Attachment style moderates the relationship between social media use and user mental health and wellbeing

Background: Past research has correlated social media use with a variety of mental health outcomes – both positive and negative. The current study aims to explore two possible moderators of the link between social media use and mental health outcomes; specifically, the effects of having an anxious and/or avoidant attachment style. Method; A cross-sectional correlational design was implemented. Participants (n = 124). aged ≥18 years completed scales measuring experiences in close relationships, general problematic Internet use, psychological wellbeing and satisfaction with life. Results: Negative relationships between problematic social media use and both psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction were observed. For psychological wellbeing, the relationship was strongest amongst individuals who were low in avoidant attachment and high in anxious attachment. Discussion: These results suggest that attachment style impacts the extent that social media affects user mental health and wellbeing; partly explaining paradoxical results in previous research. Conclusion: We suggest that individuals who are high in anxious attachment and low in attachment avoidance may be more susceptible to negative outcomes arising from problematic SNS use

A metacognitive model of self-esteem

Background: In the current study, we aimed to test a metacognitive model of self-esteem grounded in the Self-Regulatory Executive Function model of psychopathology. Method: A convenience sample of 346 community participants were recruited and completed a battery of online questionnaires that measured self-esteem, self-criticism, self-critical rumination, metacognitions about self-critical rumination, generic metacognitions and negative affect. Initially, we tested a series of hypotheses to establish the relationships between the study variables. We then examined whether self-critical rumination, and its associated metacognitions, both positive and negative, would independently predict self-esteem when controlling for age, negative affect, levels of self-criticism and generic metacognitions. Results: Self-critical rumination and its associated negative metacognitions, levels of depression and self-criticism independently predicted self-esteem. Additionally, a path analysis revealed that the study data was a very good fit to the proposed metacognitive model of self-esteem. Conclusion: The metacognitive model of self-esteem presented in this paper may be used to generate novel interventions to improve self-esteem and decrease self-critical rumination

Self-critical Rumination and Associated Metacognitions as Mediators of the Relationship Between Perfectionism and Self-esteem.

Past research has shown that perfectionism, can negatively impact self-esteem. However, the mediating factors that explain this relationship remain unclear. The current study aimed to investigate whether specific cognitive processes, namely, self-critical rumination and associated metacognitions, mediate this relationship. An opportunity sample of 347 participants completed a battery of online questionnaires measuring clinical perfectionism, self-critical rumination, metacognitions about self-critical rumination, self-esteem, and levels of psychological distress. Several hypotheses were tested to examine the associations between the study variables. Following this, a path analysis was used to determine whether the influence of perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic striving on self-esteem is mediated by positive metacognitions about self-critical rumination, self-critical rumination, and negative metacognitions about self-critical rumination, serially. Positive metacognitions about self-critical rumination, self-critical rumination, and negative metacognitions about self-critical rumination partially mediated the relationship between perfectionistic concerns and self-esteem and fully mediated the relationship between perfectionistic striving and self-esteem. These results point towards possible interventions for those who struggle with low self-esteem due to their perfectionistic tendencies. Further investigations should explore additional factors that help to explain why perfectionism impacts self-esteem levels, whilst also addressing the limitations of this current research

The Attitudes and Beliefs About Manual Therapy Held By Patients Experiencing Low Back Pain: A Scoping Review

Background Manual therapy (MT) is commonly used to manage low back pain (LBP) and involves a complex interaction between the practitioner and patient. Attitudes and beliefs about MT may play a role in the outcomes seen in patients experiencing LBP. However, knowledge of patients’ attitudes and beliefs regarding MT is currently limited. Objective To map the existing published literature on the attitudes and beliefs about MT in patients experiencing LBP. Design Scoping Review. Method A systematic search was conducted across the PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Scopus databases. Study selection involved screening 1) title and abstracts and 2) full text articles. Data was analyzed to provide a descriptive summary of the studies and to develop themes of patients’ attitudes and beliefs about MT. Results A total of 767 records were identified from the initial search strategy. Following study selection, 14 articles were included for data analysis. Five themes related to patients’ attitudes and beliefs about MT were developed from the existing literature. Attitudes and beliefs about MT are explored and measured inconsistently with only one validated tool available. Conclusion MT is believed to be a preferential and effective treatment with accepted levels of post-treatment soreness. This review indicated that patients believe that MT has a biomedical mechanism of action and is suitable for biomedical causes of LBP. Several gaps in the literature are present that require further investigation

A systematic review and meta-analysis of CBT interventions based on the Fennell model of low self-esteem

Low self-esteem is a feature of several mental health disorders that has been directly treated with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The aim of our study was to determine the efficacy of interventions for improving low self-esteem in adults by utilizing the model outlined in Fennell (1997; 1998; 1999). A literature search identified 8 studies that met the inclusion criteria of CBT-based interventions for low self-esteem using this model, 7 of which were used in a quantitative synthesis. These studies included weekly group and individual sessions and one-day workshop formats. Summary effect sizes of 1.12 and 0.34 at post-treatment with low levels of heterogeneity were observed for weekly sessions and one-day workshops, respectively. Comparable results were found for the reduction of depressive symptoms. Results suggest that CBT-based interventions may be efficacious for treating individuals with low self-esteem, according to changes in self-report measures; however, it is unclear whether these interventions are dissimilar to those aimed at reducing depression

Metacognitions about Self-Critical Rumination and their Effect on Self-Esteem and Acute Distress

The aim of this research is to develop a better understanding of metacognitions about self-critical rumination based on the Self-Regulatory Executive Functioning model. Self-criticism refers to a series of persistent and negative self-judgements, often involuntary, that an individual makes about themselves. Recent research has explored the possibility that self-criticism can lead to a more repetitive style of thinking, called self-critical rumination, where an individual identifies with their self-critical thoughts and has difficulty shifting attention away from them. Metacognitions, beliefs that individuals have about their internal experiences and how to control them, play a crucial role in the activation and maintenance of this process, but to date no research has explored whether that is the case with self-critical rumination. The studies discussed in this thesis are an attempt to understand self-critical rumination and the impact that it has on levels of self-esteem and acute distress when faced with failure. This has involved interviewing individuals with low self-esteem to create a metacognitive profile and using that profile to create a measure of metacognitions related to self-critical rumination. Results indicated that there are two types of metacognitions about self-critical rumination: positive metacognitions, which justify engaging with self-critical thoughts, and negative metacognitions, which highlight the uncontrollability and potential damaging effects of self-critical rumination. A path analysis was then conducted showing that trait levels of self-critical rumination and associated metacognitions partially mediate the relationship between depression and self-esteem and self-criticism and self-esteem. Lastly, an experimental manipulation of state self-critical rumination showed a significant increase in acute levels of stress when trying to complete a near-impossible task. Trait rumination and negative metacognitions were correlated with levels of distress after debrief. Treatment implications in the use of Metacognitive Therapy, general limitations and potential for future research are discussed

Desire thinking as a predictor of compulsive sexual behaviour in adolescents: Evidence from a cross-cultural validation of the Hebrew version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire

AbstractBackgroundDesire thinking is a voluntary cognitive process that involves the perseverative focus on memories, images and information related to a desired target. The aim of the present study was to validate the Hebrew version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ; Caselli & Spada, 2011) in a sample of adolescents and to investigate its relationship with measures of thought suppression, impulsivity and individual-based compulsive sexual behaviour.MethodsIn Study 1, a convenience sample of 718 adolescents completed the newly translated Desire Thinking Questionnaire in Hebrew (DTQ-H) and results were subjected to an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). In Study 2, a convenience sample of 379 adolescents completed a battery of questionnaires including the DTQ-H. A Confirmatory Factors Analysis was performed on the DTQ-H and validity was ascertained by correlating with other measures.ResultsIn Study 1, a 9-item two-factor structure was identified. A 6-item two-factor structure was confirmed in Study 2. Results also indicated that the DTQ-H has acceptable levels of reliability, and good concurrent and incremental validity in predicting compulsive sexual behaviour.ConclusionsThe 6-item DTQ-H appears to be a reliable and valid measure of desire thinking and may be used also on adolescents – an understudied population

Psychometric properties of the persian versions of the Positive Alcohol Metacognitions Scale (Persian-PAMS) and the Negative Alcohol Metacognitions Scale (persian-NAMS) in alcoholdependent individuals

Positive and negative metacognitions regarding alcohol effects are related to drinking problems. This study aimed to validate the Persian versions of the Positive Alcohol Metacognitions Scale (Persian-PAMS) and the Negative Alcohol Metacognitions Scale (Persian-NAMS) and to assess the relations of metacognitions about alcohol use to alcohol craving and dependence in a clinical sample of males with a DSM diagnosis of alcohol dependence. Three hundred treatment-seeking males with alcohol dependence completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Alcohol Outcome Expectancy Questionnaire (AOEQ), the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and the Persian-translated versions of the PAMS and NAMS. The results showed that similar to original versions of the PAMS and NAMS, the Persian version of the scales had a two-factor structure. Test-retest coefficients over a fourweek interval and internal consistency showed good reliability for the Persian-PAMS and Persian-NAMS and their subscales. Predictive validity showed that positive metacognitions about alcohol use were associated with alcohol craving and dependence independent of outcome expectancies about alcohol use. The findings suggest that the Persian-PAMS and Persian-NAMS have appropriate psychometric properties in Iranian males with alcohol dependence. Results also highlight that positive metacognitions may be more related to alcohol craving and dependence relative to outcome expectancies about alcohol use

The effects of self-critical rumination on shame and stress

Background: Self-critical rumination is the process of repetitively thinking about one’s past instances of failure without actively problem-solving. Shame has a central role within self-critical rumination and is accompanied by physiological changes that resemble stress responses. Aims: To experimentally investigate the effects of self-critical rumination on shame and stress following perceived failure. Methods: Sixty volunteers engaged in an impossible task that resulted in guaranteed failure. Four groups, combining presence or absence of induced self-critical rumination with high or low performance expectations, were created. Self-reports were used to measure levels of shame and stress at baseline immediately after the task, as well as following debrief on the real purpose of the study. Results: Participants experiencing self-critical rumination accompanied by high performance expectations reported higher levels of shame and stress, especially immediately following the impossible task. On average, members of the high-expectations groups tended to score higher in shame and stress scales. Also, reported levels of trait self-critical rumination were significantly correlated with levels of shame and stress across time when controlling for group membership and baseline stress and shame respectively. Conclusions: Self-critical rumination in highly evaluative circumstances increased levels of shame and stress following perceived failure. Even though highly evaluative conditions are considered a particularly strong predictor of shame and stress, they could potentially result in self-critical rumination; yet this matter needs to be addressed in future research. This is the accepted manuscript https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behavioural-and-cognitive-psychotherap