The Indirect Effect of Child Maltreatment Severity on Adult PTSD Symptoms through Anxiety Sensitivity

Although the rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among survivors of child maltreatment is high, individuals differ in symptom severity and many do not experience clinically significant levels of psychopathology. The present study tested the indirect effects of child maltreatment severity on adult PTSD, suicidal ideations, and alcohol dependence via anxiety sensitivity. A sample of 336 participants (mean age of 22.81 years, SD = 8.93; 70.2% female) completed an online survey of child abuse and neglect, anxiety sensitivity, PTSD symptom severity, suicidal ideation severity, and alcohol dependence severity. The results revealed significant indirect effects of child maltreatment on PTSD symptom severity through cognitive and social concerns, but not physical concerns. No direct or indirect effects were demonstrated for suicidal ideations or alcohol dependence severity. These findings elucidate mechanisms in the robust relationship between child maltreatment and adult PTSD symptoms and can potentially inform future research on mechanisms of change in psychotherapy.     

Trauma and Bowen Family Systems Theory: Working with Adults Who were Abused as Children

Working with survivors of trauma is mostly challenging, exhausting, long‐term and often ‘messy’, when interventions that ‘should’ work, don't, or the unexpected arises. Nevertheless, explanations that speak to recovery from trauma more and more rely on neurobiological concepts to account for any positive change. Combining the family systems approach of Murray Bowen and recent research on the brain and trauma, post trauma symptoms are viewed as part of the ‘family emotional process’ even when traumatic events have emanated from outside the family system itself. Variations in responses to trauma, including dissociation and self‐harm are discussed in relation to chronic anxiety and ‘differentiation of self’.     

Separations: A Personal Account of Bowen Family Systems Theory

This paper is a personal account of my own family of origin research. It explores the impact of separations from parents, nuclear family, and extended family through a Bowen family systems theory perspective using concepts pertaining to Bowen theory such as chronic anxiety, differentiation of self, multigenerational family process, and the emotional system. An outline of the process of doing research in ‘vivo’ with my mother as well as conversations with my supervisor are included. Theoretical differences between individual and system models are discussed. A Bowen theoretical approach to the anxiety of separations is investigated. The efficacy of engaging in family of origin work and the effects of thinking systems is examined in light of how it assisted me to view family members, family system disturbances, and clients’ emotional systems more objectively.     

考古学与未来:工业文明的忧虑

在从考古学角度对玛雅、复活节岛和良渚文明崩溃回顾的基础上,文章从"报酬递减"和"最省力"原理介绍了古代文明崩溃的机制,然后对现代工业文明的发展趋势表示了忧虑.文章认为,今天的地球只不过是一个放大了的玛雅低地和复活节岛.历史教训告诉我们,环境恶化总是文明崩溃的一个前提.面对当代工业文明所面临的人口激增、环境恶化和资源枯竭的严峻形势,我们应该提倡"知足最好"而非"越多越好",避免重蹈古代文明崩溃的覆辙.     

国内语言焦虑与大学英语学习研究述评

在国外,对语言焦虑的研究起步较早,成果也较多。然而国内此类研究主要始于2000年,虽然短短的几年,但所发表的论文很多。作者仅从语言焦虑对听说读写的作用以及与英语学习成绩相关性两个角度,对国内学者发表于国内各种刊物上的调查报告和实证研究进行综述,在指出这些研究不足之处的同时提出今后研究的建议,最后简要探讨了焦虑研究对英语教学的启示。     

基于“向城求生”的现代性焦虑——20世纪90年代以来乡村小说创作的一种考察

以基于＂向城求生＂的现代性焦虑为视角,探索了20世纪90年代以来城市作为一种新的精神出现下的乡土小说对此的必然应对和反映,进而分析了现代性焦虑的三幅面孔,以此揭示20世纪90年代以来的乡土小说创作呈现出诸多未曾显露的意义。     

Emotions into Disorder: Anxiety Disorders and the Social Meaning of Fear

This article explores what we refer to as norm-stimuli-state discrepancies, which are disparities between people's physical-emotional responses to emotional cues and the normative meanings of those cues. Drawing on forty qualitative interviews and participant observation research at support groups, we show that people with anxiety disorders describe two forms of norm-stimuli-state discrepancies. The first form involves discrepancies of type, in which people label fearful emotional states as deviant for being caused by the “wrong” stimuli. The second involves discrepancies of intensity, in which people label fearful states as deviant for involving feelings or displays of “too much” anxiety in response to an “appropriate” stimuli. The article further addresses the role of stimuli in prompting treatment seeking. Unexpected and intense emotional distress in combination with the falling away of external cues—which we refer to as “stimuli-less fear”—serve as a critical juncture on the path to an anxiety disorder diagnosis.     

基于关键词分析我国图书馆焦虑研究态势

国内关于图书馆焦虑的研究已经开展多年,并取得一定的研究成果。以我国图书馆焦虑的研究文献的关键词为统计对象,基于共词分析,利用聚类方法和战略坐标图分析我国在该领域的研究现状。结果表明,目前该领域的研究集中于读者自身、图书馆环境和图书馆员三大因素的研究,从理论上研究图书馆焦虑起因的关注度在降低,图书馆焦虑缓解措施的可行性和有效性研究比较缺乏。最后给出了该领域在下一步研究中的可能方向,供研究人员参考。     

Honesty and comfort levels in mothers when screened for perinatal depression and anxiety

PurposeTo evaluate the degree of honesty and level of comfort reported by women when questioned about their emotional wellbeing during the perinatal period; to investigate if honesty and comfort are associated with perinatal depression or perinatal anxiety; and to examine the reasons why women may not always respond honestly.MethodsQualitative and quantitative data from 1597 women from the cross-sectional perinatal mental health substudy (part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health) were analysed using a mixed methods approach.ResultsWhen questioned by their health practitioner about their emotional wellbeing in the perinatal period, 20.7% of women indicated they had not always responded honestly. Reasons for not being honest reflected four main themes: normalizing of symptoms/coping; negative perceptions (self-and others); fear of adverse repercussions; and fear of involvement of health services (trust and confidentiality). The 38.9% of women who did not feel comfortable when questioned by their health practitioner about their emotional wellbeing were four times more likely to report perinatal depression (odds ratio = 4.09; 95% confidence interval = 2.55, 6.57) and nearly twice as likely to report perinatal anxiety (odds ratio = 1.90; 95% confidence interval = 1.24, 2.94) than other women.ConclusionsWomen who are most likely to need mental health care during the perinatal period are also those least likely to be honest about their mental health. A non-judgemental, open and reassuring approach by clinicians may help to reduce the stigma and fears contributing to lack of honest responses, and improve early diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems.