Background: Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs) substantially impact the lives of patients, with complex associations between disease severity and self-perceived health status. In this... Show moreBackground: Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs) substantially impact the lives of patients, with complex associations between disease severity and self-perceived health status. In this regard, the Coping with Rheumatic Stressors (CORS) questionnaire was developed to measure how patients with RMDs cope with stressors such as pain, limitations or dependency. The CORS is not currently available in Spanish, and therefore the adaptation of this instrument is needed.Objective: First, to cross-culturally adapt the CORS into Spanish for Spain. Secondly, to test the conceptual equivalence of the translated version in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Methods: A translation of the CORS into Spanish was performed adhering to the forward-backward procedure described by Beaton. Two translators produced independent forward translations of the item content, response options, and instructions of the CORS into Spanish. Both versions were harmonized in a consensual version. Another translator back-translated the synthesized version into Dutch. A scientific committee including all the translators, one methodologist and a rheumatologist, held a meeting and reached consensus on discrepancies to develop a final draft version of the Spanish CORS. Then, a field test with cognitive debriefing was conducted, involving a sample of 10 patients with axSpA. Results: The translation process of the CORS was completed after the discussion of some discrepancies throughout the process. The first translation was done without major complications. Back-translation presented some discrepancies. These led to minor modifications in the wording in one response option and 15 questionnaire items. The scientific committee agreed upon a final version of the questionnaire. Cognitive debriefing, led to minor modifications; for example, three respondents indicated that one of the statements in the instructions was syntactically complex ("indique cuan a menudo usted ha llevado a cabo dicho comportamiento") which led to its adjustment. The process indicated that the final CORS Spanish questionnaire was clear and understandable to all patients.Conclusions: The Spanish version of the CORS showed good cross-cultural validity and good face validity according to the field test. Before the Spanish CORS is implemented, further validation is in progress to test the psychometric properties of the instrument in patients with axSpA. Show less
BackgroundRheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs) substantially impact the lives of patients, with complex associations between disease severity and self-perceived health status. In this... Show moreBackgroundRheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs) substantially impact the lives of patients, with complex associations between disease severity and self-perceived health status. In this regard, the Coping with Rheumatic Stressors (CORS) questionnaire was developed to measure how patients with RMDs cope with stressors such as pain, limitations or dependency. The CORS is not currently available in Spanish, and therefore the adaptation of this instrument is needed.ObjectiveFirst, to cross-culturally adapt the CORS into Spanish for Spain. Secondly, to test the conceptual equivalence of the translated version in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).MethodsA translation of the CORS into Spanish was performed adhering to the forward-backward procedure described by Beaton. Two translators produced independent forward translations of the item content, response options, and instructions of the CORS into Spanish. Both versions were harmonized in a consensual version. Another translator back-translated the synthesized version into Dutch. A scientific committee including all the translators, one methodologist and a rheumatologist, held a meeting and reached consensus on discrepancies to develop a final draft version of the Spanish CORS. Then, a field test with cognitive debriefing was conducted, involving a sample of 10 patients with axSpA.ResultsThe translation process of the CORS was completed after the discussion of some discrepancies throughout the process. The first translation was done without major complications. Back-translation presented some discrepancies. These led to minor modifications in the wording in one response option and 15 questionnaire items. The scientific committee agreed upon a final version of the questionnaire. Cognitive debriefing, led to minor modifications; for example, three respondents indicated that one of the statements in the instructions was syntactically complex (“indique cuán a menudo usted ha llevado a cabo dicho comportamiento”) which led to its adjustment. The process indicated that the final CORS Spanish questionnaire was clear and understandable to all patients.ConclusionsThe Spanish version of the CORS showed good cross-cultural validity and good face validity according to the field test. Before the Spanish CORS is implemented, further validation is in progress to test the psychometric properties of the instrument in patients with axSpA. Show less
‘Resilience’ is trending in development theory and practice, where it is often measured using countable socio-economic outcomes. This paper draws on ethnographic research with South Sudanese Zande... Show more‘Resilience’ is trending in development theory and practice, where it is often measured using countable socio-economic outcomes. This paper draws on ethnographic research with South Sudanese Zande refugees in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Uganda, to show a different and often overlooked perspective; that of elderly refugee women. Having lived through decades of war and displacement, these women have developed a rich body of knowledge about suffering, coping, and resilience. Mixing idioms, folktales, and anecdotes, they teach youth not to focus on outcomes or ‘big dreams’, but on a stoic acceptance of loss and perpetual precarity. They advise actions like farming, childcare, and faith. Even so, suffering and coping are socially conditioned and policed, and the intimate circle harbours both protection and dangers, like witchcraft. The women’s accounts contrast bleakly with up-beat neoliberal developmentalism which sees cash-infused ‘resilience’ as the key to refugees’ self-reliant futures. Show less
Direct interaction with students operates as the main source of teachers’ job satisfaction as well as a cause of feelings of distress. Teaching student-teacher appropriate coping strategies might... Show moreDirect interaction with students operates as the main source of teachers’ job satisfaction as well as a cause of feelings of distress. Teaching student-teacher appropriate coping strategies might make direct interaction with students a source of greater job satisfaction. A typology has been developed of student-teachers’ responses to stressful classroom events in secondary education with four types of coping: “Varying”, “Being annoyed”, “Problem-solving” and “Avoiding” varying along two underlying dimensions: avoidance-approach and calmness-agitation. The coping types particularly differed in the way student-teachers approached, tolerated, avoided or ignored the classroom event, how agitated they were and the length of the coping response. Implications for teacher education are discussed to support student-teachers with more approach-coping strategies instead of avoidance-coping strategies. Show less
The ventral tegmental area dopamine (VTA-DA) mesolimbic circuit processes emotional, motivational, and social reward associations together with their more demanding cognitive aspects that involve... Show moreThe ventral tegmental area dopamine (VTA-DA) mesolimbic circuit processes emotional, motivational, and social reward associations together with their more demanding cognitive aspects that involve the mesocortical circuitry. Coping with stress increases VTA-DA excitability, but when the stressor becomes chronic the VTA-DA circuit is less active, which may lead to degeneration and local microglial activation. This switch between activation and inhibition of VTA-DA neurons is modulated by e.g. corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), opioids, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and the adrenal glucocorticoids. These actions are coordinated with energy-demanding stress-coping styles to promote behavioral adaptation. The VTA circuits show sexual dimorphism that is programmed by sex hormones during perinatal life in a manner that can be affected by glucocorticoid exposure. We conclude that insight in the role of stress in VTA-DA plasticity and connectivity, during reward processing and stress-coping, will be helpful to better understand the mechanism of resilience to breakdown of adaptation. Show less
This thesis examined the extent to which relationships between emotional experiences and aggressive behaviours in adolescents are affected by culture. While existing studies often compare... Show moreThis thesis examined the extent to which relationships between emotional experiences and aggressive behaviours in adolescents are affected by culture. While existing studies often compare individuals from different countries to study cultural influences, this thesis also took a between-country approach by comparing Dutch and Malaysian adolescents; groups that reflect individualistic and collectivistic cultures, respectively. Also, the effect of individualistic and collectivistic values at an individual level was examined. First, the outcomes show that many relationships were culturally universal. Regardless of country or cultural orientation, adolescents who had more problems with anger control tended to be more aggressive; and those who experienced intense anger, fear and shame were more often bullied. Also, guilt was related to less aggressive behaviours in both Malaysian and Dutch samples. Yet, this thesis also revealed country/cultural specific relationships. Whereas shame was related to more aggression in Dutch adolescents, the opposite was true for Malaysian adolescents.Remarkably, this thesis found that the traditional classification between individualistic Western countries and collectivistic Eastern countries was not fully supported when cultural values were assessed at individual levels. For example, while higher levels of shame were related to less aggressive behaviours in individualistic-oriented adolescents, the opposite was true for collectivistic-oriented adolescents. Show less
Arthropathies are the most common extra-intestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affecting approximately 30% of patients. Symptoms may be debilitating and have a... Show moreArthropathies are the most common extra-intestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affecting approximately 30% of patients. Symptoms may be debilitating and have a considerable impact on quality of life. IBD-associated arthropathies can be divided into inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint pain and may involve both axial and peripheral joints. Non-inflammatory joint pain, or arthralgia, is one of the most common complaint in daily IBD practice, but has not yet been studied systematically. For the gastroenterologist, joint/back pain can be challenging symptoms to diagnose and many have difficulties in differentiating arthralgia from arthritis. Since gastroenterologists are, in general, unfamiliar with the diagnosis and management of joint/back pain, it seems warranted that IBD joint complaints should be classified according to existing rheumatologic standards, thus allowing appropriate multi-disciplinary management. Show less
The aim of the study was to find relevant coping factors for the development of psychological interventions for people with chronic fatigue syndrome who suffer from depressive symptoms. A total of... Show moreThe aim of the study was to find relevant coping factors for the development of psychological interventions for people with chronic fatigue syndrome who suffer from depressive symptoms. A total of 30 adults with chronic fatigue syndrome filled in the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, the COPE and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The findings suggested that cognitive coping strategies have a stronger influence than behavioral coping strategies on depressive symptoms. Especially, the cognitive coping strategies refocusing positive, positive reappraisal and catastrophizing were of importance. These findings suggest that these coping strategies should be part of psychological programs for people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Show less
Erp, S.J.H. van; Brakenhoff, L.K.M.P.; Vollmann, M.; Heijde, D. van der; Veenendaal, R.A.; Fidder, H.H.; ... ; Scharloo, M. 2017
In this thesis the epidemiology of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (together referred to as 'suicidality') in Huntington's disease (HD) is investigated and coping styles and support... Show moreIn this thesis the epidemiology of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (together referred to as 'suicidality') in Huntington's disease (HD) is investigated and coping styles and support strategies that may serve to help suicidal HD mutation carriers are explored. Suicidality frequently occurs in HD, with a 1-month prevalence of up to 20%. Mutation carriers who were most likely to currently experience suicidal ideation or suicidality had a shorter disease duration, were anxious, aggressive, previously attempted suicide, used antidepressants, and had a depressed mood. The presence of a depressed mood and use of benzodiazepines were the only significant independent predictors of incident suicidal ideation or suicidality. Biological parameters, in particular functioning of the immune system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis were not found to be associated with suicidality in HD. In a qualitative study it was shown that suicidal HD mutation carriers generally used four strategies to cope with suicidality: talking about suicidality, employing self-management activities, using medication, and discussing end-of-life wishes. Lastly, in a meta-analysis, we examined whether the expression of suicidal ideation predicted subsequent completed suicide. Effect estimates differed substantially among different populations, but none of the included studies investigated this association in HD. Show less
This thesis aims to assess clinical characteristics of paraganglioma (PGLs) patients, with focus on SDH mutation carriers, evaluate psychological aspects in these subjects and to review various... Show moreThis thesis aims to assess clinical characteristics of paraganglioma (PGLs) patients, with focus on SDH mutation carriers, evaluate psychological aspects in these subjects and to review various treatment options for PGLs. Show less
In this thesis we examine how different aspects of emotion regulation are linked to social functioning and psychopathology in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) compared... Show moreIn this thesis we examine how different aspects of emotion regulation are linked to social functioning and psychopathology in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) compared to their typically developing (TD) peers. We take a broad perspective on emotion regulation by examining i) Emotion awareness, ii) Coping, and iii) Empathy. Main findings where that children with ASD scored lower on social functioning and higher on internalizing behavior, compared to their TD peers. Furthermore, all three aspects of emotion regulation were related with social functioning and psychopathology in both groups. Although children with ASD appeared to be motivated to engage in peer interactions, cognitive and affective impairments may prevent them from effectively deal with the own and other__s emotions. This thesis showed that internalizing and externalizing behavior in children with ASD mainly stems from impaired emotion regulation. Clinical implications and suggestions for further research are also given. Show less
Jongkamp, V.G.; Roeloffzen, E.M.A.; Monninkhof, E.M.; Leeuw, J.R.J. de; Nijeholt, A.A.M.L.A.; Vulpen, M. van 2012
Cross-cultural research shows that cultural frameworks provide guidance on what to feel and when, and how to express emotions from a young age. These cultural variations can cause misinterpretation... Show moreCross-cultural research shows that cultural frameworks provide guidance on what to feel and when, and how to express emotions from a young age. These cultural variations can cause misinterpretation and misunderstanding and are especially relevant for ethnic minority groups, who may be described as living ‘in between’ cultures. This thesis examines the extent to which Moroccan-Dutch adolescents’ emotional functioning can be considered in between cultures. Their emotion awareness, acknowledgment of social emotions, anger regulation, and anger communication was compared with those of their Dutch peers and with those of their peers living in Morocco. The thesis also addresses the adaptiveness of these aspects of emotional functioning in terms of psychological functioning. The results reveal that, overall, Moroccan-Dutch adolescents’ emotional functioning shows more similarities with that of their Dutch than their Moroccan peers. Although these ‘Dutch’ emotion patterns do not always seem adaptive for Moroccan-Dutch adolescents’ psychological wellbeing, the findings suggest that their emotional functioning in peer situations is a product of the Dutch culture. Show less
This thesis deals with emotional and social influences on childhood somatic complaints. Strong support is provided for the idea that negative affect contributes to the development of somatic... Show moreThis thesis deals with emotional and social influences on childhood somatic complaints. Strong support is provided for the idea that negative affect contributes to the development of somatic complaints in childhood. In addition, the studies described give information about the type and levels of negative affect associated with somatic complaints in childhood. When appraisal is characterized by the experience of little control over negative situations and emotions, this is likely to directly cause more feelings of negative affect and also to contribute to a more negative processing of emotions: children who feel little control evidently use more maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. This negative emotional processing further contributes to negative affect and subsequent somatic complaints. These relationships between negative affect and somatic complaints are even present at subclinical levels of emotional problems. With regard to social problems, it is found that they have an effect on somatic complaints that is fully mediated by aspects of children’s emotional functioning: self-perceived social problems indicate lower feelings of control and more maladaptive emotion regulation. Show less
In the Netherlands the Coping with Depression (CWD; Lewinsohn & Clark, 1984) course for elderly has been implemented in the prevention arm of the community-based mental health care system. The... Show moreIn the Netherlands the Coping with Depression (CWD; Lewinsohn & Clark, 1984) course for elderly has been implemented in the prevention arm of the community-based mental health care system. The study’s aim was the effectiveness (immediate and long-term) of the course in this real life setting. Enrolment of all 318 participants was the responsibility of the mental health care professionals in charge of the course. The immediate effect was studied in a random design using a waitlist group as control group; the long-term effect was analyzed in a naturalistic design. The Center for Epidemiological studies Depression scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977) was used as the outcome measure. A wide range of variables related to incidence, severity, course and remittance of depression were included as predictors of immediate and long-term outcome. Results. The level of depressive symptoms varied from slight to being severely depressed i.e., meeting the criteria for a major depressive episode (MDE). Effect size: for non-depressed 0.32, for those with a MDE 0.92. The four predictors – anxiety, MDE, previous MDE, and education level - that were statistically significant had no clinical significance and did not justify further triage at intake. At the conclusion of the course 62% still had a CES-D score above 16, which is an indication that a clinical relevant depression is persisting. These participants should be advised to seek further treatment. Show less
