DYSFUNCTIONAL BELIEFS ABOUT SEXUAL INTERCOURSE: INTERACTION EFFECTS OF SEX AND AGE ON THE BOSNIAN SAMPLE

The aim of this study is to examine the main effects of sex and age, as well as the interaction effect of sex and age in dysfunctional beliefs about sexual intercourse on a sample of the general population in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The sample of this study consisted of 900 volunteers of both sexes from three different age groups (18-29, 30-49, 50-65). The following instruments were used: A Sociodemographic characteristic questionnaire, Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire for Men (SDBQ-M) and Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire for Women (SDBQ-W). Using a two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) on the total scores of SDBQ, a statistically significant main effect of the variable 'Sex' was obtained (F(1,894)=337.793, p=0.000, partial η²=0.27), but no statistically significant main effect of the variable 'Age' was obtained (F(2,894)=2.842, p=0.059, partial η²=0.06), while a statistically significant interaction effect 'Sex*Age' was obtained (F(2,894)=6.670, p=0.001, partial η² = 0.016). Simple main effects of sex indicate that men have a higher prevalence of dysfunctional beliefs about sexual intercourse compared to their female counterparts in all three age groups (F(1,894)=212.609, p=0.000, partial η²=0.192; F(1,894)=114.444, p= 0.000, partial η²=0.113; F(1,894)=53.374, p=0.000, partial η²=0.056). Simple main effects of age indicate that men have no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of dysfunctional beliefs about sexual intercourse between all three age groups (F(2,894)=0.751, p=0.472, partial η²=0.002). This difference however exists amongst women (F(2,894)=11.319, p=0.000, partial η²=0.025), as statistically significant differences were found between all three age groups, where respondents aged 50 to 65 have the highest prevalence of dysfunctional beliefs about sexual intercourse compared to the remaining two age groups, while respondents from the 18 to 29 age group have the lowest prevalence of such beliefs. The results of this study partially confirm the previous research that was done in different cultural contexts, and they point to the need for further research that will take into account specific characteristics of Bosnian culture

PREVENTION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE APPROACH

Adolescence is developmental period during which, most commonly, use of substances begins. Thus majority of preventive initiatives target child population and youngsters. With regards that many traditional and widely utilized preventive programs turned out to be ineffective, scientists have put much effort into development of much more efficacious, contemporary approaches in evidence based prevention during the last decades. Although the number of available evidence based preventive programs significantly raised during the past several years, there are still obstacles in recognition of importance in their implementation, as well as obscurities about what that term actually stands for. This paper provides a review of most important scientific insights about substance abuse in population of youngsters, which are foundation of good practice in the field of prevention, as well as more specific definition of programs that bear “evidence based” label. Key traits of efficacious substance abuse preventive programs targeting family, school and community are presented, as well as examples of good practice. Keywords: substance abuse in children and adolescents, preventive programs, evidence based approache

Theory of Parental Investment: “Mothers are the Most Important"

The theory of evolution inevitably directs our thoughts towards classical Darwinist concept of the natural selection - competition for survival of the fittest. However, Darwin was trying to explain that a process of evolution is much more than that. Actually survival without reproduction means genetical cul de sac (blind road). Looking from evolutional perspective, there is nothing more important than reproduction and parenthood. Therefore, by considering earlier evolutionary concepts Robert Trievers (Trievers, 1972) was among the first authors who described basic reproductive differences between sexes in his theory parents' investment. Sexual selection is in a very gist of Darwin's theory. Understanding differences between women and men in their parent's investment has facilitated a start of human reproduction psychology studies. Reproduction task could be divided into two phases: finding an appropriate partner and raising descendants till their maturity. Men invest more energy in a first phase, while women invest more in a second one. As parent's resources are limited, it is necessary that they invest wisely into their descendants, because if they don't survive and don't spawn invested resources were from evolution point of view - wasted. This paper will analyze some of these questions by considering parents' investment theory and earlier studies on the theory of evolution

Definition of Police Psychology: the Role of Psychologist in the Police

Police psychology is a sub discipline of forensic psychology. By definition, police psychology is ‘the research and application of psychological principles and clinical skills for law enforcement and public safety'. The basic tasks of a police psychologist are evaluation, conducting training and coaching of police officers, assisting in organizational development and providing psychological services. The practice of calling a psychologist to the police service only when necessary should be changed because in that way not all the benefits of a wide range of talents and skills that a psychologist can provide to the police can be obtained. Police psychology offers much more than individual interventions. Despite the evident interest in this area of ??psychology, in our region it is still not clear enough what police psychology is and what is the role of psychologists in the police. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to try to define the field of police psychology through a detailed description of the role of psychologists in the police forces

Theory of Parental Investment: “Mothers are the Most Important"

The theory of evolution inevitably directs our thoughts towards classical Darwinist concept of the natural selection - competition for survival of the fittest. However, Darwin was trying to explain that a process of evolution is much more than that. Actually survival without reproduction means genetical cul de sac (blind road). Looking from evolutional perspective, there is nothing more important than reproduction and parenthood. Therefore, by considering earlier evolutionary concepts Robert Trievers (Trievers, 1972) was among the first authors who described basic reproductive differences between sexes in his theory parents' investment. Sexual selection is in a very gist of Darwin's theory. Understanding differences between women and men in their parent's investment has facilitated a start of human reproduction psychology studies. Reproduction task could be divided into two phases: finding an appropriate partner and raising descendants till their maturity. Men invest more energy in a first phase, while women invest more in a second one. As parent's resources are limited, it is necessary that they invest wisely into their descendants, because if they don't survive and don't spawn invested resources were from evolution point of view - wasted. This paper will analyze some of these questions by considering parents' investment theory and earlier studies on the theory of evolution

Characteristics of Patients Involved in Psychotherapy in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of Bosnian and Herzegovinian patients involved in psychotherapeutic treatments in order to explore the current situation of psychotherapy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: The study included 213 patients (154 women and 47 men) undergoing diverse psychotherapeutic treatments. Data about demographic and clinical characteristics were collected by questionnaire. Following characteristics were documented: age, sex, education, employment status, marital status, specific problem that got the client involved in psychotherapy, type of psychotherapy, and use of psychopharmacology. Results: Majority of the patients undergoing psychotherapy are age up to 40 and female. They are by vast majority holding a university degree and are employed. Nearly equal number of patients is living in partnership or marriage compared to single or never been married. Most frequent reasons for getting involved in the psychotherapy treatment are of the intrapersonal nature (depression, anxiety and panic attacks). Majority of the patients were involved in gestalt and cognitive behavioral psychotherapy, and at the same time majority of those were not prescribed medicaments. Conclusions: We point out and overview some of the most prominent socio-demographic traits of patients undergoing psychotherapy, the ones that could be important in the future research with the higher degree of control. In the terms of personal initiative, psychotherapy stops being a taboo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, there is still a long path until it reaches integration in daily life of the people