How do the predictors of conduct problems / hyperactivity and callous - unemotional (CU) traits in children differ according to mothers' and teachers' ratings?

WCPCG-2010This study investigated the predictors of conduct problems/hyperactivity and callous-unemotional (CU) traits in children. It was hypothesized that conduct problems/hyperactivity and CU traits are associated with different risk factors. The participants of the study composed of 513 teacher-nominated elementary school children with a mean of 9.62 years of age. Regression analyses revealed some significant differences between risk factors of conduct problems/hyperactivity and CU traits. In addition, predictors according to mothers' and teachers' ratings were not the same, except for some overlapping variables. The results were discussed in terms of using of multiple informants for assessing different problem areas in children

Psychometric properties of the antisocial process screening device in a non - clinical sample of Turkish children

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD; Frick & Hare, 2002) to be used with non-clinical Turkish samples. APSD is a 20-item scale that evaluates antisocial behaviors and the presence of psychopathic traits in children between 6-13 years of age. Study 1 was designed to check the internal consistency and test-retest and inter-rater reliabilities. Despite satisfactory test-retest and inter-rater reliability coefficients, the Cronbach alpha coefficients of the Callous Unemotional (CU) dimension were very low in all the three forms (parent, teacher, and combined). Study 2 was designed to check the internal consistency after conducting the revisions and also validity analyses, mainly by using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997). Consequently, the Turkish version of APSD showed reliable and valid results to evaluate the psychopathic traits and antisocial behaviors of the children between 8-11 years of age in the non-clinical Turkish sample

Yetişkinlerde travmatik olay yaşama yaygınlığı, travma sonrası stres bozukluğu ve travma sonrası gelişim'in değerlendirilmesi

TÜBİTAK SOBAG Proje15.08.2009The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of various traumatic life events and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among adults living in Erzincan, Ankara and Kocaeli provinces in Turkey. The relationship of socio-demographic characteristics, type of traumatic event and its characteristics and personality traits with PTSD and Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) were also evaluated. The study was conducted with a sample of 1253 adults, from a stratified cluster sample provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute. The research instrument containing a sociodemographic information form, the Post Traumatic Diagnostic Scale, Post Traumatic Growth Inventory, Basic Personality Traits Inventory and Brief Symptom Checklist was administered to participants in their homes by trained interviewers. The results showed that 84%(n= 1055) of participants reported experiencing at least one traumatic event. Six hundred and seventy five (64%) of these were female and 389 (36%) were male. Compared to females, males reported accidents, physical violence, war experiences, being imprisoned and torture events more often. The rates of PTSD in the whole sample was 9.9%(n=124). Females had a significantly higher rate of PTSD (77.4%) as compared to males (%22.6). Furthermore, the prevalence of PTSD varied for different types of traumatic events. PTSD rates following human made/deliberate traumatic events (39.6%) and death/illness (24.9%) were higher than the rates following accidents (14.8%) and natural disasters (13.3%). After controlling for the effects of sociodemographic variables, low extraversion, high agreeableness and high neuroticism significantly predicted the severity of post traumatic stress reactions. From among the event related variables, the impact of the traumatic event and the degree of functional impairment due to the event, experiencing death/illness and human made/deliberate events rather than accidents amd natural disasters 15 and experiencing more traumatic events appeared as significant predictors of post traumatic stress reactions. For PTG, after controlling for the effects of sociodemographic variables, agreeableness, openness to experience and conscientiousness appeared as significant predictors. From among the event related variables, the impact of the traumatic event, the severity of post traumatic stress reactions, and experiencing human made/deliberate, death/illness and natural disasters rather than accidents were related to PTG. The findings of the study are discussed in the scope of the existing literature and suggestions for the planning of mental health services and trauma training programs are offered

Travmatik yaşantısı olan yetişkinlerde travma sonrası stres bozukluğu ve travma sonrası gelişim: boylamsal bir çalışma

TÜBİTAK SOBAG15.01.201

SELF-EFFICACY-BASED SMOKING SITUATION FACTORS - THE EFFECTS OF CONTEMPLATING QUITTING VERSUS RELAPSING IN A TURKISH SAMPLE

The patterning of smoking situations on the basis of self-efficacy expectations among 174 Turkish smokers was examined by factor analysis which yielded five smoking situations. The examination of the effects of relapse versus contemplation to quit showed that contemplators had higher efficacy expectations as compared to noncontemplators, whereas relapse had no significant effect on efficacy beliefs. Least self-efficacy was observed for situations involving affective elements and highest efficacy for habitual situations. Results were discussed in terms of the heterogeneity of smokers and treatment implications

CAUSAL ATTRIBUTIONS FOR ILLNESS AMONG TURKISH PSYCHIATRIC OUT-PATIENTS AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DIAGNOSTIC GROUPS

Causal attributions of 152 Turkish non-psychotic psychiatric out-patients for the development of their psychological problems were examined by using a 31-item attributions for psychological problems questionnaire (APP). The factor analysis of the responses to the APP yielded seven factors, which were: attributions to conflicts within the family of origin and with the present family, attributions to personal-characterological and behavioural attributes, work problems, interpersonal conflicts and bad luck. Examination of the causal attributions of patients from three DSM-III-R diagnostic groups revealed no significant differences between diagnostic groups. The highest attributional scores were for conflicts with the present family and personal-characterological at tributes

Building Resilience Amongst Communities in Europe (EMBRACE)

In an interdisciplinary, socially inclusive and collaborative context, emBRACE aims to improve the framing of resilience in the context of disasters in Europe. It will develop a conceptual and methodological approach to clarify how the resilience capacity of a society confronted with natural hazards and disasters can be characterized, defined and measured. On the basis of a systematic evaluation of the widest literature base, the project will first elaborate an initial conceptual framework. Disaster footprints and a review of current data gaps and challenges for human impacts and development databases in providing resilience data on regional and national levels will help inform indicator development. These will then be tested and ground truthed by means of 6 well-chosen case studies across Europe exposed to different natural hazards, situated in different governance settings and socio-demographic-economic contexts. Resilience will be contextualised through the application and evaluation of newly developed indicators and models, and will contribute to reformulation and adaption of the conceptual framework. emBRACE will considerably advance the methodologies for evaluating, modeling and assessing resilience of different actors. emBRACE will be methodologically rich, drawing on partner expertise across the research methods spectrum. It will apply these methods across scales from local to European. Stakeholders and experts will be incorporated into knowledge-sharing groups. There will be ongoing engagement with these stakeholders alongside programmed consultations during the development of the framework and model, case study work, and the reshaping of concepts, guidelines and database requirements for disasters and societal resilience. A key difference in emBRACE is the seeking out of people and groups not normally included in such fora; not as subjects of research but as partners in research and experts in their own right.EU, Funded under :FP7-ENV-201