Keith R. Aronson

Interoceptive Sensitivity and Self-Reports of Emotional Experience

People differ in the extent to which they emphasize feelings of activation or deactivation in their verbal reports of experienced emotion, termed arousal focus (AF). Two multimethod studies indicate that AF is linked to heightened interoceptive sensitivity (as measured by performance on a heartbeat detection task). People who were more sensitive to their heartbeats emphasized feelings of activation and deactivation when reporting their experiences of emotion over time more than did those who were less sensitive. This relationship was not accounted for by several other variables, including simple language effects. Implications for the role of interoception in experienced emotion and the validity of self-reported emotion are discussed.

Feeling your body or feeling badly: evidence for the limited validity of the Somatosensory Amplification Scale as an index of somatic sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE The Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS) purports to measure the extent to which individuals are sensitive to their bodies. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the SSAS in two studies with university students. METHODS Participants completed the SSAS, various cross-sectional measures of somatic and psychological distress, longitudinal measures of somatic symptoms, daily hassles and mood, and participated in a heartbeat detection task (Study 2 only). RESULTS The SSAS was correlated with cross-sectional measures of somatic symptom reporting, but not with somatic symptoms reported on a daily basis nor with an index of interoceptive sensitivity. The SSAS was also correlated with several indices of general distress including anxious and depressive symptoms, daily hassles, and negative emotionality. CONCLUSION Taken together, the results suggest that the SSAS is more likely an index of negative emotionality and general distress than a valid measure of somatic sensitivity per se.

Smokers are unaware of the filter vents now on most cigarettes: results of a national survey.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate awareness and knowledge of cigarette filter ventilation in a national probability sample of smokers of Ultra-light, Light, and regular cigarettes. DESIGN: Random-digit-dialling and computer-assisted telephone interviewing was used on a probability sample of daily cigarette smokers (ages 18 and above). SUBJECTS AND SETTING: 218 Smokers of Ultra-light cigarettes, 360 smokers of Light cigarettes, and 210 smokers of Regular cigarettes living in the continental United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentage of respondents indicating knowledge of the presence of filter vents and the consequences of behavioural blocking of vents. RESULTS: Many smokers had not heard about or seen the filter holes: 43% (95% CI = 36 to 50%) of smokers of Ultra-lights, 39% (95% CI = 34 to 44%) of smokers of Lights, and 47% (95% CI = 40 to 54%) of smokers of Regulars. About two in three smokers either did not know of the existence of rings of small holes on the filters of some cigarettes, or did not know that blocking increases tar yields: 69% (95% CI = 63 to 75%) of Ultra-lights, 66% (95% CI = 61 to 71%) of Lights, and 69% (95% CI = 63 to 75%) of Regulars. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers are generally unaware of the presence and function of filter vents-a major design feature subject to behavioural blocking by smokers and now present on most cigarettes in the United States. Smokers and policy-makers need to be informed about the presence of filter vents and how vent blocking increases tar and nicotine yields from ostensibly very low-yield cigarettes.

Job satisfaction as a function of job level.

The job satisfaction of psychiatric hospital employees has been historically under-researched (Buffum & Konick, 1982; Sarrata, 1974) and this is particularly true of private, for profit hospitals. The current lack of understanding is problematic because there is a well-documented connection between job satisfaction and both employee and psychiatric patient health and well-being (Buffum & Konick, 1982; Landeweerd & Boumans, 1988; Numerof & Abrams, 2000). Psychiatric hospitals, like many hospitals (Sieveking, Bellet, & Martson, 1993; Sieveking & Woods, 1992), have also been identified as difficult places to work (Buffum & Konick, 2000), and have high turnover (Prosser et al., 1999; Wykes, Stevens, & Everitt, 1997). Furthermore, ‘‘burnout’’ is common among mental health professionals (Cox & Leiter, 1992; Maslach & Jackson, 1986), but is particularly problematic for psychiatric hospital employees (Thornton, 1982). There is also evidence that burnout can effect the entire staff of a ward, leading to ‘‘front-line collapse’’ and declines in the quality of patient care (Munro, 1980). Moreover, health care executives report that locating and retaining employees is one of their greatest challenges (Thrall & Hoppszallern, 2001), and given that psychiatric hospital employees take time before deciding to leave their employment (Hiscott & Connop, 1996), there is a potential window of opportunity for improved retention if employee concerns can be adequately addressed. Understanding the job satisfaction of employees is an important organizational goal for any organization, but particularly those facing steep fiscal challenges. Private psychiatric hospitals are currently facing such challenges. Recently, Gimmy & Baumbach (2001) conducted an extensive evaluation of the economic challenges faced by private psychiatric hospitals. These hospitals face high turnover, falling Keith R. Aronson, Ph.D., is an Assistant Director at the Social Sciences Research Institute at Pennsylvania State University. Jean-Phillipe Laurenceau, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the University of Miami. Nicholas Sieveking, Ph.D., is Director of the Psychological and Counseling Center at Vanderbilt University. William Bellet, Ph.D., is Consulting Clinical Psychologist at Bellet, Sieveking, and Associates. Address for correspondence: Keith R. Aronson, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Children, Youth, and Families Consortium, The Pennsylvania State University, 105 Health and Human Development East Building, University Park, PA 16802. E-mail: kra105@psu.edu. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, Vol. 32, No. 3, January 2005 ( 2005) DOI: 10.1007/s10488-004-0845-2

Smoking is Associated with Worse Mood on Stressful Days: Results from a National Diary Study

BackgroundMany smokers report smoking because it helps them modulate their negative affect (NA). The stress induction model of smoking suggests, however, that smoking causes stress and concomitant NA. Empirical support for the stress induction model has primarily derived from retrospective reports and experimental manipulations with non-representative samples of smokers. Moreover, prior studies have typically not considered contextual factors (e.g., daily stressors) that may impact the smoking–NA relationship.PurposeThe aim of this study was to assess the stress induction model of smoking using a prospective design in a nationally representative sample of smokers while simultaneously examining the impact of daily stressors on the relationship between smoking and NA. We hypothesized that smoking and NA would be positively related, and this relationship would be intensified by exposure to daily stressors.MethodsA national sample of middle-aged smokers (N = 256) were called on eight consecutive evenings to assess stressor exposure and intensity. Participants also reported on their daily NA and indicated the number of cigarettes they smoked. Analyses were conducted using hierarchical linear modeling to determine the relationship between daily smoking, NA, and stress.ResultsSmoking more than usual was associated with increased NA on days when respondents were exposed to any stressors. Smoking more than usual had no effect on NA on days when no stressors were encountered. Moreover, the moderating effect of stressor exposure remained significant even after controlling for the number and intensity of daily stressors reported.ConclusionsWhile smokers report that smoking alleviates their NA, our study suggests that the exact opposite may occur, particularly on stressful days. When smokers smoke more than usual on days when the encounter stress, they are likely to feel emotionally worse off.

Reducing barriers to evidence-based practice with military families: Clearinghouse for military family readiness

abstract Evidence-based practice (EBP) improves health and well-being by providing current scientific evidence in treating a wide range of military family challenges. However, there are a number of real and perceived barriers to the adoption of this practice. To help reduce barriers, the Department of Defense partnered with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to fund the development of the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at the Pennsylvania State University. The Clearinghouse provides a growing web-based repository of information on more than 900 programs and practices that can be used by military personnel and their families. These programs have been closely vetted by a team of research and evaluation scientists and placed on a continuum of evidence, indicating the level of empirical support for each program (i.e., Effective, Promising, Unclear, and Ineffective). The Clearinghouse also provides live technical assistance to advise social service professionals working with military families on the adoption, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based programs and practices. In this article we describe how military and civilian social service practitioners can benefit from partnering with the Clearinghouse.

Daily physical activity and menopausal hot flashes: Applying a novel within-person approach to demonstrate individual differences

BACKGROUND Physical activity (PA) may be a useful tool in the management of menopausal hot flashes (HFs) but findings are generally inconsistent. There are few well-designed and sufficiently powered RCTs. Applying a longitudinal within-person approach offers an alternative way to examine the PA-HFs relationship which enables complete accommodation of inter-individual differences. OBJECTIVES Aprospective daily diary study which applied experience sampling methods and time series modeling techniques investigated, at the within-person level, the relationship between objectively measured daily PA of varying intensities and self-reported menopausal HFs. METHODS Twenty-four symptomatic middle-aged women (M age=50.4; SD=4.9) completed fitness, body composition and hormonal status screening, and reported on daily HFs using an electronic PDA device across one menstrual cycle or for 30 days (if postmenopausal). Daily PA and PA intensity was measured using accelerometry and subjects completed a battery of psychological measures. RESULTS Within person analysis identified significant relations between PA and HFs in 50% of subjects, although the specific PA indicators that predicted HFs varied, both in terms of direction and magnitude. Perceived control over HFs was the variable that most consistently differentiated between women for whom more PA was associated with fewer HFs as compared to those for whom more PA was associated with more HFs, but other individual difference characteristics such as affect, depressive symptoms, and anxiety were identified. CONCLUSIONS There is great individual variation in the way daily PA impacts self-reported HFs. Affective outcomes and perceived control may help potentially explain this variability.

Teaching intercultural awareness to first‐year medical students via experiential exercises

This study assessed the extent to which a one‐time experiential intervention improved intercultural awareness and sensitivity among first‐year medical students. The students participated in group activities in which they shared personal experiences, solved a hypothetical problem, and engaged in team building exercises. Post‐intervention, students reported less intercultural awareness, but a greater commitment to improving the intercultural climate of the medical school and an increased willingness to work in diverse groups during their medical training. The results of the study suggest that experiential interventions may provide an important complement to didactics around issues of intercultural awareness and sensitivity with medical students. Importantly, experiential interventions must provide students with sufficient time to reflect upon and discuss feelings, thoughts and attitudes that emerge during this kind of intercultural awareness training.

A Continuum of Evidence on Evidence-Based Programs: A New Resource for Use in Military Social Service Delivery

ABSTRACT Evidence-based programs can promote well-being; however, barriers to implementation exist. Barriers include lack of time to find evidence and lack of expertise among some practitioners in reading and evaluating evidence. A partnership among the Department of Defense Office of Military Community and Family Policy, the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, and Pennsylvania State University resulted in the development of a new information repository. The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State (Clearinghouse) and the Clearinghouses Continuum of Evidence (Continuum) were designed to assist professionals in identifying evidence-based programs that can improve the well-being of military families (http://www.militaryfamilies.psu.edu). The development of the Continuum included reviews of existing rating systems, expert review, practical review, and inter-rater agreement checks. The Clearinghouse contains information on over 1,000 programs relevant to both civilian and military families. Topics include parenting, coping and resilience, child behavior, obesity, alcohol and substance use prevention, and mental health treatment; target audiences include children, youth, adults, and families. Empirical evidence and systematized criteria are used to place programs as Effective (Randomized Control Trial), Effective (Quasi-experimental), Promising, Unclear (+), Unclear (ø), Unclear (−), or Ineffective. The Clearinghouse provides information and encourages professionals to make informed decisions based on their needs and resources.

The effects of military-connected parental absence on the behavioural and academic functioning of children: a literature review

Purpose – Military-connected students experience a high rate of parental absence due to their parents’ military obligations. Military work-related parental absences can affect school-aged children’s emotional and behavioural health and overall academic functioning. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach – The current review identified research studies that explored the effects of military-connected parental absence on school-aged children. Specifically, quantitative and qualitative research studies that examine the impact of military parental absences on dependent variables related to internalising and externalising behaviours and academic functioning were of interest. In all, 26 studies were identified for inclusion in the review. Findings – Overall, military-connected students who experience a parental absence due to military service are more likely to exhibit an increase in problem behaviours and a decrease in academic functioning compared to civilian peers or military-connec...