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Umucu E, Lee B. Employment and emotional well-being in veterans with mental illness. Stress Health 2024; 40:e3339. [PMID: 37876154 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine group differences between employed and unemployed Veterans with mental illnesses utilizing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) emotion toolbox factors including negative affect, psychological well-being, stress, and social relationships. Data was collected from three samples from 2018 to 2020. The first sample (Sample 1) is 156 Veterans with mental illness from Amazon MTurk; the second sample (Sample 2), recruited from a higher education institution, is 232 veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms; and the final sample (Sample 3), recruited from a higher education institution, is 129 Veterans with disabilities, including psychiatric disabilities. Independent-samples t-tests were carried out to test our objectives. Sample 1 results revealed that employed Veterans with mental illnesses had lower levels of depression and stress and higher levels of positive emotion, life satisfaction, meaning in life, and social relationships compared to unemployed Veterans. Sample 2 results revealed that employed Veterans with PTDS symptoms had lower levels of stress and higher levels of positive emotion and lower levels of stress compared to unemployed Veterans with PTSD symptoms. Sample 3 results revealed that employed Veterans with disabilities including psychiatric disabilities had lower levels of depression and higher levels of positive emotion and social relationships. Our findings are consistent with the previous research documenting that employment plays a central role in optimal psychological and physical health in both civilians and veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Umucu
- College of Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Beatrice Lee
- College of Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
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Jie W, Xinyi W, Tao X. Reliability and validity of simple Chinese version of grit scale for elementary school students. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:304. [PMID: 38807247 PMCID: PMC11134693 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01809-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Grit scale (GS-12) is a widely used rating scale that assess passion and perseverance. The present study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of simple Chinese Version of Grit Scale (GS-SC) among Chinese adolescents. METHODS Seven hundred one primary school students were recruited as Sample 1. Item analysis and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were conducted on Sample 1 to preliminarily examine the structure of the scale. Sample 2 consisted of 5,384 primary school students. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and verification of reliability and validity were conducted on Sample 2 to establish a formal scale and further verify the psychometric properties by applying item response theory (IRT). RESULTS EFA and CFA revealed a clear two-factor structure. The results demonstrated that the Simplified Chinese Version of Grit Scale had adequate internal consistency and re-test reliability. GS-CS also showed good criterion-validity with personality, self-control, effort regulation and academic achievement. Furthermore, all the items show a acceptable fit to the GRM and have good discrimination (ranging from 2.13 to 3.45) and moderate difficulty(ranging from-1.58 to 0.95). CONCLUSIONS The reliability and validity of the GS-SC are good, indicating that the scale can be used as an effective tool for measuring the grit of primary school students in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Jie
- College of Education for the Future, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai519000, China
| | - Wang Xinyi
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing100875, China
| | - Xin Tao
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing100875, China.
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Delfel E, Hammond A, Shields GS, Moore DJ, Slavich GM, Thames AD. Psychological grit moderates the relation between lifetime stressor exposure and functional outcomes among HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative adults. Stress Health 2023; 39:1058-1071. [PMID: 36997157 PMCID: PMC10544691 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
The ability to maintain functional independence throughout the lifespan may be diminished among medically compromised and chronically stressed populations. People living with HIV are more likely to demonstrate functional impairment and report greater exposure to lifetime and chronic stressors than their seronegative counterparts. It is well-known that exposure to stressors and adversity is associated with functional impairment outcomes. However, to our knowledge, no studies have examined how protective factors such as psychological grit mitigate the negative effects of lifetime and chronic stressor exposure on functional impairment, and how this association differs by HIV-status. To address this issue, we studied associations between lifetime and chronic stressor exposure, grit, and functional impairment in 176 African American and non-Hispanic White HIV-seropositive (n = 100) and HIV-seronegative (n = 76) adults, aged 24-85 (M = 57.28, SD = 9.02). As hypothesised, HIV-seropositive status and lower grit, but not lifetime stressor exposure, were independently associated with more functional impairment. Moreover, there was a significant three-way interaction between HIV-status, grit, and lifetime stressor exposure, b = 0.07, p = 0.025, 95% CI [0.009, 0.135]. Specifically, lifetime stressor exposure was related to more functional impairment for HIV-seronegative-but not HIV-seropositive-adults who reported low levels of grit. These findings suggest that the protective effects of grit may differ across populations at risk for functional impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Everett Delfel
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Long Beach, California, USA
| | - Andrea Hammond
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Long Beach, California, USA
| | - Grant S. Shields
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - David J. Moore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - George M. Slavich
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - April D. Thames
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Trinh CD, Griffin ML, Li V, McHugh RK, Weiss RD. Assessment of the Short Grit Scale in patients with substance use disorder: Psychometric properties and patient characteristics. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2023; 49:399-405. [PMID: 36972561 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2023.2181702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Background: Recovery from substance use disorder requires sustained effort and perseverance. Hence, the resilience factor of grit may be important for people in recovery. Little research has been conducted on grit in patients with substance use disorder (SUD), especially in a large and varied sample.Objectives: To analyze the psychometric properties of the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S) in patients with SUD and to use demographic and clinical characteristics to predict variance in Grit-S scores.Methods: Participants completed the Grit-S and other self-report measures. Psychometric properties of the Grit-S were assessed in outpatients (N = 94, 77.7% male) and a hierarchical regression predicted Grit-S variance in inpatients (N = 1238, 65.0% male).Results: The Grit-S demonstrated good internal consistency (α=.75) and strong test-retest reliability (adjusted r = .79, p < .001). Mean Grit-S score was 3.15, lower than other clinical samples reported in the literature. Regression modeling indicated a moderate, statistically significant association between demographic and clinical characteristics and Grit-S scores (R2 = 15.5%, p < .001). Of particular interest, the positive factor of recovery protection showed the strongest association with Grit-S of all variables assessed (β=.185 vs. β = .052-.175 for the remaining significant independent variables).Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the Grit-S in patients with SUD support its use in this population. Moreover, the particularly low grit scores among inpatients with SUDs and the association of grit scores with substance use risk and recovery factors suggest that grit could be useful as a treatment target in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine D Trinh
- Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Margaret L Griffin
- Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vivian Li
- Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - R Kathryn McHugh
- Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roger D Weiss
- Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Kolc KL, Tan YXK, Lo AZY, Shvetcov A, Mitchell PB, Perkes IE. Measuring psychiatric symptoms online: A systematic review of the use of inventories on Amazon Mechanical Turk (mTurk). J Psychiatr Res 2023; 163:118-126. [PMID: 37209617 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Symptom measurement in psychiatric research increasingly uses digitized self-report inventories and is turning to crowdsourcing platforms for recruitment, e.g., Amazon Mechanical Turk (mTurk). The impact of digitizing pencil-and-paper inventories on the psychometric properties is underexplored in mental health research. Against this background, numerous studies report high prevalence estimates of psychiatric symptoms in mTurk samples. Here we develop a framework to evaluate the online implementation of psychiatric symptom inventories relative to two domains, that is, the adherence to (i) validated scoring and (ii) standardized administration. We apply this new framework to the online use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). Our systematic review of the literature identified 36 implementations of these three inventories on mTurk across 27 publications. We also evaluated methodological approaches to enhance data quality, e.g., the use of bot detection and attention check items. Of the 36 implementations, 23 reported the applied diagnostic scoring criteria and only 18 reported the specified symptom timeframe. None of the 36 implementations reported adaptations made in their digitization of the inventories. While recent reports attribute higher rates of mood, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders on mTurk to data quality, our findings indicate that this inflation may also relate to the assessment methods. We provide recommendations to enhance both data quality and fidelity to validated administration and scoring methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristy L Kolc
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Yue Xuan Karen Tan
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alys Z Y Lo
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Artur Shvetcov
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia
| | - Philip B Mitchell
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Iain E Perkes
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Department of Psychological Medicine, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Sydney, Australia
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Goldstein KE, Feinberg A, Vaccaro DH, Ahmed T, Chu KW, Goodman M, Govindarajulu U, Challman KN, Haghighi F, Yehuda R, Szeszko PR, Osterberg T, Tang CY, Haznedar MM, Hazlett EA. Smaller rostral cingulate volume and psychosocial correlates in veterans at risk for suicide. Psychiatry Res 2023; 320:115032. [PMID: 36610318 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.115032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Suicide research/clinical work remain in dire need of effective tools that can better predict suicidal behavior. A growing body of literature has started to focus on the role that neuroimaging may play in helping explain the path towards suicide. Specifically, structural alterations of rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rost-ACC) may represent a biological marker and/or indicator of suicide risk in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Furthermore, the construct of "grit," defined as perseverance for goal-attainment and shown to be associated with suicidality, is modulated by rost-ACC. The aim was to examine relationships among rost-ACC gray matter volume, grit, and suicidality in U.S. Military Veterans. Participants were age-and-sex-matched Veterans with MDD: with suicide attempt (MDD+SA:n = 23) and without (MDD-SA:n = 37). Groups did not differ in depression symptomatology. Participants underwent diagnostic interview, clinical symptom assessment, and 3T-MRI-scan. A Group (SA-vs.-No-SA) x Cingulate-region (rostral-caudal-posterior) x Hemisphere (left-right) mixed-model-multivariate-ANOVA was conducted. Left-rost-ACC was significantly smaller in MDD+SA, Group x Cingulate-region x Hemisphere-interaction. Lower grit and less left-rost-ACC gray matter each predicted suicide attempt history, but grit level was a more robust predictor of SA. Both structural alterations of rost-ACC and grit level represent potentially valuable tools for suicide risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim E Goldstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Abigail Feinberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Research & Development, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Daniel H Vaccaro
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Research & Development, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Tasnova Ahmed
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Research & Development, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - King-Wai Chu
- Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC VISN 2), James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Research & Development, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Marianne Goodman
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC VISN 2), James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Usha Govindarajulu
- Center for Biostatistics, Department of Population Health Science & Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Katelyn N Challman
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC VISN 2), James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Research & Development, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Fatemeh Haghighi
- Research & Development, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Yehuda
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Mental Health Patient Care Center, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Philip R Szeszko
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC VISN 2), James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Mental Health Patient Care Center, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Terra Osterberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC VISN 2), James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Research & Development, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Cheuk Y Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Diagnostic, Molecular, and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - M Mehmet Haznedar
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Mental Health Patient Care Center, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Erin A Hazlett
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC VISN 2), James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Research & Development, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Umucu E. Creating a college adjustment index score for student veterans with and without disabilities. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1020232. [PMID: 36387005 PMCID: PMC9645224 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1020232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher education is a critical public health tool to achieve economic success, upward mobility, and improved quality of life. Yet, certain groups of students, including student veterans with and without disabilities (SVDs), are at high risk for course failure and dropout, partially due to challenges related to college adjustment. The purpose of this study is to develop a new college adjustment index score for SVDs. We had a total of 4 different research studies to examine the psychometric properties of our college adjustment index score. After conducting a series of psychometric analyses, we selected a total of 18-items. This 18-item tool may help clinicians and researchers conceptualize college adjustment among students through the lens of integrative Tinto's model and positive psychology approaches. Our psychometric analyses revealed that this index tool is brief, reliable, and valid tool to capture college adjustment in SVDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Umucu
- Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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Thimbriel R, Urkmez B, Lee B, Umucu E. COVID-19 stress, resilience, and job loss concerns in people with chronic conditions and disabilities. JOURNAL OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3233/jvr-221211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: People experience higher levels of psychological distress during times of crisis, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. Resilience is a psychological resource that helps people to recover from adverse events. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of resilience on COVID-19-related stress and worry about job loss in people with chronic conditions and disabilities (PwCID). METHODS: The Perceived Stress Questionnaire -8 (PSQ-8) and the Brief Resilience Scale were used to measure COVID-19-related stress and resilience, respectively. Demographics were also assessed. A two-step hierarchical regression and binary regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: A moderate amount of perceived stress and resilience with mean scores of 2.45 (SD = 0.69; range 1-4) and 3.17 (SD = 0.98; range 1-5), respectively, were found among the 269 participants. Resilience (β=-0.44, p < 0.001) was significantly associated withCOVID-19-related stress after controlling for demographic variables. Results also revealed that those with higher resilience scores had lower probability to worry about job loss. CONCLUSION: PwCID who have higher scores on resilience reported lower levels of COVID-19-related stress. Resilience can be cultivated among PwCID for better psychological outcomes during times of crisis. Vocational rehabilitation counselors can implement strategies to improve resilience in PwCID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Thimbriel
- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Bilal Urkmez
- Department of Counseling and Higher Education, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Beatrice Lee
- Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Emre Umucu
- Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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Lee B, Rumrill P, Tansey TN. Examining the Role of Resilience and Hope in Grit in Multiple Sclerosis. Front Neurol 2022; 13:875133. [PMID: 35651340 PMCID: PMC9150841 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.875133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of resilience and hope on grit when controlling for demographic covariates, depression, and anxiety in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was a cross-sectional study with a sample of 348 participants with MS. Descriptive statistics were performed to examine participants' demographic characteristics. A three-step hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the extent to which resilience and hope explain the unique variance in grit while controlling for demographic covariates, depression, and anxiety. Findings suggested that resilience and hope explained a significant amount of variance in grit when controlling for demographic covariates, depression, and anxiety. Furthermore, higher resilience and hope scores were associated with higher grit scores. Given that resilience, hope, and grit are modifiable, rehabilitation and mental health professionals (e.g., psychologists, psychiatrists, rehabilitation counselors) can integrate strength-based interventions into their practices to bolster resilience, hope, and grit in people with MS. Our paper also has implications for interdisciplinary research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Lee
- Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Phillip Rumrill
- Human Development Institute, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Timothy N Tansey
- Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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Umucu, PhD E, Lee, PhD B, Berwick A, O’Neill LE, Chan F, Chen X. Reducing the Influence of Perceived Stress on Subjective Well-Being of Student Veterans With and Without Disabilities: The Protective Role of Positive Traits and Social Support. REHABILITATION COUNSELING BULLETIN 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/00343552221077942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The transition from the regimented environment of military service to a less structured college lifestyle can be stressful for student veterans with and without disabilities, which highlights the importance of exploring protective person-environmental contextual factors that can help student veterans with and without disabilities manage their stress effectively, leading to enhanced well-being. The purpose of this cross-sectional correlational design study was to examine the role of positive person-environment contextual factors, including hope, resilience, core self-evaluations, and social support, to reduce the influence of perceived stress on the subjective well-being (SWB) of student veterans with and without disabilities. The sample included 205 student veterans (71.7% males; 80.5% White; Mage = 29.32; 39% with service-connected disability). Findings suggested that core self-evaluations and social support partially mediated the relationship between perceived stress and SWB in student veterans with and without disabilities. Implications for clinicians, university counselors, and university staff are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Fong Chan
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Umucu E, Rumrill P, Chiu CY, Ghosh A. Functional Limitations, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and College Adjustment in Student Veterans: A Mediation Analysis Study. REHABILITATION RESEARCH, POLICY, AND EDUCATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1891/re-21-04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine whether functional limitations mediate the relation between PTSD symptoms and college life adjustment in student veterans with PTSD symptoms.MethodsA total of 232 student veterans with PTSD symptoms were recruited for this study. Participants were predominantly male (84.5%; females = 15.5%). Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 54 years (M = 28.43, SD = 5.42). Correlational analyses were conducted to calculate the relationships among study variables. We also conducted a mediation analysis to examine whether functional limitations mediate the relationship between PTSD symptoms and college life adjustment.ResultsThe mediation analysis indicated that the effect of PTSD symptoms on college adjustment can be partially explained by functional limitations.ConclusionOur results have potentially important implications for rehabilitation counseling researchers and clinicians in the COVID-19 era.
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Grenawalt TA, Lu J, Hamner K, Gill C, Umucu E. Social isolation and well-being in veterans with mental illness. J Ment Health 2022; 32:407-411. [PMID: 35001791 DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2021.2022625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Veterans with mental illness are a growing population in the United States (US). For some veterans, their military service has a negative effect on well-being. Social isolation is problematic for veterans' mental health by increasing incidence of depression, suicidal ideation or attempts, and readmittance to psychiatric hospitals. Social support is a protective factor for individuals with mental illness and is key to a successful military-to-civilian transition. AIM Thus, we examine the relationship of social isolation on well-being among veterans with any mental illness. METHODS This cross-sectional correlational study consisted of a sample of 146 US veterans with any mental illness. A three-step hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine if social isolation is a predictor of well-being after controlling for demographics, functional limitations and depression. RESULTS Findings revealed social isolation was positively correlated with functional limitations (r = 0.48, p < 0.001), depression (r = 0.66, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with well-being (r = -.64, p < 0.001). Hierarchical regression analysis revealed social isolation was negatively correlated (β = -.44, p < 0.001) with well-being. Overall, our three-step model accounted a total of 50% of variance in well-being, a large effect size. CONCLUSION The findings underscore the importance of assessing the relationship of social isolation on well-being in veterans with mental illness. The findings also highlight promising targets to improve prevention and psychosocial interventions to improve well-being among veterans with mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Junfei Lu
- The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Karl Hamner
- The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | | | - Emre Umucu
- Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology & Special Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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Umucu E, Lee B, Genova HM, Chopik WJ, Sung C, Yasuoka M, Niemiec RM. Character Strengths Across Disabilities: An International Exploratory Study and Implications for Positive Psychiatry and Psychology. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:863977. [PMID: 35280155 PMCID: PMC8914428 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.863977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in character strengths for people with disabilities by using an international dataset by the VIA Institiute on Character. Specifically, we aimed to explore (a) the top and bottom five character strengths reported by different disability groups and all people with disabilities more broadly, and (b) group differences in each character strength and total character strengths. The investigator contacted the VIA Institute on Character (http://www.viacharacter.org/) for obtaining the dataset for the current study. After data cleaning, our sample size resulted in 11,699 people with disabilities. Among most people with disabilities, the top five character strengths scores were love of learning, honesty, appreciation of beauty and excellence, kindness, and fairness. The bottom five character strengths scores were self-regulation, perseverance, zest, spirituality, and prudence. Knowing that there is heterogeneity in character strengths across groups gives us a better understanding of the areas that people with different disabilities and conditions might thrive and provides clinicians and practitioners with a more nuanced understanding for how to possibly intervene with their clients. Positive psychiatry and psychology implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Umucu
- Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Beatrice Lee
- Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Helen M Genova
- Center for Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research, Kessler Foundation, West Orange, NJ, United States
| | - William J Chopik
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Connie Sung
- Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Mizuka Yasuoka
- Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Ryan M Niemiec
- Education Director of the VIA Institute, VIA Institute on Character, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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Umucu E, Lo CL, Lee B, Vargas-Medrano J, Diaz-Pacheco V, Misra K, Martin SL, Thompson PM, Gadad BS. Is Gratitude Associated With Suicidal Ideation in Veterans With Mental Illness and Student Veterans With PTSD Symptoms? J Nerv Ment Dis 2022; 210:26-31. [PMID: 34417422 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The present study is aimed to identify the effect of gratitude as an adaptive regulating mechanism from suicidal ideation (SI) for veterans with mental illness (study 1) and student veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (study 2) in the United States. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to examine sociodemographic characteristics and relationships between gratitude and SI. Our study 1 consisted of 156 veterans with mental illness. The mean age for study 1 was 37.85. Our study 2 consisted of 232 student veterans with PTSD symptoms. The mean age for study 2 was 28.43. Higher gratitude scores in study 1 and study 2 were significantly associated with lower SI scores after adjusting for demographics and depression. This study partially supports the association between gratitude and SI in veterans with mental illness. Based on the results from this study, gratitude interventions may be effective in reducing SI when working with veterans with mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Umucu
- Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education, College of Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Chu-Ling Lo
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso
| | - Beatrice Lee
- Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education, College of Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | | | | | - Kiran Misra
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas
| | - Sarah L Martin
- Department of Psychiatry, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
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15
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Kalia V, Knauft KM, Smith AR. Differential Associations between Strategies of Emotion Regulation and Facets of Grit in College Students and Adults. The Journal of Genetic Psychology 2021; 183:122-135. [PMID: 34915829 DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2021.2013156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
According to socioemotional selectivity theory, motivation influences emotion regulation. Grit is a motivation orientation defined by the passionate pursuit of long-term goals. We conducted two studies to determine the relation between facets of grit and two emotion regulation strategies: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. In Study 1, we examined the relation between these variables in college students (20-24 year olds), and Study 2 focused on community adults (25-72 year olds). Facets of grit were assessed using the Short Grit Scale and habitual use of emotion regulation strategies was assessed using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. We combined data from both studies and conducted regression analyses to examine the role of each facet of grit, participant's age, and the interaction between age and facets of grit in the habitual use of either reappraisal or suppression as strategies to regulate emotions. The regression analyses revealed that both facets of grit were positively associated with reappraisal regardless of age. However, the facets of grit differed in their associations with expressive suppression. Grit-Consistency was negatively associated with expressive suppression, regardless of age. But, a significant interaction effect with participant's age emerged for Grit-Perseverance. Specifically, Grit-Perseverance was positively associated with expressive suppression only in individuals below the age of 31. Overall, the data suggest that the relations between facets of grit and habitual use of emotion regulation strategy may vary with age. Additionally, our work indicates adults with high levels of grit may experience healthy emotional functioning, particularly later in adulthood.
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Umucu E. Functional limitations and worrying to lose employment among individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities during COVID-19: A hierarchical logistic regression model. JOURNAL OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION 2021. [DOI: 10.3233/jvr-201114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: As an unexpected environmental factor causing significant economic, financial, and health challenges for everyone, it is no wonder that COVID-19 presents significant employment-related worries for people with chronic health conditions and disabilities. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore whether higher levels of functional limitations are associated with worry about job loss for individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions. METHODS: Data for this study were collected to understand the effects of COVID-19 on individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions. A total of 219 employed participants were extracted from a total of 269 individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions. The mean age among participants was 37.83 (SD = 10.97). RESULTS: Our hierarchical logistic regression analysis revealed that (a) demographic variables were not associated with worry about job loss in the first block, (b) perceived COVID-19 stress (AOR = 2.90, p < 0.001) was correlated with worry about job loss in the second block, and (c) functional limitations (AOR = 1.06, p < 0.001) were positively correlated with worry about job loss in the third block. Overall, the entire model containing all predictor variables in three blocks explained 23% (Nagelkerke R2) of the variance in worry about job loss. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the disability and vocational rehabilitation literature by examining the relationship between functional limitations and worry to lose jobs in people with disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Umucu
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Program, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
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Umucu E, Reyes A, Carrola P, Mangadu T, Lee B, Brooks JM, Fortuna KL, Villegas D, Chiu CY, Valencia C. Pain intensity and mental health quality of life in veterans with mental illnesses: the intermediary role of physical health and the ability to participate in activities. Qual Life Res 2020; 30:479-486. [PMID: 32974882 PMCID: PMC7515555 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-020-02642-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the intermediary role of physical health quality of life and ability to participate social roles and activities in the relationship between pain intensity and mental health quality of life in veterans with mental illnesses. Methods This is a cross-sectional correlational design study. Our participants are 156 veterans with self-reported mental illness (Mage = 37.85; SDage = 10.74). Descriptive, correlation, and mediation analyses were conducted for the current study. Results Pain intensity was negatively correlated with physical health QOL, ability to participate in social roles and activities, and mental health QOL. Physical health QOL and ability to participate in social roles and activities were positively associated with mental health QOL, respectively. Physical health QOL was positively correlated with a ability to participate in social roles and activities. Study results indicate that the effect of pain intensity on mental health QOL can be explained by physical health QOL and ability to participate. Conclusions Specific recommendations for practitioners include implementing treatment goals that simultaneously focus on physical health and ability to participate in social roles and activities for clients who present with both physical pain and low mental health QOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Umucu
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Ave, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
| | - Antonio Reyes
- Division of Special Education and Counseling, CA State University - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Paul Carrola
- Department of Educational Psychology and Special Services, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Thenral Mangadu
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Beatrice Lee
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Ave, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Jessica M Brooks
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Karen L Fortuna
- The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Concord, NH, USA
| | - Diana Villegas
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Ave, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Chung-Yi Chiu
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Carolina Valencia
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Ave, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
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