This study explored whether inferiority feeling and self-concept clarity had any effects on the relationship between upward social comparison and depression of Facebook users who experienced on Facebook. To examine this, 184 male and female college student-participants were asked to complete questionnaires of upward social comparison, inferiority feeling, self-concept clarity and depression. As a result, upward social comparison was positively related to inferiority feeling and depression, but negatively related to self-concept clarity. Based on these correlations, we tested the mediating effects of inferiority feeling and moderating effects of self-concept clarity on the relationship between upward social comparison and depression. Our results showed that inferiority feeling had partial mediating effects on the relationship between upward social comparison and depression, suggesting that it was helpful for SNS users to deal with inferiority feeling at depression-arising situations from upward social comparison. Our results also revealed that self-concept clarity could moderate the relationship between upward social comparison and depression. Furthermore, a simple slope test suggested that the effects of upward social comparison on depression is decreased when the scores of self-concept clarity were high. These findings suggest that it is necessary for SNS users to understand himself or herself better. The implications and limitations of this study were discussed and future directions for this research were provided.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma and adulthood pathological personality in depressive patients. In particular, this study was an examination of how the subtypes of childhood trauma (abuse and neglect) affect pathological personality. Childhood abuse and neglect were evaluated using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and pathological personality was evaluated using the PSY-5 dimensional scale. A total of 269 depressive patients completed the questionnaires. Childhood abuse was significantly correlated with all five pathological personality traits, while childhood neglect was significantly correlated with psychoticism, disconstraint, negative emotionality/neuroticism, and introversion/low positive emotion. After controlling for demographic variables (gender and age) and depressive symptoms, the results of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that both childhood abuse and childhood neglect significantly predicted a pathological personality in adulthood. In detail, childhood abuse affected psychoticism, whereas childhood neglect affected introversion/low positive emotion. The clinical implications and limitations of our findings were also discussed.
The objectives of this study were 1) to investigate how parental nurturing attitude perceived by highschool students would influence career attitude maturity and preparedness behavior, 2) to examine the mediating effect of ego identity and emotional intelligence. A total 625 students from high schools in Gyeonggi Province were chosen as subjects. Study Instruments included parental nurturing attitudes scale, ego identity scale, emotional intelligence scale, and career attitude maturity and preparedness behavior scale. Our results revealed that parental nurturing attitudes had a direct influence on ego identity and emotional intelligence. In addition, ego identity and emotional intelligence had a direct influence on career attitude maturity and career preparedness behavior. Moreover, parental nurturing attitudes perceived by high school students had an indirect rather than a direct influence on career attitude maturity and career preparedness behavior via ego-identity and emotional intelligence. The significances and limitations of this study were discussed.
The purpose of this study was to 1) investigate sleep patterns and sleep duration of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD), 2) explore differences in sleep pattern by age in children with ASD(4-6years, 7-9 years, 10-12 years). Parents of 4-12 years children with ASD(N=159) and parents of age-matched typically developmental(TD) children(N=146) were recruited, and the sleep problems were measured with the Children’s Sleep Habit Questionnaire(CSHQ). The children with ASD showed significantly higher total scores than the TD group in four of eight subscales(bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep anxiety, and night wakings), but no group differences were found in sleep duration. Also, additional analysis comparing the sleep patterns in age groups indicated that the sleep problems increase as age in children with ASD. there were found more serious sleep problem in sleep onset delay in 4-9 age groups, but the 10-12 age groups reported more problems with bedtime resistance, sleep anxiety, and sleep disordered breathing in children with ASD. This findings suggest that the children with ASD have more various sleep problems, and there are differences of sleep pattern as age. Implications and limitations are discussed.
In recent years, there has been growing interest in self-regulation as a major predictive factor of addictive behaviors, including alcohol use problems, smoking, impulsive and compulsive buying, and mood disorders such as major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders. Responding to this interest and need, we created the Goal-Focused Self-Regulation Scale (GF-SRS), a self-report instrument. For the purpose of this study, self-regulation was defined broadly, incorporating concepts of goal orientation and the implementation thereof, emotion regulation, and positive thinking. A cross-validation study was conducted on the GF-SRS using university students and non-clinical samples. In the study 1, preliminary questions were selected based on the operational definition of self-regulation followed by an exploratory factor analysis, which was conducted on a sample of university students. The results confirmed four underlying factors of the 13-item GF-SRS: goal orientation, goal implementation, positive thinking, and emotional regulation. Furthermore, the results generally showed internal consistency, ranging from .76 to .88. Self-regulation was observed to converge with self-control and executive functioning and diverge from emotional suppression and social desirability. In study 2, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on a sample of 275 university students and 272 adults. According to the results, the four-factor model of the GF-SRS had the best fit compared to other competing models. A criterion-related validation study was also conducted to evaluate the incremental validity of self-regulation. Self-regulation demonstrated a 22% overall incremental relationship with mental health after controlling for depression. Lastly, the study discusses the clinical utility and limitations of the GF-SRS.
This article verifies the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES), which focuses on Korean adolescents with Internet addiction. The scale was developed by Miller and Tonigan (1996) to measure an individual’s motivation to change when confronted with the issue of alcohol addiction. In this study, 19 items of the original scale are modified into items related to Internet addiction; the Korean version SOCRATES-I is composed of the modified items. 579 junior high school students participated in this study from P city in Korea. Among 579 students, only 100 students were classified into a potential risk group and a high risk group. Using the data from the 100 students, this study was able to draw a conclusion. The result shows that the same three sub-factors were extracted from the original version of SOCRATES: Recognition, Ambivalence, and Taking steps. The scale also shows a proper Cronbach’s alpha, and both the nomological validity and criterion-related validity showing a significantly positive correlation. Each sub-factor of SOCRATES-I independently explains the motivation to change. The end of this article discusses implications and limitations.
Four immeasurables are loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity. In this study, we performed confirmatory factor analysis and examined the reliability and the validities of the 12 items scale derived from the results of a pilot study with new sample of a college students(N=350). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the four factors_-structure(- loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity)– was acceptable. Cronbach’s alpha values of each factor was between 0.76 and 0.90. Loving-kindness and empathetic joy showed significant correlations with social desirability, mindfulness, self-compassion, PANAS, empathy, and compassionate love. Equanimity showed significant correlation with all variables but empathy. In contrast, compassion showed significant correlation with empathy and compassionate love. Results from hierarchical regression analysis indicated that for compassionate love for close others, empathetic joy had the greatest influence among the four immeasurables. However, for compassionate love for strangers and humanity, compassion was the strongest predictor variables. These results were similar to our theoretical predictions, suggesting that Ajou Four Immeasurables Scale could be an useful tool to measure the concepts of Four Immeasurables that are regarded as the most important and immediate goals of practicing loving-kindness and compassion meditation.
The Cyberbullying Scale was previously developed to measure the degree to which adolescents experience cyberbullying via the internet. The aim of the present study was to validate the Korean version of the Cyberbullying Scale in a South Korean sample. The Cyberbullying Scale was administrated to 481 middle school Korean students. These students also completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale (LS), Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A), and the Korean Form of the Children's Depression Inventory (K-CDI). Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported a one factor solution. The Cyberbullying Scale total score also demonstrated satisfactory convergent validity and significant positive correlations with the LS, K-CDI and SAS-A. The Cyberbullying Scale total score also evidenced satisfactory discriminant validity with the EDI-2. The Cyberbullying Scale total score was also associated with good reliability, as estimated via internal consistency. Implications and limitations of these results are discussed.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a smartphone-based memory training program on the cognitive functioning of old-aged adults. The authors developed a smartphone-based program for attention, memory, and working memory training. A total of 54 participants (ages 50-69) were observed individually for 8 weeks. Cognitive functioning was measured with the Memory Diagnostic System before and after the training. Results indicated that the training group showed a significant improvement in memory, working memory, and executive functioning. The results suggest that a smartphone-based memory training program can enhance cognitive functioning, including memory in old-aged adults. Additional controlled study is needed to confirm the present results.
The current study investigated the effects of a positive psychological intervention for victims of school bullying. This work outlined the development and initial administration of a 5-week, 10-session group-based program, which was designed to cultivate the character strength and enhance subjective happiness. Seven 7th grade students who identified with “being bullied” took part in this program. They completed Character Strength Test for Adolescents, Self-Esteem Scale, Daily Hassles Coping Scale, and the Children's Depressive Inventory at the beginning and the end of the program. There were statistically significant improvements in the character strengths: social intelligence and bravery. The subjective happiness of participants increased significantly after the program. The positive psychological intervention for adolescent victims of school bullying was effective in building character strengths and boosting happiness.
Internet Addiction(IA) is associated with various disorders such as substance use disorder, ADHD, and impulse control disorder. In the present study, we purposed to investigate the resting state EEG pattern of an IA group, without any other psychiatric disorders, to identify psychophysiological characteristics of IA. Twenty adolescent patients with IA were compared to 20 healthy controls, matching for age and sex participated this study. A resting state EEG record was obtained through 30 sites of the whole scalp. In comparison with the control group, the IA group showed a significant higher beta1 and gamma EEG amplitude. This activation pattern has proven to be similar to substance use disorder.