55 research outputs found

    Cognitive-reminiscence therapy for the treatment of depression in young adults

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     This thesis aimed to evaluate a novel psychotherapy for young adults with depressive symptoms, cognitive-reminiscence therapy, and the underlying mechanisms of change. The results from a clinical trial showed large effects in reducing depressive symptoms, evidence for the mechanisms of change, and that young adults found this treatment helpful and appealin

    The role of consent and motivations in sext dissemination

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    Sext dissemination (i.e., the online sharing of sexually explicit images) has the potential to result in legal, social, and psychological harms. Recent research has shown that this behavior can be consensual or non-consensual in nature; yet little is known about how motivations or attitudes may differ between these forms, or with gender. This study is based on a cross-sectional online survey investigating consensual and non-consensual sext dissemination and associated demographic, behavioral, attitudinal, and psychological factors. Participants were 2,126 cisgendered adults aged 18 to 30 years (M = 22.97, SD = 3.21, 55% women, 45% men), resident in Western, English-speaking nations, particularly Australia. Around 10% of respondents reported disseminating texts, and of these, only 19.8% indicated they had permission for this, with no differences across gender. When sexts were disseminated “to gossip,” this was significantly more likely to be non-consensual. There were no significant differences between consensual and non-consensual dissemination in subjective attitudes or norms toward dissemination, nor levels of psychological distress. Women were more likely to non-consensually disseminate sexts that had been received as unwanted or unwelcome. Consensual dissemination was weakly associated with being sexually active and having given consent to having one’s own images disseminated. We discuss implications for future research regarding consent, and relationship and sexuality education. © The Author(s) 2023

    Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of the RASPERA project: recalling and anticipating specific positive events to boost resilience in adolescents

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    BackgroundMany stress-related mental health problems, like depression and anxiety, emerge during adolescence, with some recent studies suggesting numbers are increasing. One possible way to reduce adolescents' vulnerability to stress-related mental health problems is to increase their resilience by training them in recalling specific positive memories and anticipating specific positive future events. Therefore, an innovative combi-training (called Positive Events Training; PET) was developed, focusing on the enhancement of the specificity of both past and future positive autobiographical events in adolescents. Its effects on adolescents' resilience and mental wellbeing will be examined.MethodsA cluster randomized controlled trial with a 2 (condition) × 3 (time-point) factorial design was conducted. Classes of adolescents were randomized to either a PET program (intervention) or a CREAtive writing Training (CREAT) program (active control). Both trainings consisted of four sessions of 50 min (one session, weekly, for four consecutive weeks) and were delivered in schools. Before (pre-training, T1), immediately after (post-training, T2), and 2 months after the training (follow-up, T3), participants completed a series of self-report questionnaires. Primary outcomes are resilience and mental wellbeing. Secondary outcomes are positive affect, positive affect regulation and anhedonia. CONSORT criteria for conducting and reporting RCTs will be used.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was obtained from the Social and Societal Ethics Committee (SMEC) and the study has been preregistered on Open Science Framework (OSF) and ClinicalTrials.gov (Trial registration number: NCT05757180). We plan to develop a free, online, web-based self-directed PET protocol for teachers if the study provides evidence for the effectiveness of the PET program in increasing adolescents' resilience and mental wellbeing, so teachers can deliver the program to future students without the need of professional external trainers

    The Phenomenological Characteristics of Autobiographical Future Thinking in Dysphoric and Non-Dysphoric Individuals

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    Depressive symptoms are associated with deficits in objectively-rated detail and specificity in autobiographical future thinking for personally-relevant events. However, how depressive symptoms might affect the subjective, phenomenal characteristics of future thinking in general is not well understood. This study examined future thinking as self-reported by dysphoric (n = 79; probable major depression on the Patient Health Questionnaire and very or extremely difficult impact on functioning) and non-dysphoric adults (n = 79; as defined by normal range on the PHQ) that were matched on age and gender. The dysphoric group reported more frequent thoughts about their future in general, particularly for the long-term future, which persisted after controlling for emotional-valence. Dysphoric individuals perceived their future thinking as being more frequently vivid and detailed, more often involving mental imagery and inner speech, more often involuntary, more often unrealistic or implausible, more negatively-valenced, and more often from a third person perspective. The findings indicate differences in the phenomenology of thinking about one’s future among dysphoric individuals, some of which contrast with prior research findings. The implications for understanding autobiographical future thinking in depression are discussed, and studies are indicated to further clarify the content, function, and context of future thinking in altered affective states

    Autobiographical memory and depression: identity-continuity and problem-solving functions indirectly predict symptoms over time through psychological well-being

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    The aim of this study was to assess the longitudinal associations between adaptive autobiographical memory functions and depressive symptoms. Consistent with the proposed mechanisms of change underpinning cognitive-reminiscence therapy (CRT), it was hypothesised that more frequent adaptive reminiscence would lead to increases in psychological resources over time and indirectly affect depressive symptoms through this pathway. A sample of 171 young adults (mean age=25.9years, SD=3.5) completed measures of how frequently they utilised autobiographical memory for identity-continuity and problem-solving purposes, depressive symptoms and personal resources (self-esteem, self-efficacy, meaning in life and optimism) at two time-points. The results of structural equation modelling supported the model of indirect influence between reminiscence functions and depression through these psychological resources. These findings clarify the effects of adaptive autobiographical memory on depressive symptoms in young adults and indicate potential benefits of interventions such as CRT

    Brief reminiscence activities improve state well-being and self-concept in young adults: a randomised controlled experiment

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    Reminiscence-based psychotherapies have been demonstrated to have robust effects on a range of therapeutic outcomes. However, little research has been conducted on the immediate effects of guided activities they are composed of, or how these might differ dependent on the type of reminiscence. The current study utilised a controlled experimental design, whereby 321 young adults (mean age = 25.5 years, SD = 3.0) were randomised to one of four conditions of online reminiscence activity: problem-solving (successful coping experiences), identity (self-defining events contributing to a meaningful and continuous personal identity), bitterness revival (negative or adverse events), or a control condition (any memory from their past). Participants recalled autobiographical memories congruent with the condition, and answered questions to facilitate reflection on the memories. The results indicated that problem-solving and identity reminiscence activities caused significant improvements in self-esteem, meaning in life, self-efficacy and affect, whereas no effects were found in the bitterness revival and control conditions. Problem-solving reminiscence also caused a small effect in increasing perceptions of a life narrative/s. Differences between the conditions did not appear to be explained by the positive-valence of memories. These results provide evidence for the specific effects of adaptive types of problem-solving and identity reminiscence in young adults

    Transdiagnostic and transtherapeutic strategies for optimising autobiographical memory: Resources

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    This is a repository for the worksheets associated with the manuscript 'Transdiagnostic and transtherapeutic strategies for optimising autobiographical memory
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