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Research snapshot

Research snapshot : PTSD measurement

May 2021

An evaluation of self-report measures of PTSD symptoms in adults reveals the best ones.

An Australian team reviewed literature for measures of PTSD symptoms in adults and evaluated them for their psychometric properties and utility for clinical practice. Twenty-two self-report measures were found and evaluated. For nonspecific trauma the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the Short Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Rating Interview (SPRINT) were judged to be the most psychometrically valid measures, with the highest clinical utility scoring. The article also provides details of the evaluation of measures for 12 specific trauma exposure populations.

https://doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2021.1893615

Research snapshot : Menopause and depression

March 2021

Sexual symptoms of menopause may indicate greater risk of depressive symptoms.

The relationships between menopausal and depressive symptoms were examined in a sample of 384 multi-ethnic women self-reporting as menopausal. The experience of sexual symptoms (change in sexual desire, vaginal dryness, avoiding intimacy) related to menopause was associated with a greater degree of depressive symptoms. Racial or ethnic background had no impact on this relationship. There was no impact of hot flushes or psychosocial symptoms of menopause on depressive symptoms. The authors recommended that menopausal women who report sexual symptoms may warrant a more thorough screen for depression.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.09.009

Research snapshot : The lonely brain

March 2021

Loneliness is a health risk, but our brains compensate in unexpected ways.

The health risks associated with loneliness suggest it places specific burdens on the brain. This study sought to investigate the neural signature of ‘trait loneliness’ – a long-term perception of social isolation. Data from three assays of brain structure and function were taken from a large UK cohort (N= 38,701) and assessed alongside a binary classification measure (“Do you often feel lonely?”). The neurobiological profiles were suggestive of a ‘default network’ showing more consistent associations in grey matter volume than other cortical brain networks. Lonely individuals were showed stronger functional communication in this network and greater microstructural integrity. The researchers suggested that these neural circuits support mentalising, reminiscence and imagination to fill the social void.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20039-w

Research snapshot : Learning experiences around drinking

March 2021

First drinking experiences alter the course of outcome expectancies around alcohol.

Outcome expectancies are formed by observing other people and then modified by direct experiences. In an American study, 1023 middle-school students completed biannual longitudinal surveys over three years measuring positive and negative expectancies before and after three alcohol-related milestones (first sip, first full drink, first heavy drinking experience). Results indicated that positive expectancies increased over time, and that the influence of direct experience on learning tended to be stronger when milestones were met at an earlier age. Conversely, negative expectancies tended to remain stable or decrease slightly over time and tended to be stronger when the first-drink milestone was reached at a later age.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797620959006

Research snapshot : Climate change education

March 2021

Educational and developmental psychologists have an important role to play in the climate crisis.

In an editorial, Allen discusses the role of educational and developmental psychologists in the climate crisis. They can help teach resiliency and coping skills for managing responses to natural disasters, important given the increase in frequency and intensity of natural disasters. They can help young people to cope with their concerns and fears about the changing climate. This includes helping them to explore and develop different forms of constructive coping strategies which can help them initiate climate action and manage their fears. Educational and developmental psychologists have already been playing an important role in the teaching of climate change. Some examples are provided in the editorial. Allen makes a call to action for educational and developmental psychologists to continue their work in climate change literacy, supporting youth, conducting research and driving change.

https://doi.org/10.1017/edp.2020.6

Research snapshot : Body dissatisfaction in men

January 2021

Stigma around men having body image concerns can prevent them getting help.

A qualitative focus group study explored 40 Australian men’s experiences with body dissatisfaction and sociocultural influences, such as stigma and gender bias. The male participants commonly indicated a perception that body dissatisfaction is less dangerous for men compared to women. However, they often described a lack of media portrayal of men’s body dissatisfaction. Men’s friendship groups were commonly regarded as a strong influence on whether men felt they needed to invest in their appearance and be concerned about evaluation or their diet and exercise behaviours. The men mostly viewed steroids as dangerous and socially undesirable. They generally thought that having muscles signalled their dedication to their appearance but in some cases muscles suggested a low level of intelligence. Body dissatisfaction was described as a taboo topic. Participants also commonly believed that it was unlikely that a man would seek help from a psychologist or general practitioner for emotional distress associated with body dissatisfaction. The researchers concluded that there is a need to increase awareness of male body image concerns, challenge the notion that only females experience body image concerns and normalise the experience and disclosure of body image concerns in men.

https://doi.org/10.1111/cp.12198

Research snapshot : Constructive thinking about threats

January 2021

Constructivist psychology can inform adapting to existential threats.

Mascolo and Burbach (2020) propose a model of transformative problem-solving to support the adaptation of communities, organisations and individuals in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. This model involves a series of loosely organised phases that evolve dynamically over time, including encountering the threat, coordinating a leadership process, constructing a systematic problem-solving space, constructing possible solutions and synthesising and implementing a systemic solution. The authors illustrate the process of transformative problem-solving with an analysis of how a group of four families in the UK responded to the need to rethink their approach to educating their children during coronavirus lockdown. Through using transformative problem-solving, the families were able to explore their assumptions and values around parenting and education, acknowledge a need to grieve and recognise that the solution to their difficulties lay in showing initiative and creating systematic changes in existing educational structures. The authors propose that transformative problem-solving, and constructive thinking more broadly, can help individuals, organisations and communities adapt to the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic and other potential existential crises. 

https://doi.org/10.1080/10720537.2020.1835592

Research snapshot : Refugee students’ wellbeing

January 2021

Family support and wisdom aids recovery from war trauma.

American researchers examined posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, wisdom and resilience among Iraqi Chaldean refugee high school students in Detroit, USA. There were 98 students who completed a survey; 14 of whom also took part in an interview, while 16 also took part in a focus group. The students were found to have low levels of posttraumatic stress, which the researchers interpreted as being due to their being relieved from the war zone and having started to dream of their future. The researchers measured different aspects of wisdom. The higher the students’ level of reflective wisdom, that is, their willingness to look at their situation from multiple perspectives, the less likely they were to suffer from posttraumatic stress and the higher level of resilience they showed. The qualitative data suggested that while some students might be experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder, many students were focused on their future rather than recalling their past. Family support played a critical part in their overcoming war trauma and building their resilience. 

https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000520

Research snapshot : Nature therapy

January 2021

Time in nature provides mental health benefits so long as it’s by choice.

Exposure to natural environments has been found to be associated with a lower risk of common mental health disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression). Researchers examined the nature-related motivation and experiences of people with mental health disorders by drawing on data from an 18-country survey (n =18,838) that was focused on recreational use of green (e.g., parks and woodlands) and blue (e.g., rivers and lakes) spaces. Use of prescribed medication for depression or anxiety was used as a proxy for having a common mental health disorder. Motivation to visit nature was high for all. Most individuals with a mental health disorder visited nature at least once a week. However, while perceived social pressure to visit nature was associated with a higher likelihood of doing so, it was also associated with less motivation to visit nature, lower visit happiness and higher visit anxiety. The researchers recommend sensitivity with ‘green prescription’ programs so that individuals are assisted to feel motivated rather than pressured into visiting nature.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75825-9 

Research snapshot : Baby pain

November 2020

Skin-to-skin contact with a parent may reduce an infant’s brain response to pain.

In a study in the UK, the impact of parental contact on infant pain-related brain activity was examined. Brain activity (EEG) was recorded during a clinically required heel lance in three age and sex-matched groups of infants aged up to 96 days old: while held by a parent in skin-to-skin contact (n = 9), while held by a parent with clothing on (n = 9) or (c) or not held at all (lying in cot or incubator) (n = 9). It was found that being held by skin-to-skin contact reduced the magnitude of pain-related brain activity compared to being held with clothing on. Infants’ brains were also found to use a different pathway to process their response to pain when infants were held skin-to-skin rather than with clothing on. Pain-related brain activity was also lower in infants that remained in the cot or incubator than those held in clothing, but the researchers suggested this may have been due to the disruption of being picked up before the procedure. While the findings do not indicate if the baby actually feels less pain when skin-to-skin, the research supports the important role of touch between parents and their infants.

https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.1656 

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