Association of Affect and Performance in Dual-Task Walking in Non-demented Older Adults.

Objective: We examined whether individual differences in positive and negative affective states predicted dual-task costs using an established Dual-Task Walking protocol in non-demented older adults. We hypothesized that positive and negative affect would be associated with smaller and larger dual-task costs, respectively. Methods: Participants (N = 403; mean age = 76.22 ± 6.55; females = 56%) completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the walking protocol involving three conditions: Single-Task-Alpha, Single-Task-Walk (STW), and Dual-Task-Walk (DTW). Gait velocity was assessed via an instrumented walkway. Results: Negative affect was associated with greater decline in gait velocity from STW to DTW (95% confidence interval [-0.73 to -0.03]) but not the decline of the rate of correct letter generation. There was no significant relationship between positive affect and DTW performance. Discussion: Findings suggest negative affect is adversely associated with allocation of attentional resources, leading to worse mobility outcomes in older adults.

Social Desirability Bias Against Admitting Anger: Bias in the Test-Taker or Bias in the Test?

The veracity of self-report is often questioned, especially in anger, which is particularly susceptible to social desirability bias (SDB). However, could tests of SDB be themselves susceptible to bias? This study aimed to replicate the inverse correlation between a common test of SDB and a test of anger, to deconstruct this relationship according to anger-related versus non-anger-related items, and to reevaluate factor structure and reliability of the SDB test. More than 200 students were administered the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale Short Version [M-C1(10)] and the Anger Parameters Scale (APS). Results confirmed that anger and SDB scores were significantly and inversely correlated. This intercorrelation became nonsignificant when the 4 anger-related items were omitted from the M-C1(10). Confirmatory factor analyses showed excellent fit for a model comprising anger items of the M-C1(10) but not for models of the entire instrument or nonanger items. The first model also attained high internal consistency. Thus, the significant negative correlation between anger and SDB is attributable to 4 M-C1(10) anger items, for which low ratings are automatically scored as high SDB; this stems from a tenuous assumption that low anger reports are invariably biased. The SDB test risks false positives of faking good and should be used with caution.

21st Century Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Anger: A Systematic Review of Research Design, Methodology and Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Past reviews of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for anger have focused on outcome in specific subpopulations, with few questions posed about research design and methodology. Since the turn of the century, there has been a surge of methodologically varied studies awaiting systematic review. AIMS: The basic aim was to review this recent literature in terms of trends and patterns in research design, operationalization of anger, and covariates such as social desirability bias (SDB). Also of interest was clinical outcome. METHOD: After successive culling, 42 relevant studies were retained. These were subjected to a rapid evidence assessment (REA) with special attention to design (ranked on the Scientific Methods Scale) measurement methodology (self-monitored behaviour, anger questionnaires, and others' ratings), SDB assessment, and statistical versus clinical significance. RESULTS: The randomized controlled trial characterized 60% of the studies, and the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory was the dominant measure of anger. All but one of the studies reported statistically significant outcome, and all but one of the 21 studies evaluating clinical significance laid claim to it. The one study with neither statistical nor clinical significance was the only one that had assessed and corrected for SDB. CONCLUSIONS: Measures remain relatively narrow in scope, but study designs have improved, and the outcomes suggest efficacy and clinical effectiveness. In conjunction with previous findings of an inverse relationship between anger and SDB, the results raise the possibility that the favourable picture of CBT for anger may need closer scrutiny with SDB and other methodological details in mind.

Anger parameters in parolees undergoing psychoeducation: Temporal stability, social desirability bias, and comparison with non-offenders.

BACKGROUND: Anger is commonly measured as if it were a single, simple construct. This may be particularly unhelpful if the main purpose of a measure is to determine change and responsiveness to interventions. AIMS: Our primary aim was to assess five anger parameters in parolees - frequency, duration, intensity, latency, and threshold - and to test for effects of psychoeducation and social desirability bias on parolees' scores. Average anger scores for the offender sample were compared with those in a non-offender sample. METHODS: The offender sample was drawn from male parolees in San Antonio. Age-matched volunteers recruited at public libraries were engaged for baseline comparisons. The Anger Parameters Scale and the Marlow-Crowne Scale were used to assess anger and social desirability, respectively. Parole officers delivered a psychoeducation course to parolees over 12 weeks, and anger and social desirability measures were taken before and afterwards. RESULTS: At baseline, parolees were angry more often, stayed angry longer, and reached higher levels of anger than the non-offenders, confirming their eligibility for the programme. Mean anger scores were not significantly different after psychoeducation than before it. Parolees' reported anger was significantly and negatively correlated with social desirability scores. CONCLUSIONS: Only three of the five anger parameters were prominent among these offenders: frequency, duration, and intensity of their outbursts. Psychoeducation did not produce improvement, possibly because it was instructional rather than therapeutic, but also because group means may mask useful individual differences. Concurrent assessment of social desirability is likely to assist in interpretation of anger measures. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.