Journal of Theoretical Social Psychology最新文献

This study investigates depression among junior high school students in Ghana’s Greater Accra Region, focusing on interpersonal and mental health factors, addressing a crucial research gap in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Analyzing data from 800 students, we found anxiety to be a significant predictor of depression, with over threefold higher odds for students experiencing anxiety. Gender differences in depression prevalence were observed. These findings challenge the universality of the interpersonal theory of suicide constructs among Ghanaian youth, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive mental health research and intervention. This study contributes to adolescent mental health understanding in Ghana, highlighting the cultural and developmental contexts’ importance. Further research is essential to better understand the factors affecting adolescent mental health in LMICs.

Many terrorist attacks, carried out in the name of Islam, have posed significant threats to human lives across the globe. Research aiming to understand the roots of radicalism has identified Group Relative Deprivation (GRD) as a central explanatory concept. The present research (Study 1, N = 209; Study 2, N = 611; Study 3, N = 638) conducted in France, home to Western Europe’s largest Muslim community, failed to confirm the role of GRD in explaining variations in radicalism. Earlier research showed that GRD predicts activism and that activism is positively correlated with radicalism. Consequently, we hypothesized and found that group membership (Muslims vs. non-Muslims) is related to activism (not radicalism), that GRD mediates this relation between group membership and activism, and that GRD is predictive of radicalism only indirectly, via activism. The results also confirm that group-based contempt is uniquely predictive of support for violence, unlike group-based anger. The theoretical, methodological, and policy implications of these findings are discussed.

Aims: We examined how community-level socioeconomic deprivation and residential stability impact healthcare access among a sample of individuals with mental illness.

Methods: We linked five years of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS; 2013–2017) with community-level data, drawing a sample of adults with mental illness in the United Sates (N = 5444). Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models are presented.

Results: Socioeconomic deprivation was negatively associated with access to a usual source of care and positively associated with delaying or forgoing prescription medication. Residential stability was positively associated with having a usual source of care and negatively associated with forgoing or delaying needed care and prescription medication. Residential stability remained negatively associated with delayed or forgone healthcare in adjusted models.

Conclusion: Community-level factors are important determinants of healthcare access above and beyond individual-level predictors. Efforts to improve healthcare access among individuals with mental illness may be optimized by also targeting broader social and economic contexts.

Background: This study focuses on establishing a framework to evaluate the effectiveness of Indian classical music therapy interventions for adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 24 participants (adolescents aged 12–19 years, n = 13; young adults aged 20–30 years, n = 11) were assessed through a three-phase approach.

Methods: Phase one involved the use of the Psychiatric Music Therapy Questionnaire (PMTQ) to create multimodal profiles, assessing various modalities. In Phase two, Carnatic music therapy interventions were implemented, with evaluations conducted at 1, 6, and 12 months, focusing on communication, sensory/physical responses, behavior, cognition, social interaction, emotional/affective states, and musical modalities. Phase three compared baseline data from the first month to post intervention outcomes using controlled observations. Data analysis utilized nonparametric tests.

Results: Quantitative analysis using the Kruskal–Wallis test showed significant improvements (p < 0.05) in cognition, communication, sensory/physical responses, social interactions, emotional/affective states, and musical abilities over the 12-month period. Behavioral changes, however, were not statistically significant(p = 0.864) and were further explored qualitatively. Observations revealed outcomes influenced by sensory sensitivities, such as hypersensitivity and sensory-seeking behaviors.

Conclusion: Indian classical music-based interventions significantly enhance developmental domains, including cognition, communication, sensory/physical responses, and social and emotional skills, in individuals with ASD. The study underscores the importance of individualized intervention plans designed to address specific goals, highlighting the critical role of comprehensive assessments and multimodal problem analysis along with response monitoring in the effective implementation of music-based interventions.

The purpose of this study was to examine resilience in families raising children with disabilities in rural communities in the Manzini Region of Eswatini. Utilizing a qualitative research approach and a phenomenological research design, the study involved a purposive sample of 24 participants, all of whom were members of families with disabled children residing in rural Manzini. Data were gathered through individual interviews and observations, followed by thematic analysis. The findings revealed that families in these rural areas demonstrate resilience and actively care for their children with disabilities, despite facing numerous challenges. The study also identified several negative experiences encountered by these families, including stigma, behavioral volatility in children, financial hardships, reduced time for other siblings, unemployment, and inadequate public facilities for individuals with disabilities. Consequently, there is a need for effective coping strategies to address these challenges. The study highlighted that acceptance of their children’s disabilities, spiritual well-being, participation in counseling, and connection with others in similar situations are critical strategies that enable these families to cultivate resilience and support their children effectively. In addition, the study recommends that families raising children with disabilities establish support groups to facilitate the sharing of experiences and coping strategies.

Introduction: The pandemic has caused an indisputable level of global suffering, with drastic changes in the daily lives of citizens.

Aim: To describe the sociodemographic characteristics and degree of resilience in a sample of COVID-19 vaccine acceptors versus a sample of vaccine refusers.

Method: A descriptive design was used. The sample comprised 793 women and 207 men (n = 1.000; age 18–79 [mean = 40.43]). The study variables were sociodemographic variables; work-related variables, such as working or not in a health centre; loss of loved ones in the health crisis; levels of resilience; and pro-vaccine beliefs. The instruments used were the Resilience Scale and a set of ad hoc questions created to obtain specific information on beliefs regarding the vaccine and sociodemographic factors.

Results: Individuals with low resilience (92%–98%) and those with high resilience (87%–92%) chose to be vaccinated two or more times. The distribution of variables with the highest frequency of vaccination was in participants over 50 years, with no difference between the genders. A higher vaccination rate has been observed in medium-sized cities (more than 90% who have decided to get vaccinated (two or more vaccines). The highest scores in the acceptance of vaccination are related to belief in the obligation of mass vaccination and working in a health centre (both workers with low and high resilience, more than 95% have received two or more vaccines).

Conclusions: Great sociodemographic variability was shown in the distribution of vaccines and the importance of analysing the cognitive variables involved in the acceptance of vaccines to increase the population’s adherence to vaccination campaigns. Beliefs regarding vaccination were seen as an indispensable element when considering raising the population’s awareness of vaccination. The global priority must be develop strategies that increase the credibility of health policies, with rigorous and scientific information to increase vaccination.

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced significant challenges worldwide, leading to the reshaping of societal dynamics. These challenges are in the form of psychosocial consequences on community members’ everyday lives. This study aims to explore the psychological factors, particularly psychosocial stressors and coping strategies influencing the two low-income communities during COVID-19 lockdowns. A qualitative community case study design was used through four focus group discussions (n = 28) and 30 semistructured interviews with adults over 18. Qualitative thematic analysis using an inductive approach was employed, to analyse the data. The findings demonstrate that social isolation, confinement, harshly imposed government restrictions and perceived neglect or lack of support from the government led to feelings of entrapment, loss of freedom, frustration and anger among individuals. These emotions, combined with food insecurity, uncertainty and fear of infection or death for oneself or loved ones, contributed to intense psychological stress and heightened levels of anxiety. This environment of uncertainty and fear significantly exacerbated worry and distress. The findings further show that participants displayed both resilience and struggle during these times, using a blend of healthy and unhealthy coping strategies. This sense of resilience was expressed through the communities being more connected in this time of need and people supporting each other where they can. The findings highlighted the importance of religion, spirituality and faith in these stressful times, functioning as a protective coping mechanism against severe psychological stressors. Unhealthy coping mechanisms included substance misuse, violence, social withdrawal and communal divisions, which ultimately deepened social and psychological challenges within communities. Addressing psychosocial stressors and coping strategies is important to prevent long-lasting consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, these insights can inform future strategies to navigate through future potential pandemics.

This study aimed to determine the effects of the pandemic on students returning to school after COVID-19 from the perspective of school psychological counsellors. The research was designed as a qualitative study using a phenomenological design. The study group of the research consists of 11 psychological counselors at schools working in public schools in Türkiye, who were determined by maximum diversity and criterion sampling from purposeful sampling methods at the end of the 2021–2022 academic year. The data were collected using a semistructured interview form created by the researchers. MAXQDA 2020 program was used to analyze the data. As a result of the analysis, themes were obtained regarding the effects of the pandemic on students. These themes include the changes in students’ emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and academic dimensions, the topics that school psychological counsellors included in their programs after the pandemic, and the topics they suggested to be included in the program in the following years. The results of the study reveal that after the pandemic, there is a need for practices on emotion regulation, conscious use of technology, development of social skills, reducing bullying, improving psychological resilience, and increasing school motivation and academic success. It is thought that the research may contribute to the development of practices that can reduce the harmful effects of COVID-19 on students and positively affect students’ mental health at school.