Do Ejaculation Latency and Other Sexual Measures Differ Between Men With Lifelong and Acquired Premature Ejaculation?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether men with lifelong vs acquired premature ejaculation (PE) subtypes differ on their estimated ejaculation latencies (EL) and related sexual, relationship, and behavioral parameters. METHODS: Of 2679 men who responded to an online multinational survey about sexual health and met inclusion criteria, 540 reported "probable" or "definite" PE, as assessed by the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool. Lifelong and acquired PE subtypes were compared on multiple measures related to EL, as well as on sets of demographic, diagnostic, relationship, sexual behavioral, and sexual functioning measures during both partnered sex and masturbation. RESULTS: Nearly 73% of men with PE in this sample reported the lifelong subtype. No differences emerged in EL measures between subtypes, even when parsed according to age. Specifically, men 37years or under with either definite lifelong or acquired PE reported ELs of 1.9 minutes (SD=1.3). For men over 37, lifelong ELs were 2.0 minutes (SD=1.3), acquired ELs 2.4 minutes (SD=1.4). While the lifelong subgroup was younger and reported lower erectile functioning, these differences occurred only in the probable PE group and not the definite PE group. CONCLUSION: Our data do not support different EL criteria for men with acquired vs lifelong PE, as suggested by several professional definitions. Furthermore, differences in age and erectile functioning between the groups, often reported in clinical samples though not in our definite PE group, may be an artifact of the general health/patient characteristics that lead such men to seek medical assistance.

Comparison of typical Thai and Hungarian personality profiles using the Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire.

The aim of our study was to compare typical Thai and Hungarian personality profiles of the Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire (ZKA-PQ). 672 Thai and 647 Hungarian were included in our study. The distribution of age, gender and education level were matched. The ZKA-PQ was administered that measures Aggression, Extraversion, Activity, Sensation Seeking and Neuroticism. We tested reliability, the structural invariance and analyzed aggregated mean profiles for cultures as well as typical profiles by cluster analyses. Reliability of factors were acceptable in both cultures, but some facets (especially AC3 Restlessness) showed low reliability. The global Tucker's coefficient of congruence (TCC) for cross-cultural factorial invariance was 95. We have also run a Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis, but fit indices were not adequate. Cross-cultural neural network invariance was not met either. Hungarians scored significantly higher on Extraversion, Sensation Seeking, Aggression and Activity. Cluster-analyses revealed six typical profiles: Introverted impulsive, Reserved, Resilients, Overcontrolled, Aggressive impulsive and Positive sensation seeker. Majority of first two clusters were Thai respondents, majority for last two clusters were Hungarians. In sum, there were some cross-cultural congruence in factor structure, but strict invariance was not fulfilled. Comparison of mean profiles remain tentative, but cluster analysis revealed cross-cultural differences in typical profiles.

Identifying an optimal ejaculation latency for the diagnosis of men reporting orgasmic/ejaculation difficulty.

BACKGROUND: Criteria for the definition and diagnosis of delayed ejaculation (DE) are yet under consideration. AIM: This study sought to determine an optimal ejaculation latency (EL) threshold for the diagnosis of men with DE by exploring the relationship between various ELs and independent characterizations of delayed ejaculation. METHODS: In a multinational survey, 1660 men, with and without concomitant erectile dysfunction (ED) and meeting inclusion criteria, provided information on their estimated EL, measures of DE symptomology, and other covariates known to be associated with DE. OUTCOMES: We determined an optimal diagnostic EL threshold for men with DE. RESULTS: The strongest relationship between EL and orgasmic difficulty occurred when the latter was defined by a combination of items related to difficulty reaching orgasm and percent of successful episodes in reaching orgasm during partnered sex. An EL of ≥16 minutes provided the greatest balance between measures of sensitivity and specificity; a latency ≥11 minutes was the best threshold for tagging the highest number/percentage of men with the severest level of orgasmic difficulty, but this threshold also demonstrated lower specificity. These patterns persisted even when explanatory covariates known to affect orgasmic function/dysfunction were included in a multivariate model. Differences between samples of men with and without concomitant ED were negligible. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In addition to assessing a man's difficulty reaching orgasm/ejaculation during partnered sex and the percent of episodes reaching orgasm, an algorithm for the diagnosis of DE should consider an EL threshold in order to control diagnostic errors. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This study is the first to specify an empirically supported procedure for diagnosing DE. Cautions include the use of social media for participant recruitment, relying on estimated rather than clocked EL, not testing for differences between DE men with lifelong vs acquired etiologies, and the lower specificity associated with using the 11-minute criterion that could increase the probability of including false positives. CONCLUSION: In diagnosing men with DE, after establishing a man's difficulty reaching orgasm/ejaculation during partnered sex, using an EL of 10 to 11 minutes will help control type 2 (false negative) diagnostic errors when used in conjunction with other diagnostic criteria. Whether or not the man has concomitant ED does not appear to affect the utility of this procedure.

The development and validation of a new resilience inventory based on inner strength.

There are a number of resilience scales with good psychometric properties. However, the various scales differ in their item content in accordance with the model of resilience the developer had in mind. Culture is one of the reasons for the difference. Thailand, one of the Buddhist cultures, has a different view on resilience compared with Western culture. This study aimed to develop and validate a resilience inventory created based on the inner strength concept using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch measurement model. The resilience inventory (RI) was developed by creating new items representing inner strengths attributed to resilience. The inner strength was adopted to form the resilience construct, including perseverance, wisdom, patience, mindfulness, loving-kindness and equanimity. In addition, face and content validity were examined by experts in both mental health and Buddhism. The final RI comprised nine items with a 5-point Likert-type scale. The RI-9 was completed by 243 medical students who participated in the study, along with other measurements, i.e., Inner Strength-Based Inventory (iSBI), measuring the ten characteristics of perfection or inner strength, and the Core Symptom Index, measuring anxiety, depression and somatization symptoms. CFA, internal consistency and the Polytomous Rasch rating model were used to investigate the RI-9 construct validity. The mean age of the participants was 22.7 years (SD, 0.8); one-half were male (50%). The RI-9 construct demonstrated item hierarchy as follows: perseverance, patience (tolerance), mindfulness and equanimity, wisdom and loving-kindness. CFA showed that the unidimensional model fitted the data well. Rasch analysis showed no misfitting items and local dependence. The reliability of the person and item was good, and no disordered threshold was observed. Two items were found to exhibit differential item functioning due to sex. RI-9 scores were significantly related to all ten strengths from the iSBI, whereas they were negatively related to depression, anxiety, somatization and interpersonal difficulties. The RI-9 demonstrated validity and reliability. It constitutes a promising tool for outcome assessment in nonclinical populations. Further investigation on external validity as well as psychometric validation in other different cultures, should be encouraged.

Moderating role of observing the five precepts of Buddhism on neuroticism, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms.

PURPOSE: Evidence has shown that the Five precepts significantly affect the relationship between attachment and resilience; however, little is known whether observing the Five Precepts would help reduce depressive symptoms among those who experience risks. The aim of this study was to examine the moderating role of the Five Precepts in the mediation model relationship among neuroticism, perceived stress, and depression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study employed a cross-sectional survey design and data were collected from the end of 2019 to September 2022 in Thailand. In all, 644 general participants completed questionnaires on the Neuroticism Inventory (NI), the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Depression Subscale, and the Five-Precept Subscale of the Inner Strength-based Inventory (SBI-PP). Mediation and moderation analyses with 5000 bootstrapping methods were used. RESULTS: Among all, 74.2% were female, and the mean age totalled 28.28 years (SD = 10.6). SBI-PP was shown to have a moderation effect on the relationship between NI, PSS and depressive symptoms. The moderating effect between SBI-PP and PSS was significant, whereas SBI-PP and NI was not. The index of moderated mediation from the Five Precepts was significant (b = -0.019 (95%CI -0.029, -0.009)). The moderated mediation model increased the percent variance explaining depressive symptoms to 47.6%, compared with 32.6% from the mediation model alone. CONCLUSION: Observing the Five Precepts offers evidence that it buffers the effect of perceived stress on depression. People with high levels of observing the Five Precepts are less likely to develop depressive symptoms. Implications as well as possible future research are discussed.

Development and validation of 21-item outcome inventory (OI-21).

Background: Outcome measurement is important for monitoring patients' progress. The study aimed to develop an outcome inventory (OI) for clinical use in routine practice in psychiatric services and to examine the psychometric properties of the newly developed OI. Methods: 48 items measuring anxiety, depression, interpersonal difficulties, and somatization were collected. Factor analysis was used to reduce the number of items. The final OI consisting of 21 items was then examined for psychometric properties among 1302 participants, 880 were nonclinical and 422 clinical patients. Tests included confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and diagnostic ability for major depression. Responsiveness was compared between baseline and 3-month follow-up. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed the OI-21 demonstrated the designated four components. Cronbach's alpha was good to excellent for all subjects with good test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, convergent and discriminant validity. It demonstrated area under the ROC curve of 0.89 indicating good diagnostic performance. Sensitivity to change after 3 months was observed in both types of treatment. However, interpersonal difficulties were sensitive to change in those receiving additional psychotherapy. Conclusion: OI-21 demonstrated its validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change. It constitutes a promising tool for outcome assessment in nonclinical populations and among psychiatric patients.

Gratitude and social support mediate the association between mindfulness and mood: A cross-cultural replication study.

Swickert and colleagues surveyed young adults in the United States and found that gratitude and social support mediated the association between mindfulness and mood (both positive and negative affect). This study attempted to replicate Swickert et al.'s mediational findings using a young adult Hungarian sample. Results indicated that with one exception, the mediational findings were replicated. The exception was that for the Hungarians, gratitude did not mediate the association between mindfulness and negative affect. Overall, these findings indicate that the mediational effects of gratitude and social support are quite similar for individuals living in the United States and Hungary.

Exploring the stability of HEXACO-60 structure and the association of gender, age, and social position with personality traits across 18 countries.

OBJECTIVES: The present paper tests the cross-national stability of the HEXACO-60 structure across 18 countries from four continents. Gender and age differences across countries will be examined. Finally, this is the first study to explicitly analyze the relationships between the HEXACO and social position. METHOD: Ten thousand two hundred and ninety eight subjects (5,410 women and 4,888 men) from 18 countries and 13 languages were analyzed. Confirmatory factor analysis techniques were used to test configural, metric and scalar invariance models. Congruence coefficients with the original structure of the HEXACO-60 were computed for every culture. Effect sizes of gender, age, and social position factors across countries were also computed. RESULTS: HEXACO-60 demonstrates configural and metric invariance, but not scalar invariance. Congruence coefficients show a great equivalence in almost all countries and factors. Only Emotionality presents a large gender difference across countries. No relevant effect of age is observed. A profile of high scores on Honesty-Humility, Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience, and low scores on Emotionality increases the likelihood of achieving a higher social position, although the effect sizes are small. CONCLUSIONS: HEXACO-60 is a useful instrument to conduct personality trait research and practice around the world. Implications of gender, social position, and country differences are discussed.

Role of Equanimity on the Mediation Model of Neuroticism, Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms.

Background: Equanimity is widely and commonly practiced, but few have investigated the concept in clinical research. While the mediation model of neuroticism, perceived stress and depression have been demonstrated, it remains unclear whether equanimity mediates the relationship of these variables in parallel, serial or moderated mediation models. This study aimed to investigate the role of equanimity among those models. Methods: In all, 644 general participants (74.2% female, mean age = 28.28 (SD = 10.6)) provided data on the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Neuroticism Inventory (NI), depression subscale of the Core Symptom Index, and the equanimity subscale of the inner Strength-based Inventory. Mediation and moderation analyses with the 5000 bootstrapping method were applied. Results: Equanimity was shown to moderate the relationship between NI/PSS and depressive symptom. Statistical evaluation supported all parallel, serial and moderated mediation models. Equanimity as a moderator provided a higher amount of percent variance explained by depressive symptoms than parallel and serial mediation models. Conclusions: Results suggest that the effect of perceived stress and neuroticism on depression can be mitigated by increasing levels of equanimity. The results demonstrated one potential benefit from practicing equanimity; enabling its extension to mental health problems could constitute an interesting focus for future research.

Person-oriented Approach in Examining Chinese-Hungarian Personality and Affective Disorder Profiles.

BACKGROUND: Our Chinese-Hungarian crosscultural research aimed to apply a person-oriented approach on examining patterns of cultural, personality and affective disorder variables. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Our sample consisted of 238 Chinese and 167 Hungarian university students under the age of 26 years old. 238 Chinese university students (112 males, 126 females; mean age: 19.55, SD: 1.60) and 167 Hungarian University students (65 males and 100 females; mean age: 20.47, SD: 1.83) participated in our research. All individuals were under 26 years old. No gender (χ2(df=1)=2.32, p=0.127)) and no age differences between countries were observed. We analyzed in person-oriented approach the Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire, the universal values scale of Schwartz and three affective disorder questionnaires (Mood Disorder Questionnaire, Hypomania checklist, PVP Depression Scale). RESULTS: We applied model-based clustering that resulted in a model with five spherical, varying volume components. This meant that five clusters emerged, five typical patterns of the cultural, personality and affective variables. Significant cultural difference arose (χ2(df=4)=79.489, p<0.000)) in cluster proportions. In three clusters, proportion of Chinese was significantly higher than proportion (Overcontrolled: 82.6%, Reserved: 71.1%, Ordinary: 60.5%) of Hungarian. In the two remaining clusters, majority were Hungarian (Positive Sensation Seeker: 90.0%, Aggressive-Impulsive: 80.4%). Moreover, different psychiatric vulnerability emerge in relation to different profiles. Profiles that are more typical to Hungarians, have high sensation seeking level, and show vulnerability to hypomania, mood disorder and impulsive depression. On the other hand, typical Chinese profiles are linked to vulnerability of non-impulsive depression. CONCLUSIONS: In sum, culture and cultural values play an important role in the vulnerability of different affective disorders. These differences can be linked to different typical personality patterns.

Adolescent Drug Use, Relational Variables and Personality Factors.

OBJECTIVE: An ongoing issue in the study of adolescent drug use is the impact of family and the peer group on the problem of adolescent substance use. The present study has examined relative effects of these contexts as well as personality variables on drug use outcomes. METHOD: A test battery measuring various psychological variables was administered to a representative sample of 1652 secondary school students (grades 9 and 11), 876 male (mean age=17,61, SD=0.99) and 789 female (mean age=16.73, SD=1.31). Data about relationship to parents and association with deviant peers were collected, personality dimensions such as Neuroticism and Sensation Seeking were measured. Regressional and discriminant analyses were conducted, then a decision tree model was created. RESULTS: Sensation seeking arose as the most significant predictor of substance use. Fatheradolescent relationship had the highest predictive value primarily in male sensation seekers. Peer effects were stronger in comparison to parental influences. In adolescent boys, contact with deviant friends and sensation seeking constituted two independent pathways to drug use. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the necessity to give consideration to sensationseeking in prevention initiatives during adolescence, as well as the need for education of parents about parenting techniques recommended during adolescence.

Opinions about coronavirus vaccination ­ the role of healthcare workers in communication in December 2020 / A koronavírus elleni védooltással kapcsolatos vélekedések - az egészségügyi dolgozók szerepe az ismeretek átadásában 2020 decemberében.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: A koronavírus elleni védooltással kapcsolatos vélekedések igen aktuális, társadalmi szempontból fontos területét adják az egészségmagatartással foglalkozó kutatásoknak. Célkituzés: Vizsgálatunk a védooltásról különbözoképpen vélekedo (oltást elutasító, oltást választó, oltáson nem gondolkodó, valamint bizonytalan) csoportok elemzését tuzte ki célul az oltás elonyeinek és hátrányainak, valamint az információforrások használatának tekintetében. Módszer: A mintát "A koronavírus-járvány okozta lelki tényezok utánkövetéses vizsgálatának" 2020 decemberében felvett adatai adják; a vizsgálat során 1009 fo válaszait egyszempontos varianciaanalízissel elemeztük. Eredmények: Eredményeink azt mutatják, hogy a budapestiek és a Közép-Magyarországon élok, az idosebbek, a férfiak, a magasabb iskolai végzettséguek, valamint a házasok választják nagyobb eséllyel a védooltást. Az oltásról különbözoképpen vélekedo csoportokat az oltás elonyei jobban elkülönítik egymástól, mint az oltás hátrányai. Az elonyök közül a csoportokat foképp a társas, társadalmi érdekekre fókuszáló tételek differenciálják, melyek a járvány megfékezésérol, a fertozés átadásáról szólnak. A használt információforrásokat elemezve pedig elmondható, hogy mind a négy csoport jobban támaszkodik a személyes (család, barátok) és az orvosi, egészségügybol érkezo információkra, mint a médiából érkezo hírekre. Következtetés: Az oltási csoportok véleménye az oltás pozitív hozadékait, különösképp társadalmi hasznosságát illetoen tér el, mely vélemények a leginkább a személyes kapcsolatokon, így az egészségügyi dolgozók álláspontján keresztül formálódnak. Tehát az egészségügyben dolgozóknak kiemelkedo szerepük van a hozzájuk tanácsért fordulók differenciált megértésében, szakértoi tájékoztatásában és megfelelo tanácsokkal való ellátásában. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(24): 931-937. INTRODUCTION: Beliefs regarding coronavirus vaccination provide very actual and socially important area in mental health research. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to differentiate the opinions related to coronavirus vaccination (acceptance, refusal, ignorance, hesitation). We analyzed advantages and disadvantages of vaccination, and the different channels in getting information about the vaccine. METHOD: Our study is part of the "Longitudinal examination of mental factors caused by the coronavirus epidemic" research project, wave of December 2020. We analyzed the responses of 1009 people by one-way analysis of variance tests. RESULTS: Our results show that elder people, males, and those who have higher education are more likely to accept the vaccine. In addition, those who live in Budapest and Cental Hungary are more likely to choose vaccination against the coronavirus than those living in other areas. The groups with different opinions on vaccination are better discriminated by benefit-related than risk-related opinions. Those benefit-related items showed the largest variance between groups, which focused on social usefulness on curbing the epidemics, preventing the spread of the infection. Analyzing the sources of information, we found that all groups rely more on personal (family, friends) and medical health information than on news from the media. CONCLUSION: The opinions of the vaccination groups differ mostly regarding the positive benefits of vaccination, especially the social usefulness. Opinions are mostly formed through personal relationships including relations with healthcare workers. Healthcare professionals therefore have a key role in providing a differentiated understanding of those seeking advice, providing expert information and appropriate advice. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(24): 931-937.

Gratitude, Religiousness and Well-Being.

BACKGROUND: Previous researches have identified the positive effects of gratitude on happiness and well-being. It has been found that spirituality can enhance gratitude and well-being. Our study aimed to examine the link between gratitude and subjective well-being among religious and non-religious people. Furthermore we tested if a 4-week long gratitude diary has a positive effect on subjective well-being. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In our online, qualitative investigation the sample consisted of 54 males and 169 females (mean age=39.13, SD=15.90). 54.1% of respondents regarded themselves as "religious with a given religion", 24.8% as "religious on my own way" and 21.2% as "non-religious". The experimental group (leading a gratitude diary for 4 weeks) with 103 individuals and a control group with 120 individuals with no differences in age, gender and religiousness. We compared the questionnaires' results (filled out both before and after the intervention) of the experimental group (n=103) with the results of the control group (n=120) similarly filled out on two different occasions. We applied Gratitude Resentment and Appreciation Test and Subjective Well-being Scale. RESULTS: Our results showed that religious people showed elevated level of gratitude (F(2, 219)=23.66, p<0.001) but same well-being (F(2, 219)=1.97, p=0.142) compared to non-religious groups. In the experiment group the gratitude and the subjective well-being both increased (p<0.01), and there was no significant changes in control group. 2x2 ANOVA showed significant interaction effect (Subjective well-being: (F(1, 221)=13.32, p<0.001); Gratitude: F(1, 221)=12.43, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Religiousness is linked to higher gratitude and an increase in gratitude can result in an increase in subjective well-being. The importance of gratitude diary both among religious and non-religious people will be discussed.

Relationship between Personality Traits and the Inner Strengths.

BACKGROUND: Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality questionnaire (ZKA-PQ) measures five psychobiologically based personality factors (activity, aggression, extraversion, neuroticism, and sensation seeking). The inner strength (from the ten perfections based on Theravada Buddhism) deems positive character, which includes truthfulness, perseverance, wisdom, generosity, morality (five precepts), mindfulness and meditation, patience and endurance, equanimity, determination, and loving kindness measured by the strength-based inventory (SBI). Our aim was to unfold the relationship between ZKA factors and SBI. METHODS: 642 Thai (age mean = 28.27, SD = 10.61) individuals (males 26.2%, females 73.8%) filled out our questionnaire battery: (1) Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality questionnaire - 200 items, 20 facets, five factors: Aggressiveness, Sensation Seeking, Activity, Extraversion, Neuroticism. (Cronbach alphas: 0.88, 0.81, 0.83, 0.89, 0.91 for AG, SS, AC, EX, NEU, respectively). (2) Strength-based inventory - 10 items, measuring 10 inner strength (Cronbach alpha: 0.68). Pearson correlation, neural network modelling and person-oriented methodology (model-based clustering) were conducted for analysis. RESULTS: Our correlational results revealed that inner strengths are negatively related to Aggression (r=-0.44**), Neuroticism (r=-0.43**), Sensation seeking (r=-0.16**), whereas positively related to Extraversion (r=0.37**) and Activity (r=0.24**). Highest correlations were found between AG and patience (-0.43**) and NEU and perseverance (r=-0.40**), both with negative sign. According to neural network modelling Activity was most related to Perseverance, Aggression to lack of Patience, Neuroticism to lack of Perseverance and Equanimity, Sensation Seeking to lack of Morality. Extraversion was most weakly related to inner strengths, but it was related to all other personality dimensions. Model based clustering revealed four typical personality profiles: resilients (41.8%), extraverted undercontrollers (29.0%), introverted undercontrollers (10.6%) and overcontrolled (18.6%). Results showed that resilients had highest inner strength levels, whereas overcontrolled ones had the lowest. CONCLUSION: Negative traits are, as expected, conversely related with strength, while positive traits (extraversion and activity) are positively related with strength. Our results confirm that resilient personality pattern can be linked to the inner strengths measured by SBI scale, which was based on 10 Buddhist perfections. Further results should be addressed how increase in inner strength can be related to changes in biologically based personality dimensinos towards the resilient pattern.

Relations between God-Images and Early Maladaptive Schemas.

Our God image not only determines the nature of our relationship with God, it also influences our personality, actions, self-concept, mindset and social relations. It acts within and through us. Although everyone has a God image - regardless of whether one is a believer or not - the ways in which we experience God's relation to us are manifold. It is not unusual that even believers of the same congregation give accounts of diverse God images. Schema is a widely used term in psychology. Schemas describe cognitive structures that filter, encode and interpret the stimuli affecting the person. They can influence the perception of reality, which later impacts the behavior and mood of the individual and in severe cases can result in pathology. The factors influencing the God image and early maladaptive schemas both have proven roots in early childhood and are impacted by the child-parent relationship. Our research focuses on examining the connection between maladaptive schemas and the God image and their relation to parental influence.

Cancer as a Source of Posttraumatic Growth: A Brief Review.

The diagnosis and treatment of cancer represents an experience that is potentially psychologically traumatizing for patients. However, cancer can contribute to the experience of positive psychological changes, namely posttraumatic growth. We conducted a review of empirical studies (n=44) on posttraumatic growth in cancer patients. We focused on the relations of posttraumatic growth to socio-demographic, medical, and psychological adjustment correlates. Results from forty-four reviewed articles indicated that age, gender, and ethnicity were consistently associated with posttraumatic growth in cancer. Regarding illness-related factors, the majority of relationships were positive and were found between subjective severity of cancer, chemotherapy, and experienced growth. The review revealed inconsistent relationships between indicators of psychological adjustment (emotional distress, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and quality of life) and perceived positive changes in the case of the cancer patients. Longitudinal studies might resolve this inconsistency by showing that posttraumatic growth has benefits for later psychological adjustment, as other studies have already documented.

Morningness-eveningness, relationship quality, and quality of life among couples living together.

Morningness-eveningness (chronotype) indicates the preferred time of intellectual and physical activity. This cross-sectional study had two main aims. The first aim was to explore associations among chronotype, quality of life, and relationship quality. The second aim of this study was to examine whether the similarities or discrepancies in chronotype between male and female members of the couples were linked to relationship quality. Both members of 143 couples (mean age = 39.44; SD = 10.11y) living together for at least 6 months completed measures of chronotype, marital stress, relationship satisfaction, dyadic coping, satisfaction with life, health-related quality of life, and quality of sleep. Variable-oriented (correlational) and person-oriented (cluster-analytic) analyses were conducted. Variable-oriented analyses showed that morningness was linked to better mental health, and fewer insomnia problems, but less frequent (self-perceived) stress communication for both genders. The discrepancy between the couple's chronotype scores was positively related to the women's sexual and general life satisfaction and more frequent (self-perceived) supportive dyadic coping by the partner. Moreover, ANOVA results showed that Evening-type (E-type) women had the highest mean score on sexual life satisfaction. According to cluster-analytic investigation, couples consisting of two morning-type members had the least frequent stress communication. On the other hand, these couples had better sleeping quality with less insomnia symptoms than couples with two E-type members. In summary, the present findings demonstrate that morningness holds both advantages and disadvantages for both general aspects of life and also the quality of relationships.

Symptom continuum reported by affective disorder patients through a structure-validated questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Affective disorders, such as major depressive (MDD), bipolar I (BD I) and II (BD II) disorders, are overlapped at a continuum, but their exact loci are not clear. The self-reports from patients with affective disorders might help to clarify this issue. METHODS: We invited 738 healthy volunteers, 207 individuals with BD I, 265 BD II, and 192 MDD to answer a 79 item-MATRIX about on-going affective states. RESULTS: In study 1, all 1402 participants were divided random-evenly and gender-balanced into two subsamples; one subsample was used for exploratory factor analysis, and another for confirmatory factor analysis. A structure-validated inventory with six domains of Overactivation, Psychomotor Acceleration, Distraction/ Impulsivity, Hopelessness, Retardation, and Suicide Tendency, was developed. In study 2, among the four groups, MDD scored the highest on Retardation, Hopelessness and Suicide Tendency, whereas BD I on Distraction/ Impulsivity and Overactivation. CONCLUSION: Our patients confirmed the affective continuum from Suicide Tendency to Overactivation, and described the different loci of MDD, BD I and BD II on this continuum.

Multicultural Validation of the Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire Shortened Form (ZKA-PQ/SF) Across 18 Countries.

The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire shortened form (ZKA-PQ/SF) in 18 cultures and 13 languages of different African, American, Asian, and European cultures and languages. The results showed that the five-factor structure with 20 facets replicated well across cultures with a total congruence coefficient of .97. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) resulted in adequate fit indices for the five factors based on the comparative fit index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis index (TLI; >.90), and RMSEA (.031-.081). A series of CFA to assess measurement invariance across cultures resulted in adequate CFIs and TLIs for configural and metric invariance. However, factors did not show scalar invariance. Alpha internal consistencies of five factors ranged between .77 (Sensation Seeking) and .86 (Neuroticism). The average alpha of the 20 facets was .64 with a range from .43 (SS4) to .75 (AG1). Nevertheless, alpha reliabilities were lower in some facets and cultures, especially for Senegal and Togo. The average percentage of the variance explained based on the adjusted R2 was 2.9%, 1.7%, and 5.1% for age, sex, and, cultures, respectively. Finally, multidimensional scaling suggested that geographically or culturally close cultures share mean profile similarities.