While social media has emerged as one of the primary sources for accessing information over the past decade, this has had the consequence of easily spreading misinformation, including conspiracy...Show moreWhile social media has emerged as one of the primary sources for accessing information over the past decade, this has had the consequence of easily spreading misinformation, including conspiracy theories. This study investigates whether experts are more credible than non-experts in debunking conspiracy theories and whether the use of a warm communication style is more credible in debunking conspiracy theories than the use of a communication style without warmth. Additionally, it investigates the correlation between narcissistic traits in individuals and their susceptibility to conspiracy beliefs. A 2x2 within-subject design was used to research 179 participants who were exposed to a refutation of a conspiracy theory by either experts or non-experts, using either warm communication or communication without warmth. Results show that expertise significantly influences the effectiveness of debunking conspiracy theories. In contrast to our expectations, warmth does not influence this effectiveness. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between narcissistic traits and general belief in conspiracy theories. These results emphasize the importance of expertise, communication style and personality traits in counteracting the spread of misinformation. Future research could explore the impact of different types of expertise and develop strategies to reduce susceptibility to conspiracy theories among individuals with high levels of narcissistic traits.Show less
Empathic Accuracy (EA) is an important skill in parenting. It promotes positive self- concept in adolescents and is a predictor for individual and family adjustment. Factors may influence parental...Show moreEmpathic Accuracy (EA) is an important skill in parenting. It promotes positive self- concept in adolescents and is a predictor for individual and family adjustment. Factors may influence parental EA, such as parental childhood maltreatment and parental or adolescent depression. Using a sample of 201 parents (55.2% mothers), this study measured with linear regression whether parental childhood maltreatment and parental depression contributed to parents misattributing their children’s negative emotions in the context of a conflict task. Adolescent depression was considered as a covariate. Parental childhood maltreatment, and depression of both adolescents and parents were measured using a self-report questionnaire. Parents (Mage = 49.31) and their adolescent child (Mage = 15.81) then participated in a video- recorded task, in which they were asked to solve a conflict. Afterwards, parents had to indicate how they thought their child was feeling on a 7-point Likert scale for positive and negative emotions during high affect moments in this task. The results suggested that parents who have experienced childhood maltreatment, but not parents who suffered from depression, tended to overestimate their children’s negative emotions during the conflict task, showing a negative bias. Additionally, when an adolescent was suffering from depression, parents tended to underestimate their negative emotions. These findings highlight that EA is an interactive process which may be influenced by different factors (e.g. parental childhood maltreatment, adolescent depression). This knowledge can make parents more aware of biases they might have towards the emotions of their children, and thereby improving their communicative and empathic skills.Show less
Patients with prolactinoma are often initially treated with dopamine agonists (DAs). Although in many cases effective, DAs can cause severe (psychological) side effects and sometimes require...Show morePatients with prolactinoma are often initially treated with dopamine agonists (DAs). Although in many cases effective, DAs can cause severe (psychological) side effects and sometimes require lifelong intake. Neurosurgical counseling offers an alternative treatment option. The current study investigated whether neurosurgical counseling leads to better outcomes than DA treatment regarding adverse mood symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and disease burden in patients with prolactinoma. A preliminary analysis of the Prolactinoma Clinical Trial-study was conducted. Patients were included in a randomized controlled trial or the observational arm, receiving either neurosurgical counseling or DA treatment. Adverse mood symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS), HRQoL (Short-Form Health Survey; SF-36), and disease burden (Leiden Bothers and Needs Questionnaire; LBNQ) were measured at baseline and 12 months follow-up. Demographic and clinical variables were derived from electronic patient files. To investigate the effects of time, group, and time*group interaction, multivariate linear mixed models were performed on outcomes of the HADS, SF-36, and LBNQ, controlling for age, sex, and prolactin levels at baseline. Data were available for 71, 61, and 69 patients in the analysis on the HADS, SF-36, and LBNQ, respectively. A larger decline in anxiety symptoms was found in the group of neurosurgical counseling (time*group; B = -3.66 (95% CI [-5.85 – -1.47]), p = .001) compared to the DA group. Prolactin levels at baseline were predictive of more adverse mood symptoms, lower mental well-being, and more perceived bothers at 12 months follow-up (all p < .004). Neurosurgical counseling showed comparable effects to DA treatment in terms of HRQoL and disease burden but was superior at relieving anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, prolactin levels emerged as a more potent predictor of these outcomes than the choice of treatment. These findings may optimize treatment for patients with prolactinoma, addressing their mood, emotional well-being, and HRQoL.Show less
Introduction As dementia prevalence increases, more individuals are becoming caregivers for family members with dementia. This role can negatively impact the caregiver's quality of life (QoL), even...Show moreIntroduction As dementia prevalence increases, more individuals are becoming caregivers for family members with dementia. This role can negatively impact the caregiver's quality of life (QoL), even when the person with dementia resides in a nursing home. This study aimed to identify factors influencing caregivers' well-being. We investigated whether the type and stage of dementia, the QoL of the person with dementia, and their interactions could predict the family caregiver's QoL. Methods This study included 205 elderly participants with dementia from 19 nursing homes and their family caregivers. It measured the type of dementia by using a physician’s diagnosis, stage of dementia using the Bedford Alzheimer Nursing Severity-Scale (BANS-S) ( M = 14.92, SD = 4.58), QoL of the person with dementia using the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID) scale (M = 22.88, SD = 7.96 ), and caregiver QoL using a scale question from the TOPICS-MDS questionnaire (M = 7.36 , SD = 1.18). A general linear model was employed to analyze the data. Results Neither the type of dementia (F(3, 189) = 0.62, p = 0.6030), stage of dementia (F(1, 189) = 0.871, p = 0.352), nor the QoL of the person with dementia (F(1, 189) = 0.225, p = 0.636) predicted the QoL of the family caregiver. Additionally, no interactions between these factors were significant predictors of the family caregiver’s QoL (Type x Stage; F(3, 189) = .264, p = .851) (Type x QoL); F(3, 189) =.548 , p =.650) (Stage x QoL; F(1, 189) = .388, p = .534) (Type x Stage x QoL; F(3, 189) =.149, p = .930). Discussion None of the characteristics nor their interactions were able to predict the caregiver's quality of life. These results contradict earlier research. Possible explanations are the violations of certain assumptions within the GLM, the methods that were used to measure the variables and the difference in care setting between this study and previous studies. Further investigation is needed to clarify these discrepancies and refine our understanding of factors affecting family caregivers' QoL.Show less
Het doel van dit experimentele scriptie onderzoek was om het effect van de verwachtings-optimalisatie tool op de verwachte omgang met pijn tijdens de bevalling te onderzoeken. Met de verwachtings...Show moreHet doel van dit experimentele scriptie onderzoek was om het effect van de verwachtings-optimalisatie tool op de verwachte omgang met pijn tijdens de bevalling te onderzoeken. Met de verwachtings-optimalisatie tool vormen vrouwen positieve, maar realistische verwachtingen. Verwachtingen zijn belangrijk, aangezien het voldoen aan eerdere verwachtingen een positieve ervaring van de bevalling creëert. Dit is essentieel omdat een negatieve bevallingservaring één van de grootste uitdagingen in de zorg is. Het overkoepelende pilotonderzoek wil de algemene bevallingservaringen verbeteren door met verwachtingen de effectiviteit van pijnbehandelingen te vergroten. Voor een positieve bevallingservaring is effectief omgaan met pijn cruciaal. In dit scriptie onderzoek waren er twee hypotheses, namelijk dat respondenten na het doorlopen van de tool een betere verwachte omgang met pijn verwachten en dat dit effect versterkt werd door een hoge zelfeffectiviteit. De steekproef (N = 32) bestond uit vrouwen met zwangerschapsplannen binnen vijf jaar, willekeurig verdeeld over een interventie- (n = 16) en een controlegroep (n = 16). De interventiegroep voltooide de tool, terwijl de controlegroep enkel het geboorteplan invulde in Qualitrics. Data-analyse werd uitgevoerd middels een onafhankelijke t-toets en Hayes’ PROCESS-macro. De resultaten toonden geen significant effect van de tool op de verwachte omgang met pijn (d = 0,40 ), noch een interactie-effect in de moderatieanalyse (b = - 0,07 ). Ondanks dat de hypothesen niet werden bevestigd, vormt dit onderzoek een eerste stap in de ontwikkeling van interventies gericht op het cultiveren van positieve, realistische verwachtingen om de bevallingservaring te verbeteren en in het begrijpen wat voor rol zelfeffectiviteit speelt.Show less
Functioneren is een belangrijk concept in de zorg, maar dit wordt nog niet uitgevraagd als single item vraag in gezondheidsmonitors, zoals dat bij ervaren gezondheid gebeurt. De verwachte stijgende...Show moreFunctioneren is een belangrijk concept in de zorg, maar dit wordt nog niet uitgevraagd als single item vraag in gezondheidsmonitors, zoals dat bij ervaren gezondheid gebeurt. De verwachte stijgende prevalentie van ouderdomsziektes door vergrijzing levert een behoefte aan een oplossing voor de hoge werkdruk bij zorgpersoneel en single item vragen verminderen werklast bij zorgpersoneel en patiënt. Het doel van dit onderzoek was om te onderzoeken of ervaren functioneren en ervaren gezondheid twee verschillende constructen zijn. De hypothese was dat dit twee verschillende constructen zouden zijn. Deze zouden naast elkaar uitgevraagd kunnen worden in gezondheidsmonitors en gezondheidsevaluatielijsten in de zorg om aanvullende informatie te geven over kwaliteit van leven en welzijn van een patiënt. Uit verschillende bestaande gezondheidsmonitors is een vragenlijst samengesteld. Hieraan zijn items over demografische kenmerken en de ervaren gezondheid en zelf ontworpen ervaren functioneren vraag toegevoegd. De vragenlijst bestond uit 47 vragen en is verspreid via sociale media. De dataset bestond uit 281 respondenten, waarvan 42,3 % man, 55,9% vrouw en 1,1% non-binair. 65,5% van de respondenten had geen ervaring met een langdurige ziekte, 22,8 % met één langdurige ziekte en 11,7% met twee of meer langdurige ziekten. De correlaties tussen drie van vijf items van de EQ-5D5L (mobiliteit, pijn/ongemak en angst/somberheid) en ervaren functioneren waren significant verschillend met de correlaties tussen de items en de ervaren gezondheid vraag. Ook de EQ-VAS correleerde significant verschillend. Hoewel ervaren functioneren en ervaren gezondheid niet significant verschillend correleerden op elk item van de EQ-5D5L, reageerden ze niet identiek. Dit kan een aanwijzing zijn dat ervaren functioneren en ervaren gezondheid twee verschillende constructen zijn. Er is meer onderzoek nodig naar de domeinen waarop ervaren functioneren en ervaren gezondheid wel dan niet verschillen.Show less
This study investigates the relationship between rejection sensitivity and social feedback learning rate. Rejection sensitivity is an aspect of social anxiety disorder which is especially prevalent...Show moreThis study investigates the relationship between rejection sensitivity and social feedback learning rate. Rejection sensitivity is an aspect of social anxiety disorder which is especially prevalent in adolescents. SAD has a significant relationship with social feedback learning rate and this study aims to go a step further and research whether rejection sensitivity is a leading factor in this relationship. Participants fill in the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale as well as the Children’s Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire. Afterwards they will do a speech task which includes a public speaking section and is judged by confederate judges who will rate them on their performance. The participants rate themselves before and after the feedback from the judges. The difference between individual’s rating before and after the feedback will be measured and this will form the basis of our data for analysis. During the analysis a correlational relationship will be analyzed between rejection sensitivity, its sub measures and social feedback learning rate. The hypothesis of the study is that individuals with higher rejection sensitivity score will have higher negative social feedback learning rates. Results show no significant relationship between the variables.Show less
Social anxiety can have a huge impact on adolescents’ lives, including emotional, social, and educational problems. The relationships between social anxiety, audience perception, and expressiveness...Show moreSocial anxiety can have a huge impact on adolescents’ lives, including emotional, social, and educational problems. The relationships between social anxiety, audience perception, and expressiveness are considered to play a role in the development of those problems, since they cause intense distress or even avoidance of social or performance situations. Effective treatment options are therefore important to prevent further problems. This study examined the relationship between social anxiety, audience perception, and expressiveness, and the feasibility of blended care. To examine this, 43 participants followed a 12 week blended care intervention consisting of psychoeducation, social skills training, cognitive restructuring techniques, exposure tasks, assertiveness training, and homework assignments. In addition, the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents, the Audience Perception Questionnaire, and the Speech Performance Observation Scale for Youth were administered before and after treatment. A mediation analysis was done to study whether audience perception mediated the relationship between social anxiety and expressiveness. To test whether blended care was feasible in reducing symptoms of social anxiety, and increase audience perception and expressiveness, multiple paired samples t-tests were performed. No significant relationships were found between social anxiety and audience perception (β = -.054, p = .40), between social anxiety and expressiveness (β = .005, p =.37), and between audience perception and expressiveness (β = -.009, p =.75). Logically, the whole mediation model was also not significant (β = .005, p =.45). Results from the paired samples t-tests showed significant differences for social anxiety (t(29) = 2.66, p = .013), lowering the mean scores from 56.8 to 50.6, and audience perception (t(28) = -4.00, p < .001), increasing the mean scores from -3.2 to -0,8. No significant differences were found for expressiveness (t(13) = .10, p = .92). The results show no relationships between social anxiety, audience perception, and expressiveness, which could be explained by the unfamiliarity of the concept of expressiveness, a different mediator that has influence on these variables, having a small sample size, or participants’ level of education. Further research is needed on both, to gain more insight in relationships affecting social anxiety in adolescents. The results did show the feasibility of blended care in reducing social anxiety and increasing audience perception. Using blended care is encouraged to provide more and better care to adolescents.Show less
Het aanleren van woordenschat aan NT2-leerlingen (leerlingen met Nederlands als tweede taal) in kleuterklassen is een cruciaal onderdeel voor de taalontwikkeling van de leerlingen en hun algehele...Show moreHet aanleren van woordenschat aan NT2-leerlingen (leerlingen met Nederlands als tweede taal) in kleuterklassen is een cruciaal onderdeel voor de taalontwikkeling van de leerlingen en hun algehele academisch succes. Echter is het effectief vormgeven van woordenschatonderwijs aan deze doelgroep een uitdaging voor basisscholen. Dit onderzoek richt zich op het identificeren van effectieve strategieën voor het geven van woordenschatonderwijs aan NT2-leerlingen in kleuterklassen alsmede onderzoek naar het gebruik van deze strategieën op een specifieke basisschool. Middels een literatuurstudie zijn er drie principes vastgesteld die bijdragen aan effectief woordenschatonderwijs: 1. Integreer de moedertaal in het onderwijs, 2. Verhoog de hoeveelheid verbale interactiemomenten 3. Werk met directe instructiemomenten. Uit semi-gestructureerde interviews met vijf werknemers van een basisschool die zich met het kleuteronderwijs bezighouden blijkt het volgende. Als eerste heeft de school de integratie van de eerste taal in haar onderwijs nog niet in grote mate geïmplementeerd. Daarnaast blijkt dat leerkrachten actief didactische impulsen geven om interactie tussen leerlingen te bevorderen. Ten slotte wordt vastgesteld dat de school bekend is met het concept van directe instructiemomenten, maar dat er niet altijd voldoende tijd beschikbaar is om dit toe te passen. Deze bevindingen bieden inzichten voor leerkrachten en ondersteunend personeel om woordenschat effectiever te implementeren voor NT2-leerlingen in kleuterklassen.Show less
This master thesis investigated how social motives (prosocial vs. pro-self) and communication medium (headphones vs. no headphones) affect group negotiation outcomes. The study used a 2x2 factorial...Show moreThis master thesis investigated how social motives (prosocial vs. pro-self) and communication medium (headphones vs. no headphones) affect group negotiation outcomes. The study used a 2x2 factorial design with 41 three-person groups (N = 123), who engaged in a structured negotiation task. Hypothesis 1 predicted that prosocial groups would achieve higher joint outcomes than pro-self groups, and results of an ANOVA supported this prediction. Hypotheses 2 and 3, predicting that structured communication, using headphones to manipulate turn-taking behaviour, would improve prosocial and reduce pro-self groups negotiation outcomes, respectively, were not supported by an ANOVA. This suggests that while prosocial motives significantly improve outcomes, structured communication alone does not. Future research should explore additional communication structuring methods and broader contexts to validate these findings.Show less
Prior research indicates a positive correlation between affective empathy, encompassing both empathic concern and personal distress, and anxiety. Empathic concern is associated with pro-social...Show morePrior research indicates a positive correlation between affective empathy, encompassing both empathic concern and personal distress, and anxiety. Empathic concern is associated with pro-social behaviours, whereas personal distress is linked to avoidant behaviours. However little research has been done in a parental sample. This study explores whether empathic concern might mediate the relationship between parental anxiety and parental bonding. Parental bonding is the expected behavioural outcome of empathy and encompasses supportive parenting behaviours. Using data from the RE-PAIR study, a mediation analysis via regression was conducted. The sample consisted of 143 parents and their (adolescent) child. The parental bonding was measured through a questionnaire that the child had to fill in about their parents after the reminiscence task (REM). The REM was conducted in the lab, the task entailed that the child had to talk about an emotional event. Results showed that there was no mediating effect, though anxiety did seem to correlate significantly with empathic concern (β = 0.20, p = 0.01). There was no correlation found between anxiety and parental bonding or between empathic concern and parental bonding. This suggests that higher empathic concern does not necessarily translate into perceived supportive parenting behaviours. This may indicate issues in the communication of expressing empathy. Perhaps, family therapies or a training focusing on emotional communication could be beneficial. Future research could focus on conducting multiple lab measures in order to take out more situational variables.Show less
Measurement invariance of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) was examined in secondary samples of young adults and adults from China and the USA. Confirmatory factor analysis found that a...Show moreMeasurement invariance of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) was examined in secondary samples of young adults and adults from China and the USA. Confirmatory factor analysis found that a unidimensional structure of the SIAS, in which its three reverse- coded items were removed (S-SIAS), showed the best fit for both samples. Subsequently, this model was used in a hierarchical multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA). The results of the MGCFA support the S-SIAS’ configural and metric invariance across these two countries. This is an indication of the S-SIAS being a unidimensional measure of social interaction anxiety in the USA and China. However, the results indicate the presence of only partial scalar invariance. Therefore, it is likely that individuals from these cultures interpret certain items of the SIAS differently, which complicates direct comparisons across these groups. What this implies for past and current research comparing individuals from these cultures, in terms of social anxiety, as well as implications for future research, are explored further.Show less
Social network centrality is the social position of a person in a social network. The more friendships or social connections they have in the network, the higher the centrality. A low level of...Show moreSocial network centrality is the social position of a person in a social network. The more friendships or social connections they have in the network, the higher the centrality. A low level of social network centrality is often thought to be related to feelings of loneliness. Yet there is still a lot of discussion if this is also the case for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Thus, this study examined the level of loneliness as well as the level of social network centrality in children with ASD, compared to their peers without ASD, and the relation between these two aspects in special education settings. Children with ASD were expected to show a lower level of social network centrality than children without ASD. However it was expected that children with ASD would not feel lonelier than their peers without ASD. Thus, while it was expected that a lower level of centrality relates to a higher level of loneliness in children without ASD, this was not expected for children with ASD. This study compared a group of 47 children with ASD and a group of 52 children without ASD, aged from 8 to 13 years old (M= 10.806; SD = 1.266), in a special education primary school setting. Loneliness was measured with the Children’s Loneliness Scale, and the centrality was measured in a “Like to Play” measure and was based on the number of friendship nominations a child received. ANOVA showed that the children with ASD did not show a significantly lower level of social network centrality nor feel lonelier than their peers without ASD. A hierarchical regression showed no significant relations between social network centrality and the level of loneliness in the two groups. Based on the results of this study children with ASD in an inclusive environment might be more socially central and less lonely than expected.Show less
