Avi Besser

Perfectionism is multidimensional: A reply to Shafran, Cooper and Fairburn (2002)

provided a cognitive-behavioural analysis of perfectionism that focused primarily on self-oriented perfectionism. They argued against studying perfectionism from a multidimensional perspective that they regard as inconsistent with prior work on perfectionism as a self-oriented phenomenon. We respond to by offering historical, empirical, and theoretical support for the usefulness and the importance of a multidimensional model of perfectionism involving both intrapersonal processes and interpersonal dynamics. It is concluded that a multidimensional approach to the study of perfectionism is still warranted.

DIMENSIONS OF PERFECTIONISM, UNCONDITIONAL SELF- ACCEPTANCE, AND DEPRESSION

The current research investigated the associations among dimensions of perfectionism, unconditional self-acceptance, and self-reported depression. A sample of 94 students completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire, and a self-report depression measure. Correlational results indicated that all three trait dimensions of perfectionism (i.e., self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionism) were associated negatively with unconditional self-acceptance. Also, as expected, depression was associated with relatively low unconditional self-acceptance. Finally, a path analysis revealed that unconditional self-acceptance mediated the association between socially prescribed perfectionism and depression, and other-oriented perfectionism was found to affect depression only indirectly through its association with low levels of self-acceptance. The findings indicate that perfectionists evaluate themselves in terms of a contingent sense of self-worth, and as such, they are vulnerable to psychological distress when they experience negative events that do not affirm their self-worth.

The Apple Does Not Fall Far From the Tree: Attachment Styles and Personality Vulnerabilities to Depression in Three Generations of Women

The intergenerational transmission of attachment insecurity was examined in a community sample of 300 participants consisting of 100 three-generation triads of women. It was hypothesized that personality vulnerabilities mediate the association between attachment insecurity and depression within each generation. Findings show significant intergenerational congruence of trait vulnerabilities and attachment styles. Moreover, the second generation’s attachment dimensions and personality vulnerabilities were found to mediate the association between first- and third-generation scores on attachment and vulnerability variables. Findings supported the following hypothesized within- and between-generation paths: Within generations, self-criticism was found to mediate the association between attachment insecurity and depression; between generations, depression, but not self-criticism, mediated the association between assessments of attachment insecurity in mothers and their daughters. This study constitutes a first approach to the delineation of the role played by self-criticism in the association between negative models of the self and depression across generations.

Emotional Responses to a Romantic Partner's Imaginary Rejection: The Roles of Attachment Anxiety, Covert Narcissism, and Self-Evaluation

These studies tested the associations between responses to an induced imaginary romantic rejection and individual differences on dimensions of attachment and covert narcissism. In Study 1 (N=125), we examined the associations between attachment dimensions and emotional responses to a vignette depicting a scenario of romantic rejection, as measured by self-reported negative mood states, expressions of anger, somatic symptoms, and self-evaluation. Higher scores on attachment anxiety, but not on attachment avoidance, were associated with stronger reactions to the induced rejection. Moreover, decreased self-evaluation scores (self-esteem and pride) were found to mediate these associations. In Study 2 (N=88), the relative contributions of covert narcissism and attachment anxiety to the emotional responses to romantic rejection were explored. Higher scores on covert narcissism were associated with stronger reactions to the induced rejection. Moreover, covert narcissism seemed to constitute a specific aspect of attachment anxiety.

PTSD Symptoms, Satisfaction With Life, and Prejudicial Attitudes Toward the Adversary Among Israeli Civilians Exposed to Ongoing Missile Attacks

Few studies have examined the consequences of exposure to ongoing missile attacks in civilian populations. The authors examine the relationships between such exposure, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), satisfaction with life, and prejudicial attitudes toward the adversary. By using a stratified probability sampling, 160 adults, exposed to repeated missile attacks in southern Israel, were compared to 181 adults from areas outside the range of these attacks. Exposed participants reported more PTSD symptoms and less satisfaction with life, as compared to unexposed participants. The associations between PTSD and satisfaction with life and between PTSD and prejudicial attitudes were significantly stronger among the exposed participants, as compared to those who were not exposed to the attacks. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH AMONG FEMALE SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE IN RELATION TO THE PERPETRATOR IDENTITY

The objective of this study was to examine the extent of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology and posttraumatic growth in young adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse in relation to the identity of the perpetrator. Two hundred and forty-six non-clinical female university students were administered self-report questionnaires with regard to negative life events, PTSD symptoms, and posttraumatic growth. A sample of 93 participants who reported having been sexually abused during childhood either by a family member or a stranger were drawn for the study purpose. Comparison between the survivors in relation to the identity of the perpetrator, family member versus a stranger, revealed that the levels of PTSD and posttraumatic growth were both higher among survivors who were sexually abused by a family member compared to those who were sexually abused by a stranger. Mediational analysis revealed that levels of PTSD mediated the identity of the perpetrator effect on posttraumatic growth. Rachel Lev-Wiesel, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, Ben Gurion University. She serves as the Director of the Graduate Art Therapy Program and the Undergraduate Social Work Program. Her main research interests are trauma, PTSD, and coping. Avi Besser, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Sapir Academic College, D.N. Hof Ashkelon, Israel. His main research interest is in the area of personality and social psychology, specifically, vulnerability factors to depression across the lifespan and interpersonal functioning.

A longitudinal study of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and generalized anxiety disorder in Israeli civilians exposed to war trauma.

This 3-wave longitudinal study examined the mental health consequences of the Israel-Gaza 2008-2009 war among young Israeli civilians. Data on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and their predictors were collected during the war, and 2 and 4 months after cease fire. Results showed a sharp decline in symptom levels of PTSD, MDD, and GAD over time. Perceived social support during the war moderated the effects of immediate emotional response on subsequent levels of PTSD, MDD, and GAD. These findings underscore the importance of social support and immediate emotional response to trauma in predicting trauma-related psychopathology, and highlight the potential need for providing early care to exposed individuals exhibiting immediate and severe emotional responses.

Cognitive functioning and geriatric suicide ideation: testing a mediational model.

The authors evaluated a structural model of the relationship between cognitive functioning and geriatric suicide ideation, mediated by Depression/Hopelessness, a latent construct characterized by a combination of the two. A heterogeneous sample of 90 elderly participants completed the Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale, a new, multidimensional self-report measure of suicide ideation in seniors, and measures of cognitive functioning, depression, and both global and social forms of hopelessness. The results demonstrated significant associations between suicide ideation and the various predictor variables. The results of structural-equation modeling supported the proposed mediational model, indicating that the Depression/Hopelessness construct mediates the relationship between cognitive functioning and suicide ideation among older persons. These findings have implications for the conceptualization and treatment of potentially suicidal elderly persons.

Intrapersonal Resilience Moderates the Association Between Exposure-Severity and PTSD Symptoms Among Civilians Exposed to the 2014 Israel–Gaza Conflict

Among civilians exposed to war trauma, the development of acute anxiety symptoms has been found to be positively associated with the severity of the traumatic exposure but negatively associated with intrapersonal resilience (optimism, hope, and self-esteem). No study to date has examined whether intrapersonal resilience plays a moderating role in the development of acute anxiety among individuals as they are exposed to trauma. This “natural laboratory” study examined the putative role of intrapersonal resilience in moderating the association between exposure-severity and the development of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as assessed in vivo (i.e., under life-threatening conditions during exposure to war). A nonclinical community sample of 251 adults was assessed during real-time exposure to missile and rocket fire during an eruption of violence in the Middle East during July and August 2014. The results indicate that the severity of PTSD symptoms was positively associated with severity of exposure to trauma. However, this association was moderated by individual differences in intrapersonal resilience. More specifically, individuals with low levels of intrapersonal resilience reported more PTSD symptoms than those with high levels of intrapersonal resilience in the geographic regions in which individuals were exposed to low and high levels of rocket and missile fire. The findings of this study provide further evidence that intrapersonal resilience may significantly mitigate the development of PTSD symptoms among civilians exposed to potentially traumatic events.

Self-criticism, dependency, silencing the self, and loneliness: a test of a mediational model

The current study extended recent research on the relational aspects of self-criticism and dependency by examining their association with individual differences in silencing the self and loneliness. A sample of 167 respondents (including 78 in current romantic relationships) were administered the McGill version of the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ), the Silencing The Self Scale, and measures of loneliness and depression. The results indicated that self-criticism was associated with silencing the self, loneliness, and depression, while dependency was not associated significantly with loneliness. As expected, a mediational model confirmed that silencing the self mediated the link between self-criticism and loneliness, even after taking related individual differences in levels of depression into account. Our findings held generally for people in a current relationship or not in a current relationship, but certain findings highlighted the need to distinguish whether self-silencing is being evaluated within the context of a current relationship. Overall, our results point to self-silencing as a tendency that links depressive orientations and loneliness. The theoretical and practical implications of the associations among personality vulnerabilities, self-silencing, and loneliness are discussed.