Yve Stöbel-Richter

Der Partnerschaftsfragebogen (PFB)

Zusammenfassung. Fur den Partnerschaftsfragebogen PFB von Hahlweg wurde eine Normierungsstudie durchgefuhrt. 1114 in einer Ehe oder Partnerschaft lebende Personen zwischen 18 und 50 Jahren bearbeiteten den Test. Die dreidimensionale Struktur des Tests wurde bestatigt, jedoch ergaben sich insgesamt im Mittel etwas niedrigere Werte fur die Partnerschaftsqualitat als im Testhandbuch angegeben. Die Partnerschaftsqualitat nimmt mit zunehmendem Alter ab, und Frauen erzielen im Mittel hohere Werte als Manner. Die Differenzen zwischen den neu gewonnenen und alten Normwerten werden im Zusammenhang mit Selektionseffekten der ursprunglichen Normierungsstichprobe diskutiert, und es wird die Notwendigkeit aufgezeigt, fur Vergleichsstudien die jeweilige zugrunde liegende Stichprobe hinsichtlich Art der Paarbeziehung, Alter und Geschlecht prazise zu definieren.

Social sex selection and the balance of the sexes: Empirical evidence from Germany, the UK, and the US

Preconception sex selection for nonmedical reasons is one of the most controversial issues in bioethics today. The most powerful objection to social sex selection is based on the assumption that it may severely distort the natural sex ratio and lead to a socially disruptive imbalance of the sexes. Based on representative social surveys conducted in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, this paper argues that the fear of an impending sex ratio distortion is unfounded. Given the predominant preference for a “gender balanced family,” a widely available service for social sex selection is highly unlikely to upset the balance of the sexes in Western societies.

How Is Emotional Awareness Related to Emotion Regulation Strategies and Self-Reported Negative Affect in the General Population?

Objective The Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS) as a performance task discriminates between implicit or subconscious and explicit or conscious levels of emotional awareness. An impaired awareness of ones feeling states may influence emotion regulation strategies and self-reports of negative emotions. To determine this influence, we applied the LEAS and self-report measures for emotion regulation strategies and negative affect in a representative sample of the German general population. Sample and Methods A short version of the LEAS, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), assessing reappraisal and suppression as emotion regulation strategies, were presented to N = 2524 participants of a representative German community study. The questionnaire data were analyzed with regard to the level of emotional awareness. Results LEAS scores were independent from depression, but related to self-reported anxiety. Although of small or medium effect size, different correlational patters between emotion regulation strategies and negative affectivity were related to implict and explict levels of emotional awareness. In participants with implicit emotional awareness, suppression was related to higher anxiety and depression, whereas in participants with explicit emotional awareness, in addition to a positive relationship of suppression and depression, we found a negative relationship of reappraisal to depression. These findings were independent of age. In women high use of suppression and little use of reappraisal were more strongly related to negative affect than in men. Discussion Our first findings suggest that conscious awareness of emotions may be a precondition for the use of reappraisal as an adaptive emotion regulation strategy. They encourage further research in the relation between subconsious and conscious emotional awareness and the prefarance of adaptive or maladaptive emotion regulation strategies The correlational trends found in a representative sample of the general population may become more pronounced in clinical samples.

Early intervention in pregnant women with elevated anxiety and depressive symptoms: efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral group program.

To examine whether a cognitive-behavioral group program among pregnant women with elevated levels of anxiety or depression may reduce anxious and depressive symptoms and has a positive impact on risk factors for anxiety disorders and depression. A total of 753 participants were recruited. After completion of the clinical standardized interview, 160 participants were randomized to an intervention group or a control condition. Psychometric assessments took place at T1 (preintervention), T2 (antenatal follow-up), and T3 (3 months postpartum). Analyses included women who took part in all 3 assessments (intervention group, N = 21; control group, N = 53). The subjective program evaluation by the participants was highly positive, but with the exception of a short-term effect on the quality of an intimate partnership (F1/67 = 4.056; P < .05], intervention effects on anxiety or depressive symptoms were not found. However, there was an intervention effect 3 months postpartum for participants with high depressive symptoms at T1 (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score of ≥10) (F1/69 = 5.410; P < .05). The results argue against a general efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral group program for pregnant women with rather low levels of anxiety and depression. For women with higher depressive symptoms during pregnancy, a cognitive-behavioral group program may have a positive impact on the course of depressive symptoms during the postpartum period.

Egg donation, surrogate mothering, and cloning: attitudes of men and women in Germany based on a representative survey

OBJECTIVE To determine opinions and attitudes of the German general population toward the treatment methods of reproductive medicine: egg donation, surrogate mothering, and reproductive cloning. DESIGN Representative survey. SETTING German general population: face-to-face interviews at home with 2,110 persons, aged 18-50 years. PATIENT(S) Patients were not included. INTERVENTION(S) No interventions took place. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Approval and disapproval of treatment methods of reproductive medicine and preimplantation genetic diagnosis were assessed by questionnaires regarding medical, age, reasons, or general. RESULT(S) Overall, the diverse treatment methods of reproductive medicine found comparable rates of approval and disapproval. Legalization of egg donation was approved by a slight majority (50.8%), particularly for medical reasons (35.9%). Surrogate mothering found lower overall rates of approval (43.7%), 28.5% supported an admission for medical reasons. Reproductive cloning was rejected by the vast majority (82.9%). Attitudes to reproductive medicine were affected by age and the individual reproductive experiences. CONCLUSION(S) New techniques in reproductive medicine and their development provide hope and health promises for affected couples but also entail long-term risks and ethical issues. Balancing the individuals right to a reproductive autonomy and choice and ethical standards will constitute a future challenge for society. Results demonstrate considerable uncertainty and information deficits in the community.

Unemployment during working life and mental health of retirees: Results of a representative survey

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine differences in mental health and satisfaction with life in retired men and women depending on experienced unemployment during working life. Method: Based on a representative survey, 1396 retirees in the age range of 60–92 years were interviewed face-to-face, assessing two screening instruments for anxiety and depression as well as the Questions on Life Satisfaction questionnaire. Among others, analyses of variance were used to test the differences between groups with distinct experiences of unemployment periods. Results: Retirees with the experience of repeated unemployment – but not with one-time unemployment – during working life reported worse mental health and satisfaction with life. Calculated effect sizes were 0.53 for anxiety, 0.42 for depression and between 0.21 and 0.51 for satisfaction with different domains of daily life. Differences between men and women emerged, but similarities dominated. Participants with higher current household incomes were found to be less affected. Conclusion: The experience of repeated unemployment periods during working life is associated with more psychosocial distress in retired men and women. Thus, unemployment may have serious negative implications even for persons retired already.

Arbeitslosigkeitserfahrungen, Arbeitsplatzunsicherheit und der Bedarf an psychosozialer Versorgung

BACKGROUND For many concerned people unemployment leads to impairments of health, and above all, mental impairments. However, appropriate interventional measures are utilized by only few unemployed people. This study addresses the question, what need for professional psychosocial counselling exists depending on unemployment experience and job insecurity. METHODS 387 young adults (54.4% female) with a mean age of 33.2 years were asked in 2006 in the context of the 20th wave of the Saxony Longitudinal Study (Sächsische Längsschnittstudie) about unemployment experience, perceived job insecurity and the subjective need for professional psychosocial counselling. Furthermore, the global psychological distress was assessed as an indicator for the objective need for psychosocial support. RESULTS Over 70% of the participants have had experience with unemployment so far. On average women are unemployed for longer periods than men. Current unemployment [Odds Ratio 7.14; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.28-15.54] proves to be, apart from the threat of loosing of ones job (Odds Ratio 5.26; 95% CI 3.34-8.28), the strongest predictor for mental burdens. However, the subjective need for psychosocial counselling is independent of these employment-related characteristics. 12.7% of the respondents claimed to have had a need for counselling in the last year. Significant predictors for professional counselling support are sex (Odds Ratio 2.08; 95% CI 1.23-3.55) and the mental burdens (Odds Ratio 2.84; 95% CI 1.50-5.38). CONCLUSION Unemployment leads to objective mental burdens for the concerned people, but subjectively not to an increased need for psychosocial support. Therefore, it is necessary to communicate this health risk to the concerned in an appropriate way and to submit appropriate, low-threshold counselling offers.

Für und Wider eines eigenen Kindes: Der Leipziger Fragebogen zu Kinderwunschmotiven (LKM)

Zusammenfassung. Die in Deutschland zu verzeichnenden niedrigen Geburtenraten sowie die Zunahme kinderloser Ehen und Partnerschaften waren Ausgangspunkt fur die Neuentwicklung eines Fragebogens zur Erfassung von Kinderwunschmotiven. Der Leipziger Fragebogen zu Kinderwunschmotiven (LKM) umfasst 20 Items, wobei jeweils funf Items einer der vier faktorenanalytisch konstruierten Skalen “Emotionale Stabilisierung und Sinnfindung“, “Personliche Einschrankungen und Probleme“, “Soziale Anerkennung und Identitatsbildung“ sowie “Unzureichende materielle und soziale Unterstutzung“ zugeordnet werden. Die auf den Daten einer bevolkerungsreprasentativen Befragung von 1129 Personen (466 Manner und 663 Frauen) im Alter von 16-45 Jahren basierende teststatistische Uberprufung zeigte, dass der LKM ein reliables, valides und okonomisch einsetzbares Erhebungsinstrument darstellt. Die mit dem LKM erfassten Kinderwunschmotive erwiesen sich daruber hinaus partiell als abhangig von soziodemographischen und soziookonomischen Vari...

A psychosomatic intervention in pregnant in-patient women with prenatal somatic risks

Purpose. This study examined whether a short-term psychosomatic intervention during pregnancy had effects on characteristics of labour and delivery as well as on the long-term course of anxiety, depression and physical complaints in pregnant in-patient women. Methods. All gynaecological and obstetric inpatients of a university hospital, who had either exhibited complications during their pregnancy or were considered high-risk pregnancies, were examined. Symptoms of anxiety and depression (HADS) and physical symptoms (GBB) were assessed by standardised questionnaires. Women with elevated scores on either the HADS or the GBB were randomly assigned to either a treatment group, which had received a psychosomatic intervention or an untreated control group. Of the n = 238 women who were assessed during their stay in our hospital, n = 135 were included in the follow-up 1-year later. Results. More than one-third of the participants (38.7%) had elevated scores of anxiety, depression and/or physical symptoms. The psychosomatic intervention had a significant effect on anxiety scores (p = 0.006), but not on depression scores, physical complaints and characteristics of labour and delivery. Conclusions. Findings suggest that a short-term psychosomatic intervention can have a positive long-term effect on anxiety symptoms. Future studies are needed to show whether the reduction of anxiety symptoms in turn can lead to a reduction of postnatal complications and lower rates of disturbed mother–child interactions.

Ethical Attitudes of German Specialists in Reproductive Medicine and Legal Regulation of Preimplantation Sex Selection in Germany

Background Because of its ethical and social implications, preimplantation sex selection is frequently the subject of debates. Methods In 2006, we surveyed specialists in reproductive medicine in Germany using an anonymous questionnaire, including sociodemographic data and questions regarding ethical problems occurring in the practice of reproductive medicine. Most questions focused on preimplantation sex selection, including 10 case vignettes, since these enabled us to describe the most difficult and ethically controversial situations. This is the first survey among specialists in reproductive medicine regarding this topic in Germany. Results 114 specialists in reproductive medicine participated, 72 males (63%) and 42 females (37%), average age was 48 years (age range 29–67 years). The majority of respondents (79%) favoured a regulation that limits the use of preimplantation sex selection only for medical reasons, such as X-linked diseases (including 18%: summoning an ethics commission for every case). A minority of 18% approved of the use of sex selection for non-medical reasons (4% generally and further 14% for family balancing). 90% had received obvious requests from patients. The highest approval (46%) got the counselling guideline against a preimplantation sex selection and advising a normal pregnancy, if preimplantation sex selection would be allowed in Germany. The majority (67%) was opposed the personal use of preimplantation sex selection for non-medical reasons, but would think about it in medical cases. In opposite to woman, 14% of the men were in favour of personal use for non-medical reasons (p = 0,043). 25% of specialists in reproductive medicine feared that an allowance of preimplantation sex selection would cause a shift in the sex ratio. Conclusions The majority of German specialists in reproductive medicine opposes preimplantation sex selection for non-medical reasons while recommending preimplantation sex selection for medical reasons, e.g. X-linked diseases like haemophilia.