Lee Kannis-Dymand

Psychological Distress Following the 2010 Christchurch Earthquake: A Community Assessment of Two Differentially Affected Suburbs

This study aimed to explore posttraumatic distress and the cognitive variables of controllability and predictability in two demographically matched communities differentially affected by the Christchurch earthquake of September 4, 2010 (N = 124). A door-to-door survey was conducted 8–10 weeks after the initial quake. The two communities did not differ on acute stress disorder or symptoms, but the affected community had higher depression and anxiety scores. Depression, feeling on edge, and anxiety scores predicted acute stress symptoms. Uncontrollability of response to aftershocks predicted acute stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Results are discussed with reference to the impact of ongoing aftershocks and how they are likely to maintain a sense that responses to them are uncontrollable, which in turn maintains psychological distress.

Problematic internet pornography use: The role of craving, desire thinking, and metacognition

Defined as sexually explicit material that elicits erotic thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, internet pornography is a prevalent form of media that may facilitate problematic use and craving for engagement. Research suggests that superordinate cognitions and information processing, such as desire thinking and metacognition, are central to the activation and escalation of craving in addictive behaviours. The current study aimed to contribute to the literature by testing the proposed metacognitive model of desire thinking and craving in a sample of problematic pornography users, while revising the model by incorporating negative affect. From a theoretical perspective, environmental cues trigger positive metacognitions about desire thinking that directly influence desire thinking, resulting in the escalation of craving, negative metacognitions, and negative affect. Participants were recruited via an online survey and screened for problematic internet pornography use. Path analyses were used to investigate relationships among the aforementioned constructs in a final sample of 191 participants. Consistent with previous research, results of this study validated the existence of metacognitive processes in the activation of desire thinking and escalation of craving, while indicating that desire thinking has the potential to influence negative affect. Additionally, results supported the role of significant indirect relationships between constructs within the revised model of metacognition, desire thinking, and psychopathology. Collectively, the findings demonstrate the clinical value of a metacognitive conceptualisation of problematic pornography use. Exploring the metacognitive mechanisms that underpin problematic internet pornography use may give rise to the development of new treatment and relapse prevention strategies.

An exploration of reported cognitions during an earthquake and its aftershocks: differences across affected communities and associations with psychological distress

Abstract Cognitive themes in two communities differentially affected by the September 2010 Christchurch earthquake and aftershocks were investigated. Participants (N = 124) completed questions about their thoughts during the earthquake and aftershocks as well as measures of acute stress, anxiety, and depression. Cognitions were qualitatively analyzed into themes for the earthquake and aftershocks. Themes were examined for differences across the two suburbs and associations with psychological distress. Nine cognitive themes were identified within three superordinate domains. The cognitive theme of worry and concern was the most frequently occurring for the earthquake and aftershocks across the whole sample and for the more affected suburb. Current threat was the most frequent theme for the earthquake in the less affected suburb, whereas worry and concern was the most evident in this group for aftershocks. The superordinate theme of threat was significantly related to higher acute stress disorder scores in the more affected suburb for earthquake-reported cognitions.

Can Disclaimer Labels or Dove Evolution Commercial Mitigate Negative Effects of Thin-Ideal Exposure?

We examined the comparative effectiveness of the Dove Evolution commercial and disclaimer labels as media literacy interventions. Women (N = 287) viewed thin-ideal images by themselves, preceded by the Dove Evolution commercial, or containing specific or generic disclaimer labels. Participants completed pre- and post-test measures of body satisfaction, post-test social comparison, and media literacy. Interventions were not effective in mitigating drops in body satisfaction, reducing social comparison, or increasing media literacy, despite women understanding their purpose. A 2-week follow-up showed no delayed effects on media literacy. None of these interventions were effective in counteracting the negative effects of media exposure in women.

Anger rumination in Australia and Spain: Validation of the Anger Rumination Scale

Objective Rumination has been empirically supported in the experience of anger. The Anger Rumination Scale ( ARS ) was developed to assess ruminative processes in anger. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the ARS in Australia and Spain. Method A large non‐clinical sample (N = 1,752) completed a battery including the ARS and measures of trait anger, anger expression and control, aggression, emotional symptoms, and emotion regulation strategies, to determine the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the ARS. Variations between the two cultural samples were also analysed. Results Confirmatory factor analysis verified the four‐factor structure of Angry Memories, Thoughts of Revenge, Angry Afterthoughts, and Understanding of Causes in both samples. Findings established good psychometric properties, evidence of convergent and discriminant validity, and associations in the expected direction with related variables. Males in both samples endorsed Thoughts of Revenge significantly higher. Spanish participants scored higher on Angry Memories and Understanding of Causes. Conclusions The ARS is a valid measure of anger rumination in Australian and Spanish populations. Further, gender and cultural variations may influence the tendency to engage in anger rumination.

A graduated food addiction classification approach significantly differentiates obesity among people with type 2 diabetes

This study examined a graduated severity level approach to food addiction classification against associations with World Health Organization obesity classifications (body mass index, kg/m2) among 408 people with type 2 diabetes. A survey including the Yale Food Addiction Scale and several demographic questions demonstrated four distinct Yale Food Addiction Scale symptom severity groups (in line with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) severity indicators): non-food addiction, mild food addiction, moderate food addiction and severe food addiction. Analysis of variance with post hoc tests demonstrated each severity classification group was significantly different in body mass index, with each grouping being associated with increased World Health Organization obesity classifications. These findings have implications for diagnosing food addiction and implementing treatment and prevention methodologies of obesity among people with type 2 diabetes.

Psychological factors associated with the use of weight management behaviours in young adults

We modified the Weight Control Behaviours scale to explore unhealthy/healthy behaviours to increase, decrease or maintain weight in young adults (N = 1082) and associations with body mass index, depression and body image. Females reported more use of all strategies except those which increase body size or exercising to exhaustion. Although the sample reported more use of healthy weight management strategies, the use of dangerous ones warrants attention by healthcare professionals. Feelings of fatness was an important predictor of weight management behaviours. Public health campaigns should focus on the harmfulness of unhealthy weight management practices as well as the importance of healthy ones.

Surrogate End-of-Life Care Decision Makers’ Postbereavement Grief and Guilt Responses

This article examined differences in familial/friend surrogate decision makers’ (N = 93) postbereavement grief and guilt associated with decisions to either prioritize comfort or longevity in determining end-of-life care for decisionally incapacitated adult palliative loved ones. Results demonstrated that participants prioritizing the longevity of loved ones experienced significantly and meaningfully higher levels of grief, complicated grief, and trauma related guilt than those who prioritized comfort.

Metacognitions in Triathletes: Associations With Attention, State Anxiety, and Relative Performance

This study investigated how metacognitive beliefs in triathletes covary with state anxiety dimensions, prior to competition. It also examined how metacognitions relate to concentration, after controlling for state anxiety. Regression analyses revealed that specific metacognitive beliefs were differentially predictive of state anxiety dimensions and concentration. When accounting for the state anxiety variables in a hierarchical model predicting concentration, positive beliefs about worry, negative beliefs about worry, and cognitive anxiety remained as significant predictors. Metacognitive beliefs were also found to differ across time-to-event intervals. Overall, the results demonstrated that a metacognitive framework is a viable pathway for future sporting research.

Anger rumination, binge eating, and at-risk alcohol use in a university sample

Abstract Objective Binge eating and alcohol consumption have been associated with attempts to reduce negative affect such as anger. Anger rumination has been associated with maintaining anger. The aim of the current study was to explore the association between anger rumination and binge eating and at‐risk alcohol use. Method Participants were 563 university students aged between 18 and 66-years who completed an online survey containing the Anger Rumination Scale (ARS), Eating Disorder Diagnosis Scale (EDDS), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test—Consumption (AUDIT‐C) and Depression, Anxiety, & Stress Scale (DASS‐21). Results The results showed that individuals who endorsed elevated levels of binge eating behaviour had increased levels of anger rumination, specifically angry afterthoughts and angry memories, compared to healthy controls. In contrast, individuals who engaged in at‐risk alcohol use without binge eating did not report significantly increased levels of anger rumination. Conclusions This study highlights anger rumination as a potential factor in maintaining binge eating behaviour and suggests that screening for and addressing anger rumination may be an important component of psychological treatment.