Biomedical subjects

Steven R H Beach

Publications and source records attributed to Steven R H Beach.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Relational disorders and relational processes in diagnostic practice: introduction to the special section.

The special section addresses a number of salient issues that will arise as the revision process for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) unfolds and the role of relational processes in mental health is considered. This collection of articles, which emphasize historical, conceptual, and empirical contributions to the discussion, is intended to stimulate debate in the field and to serve as a resource for individuals charged with proposing new diagnostic guidelines. Jointly, the articles make it clear that the authors can improve on the current treatment of relational processes in the DSM and that there is a solid foundation of family research that can inform any discussion on this topic.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disord↗

PubMed2006

Describing relationship problems in DSM-V: toward better guidance for research and clinical practice.

The authors provide a description of the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) and its limitations, as well as empirical connections between relational processes and mental health. Four types of relational processes are identified, with each type clearly distinguished in terms of its pattern of association with psychopathology. For illustrative purposes, examples are provided along with suggestions of how each might be accommodated in the DSM-V. In view of the importance and complexity of the connections between relational processes and mental health, the authors argue that reliable and standardized assessments of relational processes are needed and suggest 6 possible approaches for providing better coverage of relational processes and relational disorders in the DSM-V. The article concludes with a discussion of potential concerns about expansion of attention to relational processes in the DSM-V.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Directive and nondirective spousal support: differential effects?

In this study we investigated whether the following factors influenced married partners' reactions to spousal support: type of support (directive vs. nondirective); individual differences (gender, depressive symptoms); and dimension along which support was evaluated (level of helpfulness vs. valence of emotional impact). Nondirective support was consistently rated more favorably on the dimension of partner's impact than on the dimension of partner's helpfulness, and this effect was exaggerated for those self-reporting a high level of depressive symptoms. Nonetheless, directive support was provided more frequently than was nondirective support in this sample. Gender differences and complications introduced by partner dysphoria suggest some situations in which directive support may be particularly difficult to provide effectively. Implications for couple therapy are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Suicidal ideation and attitudes toward suicide.

Although hopelessness and depression are known risk factors for suicide, most individuals who are hopeless or depressed never make a suicide attempt. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that college students' (n = 230) attitudes toward suicide (the degree to which they see it as an acceptable option under some circumstances) would moderate the link between both hopelessness and depressive symptoms and their levels of suicidal ideation. This moderation hypothesis was supported, but only among men. Specifically, among men, levels of hopelessness and depressive symptoms were significantly related to suicidal ideation among only those with relatively positive attitudes toward suicide.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

The taxometrics of marriage: is marital discord categorical?

This study used taxometric methods to investigate the latent structure of the construct of marital adjustment as indexed by the Marital Adjustment Test (MAT; H. J. Locke & K. M. Wallace, 1959). That is, the authors examined whether marital adjustment is best thought of as a "dimension" of adjustment only or whether there also are categorical differences between "discordant" and "nondiscordant" couples. Analyses of data provided by 447 couples married for approximately 2 years provided converging evidence for a latent category of marital discord, suggesting that marital discord can be viewed as a qualitatively distinct state experienced by approximately 20% of the couples in the current sample. Implications for marital assessment are outlined.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Can sample-specific simulations help detect low base-rate taxonicity?

The authors examined the role of the sample-specific simulations (SSS; A. M. Ruscio & J. Ruscio, 2002; J. Ruscio & A. M. Ruscio, 2004) procedure in detecting low base-rate taxa that might otherwise prove elusive. The procedure preserved key distributional characteristics for moderate to high base-rate taxa, but it performed inadequately for low base-rate taxa, with low to moderate nuisance covariance, decreasing indicator validity, and increasing average nuisance covariance. Visual inspection of the curves produced by the SSS procedure, combined with the expectation that the inchworm test should produce a clear peak for low base-rate taxonic samples, led to inappropriate conclusions about the suitability of data. The authors speculate that examination of low base-rate taxa using SSS may require other algorithms for generating comparison distributions, consideration of the shape of the whole curve, and/or relaxation of the expectation that a clear peak will emerge with the inchworm test.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

Gender symmetry in dating intimate partner violence: does similar behavior imply similar constructs?

The present study examined the extent to which there is gender symmetry in the topography and experience of dating intimate partner violence (IPV). Self-report data were collected from 450 undergraduate men and women at a large Southeastern university. Perpetration and victimization rates were examined, as were context, function, and experience of fear. Results support the view that dating IPV is generally symmetrical at a topographical level, although significantly more women than men reported perpetration of severe physical assault. However, gender asymmetries were found in the context, function, and experience of fear. These findings suggest that gender-sensitive approaches are crucial to the understanding of dating IPV.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Forgiveness and conflict resolution in marriage.

Two studies examined whether forgiveness in married couples is associated with better conflict resolution. Study 1 examined couples in their 3rd year of marriage and identified 2 forgiveness dimensions (retaliation and benevolence). Husbands' retaliatory motivation was a significant predictor of poorer wife-reported conflict resolution, whereas wives' benevolence motivation predicted husbands' reports of better conflict resolution. Examining longer term marriages, Study 2 identified three forgiveness dimensions (retaliation, avoidance and benevolence). Whereas wives' benevolence again predicted better conflict resolution, husbands' avoidance predicted wives' reports of poorer conflict resolution. All findings were independent of both spouses' marital satisfaction. The findings are discussed in terms of the importance of forgiveness for marital conflict and its implications for spouse goals. Future research directions on forgiveness are outlined.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2003

Is depression taxonic, dimensional, or both?

The current investigation examines the potential importance of item selection in the ongoing discussion regarding the taxonicity of depression. Following J. C. Coyne (1994), we contrast the taxonicity of "distress" with the taxonicity of a syndrome more focused on somatic symptoms (i.e., the involuntary defeat syndrome). Using 4 samples of 984 undergraduates, we first replicate the J. Ruscio and A. M. Ruscio (2000) results by showing that distress item indicators are dimensional. We then demonstrate taxonicity using items focused on somatic symptoms and reflective of disruption of multiple homeostatic mechanisms. Results suggest that item selection is central to the determination of taxonicity in depression.

Depression↗