A Model of Core Emotional Needs and Toxic Experiences: Their Links with Schema Domains, Well-Being, and Ill-Being.

This study examined the second-order schema domains of Early Maladaptive and Adaptive Schemas based on recent trends and compared them with the five theoretical second-order schema domains commonly used in schema therapy. Using six international Eastern and Western community samples-Singapore (n = 628), Malaysia (n = 229), USA (n = 396), South Africa (n = 390), Nigeria (n = 364), India (n = 306)-confirmatory factor analysis showed that the four second-order domains of EMSs and EASs, which ran almost parallel with each other, were the most robust models calling into question the validity of the five domain model. Given the hypothesized links between schemas and needs, these four categories of EMSs and EASs represent four categories of toxic experiences and core emotional needs, respectively. These categories were supported empirically and are useful to parents as well as to clinicians as they approach child rearing and the treatment of clients in schema therapy from the vantage point of needs. These four categories of psychological core emotional needs, as well as toxic experiences, were found, as expected, to be linked with various measures of well-being and ill-being.

Positive Schemas: Replication, Associations With Negative Schemas, and the Dark Triad.

The purpose of the current study was to replicate the factor structure of the 14 positive schemas identified in the earlier study by Louis et al. (2018). Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and Multi-group CFA, the 14 positive schemas were found to be robust across four new non-clinical English-speaking community samples - USA (n = 396), South Africa (n = 390), Nigeria (n = 364), and India (n = 306). Further, results from CFA, and chi square tests showed that positive and negative schemas were independent but related constructs, and that they do not reflect bipolarity. Using hierarchical regression and Pearson's correlations the negative schemas of Entitlement, Approval Seeking and Mistrust, and the positive schema of Empathic Consideration were found to be associated positively and negatively respectively with Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy of the Dark Triad scale in all four worldwide samples. Implications of this finding in Schema Therapy treatment were discussed.

The Development of the Love and Respect Marriage Scale.

The constructs of love and respect have been known to be essential ingredients contributing positively to marital satisfaction, but to-date they have mostly been measured using separate scales. However, given the overlap between both constructs this study set out, using self-report methodologies, to develop a comprehensive scale which measures both love and respect known as The Love and Respect Marriage Scale. Using a nonclinical community Singapore sample (n = 400), an initial item pool was developed, and through exploratory factor analysis, a robust factor structure emerged that consisted of eight subscales and 46 items. This factor structure was shown to be a consistent and cross-culturally acceptable model using samples from USA, n = 396, South Africa, n = 390, Nigeria, n = 364, and India, n = 306. Good reliability values were achieved. Construct, convergent, divergent, and incremental validity were also demonstrated as comparisons were made with shorter established marriage scales. Implications and advantages of a longer marital scale were discussed.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2021.1963362 .

SARS-Cov-2 Spike binding to ACE2 is stronger and longer ranged with glycans

Highly detailed steered Molecular Dynamics simulations are performed on differently glycosylated receptor binding domains of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The binding strength and the binding range increases with glycosylation. The interaction energy rises very quickly with pulling the proteins apart and only slowly drops at larger distances. We see a catch slip type behavior where interactions during pulling break and are taken over by new interactions forming. The dominant interaction mode are hydrogen bonds but Lennard-Jones and electrostatic interactions are relevant as well. Statement of SignificanceGlycosylation of the receptor binding domain of the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 as well as the ACE2 receptor leads to stronger and longer ranged binding interactions between the proteins. Particularly, at shorter distances the interactions are between residues of the proteins themselves whereas at larger distances these interactions are mediated by the glycans. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=164 SRC="FIGDIR/small/452507v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (32K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@7b9021org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@338aadorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1d5921eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@6c27e7_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

The Good Enough Parenting early intervention schema therapy based program: Participant experience.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Schema therapy (ST) has become a mainstream therapy for the treatment of psychopathology and has been validated through a series of large scale, international randomized control trials. Among other things, schema therapy emphasizes the meeting of core emotional needs in children by primary caregivers as these unmet needs continue to adversely affect their lives into adulthood. An early intervention parenting program has been developed to help parents meet these core emotional needs in order to prevent the development of psychopathology in the first place. The program, Good Enough Parenting, is equally focused on reducing problems and strengthening parenting practices, regardless of where the child is on the "disordered to well-being continuum". This study aims to explore "patient experience" by users of this program. Best clinical research guidelines advocate that participants should be used as collaborators rather than pure recipients; this process should predate large scale trials. DESIGN: An exploratory qualitative study with 55 parent-participants of Good Enough Parenting was conducted. METHODS: One-to-one interviews were conducted with participants, using critical incident technique and guided by semi-structured interview schedule, to explore their experiences with the program. Transcripts were then analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Coding showed a high degree of inter-rater reliability (kappa value of 0.78). The themes that emerged were Cultivating Awareness of Parents' Own Schemas, Cultivating Intentionality, Working through Developmental Issues, Responses to Challenges at Home, Performing Multiple Roles, and the Learning Process. Participants overwhelmingly reported satisfaction within these key themes. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the development of the program and the choice of "participant reported outcome measures" for use in subsequent randomized controlled trials.