Andreas A. J. Wismeijer

Psychological Characteristics of BDSM Practitioners

INTRODUCTION It has been generally thought that the practice of bondage-discipline, dominance-submission, sadism-masochism (BDSM) is in some form associated with psychopathology. However, several more recent studies suggest a relative good psychological health of BDSM practitioners. AIM The aim of this study was to compare scores of BDSM practitioners and a control group on various fundamental psychological characteristics. METHODS For this aim, 902 BDSM and 434 control participants completely filled out online questionnaires. Associations were examined using χ(2) tests of independence with φ and Cramers V as effect size measures and eta or Pearsons correlation. Group differences were tested using analysis of covariance, with partial η(2) as effect size measure. A priori contrasts were tested using α = 0.01 to correct for multiple testing; for all other tests we used α = 0.05, two tailed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The study used Big Five personality dimensions (NEO Five-Factor Inventory), attachment styles (Attachment Styles Questionnaire), rejection sensitivity (Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire), and subjective well-being (World Health Organization-Five Well-being Index). RESULTS The results mostly suggest favorable psychological characteristics of BDSM practitioners compared with the control group; BDSM practitioners were less neurotic, more extraverted, more open to new experiences, more conscientious, less rejection sensitive, had higher subjective well-being, yet were less agreeable. Comparing the four groups, if differences were observed, BDSM scores were generally more favorably for those with a dominant than a submissive role, with least favorable scores for controls. CONCLUSION We conclude that BDSM may be thought of as a recreational leisure, rather than the expression of psychopathological processes.

A Comparative Study of the Dimensionality of the Self-Concealment Scale Using Principal Components Analysis and Mokken Scale Analysis

We discuss and contrast 2 methods for investigating the dimensionality of data from tests and questionnaires: the popular principal components analysis (PCA) and the more recent Mokken scale analysis (MSA; Mokken, 1971). First, we discuss the theoretical similarities and differences between both methods. Then, we use both methods to analyze data collected by means of Larson and Chastains (1990) Self-Concealment Scale (SCS). We present the different results and highlight the instances in which the methods complement one another so as to obtain a stronger result than would be obtained using only 1 method. Finally, we discuss the implications of the results for the dimensionality of the SCS and provide recommendations for both the further development of the SCS and the future use of PCA and MSA in personality research.

Measurement invariance of the Illness Invalidation Inventory (3*I) across language, rheumatic disease and gender

Objectives The Illness Invalidation Inventory (3*I) assesses patients’ perception of responses of others that are perceived as denying, lecturing, not supporting and not acknowledging the condition of the patient. It includes two factors: ‘discounting’ and ‘lack of understanding’. In order to use the 3*I to compare and pool scores across groups and countries, the questionnaire must have measurement invariance; that is, it should measure identical concepts with the same factor structure across groups. The aim of this study was to examine measurement invariance of the 3*I across rheumatic diseases, gender and languages. Methods Participants with rheumatic disease from various countries completed an online study using the 3*I, which was presented in Dutch, English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish; 6057 people with rheumatic diseases participated. Single and multiple group confirmatory factor analyses were used to test the factorial structure and measurement invariance of the 3*I with Mplus. Results The model with strong measurement invariance, that is, equal factor loadings and thresholds (distribution cut-points) across gender and rheumatic disease (fibromyalgia vs other rheumatic diseases) had the best fit estimates for the Dutch version, and good fit estimates across the six language versions. Conclusions The 3*I showed measurement invariance across gender, rheumatic disease and language. Therefore, it is appropriate to compare and pool scores of the 3*I across groups. Future research may use the questionnaire to examine antecedents and consequences of invalidation as well as the effect of treatments targeting invalidation.

Secrets and Subjective Well-Being: A Clinical Oxymoron

In this chapter secrecy as a research theme will be introduced. Although secrets potentially concern us all, it is still not a mainstream topic of research. First we focus on how secrecy is defined, followed by a discussion on what people keep secret and the reason to keep secrets. Then research on the inter- and intrapersonal consequences of secrecy is discussed, with an emphasis on the negative effects for subjective well-being (SWB). It will be shown that the effects of secrecy on SWB critically depend on what facet of secrecy one is studying. It will become clear that secrecy is a multifaceted phenomenon, requiring a multidisciplinary research approach. It is concluded that research on secrecy is highly important because of the associated negative consequences for well-being, but that several important issues about secrecy are still unresolved. Future research themes are suggested.

Dimensionality Analysis of the Thought Suppression Inventory: Combining EFA, MSA, and CFA

The Thought Suppression Inventory (TSI; Rassin, European Journal of Personality 17: 285-298, 2003) was designed to measure thought intrusion, thought suppression and successful thought suppression. Given the importance to distinguish between these three aspects of thought control, the aim of this study was to scrutinize the dimensionality of the TSI. In a sample of 333 Dutch senior citizins, we examined (1) the dimensionality of the TSI using various procedures such as PAF, Mokken scale analysis (MSA) and CFA, and (2) the scale properties of the TSI. PAF favored a two factor solution, however, MSA and CFA suggested that three dimensions most adequately capture the structure of the TSI. Although all scales obtained at least medium scalability coefficients, several items were identified that are psychometrically unsound and may benefit from rewording or replacement. The findings suggest that the TSI is a three-dimensional questionnaire as originally proposed by Rassin (European Journal of Personality 17: 285-298, 2003) measuring thought intrusion, thought suppression, and successful thought suppression.

The Relations Between Secrecy, Rejection Sensitivity and Autonomy-Connectedness

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine the effects of two attachment-related variables on secrecy: rejection sensitivity and autonomy-connectedness. We hypothesized that rejection sensitivity is positively associated with secrecy, and autonomy-connectedness negatively with rejection sensitivity and secrecy. These hypotheses were generally corroborated in a sample of 303 university students. Moreover, we found that autonomy-connectedness at least partly explained the association between rejection sensitivity and secrecy. Self-awareness was negatively related to secrecy, suggesting that being aware of what one needs and thinks and being able to realize ones needs in social interactions reduce the tendency to keep secrets. In addition, interesting gender effects were found suggesting that men have a higher tendency to have secrets than women after controlling for the effects of autonomy-connectedness and rejection sensitivity. Our findings deepen the insight into possible reasons behind established associations between rejection sensitivity and secrecy, and may have clinical implications.

Associations between secret-keeping and quality of life in older adults

This study examined the effects of secrecy on quality of life in a sample consisting of older adults (>50 years; N = 301). Three key components of secrecy were examined with the Tilburg Secrecy Scale-25 (TSS25; possession of a secret, self-concealment, and cognitive preoccupation). The TSS25 distinguishes between the tendency to conceal personal information (self-concealment) and the tendency to worry or ruminate about the secret (cognitive preoccupation), thereby enabling investigation of the effects of secrecy on quality of life in detail. Confirming previous findings in younger samples, we found a positive effect of possession of a secret on quality of life, after controlling for both TSS25’s self-concealment and cognitive preoccupation. This suggests that keeping secrets may have a positive association with quality of life in older adults as well, as long as they do not have the tendency to self-conceal and are not cognitively preoccupied with their secret.

Het effect van actieve coping in protocollaire behandeling

SamenvattingEen actieve copingstijl hangt samen met een betere gezondheid. Daarnaast suggereert eerder onderzoek dat cliënten met een actieve copingstijl betere therapieresultaten behalen dan cliënten met een passieve copingstijl. In deze studie is onderzocht of cliënten met een passieve copingstijl sneller uitvallen en minder van therapie profiteren dan cliënten met een actieve copingstijl, wanneer zij allemaal dezelfde, actieve behandeling krijgen. Het bleek dat cliënten met een passieve copingstijl niet sneller uitvallen dan en evenveel profiteren van protocollaire, groepsgewijze cognitieve gedragstherapie als cliënten met een actieve copingstijl. Wel bleken cliënten met een passieve copingstijl gedurende de hele behandeling meer klachten te hebben dan cliënten met een actieve copingstijl, wat impliceert dat een actieve coping gezonder is dan een passieve coping. Uit ons onderzoek blijkt dat beide cliëntengroepen in gelijke mate profiteren van een actieve protocollaire behandeling. AbstractAn active coping style correlates with better health outcomes. Previous research also suggests that clients with active coping skills perform better in therapy than clients with passive coping skills. We investigated whether clients with a relative passive coping style benefitted less from therapy and had a higher drop-out rate than clients with a relative active coping style. This did not seem to be the case. Clients with relatively passive coping skills did not show a higher drop-out rate and did not benefit less from an active standardized therapy than relatively active clients. Clients with passive coping skills experienced more symptoms than clients with active coping skills, which indicates that an active coping style is healthier than passive coping. To conclude, patients with active and passive coping skills both benefit just as much from an active, standardized, cognitive-behavioural therapy.