The Assessment of Dual-Cycle Identity Models Among Secondary School Students: The Hungarian Adaptation of DIDS and U-MICS.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the factor structure and validity of the Hungarian versions of the Dimensions for Identity Development Scale (DIDS) and Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS). Both models assume that the iterative process of exploring and evolving commitments occurs in two distinct cycles. The sample for testing the factor structure of DIDS consisted of 808 adolescents (357 boys and 451 girls) aged between 14 and 21 years (Mage = 16.86; SD = 1.35). The sample for testing the factor structure of U-MICS consisted of 803 adolescents (353 boys and 450 girls) aged between 14 and 21 years (Mage = 16.88; SD = 1.34). Results indicated a five factor model of DIDS in the present sample. All the five dimensions correlated as hypothesized both internally and externally. In line with previous research, six clusters emerged based on the dimensions of DIDS, including ruminative moratorium. Regarding U-MICS, results indicated a three factor model in the present sample. All the three dimensions were internally and externally correlated as hypothesized regarding both ideological and interpersonal identity domains. With regard to the identity status cluster solution, five clusters emerged in both the educational and friendship domains. We found specific variation regarding identity clusters in the two identity domains. Our results support the use of these two measurements in Hungarian context. Further, our results confirm the divergent developmental dynamics of ideological and interpersonal identity domains.

Identity Diffusion as the Organizing Principle of Borderline Personality Traits in Adolescents-A Non-clinical Study.

Growing evidence shows that diagnosing and treating borderline personality disorder (BPD) is of high relevance for affected youths. Although identity crisis is part of the normative developmental process, identity diffusion is a potential candidate for being an appropriate concept in further developing screening tools and interventions for BPD treatment in adolescence. We hypothesized that severity of borderline traits (as indicated by the strength of their associations with identity diffusion) would be negatively associated with non-clinical adolescents' endorsement of borderline features' presence. We also hypothesized that identity diffusion had a central role in the network of borderline personality traits and could be conceived of as a latent organizing principle of borderline personality disorder. In our study, 169 non-clinical adolescents (81 girls and 88 boys; M age = 15.38; SDage = 1.52) filled out self-report measures of borderline personality features and identity diffusion. According to our results, having strong feelings and interpersonal sensitivity were the two most endorsed borderline personality features. Borderline personality features were positively correlated with identity diffusion. The more severe a borderline personality feature was, the less relevant it was for non-clinical adolescents. According to a network analysis, identity diffusion was the most central and least redundant element of the network of borderline personality traits. Results are discussed from a clinical point of view, further encouraging professionals to use identity diffusion screening tools to detect BPD in adolescence.

[Psychotherapy and efficacy]. / Pszichoterápia és hatékonyság.

Evaluation of the efficacy in psychotherapy dates back to the beginnings of psychotherapy itself. However, it is not an easy task to undertake efficacy evaluation because it is expensive and several methodological difficulties may be also present. The authors discuss some questions related efficacy evaluation in psychotherapy, including criteria for selecting the cases and the actual target of evaluation. In addition, the authors analyze the narrative psychological content analysis method which includes the analysis of psychological features and their changes of texts written by the patient about him- or herself. They conclude that this method can open novel perspectives in psychotherapy.

[Investigation of the compulsive and impulsive behavioral addictions among adolescents]. / Kompulzív és impulzív viselkedési zavarok vizsgálata serdülokorban.

INTRODUCTION: Recently there has been an increase in the number of studies focusing on behavioral addictions. The aim of our research was to examine the behavioral addictions among adolescents and prove their connection with emotion regulation difficulties. Based on the compulsive-impulsive spectrum approach of addictions we hypothesized that the compulsive and impulsive forms of eating disorders (binge eating, emotional eating and restriction) - despite their various symptom structure - share a common motive, i.e. the emotion regulation deficit. METHODS: Our participants were high-school students (n = 272) between the age of 16 and 17 (128 males and 144 females, mean age: 16,8). We used the impulse- and emotion control subscales on the emotional stability dimension of the Big Five Questionnaire (BFQ), the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21), the Hungarian Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIH-K) and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). RESULTS: We found a strong connection between the uncontrolled eating and the problematic internet use (r = 0,404; p < 0,05). As expected, the individuals' skill of emotion regulation and their impulsiveness are both strongly correlated to these impulsive disorders (see Table 1.) Interestingly the cognitive restriction (r=0,073; p>0,05) and emotional eating (r=0,061; p>0,05) did not correlate with emotion regulation difficulties. There was a connection between the emotional eating and the emotion- (r=-0,264; p<0,05) and impulse control deficit (r=-0,142; p<0,05), however. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these results we argue that the impulsive behavior of the adolescents (binge eating, problematic internet use) is determined by their impulsivity and their emotion regulation strategy. However, a compulsive behavior such as the cognitive restraint is regarded as a much more conscious and healthy behavior, the core feature of the emotional eating is also assumes a high anxiety level.

[Decision making for termination of pregnancies and the pre-abortion period in the context of women's mental health]. / A terhesség megszakításával járó döntéshozatali folyamat és a preabortusz idoszaka a nok mentális állapotával összefüggésben.

Based on statistical figures of the past 30 years, the number of induced abortions in Hungary is constantly decreasing. However, compared to the number of live births, even today approximately one third of pregnancies conceived eventuate in termination. Various international studies confirm the negative consequences of the intervention exerting influence on women's mental health. The aim of this publication is to give a summary on the psychological aspects of the decision making process in the pre-abortion period, from the diagnosis of pregnancy to the surgical intervention. The authors present a detailed overview on the background for the reasons of the decision, the stages of the period from conception until termination, as well as factors related to difficulties in decision making, and possible psychological consequences.