Heart-Focused Anxiety Among Trauma-Exposed Latinx Young Adults: Relations to General Depression, Suicidality, Anxious Arousal, and Social Anxiety

Rates of traumatic event exposure, posttraumatic stress (PTS), and co-occurring mental health symptoms and disorders are conditionally higher among Latinx individuals compared to other racial/ethnic populations. Importantly, Latinx persons are a heterogeneous population, and certain subgroups endorse higher rates of negative mental health outcomes than others, including Latinx young adults born in the USA. Yet, there is little understanding of individual difference factors among trauma-exposed US born Latinx young adults that may be involved in mental health burden among this group. The present investigation sought to evaluate the potential explanatory relevance of heart-focused anxiety as an individual difference factor regarding some of the most common co-occurring mental health problems among trauma-exposed populations. Specifically, we tested whether heart-focused anxiety was related to increased co-occurring anxious arousal symptoms, depression, social anxiety, and suicidality among 169 (84% female, M_age=23.15 years, SD=6.07) trauma-exposed Latinx young adults. Results indicated that heart-focused anxiety was a statistically significant predictor of general depression (ΔR² = .02, F(1, 161) = 4.25, p = .041), suicidality (ΔR² = .10, F(1, 161) = 21.49, p < .001), anxious arousal (ΔR² = .11, F(1, 161) = 27.31, p < .001), and social anxiety (ΔR² = .03, F(1, 161) = 7.93, p = .005). Overall, this work offers empirical evidence that individual differences in heart-focused anxiety are related to more severe co-occurring anxiety and depressive symptomatology among a particularly at risk Latinx segment of the Latinx population (non-immigrant Latinx young adults s with previous trauma history).

How does subjective social status affect internalizing and externalizing problems among Syrian refugee adolescents?

Although previous studies found the importance of community subjective social status for adolescent health, its relationship with mental health problems among refugee adolescents is unclear. To close this gap, we examined the nature of the relationship between subjective social status and externalizing problems in refugee adolescents. We carried out a cross-sectional study among three hundred and six 11–18-year-old Syrian refugee adolescents in Turkey. The measurements of the study were the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the Depression Self Rating Scale for Children (DSRS-C), and the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS). The results supported the idea that adolescent’s community subjective social status may affect internalizing problems directly and externalizing problems indirectly via internalizing problems. The mediation effect of the internalizing problems on the relationship between subjective social status and externalizing problems were confirmed by three separate mediation models. The results were discussed in terms of previous literature.

Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry: An Interpersonal Approach to Construct Validation

The present study applied the interpersonal perspective in testing the narcissistic admiration and rivalry concept (NARC) and examining the construct validity of the corresponding Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ). Two undergraduate samples (Sample 1: N = 290; Sample 2: N = 188) completed self-report measures of interpersonal processes based in the interpersonal circumplex (IPC), as well as measures of related constructs. In examining IPC correlates, the authors used a novel bootstrapping approach to determine if admiration and rivalry related to differing interpersonal profiles. Consistent with the authors' hypotheses, admiration was distinctly related to generally agentic (i.e., dominant) interpersonal processes, whereas rivalry generally reflected (low) communal (i.e., hostile) interpersonal processes. Furthermore, NARQ-admiration and NARQ-rivalry related to generally adaptive and maladaptive aspects of status-related constructs, emotional, personality, and social adjustment, respectively. This research provides further support for the NARC, as well as construct validation for the NARQ.

Social rank theory of depression: A systematic review of self-perceptions of social rank and their relationship with depressive symptoms and suicide risk

BACKGROUND

Depression can be debilitating, as well as a risk factor for self-harm and suicide. Social rank theory (SRT) suggests depression stems from feelings of defeat and entrapment that ensue from experiencing oneself to be of lower rank than others. This study aims to review the literature investigating the relationship between self-perceptions of social rank and depressive symptoms or suicidal ideation/behaviour.

METHODS

A keyword search of three psychological and medical databases was completed (Psychinfo, Medline, Web of Knowledge). Studies were quality assessed using established criteria.

RESULTS

An initial 1290 records were identified. After application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 70 remained measuring depressive symptoms (n = 68), self-harm (n = 3) and suicidal ideation (n = 3). The main measures assessing social rank were the social comparison scale (SCS; n = 32) and subjective social status (SSS, n = 32), with six additional papers including another measure of social rank. In univariate analyses, as perceptions of social rank decreased, depressive symptoms (and suicidal ideation/self-harm) increased. Multivariate analyses indicated that social rank may act as a psychosocial mechanism to explain the relationship between social factors (in particular socio-economic status) and depressive symptoms. Additionally, psychological variables, such as rumination or self-esteem, may mediate or moderate the relationship between social rank and depressive or suicidal symptoms.

LIMITATIONS

Study quality was variable and 89% of studies were cross-sectional.

CONCLUSIONS

Although more prospective research is required, this review highlights the importance of understanding an individual's perception of their social position compared to others as it may lead to an enhanced understanding of the aetiology of depressive disorders.

Daily Interpersonal Experience Partially Explains the Association Between Social Rank and Physical Health

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomic position is a well-established risk factor for poor physical health.

PURPOSE

This study examines whether the effects of lower social rank on physical health may be accounted for by differences in daily social experience.

METHODS

In a large community sample (N = 475), we examined whether subjective social rank is associated with self-rated health, in part, through positive and negative perceptions of daily interpersonal interactions, assessed using ecological momentary assessment.

RESULTS

Higher social rank was associated with higher average perceived positivity of social interactions in daily life (e.g., B = .18, p < .001), but not with perceived negativity of social interactions. Further, the association between social rank and self-rated physical health was partially accounted for by differences in perceived positivity of social interactions. This effect was independent of well-characterized objective markers of SES and personality traits.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in the quality of day-to-day social interactions is a viable pathway linking lower social rank to poorer physical health.

Evaluating Circumplex Structure in the Interpersonal Scales for the NEO-PI-3

Scales to assess the eight octants and two axes of the interpersonal circumplex (IPC) using items from the revised NEO Personality Inventory were introduced by Traupman et al. Item changes in the revised and renormed third edition of the NEO instrument (NEO-PI-3) have affected item content in all eight octant scales, underscoring the need to reexamine the IPC scales. The current study examines the circumplex structure of the revised octant scales in the NEO-PI-3 and their correlations with the Dominance and Warmth scales of the Personality Assessment Inventory in 568 undergraduate students. The data show perfect fit to circumplex structure, suggesting equivalent or better assessment of the IPC with the NEO-PI-3 octant scales. Convergence of the eight octants with the Personality Assessment Inventory interpersonal scales further supports their saturation with interpersonal content and appropriate location within the IPC.