Associations Between Positive and Negative Affect and the Way People Perceive Their Health Goals

Masked distress: The mediated effects of face masks on physical and emotional suffocation

This study explores the effects of bodily states on emotions based on embodied cognition theories of conceptual metaphor and feelings-as-information theory. Specifically, it investigates how physical suffocation induced by mask-wearing affects perceptions of emotional suffocation related to one's romantic relationship and financial situation. In this quantitative online experiment, we employed a convenience sampling method through a crowdsourcing platform. Adult participants (N = 180, 25 years or older and involved in a romantic relationship) were randomly assigned to three conditions: wearing COVID-19 masks properly, wearing masks on their chins, or not wearing masks. After completing a puzzle meant to prolong mask-wear, participants filled out digital questionnaires assessing their experiences of physical and psychological distress. The results supported our proposed mechanisms, revealing that increased feeling of physical suffocation while wearing masks properly, compared to the other conditions, was linked to heightened feelings of financial and romantic distress, supporting the conceptual metaphor account. This link was partially mediated by elevated state anxiety, aligning with the feelings-as-information theory. This study demonstrates how bodily experiences can impact emotional states, and highlights the complex interplay between everyday behaviours like mask-wearing and emotions.

Discordance between self-report and performance-based outcomes: Contribution of psychosocial factors

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of psychosocial factors in the discordance between perceived and observed physical disability in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee joint. This was a cross-sectional study of patients seen for consideration of joint arthroplasty surgery. Patients completed a psychosocial outcome measure, a patient self-reported functional scale, and two performance-based tests. Data of 121 patients, mean age, 67 (8), 81 (67%) females were used for analysis. The fear avoidance and positive affect domains had the strongest association with the discordance between the self-report and both performance outcome measures. Age, gender, and severity of osteoarthritis were associated with discordance in relation to walking. Fear avoidance beliefs and positive affect play important roles in perception of pain and function. Age, gender, and severity of arthritis should be taken into consideration for a more holistic approach to arthritis care.

Clustering Analysis of Time Series of Affect in Dyadic Interactions

An important goal when analyzing multivariate time series is the identification of heterogeneity, both within and across individuals over time. This heterogeneity can represent different ways in which psychological processes manifest, either between people or within a person across time. In many instances, those differences can have systematic patterns that can be related to future outcomes. In close relationships, for example, the daily exchange of affect between two individuals in a couple can contain a particular structure that is different across people and can result in varying levels of relationship satisfaction. In this paper we use Louvain, a clustering method, as a tool to characterize heterogeneity in multivariate time series data. Using affect measures from dyadic interactions, we first determine that Louvain is adept at detecting homogeneous patterns that are distinct from one another. Additionally, these homogeneous points are linked, at some level, by time. Thus, we find that clustering via Louvain is useful to find time periods of stable, reoccurring patterns. However, using measures founded on information theory reveals that there is some level of information loss that is inevitable when clustering on levels of variable expression. Finally, we evaluate the predictive validity of the clustering method by examining the relation between the identified clusters of affect and measures outside the time series (i.e., relationship satisfaction and breakup taken one and two years later).

Determinants of Positive and Negative Affect among Adolescents and Young Adults in Indonesia: A Population-Based Survey

Positive and negative affect are crucial for mental health. However, the determinant factors of positive and negative affect have yet to be examined between adolescents and young adults. This study aimed to explore the determinant factors of positive and negative affect, comparing their effects among adolescents and young adults and among the two sexes in Indonesia. We undertook secondary data analyses of the Indonesia Family Life Survey for this cross-sectional study. Questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics, physical and mental health-related variables, and childhood family experiences from 2014 were used as independent variables, and positive and negative affect were used as the dependent variables. Hierarchical linear regression was performed to investigate the factors associated with positive and negative affect and to compare their effects between adolescents and young adults. The hierarchical linear regression revealed that sociodemographic characteristics, perceived health, smoking, chronic condition, acute morbidity, sleep, childhood family experiences, depression, personality type, life satisfaction, happiness, and experience of disasters were associated with positive and negative affect among adolescents and young adults in Indonesia. Identification of positive and negative affect as well as their associated factors among adolescents and young adults should be considered when developing preventive programs in the community.

How Leader-Member Exchange Affects Creative Performance: An Examination From the Perspective of Self-Determination Theory

It has been shown that leadership is a major factor that influences creative performance. Although past studies have found that leader-member exchange (LMX) has direct effects on employee creative performance, there continues to be a lack of research examining how the LMX relationship mediates creative performance. This study used self-determination theory to examine the mediating effects of the LMX relationship on creative performance through attitudinal and emotional processes. Participants were supervisors and subordinates of township enterprises in the Pearl River Delta in China. There were 386 valid supervisor-subordinate dyads. Supervisors were responsible for assessing creative performance and the remaining variables were completed by employees. Results showed that high LMX increased the positive moods of subordinates, improved creative performance, and stimulated intrinsic motivation for improvement. Based on the results, we have proposed academic and practical recommendations such as organizations that want to encourage creativity, could begin by training managers to demonstrate high LMX by strengthening their relationships with employees. We also described study limitations, and suggested directions for future studies.

Psychometric Properties of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) in the Iranian Older Adults

PURPOSE

Mental wellbeing is considered as an important and effective factor in older adults' psychological health. Due to lack of a standard instrument for the assessment of mental wellbeing in Iranian older adults, the present study was performed to examine validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS-P) for use among Iranian older adults.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study sample included 304 older adults aged 60 and over, admitted to the Shohada Educational Hospital affiliated to the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, North West of Iran. The participants were recruited through the convenience sampling method in May to September 2017.

RESULTS

The mean and standard deviation of the mental wellbeing score were 50.30 and 8.82, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) results demonstrated a one-factor solution with 13 items which was verified by the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The estimated internal consistency measure of Cronbach's alpha (0.93) and two weeks' time test-retest reliability index (0.84) met the prerequisite criteria.

CONCLUSION

According to the results, the WEMWBS-P with 13 items has acceptable validity and reliability to assess the mental wellbeing of Iranian and other Persian-speaking older adults.