Abstract

A comprehensive examination of antisocial behavior in adolescent males with a migration background compared to their native peers show inconsistent results. The results of our research project “Chances and risks in the life course” (CURL-Study by the DFG Research Center) indicate that there is not a considerable difference between antisocial behaviour of adolescents with and without a migration background. Nevertheless the antisocial behavior of male adolescents with a migration background are put under the microscope because of their controversial nature. Risk factors for the development of antisocial behavior were also examined for adolescent males with and without a migration background. Perceived discrimination is handled as migrant specific risk factor. It was found that the perceived discrimination of male adolescents with migration background has both cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships with antisocial behavior. The theoretical model of the current study was based on the disintegration approach of Anhut and Heitmeyer (2000). After some preliminary analysis, a simplified mediation model was tested longitudinal with Mplus in boys with migration background with the dependent variable “total amount of committed crimes” and “violent crime”. The data for this work was collected both in an older (10th and 11th grade students) and younger cohort (6th and 7th grade students) for two years. The model fit of mediation model in older cohort was very good, but not satisfactory in younger cohort. From perceived discrimination and negative parenting extend almost always significant paths over the mediator factors (impulsivity, peer delinquency and acceptance of violence) to violent delinquency in the older cohort.

Abstract

Immigrant boys show higher rates of antisocial behaviour. However, results of previous studies showed some contradictory findings in terms of intercultural differences in antisocial behaviour. In our study, we used an intercultural comparison of antisocial behaviour based on two different definitions of migration status (nationality vs. migration background). According to migration background, however not according to nationality, significant but small differences were found only in violent delinquency. A longitudinal mediator model based on the disintegration approach (Anhut & Heitmeyer, 2000) was examined in order to contribute to our understanding of the background of violent delinquency in immigrant boys. The data were from a German panel study conducted in the cities of Dortmund and Nuremberg. The results of the mediator model showed that perceived discrimination and negative parenting affect violent delinquency indirectly through violence attitudes, self-control, and peer delinquency. The findings suggest that preventive measures against violent delinquency should focus on these indirect effects and migrant-specific variables.

Abstract

The determination process of all details and the establishment of regulations regarding psychotherapy, which is an important part of legal health insurance services in Germany, has taken its present form in about 50 years. It can be accepted that the process started in 1967 with the application of psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy by medical doctors within the scope of legal insurance. Later, the most concrete step was taken in 1999 with the Psychotherapy Law entering into force. Any specialist in the field of mental health cannot call himself a ‘psychotherapist’ with the enforcement of this law because ‘psychotherapist’ has become a legally protected profession group like ‘doctor’ in Germany. In addition to the medical doctor psychotherapists, psychologist psychotherapists, and child and adolescent psychotherapists have also started to provide services under legal insurance. In this review, the psychotherapy system, the content of psychotherapy education, the standards in professional practice, the quality of psychotherapy service or the mechanisms that provide the control of the procedural processes regarding the implementation process will be mentioned.

Abstract

Understanding and working violence and aggression in adolescents and young adults is critical for nurturing societal well-being and fostering developmental growth. This planned systematic review aims to reveal the accumulation of practical application examples to raise awareness in this field. It will systematically examine the interventions, educational tactics, and programs designed to decrease the prevalence of violence and aggression among adolescents and young adults in Turkey. This current study aims to clarify whether the current state of the research will be suitable for a systematic review. Despite the considerable impact of aggressive behavior on social relationships and cognitive development, research on this topic in Turkey is suggested to be limited. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and a thorough search was conducted in databases including DergiPark, ERIC, Web of Science, and Scopus, employing terms such as ‘violence,’ ‘aggression,’ and ‘Turkish adolescent’. This approach has surfaced a significant yet underexplored corpus of relevant literature, suggesting a more substantial research foundation than previously acknowledged. Our initial query retrieved 4786 studies, of which 621 were redundant entries identified via Rayyan, spanning from 1995 to 2024. The planned review will seek to provide a comprehensive analysis of these interventions, offering insights that could inform policymakers, educators, and practitioners. While limitations exist, as with any literature review, the preliminary findings anticipate guiding evidence-based approaches and participating in the international conversation on culturally attuned preventive strategies. The initial data presents a landscape that underscores the importance for researchers to conduct a thorough literature review, given the substantial body of work already existing in this field. Thoroughly examining the existing literature can be crucial for informing new research as well as designing interventions and prevention measures.

Abstract

Dreams are one of the realms of psychology and psychotherapy. In addition, people's dream experiences and interpretations are highly influenced by individual, social and cultural contexts. A qualitative study was designed to examine in detail how meaning is given to the dream experience in Turkish society. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 adult (9 female, 7 male) participants who were not mental health professionals. The data was analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis and within a critical-realistic framework. From the common narratives of the participants, three themes were developed under the overarching theme of Dreaming as “A Life Experience,” namely (i) Changing Meaning: “[Dreaming] Is Unique to Each Person,” (ii) “The Day After the Dream” and (iii) Dreaming as a Therapeutic or Spiritual “Guide.” It was observed that the participants interpreted dreams as an experience that reflects physical or environmental conditions, the daily life and inner world of the person, the social and cultural structure and processes of the society in which they live, and may also include a spiritual experience. In addition, the participants evaluated waking and dream life as experiences that are often directly related to and affect each other. In clinical and psychotherapy practice, dream assessment can be used as a helpful resource for examining people's life experiences. However, it is recommended that these examinations and dream studies be conducted by taking into account their social/cultural contexts. In this context, the meanings that people give to dreams in different cultures and societies should be examined.

Abstract

Self-harm behaviour and suicide attempts are considered maladaptive coping mechanisms by individuals with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Numerous studies have demonstrated that individuals with BPD are at a heightened risk for self-harm behaviour and suicide. Therefore, there is a need for intervention efforts aimed at reducing self-harm and suicide attempts in this population by promoting more functional coping strategies. No systematic review has been conducted to explore the effectiveness of such interventions. A systematic review was performed to identify randomized controlled trials of interventions to reduce self-harm and suicide attempts among individuals with BPD, published between 2012 and 2022. PsycARTICLES, PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Taylor & Francis databases were examined in the review. A total of 6,760 studies were initially screened, only 13 were selected for review based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results indicated that the standard dialectical behaviour therapy protocol, with the addition of psychological intervention components such as skills training, exposure and acceptance, statistically significantly increased recovery. Statistically significant results have been obtained from various psychotherapeutic intervention groups such as schema therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and emotion regulation therapy However, it was noted that existing protocols might be inadequate in preventing relapse and addressing potential negative outcomes such as premature termination of therapy.

Abstract

Because the actuarial evidence base for symptom validity tests (SVTs) is developed in a specific population, it is unclear whether their clinical utility is transferable to a population with different demographic characteristics. To address this, we report here the validation study of a recently developed free-standing SVT, the Inventory of Problems-29 (IOP-29), in a Turkish community sample. We employed a mixed design with a simulation paradigm: The Turkish IOP–29 was presented to the same participants (N = 125; 53.6% female; age range: 19–53) three times in an online format, with instructions to respond honestly (HON), randomly (RND), and attempt to feign a psychiatric disorder (SIM) based on different vignettes. In the SIM condition, participants were presented with one of three scripts instructing them to feign either schizophrenia (SIM-SCZ), depression (SIM-DEP), or posttraumatic stress disorder (SIM-PTSD). As predicted, the Turkish IOP–29 is effective in discriminating between credible and noncredible presentations and equally sensitive to feigning of different psychiatric disorders: The standard cutoff (FDS ≥ .50) is uniformly sensitive (90.2% to 92.9%) and yields a specificity of 88%. Random responding produces FDS scores more similar to those of noncredible presentations, and the random responding score (RRS) has incremental validity in distinguishing random responding from feigned and honest responding. Our findings reveal that the classification accuracy of the IOP–29 is stable across administration languages, feigned clinical constructs, and geographic regions. Validation of the Turkish IOP–29 will be a valuable addition to the limited availability of SVTs in Turkish. We discuss limitations and future directions.

Abstract

Educational assessments can affect students’ mental health, particularly during a pandemic. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are widely efficacious for reducing test anxiety, as well as general anxiety and rumination. However, the effectiveness of these two therapies for students during COVID-19 is unclear. We measured the effectiveness of ACT and CBT for managing test anxiety, general anxiety, and rumination during COVID-19 for 77 students taking Türkiye’s national university entrance exam, assigned to either the ACT or CBT psychoeducation programs. Both programs reduced test anxiety, general anxiety, and rumination, and showed similar levels of effectiveness. This suggests that ACT and CBT are both important for improving students’ mental health during COVID-19 and either may be beneficial.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 6-session hope-based intervention program on the levels of hope and psychological resilience of Syrian refugee children. The pre-test post-test control group design was implemented. A total of 42 Syrian refugee students in 5th grade participated in the study. 2 × 2 mixed ANOVA, independent sample t-test, and dependent sample t-test were conducted for data analysis. Mixed ANOVA revealed that the intervention group had more improvement in hope and psychological resilience scores compared to the control group. Dependent sample t-test revealed that while the hope and resilience scores of the intervention group were maintained, the hope scores of the control group significantly decreased. Independent sample t-test revealed a statistically significant difference between the post-test hope scores of the groups. Research findings supported that hope-oriented approaches can be effective in improving the resilience of Syrian refugee children in the long term.

Abstract

The need for psychosocial intervention programmes to address the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdown restrictions on the mental health of young people is evident. Using a within subject pretest-posttest design, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-based anxiety and depression management psychoeducation programmes on mental health and coping skills in youth ages 14–20. The Demographic Information Form, Revised Child Anxiety Depression Scale, and KidCope were administered before and after the psychoeducational programme to assess programme outcomes. The results indicate significant decreases in levels of anxiety, significant decreases in avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations and significant increases in coping skills following the online CBT Anxiety Management Psychoeducation Program. A significant decrease in depression scores was noted among the online CBT Depression Management Psychoeducation Program participants. Although these results should be interpreted cautiously due to limitations of the study (e.g., no control group, high attrition), they suggest that psychological prevention or intervention programmes may be beneficial for young people who are physically unable to go to school or who cannot interact face-to-face with social support networks.

Abstract

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived partner support and cognitive emotion regulation strategies with depression and anxiety levels in women during pregnancy. Data were collected by paper-pencil and online data collection methods. Participants consisted of 256 pregnant women who were in their gestational 4-42, living in Turkey, married, and between the ages of 18-43. In the study, Personal Information Form for sociodemographic information, Partner Support Scale (EDÖ), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Scale (CERS), Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), Beck Anxiety Scale (BAI) were given to the participants. According to the findings, the mediation effects of cognitive emotion regulation strategies were found to be significant in the relationships between perceived partner support and depression and anxiety. Pregnant women with high partner support were found to have low depression and anxiety levels with the mediator effect of cognitive emotion regulation strategies. In the light of the findings, it was thought that the effect of perceived partner support on coping strategies was an important factor in protecting the mental health of pregnant women.

Abstract

There is a need for intervention programs that can provide support to cope with the psycho-social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic generally in society and particularly in international students. In order to meet this need, a 6-session intervention program was developed based on Positive Psychology concepts and Positive Psychology Interventions (PPI). Data on stress, depression, anxiety, fear of COVID-19, well-being and resilience scores were collected from the participants to measure the effectiveness of this intervention program. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated, that show the relationships between the quantitative data obtained with the pretest from 34 international students who applied to participate in the study. The intervention program started with 11 and was completed with 6 participants. Both pretest and posttest data were obtained from 6 participants and the effectiveness of the intervention program was examined with the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The results of this study show that there is a significant positive relationship between psychological resilience and fear of COVID19, and the intervention program was successful in reducing the level of depression

Abstract

Current findings suggest that many people experience high levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms and life dissatisfaction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the effects of the pandemic and life changes during the new normal of social restrictions in Turkey are yet to be examined. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, correlates and predictors of life satisfaction, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms during the new normal of ongoing social restrictions. This is a cross-sectional study conducted online with 352 participants living in Turkey. Measures included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Satisfaction with Life Scales. Sociodemographic variables and questions relating to the COVID-19 were collected. The results showed that low social communication and the sense of being restricted were significant predictors of life dissatisfaction, depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms. Of the participants, 91.5% were dissatisfied with their lives during the new normal of social restrictions. In addition, nearly half of the participants showed depressive symptoms (55.7%) and anxiety symptoms (54.3%). The present study suggested that social communication might be a key factor to improve psychological wellbeing. Considering the long-term effects of the pandemic on public mental health, developing effective preventive measures and intervention strategies are crucial.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the relation between the ability to distinguish these components of emotions, thoughts, beliefs and behaviors from one another in relation to psychological symptom levels and the evaluation of self-image as a professional. We found that the anxiety of psychotherapy trainees correlates negatively with their ability to distinguish emotions.

Abstract

Der Datensatz enthält N=2998 Fälle der zweiten Welle der im Jahr 2013 in den Städten Dortmund und Nürnberg durchgeführten Jugendbefragung. Die Daten wurden zum einen als PAPI-Befragung im Klassenverband durchgeführt, zum anderen wurden die Jugendlichen die nicht (mehr) in Schulen zu erreichen waren postalisch befragt. Der inhaltliche Fokus der Befragung liegt auf selbstberichteten devianten und delinquenten Verhaltensweisen. Ziel der Befragung ist es, die Entstehung, Entwicklung und Ursachen von Devianz und Delinquenz mit einem Kohorten-Sequenz-Design zu untersuchen. Den theoretischen Hintergrund bilden u.a. die Situational Action Theory (Wikström) und die Age-Graded-Theory of Informal Social Control (Sampson & Laub). Der Datensatz enthält neben dem umfangreichen Selbstbericht devianten und delinquenten Verhaltens Skalen zum Freizeitverhalten, Freundschaften, Persönlichkeit, Werteinstellungen, Familie und Erziehung, Nachbarschaft, Schulklima und Demografie.