Glen W. Bates

Adult attachment style and vulnerability to depression

Abstract The present study examined the role of adult attachment styles in differentiating ‘depressed’ and ‘non-depressed’ college students, and the association between attachment styles and the depressive personality vulnerabilities, sociotropy and autonomy. High scores on the fearful and, to a lesser extent, preoccupied attachment scales were associated with higher levels of depression, highlighting negative self-representation as a key factor in depression. While the sociotropy vulnerability construct correlated exclusively with the preoccupied attachment scale, correlations for the autonomy construct were more complex: as predicted, fearful attachment correlated with all three autonomy subscales while dismissive attachment correlated with the defensive-separation and control subscales, but not with the self-criticism subscale. With an emphasis on negative self-representation, preoccupied attachment also correlated with the self-criticism subscale. The results suggest that fearful attachment is consistent with autonomous vulnerability and preoccupied attachment with sociotropic vulnerability. Self-criticism, a component of both fearful and preoccupied attachment, is highlighted as a strong depressive vulnerability. Dismissive attachment, not involving the self-critical component, does not appear to be associated with depressive predisposition, despite involving self-reliance and avoidance of intimacy.

Diagnosing personality disorders in psychiatric inpatients.

This study investigated assumptions made by DSM‐III and DSM‐III‐R regarding Axis I ‐ Axis II associations and sex differences for the 11 personality disorders (PD). A total of 112 patients formed 4 Axis I diagnostic groups: recent‐onset schizophrenia (n= 35); recent‐onset mania (n= 26); unipolar affective disorder (n= 30); and a mixed diagnostic group (n= 21). The prevalence of PD was determined using the Structured Interview for DSM‐III Personality Disorders (SIDP). Schizophrenia was associated with antisocial PD and schizotypal PD; manic disorder was associated with histrionic PD; and unipolar affective disorder was associated with borderline, dependent and avoidant PD. Some of these results were consistent with DSM‐III/DSM‐III‐R postulates. However, there was little support for the DSM‐III/DSM‐III‐R statements on sex differences in the prevalence of PD, except for antisocial PD. The implications of the results for DSM‐III/DSM‐III‐R assumptions are discussed.

Correlates of psychological well-being at midlife: The role of generativity, agency and communion, and narrative themes

This study examined the correlates of well-being at midlife in 49 midlife adults. Self-report measures of generativity, agency and communion, along with relevant themes taken from narratives were considered as predictors of Ryff’s multidimensional model of well-being and of life satisfaction. Multiple regressions identified generative concern as a predictor of the six well-being dimensions and of life satisfaction. A separate series of multiple regressions identified narrative themes of contamination, redemption, and affect tone as predictors of four of the well-being dimensions and of life satisfaction. Hierarchical regression analyses controlling for self-report measures showed contamination to be a significant predictor of environmental mastery, personal growth, and life satisfaction. Affect tone was a predictor of self-acceptance and life satisfaction. This pattern of results was not influenced by the inclusion of demographic factors. Overall, the findings indicate the utility of combining narrative data with self-report data in investigating well-being at midlife.

Anger in PTSD: is there a need for a concept of PTSD-related posttraumatic anger?

Despite extensive research on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anger in PTSD has received little attention. This is surprising, given anger is a key predictor of treatment outcome in PTSD. This paper seeks to build an argument for investigating anger in PTSD as a discrete entity. A key argument is that the capacity to image visual mental phenomena is crucial to the aetiology and maintenance of anger in PTSD. Evidence is reviewed for the influence of visual imagery in anger in PTSD from the perspectives of neuropsychology, psychopathology, anger and PTSD. An argument is advanced for including visual imagery in an integrated (visual-linguistic) cognitive model of anger in PTSD. Directions for research on visual imagery in anger in PTSD and its treatment implications are discussed.

Personality Disorders in Recent-Onset Bipolar Disorder

The frequency and types of DSM-III personality disorders (PDs) were investigated in a sample of 26 recent-onset bipolar-disordered (BD) patients. Results showed that 62% of BD patients had PDs according to the Structured Interview for DSM-III Personality Disorders (SIDP). The most frequently diagnosed PDs were the histrionic, borderline, passive-aggressive, and antisocial categories. A comparison between the BD patients and a sample of 35 recent-onset schizophrenic patients showed significant differences for two PDs. Schizotypal PD was more frequently diagnosed in the schizophrenic group, while the BD group had a higher frequency of histrionic PD.

Comparing the Psychometric Properties of Two Measures of Wisdom: Predicting Forgiveness and Psychological Well-Being with the Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS) and the Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale (3D-WS)

Two recently developed scales of wisdom were compared on their abilities to have their dimensional structure replicated and to predict relevant personality (i.e., forgiveness) and life satisfaction (i.e., psychological well-being) variables. One hundred and seventy-six primarily (71%) Australian participants ranging in age from 18 to 68 years (M = 36.60, SD = 12.07) completed an online survey of the Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS; Webster, 2003, Journal of Adult Development, 10, 13–22; 2007, International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 65, 163–183), the Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale (3D-WS; Ardelt, 2003, Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 52B, 15–27), the Heartland Forgiveness Scale (Thompson et al., 2005, Journal of Personality, 73, 313–360), Ryffs (1989, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 1069–1081) measure of psychological well-being (PWB), and a measure of social desirability (BIDR; Paulhus, 1984, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 598–609). Results indicated that the dimensional structure of the SAWS, but not the 3D-WS, replicated, and the 3D-WS, but not the SAWS, was contaminated by a social desirability response bias. Both scales predicted equally well PWB and forgiveness in predicted directions. Implications for future use of both scales are discussed.

Utility of the dimensions of anger reactions-5 (DAR-5) scale as a brief anger measure

Anger is a common emotional sequel in the aftermath of traumatic experience. As it is associated with significant distress and influences recovery, anger requires routine screening and assessment. Most validated measures of anger are too lengthy for inclusion in self‐report batteries or as screening tools. This study examines the psychometric properties of a shortened 5‐item version of the Dimensions of Anger Reactions (DAR), an existing screening tool.

Gambling accessibility: a scale to measure gambler preferences

Geographic closeness of gambling venues is not the only aspect of accessibility likely to affect gambling frequency. Perceived accessibility of gambling venues may include other features such as convenience (e.g., opening hours) or “atmosphere”. The aim of the current study was to develop a multidimensional measure of gamblers’ perceptions of accessibility, and present evidence for its reliability and validity. We surveyed 303 gamblers with 43 items developed to measure different dimensions of accessibility. Factor analysis of the items produced a two factor solution. The first, Social Accessibility related to the level at which gambling venues were enjoyed because they were social places, provided varying entertainment options and had a pleasant atmosphere. The second factor, Accessible Retreat related to the degree to which venues were enjoyed because they were geographically and temporally available and provided a familiar and anonymous retreat with few interruptions or distractions. Both factors, developed as reliable subscales of the new Gambling Access Scale, demonstrated construct validity through their correlations with other gambling-related measures. Social Accessibility was moderately related to gambling frequency and amount spent, but not to problem gambling, while, as hypothesised, Accessible Retreat was associated with stronger urges to gamble and gambling problems.

Critical incident stress in victoria state emergency service volunteers: Characteristics of critical incidents, common stress responses, and coping methods

Abstract This study was an exploratory investigation of key elements in Critical Incident Stress in 25 volunteer members of the Victoria State Emergency Service, a service which responds to road accident rescues in Victoria, amongst other emergency activities. The principal findings were as follows: (a) six factors were found to be most characteristic of Critical Incidents (CIs), and those factors reflected three themes, namely knowing or identifying with the victim or their family; large scale incidents; and suprise or novelty of the event; (b) stress responses often did not occur during the CI, those symptoms which did emerge were predominantly cognitive; (c) after a CI, cognitive and physiological responses were most common; (d) avoidance styles of coping (e.g., “keep active” and “switch off”) were more common during a CI, whereas approach styles of coping (e.g., “discussion” and “debriefing”) were more common afterwards; (e) participants reported having learnt how to cope more effectively following a ...

The tasks of self-managing hepatitis C: the significance of disclosure.

The narratives of those with hepatitis C were viewed through the lens of Corbin and Strauss’ [Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (1988). Unending work and care: Managing chronic illness at home. The Jossey-Bass health series and The Jossey-Bass social and behavioral science series. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.] self-management model for chronic illness, using qualitative methodology. Fifteen Australian hepatitis C positive interviewees described the challenges and turning points in adjusting to their diagnosis. The data were analysed using open- and closed-coding methods. Support was found for a self-management model encompassing medical, emotional and life role facets for those adjusting to life with hepatitis C. Unique challenges emerged beyond those described by Corbin and Strauss (1988), namely that disclosure impacted both positively and negatively on the tasks of self-management. It was concluded that self-management may be compromised by disclosure, particularly distress derived from hepatitis C-related stigma. The self-management tasks described contribute to broadening clinicians’ understanding of the challenges faced by those living with hepatitis C.