John F. Schumaker

Loneliness and Life Satisfaction in Japan and Australia

We examined the relationship between loneliness and life satisfaction in 121 residents of Fukoku, Japan, and 139 residents of Melbourne, Australia, using the Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1983) and the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell, Peplau, & Cutrona, 1980). Australian subjects reported significantly less loneliness and significantly greater life satisfaction than Japanese subjects. A high inverse correlation was found between loneliness and life satisfaction in Australian subjects, with a much smaller inverse relationship observed among the Japanese, suggesting that loneliness in Japanese subjects did not emotionally translate into life dissatisfaction as it did in Australian subjects. Instead, the experience of loneliness in Japanese individuals may remain largely independent of general life satisfaction.

Eating Disorders Among Indian and Australian University Students

In a study of eating disorders, 297 Australian and 249 Indian university students completed the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26; Garner, Olmsted, Bohr, & Garfinkel, 1982) and the Goldfarb Fear of Fat Scale (GFFS; Goldfarb, Dykens, & Gerrard, 1985). Contrary to predictions, the Indian participants scored significantly higher than the Australian participants on both measures. The Indian women scored significantly higher than the Australian women on the EAT-26 but not on the GFFS. The Australian men showed significantly fewer symptoms than all other groups. The Indian men did not differ from the Australian or Indian women on either the EAT-26 or GFFS. The urban Indians did not differ from their rural counterparts on the GFFS, but the rural Indians had significantly higher EAT-26 scores than the urban Indians.

Death Anxiety in Japan and Australia

This study compared death anxiety ratings as measured by the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (Templer, 1970) in 121 Japanese and 139 Australian subjects. Japanese subjects had significantly higher death anxiety scores than their Australian counterparts. Australian women scored significantly higher than Australian men, but no sex differences were found in the Japanese sample. A slight but statistically significant positive correlation was found between age and death anxiety scores. This study contradicted other research that indicated that Eastern cultural attitudes mitigated anxiety about death. These findings are discussed in relation to the complex relationship between culture and death anxiety as well as in relation to problems inherent in our current conception of death anxiety.

Depression and Life Satisfaction in Nepal and Australia.

For this study of cultural differences in the extent of depressive symptomatology and life satisfaction, 311 Australian and 250 Nepalese university students completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS; Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985). No significant differences were found in depressive symptomatology. Australian respondents reported significantly higher life satisfaction than Nepalese. A moderate significant inverse relationship was found between depressive symptoms and life satisfaction in the Australian respondents, with a smaller significant inverse relationship observed among the Nepalese respondents. The findings suggest that the experience of depressive symptoms may be partially independent of life satisfaction for this Nepalese sample.

Eating Disorders and Dieting Behavior Among Australian and Swazi University Students

The eating behaviors of 192 Australian and 129 Swaziland university students were examined by using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26; D. M. Garner, M. P. Olmsted, Y. Bohr, & P. E. Garfinkel, 1982). The results did not support the hypothesis that more Australian students than Swazi students would display eating disorder symptoms. Australian women scored significantly higher than Australian men. Surprisingly, scores on the EAT-26 for men and women from Swaziland did not differ significantly. Furthermore, there was little difference between the scores of Swazi men and either Australian women or Swazi women. Results are discussed in relation to various cultural factors and assessment issues.

RELIGIOUS RITUAL AND DISSOCIATION IN INDIA AND AUSTRALIA

Abstract The Religious Ritual Scale (RRS; Maranell, 1974) and the Questionnaire of Experiences of Dissociation (QED; Riley, 1988) were administered to 402 Indian and 263 Australian university students. The Indian students had significantly higher QED scores than the Australians. The Australian men had significantly higher QED scores than Australian women, but no sex differences on dissociation were found for the Indian participants. Indians scored significantly higher than Australians on the RRS. Indian women had higher RRS scores than their male counterparts, but Australian men and women did not differ on the RRS. A modest but statistically significant positive correlation was found between religious ritual practice and dissociation. Regression analysis showed religious ritual to be a significant predictor of dissociation. Results are discussed in relation to dissociation theory and cultural factors that influence dissociative experience.

Dissociative functioning and its relationship to state and trait guilt in the non-clinical population

Abstract The present aim was to extend recent work on the relationship between dissociation and guilt in the non-clinical population. The Questionnaire of Experiences of Dissociation (Riley, 1988; QED) and the Guilt Inventory (Kugler & Jones, 1992a), which measures trait and state guilt, were administered to 259 Australian university students. Results indicated that trait guilt was a significant predictor of dissociative experience. However, no relationship was found between dissociation and state guilt. The results extend Irwins (in press) findings and are discussed in terms of the trauma-based model of dissociation and the interpersonal theory of guilt.

Reliability of the Maranell Theism Scale among Ghanaian, Nigerian, Northern Irish and Swazi university students

Abstract The reliability of the 12-item Theism Sub-Scale of the Maranell Religious Attitudes Scale was examined among four cross-cultural samples. 186 Ghanaian, 177 Nigerian, 140 Northern Irish, and 74 Swaziland university students completed the Theism Scale. Across all four cultural groups data confirmed the reliability and unidimensionality of the scale. The Theism Scale is commended for further research.