The Impact of Pre-Marital Counseling and Psychological Variables on Marital Satisfaction Among Married Couples in Laterbiokoshie, Accra, Ghana

The study examined the effect of pre-marital counseling on marital satisfaction and the relationship of three psychological variables,intimacy,self-esteem and locus of control among married couples who received marital counseling and married couples who did not receive marital counseling.The study employed a cross-sectional survey.Standardized questionnaires were used to assess all variables of interest.Data entry,validation and analysis was done using the Statistical Product and Services Solution software(SPSS version 25).The total number of study participants were 720.The sample was predominantly female,430(60%)and Christian,675(94%).Study participants who were married by ordinance comprised 400(56%)and most of them attended pre-marital counseling 470(65%)for at least five months(Mean,S.D.=5.54±3.44).The results showed that couples who attended pre-marital counseling before marriage were more significantly satisfied with their marriages than those who did not attend pre-marital counseling before marrying[t(718)=2.050,p<.05].Intimacy and self-esteem significantly influenced marital satisfaction among married couples who received pre-marital counseling,whereas only intimacy had a significant influence among couples who did not receive pre-marital counseling.Pre-marital counseling should be encouraged in all counseling centers and churches.

The Powerful Role of Mothers in Adolescent Purpose Development

Adolescence is a critical time for the cultivation of life purpose,also known as a meaningful long-term aim focused on contribution to others.Youth with purpose,especially marginalized youth,report a number of positive outcomes.Relationships with caring adults appear to be particularly helpful in guiding young people on their path to purpose,but little work has focused specifically on the role of mothers.This qualitative study,approved by a Institutional Review Board,examines how twenty adolescents from marginalized communities describe their sense of purpose and its relationship to their caregivers.The sample size was determined based on saturation,a process in qualitative research when the researchers begin to observe redundancy in the data.Through content analysis,a major theme emerged:the role of mothers and their impact on purpose development on their children.Results showed that mothers helped their adolescents develop their sense of purpose through serving as a sense of inspiration,providing the adolescents with support,sparking a desire for the adolescents to make their mothers proud,and through the mothers and adolescents in engaging in conversations about one’s future.

“阳刚”还是“清秀”更具吸引力？--对男性面孔二态性不同偏好的元分析

生活中,有的喜欢"清秀"的男性面孔,而有的则更偏爱长得"阳刚"的面孔,已有大量的研究致力于解释这一分歧,但是得出的研究结果各不一致。本研究用元分析方法考察对男性面孔二态性的不同偏好,通过检索、搜集了23篇有效文献,56对数据满足了元分析标准(n=8408)。结果发现,漏斗图和Begg&Mazumdar秩相关检验、Egger’s检验结果显示不存在发表偏差;主效应检验发现对男性面孔二态性无明显偏好;调节效应检验表明,对男性面孔二态性偏好受面孔生成技术、生理周期的调节,但不受被试性别、关系背景和文化的调节。人们对男性面孔二态性的偏好,除了本身生物学特质(生理周期)外,还受到生成技术的影响。

正念冥想对焦虑症状的干预:效果及其影响因素元分析

正念冥想对焦虑的干预效果结论不一,系统考察其干预效果及影响因素,有助于理解其作用机制,并为正念冥想干预焦虑提供实践指导。本研究遵循PRISMA-Protocol,运用元分析技术,以即时效果与追踪效果为结果变量,考察被试特征、干预特征、研究特征和结果分析4个方面(11个变量)的调节作用。通过数据库检索与筛选,最终纳入东西方国家实证研究共55项(68个独立效应量,4595名被试)。结果发现:正念冥想对焦虑干预的整体即时效果量达到显著的中等到大效果(g=0.60),但追踪效果不显著。单因素回归模型分析表明,研究质量、国家地域、年龄、干预形式(团体练习vs.个体练习)、家庭练习与脱落率显著调节干预即时效果,其中国家地域变量对效果量影响程度最大;多元回归分析显示,对照组类型、国家地域、练习经验、数据分析方式(ITT vs.PP)对干预效果存在调节作用;此外,国家地域与其他变量存在交互作用。后续研究需在研究质量、成本效益、不同焦虑类型及其他调节变量和提供客观评价指标上作改进。

抑郁障碍和焦虑障碍治疗的神经心理机制——脑成像研究的ALE元分析

抑郁障碍和焦虑障碍是两种最常见的精神障碍。使用激活似然估计(activation likelihood estimation,ALE)元分析对抑郁和焦虑障碍患者治疗后出现的一致脑区激活改变进行评估,并考察不同条件下这一改变的差异。研究共纳入25篇文献,结果发现:(1)抑郁和焦虑障碍接受治疗后,枕下回(inferior occipital gyrus,IOG)等脑区激活增加;豆状核(lentiform nucleus)等激活减少。(2)a.心理治疗产生的脑激活改变为豆状核活动的减少;药物治疗则在于扣带回(cingulate gyrus)等活动增加,而楔前叶(precuneus)等活动减少。b.任务下成像治疗后激活增加的脑区为扣带回等,减少的脑区为楔前叶等;静息下成像,治疗后枕下回等激活增加,额内侧回(medial frontal gyrus,MFG)等激活减少。c.抑郁障碍治疗后的脑激活变化为扣带回等活动增加,楔前叶等活动减少;焦虑障碍在于前扣带回/额内侧回(anterior cingulate/MFG)活动减少。研究表明治疗会给抑郁和焦虑障碍带来一致的脑区激活改变;治疗方法、成像状态和障碍类型不同,治疗后脑区激活改变也存在差异。

社交焦虑的消极与积极注意偏向大小及其相关因素的meta分析

目的:系统评价社交焦虑个体的积极和消极注意偏向大小及其影响因素。方法:检索中文数据库(中国知网、万方、维普)和英文数据库(Web of Science,Springer Link,Wiley Online Library,Sicence Direct,Talor&Francis online,Psyc NET)中采用直接或者间接方法测量社交焦虑个体注意偏向的研究,使用CMA3.0对符合纳入排除标准的文献数据进行meta分析,计算社交焦虑积极和消极注意偏向的整体效果量,并通过亚组分析探讨影响注意偏向效果量的可能调节变量。结果:共纳入41篇研究,总样本2541人。消极和积极注意偏向总体效果量分别为0.57和-0.06。对于消极注意偏向,间接测量效果量(g=0.55)大于直接测量(g=0.10),词汇刺激效果量(g=0.77)大于面孔刺激(g=0.23),均P<0.001。对于积极刺激注意偏向,注意警觉效果量(g=0.11)大于注意回避(g=-0.18),间接测量效果量(g=0.17)大于直接测量(g=-0.22),词汇刺激效果量(g=0.35)大于面孔刺激(g=-0.16),均P<0.01。结论:本研究发现,社交焦虑个体可能对消极刺激存在中等程度的选择性注意偏向,对积极刺激注意偏向程度低;注意偏向受刺激呈现的时间进程、测量方法以及实验材料的影响。

大数据时代心理学文本分析技术--“主题模型”的应用

主题模型(Topic Model)作为一种计算机化文本分析方法,目前被研究人员应用于心理学文本分析领域的诸多研究中。在心理咨询研究领域中,主题模型可以用于探索咨询过程中咨询师和当事人之间谈话的主题,比较不同治疗类别的相似性,以及进行行为编码;在社交媒体与心理健康上,利用主题模型可识别和预测各种心理障碍以及进行人格计算。未来需要关注主题模型在算法和操作上的改善,并将其应用到中文语言环境之中,探索中文文本的心理学内涵。

过度“分享”负性事件与性别、心理健康和关系质量:对共同反刍的元分析

共同反刍是二元关系中的新概念,指两个人过度讨论负性事件,关注消极情绪。共同反刍是否具有性别差异,对心理健康的影响是否具有两面性是目前研究热点。本研究对共同反刍的性别差异,与内化问题、关系质量的相关关系进行元分析,结果显示:(1)共同反刍的性别差异显著,女性相对于男性更加容易发生共同反刍(g=0.57,p<0.001);青少年时期性别分化最明显(g_(青少年)=0.75,g_(成年人)=0.32,p<0.001),而且共同反刍的对象不同,性别差异大小也不同。(2)共同反刍与内化问题呈显著弱相关(r=0.15,p<0.001),控制反刍后合并相关系数为r=0.08(p<0.001),研究设计(横断/纵向)、年龄、共同反刍对象不是显著的调节变量。(3)共同反刍与关系质量具有中等强度的相关(r=0.42,p<0.001)。未来应进行更多的纵向研究和实验探索共同反刍与内化问题、关系质量的因果关系及其机制,并且开发更多形式的测量工具。

Causal relationship between hypoalbuminemia and acute kidney injury

Our meta-analysis published in 2010 provided evidence that low levels of serum albumin （hypoalbuminemia） are a signifcant independent predictor of acute kidney injury （AKI） and death following AKI. Since then, a large volume of additional data from observational clinical studies has been published further evaluating the relationship between serum albumin and AKI occurrence. This is an updated review of the literature to re-evaluate the hypothesis that hypoalbuminemia is independently associated with increased AKI risk. Eligible studies published from September 2009 to December 2016 were sought in PubMed （MEDLINE） and forty-three were retained, the great majority being retrospective observational cohort studies. These included a total of about 68000 subjects across a diverse range of settings, predominantly cardiac surgery and acute coronary interventions, infectious diseases, transplant surgery, and cancer. Appraisal of this latest data set served to conclusively corroborate and confirm our earlier hypothesis that lower serum albumin is an independent predictor both of AKI and death after AKI, across a range of clinical scenarios. The body of evidence indicates that hypoalbuminemia may causally contribute to development of AKI. Furthermore, administration of human albumin solution has the po-tential to prevent AKI; a randomized, controlled study provides evidence that correcting hypoalbuminemia may be renal-protective. Therefore, measurement of serum albumin to diagnose hypoalbuminemia may help identify high-risk patients who may beneft from treatment with exogenous human albumin. Multi-center, prospective, randomized, interventional studies are warranted, along with basic research to define the mechanisms throughwhich albumin affords nephroprotection.

Effects of therapeutic horseback riding on post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans

Background:Large numbers of post-deployment U.S.veterans are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)and/or traumatic brain injury(TBI),leading to an urgent need for effective interventions to reduce symptoms and increase veterans’coping.PTSD includes anxiety,flashbacks,and emotional numbing.The symptoms increase health care costs for stress-related illnesses and can make veterans’civilian life difficult.Methods:We used a randomized wait-list controlled design with repeated measures of U.S.military veterans to address our specific aim to test the efficacy of a 6-week therapeutic horseback riding(THR)program for decreasing PTSD symptoms and increasing coping self-efficacy,emotion regulation,social and emotional loneliness.Fiftyseven participants were recruited and 29 enrolled in the randomized trial.They were randomly assigned to either the horse riding group(n=15)or a wait-list control group(n=14).The wait-list control group experienced a 6-week waiting period,while the horse riding group began THR.The wait-list control group began riding after 6 weeks of participating in the control group.Demographic and health history information was obtained from all the participants.PTSD symptoms were measured using the standardized PTSD Checklist-Military Version(PCL-M).The PCL-M as well as other instruments including,The Coping Self Efficacy Scale(CSES),The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale(DERS)and The Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults-short version(SELSA)were used to access different aspects of individual well-being and the PTSD symptoms.Results:Participants had a statistically significant decrease in PTSD scores after 3 weeks of THR(P≤0.01)as well as a statistically and clinically significant decrease after 6 weeks of THR(P≤0.01).Logistic regression showed that participants had a 66.7%likelihood of having lower PTSD scores at 3 weeks and 87.5%likelihood at 6 weeks.Under the generalized linear model(GLM),our ANOVA findings for the coping self-efficacy,emotion regulation,and social and emotional loneliness did not reach statistical significance.The results for coping self-efficacy and emotion regulation trended in the predicted direction.Results for emotional loneliness were opposite the predicted direction.Logistic regression provided validation that outcome effects were caused by riding longer.Conclusion:The findings suggest that THR may be a clinically effective intervention for alleviating PTSD symptoms in military veterans.

Group Therapy in Adults with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Review

In the treatment of OCD, several therapeutic approaches have been developed, including individual, group and/or pharmacological therapeutic methods. However, group therapy on OCD has received little research attention in comparison with other therapeutic methods and some studies demonstrated that OCD can be treated in group settings. In the literature, mentioned group therapies to treat OCD involve behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, ERP (exposure and response prevention), cognitive behavioral therapy, ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy), supportive groups and individual therapy with family member involvement. In relation to their effectiveness, research indicated inconsistent findings. Therefore, the aim of this study was to address and to review whether group treatments on OCD are efficacious. This review focused on cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT), ERP, and ACT.

Stalking of Healthcare Professionals by Their Clients: The Prevalence, Motivation, and Effect

It is proposed that healthcare professionals are prone to be stalked by their patients, but many feel ashamed to talk about it, believing that they might have done something to warrant the stalking. We undertook a rigorous review of the literature with the primitive goal of highlighting noteworthy issues on the stalking of healthcare professionals and psychologists by their patients. Databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar were searched to collate articles and studies on the topic with the keywords “stalker, stalking, assaults, aggression, and physicians”. From the review, the prevalence rate of stalking healthcare professionals ranged between 6% - 53%. This huge variation was largely due to the inconsistencies in the definition of what constituted stalking. The common motives of stalkers were largely due to erotomania or misguided expectation and a sense of resentment due to service dissatisfaction. Finally, it was apparently right to conclude that, medical doctors or healthcare professionals are at risk of being stalked on the grounds of service dissatisfaction, and mismanagement of treatment processes resulting in physical or perceived client injuries. Whereas psychologists and other psychiatrists are more prone to be stalked due to erotomaniac reasons.

Phubbing Phenomenon: A Wild Fire, Which Invades Our Social Communication and Life

The purpose of merging various technologies in mobile device was to serve a great purpose for entire humanity and no doubt, it is doing the same. It made many things easy in day-to-day lives but on the other hand, it raised many psychological issues. One of the psychological issues is Phubbing, recently noticed by the researchers. The word Phubbing means snubbing someone you are talking to and simultaneously looking at his or her mobile phone. It is the practice of ignoring one’s companion or companions in order to pay attention to one’s mobile phone. People need to find a solution that describes this annoying situation and further to remind people, talk and spend time with each other instead of using their phone and only being present there physically. In response to this phenomenon, a new word “Phubbing” was born. It started affecting every aspect of our day-to-day lives and its impacts are deep and long lasting. It is a new phenomenon and had not been studied much early but researchers now are interested in understanding the phenomenon of Phubbing and its long lasting effects. This paper tried to trace the growth of Phubbing, understanding the phenomenon, and tried to analyze researches done in this area. This paper also tried to understand its impact on our social communication and life from various researches done in this area.

Job Loss During the COVID-19 Pandemics and Its Psychological Consequences

The Coronavirus pandemics,or the COVID-19,came as an unwelcomed guest that did not want to leave,where people until today do not know for sure all the ways it affects people’s health and overall being.The year of 2020 will be remembered as the one in which life almost stopped.A year full of losses that continue,from losing people dear to us,to losing jobs,opportunities,and freedom in almost every sense.This paper covers the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak that it had on people,focusing on the job loss and unemployment,the healthcare opportunities and availabilities,the gender discrimination in the process of losing jobs,and the most importantly the psychological consequences people suffered from,due to isolation,inability to work and to provide.

Mental Health, Religion and Suicide

Suicide is one of the most common yet serious concerns, and a worldwide subject that individuals have debated from the past to the present. Suicidal ideation affects and disrupts the functionality of a human being regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or even religion. This article aims to discuss suicide in general and from an Islamic perspective in specific, as research has shown that an Islamically oriented approach and intervention works better with the Muslim population in general. The paper also aims to have a broader view of how Islam categorized suicide classically and its modern implications, which also lets us explore the similarities, and differences between the Islamic perspective and different religions about suicide and related mental health concerns. A collection of both classic and modern sources was used to extract information and provide a scope of definitions to clarify suicide and religiosity concerning the teachings and opinion of Islam about the meaning of life, afterlife, and soul. It was found that the Muslim population showed a lower rate of suicide in comparison to individuals from other religions, and religious individuals showed faster recovery from suicidal ideation. Yet, Muslims are not immune to mental health conditions that would result in suicide. Therefore, further studies and research need to be conducted to understand the huge stigma around Muslim about mental health and suicide in the Muslim communities, to compare the effectiveness among the religious and the non-religious Muslims, and lastly to fill the gap as to why the Muslim population tends to be hesitant in seeking help regarding their psychological problems.

Perceptions and Experiences of Adult Learners of Online Learning in the Era of COVID-19 in Ghana

The COVID-19 Pandemic has undoubtedly affected learners,and as such,adjustments need to be made for successful teaching and learning through online learning.However,in Ghana,the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic did not spare adult learners who are compelled by educational reforms to upgrade themselves academically using online learning platforms.Using a descriptive design,the study explored the perceptions and experiences of 166(online data collection)adult learners as they pursue their academic programs through online learning.An adapted questionnaire on perceptions and online learning experiences developed by Khan,Nabi,Khojah,and Tahir(2021)was used for the data collection.The Confirmatory Factor Analysis technique was used to analyse the data.The study revealed that respondents felt confident while using online learning content but refuted that those technologies permit them to take tests and submit assignments electronically.Furthermore,the study revealed that online learning service was making the learning process very simplified.The revelation means that adult learners possess positive experiences and perceptions about online learning.Therefore,online teaching and learning in higher education institutions should be made a routine activity in Ghana even after the COVID-19 Pandemic because the world is approaching a technological world.

青少年抑郁个体化识别与干预的三级框架

Depression in adolescents is a significant public health challenge with a high prevalence and negative outcomes.In the United States,the lifetime and 12-month prevalence rates of major depressive disorder(MDD)among 13-to 18-year-olds were 11.0%and 7.5%,respectively,prior to COVID-19.The COVID-19pandemic has further exacerbated the global trend of increasing rates of adolescent depression.

开放式荟萃分析的规范化报告

荟萃分析(又称元分析)以量化方式综合实证研究结果,是积累整合证据并推进基础与应用研究的重要工具.在开放式科学这种新型研究实践下,荟萃分析是整合开放数据、进行科学推断的重要手段.但荟萃分析的过程繁复、方法多样,其执行上的严谨性对荟萃分析质量影响较大,因此报告的透明性和开放性对其结果的可重复性尤为重要.为了解中文荟萃分析报告规范性的现状,让更多研究者了解荟萃分析报告的规范性与透明性,提升荟萃分析报告的质量,本文以国际学界广泛使用的系统综述和荟萃分析优先报告条目(Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses,PRISMA)以及开放式科学理念为基础,结合基于效应量的荟萃分析报告特点,拟定《开放与可重复荟萃分析的报告清单》(Preferred Reporting Items for Open and Reproducible Metaanalysis,PRIOR-MA),并以心理学中的荟萃分析为例,对近五年国内发表的68篇中文荟萃分析的方法和结果部分进行回顾.基于结果,本文建议荟萃分析报告需要在以下方面进一步加强其开放性与透明性:文献搜索的时间及限制、研究筛选和数据收集过程的细节、文章筛选的流程图、效应量转换的细节、单个研究偏倚状况的评估等.本文为开放式荟萃分析提供了一个较为全面的报告清单(PRIOR-MA),为未来荟萃分析研究提供了参考.

A population-based approach to the management of depression in a patient-centered medical home

Objective:This article describes the implementation of a population-based strategy to man-age depression in a patient-centered medical home.Methods:Review of English language articles;description of specific protocols utilized in one medical home.Results:Depression is a global concern estimated to affect 350 million people worldwide.Rates for depression vary between the United States and the Peoples’Republic of China,possibly due to significant factors in under diagnosis of this often hidden burden.Given the comorbidity of depres-sion with other health factors and the need for ongoing monitoring and care of this chronic illness,primary care has become a significant part of treatment interventions.Utilizing electronic health records(EHR),our strategy included the creation of a patient registry;selection of evidence-based treatment guidelines and protocols for point of care procedures;patient outreach and screening.Conclusion:The population-based program we outline is highly dependent on the EHR and the flexibility of roles and responsibilities of clinical staff.Further investigation is warranted into improved patient outcomes.