Repetitive negative thinking during ambiguous situations: Interactive roles of looming cognitive style and intolerance of uncertainty.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Looming cognitive style (LCS) and intolerance of uncertainty (IUC) are both cognitive risk factors that play an important role in development of anxiety disorders. Even though both are known to be triggered by ambiguous situations, there is inadequate research on how they predict anxiety and repetitive negative thinking (RNT) patterns in response to ambiguity. The current study aimed to examine the interactive association of IUC and LCS with state anxiety and intensity of RNT following exposure to a stressor that involves ambiguity. METHODS: Data were collected from 292 (153 women) individuals aged between 18 and 63 (M = 20.82, SD = 5.20) who were administered self-report measures of LCS, IUC, and anxiety followed by a vignette describing an ambiguous situation. State RNT and anxiety were assessed following exposure to the vignette. RESULTS: The results indicated that IUC moderated the association of physical looming with state RNT. Individuals who have elevated levels of both physical looming and IUC reported experiencing more higher frequency of RNT when compared with other individuals. LIMITATIONS: Although the manipulation check has shown that the scenario is effective it was not pilot tested. Also, since the manipulation was conducted online, the manipulation may not have been presented in a standardized way to all the participants. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the study shows that the two risk factors enhance each other's effect and lead to more intense levels of repetitive, uncontrollable, and distressing thoughts following exposure to ambiguity.

When the UPPS-P Model of Impulsivity Meets a Revised Approach: The Development and Validation of the TRUE Multidimensional Impulsivity Scale.

There is inconsistency in the measurement of impulsivity resulting from the diversity in its conceptualization. We aimed to develop a revised measure based on the Urgency, Premeditation (lack of), Perseverance (lack of), Sensation Seeking - Positive Urgency (UPPS-P) model (i.e., TRUE Multidimensional Impulsivity Scale; TRUE-MIS) considering the limitations and strengths of the existing measures. We conceptualized impulsivity as a personality trait referring to the inability to restrain one's urges without thinking about the future consequences in various contexts. A total of 535 adults (262 females, M = 34.1, SD = 12.7) participated in Study 1. Principal component analyses indicated a four-factor structure (internal urgency, social urgency, lack of premeditation, and lack of perseverance) with satisfactory internal consistency and validity evidence by significant relations with self-control. Confirmatory factor analysis in Study 2 confirmed the factor structure obtained in Study 1. Hierarchical linear regression analyses provided further validity evidence through establishing differential links between the subscales and Big Five personality traits, emotion regulation, depression, anxiety, and smartphone addiction in a sample of 556 adults (368 females, M = 24.0, SD = 7.4). Overall, TRUE-MIS is a valid and reliable measure of impulsivity addressing the arguments regarding the conceptual structure of the construct.

Interpersonal Emotion Regulation and Psychological Distress: What Is the function of Negative Mood Regulation Expectancies in This Relationship?

Individuals' tendency to use their interactions with others in the management of their own emotions is called Interpersonal Emotion Regulation (IER). Limited studies have explored the association between IER and psychological distress with none focusing on the role of mediating variables in this relationship. The current study aims to explore the role of negative mood regulation expectancies (NMRE), which is defined as one's confidence in the effectiveness of their coping skills while dealing with difficult emotions, as a possible mechanism underlying the association between IER and psychological distress. The data were collected from 204 (164 women) Turkish speaking individuals whose age ranges between 18 and 32 (M = 22.78, SD = 3.21). The participants completed measures of IER, NMRE and psychological distress. The results have indicated that NMRE has a significant mediating role in the relationship of Soothing dimension of IER with psychological distress. The present findings highlighted the maladaptive function of Soothing as an IER strategy in addition to shedding light on the important role of NMRE in this relationship.

Problem Orientation and Psychological Distress Among Adolescents: Do Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies Mediate Their Relationship?

Adolescence is a critical period for the development of attitudes and skills crucial in determining vulnerability for psychological distress. The current study aimed to focus on the association of problem orientation and cognitive emotion regulation strategies with psychological distress and demonstrate the mediator roles of adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the association of problem orientation with psychological distress. Data were collected from 335 adolescents (167 female) aged 14-to-18 years (M= 14.7, SD= .95) via measures of problem orientation, cognitive emotion regulation, and psychological distress. The results revealed that maladaptive emotion regulation strategies (self-blame and other-blame) mediated the association of negative problem orientation with psychological distress. The findings emphasize the crucial roles of blaming-focused strategies in this relationship.

Impact of abstract vs. concrete processing on state rumination: An exploration of the role of cognitive flexibility.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Abstract and concrete modes of rumination may be associated with different mental health outcomes; whereby concrete rumination strategies increase the individual's tendency to seek solutions to problems and thus leading to significant improvements in the mood state as well as reductions in the intensity of ruminative thoughts. However, related studies also are suggestive of other variables that are potentially effective in the outcome of abstract and concrete processing. The current study aimed to examine how abstract and concrete processing are associated with state rumination and explore the role of cognitive flexibility in this relationship. METHOD: A total of 111 (78 female) participants were assessed for state rumination prior and post induction of abstract versus concrete processing. RESULTS: Although all participants reported higher levels of state rumination following both processing inductions, participants that were instructed to engage in abstract processing reported higher levels of state rumination as opposed to concrete processing group. Moreover, participants with lower levels of cognitive flexibility reported significant increases in state rumination following the manipulation, independent of type of processing induction. LIMITATIONS: The impact of the manipulation was assessed only via the BSRI and lacks physiological assessment of arousal levels of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical implications that involve concrete processing and CF ability trainings may be beneficial for the management of state rumination.

The role of numeracy skills on the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) performances of 5- to 8-Year-old turkish children.

The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is one of the most widely used complex EF task for various populations. However, it seems questionable to employ the task for preschool-aged children due to their lack of numerical efficiency while sorting cards according to the number dimension. The present study aimed to examine the association of numeracy skills with different EF-related abilities as measured by the WCST. For the assessment of numeracy skills, we used the Early Numeracy Test (ENT). One hundred and fourteen Turkish children between the ages of 5 and 8 were administered the WCST and ENT in a counterbalanced order. Results revealed a significant correlation only between the three ENT scores and the concept formation factor of the WCST, indicating a significant relationship between the WCST performance and numeracy skills in terms of concept formation. This finding highlights the specific relation between numeracy skills and subcomponents of the WCST and points to potential interfering variables that should be taken into account while evaluating the scores of the sorting tasks for children between the ages of 5 and 8.

The Association of Negative Urgency with Psychological Distress: Moderating Role of Proactive Coping Strategies.

Negative urgency, which is the tendency to act impulsively under the influence of negative emotions, is a risk factor for various psychological disorders including anxiety and depression. In contrast, proactive coping is a future oriented coping strategy that aims to prepare the self for future stressors by reappraising the stressors as challenges or keep oneself prepared for impending losses. Although the effect of proactive coping and preventive coping strategies on reducing depression and anxiety has been consistently documented, the association of their interaction with risk factors received little attention. In the current study, the moderator roles of two dimensions of Proactive Coping strategies in the association of negative urgency with anxiety and depression, is examined. Data were collected from 404 individuals (255 women) aged 18 to 59 (M = 31.29, SD = 11.70) through scales assessing negative urgency, proactive coping, anxiety and depression from a community sample. The results revealed that the interaction of proactive coping with negative urgency to be significantly associated with individual differences in depression scores, indicating that appraising the threats as challenges may have potential for buffering the effects of negative urgency on depression. However, a similar pattern was not observed for anxiety or preventive coping.

Negative urgency and time perspective: interactive associations with anxiety and depression.

Time perspective, which refers to a mechanism of automatically assigning experiences into temporal categories (as past, present, and future), is argued to be a fundamental dimension in the construction of psychological time in addition to acting as a vulnerability factor for psychological disorders. Negative urgency is another vulnerability factor for psychological disorders that are characterized by engaging in impulsive actions when one is under the influence of negative emotions. The current study aimed to examine how the interaction of different dimensions of time perspective and negative urgency are connected with anxiety and depression. Data were gathered from 404 (255 women) individuals between ages 18 and 65 through measures of time perspective, negative urgency, anxiety, and depression. The results showed that while the interaction of negative urgency with past negative time perspective was associated with depression, a similar pattern was not observed for other dimensions of time perspective. Particularly, negative urgency appeared to boost the negative impact of being past-oriented. Similarly, only the interaction of future time perspective with negative urgency was associated with anxiety, indicating that tending to focus on the events that are likely to take place in the future is associated with elevated levels of anxiety in individuals with high levels of negative urgency.

Attachment and psychological distress: The mediator role of Negative Mood Regulation Expectancies.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aims to examine the relation between different dimensions of attachment with psychological distress, by specifically focusing on the mediator role of Negative Mood Regulation Expectancies (NMRE), which are considered as a form of coping self-efficacy. There is ample evidence showing the role of emotion regulation strategies predicting the relationship between attachment and psychological disorders. However, little is known about how NMRE might mediate the relationship between attachment dimensions and psychological distress. METHOD: Four hundred and two (318 women) individuals between ages 18 and 62 (mean = 29.65; standard deviation [SD] = 8.96) completed measures of NMRE, attachment dimensions, and psychological distress. RESULTS: NMRE mediated the relationship between anxious attachment dimension and all dimensions of psychological distress (e.g., anxiety, depression, stress). However, NMRE mediated the relationship of avoidant attachment only with stress. CONCLUSION: Distinct mechanisms explain the relationship between two dimensions of attachment with NMRE and different forms of psychological distress.

Antecedents of Looming Cognitive Style: Associations With Reported Perceived Parenting and Attachment.

Looming Cognitive Style, which was proposed as cognitive vulnerability model specific for anxiety disorders, suggests that anxiety-prone individuals have a tendency to perceive threats and dangers as getting closer, becoming larger, and more agonizing every passing minute. Yet, very few studies focused on the family-related variables that are associated with development of Looming Cognitive Style. This study aims to investigate the relationship of Looming Cognitive Style with measures perceived parenting and attachment. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 389 university students aged between 18 and 35 as participants. The participants were assessed through Looming Cognitive Style, perceived parenting, attachment anxiety, and avoidance. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated Looming Cognitive Style to be significantly predicted by maternal overprotection and anxiety dimension of attachment. The results are important in understanding how parenting-related variables are related to development of cognitive vulnerabilities specific to anxiety disorders.

Moderator Role of Looming Cognitive Style (LCS) in the Relationship Between Attentional Control and Anxiety: Difference Between Shifting and Focusing Dimensions.

Attentional control (AC) that is composed of shifting and focusing dimensions had been suggested as a transdiagnostic risk factor, associated with development and maintenance of various psychological disorders. In comparison, Looming Cognitive Style (LCS) had been documented as a trait-based, disorders-specific characteristic that is linked to high levels of subjectively felt anxiety. The present study investigated whether individual differences in LCS moderated the association of shifting and focusing with anxiety. Participants were 402 individuals between ages 18 and 68 recruited through advertisements posted on various forums, e-mail groups, and social media websites. They filled out questionnaires assessing AC, LCS, anxiety, and depression online. Results of the moderation analyses indicated that at high levels of LCS, low attentional shifting ability was associated with more intense anxiety. A similar relationship with LCS was not observed for focusing. In conclusion, for individuals who have high LCS and low shifting ability, content of and distress coming from looming images is experienced in a more intense manner due to difficulty in shifting to another (perhaps less anxiety provoking) content more flexibly. The findings are providing support for the interactive-synergistic perspective, indicating that deficits in shifting capacity may potentiate negative impact of looming cognitions.

Age-related changes in the Wisconsin card sorting test performances of 8- to 11-year-old Turkish children.

The leading aim of the present study was to examine developmental trends in performance on a computerized version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) in Turkish children. Participants were 449 children aged between 8 and 11. Findings suggested that children's WCST scores improve with age, and developmental changes in executive functions follow distinct processes as assessed by different components of the WCST. The most striking improvement was noted in perseverative tendencies around age 10. This study also explored the effects of parental education on WCST performances of children, and maternal education emerged as the most important predictor.