gravesa-Basedowa. MATERIAŁ I METODY. Przebadano 64 osoby chore na cukrzycę typu 1 oraz 37 osób z chorobą Gravesa-Basedowa i odpowiednio do każdej z grup - grupę kontrolną osób zdrowych. Do pomiaru cech osobowości użyto Inwentarza Osobowości NEO-FFI Costy i McCrae w polskiej adaptacji Zawadzkiego, Strelaua, Szczepaniak i Śliwińskej, natomiast zachowania zdrowotne badano Inwentarzem Zachowań Zdrowotnych (IZZ) autorstwa Juczyńskiego. WYNIKI. Analizując związek między cechami osobowości a zachowaniami zdrowotnymi, otrzymano następujące zależności. Otwartość na doświadczenia oraz sumienność ujawniają związek z zachowaniami zdrowotnymi w grupie kobiet z cukrzycą, a ekstrawersja i sumienność w grupie mężczyzn z tą chorobą. W grupie kobiet z chorobą Gravesa-Basedowa takie cechy, jak: neurotyczność, ekstrawersja, sumienność, ugodowość i otwartość, korelują z poszczególnymi rodzajami zachowań zdrowotnych. WNIOSKI. Pacjenci z cukrzycą typu 1 i chorobą Gravesa-Basedowa, aby prawidłowo funkcjonować w chorobie i nie pogarszać swojego stanu zdrowia, powinni być otoczeni opieką medyczną i psychologiczną. Ze względu na wiele cech specyficznych dla każdego człowieka (osobowość, płeć, wiek, długość trwania choroby) należałoby zindywidualizować działania terapeutyczne, co przyniosłoby większe korzyści dla pacjentów i procesu leczenia. (Diabet. Prakt. 2010; 11, 2: 39-45)INTRODUCTION. The aim of this diploma paper was to present connection between personality and health behaviours of people who suffer from type 1 diabetes and Graves-Basedow disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Listed above 64 people who suffer from type 1 diabetes and 37 people who suffer from Graves-Basedow disease were examined. Additionaly, a control group of healthy people was examined in order to compare them with the results of groups suffering from type 1 diabetes and Graves- Basedow disease. So as to measure characteristics of personality Inventory Of Personality NEO-FFI by Costa and McCrae in a Polish adaptation by Zawadzki, Strealu, Szczepaniak and Śliwińska was used. Inventory of Health Behaviours IZZ by Juczyński was used to measure health behaviours. RESULTS. The analysis of relationship between characteristics of personality and health behaviours brought the following results: openness to experiences and conscientiousness has relation with certain health behaviours in a group of women with diabetes and extraversion with conscientiousness in a group of men with diabetes. In a group of women suffering from Graves disease features such as neuroticism, extraversion, conciliatory manner and openness have relation on certain health behaviours. CONCLUSIONS. In order to function properly when being sick and not to deteriorate their condition, patients suffering from type 1 diabetes and Graves- Basedow disease should be not only attended to with medical care but also with psychological care. Therapy for such patients should be diversified and individualized as every single human being has its specific characteristic, such as personality, sex, age, sickness span so as to bring benefits for suffering person and treatment course. (Diabet. Prakt. 2010; 11, 2: 39-45

INTERCULTURAL INTERACTIONS AT MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS’ WORKPLACE: GROUNDED THEORY

Purpose: Due to globalization and the global mobility of workforce, working in multicultural environments is a new challenge for employees and managers. The aim of the paper is to analyze the social interactions in multicultural environments of multinational corporations (MNCs) as well as to propose a model of intercultural social interactions in MNCs’ specific context.Design/methodology/approach: The grounded theory approach was applied to create a model of intercultural interactions in MNCs. The data was obtained during the qualitative research based on comparative case studies collected in 5 MNCs’ subsidiaries.Findings: The proposed model refers to the following concepts: 1) Lazarus’s transactional stress theory states that job demands may be assessed as hindrances or challenges. The specific job demands that affect intercultural interactions are multilingualism, cultural diversity, cross-cultural adjustment and team work. 2) Positive psychological capital and an individual’s acquired resources are in relation with intercultural interactions. 3) According to Bandura’s agentic perspective, individuals take an active role in shaping social interactions and work environment. 4) Being an agent relates to Spreitzer’s thriving concept that can serve as a mechanism of relations between the interactions undertaken due to MNCs’ specific job demands and their outcomes.Research limitations/implications: The qualitative methodology applied to the research does not allow for a broader generalization of the results. The outcomes of intercultural interactions depend mainly on how individuals assess their job demands in MNCs.Practical implications: Since the workplace in MNCs is abundant in learning opportunities, the managers of MNCs need to hire employees who exhibit needs for growth and development to boost thriving in their organizations. Additionally, these managers should search for employees with experience of multicultural settings and a signifi cant capacity of positive psychological capital, thanks to which they are likely to benefi t more from intercultural social interactions. More concern should be put on training the employees’ language skills since it may build their self-eff icacy in intercultural interactions.Originality/value: The proposed model focuses on social interactions in MNCs’ unique context. The empirical fi ndings were interpreted with regard to psychological and sociological theories and the Positive Organizational Scholarship lens

Pozycja wśród rodzeństwa a obraz psychologiczny dzieci badanych Testem Rysunku Rodziny

Family birth order position and psychological representation of the children assessed by Draw-a-Family TestOne of the ways of presenting children’s experiences connected with their family environment is projection in drawing. The aim of this research has been to identify differences in children’s psychological profi les according to their position in the family birth order. Children, including 179 girls (54%) and 151 boys (46%), have been surveyed using the Test of Projection Drawing, modifi ed by Maria Braun-Gałkowska, with the topic “Family”. Only 295 drawings have been analyzed, excluding drawings of middle children and twins. The results show differences, conditioned by the family birth order and by the child’s sex, in the children’s psychological profi les in some aspects of personality

Nastrój osób z chorobą Gravesa-Basedowa i chorobą Hashimoto

Introduction: Mood can be characterized as subjective, relatively long lasting emotional state. The impact of the mood on health can be considered in two aspects: mood as an intermediary factor/cause of disease or as its result. The aim of following paper was to define the mood of individuals with Graves-Basedow’s disease Hashimoto’s disease in comparison to each other and in comparison to healthy individuals. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 70 individuals with Graves-Basedow’s disease (56 women and 14 men) and the same amount of healthy ones. The study group of Hashimoto’s disease consisted of 54 individuals (46 women and 8 men) and the same amount of healthy ones. The patients filled out three psychological methods: Profile of Mood States (POMS), University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology Mood Adjective Check List (UMACL), a personal survey and an analysis of the medical documentation. Results: Results indicate difference between individuals with Graves-Basedow’s disease and healthy ones taking under consideration mood: anger and tension, dejection, embarrassment and vigor. There is no difference between individuals with Hashimoto’s disease and healthy ones considering mood. There are differences between Graves-Basedow’s disease and Hashimoto’s disease regarding tension - anger. No differences have been claimed concerning criterions of health such as: time of duration of disease, complications, coexisting other diseases. Nevertheless the level of hormones is connected with the mood. Conclusions: In case of Graves-Basedow’s disease has been claimed stronger anger, sadness, embarrassment and less vigor. Individuals with Hashimoto’s disease are regarded as similar to the healthy ones, without features of forced depression, irritability or embarrassment. To sum up the mood of individuals among testing group is a result of disease.Wstęp: Nastrój można scharakteryzować jako subiektywny, względnie długotrwały stan emocjonalny. Wpływ nastroju na zdrowie somatyczne można rozpatrywać w dwóch aspektach: nastrój jako czynnik pośredniczący/przyczyna choroby lub jako jej wynik. Celem niniejszej pracy było określenie nastroju osób z chorobą Gravesa-Basedowa i z chorobą Hashimoto w porównaniu ze sobą, jak również w stosunku do osób zdrowych. Materiał i metody: Grupa badawcza składała się z 70 osób z chorobą Gravesa-Basedowa (56 kobiet i 14 mężczyzn) i z takiej samej liczby osób zdrowych oraz 54 osób z chorobą Hashimoto (46 kobiet i 8 mężczyzn) i takiej samej liczby osób zdrowych. W badaniu zastosowano trzy metody: skalę POMS (Profile of Mood States), Przymiotnikową Skalę Nastroju (UMACL, University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology Mood Adjective Check List) oraz ankietę osobową i analizę dokumentacji lekarskiej. Wyniki: Wyniki wskazują na istotne statystycznie różnice między osobami z chorobą Gravesa-Basedowa i zdrowymi w zakresie nastroju: lęku i napięcia, przygnębienia, zakłopotania i aktywności. Nie stwierdzono różnic w zakresie różnych rodzajów nastroju między osobami z chorobą Hashimoto a zdrowymi. Nastrój różnicuje w sposób istotny statystycznie osoby z chorobą Gravesa-Basedowa i z chorobą Hashimoto między sobą w zakresie napięcie-lęk. Nie istnieją różnice istotne statystycznie w nastroju ze względu na stan kliniczny wyrażony w czasie chorowania, występowaniu powikłań i współwystępowaniu innych chorób. Natomiast stężenia hormonów tarczycy ujawniają związek z nastrojem. Wnioski: W przypadku osób z chorobą Gravesa-Basedowa stwierdzono większy niepokój, smutek, zakłopotanie oraz mniejszą aktywność. Osoby z chorobą Hashimoto jawią się jako podobne do osób zdrowych

Model of Enterpreneurship and Social-cultural and Market Orientation of Small Business Owners in Poland

In the development of SMEs in Poland crucial meaning is legislation, steadily adapted to EU regulations, especially to the European Charter for Small Enterprises. Research conducted in Poland by many authors provide data for doing so, to confirm the hypothesis that among small businesses a vital role in shaping their work situation did not continue to play the market mechanisms and orientations, but mainly socio-cultural factors.W rozwoju MŚP w Polsce podstawowe znaczenie mają również uregulowania prawne, systematycznie dostosowywane do regulacji unijnych, zwłaszcza zaś do Europejskiej Karty Małych Przedsiębiorstw. Badania prowadzone w Polsce przez wielu autorów dostarczają danych ku temu, by potwierdzić tezę, że wśród drobnych przedsiębiorców decydującą rolę w kształtowaniu ich sytuacji pracy odgrywają nadal nie mechanizmy i orientacje rynkowe, ale przede wszystkim czynniki społeczno-kulturowe

The effect of brain serotonin deficit (TPH2-KO) on the expression and activity of liver cytochrome P450 enzymes in aging male Dark Agouti rats

BACKGROUND: Liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) greatly contributes to the metabolism of endogenous substances and drugs. Recent studies have demonstrated that CYP expression in the liver is controlled by the central nervous system via hormonal pathways. In particular, the expression of hepatic CYPs is negatively regulated by the brain serotoninergic system. The present study aimed to investigate changes in the function of the main liver drug-metabolizing CYP enzymes as a result of serotonin depletion in the brain of aging rats, caused by knockout of brain tryptophan hydroxylase gene (TPH2-KO). METHODS: The hepatic CYP mRNA (qRT-PCR), protein level (Western blotting) and activity (HPLC), and serum hormone levels (ELISA) were measured in Dark Agouti wild-type (WT) male rats (mature 3.5-month-old and senescent 21-month-old) and in TPH2-KO senescent animals. RESULTS: The expression/activity of the studied CYPs decreased with age in the liver of wild-type rats. The deprivation of serotonin in the brain of aging males decreased the mRNA level of most of the studied CYPs (CYP1A/2A/2B/3A), and lowered the protein level of CYP2C11 and CYP3A. In contrast, the activities of CYP2C11, CYP3A and CYP2C6 were increased. The expression of cytochrome b(5) decreased in aging rats, but increased in TPH2-deficient senescent animals. The serum concentration of growth hormone declined in the aged and further dropped down in TPH2-deficient senescent rats. CONCLUSIONS: Rat liver cytochrome P450 functions deteriorate with age, which may impair drug metabolism. The TPH2 knockout, which deprives brain serotonin, affects cytochrome P450 expression and activity differently in mature and senescent male rats

The significance of the sense of coherence for various coping resources in stress situations used by police officers in on-the-beat service

Background: Police officers meet many stressors as part of their occupation. The psychological resource "sense of coherence" (SOC) protects against ill-health, but its impact on coping resources for stress situations has not been studied in the population of police officers. Different approaches to investigate the significance of SOC for different outcomes have been identified in literature, leading to some difficulties in the interpretation and generalization of results. The aim was therefore to explore SOC and the coping resources, and to examine the significance of SOC for various coping resources for stress using different models in a sample of Swedish police officers providing on-the-beat service. Materials and Methods: One hundred and one police officers (age: mean = 33 years, SD = 8; 29 females) were included, and the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (SOC-29) and the Coping Resources Inventory (CRI) were used. The dependent variable in each regression analysis was one of the coping resources: cognitive, social, emotional, spiritual/philosophical, physical, and a global resource. Global SOC-29 and/or its components (comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness) were investigated as independent variables. Results: All CRI and SOC-29 scores except for that of spiritual/philosophical resources were higher than those of reference groups. Manageability was the most important component of SOC for various coping resources in stress situations used by police officers. Conclusion: A deeper study of manageability will give useful information, because this component of SOC is particularly significant in the variation in resources used by police officers to cope with stress. Salutogenesis, the origin of well-being, should be more in focus of future research on workplaces with a high level of occupational stress

The role of rewards and demands in burnout among surgical nurses

Job rewards have both, an intrinsic and an extrinsic motivational potential, and lead to employees’ development as well as help them to achieve work goals. Rewards can balance job demands and protect from burnout. Due to changes on the labour market, new studies are needed. The aim of our study was to examine the role of demands and individual rewards (and their absence) in burnout among surgical nurses. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in 2009 and 2010 with 263 nurses who worked in surgical wards and clinics in hospitals in Southern Poland. The hypotheses were tested by the use of measures of demands and rewards (Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire by Siegrist) and burnout syndrome (Maslach Burnout Inventory). A cross-sectional, correlational study design was applied. Results: Nurses experienced the largest deficiencies in salary and prestige. Exhaustion was explained by stronger demands and lack of respect (large effect). Depersonalization was explained by stronger demands, lack of respect and greater job security (medium effect). Reduced personal achievement was explained by more demands and greater job security (small effect). Conclusions: Excessive demands and lack of esteem are key reasons for burnout among surgical nurses. Job security can increase burnout when too many resources are invested and career opportunities do not appear. These results may help to improve human resource management in the healthcare sector

Thermal transformations of Cu–Mg (Zn)–Al(Fe) hydrotalcite-like materials into metal oxide systems and their catalytic activity in selective oxidation of ammonia to dinitrogen

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) containing $Mg^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$ or $Zn^{2+}$ cations in the $Me^{II}$ positions and $Al^{3+}$ and $Fe^{3+}$ in the $Me^{III}$ positions were synthesized by co- precipitation method. Detailed studies of thermal trans- formation of obtained LDHs into metal oxide systems were performed using high temperature X-ray diffraction in oxidising and reducing atmosphere, thermogravimetry coupled with mass spectrometry and temperature-pro- grammed reduction. The LDH samples calcined at 600 and 900 $^{o}\textrm{C}$ were tested in the role of catalysts for selective oxidation of ammonia into nitrogen and water vapour. It was shown that all copper congaing samples presented high catalytic activity and additionally, for the Cu–Mg–Al and Cu–Mg–Fe hydrotalcite samples calcined at 600 $^{o}\textrm{C}$ rela- tively high stability and selectivity to dinitrogen was obtained. An increase in calcination temperature to 900 $^{o}\textrm{C}$ resulted in a decrease of their catalytic activity, possibly due to formation of well-crystallised metal oxide phase which are less catalytically active in the process of selective oxidation of ammonia

Specialization in clinical psychology – practitioner’s reflections

A new act about specialization in clinical psychology has functioned in Poland for six years. This article was written to show difficulties, which are caused in practice by this act. These difficulties were discussed from three different points of view, including specialization’s program, placement’s opportunities, and motivation to specialize. This article ends with some suggestions of changes, which may facilitate the process of specialization