Psychological Thought (Journal)
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REVIEW OF THE BOOK “THE MEANING OF LIFE” WRITTEN BY PROF. RUMEN STAMATOV, D.SC.
Full text linkThe review of the book "The Meaning of Life" presents a theoretical study conducted by Rumen Stamatov, dedicated to one of the most complex constructs in psychology. The question of the meaning of life is posed in the field of existential and positive psychology. The author accepts that the understanding of the question of meaning can be represented by four separate questions: Why should I live?; What to do with the rest of my life ?; What meaning can I draw from my past life ?; What could be different in my life? These questions reveal different perspectives in which the problem of meaning arises. The book is perhaps the most in-depth study of these issues written by a Bulgarian author
Age Differences in Aggression in Bulgarian Primary School Age Children
Full text linkIn order to study the age differences of the status of aggression from the beginning to the end of the primary school age, 244 typically developing Bulgarian children were examined with the adapted for Bulgarian population questionnaire for measurement of aggression and depression in primary school age children. The total sample was divided into 2 age groups: first graders’ group (6-8 years, Mean age = 6.99, SD = 0.189; N = 82; 42 girls) and fourth graders’ group (9-11 years; Mean age = 10.23, SD = 0.450; N = 162; 79 girls). It was suggested that age-related differences in aggression status were present in the age range considered. It was also assumed that there were some gender differences in the participants’ aggressive status. The results did not reveal any statistically significant differences between the two age groups in the mean aggression scores, suggesting no essential aggression change in this age period. As regards to the effect of the participant’s gender, some statistically significant differences between the age subgroups in the mean aggression scores were found, with the boys demonstrated higher aggression than girls, suggesting that the subjects’ sex was a factor with significant effect on the level of aggression in this age period
Helping Shy Employees with Career Success: The Impact of Organizational Socialization
Full text linkAs shy people have been reported to experience interpersonal and professional difficulties at work, this study examined the extent to which shy employees have lower perceptions of their career success and whether organizational socialization could favorably moderate the relationship between shyness and subjective career success. Questionnaires containing personality and socialization measures were given to 375 full-time employees. Confirming the hypotheses, t-test results revealed that shy (compared to non-shy) employees scored significantly lower on Subjective Career Success, Self-Confidence, and Emotional Intelligence; while scoring significantly higher on work-related Emotional Exhaustion. Regressions revealed that the four facets of organizational socialization (Training, Understanding, Coworker Support, and Future Prospects) all had significant moderating effects that yielded increases in the levels of Subjective Career Success for the shy employees. Implications for management are discussed
The Background, Psychometric Qualities and Clinical Application of the Visual Analog Mood Scales: A Review and Evaluation
Full text linkThe purpose of this report is to evaluate the published version of the Visual Analog Mood Scales. These scales were published in 1997 and assess eight clinically relevant unipolar dimensions: afraid, confused, sad, angry, energetic, tired, happy, tense. From a search of the literature in PsycINFO, 24 empirical studies (including reliability and validity) were located on the application of the scales. The use of the scales for diagnosis, treatment and experimentation is described and published data on the test-retest reliability and validity of the scales is summarized. The reported test-retest correlations ranged from .43 to .87 and were considered too low for high stakes decisions. From nine studies, the concurrent validity coefficients across the eight scales ranged from a low of .12 to as high as .82. It is concluded that the scales have clinical utility for a quasi-non-verbal or pictorial assessment of mood states but there are limitations in the interpretation of the results. This is due to the shortcomings in the standardization samples as well as concerns for the psychometric quality in terms of validity and reliability
Rumination and Mental Health in Emerging Adulthood
Full text linkThe study investigated the relationships between the dimensions of emerging adulthood and self-esteem, depression and anxiety, as well as the mediating effect of reflection processes between them. Two hundred and two subjects, aged 17-30 years, participated in the study. The methods used included Inventory for the Study of Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA), Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire (RRQ), Rosenberg Global Self-Esteem Scale (RSEI), Short Depression Scale of the Center for Epidemiological Studies (CES-D 10), and Revised Checklist for Assessment of Psychological Symptoms (Symptom Checklist 90 - R). Results showed that women had higher levels of depression, rumination and reflection compared to men. Significant low to moderate correlations were revealed between Identity exploration as a dimension of emerging adulthood, rumination and reflection, and depression. Experimentation / opportunities correlated with reflection, and Negativity / instability with rumination, depression and anxiety. Identity exploration, Negativity / Instability and Focusing on yourself were significant predictors of depression, and significant predictors of anxiety in emerging adulthood were Negativity/Instability and Experimentation/ opportunities. Rumination had significant indirect effects on self-esteem, depression and anxiety, with significant independent predictors the dimensions Identity exploration, Negativity/ Instability (except for anxiety) and Feeling "in between"
Lithuanian Gymnasium Students’ Career Education: Professional Self-Determination Context
Full text linkProfessional self-determination/career choice is one of the most essential things in a young human’s life. Choosing a further life path is rather complicated. Self-cognition, harmony of one’s abilities and desires is difficult to be achieved. It is important for the young people to choose a profession corresponding to their interests, values, inclinations. It is not less important that the work/chosen profession would have a demand in the labour market. So, professional self-determination is inseparable from the all-round and directional personality education. A representative, complex research was conducted at the beginning of 2018, in which 643 Lithuanian gymnasium 11-12 grade students participated. Applying a questionnaire as an instrument, the gathered data were analysed using measures of descriptive statistics, correlation and factor analysis. In this research, it was emphasized on how Lithuanian gymnasium students valued their future personal career, how they planned their future professional activity, and the internal structure of the career choice process was established. The most significant factors for career choice were Personal feature importance, Profession prospects, and Important people’s position. The least significant factor was Coincidence factors. Some gender differences were found in significance of the factors contributing to career choice. Research results allow stating that differentiated and individualised approach remains urgent in the career education of students in the gymnasium. The role of psychologists, social workers and professional consultants working at school and its development remains very important as well
Book Review of Natasha Angelov's Monograph “Psychology of Family Relationships”
Full text linkThe book review of the monograph “Psychology of family relationships” by Natasha Angelova, Ph.D., presents the summarized results from her investigation, as well as the main theoretical frameworks are mentioned that she based on when building up the research design. The monograph “Psychology of family relationships” presents a dynamic approach towards the family that summarizes the historical prospective in development of family group, the concrete individual experiences of family members, as well as their adaptation to the requirements of the family as a social group. Natasha Angelova conducted four independent studies with 1680 participants in total from 2011 to 2017. Research design comprises seven factors (feeling lonely, affiliation motivation, coping strategies, locus of control, optimism and negative expectancies, time orientation, coping in conflict situations)
Bulgarian Adaptation of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory for Adults (Form С)
Full text linkAn adaptation for Bulgarian conditions of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory for Adults (Form C) was performed. 900 participants were studied. Some of them were university students from different majors in the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies – ULSIT, while others were recruited through an online questionnaire. The items had good psychometric characteristics and the test was highly reliable. The construct validity of the scale was checked by means of correlations with some instruments measuring values and life satisfaction. Three factors were extracted that deserved being interpreted (Personal self-esteem, Self-esteem derived from others, Self-esteem derived from parents). This questionnaire was normed on the Bulgarian sample of adults
Evolutionary Aspects of a New Eating Disorder: Orthorexia Nervosa in the 21st Century
Full text linkIn this theoretical study, certain characteristics of orthorexia nervosa (ON) are assessed. As a type of disordered eating, ON is characterized as pathological healthy eating obsession. By reviewing previous literature, four orthorexic traits are investigated whether they meet the conditions of becoming adaptive drivers of human behavior. First, learned neophobia to avoid “improper” foods is considered as an advantageous strategy, secondly, ON being a cohesive force based on common beliefs and its religious, virtuous characteristics is adaptive as well. The third orthorexic trait in the form of physiological consequences (refeeding syndrome, malnutrition) suggests that ON is rather a nonadaptive health behavior, along with the fourth characteristic, namely, the psychological disturbances that health anxiety may induce. To conclude, ON can be viewed as an inherently useful tool to protect one’s health by diet, but also as a phenomenon which has extreme forms causing health problems. The exact etiologies are unexplored, therefore, the psychological, social and cultural drivers of extreme healthy eating are important to understand for future improvements. In order to establish the criteria and therapeutic guidelines, it would be beneficial to collect narrative data and experiences from individuals with orthorexic tendencies
Bullying in preschool children
Full text linkThe present article aims to shed light on exploring the issue of bullying in preschool children, with a special focus on early forms of anti-social and aggressive behaviour and suggestions about the role of the school, based on the presentation of prevention and intervention programmes in preschool education settings. The most typical forms of bullying in preschool education settings are physical aggressiveness, social exclusion and rumor spreading. Most studies indicate that physical aggressiveness is prevalent in boys, while relational and verbal aggressiveness is prevalent in girls. The role of preschool educators is crucial, as they need to learn to identify and manage early forms of aggressiveness. Therefore, their training is imperative, as they need to carefully evaluate each incident, while creating a positive learning environment and applying strategies for bullying prevention and intervention