Tatjana Vukosavljevic-Gvozden

Assessing maladaptive cognitions related to online gaming

We propose an adaptation of Online Cognitions Scale (Davis, Flett, & Besser, 2002).The focus of the modified version are cognitions related to online games.The modified scale is shown to be highly reliable.The modified scale correlates highly with measures of online gaming addiction.The modified scale correlates highly with measures of psychopathology. In light of the recent research indicating differences between Internet addiction and online gaming addiction, in this study, we propose an adaptation of Online Cognitions Scale (OCS) developed by Davis, Flett, and Besser (2002), with the purpose of assessing maladaptive cognitions specifically related to online gaming. The aim was to determine the psychometric properties of the modified version of OCS. Unlike other instruments measuring online gaming addiction, the focus of this scale is the cognitive aspect of online gaming, instead of the behavioural one. We administered the modified scale to adolescent and young adult online game players from Serbia (N=254). In order to determine the concurrent validity, we administered a previously established measure of online gaming addiction and a measure of a wide range of psychopathological symptoms. The modified scale was shown to be highly reliable. Exploratory factor analysis yielded six factors, unlike the original four factor structure, which were labelled as Diminished Impulse Control, Distraction, Immersion/Escapism, Social Comfort, General Sense of Comfort, and Online Games Appreciation. As expected, the modified OCS correlated highly with the measures of online gaming addiction and psychopathology. The findings suggest potential applicability of this instrument in domains of research, clinical assessment, therapy and treatment evaluation.

Irrational Beliefs, Dysfunctional Emotions, and Marital Adjustment A Structural Model

This study aimed to formulate and test a thorough and comprehensive model that explains how irrational beliefs and dysfunctional emotions of partners affect marital adjustment. Unlike previous research that examined the direct association of irrational cognitions and marital disturbance, we hypothesized that emotions—anger, depression, and anxiety—have a mediatory role in the relationship between irrational cognitions and marital adjustment of both partners. We also hypothesized that dysfunctional emotions of one partner affect the perceived marital adjustment of the other partner. The model was tested on nonclinical sample of 100 couples (N = 200). The results of structural equation modeling support the model. We found that irrational beliefs lead to dysfunctional emotions, which further affect the perceived marital adjustment of both partners. However, on examining the partners’ mutual effect, it was found that only dysfunctional emotions of the males affect females’ perceived marital adjustment but not vice versa.

The connection between dysfunctional relationship beliefs and dyadic adjustment

The purpose of this study was to determine the connection between dyadic adjustment and dysfunctional relationship beliefsthat are discussed in the contemporary cognitive-behavioural perspective. Given the nature of personal relationships, the study included intrapersonal and interpersonal approach. The intrapersonal approach suggests that ones perception of dyadic adjustment is determined by ones own personality characteristics, while the interpersonal approach suggests that ones partners characteristics have influence, too. Accordingly, it was assumed that people perceive their marriages as less adjusted if they themselves and their partner have more pronounced dysfunctional beliefs. The sample consisted of 100 married couples from Serbia aged 20-64 years (M=41.8). The participants completed the Relationship Beliefs Questionnaire and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Significant intrapersonal effects of relationship beliefs on theperceived dyadic adjustment were found for both genders. Expected intrapersonal effects were found only in the female sample. Additionally, unexpected positive effects of certain groups of relationship beliefs(e.g. romantic idealism) were found.