Cornelia Rada

Objectives. The outbreak of the SarsCov-2 virus pandemic in March 2020, produced essential changes in the way of life for students in different countries. Each person has developed their own personal coping systems to adapt to the times. The purpose was to assess the magnitude of impact produced in behavioral and emotional life dimensions at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown. Material and methods. Collecting data was based on a comprehensive online questionnaire, addressed to 19-25 years old, master’s, and bachelor’s students in Romania. The questionnaire includes standard psychological evaluation tools such as Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales, DASS – 21R, Cognitive-Emotional Coping Assessment Questionnaire (CERQ), and Strategic Approaches to Coping Scale (SACS), but also a series of demographic indicators. Statistic analyse was based on ANOVA, Levene Test, T-Test, and Pearson Correlations. Results. The results revealed some differences between coping strategies male part...

Background: Prior to 1990 voluntary abortion and sale of modern contraceptives was prohibited in Romania. Family planning in Romania has enjoyed a positive evolution, but some problems persist. Objectives: This study proposes to determine the knowledge and practices regarding family planning (FP) methods, the situation of pregnancies planning, communication within couples about FP and the impact of socio-demographic variables on these issues in Romania. Method: Between 2011 and 2012, 863 subjects, 18-49 years old, from urban and rural environment, responded to a questionnaire with 96 items on family-related topics. To achieve the objectives of this study we focused on five items. The Pearson chi-square tests were employed using the statistical programs SPSS. Results: Subjects became parents for the first time at an average age of 24.81. 34.76% had a second or third child. 84.81% of the couples were married when the children were born. 12% became parents between the ages of 15-19, wi...

Introduction: The health related expenses whether direct or indirect for the overweight individuals, the decrease of the quality of personal and social life of the obese individuals make this subject a public health one. Specialized physicians, nutritionists, fitness trainers, psychologists, anthropologists etc. agree that both the explanations and the interventions are multidisciplinary and also include a series of factors. Objective: The determining of the socio-demographical characteristics of the population that holds a high risk for overweight and obesity together with the evaluation of certain knowledge and beliefs related to Body Mass Index (BMI), state of health and physical activity. To examine the association between perceived overweight status and weight control, discrepancies between perceived and measured weight status. Method: This article is based on project ,,Identitary values of the contemporary Romanian family in the framework of the globalization. An anthropologic...

Obiectives. This systematic review aimed to explore the relationship between low self-control and risky behaviors, in order to identify prophylactic and interventional measures to reduce the dangers to which some adolescents may be exposed. Material and methods. Using the APA PsycNet and PubMed platforms, studies that investigated the link between self-control and risk were sought. Of the 2707 articles initially obtained, it was opted for studies in English, with the average age of the participants between 14-21 years old. Results. The 61 selected articles revealed seven categories of risks associated with a low level of self-regulation: substance use – 28 studies, aggressive manifestation – 13 studies, delinquency – 10 studies, risky sexual behaviors – 8 studies, living the situation of a victim – 4 studies, gambling – 2 studies, other risky behaviors (consumption of unhealthy foods, compulsive manifestations, executive dysfunctions, etc.) – 9 studies. Some authors have shown that ...

Objectives. This literature review aimed to reveal the relationship between psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, stress, emotionality and aggression on the one hand, and irrational alcohol consumption and risky sexual activity on the other hand, in students (19-25 years) and adjacent age groups. Material and methods. The study was conducted by analyzing the literature published between 2010 and 2020. The search was conducted in Romanian and English, in 9 international publications, by the following key phrases and terms, separately or in combination: anxiety, depression, stress, emotionality, aggressiveness, alcohol consumption, drinking motives, binge drinking, sexual behavior, risky sex. Results. Applying repeated exclusion criteria, 31 articles remained in the analysis. Among these, risk behaviors were rarely analyzed in connection with psychological factors. Most studies that investigate risky behaviors regarding alcohol consumption and sexual activity, address the...

Objective. The objective was to identify and analyze how criminogenic thinking and personality are involved in delinquency and crime in order to prevent criminal behavior. Material and methods. Data were collected from 300 male inmates, with ages between 21 and 65, definitively sentenced and in custody in seven Romanian penitentiaries. An omnibus questionnaire and two psychological questionnaires were used: the Criminogenic Cognitions Scale and the CP5F Personality Questionnaire. Results. Compared to the control group, the group of people deprived of liberty convicted of murder obtained a statistically significantly higher mean for the short-term planning subscale and lower for the extraversion, conscientiousness and emotional stability subscales. The variability of the score for the thinking pattern specific to short-term planning is due to 59% of the low conscientiousness score F(148,149) = 9.32, p < .05, and in turn the conscientiousness score is explained in proportion to 38%...

Objective. The objective of this study was to examine some dimensions of personality encountered among people with difficulties in controlling sexual impulses, depending on the gender of the aggressor, as well as to highlight the main predictors regarding the probability of committing sexual abuse. Material and methods. 48 studies were analyzed, of which 13 qualitative and 35 quantitative. The qualitative researches were mainly based on observation or semi-structured interview, and the quantitative ones were based on descriptive statistics, correlational tests. The size of the samples ranged from 51 to 2950 participants. The search covered the period from 1997 to 2020. Results. Men and women who have committed sexual offences have both common characteristics such as mental disorders, inadequate sexual style, lack of remorseful or empathetic feelings towards the victim, tendency towards criminal behavior, and differences. These were represented by the way they approach the victim, wh...

The current study explores the depression and its risk factors among the elderly in a family environment. A cross-sectional study was performed between 2016 and 2017 on 601 patients aged 55-93 years and 14 face-to-face interviews were carried out from 2015 to 2017. The Geriatric Depression Scale, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale IV (FACES IV), the Family Communication and Satisfaction scales, Pearson’s chi-square test and the Kruskal-Wallis test (K-W) have been used. Over 50% of participants had mild and severe depression, with higher percentages among participants over 75 years of age (p=.003) and among subjects with low income (p= .014). The prevalence of depression was higher in rural participants (K-W, p=.044) and in those without a partner (K-W, p=.0044). According to the FACES IV, more than 50% of the sample belonged to the midrange and unbalanced family categories. Low income levels have been associated with higher levels on all four unbalanced scales of the FACES IV. Severe depression was higher within families belonging to the unbalanced category (p =.019), on very low satisfaction and communication (p=.000). There is a correlation between depression and physical health as well as between depression and family climate. These correlations seem to be mutually reinforcing.

Adolescence is an age when healthy lifestyle awareness has great chances to be established as an ally for the entire life. We investigated the nutritional/lifestyle knowledge and the self evaluation of the BMI, in a randomly selected sample of 1201 high-school teens. The descriptive cross sectional study was based on a self-completed questionnaire. Nutritional knowledge among teens is generally correct. The level of daily physical activity is underestimated 17.3% of students smoke. Regarding BMI, 69% of the sample are between the 5th and the 85th WHO percentile, 27.6%, under the 5th and 3.4 %, between the 85th and the 95th percentile. Almost a half has an incorrect image of the body weight. The body image discrepancy is significantly associated with underweight, gender and with an insufficient food intake. Even if adolescents have good nutritional understanding, a special educational effort has to be paid to give them other needed healthy lifestyle information.

The objective of this systematic review was to identify the most common predisposing and protective factors in relation to the violence revealed by the scientific literature, investigating the common elements between them and the gender differences. Material and methods. The information was searched in the APA PsycNet and PubMed platforms. Longitudinal design studies were chosen, which assessed risk or protective potential factors regarding violent behavior and whose samples had an average age between 14 and 21 years at the time of the risk of violence assessment. Of the initial 4,496 articles, 39 papers that met the inclusion criteria were retained. Results. Most studies (28) analysed data from the USA, the rest operationalizing data from Australia, Canada, South Africa, England and Northern Ireland. The minimum sample size was 70 and the maximum size exceeded the threshold of 13,000 participants. The main classes of risk factors identified were family difficulties (e.g. family violence, conflicts between parents and children etc.), triggering individual psychological factors (e.g. affective distress, anger, low self-control etc.), victimization history (e.g. sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect etc.), school problems (e.g. learning difficulties, negative models in school etc.), substance use, early violent manifestation and influence of the neighborhood (e.g. exposure to community violence, neighborhood disorder etc.). The major categories of protective factors consisted of a favorable family climate (ex: parental involvement, connection with parents etc.), of the presence of some beneficial individual psychological factors (e.g. emotional well-being, high levels of emotional regulation etc.) and of the existence of a positive school climate (e.g. school satisfaction, connection to the school etc.). It was found that the family, individual psychological factors and school context were both risk factors and protection in terms of violent behavior. The most common factor with implications for violence was the family, identified in 14 studies as a risk factor and in 13 studies as a protective factor, followed by individual psychological factors (in 13 studies with potential of risk and in 11 studies with a protective role) and by the school factor (risk factor in 11 studies and protective factor in 10 studies). Gender differences were observed, some factors being significant only for girls (e.g. religiosity, somatic complaints etc.), and others being significant only for boys (e.g. carrying guns to school, parental monitoring etc.). Conclusions. This study organized the main categories of factors involved in adolescent violence, showing that three of them can play both a predisposing and a protective role: family factors, individual psychological factors and school factors. Amplifying the protective dimensions of these factors may help reduce the risk of violence among adolescents. Such an objective can be achieved by the joint effort of heterogeneous teams, composed of family members, teachers, human development specialists etc., acting together at individual, family, school and community level.

Cette etude represente seulement une partie de la recherche « la sante reproductive en vue de l'amelioration de l'etat d'une nation » realisee par l'equipe du centre de recherches anthropologiques de l'academie roumaine en 2005-2006. Cet article est constitue des trois parties: l'introduction, ou sont expliques les concepts fondamentaux concernant la sexualite et la procreation, une analyse du phenomene de la fertilite dans la Roumanie pendant les annees 1957 et 2004 en fonction de la legislation, et le resultat de notre recherche qui pourrait affecter les futures evolutions sur le comportement sexuel et reproductif dans le territoire roumain. On peut observer que dans les dernieres 15 annees la natalite a ete alteree dans certaines tranches d'âge ce qui conduit a un nouveau modele du comportement reproductif dans la Roumanie. le desir d'avoir des enfants differe essentiellement (p<0,05), par rapport au nombre actuel des enfants que les familles on...

A goal for the national nutritional education program is represented by the increase of fruit consumption. Using specially designed questionaries a group of 127 teenagers from two different Iaşi high schools provided date related to thei daily fruit intake. Almost 40% of the teenagers use fresh fruits as part of their breakfast and a greater number use them as snacks (57.5%) or dessert (80.5%), with statistically insignificant differences between the two high schools. The fruit intake is adequate in the studied group and the programs that promote certain food habits must take into account the existing situation.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is chronic and incurable. Imperious diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fatigue, and weight loss, the main manifestations, cause a decrease in the quality of the patient’s personal and professional life. The objectives of this study were to identify a possible relationship between early maladaptive schemas and disease activity status using logistic regression, to identify the prevalence of early maladaptive schemes in patients and to propose a psychotherapeutic intervention plan. The following were found in a sample of 46 patients aged 16–76 years. An increase in the domain overvigilance and inhibition score had a significant effect (Wald = 6.583, p = 0.010), with an increase of 1.137 CI95% [1.031, 1.254] of the risk of the disease being diagnosed as active. High and very high scores were observed for the emotional deprivation scheme (nearly three-quarters) and dependence/incompetence, vulnerability to harm and illness and subjugation schemas (over 80%). The ...

Chiar daca fata de epoca premoderna, familia, cel putin in societatile complexe, si-a pierdut fin relevanta sociala a functiilor sale – gospodaria spre exemplu, nu mai constituie entitatea majora de productie, iar scoala a preluat masiv din activitatea educativa –, grupul familial continua sa reprezinte unitatea sociala fundamentala, formala si informala, pentru viata indivizilor. Detinand, deopotriva, resursele materiale si pe cele psiho-emotionale de crestere si ingrijire a copiilor, in complementaritate, sau, uneori, in contradictie cu alte surse (grupuri de similaritate si prieteni, colective de munca, mass-media etc.), familia are, de regula, proeminenta in socializare si ca fundal socio-afectiv pentru majoritatea oamenilor, accentuat pentru copii, adolescenti si tineri. Iar disfunctiile in starea si dinamica vietii de cuplu, a mediului familial, au o serie de consecinte nefaste individuale, grupale si, pana la urma, societale.

This book, written by a group of authors with various specializations (sociology, medicine, clinical psychology and psychotherapy, sports psychology, educational psychology and vocational counseling etc.), which operates in prestigious research institutes and universities from Romania, promotes an integrative, systemic and holistic approach of the person and the access to a higher level of knowledge through a multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary methodology. The book is addressed to both specialists and the general public, all those who want to gather information and solutions on improving the quality of life and life satisfactionof the old people, reducing their anxiety, depression and pain, and on prophylaxis of aging.

Background Despite recent discoveries in pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) still face challenges with improvement, remission, and healing. The objectives of the study were to identify the characteristics of patients with IBD with the Freiburg Personality Inventory and the intensity of the colonic disease, comorbidities, and other factors that could be related to the personality of the subjects.Methods Data were collected in the period 2019–2020 from 46 patients from records at two hospitals. This study used nonparametric methods, such as the Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney, Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Mann–Whitney U test, and BOOTSTRAP method. The control group was considered the national normative sample based on the average raw scores on the 12 personality assessment scales using the t test (one sample t test).Results Compared to the control group, the Inhibitedness, Health Concerns, and Emotionality scales had significantly higher raw scores. Additio...

This paper aims to investigate Body Mass Index, eating habits, knowledge and practices regarding this. Between 2013-2014 a self-administered questionnaire was used in sample of 1359 subject from urban area, aged 18-30 years. The subjects’ weight and height were measured. SPSS statistical package and chi-square test were employed. Overweight status was diagnosed in 15.7%, obesity in 4% and underweight in 11.6%. Almost never controlled their weight: 25%. Over a quarter had not a correct perception of BMI category they belonged to. In comparison with females the proportion of obese and overweight in males was bigger and the proportion of the young male who checked often their weight and of correct weight self evaluation was lower (p<0.001). Up to half of respondents do not used to have breakfast every day, but consume sweets, chips, energy drinks, don’t have three main meals, eat daily pastries, eat in front of the TV, the computer. Some statistically significant differences by gend...

Background: This study aims to extend the knowledge regarding the psychological component of Ulcerative colitis (UC). Materials and methods: Eight questionnaires were completed and were performed deep psychosocial anamnesis, semi-structured interview, and observation, to reconstitute biography, critical incidents of the environmental conditions of the patient (MC) with ulcerative colitis from 2008. Results: Before the diagnosis he had a year bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and a weight loss of 8 kg, that had greatly affected his work, his family and sexual life. The deviation from the socially encouraged norms regarding the life cycles-such as the successful completion of the studies, career, marriage, becoming a parent, children exceeding the socioeconomic and professional status of the family of origin, etc., perceived as catastrophes, frustrated the patient, and exhausted his energy. Psychological questionnaires showed tendency towards instability at the limit, tendency toward ...

Objectives. The aim of this study was to review the most important factors influencing women's involvement in drug trafficking. Material and methods. A systematic search of literature was carried out using Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, ProQuest Central, PsychInfo. The inclusion criteria were met by fifty-two studies. In order to facilitate the understanding of the behaviour of women who commit this crime, factor analysis was grouped into social-cultural, personal and psychological factors. Results. The main social and cultural factors considered were the adopted political system, the racial element, the cultural-regional peculiarities, the geographical positioning, the socio-economic status and the sociofamilial environment. The personal factors identified were age, occupation, lifestyle, system of norms and values, and psychological ones referred to indicators of psychological disorders, addictive behavior, the ability to control reactions and the perceived level of...

Despite of being detested and also a major factor of marital dissolution and dissatisfaction, both man and women engage in infidelity. The data have been collected in 2011. The sample of 1215 subjects, statistically not representative, has a homogenous distribution according to gender, residential environment, age groups (18–74 years). A questionnaire of 96 items, about family has been used, this article stating 5 items on infidelity. The statistical analysis, the Pearson Chi-Square test, has been performed using the SPSS. 62% of the subjects do not agree with sexual infidelity “at all”. About half “would break up” a partner having sexual relationships outside the couple’s margins. 66% reported they never had sexual relationships outside the couple’s margins. The disagreement is higher in females than males (71.3 vs. 52.6%). The number of females accepting sexual infidelity is almost 2 times bigger. The number of females that did not engage in a sexual relationship outside the coupl...

Objectives. The gangs came to the attention of the authorities because of the criminal nature of some of them. To understand which are the appropriate measures to prevent and reduce gang delinquency, this paper aimed at identifying the predictors of adolescents' belonging to such groups. Material and methods. Relevant articles published between 2010 and 2020, were searched in three access platforms to the scientific literature. The papers based on the quantitative analysis of the data, which evaluated the predictors of the involvement of adolescents aged 14-21 in gangs, were preserved. Results. Resulting in 33 significant articles, with samples between 75-26232 participants, 11 studies had a longitudinal design, the rest being cross-sectional. Most studies were conducted in the USA, and the rest in European, American, African, and Asian countries. Three categories of predictors were distinguished: familial factors (e.g. deficient parenting, domestic violence), personal factors (...

The objective of this study was to determine Romanian intergenerational family support and the impact of sociodemographic variables on this support. In 2011–2012, data were obtained from 1215 urban and rural respondents aged 18–74 years relatively homogenously distributed in the variables of environment, sex, educational level and age group. An omnibus questionnaire of 96 items was used, with a focus on topics related to family functioning: domestic economics, education, cohesion, solidarity and sexual reproduction. From this three items were focused on in the present study. One hundred individual face-to-face interviews were conducted in the manner of recounting the life problem. From these interviews, the three sequences that addressed time were used. The main beneficiaries of support from respondents were, in descending order, parents, grandparents, siblings and grandchildren. Respondents with low and medium income provided less support to their parents (p < 0.05), grandparent...

Up-to-date, genuine sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education programmes have been possible in Romania only since communism collapsed in 1990. Since 2006, Romania has had no national strategy in this field. Under current global circumstances (high labour mobility, internationally mixed marriages), issues previously considered solely national have become worldwide concerns. In 2011-2012, 1215 respondents homogeneously distributed on background, gender, educational level and age group (18-74) were sampled. This article uses a 96-item questionnaire about family and SRH, presenting results on nine items: first intercourse (FI), virginity, knowing first sexual partner, safe sex, number of sexual partners and sexual education. The data were analysed using Pearson chi-square tests and latent class analysis. Some participants (7.2%) engaged in FI at age 15 or earlier. The average age at FI was lower for men (18.08), for individuals with a lower education level (18.07) and for those in ...

Introduction: Interpersonal relationships with parents have a vital role in individual development and influence the type of relationships that will be establish later throughout life with other people. Dysfunctional family dynamics generated by inappropriate rules and ties, results in poor and unfulfilling relationships of the future adult.