Background. Stigmatization frequently occurs in individuals with a skin condition such as psoriasis, which can negatively influence their mental health and disease status. While stigma is known to...Show moreBackground. Stigmatization frequently occurs in individuals with a skin condition such as psoriasis, which can negatively influence their mental health and disease status. While stigma is known to be the leading cause of disability for these individuals, little is known about stigmatizing attitudes among the general population and its correlates. This study aimed to examine stigmatizing attitudes towards psoriasis among the Dutch population and investigated possible predictors. Methods. An online survey was administered to 124 participants, which were recruited based on convenience sampling. A 3 x 1 within-subject cross-sectional design was used, investigating the difference in stigmatizing attitudes towards the health conditions psoriasis and common cold (included due to COVID-19), and a healthy control condition. To describe the different conditions, vignettes were used. A one-way repeated measure Manova examined differences between the three conditions on stigmatizing attitudes (assessed by a social distance scale, a direct and indirect version of the impact of skin condition in daily life scale, stereotype endorsement scale, and emotion ratings). In addition, zero-order correlations and multiple regression analyses investigated possible predictors of stigmatizing attitudes towards psoriasis, including sociodemographic variables, familiarity and knowledge about psoriasis, indicators of the behavioral immune system and fear of corona. Results. Manova analysis displayed higher stigmatizing attitudes towards individuals with psoriasis as compared to the control group (p<.001). Besides, overall higher stigmatizing attitudes towards a common cold as compared to the psoriasis group were found. Higher stigmatizing attitudes towards psoriasis were correlated with lower knowledge, higher pathogen disgust, higher perceived infectability, male gender, and familiarity with psoriasis. No correlations were found regarding age, education, fear of corona, or gem aversion. Multiple regression displayed male gender, higher levels of pathogen disgust, and lower levels of knowledge about psoriasis to be predictors of stigmatizing attitudes (p<.05). Conclusion. Stigmatizing attitudes towards psoriasis is shown to be prevalent in Dutch society. As stigmatizing attitudes were shown to be related to reduced knowledge and male gender, future interventions might focus on these factors. Besides, different age groups and professions could be investigated in future studies. Further research is needed, as stigma towards psoriasis is rarely been investigated among the public.Show less
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent and debilitating disorder. The first line treatment for PTSD is prolonged exposure (PE) therapy. Inhibitory learning theory proposes...Show morePosttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent and debilitating disorder. The first line treatment for PTSD is prolonged exposure (PE) therapy. Inhibitory learning theory proposes threat expectancy violation as a strategy to enhance effectiveness of PE. No standardized instrument for the assessment of threat expectancies is currently available. The aim of the current study was to assess the psychometric properties of the TREE, a novel instrument to assess threat expectancies. The reliability and factor structure of the TREE were assessed in a non-clinical sample of 158 trauma-exposed individuals. The TREE showed excellent reliability and was found to consist of four subscales: 1. Fear of dying/losing control, 2. Externalizing symptoms, 3. Negative evaluation, 4. Internalizing symptoms. The reliability of all subscales was good with an internal consistency ranging from .75 to .85. The TREE allows clinicians to tailor exposure sessions to the individual threat appraisal profile of their patients. Furthermore, by making threat expectancies explicit, it can aid in further understanding the mechanisms underlying PE. The factor structure of the TREE should be confirmed and its generalizability to the non-clinical and clinical population should be corroborated in future research.Show less
Background and aim: Although literature suggests that quality of life (QoL) in women with substance use disorders (SUDs) is lower than in men, it remains unknown whether this 1) applies to SUD...Show moreBackground and aim: Although literature suggests that quality of life (QoL) in women with substance use disorders (SUDs) is lower than in men, it remains unknown whether this 1) applies to SUD patients with psychiatric comorbidities in the Netherlands; and 2) whether there is a gender difference in QoL gain during treatment. This study therefore aimed to compare QoL (gain) between genders. Because research linked mood problems to worse QoL and substance usage in women, it was also the aim to compare genders in the association between (change in) mood problems and (change in) QoL. Methods: The longitudinal design involved data of day-patient treatments between 2018-2020. Sixty nine females and one hundred and thirty males with SUDs and comorbidities were assessed, using the EQ-5D-3L and the ICECAP-A. Analysis of variance and moderation analyses were performed with multiple imputation, controlling for treatment group. Results: At pretest, QoL in women was significantly lower when compared to men. There was no significant gender difference concerning gain in QoL, as well as regarding the association between mood problems and QoL at pretest and posttest. Conclusions: Women with SUDs and comorbidities experience lower QoL than men, a gender gap that is less profound in the normal population. Stigma and adverse life conditions arguably play a role. There is no evidence that men and women profit differently from treatment. In any case, mood problems, trauma experiences and meaningful activities could be considered more in future studies, as their association with QoL seems to be critical.Show less
Objectives: Some of the domains in which more experienced practitioners have been shown to outperform their less experienced colleagues relate to interpersonal skills, that can be measured by...Show moreObjectives: Some of the domains in which more experienced practitioners have been shown to outperform their less experienced colleagues relate to interpersonal skills, that can be measured by performance-based measure called Facilitative Interpersonal Skills (FIS). FIS has been identified as a strong predictor of treatment outcome, yet it is not known whether the FIS score is dependent on therapeutic experience. The present study tested the impact of clinical experience on FIS task performance by examining the influence of experience on FIS total score and the eight domains. Method: A total of 46 clinical psychology master’s students and 94 licensed cognitive-behavioural therapists participated in FIS assessment and provided information on their prior clinical experience. To test the hypotheses the multi-level growth model for repeated measures was employed. Results: Experienced therapists, on average, scored higher on FIS assessment than master’s students. The analyses of individual FIS domains revealed that the therapists performed significantly better on the 5 out of 8 FIS domains. Conclusions: Results were consistent with the hypothesis that the FIS assessment is dependent on one’s level of experience. The results imply that interpersonal skills can be modified through training or over the course of a therapeutic career. Conceptual and practical considerations of the findings are discussed.Show less
This paper explores the trajectory of amyloid accumulation onset in the brain relative to cognitive decline to potentially improve secondary prevention efforts of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This was...Show moreThis paper explores the trajectory of amyloid accumulation onset in the brain relative to cognitive decline to potentially improve secondary prevention efforts of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This was accomplished by attempting a replication of the study "Spatiotemporal distribution of β-amyloid in Alzheimer's disease is the result of heterogeneous carrying capacities" (Whittington et al., 2018) using data obtained from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database. Results showed that Whittington’s model of the temporal evolution of the in vivo PET β-amyloid signal over time (i.e. using the four parameters: the tracer nonspecific binding (NS), the exponential uninhibited growth rate (r), the time of half-maximal β -amyloid concentration (T50) and the carrying capacity (K)), and the derived “estimated time since disease onset” could be used to model β-amyloid accumulation trajectory. Additionally, by studying the relationship between the trajectory of amyloid accumulation and cognitive decline, the results showed that amyloid accumulation in the brain does precede cognitive decline and can be modeled to predict cognitive deterioration. Thus, it was concluded that “estimated time since disease onset” does serve as a possible effective predictive diagnostic tool of cognitive impairments and AD pathology. Additionally, this study emphasizes the need for future research on the mechanisms by which amyloid accumulation influences cognitive impairments.Show less
As inertia lacks a comprehensive definition, this thesis aids the formulation of a singular yet widely applicable definition. This is accomplished by examining the feasibility of definitions...Show moreAs inertia lacks a comprehensive definition, this thesis aids the formulation of a singular yet widely applicable definition. This is accomplished by examining the feasibility of definitions obtained through the scientific literature (a top-down approach) and laypeople (a bottom-up approach). A single definition for inertia proves to be elusive due to inertia’s many different uses, interpretations, and overlap with other constructs. For this reason, several distinguishing features were identified to differentiate inertia. In addition, a dichotomy between inertia as a behaviour and tendency was proposed to reconcile contradictions within the literature. Nevertheless, a classical definition with clear boundaries proved to be problematic. Therefore, a bottom-up approach examined through a prototype analysis whether inertia may have a prototype structure. In this case, inertia is best explained through many distinct, yet overlapping concepts instead of a few boundary conditions. In Study 1, participants freely generated features of financial decision-making. In Study 2, the resultant features were adapted to financial inertia and were tested for their representativeness. These preliminary analyses indicated that inertia might indeed have a prototype structure as numerous features were considered central to inertia. While these inferences are somewhat tentative until inertia’s prototype structure is fully confirmed in subsequent tests, there are indications that the dichotomy following from the top-down approach may mirror patterns in the most centrally rated features from the bottom-up approach.Show less
Research master thesis | Psychology (research) (MSc)
closed access
Background: Theoretical models propose that parenting practices play a role in the development and maintenance of child depression. However, previous meta-analytic findings indicated that parenting...Show moreBackground: Theoretical models propose that parenting practices play a role in the development and maintenance of child depression. However, previous meta-analytic findings indicated that parenting accounted for only 5-11% of the variance in childhood depression, with varying effects for different types of parenting behaviors. Research Question: The current study aimed to investigate the association between observed negative/positive parenting behavior, childhood depression, and child gender, while controlling for the confounding effects of type of informant and assessment approach for childhood depression. Method: Two meta-analysis were conducted for the negative parenting – childhood depression and positive parenting – childhood depression association, while including moderating and confounding variables. The current study included thirty articles in total, with nineteen examining negative parenting behaviors and twenty-three examining positive parenting behaviors. Results: Observed negative parenting behavior was positively and observed positive parenting behavior was negatively related to childhood depression, with overall small effect sizes. Type of parenting behavior, child gender, and assessment approach for childhood depression did not moderate the associations. Type of informant for childhood depression explained some variance in the positive parenting – childhood depression association. Conclusions: Parenting interventions for childhood depression might aim to improve a broader range of parental behaviors. Future research is advised to compare actual to perceived parenting behaviors and investigate the direction of the parenting – childhood depression association, while adopting a multiple levels of analysis perspective. This could possibly contribute towards developing most effective personalized interventions for childhood depression, while lowering the high burden of depression.Show less
Research master thesis | Psychology (research) (MSc)
closed access
Having an extra sex chromosome is known as sex chromosome trisomy (SCT). This may result in 47,XXY, 47,XXX, or 47,XYY. Previous research suggested that social attention to the eyes is reduced in ...Show moreHaving an extra sex chromosome is known as sex chromosome trisomy (SCT). This may result in 47,XXY, 47,XXX, or 47,XYY. Previous research suggested that social attention to the eyes is reduced in (young) adults with SCT and that individuals with SCT have more autistic characteristics compared to typically developing (TD) controls. It was unknown whether the group differences were also present in early childhood. The current study aimed to explore social attention, autistic traits, and their relation in three subgroups of children with SCT (47,XXY, 47,XXX, and 47,XYY; N = 70), aged 3 to 7 years, in comparison to TD peers (N = 62). Social attention to the eyes was measured using three eye-tracking video paradigms: A single-face condition, a multiple-face condition and a social interaction condition. Autistic traits were measured using the Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition. Results showed a difference in social attention between children with SCT and TD children during the social interaction condition. There was no difference in social attention between the SCT subgroups. The SCT group showed more autistic traits than the TD group and the 47,XXX subgroup had more autistic traits than the 47,XXY subgroup. There was a significant relation between social attention during the single-face condition and autistic traits in the 47,XYY subgroup only. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the importance of monitoring socio-cognitive challenges related to SCT in early childhood.Show less
Angsten en zorgen komen vaak voor tijdens medische behandelingen in de pediatrische zorg. Het is belangrijk manieren te vinden om deze negatieve gevoelens te verminderen en zo de zorg te...Show moreAngsten en zorgen komen vaak voor tijdens medische behandelingen in de pediatrische zorg. Het is belangrijk manieren te vinden om deze negatieve gevoelens te verminderen en zo de zorg te optimaliseren. Placebo-toepassingen zouden een potentiële oplossing kunnen zijn, maar ouders en zorgverleners moeten hiervoor open staan. Er is weinig onderzoek gedaan naar het gebruik van verschillende pediatrische placebo-toepassingen en de rol van kennis over placebo-effecten. Deze studie heeft als doel te onderzoeken of kennis over placebo-effecten samenhangt met de acceptatie van behandelversterkende en behandelvervangende placebo-toepassingen bij kinderen onder ouders en zorgverleners. Een online vragenlijst werd ingevuld door 11 ouders van een kind dat in het afgelopen jaar in het ziekenhuis is behandeld en 65 zorgverleners. Ouders en zorgverleners verschilden niet in hun (hoge) kennis over placebo-effecten en acceptatie van placebo-toepassingen (p>.090). Meer kennis over placebo-effecten werd geassocieerd met een hogere acceptatie van placebo-toepassingen door ouders (p<.001), maar niet door zorgverleners (p=.196). Na het lezen van beschrijvingen van specifieke pediatrische placebo-toepassingen nam de algemene acceptatie toe voor zowel ouders (p=.008) als zorgverleners (p=.011). De resultaten van deze studie moeten voorzichtig worden geïnterpreteerd, vanwege de kleine en niet generaliseerbare steekproef, maar indiceren dat kennis belangrijker is voor acceptatie van pediatrische placebo-toepassingen door ouders. Meer onderzoek is nodig naar de relatie tussen kennis over placebo-effecten en de acceptatie van de verschillende vormen van placebo-toepassingen. Uiteindelijk is het wellicht mogelijk om met de kennis uit deze studie ouders en zorgverleners beter te informeren over pediatrische placebo-toepassingen en zo hun acceptatie ervan te verhogen.Show less
Toenemend bewijs wordt geleverd voor de effectiviteit van open-label placebobehandelingen, waarbij de zorgverlener openheid geeft over de toepassing van een behandeling zonder specifieke effectieve...Show moreToenemend bewijs wordt geleverd voor de effectiviteit van open-label placebobehandelingen, waarbij de zorgverlener openheid geeft over de toepassing van een behandeling zonder specifieke effectieve componenten (placebo). Het is onbekend wat de opinies van ouders en zorgverleners zijn over open-label placebobehandelingen. Deze studie onderzocht het (verschil in) acceptabiliteit en verwachte effectiviteit van ouders en zorgverleners tegenover open-label placebobehandelingen in de pediatrische zorg, placebo-toepassingen als aanvulling op de reguliere behandeling en de mogelijke rol van ouder/zorgverlener-, kind- en behandelkenmerken. Elf ouders van een kind dat in het afgelopen jaar een ziekenhuisbehandeling heeft ondergaan en 55 pediatrisch zorgverleners hebben de online vragenlijst ingevuld tussen April en Mei 2021. Vergeleken met ouders toonden zorgverleners een hogere acceptabiliteit (M=7.28, SD=2.15 vs. M=5.67, SD=3.12; p=.04) en verwachtten positievere effecten (M=6.97, SD=1.97 vs. M=5.17, SD=2.76; p=.01), waarbij de acceptatie en verwachte effectiviteit sterk gecorreleerd zijn (p<.001). Alleen bij ouders was meer placebo-kennis (p=.02) en de eerste behandeling van het kind (p=.05) gecorreleerd met een hogere acceptabiliteit. Er zijn geen significante verbanden gevonden voor andere eigenschappen, voor verwachte effectiviteit, of voor de zorgverleners. Verborgenheid werd gezien als een vereiste voor placebo-effecten door 64% van de ouders en 51% van de zorgverleners. De doorgaans positieve opvattingen tegenover open-label placebobehandelingen in de pediatrische zorg bieden potentie tot implementatie, ondanks een lacune in kennis dat misleiding vereist is voor placebo-effecten. Factoren als placebo-kennis en de eerste behandeling van het kind spelen mogelijk een rol in de attitude van ouders en kunnen in acht worden genomen bij toekomstig onderzoek in grotere steekproeven.Show less
Cooperation and interpersonal synchronization are two diagnostic features of the human species. The relationship between these inherently social behaviours is interesting with regards to the...Show moreCooperation and interpersonal synchronization are two diagnostic features of the human species. The relationship between these inherently social behaviours is interesting with regards to the mechanisms that are able to explain how and why the relationship arose during our evolutionary history. Interpersonal synchrony increases the ease of prediction of the movements of the other person, creating a rewarding experience that can reduce the psychological distance between the interaction partners. The current thesis studied the influence of interpersonal orchestral synchronization (in the form of an online musical dyadic tapping task) on cooperative attitude change. This was done by examining the relationships between the mode of tapping, the objective and subjective measures of synchrony and the changes in the attitudes towards the interaction partner. The findings suggest that, when it comes to increasing cooperative attitude, the way the participants experience synchrony is more influential than the actual quality of synchronization. The perception of synchrony, enabled to a different extent by the mode of tapping, gave rise to differences in the attitudes of the interaction partner, which appear to be important in predicting cooperative attitude change as well. All in all, the perceptive cues of synchrony seem to be the ones to guide the person’s cooperative attitude to be influenced by the interaction. Beyond the improvement of cooperative attitude, the observed decline brings new considerations of the importance of the evaluation of the synchronization experience as a whole and should encourage synchronization research with higher ecological validity.Show less
